The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace launched Kenmare Press during its 135 anniversary year inspired by our founder, Mother Francis Clare (Margaret Anna Cusack). Mother Clare was a prolific writer and published many of her books under the Kenmare Publications imprint during her days as a Poor Clare in Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland.

Lives of the saints, local histories, biographies, books and pamphlets on social issues, letters to the press - all testify to her amazing industry and the wide range of her concerns. As the "Nun of Kenmare" she wrote on behalf of the liberation of women and children who were victims of oppression. Income from her books and from her famine relief fund was distributed throughout Ireland. While doing all she could to feed the hungry, at the same time she campaigned vigorously against the abuse of absentee landlords, lack of education for the poor and against a whole system of laws which degraded and oppressed a section of society.

To broaden the scope of her work Cusack moved to Knock, Co. Mayo in 1881 with the idea of expanding the ministry of the Poor Clares. She started an industrial school for young women and evening classes for daytime land-workers. Several women were attracted by this work and in 1884 she decided to found her own community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.

One of the original intended works of the new Congregation, as outlined in the original 1884 Constitutions, was the circulation of good books.

We are delighted to launch the Kenmare Press imprint in our founding spirit.

The easiest way to order books is online through our Kenmare Press Online bookstore. We are using the services of Lulu as our preferred online bookseller. Books will also be available through other online book outlets.

If you are located out of the United States, such as our readers in the United Kingdom, you may use the online bookstore or contact the Congregation Office at info@csjp.org to learn more about purchasing Kenmare Press publications.

Kenmare Press is an imprint of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. We publish a wide variety of genres, including biography and memoir, poetry, spiritual reflections, and social justice. Our authors and books have a significant connection to the Congregation, our ministries, spirituality, and charism of peace through justice.

The Congregation also publishes Living Peace, a free biannual publication of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace. The mission of Living Peace is to build community with a diverse audience by engaging our readers in contemplation and action for justice and peace through informative and reflective articles, poetry an prayers. If you would like to receive a free subscription to this publication, please enter your information in the online subscription form.