Willowbrook Creative Writing Retreat 2026

A weekend of writing workshops and activities facilitated by some incredibly talented writers. This is our seventh creative writing retreat. It involves readings / performances by the different facilitators, a full day of workshops, an open mic session, all your meals provided, and a novel little activity to close out the weekend. The retreat is suitable for a broad range of writers, from those who have been published, to those dippping their toe in for the first time. What we curate is a gorgeous, relaxed, judgement free weekend, where you get the opportunity to learn from 3 extremely talented writers and to explore your curiosity with words, and ignite that creative spark that we all hold inside. Every event thus far has been simply magic, and no doubt this one will be no different.

So, some details:

Your accommodation and all your meals are included in your ticket price. Shortly after arrival on Friday evening we will share some pizza freshly baked in our wood fired pizza oven (gluten free and vegan options available). There will be continental breakfast each morning. We will break up the Saturday with lunch in the early afternoon, and dinner on Saturday will be provided by highly recommended local caterer. Expect delicious. Vegan  and GF options will be available. Accommodation will be in one of our extremely cosy yurts or other glamping units. (accommodation will be split into male & female units). This year, as well as our standard 'sharing accommodation' ticket, we also have a limited number of 'solo accommodation' tickets which includes your own glamping unit (not sharing with others). We do have different types of accommodation units which some of you may be familiar with so it will be first in best dressed if you have a preference!!! If you have friends coming to the retreat, please let us know when booking and we will do our best to place you in the same accommodation. For those who wish to camp (including campervans or caravans) or locals who do not require accommodation, there are a limited number of discounted tickets which will include all workshops and meals.

On Friday evening, after we eat, we will have readings by all of the facilitators who will be running workshops the next day. Saturday you will have the opportunity to attend 3 different workshops. There will be some spare time to go for a walk or to work on some of the things explored during the workshops and in the evening we will have an open mic, where you will have the opportunity to share with the group something created during the day, or previously. This will be a judgement free weekend, and there is no obligation on anyone to read or perform during the open mic.

On sunday morning we will have breakfast and then something just a little bit special to ease you back into the real world.

The Facilitators for this wonderful weekend are:

Catherine Dunne 

Catherine Dunne is the award winning author of twelve novels, several essays and one work of non-fiction. An Unconsidered People documents the lived experience of Irish immigrants in Britain in the dismal years of the 1950s.

The Things We Know Now won the Giovanni Boccaccio International Prize for Fiction in 2013 and The Years That Followed was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award.

Her latest novel, A Good Enough Mother, published by Betimes Books, won the inaugural European Rapallo Prize for fiction in November 2023.

She was the recipient of the 2018 Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Contribution to Irish Literature and is a member of Aosdána.

Gerry Boland

Gerry Boland is a poet, author, editor and mentor. He has published ten books (poetry, fiction, non-fiction) and has edited several magazines and anthologies, including two major literary anthologies for Roscommon County Council. He has wide experience of leading writing workshops in poetry, short fiction and memoir, and for several years he has been offering a one-to-one mentoring service to writers.

Jess Kav

Jess Kav is a multidisciplinary artist and vocalist known for her "lightning energy" and soul-stirring performances. A true creative polymath, she bridges the worlds of music and stage as a playwright, spoken word artist, actor, and music producer. Jess is a dedicated facilitator, committed to fostering connection and empowerment through the transformative power of the arts. Whether leading a workshop or commanding a stage, her work is defined by raw authenticity and the pursuit of creative joy.

is a multidisciplinary artist and vocalist known for her "lightning energy" and soul-stirring performances. A true creative polymath, she bridges the worlds of music and stage as a playwright, spoken word artist, actor, and music producer. Jess is a dedicated facilitator, committed to fostering connection and empowerment through the transformative power of the arts. Whether leading a workshop or commanding a stage, her work is defined by raw authenticity and the pursuit of creative joy.

Prices:
Full weekend including glamping accommodation(shared), meals & workshops (members presale) €225

Full weekend including glamping accommodation(shared), meals & workshops €250

Full weekend including glamping accommodation(own unit), meals & workshops €420

Full weekend including meals & workshops, and camping pitch for tent/campervan/caravan €180 

Full weekend including meals & workshops, but no accommodation or camping  (staying off site) €160

A brief look at what the agenda for the weekend will be like....

Friday 4th September:
-Check in for those staying on site from 2pm if you wish to come early and explore our little bit of paradise.
-6.30pm: Welcome & Shared dinner
-8.30pm: Performances of original work by our facilitators

Saturday 6th September:
-8am-9.30am: Self Serve Continental breakfast in Campers Kitchen
-9.30am: Writing Workshop 1
-11am :Tea break
-11.30am: Writing Workshop 2
-1pm: Shared Lunch
-2pm: Writing Workshop 3
-3.30pm - 6pm : Free time to create, should the mood take you.
-6pm: Shared dinner
-8pm: Open mic spoken word session - your opportunity to share your work with the group should you choose to do so.

Sunday 7th September:
-8am-9.30am: Self Serve Continental breakfast in Campers Kitchen
-9.30am: Wellness session.
-11am: Check out.

What people said about our previous Creative Writing Retreats:

In Willowbrook you can have your own balance of interaction and silence in whatever measures you want. The interaction will connect you with good fun good ideas, great crack and one hell of a sing song. The silence will connect you to a deep source of intuition. It’s no coincidence that the words silent and listen have the same letters, so don’t be surprised if in the silence you get the answers you’re looking for.  – Mike (2024)

Tuesday and Wes have a very warm and welcoming way of providing and facilitating writing workshops that inspire and support new and seasoned writers to develop and hone their craft. I can't recommend it highly enough. – Siobhan (2024)

Very professionally organized with a wonderful choice of facilitators to get the creative juices flowing. – Patricia (2023)

I spent a wonderful weekend at the creative writing course; It’s a gift to have this amazing sanctuary on my doorstep - Annamarie (2022)

One of the best experiences I have had in ages – Gemma (2019)

For any queries, please get in touch in one of the following ways:
-Call us on (094)98 61307
-Email us at…… hello@willowbrookglamping.ie We are Very much looking forward to welcoming you all to Willowbrook for yet another wonderful weekend of creativity!

Tickets to this event are issued on a first come - first served basis, and are transferable but non-refundable