Down At The Abbey

  Yep! They really exist. Abbeys that is.
   Being fans of the PBS series Downton Abbey
it was kind of neat to see that our Ireland itinerary
included a visit to a real one!
   Kylemore Abbey was actually built for a
private family back in 1871. It was either a very
big family or they had a lot of friends!
   There were 33 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 sitting
rooms, a ballroom, billiard room, library, study,
school room, smoking room, gun room and various
offices and domestic staff residences for the butler,
cook, housekeeper and other servants.
    The Duke and Duchess of Manchester bought the
place in 1909 but had to sell the property after just
a few years. Seems he was a gambler and didn't
usually win!
   The Irish Benedictine Nuns bought the place
and established a boarding school for girls. The school's
gone but the nuns still run the Abbey thanks to an
annual income from curious tourists...like us!
They let the visitors have the run of the first floor
with all of its classic furniture and decorations
while they hide out somewhere else within the
the walls.
    We know they're around because when some of
our group got off the coach (I though it was a bus)
a car drove fairly close prompting one guest to
shout something like "Slow Down!" I hope that's
all she yelled. The nun who was driving simply looked
back without comment.  
      Think I'll spend part of tonight in my "Sitting
Room." Oh, wait a minute. I'm back home tonight.
Guess the front porch will have to do.
       Hope you and all your servants are doing well
and that all of your NEWS is good.