The Tender Harvest: An Autumn Retreat in Ireland

Your retreat week will be at the award-winning Ballymaloe House. Condé Nast Traveller Magazine has acknowledged Ballymaloe House on their Gold List, and it was the only Irish venue on this prestigious list of the World’s top 100 hotels. The McKenna Guide 2018 listed Ballymaloe House as one of Ireland’s 100 Best Restaurants.

Accommodation at Ballymaloe House is simple and elegant. Each room has a private bathroom (many with bathtubs).  All accommodations have a calm and relaxing feel. There are paintings and drawings by Irish modern artists such as Pat Scott, Michael Farrell, Louis Le Brocquy and Norah McGuinness throughout the house, as well as examples of Irish studio pottery.

Enjoy afternoon tea in the drawing room by the fire or in the conservatory, which is filled with scented geraniums and winter jasmine and overlooks our gardens and river. The gardens are dotted with benches, where you can sit and read or listen to the sounds of the farm. During our visit, the drawing room will be warm and peaceful—the perfect place to relax after a long walk by the sea and look out at the wild Irish sky.

Yoga classes will be onsite at the “Grainstore,” which was originally built in the 17th century, but converted to host groups and events. Wood floors, quiet and lots of light offer a perfect space for dailiy classes.

During our week, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the grounds of Ballymaloe, a picnic on the Ballycotton cliffs, and a day trip to Blarney castle (with a special dinner out at a surprise restaurant!). We offer an visit to the Ballymaloe cooking school grounds, and the change to sauna and cold dip in the Atlantic! This unique retreat will open your eyes to many of the splendors of Ireland and is perfect for single travelers, couples, culinary enthusiasts and you!

Please plan to meet the group at Ballymaloe House on the start day of your retreat. Rooms will be available between 2 and 4pm. On the last day of your retreat, check out is after breakfast (so there will not be a yoga class on that day).

The closest airport to Ballymaloe House is Cork international (ORK) which is about 30 minutes via taxi or car. The other major airports in Ireland are Dublin (3 hour drive) and Shannon (2 hour drive). We anticipate that some participants will add time before or after the retreat to explore and some may choose to fly into an Dublin or Shannon, rent a car or take other transportation, for example hiring a private driver service to get to Cork and then to our retreat home at Ballymaloe. 

There is so much beauty worth exploring if you have any extra time to add. In the past, some have added time in Dublin, while others have ventured from Cork to Killarney, the ring of Kerry, Dingle and other gems.  Kinsale is also a lovely village not far from Cork.  So, a car rental may be worth it, especially if shared by a friend or two (to share the cost) …  but don’t forget – the Irish drive on the left!

We will start gathering participants travel plans well in advance, and certainly if we see many on similar flights arriving to the Cork Airport, we may be able to connect those of you on similar arrivals if you want to hire a taxi bus as a group.  For transportation after the retreat (for example back to Cork airport), the receptionist at Ballymaloe can easily assist.

• Cool weather clothing
• Good walking shoes
• A couple of nicer outfits for evenings out
• Yoga clothes
• Adapters for electronics

Shawn Parell, LMHC, RYT-500, is an expert yoga teacher, integrative therapist, and writer whose work expresses fluency in the science and artistry of wellbeing. For 20+ years, Shawn has mentored hundreds of yoga teachers and guided thousands of practitioners in somatic mindfulness. She is a licensed therapist in private practice in Santa Fe, NM, and teaches courses and immersive retreats worldwide. Shawn holds an M.A. in Eastern Classics and Sanskrit from St. John’s College and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Southwestern College. She explores the complexities and creative potential of being human in times of radical change while sharing contemplative essays, conversations, live classes, playlists, and more at The Guest House.
[read more about Shawn]

Erin Sibley Doerwald, LCSW, CMT-P, RYT-200 is a psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher, and yoga instructor with over two decades of experience supporting holistic health and wellbeing. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she integrates yoga, mindfulness, and resiliency practices to foster healing through workshops, retreats, clinical work, and her business, Hello Wellness. She has taught individuals from all walks of life in corporate, healthcare, educational, and nonprofit settings. A yoga practitioner since 1999, Erin’s teaching is rooted in Iyengar, vinyasa, and restorative practices, complemented by her expertise in interpersonal neurobiology and trauma-sensitive approaches. Certified by UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, Erin has been teaching mindfulness since 2012, blending modern science with ancient traditions. Her work embodies a deep connection to nature and community while inviting individuals to cultivate self-compassion and deepen their insight and awareness.  [read more about Erin]

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ROOM
Queen / King or 2 twin beds
$4195 per person

SUPERIOR DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ROOM:
$4495 per person

SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOM:
$4895 

*to reserve, you only need to place your initial $695 deposit. We will confirm your reservation and can split your balance into payments through June 2026

NOT INCLUDED:

• Travel to and from Ballymaloe House
• Optional activities 
• Gratuities you might like to offer drivers and guides
• Travel Insurance (highly recommended – see Travel Guard Link)

Refunds and Cancellations: Refund less deposit ($695) before June 1, 2026. No refunds after June 1, 2026. Due to arrangements made with our vacation hosts, there can be no exceptions to this policy.

If you place a deposit, the balance due will be set to charge in equal installments starting the month after deposit through June 2026, unless other arrangements are made. Participants will be required to sign the application and  liability waiver to participate on this trip.

We HIGHLY recommend that you consider purchasing Travel Insurance. Travel insurance companies like Travel Guard and Trawick International offer policies that insure your investment in case you need to cancel (including “cancel for any reason” coverages), coverages for expenses incurred due to to weather & travel delays, personal property loss and emergency travel medical.  Please review policies carefully to choose the coverage you need.

We recommend that you consider purchasing trip insurance to protect your investment. AIG Travel Guard and Trawick International are two providers that we recommend. Please review policies carefully to ensure they provide the coverage you need.

We recommend that you consider purchasing trip insurance to protect your investment. Trawick International and Travel Guard are two providers that we recommend. Please review policies carefully to ensure they provide the coverage you need.