The story of how I ended up living in this remote corner of Ireland, right on the edge of the Wild Atlantic, is quite something. It's the culmination of more than half a century of living, learning, loving, losing, adapting and starting over.

I've had everything, and I've had nothing. I've known joy, grief, uncertainty and some incredibly difficult times. I've collected my share of bruises, battle scars, wrinkles, grey hairs and hard-earned wisdom along the way.

And through it all, I became very good at being the strong one. The capable one. The one who kept everything together, coped, smiled, kept going and made everything look okay from the outside.

But behind that facade was a very different story.

When my children began making their own way in the world, and the roles and responsibilities that had defined so much of my life began to shift, I found myself frighteningly lost and uncertain. Vulnerable, exhausted, and far less confident and in control than I'd wanted to admit, even to myself.

I'd spent so many years being who I needed to be that I wasn't even sure who I was anymore. Or whether I'd ever really known.

And a frightening thought kept creeping in: What if I run out of time before I ever find out?

Because underneath it all, that rebellious, curious, adventurous little spark was still very much alive. I definitely wasn't ready to accept that this was all there was. But I had absolutely no idea what to do about it.

I'd read the books. Tried the breathing exercises. Dabbled in meditation (not particularly consistently, I must admit!). But none of it quite hit the nail on the head.

I kept searching, until I realised what I actually needed was guidance. Someone who understood. Someone who'd been there, done that and got the T-shirt.

Admitting that I needed help, even if only to myself, was one of the bravest things I've ever done.

And that's how coaching and mentoring became the unexpected lifeline I didn't even know I needed.

What followed wasn't some magical transformation into a permanently happy woman. It was the beginning of discovering who I was, what I was capable of, and just how much power I had within me to influence, change and shape my own life. Even the tiniest changes could have an extraordinary ripple effect.

I'm still living a real human life, with difficult days, wonderful days, uncertainty, growth, challenges, ups and downs, and everything in between. That's life. But now I know I have far more say in how I experience it.

And that discovery became my passion, eventually leading me to build my own online empowerment mentoring practice for women.

All the while, I was fortunate enough to be living in this extraordinary place that time sometimes seems to have forgotten, right on the edge of the Wild Atlantic.

The wild winds, the simplicity, the people, the beauty of nature and a different sense of time. Without even realising it, these surroundings became fertile ground for my own growth and discovery.

What if I could bring women here to experience some of this magic for themselves, alongside the empowerment work I do? To give them the opportunity to experience what I'd been fortunate enough to discover in this remarkable place?

To create five days filled with wonderful experiences, laughter, adventure, simple pleasures and time to just be. But also the opportunity to discover something about themselves, gain a fresh perspective, and take home more than incredible memories — a few practical tools, new possibilities and the confidence to start making small changes that could make a real difference in their everyday lives.

And THAT’S how The Wild Atlantic Escape Retreat Experience came to be…!