Kylemore Abbey #2 is a photograph by Norma Brock which was uploaded on March 7th, 2013.
Kylemore Abbey #2
This idyllic castle seems like something from a fairy tale, but you can visit it yourself in western Ireland. Deep in the heart of the Connemara is... more
by Norma Brock
Title
Kylemore Abbey #2
Artist
Norma Brock
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This idyllic castle seems like something from a fairy tale, but you can visit it yourself in western Ireland. Deep in the heart of the Connemara is the fantasy-like Kylemore Abbey which sits on the banks of Lough Pollacappul, also known as Kylemore Lake. The magnificent structure was built in the 1860s by Manchester textile tycoon Mitchell Henry as a gift to his beloved wife. They had visited the area on their honeymoon in 1849 and reportedly spent over £450,000 to create a fantastical dream world. The bogs were drained, gardens were planted, and this mirror like lake became a paradise.
Henry was a good man, reportedly loved by his new neighbors. The vast sums spent in building his castle brought employment and prosperity to the area and saved many a family from starvation during the Famine years.
Tragedy struck when Henry's beloved wife died in 1874 from Nile Fever. Then in 1892, Henry's daughter was killed when her horse threw her into a nearby river. Henry was so overwhelmed with grief that he sold the estate. The Benedictines purchased Kylemore Castle in 1920 and opened the Abbey as an international boarding school and day school for local girls.
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March 7th, 2013
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Viewed 417 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 03/29/2024 at 2:07 AM
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Comments (38)
JOHN TELFER
Charlie, Great capture of this castle nestled in the hills of Ireland, Great scenery all around
Vadim Levin
Great capture of the beautiful castle, its reflection n the lake and the magnificent mountain in the background