Nuns of Benedictine Order Crafting Chocolates in Connemara Region
In the heart of Connemara, Ireland, Kylemore Abbey stands as a testament to resilience and perseverance. This lakeside Gothic castle was once the family home of a wealthy Victorian MP, but today it serves as a sanctuary for the Benedictine nuns who have made it their home since 1920.
The community of nuns at Kylemore Abbey can trace their roots back to Brussels in 1598. Over the centuries, they moved through Ghent and Ypres due to historical conflicts. It was during World War I that the nuns were forced to flee their abbey in Ypres and were aided by soldiers of the Royal Munster Fusiliers before finding refuge at Kylemore Castle and its lands in 1920.
At Kylemore, the nuns combined prayer and work ("Ora et Labora"), initially supporting themselves by farming, crafts, sewing, and making jam. They also ran a girls' boarding and day school until its closure in 2010. Since then, they have focused on education, retreat programs, and stewardship of the Abbey’s natural beauty.
One of the nuns at Kylemore Abbey is Sister Genevieve Harrington. Originally from an Australian Benedictine order that closed in 2002, Sister Genevieve felt a "very strong call to Ireland" and found herself at Kylemore Abbey in 2002. Since her arrival, she has been instrumental in transforming the Abbey's Home Economics kitchen into the acclaimed Chocolate Kitchen in 2010 following the closure of the girls' school.
Sister Genevieve's chocolate-making venture embodies the Benedictine values of quality, tradition, and contemplative culture. She began by training in artisanal chocolate-making and started producing handmade bars, honeycomb, and seasonal confections. Today, the Chocolate Kitchen and soapery, under Sister Genevieve's leadership, have grown to be a vital part of Kylemore Abbey's financial sustainability.
The Chocolate Kitchen and soapery continue the tradition of crafting and growing plants and berries to sustain the Abbey and bring in some income. The artisanal chocolates and handmade soaps remain the Abbey's most popular retail offerings, drawing visitors into the monastic tradition of hospitality and craftsmanship.
The Chocolate Kitchen and soapery form a pivotal part of Kylemore Abbey’s Craft & Design offerings. They embody quality, tradition, and contemplative culture, reflecting the centuries-old spiritual and community mission of the Benedictine nuns at Kylemore Abbey.
In 2025, the religious order at Kylemore Abbey faces rising bills and falling vocations and must embrace tourism, commerce, and ecology to continue their mission. Despite these challenges, the spirit of Sister Genevieve and the Benedictine nuns at Kylemore Abbey remains undeterred, carrying on their tradition of prayer, work, and craftsmanship.
References: [1] Kylemore Abbey - History. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/history [2] Harrington, S. (2020, July 17). Sister Genevieve Harrington: From the Australian Outback to Kylemore Abbey. Retrieved from https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/blog/sister-genevieve-harrington-from-the-australian-outback-to-kylemore-abbey [3] Kylemore Abbey. (2020, September 17). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Kylemore-Abbey [4] The Benedictine Nuns. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/benedictine-nuns [5] The Chocolate Kitchen. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/the-chocolate-kitchen
- Despite its humble origins as a farming, craft, and schooling community, Kylemore Abbey's lifestyle and offerings have evolved over time to include a renowned Chocolate Kitchen and soapery, showcasing the Benedictine nuns' dedication to quality, tradition, and craftsmanship in the food-and-drink and home-and-garden sectors, while remaining committed to their spiritual and community mission.
- In the heart of Ireland's Connemara region, Sister Genevieve Harrington, an Australian Benedictine nun who found her calling at Kylemore Abbey, transformed the Abbey's Home Economics kitchen into the acclaimed Chocolate Kitchen, blending cooking with lifestyle by creating artisanal chocolates and handmade soaps, becoming a significant contributor to the Abbey's financial sustainability and embracing its iconic resilience and perseverance.
