Author, actress, and philanthropist Christy Cashman will hold YouthINK’s Adult Creative Wellness Retreat at Kilkea Castle, Ireland from February 22-25th.
Established in 2022 by Cashman, the YouthINK Creative Mentorship Program for Teens is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing tuition-free workshops in the creative arts. Under the leadership of Creative Directors Pàdraig J. Dunne and Dr Mary O’Connor, The YouthINK model aims to bring about a holistic transformation in the lives of young participants aged 13-18, their families, and the local community.
YOUthink Creative Wellness Retreats were established to provide a spiritual, creative, and physical oasis for guests and as a means of supporting YouthINK’s teen nonprofit workshops. A portion of the fee of the retreat will be used to help a deserving teen attend one of YouthINK’s creative mentorship workshops.
The featured presenter for the wellness weekend is Mark Kovacs, VP of health & performance for Canyon Ranch Spa. Keith Harkin, an award-winning local Irish musician will also lead a workshop and perform an intimate concert for the guests.
Guests will have the chance to experience multiple wellness activities including yoga & morning meditation, writing/acting workshops, falconry, spa treatments, walking meditation, tennis/golf lessons, storytelling through pottery, breathwork/sound therapy, and wine/cheese tastings by local vendors. There will also be a black-tie ball on the final night.
In 2012, Christy and her husband Jay Cashman purchased Kilkea Castle. Jay Cashman is the founder and CEO of The Cashman Companies, a construction and development company that employs over one thousand people in dredging, marine construction, real estate development, heavy/civil construction among other specialties.
Kilkea was built in 1180, and conveys a timeless sense of luxury. In the 1960s, the castle was sold by the Fitzgerald family and served as a hotel until 2009. After undergoing five years of renovations and restorations, which cost $30-million, Kilkea is reopened to the public and ready to welcome guests from any corner of the world. Located one hour from Dublin and nestled on 180 acres of land, the hotel includes the castle, the carriage rooms, a grand function hall, restaurants and bars, rose-filled gardens and a world-class golf course. A standout of the 11 bedrooms in the castle include the Fitzgerald Suite, which features sweeping views of the grounds. They have also converted their original carriage house and stables into 31 bedrooms, which maintain their original charm in the form of wrought iron and exposed wooden beams.
The decor is a pleasing mix of medieval and modern aesthetics. Some of the luxuries guests can expect during their stay are afternoon tea, meals and gatherings in their grand Dining Room, the roaring fireplace in the Castle Lounge, and, their very own authentic Irish pub, The Keep.
About: Christy Cashman is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, author and actress who has starred in 20 films, including American Hustle, The Forger, Joy, and Ted 2. Christy also authored two children’s books, “The Not So Average Monkey of Kilkea Castle” and “Petri’s Next Things.” Her latest release is a young adult novel titled “The Truth About Horses,” which follows the story of a Fourteen-year-old girl in Birdwood, South Dakota. She and actress Jane Seymour are working together to develop the story into a TV series. She is also the founder of YouthINK, a non-profit that seeks to inspire, empower and support teens, ages 13-18, through creative opportunities and experiences, designed to build confidence, promote self-expression and develop a unique voice.
christycashman.com
Published by: Aly Cinco
