Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden

Kylemore Abbey is a Benedictine monastery, but was formerly the home of Mitchell Henry, a wealthy doctor from London and later politician/MP for Country Galway. The castle was built between 1867 and 1871 and was designed by James Franklin Fuller. It is a magnificant construction, requiring 100 men for 4 years to complete.

Granite was brought by sea from Dalkey on the east coast, near Dublin. Limestone was brought from Ballinasloe (eastern county Galway).

Like many visitors to Galway and Connemara today, Mitchell Henry originally came for the fishing. He received a sizable inheritance on the death of his father who owned a cotton business in Manchester and decided to construct Kylemore Castle. He believed in improvement and advancement, and started the process of reclaiming bogland, making the estate productive, and providing much needed employment for the local people.

The Castle and lands were acquired by the Benedictine nuns in 1920 who needed to relocate from Ypres, Belgium following the destruction of their abbey during World War I. The nuns offered education to Catholic girls and established an international boarding school as well as a day school at Kylemore. The school chosed in 2010, but the Benedictine nuns continue to run the Abbey and estate.

Visitors can view the restored rooms and hear stories of romance and tragedy from its past. There is also a 6 acre Victorian Walled Garden, woodland and lakeside walks and nature trails to explore.

Enjoy a meal or treat at the café/restaurant and tea rooms with delicious home baked scones, pies, crumbles and deserts.

There is also a craft and design shop offering jewellery, pottery, chocolates and skincare products hand-made by the Benedicine nuns of Kylemore.

Kylemore Abbey is located on the N59 between Clifden and Westport.

For information about visiting hours and admission prices, click the "More info" link below.