Health experts visiting Waterford next month for 'Restival'

With the return of the two-day ‘Restival’ wellness festival at Mount Congreve House and Gardens, this May bank holiday weekend, comes a range of visits from international health experts.

The festival will offer two days of escapism with guided yoga classes led by Catherine O’Donoghue, a sound healing session with Tidal Soul Wellness, Pilates classes with Helen O’Donovan, Qigong with Hellen Kang-Griffith, and a workout with Karl Henry.

There will also be guided Shinrin-yoku forest bathing walks and health and wellness talks, including a Wim Hof Method talk with expert Marta Vera.

Award-winning life coach and NLP practitioner Tara Rafter will share transformative strategies for personal growth, whilst Louise Ryan from Sunfleck will explore the calming power of nature and its role in managing daily stress.

Writer, social entrepreneur, and thought leader Sonya Lennon will deliver a special headline talk, offering reflections on living with intention and purpose.

John Lonergan and Caroline Crotty will provide an engaging session on cultivating a positive mental health attitude, while renowned herbalist and founder of Forager, Feebee Foran, will share her expertise in natural skincare and the healing properties of plants.

In the areas of upward-trending wellness, Wim Hof Method expert Marta Vera, will introduce the benefits of cold-water therapy and TedX speaker Dr Mark Rowe will guide immersive forest bathing walks through the gardens.

An expert in health and local to Waterford, Dr. Rowe embraces forest bathing, a practice developed in Japan during the 1980s that has become a cornerstone of preventive healthcare and healing in Japanese medicine.

Dr. Rowe, said: “Spending time in nature can be simply so restorative and relaxing; a tremendous way to destress after a busy day at work. The majestic Mount Congreve Gardens are a forest bathing paradise, surrounded by trees and set on 70 acres on the banks of Waterford’s River Suir.” 

Also taking place this year, Hellen Kang-Griffith will lead a calming and revitalising Qigong demonstration, where participants will be guided through mindful movements, breathwork, and energy flow practices rooted in ancient Chinese tradition.

Tickets for Restival 2025 are available online at www.mountcongreve.com