Henry (Kylemore)
Mitchell Henry was a doctor who was left a large fortune by his father, a Manchester merchant, in 1862. He bought an estate in the parish of Ballynakill, barony of Ballynahinch, county Galway, from the Wilberforces, Grahams and others, including sporting rights. He employed two architects, Ussher Roberts and John F. Fuller, to design Kylemore Abbey for him. It became his home and he initiated extensive agricultural improvements on his estate. He became a supporter of Home Rule and a Member of Parliament for county Galway. In the 1870s he owned over 9000 acres in county Galway. By the turn of the 20th century however he had lost most of his fortune and in 1903 the castle was sold to Mr Zimmerman of Chicago for his daughter, the Duchess of Manchester. In 1920 the Benedictine nuns from Ypres took over the Abbey and have been there ever since running, until recent years, a girls' secondary school and a very successful tourist business.
Associated Families
Houses
| Name | Townland | Civil Parish | PLU | DED | Barony | County | Map Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylemore Abbey | Pollacappul | Ballynakill | Clifden | Cushkillary 30 | Ballynahinch | Galway |
OSI Ref: L748 586
OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 37 |
|
Archival sources
- Henry Family Papers; Private Possession
- Kylemore Abbey Manuscript and Kylemore Abbey Books of Sale 1894 and 1902. Kylemore Abbey; Private Possession
- Papers re legal case Graham v Henry of Kylemore, late 19th century. MS 13,725; National Library of Ireland
- Copy of confirmation of arms to Mitchell Henry, descendant of Henry of Lancashire and Co Down, 6 Nov 1863. GO MS 109: 23-24; National Library of Ireland
- Descriptive particulars of Kylemore Castle, Co Galway, c 1900. M3470; National Archives of Ireland
- Estate Sales Particulars - particulars and plans of Kylemore Castle, not dated. SCO1545; English Heritage National Monuments Record
- Kylemore Abbey photos & cuttings. 022/052; Irish Architectural Archive
- Longfield, Kelly & Armstrong, solicitors' collection, includes copy memorial deed of conveyance lands in barony of Ballinahinch, Robert Graham to Charles Richardson, 15 Mar 1859, conveyance of lands of Adrigoole & Barnagh from Richardson to Henry Mitchell, 4 July 1878 & deed re Ballinaboka. Small Accs Index 47, D.14896, D.14943 & D.14982; National Archives of Ireland
- Longfield, Kelly & Armstrong, solicitors' collection, deeds Graham, Eastwood, Butler, Henry, Smyth, Richardson. Small Accs Index 47, Bundle 12, no 276, 2C.46.115 & Bundle 26, no 418, 2C.47.129; National Archives of Ireland
Contemporary printed sources
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland''. HC 1876, LXXX: 296
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 311
- HUSSEY DE BURGH, U. H. ''The Landowners of Ireland. An alphabetical list of the owners of estates of 500 acres or £500 valuation and upwards in Ireland''. Dublin: Hodges, Foster and Figgis, 1878. [available online at www.askaboutireland.ie] : 215
- PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of names of proprietors and area and valuation of properties in counties in Ireland, held in fee or perpetuity or long leases at chief rents,'' 1876. (412) LXXX. 395: 148
- SLATER, Isaac. ''Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats''. (Manchester: 1894) : xxix, 28 (Kylemore)
Modern printed sources
- VILLIERS-TUTHILL, Kathleen. ''Beyond the Twelve Bens: A History of Clifden and District 1860-1923''. [Dublin]: the author, 2nd ed. 1990: 51-65
- TULLY CROSS GUILD IRISH COUNTRYWOMEN'S ASSOCIATION, ''Portrait of a Parish, Ballynakill, Connemara''. Tully Cross I.C.A., 1985: 62-68
- VILLIERS-TUTHILL, Kathleen. ''History of Kylemore Castle & Abbey''. Connemara: Kylemore Abbey Publications, 2002: All
- BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 180
- ''Jnl. of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society'': WALSH, Anne. Galway Landowners and Country Houses. XLII (1989-1990), 114-124
- POWERS, Jane. ''The Irish garden''. (London: Frances Lincoln, 2015). : Kylemore Abbey gardens, pp.123-127.