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Weekend in the Hills; Festival of Traditional Crafts

A weekend of craft learning and community building. Come learn a skill, soak up the culture, have fun and make everlasting friendships!

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Techniques & Skills

Once known as Weekend in the Woods, this popular two day event is now in its second decade! Those attending the events, spend one or two days (depending on the craft) learning their chosen skill. Most students go home with a finished piece, although this is not the objective of the event. The aim is to teach the techniques and skills needed to go home and pursue the craft or subject studied over the weekend. It is an immersive weekend experience set in the Slieve Aughty hills near Loughrea, Co. Galway.

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The Weekend

Saturday begins at 9am with registration and a short introduction. Courses start at 10am and finish up at about 5pm each day. Organic lunch is usually at 1pm. Saturday night is  spent around the camp fire telling tales and singing, so remember to bring your instruments and warm up your vocal chords!

Courses include

Mixed Metal and Silver Jewelry
Longbow Making
Herblore

Foraging
Bushcraft Survival for adults  

Woodcarving
Willow Weaving 
Sheepskin Tanning
Súgán Chair Building
Bowl turning on a Foot Powered Lathe
Leather Work

Print Making (A course for children)

Fish- Skin Tanning

Felting

Stone wall building

Stone carving

Forest school {a course for children}

Make a Traditional style  frame drum (Shamanic drum)

Cleft gate making

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Please see Events for booking info.

If the event you prefer is booked out, please email us on celtskills@celtnet.org and we can add you to the cancellation list 

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*Please note our cancellation policy; we require minimum 7 days notice before the event for a full refund to be paid.

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Upcoming Events

Comments from Past Participants

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 I loved Olwyn's foraging programme and my son Matthew really enjoyed the bushcraft camp with Dylan. Your instructors are very generous, inclusive and knowledgeable!Slieve Aughty is a wonderful venue and so inspirational too. Thanks to all of you for this glimpse into another world,

                                  K

                                                    Marie O'Driscoll.

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" This is my third year and it is constantly epic.  Keep it up! "   

- N.C

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"Great course, very interesting and useful and good fun.  A really enjoyable learning experience" - G.M.

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" I learned lots, great tutor, lovely atmosphere, excellent venue. Will definitely attend again." - N.L

An Effective way of implementing TREES on the FARM!
05:36

An Effective way of implementing TREES on the FARM!

Watch the whole series on ''Trees on the Farm & Native Woodland'': https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhOM_Q_8wHEWPDNHPwz5Mt91KdoIh4cP3 Ireland's Forestry Programme 2023-2027 supports the creation of silvopasture and small woodlands on the Farm, similar to the concepts in this video. Silvopasture group planting is supported under the Afforestation Scheme: FT8 Agroforestry, or the 'Native Tree Area Scheme (NTA)', to create small pockets of native woodlands (up to 1ha). The schemes cover the costs of establishment, and farmers will be rewarded with a significant premium of €2284/ha/year for 10 years in the case of the NTA scheme and €975,-/ha/year for Agroforestry, where livestock grazing can be retained. BISS and Organic payments can be kept on planted land parcels aswell. For more information, visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/afforestation-scheme/ In this video, Andrew shows us an example of Agroforestry tree planting: the creation of tree coops in grazing or crop fields. Hereby a biodiversity oasis is created in the middle of the field that can also give shade to livestock, improve drainage and field fertility, and more. The round design makes for cost-effective and easy-to-put-up fencing, protecting the trees from livestock and deer. Once the trees are properly established, animals could potentially roam inside the planted coupe as well. This concept is developed by Andrew St. Ledger of the Woodland League. Filmed & produced by Julius Silvan: https://www.youtube.com/@juliussilvan Music Credits: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License This series is made commissioned by CELT with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to promote woodlands & reforestation. CELT is a registered Irish charity, promoting the Natural Environment & Sustainable Living through education and raising community awareness.
The importance of Restoring & Expanding OLD NATIVE WOODLANDS (ft. Andrew St. Ledger)
04:05

The importance of Restoring & Expanding OLD NATIVE WOODLANDS (ft. Andrew St. Ledger)

Watch the whole series on ''Trees on the Farm & Native Woodland'': https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhOM_Q_8wHEWPDNHPwz5Mt91KdoIh4cP3 In this video, native woodland conservationist Andrew St. Ledger shows us an example of Old Native Woodland on his land, he talks about the importance of restoring and expanding these habitats, ''the terrestrial life support system of our planet'' as he calls it. For more information visit our website: https://www.celtnet.org/ Filmed & produced by Julius Silvan: https://www.youtube.com/@juliussilvan This series is made commissioned by CELT with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to promote woodlands & reforestation. CELT is a registered charity providing education, training and awareness-raising activities in environmental issues, skills for sustainable living and nature conservation. Through skills training events and exhibitions we promote traditional skills to keep them alive and relevant to our modern society...and as a way of encouraging community to engage with their heritage in an empowering sustainable way. Our popular Traditional skills weekend event 'Weekend in the Hills' is focused on offering a wide range of traditional skills bringing together local and national experts in a creative supportive atmosphere that enables a great hands on experience for all participants...including Adventure Bush-craft courses for kids. We also provide biodiversity surveys, help to plan and install nature trails and offer educational guided woodland walks, with the aim of connecting local communities to their local natural environment via improved access and educational opportunity. Music Credits: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Reintroducing Nature Sanctuaries in Modern Farming - ''THE HARES CORNER ''
00:58

Reintroducing Nature Sanctuaries in Modern Farming - ''THE HARES CORNER ''

Watch the whole series on ''Trees on the Farm & Native Woodland'': https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhOM_Q_8wHEWPDNHPwz5Mt91KdoIh4cP3 In Ireland's new Forestry Programme 2023-2027, small woodlands on Farms are being promoted under the 'Native Tree Area Scheme' which supports the creation of small woodlands (up to 2ha) without the need for a reforestation license. Besides covering the costs of the forest creation farmers will be rewarded with a significant premium of €2284/ha/year for 10 years. For more information: https://www.celtnet.org/ CELT is a registered charity providing education, training and awareness-raising in environmental issues, traditional crafts workshops, sustainable living and nature conservation. CELT is a member of Irish Environmental Network (IEN) and through this organisation receive annual core funding from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE). Visit our Website: https://www.celtnet.org/ Filmed & produced by Julius Silvan: https://www.youtube.com/@juliussilvan This video was supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Resource producing Corridors on the Farm: "THE HEDGEROW'' (ft. Andrew St. Ledger)
02:34

Resource producing Corridors on the Farm: "THE HEDGEROW'' (ft. Andrew St. Ledger)

Watch the whole series on ''Trees on the Farm & Native Woodland'': https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhOM_Q_8wHEWPDNHPwz5Mt91KdoIh4cP3 In this video, native woodland conservationist Andrew St. Ledger shows us an example of hedgerows on the Farm. He talks about there importance as biodiversity corridors and the resources that can come out of it. For more information visit our website: https://www.celtnet.org/ This series is made commissioned by CELT with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to promote woodlands & reforestation. CELT is a registered charity providing education, training and awareness-raising activities in environmental issues, skills for sustainable living and nature conservation. Through skills training events and exhibitions we promote traditional skills to keep them alive and relevant to our modern society...and as a way of encouraging community to engage with their heritage in an empowering sustainable way. Our popular Traditional skills weekend event 'Weekend in the Hills' is focused on offering a wide range of traditional skills bringing together local and national experts in a creative supportive atmosphere that enables a great hands on experience for all participants...including Adventure Bush-craft courses for kids. We also provide biodiversity surveys, help to plan and install nature trails and offer educational guided woodland walks, with the aim of connecting local communities to their local natural environment via improved access and educational opportunity. https://www.celtnet.org/
How do Forests originate Naturally? - from Valley to Uplands
03:10

How do Forests originate Naturally? - from Valley to Uplands

Watch the whole series on ''Trees on the Farm & Native Woodland'': https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhOM_Q_8wHEWPDNHPwz5Mt91KdoIh4cP3 Native Woodland Conservationist Andrew St. Ledger shows us forest succession on a hillside, from the valley up to the upland blanket bog. For more information visit our website: https://www.celtnet.org/ This series is made commissioned by CELT with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to promote woodlands & reforestation. Filmed & produced by Julius Silvan: https://www.youtube.com/@juliussilvan Music Credits: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License CELT is a registered charity providing education, training and awareness-raising in environmental issues, traditional crafts workshops, sustainable living and nature conservation. CELT is a member of Irish Environmental Network (IEN) and through this organisation receives annual core funding from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE). For more information visit our Website: https://www.celtnet.org/
RIPARIAN WOODLANDS: The most important Natural Corridors on Land!
01:50

RIPARIAN WOODLANDS: The most important Natural Corridors on Land!

Watch the whole series on "Native Trees for Irish Farms'': https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhOM_Q_8wHEWPDNHPwz5Mt91KdoIh4cP3 Under Ireland's new Forestry Schemes 2023-2027 (which is still awaiting EU approval): Woodlands along watercourses are being promoted under the 'Woodlands for Water Scheme'. Besides covering the costs of forest creation, farmers will be rewarded with a significant premium of €1142/ha/year for up to 20 years. For more information visit our website: https://www.celtnet.org/ Filmed & produced by Julius Silvan: https://www.youtube.com/@juliussilvan Music Credits: Achaidh Cheide by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License CELT is a registered charity providing education, training and awareness-raising activities in environmental issues, skills for sustainable living and nature conservation. Through skills training events and exhibitions we promote traditional skills to keep them alive and relevant to our modern society...and as a way of encouraging community to engage with their heritage in an empowering sustainable way. Our popular Traditional skills weekend event 'Weekend in the Hills' is focused on offering a wide range of traditional skills bringing together local and national experts in a creative supportive atmosphere that enables a great hands on experience for all participants...including Adventure Bush-craft courses for kids. We also provide biodiversity surveys, help to plan and install nature trails and offer educational guided woodland walks, with the aim of connecting local communities to their local natural environment via improved access and educational opportunity.

Some scenes from Previous Workshops

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Company Number : 352865

Charity Number : 20047580

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