Song of the Sea:
A Women’s Singing Journey
The Song House
Donegal, Ireland
July 6-12, 2027
You’re Invited on a Journey of a Lifetime.
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 remarkable corner of 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 14 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 The Song House and Donegal
The Song House is much more than a place to stay — it will be our home base, our gathering place, and the heart of this retreat.
Set in the traditional Gaeltacht area of Donegal, The Song House (“Teach na nAmhrán” in Irish) lies on the Wild Atlantic Way. Originally known as The Poets’ House, it was an international centre of literary activity for more than two decades, hosting leading lights of Irish poetry including Seamus Heaney. Steeped in history and brimming with song, the house continues to be full of character, inspiration, and beauty.
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.
The Song House will be our home base for this week-long retreat, with a gorgeous workshop room, charming accommodations, a communal dining room, and a beautiful organic garden with flowers, herbs, and fruits that we can enjoy to our hearts’ delight. 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.
A Typical Day at Song of the Sea
Our days will have a gentle rhythm: singing together in the morning, spacious afternoons for exploring or resting, and evenings filled with song, stories, music, and connection.
Tuesday, July 6th:
4:00 pm: Arrive at the Song House, settle in, explore the garden, 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 7th - Sunday, July 11th:
8:00 am - 9:00 am: Breakfast
9:30 am - 12:00 pm: Morning Singing Session
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm - 5:00 pm: Optional Group Excursions, Exploring, & Free Time
6:00 pm: Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Evening Session
Monday, July 12th:
8:00 am - 9:00 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 workshop room at The Song House. On some mornings, we may choose to sing outside in the garden, with spectacular views of Muckish mountain to the east.
Our afternoons are intentionally spacious. You might join an optional group adventure, explore the area on your own, swim in the Atlantic, take a nap, read in the garden, or simply do nothing at all.
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 local Irish seán-nos singers (an old Irish traditional way of singing)
Fireside storytelling of Irish myths and legends, with a renowned local storyteller
A lively afternoon at an Irish “trad session”, where the local community gathers to share traditional music. Expect lots of fiddles, songs, laughter, and lively music-making!
Optional Afternoon Group Excursions 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 simply soak up the wild beauty of Falcarragh Beach... that stretches for three miles along the wild Atlantic coastline, just two miles from The Song House
Spend an afternoon at Glenveagh National Park, visit the Castle and the exceptional garden on the estate that is now the home of a thousand red deer
Sing to the seals on an Irish music boat tour, guided by renowned local musicians
Enjoy a guided medicinal plant walk with local wisdom keepers, steeped in the history of the land, sea, and plants
Visit an ancient well inside Glenveagh National Park, a short drive from the The Song House
Walk on the old Burtonport to Derry Railway path, just ten minutes from The Song House. Bogland, mountain, heather and rowan make this a particularly beautiful walk.
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
Want to see the week at a glance? View the detailed “sample” itinerary by clicking here.
Meet Your Retreat Host
Mila Redwood is a Community Song Leader and the founder of Sing for Joy in Toronto, where she has spent more than a decade creating spaces for people to experience the joy, belonging, and connection that come from singing together.
Mila pioneered a Community Singing movement in Ontario that has grown exponentially over the past decade. Her approach is rooted in the oral tradition — simple, inclusive, participatory singing that requires no musical training and invites everyone into the circle.
As your host, Mila will be guiding the group throughout the week, leading the singing, creating the rhythm, and helping to hold the space for connection, joy, adventure, and rest.
A Glimpse into Song of the Sea
These moments were captured during our 2026 retreat — a little taste of the singing, adventures, laughter, and magic that made the week so special.
Singing with the local community at their weekly “trad session”, where folks gather to sing traditional Irish songs at the town pub…
“Song of the Sea was a life-giving journey and a tonic for my soul.”
— Michaela Bekenn
What Your Retreat Includes…
Singing with Mila: Expect to sing a lot! We'll gather for five morning singing sessions and two evening sessions, with a mixture of song circles and workshop-style classes.
Special Events: Three special experiences are included in your retreat: an evening workshop with Donegal seán-nós singers, an evening of fireside storytelling with local storytellers, and an afternoon at a lively local “trad session”. Transportation to these events is included.
Accommodation: Six nights' accommodation is included. Most participants will stay at The Song House in double or triple rooms. A limited number of private rooms are available in a nearby guesthouse, a 10-minute walk from The Song House.
Meals: Delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners will be prepared by The Song House cook, Louise Ozbey, with options for omnivores and vegetarians. Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan diets can also be accommodated.
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 Your Retreat Doesn’t Include…
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 rental 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.
Any food and drinks purchased at the “trad session” on Sunday afternoon.
Optional Group Excursions (Afternoons): 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 the local beaches; visit an ancient well inside Glenveagh National Park; 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 the Castle in Glenveagh National Park; a medicinal plant walk with local wisdom keepers; an Irish music boat tour to sing with the seals.
*All local transportation expenses for optional group excursions will be covered by participants. For those without a rental car, taxis in the area are quite affordable. The Song House staff will be glad to assist guests with information about local activities.
“It was truly a trip of a lifetime. I already want to do it all over again.”
— Kate Keenan
How to Get There
Getting to The Song House is easier than you might think.
Most Canadian and American participants will fly into Dublin and travel by bus or rental car to Falcarragh, the closest town to The Song House. From Falcarragh, Mila can arrange transportation for you to The Song House.
You can also fly into Belfast and travel from there, or rent a car and make your own way to Donegal.
We'll provide detailed travel information after registration to help you plan your journey.
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 and are per person. HST is additional.
Your retreat fee includes six nights' accommodation, all meals, singing and programming with Mila, the included special events, and all activities specifically identified as included on this page.
Rooms will be reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Please indicate your preferred accommodations on the booking form.
Triple Room — $2,695 + sales tax
Three single beds · Shared bathroom
Double Room — $2,950 + sales tax
Two single beds · Shared bathroom
Double Room with Ensuite Bathroom — $3,095 + sales tax
Two single beds · Private bathroom
Single Room — $3,350 + sales tax
Private room in nearby guesthouse · Shared bathroom · 10-minute walk from The Song House
Booking Information:
To reserve your spot, please complete the Booking Form below. Once I receive your Booking Form, I will send you instructions for paying the 25% non-refundable deposit. Your place is confirmed once the deposit has been received. The remaining balance is due by February 1, 2027.
A Note on Scholarships, Sliding Scale, and Work-Trade:
Because of the significant costs involved in planning, organizing, and hosting this retreat, I’m unfortunately not able to offer scholarships, sliding-scale pricing, or work-trade positions for this retreat. Thank you for understanding, and for honouring the value of the time, care, and resources that go into creating this experience.
Terms & Conditions:
Please read the full Terms & Conditions for this retreat, before booking your spot. They include important information about payment options, cancellation and refunds, health and wellness agreements, and other details about your participation. Click here to read the Terms & Conditions.
Words from past participants…
“Song of the Sea was a life-giving journey and a tonic for my soul. The depth of love, dreaming, seasoned leadership, and pure fairy-dust that Mila poured into the orchestration of the journey was deeply felt throughout. The experience was so intentionally woven, while leaving space for spontaneous magic to unfold. This fusion allowed for a profound sense of ease, trust, joy, wonder, and interconnection to blossom amongst participants. I felt deep belonging, and a capacity to show up as my true self, while being held in community and communion with the earth.
The medicine took many forms — from singing to the seals, tending ancient wells, splashing in the waves, learning from local song-carriers/story-keepers, sharing belly laughs with new friends around the fire, and so much more. The bonds formed with the land and human hearts have imprinted me in powerful ways, beyond words. I feel more love, more freedom, and more ancestral memory flowing through my life. On the final day of the retreat, I viscerally felt that my soul had changed shape. As I returned to my city life, the gathered songs and whisper of the Emerald Isle followed me home like an echo on the wind.” — Michaela Bekenn
“As soon as I heard about this retreat, I knew I had to find a way to take part — the opportunity to explore the culture and landscape of Ireland in such a rich and integrated way, and to sing with a group of kindred-spirited women, sounded like a dream come true. I'm delighted to say it was everything I dreamed of and more.
Mila's beautiful group-tending and song-leading, the enchanting Song House, the brilliantly talented and generous guest artists, the land, the adventures, the singing and stories, and the lifelong friendships formed within our group — it was truly a trip of a lifetime.
I can't recommend the experience highly enough. I already want to do it all over again.” — Kate Keenan
“I came to this retreat with my sister, and was simply along for the experience and adventure with her. I really had no idea what I had signed up for. Little did I know that I’d be so well cared for, so filled with joy, and so musically nourished. I was surrounded by such intentional thoughtfulness. My spirit soared and my soul filled with wonder and gratitude.” — Cathy Horbas
“As someone with no Celtic ancestry (that I know of) but who is married to an Irishman, I’ve long had a curiosity about the place and people of Ireland. To experience the beauty of Donegal with a group of women of all ages and life stages, whose own unique paths led them to this retreat, guided by Mila and held in the warm nest of The Song House, was more enriching than I ever could have dreamed.
Singing together, learning from incredible local knowledge keepers, exploring sacred wells and beaches, and joining the local community for a traditional music session gave me a glimpse into the living heart of Gaelic culture.
The attention to every detail by Mila and her team meant I could fully relax and enjoy the ebb and flow of group time and quiet solo time. A true retreat.
I’ve already made a list of the women in my life — daughters, friends — whom I’ll be inviting to join me for Song of the Sea next year!” — Lisa Donahue
Remember the week we became selkies
And shed our skins
Dipped our feet in the well of tending
To go on giving and receiving
Cradling light and shadow in our open arms
Kissing the heather near the sea
The moss on the trees in the grove
Weaving our hearts through song
It’s a true story
Now written on our bones.
— Song of the Sea: A poem by Courtney Evans, 2026 retreat participant
Come fill up your well with us.
Seven days of communal song, Irish culture, wild landscapes, friendship, adventure, and rest — held in the heart of Donegal.
