Guma.
Good.

Sin sceal eile!
That’s another story!

Wednesday - Halloween Crafts
10am - 12pm
During this morning workshop we’ll make all manner of spooky creations, from dangling spiders to ghostly masks. We’ll also carve up some pumpkins!

Thursday - Halloween Treasure Hunt
10am - 12pm
Taking in our nature trail and 6 acres of beautiful countryside, this treasure hunt will require some serious brain power. Crack the codes to find all of the prizes hidden accross Ard Nahoo!

We have some great rates for families wishing to stay at Ard Nahoo during mid term. Unlike other destinations, we don’t raise our prices when the school holidays are in full swing, far from it. Our Eco Cabins sleep up to 7 each (with 4 for the littler one) and are the perfect size for families. If you are interested in getting away for mid term, contact us here and we’ll be happy to talk through your options.

Hello! You’re welcome to the Ard Nahoo blog. Every Thursday, I am going to write a few words in Irish.

Aon
Cad is ainm duit? Card is anim dwitch?
What is your name?

Do
Mise Nicola. Misha Nicola.
I’m Nicola.

Tri
Conas ata tu? Connus eetar too?
How are you?

Ceathair
Ceart go leor! Cart galore!
Fine!

(Disclaimer: Whilst everyone else at Ard Nahoo can speak impeccible Irish, mine is less than…well, less than adequate. Each Wednesday, I’m attending Irish classes in the Gaelscoil in Cluaninn, and then attempting a post as Gaeilge each Thursday. If you have any corrections, suggestions, or comments, please leave them here!)

(Disclaimer 2: For some reason, this blog deletes everything if a fada is involved. Conspiracy? Perhaps…I will investigate more. In the meantime, don’t despise my poor grammar.)

2. Our next newsletter is going to be sent out next week, with special offers, news and pictures. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, drop me an email at info@ardnahoo.com and I’ll pop your name on there.

3. The most exciting news of late is that our ever faithful badger, Buster, is back! After seeing a fair few of his comrades squished on the other road, I had made my sad peace to the fact that Buster was no more. But he has returned! And, to let us all know, he pulled up 25% of the garden. I think he was trying to spell out I’m Home, and that we should appreciate his good will. Other people don’t agree. Look out for Badger Baiting Weekends here at Ard Nahoo….I can’t even let that sentence sit without saying that’s a JOKE. Although badger spotting weekends could be fun.

4. I know I do have a fixation with the weather, but this week has really felt like the onset of Autumn/Winter. The first fire of the season has been lit, jacket potatoes have been consumed, turnips have turned up in our vegetable box (to very amusing expressions) and, most importantly, it’s bloomin cold. Ah well, I shall accept the change in season with good grace. Mostly because with the summer we had, there’s not much comparison.

5. Keeping on the baby front, we’ve had a few new deliveries from our yoga for pregnancy class, and a few more on the way in the next few days! So congratulations to the newbies, and good luck to the rest! It’s going to be fantastic to see some new faces in the mother and baby yoga.

That’s all for this week, so go and put on a wooly jumper, light the fire, put the spuds on and relish the time of year in which you can walk without slipping on your ass.

1. The sun is out!

2. It was the Adaptations film festival in Dromahair this past weekend, and it was a truly fantastic event. Featuring a number of Roddy Doyle greats, from The Commitments to The Snapper, the films were shown in the North West Cinemamobile, a truck which hotfoots around the local area and opens up into a tardis like cinema. Every Wednesday the cinema stops in Manorhamilton, which is about 15 minutes away from Ard Nahoo, and shows a fantastic movie, typically a vaguely obscure (and brilliant) ‘world’ movie. If you’re staying mid week at Ard Nahoo, it’s a must have experience.

3. Apples
After the strong winds of a few weeks ago, we had a flux of rosy red apples from our Orchard to deal with. The bonus is we now have jar upon jar of beautiful, sweet, apple jam. Hurrah! And there are a still plenty of the reddest Snow White apples left to pick (if I can resist them). We’re going to be putting jars of this beautiful jam in the Eco Cabins for weekd (months…) to come, so if you’re planning a visit, you’re in for a treat!

I think that’s all for now, but I will be back soon with some very exciting news indeed…

1. Staff Bonding
Are you part of an organisation or team that could use a bit of relaxation? We run numerous staff bonding days, which are ideal for groups of around 8 who need to get away together for the day. We also run residential weekends, or mid week breaks, if a day just isn’t enough. Options include…

Yoga classes
Guided meditation
Massage
Uisce Hour

If you would like more information, get in touch at info@ardnahoo.com

2. Kayaking
Local kayaking man Dermot, of Paddlemonkey, is now offering exclusive deals to Ard Nahoo residents. For €25 per person, he will take you paddling around Loch Gill, perhaps to Inisfree, or around the little island that dot the beautiful lake linking Dromahair to Sligo. If you would like to spend a morning or afternoon out on the water, then get in touch at the usual address.

1. Mother & Baby Yoga tea party
Next Wednesday, we’re hosting a little get together for all the mums and babies who were here for the pregnancy yoga course. Considering how adorable the yoga babies are, it’s going to be a great (potentially loud) reunion. So, if you’re a graduate mother and were somehow not invited, please come along at 11am on Wednesday 13th.

2. Breast checks - self examination
It’s always a good time to bring this up. Many women are unsure about exactly how and when to check their breasts for any changes. But early detection saves lives, and even though the majority of bumps found are harmless, it’s always a good idea to get any changes checked out. This site gives a great illustrated guide to checking yourself.

There’s your ‘Do’! But, as I have short changed you this week, here’s a little treat…

watch?v=yzhxHsqQvsI

The closest is Adaptation, the Dromahair film festival. This year, the festival will focus on the television and cinema adaptations of the work of Roddy Doyle. Including a strong line of films, as well as a public interview with the man himself, the festival is set to be an amazing weekend filled with great cinema and great craic. The films are shown in the mobile cinema, which is an incredible screening area in a specially adapted truck. It has to be seen to be believed!

In Drumshanbo, the Harvest Feast Food Festival will be pleasing foodies for miles. With a market, cookery demonstrations, tastings and seminars, the weekend is the ultimate culinary event. See the website for more information.

So what better time to make a visit to Ard Nahoo? Take one of our Eco Cabins for the weekend and soak in the activities taking place on your doorstep. Contact us or check out our site for more information.

1. Eircom
Or should I say Despaircom (actually, that’s quite clever. I was going to go with bearcom, because they’re as useful as a bear, but that was just silly) Our phonelines have been down for almost two weeks now. TWO WEEKS. Thank Jiminy I’d forwarded our office phone to the mobile, or we’d have been completely lost for all of this time. In that time, as they have throughout any of our previous (and plentiful) disasters, the staff at Eircom have been the rudest I have ever spoken to on the telephone. And that’s saying something. I never fail to be shocked at the level of stupidity and inadequacy displayed by all those who work at the ridiculous monopoly that is Eircom*. Boo!

*except for our local fix it man…whom we have to call ourselves.

2. Something happier
Apparently, this weekend is going to be glorious. There’s loads going on in Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo, so why not head down for the weekend and see what the craic is?

3. Website
With the help of Leon Quinn, we just assessed our impact on the web. It turns out, we’re in the top 3.99% of all websites! This sounds great, until you learn that there are over a trillion live…but I’m still happy with that! Top 3.99!

4. Yoga
Our yoga classes begin on Tuesday, September 9th. They are as follows…

Tues - Yoga for Beginners 6 - 7.15pm
Yoga for continuers 7.30 - 9pm
Wed - Mother & Baby yoga 11am - 12pm
Yoga for Pregnancy 7.30 - 9pm

For more information, contact us.

5. Retreat
Carol Murphy’s yoga retreat is starting this evening. There are spaces in all of the classes, if you’d like to join in give us a call.

Have a fantastic bank holiday weekend!

1. Nature and Kind
This fantastic website has just launched our listing, which can be found here…
www.natureandkind.com Check it out for the best destinations worldwide with an ethical edge.

2. Bank Holiday
Fancy doing something a bit different for next weeks August bank holiday? Why not escape the blistering Irish heat and come out to Ard Nahoo for a few days? We have an Eco Cabin left for rental, due to a cancellation, and it’s up for grabs. There are yoga classes running all weekend, as well as holistic massages and sessions in the Uisce Hour. Contact us for more information.

3. Smoothie
Here’s a recipe for a smoothie fresh out of the kitchen and into my belly…

1 banana
2 kiwi fruit
1 apple

Mix until smooth, with a little water. And before you ask, the banana is fairtrade (carbon miles taken into account, the support banana growers rely on from trade is huge) the apple is Irish and organic, and the kiwi…well, they were from Italy, but that’s not too far. Some traders are insisting on selling apples from Cuba and Peru, despite apples being one of the few things we can actually grow here. Tsk.

4. Podcasts
Does anyone know anything about the fascinating world of podcasting? Would you like an Ard Nahoo podcast? Imagine…
At the moment my knowledge consists of listening to Stephen Fry’s. Maybe I’ll ask him about it all.

5. Sweet peas
We just had a woman in for a Stressbuster morning, who kept commenting on the beautiful smell coming from our Sweet Peas. I have to agree. Our permaculture garden is alive with blossom, and sending a delicious scent all around the grounds. All hail the sweet pea!

Here’s another photo to keep you going for the weekend…

The camera is out! All new photos of Ard Nahoo to come. One a day!

This is Willow, the first Eco Cabin, in all it’s glory.

If you have a request for a photograph, let us know, and we’ll post it!

Last year, Noeleen went to London to partake in a Birthlight course. Birthlight work with yoga teachers to train them how to properly teach pregnant women, and also how to guide them through both the pregnancy and birth. Since last September, Noeleen has been teaching Yoga for Pregnancy, including one birth preparation class a session, to great reports. Now she is designing a special package for pregnant women, with a luxurious massage designed to cater for their exact needs, with breathing and visualisation exercises in combination with a soothing and comforting massage routine.

Pregnant women can receive most treatments after the 14 week mark, depending on their comfort level. At the moment, there are many options for women during pregnancy here at Ard Nahoo, but we’re hoping that this new massage will prove as successful as the yoga for pregnancy class.

We’re aiming to get the massage completed and practiced in the next month or so. As soon as it becomes available, we’ll let you know.

1. Blog
It looks like the blogging world is looking up, with at least 10 visitors a day to this very page. But I’m sure we can get that higher! Here comes 100…I can feel it in my bones. Perhaps if I thought of something interesting to write about. Hm.

2. Pat Kenny
We were on the Pat Kenny show yesterday morning, during an interview with ethical journalist Catherine Mack, who was talking about her fantastic book Ecoescapes Ireland. I haven’t managed to listen to the show yet, as I can’t get the link on www.rte.ie to work, but if you have better luck, please let us know!

3. Flight of Fancy
There’s a big parade in Dromahair village tomorrow, which is set to be fantastic entertainment. All I know at this stage is that there are dragons, demons and cake involved. What more do you need?

4. Maria
There’s been a big interest in catering by our very own Maria McCole. Maria prepares delicious vegetarian meals ready in your Eco Cabin on arrival, waiting for you to finish off in the oven. With lasagnes, soups, decedent puddings and much more on offer, contact Maria if you want to enquire. I’m contemplating asking her to cater my life. Constantly.

5. Mad Dog
Finally, a bit of a strange question….does anyone know why a dog would take a sudden fascination to water? Our faithful companion, mutt and bodyguard Buddy is spending most of his days either sitting in, or looking at, the pond. Is there any answer to this riddle? Let us know if there is…

Have a fantastic weekend.

Amused - The bad weather means that I’ve been putting a lot of work into the website. Check it all out here…www.ardnahoo.com and see what you think. I won’t tell you what’s changed, but it should make life a little easier.

1. The Times
First off, click here to see us featured in The Times (the ENGLISH Times, no less) in an article about the top five corporate retreats. I added the ‘top’, but if you’re writing a feature about 5 retreats, they must, by default, be the five best. Before you all write, I am aware that they have potentially stolen the Friday Five idea. But as I myself stole it from someone else, I’m going to let it slide. Check it out!

2. Mick Densham
As part of our open day, we screened a retrospective film for the artist Mick Densham, who has been mentioned on our blog many times. To see the film, click here.

3. Massage Therapies
Now we have two fully qualified massage therapists on site, there are more appointments available for both day visitors and residents. There are a variety of massages available at Ard Nahoo, all perfect in combination with an Uisce Hour. Click here for the list of treatments.

4. Office Yoga
Does anyone else get the mid afternoon lag? Tight shoulders, eyelids drooping, twinge in the back (guess where I got the inspiration for this?). Here’s a tip: wheel your chair back a foot or so. Keep your feet planted firmly on the floow, and lean forward, so your palms are touching the floor. Now relax your arms, legs, head, and make sure you’re not ‘holding on’ at the muscle right at the top of the thigh. Stay there for a few minutes, and then slowly get back up. A new lease of life! And I’m going to do it right now. Ahhhh….

5. Sligo Festival
Finally, there’s loads of activities going on in Sligo this week, with music, film, kids events and much more. Click here for more details, and click here for accommodation!

OK, that nearly finished me off. I’m going to keep blogging throughout the week, so keep up to date. Have a great weekend!

There’s lots of exciting developments at the moment, and we’re looking forward to a busy few weeks. There’s also a lot to post from our Open Day which, despite the rain, was a great success. I have a video of Noeleen’s speech, Judith’s talk, Tony and Ray playing together (guitar), and lots more. So if you missed it, you can catch up here! And we know who you are, incidentally.

Congratulations to all those who have passed the recent massage and therapy exams, I’m sure you’d all like to say this….IN YOUR FACE, ITEC!!! Or maybe not.

Don’t forget it’s the Friday Five tomorrow, so check in for whatever pops into my head before then.

Happy Thursday!

1. Music
Tony Tyrrell of the Afternoons is playing a set at 4pm, preluded by Ray Coen, infamous musician of Dromahair. Do you have a hidden talent? There may be space for you in the Organic Live Cafe…

2. Theatre
Sheltermaker theatre presents Invisible Architecture, performed by our very own Peter Cowman. Peter is the mastermind behind our new Eco Cabins and yoga studio, and is leading a tour around those very buildings, which culminates in a theatrical extravaganza. We know as much as you do about this piece, which was originally called Naked Architecture, so I’m guessing it has to be seen to be believed…

3. Kids
The afternoon is packed full of activities for children. There’s a massive Island project in the art tent, summer games throughout the day, bird feeder making, and a sandpit. What better way to entertain the littleuns for FREE?

4. Film
Two films are being shown on the day. We have ‘A Thirst For Ireland’ by Alanna Moore, which is followed by a talk and set to be incredibly thought provoking. ‘Shadows of the Wind’, a retrospective film of the work of Mick Densham, will be shown throughout the day in conjuction with his exhibition, which will be in the main building. A fantastic opportunity to see a great amount of Mick’s work. Also a great opportunity to see a film that is, 24 hours before the screening, unfinished! No panic whatsoever going on. No panic whatsoever…

5. Food
We were up last night cooking gorgeous organic chocolate brownies, flapjacks, mushroom soup, all kinds of goodness. There was only one mild disaster, when a vegan recipe had to be turned into a good ole Rachel Allen recipe (peg a load of butter, sugar and golden syrup and voila, dry flapjacks are saved) but if you can’t treat yourself on a Saturday, when can you? That’s what I told myself as I slowly swam in brownie mix.

So there you go! 2pm - 6pm. And so much more going on throughout the day, with taster treatments, yoga sessions, tours, walks, fun, games, oh my it’s going to be fantastic. So come along! Don’t forget, there’s no vehicle access on the day. Catch the Eco Bus from the Abbey Manor Hotel in Dromahair, leaving every 20 minutes. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

See you there!

with Alanna Moore

Aug 29th – 31st, 2008

Cost € 240

During this women only weekend you will discover how to tune into the subtle energies of the environment. You will develop a new sense through which you can enjoy nature and learn to live in harmony with these energies.

Dowsing is usually known in relation to water divining, but its applications are endless. Geomancy addresses environmental energies which can have a major impact on our health and well being. It’s akin to feng shui, Chinese geomancy, and can be applied to modern day living in many ways.

With the aid of a pendulum you will begin to detect nature spirits.

You will learn about the special energy of Irish Round Towers and help build one so you can see how this energy manifests itself. You will learn how to work with this energy to enhance productivity in your garden.

Spirit of place explains many aspects of sacred sites and you will visit such sites in Leitrim and start to understand these sites from a new perspective. A walk in nature may never be the same with your new sense!

The weekend includes a session in the lively local pub and an option to enjoy the spa facilities at Ard Nahoo. This is intended to be a fun and light hearted weekend…even if you are a sceptic!

Cost includes accommodations and workshops. Food will be self catering, communal (bring and share) meals.

Call Pauline for further details at 071 913 4913 or 086 828 6303 or email info@wisewomanireland.com

This weekend will only go ahead if a minimum of seven women book by July 5th, 2008, so call today to express your interest.

1. Open Day
This is really set to be a fantastic day, with music (Tony Tyrrell of The Afternoons, absolutely no relation to Noeleen Tyrrell of Ard Nahoo….well maybe only a slight relation) film, theatre, art, yoga, treatments and mighty craic. The Eco Bus will be arranging pick ups and drop offs from Dromahair village, so there really is no excuse not to come. Curious about Ard Nahoo? Come and see what we’re all about. Saturday 21st June, 2pm - 6pm. Click here for more information.

2. Ecoescape Ireland
This fantastic book by Catherine Mack has just landed on our doorstep. Well, landed in our out of the road post box anyway. The book looks really great, especially on the pages we’re featuring in. As we were a case study as well as a listing, you can see great photographs of Ard Nahoo through the ages. Or you can come on our open day, and see it then!

3. Poo
We’ve just had three bales of hay delivered, which means that our compost toilet can kick into gear! Don’t worry, it’s not for the Eco Cabins, but for our converted mobile home, where we house our wwoofers. I did a course last year at the organic centre with Mike Harris, all about humanure. It seriously is the most sensible idea I’ve ever heard, perfectly safe, practical and enjoyable (when you tell people that you poo in a bucket).

4. Wwoof
On the subject of wwoofers, check out the wwoof site here to find out about a great way to travel free of charge. We frequently have wwoofers here, and they really are an invaluable asset to Ard Nahoo. And nothing at all to do with dogging.

5. Sardinia
Next week, I’m off to Alghero in Sardinia. Don’t panic, I will blog away before I go so there are no withdrawals. If anyone has any bright ideas, suggestions or reccommendations I’d really appreciate your thoughts. Or if you’re raving with jealousy, I’d appreciate that as well.

Until next time….

Bare with us while we import our old posts and get to grips with the new system!