Solas
Writer’s Retreat
5th-7th September
Photo Credit: Barry McCall
With Annemarie Ní Churreáin
The Song House presents a workshop weekend with Donegal poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin to mark the arrival of September. Traditionally, the middle harvest at this time of year was a special opportunity to gather, work collectively and celebrate the fruits of the season. This retreat offers an immersive space for poets who wish to write, read, listen and explore poetry under the watchful gaze of Muckish Mountain and among the shadows of Lugh Lámhfhada and other mythological ghosts. Unfolding at a relaxed pace, this workshop is suitable for poets and aspiring poets who need the time, breathing space and community to reenergise their creativity. Poets at different levels are welcome, including beginner poets. We’ll be taking walks, sharing meals, and drawing inspiration from the local landscape to explore the art and craft of writing poetry.
The Song House (or Teach na nAmhrán in Irish), formerly known as The Poets’ House was, in a previous life, a literary hub for 20+ years, visited by Seamus Heaney, Derek Mahon, Paula Meehan and others. The house is situated in the stunning north west Donegal Gaeltacht landscape and participants will, over the course of the weekend, have the opportunity to hear/speak the Irish language and to read Irish-language poetry in translation. Beimid ag glacadh inspioráid ón béaloideas áitiúil, an teanga beo agus an timpeallacht.
Weekend accommodation for the retreat is available at the house (with a limited number of single rooms and some shared rooms) or nearby locally. Enjoy a welcoming atmosphere that promotes listening, imagination & reflection, as we celebrate the writing & creativity of individual participants, making your creative work central to the weekend. Please bring warm clothes and suitable shoes for short nature walks.
Bí linn.
Costs
Course Dates
5th - 7th
September 2025
What is included?
All the writing workshops, accommodation, food for breakfast and lunch, and the evening meal when you arrive on the first night.
Arrival and Departure Times
Arrive from 4-6pm on the first evening
Depart after breakfast on the final day
For travel to the Song House, please see our Getting Here page.
About the Teacher…
Annemarie Ní Churreáin is from Donegal, Ireland. Her poetry books include Bloodroot (Doire Press, 2017), The Poison Glen (The Gallery Press, 2021) and Ghostgirl (Donegal Archives, 2023). Her poetry has been shortlisted for the Shine Strong Award for Best Debut Collection (IRE) and for the Ledbury Hellens Poetry Prize for Best Second Collection (UK).
Her recent awards include the The Markievicz Award, The Kavanagh Fellowship and a Hawthornden Residency Award (NYC). As a librettist she co-created the script for Elsewhere – the critically acclaimed debut opera of Straymaker (IRE) in co-production with the Abbey National Theatre of Ireland. Ní Churreáin is the 2025 UCD/Arts Council Writer in Residence and the current poetry editor at The Stinging Fly Magazine. Visit studiotwentyfive.com.
Photo Credit: Barry McCall
Annemarie Ní Churreáin
Annemarie describes a previous Solas workshop, from February 2022.