When Mitchell Henry and his wife Margaret travelled to Connemara in the 1850s they fell in love with the region. Mitchell returned in the 1860s and purchased the estate of Kylemore and built a splendid castle as an elaborate gift for his wife. Kylemore was changed from a barren, rugged landscape to lush woodland with a wonderful 6 acre Victorian Walled Garden, and every innovation of the Victorian age.

Home to the Benedictine Nuns since 1920, Kylemore has been renowned as a place of spirituality and education ever since. Visiting Kylemore you will learn of the tales of tragedy and romance, engineering initiatives, model farms and Royal visits. Enjoy the Victorian atmosphere in the Abbey before visiting the beautiful Gothic Church. Explore the magical Victorian Walled Garden, along with extensive lakeside walks and tree-lined avenues.

The Victorian Walled Garden is an oasis of ordered splendour in the wild Connemara countryside. One of the last great walled gardens built during the Victorian period in Ireland, it was so advanced for the time that it was compared in magnificence with Kew Gardens in London.

As the years passed the garden fell into decline and became completely overgrown, with brambles and trees hiding all traces of its former glory. The Benedictine nuns began an extensive programme of restoration in 1995 and in the year 2000 the Garden was opened to the public. The Garden restoration project won the prestigious Europa Nostra Award in 2001 and now attracts garden lovers from all over the world.

Comprising approximately 6 acres, the Garden is divided in two by a beautiful mountain stream. The eastern half includes the formal flower garden, glass houses, the head gardener’s house and the garden bothy. The western part of the garden includes the vegetable garden, herbaceous border, fruit trees, and a rockery and herb garden. The Garden also contains a shaded fernery, an important feature of any Victorian Garden. The Garden forms part of your visit to the Kylemore estate which also includes the majestic Abbey and the beautiful neo-Gothic Church and extensive woodland and lakeshore walks.

Today, Kylemore is a Heritage Garden heritage displaying only plant varieties from the Victorian era. The bedding is changed twice a year, for Spring and Summer and its colours change throughout the year.

Kylemore Craft and Design Shop stocks the best of Irish fashion, jewellery and gifts as well as beautiful Kylemore Abbey Pottery made in the on-site Pottery Studio. You can also buy chocolates, soaps and skincare products handmade by the Benedictine nuns at Kylemore.

Sit back and relax in the award winning Mitchell’s café or the beautifully located Garden Tea House. Home baking is a specialty with traditional scones; fruit pies and crumbles always ready to delight!

Seasonal highlights

Spring bedding including a wide variety of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, etc from late march to early April. Summer bed from May to the end of September. A great variety of colour into late autumn depending on the weather.