Classes begin Friday, October 20th and end on Sunday, October 22nd. The retreat opens on Thursday evening, October 19th, with a Texas BBQ followed by an Instructor concert Online registration begins at 9 a.m. (CDT), June 10th. To learn more about enrolling, please go to REGISTRATION.
Tara Breen – intermediate fiddle; Colm Broderick – uilleann pipes; Matt Cranitch – advanced fiddle; Dave Curley – mandolin; Cormac De Barra – harp; Colin Farrell – whistle; Nicole Fig – bodhrán fundamentals; Brid Harper – intermediate fiddle; Tess Hartis – fiddle fundamentals; Margaret Keefe – concertina fundamentals; Jack Maher – mandolin/tenor banjo fundamentals; Oisin McAuley – intermediate fiddle; Jacob McCauley – bodhrán; Rebecca McGowan – Sean-nós dancing; David McKindley-Ward – singing; Louise Mulcahy – flute; Alan Murray – bouzouki; Jim Murray – guitar; Pádraig Rynne – concertina; Enda Scahill – tenor banjo; Sharon Shannon – button accordion; and Margaret Graham – fiddle melodies for guitar classes.
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.
Here is the SCHEDULE. It will change once classrooms are assigned, so be sure and download and print a current copy right before you head to O’Flaherty’s.
You can arrive on campus after 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 19th. 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: $325.00 (18 and older)
Youth (by invitation only): $225.00. 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.
Guests: Everyone on campus must register and wear a badge. If you’re not taking classes, you will be charged a “guest fee” of $25.00. The fee permits you to be on the campus and also covers the cost of admission to the evening instructor concerts and sessions. A badge will be issued at check-in.
PLEASE NOTE: Full payment is required when enrolling, however, if you are enable 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 25th.
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 p.m. on Thursday, October 19th 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 7:30 p.m., we will have an Instructor Concert in the Chapel followed by sessions.
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.
Yes and yes but… See SHUTTLE SERVICE for all of the details. Please refer to the times and days the airport shuttle service is offered before booking your flights. This service is only between DFW Airport and the camp or the Courtyard by Marriott Midlothian and we ask for a donation of $60.00 roundtrip. The shuttle service between the Marriott Hotel and Camp Hoblitzelle is at scheduled times during the retreat, and we ask for a $30.00 donation for this service for the whole event. We do not have a shuttle service to other area hotels.
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 Saturday, October 8th.
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. 19th, Oct. 20th, 21st, and 22nd. 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 for days and times.
Yes. Here are some conditions:
- You MUST register online as a “guest” 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.
- There is a “guest fee” of $25.00 charged for those who are not taking classes. 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 welcomed to participate in sessions.
- Guests must comply with all of the rules and policies set for our students.
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, we charge a “guest fee” of $25.00 that permits admission to the three evenings of concerts and sessions held afterwards. 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.com 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 questions. 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, email or call us.
Before, During or After the Event
Ken Fleming, Director at director@oflahertyretreat.org,
Office: (469) 215-1840
About Issues at Hoblitzelle Camp
Louvain Guiomard, Asst. Director
at info@oflahertyretreat.org
About Online Registration
Rick Roberts, Asst. Director and Registrar
at enroll@oflahertyretreat.org