Visiting Kylemore Abbey in Connemara Ireland

Kylemore Abbey Ireland in the midst of mountains and lakes that are steeped in history and lies in the midst of what Oscar Wilde called “Connemara’s savage beauty”. Set in the west of Ireland the region of Connemara, Galwayis a land of awe-inspiring beauty. Wild windswept bogs, glacial lakes and a truly unspoilt natural beauty. It is probably the most famous Abbey and attraction in Ireland.

Connemara is a feast of rough mountains, glistening lakes and constantly changing skies. The roads seem to wind endlessly around one gorgeous view after another. From Killary Fjord to sheep traffic throughout the neighbouring farms, Connemara is simply stunning. Kylemore Abbey, Galway Ireland is one of Ireland’s finest historic sites and sometimes referred to as the Castle of Connemara with its turrets and crenellations.

Where is Kylemore Abbey located? Kylemore is tucked into the base of a small mountain on the edge of a glistening lake in Connemara. The tale of the Abbey at Kylemore begins with a tragic love story.

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History of Kylemore Abbey

The Tragedy of Kylemore

Kylemore was a gift of love for Mitchell Henry’s wife Margaret Vaughan. Mitchell was born in Manchester but was immensely proud of his Irish heritage and he brought Margaret to Ireland on their honeymoon in 1840. This was during some of the worst times in Irish history during the famine but both could see the potential of the area and the beauty under the despair of the people. They both wanted to settle and help the area grow.

A Doctor, Mitchell quit his practice to become a politician where he felt he could make the most change in the world. As a result of a massive inheritance, he was determined to build his great home in Ireland.

The Connemara Castle

Mitchell bought the estate that we now know as Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian walled garden as a gift for his wife and their growing family.

Kylemore Abbey was designed by an Irish architect named James Franklin Fuller. It was a lavish structure for the time and filled with all the modern Victorian conveniences.

Kylemore Castle at that time was built in 1867 with 33 bedrooms, 4 modern bathrooms, dozens of offices and domestic staff rooms, a library, study, sitting rooms, ballroom, gunroom and many more. The Castle was built to the exacting Victorian standards of the day including blasting out the mountain so that the house could sit with perfect views of Lough Pollaacapull.

The story of Kylemore is a tragedy which struck several years later on a family tour of Egypt where Margaret died as the result of an unknown virus. Her body was embalmed and returned to Kylemore. Local legend says that Margaret was laid out in a glass coffin so the locals could come and pay their respect until she was laid to rest in the Mausoleum. The mausoleum holds the bodies of Margaret Henry, Mitchell Henry and a great-grandnephew.

Mitchell never really recovered from the loss of his wife although his children helped him manage the estate until 1903 when it was sold to the Duke of Manchester.

The Duke and Duchess of Manchester lived an incredibly lavish lifestyle and when they moved into Kylemore Castle, they set about renovating it. They removed much of Mitchell’s Italian-inspired interiors and made the castle more suitable for the massive entertainments they hope to host. Unfortunately, they ripped out the beautiful German stained glass window in the staircase hall and much of the local Connemara marble. The locals were not happy about this.

Rumour had it that the Duke lost Kylemore to a gambling debt and he and his wife divorced several years later. The Benedictine Order of Nuns took over Kylemore in 1920 and it was then that the Castle became Kylemore Abbey.

The nuns opened or rather reopened their boarding school which was originally in Brussels. Local girls attended Kylemore as a day school and the nuns also ran a farm and a guesthouse. There was a terrible fire in 1959 but the school continued and eventually closed in 2010.

Starting in 2015, the Abbey established a collaboration with the University of Notre Dame in the United States, enabling the hosting of academic programs for students. As part of this partnership, the university undertook the renovation of certain areas within the abbey. Additionally, in 2021, the Kylemore Abbey Biodiversity Stewardship Programme emerged through a collaboration between the abbey and NUI Galway. This initiative has provided students with the opportunity to study and document the remarkable biodiversity present on the Kylemore estate.

Kylemore Abbey Facts

Who owns Kylemore Abbey?

The Kylemore Abbey Global Centre is part of the University of u003ca href=u0022https://kylemore.nd.edu/about/#:~:text=The%20Kylemore%20Abbey%20Global%20Centre%20is%20part%20of%20the%20University,Jerusalem%2C%20London%2C%20and%20Rome.u0022u003eNotre Dame’s global networku003c/au003e. Notre Dame International oversees Global Gateways centred in Beijing, Dublin, Jerusalem, London, and Rome.

Do nuns still live at Kylemore Abbey?

There are still 10 nuns that live at the Abbey.

Is Kylemore Abbey Catholic?

Considered to be one of the oldest religious monastic traditions dating from the fifth century, the community at Kylemore Abbey was u003cstrongu003efu003c/strongu003eounded in 1920 by nuns who fled Belgium during World War 1. The present Benedictine nuns of Kylemore Abbey have a long history, beginning in Brussels in 1598.

What famous people went to school at Kylemore?

Hollywood actress Anjelica Huston spent her schooldays under the tutelage of the Sisters and Madonna at one time wanted to send her daughters to the Connemara college.

Can you stay at Kylemore Abbey?

The Kylemore Abbey Global Centre also offers conferences, retreats, and seminars, including recurring annual and biennial events. The Abbey has en-suite rooms where participants in workshops, retreats and conferences can stay.

how long to spend at Kylemore Abbey?

I would suggest around 4 hours to see Kylemore Abbey and visit the incredible walled gardens.

How far is Kylemore Abbey from Galway?

Kylemore Abbey is approximately an hour’s drive from Galway.

How far is Kylemore Abbey from Westport?

It is around a 50 minute drive from the Town of Westport.

What to see at Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey Gardens – Victorian Walled Gardens

The real highlight of visiting the Kylemore Estate is strolling the 6-acre Victorian Walled Garden the garden was extremely advanced for its time and was even compared to Kew Gardens in London. The buildings are beautifully restored and there are woodland walks, gurgling streams, nature trails and play trails for the children. Your ticket to Kylemore includes a shuttle bus that is caught behind the Visitors Centre and it takes you down to the gardens.

The Kylemore Abbey gardens are divided by a mountain stream. The eastern part of the garden includes the formal flower garden. Comprised of roughly 6 acres, the Garden is divided in two by a beautiful mountain stream. The eastern half includes the formal flower garden, which only contains authentic Victorian plants and flowers. There are glass houses the head gardener’s house and the garden bothy. A bothy, by the way, is a small shelter that was built for labourers and gardeners to take shelter in.

The western side of the garden includes a herbaceous border, espaliered fruit trees, a herb garden, and a rockery. As every good Victorian garden should, there is also a fernery.

Kylemore is considered a Heritage garden that only displays and grows plants from the Victorian era. The walls are built from Irish granite, and Scottish red stone and they protect the garden from all manner of inclement weather and wandering sheep.

The Gothic Church at Kylemore

Nestled in the woods a short walk from the Abbey is the neo-gothic church that Mitchell built for his wife Margaret. Modelled on much greater cathedrals the church is a perfect miniature. A short distance you will find the Mausoleum where both Mitchell and Margaret are buried side by side.

No visit to Kylemore is complete without making a wish on the Giant’s Ironing Stone. This great hunk of rock legend says was dropped here by two baby giants playing near their mother’s hot iron. However, there’s another legend that says Cuchulain and Fionn Mc Cool were tossing around a hot iron from a nearby mountain and they are the ones who dropped it.

The Benedictine Abbey at Kylemore Abbey

The Abbey is the oldest of the Irish Benedictine Abbeys. It is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. I have to be honest here the Abbey is a little disappointing. You are only allowed to visit the first floor and it’s a little old and tired looking. The nuns still occupy the Abbey to the rear of the main house so it’s completely understandable that they must be afforded some peace and quiet.

Kylemore Abbey interior

Kylemore Abbey’s restored period rooms can be seen on a self-guided tour which begins in the entrance hall, which is oak-panelled, and needs a good clean and leads into the inner and saloon hall. The inner hall has a lovely grand staircase and a large leaded glass window.

The two rooms that are somewhat original to the house are the Drawing room and the Dining room. Both are dressed and fitted with antiques close to the original periods. These rooms do need a good clean and proper dressing and restoration. The dining room has a table set for dinner and some original items. There is also a beautiful Kilkenny marble fireplace. The Drawing room has a beautiful Italian marble fireplace and hand-stencilled wallpaper. As you go into the room, you will see an original portrait of Margaret Henry on the left.

Visiting Kilkenny a tale of witches, beer and a medieval mile

The Morning Room contains a collection of artefacts of the Benedictine community and some beautiful hand-embroidered religious garments. Across from the entrance hall, you will see a display of the history of the school.

The Visitors Centre and Cafe

Across from the Abbey and Gardens entrance sits a Visitors Centre and Mitchell’s Cafe. There is also a Garden Tea House, which sits just outside the walled garden, which is a gorgeous place for a cuppa in the blooming months. As per usual with most of these types of tourist places, the food is merely adequate and overpriced.

The gift store is a good size but for the life of me, I simply cannot figure out why it would feature Naomi Campbell’s jewellery – what this has to do with Kylemore Abbey let alone Ireland is beyond me. However, you can purchase Kylemore Abbey chocolate and soaps made by the nun.

How to get to Kylemore Abbey

As I mentioned above Kylemore Abbey is located in Connemara, Co. Galway, in the West of Ireland. It sits on the N59 highway between Clifden and Westport. It is very easy to get to from Shannon, Galway City, Westport or Cong, if you have rented a car.

The drive from Dublin will be around 3-4 hours so you would probably want to stay overnight in a nearby location. From Shannon Airport, for example, it is about a 3-hour drive from Galway City around 1 and 1/2 hours.

How to get to Kylemore Abbey from Galway

Kylemore Abbey is located in Connemara, Co. Galway, in the West of Ireland on the iconic Wild Atlantic Way. Situated on the N59 between Clifden and Westport, it is easily accessible from Shannon and Knock Airport, Galway City, Clifden, Cong, and Westport.

Driving Directions: From Galway: 80km (50 miles). Driving Time 1hr 15minutes. Take the N59 for Clifden and continue through Oughterard and Maam Cross until you pass through Recess. Turn right on the R344 signposted Letterfrack, through Inagh Valley, turn left onto the N59 loop for Kylemore and follow the road. Kylemore Abbey is approximately two kilometres ahead on the right-hand side.

How to get to Kylemore Abbey from Clifden

From Clifden: 20km (12.5 miles). Driving Time 25 minutes. Take the N59 for Westport and continues past the entrance to Connemara National Park, through Letterfrack Village Kylemore Abbey will be on your left-hand side approximately three kilometres from Letterfrack.

How to get to Kylemore Abbey from Westport

From Westport: 50km (31 miles). Driving Time 50 minutes. Take the N59 for Clifden. You will pass through Leenane and then Killary Harbour before winding along Kylemore Lake and Kylemore Abbe will be on your right-hand side. (Alternate route possible via Croagh Patrick and Louisburgh).

Dublin to Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey is over 283 kilometres from Dublin and I recommend renting a car. If you don’t have a car, you can take connecting buses from Dublin to Galway and then to Kylemore Abbey, or take an organized tour from Galway which will more than likely include Cong and Connemara.

Public Transport to Kylemore Abbey from Dublin

Due to the fact that public transport in Ireland for the rural areas is dismal, it could be a bit of a journey to get to Kylemore Abbey by bus or train. From Dublin, for example, you would take a train and then transfer to a bus for a 5+-hour journey and a 10-minute walk. If you wanted to go by bus, it would be very similar to the train journey and take around 6 hours.

Bus to Kylemore Abbey

If you are not part of a bus tour, there are still many ways to reach Kylemore either by public bus or via a day tour company.

Bus Eireann and Citylink both operate regional services that can bring you to Kylemore (Bus Eireann only), to Letterfrack Village, to the nearby town of Clifden from where you can get a taxi or private tour.

A number of private tour operators run Connemara Day Tours throughout the year which include a stop at Kylemore. Tour providers include Healy’s Galway Bus Tours, Lally Tours, Galway Tour Company and Wild Atlantic Way Day Tours.

If you are planning a day trip to Connemara that will include Kylemore Abbey here’s what to do on a day trip from Galway City to Connemara.

There are lots of private tour groups and operators that run tours to Kylemore and Connemara. These range from full-day tours from both Dublin and Galway to tours spread over a few days.

Castles of Connemara tour departing from Galway City. Guided. Full day

Discover the scenic castles of Connemara with a small-group tour departing from Galway City. Skip the hassle of a rental car and leave the driving to your guide during this full-day minibus tour that includes top Connemara landmarks like Kylemore Abbey and Ballynahinch Castle. Explore the castles and estate grounds at your leisure. Weather permitting, drive the famous Sky Road and admire countryside views. Explore beyond Galway with a full-day tour See three different castles in Connemara Explore the castles and grounds at your own pace Round-trip transportation from Galway included

Kylemore Abbey tickets

If you buy your tickets on-site for the Abbey, it will cost you €15 or 13.30 online and a family with up to 6 kids up to 10 years costs €28.00 and €26.60 online.

Ticket prices all include the following:

· The restored rooms in the Abbey (Ground Floor Only)

· Audio-Visual presentation in the Abbey

· History Talks in the Abbey at 11.30 am, 1.00 pm and 3 pm

· The Neo-Gothic Church

· The Mausoleum+

· Woodland and Lakeshore Walks

· The Victorian Walled Garden (Including shuttle bus to and from the Garden)

· Entry to performances in the Neo-Gothic Church when scheduled.

· Guided Garden Tours in June, July and August (see events calendar)

Kylemore Abbey hours

1st November -13th March: 10.00 am to 4.30 pm
14th March-3rd April: 09.00 am to 5.30 pm
4th April-4th October: 9.00 am to 6.30 pm
5th October-1st November: 10.00 am to 4.30 pm

Bank Holidays will operate as normal working hours

Kylemore Abbey Accessibility

Kylemore Abbey is somewhat accessible but it is limited. The Abbey itself has a step to the entrance hall and the rooms are somewhat limited. The Gothic Chapel is not wheelchair accessible. The shuttle bus to the gardens is all wheelchair accessible and the paths, although gravel, can be navigated there are some steps and steep inclines.

Kylemore Abbey stands as a magnificent testament to Ireland’s rich history, stunning natural beauty, and enduring spirit of human resilience. Its captivating story, from its origins as a grand castle to its transformation into a place of education and spiritual solace, has captured the hearts and imaginations of countless visitors over the years.

The abbey’s picturesque location in the heart of Connemara, nestled amidst the towering mountains and tranquil lakes, provides a serene setting that adds to its allure. The surrounding landscapes offer a glimpse into the unspoiled beauty of Ireland’s west coast, drawing visitors from far and wide to experience the enchantment firsthand.

Would love to hear your honest opinion about Kylemore Abbey or any other places that you might have visited in Ireland.

Author

Faith

Faith was born in Ireland raised in Canada and has lived in over 10 countries in Europe including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales, along with Mexico, Antigua, the US and has slow travelled to over 40 countries around the world. Graduating with a degree in Anthropology and Women's Studies Faith is a student of history, culture, community and food and has written about these topics for over 40 years.

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