Portglenone Abbey

Portglenone Abbey is a Trappist monastery in County Antrim built on extensive agricultural land with structures from different periods. The complex includes a Georgian mansion dating to 1800 alongside modern buildings that serve the community's daily life and spiritual practices.

The monastery was founded in 1948 when Cistercians arrived from Mount Melleray Abbey, receiving abbey status three years later in 1951. Major construction took place during the 1960s as the community expanded and built new facilities.

The monastery is built around daily rhythms of prayer, work, and silent reflection that follow ancient Cistercian customs. Visitors walking the grounds encounter this living routine and can sense how the community organizes its time and space around these core practices.

Guest rooms are available for those who wish to stay overnight and experience the monastic environment more closely. A craft shop and religious goods store are located on-site for shopping during your visit.

Stones from pre-Reformation Irish Cistercian abbeys were incorporated into the church and cloisters when the modern buildings were constructed. These recycled materials create a physical link between the new community and centuries of Irish monastic tradition.

Location: Portglenone

Website: http://bethlehemabbey.com

GPS coordinates: 54.87300,-6.47300

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03