Day 1: Dublin Arrival, City Tour of Dublin, The GPO Museum and This is Knit Yarn Store
Today we begin your retreat with a transfer to your hotel (for arrivals prior to 10:30am). Your first visit will be to the GPO Witness History Museum (General Post Office) located on O’Connell Street in Dublin City Centre.
Here you will learn all about the Rising of 1916 and Irish modern history in this interactive and immersive setting. Our next stop will be at This is Knit yarn store located at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, a beautiful 18th century building housing many shops and restaurants. Return to your hotel and take some time to relax and refresh before your welcome dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the Hyatt Centric Hotel, Dublin, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Included.
Check out of your hotel and begin our journey Northwest towards Donegal. En route we visit Swallow’s Studio, where will see Liz Christy’s unique creations, inspired by her favourite artists such as Gauguin, Monet and Edward Hopper. Liz is a textile designer and artist and all her products are handwoven on a traditional manual loom.
Enjoy the Irish countryside as we continue to Donegal to meet with your host, renowned knitwear design, Edel MacBride. Over the coming days you will spend valuable time with Edel discovering her expert craftsmanship and outstanding traditional knitting skills. It all begins with an informal dinner and get-together on your first night at Lough Eske Castle Hotel. Overnight at Lough Eske Castle Hotel, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Included
Day 3: Edel MacBride Knitting Workshop and Spinning & Dyeing Demonstration with Markree Wool Craft
Begin your day with Edel MacBride’s workshop. The knitting project has been designed for your by Edel and will have options based on your proficiency or knitting style. For example, if it is her latest cowl design there will be a scarf and hat option with the same stitches and the option to use multiple colours. Edel's passion is Aran and new ways to work stitches while keeping things simple! Her tricks of the trade are second to none having first starting knitting at age three while watching her mum knit aran sweaters. Edel has developed speedier ways to cable and you will gain much from her high end finishing techniques and tips.
The design will be worked in a Donegal yarn with the choice of using Edel's custom made Sliabh Liag yarn, spun in Donegal and inspired by the Slabh Liag (Slieve League) cliffs which you will soon visit.Bring your favourite knitting tools. Edel works the projects on 4.5 and 5mm straight needles but you are welcome to use circulars too. We will advise you in advance. Lunch (included) will be at Lough Eske. In the afternoon, a cheese and wine event will set the scene followed by a Spinning & Dyeing demonstration with Mary from Markree Woolcraft. Mary will demonstrate some traditional Irish spinning techniques on a Donegal Spinning Wheel. She will talk to you about her dyeing techniques using local hedgerow plants and lichens. Be sure and take a walk around the grounds of the hotel on the shores of Lough Eske. Overnight at Lough Eske Castle Hotel, Lunch, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast Included.
Day 4: Optional Donegal Craft Tour, Slieve League Cliffs & Glencolmcille Region
Today you have the choice of relaxing at your hotel or joining the group, along with Edel, for a tour of the Western Donegal region. Remember to take your knitting along with you if you decide to take the tour. We will visit Studio Donegal where traditional Irish hand-weaving is preserved and promoted. The hand-weaving process including, spinning, warping and weaving of the wool can all be viewed at Studio Donegal. Merino yarn is dyed and spun in the region and sold on site. Next, it’s on to the stunning cliffs at Slieve League which are among the highest marine cliffs in Europe. They are an inspiration for Edel’s locally spun Sliabh Liag wool.
Lunch (included) will be at Slieve League before we continue our tour on to Glencolmcille Folk Village. Here you will spend some time knitting with locals. Knitting, spinning, weaving and dyeing of wool has always been part of the lives and culture of the locals in this area. Glencolmcille is a fishing community where the Aran sweater was both a necessity for warmth and second nature to the people of the area. We then visit the Rossan collection where three generations of the McNellis family have been hand looming knitwear and which is now produced at Glencolmcille Woollen Mill. This particular collection of knitwear carries both modern and traditional designs which are inspired by the Donegal landscape. Return to your hotel in time for dinner. Overnight Lough Eske Castle Hotel, Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Included.
Day 5: Workshop with Edel MacBride and Afternoon Tea at Lough Eske
After breakfast we resume our workshop with Edel where you have the opportunity to view some of her amazing work with the group. In the afternoon, enjoy an Afternoon Tea at Lough Eske Castle Hotel which will be followed by a brief tour of the Castle. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure before re-joining the group for dinner. Overnight Lough Eske Castle, Afternoon Tea, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast Included.
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Day 6: Ulster American Folk Park, Carrickmacross Lace and Dublin
After breakfast and check-out, we embark on our journey to Dublin. We stop along the way at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh which explores the historical links between Ulster and America. This park focuses particularly on the lifestyle and experiences of emigrants who sailed from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. The weaver’s cottage may be of particular interest to you where you can see an authentic handloom which was used in the past to weave tweed or linen by the man of the house as his wife spun the flax fibres into yarn. The children carded and combed the flax in preparation for the spinning wheel process. You will see a demonstration on the spinning wheel and hear all about traditional yarn dyeing methods practiced in those times.
Following lunch (included), our next stop will be at Carrickmacross Lace where you will enjoy fine lace masterpieces which have been produced in the region for over two centuries. Staff will demonstrate the intricate needlework involved in creating the finished, meticulously crafted pieces. Finally, we continue on to Dublin where there will be some free time for sightseeing or shopping before dinner. Your farewell dinner will be at your hotel. Overnight Hyatt Centric Hotel, Lunch, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast Included.
After your final Irish breakfast depart the hotel for Dublin airport arriving in time to complete check-in formalities and that last-minute duty free shopping.
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