What is the history behind Glendalough?

What is the history behind Glendalough?

What is Glendalough? The “Monastic City” of Glendalough is an ancient monastery founded by St Kevin, a 6th century hermit, though most of the buildings date back to the 10th and 11th centuries, and were later rebuilt and restored in the late 1800s.

Who destroyed Glendalough?

English forces
Despite attacks by Vikings over the years, Glendalough thrived as one of Irelands great ecclesiastical foundations and schools of learning until the Normans destroyed the monastery in 1214 and the dioceses of Glendalough and Dublin were united. The settlement was destroyed by English forces in 1398.

What was Glendalough originally used for?

It gets its name from the practice of interring priests there in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its original purpose is unknown although it may have been used to house relics of St. Kevin.

When was Glendalough formed?

6th century
Glendalough is home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed the ‘Monastic City’.

Why is Glendalough a sacred place?

As the centuries passed, Glendalough became famous as a pilgrimage center, with pilgrims traveling to the lakes to confess wrong-doing and seek healing. Glendalough is filled with the stone ruins of the past centuries: a round tower, a gateway, chapels, churches and many graves marked with Celtic crosses.

Who is buried in Glendalough?

At Glendalough we have one of the most important groups of early Christian remains to be found in Ireland. The patron saint and founder is St. Kevin, who was buried here in 617. The “ Valley of the Two Lakes ” is closed in on three sides by mountain ranges.

How did Glendalough get its name?

The Glendalough Valley was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age and the two lakes, from which Glendalough gets its name, were formed when the ice eventually thawed.

Why is Glendalough important for Christians in the past?

We all know Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid, but Glendalough had its own saint, Saint Kevin. According to the early Irish annals, he was born in Leinster and died in 618 AD. He was buried here in the valley, and his grave became a very famous place of pilgrimage.

What is the oldest grave in Glendalough?

The Oldest Graves The oldest standing named stone is also here. It is dated 1697 and the name inscribed on it is Murlaugh Doyle.

How old is the Round Tower in Glendalough?

1000 years ago
The most famous of all the landmarks in Glendalough is the Round Tower which stands 33 meters above the ground. It was built almost 1000 years ago by the monks of St. Kevin’s monastery.

Why is Glendalough a place of pilgrimage?

Glendalough is of national significance as the story of a saint who became intertwined with landscape, buildings and objects as Christianity transformed medieval Ireland. The major players in medieval Ireland were all involved from the Vikings, bishops and abbots, to local and national kings.