Historic Service held at Kylemore Abbey

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On Sunday, 21st of August with the kind permission of the resident Benedictine community of nuns, Unitarians from Cork and Dublin were joined by members of the Non Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland for an historic service in the chapel at Kylemore Abbey in the heart of Connemara. The service was led by the Rt Rev. Lena Cockroft, Moderator of the NSPCI. The homily was preached by Rev. Mike O’Sullivan, minister of Cork Unitarian church. During the service readings were read by Teresa Goggin and Neal Dunnigan with music by Pearse O’Donoghue and Clair McHugh who sang; ” Closer to Fine” and “Amazing Grace”. Doreen Groocock performed ” My Lagan Love” as a flute solo. In attendance at the service were; The Very Rev. Robert McKee, Clerk of General synod along with the Abbess of the Benedictine community; Rev. Mother Marie Hickey, O.S.B. and nuns from her community.

Kylemore was built by Mitchell Henry, a Unitarian and the Gothic chapel was built by him as a memorial to his wife Margaret who died at the age of 45. The abbey was purchased by the Benedictine nuns in 1920 and is now one of Irelands most treasured tourist attractions as well as being home to a community of contemplative sisters.