Lodgings at the Friary
‘Come away and rest a while’ (Mark 6:31)
The Friary is a place of prayer and hospitality. We welcome those who wish to take some time away to reflect, relax and share in the life of the Carmelite Community.
Kinsale has been home to a community of Carmelite Friars since 1334. The Friary and its associated Church, situated in tranquil and well-maintained gardens, enjoy panoramic views of the town and harbour. Since their arrival in Kinsale, successive communities of friars have tended to the pastoral needs of many people, drawing on the Carmelite charism of prayer, community, and service and continuing to offer a place of welcome, refreshment, prayer, and hospitality.
The Christian tradition encourages us to take time with God who ultimately comes to meet us where we are in our lives in order to take us to where we are meant to be. The Rule of Life that was given to the early Carmelites by Saint Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the early part of the thirteenth century, reminds all who would seek to follow the Carmelite way of the importance of personal prayer, that we are to ponder the law of the Lord, by day and by night, in silence and in solitude; we are, in short, to live a life of prayer that fosters our relationship with God.
As well as giving time to personal prayer, the Carmelite Community gathers at certain moments during the day for the celebration of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. Visitors are welcome to join the community for all our services in the recently renovated Friary Church which dates from 1837.
Liturgy Schedule
Weekdays
09:30 am Lauds (Morning Prayer)
10:00 am Conventual Mass
06:00 pm Vespers (Evening Prayer)
Sundays
08:30 am Mass
10:30 am Lauds (Morning Prayer)
11:00 am Mass
07:00 pm Solemn Vespers (Adoration & Benediction of the Most Blessed)
We welcome people on a daily basis from all walks of life who come to our beautiful Friary for all sorts of reasons. Some come to join the community for the daily celebration of Mass or the Liturgy of the Hours; some for meetings or courses in the Friary Centre or to drop into the Friary Mass office and shop. Others come to get away from the hustle and bustle of life for a time, maybe to discern their path in life or to reconnect with God on a deeper and more personal level.
We also welcome people to come and stay in our Friary Lodgings, to spend some quiet time away, for rest, reflection, reading, and renewal and to join in the rhythm of the Friary.
To reserve a room in the Friary Lodgings
Email kinsale@carmelites.ie or Call 021 4772138
The Friary Lodgings is open all year round. The warm and comfortable bedrooms are ensuite and elevator-accessible, wholesome meals are available, and guests have access to a library, laundry facilities, and a small kitchen for use during their stay. A small, private oratory is also located on the first floor of the lodgings for personal prayer and reflection. The Friary gardens are also open to guests to spend in quiet contemplation. Beyond the historic medieval town of Kinsale and its beautiful harbour, there are ample opportunities for walking treks, enjoying the sea air and the natural beauty of the area.
Our ministry of prayer and hospitality is only possible through the generosity of friends and benefactors. There is no fixed charge for staying. No one need feel they cannot stay for lack of means. Guests can make a donation towards the cost of accommodation, meals, and ongoing maintenance of the Friary, but the amount is entirely up to the guest. All donations to the Friary are gratefully received.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Friary and hope that, as our guests, our home will afford you the space you need for rest, prayer, and relaxation.
May all who visit the Friary find a warm welcome, peace and the love of the Lord.
