Nuns’ retreat centre on market at €649k

PRESENTATION ORDER BUILDING IN BALLINSKELLIGS NO LONGER NEEDED

NEWS that St Michael’s in Ballinskelligs is to be put on the market was greeted with sadness this week by Sisters of the Presentation Order who enjoyed many a memorable holiday at the retreat house over a time span of 70 years.

The property, which is valued at €649,000, was originally built in 1939 when it functioned as an Irish college for nuns who would visit during the school holidays to improve their Irish.

But it will always be remembered as a place of retreat. At one point 10 Presentation Order Convents were located in Kerry and given that is was a closed Order for most of its history, the Sisters always looked forward to their summertime visit to St Michael’s.

Sister Mary Kelliher from Callinafercy will be 50 years with the Presentation Order next October and, on a personal note, the sale evokes a mixture of sadness and nostalgia given her fond memories of summer in Ballinskelligs.

At its height, the building catered for upwards of 60 Sisters, but declining numbers and the fact that it remained closed for nine months of the year inevitably meant it had to be put on the market.

“It was certainly a gift to us from a holiday point of view. Yes, there is a certain sadness at the sale but it owes us nothing as we had fabulous use of it over the years with its secluded beach and scenery. We also got to know many of the locals and visitors to Ballinskelligs over the years, so there is a certain sadness from that point of view also,” said Sr Mary.

St Michael’s is surrounded by the kind of landscape most people might think only exists in the imagination. Its vantage point overlooking the bay, coupled with the rolling mountains give it an idyllic appeal. In more recent years the building hosted visits from school groups, but this too was in decline.

When asked for a stand out memory, Sr Mary recalls in detail her first visit to Ballinskelligs.

“A memory of St Michael’s that really stands out for me is my very first holiday there back in the 1970s. There is a little boithrín leading down to the house and I remember going around the bend in the road on a little mini bus with a whole lot of other sisters and seeing the moon over the bay as we rounded the corner. It was absolutely beautiful and I never forgot it. My hope is that whoever acquires that building will get even half as much joy from it as we did.”

The property is for sale through Jim Burns & Co Ltd Auctioneers, Killorglin (066 9761254).

The former Presentation Order retreat centre in Ballinskelligs which has been put up for sale with an estimated value of €649,000.