Hospitality & Retreats
For over 300 years, the Benedictine community of the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception expressed its outreach of hospitality primarily through the education of Catholic girls in Ypres and later, at Kylemore. The school’s closure of in 2010 provided an opportunity for the community to reexamine their mission. As a consequence, and with the construction of the new monastery, it is now possible to develop a more holistic style of hospitality for the future.
While a visit to Kylemore Abbey is more than an enjoyable outing, it also presents a unique opportunity for the visitor to relax and consciously attend to what can be experienced:
- a place of stunning natural beauty
- a warm welcome, catering in a simple yet excellent manner to the needs of the visitor;
- a history of the human stewardship of this estate – land-use, architecture, horticulture – balancing respect for the environment and the needs of human beings;
- a beautiful place, demonstrating what can be created and maintained by endeavour, resilience, and optimism of the estate’s owners of the estate and the local people through the vicissitudes of 200 years in Connemara;
- discovering that behind this experience is a faith community, living a life of prayer centred on God the Creator, and an invitation to experience their worship;
- If you have a special intention, or would like the nuns to remember you in their daily prayers, please email pray@kylemoreabbey.ie
RETREATS AT A GLANCE
2026
March 28: Day Retreat – Vigil of Palm Sunday and Holy Week
April 2-5: Easter Triduum Retreat – FULLY BOOKED
April 28-May 6: Contemplative Retreat (in German) – for information/registration, email: Michaela Wachendorfer
May 23: Day Retreat – Vigil of Pentecost
June 1-7: Monastic for a Week – for information/registration, email: sr.jeanne *at* kylemoreabbey.ie
August 15: Day Retreat – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 24-30: Monastic for a Week – for information/registration, email: sr.jeanne *at* kylemoreabbey.ie
October 10: Day Retreat – Our Lady of the Rosary
October 20-28: Contemplative Retreat (in German) – for information/registration, email: Michaela Wachendorfer
December 4-6: Advent Retreat
View all upcoming retreats on our Events page.
TO MAKE A RETREAT
Guests wishing to make a spiritual retreat, alone or in a group, are welcome. Retreatants have full access to the grounds at all times, and can participate in the community’s liturgy gatherings. A member of the community is normally available, if needed, to guide retreatants through the day.
For more information on retreats, contact retreats@kylemoreabbey.ie