Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat

Anam Cara Writer’s and Artist’s Retreat sits in the village of Eyeries on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, overlooking Coulagh Bay with the surrounding mountains and farmland beyond. Founded in 1998 by Sue Booth-Forbes, who owns and directs it, the retreat provides a quiet, secluded setting where writers, artists, composers and choreographers can concentrate on their creative work. Its name, Anam Cara, is Irish for “soul friend” and was chosen in part as a tribute to the writing of John O’Donohue.

The retreat runs year-round and offers both self-directed residencies, from a week to a month, and guided workshops led by visiting instructors. Guests stay in private working bedrooms with their own bathrooms, share home-cooked meals or dine alone as they prefer, and have full days of undisturbed time for their projects. The grounds include gardens, meadows, cascades and a river island, along with a library, a sauna and a hot tub.

Since it opened, Anam Cara has hosted well over a thousand writers and artists. Alongside its residencies and workshops, it has sponsored writing competitions and events over the years.