Since our last O’Flaherty Retreat, we’ve been organizing this year’s event, and we’re happy to report that we are ready to begin our online registration on Saturday, June 10th beginning at 9 a.m., (CDT). That gives everyone two weeks to view our updated website and explore the many activities we are offering in October as we mark our 20th year. Not everything is being revealed because we want to surprise everyone with a few celebratory activities to make our event all the more memorable. So save the dates October 19th-22nd and register early beginning June 10th. We hope you will be there for the fun!
Our 2023 Instructors
We are very excited about our teaching lineup this year. Some of the best players of Irish music today will be in the classrooms this October, including (pictured above left to right) Tara Breen – intermediate fiddle; Colm Broderick – uilleann pipes; Matt Cranitch – advanced fiddle; Dave Curley – mandolin; Cormac De Barra – harp; Colin Farrell – whistle; Nicolle 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.
Our website now has current information about this year’s retreat. Click on the photo of our Homepage above to be taken to our website!
We try to improve O’Flaherty’s each year. Here are few fun changes:
For the first time ever, our instructors will lead “Play Along” sessions each night on campus after the instructor concerts.
Instructor concerts will be held every night – Thursday through Sunday – and will be reduced to 90 minutes allowing more time for sessions and our Friday ceili.
We will have a tune and song composition contest with the winners of each category receiving prizes.
To help reduce the serving lines, we plan to extend the lunch and dinner periods to 75 minutes to enable more time to be served and connect with each other.
Ensembles made up of attending students can submit an audition video or audio recording to earn a guest concert spot during one of the meal times. For details, go to GUEST CONCERTS.
Participants will be able to order gluten free or vegetarian options for the meals when registering.
During our “Instrument Petting Zoo” event on Friday during lunch, students can display their folk instruments that they have for sale.
We will likely have additional activities to celebrate our 20th year milestone. For these announcements, visit our Facebook group at OFLAHERTY or look for future emails.
Where Is Camp Hoblitzelle?
The O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat is held in Midlothian, Texas 30 miles south of Dallas at Hoblitzelle Camp & Conference Center. Go to MAPS for directions and a site map. It’s 60-90 minutes from DFW Airport to the camp depending on traffic.
We welcome YOUR ideas for celebrating our 20th year.. Please send them to info@oflahertyretreat.org,
and we will select a winner of the best idea and award him or her a special prize.
Review the website and decide your core classes, workshops, enrichment classes, informances, etc. BEFORE you enroll. Map out all of your choices using the SCHEDULE. Preparation makes the process easier.
Plan to register as early as possible. On-campus private lodging will sell out in minutes. Some popular classes will sell out in a few days.
When registering, if you don’t see your choice for a core class, it’s probably full, however, immediately submit a WAITING LIST FORM. A spot may open up as students switch classes.
If the on-campus lodging you wanted is unavailable, submit a LODGING WAITING LIST REQUEST. We suggest you book a room at one of the area hotels as a backup.
Be sure you have carefully studied important registration information on our website especially PAYMENT POLICIES and FEES.
Once enrollment opens, choose the “Registration” button on the upper right corner of any page on our O’Flaherty Retreat WEBSITE.
You will be able to create an account by clicking the link in your confirmation email following registration. You only need to create an account to make changes.
Our “official” O’Flaherty Retreat hotel is again Courtyard by Marriott Midlothian Conference Center. Many of our students, staff and all of our instructors will be housed there. We have 95% of the hotel’s rooms set aside for the retreat. The rate is $139.00 for single king or two queens for the dates Wednesday, October 18th through Sunday, October 22nd. You must reveal the number of guests in your room when making your reservation and update before arrival. Your credit card will not be charged until you check in. Parking is free, and we will have a shuttle bus going to and from this hotel and the camp. To book a room, click on the button below to be taken to the Marriott reservation portal for the O’Flaherty Retreat group. If you are unable to book a room online, email info@oflahertyretreat.org. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE HOTEL DIRECTLY. The portal they provided is the only means to get the retreat rate which ends on September 25th.
Before You Book Your Flight
We try our best to help you get from DFW Airport and Camp Hoblitzelle by providing a shuttle service. However, the shuttle drivers are volunteers and are available during 1-4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19th and 8-11:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 23rd. If you want to use this shuttle service, please book your flights to arrive and depart following this schedule. We also ask a $60 round trip donation which is far less than the $100 you will be charged one way by Uber. Please note that we don’t have a shuttle service to Dallas Love Field Airport. You might be able to share a ride with other students with cars by posting your travel needs on our Facebook group page (see below).
One of the best ways to keep updated about the O’Flaherty Retreat and seek assistance is to join our Facebook group. There are lots of folks who have been to the retreat multiple times that can answer your questions. It’s also a good place to catch rides to the camp, share lodging costs, learn how to prepare, and much more. Our retreat organizers pay close attention to posts as well, so you’ll get correct information. To join, go to RETREAT FB GROUP.
Great concerts, great sessions, great craic! We get it, but for security and administrative reasons, you can’t just walk on campus You must register as a non-student. Every non-student guest must pay a $25.00 “guest fee” to receive a badge that must be worn while at the camp. This fee also covers admission to concerts, the Friday night ceili and evening sessions. During registration, you can order meals that are served at the dining hall. However, if you want to attend core classes, enrichment classes, informances or workshops, you must pay tuition like everyone else. Thanks for your understanding!
Overall, I think the retreat was great. It truly is a 'retreat', i.e., you get a chance to get away from it all for a good solid weekend and enjoy learning new things, meeting new people, and having a great time. Good job to the organizers and the people that put the effort into this thing. Keep it up!
