ireland_history






		Saint Benedict's Priory The Mount Cobh County Cork Republic of Ireland Diocese of Cloyne +353 -214 811354

The monastic Chapel is frequented by those who wish to pray the monastic liturgy of the Hours with the community and to share in the Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration by day and by night.
The Benedictine Oblates affiliated to the community are growing in numbers. St. Benedict's Priory community has the special Benedictine cachet of Peace.

St. Benedict's Bible Garden was opened officially by Bishop John Magee in May 1995 together with the local authorities. The Bible garden contains trees, shrubs, plants and flowers which are named in the Bible. The garden covers about one & a half acres on secluded ground in the Priory. Several of the Gardens mentioned in the Bible are recaptured in this Bible Garden: - the Garden of the Song; the Pool of Solomon; the Spring of Engeddi; the Garden of Gethsemane; the Garden of the Resurrection. The entire Bible Garden is laid out in the form of a Jerusalem Cross.

The Bible Garden is open to the public for quiet meditation and prayer. There is a Bible Garden guide available.

In response to the invitation of the Bishop of Cloyne, Bishop John Magee in 1993, the Priory moved to Cobh to provide a Benedictine, contemplative presence in the Diocese.

The Priory building at The Mount was originally the Admiralty Residence which had in more recent times been used as the Generalate and Novitiate of the Cloyne Sisters of Mercy. The St Benedict's community has enlarged the Priory Chapel and the guest facilities. The monastic hospitality takes the form of private retreats, an Irish Monastic Heritage Centre and a Bible Garden, and more recently - Leanbh, a memorial pool for those in grief after the loss of a child.

The Monastic Heritage Centre provides a fascinating presentation of the history of Monasticism in Ireland. The Bible Garden provides an ambience for all who seek a secluded place to meditate on the Bible in the setting of biblical trees, plants and flowers.