Photos

This is the round tower in Glendalough. It's a lovely structure, beside the graveyard.

Irish history -

A place of great and far-reaching fame in Irish ecclesiastical annals, now a popular centre of tourism. Here in the beautiful Glenn da Locha, ' Valley of the Two Lakes,' St. Kevin established a hermitage in the sixth century. Such was his reputation as a scholar that, contrary to his intention, many came to join him and benefit from his teaching, with the result that a sizeable monastic settlement soon developed. It's expansion in later centuries is evidenced by the remarkable number of monuments distributed through the valley. The most conspicuous landmark, visible from afar, is the well preserved Round Tower which rises above the tree-tops to a height of 100 feet. It's conical cap was reconstructed in the last century from the original masonry, and the tower can be entered by means of a modern wooden stairway. Nearby St Kevin's Church is a small nave and chancel structure with a stone roof, from which sprouts a belfry in the shape of a miniature Round Tower. It's fancied resemblance to a chimney accounts for the ludicrous name St. Kevin's Kitchen by which it has become widely known. Not far away is the Cathedral, a large eleventh and twelfth century church with sacristy and remnants of a Romanesque chancel arch. There is also some fine Romanesque decoration in St. Saviour's Priory, about 1/2 mile to the east of the main group of buildings. Altogether the monuments, which include remains of several more churches, a number of stone crosses and ballaun stones, and the monastic gate-house (the only surviving example in Ireland) extend over a distance of about 1.5 miles.