Brave Voice Ireland

August 31 – September 6, 2025

with Kelley Hunt, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Erin McGrane & Jeff Freling

Brave Voice for Your Creative Spirit

Brave Voice: Writing and Singing For Your Life, a creative retreat Kelley Hunt and Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg founded 20 years ago, comes to Western Ireland! Discover more of what you have to say or sing in welcoming writing workshops with Caryn and songwriting/singing workshops with Kelley. Relish special performances created just for you of dazzling music, poetry and storytelling. Create your own writing and/or music, guided by master teachers. Brave Voice meets you where you are, whether you are just dipping your toes in or a seasoned writer or musician. All that’s required is an adventurous spirit!

The Magic of the Wild Atlantic Way

Find inspiration and awe in Ireland’s natural wonders and charming villages, including the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren Geopark, and expansive lush hills and waterfalls along the Wild Atlantic Way, the world’s longest coastal route. Delight in the cultural treasures, culinary wonder, and traditional music pub scene in the beguiling historic villages of Ennistymon and Ennis. Discover a world brimming with wonder throughout it all.

Replenishment of Your Body and Soul

Our whole week is designed for renewal, creativity, and relaxation. The historic and eco-friendly Falls Hotel and Spa with its storied literary history is a source of rejuvenation unto itself. Its River Spa offers full spa services, a pool, steam room, and an outdoor jacuzzi where you can soak while watching the cascading falls (see a video about the hotel’s hydro power here). Fill your heart with music, poetry, and storytelling, from both our staff and superb local artists. Feed your body and soul through sumptuous meals and expansive views, including from your spacious hotel room, where you’ll rest deeply. Make new friends while coming home to yourself.

DAY ONE: Sunday, August 31: The Joy of Arriving

Arrival at Shannon Airport where Kelley Hunt and Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, plus trip hosts Jeff Freling and Erin McGrane, will warmly greet and usher you to our comfortable private coach. Relax and decompress from travel at the Falls Hotel & Spa in the heart of Ennistymon, a colorful market town in scenic County Clare. 

A Storied History

The Falls Hotel & Spa is nestled in a wooded vale alongside the cascading River Inagh. Regarded as one of Clare County’s finest hotels, it encompasses an 18th century mansion, medieval castle, and over 500 years of embracing clans and warfare, landlords and tenants, poets and dreamers. One of those poets was the great Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet who married Caitlin MacNamara, the daughter of the then-owners of the hotel. Today the Falls Hotel is proudly certified as a carbon-neutral oasis, drawing its power solely from the hydroelectric currents of the Inagh River.

Welcome Dinner, Music, and Opening Session

After you settle in, join us for a joyful cocktail reception with special drinks and a chance to get to know each other. We’re delighted to have Irish musician Brendan McCreanor joining Erin McGrane, Kelley Hunt, and Jeff Freling for some music before a wonderful dinner, featuring the culinary excellence of the hotel chef. We’ll then enjoy our first Brave Voice session with more in-depth introductions, a little writing, a little singing (no one has to sing alone or sing unless they wish), and a special surprise to cap our first day together.

DAY TWO: Mon., Sept. 1: The Wonders Close at Hand

Writing Ourselves Home

Enjoy a  flavorful Irish breakfast while visiting with new friends or relaxing on your own. Then join us for an inclusive and innovative writing workshop with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg. In “Writing Ourselves Home,” Caryn will lead us into unearthing what we have to say to ourselves and others through friendly writing prompts, sharing what we discover, and using the practice of writing to listen more deeply to what brings us home to who and where we are at this time in our lives. 

Enticing Ennistymon and the Fabulous Falls Hotel

After a delicious lunch, delivered to us in our meeting room, the afternoon is yours for following the line of what you love. Tour the hotel, sign up for high tea, or visit the River Spa, right in the hotel, where you can enjoy a swim, a soak, a facial or a massage. You can also step outside to take in the captivating falls, colorful homes and businesses,  including historic pubs, unique shops, and the Salmon Bookshop and Literary Centre.

Dinner and a Show at the Falls Hotel

We reconnect at dinner at the hotel with a special guest: Eddie Lenihan, one of the great traditional storytellers of Ireland. After dessert, come to “A Special Evening with Kelley Hunt and Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg” for a private performance of Caryn’s latest poetry and memoir and of Kelley’s most beloved and brand new songs. To cap your first full day here, come to the pub for a pint or other refreshments.

DAY THREE: Tues., Sept. 2: The Music All Around Us

After a luscious Irish breakfast, come to Kelley Hunt’s “Soulful Singing and Songwriting: Part 1” workshop, which includes reviewing building blocks of writing a song, getting started on our own, safe and easy vocal warm-ups, and group singing. Whether you’re already an accomplished songwriter & singer or just getting started, we’ll focus on easing our way to what our own soul has to say and sing. After a private lunch together, you’ll have a few hours to rest up for our big evening out or perhaps get that massage you were planning.

The Extraordinary Artistry of the McKernan Woollen Mill

Climb onboard our private coach to the astonishing craftsmanship at the McKernan Woollen Mill studio in the heartwarming village of Tuamgraney. We’ll witness master weavers work with their hands and hearts to transform unique designs into hand-finished scarves, hats, and more, some of which you may want to purchase to bring home a piece of Ireland.

Enchanting Ennis and the Melodies of Ireland

Next, we’re off to Ennis, often called Ireland’s friendliest town. Wander the narrow, winding streets, historical buildings, and one-of-a-kind shops before reconvening at the historic Old Ground Hotel. After dinner, we’re invited to Poet’s Corner, a pub in the hotel for an Irish trad session featuring Irish musicians extraordinaire. Let the music welcome you into the rhythmic heartbeat of Ireland.

DAY FOUR: Wed., Sept. 3: The Breathtaking Beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way

After a hearty Irish breakfast, we come together for “Writing Into Bravery and Beauty,” Caryn’s writing workshop focused on how the practice of inventing poetry, stories, and other writing is an audacious act of discovery and recovery. We’ll focus especially on the beauty around and within us that illuminates meaning, courage, and joy.

The Mystical Cliffs of Moher and the Wild Burren

After the workshop, we board our private coach to see some of the most dramatic and ancient landscapes in the world, starting at the iconic Cliffs of Mohr, believed to be home to otherworldly beings and mystical creatures. After taking in the unparalleled vistas and lush expanses of sea and land, we’ll travel the Neolithic dolmen and the moon-like Burren Geopark, where gray rock patterned over time tumbles down to the wild blue Atlantic Ocean. We’ll also view the otherworldly Poulnabrone Dolmen. It’s an area rich in fossils, flowers, and plants from around the world. 

Dinner with a View at Barrtrá 

After returning to the hotel late afternoon, we’ll travel for a sunset dinner at Barrtrá, family-run seafood and steak restaurant renowned for old-style charm, delectable food, and stunning views of Liscannor Bay. As the evening winds down, give yourself over to the  soothing melodies of singer/songwriter and educator Roisín Ní Ghallóglaigh, accompanied by the soothing tunes of harpist Aisling Lyons. 

DAY FIVE: Thurs., Sept. 4: Your Day, Your Way

There’s so much glory, history, and culture to experience that we provided this open day for you to choose your own adventure. Consider a walk around Ennistymon to take in more sites, ancient ruins, shops, and panoramic views. Or stay around the hotel for a spa day to replenish your good self. We can also help you arrange transportation to Ennis or other sites.

Dinner and a Special Collaborative Performance

We come back together at the Falls Hotel for dinner where we can catch up and share our adventures, whether you stayed close or wandered afield. Kelley and Caryn then give a special collaborative performance, made just for our group, featuring music, poetry, and spoken word. Spend time afterwards sharing stories and pints in the pub or tea around the hotel.

DAY SIX: Fri., Sept. 5: Celebrating Ourselves

After a splendid breakfast, we meet for Kelley’s workshop, “Soulful Singing and Songwriting: Part 2.” During this session we’ll explore new ways to take both our songs and singing up a notch, including even more advanced songwriting techniques, singing new songs, and fun ways to hone in on starting, editing, and finishing our song(s). We’ll find the tools we need to inspire us to keep creating, singing, and writing throughout the year to come. 

A Creative and Restful Afternoon

After lunch, spend your afternoon lounging inside or outside at the hotel, visit the spa or take a nap. You can even sign up for a mini coaching session with Caryn or Kelley to prepare anything you’d like to complete and read or perform at our Coffeehouse of Wonder tonight. 

Closing Dinner Extravaganza and Coffeehouse of Wonder

We gather at 5 p.m. for photos, then enjoy a spectacular dinner before the Coffeehouse of Wonder, when each of us has the opportunity to perform or read something we’ve created on our own and collaboratively this week. The performance features the most enthusiastic and grateful audience – all of us – of your life!

DAY SEVEN: Sat., Sept. 6: Our Closing Circle

After fortifying ourselves at breakfast for travels home or elsewhere, we will meet for a loving closing session where we share what we most want to carry on in our lives and take home with us. Then it’s all over except for the hugging!

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Ph.D., the 2009-13 Kansas Poet Laureate is the author of 24 books, including How Time Moves: New & Selected Poems; Miriam’s Well, a novel; The Sky Begins At Your Feet: A Memoir on Cancer, Community, and Coming Home to the Body. Founder of Transformative Language Arts, she is a beloved writing workshop facilitator and writing coach. She loves life-giving collaborations: she offers YourRightLivelihood.com with Kathryn Lorenzen, Bravevoice.com with Kelley Hunt, and TheArtofFacilitation.net with Joy Roulier Sawyer. She offers weekly “Write Where You Are: A Writer’s Companion” through her Patreon page and her blog, “Everyday Magic” at CarynMirriamGoldberg.com. See more her bio her and her website here. Caryn is co-facilitating, helping organize, and performing at Brave Voice in Ireland.

Kelley Hunt has forged a distinguished reputation as a recording artist, international touring performer and published songwriter. With over three decades of touring and recording credits and seven albums in international distribution, Kelley released her seventh album, Winter Soulstice, Nov. 2022 to broad critical acclaim. Kelley’s experiences include appearances on some of the world’s largest blues and music festival stages, on internationally distributed radio shows like American Public Media’s “A Prairie Home Companion” (6 times) and on PBS television specials seen in over 70 of the largest US TV markets.  She has conducted songwriting workshop experiences in classrooms from grade school to high school, adult education levels and has appeared as a guest artist/workshop presenter at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music. She is currently at work on a new full length studio release for 2025. See her fuller bio here and her website here. Kelley is co-facilitating, helping organize, and performing at Brave Voice in Ireland.

Erin McGrane: Erin is a passionate arts advocate, performing artist, author, and mentor. As Executive Director of Ensemble Iberica and Board member for the Heartland Song Network, she champions the role of artists as culture bearers. Since 2011, Erin’s involvement with Artist INC—a business development program for artists—includes roles as a facilitator, content creator, and workshop presenter. In 2018, she co-founded an annual event centered on performance and songwriting. Erin has been awarded grants from the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City and the Mid-America Arts Alliance, and has engaged in multiple artist-in-residencies. Notably, she appeared in the Oscar-nominated film, UP IN THE AIR, alongside George Clooney. Her contributions were celebrated in KC Magazine’s “The 100: People who make Life Better in KC.” Erin is the main organizer of Brave Voice in Ireland.

Jeff Freling is a Kansas City guitarist and composer who spent 11 years in Chicago, IL performing with Blue Man Group on electric zither and Chapman stick, and on guitar with Tributosaurus, Mar Caribe and the popular Tom Waits tribute band, Big Time. He also served as a sideman to guitarist/songwriter Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices. He has composed music for film, television, and theater. His current projects include “Victor & Penny,”a guitar and ukulele duo alongside his wife, musician/actor Erin McGrane, that puts a modern twist on prohibition era Jazz, and F/M Duo, a guitar duo with Michael McClintock (Cubanisms, Ensemble Iberica) that blends the sounds of 50s Jazz, 40s Gypsy Swing, vintage Cuban and modern Pop. Jeff studied at Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA and the Conservatory at UMKC in Kansas City, MO. Jeff is not only performing, but assisting in the organizing of Brave Voice in Ireland.

Brendan McCreanor is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, best known for his work with the uilleann pipes and whistles. Traditional Irish Music has been at the core of Brendan’s life experience. Since the age of 6, he has been an active member with Scoráiocht Lann Léire, a cornerstone for local traditional music, dance language and culture for the past five decades based in Dunleer, Co. Louth.

Róisín Ní Ghallóglaigh is a singer, guitarist and researcher of Irish traditional song at the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick. Her career as a singer has seen her share the stage with such greats as Bobby McFerrin, Donal Lunny and The Chieftains. Originally hailing from County Meath, Róisín is an accomplished solo performer, guitarist and composer. In 2011 she was awarded her degree in Irish Music and Dance, specialising in Traditional Irish song with tutors Eilís Ní Shúilleabháin and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. She is currently a tutor and lecturer in Irish song studies, and a PhD research scholar at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. 

Aisling Lyons, multi-award winning musician & composer from County Clare has been described as “one of traditional music’s finest musicians” by Hot Press Magazine and “the finest Irish harper at work today” by Songlines Magazine after the release of her debut album “Aistear.” She is the holder of eight8 All-Ireland titles and has performed all around the world, from Europe to the U.S, Australia, and China. Aisling is currently involved in a collaborative music residency with glór & Creative Ireland (2022) while touring and recording with bands 3 on the Bund and Harpanno. She has been described as “one of the rising stars and budding composers of the Irish harp world – rooted in tradition and beautifully inventive.”

Eddie Lenihan is considered Ireland’s greatest living storyteller by many. A lecturer and broadcaster, he is one of the few practicing seanchaithe (traditional Irish lore-keepers and tale-spinners) in Ireland, and he has been deemed a national treasure and absolute legend. A collector and preservationist of folk tales in the oral tradition, he is known for his tales of folk heroes, fairies, fallen angels, and supernatural beings in Irish mythology. He also has published poetry, stories about historical and legendary women of Ireland, and railroad history, and he has performed around the world.