The Fair

Another year at the Fair.  It was a fun week and for once the weather was perfect.  Not too hot and no rain!  My family volunteers at the fair and has for many years, since my mom and aunt were kids.  We all oversee a department in the exhibit hall and it's such fun to all be there and get things set up and to oversee the judging in our departments!  It's really fun to see the folks come in after the judging looking to see if they won a blue ribbon!  

These little piglets were born the first night of the Fair.  Here they are barely a day old.

Kylemore Castle and Abbey

The Castle was built by Mitchell and Margaret Henry from 1867  to 1871.  Tradition has it that the couple visited Connemara while on their honeymoon and were enchanted by the beauty of the landscape. It was the couple’s wish someday to own a home there and it is said that during those visits, the Henry’s rented Kylemore Lodge, the original building on the site where they later built Kylemore Castle.

In 1903, Mitchell sold Kylemore Castle to the Duke and Duchess of Manchester. They lived a lavish lifestyle financed by the Duchess’ wealthy father, the American businessman, Eugene Zimmerman.

The Duke and Duchess of Manchester spent only a few years at the castle. The property was heavily mortgaged and on the death of Eugene Zimmerman in 1914, the Castle was taken over by Ernest Fawke, a London banker, who installed a caretaker and land agent until a buyer was found 7 years later.

In 1920, The Irish Benedictine Nuns purchased Kylemore Castle along with 10,000 acres for a little over £45,000. Some of the lands were later purchased by the Land Commission and divided out among the tenants, and the Castle was converted into an Abbey.

At Kylemore, the nuns opened an international boarding school and established a day school for local girls. They also ran a farm and guesthouse; the guesthouse was closed after a devastating fire in 1959.  Kylemore is still home to the community of nuns of the Benedictine Order and have restored the Abbey, Gothic Church and Victorian Walled Garden to their former glory.

 The entire area is surrounded by pink rhododendrons that were in full bloom!  Gorgeous!

 Moss growing on everything!  

 The abbey

Tullycross

 This was my second visit to this charming and tranquil village just a few miles from where my ancestors come from, whose name means "Cross on the Hill".  Tullycross is made up of the traditional irish thatched cottages and appears to be a thriving community.  

The Connemara Mussel Festival is held here every May.

 Mussel beds

Killeen, County Mayo

My ancestors come from the western coast of County Mayo from a village named Killeen and a smaller hamlet called Cross, right on the ocean.  Finding them on a map proved challenging but as we were driving around the coast line we happened upon a small road sign directing us to turn off the main road for Killeen.  A turn that changed my life!  

After asking for help from the locals, we were directed to the home of a woman who turned out to be my great aunt!  She is a lovely woman, Chris (in stripped blouse) who was delighted to chat at length about our family, the McNally's!  I had my genealogy chart with me and she proceeded to tell me stories about the many McNally's who stayed in Ireland and I told her what had happened to the McNally's who came to America.  Her son, my cousin Michael, came over with his twin daughters to round out this wonderful visit.  

McNally sheep and farmland.

A few pictures around the area