In late 19th centuryBelfast, the Catholic population grew to such an extent that the provision of pastoral support to the working class was practically impossible for members of the diocesan clergy. The Bishop of Down and ConnorHenry Henry invited the Redemptorists religious order to come to Belfast in 1896. Initially they built a small tin church in the grounds of Clonard House in 1897. In 1890 a monastery was opened in these grounds in the early French Gothic style and in 1911 the Church of the Holy Redeemer opened in the grounds and replaced the tin church.
Religious devotion
Over the years the monastery promoted a range of initiatives in religious devotion. One of the earliest was the establishment of confraternities for men and women. These involved a combination of religious services and instruction and were extremely popular. However, due to declining numbers the women's confraternity ceased to function in 2019 although the men's organisation continues. It continues to hold an annual Novena which attracts over 100,000 pilgrims, Catholic and Protestant, from across Ireland.
Clonard has been on the frontline of the troubles which erupted in Belfast in 1969. The monastery is located at an Interface area between the mainly Catholic Falls Road district and the mainly Protestant Shankill Road district. At the rear of the monastery was located Bombay Street and Cupar Street which led on to the Shankill Road. On 14 August 1969, loyalist mobs from the Shankill Road launched a series of attacks on the houses owned by Catholics in those streets. The residents were forced to flee and many of the houses were burnt to the ground including the whole of Bombay Street. The priests from Clonard were actively involved from the outset in attempting to safeguard the local residents. Two of Northern Ireland's most significant clergy who worked for peace Frs. Alec Reid and Gerry Reynolds lived here.
Contemporary Pastoral Outreach
In 1981 members of the Redemptorist community at Clonard established links with Fitzroy Presbyterian Church near Queen's University, Belfast in the south of the city and the monastery became a centre for peacemaking and reconciliation. Secret conversations between John Hume and Gerry Adams were held in rooms in the complex while wider, interfaith conversations helped contribute to the 1994 IRA ceasefire. Clonard is also used as a music venue for many festivals in the city, most notably but not exclusively Féile an Phobail.
