Singing Retreats & Singing Mamas Groups
Women’s Wellbeing in West Cork
‘‘Nurturing yourself is not selfish – it’s essential to your survival and your wellbeing’’ (Renee Peterson Trudeau)
Weekly Singing Mama classes
Join one of our weekly classes to meet other mums and women in the local community
Singing Mamas – Voice & Wellbeing for Women
Singing Mamas is a national non-profit operating across the UK and Ireland. It is a grassroots movement of women — including mamas, nurses, doctors, midwives, musicians, teachers, and community workers — all committed to improving wellbeing through singing.
Why Sing?
- Boost Happiness: Singing releases ‘happy hormones’ and acts as a natural anti-depressant.
- Reduce Stress: Gentle songs soothe your nervous system.
- Find Connection: Tune into yourself while connecting with other women in a supportive community.
What to Expect in a Session
Our sessions are all about making you feel good. There are no auditions, solos, or music-reading required. Songs are taught line by line by ear, with the group echoing back until everyone knows it. We may add simple harmonies along the way.
We welcome women of all ages, whether or not you have children. Sessions provide a chance to connect with other women, share experiences, and be part of a supportive community — especially valuable for new mums and those who may feel isolated in rural areas.
Our Groups
- Dunmanway Family Resource Centre, Co. Cork: Mondays 10:30–12:00
- Deviyoga Studio, Ballydehob, Co. Cork: Wednesdays 11:00–12:30
To enquire about joining, click the button below.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘‘Tara’s weekly singing mama sessions offer me a space where I can show up exactly as I am, whatever mood I am, no matter how exhausted I might feel, I always come away feeling brighter and more connected’’ Saraswati Hancock, Ballydehob
Singing retreats
Women’s retreat day to nourish your Mind, Body and Soul.
Do you ever long for a space to pause, breathe, and truly come home to yourself?
I’m so excited to invite you to Soul Rooted: Forest Bathing & Song, a unique retreat I’ll be co-hosting with Lisa Curran from Glengariff Forest Therapy in the heart of West Cork.
Come and celebrate the changing of the seasons in the forest!
This special day combines:
Guided Forest Bathing – awaken your senses, calm your nervous system, and reconnect with the land
Sacred Singing Circle – release your voice in a safe, supportive space and experience the healing power of song
Tea & Reflection Circle – share insights and integrate your experience with nourishing herbal tea
Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply craving time in nature, this retreat will leave you feeling grounded, uplifted, and deeply nourished.
✨ Event Details:
📍 Location: Glengarriff
📅 Date: 20th September 2026
🕙 Time: 11-4
💰 Investment: 60 euro ( please note a non-refundable deposit of 25 euro will be required to secure your space)
Women of all ages and stages of life are welcome!
Relax your body, free your voice, and uplift your spirit—no singing experience needed!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A wonderful day spent in nature- and connecting with other women’ Sarah from Cork
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘ I felt so revitalized and relaxed after spending the day with Lisa and Tara in the forest’ Lorna, Waterford
What to Expect:
🎶 Singing taught by ear—simple, beautiful harmonies that anyone can join in.
🌿 A tranquil forest bathing session to breathe, unwind, and reconnect with yourself and nature.
✨ Group singing to uplift your spirit, improve connection, and boost wellbeing.
🥗 Tea and snacks included
Meet Your Guides
Tara Mestre
With over a decade of experience teaching yoga, especially focused on women’s wellbeing, I am passionate about creating nurturing spaces where movement and voice bring deep healing and joy. Singing has been part of my life for over two decades, and over the last year, I have run local Singing for Wellbeing groups and mini retreat days, bringing the joy of communal singing to my community.
I hold three diplomas in yoga, along with qualifications in reflexology and aromatherapy, and I am a certified Singing Leader with Singing Mamas UK a national non-profit set up by nurse Kate Valentine to improve women's wellbeing.
My retreats are designed to help you feel lighter, more connected, and completely at ease—whether you're new to singing or simply want to experience the power of voice and movement in a supportive, uplifting space.
Lisa Curran
Lisa Curran is the creator of Glengarriff Forest Therapy. She has always had a deep connection and love for nature. With a background as a Yoga and Shamanic Practitioner, she has a passion for health, wellbeing and the land.
Nature has always been her sanctuary and greatest teacher. Since moving to Glengarriff in 2017 she has been immersed in her work with the forest.
Having experienced the incredible benefits of forest bathing herself, Lisa decided to train with the Forest Therapy Institute. She completed a six month course and is qualified as a Forest Bathing Guide and Forest Therapist.
Lisa holds monthly Forest Bathing walks in Glengarriff Nature Reserve and is the resident Forest Therapist for the luxurious Glengarriff Lodge, where she also holds Forest Bathing and and Forest Therapy Retreats.
Lisa is available for private groups and one to one sessions in West Cork and beyond. Her wish is to share this wonderful practise with as many people as possible, as the forest helps us to remember our place in the web of life and our connection to it, at a time when it’s needed most.
