glenstal abbey

It was intended that the building, with its Windsor-style tower and Norman gate, would like a 12th century castle, As well as building the castle, the Barringtons transformed the lnads immediately surrounding the catle, converting them into very beautiful grounds, planting trees and shrubs, and constructing a number of artificial lakes. In the 1920's the family decided to move to England and sold the castle and lands to the Benedictine Order. The first monks arrived there from Maredsous, Belgium, in 1926. In 1957 the Glenstal house was formally raised to the status of Abbey. Attached to the Abbey there is a secondary school and an art and crafts shcool. Since the Second Vatican Council, Glenstal has been a prominent centre for the promotion of ecumenism . It is very well known, too, for its liturgical conferences, and over the years many well-known figures in the liturgical field have lectured there. In the very beautiful new Abbey church with its striking colours, many of the decoratins ar by Br Benedict Tutty, OSB, a member of the community, and a specialist in silver and metal work. His work has been exhibited widely in Ireland and on the continent One of the crowning glories of the lovely Abbey grounds are the rhododendrons: there are great banks of them, and they are particularly magnificent in May and June.