Our Rental History

The first Vipassana course in Ireland took place in 1996 at a large house in Templeboy, Co. Sligo. The venue was found by a small group of Irish meditators who had done courses abroad and were keen to bring Vipassana to Ireland. The house, owned by a farmer who stayed on-site, hosted 18 students. Meditators donated furniture and supplies, with one volunteer driving from Dublin with chairs and tables strapped to the roof of his car.  

The next two courses, in 1997, were held in a larger venue in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, followed by courses in Portumna, Co. Galway, and Falcarragh, Co. Donegal. In Portumna, meditators were treated to an unexpected soundtrack when a rock band rehearsed next door for several days. 

In 1999, a journalist’s account of her 10-day experience in The Irish Times sparked increased interest, and more venues were needed to accommodate demand.  Starting in 2000, Benburb Priory in Co. Tyrone became the regular course venue, hosting three courses a year over Christmas, Easter, and summer. It was owned by the Servite order and could accommodate around 60 students. Alongside the growth in courses, group sittings expanded beyond Dublin to Galway and Cork, and regular one-day courses were introduced at venues like Gorse Hill near Greystones. 

In the mid-2000s, Headfort School near Kells, Co. Meath, became the main venue, hosting up to 90 students per course.  In 2009, courses moved to St. Flannan’s College in Ennis, Co. Clare, which could accommodate over 100 students. Several three-day courses were also held at St. Flannan’s and other venues near Blessington, Co. Wicklow.

In 2014, 10-day and 3-day courses moved to Drogheda Grammar School, which was less than an hour from Dublin. The school continued to host courses until 2020, when Covid-19 led to a two-year pause. During this time, Drogheda Grammar School informed us of their plan to convert its accommodation block into classrooms, meaning a new venue was needed when courses resumed.  

In 2022, courses returned to St. Flannan’s College, where the ample bedroom space made it possible to offer single rooms, which was preferred in the post-Covid period. This remains the current venue for 10-day courses in Ireland, supported by a network of group sittings and one-day courses in locations including Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast.