Ireland - Day 10 - June 14, 2013

Well, we were up and going again quite early this morning.  Today we were heading toward Donegal and were scheduled to visit Clifden, Connemara National Park, and Kylemore Abbey.  I had really been looking forward to this part of the trip.  I knew I was about to see some very pretty countryside and I really was looking forward to the visit of Kylemore Abbey.  Just from the pictures in the travel books and on the Internet, I knew it was going to be beautiful.

The beautiful weather we had been enjoying up to this point just couldn't last forever.  Today the clouds broke and the rain fell.  It was actually a cold and miserable day, but that still didn't hamper my enjoyment of the sites we saw.  Clifden and Connemara are absolutely gorgeous spots, but when we arrived at Kylemore my breath was taken away.  There is no way that words or pictures can do this location justice.  I keep using the adjectives, absolutely beautiful, but that is the best that I can come up with.

This home was built by Mitchell Henry for his wife, Margaret.  Tradition has it that the couple visited Connemara while on their honeymoon and were enchanted by the beauty (I can see why) of the landscape.  The Castle was started in 1867 and finished in 1871.  Margaret died while the family was on holiday to Egypt in 1875 (she was only 49).  After her death he did not spend much time here, but he did build her a beautiful memorial church where she was laid to rest.  He died in 1910 and is also buried there.

In 1903, Mitchell sold Kylemore Castle to the Duke and Duchess of Manchester. They lived a lavish lifestyle financed by the Duchess’ wealthy father, the American businessman, Eugene Zimmerman.The Duke and Duchess of Manchester spent only a few years at the castle. The property was heavily mortgaged and on the death of Eugene Zimmerman in 1914, the Castle was taken over by Ernest Fawke, a London banker, who installed a caretaker and land agent until a buyer was found 7 years later.

In 1920, The Irish Benedictine Nuns purchased Kylemore Castle, where they ran an international boarding school and established a day school for local girls. They also ran a farm and guesthouseOver the years, the Nuns graciously opened the estate to the education and enjoyment of all who visit, developing excellent facilities as well as restoring and conserving the many historical features.  The school closed for good in 2003 and the estate now solely operates as a tourist attraction.

After a ride through the beautiful Connemara National Park we arrived at our nightly lodging at the Best Western in Sligo.