Glencairn Abbey

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.

We are a monastic community of 28 sisters. Our monastery is located in the Blackwater valley about 3 miles upstream from Lismore, in County Waterford.

Our land was once part of the monastic settlement of the Celtic monks of Lismore. It was here in Lismore that Saint Malachy, who first brought the Cistercians to Ireland (Mellifont, County Louth) in 1142, received his formation.

At the heart of the monastic life is the search for God. The Cistercian monastic way of life is the way of simplicity. It is one of prayer and worship, community and solitude, work and hospitality.

As Cistercians, we follow the 6th century Rule of Saint Benedict, a source of ancient monastic wisdom that continues to guide and inspire the monastic way of life today.