CURRENT RETREATS - Ireland May 2026

Come Walk With Me Journey IRELAND

Spring 2026  RETREAT

May 23 - 30

FULL

One of the best ways to experience our lives more deeply is to step out of our familiar ways. Retreats and pilgrimages offer a different lens to the same eyes, allowing us to reconnect with our wonder and spirit. Adding purpose and a deeper meaning to personal travel has been a passion of mine for over a decade, like cherishing the sense of wandering wonder. Once again, I’m very excited to invite you along.

Join me to explore some of my favourite mystical places and friends in Ireland where we will learn to deepen our practice of connection, compassion and gratitude while replenishing our well. This year I’m adding a taste of Wicklow County on the east coast’s Irish Sea before traveling to the west coast to rest among the limestone hills of the Burren and the great Atlantic.

A C C O M M O D A T I O N S:

East Coast ~ Co Wicklow

2 nights at the enchanting Glendalough Sanctuary

 1 Night in Brae for breathtaking coastal walks and Irish culture and charm.

West Coast ~ County Clare

7 Nights at the Lisheen House

We will be staying in a beautiful private home in New Quay, where we can all be under one roof. New Quay is home of the beloved Flaggy Shore, a replenishing place to walk along the sea. Rooms are priced at double occupancy but there are some single rooms available for a supplement. Be sure to let me know.

There is wifiin the house, a washing machine for laundry and linens, and towels will be provided for your convenience.

The house has plenty of space for quiet time alone as well as shared time.

A C T I V I T I E S

We will begin each day with meditation, during which we will enjoy taking some time to check in, set intentions and welcome the day. Then we weave the theme for the day’s adventures into our spirit.

Our outings may include a trip to the Aran Islands or the bed of St. Colman with, or a Qigong or laughter yoga. We eat very well on retreat. After dinner we enjoy a relaxation meditation before retiring for the night.

All yoga with Helga or Jack is accessible. Our focus is primarily restorative and will help us connect our breath to the present moment where we can shed any stuck tension from the body.

A day will be dedicated to creating Kinsugi art together at the amazing Burren College of Art. It’s a wonderful mindful practice that we will benefit from in many forms.

The goal is to return you home restored, refreshed and fully inspired.

C O S T

East coast & Burren May 20 - 30

10 days ~ €3200.

Burren Retreat May 23 -30

7 days ~ €2200.

P A Y M E N T   S C H E D U L E

€250. once application is accepted:

Payment for the balance can be broken down as desired with the final payment 60 days before retreat starts.

Payment can be made by credit card, or e-transfers (preferrably) if you are in Canada.

P R I C E   I N C L U D E S

Accommodations

All breakfasts and lunch or dinner each day.

Most transportation in Ireland during the trip, (except for airport pick up or drop off, and the Aran Islands ferry, which is €30. return)

All meditations, talks, yoga with Helga at the Burren Wellness Centre, Jack Harrison of Celtic Yoga, and outings with author Clare Sheehan.

Teachings and outings to sacred sites with Gisele and Clare.

A workshop of Japanese kintsugi at the Burren College of Art with Gisele,

N O T   I N C L U D E D

Airfare – you are expected to make your own arrangements. Return travel to the airport. Depending on how many are traveling in the same direction, the cost of taxis can be shared. The occasional lunch or dinner, depending upon the day’s activities.

C A N C E L L A T I O N P O L I C Y

After you are accepted on the trip, if you should need to withdraw your application 60 days

Before the retreat begins, 10% of the trip cost is kept for administration. If you withdraw within 30 days of the retreat, any refund will depend upon whether we are able to find someone else to fill your place.

W H A T T O B R I N G

Your selection of clothing for the trip should be based on comfort and preparation for changeable weather, from warm and humid to chilly and wet (with the later being most likely). There is a washing machine available in the house for laundry. Plan your clothing around the principle of layering (lightweight cottons, shirt, sweater or warm vest, rainproof windbreaker and pants) so you can easily adjust for comfort. Lightweight hiking boots with ankle support are suggested, though running or walking shoes are sufficient for some of the shorter, low-land walks. Through my travels, I discovered it’s most comfortable to have the right things, instead of too many things.

C U R R E N C Y   A N D   S P E N D I N G   M O N E Y

You are advised to bring at least €30 per day for a meal, drinks, etc. - more if you wish to buy local crafts and woolens. The currency in Ireland is the euro. We will usually come across an ATM machine during our outings. Credit cards are accepted in most places.

T R I P   C A N C E L L A T I O N   I N S U R A N C E

I highly advise that you cover yourself with trip cancellation and medical insurance. This insurance is often available through your credit card provider or a travel agency you may book your flight with.

A R R I V A L

If you fly into Dublin for the full 10 days, I will arrange a pick up for the East coast pilgrimage. If you fly into Dublin for only the Burren week, there are express buses that travel to Galway regularly from the airport. There will be a pick up in Galway to take you to the house at 6:30pm on Sat., May 23rd.

D E P A R T U R E

As the airport is a 3.5 hour drive from the Burren, the choices for departure day are either being picked up from the house to catch the airport bus at 4am, or enjoy a day in Dublin or somewhere nearby and catch a following day flight.

P A S S P O R T

You must have a valid passport to travel. Please ensure that it does not expire within six months of returning home.

Please notify me soon as you know you’re interested, as space is extremely limited. I am happy to organize a phone call to answer questions you may have and to help you get oriented in where we will be.

Stay blessed,

Gisele

MINDFUL NECESSITIES

POETIC 

Kim H. 

In Orchard House in Ballyvaughn
eleven pilgrims gather round.
Each one called in their own way
to retreat, reflect, nourish and play.
A circle formed, Gisele is the heart,
new friends found, each one a part
of a magical fellowship about to begin
as we all breathe together and settle in.
Six full days, time stands still
as every moment is lived to it’s fill.
Restorative yoga with Helga and Jack,
guitar and song pull us back
to our bodies and breath, we are one
leaning on each other difficult poses are done.
Contemplative walks on the Burren and shore, heart shaped rocks appear galore.
Creativity inspired by paint and design
as pictures appear and rings so fine.
Barry’s vision quest to go within,
insights found, new journeys begin.
Foraging with David, food beautifully prepared, in celebration meals are shared.
Each day begun with meditation and intent
ending with crystal bowl vibrations, the day is spent.
And as the retreat comes to a close
we come together in communal repose.
Bags packed and ready to depart
we take each other with us, carried in our hearts.

With love, Kim ❤️

SPIRITUAL RETREAT

Sue Kenney 

This retreat was a most sacred and spiritual journey for me especially because it was held in the mystical land of the Irish. Each moment in the presence of Gisele was precious and filled with sage wisdom, joy and unconditional love. The daily activities always included time with the great Mother Earth, moments of creativity, a very unique yoga class and walking the earth. I loved the food, which was organic/vegetarian and of exceptional quality. The accommodations were in a gorgeous home with private bathrooms, a large kitchen and huge garden in the back. I would strongly recommend this retreat to anyone interested in an experience that could shift your creativity, offer time for mindfulness, a connection with the earth and/spiritual advancement. I hope to be able to go again one day.

MAGICAL RETREAT!

Caroline Wharton 

I highly recommend this beautiful retreat. Just being around Gisele is healing on its own...but add to that spending 7 days in The Burren with her and her lovely retreat guests, and you will feel restored, nourished and revitalized. Gisele holds a very special place for each of her guests. The luxury accommodation and daily routines are rich with comfort, balance, mindfulness, meditation, nourishment, yoga, exploring, contemplation, nature, deep connection & friendships.

There’s magic and mystery in The Burren...it’s a very mystical place. Gisele has developed a deep connection to this part of Ireland and her community there includes some of the finest specialists in yoga, history, culinary arts and Art itself at the famous Burren College of Art where we spent a day making meditation rings for ourselves! Every day was a treat to wake up to. We would form a morning circle around Gisele’s crystal sound bowls...then the theme of the day would be introduced and Gisele would read a poem or quotes meant to support the theme. From there we were led into meditation. Blissful start to each day. Our daily group meals were amazing, we either cooked at home or enjoyed the local fare at pubs/cafes along the way. We visited the ocean shores, the Cliffs of Moher, markets, historical parks, pubs, a castle and more. Each day brought a new adventure and exploration.

We were completely nourished, body and soul. Thank you again Gisele. You are very special & I look forward to my next retreat!

ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE

Christa

This retreat was about so much more than just yoga and meditation. As a novice meditator, Gisele's approach to meditation made me feel completely comfortable and able to relax and open my mind to something new.

Hiking the Burren with a local guide and experiencing yoga with two different instructors in multiple locations was enlightening. There is no other landscape that can compare to the rugged beauty of the ever changing Burren.

Carving rings at the Burren College of Art was an amazing experience and receiving a beautiful piece of jewellery designed and carved by me was both humbling and a huge accomplishment!

The things that tied all of these experiences together was the opportunity to experience the local cuisine, hospitality, markets and lifestyle of the Burren. I have never felt more comfortable and welcome on a vacation or more accepted as myself on a retreat! A truly life altering experience.

THE ULTIMATE RETREAT

~ Angela W.

This was the ultimate retreat! The perfect amount of doing and non-doing, inner reflection and connection. So much care, compassion and joy right down to the finest of details. Gisele has curated the most gorgeous experience - Yoga with exquisite teachers (for absolute beginner or advanced practitioner), nutritious and delicious food morning noon and night, creative projects that ended in beautiful and wearable art..made from the heart, laughter...and the beauty and charm of the Burren. I could not recommend this retreat any higher - it made my soul happy!

THE PERFECT TAPESTRY

~ Melinda Burke 

Like a weaving, each of us ( we were 8. ), held a thread or two, to ebb and flow through the fibres, mindfully selected for us, by Gisele, who continued to sensitively make adjustments, as the design of our integrated journey took form.   As breath, our time together fully engaged the "in" and the " out", of self and of Ireland, the magic and the mystery of joy and sorrow, the enchantment of the elementals and the fairies. We came and went, daily, from our safe and 'delicious' haven in Ballyvaughan, to relish spring awakenings in the Burren, the surge of the surf at the Cliffs and the tranquility of the moment. Saying "yes" to an adventure across the ocean, with a woman I had only just met, was for me, an exercise in trust and letting go. I can only state, with gratitude, that it was a true gift. Thank you, to Giselle and all the other amazing personalities and landscapes she helped weave together, to make this journey a tapestry of the soul:) Melinda

A PERFECT RETREAT

~ Lisa Clark 

I don’t think the retreat could have been better. The house/home was spectacular and so comfortable; it was warm and spacious, the meals were delicious and all with the Burren just outside the window. I think each day was well planned and I liked that we shifted things around with the weather.

My favourite memories are Jack’s yoga classes with the poetry and music, the trip to Harry’s farm and his incredible enthusiasm, the goat lady and her wonderful cheeses, and our hikes on the Burren. Each day was special in its own way.

In our first meditation you spoke about the journal and how we could note things that might come up over the course of the retreat. I thought to myself - oh that won’t be happening to me, I’ve dealt with my stuff, lots of meditation, talk therapy, and such ... I’m good. However day one, our hike on the Cliffs and its particular challenges for me, certainly changed all that. And as I reflect on the retreat, I realize that it was perfect in that way. It gave me time to see again, who I am, how I "go about" in this world, how I deal with challenges, and what I love about myself.

I have a whole new breakfast regime, homemade granola, pumpkin seed oil etc. and a fresh perspective on me.

What you are embarking on is so brave, a simplification of life in a world that is anything but simple. Please keep us posted on your travels. Love Lisa