6 Night Northwest Ireland Luxury Knitting Retreat

Begin your luxury knitting retreat with a transfer to your first accommodation (for arrivals prior to 11am).   Then we will visit the GPO Witness History Museum; located in one of Dublin’s most well-known buildings the museum conveys the story of the 1916 Rising in Dublin through special effects, soundscapes and stories from real Irish people. Also known as The Easter Rising, the 1916 Rising was an armed insurrection in Dublin during Easter Week, April 1916. Next stop is the Constant Knitter Yarn Shop which is one of Dublin’s best yarn stores and houses a nice selection of both Irish and international yarns and accessories.  Return to your hotel where you will have time to relax or take a walk around Dublin City before your evening welcome dinner at the hotel. Overnight at the Hyatt Centric Hotel, Dublin, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Included.

Set off early this morning and begin your journey to Donegal, stopping along the way at Carrickmacross Lace to see the fine lace masterpieces that have been produced in the region since the early 1800’s.  This intricate lace style was inspired by Italian lace of that era and quickly became an important source of income for rural Irish families, as was common with lace making everywhere at that time, it was ‘made by the poor for the rich’.  Enjoy a demonstration where staff that are passionate about the beauty of this meticulously created craft will show you the intricate needlework involved with creating the finished pieces. After your visit, return to your coach and travel to the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. The Park explores the historical link between Ulster and America, focusing particularly on the lifestyle and experiences of those immigrants who sailed from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries.  With more than 30 exhibit buildings that you can walk around and explore, the museum tells the story of three centuries of Irish emigration. The weaver’s cottage may be of particular interest to you, here you will see a genuine handloom which would have been used to weave tweed or linen by the man of the house while his wife spun flax fibres into yarn and the children carded and combed the flax in preparation for the spinning wheel.  Staff here will give you a demonstration on the spinning wheel and tell you all about traditional yarn dyeing methods. After your visit continue to Harvey’s Point Hotel and meet your host, one of Ireland’s best knitters, Edel MacBride. You will spend the next few days with Edel and her team, so this evening is an informal get together and ‘get to know each other’ session with some informal knitting thrown in for good measure! Overnight at Harvey’s Point, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.

Throughout your Donegal knitting retreat Edel will be helping you along with your project which you will start today. Both designs have been created by Edel especially for this knitting retreat and you can choose your desired project based on your knitting ability, the options will be the Swan Lake Cowl or Peggy’s Taepot (We haven’t spelled that wrong, it is done the Irish way!). Yarn and patterns are included to complete your chosen project, you will need to bring your own needles and we will advise the size requirements in advance. This afternoon partake in a Cookery demonstration at the hotel followed by a spinning & dyeing demonstration with Mary from Markree Woolcraft who will show you traditional Irish spinning techniques on a Donegal Spinning Wheel and talk to you about how she dyes her yarns using hedgerow plants and lichens. Overnight at Harvey’s Point, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.

Today if you prefer to stay at Harvey’s Point you can do that or join us for a tour of Western Donegal. We will visit the stunning Slieve League Cliffs the highest and finest marine cliffs in Europe and the inspiration for Edel’s locally spun Sliabh Liag wool. We will pay a visit to Studio Donegal, a hand-weaving and clothing manufacturing business committed to preserving and promoting traditional Irish hand-weaving. Donegal Yarn’s soft Merino yarn is dyed and spun in the region and sold on site. Another stop will be Glencolmcille Folk Village and spend some time Knitting with The Locals. Knitting was an integral part of the income of families in Glencolmcille. Spinning, weaving and dying of wool also played a huge part in the lives and culture of the locals. Glencolmcille was very much a fishing community and the Aran sweater was both a necessity and second nature to the people. Finally, enjoy a short visit to Rossan Knitwear and see three generations of the McNellis family hand looming knitwear. The Rossan collection is produced at Glencolmcille Woollen Mill which looks out upon the end of the Celtic trail. This evening meet back at Harvey’s Point for your Dinner and Cabaret Show featuring some famous Irish performers.   Overnight at Harvey’s Point, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.

Today if you prefer to relax in the surroundings of Harvey’s Point you can do that or join us for an optional tour around Donegal. We will visit Glebe House and Gallery where you will have lunch. After lunch, you will get a tour of the house which was home for thirty years to renowned artist Derek Hill. Built in 1828, the house is situated besides Lough Gartan not too far from Glenveigh National Park and is decorated with William Morris textiles and has an extensive collection of Islamic and Japanese art. Also of interest is the collection of 300 works from twentieth-century artists such as Picasso and Kokoshka. You will also have a chance to stroll around the gardens that are kept as if Derek Hill was still a resident of the house. After soaking up the Donegal Countryside, we will make our way back to the hotel, where there will be more time for relaxing and knitting!  Overnight at Harvey’s Point, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.

Today we check out of Harvey’s Point and make our way back to Dublin, stopping along the way at Swallow’s Studio where Liz Christy creates a range of scarves and wraps which are beautifully handwoven and hand finished and are inspired by her favourite artists Edward Hopper, Gauguin & Edward Hopper. Continue to Dublin where there will be time for personal sightseeing or shopping before dinner. This evening your final farewell dinner will be served at the hotel.  Overnight at the Hyatt Centric Hotel, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.

After your final Irish breakfast depart the hotel for Dublin airport arriving in time to complete check-in formalities and that last minute duty free shopping.