First port of call for many a visitor to Connemara is Kylemore Abbey and for good reason. This beautiful abbey, with its unique lakeside setting, walled gardens, neo-Gothic Church and woodland trail offers plenty to keep you occupied for several hours.
About Kylemore Abbey
Kylemore Abbey was originally a castle built in the late 1800s by Mitchell and Margaret Henry. While travelling in Connemara, they fell in love with the then Kylemore lodge and some years later, Mitchell purchased the lodge and surrounding estate and began work on the castle, providing much needed employment in the surrounding area.
The castle was intended to demonstrate Mitchell’s love for Margaret and to be a nest where they would raise their family. It wasn’t long however, until tragedy struck. Margaret became ill while on a family holiday to Egypt and passed away only a few years after the castle was completed. Mitchell returned to Kylemore and continued to live there with his family, developing the grounds and estate until 1902, when the castle was sold to the Duke of Manchester. In more recent times, the castle has been home to Benedictine nuns and a girl’s school.
The new visitor experience, opened in 2019, guides the visitor through the entire history of the castle, bringing all of these stories to life.
A visit to Kylemore Abbey, however, has much more to offer. The estate boasts fabulous walled gardens for you to ramble around, taking in the wonderful arrays of colourful flowers and the views of Diamond Hill and the Connemara Mountains. There is also the lovely neo-Gothic church on the grounds which is well worth a visit with its stunning stained-glass windows and pillars of marble from different corners of Ireland.
When you are done exploring, pop into the restaurant and have a home-cooked meal or browse the extensive craft and design shop, which features, among many other specialities, chocolate and soaps hand made by the Benedictine Nuns or the wonderful Kylemore Fuchsia pottery.
For more information and ticket sales contact Ireland Tourist Attractions | Kylemore Abbey in Connemara