A grand abbey on an esteemed estate, Kylemore Abbey is a monastery founded in the 1920s by a group of Benedictine nuns. Forced to flee Ypres in Belgium after their home there was destroyed by the atrocities of the First World War, the nuns came to County Galway on the west coast of Ireland to start anew.
Kylemore Abbey lies on the grounds of the magnificent Kylemore Castle, an intimidating jewel of 19th century Irish architecture. Cradled at the foothills of the Connemara National ParkOpens in a new window on the glistening shores of Lough Pollacapall, the Kylemore Estate fell into disrepair from the early 20th century. Upon their arrival after the war, the nuns began the mammoth task of renovating Kylemore Abbey, its church and its gardens. Today, visitors can take a tour of Kylemore Abbey and its extensive grounds.
Particularly popular with visitors is the Victorian walled garden, constructed in the 1860s along with Kylemore Castle. Brought back to its early lustre by the Kylemore Abbey nuns, the garden is now a tranquil walking spot and place of reflection. The ornate church on the estate is also notable. It was built by Mitchell Henry, the original owner of the estate, in memory of his wife Margaret who died on the Nile in 1874. The church is a true feat of Gothic opulence.
While remote, you can reach Kylemore Abbey easily via the N59 Sligo to Galway road, which passes close to the estate without disturbing the peace in this restful setting.
