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Maureen
Carlson's
Fantasy Week in Ireland
2026 |
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 Hello Potential Travelers
Imagine
8 Days
of Clay Play
and Exploration in Ireland
Sept. 6
- September 13, 2026
OR
the optional shortened version
a 2-Day Clay
Character Exploration
Sept. 7 - 8,
2026
Exploring
new clay techniques. Refining your sculpting and designing skills.
Creating art that speaks your name. Sharing stories. Discovering
more.
And all this while settled within a
building that is infused with a cherished atmosphere of peace and
contemplation, all nestled within a beautiful woods. A short walk
along the winding path takes one into the town of Crossgar for
mini-excursions and conversations with local residents.
"What better
place than Ireland for a class that
includes Creativity, Wonder and Beauty amid Mythical
Landscapes where stories dwell?" |
Pictured here is Inch
Abbey which is located in County Down, Northern Ireland,
just a short drive from our Fantasy Week location.
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Why Ireland?
Because since 2015 we have been
fortunate to have as one of the Fantasy Week students
in Jordan, Minnesota, USA, Fr. John Friel, from Crossgar, County Down, Northern
Ireland. He found out about Maureen's work through Maureen's series
of Sister Folk Collectibles that were carried in the gift shop at
Tobar Mhuire Retreat and Conference Center in Crossgar. He contacted
her to see if she taught classes, and thus began a unique and
wonderful collaboration and adventure.
A
Bit of History about Fantasy Week
For the past 23 years, Maureen has conducted one or more Fantasy
Week classes, mostly in Jordan, MN USA. These weeks were built
around the freedom for each student to choose a polymer clay
technique or theme on which to concentrate. Because there were
always a variety of pieces being created, with lively chatter
between participants, there were more opportunites for shared
learning and inspiration than in a traditional class. Maureen's task was
always to
coordinate the demos and lessons in order to help each student reach
their individual goal.
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In 2017, at the invitation of
John Friel, Fantasy Week
was held in Crossgar, County Down, Northern Ireland, at
Tobar Mhuire Retreat and Conference Center.
Now we
are joyfully returning there again in 2026.
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Pictured below is Mary's Well, an
ancient well located near
the walking path through the
woods at Tobar Mhuire
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Tobar Mhuire is a Sacred Space in the
Heart of County Down, in Crossgar, Northern Ireland. It is of the
Catholic Passionist Christian tradition. It is welcoming to people
of all faiths and walks of life.
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What is Included in
the
8-Day Experience
Fantasy Week in Ireland 2026
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-
7-day Fantasy Week
with Maureen and a Circle of Creatives
- 1 Day for
travel through the Irish countryside for arrival and departure
from Tobar Mhuire/Crossgar
- Your Choice
of Class Project A:
Clay Characters with Attitude
Class
Project B:
A Little Clay Book of Words
or
BOTH!
- Freedom to Design
Your Own Project for
the Week with support and encouragement from Maureen and the
Circle of Creatives
- Free Time for Optional Out-and-About
Explorations
Our Own
Private Classroom and Use of Relaxation Space
Open House Saturday: A Time for
celebrating and sharing what was created during the week, with
each other and with the local community. Options for individual
show and tell demonstrations. Kits and instructions for
Make-and-Take-It Polymer Clay Christmas Ornaments.
A Peaceful Retreat Setting for the week,
providing opportunity "for renewal, hope, learning and healing"
Storytime with Maureen...
and others, interspersed throughout the week
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Time To Explore During
the Week: There
will
be unscheduled time during the week for optional
out-and-about excursions. Belfast, the Mourne Mountains,
Inch Abbey, Downpatrick and Carlingford are possible places
to visit.
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What is Included in
the
2-Day Experience
Clay
Characters with Attitude
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1. Use of the beautiful facilities and
grounds at Tobar Mhuire.
2. An
exploration of body language and how it might be
expressed through your clay character
creation
3. Guided instruction on using
wire and aluminum foil to create sturdy armatures
that will support your clay character's positioning
4.
Step-by-step instruction, with examples
from Maureen, on sculpting faces that show a variety of
expressions and attitudes
5.
Instruction on a variety of surface design techniques
for finishing your clay character, including the
addition of patterned and textured layers of clay, painting,
mark-making, imprinting and collage
6.
Group brainstorming and how-to demonstrations of
things that might be added to the clay characters to fill
out their stories
7. Monday evening
relaxation time and optional group activities
8. The added benefit of being in a group
of creative makers as they create projects which
might differ from your own but which might inspire new
directions for you
9. Hands-on/Eyes-on
instruction with Maureen who brings with her almost
50 years of experience in using polymer clay to express her
iimagination, her dreams and her prayers
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TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Arrival and Departure
Both FANTASY WEEK and 2-Day CLAY
CHARACTERS WITH ATTITUDE participants:
If you will be registering with
Tobar Mhuire Retreat and Conference
Center for full Lodging and Meals,
you are invited to arrive at Tobar
Mhuire in Crossgar, Northern Ireland,
in the afternoon of Sunday,
September 6, 2026.
Dinner will be served
at 6:00 PM.
There will be no formal class time on Sunday evening,
but there will be time for mingling and getting acquainted,
Class for both the Fantasy Week and the 2-day Class
participants will start at 10:00 AM, Monday morning, Sept.
7.
(Information
for registering with Tobar Mhuire for
Lodging and Meals will be sent after you
have registered with Maureen for the
Class or for Fantasy Week.)
DEPARTURE
for the 2-Day Class Participants:
Class concludes at 5:00 PM on Tuesday,
Sept. 8.
If you have booked lodging at Tobar Mhuire, you
may
ask about extending your stay, though the classroom
will
be open only for FANTASY WEEK participants from
Wednesday,
Sept. 9 through Saturday, Sept. 12.
DEPARTURE
for Fantasy Week Participants:
Departure from Tobar Mhuire is after
breakfast on Sunday, September 13
UNLESS
you are part of the extended
Out-and-About-in-Ireland experience.
More details will come on that following
feedback with participants.
TRAVEL PLANS
When making travel arrangements, if you will be flying
in to Dublin, keep in mind that Tobar
Mhuire in Crossgar is 1
1/2 hours from the Dublin airport.
For
international return flights, it is suggested
that you be at the airport 2 1/2 hours
before your departure time. That's 4
hours at a minimum required for travel and check-in
time.
MAUREEN'S SCHEDULE
(in
case you would like to coordinate times):
Flight leaves Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Saturday,
Sept. 5, at 6:25 PM, to arrive at the Dublin airport at 7:55
AM on Sunday morning, Sept. 6.
Flight back to
Minneapolis departs from the Dublin airport on
Wednesday, Sept. 16 at
12:00 noon.
SHARED TRANSPORTATION in IRELAND:
Depending on the arrival times and number of other
international participants, travel to and from Tobar Mhuire
in Crossgar, Northern Ireland, and the Dublin airport will
be via public bus and/or shared ride vehicles.
Transportation costs/shared ride fees are the responsibility
of
participants and are not included in the class fees.
Maureen will be collecting and sharing travel information
among participants.
ADDITIONAL TRAVEL
SEPTEMBER 13 - 15:
Would
you like to extend travel time after Fantasy Week?
Maureen will send out a survey to registrants to see if
there is interest in several days of optional group travel out and
about through Ireland & Northern Ireland on Sunday, Sept. 13
through Tuesday, Sept. 15.
DUBLIN and DEPARTURE:
Maureen plans to spend the last
night, Tuesday, Sept. 15, in Dublin to have closer proximity to the
airport for her September 16, 12:00 noon, departure flight.
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Lodging and Meals at
Tobar Mhuire Retreat and Conference Center
LODGING AND MEALS is a separate registration made through
Tobar Mhuire. Info on this will be sent to participants
following their Fantasy Week registration.
There are several options for lodging
and meals. Full room and board, including breakfast,
lunch, and dinner, along with a variety of tea time breaks,
is anticipated to be 100 GBP per night/$134.00 USD
TRAVEL COMPANIONS
who will not be taking
either the class or the Fantasy Week experience, but who
wish to be on site, may register with Tobar Mhuire for
lodging and meals.
The exchange rate
quote above is as of March 6, 2026. Exchange rate may vary
depending on the date applied.
Tobar Mhuire Retreat
and Conference Center
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EXCHANGE RATES
Crossgar is located in Northern Ireland, which is part of
the United Kingdom and which uses pounds or GBP as the unit
of currency.
If you arrive via the Dublin airport you will also be traveling in the
Republic of Ireland, which uses the Euro.
Exchange rates
as of early
March, 2026:
1 USD (US Dollar) = .861 EUR (Euro/currency
in Ireland)
1 USD (US Dollar) = .749 GBP (British
Pound Sterling/currrency/Northern Ireland)
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REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES
To access registration form, scroll down
through detail
info or click button, below:
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Fee for the 8-day Class
Fantasy Week in Ireland 2026
447 GBP/$600 USD
per person
Fee for the
2-day Clay Characters
with Attitude
Class
without Fantasy Week
186 GBP/$250 USD
NOTE:
The exchange rates quoted above are as of March 6,
2026. Exchange rate may vary depending on the date applied.
LODGING AND MEALS is a separate
registration made through Tobar Mhuire. Info on this will be
sent to participants following their 2-Day Class
registration.
TRAVEL
AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES
are the responsibility of
attendees.
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Registration
Details
A DEPOSIT is REQUIRED AT REGISTRATION to HOLD YOUR
SPACE.
1.
For Fantasy Week full participants, a $100.00
USD confirmation deposit
(non-refundable) is required.
2. For the 2-day Class, Clay Characters with
Attitude, a $25.00 USD deposit (non-refundable) is required.
Remainder is due
July 15, 2026
NOTE:
Lodging and Meals will be a separate registration
with Tobar Mhuire.
MAXIMUM NUMBER of PARTICIPANTS
2-Day Class: 15
The Full Fantasy Week
experience: 20
PAYMENTS:
Once you've registered, Maureen will send out an email form
for you to fill out. Included will be questions relating to
the logistics of how, when, where, options, wishes,
imaginings, etc.
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CANCELLATIONS
If either the 2-Day Class or Fantasy Week is
canceled
due to unforseen circumstances, class deposits will be
returned without penalty.
If you cancel:
Before August 1, 2026: Deposits will be refunded minus the initial $100
or $25.00 deposit plus an additional 10% office expense.
After August 1, 2026:
There
is no refund of fees paid if cancellation is given after
August 1, 2026, except for illness or family emergency.
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REGISTRATION
FORM
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