Sketch Ireland Dublin-Galway
with Meagan Burns Sept 2027
Experience Begins:
Monday, August 30, 2027
in Dublin, Ireland
Travel to Galway
Friday, September 3, 2027
Depart from Galway:
Tuesday, September 7, 2027
Sketch Dublin and Galway, from city streets to the Wild Atlantic Way
Join Meagan Burns for a nine-day hosted sketch experience through Dublin and Galway, created for artists who want to experience Ireland through drawing rather than simply pass through it as tourists.
We'll sketch our way through Dublin's streets, museums, pubs and historic places before traveling west by train to Galway and the Atlantic coast. Drawing exercises will connect directly to the places we're visiting, while local history, mythology, literature, traditional music, food and printmaking become part of what fills our sketchbooks.
With a small group of artists, we'll travel locally, draw on location, eat in neighborhood places and experience Ireland one drawing at a time.
Why Sketch Ireland?
Ireland has stories to tell. History, mythology, literature, music and everyday life remain visible in the places we'll visit, giving us much more to draw than beautiful scenery.
We'll experience two very different sides of Ireland, from the streets of Dublin to Galway and the Wild Atlantic Way. Along the way, local guides, artists and cultural experiences will introduce us to the stories behind the places we're drawing.
I'll take care of the planning, logistics and daily flow so you can concentrate on experiencing Ireland and recording your own version of it in your sketchbook.
What You’ll Experience
Nine days of sketching and exploring Dublin, Galway and Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way with a small group of fellow artists
Daily drawing exercises created around the places we'll visit, preparing us to draw the architecture, people, streets and landscapes we encounter
A Dublin mythology walking tour, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, the National Gallery of Ireland and the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl
Historic Irish pubs, traditional music and local food in Dublin and Galway
A train journey west across Ireland from Dublin to Galway, plus local transportation throughout the experience
A full-day ferry journey across Galway Bay to Inis Mór, followed by the Cliffs of Moher from the water on our return
A half-day at a Galway art studio creating a drypoint print and working in our sketchbooks
A welcome dinner in Dublin and closing dinner in Galway
All scheduled activities, tours, transportation, entrance fees and group experiences
Sketch Ireland Agenda
Monday, August 30 | Welcome to Dublin
We'll gather at Motel One Dublin in the afternoon to meet the group and create our handmade sketchbooks. That evening, we'll begin our Ireland experience with a welcome dinner. Participants are encouraged to arrive in Dublin a day or two early. (Sketchbook materials and welcome dinner included.)
Tuesday, August 31 | Dublin Mythology, Sketching & Trad Music
We'll begin with drawing exercises created around the places we'll encounter that day, followed by a mythology walking tour through Dublin. After sketching and lunch, we'll return to the hotel for a break before heading to a historic Dublin pub for dinner and traditional Irish music. (Mythology tour included.)
Wednesday, September 1 | Trinity College, Book of Kells & Literary Dublin
Our morning drawing session prepares us for Trinity College, including the Book of Kells and historic library. We'll sketch and have lunch before returning to the hotel, then head out again for the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl and dinner. (Trinity College and Book of Kells admission and Literary Pub Crawl included.)
Thursday, September 2 | Irish Art & St Stephen's Green
We'll begin with morning drawing exercises before visiting the National Gallery of Ireland and St Stephen's Green for a day of art, sketching and exploring central Dublin. After lunch, we'll make our way through the city before gathering for dinner.
Friday, September 3 | Dublin to Galway
After check-out, private transportation will take us and our luggage to Dublin Heuston Station for our journey west by train to Galway. After checking into The Snug Townhouse, we'll gather for lunch and spend our first afternoon getting acquainted with Galway through our sketchbooks, followed by dinner and traditional Irish music. (Transportation to the station and train to Galway included.)
Saturday, September 4 | Inis Mór & the Cliffs of Moher
We'll sail across Galway Bay to Inis Mór, where we'll encounter the island's stone walls, villages, ruins and Atlantic landscape through our sketchbooks. On our return journey, we'll see the Cliffs of Moher from the water before returning to Galway for dinner. (Round-trip ferry and Cliffs of Moher cruise included.)
Sunday, September 5 | A Day in Galway
Sunday belongs to Galway. We'll gather for brunch before spending the day sketching the city's streets, waterfront and everyday life while discovering more of its history, food and pub culture. We'll gather again that evening for dinner and drinks.
Monday, September 6 | Printmaking, Sketchbooks & Farewell
We'll spend half the day at a local Galway art studio for a drypoint printmaking session, creating our own prints and working in our sketchbooks. That evening, we'll gather for our closing dinner before ending our final night together with traditional Irish music. (Printmaking session and closing dinner included.)
Tuesday, September 7 | Goodbyes
We'll gather for breakfast and goodbyes before everyone begins their journey home or continues their travels in Ireland.
What’s Included
Nine days of hosted sketch activities and drawing instruction
Handmade sketchbook-making session and materials
Welcome dinner in Dublin and closing dinner in Galway
Dublin mythology walking tour
Trinity College, Book of Kells and Library tour
Dublin Literary Pub Crawl
Scheduled museum and cultural admissions
Local group transportation in Dublin
Private luggage transportation to Dublin Heuston Station
Train transportation from Dublin to Galway
Round-trip Inis Mór ferry excursion and Cliffs of Moher cruise
Half-day drypoint printmaking session at a Galway art studio
Scheduled traditional Irish music experiences
What’s Not Included
Airfare and transportation to and from Ireland
Accommodations in Dublin and Galway
Meals and beverages not specifically listed as included
Transportation outside scheduled group activities
Personal art supplies
Alcohol, shopping and personal expenses
Tips and gratuities
Payment processing fees
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is required for participation.
Hotel Accommodations
Accommodations are not included. Each participant will confirm their room with Meagan and pay for their own lodging.
In Dublin, our home base will be a centrally located hotel near the River Liffey and Ha'penny Bridge. We'll stay for four nights, Monday, August 30 through Friday, September 3.
In Galway, our home base is currently planned for a centrally located hotel within easy walking distance of Galway's historic center and Latin Quarter. We'll stay for four nights, Friday, September 3 through Tuesday, September 7.
Estimated Hotel Costs
Dublin: approximately €169 per night, single occupancy, for four nights. Optional breakfast is €18 per day.
Galway: approximately €231.50 per night, single occupancy, for four nights, including breakfast.
Hotel rates are not included in the experience fee and are subject to final confirmation. Group rates and booking instructions will be provided to registered participants.
Transportation
Dublin Airport (DUB) is the most convenient airport for the experience. Taxis and buses are readily available from the airport into central Dublin.
Participants are encouraged to arrive in Dublin one or two days before our experience begins on Monday, August 30.
Scheduled group transportation during the experience is included, including local transportation in Dublin, private transportation with luggage to Dublin Heuston Station, train travel from Dublin to Galway and our ferry excursion to Inis Mór and the Cliffs of Moher.
Our experience ends in Galway on Tuesday, September 7. Participants may return to Dublin for onward travel or continue their travels independently in Ireland.
Travel insurance is required for this experience.
Experience Fee
Sketch Ireland Dublin-Galway Experience with Meagan Burns
August 30 to September 7, 2027
Experience Fee: $2,400 USD
The experience fee includes nine days of hosted sketch activities with Meagan Burns, scheduled tours and cultural experiences, group transportation during the experience, train travel from Dublin to Galway, the Inis Mór and Cliffs of Moher ferry excursion, drypoint printmaking session, handmade sketchbook materials and the meals listed under What's Included.
Not included: airfare and travel to and from Ireland, accommodations, travel insurance, meals not specifically listed as included, personal art supplies and personal expenses.
Payment Schedule
To reserve your place, a $100 USD deposit is required.
$100 to hold your space (fully refundable until January 15, 2027)
$1,150 second payment due March 15, 2027
$1,150 final balance due July 15, 2027
Register
Sketch Ireland Dublin-Galway Experience with Meagan Burns
Recommended Arrival: Saturday, August 28 or Sunday, August 29, 2027
Experience Begins Monday, August 30
Experience Ends Tuesday, September 7
Experience Fee: $2,400 USD
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be made in writing and are effective upon receipt.
A $100 USD deposit is required to reserve your place in the Sketch Ireland Dublin-Galway Experience. The deposit is fully refundable through January 15, 2027. Beginning January 16, 2027, the deposit becomes non-refundable.
A second payment of $1,150 USD is due March 15, 2027. The final payment of $1,150 USD is due July 15, 2027.
Beginning January 16, 2027, all payments are non-refundable unless your place is filled by another paying participant. If a waiting list exists, we will do our best to fill your place, but a replacement cannot be guaranteed.
If your place is successfully filled, payments made toward the experience fee will be refunded, less any non-refundable expenses or fees already paid on your behalf.
Participant expenses outside the experience fee, including airfare, accommodations, meals, travel insurance, and other personal travel expenses, are not the responsibility of Art Leap Adventures.
If the Sketch Ireland Experience is cancelled by Art Leap Adventures, all experience fees paid to Art Leap Adventures will be refunded. Art Leap Adventures is not responsible for reimbursement of airfare, accommodations, or other travel expenses.
Travel insurance with strong medical and trip cancellation coverage is required. Cancel for Any Reason coverage is strongly recommended.
Art Supplies
Canson XL watercolor paper, 140 lb, 9" x 12" (I also experiment with other sketchbooks, but I tend to use larger sizes)
Sailor Fude de Mannen fountain pen (or similar)
Uni-Ball Impact Bold 207
Staedtler Fine Liners
INDArt saturated watercolor inks
Quality watercolors in a travel pan set (Daniel Smith)
Quality watercolor brushes
Pentel brush pens
Platinum Carbon Ink (for fountain pen and brush pen use)
Sun hat and sturdy walking shoes
Pencil, gum eraser, salt, scrapers, bleed-proof white, water bottle, paper towel
Tiny stool for sitting (completely optional). I use the Cooseon 10" folding stool, which folds up nicely and fits in my backpack, but others prefer the Walkstool Comfort.
Bring any additional art supplies you prefer.
Participation in the sketching sessions is required.
I’m your host, Meagan Burns
Ireland has stories to tell. Its history, mythology, literature, music, landscapes and everyday life give us an extraordinary place to experience through our sketchbooks.
I traveled through Ireland to explore the possibilities for this experience, spending time in Dublin and Galway, riding the buses and trains, visiting museums and historic places, listening to traditional music, exploring Inis Mór and drawing along the way. This experience grew out of what I discovered there and what I wanted more of.
I'll lead our small group throughout the nine days, with drawing exercises designed around the places we're visiting and instruction woven into our days. I'll take care of the itinerary and logistics while we travel locally, sketch on location, learn from local guides and artists, share meals, listen to music and experience Ireland beyond its famous sights.
I'd love to draw Ireland with you.
