An ancient enclosed order of nuns has embraced social media to reach out to the world.

THEY live a hidden life of prayer, penance, and perpetual adoration behind closed doors, following a deeply religious way of life which has remained largely unchanged since the 13th century.

Celebrating the 800th anniversary of its formation, the enclosed contemplative order of the Poor Clare nuns has embraced the internet as a means of reaching out to the world.

LIVING in silence and prayer, former president Mary McAleese enjoyed a cloistered existence for a number of days each year with the Poor Clare nuns.

DESPITE the general economic doom and gloom, there was a spring in the step of the thousands of rural people who flocked to the national and European ploughing championships in Athy, Co Kildare, yesterday.

By Tommy Barker