Wicklow Trails: St. Kevin’s Monastery in Glendalough
The Irish lunch in Laragh was lovely, and mollified from it, we are now back piled in the mini bus and looking forward to the next program in the agenda. What and where could it be? I forgot to mention that during the entire drive in the Wicklow Mountains, we only had Irish Celtic music playing on the mini bus player, and mostly from the 90’s Irish brother-sisters group hit—The Corrs. The Celtic-style melody of their music actually fit well into our Wicklow Trail drive.
The 30-meter 'Round Tower' built from mica slate and granite, a multi-purpose tower serving as the monastery's landmark, bell tower, store house and refuge from plunder attacks.
So our next stop, and final one that is: Glendalough (Irish: Gleann Dá Loch) which means, a tale of two lakes (upper and lower lake) in St. Kevin’s old Monastery, a monastic city built circa 6th century which flourished until the early 17th century. The place fell into ruins after this period and was utilised as a cemetery. Nowadays, the monastery is an important Irish historical and religious monument, as well as a fabulous tourism showcase that includes nature walks which will be my next post.
St. Kevin (Irish: Saint Cóemgen/Caoimhghin) is the first abbot of Glendalough and the patron saint of Kilnamanagh. His feast is the 3rd of June, the date when he died in 618 A.D.
Top to bottom: The stone double 'Gateway' with a second storey, the only of its kind remaining in Ireland, this was believed to be built between 900 and 1200. The 'Round Tower'. Epitaphs - the place served as a cemetery after the monastery fell into ruins. The monastery's Cathedral, now in ruins. St. Kevin's Cross.
Top foto to bottom: St. Kevin's Church or kitchen. St. Kevin's Way is a walking route following his trails from Hollywood and Valleymount an Chrois to Glendalough. The Glendalough Hotel right on the entrance to St. Kevin's Monastery.
Next and last on the Wicklow Trails: Glendalough Lake Hike
Travel Period: September 2010
The 30-meter 'Round Tower' built from mica slate and granite, a multi-purpose tower serving as the monastery's landmark, bell tower, store house and refuge from plunder attacks.So our next stop, and final one that is: Glendalough (Irish: Gleann Dá Loch) which means, a tale of two lakes (upper and lower lake) in St. Kevin’s old Monastery, a monastic city built circa 6th century which flourished until the early 17th century. The place fell into ruins after this period and was utilised as a cemetery. Nowadays, the monastery is an important Irish historical and religious monument, as well as a fabulous tourism showcase that includes nature walks which will be my next post.
St. Kevin (Irish: Saint Cóemgen/Caoimhghin) is the first abbot of Glendalough and the patron saint of Kilnamanagh. His feast is the 3rd of June, the date when he died in 618 A.D.
Top to bottom: The stone double 'Gateway' with a second storey, the only of its kind remaining in Ireland, this was believed to be built between 900 and 1200. The 'Round Tower'. Epitaphs - the place served as a cemetery after the monastery fell into ruins. The monastery's Cathedral, now in ruins. St. Kevin's Cross. Top foto to bottom: St. Kevin's Church or kitchen. St. Kevin's Way is a walking route following his trails from Hollywood and Valleymount an Chrois to Glendalough. The Glendalough Hotel right on the entrance to St. Kevin's Monastery. Next and last on the Wicklow Trails: Glendalough Lake Hike
Travel Period: September 2010
Destination: Co Wicklow (Leinster), Ireland
