The Cill Rialaig Project: A retreat on the edge of the world

The Cill Rialaig Project:  A retreat on the edge of the world


Founded in 1991 by Noelle Campbell Sharp, Cill Rialaig is located in the restored ruins of a 1790s pre-famine village in a wild and beautiful landscape situated on the very edge of the Atlantic Ocean in southwest Kerry.  Seven individual cottage studios are occupied by artists and writers, and the eighth cottage, Tigh an Comhrá (Meeting House) offers a place for residents to gather or enjoy a rich library.  
Residencies are open to full-time practicing professionals from Ireland and abroad for durations of one to six weeks throughout the year.   Each resident occupies a small cottage with its own living and work space. The residency is free of charge, although residents must provide their own transportation, food and supplies, fuel, and contribute to utility costs.  

Cill Rialaig, meaning “Church of the Regulars,” has a connection to the famous medieval hermitage of Skellig Michael; it was settled by “church regulars” after the monks abandoned the Skellig and built an abbey in nearby Ballenskelligs.  
Cill Rialaig is a quiet, remote retreat where one can temporarily renunciate ordinary domestic and work demands.  The isolation offers the opportunity to focus entirely on one’s creative work without interuption.  The landscape is full of inspiration and the local people are warm and generous.

The lifestyle here is very simple and basic.  Modern conveniences such as television, computers, internet, microwaves, etc. are not provided.  Residents cook their own meals, maintain their own cottages while in residence, and live as independent of their neighbours as they wish, in much the same way as those early ascetics lived “isolated but in close proximity to each other.”

Due to its location on a steep cliff side amid stone ruins in various stages of repair, the site is unsafe for children.  We strongly advise that artists do not bring babies or young children.  Out of respect to other residents, we also cannot allow pets.  Though the cottage can accommodate partners, it is recommended that all residents honour the intention of the retreat as a place of contemplation and work.  
The closest village, Ballinskelligs, is three miles away.  This is in a Gaeltacht, or Irish-speaking area, and is one of the least populated areas in Europe.  Ballinskelligs has a population of less that 600;  it has one general store/petrol station, a post office, two pubs, and a few seasonal eateries.  The largest town, Cahersiveen is a 20 minute drive away, and here you can find several grocery stores, a great French patisserie, a hardware store, a news agent, and a good number of pubs that sometimes offer traditional Irish music as evening entertainment.
We run a gallery and shop in the nearby village of Dun Geagan, just east of Ballinskelligs, called Siopa Chill Rialaig.  There is a very nice café there, as well as ceramic, glass, and woodworking facilities.  Nearby are our staffed printmaking facilities.  Use of these facilities is generally by advance arrangements as they are often used for workshops.