Glenstal Abbey
Murroe, County Limerick, Ireland
Details
History
Motherhouse : Maredsous
Foundation : 1927
Abbey : 1957
Community
Abbot : Fr Brendan Coffey
Congregation : Annunciation
Number of monks : 30
Activity
School; hospitality; retreats and courses; candles; icons; binding; rosaries; shop
Photos used with permission from Valerie O’Sullivan: link to the web site
Glenstal Abbey Exterior
Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co Limerick, is a community of 30 monks who live according to the Rule of St Benedict and the precepts of the gospel. The monks live in the abbey, where they also manage a boarding school for boys, a farm and a guest house. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan©
Glenstal Church Bells
On 11 July 2018, the Benedictine monks at Glenstal Abbey celebrated the feast of Saint Benedict with the ringing of new bells. The bells, named Benedict, Scholastica, Joseph and Columba, were decorated and ready to be blessed before Mass on St Benedict’s Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan©
Glenstal Abbey Exterior
Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co Limerick. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan©
Glenstal Holy Cross Chapel
The cross in the Holy Cross Chapel of Glenstal Abbey Church contains a relic of the True Cross. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Icons of Glenstal Abbey
Icons of Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co Limerick. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Glenstal Abbey Schola
Glenstal Abbey Schola rehearsing for the Easter Triduum: Br Padraig, Fr Cuthbert, Fr Senan and Br Jarek. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Br Colmán Ó Clabaigh at Lectio
Br. Colmán O Clabaigh OSB is a Benedictine monk from Glenstal Abbey and noted historian and author of numerous books on monastic history. He is a medievalist, specializing in the history of monasticism and religion in Late Medieval Ireland. He was awarded a BA in 1989 at NUI, Galway, and after undertaking research in Italy, Belgium and Oxford, received his doctorate in 1998 from the National University of Ireland. His monograph, The Friars in Ireland, 1224-1500, (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2012), was awarded the 2013 National University of Ireland Prize for Irish Historical Research. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Br Justin, Clothing Cermony
Br Justin Robinson receives his habit at a clothing ceremony from Dom Brendan Coffey and Fr Columba in the church. The traditional monastic habit of the Benedictines consists of a tunic cinched at the waist by a belt of leather; a scapular, originally a work apron; and a hood (men) or veil (women) to cover the head. In choir, at chapter, and at certain other ceremonial times, a full, often-pleated gown with long, wide sleeves, called a "cowl", may be worn by the finally professed over the ordinary habit. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Solemn Profession Glenstal
At the solemn monastic profession of Brother Jaroslaw Kurek OSB, joined by fellow monks and the abbot of Glenstal, Brendan Coffey OSB. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Easter Triduum, Good Friday
Morning prayer on Good Friday at Glenstal Abbey is part of the Easter Triduum. Good Friday is when Christians throughout the world commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death on Calvary. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Easter Triduum, Good Friday
Br Anthony hammers down the cross on Good Friday, when Christians throughout the world commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death on Calvary. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Glenstal Abbey Easter Vigil
Easter Blessing at Glenstal Abbey. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Br Justin, Candle Making
Br Justin Robinson produces a new range of pure beeswax candles, in keeping with the monastic tradition of candle-making as contemplative work. The artisanal candles are hand-poured and set. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Br Ciarán Forbes, Woodturner
St Benedict said that true monks live by the work of their hands. Br. Ciaran Forbes was a celebrated woodturner. He joined Glenstal Abbey in 1961 and later spent three years studying at St Andre Abbey in the Belgian city of Bruges. His interest in woodturning began when two school boys from Glenstal brought a lathe into the carpentry workshop. He was one of Ireland’s finest woodturners, best known for his bowls. He died on 1 January 2022. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan ©
Br Anthony Keane, Forester
Brother Anthony Keane, who is a forester at Glenstal Abbey, is engaged in the sculpting of timber and stone, the planting of trees and the environment. He has been co-director of the Ilen Boat Building project, Limerick’s timber sailing ship, The AK Ilen. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Fr Simon, Bee Keeping
A hive of activity. A passionate environmentalist, Fr Simon Sleeman has been keeping honey bees in his apiary for more than 40 years. Monks and religious have a long association with bee-keeping, a perfect place of quiet activity, contemplation and spirituality. With the help of Fr Simon, the bees thrive in this perfect environment. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Glenstal Abbey Bookbinding
Fr Senan Furlong is prior of Glenstal Abbey. One of his many roles is his work as master craftsman bookbinder. Bookbinding is an intrinsic and proud tradition of monastic craftsmanship. It has been practised in monasteries from earliest times and many of the tedious techniques are still practiced today using the traditional methods – stacking, folding, glueing, cutting, binding and stitching the spine. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan©
Philip the Fowler
Fr Philip Tierney was community farmer at Glenstal Abbey for 30 years. He also taught career guidance at the school. He is now responsible for the welfare of the abbey's 24 hens. Using what he calls ‘rotational grazing’ the hens produce 20 eggs a day for both the monks and guesthouse. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
