John Scally visits St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn, where they are busy preparing for Christmas

 

All around the country people are making preparations for Christmas. It is no different in the picturesque St. Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn which is the only Cistercian monastery for women in Ireland. Their community is located in the Blackwater Valley, about three miles upstream from Lismore, County Waterford.

One of the youngest members of the community is Sr. Beatrice Brady. She retains vivid memories of her childhood Christmases.

‘One of my earliest Christmas memories is the “lollipop tree” in my Granny’s kitchen. I’ve still never seen another one. It wasn’t a normal Christmas tree – no fairy lights or tinsel – but a small, 3D cardboard tree with little holes for lollipops, which doubled as baubles. As a child, I just kept turning it around and around, always thinking that there weren’t any lollipops left, and always being surprised to find another one.’

She also has special memories of her Christmas presents.

‘I have received many beautiful gifts throughout the years, showing the generosity and love of those who’ve given them to me. I can think of books that have instilled a love for reading in me, and of a guitar which I got in 4th class, which I still can’t play very well(!) but which has taught me so much about music and brought me much joy in singing with other people and gathering together for celebrations.’

This will be Sr. Beatrice’s eighth Christmas in the monastery. Understandably her first Christmas was a big transition for her after her life as a student in Trinity College.

‘I think my first Christmas here was tiring! I had never been to Midnight Mass at 12am before (it was at 9pm in my home parish) and there was a lot of preparation involved: choir practice, decorating, some kitchen and liturgy work, but beautiful too, and so different that I wasn’t comparing it to the Christmases that had gone before it.

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own