Description:
Kylemore Abbey is situated in Connemara, Co. Galway, in the west of lreland. The estate has a long history, but the gardens began with the arrival of Mitchell Henry, an English businessman, and his wife, who visited the area in the 1850s, and fell in love with its wild splendour. They purchased the estate of about 18,000 acres (c. 7200 ha.) and built a large baronial Castle, a walled garden and later, a memorial Church. The construction of the gardens started about 1868, and when completed it was one of the finest in the country and contained one of the largest range of glass houses outside the national Botanic Gardens. In 1922 the lrish Benedictine Nuns purchased the estate and since then have been based at Kylemore Abbey. Due to Iack of funds the Nuns were unable to restore the various elements for many years, but from about 1985 have expended a great deal of energy and money in conserving and restoring the Church, the Abbey and finally the Walled Gardens.