dry stone walling at Lughnasa

This Lughnasa we will host our first heritage skills retreat since becoming owners of this beautiful land in South Kilkenny.

We will host master stone mason Fergal Packman who will instruct on the traditional skill of dry stone wall building. We will be building stone retaining walls in the sloping meadow for terraces for vegetables. Each participant will get hands on experience in this ancient skill and will leave with the competence to build their own walls.

Fergal will transmit from his 20 plus years of experience building stone walls of all sizes and variety in Ireland and abroad.

This is Irish permaculture at its best. To make use stone; of our abundant and free resource; to create a feature that is lasting, aesthetic and integrated.

You will be hosted by Diarmuid Lyng and Siobhán de Paor in this weekend of communal living on the land. We will occupy an outdoor kitchen, a campfire, compost toilet and relax with a dip in the river, a wander in the woods, a forage and a cómhrá.

This is a bilingual gathering and all participants are invited to use their beagán Gaeilge and make this an opportunity to reclaim their teanga from the recesses of memory.

Food will be local, wild and organic as far as possible. Vegetables from our own garden, raw milk and deer will feature.

Tickets are 350 euro and include a communal midday meal and camping accommodation. We also offer a concessionary rate for the unwaged of 300 euro. Participants staying offsite, attending from 9 to 5pm, can pay €250. Spaces are limited. A non-refundable deposit of 100 euros will secure your place.

We will post futher details as they clarify.

August 6th to 8th, 2026