SERENITY & MINDFULNESS RETREAT
NOT HAPPENING IN 2024
Finding Your Path to Serenity: A Mindfulness Approach
with certified therapist and mindfulness coach ~ Geraldine Griffin
(3 days, 2 nights)
THE POWER OF MINDFULNESS
This mindfulness weekend retreat on Lambay Island is designed to immerse you in relaxation and mindfulness practise; restore balance and inspire a more serene and mindful way of living. Geraldine will gently guide you in transforming stress into wellbeing, using simple but powerful tools and techniques that come from the mindfulness tradition.
In today’s frenetic modern lifestyle, you may find yourself just living ‘in your head’, believing all your ‘shoulds’ and trapped in cycles of anxiety. Even though you may want to slow down and restore your work-life balance, most people do not know how to achieve this.
The relaxing, nurturing and insulated environment of an island is a conducive way to reclaim a sense of calm while also learning new skills, potentially gaining new insights by tapping into natural awareness, and subsequently regaining more perspective and equilibrium in your daily life.
"The world will be balanced when we are balanced"
~ Tarthang Tulku
WHAT TO EXPECT
This luxurious island retreat is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a slower pace of life and the beauty of the natural world. The weekend is a carefully crafted blend of guided practices and tuition, relaxation and nourishing delicious food to help you feel refreshed and inspired to try out your new skills in supportive conditions. And all of this while surrounded by the lapping waves, in the gentle embrace of the Irish Sea!
At the end of the retreat, each participant will receive a copy of Geraldine's booklet 'Find Your Path to Serenity: A Mindfulness Approach' to help you continue the practices and remember what you have learned when you return home.
"The world is full of magic things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."
~ W.B. Yeats
Millie Baring will be your resident host, warmly welcoming you to her island home and taking care of your needs alongside Lottie. Prepare yourself to be regaled with stories of Lambay’s past and present, such as Yeat’s response of enchantment when first landing on its shores many years ago, and of Millie's grandfather Rupert Revelstoke, who lived on Lambay for 50 years until his death in 1994, and left behind him many wonderful, eccentric tales which only serve to add to the magic of the place. A guided tour of the Castle can be arranged for those interested (€35 pp).
WORKSHOPS & SESSIONS
The mindfulness practices will include:
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Gentle movement and breath techniques, suitable for all ages and fitness levels
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Guidance on how to live in a more ‘being’ state rather than non-stop ‘doing' and over-thinking
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Visualisation practices to help you align with your own true nature, restore balance and equanimity
"We see the world, not as it is, but as we are."
~ Anais Nin
REGISTRATION & COST
Your all-inclusive retreat package includes €50 for the return boat transfer between mainland Ireland and Lambay (departing from Malahide, just north of Dublin airport). The boat journey takes 20 minutes in a covered RIB, with seats and lifejackets provided.
RATES:
Members of the Lambay Club are eligible for discounted rates. Concessions for local connections of Lambay and the retreat facilitators are also available on request.
Included in Rates:
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Lambay boat transfers at beginning and end of your retreat (€50)
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Mindfulness workshops and exercise sessions with Geraldine Griffin
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Luxurious island accommodation for 2 nights / 3 days in the Whitehouse on Lambay
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All locally sourced, seasonal meals prepared by your private island retreat chef: 2 breakfasts, 2-3 lunches, 2 dinners
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Morning and afternoon refreshments (tea, coffee, cake, fruit)
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Materials for the retreat workshops
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Optional wild swim and guided wildlife walk (see the deer, wallabies, puffins and seals!)
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Use of island wi-fi, sitting rooms, library, gardens, and local know-how
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Tea/coffee, herbal infusions and soft drinks available all day (self-serve)
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Personal hosting from the resident Baring family throughout your island stay
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A complimentary copy of Geraldine's booklet "Find Your Way to Serenity: A Mindfulness Approach"
The all inclusive, per person packages are as follows:
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
€985 ~ master super-king room with luxury en suite bathroom and sea views
€935 ~ super-king bedroom with private en suite bathroom
€845 ~ super-king bedroom with shared en suite shower room (two people sharing)
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
€1,500 (€750 pp) ~ shared super-king or twin bedroom with private en suite bathroom
Not Included:
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Travel to Ireland and transportation to Malahide Marina from where the Lambay boat departs (boat transfers included)
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Travel Insurance (highly recommended as there will be no refunds for travel changes)
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Extras or mainland expenses
Deposit:
A 20% deposit is required to secure your space and the balance becomes due 6 weeks prior to the retreat start date. It is also possible to pay in monthly instalments - please enquire for details.
COVID-19:
Our hope is that this retreat will be able to go ahead as planned, and we will be taking all possible precautions to protect against COVID-19 throughout the retreat. However, in the event that we are forced to cancel the retreat due to government restrictions or safety guidelines, you will receive a full refund (less any bank transfer fees).
Registration & Further Info:
To register and for questions about Lambay, the region or local travel, please write to millie@islandclub.co
For any other questions about Geraldine's 'Find Your Path to Serenity' Retreat, please write to gegriffin28@gmail.com
ABOUT YOUR FACILITATOR...
Geraldine Griffin lives and works in Dublin. She is a certified and registered Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapist, with an MA in Core Process Psychotherapy from the Karuna Institute, Devon and a Member of the Irish Council of Psychotherapists. Her work is wide and varied with a background in Education, and she is also a qualified teacher.
Geraldine's personal practice of Mindfulness Meditation extends back over two decades. She ‘distilled’ much of what she has learned through her MA training, personal experience and work with clients, in order to design this mindfulness retreat. Now she is offering to share the techniques and insights that she learned along the way to guide you on your personal journey.
EXAMPLE SCHEDULE (timings will vary)
The course schedule is free-flowing and designed to give participants the best opportunity to relax and unwind. Lambay offers a unique and incredibly enriching environment in which to focus on personal wellness and wellbeing. Millie and Lottie will be on hand throughout, offering delicious seasonal food that nurtures the body as well as cosy fires, hot and cold drinks on tap and island know-how to further nourish your soul.
FRIDAY
14:30 Boat from Malahide
15:00 Arrive Lambay and settle in
15:30 Tea and Island Welcome from Millie and Geraldine
16:00 Mindful Walk & Island Exploration
17:30 Introductory Session and Overview of the Retreat
19:30 Dinner in the Whitehouse
SATURDAY
08:00 Breakfast in the Whitehouse
09:30 Mindfulness Session
11:00 Tea/Coffee Break
11:30 Workshop
13:00 Lunch
15:00 Mindful Walk/Meditation
17:30 Tea & (Healthy!) Cake
18:00 Personal Time or Optional Wild Swim
19:15 Dinner
20:30 Optional Sunset Session
SUNDAY
08:30 Breakfast
10:00 Workshop
11:30 Tea/Coffee Break
12:00 Mindful Walk/Meditation
13:30 Lunch
15:00 Group Closing Session
16:30 Boat departs Lambay
Maritime weather can be unpredictable, therefore the boat times may vary within the tidal window. On the island, some time will be spent outdoors whatever the weather, but the activities and workshops may be indoors or outdoors depending on what is deemed most suitable at the time.
DELICIOUS SEASONAL FOOD
Our in-house island chef will provide you with fresh, seasonal meals throughout the weekend. Please be sure to notify us as soon as you book your space if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.
LUXURY COSY ACCOMMODATION
Each bedroom has a super-king bed capable of conversion to two single beds, with mattress protectors, duvets and two pillows per bed. Extra blankets are available should they be desired. Electric blankets are not permitted on the island's off-grid energy supply, however hot bottles are provided in case of cold weather.
The central and upstairs bathrooms have showers; the corner room en suites have bath-shower combinations and the end room luxury en suites have freestanding baths and separate showers.
Please let us know if you would like to request a particular bedroom.
OUTDOORS ON LAMBAY
BOOTS - There is a large number of Wellington boots in a range of sizes, which you are welcome to borrow during your stay.
GETTING HERE
Please make your way to Malahide as soon as you have arrived into Ireland from abroad.
Dublin Airport to Malahide
Malahide is approximately 20 minutes by road from Dublin Airport; a regular size taxi costs approximately €15-20.
Dublin Ferry Port to Malahide
Malahide is approximately 35 minutes by road from Dublin Ferry Port; a regular size taxi costs approximately €30-35.
Directions to Malahide Town Centre
If you wish to stop off in town for supplies, head for Gibney's of Malahide on New Street, a traditional local pub in the centre of Malahide town. This is well placed between all the most useful shops (Boots, SuperValu, Donnybrook Fair) and restaurants/cafés if you have time for a bite to eat. The Marina Centre is a five minute walk from Gibney's and the town centre.
If heading straight for the Marina, tell your taxi driver to drive through the Marina Village (under the arch) and straight to the end where you will see a giant anchor sculpture by the Marina Centre. Our Lambay boat skipper will meet you outside White’s Laundry at the allotted time.
POLITE NOTICE: It is important that you do not enter the Marina Centre at any time unless accompanied by the Skipper, as it is private property.
The boat transfers to/from Lambay adhere to the tides and, as such, must depart promptly at the scheduled time.
For those with flights, we strongly recommend flights that leave a minimum of 4 hours (preferably 6 hours) between your flight arrival/departure times and the scheduled boat transfer time. Please be ready at the Marina 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
20kg limit on luggage per person on the boats.
WEATHER
The weather on Lambay is generally milder and drier than on the mainland, with plenty of sunshine. However, the island is also open to the elements and can be very windy. Out of the sun this can make it quite chilly! and weather on the island changes fast so you must be prepared for rain and sun.
We suggest bringing plenty of layers and a light water/wind proof jacket to enjoy Lambay outdoors; cosy slippers or socks and a favourite wooly jumper for indoors, where you can warm up by the cosy open fire in the Whitehouse.
