Wildcrafting Pathways
Transformative retreat and book launch
Brú Moytura, Sligo,
Ireland.
F52D290
ONLY 40MINUTES drive From Knock airport. Regular bus service to location.
13th -16th July 2026
What to expect:
Monday 13th July 2026- Theme: Arriving & Rooting into Place
15:00 – 17:00 - Arrival & Check-in
Settle into the land, light refreshments, informal connections
17:00 – 18:30 - Opening Circle (Joanna Sweeney)
Intention setting, introduction to Wildcrafting Pathways, group connection
18:30 – 19:30 - Nourishing Dinner cooked by on-site chef using locally sourced produce.
20:00 – 21:30 - Fireside Storytelling (Samuel T. Brett) - SEE BELOW.
Wood carving, myth, folklore, and connection to the land of Sligo- myth of Carrowkeel and surrounding area
21:30 Quiet Integration / Rest
Biography:
Wood carving, myth, folklore of the land of Sligo with Samuel T Brett from Shanakee tours.
Shanakee was born in Ireland’s wild northwest — where landscape, legend and living memory are woven together. Founded by Samuel Brett, a fourth-generation storyteller and certified national tour guide, Shanakee offers immersive private journeys through Ireland’s mythic and historic landscapes. For Samuel, this isn’t performance. It’s inheritance.
Born and raised along the banks of the Garavogue River in County Sligo, Samuel grew up surrounded by story. In his grandfather’s butcher shop on Wine Street, tales were shared as naturally as the day’s work. Later, that same space became a woodcarving workshop under the careful hand of his uncle and mentor, master craftsman Michael Quirke. There, Samuel learned something deeper than folklore. He learned that stories are living things — carried in land, language and memory. After travelling the world, Samuel returned home to train with Ireland’s National Tourist Board as a certified guide. Today, he leads private journeys across Ireland and Scotland, bringing history, folklore and landscape into living conversation, not as a lecturer but as a companion on your journey.
Day 2 – Tuesday, July 14th: Earth Wisdom & Sustainable Living
08:00 – 09:00 Gentle Movement / Self-directed nature meditation
09:00 – 10:00 Breakfast
10:00 – 12:30 Mindful Natural Building
with Peter Cowman - SEE BELOW LINK for more information
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:30 – 16:30 Entrepreneurship talk and tour of Brú Moytura. Creating purpose-driven, sustainable businesses with Colum Stapleton- SEE BELOW details
17:00 – 18:00 Free Time / Nature Walks / Reflection
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
20:00 – 21:30 Traditional Irish music session featuring local authentic players, singers and dancers.
21:30 Wind down
DETAILS:
Mindful Natural Building – (Part 1 and 2) with Peter Cowman.
Check out his web page for more information: https://www.
Creating purpose-driven, sustainable rural businesses with Colum Stapleton.
Brú Moytura owner Colum Stapleton will take you on a tour and talk about this purpose-driven sustainable rural business which commenced construction a quarter century ago as a self build. Colum wanted to create a hosting space, that is what Brú means in gaelic. Many projects have manifested over the years around sustainability including: wind, solar & geothermal heating, veg & fruit growing, medicinal herbs cultivation inspired from the nearby myth of Airmid. Colum will take you on a tour, offering an honest conversation about what worked & didn’t & why, how to juggle naivety with ambitions and limits, with knowing ones in/abilities, how to keep customers happy without scaring off the green folk & vice versa. Recently, a mighty green house was built. Awards over the years include 2007, nominated by Sligo County Council as most ecological building having been whittled down to four national finalists. Eleven years later Brú Moytura was nominated for best use of waste water with an unique system, so much thriftier than fancy effluent alternatives and very necessary for our big groups (up to 30 beds ). Successful courses such as earth-ship style tyre construction, with Scoraig Wind created self sufficient wind turbine (see it in operation ) after almost twenty years. On site gite/ studio was built with Peter Cowman’s course held at the Brú. Since 2020 an evolving identity is firmly linked to our revival of the Irish Annals- writing tradition with some help from Forás na Gaeilge & Creative Ireland. Creating a latter day scriptorium sifting the national "News." See annals.ie for details. Check out the location and venue for the retreat: Brumoytura.org.
Evening entertainment:
Immerse in authentic Irish traditions and culture with live performances. More information to follow.
Bring your voice, dancing feet and instruments and we will sing, play and dance at a traditional Irish seisúin.
Day 3 – Wednesday, July 15th: Creativity, Expression & Wildcrafting
Theme: Expression & Inner Alignment
08:00 – 09:00 Self-directed nature Immersion, grounding and tree bathing
09:00 – 10:00 Breakfast
10:00 – 12:30 Mindful Natural Building (Part two) with Peter Cowman.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14:30 – 16:30 | Wildcrafting Pathways Workshop
with Joanna Sweeney
Designing your dream life aligned with nature & purpose
17:00 – 18:00 Integration Time / Journaling / Optional 1:1 session
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
19.30 Book Launch (Public EVENT- BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Eventbrite to follow)
21:00 – Live DJ SET with Zaneta Klimkowska - Celebration, movement, and connection
Book Launch (FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC). Come and celebrate the launch of this book and hear how it came about.
Wildcrafting Pathways. Transformative wisdom for a regenerative lifestyle with Joanna Sweeney. Talk & reading. Q&A. Signing & celebration.
Synopsis of book:
An empowering guide offering a practical and philosophical roadmap for those craving simplicity, freedom, and a deeper connection to nature through sustainable living.
In a world where we are constantly surrounded by the noise of modern life―endless schedules, digital distractions, rising costs, and environmental concerns―more and more people are seeking an alternative way of living. Regenerative living is one such alternative, a lifestyle that offers freedom, self-sufficiency, and a deep connection to nature. It’s a return to simplicity, where you reclaim control over your environment, your resources, and your life.
Wildcrafting Pathways is a practical yet poignant guide that offers workable and realistic advice on how to navigate the transformative journey of regenerative living. The book covers a wealth of advice, from building your dream home with recycled materials, to exploring alternative economies and embracing digital detoxing. Also included are practical tips for growing your own food, managing water and waste, and harnessing renewable energy.
Through interviews conducted with environmentally active persons and movements from many generations past across the globe, Wildcrafting Pathways also offers a rich and fascinating honest conversation regarding the trajectory of the green and sustainability movement as we move into a technological age. These interviews put emphasis on the importance of self-discovery, community engagement, and personal growth.
Live DJ SET with Zaneta Klimkowska - Celebration, movement, and connection
A heart-led DJ set weaving uplifting, feel-good dance music into a vibrant, energetic journey. Designed to get you out of your head and into your body. It's an invitation into movement, connection, joy, and the pure feeling of being alive. Zaneta creates a space to express and reconnect. To close, she gently guides the room from celebration to meditation with a short live sound journey using crystal singing bowls, allowing energy to soften, settle, and fully land.
Day 4 – Thursday, July 16th: Integration & Book Launch
Theme: Visioning & Taking It Forward
08:00 – 09:00 Closing Nature Practice
09:00 – 10:00 Breakfast
10:00 – 12:00 In depth analysis, discussion of Wildcrafting Pathways
with Joanna Sweeney. Talk & reading. Q&A. Signing & celebration
12:00 – 13:00 Creating lasting networks and Closing Circle
Reflections, commitments, and integration
13:00 Farewell Lunch & Departures
Call/Text: 00353 86 8685988 to book.
or Email: joannasweeney@gmail.com.
Limited to 25 places. Day tickets available on request. Booking essential
Fully residential immersive experience: Farm-to-fork breakfast, lunch and dinner included cooked on site by private chef- Eldon Hilliard.
Investment:
Early bird price:
€360
B&B /retreat/ (shared accommodation) lunch and dinner x 2.
Private room:
€540
B&B/retreat/lunch/ dinner x2
Available until 13/6/26
Guidelines and ADD-ONs:
Pop up shop with local produce.
On-site swap shop: Trash-to-treasure:
Bring all unwanted, pre-loved, upcycled, vintage: Clothes, household items, garden plants, tools, jewellery and non electrical items to the on-site swap shop where you will be able to update and pass on anything you want to exchange.
Note: Please email any dietary requirements when booking. Very limited car parking facilities. Carpool/bus where possible. Please respect attendees. This is an non smoking/alcohol event. Digital detox retreat- limit smartphone usage. Deposit of 10% required on booking. A minimum number of 15 needed for retreat to go ahead.
