/**/
4/03/2009

When in Ireland ...

As Thanksgiving of 2000 drew near, SWMBO decided she had had enough and needed me out of the house. Actually, Grannie's 75th birthday and several other upcoming occasions were all lumped together and called the reason for a trip to Ireland. SWMBO stayed home with #3 son and I took Grannie and (the then 16 year old) #2 son to see Connemara - the West of Ireland. An area that looks, today, much as it has for hundreds of years. It is Galway County, and it is lovely, rural, a little backward, and absolutely delightful.

For a while, Ireland was a boom country in a time when everybody, everywhere, it seemed, was making money hand over fist. Real Estate prices in the East of the country, in and around Dublin, for example, quadrupled in the matter of a few short years. But the West has remained relatively untouched. And now that Ireland is feeling a misery like they haven't known in that country for a long time, it seems as though the West will remain untouched for some time to come.

One of the landmarks in Connemara is Kylemore Abbey. Built in the late 1800's by Mitchell Henry, an industrialist from England, it ultimately became the home of an Order of Benedictine Nuns, who run a boarding school for girls there. The boarding school is to close in 2010, but the Nuns will remain in residence.

The Abbey and grounds are open to the public for tours.

 


On those grounds is a chapel, built as a replica of an older gothic cathedral. It is so cool. I have inside shots I'll show y'all over the next few days. The exterior is depicted below:

 


I hope you enjoyed this little mini tour.

Ndinombethe.

15 comments:

Jientje said...

I did, and I also enjoyed the pictures. You know, I love Ireland very much. When I was 17 or 18 we spent two Summer hollidays there. We stayed in the village shool ( had to sleep in a dorm) the local people dropped in during the day to meet us. They invited us to the pub at night where everybody brought their own instrument and started singing. The stampsize local store also figured as the post office . Ahhhh what sweet memories ...

moneythoughts said...

Thanks for the tour, and I enjoyed the pictures too.

Shadow said...

oh wow, that looks like a place i'd like to get lost in....

Cathy said...

i very much enjoyed the tour! thanks!! I hope to visit Ireland someday.

Wait. What? said...

I have always wanted to go to ireland - so I cannot wait for pictures of your escapades!

Momisodes said...

Wow. Those are spectacular structures. These photos definitely took me away to another time and place. I can only imagine how breathtaking it was to see in person.

Expat No. 3699 said...

You make me want to call my travel agent.

Loraine said...

Beautiful! I hope I can visit someday.

hockeychic said...

Yes, enjoyed the mini tour. I hope to go myself some day.

Joyce-Anne said...

Absolutely beautiful! I want to go.

Anonymous said...

you're in ireland? niiiiiice.

last time i was there it was belfast - a great place to drink.

Unknown said...

I KNEW I shoulda been a nun! If I had to be a nun, that's where I'd want to be! That is absolutely gorgeous. I could just sit in that abbey and look out at the water for hours!

I can't wait for more pictures.

Holly said...

The beauty of that place is so amazing that words aren't enough....

I hope to go there some day.

Patsy said...

I love Ireland. It is one of the most beautiful places I've visited.

Wonderful memories.

Unknown said...

Sigh, I def. want to go to Ireland one day.
I would love to stroll through this abbey!