Testimonials for Design Course
"This course was much more than building design, it is how to create a home around your lifestyle. I asked a couple of people to do it with me. They didn't. I really feel they missed out. I loved being in the family home. It made the experience even nicer."
Gareth Conlon, Inniskeen, Dundalk, Co. Louth
"This 2 day course is very well thought through and covers all aspecs of design and planning. Encourages you to consider and focus on exactly your needs and requirements. Féile is very knowledgeable about design and materials, and presents information in an objective way. If you want to gain more understanding into your needs in order to shape the design of your home and understand the ingredients to the planning process, this course is for you.."
Tommy Carlin, Ballymore, Co. Westmeath
"Brilliant course and heaps of really honest information and direction. Great to get you thinking about what your house needs to be like to suit your lifestyle - makes your prioritise what is necessary and also to figure out the sequence in which you need to approach your project."
Edel Noone, Rosses Point, Co. Sligo
"You couldn't ask for a better design course. Féile covered an incredible amount of ground in just two days, and managed to get a great balance between providing technical detail and practical insight, and getting us to think imaginatively and creatively about housing design. I've come away with a really solid understanding of the planning permission process, what to look for in a site, a realistic notion of budgeting, a greater understanding of my own housing desires and requirements, and some great ways to think about design challenges. I also came away feeling really inspired having spent two days in the beautiful Mud & Wood house, and hearing about the rest of the group's building projects."
Puck, Dublin
"Very important things covered on this course ... planning and costs very interesting. Thanks Féile. "
Giulia Canevari, Dublin
"Excellent course. Really worth the effort of coming for the weekend. A refreshing approach to design."
David Humphreys, Director ACP Group, Limerick
"A really good intro to design. It reminds you to think without contstraints first."
Nadia, Sligo
"I would highly recommend this course for anyone wishing to buy, build or extend, whether you are a natural builder or not. Fantastic information and teaching. I feel like I have some really tangible tools to start our project now."
Katy Egan, Ballymore, Westmeath
"Before my fiancée and I went on the Mud and Wood Design Course, we "thought" we had a good idea of our house design. By the end of the course we had incorporated the finer details we would have otherwise overlooked. By thinking of those finer details, we will hopefully be able to build a house that accommodates our lifestyle and future needs. Féile is a natural teacher and has a lovely way of taking you through key aspects of design. I would highly recommend this course."
Oisín Cullen, Co. Kildare
"Excellent short course. It will make you think about all the things that you didn't know you needed to know."
Lucy, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
"Come and experience the absolute beauty of Sligo and the warmth of this family. I'm leaving with my head full of ideas. Thanks!"
Joanne, Cork
"I would highly recommend Mud and Wood's Design Course for anyone considering building a house or converting a property. Especially helpful for energy conservation and sustainable living and instructive in utilising the site and natural features and environment. Based in Féile and Colin's own house, which is a wonderful creation of natural materials and shapes, and an inspiration for anyone who would like to break away from the rectilinear straight-jacket of traditional design."
Tadhg Fearlaigh, Co. Tyrone
"A wealth of knowledge taught over the weekend. Great inside information on important aspects of building. Hearty curries made by Colin a true treat. Thanks folks - highly recommend this course."
Terry Rooney, Sligo
"Féile and Colin were very warm and welcoming and very generous with their time. Very informative, fun course. Would recommend it. Great food! Thanks for sharing your home.
Bernie, Dingle, Co. Kerry
"This was a highly enjoyable, very informative and inspiring course. I really appreciated the generosity of the attention given to all course participants - and very informative learning from others' questions also. For us, this seems liked the perfect foundation to springboard our thinking processes for our building project."
Ciara, Dublin
"Great course, full of information to start you on your building journey."
Ollie Smyth, Enfield, Co. Meath
"Totally enjoyable experience - I thought my partner was more suited to come - so nice to get such precise information. Delivered by Féile, it couldn't have been better - a very informative weekend. I got so much out of it, especially the model making. Colin's food was delicious. They definitely run a fab course."
Kathy Dunn, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal
"The course was a really good way of opening my eyes to simple things that I may not have considered when designing our home. I found it very informative and Féile was very knowledgeable. The house is a home and a fabulous example of natural building. The food was amazing too - thanks Colin!!"
Sandra, Sligo
"Mud and Wood courses are fantastic in allowing one to be creative when designing your shelter and dream space. Informative and realistic, I would recommend this course to anyone thinking of building for the first time. Thanks to Féile and Colin for allowing us into their beautiful home."
Joanna Sweeney, Sligo
"All of my initial ideas before the course went out the window and were replaced with more practical and functional ideas. Filled with a wealth of knowledge, you will be able to face the planner."
Jai Pierce, Swinford, Co. Mayo
"I would highly recommend this course for anyone intending to self-build. Loads of relevant information regarding planning, design, budget, administration fees, professional fees, etc. necessary to know in order to avoid surprises. The teaching environment was relaxed and homely, while being highly informative."
Juliana Clarke, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
"If you are thinking of building this is an excellent course to put you in the right direction. Fantastic food for thought - Inspiring."
Claire Samways, Raholp, Co. Down
"It was the right course to push me into the practical considerations of designing our own home."
Roisin, Sligo
"This course really opened my eyes as to the process of designing and building a house. The information is precise, detailed and very well presented. Féile and Colin are very welcoming and warm. The setting is just perfect to inspire!!"
Niamh, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim
"I absolutely loved this course - every detail. My fiancé and I are at the beginning of the complicated business of building a house, and were at a complete loss. After taking this course we feel immensely more prepared to face the process. It was also so refreshing and inspiring to see such an ideal manifestation of eco responsible living. Our main priority is to leave the lightest footprint possible when we build and this course gave us a lot of guidance in that direction. We'll definitely be looking into next years courses! Oh - I should mention how AMAZING the lunches were."
Ruth Rooney, Co. Kildare
"If I had come on this course earlier I could have saved a lot of time and money which I wasted. I now have a greater understanding of options - what to look out for regarding sites and buildings and I have a better feel of what I want and how to be more flexible with my ideas of building, design and considerations for my future."
Simon, Galway
"Very informative. Féile is a great speaker. She is always giving positive vibes and keeping all the class in tune. Colin's meals were beautiful. Really pleased with questions raised in relation to the pros and cons of different building materials in houses"
Damien Daly, Mallow, Co. Cork
"Very good course. Loved it. Will be back."
Angelique Rohan, Sligo
"This was much more than a design course. It made you seriously think about how you live your life. You are given time to reflect and plan how your life may change in the future, adapting your living requirements to meet future needs. Colin and Féile not only teach low impact living but lead by example. Wonderful course, well done!"
Éamonn Price, Sligo
