- Samsú locations have reported near-full occupancy throughout the 2026 season
- Guests swap smartphones for notebooks, Polaroid cameras and emergency phones
- Lough Mardal Lodge offers five off-grid yurts with an electronics-free communal roundhouse
- The Chesway Collection has invested €8 million in woodland suites near Cork
- Two-night stays typically start from €425
Off-grid woodland cabins and digital detox retreats have been gaining popularity across Ireland as travellers seek escape from technology burnout
The Samsú collection, founded by former tech worker Rosanna Irwin, has reported near-full occupancy at locations including Cucu cabin on the grounds of Ballinlough Castle in Co Westmeath. Guests exchange smartphones for notebooks, pens, Polaroid cameras and emergency brick phones during two or three-night stays. Operators have noted transformative effects including clearer thinking, deeper conversations and reduced burnout among guests who complete the programme without devices.
Samsú has expanded its platform to accept vetted third-party hosts, while similar offerings have emerged across the country. Lough Mardal Lodge in Donegal provides five off-grid yurts centred on an electronics-free communal roundhouse where guests chat, play board games or read. The Chesway Collection near Cork has invested €8 million in woodland suites on stilts, with guests increasingly leaving phones at reception. Additional options include cabins in Co Waterford, Kinvara in Co Galway and the Stilt House in Co Galway, all designed for analogue downtime amid forests, lakes or the Burren.
Tourism experts have described the shift as part of a movement from simple experiences towards personal transformation. Studies have supported benefits for wellbeing from time in nature and reduced screen use. Prices for two-night stays typically start from €425, with some properties extending to €1080 for three nights. The properties include features including wood-fired outdoor baths, private saunas and fire pits to facilitate forest bathing practices.
Rosanna Irwin shared guests have reported transformative effects after two or three nights without devices, citing clearer thinking, deeper conversations and reduced burnout.
