Active Workshop Holiday at Atlantic Ocean

Artist Week Holiday - what is it about?

Toormore is a hauntingly beautiful piece of unspoiled nature on the southwest coast of Ireland, right next to the Atlantic Ocean. Set on several acres of lush gardens and pathways, a group of cottages and workshops—full of art, music, paintings, and books—invite you to create your very own creative holiday.

Due to the Gulf Stream, the climate is mild (with palm trees in front of the houses), and most of the year is perfect for being outside. Because this area is highly sought after by tourists (a sailor’s paradise), the coastal towns are bursting with charming pubs, first-class restaurants, little shops, and activities.

For many years, we—the owners (a photographer, a chef, and a quilt maker)—used Toormore as a base to withdraw and relax, but also to conceive and work on our artistic ideas. Many books, quilts, photographs, and exhibitions have been created here, and many of our friends and guests have enjoyed the peace and tranquility to turn their own ideas and concepts into reality.

As much as we enjoyed working on our own ideas, we equally enjoyed witnessing how the ideas of friends and guests took shape and became reality. So, we are offering "Artist Week Holidays" for people who want, on the one hand, to explore beautiful West Cork with its colourful villages, lively pubs, and powerful coastlines, but, on the other hand, also want some meaningful activity:

Be it visiting local markets and cooking traditional Irish food, exploring our own beehives, making beautiful quilts, or finding hidden places and creating stunning landscape or art photography.

Several facilities (including an artist studio, wood workshop, quilt workshop, professional kitchen, art library, and printing room) allow hands-on work on artistic projects.

But most importantly, our guests are not left alone, and there are plenty of opportunities to discuss their projects and ideas. This is why an evening sitting by the cozy fireplace or a lavish dinner at the Goethe mansion will be so much more than just a memorable experience.


The Artist Week Holiday includes:

* One week of accommodation in the Artist Cottage
* Two full days of activities offered in the workshops
* A prepared candlelit dinner in your own Artist Cottage
* A welcome dinner at Toormore or Goethe Mansion
* A welcome breakfast at Toormore or Goethe Mansion
* An evening by the fireplace at Toormore or Goethe Mansion
* A goodbye breakfast at Toormore or Goethe Mansion

Art Photography (1 or 2 days)

From idea to production and finalization.
Includes a private fireplace evening discussion about art and photography, one day of active help in creating the photograph, access to and use of the art library in the Artist Cottage. If 2 days, more intensive workshop including digital retouching session, and your own fine-art print.

Portrait Photography (1 or 2 days)

From idea to production and finalization.
Includes a private fireplace evening discussion about art and photography, help in you taking a portrait, access to and use of the art library in the Artist Cottage. If 2 days, more intensive workshop as well as your own portrait taken of you, a digital retouching session, and your own portrait as fine-art print.

Landscape Photography (1day)

From idea to production.

Includes a day out on location in West Cork taking photographs.

Fine Cooking (1 day)
An introduction to Irish cooking.

Includes a visit to a local market town, exploring the local market and shops, followed by a return to Toormore for cooking with the chef and an additional festive three course meal

Cakes, baking, coffee (1/2 day)
An afternoon of Irish baking 
Includes making scones, Irish coffee and celebrating an afternoon with coffee and cakes.

Beekeeping (1 day)
An introduction to bees and beekeeping.
Includes a visit to our beekeeping area, a session about bees, beekeeping, and honey production, afternoon tea with honey cakes and 10 jars of our honey.

Quilt-making (1 or 2 days)
An introduction to quilt making.

Includes fabric design and coloring and a full day in our quilt workshop, learning about sewing, the application of design, and the production of a quilt. If 2 days, more intensive workshop as well as develloping design and production of your own quilt.

A Day Out with Horses (1 day)
A day out in West Cork, visiting a ranch and exploring the beauty of this rugged landscape on horseback, includes lunch.

Sport&Fun (1/2 day)
Tennis, Badminton, Biking, Boating, Walking, Mountain Climbing

Market Town (1/2 day)
Visit of a market town, includes lunch.

Chi, Yoga, Meditation, and Physio (1 day)

An introduction to the concept of Stress and Chi.

Includes an evening discussion about stress and energy flow, two yoga/meditation sessions, and (if necessary) one physiotherapy session.

The indicated price is for two people, two full workshop days, cottage rental, breakfasts, dinners, and all extras included. The workshops can be combined to reach a total of two full workshop days.

We aim to strike a good balance between the activities of the workshops while also giving you enough private time for your own relaxation.

The welcome dinner, welcome breakfast, and fireplace evening are the perfect opportunities to get to know each other and discuss the activities.

A typical week with 2 workshops could look like this:

Arrival Day: Saturday

Arrival from the airport. The Artist Cottage is prepared for you, and your private candlelit dinner is already waiting for you.

1st Day: Sunday

Welcome breakfast at Toormore or Goethe Mansion, a tour of the houses and workshops, followed by a visit to a local village in the afternoon to purchase your personal food and wine.

2nd and 3rd Day: Monday / Tuesday

One day off, one day 1st workshop day. Welcome dinner at Toormore or Goethe Mansion.

4th and 5th Day: Wednesday / Thursday

One day off, one day 2nd workshop day. A fireplace evening at Toormore or Goethe Mansion.

6th Day: Friday

A morning at the tennis court, then trip to a café, rest of the day off.

Departure Day: Saturday

Goodbye breakfast at Toormore or Goethe Mansion, trip to the airport.

The price is per week for two persons, two full days of workshops, cottage rental, breakfasts, dinners, and all extras included.

Please contact us and let us know which workshops you are interested in before you book.