Who originally owned Kylemore Abbey?

Who originally owned Kylemore Abbey?

Mitchell Henry
Early Years. Kylemore Castle was originally built as a 70-room private home for Mitchell Henry, a former doctor from England, and his wife. The Henrys, who are said to have fallen in love with the area while on honeymoon in Ireland, owned the castle until 1903 when it was bought by the Duke and Duchess of Manchester.

When was Kylemore Castle built?

1920
Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden/Opened

When was the Kylemore Abbey built?

It is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. The abbey was founded for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.

How long did it take to build Kylemore Abbey?

four years
The construction of the castle began in 1867, and took the total of one hundred men and four years to complete. The castle covered approximately 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2) and had over seventy rooms with a principal wall that was two to three feet thick.

Why did Kylemore Abbey school close?

The Benedictine community at the Abbey has now fallen to just 14 nuns. In February the Benedictine Order announced that it would finally be closing the doors of its school in August 2010 because of falling vocation numbers.

Who owns Kylemore Abbey in Ireland?

Ownership of the abbey will remain in the hands of the Kylemore Trust, controlled by the nuns. They moved into the 19th-century castle in 1920 after leaving their abbey in Ypres, Belgium in 1914, when the Flemish town was destroyed during the first World War.

How many nuns are in Kylemore Abbey?

This new monastery will be able to cater for and facilitate up to 40 nuns, with en-suite bedrooms, day rooms, chapel, and monastic choir, there will be facilities for guests and for the soon to be founded Benedictine Oblates who will expand the Benedictine family in the area.

When did Kylemore Abbey school closed?

However, members of the Benedictine Order will continue to live at the abbey and the world-famous Victorian gardens and house will remain open to the public. The trustees yesterday announced the decision to close the school in August 2010. This will allow all pupils to complete their second-level education.

Can you stay in Kylemore Abbey?

The Kylemore Abbey Global Centre features 16 en suite bedrooms, which can cater to student or professional groups.

Who paid for Kylemore Abbey restoration?

Fáílte Ireland, which part-funded the project under its Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects 2016-2020, hopes its investment will grow those numbers still further.

What is Kylemore Abbey famous for?

Kylemore Abbey Kylemore Abbey (Irish: Mainistir na Coille Móire) is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. The abbey was founded for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I. The current Mother Abbess of the Benedictine Community is Marie Hickey.

What is the history of Kylemore Castle?

History. Kylemore Castle was built in 1868 as a private home for the family of Mitchell Henry, a wealthy doctor from London whose family was involved in textile manufacturing in Manchester, England. He moved to Ireland when he and his wife Margaret purchased the land around the Abbey, after having travelled there on their honeymoon in…

What episode of Two Fat Ladies is Kylemore Abbey?

Kylemore Abbey was featured in the UK cooking show Two Fat Ladies, Season 3 Episode 1 “Benedictine Nuns” (1998). The host cooks Jennifer Paterson & Clarissa Dickson-Wright, cooked a dinner for the Benedictine nuns that live, work, and worship at Kylemore Abbey.

What happened to the abbey castle at Ypres?

The castle was sold to the Duke and Duchess of Manchester in 1903, who resided there for several years before being forced to sell the house and grounds because of gambling debts. In 1920, the Irish Benedictine Nuns purchased the Abbey castle and lands after they were forced to flee Ypres during World War I.