Situated in the Kylemore Valley at the foot of Dubhcruach mountain and billed as the most romantic building in Ireland, Kylemore Abbey’s origins (then castle) began in 1852 when a Londoner, Mitchell Henry fell in love and married Margaret Vaughan from Co. Down and while on a visit to the area, Henry decided to make it the site on which he would build her a spectacular estate. Taking over 7 years in the construction, the project brought valuable work to at least 100 local laborers in the aftermath of the Famine. Unfortunately, the couple only lived there a short time. A further 7 years later Margaret, now a mother of 9 children, fell ill of Nile fever following a trip to Egypt and died. The little Gothic chapel, a testament of Henry’s dedication to his wife was completed and the body of his wife laid to the rest in the adjoining mausoleum, also the final resting place of Henry. Despite having changed hands several times, the house was eventually bought by the Benedictine Sisters of Ypres after their own Belgian convent was destroyed in the first world war - they have been here since 1920. It is now one of Ireland's most exclusive girls' boarding schools, catering for Irish as well as international pupils. Many of the daughters of diplomats and ambassadors have gone through its academic program. Kind of does away with the romanticism a little, but the nuns have opened it up to the public for tours. The Sisters run a pottery workshop, a gift shop and a restaurant to supplement their incomes, along with that derived from school fees. Making a visit to this place is well worth while, both for the beauty of the spot and also some of the really good home-baking.