Benburb Priory is open as a pastoral, retreat, and conference centre in the heart of Ulster.
Benburb Priory is ideally located on the banks of the River Blackwater which defines the border between the counties of Tyrone and Armagh. It offers religious services, conference room hire, meeting rooms, accommodation, and a coffee shop with catering facilities.
The history of the site stretches back to 1561 when Shane the Proud built the first iteration of what would become known as Benburb Castle. However, Benburb Priory’s modern history has been defined by the Order of the Servants of Mary, who came to Benburb from Chiago to establish the first Servite Priory on the Island of Ireland.
Since coming to Benburb in 1949, the Servites have maintained an ‘open door’ policy and welcome visitors and pilgrims from all faiths and backgrounds. The Priory offers something for everyone and is a haven where people can come and feel welcome or receive healing and Christian compassion. Visitors can choose to explore the sites history in our onsite Museum or enjoy a stroll around the Benburb Valley Park and Blackwater River. They can also book a tour of the Manor house or Castle with one of our knowledgeable tour guides. The Stables Coffee Shop is open daily and offers a space of relaxation to enjoy some home cooked food in the great outdoors of the beautiful Stables Courtyard. All located within the Priory’s 100 acre estate with free parking available.
The Priory welcomes pilgrims at all stages of their spiritual journey, offering solitude and silence through its nature, landscape, and surroundings. The Priory chapel is open daily, and pilgrims have an opportunity to practice silent reflection at their own pace along the ‘Pilgrim Walk trail’.
The Priory also offers a shared meeting space for groups to come together to expand their skills, share knowledge, educate and participate in discussion, through talking and listening. Groups congregate to offer courses and workshops in spiritual and human development as well as cultural and religious activities.

“The priory must become a household
word signifying charity of the highest
kind, unquestioning, open-handed,
open-housed to all visitors, even to
those who may be taking advantage
of us, because it will be founded on
Our Lord’s admonition to love.
What we have is from the faithful
anyhow, and doesn’t belong to us,
therefore, all of the faithful should
have free access to it”
Fr James Keane, December 1949
