Belfast, Here We Come Again

So successful was our inaugural week-long creative writing retreat in the friendly port city of Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland, last October, we’ve decided to host it again this year. 

And this time maybe even better. If that’s at all possible (we say with great modesty).

Located in the heart of the city, directly across from the historic City Hall and Museum, the upbeat, casual chic hotel room2 is where all our retreat participants will stay together. 

Last year's retreat featured a sumptuous buffet opening evening with an intriguing talk by local author and civil rights activist, Danny Morrison, about growing up during what is known as the 'Troubles'; a fascinating walking city tour with poet and guide, Ken McElroy, kindly organised by Visit Belfast; writing workshops in the oldest library in Northern Ireland established in 1788; a visit to Belfast's historic City Hall and Museum; various complimentary lunches including one at the 400-year-old St. George’s Market, with an exercise in sensorial writing led by a Master Medical Herbalist; and a visit to an incredible museum, the Titanic Experience, which features ten separate galleries of interactive space and a giant facade designed appropriately as frozen ice crystals.

To give you a better idea of what activities we all enjoyed together, please find below the agenda for last year’s event.

This year we hope to have additional authors/tutors speaking at the event, including a senior representative of a major Irish publishing company, and a raft of new fun cultural tours.

So if you’re interested in visiting a new destination, or re-visiting one as intriguing as The Shipyard City, home of the Titanic, while enjoying creative writing workshops in a cosy, centuries-old private library then sign up now.

APPLY FOR BELFAST WRITING RETREAT HERE

Last year, we had full participation, a maximum of 10, with writers from countries as varied as Canada, India, Israel and the United States, so we advise you to avoid disappointment by signing up early.

We look forward to seeing you in Ireland this autumn for one helluva week together. 

Belfast Writing Retreat Agenda 2025

Monday, October 6

Welcome 19.00 - 22.00 - 'Magical Mystery Welcome’ with food, drinks and speaker, author Danny Morrison 

Tuesday, October 7

10.00 - 11.00 Opening Session ‘Why Are We Here?’ at the Linen Hall Library, first opened in 1788

11.00 - 13.00 ‘IQ For Creative Writing’ workshop with author and former foreign correspondent, Sean Hillen, co-founder of Ireland Writing Retreat

13.00 - 14.00 Complimentary lunch together in the Victorian-era City Hall building

14.00 - 16.00 Tour inside City Hall with interactive augmented reality exhibition

16.00 onwards Writing and leisure time

Wednesday, October 8

10.00 - 12.00 Literary and historical walking tour of Belfast with playwright and poet guide

12.00 - 14.00 Writing and leisure time

14.00 - 17.00 Character Development Workshop with author and Professor Emerita at Merrimack College, Kathy Shine Cain Ph.D.

Thursday, October 9

10.00 - 13.00 Writing workshop hosted by Sean Hillen

13.00 - 14.00 Complimentary lunch together at Linen Hall Library

14.00 - 17.00 Writing workshop (works in progress)

Friday, October 10

10.00 - 13.00 Writing workshop hosted by Kathy Shine Cain

13.00 -  14.00 Writing and leisure time

14.00 - 17.00 Writing workshop hosted by Sean Hillen

Saturday, October 11

10.00 - 12.00’Sensorial Writing’ workshop with Columbia Hillen, master medical herbalist, former publishing house managing director and co-founder of Ireland Writing Retreat

12.00 - 13.00 Visit to St. George’s Market, opened more than 400 years ago 

13.00 - 14.00 Complimentary lunch together at the market 

14.00 - 15.00 Sensorial writing workshop

15.00 - Certificate of Achievement Presentations 

16.00 - 18.00 Visit to the Titanic Museum, an exciting experience inside ten galleries of interactive space with a giant facade designed as frozen ice crystals

Sunday, October 12

Check out and departure