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.
News & Gospel Reflections
Events
International Communion of Benedictine Women Meets in Rome
The Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum International Communion of Benedictine Women gathered for a symposium at the Collegio Sant ’ Anselmo in Rome Italy in September 2026 attended by Mother Karol O…
Gospel Reflection for the Twenty Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
Lord is kind and merciful slow to anger and rich in compassion Psalm 102 Matthew ’ s Gospel today gives us Jesus ’ seminal teaching on forgiveness and arguably one…
Gospel Reflection for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts Psalm 94 Today ’ s Gospel features Jesus ’ instruction on fraternal correction something we shrink from in our usual…
“Monastic for a Week” Opens Doors to Benedictine Life
Have you ever wondered what it ’ s like to live in a monastery From August 24-30 nine women had that opportunity as part of the “ Monastic for a…
Gospel Reflection for the Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
My soul is thirsting for you O Lord my God Psalm 62 Today ’ s Gospel is a very sad and serious one Our reaction like Peter ’ s may…
Gospel Reflection for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Lord your love is eternal do not forsake the work of your hands Psalm 138 In the Gospel today Jesus confers the keys of the kingdom of heaven upon Peter…
Gospel Reflection for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
O God let all the nations praise you Psalm 66 All the readings this Sunday illustrate a common theme God ’ s universal love for his creatures beyond the confines…
Gospel Reflection for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Lord let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation Psalm 84 This Gospel of Jesus walking on the storm-tossed waters of the Sea of Galilee describes those times…
Gospel Reflection for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
The hand of the Lord feeds us he answers all our needs Psalm 144 Today ’ s readings describe God ’ s gracious merciful love but none more so than…
We Await in Joyful Hope – Retreat for Priests in Preparation for the Advent Season
16th Nov 2026
– 21st Nov 2026
This retreat will serve to prepare priests for the upcoming Advent Season by focusing on the theme of hope as…
Female Mystics as Agents of Social Change – Silent Retreat for Women
21st Sep 2026
– 28th Sep 2026
This retreat will focus on the role of several female mystics who were catalysts of social change during their lifetimes…
Day Retreat: Our Lady of the Rosary
10th Oct 2026
10:30 am
In honour of Our Lady of the Rosary join Sister Genevieve Harrington OSB for this day retreat In addition to…
Advent Retreat 2026
4th Dec 2026
– 6th Dec 2026
Come away and rest awhile as you take time to prepare the way of the Lord with an Advent retreat…
News & Gospel Reflections
International Communion of Benedictine Women Meets in Rome
The Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum International Communion of Benedictine Women gathered for a symposium at the Collegio Sant ’ Anselmo in Rome Italy in September 2026 attended by Mother Karol O…
Gospel Reflection for the Twenty Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
Lord is kind and merciful slow to anger and rich in compassion Psalm 102 Matthew ’ s Gospel today gives us Jesus ’ seminal teaching on forgiveness and arguably one…
Gospel Reflection for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts Psalm 94 Today ’ s Gospel features Jesus ’ instruction on fraternal correction something we shrink from in our usual…
“Monastic for a Week” Opens Doors to Benedictine Life
Have you ever wondered what it ’ s like to live in a monastery From August 24-30 nine women had that opportunity as part of the “ Monastic for a…
Gospel Reflection for the Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
My soul is thirsting for you O Lord my God Psalm 62 Today ’ s Gospel is a very sad and serious one Our reaction like Peter ’ s may…
Gospel Reflection for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Lord your love is eternal do not forsake the work of your hands Psalm 138 In the Gospel today Jesus confers the keys of the kingdom of heaven upon Peter…
Gospel Reflection for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
O God let all the nations praise you Psalm 66 All the readings this Sunday illustrate a common theme God ’ s universal love for his creatures beyond the confines…
Gospel Reflection for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Lord let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation Psalm 84 This Gospel of Jesus walking on the storm-tossed waters of the Sea of Galilee describes those times…
Gospel Reflection for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
The hand of the Lord feeds us he answers all our needs Psalm 144 Today ’ s readings describe God ’ s gracious merciful love but none more so than…
Events
Day Retreat: Celebrating the Vigil of Pentecost
23rd May 2026
10:30 am
– 3:30 pm
Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful and instill in them the fire of your love – Novena to the Holy Spirit In addition to reflections and discussions…
Centering Prayer Introductory Retreat – FULLY BOOKED!
15th August 2025
– 17th August 2025
In 1984 a Trappist Monk Father Thomas Keating OCSO founded Contemplative Outreach an organization dedicated to sharing the fruits of contemplative prayer Centering Prayer is a method of prayer that…
Day Retreat: Saints Joachim and Anne
26th July 2025
10:30 am
– 3:30 pm
Join Sister Genevieve Harrington OSB and Father Boniface Hill OSB for this Day Retreat honouring Saints Joachim and Anne parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary In addition to reflections and…
Day Retreat: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
15th August 2026
10:30 am
– 3:30 pm
Join Sister Genevieve Harrington OSB for this Day Retreat honouring the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary In addition to reflections and discussions there will be an opportunity to join…
Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation Walk
9th July 2025
10:30 am
As part of the St Benedict Week celebration join in a Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation Walk on the Kylemore Abbey grounds The pilgrimage will begin at the monastery near…
Feast of St. Benedict
11th July 2025
12:15 pm
As part of the St. Benedict Week celebration, there will be a special Mass in the monastery church to celebrate the founder of the Benedictine Order.
The Book of Kells and the Myth of Monastic Perfection
6th July 2025
4:00 pm
As part of the St Benedict Week celebration Brother Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB a monk of Glenstal Abbey County Limerick will present this talk in the monastery ’ s Great…
Oblate Enquiry Session
12th July 2025
4:00 pm
As part of the St Benedict Week celebration Sister Clare Morley OSB will give a presentation in the monastery ’ s Great Hall on what it means to be a…
Lace Making Demonstrations
5th July 2025
– 13th July 2025
As part of the St Benedict Week celebration Mother Karol and Sister Jiby will be presenting demonstrations of the traditional art of lace making in the monastery ’ s Great…
