About Us

The Benedictine Nuns of the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception

We are Benedictine nuns: women committed to giving witness to the Gospel of Jesus through the monastic life of prayer, work, and community according to the Rule of St. Benedict in the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, located at Kylemore Abbey in the heart of Connemara, County Galway and within the Archdiocese of Tuam.

Since arriving at Kylemore Castle on 4 December 1920, our community has been anchored in the spiritual, social, educational, and cultural life of Connemara and of Ireland through our monastic life, our mission, and our stewardship of the Kylemore estate.

Our Mission and Vision

Prayer is at the very centre of our life and lived according to the Rule of St. Benedict. As a monastic community, we live according to the Benedictine precept “Ora et Labora” – Pray and Work. In our daily work, we are engaged in running the Kylemore Trust organisation and the monastery: housekeeping, gardening, liturgy, artisanal crafts (making soap, candles, chocolate), teaching music, administration, welcoming guests, as well as interacting with visitors and supporters of the community.

Inspired by the beauty of Kylemore Abbey’s natural setting, and aware of our responsibility towards God’s Creation and future generations, we commit ourselves to a focus on integral ecology, rooted in the percepts of Benedictine spirituality. We strive to develop Kylemore Abbey and its estate in an ecologically sustainable way, enabling visitors to get more deeply in touch with nature and beauty, which speak to them of the loving Creator of the earth and humankind.

Recognising Kylemore Abbey as a special place of heritage, we are dedicated to sustaining the buildings and grounds, and to offer the public the opportunity to visit them. All visitors are also invited to come into contact with Benedictine life, and to experience and take part in our liturgical prayer, by joining us for daily Mass via Webcam or in person at Kylemore’s Monastic Church (restrictions permitting).

All communities of Benedictine women are united into the International Communion of Benedictine Women (CIB), which forms a part of the Benedictine Confederation. The Monastery of the Immaculate Conception at Kylemore Abbey has also been welcomed into the English Benedictine Congregation in 2022

Learn about The Benedictines of Kylemore and the daily lives of the Nuns

Hospitality and labour are central to Benedictine life at Kylemore.

Since 1920 the Nuns have made Kylemore their home, learn about their Vision for the Future