What a retreat stay looks like
Days at Danu Lodge are deliberately unhurried. Mornings open with 30 minutes of guided meditation and a 90-minute Qigong session in the gardens or studio. Breakfast is unhurried, mostly home-grown or sourced from local Wexford producers. The middle of the day is yours — walk the woodland paths, sit by the sacred well, paint, write, sleep, read. Late afternoon brings optional therapies (acupuncture, reflexology, reiki, craniosacral) at reduced rates for residents. Evenings close with a second short meditation. Nothing is mandatory; the rhythm is an invitation, not a programme.
Where to stay — two options
An independent self-catering studio sleeps two — a king-size bedroom with a long view from its own balcony, and a sitting room with a queen-size sofa bed. Bookable on Airbnb for those who want full independence.
Full-board stays in the main lodge include all meals, daily meditation and Qigong. Twin rooms €85 per person per night, single room €95 per night. Weekend, week and fortnight stays welcome; bespoke silent retreats by arrangement.
Where the lodge sits
Danu Lodge sits in north Co. Wexford, Ireland — 13 km from Gorey, near Aughrim, Tinahealy, Woodenbridge and Avoca. Close enough to the Wicklow hills, the Vale of Avoca and the east coast beaches for proper days out; far enough to feel genuinely held in the quiet. Dublin airport is about 90 minutes by road; Rosslare ferry port about an hour.
Why people choose Danu Lodge
- Small group — never more than a handful of guests at once
- All meals included on full board (vegetarian / gluten-free welcomed)
- Daily meditation and Qigong included in the room rate
- Therapies available at reduced resident rates
- Walks straight from the door — woodland, sacred well, hill country
- Quiet, slow, screen-light — designed for nervous-system recovery
Common questions
Frequently asked
What is a retreat at Danu Lodge actually like?+
It is a boutique wellness retreat in rural Ireland — small in scale, held with care. A typical day weaves morning meditation and Qigong, unhurried home-cooked meals, optional therapy sessions, long walks in the woodland and gardens, and a closing evening meditation. Nothing is mandatory. Most guests describe it as the deepest rest they have had in years.
How much does a wellness retreat at Danu Lodge cost?+
Full-board stays in the main lodge are €85 per person per night in a twin room or €95 per night in a single (all meals, meditation and Qigong included). A full week is €450 per person, a fortnight €800. Therapies — acupuncture, reflexology, reiki, craniosacral — are available to residents at reduced rates. The self-catering studio is bookable separately on Airbnb.
What should I pack for a retreat stay?+
Comfortable layered clothing for warm interiors and cool Irish weather, sturdy walking shoes (the woodland paths can be muddy), warm socks, a yoga mat if you have one (we have spares), a journal, a refillable water bottle, and any medication you take regularly. Leave laptops behind if you can; the wifi is intentionally light. Towels, linens and toiletries are provided.
Who is a Danu Lodge retreat for?+
Anyone needing genuine rest — people in burnout, in transition, recovering from illness, grieving, or simply long overdue a pause. Beginners to meditation and Qigong are warmly welcomed; experienced practitioners come too. We host individual guests, couples, and very small groups. We do not run loud or party-style retreats.
How do I choose between modalities — meditation, Qigong, breathwork, acupuncture, shamanic work?+
Most guests start with a quiet conversation by phone or email with Kate — that usually surfaces the right starting point. Many begin with a full-board stay (which already includes daily meditation and Qigong) and add one or two therapies. People drawn to deep transformative work often time their stay around a Grof® Breathwork retreat or a sweat lodge ceremony. There is no wrong choice; the work meets you wherever you arrive.
How do I book?+
Email kate@danulodge.com or call +353 87 232 5383. We will reply with availability and a brief health-and-intention conversation to make sure the stay fits what you are looking for. A small deposit confirms the booking. The self-catering studio can also be booked directly on Airbnb.
How do I get to Danu Lodge?+
Danu Lodge is in Clonroe, near Gorey in north Co. Wexford, Ireland. Dublin airport is about 90 minutes by road; Rosslare ferry port about an hour. Bus Éireann and the M11 motorway both serve Gorey, and we can arrange a local pickup from Gorey by prior agreement.
Further reading