From earliest times, some Christians have felt called to go apart to a
remote or isolated place to lead a life more intensely focused on God.

In the sixth century, St. Benedict wrote a Rule for Monasteries which
was adopted by many men and women following this way of life.

The Cistercian Order arose as a reform movement within the Benedictine
tradition in the 12th century.

Beginning in France in 1098, Cistercian monasteries quickly spread
throughout Europe, coming first to Ireland (Mellifont) in 1142.

After the suppression of the monasteries in
the 16th century, Ireland lacked any
Cistercian presence until 1832, when Mount
Melleray abbey was begun by monks from
France.

In 1932 a community for women was established at Glencairn.

The founding sisters came from a monastery in England.

Since then we have grown and flourished.

In 1949 Glencairn sent some sisters to found the
first Cistercian monastery for women in the
United States.

A second foundation was made in Nigeria in 1982.