Travel Information

A car trip to Ireland is not complete without visiting one of the country’s many medieval castles. Ireland has so many historic castles that a traveller will be hard-pressed to choose which ones to visit in his travels by car. One of the more romantic castles in Ireland is Kylemore Abbey, it is a fairy tale-like castle set in a neo-Gothic manner. It dramatically stands at the foot of a mountain in Connemara. The many battlements, towers and turrets are mirrored in the calm water of the lake. Kylemore Abbey is actually considered as the most photographed building in the whole of western Ireland. The castle, which is now used as a convent, was built around the 1860’s for the Manchester MP Mitchell Henry. IT was designed by James Franklin Fuller and Ussher Roberts. The building was the product of his wife’s admiration for the place a decade or so earlier. When Henry finally acquired the money, he bought the land and had the house built. Construction of the castle took five years and at a great cost. The finished building was very opulent, with many reception rooms as well as a ballroom that has a sprung floor, a grand staircase, library, study – not to mention the thirty-three rooms. Although there are only four bathrooms constructed, the house has a Turkish bath. Other areas constructed were a laundry, dairy, model farm, chapel, saw mill and Gothic Church. Kylemore Abbey is one of those unique attractions that require a visit. Of course, travelling by car is the best way to tour Ireland. So do rent a car, travel Ireland and don’t forget to stop over at Kylemore Abbey.