ABOUT THE RETREAT

Where: Inish Beg, West Cork, Ireland

Group size: 10 to 12 guests

Duration: 5 nights, 4 days

When: September 20th to 25th, 2026

All of the details of our time together will be taken care of for you—all you have to do is show up. This retreat is open to beginning and well-seasoned writers who are interested in honing their craft across the genres of memoir or food & travel writing (or a combination of both). Come prepared with a project in progress, or leave with the inspiration to start a new one. While there will be free time for writing, many writers use time at retreats to think deeply about their work and leave with new motivation to create when they get back home. This retreat is a balance of structured and unstructured time.

Questions? Send a note to hello (at) bogandthunder.com with any questions or to book an appointment to discuss this trip!

Our Home for the Retreat: Inish Beg Estate

Inish Beg, Irish for “small island,” is the most northerly of the Carbery Hundred Islands of County Cork, Ireland and lies in the unspoiled tidal estuary of the Ilen River. There is a bronze age Cromlech (boulder burial) within the grounds, as well as a tree covered Lissaghaun (little fort or fairy mound) in front of the main house.

The estate comprises 97 acres, with 42 acres of woodlands and another 42 acres of organic fields. There is also a walled garden which includes an indoor pool. Guests will be staying across ten self catering houses and each writer will have their own bedroom. We have booked the entirety of the estate for our retreat weekend.

SAMPLE DAILY PROGRAM

DAY 1

Our trip begins with a happy hour in Cork city, where we’ll gather with our fellow writers and celebrate the start of our trip over a round of pints. After a bit of the black stuff, we’ll take our merriment with us to the retreat location, the gorgeous Inish Beg Estate in West Cork. After a quick tour of the grounds, you will have some time to settle into your accommodations, take a walk in the woods or to the water, or go for a swim. Later, we will gather for dinner at Carpa in the main house.  

DAY 2

We will rise well-rested after breakfast to begin our first full day and gather together for our first writing workshop with Laurie. After lunch, we will have time for small group discussion and the start of our individual sessions with Laurie. The afternoon will be reserved for free time to relax and write, or to spend doing activities on the island. We’ll be joined by a guest speaker for dinner this evening. If you’re feeling up to it, tonight may be a great time to head to a local pub for some live music!

DAY 3

 Let’s hope for a bit of sunshine today, because we are spending some time outside on some of the most gorgeous beaches in Ireland as we participate in a bespoke workshop with one of Ireland’s most legendary artisans. After some coastal foraging and exploring, we’ll gather for storytelling and preparing our lunch together. We’ll return to Inish Beg for some relaxation time before gathering for our second workshop, in which we will learn how to apply our craft to experience we’ve just had together, using the angle which appeals most to you. We’ll reconvene for a leisurely dinner at Inish Beg again this evening.

DAY 4

We’ll begin the day with a walking tour which focuses on the local stories etched into the landscape —tales of Gaelic chieftains, Vikings, Normans, and even pirates, each leaving their mark in the toponyms of this historic stretch of coastline. After a gorgeous stroll, we will enjoy a picnic lunch by the bay featuring local meat, cheese, and seafood. We’ll return to Inish Beg in the afternoon for our third workshop. Later, we’ll head out for another field trip, this time to dinner at a local restaurant featuring one of Ireland’s best chefs.  

DAY 5

Our last full day together will begin with our fourth and final workshop with Laurie. We’ve planned a Q&A session with her in the afternoon, as well as some down time for relaxation or writing. After we celebrate the close of the week at a special dinner, we’ll gather for a writer’s salon where we will have the chance to read from our works in progress or from something else that inspires you. Tonight will be all about joy and revelry, as we celebrate our time together and everything that comes next. 

The itinerary above is the current plan, and things may change. We will make every effort to provide the tours and experiences that are described. However, the nature of the places we’ll be visiting — not typical tourist destinations — means that things can change at the last minute.