Kylemore Abbey Mainistir na Coille Móire - Coill Mór
meaning Great Wood, is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the
grounds of Kylemore Castle in Connemara, County Galway. The abbey was
founded for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I, and is the oldest of the Irish Benedictine Abbeys.
Originally called Kylemore
Castle, it was built between 1863 and 1868 as a private home for the
family of Mitchell Henry, a wealthy politician from Manchester, England
who was also MP for Galway County from 1871 to 1885.
The Community of nuns have a long history stretching back almost three hundred and fifty years. Founded in Ypres, Belgium, in
1665, The purpose was to provide an educational and religious community
for Irish women during times of persecution here in Ireland and was
formally made over to the Irish nation in 1682. Down through the
centuries, Ypres Abbey attracted the daughters of the Irish nobility,
both as students and postulates, and enjoyed the patronage of many
influential Irish families living in exile.
At the request of
King James II, the nuns moved to Dublin in 1688. However, they returned
to Ypres, following James’ defeat at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The
Community finally left Ypres after their Abbey was destroyed in the
early days of World War I. The Community first took refuge in England
and later in Co. Wexford, before eventually settling in Kylemore in
December 1920. Here they reopened their international boarding school,
and established a day school for local girls.
They also ran a farm and guest-house; the latter was closed
after a devastating fire in 1959. A section of the Abbey (the
enclosure) is retained strictly for the nuns’ use and is not open to
the public. Here they devote themselves to their monastic life of
prayer and work.
The house and gardens are open to the public. The nuns decided to close the school in 2010, although they do not plan to sell
the property, and will continue to reside there.
