Galway to Kylemore Abbey and Cong: Private day trip

Built in 1868, Kylemore Abbey was originally the family home of Mitchell Henry, a wealthy English doctor, who moved to Ireland after visiting on his honeymoon. Henry eventually sold the estate to the Duke and Dutchess of Manchester, who in turn were forced to sell it to pay off their gambling debts. The buyers were an order of Benedictine Nuns from Ypres, Belgium, who had been bombed out of their abbey during World War I and rescued by the men of the 8th Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers. Today, the nuns invite visitors to experience the beautifully restored rooms, learn about their fascinating story, and admire the neo-Gothic architecture of the abbey and its church. On the expansive grounds, you’ll find plenty of pleasant walking trails, and the incomparable Victorian Walled Garden - the largest of its kind in Ireland. For more information, please visit www.kylemoreabbey.com