敷地内にある祈りの場(マリア像の洞窟)にあったルルドの洞窟を模した聖母マリア像。 フランス南部の聖地「ルルド(Lourdes)」にある有名な洞窟にインスピレーションを得て、 世界中のカトリック施設ではこのような岩に囲まれたマリア像の祈りの空間を再現している と。 白いローブに青い帯をまとった姿は、「無原罪の御宿りの聖母マリア(Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)」の典型的な表現。
対岸の山々をズームして。
湖の向こうに見える山々は、Duchruach(ドゥクルーア)やその周辺の峰々であろう。
山の斜面から水の流れも。
ヨーロッパでよく見られるコブハクチョウ(英名:Mute Swan)。
ズームして。 嘴がオレンジ色で、根元に黒い「コブ」
Duchruach(ドゥクルーアク)山(アイルランド語で「暗い尾根」の意味)。
標高:約550メートル
welve Bens(トゥエルブ・ベンズ)山脈の一部。
「LAKE WALK」案内板。
「LAKE WALK
The community of Benedictine nuns have been stewards of the Kylemore estate for over a century, the longest continuous habitant of the estate.
Over a hundred years , the Communiry has managed the estate,farmed the land, supported the local economy, and preserved the historic and natural heritage. The nuns produce susrainable products like skincare products, chocolate, pottery and honey. Discover the handcrafted products in Kylemore Abbey Craft & Design Shop.」
Did you know that Kylemore's woodland is a temperate rainforest? Ireland is situated at a northern lattitude, only 15 degrees south of the Arctic Circle, the same latitude as Newfoundland in Canada. Yet the lrish climate originating in the Gulf of Mexico, gives Connemara high humidiry, high rainfall, and minor fluctuation in average mild temperatures. This creates perfect conditions for a forest with layered vegetation rich in lichens,mosses,ferns,and epiphytes.These woodlands,associated with native species,are confined to western Ireland and Britain and form a unique habitat.」
The Monterey pine is unmistakably one of the most imposing trees on the Kylemore estate. This tree is native to only three places: Monterey in California, just south of San Francisco, and the islands of Guadalupe and Cedros off the California Baja Mexican coast.
The Monterey pine, like many other American west coast tree species, was “discovered” by David Douglas, a Scottish botanist. The first seeds were sent to the British Isles in 1831. This pine grows well in Kylemore’s mild oceanic climate, growing an incredible one meter a year for up to 30 years.
The Monterey pinecones stay on the branches until hot weather, or a forest fire opens them up to free the seeds. In hot summers, the Monterey pines have been known to self-seed on our estate.」
The Kylemore Valley is rich in geological heritage.
Our estate is part of the Joyce Country & Western Lakes aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark (Gleann Uí Dhálaigh agus Lochanna an Iarthair) and the bedrock of Kylemore Valley is of great geological importance of a foreign landmass, and its influence on the local heritage, communities, and biodiversity.
The bedrock of Kylemore Valley is mainly metamorphic rocks dating back to 700 million years ago: quartzite for the peaks, schist and marble for the valley floor. The last Ice Age had a major influence on the landscape.」
【レイク・ウォーク
カイルモア渓谷は、豊かな地質遺産を有しています。
当敷地は、「ジョイス・カントリー & 西部湖沼群」のユネスコ世界ジオパーク申請地域の一部 であり(アイルランド語名:Gleann Uí Dhálaigh agus Lochanna an Iarthair)、 カイルモア渓谷の基盤岩は、かつての外来の大陸地塊に由来し、地元の文化遺産、地域社会、 生物多様性に大きな影響を与えています。
「Gothic Church THE MINIATURE CATHEDRAL」 【ゴシック教会 小さな大聖堂(ミニチュア・カテドラル)】
「Gothic Church
THE MINIATURE CATHEDRAL
In 1874, Mitchell Henry and his adored wife Margaret went on holiday to Egypt. It was a happy time in their lives. But tragedy struck on the River Nile. Margaret contracted dysentery and sixteen days later, she died. She was only 45, a mother of nine.
“It is not our mistress we have lost, but our mother” said one tenant as the distraught Mitchell lovingly brought home the body of his wife to rest in her beloved Kylemore.
Mitchell wanted to show his love for Margaret in a way that would last through time, and so he commissioned the architect J.F. Fuller to create a “cathedral in miniature” in her honour. This beautiful Neo-Gothic Church is his tribute to her.」
are classic marks of cathedral architecture – but these are angelic creatures telling of peace, setting the design apart from some of its more fearsome cousins from Europe. The wolves of Ireland are set against a light-yellow sandstone from the North of France.
“The carvings of the interior are breathtaking,” say the experts – graceful and feminine with delicately shaped flowers and birds of beauty incised in the sandstone. The superb stained-glass windows remind us of the Five Virtues of Fortitude, Faith, Charity, Hope and Chastity.
Originally, the Gothic Church was a place of Anglican worship. Following the arrival of the Benedictine Nuns to Kylemore in 1920, it was re-dedicated as a Catholic Church. The Mausoleum containing the remains of Margaret and Mitchell Henry is a short distance to the east of the church.」
「Next to the church lies the cemetery of the Benedictine community of Kylemore Abbey,
which is still in use today. You will notice that some of the earlier graves bear names with a French, German or Belgian origin, testament to the nuns of those regions that first arrived in the community when it was re-established at Kylemore. This graveyard is full of Benedictine nuns – that of a schoolgirl, Ruth Stoker who died of a childhood illness while she was a pupil here in 1923.
Today the church is used to host musical recitals, poetry readings and cross-community celebrations. It will always be what it originally was – Margaret’s Memorial, created by her loving husband.」
Connemara’s climate is not kind to buildings and over the years a process of erosion and decay – driven by storms, wind, and wet – weakened the church, rendering it dangerous and in need of total restoration.
In 1992, the Benedictine Community with the help of the National Heritage Council, the Department of the Environment and generous philanthropic and donor support, devised plans and raised the funds to completely restore the church.
Today, the church hosts musical performances and liturgies and offers visitors a chance to enjoy the acoustical quality and experience the wonder of Kylemore’s “cathedral-in-miniature”.
Gothic Church during the time of the Henry family.」
右:「Before the restoration started the church was suffering significant damage caused by water ingress under the decayed lead of the copper roof and the external pointing.
Internally, the main visible symptoms of this were the extensive mould growth which covered much of the interior whenever the weather was wet and stagnant water falling from a water soaked clean stone walls and ceiling.
During the restoration work the external stone work was cleaned and repointed. The conservation work involved repairs to:the main roof ,floors and roof of the tower, the leaded windows,conservation and repair of ironworks,rainwater goods and joinery. All marble columns were installed.Restoration works were reprogrammed when it was found that the main roof is home to the largest known colony of Natterer's bats in Ireland.Great care was taken to ensure that the bats were not disturbed.The colony has since bred succsessfully every year.」
「PAX – Peace A welcome from the Mother Abbess In 1867 the Mitchell Henry family built Kylemore Castle and subsequently this beautiful Neo-Gothic Church which was used by the family for their term of residence there, terminated by tragic circumstances. In 1920 the Benedictine nuns arriving from Ypres in Belgium bought the property and the castle became Kylemore Abbey. The Abbey and this church have become a centre of hospitality and admiration for visitors to the West of Ireland and this exquisite scenic beauty. The church has become a source of joy and satisfaction to all who visit and we are glad to share with you the pleasure and peace of this architectural treasure. We hope you will enjoy your visit and that our prayers and message of peace and heritage will bless you. You are most welcome in the name of the Benedictine tradition of Kylemore Abbey.
As a tribute to his late wife Margaret, Mitchell Henry commissioned a magnificent neo-gothic church in her memory.The“cathedral-in-miniature.”was designed by J. Fuller and embodies an almost-feminine aspect with its interior of light
Caen sandstone,angel in place of gargoyles,beautiful marble pillars and exquisite stone carvings.The marble pillars come from the four provinces of Ireland:green fron Connemara (Connaught), rose from Cork (Munster),black from Kilkenny (Leinster).and grey from Armagh(Ulster).There is only one stained glass window.Located in the south transept, it depicts the five graces: Fortitude, Faith, Charity, Hope, and Chastity.」
「KYLEMORE ABBEY GOTHIC CHURCH」 1.Nave – the central aisle 2.Side aisle – a passage running parallel to the nave 3.Narthex – entrance or lobby area 4.Choir – where the choir or clergy sits 5.Sanctuary – sacred area around the altar 6.Apse – semicircular or polygonal area at end of choir 7.Transept – arm of the cross-shaped church 8.Vestry – room where vestments and sacred items are kept 9.Tower – architectural feature rising above the church 10.Buttresses – exterior supports to strengthen the walls 11.Rose window – circular stained glass window 12.Confessionals – private spaces for sacrament of confession 13.Chapel niches – recessed spaces for devotional altars 14.Burial vault – final resting place of Margaret Henry
Rowan Fergus Meredith Gillespie is an Irish bronze casting sculptor of international acclaim. Born in Dublin to Irish parents, Gillespie spent his formative years in Cyprus.
His singular often exhausting modus operandi involves taking the work through from conception to creation, entirely unassisted in his purpose-built bronze casting foundry at Blackrock, Co. Dublin. This is one of the things that makes him unique among the bronze casting fraternity.
Influenced by the sculptor Henry Moore and the painter Edvard Munch, Gillespie uses the lost wax casting process to portray the whole gamut of human emotions. Having worked almost exclusively on site-specific art since 1996, Gillespie’s public works can be found in his native Ireland, Europe, the USA and Canada.
Following the restoration of the Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey, Rowan Gillespie was commissioned to create a sculpture of Christ. The sculpture was completed in 2003. The donor for this work is Martin Hart from the USA.」
Michael Bell and his team of craftsmen make contemporary furniture using traditional cabinet making techniques, specialising in Irish hardwoods, which are matched for colour and grain pattern.
Inspiration
Inspired by the beautifully restored ‘Cathedral in Miniature’, the chancel pieces are simple and well made, picking up on some of the church’s architectural details.
Arched Stretchers span the underframe of the Irish elm altar echoing the ceiling’s vaulted arches; each of the altar’s four legs are composed of a trio of turned maple posts, to reflect the cluster of coloured marble columns of the church.
The Wood
The contrasting timbers of maple and Irish elm were chosen for a chiaroscuro effect. As elm is becoming increasingly rare, it was felt that it would be wonderful to use it in a way that would live on.
The maple tones in well with the Caen stone walls and accents the richly coloured elm.
The rest of the altar furniture pays homage to the Gothic detail. The curves of the Elm candlesticks melt into each other. The celebrant’s chair features a laminated black cross in Elm, a maple frame and sculpted seat.
Finally, all of the pieces are finished with six coats of oil. Each coat is buffed to a satiny sheen and allowed to dry before the next coat is applied.」