Picture by Noel SweeneyWe are here together, these 55 women and me, to experience Lesley Giltinan’s Radiance weekend at Castlemartyr Resort, one of a growing number of women’s retreats launching in Ireland and abroad. Picture by Noel SweeneyThere’s laughter and fun — at this stage of the weekend, friendships have been formed. “The team at the hotel asked whether I would be interested in doing a wellness weekend; I said I’d love to do it,” says Giltinan, the woman behind the hugely successful Lean with Lesley fitness app. Living in Australia, and midway through a gruelling year of chemotherapy and radiation, I attended Petra King’s Quest for Life residential retreat. Whether it’s book club or wellness focused retreats like Radiance, what women are really seeking, says Giltinan, is connection and community.

Source: Irish Examiner January 31, 2026 10:00 UTC