Ireland Pilgrimage Tuesday 3 Nov 2015

Today, we drive to Kylemore Abbey. Originally built in 1867 by Mitchell Henry as a romantic gift for his beloved wife Margaret, the storybook life took a tragic turn when Margaret contracted yellow fever during an 1874 trip to Egypt and died after a short illness at the age of 45. 

Our route took us past Croagh Patrick where St Patrick spent 40 days fasting & praying

This monument across the road from the Croagh Patrick entrance remembers those lost at sea from this area.

We stopped for a few minutes at the end of Doo Lough (pronounced "lock")

This marker memorializes the victims of famine

This inscription quotes Desmond Tutu linking the suffering with that in South Africa

Theresa & Bob at the end of the Lough with Ben Creggan (mountain) in the background - one of twelve "pins" in a chain

More sheep in the road! Our driver told us that if a motorist strikes an animal in the roadway, the owner is responsible - but we never saw any struck!

The body of water we drove along soon thereafter leads to Killary Harbor and soon to the North Atlantic. Cruise tours leave periodically.

We crossed over at the headwaters of the river where it is still just a pretty little stream

This mermaid beckons traveling sailors along the waterway

The day was extremely calm and we often had this kind of view with the mountains reflected in the water.

The practice of burning "peat" sod has not died out and is still practiced in the countryside. These piles of turned up sod are drying and will be picked up. It is a very serious matter if someone steals someones sod!

Kylemore sits at the western end of Pollacappul Lough (a small lough that connects to Kylemore Lough)

The castle was state-of-the-art technologically and had an electrical generator, fire brigade, and many comforts

This view greets visitors as they approach from the car park

Theresa & Bob at the entrance

We had mass in this small chapel, formerly the gym when the Abbey was operating a girls school.

The renovation is wonderful.

Our group is 65 strong plus 2 drivers and 2 guides.

Once again, Bishop Hying presided

The castle became a Benedictine Abbey in 1920 and remains so today.  We were told an agreement has been made with Notre Dame University to make improvements and use the resources of the Abbey academically. 

This is the floor plan of the castle when the Henrys lived here

Only a few rooms have been restored and are open to the public - here the entranceway

The library/sitting room

The dining room

The house's original switchboard is on display in the visitor center

After Margaret died, Mitchell had this chapel - a "Cathedral in Miniature" - erected in her honor

Although it is Gothic in style, he "softened" it by substituting angels in place of the traditional gargoyles.

The inside is very nice but had deteriorated due to the constant dampness associated with the area. Renovations were made to restore the chapel to it's original splendor.

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel adjoins the main nave

The grounds are lovely with beautiful statues such as this Sacred Heart of Jesus

Diana & Mike Kovach - Mike is a Purdue Electrical Engineer!

This beautiful stream helps drain the land into the lough (lake)

Theresa & Bob on the shores of the lough

This statue of the resurrected Jesus is set far up on the hill above the castle

This grotto is on the path to the garden and is in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We walked the mile or so to the garden since we had limited time and the shuttle bus driver had just started his lunch break!

They were still rigged for Halloween!

The wild fuchsia was in bloom

This beautiful stream runs through the garden

Various herbs and garden items for the table are grown in the garden as well as medicinal herbs

The head gardener's cottage

Looking across at the gardener's cottage and work places from the entrance to the Tea Room

Halloween is evident outside the Tea Room

This wonderful gift shop is very large in spite of the modest front!  It had some wonderful items but was also fairly pricey.

We stopped on the way back to Westport at Peacocke's Hotel and gift shop

This replica cottage has the traditional thatched roof and represents the cottage used in "The Quiet Man" starring John Wayne and Moreen O'Hara, filmed in this area.

Overcome by the romantic moment!

This view of Craugh Patrick greeted us as we approached Westport

Once back in Westport, they dropped us by the Octagon at the top of the Mall.

This clock tower occupies the other upper corner of the Mall

We completely walked around the Mall and came upon St Mary

St Mary is a traditional church, much like the St Mary we were married in

The main altar

The pulpit (seldom used any more - homilies are given from the ambo - the lectern used for the scripture readings

As we approached where we'd been let off the bus, we noticed Dunning's Bar. Not sure how we missed it before but we decided this would be a good place for a pint and dinner

This is a small, traditional Irish pub with no blaring music, football (soccer) news on the telly, and great food.  We were the only Americans in the place - the other patrons were all Irish.

The perfect end to the day - Irish stew and a pint of Smithwick's!

 Tomorrow - The incredible Cliffs of Mohar!