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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!

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

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 

*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
The importance of Restoring & Expanding OLD NATIVE WOODLANDS (ft. Andrew St. Ledger)
04:05
Reintroducing Nature Sanctuaries in Modern Farming - ''THE HARES CORNER ''
00:58
Resource producing Corridors on the Farm: "THE HEDGEROW'' (ft. Andrew St. Ledger)
02:34
How do Forests originate Naturally? - from Valley to Uplands
03:10
RIPARIAN WOODLANDS: The most important Natural Corridors on Land!
01:50
Bushcraft Basics Course with Smooth Gefixt @ CELT  Weekend in the Hills
01:00
Celt Open Day at Slieve Aughty Centre
01:32

Some scenes from Previous Workshops

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© 2025 CELT

Company Number : 352865

Charity Number : 20047580

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