Return to Nature

Welcome Back
Alanna Moore

Alanna returns to Ballyhooly Lodge again in 2025 for 2 fascinating workshops on Saturday and Sunday July 26th and 27th.

Author of many best-selling books including Stone Age Farming, Plant Spirit Gardener, Divining the Landscape, Backyard Poultry Naturally and many more and of the most well-known dowsers in Australia, now living in Leitrim the land of her grandparents, Alanna brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from over 40 years professional practice.

Founder and author of Geomantica magazine and Co-founder of the New South Wales dowsing society in 1984, and an expert on Building Biology, Alanna’s workshops are fascinating and inspiring for anyone with an interest in dowsing and working with the energies of the land. 

Geomantica e-Magazine

Geomantica e-magazine is Alanna’s free of charge email newsletter which she has written and distributed for over 30 years.  Such is the cultural significance of Alanna’s writings, every edition of her Geomantica magazine is now catalogued in the National Library of Australia.  You can subscribe to Geomantica e-magazine free of charge from Alanna’s website at
https://www.geomantica.com. 

History

Balllyhooly Lodge is steeped in history, and is now in private use as residence and family home since approx. the year 2000.  Prior to this it was open to the public as a popular public house, fishing lodge and B&B, providing accommodation for holiday makers in the mountains of North County Cork.  In earlier times it was known as The Castle Tavern, where the small dance hall was home to many live music concerts and a focal point of the community.

Sometime in the early 1920’s, The Castle Tavern was demolished when it was blown up by the Black & Tans in a revenge attack, after a nearby manor house was blown up by the rebel Irish army.  The Castle Tavern was re-built during 1930-1940 by the British Government as part of their treaty agreement, where a number of significant buildings of Ireland were required to be rebuilt including Cork City hall, such was the significance of the Castle Tavern in Irish colonial history.

New Owners

After a year of preparations during 2022 and 2023, Ballyhooly Lodge is now under new ownership.   New owners – Sharon, Yoga & Meditation teacher, Marriage & Funeral Celebrant, Sound & Energy Therapist and Musician, and her husband Gerry – a Musician and Guitar Teacher, have now relocated from Cork City, and Ballyhooly Lodge is now their family home.

Nature Retreats

Nearby Castleblagh woods and forest walks along the Blackwater River make the Ballyhooly area a haven for a variety of peaceful Nature Retreats.

For three months of the year, new owners will welcome guests for a range of Holistic well-being day and weekend retreats with a variety of themes.  Activities include pilgrimages to local spiritual places of interest, Sound & Music Therapy, Meditation &  Mindfulness, Gong Meditation, Yoga classes, Laughter Yoga, and connecting with nature and the trees through Forest Bathing in the nearby Castleblagh Woods. 

Yoga Studio

The former dance hall at Ballyhooly Lodge is now converted to a  tranquil Yoga Studio for a range of private Yoga & Meditation classes for the owners, family and friends. 

A range of regular yoga & meditation classes are held at Ballyhooly Lodge for fundraising for renovation & preservation fund for Ballyhooly Lodge.  Details of classes be posted here.

Live Music Events

Music has returned to Ballyhooly Lodge.  Renovations are underway to create an indoor live performance stage for private music events, for the enjoyment of the new owners, family & friends.  Once the live stage is ready, Ballyhooly Lodge will become home to the Mountain Rock & Blues Club, featuring live music events once a month.  Membership of Mountain Rock & Blues Club will be open to all, by invitation from existing members.

Spiritual Pilgrimage

The area surrounding Ballyhooly is enriched with spiritual places of interest, including mass rock, famine walk, and a glorious ruined monastic site and former priory.