Glenstal Abbey of St. Joseph and St. Columba

An abbey in County Limerick

Just outside the small village of Murroe, in County Limerick, in the southwest of Ireland, Glenstal Abbey of St. Joseph and St. Columba occupies a 19th-century neo-Norman castle. Around it stretch some 200 hectares of farmland, forests, lakes, and streams. A community of Benedictine monks lives there according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, between prayer, work, teaching, and hospitality.

"Guests are never lacking in a monastery," writes Saint Benedict. True to this tradition, Glenstal Abbey welcomes individual guests into its guest house who wish to share the rhythm of the monks for a few days. It is not a retreat house in the strict sense, but a living monastery, one you enter quietly to pray, rest, and reflect. A safe and confidential place that respects each person's journey, believer or not.

At Glenstal, the Benedictine monks of Ireland

The story of Glenstal begins with the Barringtons, a family of wealthy landowners who had the castle built in the 1830s. Well regarded by the local population, they left Ireland after the tragic death of their daughter during the Irish War of Independence. The castle was then purchased by a local priest, who invited monks from Maredsous Abbey in Belgium to found a community there. That was in 1927.

Since those modest beginnings, the community has grown considerably. It now includes a recently renovated abbatial church, a well-stocked library, a guest house, beautiful gardens, a farm, and a boarding school for boys. The abbey is part of the Congregation of the Annunciation, formerly known as the "Belgian Congregation," which brings together monasteries in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Belgian monks who came to found a community in the heart of Ireland: monastic life clearly has a sense of adventure.

Living at the rhythm of the community

The monks' day is shaped by the Liturgy of the Hours, sung in church early in the morning, late in the day, and in the evening, and by the midday Mass, the high point of the day. You are welcome at all the offices, sung in English with hymns and antiphons in Latin. The sacrament of reconciliation is usually offered on Saturdays between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.

The Glenstal estate, at the foot of the Slieve Felim Mountains, lends itself to long, silent walks: woods, fields, lakes, streams, and gardens. The paths are marked, and some slopes can be demanding.

For those seeking God in solitude, the abbey offers two God Pods. These hermitages are nestled in a secluded corner of the estate, one kilometer from the church.

• An open-plan space with a kitchenette, dining area, sitting area, bedroom, and bathroom
• A wood-burning stove for warmth and company, with wood provided
• A stay of at least 3 nights, and up to two weeks for most guests
• The option to join the community for the offices

The setting of a retreat at Glenstal Abbey

The guest house is set apart in a quiet corner of the estate. It has 12 rooms with private bathrooms (ten singles and two twins), simply furnished, with bed linen and towels provided. A lounge, a small meeting room, a dining room, and a small kitchen are at your disposal.

• Meals are all provided, homemade and generous. Breakfast is self-service in the guest house, and the guest master's porridge has a well-earned reputation. Lunch is served in the monastery's reception parlor, and supper, most of the time, in the refectory with the monks, in silence, with a reading or music.
• Screens: Wi-Fi is available, but many guests take the opportunity to disconnect. The community invites you to limit the use of electronic devices as much as possible.
• Contribution: there is no set rate at the guest house. Each person gives according to their means, generally from €90 per night. The God Pods are offered at €65 per night.

Arrival is between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. at the monastery reception, as the guest house has no direct access. Departure is before 10:30 a.m.

A retreat in County Limerick

You are invited to stay within the estate, to enjoy its peace, prayer, and nature. Not far from the abbey you will find:

• the village of Murroe, just a few minutes away;
• Newport, in County Tipperary, 10 minutes by car;
• Limerick, 18 km away, about 25 to 30 minutes by road;
• the Clare Glens and the Slieve Felim Way trail, which extend the walks for keen hikers, with Keeper Hill and the Mulkear River in the landscape. Be sure to pack sturdy shoes.

Good to know: the main gate is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pets are welcome on a leash, but fishing and swimming in the lakes are not permitted.