In October 2025, we hosted writers for our grandest Old World writing retreat yet—23 days in Ireland! We incorporated our favourite things about the Emerald Isle into one magnificent adventure.

We started the with a week at the Abbeyglen Castle hotel overlooking the cozy Irish town of Clifden, then spent another week (and a day!) at Kilmurvey House on the fabled isle of Inis Mór—the largest of the Aran Islands—followed by three nights at The Old Ground, a glorious old hotel in the heart of Ennis where the music flowed free, and finished up with four nights at the Schoolhouse Hotel, a charming spot in Dublin.

Along the way, we learned how they once cut the turf for their fires in bygone days, visited an ancient abbey, the Cliffs of Moher and Poulnabrone Dolmen on the Burren, and stopped by a well dedicated to Brigid, the pagan Goddess and Christian Saint. We had a private tour of Inis Mór by one of our favourite locals, raised a glass at the oldest pub in Ireland and heard all about its famed history, walked on the Hill of Tara and visited the sacred passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth in the Boyne Valley, and enjoyed a private concert from one of the most celebrated traditional Irish music singers in the country.

We had three group writing sessions and evening readings, and participants met with Gerard to discuss their writing projects. Lots of writing got done and we were blessed with a great group of people, wonderful weather (despite Storm Amy’s best efforts), and memories for a lifetime.