We are proud to announce the release of a project in collaboration with the community at St Mary's Abbey, Glencairn. The project was co-ordinated by Noirin Ni Riain and features chant recorded in the church at Glencairn by Leon O'Neill who has worked with The Frames, BellX1, Van Morrisson and Sharon Shannon. The theme of the selected chant is in Praise of Mary from which the title of the cd will be taken. We tried to work only to facilitate the talent within the community and all the vocals, sleeve notes and artwork was done by the nuns.

Cistercian nuns have been engaged in a hidden life of prayer and worship since the early years of the 12th century. Our communities existed in Ireland until the reformation, yet it was not until 1932 after an absence of some 500 years that Irish women again had the opportunity to live the Cistercian life on their own home soil with the foundation of St. Mary's Abbey, Glencairn, in Co. Waterford.

In Praise of Mary marks the anniversary of seventy-five years of Cistercian life in Glencairn. Our singing of the Divine Office seven times a day in choir in our Abbey Church has been sustained through the generations by women who have given their lives to God, striving to worship "with one heart, joining constantly in prayer." (Acts 1:14) The hymns and chants in this collection of recordings are taken from our daily praise in the liturgy of the hours and of the eucharist.

Cistercian monks and nuns have a special dedication to Our Lady and place themselves in her patronage and care. Each community of the Order is dedicated to her and she is our inspiration and model of the contemplative way of life. With her we ponder the mysteries of Christ in our hearts, embracing the silence the monastery provides as a means of listening for God within. We work to support ourselves but try to protect the simplicity of the Cistercian tradition so that all aspects of our life enable our search for God. The vocation of a monk and nun is in essence then the call to every Christian; "let them prefer nothing whatever to the love of Christ". (Rule of St. Benedict; chp. 72)

Today, the community is made up of thirty-six members; the youngest is 28 years old, the eldest is aged eighty-nine. Five sisters are currently in initial formation.

View daves photos from the recording, January 2007

View photos taken by the community, February 2007

View photos from the Abbey's Archive

listen to a sample of the community's chant here