Simplicity. Rest. Welcome.

We want to reimagine Ireland’s monastic legacy of hospitality, rest, creativity, and prayer. This has led us to begin cultivating The Hearth: a small spiritual retreat space in the Northern Irish countryside.

The Hearth is a restored flax mill surrounded by beautiful gardens, that includes the family home and a self-catering cottage.

The Cottage

This restored millworker’s cottage will soon be available for self-catering stays. It has 2 bedrooms, a full kitchen, living room and bathroom. Currently, it is only available to friends and family, but we plan to make it more broadly available soon.

Interested in staying at the cottage?

Spiritual Direction

Gemma Ryan is a pastor, teacher and spiritual director who is passionate about helping people to discover the beauty of walking with Jesus in the midst of their ordinary lives. She trained as a spiritual director with Sustainable Faith and completed her M.A in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership through Friends University. She currently works as an adjunct professor for the same program.

She is not currently taking on new directees at this time.

Our Story

Gemma, John, and their four wild and wonderful kids returned home to Ireland after twelve years of living in the US. Before leaving, Gemma served as Associate Pastor at Oaks Church, Brooklyn. She is currently mother to four children, avid gardener, writer, spiritual director, and adjunct professor at Friends University. John is a father, artist, and works as a designer.

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