The Potager at
Benburb Priory

"The Servite Priory - Benburb Centre is situated in East Tyrone, about seven miles from the city of Armagh and seven miles from the town of Dungannon. The beautiful old Manor house was built by the Bruce family in the 1880's and has had several owner before becoming a priory and centre. Used in its long history as a private residence for the Bruce family, an English and American Army hospital during the Second World War, and since 1947 a priory and conference centre run by the Servite Order.

It was purchased in 1947 by Fr. James M. Keane OSM of Chicago, USA on behalf of the then 'Our Lady of Sorrows' Province of the Servants of Mary, who wished to open a Servite Foundation in Ireland."
Benburb Priory webpage

October 2011 was the start date for an exciting new project between the Servite Priory in Benburb, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and Alliance Youth Works 'Eden'. Building on the success of its sister projects in Armagh District, Craigavon Borough and Newry and Mourne district councils, the project at Benburb runs each Tuesday with ten volunteers, creating a brand new project called "The Potager", which is an ornate walled garden. This sustainable garden will engage volunteers in a variety of seasonal tasks and projects aimed at learning how to live sustainably and biodiversity enhancement, as well as developing the group socially, physically and mentally.

Using the walled garden as a base, the group will manage the 120 acre forest that ambles its way to the furious Blackwater river for local biodiversity.