Life Is Full of Sweet Spots

“On the whole,

monks do not become famous

– and that is a good thing –

but monasteries do –

and that is an excellent thing.

In other words, it is

the community that matters.”

— Basil Hume

Covering approximately 40,000 sq.’ with a principal wall that was two to three feet thick, Kylemore Castle in Galway took a total of one hundred men and four years to complete. Its story began in 1867 with the start of its construction for a wealthy London doctor and his textile manufacturing family. (1)

There were over seventy rooms, including 33 bedrooms, four sitting rooms, a ballroom, billiard room, library, study, school room, smoking room, gun room and various offices and domestic staff residences. Seen here is one of four Victorian bathrooms or water closets. (2)

Other property attractions include a ‘miniature cathedral’ in neo-Gothic Church style, (3)

formal walled gardens, (4)

even a pigsty, home of Kune Kune pigs, Ken and Gloria. (5)

Today the Castle is known as Kylemore Abbey, home to a community of Benedictine nuns who fled Belgium in World War I. Following the monastic rule of St. Benedict, the nuns live, pray and work on the estate. (6)

*   *   *

Fifth in a continuing series of words and images of Ireland travels

Photos 1, 3, 5 by Jan Logozzo • Photos 2, 4, 6 by Mary O’Connor

© 2023