MINISTER HOPES SPIRIT OF KYLEMORE ABBEY IS MAINTAINED

Date Published: 17-Dec-2008

Minister Eamon O'Cuiv says he hopes the spirit of the Benedictine nuns will live on in Kylemore Abbey tourist complex, despite its recent takeover by Galway developer John LallyKylemore Abbey is the oldest of the Irish Benedictine Abbeys, and the benedictine nuns have resided there since 1920.Minister O' Cuív says the nuns have done a fantastic job in maintaining the famous abbey this longA spokesperson for new leasee John Lally has denied he has any intention of turning the convent building into a hotel, despite his extensive interest in the hotel industy with hotels in Galway, Limerick and Dublin.Mr Lally, whose company is called Lalco, is leasing the running of the visitor centre, the pottery studio, the craft and retail shop, the restaurant and the Victorian walled gardenAccording to his spokesperson all existing staff have been offered continued employment