Singing Picnic - August 31st, 2008, Dublin 8

Singing Picnic at St Nicholas of Myra Hall, Francis Street, Dublin 8, Sunday 31st August from 2pm-7pm.

info@create-ireland.ie for more info

Creative Writing Retreat - Holy Hill Hermitage, Co Sligo

A five day residential creative writing retreat at Holy Hill Hermitage, Co Sligo with Órfhlaith Ní Chonaill Monday 10th—Saturday 15th November 2008.

Sacred space for writing or thinking, in the privacy of your hermitage, in the library or chapels, walking in the gardens, woods fields, or on Dunmoran Strand (3 miles). A mentoring service is available during this time to help you assess and/or visualise the direction of your work.

A breakdown of the €400 costs:
Hermitage 5 nights’ B&B €250
Lunches and dinners €50
Workshops & mentoring €100
Reading Fees: €25-€100 extra

Any enquiries re bookings to:
087 2799108 or
Email: info@writersinksligo.com
Web: www.writersinksligo.com

Workshops in Donegal

Miffy Kyles offers Stress Management, Life Coaching, Reiki Therapy, Guided Meditation, and Angel Workshops in Donegal.

Her 2008 autumn programme includes one day, weekend and four week courses in Bruckless, Dungloe, Kilclooney, and Gweedore.

For all the details check out her website at http://www.bestillworkshop.com/ or call 087 9109661.

Inflatable Bandstand: coming to Manorhamilton Sunday August 17th, 2008

The Inflatable Bandstand is a 4.88 metre tall structure inspired by the development of the Irish economy over the last 10 years. From mid august it will tour towns and villages of Leitrim and Roscommon. A marker in time, an epic musical score composed by Ian Wilson will be performed live from the bandstand by Saxophonist Cathal Roche.

A white van with the crew inside (musician, artist & assistant) will arrive at selected sites across Leitrim and Roscommon. The bandstand will be laid out and will inflate in minutes. Hence the musician will take his place within the bandstand and perform a 15 minute musical score inspired by the Irish economy. Afterwards the Inflatable Bandstand will fall and slowly but epically deflate.

Each performance will last approximately 20 minutes. Audience members are advised to arrive on time so as not to miss these one-off events.

The Bandstands first performance will take place this Sunday the 17th in Manorhamilton, on the Carrick Road.

For more information please contact garkeus@yahoo.com or call 087 6168813

Slow Food Celebration at the Organic Centre in Leitrim, August 10th, 2008

Slow Food is an international non-profit association. It was founded in 1986 as a response to the standardising effects of fast food, the frenetic pace of the ‘fast life’ and the disappearance of local food traditions.

Slow Food protects food biodiversity, disseminates taste education and seeks to bring consumers and producers together by promoting alternative distribution channels. Slow Food comprises of over 80,000 members in 104 countries. Globally, there are over 850 groups called Convivia.

In Ireland there are 12 convivia – Erne Garavogue is based in nortwest Ireland and in conjuction with the Organic Centre in Rossinver is presenting this fabulous family foodie feast.

11.00am – 12.30pm Slow Food Presidia Talk and Demonstration – Boxty with Pádraic Óg Gallagher and Dave Langford


12.30pm – 1.30pm Cooking for Kids - This is a fun workshop where children learn about local food and see where the tasty toppings for pizza actually grow in the garden! They participate in making their own delicious and wholesome lunch

The workshop will be delivered by Eithna Huel, Gaby Wieland and Dr. Prannie Rhatigan. (I want to go too!!!! These three women know everything about healthy eating and present in an engaging way.)

1.00pm – 3.00pm Slow Food Buffet, Grass Roots Café

Enjoy a gourmet feast of the very best of Irish produce at the Organic Centre’s Grass Roots Café

2.00pm - 3.00pm Slow Food Presidia Cheese Tasting

Trevor Irvine will present the seven Slow Food Presidia Irish Raw Milk Farmhouse Cheeses. Trevor (Cheese Ect) has a new shop in the village of Dromahair and I think it is one of the best reasons to live there! Check it out.

Hans Wieland will demonstrate how to make a hard cheese

3.00pm- 4.00pm Seaweed Presentation and Cookery Demonstration by Dr. Prannie Rhatigan
Dr. Prannie Rhatigan is an experienced GP who now works mainly in public health. A native of the West coast of Ireland she gardens organically and has been using seaweeds since childhood. She will show you how you can easily incorporate seaweeds into the food you eat daily by demonstrating some recipes from her forthcoming Seaweed Cookbook. Those of you who attended the 2008 and 2006 Wise Woman Weekend know how great she is and will not want to miss this!

Tickets: Adults: Members €28.00, Non Members €32.00
Children: €10.00

Places are limited so please contact the Organic Centre ASAP to make a booking. Call 071 985 4338 or e-mail info@theorganiccentre.ie

Tours of the Organic Centre and Community Food Project throughout the day.

For more information on the Slow Food movement see http://www.slowfood.com/

Angel Inspirations - Donegal - August 10th, 2008

A collaberative workshop
between Kim Sharkey, Ceramics Artist of 'Peace of Earth'
& Miffy Kyles, facilitator of The 'Be Still' Workshop.

'Connect & Create'
Meditate to deepen your connection with your Guardian Angel
'bring and share lunch'
Create your own Angel figurine in clay

Venue: Lamha Inspioraide, An Chuirt heritage buliding, Gweedore, Co Donegal
Date: Sun 10th August '08
Time: 11am - 4.30 pm 1 hr lunch
Cost: €60
Booking: Miffy 087 9109661 or Kim 087 9106097

Divining weekend with Alanna Moore Aug 29th, 2008

Dowsing is usually known in relation to water divining, but its applications are endless. Geomancy addresses environmental energies which can have a major impact on our health and well being. It’s akin to feng shui, Chinese geomancy, and can be applied to modern day living in many ways.

During this women only weekend you will discover how to tune into the subtle energies of the environment. You will develop a new sense through which you can enjoy nature and learn to live in harmony with these energies.

Alanna Moore is Australia’s foremost dowser and geomancer. She is the founder of the NSW Dowsing Society and divides her time between a small farm in Australia, where she raises tree crops and llamas, and Leitrim.

Alanna approaches divining as a key to developing greater sensitivity and a deeper connection to nature. She believes geomantic traditions can be revived or created for better harmony with Mother Earth. She promotes sustainable lifestyles and organic growing, using an eco-spiritual approach to land-planning.

The weekend will tale place at Ard Nahoo Health Farm in Dromahair, Co Leitrim. Ard Nahoo has been awarded an EU flower for green accommodations and is included in the Guardians list of top ten retreats worldwide. The cabins are made of Irish timber frame cladded in Donegal cedar, insulated with hemp and heated with wood pellet stoves. Facilities include a steam room, detox box and jacuzzi hot tub.

Cost of the weekend is euro 240 which includes the accommodation and programme. Food is self catering communal meals.

This weekend will only go ahead if seven women express their interest and pay a euro 50 deposit by August 5th, 2008.

Call Pauline at 071 913 4913 or 086 828 6303 or email info@wise womanireland.com (delete space)

Singer sought for Lament for a Glacier

A specially composed lament for a glacier will be performed by a lake in the iconic glaciated valley of Glenade Co. Leitrim.

This is a public art event to take place in September/October 2008. A song will accompany a large cast ice form as it is launched into the lake.

The artist is interested to hear from performers with strong voices which can travel over the lake water, but also complement the acoustics of the valley.

For more information contact Gareth on 087 6168813, or at garkeus@yahoo.com

Events at Rock Barra Retreat, Atlantic Canada

Rock Barra, on Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada, is managed by well known musician, Teresa Doyle.

Teresa has strong family connections to Ireland and the island of Barra in Scotland and this has lead to the production of a CD entirely in the Gaelic language.

Teresa facilitated a voice yoga workshop during the 2007 Wise Woman Weekend.

If you plan to visit to Atlantic Canada, than check out the exciting possibilities – music, dance, organic spa, gourmet food, bodywork, are just some of the activities on the menu.

Rock Barra is located on the ocean with a private beach and at least 3 eco systems on the property. (wetlands, woodlands and seaside) Accommodations on site are in vintage "silver bullet" RV’s. An ethos of care for the environment is encouraged.

Highly recommended if you have the opportunity.

Zoom offers low fares to Canada from Europe.

It's festival time in Ireland!

The rain never dampens the spirit of festival goers in Ireland. One festival even embraces the tempermental Irish weather and has a water theme, where everyone splashes water at each other.

So get your poka dotted wellies and join the fun.

For an extensive list of festival see the Association of Irish Festivals website.

In the northwest, two very popular festivals are the Yeat's Festival in Sligo, July 26th - August 8th, 2008 and the Boyle's Arts Festival, July 25th to August 1st, 2008.

The Innisshowen Gathering is not happening this summer, but for a green theme, why not try

the Irish Green Gathering.