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

May 23: Day Retreat – Vigil of Pentecost

June 1-7: Monastic for a Week – for information/registration, email: sr.jeanne *at* kylemoreabbey.ie

June 13: Centering Prayer Day Retreat

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

September 21-28: Female Mystics as Agents of Social Change – Silent Retreat for Women Religious

October 10: Day Retreat – Our Lady of the Rosary

October 20-28: Contemplative Retreat (in German) – for information/registration, email: Michaela Wachendorfer

November 16-21: We Await in Joyful Hope – Retreat for Priests in Preparation for Advent

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 liturgical 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

STAY UP TO DATE ABOUT RETREATS

Would you like to be added to our retreat notification list?

Just fill out this form and grant your consent to be contacted via email, and you’ll receive periodic notifications about upcoming retreats and programs.