Blossoming Voice & Old Ways- Beltane Retreat to Ancient Éire

Dear Song & Time Traveller,

If you have discovered this invitation, the ancient call of your soul is summoning you to the sacred remembrance of your voice and your lineage, awakening the timeless melodies, old songs, and ways of being that once guided your ancestors.

Join Hannah & Aurélie for a weekend of renewal and reawakening during Beltane, a threshold in the year when the earth hums with rebirth. Set on the mythic West Coast of Ireland, amidst blooming wildflowers and whispering winds, we will step away from the pace of modern life to reconnect with the primal force of our voices, revive the old ways, and awaken the ancient songs long dormant within our bones.

During this weekend, you will be guided into the essence of your voice, exploring its deep connection to nature, the alchemy of inner transformation, and the ancestral songs carried quietly through generations. Through intuitive singing, improvisation, Celtic and ancient songs, and the reclamation of your authentic sound, you will harmonise with the echoes that live in your breath, your blood, and your bones. In awakening your voice, you heal not only yourself but also the ancestral wounds held in body, mind, and spirit. Resistance becomes wisdom; pain becomes song; the old ways return through singing, walking, creating, and sharing as our ancestors did. As we stand in the glow of the Beltane fire beneath Muckish Mountain, we offer our intentions to the flames, releasing what no longer serves us and welcoming the abundance ahead. Through sacred song, sound, and silence, we attune to the rhythms of the season and to one another.

Our gatherings reflect the old ways, where song is woven through daily life, into storytelling, crafting, preparing tea from foraged herbs, walking the coast, swimming in the sea, feasting, and sharing quiet moments together. In reviving these practices, we simplify, connect with what is real, and share our activities, just as our ancestors may have found purpose and connection by singing through the work of daily life. As they once lived with song as a vital part of every moment, so too will we allow our voices to flow naturally through each shared experience, seeking joy, grounding, and connection, weaving remembrance into all we do.

You will walk this path with kindred souls, each on their own quest to ignite their creative flame and align with the ancient magic that flows through the sacred voice: the voice of the land, the voice of your ancestors, the voice of your true self.

Listen closely, for your voice is a sacred gift, and it is time to let it sing.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A weekend of simplicity, sacred song, and reconnecting with the old ways. We will immerse ourselves in the joys of music and voice, explore the wild magic of the Irish coastline, swim in the sea, and weave ancestral song and creative practice into every moment spent together. 

• Voice work
• Supportive breathwork & embodiment practices
• Sound healing
• Gaelic & ancestral song classes
• Beltane fire
• Sacred songs, drumming, singing & storytelling
• Excursions to local prehistoric sites and a traditional music session
• Earth Magic, nature connection, plant lore
• Wild ocean swimming
• Creative sharing
• Crafts
• Sauna (optional & additional cost)

RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS

Voice & Breath Practice

Our voice and breath sessions offer a rooted yet gently magical return to your own sound. We explore the voice as something shaped by breath, emotion, memory, and bodily presence. Through steady, supportive practices, we release tension, soften old holding patterns, and let the natural voice emerge with ease.

These sessions are both practical and nourishing, a place to listen inward, rebuild connection with your inner landscape, and experience how breath and voice can clear pathways, steady the nervous system, and open a sense of grounded vitality.

Ancestral Songs & Storytelling 

As Beltane draws near and the land brightens, we turn toward the older songs and stories that still echo through the earth. Through simple melodies & songs, spoken stories, and shared reflection, we reconnect with the people who came before us, ancestors of blood, culture, and place.

This work invites us to remember that humans have always sung, always told stories, always sought meaning in rhythm and ritual. Together, we breathe life into old threads while discovering the ways they still shape and support us today.

Drumming & Song Circles

Through rhythm and shared voice, we create a space where sound becomes connection. Drumming settles the mind and brings us into the heartbeat of the moment, while seasonal and traditional songs invite us to sing together without expectation or performance.

Plant Lore, Nature Connection & Crafting 

We  will spend time out on the land,  walking the coastline, discovering local plants, and learning their traditional uses and stories. Through a simple foraging and plant lore walk, we begin to understand the landscape in a deeper, more personal way.

From what we gather, we move into making seasonal crafts & teas with natural and found materials, guided by the inspiration of the season. Songs are gently woven through these moments, quiet melodies that honour the land, the season, and the act of making together. Walking, learning, crafting, singing, and sharing tea root us in place and bring a grounded, nourishing sense of connection throughout the retreat.

Visiting Sacred & Ancestral Sites 

During the retreat, we will visit local sacred and ancestral sites, including a historic graveyard and Ray Church. These places carry centuries of human presence, memory, and energy, offering a powerful space to connect with the land and the spirits of those who came before us. We will share songs and reflection in these spaces, letting our voices meet the energy of the past. 

Creative writing, Journalling & Reflection

Throughout the weekend, you will be encouraged to step into the creative process through words, imagery, and quiet exploration. You don’t need to be a writer, simply come willing to follow what stirs inside. Writing becomes a doorway: a place to meet yourself, uncover clarity, and follow the quiet sparks of intuition.

These practices also offer a way to engage with the seasonal shift,  noticing what is ending, what is ready to be released, and what is emerging. Through reflection and expression, you can translate inner experience into something held, understood, and honoured, making space for the new that the season brings.

Beltane Fire

On one evening during the retreat, we gather around the Beltane fire to honour the return of warmth, growth, and new beginnings. The flames create a sacred space to reflect on what we are releasing, to acknowledge what is emerging, and to mark the turning of the season together. Through songs, stories, and ritual practice, we weave intention, celebration, and connection. This shared experience invites presence, renewal, and community,  a moment to step fully into the energy of spring with warmth, light, and heart.

Schedule (subject to change) 

Thursday

16:00 - Arrival anytime from 16:00 (tea & biscuits will be served, and time given to settle in) 

18:00- Opening circle 

19:00- Dinner 

20:30- Sound healing session to help you relax after your journey 

22:30 - Lights Out

Friday

07:30 - Quiet time

08:00-  Morning breath & voice practice

09:30 - Breakfast 

10:30- Plant lore walk 

13:00- Lunch

14:00- Free time

16:00 - Ancient & Gaelic Song Class

19:00 - Dinner 

20:00- Storyteller 

22:30- Lights out 

Saturday

07:30 - Quiet time

08:00 - Morning breath & voice practice

09:30 - Breakfast

10:30 -  Beach trip with wild ocean swimming (sauna optional) 

13:30 - Lunch

15:00 - Craft and song circle

18:30 - Dinner

20:00 - Tradtional Song Night

22:30 - Lights Out

Sunday

07:30 - Quiet time

08:00 - Morning breath & voice practice

09:30 - Breakfast

11:00 - Visit To Tullahobegley Graveyard & Ray Church* 

13:00 - Lunch

14:00 - Free time

16:00 - Trip to a local traditional music session 

19:00 - Dinner

20:30 - Beltane fire & song story sharing 

22:30 - Lights Out

Monday

07:30 - Quiet time

08:00 - Morning breath & voice practice

09:00 - Breakfast

10:00 - Closing circle 

11:00 - Checkout

12:00- option to head out together for lunch somewhere local.  *cost not included in the retreat. 

Some activities or classes may change due to weather and/or seasonal availability

SOME THINGS TO NOTE:

1. While this work may have therapeutic benefits, this is not supposed to be offered instead of, or as a replacement to, therapy. If you are seeking therapy then we encourage you to seek 1-1 support from a qualified psychotherapist. If you are experiencing significant health challenges please contact us in advance so that we can have a conversation about whether this retreat is right for you at this time.

2. This retreat caters to all abilities - but welcomes beginners to this work. You do not need to be able to speak or sing in Gaelic, or have any experience singing at all! You also don't need any herbal and craft  experience. Or any knowledge in Beltane. Everyone is welcome.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a MIXED retreat, people of all gender expressions are most welcome!

THE VENUE

The Song House,  (or Teach na nAmhrán in Irish),  is a place where the veil feels a little thinner, where song and story breathe through the air, and where people come to remember the deeper magic of being alive. Resting in the heart of Donegal’s Gaeltacht, it gazes toward the shapeshifting slopes of Muckish mountain and nestles along the wild, wind-kissed edge of the Atlantic Way.

The surrounding landscape feels enchanted: endless sandy beaches held by soft dunes, skies that swirl from gentle silver to dramatic stormlight, the unmistakable curve of Muckish rising like an ancient guardian, and Tory Island shimmering on the horizon in a cloak of turquoise sea. Here you’ll find traces of old worlds, mythological sites, whispers of ancient rites, and the untamed spirit of Glenveagh National Park woven through it all.

Within the Gaeltacht, the Irish language flows like an old spell still alive on the tongue. Locals speak it with warmth, humour, and that particular Donegal magic. The Song House is only minutes from Falcarragh and close to the shoreline where selkies watch from the rocks, and sea-siren stories drift through the wind. These lands hum with old songs, and if you listen closely, you’ll feel the pulse of the ancestors in every field, path, and tide.

The dwelling rests at the foot of the majestic Muckish Mountain, where its organic garden melts gently into the open landscape. Surrounded by raw, elemental beauty, the wild Atlantic Ocean, endless sandy strands, hidden sea-caves, fairy pools, shimmering waterfalls, ancient wells, mountain paths and whispering bogland, this corner of Donegal truly embodies the magic of a place once named the coolest on the planet by National Geographic, and one of Lonely Planet’s top regions in the world.

The house itself has recently been lovingly renovated with earth-friendly principles at its heart. Warmed by an air-source heating system and wrapped in triple-glazed windows, it stays cosy even through Donegal’s winter winds. Inside, the aesthetic is simple yet soulful, with original artwork and photography bringing each room to life. Everything you need for a nurturing weekend is here, and if you feel called to linger longer and explore the surrounding wonders, just let us know. We’re happy to share local gems and recommendations.

FOOD

All meals are included in your retreat, and we truly cherish the ritual of feeding people well. Our menu is plant-based, seasonal, and thoughtfully sourced from local growers; vibrant vegetables, wholesome grains, nourishing pulses, and plenty of colour and flavour in every bowl.

We’re blessed to have the wonderful Aurélie nourishing us this year. Her cooking is generous, grounding, and deeply delicious, crafted with intention and built around organic and locally gathered ingredients whenever possible.

You can look forward to abundant feasts at lunch and dinner, with  meals made from scratch with sustainable produce and a whole lot of heart. Herbal teas and filtered spring water will be available throughout the day. While breakfast is simple and self-served, it is plentiful: fresh fruit, toast,  butter, oat milk, berries, cereals, tea, coffee, and other light morning comforts.

If you have allergies or intolerances, please let us know before arrival so we can do our best to accommodate your needs. Do keep in mind that our kitchen is rooted in organic, plant-based cooking, and may not be the best fit for keto, AIP, or meat-focused diets.

TRAVEL

Travel to and from the retreat is not included in the retreat price. We warmly recommend arranging travel insurance once booking your place, a simple spell of protection against unexpected disruptions.

Full travel details will be shared once your booking is confirmed, and you can also explore routes and options on The Song House’s website. The location is well connected, with access possible from all major airports and transport hubs across Ireland, making your journey to this wild corner of Donegal both straightforward and scenic.

INVESTMENT (These are early bird prices until Jan 1st 2026) 

Single Bed in a Sharing Room - £455 *

Single Bed in a Private Room - £745 *

Double room with ensuite- £sold out

Non-residential (all meals included) - £375*

Camping in The Song House Gardens - £375*

*A non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit of £150 is required upon booking (£250 for any private room). Full payment must be made 28 days before arrival. All payments made are non refundable and non transferrable. Balance is due 28 days before arrival.

Cut off for cancellation is 28 days before retreat start date. Any cancellations before this time can receive a refund minus non-refundable deposit. Any transfer requested will also be subject to losing the non refundable non transferable deposit against a new date - a new deposit must be made to secure place.

Any cancellation made after this point will not receive a refund or transfer. This is inclusive of injury, illness and loss - participants are encouraged to take out travel insurance to cover these possibilities.

Payment plans and installation payments can be arranged via email.

Contact Hannah for more information.

hannahlunarrose@gmail.com

What's included?

• All meals from when you arrive - Thursday; dinner, to when you depart - Monday; breakfast
• All accommodation and facilities (unless you choose non-residential) Thursday afternoon - Monday morning
• Morning breath & voice practice,
• Gaelic song class
• Beach excursion and sea dip (please let us know if you are coming by car and would be happy to help with driving on excursions - max 30 mins each way)
• Excursion to local sacred sites
• Plant lore walk
• Craft session and materials
• Storytelling evening
• Beltane fire
• Local storyteller*

Optional extras, extra cost

*In keeping with the old ways, our local storyteller will do a ‘whip round’ of a hat, suggested donation is €10 /per person, so we ask that you bring some cash with this in mind. It's a tradition that is being lost in the age of digital currency, and we would like to honour this tangible intentional exchange.

• Sauna during beach visit
• Monday lunch - those who would like to join for a pub lunch are invited

Not included

• Travel to and from The Song House - do get in touch if you need support in arranging this.
• Drinks at traditional music session

ABOUT YOUR FACILITATORS

Hannah Lunar Rose is an ancient songstress, vocalist, and herbal witch devoted to the old ways and the art of remembrance. She gathers old songs carried through centuries, some in languages now lost or fading, and is especially drawn to the Gaelic songs of Ireland and Scotland. Their sounds and stories move in her like a homecoming, awakening a deep sense of memory in the bones.

Her work extends beyond song into the realms of lineage, shadow, and the lands themselves. Hannah walks with ancestral stories and the quiet echoes held in ancient places, inviting others to meet their own roots with softness and courage. She tends the wounds, stories, and forgotten parts of the self that arise through this work, supporting people to explore both the light and the shadow of their lineage.

At the center of all she offers is a longing for belonging. Hannah’s work is ultimately about coming home to ourselves and to one another, about building community, and about creating spaces where people feel recognised, supported, and deeply seen.

Rooted in the rhythms of nature and shaped by her studies in Ayurveda, sound healing, and dharmic traditions, Hannah weaves together music, ritual, plant wisdom, and ancestral inquiry. Her retreats and gatherings invite others into a gentle yet powerful journey of remembrance, a return to what is sacred, true, and waiting to be reclaimed within, both individually and collectively.

Hannah Lunar Rose @hannahlunarrose

Aurélie's love for cooking and feeding others nourishing and seasonal food is rooted in the belief that food should be our foremost medicine; and the fuel that shapes the quality of our lives. The better I eat, the better I feel, and the more available I am to be of service in joy. 

She has worked and volunteered in many kitchens around Europe, mostly plant-based and in a community setting, cooking for groups ranging from 3 to 150 people, on open fires and kitchens of all shapes and sizes!

Outside of the kitchen, a search for understanding underpins her interests and activities, and has led her to study plants and herbalism, and nurture the beautiful reciprocal relationship of tending to plants and in turn being supported by them. She crafts creams and oils for the skin and tinctures and tea blends for the body and soul and has recently started growing her own medicine garden. 

With a professional background in translation and teaching languages, Aurélie loves to explore the complexities of language, and combines this with her love of singing, by collecting and sharing songs from many places, with a particular draw to sounds and languages of the Mediterranean.  

We both cannot wait to sing with you!

Much love, 

Hannah & Aurélie