BLOSSOMING VOICE: Beltane Retreat To Ancient Éire

Dear song traveller, 

If you have discovered this invitation, the ancient call of your soul is summoning you to the sacred embrace of your voice, to awaken the timeless melodies woven into your ancestral lineage 

Join Molly-Anne and Hannah for a weekend of renewal and reawakening during Beltane, where the earth itself hums with the energies of rebirth. Set on the mythic West Coast of Ireland, amidst the blooming wildflowers and whispering winds, we will gather to reconnect with the primal force of our voices and the ancient songs that lie dormant within our bones.

During this weekend, you will be guided on a profound journey into the essence of your voice, exploring its deep connection to the rhythms of nature and the alchemy of inner transformation. Through intuitive singing, improvisation, Gaelic songs and the reclamation of your authentic sound, you will harmonise with the ancient echoes of the land, awakening the songs that have been carried through time. 

The voice is a wellspring of limitless power and creation. By honouring and attuning to our unique vibrations, we can reforge our connection to the earth and remember our place as the daughters and sons of the Earth.

As we stand in the glow of the Beltane fire under the watch of the Muckish Mountain, we invite the sacred energies of the spring season to fill our hearts with vitality and joy. We offer up our intentions and prayers to the flames, letting go of what no longer serves us, and embracing the growth and abundance that lie ahead. Through sacred song, sound, and shared silence, we attune ourselves to the rhythms of nature, connecting deeply with the earth and each other..

In awakening your voice, you will be healing not only yourself but also the ancestral wounds that reside in the body, mind, and spirit. Transform resistance and pain into the golden threads of wisdom and reclaim the lost treasures of your lineage.

You will walk this path with other 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.

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

WHAT TO EXPECT

A weekend of simplicity, sacred song and reconnection outside in nature. Our weekend will be full of the joys of music, sacred song, voice, sea swimming, Earth magic and time spent exploring the wild and magical Irish coastline.
 

• Voice Work & Activation
• Supportive Breathwork & Embodiment Practices
• Sound Healing
• Gaelic & Ancestral Song Classes
• Beltane Fire Ritual
• Sacred Songs, Drumming, Singing & Storytelling
• Excursions to Local Prehistoric Sites and Musical Sessions
• Earth Magic, Nature Connection
• Wild Ocean Swimming
• Songwriting, Creative Sharing, Collective Improvisation

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Vocal Activation

Vocal Activation is a blossoming journey into the mysteries of our most intimate musical instrument – our voice. Like tender buds unfurling in the warmth of spring, we will reconnect with the pure, healing essence of expression. Together, we will release our authentic voices, allowing them to bloom beyond the thorns of judgment, the shadows of limiting beliefs, and the tangled vines of societal conditioning. As we gather in this sacred space, we will weave a garland of self-love and acceptance, infusing our hearts, minds, and bodies with the gentle medicine of our soul's song. This journey will lead us closer to our true selves, embracing our imperfect, raw, and wild human nature with the same reverence we offer to the earth awakening after winter's slumber.

Ancestral Songs & Storytelling

As Beltane's sacred fires ignite, it is time for us to gather and reclaim the ancient magic that stirs within our souls—the stories, songs, and myths of our ancestors that pulse in our very being. In this season of renewal and blossoming, we will give voice to the wisdom of our well and wise ancestors, those of blood and of the land, as we honour the Earth who cradles us all in Her nurturing embrace. Through our stories and songs, we will breathe life into the old tales, awakening the ancestral echoes that lie dormant in the earth beneath our feet. Together, we will reanimate the auspicious lands we walk upon, weaving our voices into the fabric of this sacred time, and rekindling the ancient bonds that connect us to our heritage, to the land, and to each other.
 

Creative Writing

We will spend time immersing ourselves into the creative process of sound, song, voice and written word. You do not have to be a practicing musician, writer or songwriter to be able to access this work, simply come with an open mind and heart and be dazzled by the beauty that is ready and willing to flow forth from you. Your gifts are ready to be shared with the world!

Sound Healing

Fall through the stars and into vibrational harmony with crystal bowl sound journey's using the deeply therapeutic qualities of high frequency. Lose yourself, free your energy and feel your troubles melt away as you release into the bliss of intentional vibration. Sound healing can be beneficial for helping with energetic balance, emotional release, creative blockages, physical healing and nervous system regulation. 

Drumming + Sacred Song Circles

As the earth bursts into bloom and the air hums with new life, we invite you to journey with us into the heart of music and rhythm. For centuries, drumming has been the heartbeat of shamans, priestesses, and spiritual seekers, a timeless tool to connect with the land and open the channels of healing and creativity.

Amidst the budding trees and blossoming flowers, we will gather to sing to the living world around us, reclaiming the ancient tradition of sacred song. Together, we will harmonize with the voice of the Earth, attuning to the vibrant energy that flows through all things. This is a time to deepen our relationship with the land and to awaken our own vibrational essence, letting our voices rise with the joy and renewal of spring.

Embodiment/Movement Practices

We will start our mornings by moving, breathing and connecting with cycles, rhythms - deeply embodying the vast within. Voice work is full body work! These practices will shake you open to explore the outer edges of your being, opening all the parts of you that feel tight or resistant and allowing the sacred waters to flow. Our practices may weave through ecstatic dance, somatic embodiment, meditation, breath work, restorative Yoga and beyond. All abilities, body types, ages will be catered for. No experience or mobility levels required. 

Wild Ocean Swimming, Nature Connection & Excursions 

We will spend our free time wondering the beautiful and wild Irish coastline, finding recharge and replenishment in the arms of a truly breathtaking ancestral landscape. We will build relationship with place and land through weaving song offerings and musings into the wind, allowing our voices to mingle with the whispers of the sea and the ancient spirits that dwell within the stones and cliffs. Each step along the rugged coastline will be an invitation to deepen our connection with the earth, as we honour the land with our presence, gratitude, and the melodies that arise from our hearts. There will be time to explore the local beach and coastal paths, as well as visiting a nearby pub for a Sean Nós (old style) listening session and Tullahobegley Graveyard - a prehistoric site, most likely the focus for rituals as far back as 3000 BC associated with the Celtic God Lugh, and also a very early Christian site - for a special Beltane ritual. 

Sharing Circles

Sharing circles are an ancient practice and place for people to be held, heard, seen and supported. We don't have enough spaces where we can speak honestly, authentically and without fear of judgement. When we share in held spaces such as this we often find release in speaking the words aloud, and comfort in hearing our stories reflected back to us in the experiences of others. We will spend time reflecting, sharing authentically and journaling each day to meditate upon our own, and the collective, healing.

Beltane Fire Ritual

A Beltane Fire Ritual is a celebration of the vibrant life force and renewal that spring brings. As the sun sets and twilight spreads its gentle hues across the sky, we gather around the sacred fire, kindling flames that echo the ancient rites of our ancestors. The air is filled with the scent of fresh blooms and the promise of new beginnings, as the fire crackles and dances, casting a warm, golden light upon our circle. This ritual honours the turning of the Wheel of the Year, marking the midpoint between spring and summer—a time when the earth is at its most fertile, and the veil between worlds is thin. We come together to ignite the fires of passion, creativity, and transformation within ourselves, just as the land around us bursts into full bloom.

SCHEDULE (subject to change)

Friday

16:00 - Arrival

17:00 - Opening Ceremony & Song Circle

19:00 - Dinner

20:30 - Sound Bath

22:30 - Lights Out

Saturday

07:30 - Quiet time

08:00 - Morning Embodiment, Breath & Voice Practice

09:30 - Breakfast

11:00 - Visit To Tullahobegley Graveyard

13:00 - Lunch

14:30 - Gaelic Song with Hannah

16:00 - Tea Break

17:30 - Collective Vocal Improvisation

19:00 - Dinner

20:30 - Quiet Time / Reflection / Journalling

22:30 - Lights Out

Sunday

07:30 - Quiet time

08:00 - Morning Embodiment, Breath & Voice Practice

09:30 - Breakfast

11:00 - Sea Swim / Free Time / Wild Coastal Wandering

13:00 - Lunch

14:30 - Gaelic Song with Hannah

16:00 - Local Sean Nós (Old Style) Listening Session 

19:00 - Dinner

20:30 - Beltane Fire Ritual

Monday

07:30 - Quiet time

08:00 - Morning Embodiment, Breath & Voice Practice

09:00 - Breakfast

10:00 - Closing Circle & Song Ceremony 

11:00 - Checkout

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! Everyone is welcome.

VENUE

The Song House (or Teach na nAmhrán in Irish) is a place driven by the values that foster reconnection to ourselves, rekindling a sense of belonging to our true inner & outer home and our place on Mother Earth. Set in the heart of the traditional Gaeltacht area of Donegal, and with spectacular views over to Muckish mountain, The Song House ~ Teach na nAmhrán, lies on the Wild Atlantic Way. The drama and beauty of the local landscape will take your breath away. Spectacular three mile sandy dune beaches, wide expanses of blue or stormy skies, the iconic Muckish mountain (The Hog’s Back) and Tory island, surrounded by a skirt of turquoise sea glinting in the evening light. Historical sites… Glenveagh National Park… archaeology and mythology… the area has it all.

The Song House lies in the Gaeltacht, the Irish speaking part of Donegal. Hear the Irish language being spoken, and experience a truly warm Irish welcome. It is less than five minutes drive from Falcarragh and 2 miles from the sea where the Selkies and song Siren's play. These lands are bursting with myth and legend, a deep and resonant hum runs through the songlines here - a land that is well trodden and worn in with songs of old.  

The dwelling 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, fairy pools, waterfalls 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 4th best region in the world by Lonely Planet!

The house has recently been renovated with environmental principles in mind. It is comfortably appointed with an air-sourced heating system and triple-glazed windows making it warm and cosy even in the Donegal winters. It is simple but tastefully decorated, with original art and photographs in all rooms. There is everything you need here for a comfortable weekend - if you would like to stay in the area for longer in order to explore please let us know as we can make some suggestions!

FOOD

All meals are included in the cost of retreat and please know that we take food very seriously – you will be well fed! We will be bringing you a plant based and locally sourced menu packed full of seasonal and delicious veggies, grains, and pulses.

We’re delighted to have our lovely Hannah catering for us. Hannah creates abundant, nourishing and delicious dishes using primarily locally sourced and organic produce.

Expect abundant and nourishing feasts for lunch and dinners made from scratch using sustainable and local ingredients. Herbal teas and filtered water will be provided but coffee and wine will not. Breakfast is provided but self serve (fresh fruit, toast, fresh butter, oat milk, tea, coffee, berries, cereals...)

Please note - if you have allergies/intolerances, please let us know BEFORE arrival, and we will do our best to accommodate you. Please note - Our catering does not best suit for keto, AIP, or meat-heavy diets, as we offer an organic plant based menu.

TRAVEL
 

The cost of travel is not included in the price of the retreat. We strongly suggest taking out travel insurance before journeying in case of disruption. Full travel details can be issued upon booking or can be explored on The Song House's Website. Travel from all of Ireland's airports and major transport stations is possible to The Song House. 

INVESTMENT

Single Bed in a Sharing Room - £425pp

Single Bed in a Private Room - £625pp

Camping in The Song House Gardens - £375

Self Arranged Non Residential Retreat Space - £325

A non-refundable and non-transferrable deposit of £250 is required upon booking. Full payment must be made 28 days before arrival. All payments made are non refundable and non transferrable. 

Payment plans and installation payments can be arranged via email.

Contact Molly on molly.chinner@gmail.com for more information.

ABOUT YOUR FACILITATORS

Molly Anne Chinner @mollyannemusic

Molly Anne Chinner is a British sound healer, devotional musician, vocalist and wild seed.   Hailing from the rural and wild South West, Molly’s music weaves threads of her native folk sound with her extensive work in ambient, healing, devotional and world music genres to offer a soulful and feminine listening journey as a celebration of music as healing, and a guided remembering of the Earth and all Her wonders.  After awakening to Yoga and Meditation in 2017, Molly’s music blends an East-meets-West sound, incorporating elements of Bhakti Yoga (devotion) and sacred Mantra with the ancient heartbeat of her beloved British homelands to rewild and remember our sacred connection to the voice of the One Earth, as well as our own voices as messenger of the Heart.   With an extensive background in sound healing, folk music and songwriting, Molly's work today is an exploration into voice, sound and music as a language of the soul and messenger of the heart - creating through the weaving of her uniquely healing and ethereal soundscapes, pure crystalline tones and sweet songs - guiding the listener deeper within the body as a vessel and inviting connection with source, consciousness, Earth and Self.

Hannah Lunar Rose @hannahlunarrose

Hannah Rose is an English song gathering vocalist with no fixed abode. She loves to collect songs and stories from times long past and help to keep them alive by sharing them with others. In particular Hannah loves songs from Ireland and Scotland, and especially enjoys songs in Gaelic. When first starting to sing in Gaelic it felt like a remembrance to her, a coming home.

One of Hannah’s favourite things about sharing these ancient folk songs and the stories that come with them, is how potent they are at helping us to connect with our ancestors, in a unique way that she feels just isn’t possible in any other form. Hannah believes these songs give us a snapshot into our ancestors lives, and really humanise them. Just like us they experienced love and also heartbreak, jealousy, sadness, loss and all the other human emotions that we experience. She finds the old melodies and lyrics transport her and others back in time, to places we don’t ‘know’ but remember somewhere deep in our bones.
 

Are you interested?

You're invited! <3