The Poor Clare Sisters' way of life, nestled in the beautiful Leitrim hills above Drumshanbo, is one of total love, prayer and service to God, one another and his people. Care of the sick members of the community is carried out with love and patience and visitors are welcome at certain hours for petitions for prayer and chats with the sisters in a nearby parlour. The Poor Clare Community harmonises prayer, work and recreation in the service of Christ who is said to have called each one personally to leave all and follow him. In the Adoration Chapel there is a sense of warmth everywhere, the brown polished wooden floor and benches, the brown habits of the sisters who come and go quietly in soft brown sandals contribute to the harmony of the atmosphere. The santuary is uncluttered. Floral arrangements are simple and beautiful. The Prayer of the Church and the celebration of the Eucharist are high points in the day. Meals are taken in silence except for special days. Ho! usehold chores are shared. Recreation time is for sisterly chats, music and crafts. Creative talents are nurtured and used for the benefit of the community. Walled gardens display flowers; fruit trees, blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes are laden with fruit in season. A special corner of the garden produces organically grown vegetables. The Leitrim hills are surely alive with the sound of music. LOVE-STORY Poor Clares. Poor Clares: cloistered for centuries from our eyes they nurtured the flowerhead of affliction; our boisterous age has foisted new economies on them and we bring our coughs and raincoats, our tousled nights into their morning. they have admitted us into their forecourt; see how they move soft-shoed across perfect floors as if they have already died and are waiting... their high-pitched, sweet old-woman voices tremble like doves under the ceiling; here the body comfortable, the mind at ease, they have been caught in the quicklime and erosion of their Christ; what a fine old love-story it has been, drawing to its close now, into its consummation. We have located ourselves a moment in their space; the day is ahead of us, the cars waiting; soon we will move, congratulating one another, back to our own affairs. Excerpts, "The Leitrim Guardian."