THE TRACING of place names in a country in Africa can be both fascinating and frustrating. One must know – or quickly learn – something about history,.
THE TRACING of place names in a country in Africa can be both fascinating and frustrating. One must know – or quickly learn – something about history,.
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We take a look at the history of Kylemore Abbey, in County Galway, and in particular its relationship with the Benedictine nuns.
The first sight of Kylemore Abbey is one of the most dramatic and memorable of all the tourist sights in Ireland. The castellated and turreted Abbey is nestled under dramatic mountain-scape and fronted by a large lake. It has a picture-book appearance that is almost improbable – and its history shows that, indeed, there was nothing organic about the way in which this estate rose from the Connemara landscape.
The perfect positioning of the castle, the impact of the vista across Lough Pollacapull and the gardens, orchards and woodlands were all part of the vision and labour of Mitchell Henry, who owned the estate from 1867 to 1902. When the Benedictines arrived in 1920, the area had benefited from Henry’s financial investment; but it had also suffered the consequences of a century of famine, emigration, political unrest and poverty.