About Fiddlers Retreat
About Theresa Bourke
Founder • Irish Fiddle Performer • Educator • Counsellor
Theresa Bourke is the founder of Fiddlers Retreat, Ireland’s first Irish Music and Culture Holiday, established in 2004. Her career bridges the worlds of performance, education, and psychology — a rare combination that shapes every retreat experience.
An All-Ireland Champion fiddler and certified traditional music teacher (Teastas i dTeagasc Ceolta Tíre, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann) since 1993, Theresa has performed on the world’s most celebrated stages with internationally renowned productions including Lord of the Dance, Spirit of Ireland, and Brú Ború. She has toured in over fifty countries, representing Ireland’s musical heritage across Europe, Asia, North America, and beyond.
Academically, Theresa holds:
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BA (Hons) in Music with English – Maynooth University
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Higher Diploma in Education Music and English – Trinity College Dublin
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MA in Traditional Irish Music Performance – University of Limerick
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Higher Diploma in Public Relations – Irish Academy of Public Relations
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MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy – Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences
Her professional background extends far beyond the stage. Theresa has served as Head Teacher and School Principal in newly established Cambridge International Schools in Moscow and St Petersburg, while continuing to lead Fiddlers Retreat during academic breaks. This blend of artistry, academic depth, and psychological insight gives Fiddlers Retreat its distinctive edge. Theresa’s approach integrates the discipline of professional musicianship with evidence-based principles of motivation, confidence, and wellbeing — offering participants a learning experience that is as personal as it is professional.
Now directing the retreat’s programme design and quality standards, Theresa ensures that every offering — from Irish Fiddle Masterclasses to the Musicians’ Therapeutic Wellbeing Retreat — reflects the authenticity, precision, and care that have made Fiddlers Retreat internationally respected.
“Technical mastery is one part of the journey — the greater art lies in presence, expression, and flow.”
Fiddlers Retreat — Sample Itineraries
Note on flexibility
The following outlines are a guideline. Theresa will use her professional experience and judgement to adjust content and pacing to maximise learning outcomes for the group.
Who it’s for
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Primary focus: Irish fiddle (melody players welcome by arrangement)
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Levels: Upper‑beginner to advanced
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Group size: 6–10 participants (small, hands‑on)
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What’s included
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10 Hours of Tuition & mentoring: Up to 6 hours of structured workshops + 4 hours informal playing
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Home‑cooked lunch: Fresh, seasonal lunches on Saturday or Sunday at Theresa’s kitchen table
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Local experiences: Guided traditional Irish music pub session(s), cultural excursion, and curated listening
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Materials: Tune sheets, bowing/ornamentation exercises, practice plans
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Transport (local): Group transport for the official excursion and evening session(s)
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Accommodation: Single‑occupancy, en‑suite room with no single supplement (partner hotel or equivalent) with breakfast included.
Not included: Evening Dinners, drinks, snacks outside the home‑cooked lunch; travel to/from Thurles, Co. Tipperary; travel insurance; personal purchases.
Fee & value
Individual fee: €1,150 per person.
There’s no single supplement — every guest has a private, en‑suite room. Your fee supports small‑group tuition with an All‑Ireland champion and master teacher, curated cultural experiences (sessions, local heritage), high‑touch feedback, and two nourishing home‑cooked lunches. This keeps the focus where it belongs: your playing, your confidence, and authentic Irish musical culture.
WEEKEND ITINERARY (Fri–Mon)
Day 1 — Friday (Arrival & Settle)
From 15:00 — Check‑in (single rooms, en‑suite)
17:00–18:00 — Welcome tea, tune‑swap & goal‑setting circle
18:00–19:30 — Workshop 1: Finding the Pulse
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Bowing fundamentals that drive lift and lilt
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Ornamentation sampler (cuts, rolls, slides)
19:30–21:30 — Dinner (independent)
21:30–late — Optional local trad session (listening/playing)
Day 2 — Saturday (Immersion)
09:30–10:00 — Slow practice warm‑up (breath, tone, phrasing)
10:00–12:00 — Workshop 2: Repertoire & Style
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One dance type in depth (jig/reel/hornpipe set)
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Regional colour, variation pathways
12:30–13:30 — Home‑cooked lunch
14:00–16:00 — Cultural Excursion (e.g., Rock of Cashel / Holycross Abbey / local craft & story)
16:30–18:00 — Workshop 3: Ensemble Skills (backing, lift, starts/stops)
18:00–20:00 — Dinner (independent)
Day 3 — Sunday (Integration & Traditional Pub Session)
09:30–10:00 — Stretch, bow‑control & micro‑ornament drills
10:00–12:00 — Workshop 4: Ornamentation in context (roll mechanics, phrasing)
12:15–13:15 — Home‑cooked lunch
13:30–14:30 — Performance lab, next‑steps practice map
14:30-16:30 — Cultural excursion
16:00-18:30 — Hotel for relaxation and dinner
18:30- 21:00 — Traditional Irish Music Pub Session - opportunity to join in
Day 4 — Monday (Departure)
Depart Hotel By 12:00 — Departures
LONG WEEKEND ITINERARY (Fri–Mon)
Day 1 — Friday (Arrive)
From 15:00 — Check‑in
17:00–18:00 — Welcome, tune‑swap, intentions
18:00–19:30 — Workshop 1: Groove & pulse
Evening — Dinner (independent) + optional session
Day 2 — Saturday (Technique & Repertoire)
09:30–10:00 — Tone & bowing warm‑ups
10:00–12:00 — Workshop 2: Repertoire deep dive
12:30–13:30 — Home‑cooked lunch
14:00–16:00 — Workshop 3: Variation & voice
Evening — Dinner (independent)
Day 3 — Sunday (Culture & Sessioncraft)
10:00–12:00 — Workshop 3: Sessioncraft, sets & starts
12:30–13:30 — Home‑cooked lunch
14:00–16:00 — Cultural excursion
20:30–late — Live traditional Irish music pub session (play‑in option)
Day 4 — Monday (Departure)
Depart Hotel By 12:00 — Departures
Learning Outcomes (sample)
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Strengthen bowing, tone, and rhythmic lift
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Add authentic ornaments with control and taste
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Build 2–4 performance‑ready sets with variation
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Improve confidence in live session settings
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Leave with a structured 4‑week practice map
Practical Info
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Location: Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
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Getting here: Train to Thurles; airport options Dublin/Shannon; local taxi available
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What to bring: Fiddle, tuner, spare strings, notebook, comfortable shoes, rain layer
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Dietary needs: Lunches can accommodate common dietary requirements with advance notice
Policies
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Group size: Min 6 / Max 10
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Flexibility: Schedule/content may be adjusted to best serve the group’s learning
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Payments/Cancellations: Standard terms provided at booking (email for details)
Your Stay at the Anner Hotel
Retreat guests are accommodated at the Anner Hotel, a charming four-star property in the heart of Thurles, just a short stroll from the town centre. The hotel blends classic Irish hospitality with modern comfort, featuring spacious ensuite rooms, a full leisure centre with pool, sauna, and gym, and beautifully maintained gardens for quiet reflection between sessions.
Guests can enjoy breakfast each morning and have the freedom to dine in the hotel’s award-winning restaurant or explore the many nearby cafés and pubs in Thurles. Its central location makes it the perfect base for excursions to cultural landmarks such as the Rock of Cashel and Upperchurch — all within easy reach.
The Anner offers a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that complements the calm, reflective spirit of the Fiddlers Retreat experience.