Kylemore Abbey has launched a free schools history workbook, Imagine a Castle for primary schools. Available as a colourful bi-lingual (English and Irish ) workbook or as an online flip-book with accompanying online resources, Imagine a Castle is a wonderful new history resource for 5th and 6th class primary school students launched by Kylemore ahead of re-opening this May.
Funded by Galway Co. Council, Creative Ireland and The Kylemore Trust, the workbook will be distributed to all primary schools in Co Galway through its Mobile Schools Library Service and through the Heritage Office, Galway County Council. Copies will be available for visiting schools and families at Kylemore Abbey and available to all on www.KylemoreAbbey.com The online version will allow schools from all over the country – and beyond - to explore the Kylemore Estate from the comfort of their own classrooms. Teachers can access videos, a slideshow and pdf files with resources to be added on an ongoing basis.
As well as being available on Kylemore’s newly launched website www.kylemoreabbey.com, the Imagine A Castle flipbook and resources will be available through Galway County Council Heritage Office and Creative Ireland.
The Imagine a Castle workbook explores the history of Kylemore Estate, through its fascinating buildings, inside and out, through the lives of the people who lived and worked there from Abbesses to kitchen maids to gardeners in the glorious Victorian Walled Garden. Each of the five sections of the workbook (‘Castle, House or Abbey’, ‘A Room for Everything’, ‘Imagine A Great Estate’, ‘Stories Through Pictures’ and ‘A Garden of Wonder ) closes with a selection of fun and collaborative classroom projects.
Children are invited to design a castle, to create a new architectural style, to imagine an estate to place their castle in, to draw portraits and a coat of arms, to make a sensory garden in a shoebox and invent a machine inspired by Victorian innovations amongst other things! Teachers will have lots of inspiration with this colourful new resource.
The Kylemore Trust, working in partnership with Galway County Council Heritage Office and Creative Ireland, is committed to extending the rich heritage of the iconic Kylemore Abbey estate to schools and young people in this innovative new project.
This project forms part of an ongoing commitment by The Kylemore Trust to ensure the Kylemore Estate makes an important and strategic contribution to the region, supporting the economic, social, spiritual, educational, and cultural life of the nation.
Imagine A Castle has been researched and written by Kylemore Abbey Experience Manager Eithne O’Halloran whose own sons, sixth class students in nearby Letterfrack National School were amongst the first students in Galway to receive their workbooks. School Principal Olivia Kerrigan said “ My teachers and I are always delighted to receive new and engaging teaching supports especially at this time of year when we are already putting much thought into resources for the new school year in September 2021’
Liz McConnell Head of Development for the Kylemore Trust said that since their arrival in 1920, the Benedictine nuns of Kylemore have been committed to education and to preserving the rich heritage of Kylemore for the nation.
“With this project - focussed on both education and heritage - their contribution is highlighted for a whole new generation of young people.
Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council said that Galway County Council’s Heritage Office and Galway County Council Creative Ireland Team is delighted to partner with Kylemore Abbey Trust on this beautiful bi-lingual workbook.
“I think it will really capture children’s imaginations and inspire them to find out more about the history of Kylemore and bring them on a journey of discovery of our rich local heritage.” she said.
