Lambay Island
About
Thursday 11th to Monday 15th September 2025
Imagine taking a boat across the Irish Sea to a small private Island to a luxuriously appointed house, with time, space and structure to write your book, article, dissertation, poems or journal. It’s a rare opportunity and this is the right time for thoughtful and determined endeavour. Sure, the passage across the sea might be chilly, but the welcome will be warm and joyful, and the house itself is a treasure- designed and furnished by Edwin Lutyens, the architect of New Delhi and the Cenotaph in London. Each room has its own writing desk and there are many other fine places to write alone or with collaborators.
Our chef for the retreat will be cooking delicious meals to sustain and excite the imagination. Those wanting more spiritual inspiration can sip excellent Lambay Irish Whiskey, from the island’s own distillery.*
Writing is what we are here for, though, and as the schedule shows, we will get on with it in a practical and uncomplicated way. There are opportunities for feedback but no pressure to read out work-in-progress. Most people find the workshops surprisingly helpful, and a means to both focus and accelerate their work.
Jonathan Gosling and Ed Gillespie will provide advice and feedback on each person's writing, and will run workshops each day.
Lambay is the largest island off the east coast of Ireland and lies just 12 miles from the centre of Dublin and 3 miles off the coast.
The remnants of a vast volcano, Lambay emerged after two continents joined to create Ireland 450 million years ago. Consequently, it is formed from a beautiful flecked green stone – porphyry – from which our Neolithic ancestors made beautifully crafted stone axes 7000 years ago. Its early history is obscure but, like many other small islands, it attracted a romantic variety of saints, hermits and pirates. It is thought to be one of the first places that Viking raiders landed and proofs of its ancient history and early modern settlement were found around the harbour, dating from the 1st century AD.
Some of the artefacts, including a bracelet, can be seen today in the Dublin museum. The island has steep cliffs on its northern, eastern and southern sides with a more lowlying western shore. It is a paradise of fine architecture, birds, flowers, cattle, seals, fallow deer and even a mob of wallabies!
A truly unique corner of the earth. The island is internationally important for its variety of seabirds and is also home to the largest breeding colony of Atlantic Grey Seals on the east coast of Ireland. It is a Natural 2000 site designated for its birdlife and seal colonies, as well as holding a remarkable place in European natural history as the site of a pioneering biological investigation undertaken by the naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger in 1906.
Luxury Accommodation
Each bedroom has a Super King bed capable of conversion to two single beds, with mattress protectors, duvets and two pillows per bed. Extra blankets are available should they be desired. Given the current capacity of the electricity supply, electric blankets are not permitted, however hot bottles are provided in case of cold weather.
The central and upstairs bathrooms have showers; the corner room en suites have bath-shower combinations and the end room luxury en suites have freestanding baths and separate showers.
The White House is an original Lutyens design, completed in 1933 the year before Cecil Baring’s death. It was the last building to be commissioned and executed by Cecil and Lutyens and was built for the enjoyment of their two daughters, Daphne Pollen and Calypso Liddell who by then both had large families. It is still used as a holiday home during the summer by their descendants. With its large Dutch-tiled fireplace, south facing sitting room, original furniture, family murals and collections, it is a unique and welcoming house comprised of a shared central section and two wings. There are glorious views over the sea to the mainland from the West Wing and from the south facing gardens in particular. There have been no major alterations to the building, so it remains an authentic example of this period of Lutyens’ work. However, bathrooms have been carefully modernized with conservation in mind and curtains, carpets and new beds were installed in 2016. The heating and hot water systems have also been revamped, providing a level of luxury that does Lutyens’ designs great justice.
Registration & Cost
To register and for any questions about the Retreat, write to miriam@pelumbra.com
Questions about Lambay, the region or local travel? Write to Millie Baring at bookings@lambayisland.ie
The fees include:
· Writing workshops and advice sessions
· Accommodation for 4 nights/5 days
· All your meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
· Morning and afternoon refreshments
· Use of wi-fi, sitting rooms, library, gardens, and local know-how
Fees
Ensuite (Single Occupancy) €2500
Ensuite (Double Occupancy) €4600
Shared bathroom (Single Occupancy) €2200
Shared bathroom (Double Occupancy) €3900
Cottage with a shared bathroom €2100
Fees do not include airfare, travel insurance, additional accommodations or personal expenses.
*Lambay distill the whiskey on the mainland using the island sp
Food
Our private chef will provide us with luxurious vegetarian meals for the week.
Outdoors on the Island
Apart from the farming activity, Lambay is host to a wide variety of wildlife, including fallow deer, wallabies, rabbits, and notably, Atlantic and common seals.
The island is also one of the most important sea bird nesting colonies off the coast of Europe and has been designated a Special Protection Area. Cormorants, shags, guillemots, razorbills, puffins, kittiwakes and fulmars can be observed at close quarters with ease.
The glories of the island are the 16th-century castle, modified and extended by Edwin Lutyens between 1908 and 1910, and the gardens, originally designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Massive rampart walls encircle the castle, together with its terraced gardens.
In addition to the castle, Lutyens modified the farm buildings, bothy, chapel and Coastguard Cottages, which were built from local stone. In the 1920’s Lutyens was commissioned to build the Real Tennis Court on the sea front and finally, the White House in the 1930’s. Together these buildings form a harmonious architectural complex that complements the natural landscape.
The island offers good walking with impressive views and in the harbour, low tide reveals a large sandy beach, rock pools and a swimming area.
Further information on Lambay, its history and building can be found at www.malahideheritage.comand www.countrylifeimages.co.uk
