The New York herald., 1874-08-18
/ r Z / a NJ D.
A Royal Residence In the
Emerald Isle.
MIR. Mitchell Henry's Castle
and Gardens.
They Are Visited by q Herald
Correspondent.
DUBLIN, August 9, 1874.

English Parliament with regard 10 the proprlety
OF establishing in Ireland a residence for the
Queen or ior some other member OF the royal
family. The friends Of sucn project declare that
II the. Queen, or member Of her family, were to
reside in Ireland for two or three months in each
year, this would tend, in great measure TO make
the Irish people happy, contented and loyal,
while, ON the other hand, those who do not much
care for royalty or loyalty, assert that the mere
residence or Q royal parsonage IN Ireland would
be o very poor way indeed OF wiping out the sense
OF wrong under which the people smart. The
Queen decidedly shows her preference for Scot
land. The Scottish people are attached to her and
she unquestionaDiy Is attached to them, and she
shows this attachment by her visits every year
to BalmOral. This cannot be said OF the irish as
regards the Queen. To all intents and purposes
she has kept aOof from them. During her long
reign OF th1rty-eight years she has
been but three times in ireiand-in 1S49, 1859 and
IN 1861 1862 In 1s49 she came over TO Dublin to
find out how she would be received Immediately
after her gOvernmen at had erected the transporta-
tion OF william Smith O'Brien, Thomas Francis
Meagher. 7. B. McManus Patrick O'DonOhue John
Mitchell John Martin ana Kevin lzod O'Doherty,
al OF whom had been found guilty of political
Offences On that occasion Her Majesty was well
received BY the upper classes and by all those
who hold in Ireland employment under the English
| CROWN but the great mass OF the people-those
| who had been medtating revolution aud revolt
against British power-sternly held aloof and took
NO part whatever in the loyal demonstration,
| which was confined almost exclusively to persons
whose interests identified them with British con-
nection. This I assert as fact, for was in Ire
land at the time, keenly observing the passing OF
public events. Again. in 1852, the Queen arrived
In Dublin to open the Dargan Exhibition. On this
occasion she had abundant opportunity
to make herself popular, but she did
not avail herself OF II. In 1861 or
| 1862 she went to the Lakes OF Killarney and paid
| visits to Mr.. Herbert, Of Muckross and Lord and
Lady Castlerosse. She has never been in Ireland
| since. How far the residence OF q royal English
person in Ireland would tend to reconcile the peo.
pie to British rule Is not Tor me to determine, but
| l think l can venture to say that II Her Majesty
would come on here next spring and open the
Irish Parliament she would by this act alone gain
immediate possession OF the hearts and affections
| Of her Hibernlan subjects. But, perhaps, this is
too good a thing to expect. The Queen is in the
| hands OF her Minister'S and her present advisers
| are composed Of men who would rather pass o
! coercion law than GO an act OF common justice to
o country whose cause to-day is more msunder-
| stood and msrepresented than the cause Of any
other nation In the world. But II the
Queen should take iJ into her head to
reside In Ireland where would she find
set up her establishment and accommodate
| her servants and followers ? The Castle OF Dublin
| Is q dingy and dirty old building, and the Vice.
| regal Lodge in the PhccniX Park Is not much bet.
ter. The noblemen and gentlemen OF Ireland
many OF thcm-have splendid country seats; but
there very few OF these that would be large
enough for the accommodation of royal house.
hold. Her Majesty is said to be exceedingly fond
of wild romantic scenery, such as She hnds In the
in the irish Highands-the wids Of Connemara-
where lake and mountain and sea and Cliff and
glen lend to the scenery an attraction that cannot
be found in any other part OF the Green Isle. II she
went there she would lind castle, the doors OF
which, feel certain, would be Hospitality thrown
open to her and to the members of her family. OF
this castle I propose to give the readers of the
HERALD o description, and make reference to its
somewhat remarkable and wealthy owner.
ANY tourist from America who has visited
Connemara. or the Irish highlands, as they are
sometimes called, situated IN the western part OF
the island, will recolcct the beautiful valley Of
Kylemore which The traveller passes through on
the road from WestpoTt to Ciifden. kylemore
Mountain, which is nearly all covered over with a
growth OF natural wood, overloOks lake OF tho
same name and opposite the Kyiemore Mountain
several OF the nils known as the twelve Pins Of
Connemara" rise grandy into view the diamond
Mountain" SO called from the brightness Of the
rocks its sides aud its crest OF whitish color,
being the most prominent. The public road for q
considerable distance runs along the northern
snOre OF the lake, and at or near q stone, termed
Tue O. as neope snane rne be-
with it's irowning rocks, 0verhangs the road and
gives 20 the whole place an aspect Of say.
age grandeur almost OverpOwering to behold.
Not lar from this remarkable spot stands the
castle Of Kylemore. the princely residence OF Mr..
Mitchell Henry, who owns the castle and thou
sands OF acres Of the adjoining lands. Mr.. Mitchell
Henry is now the senior member in the English
Parliament for the county Of Galway, in which
county MS Irish properly Is situate. Nothing can
exceed the esteem In which he Is held by the peO
tain his place IN the House OF Commons as long as
he pleases.
Its towers all the waters ol the lake can be dis
tinctly seen, ana In the background rises up as q
wall the mountain OF Kylemore, through the woods
and crags Of which winding paths meet you at
every turn. The terrace OF the castle fronts the
pubic road; but Mr.. Henry, feeling that the thor.
oughfare is too near his residence, has. at his own
| expense, constructed new road iurther away
from tho castle. This new road VIII be soon
opened and the view from 1t Will be better than
that afforded by the Old one. 1t would be lmpos-
sble for me within the limits of this
deur OF the interior OF the castle. The door Of the
principal entrance Is made OF oak which was taken
| Benjamin Lee Gunners was restoring that struc.
ture; and this oaken door Is almost as hard
iron. The hall presents baroniai proportions; the
| drawing rooms. dining rooms ana bedrooms arc
furnished with every luxury that wealth could Sc.
cure or art suggest. In one OF the dining rooms
noticed sldeDoard carved In the most exquisite
manner. The carvings represented fruits, Mowers
and vegetables, and, think, head OF Ceres, the
this description that have ever scen and 1t may
! have taken year or two to execute. When
visited the castle on the Sd inst the family were
not at home, but Mr. Henry was momentarIly ex-
pected there for lew days preparatory to his de-
| parturc with his family for Egypt where
| they intend making prolonged solourn.
The stewards and attendants were ex.
tremeiy attentive and polite. They showed
| me all over the castle. The library is an exgut-
stely beautiful apartment. Iwould be glad To be
! the owner OF such valuable collection OF books
| as saw there. The family not being ut no me and
|
covered up, OF course did not the interi or OF
| the castle IN Its best and brightest aspects; but
| enough remained exposed to view to convince the
| peholder that he stood in an earthly paradise in
the very wilds OF Connemara. There were over
forty servants employed In the castle at the period
| OF my visit, and this number is considerably In
creased when MIR. Henry's family is Ut Kylemore.
The garcens OF Kylemore are about halt a mile
! distant from the CASTLE They are surrounded by
htQh brick wall. and are con Siderable extent.