The Chapel in Drumalis House which is now operating a retreat house

Drumalis was bought in 1930 by the Sisters of the Cross and Passion and, for the first three decades of its existence, it operated as a retreat centre for women, Those were mainly working women from Belfast, from mills, shops and offices. The fee for a weekend was in the order of two shillings and sixpence. Even though the house was taken over by the army for a period of time during WW2, the retreats continued, offering to those who could afford little else, a place of refuge, refreshment, spiritual and psychological healing. Openness to the poor and suffering has always been, and continues to be, a guiding principle in the ethos of Drumalis. Today it still serve as "a place of welcome, an oasis on the journey of life" for thousands of people from Northern Ireland and beyond. It functions as a very busy conference, retreat, educational, spiritual residential centre offering both organised programmes and facilities for groups to hold their own events with accommodation for up to 100 as well as a range of conference and prayer rooms.

The Centre re-opened its doors in April 2003 after a year of major refurbishment and preservation work. thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the ongoing support of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion.

The main aims of Drumalis are: To promote spirituality in a non-denominational context, to deliver programmes aimed at mutual understanding, to work towards peace and reconciliation between different sections of the community and to promote the conservation of the natural environment and to provide the context for the development of ecological consciousness.

Drumalis has its own website which you can find at:
http://www.drumalis.co.uk

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Article & Pictures - Marty Johnston

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