Singles Weekend: May 8th – 10th 2020

If you’re single and into outdoor adventure, we have a weekend of fun in mind for you.

Every year, we begin and end the main season with a Singles Adventure Weekend, which has proven itself to be very popular with singles who are up for adventure and craic.

This isn’t a match-making festival. What we do is bring like-minded people together and provide a fun environment to make new friends – single friends, with whom more than friendship may (or may not) develop. There’s something about adventure in the great outdoors – particularly the more high-adrenaline activities – that bonds people quickly.

And because the focus isn’t on potential romance, there is no awkwardness either. Just strangers with a love of the outdoors getting to know others.

If that appeals to you, read on…

Here is the provisional line up (subject to change) for the weekend:

Friday May 8th

6.45pm Ferry departs Roonagh Pier

7.15pm Transfer to accommodation

8.15pm Dinner at Sailor’s Bar & Restaurant

10.00pm Live Music in The Sailor’s Bar

Saturday, 9th

9.30am Breakfast

11.00 Guided Walk

12.00 Clare Island Challenge

2.00pm Lunch at Sailor’s Bar & Restaurant

3.00pm Raft Building

5.00pm Showers & Free time

6.30pm Dinner at Sailor’s Bar & Restaurant

10.00pm Live entertainment at Sailor’s Bar

Sunday 10th

10.00am Breakfast

11.00am Morning stroll to explore the island

1.00pm Ferry departs Clare Island

The Activities

After breakfast on Saturday, there will be a short guided walk. This will be followed by the Clare Island Challenge – a team-based orienteering course. (We will break the larger group into smaller teams.) You and your team-mates will race the other teams and complete some puzzles along the way.

Lunch will follow and after that it’s Raft Building. Again, you’ll do this activity in teams, but we’ll mix them up from the land-based teams. As a team you’ll build a raft on the beach, then paddle it around a small course in the harbour. Those who are not comfortable swimming in the sea do not have to take part in the paddling element. And, to keep things fair, we’ll to divide the teams to ensure a fair spread of paddlers across all teams.

Accommodation

Base camp for the weekend is Go Explore Hostel and Sailor’s Bar & Restaurant. Included in the basic price is your accommodation in Go Explore Hostel for two nights. The rooms are split between male and female for the weekend. All our rooms are en-suite. Go Explore Hostel is one of Ireland’s premier hostels.

If you choose not to stay at Go Explore Hostel then the price is reduced to reflect same and you can choose to stay in one of the islands many excellent B&Bs close to the hostel. However, if you go for this option you must deal directly with the B&Bs yourself. Telephone numbers are below:

• O’Grady’s Guesthouse beside the pier – Phone (098) 22991

• Nelly Woods B&B – Phone (098) 22986

• Granuaile House B&B – Phone (098) 26250

• O’Malleys B&B – Phone (098) 25893

• Ciaran and Ann’s–Phone (098) 25106

• Sea Breeze B&B – Phone (098) 26746

• Cois Abhainn B&B – Phone (098) 26216

• The Lodge, self-catering accommodation – Phone (098) 26057 / (098) 26250

Food

Included in your package is breakfast both days, your lunch on Saturday and dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings. Sailor’s Bar & Restaurant is fast becoming known for it delicious cuisine and fresh seafood. You will be served dinner in the intimate setting of the BARD room before a great night of entertainment.

Entertainment

The Sailor’s Bar is a hive of activity at weekends, hosting a mix of local and national artists, with a blend of traditional Irish and contemporary folk music. It’s a popular venue with islanders and visitors from Westport, Louisburgh and further afield. In addition to swapping stories with the other weekend adventurers, you’ll find a friendly and hospitable crowd to enjoy the banter and craic with.

 Ferry

Alan & Brian from Clare Island Ferry Company are the third members of Clare Island Adventures and responsible for getting you to the island. The Ferry is also included in your package so all you need to do is show up at Roonagh Pier and they’ll take it from there.

How it works

It’s different strokes for different folks.  Choose the activity that most appeals to you.  If you’re coming with friends, don’t worry about what they want to do – you’re going to be making new friends on this weekend! 

On Friday night everyone will be mixing together so by bedtime you won’t be strangers anymore.  After breakfast on Saturday there will be a beach challenge which the whole group gets to participate in.

Saturday afternoon’s activities must be selected when booking – this is to ensure proper instructor ratios per activity as well as the sufficient provision of gear.  (If you’re opting for raft building and have your own wetstuit, feel free to bring it along.  But we provide everything you need, so no need to be concerned if you don’t have any gear)

And after dinner on Saturday, there’ll be live music and plenty of opportunity to continue the banter and craic.  At that stage folks, if you’re not mixing, what can we say?  It’s not our fault!  But seriously, we don’t think that’ll be an issue for anyone at that point…. So, welcome aboard – we look forward to meeting you.

How much?

All in price for the weekend is €275 per person – this covers return ferry, B&B in Go Explore Hostel, two dinners, one lunch and ALL activities including gear provision.

Ex B&B (if you opt to stay in one of the local B&B’s) price is €199 per person.

Terms & Conditions:

• To confirm your space on this weekend, we just require a €70pp deposit.

• The balance of your payment is due 4 weeks prior to the event.

• For cancellations up to 4 weeks prior to the event, we retain €4 admin charge and refund the balance of your booking deposit.

• For cancellations within 4 weeks of the event, we retain your deposit, and refund the balance.

• For cancellations within 48 hours of the event, we retain €145 and refund the balance.

• It may be necessary to change the Saturday afternoon activity, due to adverse weather conditions or operational requirements.

To book or request more information, email us on bookings@clareislandadventures.ie

NOTS & The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland are hosting a Dry Stone Wall Weekend Workshop on Clare Island, Co Mayo on the last weekend of June (Friday 28th – Sunday 30th).

Participants can gain practical knowledge of the craft of dry stone wall building while experiencing the unique atmosphere of island life over a packed summer weekend on the West Coast. Learn how to build, maintain, and repair dry stone walls with experts from the DSWAI.

Weekend Itinerary / Programme of Events: 

Friday 28th June: 

• Arrive by ferry from Roonagh Pier (5.30pm or 6.45pm ferry)

• 8.30pm: Presentation on the history of Clare Island stone walls and stone wall construction – followed by social gathering.

Saturday 29th June: 

• Stone wall workshop involving the hands-on, practical work of building a dry stone wall with expert guidance.

• Lunch (included in NOTS ticket price)

• Rebuilding a lime kiln.

• Construction of a two sided stone wall.

• Construction of a 1 sided wall.

• Social gathering on Saturday evening for dinner and more chat.

Sunday 30th June:

• Back to work! Continued building of dry stone wall – perfecting key skills in building strong beautiful stone structures.

• Depart on evening ferries.

Cost:

A 2-day event ticket is €120 – this reduced Skillnet funding price is only available if you book here through National Organic Training Skillnet.

GET TICKETS HERE