| Kylemore Abbey has a superb picturesque | | | | school for girls which runs to this present day |
| lakeside setting, surrounded by woodlands at the | | | | although the school is due to close in 2010. The |
| foot of the Twelve Pins Mountains. The Abbey | | | | boarding school is presently located in the abbey |
| (which looks more like a charming fairy tale castle) | | | | part of the castle. |
| is said to be one of the most admired buildings in | | | | The Benedictine nuns also ran farm and a |
| Ireland, with its very impressive neo-gothic style | | | | guesthouse here, but the guesthouse had to close |
| exterior standing out against the backdrop of wild | | | | in 1959 due to a fire. The nuns lead a monastic |
| and beautiful Connemara. | | | | life of dedication to prayer and work and a |
| It was originally called Kylemore Castle and was | | | | section or the Abbey is sectioned off and strictly |
| built around 1863 as a residence for a wealthy | | | | accessed only by the nuns. |
| English politician named Mitchell Henry. It took | | | | One of the most notable features of the abbey is |
| about 5 years to complete the castle. | | | | the magnificent neo-gothic church (which looks like |
| Kylemore Abbey is the home of the Benedictine | | | | a miniature cathedral!). The building of this church |
| Order of Nuns in Ireland who have lived here | | | | started in 1877 when Mitchell Henry decided to |
| since 1920. The nuns decided to open a boarding | | | | dedicate it as a memorial to his dead wife. |