Kylemore nuns have monastery plans

Plans for a new monastery at Kylemore Abbey – seen as an “urgent requirement” for the survival of the Benedictine nuns here – have been lodged with Galway County Council.

According to the Order, a “generous donor” has made it financially possible to develop the monastery.

And a masterplan for the future of the estate proposed using the farmhouse building as visitor accommodation.

Last year, an application for a monastery spanning around 1,900 square metres was withdrawn after concerns were expressed by the local authority.

The fresh application from the Kylemore Trust is for a development of 2,300 square metres, which will be over three levels. It will include meeting rooms, offices, a laundry, a kitchen and a refectory at ground level.

Zinc cladding originally proposed has been replaced by ashlar stone and the width of the chapel garden has been increased to improve views.

With the original application, the Council also had concerns about waste water, however, a new treatment plant is up and running since the end of last year.

The sacristy to the rear of the existing Chapel building will be demolished a new one built. At first floor level, nuns cells, offices and communal rooms. At second floor level, a number of nun cells are proposed, as well as a library and a chapter room.

“In order to provide safe and appropriate access during construction, the footpath on the existing bridge is proposed to be relocated from the west to the east side of the bridge. This will assist in separating visitors/ tourists from construction and service traffic.

The site for the proposed monastery is a vacant landscaped area and tennis court adjacent to the Chapel building and the existing residential quarters (St Joseph’s) will be turned into accommodation for students on Notre Dame educational programmes.

According to the planning consultants behind the project, the development of the Kylemore Estate is important not only for Kylemore Abbey and its vision, but for the development of tourism in Galway also.

There will be eight bedrooms/cells for the existing community; five cells for novitiates; a novitiate teaching room; two infirmaries with en suite bathrooms; a community room; library; community work rooms; five offices and two meeting rooms. There will be five guest bedrooms, two parlour meeting rooms a group retreat room and a guest seating and dining area.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.