February 13th saw a momentous occasion here as the Abbess Máire Hickey laid the first brick of the new Monastery.

 

The Benedictine Community is at the heart of Kylemore Abbey since 1920. Their centenary year is being marked with this exciting project.  The 14-month building programme of phase 1 is due to be completed on Dec 4th; 100 years since the arrival of the Sisters to Kylemore.

 

The new Monastery is the most significant milestone of the past century at Kylemore- it is the first female Benedictine monastery to be built in Ireland in over 400 years. Today the community consists of 10 nuns who also welcome long-term monastic quests from abroad- including Britain, the US, Canada, Tongo, Rwanda, India, China, Europe, and the Ukraine.

 

The Monastery will support new vocations and provide a Guesthouse for lay guests and retreats. The nuns will host day retreats and programs for groups and individuals at the new Monastery, offering simplicity, meditation, and prayer in the inspiring surrounds of Kylemore.  Fr George delivered a blessing and  Mass which was attended by  Kylemore Trust Executive Director Conor Coyne, staff members, and the local community.