Feeling the strain of too much tech? You could plan to take a weekend off at the Dunderry Park Digital Detox, running from March 20th to 22nd. An offshoot from last year's very successful Spirit of Folk festival, held at the same location, it's a residential weekend for anyone feeling the burn of keeping up with their normal calenders. Phones will be switched off when you arrive on Friday and the weekend will be filled with yoga, mindfulness, storytelling sessions and writing workshops. "It's all about renewing normal communication methods," explains event organiser Emily Duffy. "Being tactile, sitting around a fire and talking while just switching off," she says.
A "lying workshop", where participants are encouraged to simply make things up, will kick off the Friday evening while Saturday will be filled with meditation, writing workshops and more. Bushcraft and astronomy sessions will be held in the grounds of the estate, teaching participants to source food in the wild, how to set a fire and cook your own food outdoors. It’s an a la carte event, Duffy explains. You can participate as much or as little as you want. At past weekend retreats people have even been known to sneak off to the local pub in Dunderry village, she says laughing. “There are no rules beyond switching your phones and other tech off.”
Dunderry Park is a holistic retreat in a Georgian mansion set within 25 acres of parkland in Co Meath. Surrounded by forest walks and lakeland, participants are free to wander the grounds or follow the programme of workshops. Food (organic vegetarian ) and shared two- or four-bedroom accommodation in the main house is provided for the weekend fee of €295. (Group rates available)
With places for up to 35 people, enquiries to date have been from people in the technology industry, marketing, PR and others, with all ages represented, from 18-to 25-year-olds to retired people say the organisers.
