Glendalough

Glendalough

In the sixth century, St. Kevin, one of Ireland's most revered saints, founded a monastery in a stunning glaciated valley in County Wicklow. It was Glendalough, which became one of the most famous religious centers in Europe. It is one of the crown jewels of Ireland's ancient east, tucked away in the lush greenery of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Since the 6th century when St. Kevin lived here as a hermit and ascetic, attracting followers and establishing a monastery, Glendalough has been a place of pilgrimage. While little is known for sure about Kevin, as the many tales we have were only written centuries after his death, these tales and myths still fascinate and inspire us today. Remnants of this "monastic town" scattered throughout the glen include a magnificent round tower, numerous medieval stone churches and several decorated crosses. Particularly noteworthy is St. Kevin's Bed, a small artificial cave in the cliff above Upper Lake. Legend has it, St. Kevin lived and prayed there, but the site may actually be a prehistoric burial ground, much older than St. Kevin. For more than 500 years, this area has been at peace, as monks and lay people have grown and lived and learned together. This doesn't mean Glendalough was without its troubles. There were Viking raids and pillages, fires and the sometimes-harsh weather conditions that still beset the Wicklow Mountains to this day. In the end, it fell to the Normans in 1398, but fortunately we've been left with some wonderful reminders of what it once was.