Song of the Sea:
A Women’s Singing Retreat in Ireland
The Song House, Donegal
July 14-20, 2026
You’re Invited on a Magical Journey.
Join us for a 7-day singing immersion where the mountains meet the sea, at the spectacular Song House in Donegal, Ireland.
The Song House lies in the heart of the ‘Donegal Gaeltacht’ – an area where the native Irish language is commonly spoken. Sandwiched between wild and expansive Atlantic sandy beaches on one side, and the ‘Seven Sisters’ mountain range on the other, the drama and beauty of the local landscape will take your breath away.
Donegal is a special place in Ireland where traditional music thrives, where local folklore has been passed down for generations, and where the wildness of the landscape is inseparable from the songs and stories of its people. Come, and fill up the well that feeds you through song, culture, nature, and community.
This 6-night/7-day immersive retreat will offer a blend and balance of soul-nourishing group singing, workshop style classes, traditional Irish guest instructors, and plenty of free time to enjoy the beauty and magic of the area. Part wellness retreat, part cultural immersion, this week-long journey has been thoughtfully crafted to inspire, enliven, and nourish your spirit on the deepest levels.
Limited to an intimate group of 13 participants, this retreat is open to all those with lived experience as a woman, including non-binary folx who feel comfortable in a woman-centred space. No singing experience is required.
About Donegal and The Song House
Set in the heart of the traditional Gaeltacht area of Donegal, The Song House (“Teach na nAmhrán” in Irish) lies on the Wild Atlantic Way. Originally named The Poets’ House, The Song House was an international centre of literary activity for over two decades, hosting leading lights of Irish poetry such as Seamus Heaney. Under its present musical ownership, the house continues to be full of character, and to inspire creativity and learning.
The Song House sits at the foot of the majestic Muckish Mountain, with its organic garden blending beautifully into the views. Surrounded by rugged elemental nature – the wild Atlantic Ocean, expansive sandy beaches, hidden caves and wells, mountains and bogland, this area of Donegal represents the best of a county voted the “coolest place on the planet” by National Geographic in 2017 and the “4th best region in the world” by Lonely Planet.
Recently restored to a high environmental standard, the house is warm and comfortable, with beautiful views across the local countryside. The Song House will be our home base for this week-long retreat, with a beautiful workshop room, comfortable accommodations, a communal dining room, and a fantastic organic garden with flowers, herbs and fruits. The Song House is less than five minutes drive from the town of Falcarragh, and two miles from the sea.
To learn more about The Song House, visit their website by clicking here or check them out on Instagram @thesonghouse.
Schedule of our Retreat Days
Tuesday, July 14th:
3:00 pm: Arrive at the Song House, settle in, explore the land, and drink some tea
5:30 pm: Orientation with The Song House Coordinator
6:00 pm: Welcome & Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Opening Circle & Evening Session
Wednesday, July 15th - Sunday, July 19th:
8:30 am - 9:30 am: Breakfast
10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Morning Singing Session
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm - 5:00 pm: Optional Group Activities & Free Time
6:00 pm: Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Evening Session
Monday, July 20th:
8:30 am - 9:30 am: Breakfast
10:00 am: Pack up & Departures
Our Itinerary
After breakfast each day, we’ll begin with a morning singing session with Mila, in the beautiful workshop room at The Song House. On some mornings, we may choose to sing outside in the garden, with spectacular views of Mukish mountain to the east.
Our afternoons will be free time for optional group activities, rest, relaxation, or personal exploring in the area. You can see a selection of optional group activities below.
Our evenings will include a mixture of group singing with Mila, and special events for our group that will include:
An evening song workshop with authentic Donegal Irish seán-nos singers (an old Irish traditional way of singing)
Fireside storytelling of local Irish myths and legends, with Donegal storyteller
A lively evening at a local “Ceilidh” with traditional Irish music and dance. Expect lots of fiddling!
Optional Afternoon Group Activities include:
A boat trip to spectacular islands of the Donegal coast, only ten minutes away
A hike to the summit of Muckish mountain, for a panorama of the whole of northwest Ireland
Swim, surf, or soak up the sun at Drumnatinney beach, that stretches for three miles along the wild Atlantic coastline, just 2 miles from The Song House
Spend an afternoon at Glenveagh National Park, visit the Castle and the exceptional Italian Garden on the estate that is now the home of a thousand red deer
A lively afternoon at a local Ceilidh with traditional Irish music and dance
Walk on the old Burtonport to Derry Railway path, just 10 minutes from The Song House. Bogland, mountain, heather and rowan
Visit the ruins of Ray Church beside the Ray river, sacked by Cromwell 400 years ago but still standing, with a 24-foot cross made out of a single stone that is the largest in Ireland
For a more detailed ‘Itinerary at a Glance’ of our retreat days, you can click here.
Meet Your Retreat Host
Mila Redwood is a Community Song Leader, Mother, and the Founder of Sing for Joy in Toronto. Mila uses song as a tool for building community, for restoring our sense of belonging and connection in a fragmented world. She is passionate about singing together in the oral tradition, in the simple yet powerful ways that people have done for time immemorial. As the Founder of Sing for Joy, Mila pioneered a Community Singing movement in Ontario that has grown exponentially over the past decade. To read more about Mila, including her personal singing story, click here.
What’s included in this retreat…
Singing with Mila: Expect to sing a lot! There will be a mixture of song circles and workshop-style classes. Singing will be spread across five morning sessions and two evening sessions.
Special Events: There are three group activities included: An evening of song with authentic Donegal Irish seán-nos singers; Fireside storytelling of local Irish legends and myths with Donegal storyteller; Lively afternoon at a local “Ceilidh” with traditional Irish music and dance. Taxis for these activities are included in your booking.
Accommodations: Your accommodations are included in the price. All rooms at the Song House are double occupancy, except for one triple room. There is a single room option for two people who wish to stay at a local AirBnB, a short walk from the Song House.
Meals: Our meals will be prepared by the wonderful Louise Ozbey, The Song House Cook. There will be options for both omnivore and vegetarian diets, and will include locally grown organic salads and local free-range eggs. Louise is able to accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan preferences.
Local Transport from Falcarragh: The Song House can provide transportation from the local town of Falcarragh, for those who are arriving by bus from Dublin or Belfast.
Bedding and Towels: Bedding and towels are provided for all who are staying at The Song House and nearby AirBnB.
What’s not included in this retreat…
Airfare to Ireland, and Transport to Falcarragh: You will need to book your own flight to Ireland, and transport to Falcarragh, which is the closest town to The Song House. For those without a car, we can arrange transportation from Falcarragh to The Song House.
Travel insurance: Please remember to purchase your own travel insurance for this retreat, including medical and trip cancellation insurance.
Optional Group Activities: Some of these activities are free, and some of them have costs. Free activities include: A hike to the summit of Muckish mountain; Swim or soak up the sun at Drumnatinney beach; Walk on the old Burtonport to Derry Railway path; Visit the ruins of Ray Church beside the Ray river. Paid activities include: A boat trip to spectacular islands of the Donegal coast; A visit to Glenveagh National Park; Local live music in the evenings.
Any food and drinks purchased at the Ceilidh on Sunday afternoon.
*All local transportation expenses for optional group activities will be covered by participants. For those without a car, taxis in the area are quite affordable. The Song House staff will be glad to assist guests with information about local activities.
How to Get There
For detailed information on how to get to The Song House, you can click here.
For Toronto-area folks, there are direct flights daily from Toronto to Dublin with Air Canada and Aer Lingus. From Dublin Airport, there are daily busses to Falcarragh (the closest town) that depart every hour or two. These busses run direct from Dublin Airport to Letterkenny, with a transfer to Falcarragh.
There are also flights from Toronto to Belfast, which is closer to Falcarragh. These flights have one stop-over. From Belfast, there are daily busses to Falcarragh (the closest town) that depart every hour or two.
For folks who want to rent a car, keep in mind that people drive on the other side of the road in Ireland!
Booking and Accommodations
All prices are in Canadian dollars. The prices below are per person and all-inclusive. Rooms will be reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Please indicate your preferred accommodations on the booking form.
Double Occupancy: Two single beds, shared bathroom - $2850 + sales tax
Triple Occupancy: Three single beds, shared bathroom - $2595 + sales tax
Single Occupancy: Private room at nearby BnB (5 minute walk), shared bathroom - $3150 + sales tax
A Note on Scholarships, Sliding Scale, and Work-Trade:
Organizing and hosting this retreat is a deep labour of love, requiring immense time, energy, and resources. Because of this, and the high expenses, I am only able to offer one work-trade position for this retreat.
Booking Information:
To reserve your spot, please complete the Booking Form by clicking the button below. Once your form is received, I will then send you details to pay a non-refundable deposit of 25% to hold your spot. Your place is confirmed upon payment of the deposit. The remaining payment will be due by February 15, 2026.
Terms & Conditions:
Please read the Terms & Conditions prior to booking your spot. This includes information on payments, refund and cancellation policy, and more. Click here to read the Terms & Conditions.
Words from past retreat participants…
“I am so delighted to have discovered Mila's retreats. We sang all day and it wasn't enough. Mila has such a clear, positive and down-to-earth energy. Grounded and uplifting all at once. Her calm presence really rooted the experience. She made it all feel so simple - I'm still marvelling that we learned those beautiful harmonies together in a way that seemed so effortless.” – Kate Keenan
“Mila holds space with warmth, wonder, and wisdom. The songs she offers seem to be carried in her bones, and her leadership approach is embodied, welcoming, and playful – always uplifting the voices in the room, embracing the gifts that each individual brings to the circle. I felt so deeply nourished by my experience in her retreat, being held by and with community, weaving harmonies, playing, laughing, and crying together – it was like protein to my soul!” – Michaela Bekenn
“Mila draws you in with authenticity and opens you up with her joy. Then, you remember parts of who you really are, and you come home to yourself. Connection and healing happen in the safe, thoughtful, exuberant song-scape that Mila creates. As she moves our group, I experience myself as an essential part of an essential whole, and I know that singing is everyone’s birthright.” – Sarah Vandenberg
“Thank you a thousand times for creating a space where I felt safe, seen, heard, honoured, respected and valued. I felt that I belonged in the most beautiful way in the circle of women that you invited on this journey. Every song resonated in its own unique way and felt like a balm to a different part of my soul, one I did not even realize needed soothing.” – Sacha Salenik
“Singing with Mila changed my life. Learning to sing with her group was a waking-up kind of experience. It felt like breathing. I now know that I’m going to be singing for the rest of my days.” – Parker Glynn-Adey