Visiting Kylemore Abbey

On a beautiful day in July, we took another daytrip during our staycation. Where the covid19 lockdown had just been lifted, we had decided to stay put this year and rediscover the most beautiful locations in Ireland.
On this particular day, we were touring around stunning Connemara, an area in County Galway famous for it's tiny coves, the twelve Bens mountain range and its beautiful beaches with crystal clear water of the Atlantic.

As it was the start of the holiday season and as the lockdown had just been lifted, it was remarkably quiet on the roads. Where Connemara's twisty roads would normally be full of tour busses and foreign cars, this time round it was the odd Irish campervan.
We had many times visited Kylemore Abbey (https://www.kylemoreabbey.com/), but this time-round we had decided to take an actual tour of the fabulous walled gardens and the Abbey.

Kylemore Abbey sits in one of the most breathtaking locations in Ireland, flanked by a serene lake and surrounded by the majestic mountains of Connemara. It’s easy to understand why this spot was chosen for the construction of the castle back in 1867. The vast estate was purchased by Henry Mitchell Henry as a romantic gift for his wife, Margaret Vaughan Henry.
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Tragically, only a few years after the castle was completed, Margaret died while the family were travelling abroad. Heartbroken, Henry continued to develop the estate, providing work for the local community, but the house never felt the same to him after her passing.
In 1920, a group of Benedictine nuns fleeing war‑torn Ypres in Belgium found refuge at Kylemore. They established an international boarding school as well as a day school for local girls, bringing new life and purpose to the estate.

After finishing the self‑guided tour, we made our way towards the Wishing Stone and the Gothic Church, both beautifully set against the dramatic backdrop of the estate. From there, a charming tree‑lined lane led us towards the Victorian Walled Garden. Although we could have taken the short shuttle bus, we preferred to stay outdoors and enjoy the fresh Connemara air, so we walked the twenty minutes instead.

The gardens, once fallen into disrepair, have now been lovingly restored to their former glory. Covering six acres, the garden is divided by a small stream edged with a variety of ferns. The eastern half features the formal flower garden, the glasshouses and the gardener’s cottage, while the western half is home to the vegetable plots, fruit trees and a colourful herbaceous border.
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We rounded off our visit with a browse through the gift shop and a relaxing stop in the tearoom, the perfect way to end our time at Kylemore before continuing our Connemara adventure.