Glendalough Monastic Site: A Pilgrimage to Saint Kevin's Church in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Brief Historical Background of St. Kevin of Glendalough (c. 498-618)
Saint Kevin of Glendalough (c. 498-618), an Irish monk, is known as the first abbot and founder of the Glendalough Monastery in County Wicklow, Ireland. In the 6th century, St. Kevin, born into an aristocratic family from Leinster, Ireland, studied with three priests in Glendalough as a boy. His studies inspired him to found a monastery at Glendalough. After making a pilgrimage to Rome, St. Kevin returned to Ireland, bringing soil that he used to lay the foundation of his church. In the mid-6th century, he also founded a monastic site where he lived as a hermit for many years. This connection to Rome made St. Kevin’s church a significant Christian monastery worthy of pilgrimage, which millions of Christians have visited since the medieval ages. Although St. Kevin was of noble birth, he devoted his life to serving Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church. Significant early saints of the Christian church, including Petroc of Cornwall and Columba, influenced St. Kevin, whose Christian ministry became famous throughout Ireland by 1540. The exact date of St. Kevin's birth is unknown, however, most historians agree that he was born around the turn of the 5th century.
Glendalough Monastic Site
Nestled in the Wicklow Mountains National Park at the Glendalough Hermitage Center in County Wicklow, Ireland, Saint Kevin’s Cathedral and the Glendalough Tower have served as significant Christian pilgrimage sites since medieval times.
The remains of the gateway to the old monastic site, shown in the vlog, were once the entrance to the monastic site, which consisted of a two-story structure that also served as a sanctuary. The remains include the original granite stones, but there is no physical evidence of the timber roof. The vlog also shows the walkway that once led into this medieval monastic site.
Graveyard, Medieval Round Tower, and St. Kevin's Cathedral
The graveyard surrounding the monastery contains some of Ireland's oldest gravestones, dating back to the 11th century. In addition, the ruins of the Priest’s House, which once housed monks who lived at the Glendalough Monastic Site up to the 19th century, can also be seen by visitors of this Christian heritage site.
Equally significant is the Glendalough Medieval Round Tower, dating to the 12th century. This 12th-century round tower at the Glendalough Monastic Site is just steps from the Glendalough Hermitage Center. The tower retains its original stones, with only the conical roof reconstructed in 1876. It is a significant part of the monastic site, having served as a bell tower and a place of refuge for monks during Viking raids.
Saint Kevin’s Church or Cathedral, shown in the introduction and conclusion of the vlog, was built in the 11th century. This church was named after Saint Kevin of Glendalough, the founder of this monastic site. It is one of the oldest churches in Ireland and features a smaller medieval round tower, which protrudes out of the back of the roof of the medieval church. The preservation of this church is also remarkable, as most of the stones date back to the original structure.
St. Kevin’s Cross
One of my favorite sights at this Christian heritage site was Saint Kevin’s Cross. This cross is a medieval representation of a Celtic Cross. The circular shape at the top of the cross represents the sun, which was once worshipped by pagans in Ireland. However, after St. Patrick’s Christian mission, the Kings of Munster were converted to Christianity, and the Christian cross was superimposed on the image of the sun, creating the legendary and beloved Celtic Christian Cross that is meaningful to people across the globe. The Celtic Cross became a significant symbol of the early conversion of the Irish people from paganism to Christianity in the 5th century.
Wicklow Way and the Wicklow National Park
At the Glendalough Monastic Site, visitors will also see the entrance to the Wicklow Way, just steps from the Glendalough Hermitage Center visitor center, along with an image of St. Kevin’s 11th-century church from the bridge that crosses the Glendasan River. A portrait of Saint Kevin (c.498-618) and the blackbird, from a 9th- or 10th-century codex, is shown, followed by blackbirds flying in front of the chapel, linking early Irish Christian history to the 21st century. This portrait is significant to this cultural heritage site because Saint Kevin is the founder and first abbot of the Glendalough Monastic Site.
Along with significant aspects of the Glendalough Monastic Site, this Christian heritage site features some of the most beautiful walking and hiking trails in Ireland, located within the Wicklow National Park. This includes the stunning Upper Lake, which is a ten-minute walk down the Wicklow Way path from the Glendalough Monastic Site. This lake is important to the site because it is one of the two lakes at “Glendalough,” the namesake of this monastic site, meaning “valley of two lakes.” Tourists can not only take a moment to see the beauty of the Upper Lake but also the breathtaking waterfalls softly flowing over the Wicklow Mountains in the distance.
The last image in the vlog shows St. Kevin’s Church from the bridge over the Glendasan River, which leads to one of the primary walkways at Glendalough, the Wicklow Way. This vlog offers audiences a unique view of St. Kevin’s Church and highlights the lush, beautiful landscapes surrounding it, perfect for iconic travel photo opportunities. Also remarkable is that while visiting this historical site, I captured three blackbirds swooping across the landscape in front of St. Kevin's Church, a moment that reminds us of recorded accounts of St. Kevin feeding the blackbirds out of his hand while living in his hermitage at the Glendalough Monastic Site in the 11th century.
To view this vlog on YouTube, click on the link below and as always, Safe Travels!
Bon Voyage,
Nadine Traveler
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