Classes begin Friday, October 23rd and end on Sunday, October 25th. The retreat opens on Thursday evening, October 22nd, with a Texas BBQ followed by an Instructor concert. Online registration begins at 9 a.m. (CDT), June 20th. To learn more about enrolling, please go to REGISTRATION.
Aileen Bourke – Concertina, Sarah Collins – Fiddle Fundamentals, Sorcha Costello – Fiddle, Máirtín de Cógáin – Singing, Cedar Dobson – Whistle, Brenda Dowling – Flute/Whistle Fundamentals, Shane Farrell – Mandolin, Micky Fearon – Guitar, Catrióna Fee – Concertina Fundamentals, Rob Forkner – Bodhrán Fundamentals, Sean Gavin – Uilleann Pipes, Gráinne Hambly – Harp, James Kelly – Fiddle, Simon Lace – Mandolin/Tenor Banjo Fundamentals, Matthew Mancuso – Fiddle, Rebecca McGowan – Sean-Nós Dancing, Sinéad McKenna – Fiddle, Dónal Murphy – Button Accordion, Alan Murray – Bouzouki, Elaine Reilly – Tenor Banjo, Cara Wildman – Bodhrán, John Wynne – Flute
Additionally, our melody players for the guitar, bouzouki, and bodhrán classes will be TBA.
Click on the photo above to view a downloadable PDF.
The retreat will be held at Hoblitzelle Camp and Conference Center, 8060 Singleton Rd., Midlothian, Texas 76065. For a map and directions, go to MAP. For more information about the camp, go to HOBLITZELLE. For a site map, go to SITE.
The retreat is designed primarily for adult students wanting to learn to play traditional Irish music. However, a small number of non-adult students, ages 12-17, may be invited to the retreat if they meet specific qualifications that demonstrate a high level of maturity, musical ability, and parental supervision while at the retreat and more. To apply for an age exception, please see AGE EXCEPTIONS.
This year we will not require proof of vaccination, however, we encourage people who attend to get vaccinated to protect themselves. We also recommend that participants test themselves before coming to the retreat. Masking is optional and we ask that everyone respect each individual’s decision to wear a mask or not. We certainly will consider guidance from the CDC and other health agencies and make changes to our policy if conditions warrant it.
See PDF or MOBILE-FRIENDLY VERSION.
You can arrive on campus after 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 22nd. We suggest when you arrive to immediately go to the “Retreat Office” in the Chapel (see site MAP). You will be able to pick up your room keys (if you reserved a room on campus) and pay your balances there. On Friday, we suggest checking in at least an hour before classes begin so you will have time to get familiar with the facilities and services available. See below for the Retreat Office hours.
Adults: $350.00 (18 and older)
Youth (by invitation only): $250.00 Ages 12-17. Please see our AGE EXCEPTION POLICY for the process by which minors may enroll. Includes three days of classes, workshops, concerts, but not lodging or meals.
*New* Extracurricular Pass: $150. This is a new pass that includes workshops, lectures, informances, concerts, sessions and the Lone Star Céilí, but not Core Instrument classes.
Guests: Everyone on campus must register and wear a badge. If you register without selecting classes, you will be charged a “guest fee” of $50.00 for all adults and $25 for all youth 12-17. Youth under 12 are free, but must be registered. The fee permits you to be on the campus and also covers the cost of admission to the evening instructor concerts, sessions, and Lone Star Céilí. A badge will be issued at check-in.
PLEASE NOTE: Full payment is required when enrolling, however, if you are unable to pay in full, you may request a unique code that will permit you to pay a $100.00 deposit. To obtain this code, go to REQUEST. The remaining balance will automatically be charged to the same card on Monday, September 28th.
There is also a late fee of $50.00 if you register after Saturday, August 1st, 2026.
Unfortunately, no. Our classes are designed for students who have some proficiency on their instruments. We offer a series of classes called “Fundamentals” for students who want to learn Irish music and are already playing at a beginning level on their instruments. We have limited these “Fundamentals” classes to select instruments. Please visit CLASSES for more information.
Yes. You can change your classes by contacting our REGISTRAR. Please note that you are only able to change IF there are available openings.
Yes. We will gather to officially begin our retreat at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 22nd with a Texas BBQ dinner (meal optional and available to those who paid). The event will be held at the Texas Pavilion (if weather is good) or the Longhorn Room in the Coffield Center (if weather is bad). This is a good time to meet our instructors, reconnect with folks you haven’t seen since the last retreat, and make new friends. There also will be a dessert contest with prizes for the winners. At 8 p.m., we will have an Instructor Concert in the Chapel followed by sessions.
Yes, meals are offered at the retreat at the Dining Hall with the exception of the Texas BBQ Dinner held at the Texas Pavilion. For information about the meals, go to MEALS. There are restaurants in Midlothian, but the value is better at the camp. The Deadline to register for meals is Thursday, October 1st, 2026.
The Retreat Office and the Retreat Store will be open during the times and days below. If you need assistance outside of those times, seek out our operations staff who will be traveling around the grounds on carts or call them on our Retreat Cell at (469) 215-1840. Here are the hours for the office and store located in the Chapel:
Thursday
Retreat Office: 4-9 p.m.
Friday
Retreat Office: 8-10 a.m.
Retreat Store: During evening concerts and at various times during class breaks.
Saturday
Retreat Office: 8-10 a.m.
Retreat Store: During evening concerts and at various times during class breaks.
Sunday
Retreat Office: Closed
Retreat Store: During evening concerts and at various times during class breaks.
Monday
Retreat Office: 8:30-10:30 a.m.
No and yes but… Due to the difficulties (both financial and legal) in operating our own shuttle service between area airports and the camp, we have opted instead to create a RideShare Board. Go to RIDESHARE for details. We do provide a shuttle to and from the Courtyard by Marriott Midlothian hotel. See SHUTTLE for the schedule.
Yes. The scholarship program is set up to award scholarships based on financial need only. Visit SCHOLARSHIPS for more information. The deadline to apply for scholarships is Sunday, September 15th, 2026. Once you are awarded a scholarship, the deadline to use the code given is Thursday, October 1st, 2026.
Our instructor concerts are one of the best things about the O’Flaherty Retreat, and yes, we will have them on all four evenings during the retreat — Oct. 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th. For the lineups for each night, go to CONCERTS. If you’re not attending as a student, you can view the recorded concerts by purchasing admissions at STREAM.
Yes, and they will be held every night after our concerts. Some sessions will be organized by the retreat while others may be planned organically by students. In addition to these regular sessions, each night we will have “Play Along” sessions that are led by groups of instructors. See our schedule (PDF and Mobile-Friendly) for days and times.
Yes. Here are some conditions:
- You MUST register online as a “guest” (by enrolling without selecting classes) if the following applies —
- You are accompanying a student to the retreat and will be on campus for any extended time.
- You want meals and/or on-campus lodging at the retreat and/or want to attend the evening activities.
- If you enroll without selecting classes, there is a “guest fee” of $50.00 charged for adults and $25.00 charged for Youth 12-17. All youth under 12 are free, but must be registered. This enables participants to have access to the campus by wearing an issued badge that must be worn at all times when at the camp, and permits admission to all of our evening instructor concerts and sessions. The badge is a security requirement by Camp Hoblitzelle.
- You can reserve on-campus room lodging if you are a enrolled student or will be housed with an enrolled student. Otherwise, you must obtain lodging off-campus. The exceptions are dorm and tent camping which are open to students and guests alike.
- Guests are welcome to participate in sessions.
- Guests must comply with all of the rules and policies set for our students.
You can also purchase the Extracurricular Pass for $150.00 by selecting any of the workshops, lectures, or informances during registration.
No. Each core course is designed to be progressive and one class builds on the previous class taught, so we limit students to one course over the three-day retreat.
Yes, we will operate our “O’Flaherty Retreat Store.” Outside vendors will also be having booths.
Yes, for those who come to the camp and are not attending classes, must register without selecting classes and we will charge a “guest fee” of $50.00 for all adults and $25.00 for all youth 12-17. Youth under 12 are free. This permits admission to the four evenings of concerts, sessions held afterwards, and the Lone Star Céilí. We will also be live streaming the concerts, and non-students may purchase concert admissions for viewing only the concerts for a given night(s). To buy streaming or recorded concert admissions, go to CONCERTS.
It could be cold or absolutely beautiful. All of the rooms are heated and air-conditioned. If it is nice out, some classes may elect to move outdoors. Before you come, please check www.Weather.gov for weather forecasts and prepare accordingly.
A digital recorder to record lessons (very important), rain gear or umbrella if rain is forecasted, a flashlight, a portable camp chair for outside sessions and classes if weather is nice, a digital recorder to record lessons (did we mention that already?), your instrument(s), extra strings in case you break one or more, a notepad to take notes, a great attitude for learning, and in case you missed it, a digital recorder to record lessons. Maximize the value of your tuition – record your classes! The camp is a great place to bike, so bring them if you can find a way to carry your instruments safely on them.
Pets, alcohol or illegal drugs, firearms, contagious illnesses and electric instruments (except for electric pianos).
No to the first question. Sorta for the second. You are encouraged to bring your cell phones. During classes, however, please turn them off or set them on vibrate. Please be advised that some cell services don’t work well inside the camp. Most work at the entry gate.
Yes, at the Retreat Office. We will hold items for 30 days after the retreat ends. If you get home and you’re missing something, check here, then email us.
Before, During or After the Event
Kevin Fleming and Katie Duncan, Co-Directors at info@oflahertyretreat.org,
Office: (469) 215-1840
About Issues at Hoblitzelle Camp
info@oflahertyretreat.org
About Online Registration
Lisha Willeng, Registrar at registration@oflahertyretreat.org