and he has even an Ale named after him
this is what remains of the once mighty Cathedral of St Mary and St Paul
the exit leads to a trail to the Lakes
Crows do not mind the sacred place and use the walls as a convenient resting place and lookout
St Patrick's Church is also referred to as St Patrick's Kitchen, but food was never prepared here
the Round tower is from the 10th century and today stands 30 meters high
several of he tombstones feature a Celtic Cross
Glendalough is a valley scraped out by glaciers during several Ice Ages.
It used to be a very remote and
deserted area, ideal for
St Kevin to live here as a hermit. But soon he attracted scores of followers and around 540
St Kevin founded a monastery at the shores of the Upper Lake.
Over the centuries Glendalough flourished and grew into a
major
Monastic City, despite several Viking raids and a devastation fire.
It all ended when the Normans invaded Ireland and
destroyed Glendalough in 1214 after which the place slowly became deserted, only used as a grave yard.
Restorations
were carried out in the 19th and 20th century and today the monastic ruins of Glendalough are a major tourist attraction.
We visited the ruins in June 2018.
the entrance to the ruins is via this Gateway, which once stood two stories high
the Sanctuary Stone. Once a fugitive passed the cross he was granted refuge
when you embrace Kevin's Cross your wish may be granted
inside the ruins of the Cahedral
outside the ruins St Kevin lives on