Getting to Mandala House retreat centre

By Road

Mandala House is 12kms (8 miles) from Belturbet in Co. Cavan and 8 miles from Lisnaskea in Co. Fermanagh. We are easy to reach from the cities: you stay on the same road N3 (or M3) all the way up from Dublin to within 5kms of our retreat centre. And from Belfast, you're on the M1 and A4 for 90% of the journey. Both of these two principal cities in Ireland are less than 90 miles (140kms) away.

From Dublin, or the South, take the M3 from Blanchardstown in the direction of Cavan. As you approach Cavan Town, take the third exit at the main roundabout following the signs for Enniskillen and Ballyshannon. After 15 minutes, you pass through the small town of Belturbet and take the second exit at the roundabout towards Enniskillen (You're continuing on the same N3 (M3) road which began in Dublin). Continue on for 8km. Take a right at Teemore Cross. The sign says: Lisnaskea 9 (miles). Continue on this road to it's conclusion, following the signs to Inish Rath Island. (Just before you come to Geaglum jetty there's an Inish Rath 1/4 mile sign). Continue on gravel road towards Inish Rath until you see the sign for Mandala House.

Coming from the North (Derry, Donegal, Omagh) aim for Enniskillen. The road approaching Enniskillen is the A32. In Enniskillen, aim for Dublin on the Sligo Road (A4). A mile out of town centre take first exit or go left at roundabout following signs for Dublin. 10 miles South of Enniskillen you come to Derrylin. On the other side of this one-street village take a left onto the B127 towards Lisnaskea. After 3 miles look for the Inish Rath Island signs from here. The first sign will have you make a right turn off the B127. Continue on gravel road towards Inish Rath until you see the sign for Mandala House.

Coming from the Belfast and the East take the M1 which leads onto the A4 in the direction of Enniskillen. 12 miles before reaching Enniskillen look for the left turn taking you to Lisnaskea. On Lisnaskea Main Street look for the Spar shop and right turn taking you towards Derrylin on the B127 road, which you follow for 3 miles. You cross over a first and then a second bridge. Take next turn left and follow signs to Inish Rath from here. Continue on gravel road towards Inish Rath until you see the sign for Mandala House.

Coming from the West (Sligo) aim for Enniskillen. Before entering the town take a right (or second exit) at the roundabout and aim for Dublin on the A509 (N3). 10 miles South of Enniskillen you come to Derrylin. On the other side of this one-street village take a left onto the B127 towards Lisnaskea. After 3 miles look for the Inish Rath Island signs from here. The first sign will have you make a right turn off the B127. Continue on gravel road towards Inish Rath until you see the sign for Mandala House.

GPS coordinates:

N 54° 11.482' - W 007° 29.409'

By Coach

Large towns close to Inisrath Island are Enniskillen and Cavan Town. A taxi from Cavan will cost approx €35 and a taxi from Enniskillen will cost approx £30 sterling.

Enniskillen and Cavan are 25kms away, but you can get closer to our retreat centre with the national coach services of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. From Dublin take the Donegal line from the main (and only) coach station in Dublin city centre (Busárus). Ask for a ticket to Belturbet. Website: www.buseireann.ie The journey takes about 2hrs 40mins. From Belturbet, you need a taxi: see taxi info below. From Belfast, there are buses every hour from Belfast to Enniskillen. You get off at Maguiresbridge, about 12 miles before Enniskillen. Then, see taxi info below.

By Air

Fly into either Dublin, Belfast and Derry. Each of these cities is a similar distance by road from Inis Rath Island and Mandala House.

If you are not hiring a car then Dublin may be the most convenient airport destination. Nine times a day a Bus Eireann coach (the national operator) goes through the airport and brings passengers to Belturbet (the small town closest to us in the Rep. of Ireland). Ground staff at the airport will assist you to find the location of the bus stop, which is a very short walk from the main exit of the airport building (specifically you want Zone 10, Stop 2, Route 30). You're looking for the bus with 'Donegal' as its end destination. Tickets are €27 Return. The coach at about 1.50pm is the time most convenient for you for arriving for our retreats, in general.

Airlines: Aerlingus.com and Ryanair.com operate into Dublin. Easyjet.com and British Airways operate into Belfast.

Note: in Belfast there are two airports, Belfast City and Belfast International. If you fly into Belfast you'll need to get into the city centre to take a coach from Belfast Europa coach station.

By Ferry and Rail (from GB)

Especially if you live in the vicinity of a ferry port on the Irish Sea, travelling by rail (or coach) and ferry is a fine alternative to travel by air. For example, visitors from Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Wales and the English midlands can access Holyhead in North Wales by rail or coach. Check out Sailrail.co.uk
Once you arrive at Dublin city centre, you're on a coach from the central coach station (Busarus) to get to Mandala House.

Taxi Information

Via Rep of Ireland: Benny Corby, with his family and friends, are the cheerful local taxi service. They can collect you and one or two others from Dublin airport for €160. Or if you arrive on the coach at Belturbet, the car journey to Mandala House near Inish Rath Island costs €15. His phone number is 087 2561243. From outside Ireland this is: 00353 87 2561243.

Via Northern Ireland: If you arrive on a coach from Belfast here are the phone numbers to take you from Maguiresbridge to Mandala House near Inish Rath Island: 028 67722446, 028 67722360, 028 67722220 and 028 67723222. The journey will cost about £11 sterling. (note: These are UK phone numbers)

By Rail (from Dublin or Belfast)

We don't have any trains in our area. The population density is considered too small to have a rail service.  

Image above: This is Tim, a host on your retreat, with a local wild deer. There are deer, swan, hare, badgers, pine marten, herons, red squirrels, foxes and otters all living in the local area within walking distance of Mandala House and Inis Rath Island. Residents and guests have seen all the above animals (early morning is by far the best time for sightings)