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faith · Saturday 22 August 2026 · Various 
The Woman Who Anointed Jesus - Retreat at Ballyvaloo
At Ballyvaloo Retreat and Conference Centre · Ballyvaloo, Blackwater, Co. Wexford
At Ballyvaloo Retreat and Conference Centre · Ballyvaloo, Blackwater, Co. Wexford
Ballyvaloo Retreat and Conference Centre runs a week long directed retreat from Saturday 22 to Friday 28 August 2026, led by Donna Worthington and titled The Woman Who Anointed Jesus. The theme takes one of the gospel’s most argued over scenes, the anointing at Bethany, and works through it over the course of the week. This is a residential retreat in the traditional sense rather than a day of talks: participants stay on site, follow a daily rhythm of prayer, input and silence, and have time set aside for reflection and for walking the coast.
Ballyvaloo sits on the Wexford coast north of Blackwater village, on a stretch of shoreline between Curracloe and Kilmuckridge. The centre has been used for retreats, days of prayer and conferences for years and takes both residential and day groups. The fee of €710 covers the full residential week. Places are limited and the centre’s August programme books out early, so the centre asks people to make an enquiry rather than assume availability.
The wider 2026 programme at Ballyvaloo includes other retreats through the autumn, among them a short Spiritual Rest retreat at the end of October. A full brochure is available from the centre.
Ballyvaloo is on the coast just north of Blackwater village, roughly 20 km north east of Wexford Town and about 20 km east of Enniscorthy. From Wexford Town take the R741 or the coast road through Curracloe and Ballinesker, then follow signs for Blackwater and Ballyvaloo. From the N11 leave at Oilgate or Enniscorthy and cross to Blackwater on the R744. There is parking on site. There is no regular bus to Ballyvaloo itself, so a car or a taxi from Wexford Town or Enniscorthy railway stations is needed.
Heading to Ballyvaloo Retreat and Conference Centre in Blackwater? Wexford has plenty more to see. Read the Blackwater area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.