[6] In November–December 1997 she searched with her daughter, and, after a hint from an academic writer friend, Claudia Harris, in December 1997[1] purchased a property in the small and remote village of Eyeries, on the West Cork part of the Beara Peninsula.
[8] Over the more than twenty years, over 1,000 creative guests - writers, composers, choreographers, visual artists -[4] have visited, leaving more than 500 works on the shelves and walls in the common areas of the house.
[4][9] Prospective guests are asked to send a summary of their proposed project,[9] but even beginning writers and artists are welcome, in contrast to some more formal retreat centres, which target, for example, a track record of published or displayed work.
[14] Aside from endorsements by guests, listed as a top five retreat by Canada's Globe and Mail,[1] as well as in articles in the Irish Times, and magazines in England and Wales.
[1] As a private establishment, the retreat does not publish data on guests but some who have commented on their experiences include Nessa O'Mahony, former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins,[15][16] Alex Barclay,[17] Man Booker Award finalist Jhumpa Lahiri,[7] celebrity chef Gerry Galvin, Bernard O'Donoghue, Leanne O'Sullivan,[7] Sassa Buregren, Ulf Lindström and Réaltán Ní Leannáin.