Macalla Farm

Fantastic experience: Summer Solstice Yoga Retreat was just beautiful. Yoga practice was meditative, deconstructing asana and building them back beautifully. The space was held by Ciara, an expert at what she does. We had energy medicine with Stefanie, which was so gentle and enriching with her generous caring. The food, the place, everything was just perfect. Thank you Ciara, Stefanie and the lovely team. Honestly at the end of the weekend, it felt that time had stood still whilst there and that it was time spent with a soul family. Would love to return.

Fantastic experience: Clare Island is an ideal location to spend time connecting with yourself & quieting your mind. Ciara & Maud were gracious hosts, the food was excellent & the accommodations comfortable. Ciara’s approach to yoga & meditation makes it accessible for newbies while offering a deeper practice for long-time yogis - a tricky balance for any instructor and Ciara does it with skill and humor. I had a delightful weekend retreat with a wonderful group of people and, in addition to some great memories, took away practical skills to improve my yoga practice.

Fantastic experience: My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the Easter workshop with Ciara, alongside a warm and diverse group. While we wouldn’t describe ourselves as typical yoga types, Ciara is far from a conventional teacher—and that’s exactly what made the experience so enriching. Her unique approach offered deep insights, particularly in breathing and mindfulness. Combined with the stunning island setting and food that rivaled Michelin-star quality, the weekend left us with lasting memories and valuable tools we'll carry with us. Sean

Fantastic experience: What a wonderful way to spend the end of the year and start the next. I loved Ciara's relaxed and deep approach to meditation and yoga, and look forward to gently integrating new methods into my daily routine. The food was amazing, the houses were so cosy and Clare Island is just a magical place to explore (alone and with new friends) during your free time. I highly recommend the investment!

Fantastic experience: A gem. My third time here but this time for a vegetarian cookery course. Had such a lovely time, Ciara and Christophe share their knowledge and skill in a glorious way, we learnt so much. On top of that the farm is a wonder, the accommodation is great, the animals and it attracts lots of like minded souls. There is a great stop for a dip in the sea very close, I usually bring a bike so can pop around the island. The sense of peace and calmness you get coming away from a weekend like this is priceless. Loved it!!

Fantastic experience: It's a gorgeous experience to stay at Macalla farm for a retreat. Sessions are led by an authentic, experienced hosts. The accommodation is traditional and cosy; the setting beautiful; the food mouth-watering, healthy and sustainable. Would absolutely recommend!

Positive experience: We were staying to visit someone working on the farm. There was no retreat on at the time. We were perfectly comfortable & enjoyed exploring Clare island. All food provided by the cafe/restaurant was delicious

Fantastic experience: A gem to be discovered!! I attended the wke yoga retreat and it was incredible from start to finish! Ciara & Christoph have a lot to teach you about yoga & meditation and welcome you wholeheartedly into their home along with their friendly dogs & cat! The remote setting is perfect for a relaxing quiet time though if you like to walk you can easily explore the whole island on foot! A surprise highlight was the food, delicious & nourishing, I can't wait to come back for a cooking course & to visit the well regarded cafe!! Thank you Ciara & Christoph for an unforgettable experience ❤️

Fantastic experience: This is my third time doing a yoga retreat at Macalla farm. I've never been anywhere like it. The years of experience as practitioners and teachers that Ciara and Christophe have, embedded in such a beautiful place that they have grown, makes for really transformative experiences for those that attend these retreats. This weekend was very good for my soul ❤ I often struggle with how yoga and mediation Is often co-opted into individualised consumer packages separate from the realities of the world. In contrast to this, the yoga and breathwork practices taught at Macalla farm are deeply connected to the radical potential of weaving together self care and collective care. The incredible library which always leads to brilliant conversations allow space for all different kinds of learning. The interconnection of everything in the theory and practice of what Macalla farm does is very clear from the library alone. Macalla farm is a very open and supportive environment. The forest they continue to grow is a beautiful haven and of course there are many amazing spots for swimming and hiking. As I arrived quite exhausted my down time involved alot of napping! it is a very restful peaceful environment. The food is incredible and everything is made with such attention to detail, I love it!

Fantastic experience: The warmest of thanks to Ciara and Christophe at Macalla Farm for an amazing, richly wholesome yoga weekend. It was a beautiful space in time where sessions in sati yoga, grounding and breath work were guided by Ciara and Christophe, and I found these to be nourishing to my body, mind and soul. We ate truly delicious vegetarian food, in the good company of like minded souls. It was wonderful seeing how it is grown organically there at the farm. The quiet, the space, the fresh air... Simple pleasures. I would have loved to stay longer and will definitely return.

Fantastic experience: It's wonderful to come back to Macalla Farm to experience the growth and depth in how Ciara and Christophe are teaching now. The last time I was on a retreat with them was 18 years ago when I was 12! I felt at home right away from start to finish at this family run retreat space. It takes place at their home on the farm. I have been practicing yoga for a long time, but this time I was coming with a recent shoulder injury, so I was approaching the practice from the mindset of a beginner. This perfectly demonstrates how the retreat can cater to both advanced and beginning practitioners. The pace of the classes is intentionally slow in order to create the space for personal exploration and curiosity. This is where it can be a very interesting journey for people who enjoy a faster paced practice, because by going slower it's like re-building a stronger foundation of integrity. This pace also suits the beginner who has perhaps been put off by yoga classes that are too intense. Ciara teaches the asana practice in a very detailed and carefully thoughtful way. She breaks down the postures to help students to cultivate a greater sense of awareness to the body, integrating the philosophy of mindfulness in an authentic and grounded way. The approach to pranayama led by Christophe is guided with this same level of care and attention. He explores multiple breathing techniques in a very accessible and patient way. The three days were broken down to reflect on the three qualities of 'Sati' (mindfulness), so we focused on Curiosity, Discernment and Kindness. In the asana practice we are guided through a careful unfolding of the traditional Hatha postures using buddhist philosophy. Ciara has a way to always tie it in with experiences in daily life. Both Ciara and Chrisophe come from an intense Ashtanga background and have evolved their approach to teaching in a way that encourages the student to develop the tools to have their own practice. In this way, I feel I'm leaving the retreat empowered to continue, rather than relying on a teacher to lead me into a practice. They make space in the classes for a dialogue with students to discuss the role of yoga in the world today, the ethics and how the practice can be applied in the world. Since they grow almost all the food for the retreat on the farm, not only are the meals delicious, they reflect the values of the yoga practice. This is their home, so it's a very rare and special experience to come into it and connect to a more holistic way of living. The cottages for accommodation are very cosy and you have wood-burning fires for the evening, and views of Clew bay and Crough Patrick as you wake up in the morning. There is the option of having a private room but most are shared. Which, as an introvert, wasn't a problem for me as silence in the morning (before the first practice) is encouraged, but everyone on the retreat was so warm and friendly. You can take walks up to the cliffs for the most incredible view of the sunset over the Atlantic. I suggest waking up early and going for a swim at the cove before practice, which is only a 10 min walk from the farm. It's cold water but crystal clear and calm. They also have the last remaining indigenous woodlands on their land which are worth a wander to! If you like animals, there's three horses, three dogs, two cats, ducks and sheep! And if you're lucky, maybe you'll see dolphins on your ferry ride over to the island. Highly recommend this retreat, I hope you find it as magical as I did.

Fantastic experience: This was my 4th time back on a retreat with Ciara and Christophe. Everything was perfect, the yoga, the food, the surroundings, the meditation, the swim spots, even the weather! Paradise farm on paradise island. Thank you again, I feel totally restored and ready to bring what I have learnt into my day today life and practice :)

Negative experience: VOLUNTEERING - at Macalla farm review: As volunteers have no other place to leave a review but here, I feel it is my responsibility to warn other who are looking for escape and connection with nature, off grid- island life & yoga. A lot of control, abuse of your personal time and space, control with food, words and deeds. A lot of judgement from the owner towards your personal life, yet you are equally involved in the drama of personal life that is happening for her.A lot of passive aggression and fakenes in words. Owner will always try to push responsibility onto you, because of her inability to make a decision and stand behind it. ( So ultimately everything will be your fault, or someone else's fault) You must deal with gossip on a daily basis and there is a very strange power imbalance between owner and volunteers. Expect to work minimum 8 hours a day. I learned a bit when it comes to growing food and participated in few yoga/meditation classes that I am grateful for. However, in most of the cases there is no connection to yoga ( except the hatred towards it) and not much connection to food, as if priorities change, food and polly tunnels are left in really bad conditions where everything is dying due to lack of attention. Place is chaotic and yet you have minimum of minimum conditions to live there as volunteers. I started with 2 other volunteers on the farm and all 3 of us were gone way before our agreed time on the farm. A lot of mind games, controlling and just chaos. It is not a place that I would recommend for anyone to go and stay there, specially not young volunteers, because I wouldn't like anyone being take advantage of in that way. There is a reason why this place is not on WOOFING/ Workaway. I wish everyone all the best, but I cannot support this type of behaviour and I am sorry this has to go publicly like this.

Fantastic experience: Bliss

Fantastic experience: First of all I must say that my five-month stay at Macalla was probably quite different to other volunteers´ due to Covid 19. We couldn´t have yoga courses or any visitors until August, so it was much more quiet than it would normally be. However, that situation, despite some disadvantages, had surprisingly a lot of advantages too ;-). Let me start with the hosts. Ciara, Christoph, Maude and Theo are simply amazing. They made us feel very welcome, Ciara prepared a dish with sauerkraut for me for the first dinner, knowing it was typical for my region ;-). In the garden Ciara made us feel like we almost owned the place too – she consulted decisions with us and gave us a lot of freedom to do things our way. We had lots of very interesting and thought provoking debates about a wide range of topics – environmental protection, gardening, politics, social issues etc. Ciara and Christoph´s generosity is marvelous: they shared their space, their knowledge and their home-produced food with us. You do need to be prepared to work quite hard during busier periods, but you will still be able to enjoy everything this unique place has to offer. The Clare Island scenery with all the cliffs and nature is spectacular. I think it´s a little paradise, even with its rainy and windy days and occasional midges‘ attacks. It´s rather quiet, but not totally – there are two pubs and quite a lot of tourists and yoga course participants come in the summer. A number of interesting people live here, e.g. a handweaver or some musicians. I met an amazing amount of really nice and interesting people here, including other volunteers too. I learned loads about gardening, cooking, animals, sustainable living, yoga, and even sailing! I discovered the Clare Island and Ciara told us loads about the local and the Irish history. I brushed up on my English and learned lots of new phrases. I learned to weave and wove my own scarf. I enjoyed the crystal clear sea, which we don´t have in Czechia. I gained so much from this place. I certainly recommend it! Ciara, Christoph, Maude, Theo, Beth, Anna, Vera and Lorraine, thank you so much, I will miss you!

Fantastic experience: Just returned from my second Yoga retreat with Christophe and Ciara and I cant say how much I love this place. If you are looking for authentic Yoga and Mediation practice with amazing food in a stunning setting this is the place for you. Ciara and Christophe are both wonderful teachers whose kindness and grace are inspiring. The meals are delicious and nearly all sourced from their organic garden. From walks of the island to swims in the sea, Clare Island is very special place. I hope I can return again. Not to be missed.!!!

Fantastic experience: Everything is unique to Macalla Farm, everything is in tune with nature, the setting, the yoga studio, the food is grown on the land, so even the food taste unique to the vibration of the farm & the hosts. the walks are spectacular. The café is so wonderful, you may get served by Christophe & Ciara's son & daughter, what a treat, it's all a joy and a true re-treat.

Fantastic experience: Good tea and amazing cakes, bring euros as cash only. Perfect stop on the way to or from Clare Island Lighthouse.

Fantastic experience: This is my third time staying at Macalla Farm, Clare Island Yoga retreat centre for a week long retreat/course. Each time exceeds my expectations. Ciara and Christophe are dedicated and passionate yoga teachers, yoga is clearly a way of life for them and to living a healthy life - sustainable to the environment. Yoga asana practice, pranayama meditation, mindfulness are all part of daily life and all of equal importance. The food at Macalla farm is soooooo delicious and healthy. It is hard to believe that such healthy food can be so good but it is true - every brunch and dinner accompanied by exclamations of great joy and satisfaction! The food is organic and mainly produced on the farm at the toil of Ciara, Christophe & family. For joy, health and well-being and lots more I recommend Macalla Farm with all my heart. A huge Namaste to all at Macalla Farm for the care and attention. Much Love Máire Ní S.

Fantastic experience: Macalla Farm now holds a very special place in my heart. I feel fortunate for being one of the 12 lovely, compassionate, and energizing women who participated in the New Year Yoga & Mediation Retreat from 28 December, 2018 - 2 January, 2019. Our hosts, Ciara and Christophe are people who care deeply for what they do and how they do it; their offering is so unique it takes people like them to make it successful. The New Year retreat was primarily focused on meditation and the breath; the yoga practice (Sati Yoga) was a perfect way to embrace and explore the blending of meditation, breathwork, and asanas - really getting into the fundamentals of the latter. Rarely have ever felt so relaxed yet energized at the same time. The meals were heaven-sent. Made (and served) in Ciara and Christophe's own kitchen, from fruit and vegetables they grow on the farm; they make their own breads - hearty and healthy; and, they source cheese and other goods as locally as possible to supplement as needed. Everything is jam-packed with flavor and you just feel healthier looking at it. You won't leave hungry, trust me. You're also able to peruse their kitchen-library and check out books to read while you're there: cooking, gardening, mediation, and more. You are welcome to take a tour of the gardens, meet their horses, or just go for a walk (they can provide instructions and maps). Or, in your free time, you can curl up on the sofa in your cottage - with a book, some knitting, or just a nap. The New Year's Eve celebration was wonderful: an exercise in mindfulness (eating as well) and silence, until a late meditation to welcome the new year, after which we were presented with hot cider (non-alcoholic) and sweets - and loads of good banter amongst everyone. If you can find time to visit Macalla Farm, I highly recommend it. Just leave a spot for me.

Fantastic experience: Every year my experience at Macalla Farm is better and better, very good food, very good yoga, very good people.....and peace, and silence, and space all around you!

Fantastic experience: Simply, incredible! Macalla Farm was a gift from my mother-in-law and it was a magical experience from start to finish. We did the yoga & meditation with horses course. Not only were our hosts wonderful and welcoming, their food was some of the best I've had in my life. Almost everything was harvested and made right there. The meditation and breathwork was much needed as my daily grind was beginning to take it's toll. After a weekend here you will feel completely renewed. I also didn't have a great relationship with horses before this trip, and now I dream of working with them again soon. I can't wait to go back again one day. Thank you so much to Ciara and Christophe for making this type of retreat a possibility. It has helped me more than you can know :)

Fantastic experience: A truly inspiring experience! Ciara and Christophe generously share their seemingly lifetime commitment to yoga and meditation practices. Together they creatively and synergistically weave yoga and meditation techniques. They particularly and purposefully emphasize the potential of applying these practices in everyday life, through the cultivation of awareness, and greeting what comes up with openness, kindness, and curiosity. The Macalla Farm experience is a true gift. The food is stellar as it is carefully grown and prepared in their home. Amazing meal after amazing meal! They open their warm home with astounding generosity. All this served from their wonderful farm with magnificent horses and animals, surrounded by lush wilderness and breath-taking views of sea, sky, and land. Wisdom and wonder flow freely ... I whole-heartedly give the Macalla Farm retreat experience my highest recommendation.

Fantastic experience: I have been 10 times to Macalla Farm, mainly for yoga, but also for enjoying the peace and quietness and the fabulous food. Ciara and Christophe are extremely knowledgeable teachers and helped me from day 0 of my yoga practice. They are real professionals and I have met very few people like them in my life. Macalla Farm is an ideal place for yoga, meditation and to rest your mind. I warmly recommend it nad I look forward to my next visit!

Fantastic experience: Macalla Farm on Clare Island - an oasis of beauty, colour, flavour - a feast for the senses, recharging of the body and refreshment for the mind. This August Bank Holiday was a return visit for me to take part again in a yoga retreat - and I left after the weekend - as with previous visits - with the feeling of fullness - not only from the delicious food, but filled with positivity, refreshed from the time out, my body nicely tired from stretching, yoga postures and walking, and my mind rested and calm. The weekend of meditation and yoga was beautifully melded by the hosts and teachers Ciara and Christophe. The classes were held in the purpose built spacious studio within their family home. Sessions are complemented by delicious and wholesome vegetarian dishes using produce from the surrounding farm and prepared in the inviting kitchen and eating space. The farm offers plush graze for the friendly goats, milking sheep and ducks with polytunnels blooming and filled with a wide assortment of healthy produce. The stunning vista from the windows extends down from the colourful companion planting of poppies and borage intertwined with rows of thriving vegetables populated by swallows and thrushes, blackbirds and robins, bees and hoverflies, through fields with grazing horses, past mature woodland, down to the tidal jagged coastline and across the sea to the summit of Croagh Patrick on the mainland. The silence of the morning meditation sessions having being continued from the evening before and extending until the brunch meal offered a rare opportunity for peacefulness and serenity to one's nights and early mornings - a welcome break from the everyday hustle and hum of technology that can distract us so much- the short walk to the studio from our cottage accommodation was accompanied only by the gentle hum of early morning bees on the blue hydrangea and red honeysuckle. Being on an island lends itself to a feeling of escapism - a sanctuary surrounded by water where one can breathe deeply and relax. Ciara and Christophe exhibit a humility, peacefulness and patience that is much appreciated on a retreat. They are tolerant, encouraging and compassionate with their teaching. One doesn't have to be a Yogi or even have prior experience in practicing yoga. This course brought together complete beginners who had never meditated or knowingly sat in a yoga pose with more experienced practitioners of yoga – and all levels were catered for in a seamless manner. In between classes the weekend allowed for time to relax, to explore the island, to dip into the sea, to track up the mountain, to hike down to the famine potato fields, to visit the ancient Abbey, to discover the castle of Grace O Malley, to walk to the lighthouse and peer over at the dazzlingly high cliffs, to hear the cry of the sea birds and take in the sunset over the watery horizon. I have filled up my eyes on the myriad of colours along the hedgerows with bright oranges, vibrant purples, hazy honeyed swaying grasses - under the changeable elements from the hottest sun to blustery stormy winds and rain – whatever the scene the island remains beautiful. I look forward to my next visit.