Brief History

Built as a breath-taking castle in 1868, Kylemore Abbey’s history is a truly remarkable one. The twists of fate which its occupants experienced, from moments of romance and happiness to sadness and courage have all combined to create a fascinating history spanning over 150 years, and a legacy of innovation, education, and spirituality. For the past 100 years, it has been an abbey and home to a Benedictine Community of Nuns who invite visitors to engage in Kylemore’s incredible story “From Generation to Generation”.

While travelling in Connemara in the early 1850's the couple saw the hunting lodge in the Kylemore valley which Mitchell later bought and planned as an elaborate love token for Margaret and as a 'nesting place' for the growing Henry family. Throughout their 35-year residence in Kylemore, the Henry’s developed the beautiful estate, suffered great loss, and Mitchell Henry became a key figure of Irish politics and social reform.

One of Kylemore Castle’s more colourful past residents was the Duke of Manchester, William Angus Drogo Montague, and his American heiress wife, the Duchess Helena Zimmerman. Despite spending less than 11 years in residence in Kylemore, this stylish couple made many changes to the castle during their time and they were often a source of intrigue in the locality and beyond.

From their beginnings in Brussels in 1598 to their flight to Ireland as refugees of World War One, to finding and making their home in Kylemore Abbey, where they have, for the past 100 years overcome many challenges and setbacks to continue in their mission and follow the Rule of St. Benedict.

Having always being deeply rooted in providing education, in 1923, three years after arriving to Kylemore, the Benedictine nuns founded and ran Kylemore Abbey School (Scoil Aine) until it finally closed its doors in 2010. A boarding and day school for locals, national and international students alike, Kylemore gained a reputation far in excess of its physical size. Today hundreds of alumnae around the world fondly remember their time as 'K' girls in the magical location of Kylemore Abbey”.

Many of the mountains and lakes in this area have ancient stories associated with them, which are captured and immortalised in their original Irish names. Here is a selection of local legends of Kylemore…

Over the approximately 180 years since Mitchell Henry and his newly wed Margaret honeymooned in Connemara and first caught site of Kylemore Lodge, the region has endured and experienced a variety of hardships and developments which has shaped the people of Connemara and Kylemore’s role within the area.