Retreat to Roundstone,
a charming town on the wild coast of Connemara, Ireland
July 8 - 14, 2027
Now in our third year leading a retreat in Ireland
come away with us to the charming coastal town of Roundstone
Join us on a very personal and engaging experience where we bring our guests to this magical land and engage in a culinary and cultural adventure - cultured butter making from local dairy, milling local flour and then learning the art of making pies, the perfect communal food. Foraging, dinners from the sea + on the beach, excursions to some of our favorite spots for night kayaking, cold ocean dips and sauna at the beach, special musical guests and adventures and so much more. All excursions and classes will be optional, sometimes you need to do your own thing! We will offer opportunities for folks to find their own path, hiking, seaweed soaks, boat trips and more.
Magical meals and accommodations by the sea.
July 8 - 14, 2027
Roundstone, Connemara, Ireland
Starting from $5200 USD per person
Location
Why We Chose Roundstone
There's a reason Connemara has been pulling in artists, wanderers, and dreamers for two centuries — and once you set foot in Roundstone, you'll feel it too.
Roundstone (or Cloch na Rón — "rock of the seals" — as it's known in Irish) is a tiny harbor village tucked into the wild edge of Bertraghboy Bay, with the Twelve Bens rising up behind it and the Atlantic doing whatever it wants in front. It's the kind of place where fishing boats still come in heavy with the day's catch, where hand-built curraghs dry on the slipway, and where the light is so sharp and the skies are so big that painters have been chasing it here since the 1920s.
This is where we're bringing you in July.
We'll forage along the shoreline, mill our own flour, learn to make cultured butter from local dairy, and — because this is a Pie Bird retreat, after all — gather to turn it all into pie, the most communal food there is. We'll eat dinners pulled straight from the sea, some of them served right on the beach. We'll take night kayaks out into water that seems to hold the whole sky. We'll dip into the cold Atlantic and warm back up in a sauna by the shore. There might be music. There will definitely be pie and donuts!.
Just past the village, you can walk the crescent beaches of Dog's Bay and Gurteen — two perfect arcs of pale sand curling together into one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline I've ever stood on, and I've stood on a lot of coastline.
I fell for Ireland in 1999, and I've been finding reasons to come back ever since. Roundstone might be my favorite one yet. Come see why.
— Jennifer Brodsky
Explore & Experience
Your time in West Cork will be filled with opportunities for learning, relaxing, exploring and discovering. Now, since this is a Pie Bird trip, you know we are going to center some of our time together on the most communal of all food, PIE.
Learn the art of cultured butter making from local dairy, milling local flour and then we make pies together, the perfect communal food.
Enjoy magical meals both at the Estate and in and around West Cork, foraging by the sea and in the forest.
Hill hikes and exploration of the famous nearby Garish Island.
Excursions to some of our favorite spots for night kayaking, cold ocean dips, sauna and seaweed baths, special musical guests (!) and adventures and so much more.
All excursions and classes will be optional, sometimes you need to do your own thing! We will offer opportunities for folks to find their own path, hiking, seaweed soaks, boat trips and more.
Your Host
Host + Founder
Jennifer Brodsky
In 1999, a year spent in Ireland changed the course of my life. Sharing this special country, its customs and its deep culinary traditions with all of you is a dream come true.
Our 3rd hosted trip to Ireland brings us to a new location: Roundstone in Connemara. Like our previous retreats, I work to curate a very personal and engaging experience where we guide our guests through a culinary and cultural adventure!
What’s Included
Everything! Well, everything except for your big ride across the ocean to Roundstone. But once you arrive, we got you!
Workshops and all materials associated
Recipes galore!
All group meals, unless you go rogue (which you are welcome to do! Remember, this is your time!)
All wine and beverages, unless you wanna have your own after hours party (I see you!)
Private coach transportation while on retreat excursions
All scheduled outings and events during our week
Estate lodging, naturally
Getting There
AIRPLANE AND/OR TRAIN
Guests will need to arrange for transport to Cork. There are frequent direct flights to Shannon and Dublin airports, and connecting flights straight to Cork from most major US cities. From there, we will arrange for a car service to pick you up and bring you directly to the Dromgariff Estate. Please plan your travel accordingly. If you want to arrive in the area the night before, we’d be happy to help with hotel and restaurant recommendations!
CAR (FREEDOM TO ROAM!)
If you’re the seasoned-traveler type and you’d enjoy having your own transportation, like more freedom to pop into town without the hassle of an uber or car service, head to the pub in the evening, then please - rent a car in Cork, Shannon or Dublin! Please let us know if this is your plan so we can help you get to us.
TRAVEL RESERVATION
If you would like guidance with booking your travel to Cork or directly to the Estate, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We know the ropes and would be happy to help you find your best way to us.
Answers to your important questions
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We will arrange for transportation from Cork to Dromgarriff Estate, Glengarriff, Co. Cork P75 AH90 Ireland.
Please see the Getting There section for additional information and alternative options.
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Everything! Well, just about everything. Travel to and from Ireland is not included, but we’ll come and pick you up from the nearest airport which is Cork City (see the GETTING THERE section). Any extras, such as outside food, gifts, that extra bottle of wine for the table at our lunch or dinners out, and any other shopping you choose to do. We will take care of your meals, drinks, and any planned experiences for the week. During some day trips, you’ll have the option of a packed lunch or eating where we are visiting on your own.
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If you’re like us, you might think that coming all the way to Ireland for just one week simply isn’t enough! Please reach out to us for suggestions or help planning your travel.
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We will follow whatever guidelines are in place for Covid in the region in 2026. If any retreat ends up being canceled because of borders closing due to COVID or other national COVID regulations, you will be issued a full refund or credit towards a future retreat. This does not include individual cases of COVID that prevent travelers from coming. We recommend purchasing travel insurance to ensure coverage in the case of any last-minute hiccups on the traveler’s end.
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We are not able to offer refunds after purchase, but we can offer credit towards another retreat, pie bird event or product.
We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to cover any reimbursement for cancellations due to illness (including testing positive for COVID-19) or other family or personal matters!
If any retreat does not reach the necessary number of attendees, we reserve the right to cancel a retreat - in this case, a full refund will be issued to any who have reserved.
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We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to cover any reimbursement for cancellations due to illness (including testing positive for COVID-19) or other family matters as we cannot guarantee a refund in these cases. It is a low cost way to protect your investment!