K is for Kylemore Abbey

This is the 11th day of the A to Z Challenge.

K is for Kylemore Abbey

The gothic style castle is located in Connemara, in County Galway, Ireland.

Kylemore Abbey's History

After honeymooning at Kylemore and falling in love with the wild countryside, Dr. Mitchell Henry, a prominent tycoon, promised his wife Margaret he would build their home there. The castle was funded by an inheritance Dr. Mitchell Henry received when his father passed away in 1862. He abandoned his medical career when he purchased the Kylemore lodge and the land surrounding the mountains and lake. By 1885, the magnificent turreted castle was built.  There are 33 rooms, 4 bathrooms, ballroom, billiard room, library, study, schoolroom, smoking room, gunroom, and offices and staff residences for the butler and the cook, and other servants.

By the time the castle was completed, the Henrys had nine children, and Dr. Mitchell Henry started his political career, representing Galway in the British parliament. (Britain ruled Ireland then.) They were away from the home more than they lived there.

Tragedies

On their holiday in Egypt, Margaret became ill and died at the age of 45. Her body was brought back to Kylemore. A mausoleum and Gothic church was built in the memory of Margaret.

Tragedy struck again in 1892 when Henry’s daughter Geraldine, who was married to an American and had a daughter, was killed in an unfortunate horse and cart accident.

Henry finally put the castle on the market. In 1903, the Duke and Duchess of Manchester bought it, but because of gambling debts they were forced to sell the castle.

When Dr. Henry died at the age of 84, his ashes were brought back to Kylemore and laid to rest beside Margaret in the mausoleum.

The Abbey

In the 1920s, the Benedictine Nuns purchased the castle. They established an all girls’ school. The nuns had their share of problems, too. In 1959, a fire destroyed part of the abbey and the school.

When I visited the Abbey in 1998, the nuns offered tours to view parts of the castle, grounds, and the Gothic church. The serenity of Kylemore Abbey has stayed with me long after my visit.

 

Lost in the Mist of Time

As you can see by the book cover the cover artist chose Kylemore Abbey to portray Dunhaven where Sir Dougray Fitzpatrick resides.

Blurb:

Aislinn Hennessy's love life was almost laughable, with a trail of disastrous relationships to show for it. She long ago gave up thinking a knight in shining armor was going to sweep her off her feet, but then she never expected to run him off the road either.

Sir Dougray Fitzpatrick, Lord of Dunhaven already buried one wife and had no wish for another, but it was foreseen that he would go to the future to seek a vision, a crucial venture to secure his future born. Only he hadn't bargained on it being a woman that would insist on battling against him at every turn.

Dougray finds that Aislinn is fearless in the face of an enemy, but shies away from what her heart holds true. Aislinn discovers that Dougray is honest and brave to a fault. He would die for her if necessary. They were thrown together by a twist of fate, a magical mist that sends them back to sixteenth century Ireland where conspiracies, feuds and unexpected violence are commonplace threats, but along the way, they discover a few surprises that neither one expects: a chance for love even when they're: Lost in the Mist of time

What would your dream house look like?

Here's the list to the other A to Z Challenge participants.