- Roman Catholic churches in Lismore, County Waterford
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Who we are
St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn is the only Cistercian monastery for women in Ireland. Our monastery is located in the Blackwater Valley, about three miles upstream from Lismore, County Waterford.
At the heart of the monastic life is the search for God. We seek God and follow Christ in a life of prayer and community, solitude and simplicity, work and hospitality.
We follow the Rule of St Benedict, an ancient source of monastic wisdom that continues to guide many people in search of an authentic spiritual path in today’s world.
At the heart of the monastic life is the search for God. We seek God and follow Christ in a life of prayer and community, solitude and simplicity, work and hospitality.
We follow the Rule of St Benedict, an ancient source of monastic wisdom that continues to guide many people in search of an authentic spiritual path in today’s world.
Location of worship
Denomination
Roman Catholic
Affiliations
Church Website
St Mary's Abbey on Social Media
Glencairn Abbey - Living Streams
Leadership
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Click here to contact the church
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on Social Media:
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Administration
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Driving Directions to St Mary's Abbey
Travel/Direction Tips
By Car
From Dublin:
Glencairn is 140 miles from Dublin by car (journey time three hours).
Take the M7/M8 road to Cork
Exit at Fermoy and follow the R639 to town centre
Crossing the bridge, take a left onto the N72 signposted for Waterford
Follow the N72 for 18kms
At the junction for Tallow, turn left up a steep hill.
At the top of this hill, take the second left turn with a signpost for Glencairn.
The entrance to St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn is at the junction at the end of this road.
From Cork:
Glencairn is 36 miles from Cork by car (journey time one hour)
Take the M8 for Dublin
Exit at Watergrasshill
Take the R639
Turn off for Tallow (R268) via Conna
At Tallow, turn left at main junction in the village, cross the bridge (passing Brideview Bar on right) and continue on up the steep hill
At the top take second left turn with the signpost for Glencairn
The entrance to St Mary’s Abbey is at the junction at the end of this road.
By Bus
From Dublin:
Take Bus Eireann X8 Dublin-Cork Bus
Get off at the town of Fermoy. Bus stop: ‘Bella Café’
Fermoy is 25 minutes away from the monastery
By Air
The nearest airport to Glencairn Abbey is Cork International Airport
Glencairn is one hour from Cork Airport
From Dublin:
Glencairn is 140 miles from Dublin by car (journey time three hours).
Take the M7/M8 road to Cork
Exit at Fermoy and follow the R639 to town centre
Crossing the bridge, take a left onto the N72 signposted for Waterford
Follow the N72 for 18kms
At the junction for Tallow, turn left up a steep hill.
At the top of this hill, take the second left turn with a signpost for Glencairn.
The entrance to St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn is at the junction at the end of this road.
From Cork:
Glencairn is 36 miles from Cork by car (journey time one hour)
Take the M8 for Dublin
Exit at Watergrasshill
Take the R639
Turn off for Tallow (R268) via Conna
At Tallow, turn left at main junction in the village, cross the bridge (passing Brideview Bar on right) and continue on up the steep hill
At the top take second left turn with the signpost for Glencairn
The entrance to St Mary’s Abbey is at the junction at the end of this road.
By Bus
From Dublin:
Take Bus Eireann X8 Dublin-Cork Bus
Get off at the town of Fermoy. Bus stop: ‘Bella Café’
Fermoy is 25 minutes away from the monastery
By Air
The nearest airport to Glencairn Abbey is Cork International Airport
Glencairn is one hour from Cork Airport
Parking
Please share parking information and/or parking experience!
St Mary's Abbey Mass Times
Mass & Prayer Times
Sundays:
4:10am – Vigils
7:45am – Lauds
8:15am – Eucharist
10:00am – Terce
12:40pm – Sext
3:00pm – None
6:00pm – Vespers
6:30pm – Adoration
7:45pm – Compline
Weekdays
4:10am – Vigils
7:45am – Lauds
8:15am – Eucharist
9:45am – Terce
12:40pm – Sext
2:45pm – None
6:00pm – Vespers
7:45pm – Compline
It's been more than 10 months since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
Sundays:
4:10am – Vigils
7:45am – Lauds
8:15am – Eucharist
10:00am – Terce
12:40pm – Sext
3:00pm – None
6:00pm – Vespers
6:30pm – Adoration
7:45pm – Compline
Weekdays
4:10am – Vigils
7:45am – Lauds
8:15am – Eucharist
9:45am – Terce
12:40pm – Sext
2:45pm – None
6:00pm – Vespers
7:45pm – Compline
It's been more than 10 months since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
Worship Languages
Dress Code
Sunday School / Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities
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Special Needs/Accessibility
Prayers and Hymns
Main Bible:
Hymns and Songs:
Other information
Average Adult Congregation:
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Additional Info:
St Mary's Abbey History
Glencairn Abbey land was, in the 7th century, part of the great monastic settlement of St. Carthage of Lismore. The Viking raids of pillage and burnings in the 9th and 10th centuries were eventually followed by the plundering Normans. However, in the 12th century Christian O’Conarchy, of Mellifont Abbey, became the first Irish Cistercian to be Bishop of Lismore.
Ballygarron Castle
Through the centuries, wars were fought between the Butlers of Ormond and the Fitzgeralds of Desmond. Eventually, Richard Boyle, the ‘Great Earl of Cork’ gained the lands. He built several castles, and one of them, built in 1609, and occupied by his sister Margaret and her husband Piers Power, was Ballygarron (or Ballengrane), on the site now occupied by St. Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn. Part of the original castle, a cellar, still in use, and some walls, remain from 1609 and have been incorporated into the present building.
Castlerichard
In 1695, Richard Gumbleton, a Cromwellian soldier who had property in Curraglass near Tallow, acquired what remained of the house and land. He rebuilt the house; the monastery’s South Wing dates back to this time, and he changed the name to Castlerichard.
Glencairn Abbey
In the 18th and 19th century the West and East wings were added, and the name was changed once again, this time to Glencairn Abbey. Twice during the centuries, a daughter inherited. In the early 1800’s Lavinia Gumbleton married Henry Amyas Bushe of Kilfane; towards the end of that century, Frances Anne Bushe married Ambrose William Bushe Power. The Power family continued to live in Glencairn Abbey until 1922, when the property was put up for sale.
Ballygarron Castle
Through the centuries, wars were fought between the Butlers of Ormond and the Fitzgeralds of Desmond. Eventually, Richard Boyle, the ‘Great Earl of Cork’ gained the lands. He built several castles, and one of them, built in 1609, and occupied by his sister Margaret and her husband Piers Power, was Ballygarron (or Ballengrane), on the site now occupied by St. Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn. Part of the original castle, a cellar, still in use, and some walls, remain from 1609 and have been incorporated into the present building.
Castlerichard
In 1695, Richard Gumbleton, a Cromwellian soldier who had property in Curraglass near Tallow, acquired what remained of the house and land. He rebuilt the house; the monastery’s South Wing dates back to this time, and he changed the name to Castlerichard.
In the 18th and 19th century the West and East wings were added, and the name was changed once again, this time to Glencairn Abbey. Twice during the centuries, a daughter inherited. In the early 1800’s Lavinia Gumbleton married Henry Amyas Bushe of Kilfane; towards the end of that century, Frances Anne Bushe married Ambrose William Bushe Power. The Power family continued to live in Glencairn Abbey until 1922, when the property was put up for sale.
St Mary's Abbey FAQs
Question: Where is St Mary's Abbey located?
Answer: St Mary's Abbey is located at Glencairn, Lismore, County Waterford.
Question: What time is mass at St Mary's Abbey?
Answer: Mass & Prayer Times Sundays: 4:10am – Vigils 7:45am – Lauds 8:15am – Eucharist 10:00am – Terce 12:40pm – Sext 3:00pm – None 6:00pm – Vespers 6:30pm – Adoration 7:45pm – Compline Weekdays 4:10am – Vigils 7:45am – Lauds 8:15am – Eucharist 9:45am – Terce 12:40pm – Sext 2:45pm – None 6:00pm – Vespers 7:45pm – Compline
Question: How can I get to St Mary's Abbey?
Answer: By Car From Dublin: Glencairn is 140 miles from Dublin by car (journey time three hours). Take the M7/M8 road to Cork Exit at Fermoy and follow the R639 to town centre Crossing the bridge, take a left onto the N72 signposted for Waterford Follow the N72 for 18kms At the junction for Tallow, turn left up a steep hill. At the top of this hill, take the second left turn with a signpost for Glencairn. The entrance to St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn is at the junction at the end of this road. From Cork: Glencairn is 36 miles from Cork by car (journey time one hour) Take the M8 for Dublin Exit at Watergrasshill Take the R639 Turn off for Tallow (R268) via Conna At Tallow, turn left at main junction in the village, cross the bridge (passing Brideview Bar on right) and continue on up the steep hill At the top take second left turn with the signpost for Glencairn The entrance to St Mary’s Abbey is at the junction at the end of this road. By Bus From Dublin: Take Bus Eireann X8 Dublin-Cork Bus Get off at the town of Fermoy. Bus stop: ‘Bella Café’ Fermoy is 25 minutes away from the monastery By Air The nearest airport to Glencairn Abbey is Cork International Airport Glencairn is one hour from Cork Airport
Question: What is St Mary's Abbey's Facebook page?
Answer: https://www.facebook.com/glencairnabbey
Question: What is St Mary's Abbey's Instagram page?
Answer: https://www.instagram.com/glencairnabbey/
Question: What is St Mary's Abbey's live streaming page?
Answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRQ_DtMo_-c
Question: What is St Mary's Abbey's website?
Answer: https://www.glencairnabbey.org/
Question: What denominaiton is St Mary's Abbey?
Answer: St Mary's Abbey belongs to Roman Catholic denomination.
Answer: St Mary's Abbey is located at Glencairn, Lismore, County Waterford.
Question: What time is mass at St Mary's Abbey?
Answer: Mass & Prayer Times Sundays: 4:10am – Vigils 7:45am – Lauds 8:15am – Eucharist 10:00am – Terce 12:40pm – Sext 3:00pm – None 6:00pm – Vespers 6:30pm – Adoration 7:45pm – Compline Weekdays 4:10am – Vigils 7:45am – Lauds 8:15am – Eucharist 9:45am – Terce 12:40pm – Sext 2:45pm – None 6:00pm – Vespers 7:45pm – Compline
Question: How can I get to St Mary's Abbey?
Answer: By Car From Dublin: Glencairn is 140 miles from Dublin by car (journey time three hours). Take the M7/M8 road to Cork Exit at Fermoy and follow the R639 to town centre Crossing the bridge, take a left onto the N72 signposted for Waterford Follow the N72 for 18kms At the junction for Tallow, turn left up a steep hill. At the top of this hill, take the second left turn with a signpost for Glencairn. The entrance to St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn is at the junction at the end of this road. From Cork: Glencairn is 36 miles from Cork by car (journey time one hour) Take the M8 for Dublin Exit at Watergrasshill Take the R639 Turn off for Tallow (R268) via Conna At Tallow, turn left at main junction in the village, cross the bridge (passing Brideview Bar on right) and continue on up the steep hill At the top take second left turn with the signpost for Glencairn The entrance to St Mary’s Abbey is at the junction at the end of this road. By Bus From Dublin: Take Bus Eireann X8 Dublin-Cork Bus Get off at the town of Fermoy. Bus stop: ‘Bella Café’ Fermoy is 25 minutes away from the monastery By Air The nearest airport to Glencairn Abbey is Cork International Airport Glencairn is one hour from Cork Airport
Question: What is St Mary's Abbey's Facebook page?
Answer: https://www.facebook.com/glencairnabbey
Question: What is St Mary's Abbey's Instagram page?
Answer: https://www.instagram.com/glencairnabbey/
Question: What is St Mary's Abbey's live streaming page?
Answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRQ_DtMo_-c
Question: What is St Mary's Abbey's website?
Answer: https://www.glencairnabbey.org/
Question: What denominaiton is St Mary's Abbey?
Answer: St Mary's Abbey belongs to Roman Catholic denomination.
Inspire my thoughts
Holy Spirit of God, visit now this soul of mine, and tarry within it until the eventide. Inspire all my thoughts. Pervade all my imaginations. Suggest all my decisions. Lodge in my soul's most inward citadel, and order all my doings. Be with me in silence and in my speech, in my haste and in my leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of the morning and the weariness of the evening. Give me grace at all times to rejoice in Thy mysterious companionship.
Holy Spirit of God, visit now this soul of mine, and tarry within it until the eventide. Inspire all my thoughts. Pervade all my imaginations. Suggest all my decisions. Lodge in my soul's most inward citadel, and order all my doings. Be with me in silence and in my speech, in my haste and in my leisure, in company and in solitude, in the freshness of the morning and the weariness of the evening. Give me grace at all times to rejoice in Thy mysterious companionship.
St Mary's Abbey listing was last updated on the 12th of June, 2023