Welcome to the Benedictine Monastery
Kylemore Abbey

“You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.””

(Psalm 27,8)

The Benedictine Nuns welcome you to Kylemore Abbey, home to the Irish Dames of Ypres since 1920.

In 1920 a group of Irish Benedictine nuns arrived at Kylemore Castle, Connemara, seeking a new home for their monastic life and mission after the destruction of their home in Ypres, Belgium. For almost one hundred years now, Kylemore has been the place where the community of the “Irish Dames of Ypres” lives its life of “seeking God”, following the call of Jesus in the way laid out by St. Benedict of Nursia in his Rule for Monks written around 500 a.d.

Come and browse in the story of a group of monastic women who have been seeking God in their Benedictine community for over 300 years and are continuing this tradition into the 21st century.

New Kylemore Abbess – Mother Karol O’Connell OSB

Yesterday, November 5th, Kylemore Abbey saw the Blessing of its twentieth Abbess, Mother Karol O’Connell OSB.

Elected to the role on September 25th, 2024, The Archbishop of Tuam, His Grace, Francis Duffy, blessed Mother Karol as part of Mass in the Monastic Church in the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception at Kylemore Abbey.

Kylemore’s Benedictine Community were joined by Abbots and Abbesses from the Benedictine world as well as local clergy, and Mother Karol’s family and friends in celebrating the day. The homily was preached by Bishop Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath.

Speaking on the occasion of the Blessing, Mother Karol O’Connell noted “Today is a day filled with joy and gladness, which leaves me full of hope for the future.”

Raised in Midleton, Co Cork, Mother Karol was educated by the Presentation Sisters and went on to study music in the Liszt Academy, Hungary. She entered the Monastery in 1978 on July 11th, the Feast of St Benedict. Much loved by her many music students over the past four decades, Mother Karol has been community organist, choir mistress, cook, gardener, artist, and has published a series of music literacy books as well as holding the office of Prioress for 16 years.

The Office of Abbess is a twelve-year term and with Prioress, Sr. Jeanne Bott, and the support of the entire Benedictine Community at Kylemore Abbey, Mother Karol hopes to continue the legacy of Kylemore’s nineteen previous Abbesses and to build and grow the Community in a peace-filled and joyful way.