Join us for the fifth Wake Up Retreat for Young Adults in Ireland by Registering HERE!

Leave the city behind, get a breath of fresh air, and celebrate awakened living with a lively group of young mindfulness practitioners and monastics from Plum Village in Creagh Castle, Doneraile, North County Cork.

The title of this year’s retreat is ‘Letting Go’.
”Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything, anger, anxiety or possessions – we cannot be free…People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar” Thich Nhat Hanh.

This retreat offers us time and space to let go from the busyness of life and begin to reclaim our ability to come back to the present moment. With the tools of mindfulness practice, we will learn to let go of our habitual energies and over-thinking, and learn how to be.

What? Wake Up retreat with monastics from Plum Village
When? Thursday, 5th May – Sunday 8th May 2016.
Where? Creagh Castle, Doneraile, North Co. Cork. See directions below.
Who can participate? Everyone between the ages of 18 and early 40’s
How?: By registering HERE!

Last day of registration: 28th April 2016 at 8pm please.

Please only register if you can attend the entire retreat.

Given that the retreat is only three days in length, missing a day would mean you’d be missing out on a lot in reality. Plum Village retreats put a lot of emphasis on the communal experience of practicing collectively.

Arrival date:
Thursday, 5th May from 6pm to 7.30pm for registration. Dinner will be served between 7.30pm and 8.30pm

Important note: We strongly recommend that you attend the orientation session at the start of the retreat as this will explain what we’ll do during the retreat.

Departure date:
Sunday, 8th May at 4.30pm

Price (includes all meals and 3-night accommodation):
Employed with contribution* – €200
Employed without contribution – €185
Student/Unemployed – €160

Please note that there are very limited places in the unemployed/student pricing and we would ask that you please consider this when booking your place. We have tried to keep the price as low as possible to allow those that are not financially able to pay a higher price to attend.

*Your generosity makes it possible for those in need of financial help to attend future retreats. We appreciate your help in increasing access to our practice to all who wish to experience it.

Accommodation: You will sleep in same-gender dorms for three nights. Dorms have shared bathrooms. There will be a rota for shower use throughout the retreat. We would ask all people attending the retreat to bring a sleeping bag/duvet and towel with you please as these items will not be available on site.

Payments accepted: Credit card only. If you do not have a credit card, please ask a friend or family member to book a place for you.

Please note: your place on the retreat is not allocated until full payment is received. Partial payments, payment instalments, and holding places to pay later will not be accepted.

Cancellation/Refund policy:
Cancellations are accepted in writing only – please contact us at wkupireland@gmail.com

Cancellations will be accepted until 2 weeks before the retreat – 21st April 2016 at 11.59pm. No refunds will be accepted after that date and no exceptions will be made.

I’m interested! How do I register?
Click here to book a place. Please make sure that you enter a valid email address.
After you’ve submitted the registration form, you’ll be taken immediately to a separate website for payment.

Once payment is received you will receive a confirmation email stating your placed has been confirmed.

Please note: Payment must be must straight away to confirm your place.

How to get to Creagh Castle
There is plenty of parking space available on site at Creagh Castle for those who will be driving to the retreat.

I’d like to take the public transportation to Doneraile.
A bus service is available to Cork City. From there you will need the bus to Mallow Co Cork. A collection bus service will be available to transport retreatants to the retreat location free of charge.

I’d like to drive, how do I get there?
Coming from Cork City, take the N20 towards Mallow, pass straight through two roundabouts at Mallow and continue on for approx. three kms until the next main turnoff to the right, it is signposted to Doneraile, take that turn off and continue on this smaller road until you meet Doneraile( approx 7 km) Once you meet the Main Street of Doneraile turn immediately right and follow road for one mile until you meet huge stone entrance with white painted gates, that’s Creagh Castle.

Coming from Dublin, head south on the M7 then onto the M8, take the turn off for Mitchelstown, bypass the town and get onto the N73 towards Mallow. It is signposted. Pass through a small hilltop town called Kildorrery and continue on for another mile until you see a sign for Doneraile to the right, go to Doneraile, go up through the town and follow the road round to the left for a mile until you see big white gates on the bend.

What to bring?… the important checklist!

• Duvet or sleeping bag. Pillow cover. Bedding for the mattress and a pillow will be provided.
• Please provide your own towel as this will not be provided.
• Whatever you use for meditation such as a cushion, blanket, or meditation stool. Chairs will be provided.
• Blanket for deep relaxation and meditation to keep you cosy (and for extra warmth at night).
• Loose clothing suitable for sitting meditation.
• A bottle to carry around water with you.
• A tea thermos to take your tea around with you.
  If you wish, you can bring your own herbal tea and/or vegan biscuits to share.
• Comfortable clothes for optional exercises (and meditation).
• Warm clothes and rain jacket if we go outside (maybe an umbrella too).
• Shoes that are suitable for outside walking meditation or exercises, especially if wet, and also shoes that are suitable for inside. You can bring your comfy slippers if you like!
• Personal toiletries and medications if needed.
• Ear plugs – you are staying in a dorm or you’re needing a nap, these can come in handy.
• Hot water bottle – It can get cold so if you think you need one, be sure to bring it. Hot water is available from the dining room kitchen – Be Careful!
• Notebook and pen – For all your thoughts, inspirations, notes etc.
• Loving kindness and a willingness to help the retreat flow smoothly by participating in work meditation and volunteering as needed.

Food
Meals are vegan (ie. no animal products) and prepared by a qualified chef. Please note, we cannot provide for special diets. Please provide your own medication or special foods if needed.

Mindful Volunteering
Working meditation is an essential part of the retreat experience. Everyone is asked to turn up for their scheduled work periods and consider helping as necessary. The small team looking after the retreat needs everyone’s help to ensure that the retreat runs smoothly.

If you see something that needs to be done, consider if you could do it yourself rather than alert the team: if there are cups that need collecting, collect them; if the tea area needs tidying, tidy it. By helping, you support yourself and the smooth running of the retreat.

The practice consists of washing pots, dishes, cups, and clearing the tables after meals or chopping some vegetables before each meal.

Noble Silence
We will be observing noble silence at certain times during the retreat. Silence supports us in deepening our practice of mindfulness and looking into ourselves and our habit energies. The practice of silence need not be oppressive. Although we do not speak, we can acknowledge the presence of each other with a smile.

Included in this silence is the refreshing opportunity to take a break from our mobile phones, telephones, emails, portable devices and laptops. Please support your practice by limiting your use of these devices to only what is absolutely necessary, and if you do need to use them, please find a place where you will not disturb others.

Creagh Castle is an old home converted for the purpose of retreats. This will be the first retreat held here and with that there will be issues that will arise. We ask retreatants to be patient, smile and help in any way that will promote the smooth running of the retreat.

Dana
The registration fees are set to cover the costs and do not include fees for the monastics, as it is part of the tradition that the Dharma (teachings) be given free of charge. It is then left to the individual to donate as they see fit. This also nurtures a spirit of generosity and open-heartedness. Dana (donation) is normally left in a bowl, for that purpose, towards the end of the retreat.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE
6:30 Guided sitting meditation
7:00 Exercise/Working meditation
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Working meditation
10:00 Dharma Talk
11:30 Walking meditation/Working meditation
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Deep relaxation and Touching the Earth
15:30 Tai Chi / Qi Gong / Yoga
17:00 Working meditation
18:00 Dinner
19:00 Dharma group sharings
20:00 Sitting meditation and chanting
21:30 Noble Silence

* All retreatants are requested to refrain from smoking, drinking and sexual practice during the retreat to support everyone’s practice, lay and monastic. If you are a smoker that cannot abstain for the weekend, please be mindful of the other retreatants by using designated areas for smoking purposes only.

Click here to visit Wake Up Ireland’s website