Kylemore Abbey and the University of Notre Dame Celebrate a Decade of Partnership
By The Kylemore Abbey Team
Kylemore Abbey and the University of Notre Dame at Kylemore Abbey proudly marked ten years of their partnership with a special presentation from the Benedictine Community of Kylemore to Fr. Robert Dowd, CSC, President of the University of Notre Dame on Thursday 30 July.
The celebration commemorated the first decade of a landmark 30-year agreement between Kylemore Abbey and the US university that established the University of Notre Dame's global campus within the historic St. Joseph's Wing of Kylemore Castle. Since welcoming its first students in 2016, the Centre has become a vibrant hub for academic study, leadership development, research, workshops and international events, fostering meaningful connections between Ireland and the University community.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, the Benedictine Community presented Fr. Dowd with a commemorative gift in recognition of the enduring partnership and the shared vision that has shaped the success of the Kylemore campus over the past ten years.
Reflecting on the milestone, both Kylemore Abbey and the University of Notre Dame reaffirmed their commitment to continuing this unique collaboration, which combines academic excellence, cultural exchange and the Benedictine values of hospitality, community and lifelong learning.
Speaking at the celebration to mark the anniversary, Abbess of Kylemore, Mother Karol O’Connell OSB said: “Since the foundation of our Benedictine Community in Ypres, Belgium in1665, education has been at the heart of our mission. Generations of girls attended our schools and today through our Education and Retreat Centre we continue to make Kylemore a place of learning. Our partnership with University of Notre Dame is another mark of this commitment to education and we look forward to the further flourishing of this partnership.”
Fr. Robert Dowd, President of the University of Notre Dame, highlighted the importance of the relationship between the University and Kylemore Abbey: "We are delighted to mark 10 years of partnership between Notre Dame and the Benedictine Community at Kylemore Abbey. As a global Catholic research university, we are grateful for the ways that the partnership has deepened our connectedness to Ireland and furthered our efforts to educate in ways that build bridges across disciplines, ideas, peoples, and cultures. We are deeply grateful for the vision of Martin and Carmel Naughton and of Mother Máire Hickey OSB who made this unique partnership possible. As we celebrate 10 years, we look forward to the future in a spirit of collaboration and partnership."
Kylemore Abbey will continue to welcome generations of Notre Dame students, scholars and visitors to the unique Connemara estate, as part of this partnership over the next two decades, strengthening its role as a place of learning, reflection and global engagement.