Kylemore. The Castle was built by Mitchell and Margaret Henry from 1867 – to 1871. Tradition is that the couple visited Connemara on their honeymoon and were enchanted by the beauty of the landscape. They constructed the magnificent Castle, complete with gardens, walks and woodlands on 13,000 acres of land at a cost of little over £18,000. There were 33 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 sitting rooms, ballroom, billard room, library, study, school room, smoking room, gun room and various offices and domestic staff residences for the butler, cook, housekeeper and other servants.

The sudden death of his wife in 1874 motivated him to build the gothic ‘cathedral in miniature’ on the site in memory of his beloved wife. Set against the cream sandstone are marble pillars from the different provinces of Ireland; the green marble of Connemara (Connaught), the red marble of Cork (Munster), the black marble of Kilkenny (Leinster) and the grey marble from Ulster.

In 1920, The Irish Benedictine Nuns purchased Kylemore Castle along with 10,000 acres for a little over £45,000. It remains active as an Abbey today.