Calendar of Events

The Year in Tune – 2025 & 2026 Retreat Calendar

Each Fiddlers Retreat weekend is a carefully crafted blend of music, reflection, and Irish culture. The retreats follow the rhythm of the seasons — from winter’s quiet focus on tone and precision to summer’s open, expressive energy.

Our 2025–2026 calendar outlines the full sequence of retreats designed for musicians at every stage, from absolute beginners to advanced players and professional educators. Each retreat highlights specific tune types, skills, and learning outcomes while preserving time for rest, conversation, and cultural exploration.

You’ll find weekends devoted to bow control, phrasing, rhythm, and expression — along with dedicated retreats for beginners, slow airs, and professional teacher training. Whichever you choose, you’ll experience authentic Irish music in its natural setting, guided by experience, insight, and care.

November 21-24 - Driving Rhythm and Bow

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Reconnect with tone, bow balance, and phrasing. Learn controlled bow changes, slow-air shaping, and rhythmic flow through reels and hornpipes.

Experience Highlights:

Tone workshops, slow practice sessions, reflective listening, guided relaxation for posture and balance.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

December 12-15 - Phrasing & Ornamentation: The Art of Expression

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Master rolls, cuts, and slides in context. Shape phrases musically. Explore variation and tone nuance through selected reels, jigs, and hornpipes.

Experience Highlights:

Detailed demonstrations, individual feedback, tone meditation, expressive ensemble playing.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

January 23–26 – Winter Reset: Bow Control & Flow

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Reconnect with tone, bow balance, and phrasing. Learn controlled bow changes, slow-air shaping, and rhythmic flow through reels and hornpipes.

Experience Highlights:

Tone workshops, slow practice sessions, reflective listening, guided relaxation for posture and balance.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

February 20–23 – Lilt & Lift: Rhythmic Foundations

Level: Intermediate / Professional

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Strengthen internal pulse and rhythmic drive through jigs, reels, and slides. Develop groove awareness and accent control.

Experience Highlights:

Group rhythm circles, ear-training, ensemble playing, pub rhythm observation night.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

March 20–23 – Beginner Immersion: Spring Awakening

Level: Beginners / Returning Players

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Build basic technique: bow hold, intonation, and timing. Learn simple polkas, jigs, and reels by ear. Develop comfort with repetition and group rhythm.

Experience Highlights:

Step-by-step tuition, warm-ups, gentle pace, supportive small-group setting.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

April 10–13 – Phrasing & Ornamentation: The Art of Expression

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Master rolls, cuts, and slides in context. Shape phrases musically. Explore variation and tone nuance through selected reels, jigs, and hornpipes.

Experience Highlights:

Detailed demonstrations, individual feedback, tone meditation, expressive ensemble playing.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

May 22–25 – Immersion: Irish Fiddle Foundations and The Art of Expression

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Reinforce core skills: steady rhythm, bow direction, and simple tune patterns. Build a small, confident repertoire.

Experience Highlights:

Group practice, play-alongs, practice recordings, cultural visit.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

June 19–22 – Teaching Irish Style: Passing It On

Level: Professional / Teacher Training

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Learn methods for teaching ornamentation, rhythm, and phrasing to students of different backgrounds. Gain structured lesson frameworks.

Experience Highlights:

Peer teaching demos, reflective pedagogy discussions, lesson planning templates, certificate of participation.

Retreat Fee – €2,250 per participant

August 28–31 – Slow Air & O’Carolan Melodies: The Soul of the Fiddle

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Deepen expressive playing through slow airs and O’Carolan’s music. Learn tone shaping, bow breath, and ornament control.

Experience Highlights:

Reflective sessions, guided tone workshops, candlelit performance evening.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

September 11–14 – The Inner Musician: Psychology of Performance

Level: Intermediate / Professional

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Combine performance technique with psychological insight. Manage anxiety, enhance confidence, and enter creative flow.

Experience Highlights:

Mindfulness sessions, guided visualisation, discussion on self-efficacy and motivation, relaxed evening sharing.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

October 16–19 – Beginner Immersion: Roots & Rhythm

Level: Beginners / Returning Learners

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Strengthen rhythmic accuracy and ensemble confidence. Refresh earlier learning through steady jigs, reels, and polkas.

Experience Highlights:

Group play, rhythm drills, live session preparation, Q&A.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

November 20–23 – Reflect & Refine: End-of-Year Tune Clinic

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Focus & Learning Outcomes:

Review and polish repertoire. Refine articulation, phrasing, and transitions. Prepare for personal or performance goals.

Experience Highlights:

One-to-one tune clinics, small-group feedback, recording analysis, celebration session.

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

All Retreats Include

• Six hours of guided tuition in small groups

• Two cultural excursions (e.g. Rock of Cashel, local heritage sites)

• Two lunches hosted at Theresa’s home

• Evening traditional music session

• Optional online post-retreat coaching

• Accommodation at the Anner Hotel, Thurles (B&B basis)

Retreat Fee – €1,150 per participant

The weekend retreat fee of €1,150 reflects the professional calibre, personal attention, and cultural authenticity that define Fiddlers Retreat. There is no single supplement — each guest enjoys their own private room at the four-star Anner Hotel in Thurles for the duration of the retreat.

Your fee includes six hours of small-group tuition with founder Theresa Bourke, one home-cooked lunch, cultural excursions, and guided access to live traditional music sessions. Guests are free to choose where and when they dine outside of the retreat’s scheduled meals — offering flexibility to enjoy the excellent restaurants and pubs in Thurles and Cashel.

Each retreat is intentionally small, allowing for meaningful interaction, personalised guidance, and space to grow both musically and personally. It’s not a tour — it’s an immersive, thoughtfully curated learning experience designed to leave you enriched, inspired, and deeply connected to Irish music and culture.

Professional Note

Each retreat follows a carefully designed structure balancing musical learning, rest, and cultural immersion. While these outlines serve as a guide, Theresa applies her professional expertise and judgement to tailor content, pace, and repertoire to the needs of each group, ensuring every participant gains the maximum learning benefit from their time at Fiddlers Retreat.

Professional Teacher Training

For music educators seeking to deepen their understanding of Irish traditional music, Professional Teacher Training is available alongside any of the retreats outlined above.

Teachers are welcome to participate fully in the retreat experience while receiving tailored instruction focused on teaching methods, stylistic interpretation, and repertoire development. Each programme is adapted to your level and area of interest — whether you’re introducing Irish music to classical students, expanding your own teaching portfolio, or refining advanced pedagogical techniques.

Participants who complete the training receive a Certificate of Professional Development from Fiddlers Retreat, recognising their commitment to quality teaching and cultural authenticity.

A rare opportunity to train under the guidance of an experienced performer–educator in an authentic Irish cultural setting.

For Non-Playing Guests

Music may take centre stage at Fiddlers Retreat, but the experience is far wider than the fiddle. Non-playing guests are warmly welcome to share in the rhythm of the weekend — the excursions, the home-cooked lunches, the laughter, and the atmosphere of Irish hospitality.

With a 10% reduction on the retreat fee (€1,035), non-playing guests can accompany their partner or friend, explore local heritage sites, relax in the comfort of the Anner Hotel, and enjoy evenings filled with live traditional music.

It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in Irish culture without ever needing to pick up a bow — a weekend of discovery, great company, and genuine connection.

How to Reserve Your Place

To begin your Fiddlers Retreat journey, simply let us know your preferred retreat, the dates that suit you best, and a few details about your musical background or playing experience. This helps us ensure that each group is balanced and that your tuition is perfectly matched to your level.

Once we receive your preferences, we’ll confirm availability, answer any questions you may have, and guide you through the simple booking process.

Spaces are limited to maintain our small-group atmosphere, so early reservation is encouraged — particularly for the Slow Air & O’Carolan and Teacher Training retreats, which fill quickly.