The Tyrone Guthrie Centre is a centre for creative artists at Annaghmakerrig, Newbliss

Newbliss

Newbliss , historically known as Lisdaragh , is a village and townland in County Monaghan, Ireland. It is located where the R183 and R189 regional roads intersect...

, County Monaghan

County Monaghan

County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...

, Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

, founded in 1981.

The house was the family home of Tyrone Guthrie

Tyrone Guthrie

Sir William Tyrone Guthrie was an English theatrical director instrumental in the founding of the Stratford Festival of Canada, the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, at his family's home, Annaghmakerrig, in County Monaghan, Ireland.-Life and career:Guthrie...

, and it was his will that it be used as a retreat. His will read that he would leave:

...my said dwelling-house, furniture, pictures and chattels and the income of my residuary estate to be used for the purpose of providing a retreat for artists and other like persons ... so as to enable them to do or facilitate them in doing creative work.

The house has since hosted people such as Loreena Mckennitt

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, CM, OM, is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. McKennitt is known for her refined, clear soprano vocals...

, Oonagh Kearney, Derval Symes

Derval Symes

Derval Symes is an Irish artist. Her work is mainly abstract, using oil paint and other mixed media, although there is a strong landscape element to her work....

, Page Allen, Roisin Meaney, Anne Rigney

Anne Rigney

Anne Rigney, formerly Anne Rigney Lally, is an Irish artist and sculptor. Her work is mainly abstract, using oil paint, watercolour, acrylic paint and found objects.She is a graduate of Athlone Institute of Technology, where she studied art and design...

, Gemma Browne, Colette Bryce

Colette Bryce

Colette Bryce is a critically acclaimed poet from Derry, Northern Ireland. Bryce lived in London until 2002 when she moved to Scotland, followed by a move to the North East of England in 2005...

, Phil Coulter

Phil Coulter

Phil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...

, Brian Kennedy

Brian Kennedy (singer)

Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter and author, known for his ballads, and has represented Ireland at Eurovision 2006. He is the younger brother of musician Bap Kennedy.-Personal life:...

 and Peter McCann

Peter McCann

Peter McCann is an American singer and songwriter, who later resided in Nashville, Tennessee. As a staff writer with ABC Music he wrote the song "Right Time of the Night", which was a Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit for Jennifer Warnes in May 1977...

.

The first Director was Bernard Loughlin [1981-1999], succeeded by Sheila Pratschke [1999-2007], Pat Donlon [2007-2010] and now Robbie McDonald [since 2010].

The centre is a residential workplace open to professional practitioners in all art forms. Creative residencies (or artistic retreats ) are for maximum periods of three months in the Big House and six months in the Farmyard Cottages.

In a tranquil, beautiful setting amid the lakes and drumlins of County Monaghan, everything the eye can see is private in the gated 500 acres (2 km²) fully wooded estate. In the 'Big House' (as it is affectionately known) everything is provided for, including delicious food much of which comes from their own organic gardens. The dinner each evening at 7 is always a buzz of chat and discussion that is a welcome interruption to the strong creative work vibe that surrounds the centre. Each bedroom includes, writing desk and a chair and has its own charm and character with a selection of books, paintings and a view. Ten of the rooms have en-suite bathrooms and most have fireplaces. Linen and towels are provided.

Up to seven can stay in the 5 self-catering cottages all of which have a small easily lit stove to supplement the comfort and warmth Eight well light warm studio spaces are also available along with a performance/dance space opened in 2006.