Courtney McGrailStaff reporter
The popular Augustinian retreat centre, Orlagh, in Dublin is for sale with an asking price of €2.5 million.
The Augustinians have been on the site since 1872 when they acquired the property for use as the novitiate for those who wished to join their ranks. For more than a decade, however, Orlagh has been a retreat centre offering a programme of scripture courses, retreats, training and support for parish groups in the Dublin archdiocese.
In a statement announcing the decision to close the centre, the Orlagh community and team cited a lack of resources, noting that “circumstances are such that it is impossible to support Orlagh into the future”.
The statement noted that the number of Irish Augustinians has fallen from 250 to 100 in 25 years and the average age has risen from 53 to 73. It added that it has cost the province €500,000 over the past three years to keep Orlagh open. “This level of funding cannot be continued as income declines,” the statement said.