The Europa Nostra award ceremony in Ireland for the restoration of Kylemore Abbey's Victorian walled garden took place this week at the Benedictine convent in Connemara, when the abbess, Mother Magdalena FitzGibbon, was formally presented with a diploma.
The international award was presented by Ms Consuelo O'Connor, a council member of Europa Nostra - a federation of conservation bodies in more than 20 European countries. Its awards scheme was launched in 1978 to recognise projects which make a "distinguished contribution" to the conservation of Europe's heritage.
"It's a prestigious award and we're honoured to have received it," said the Cork-born abbess, recalling the heritage of the famed Victorian Connemara gardens designed and cared for by wealthy landlord Mitchell Henry between 1868 and 1890. "Henry was unsurpassed for his sense of enterprise, endeavour and experimentation, but of course he was extremely wealthy and could afford it."
In deciding to restore the garden to its former glory, the nuns invoke the "Benedictine mandate", to manage everything well. And the Benedictine rule implies that contemplation leads most truly to a garden. "That's why we thought of restoring it," Mother Magdalena said. "It's a case of endeavouring to succeed."
Altogether about 30 people were involved in the project, which was resourced partly through the European Regional Development Fund, the Great Gardens of Ireland restoration programme and FÁS. In addition, they obtained a bank loan of about £500,000, said the abbess, a former bursar at the famous abbey.
Documentation from the Mitchell period, including maps and a fine collection of photographs, was collected prior to a substantial archaeological survey of the area, before the work began, in 1995. These determined the extent of landscape modification required, including rerouting of the stream, creating a level area for the glasshouses, and grading the slopes.