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Mixing Tourism and Faith – The Monastic Site of Glendalough

Mixing Tourism and Faith – The Monastic Site of Glendalough

Last updated on: October 18, 2026 at 6:43 pm by Alice H. Murray

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Mixing Tourism and Faith – The Monastic Site of Glendalough 2026-10-18T18:43:34-04:00 Alice H. Murray

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Aerial view of the Monastic site of Glendalough with two lakes off in the distance

Monastic site of Glendalough [Image by Markiemcg1 from Wikimedia Commons, CCA-SA 4.0]

Traveling abroad offers the opportunity to multitask by combining tourism with learning about faith history. For Christians, the Irish monastic site of Glendalough provides an awesome spot to accomplish both. Offering a breathtaking view of an ancient faith community on green expanse bordered by two lakes, vistors can literally get a view of the religious past from the well-preserved ruins. What story does this over 1,000-year-old site relate?

Colored map showing the location of Irish counties in southeastern Ireland.

Glendalough sits in County Wicklow [Image by RealCounties from Wikimedia Commons, CCA 4.0]

Location of the Monastic Site

Tourists travel to the Emerald Isle of Ireland expecting to see lots of green. Glendalough does not disappoint as pictures of the monastic site attest. Located south of Dublin in County Wicklow on Ireland’s east coast, how could this spot not be green? The name Wicklow derives from an Old Norse name meaning “Vikings’ Meadow.” Popularly known as the “Garden of Ireland,” for its scenery, the county includes extensive woodlands, nature trails, beaches, and ancient ruins. The area offers many walking, hiking, and climbing options.

Glendalough itself is a glacial valley. The name comes from the Irish Gleann Dá Loch, meaning “the glen of two lakes.” The less than creatively named two water bodies are the Upper Lake and the Lower Lake. Steep hills surround the scenic Upper Lake, the larger of the two lakes. Wicklow Mountains National Park, the largest national park in Ireland, encompasses both of the lakes.

Drawing of St. Kein with a long beard, bald on top of his head with long hair having his left arm extended and holding a bird in it

St. Kevin, founder of Glendalough’s monastic site [Image from Wikimedia Commons, public domain]

Founder of Glendalough

St. Kevin founded the early medieval monastic settlement of Glendalough in the 6th century. A descendant of one of the ruling families of Leinster, Kevin studied under three holy men as a boy. He came to Glendalough to get away from the world. At the time of his arrival, this glen would have been lonely and remote, ideal for a secluded retreat.

Kevin lived the life of a hermit for seven years. During that time he went barefoot, wore only animal skins, slept on stones, ate little, and spent his time in prayer. He became close to nature with the animals and birds around him for companions. Kevin is particularly connected to the blackbird. A famous poem by Seamus Henry, an Irish Nobel Prize winner, relates the story of Kevin holding out his hand in a trance-like stillness. A blackbird builds a nest in it and lays eggs. Kevin remained unmoving while the chicks hatched and fledged.

View across lake to small cave opening up on the rocky mountain side.

St. Kevin’s Bed at Glendalough Monastic Site [Image by Explo from Wikimedia Commons, CCA-SA 4.0]

St. Kevin’s Bed At Glendalough

Kevin’s ascetic lifestyle offers tourists an isolated spot to view and to photograph. This spot, dubbed St. Kevin’s Bed, is a Bronze Age cave carved into the rock overlooking Upper Lake. The cave served as Kevin’s retreat. An adult cannot stand up in the main part of the cave, a mere 4 feet wide and less than 3 feet high. Accordingly, historians believe Kevin used the cave as his sleeping place or a place for prayer and medictation.

The approach to the cave is very difficult. In fact, St. Kevin’s Bed is no longer accessible. However, vistors to Glendalough may view the spot from the lake’s other shore. Even without access to the cave’s small interior, those who come to the site easily recognize the hardship early Irish monks faced and the commitment it took to face their challenging lifestyle.

Growth Of The Monastic Site

Kevin’s presence at Glendalough attracted disciples. Therefore, a settlement enclosed by a wall called Kevin’s Cell was established near the lakeshore. It included areas for manuscript writing and copying along with dwellings for the monks, guest housing, and workshops. The monastery produced manuscripts such as The Book of Glendalough which date back to the 12th century.

Kevin’s fame spread widely with many people coming to seek help and guidance from him. The monastic site of Glendalough ultimately grew into a respected seminary, an important monastery. and the parent of several other monasteries. It also developed into a pilgrimage site with pilgrims from Ireland and abroad coming there as it was considered an incredibly holy place to be buried.

Side view of stone church with round tower in the background in a wooded setting.

Buildings at Glendalough Monastic Site [Image by Andreas F. Borchert CCA-SA 4.0]

Sights At Glendalough Monastic Site

Aside from the stunning scenery, tourists can view and photograph buildings erected over 1,000 years ago at Glendalough. The most famous structure at the monastic site is the Round Tower, built in the 11th century. Standing 100 feet tall with a diameter of a 16 feeet, this tower was constructed from granite and mica schist slate. The soaring structure found use as a bell tower, storehouse, beacon to pilgrims, and a refuge during attacks including those by Vikings.

Two worship venues also attract the attention of visitors. The largest ruin at the Glendalough monastic site is that of the cathedral. Construction of the structure, conducted in phases, began in the 10th century. St. Kevin’s Church, also known as St, Kevin’s Kitchen, bears the distinction of being one of the few buildings on site still having a roof. The little stone church’s nickname of Kitchen arises from its round bell tower which resembles a kitchen chimney. Constructed in the 12th century, St. Kevin’s Church is only one of two fully intact medieval churches in Ireland.

Side view of medieval stone church with round bell tower and gravetones outside the church.

Intact roof on St. Kevin’s Church [Image Robertrevill from Wikimedia Commons, CCA-SA 4.0]

Combining Faith And Tourism

Sadly, English forces destroyed the monastic site of Glendalough in 1398. Nevertheless, ruins remain and the beauty of nature in the spot is untarnished. Vistors continue to come to Glendalough today just as they have for a thousand years. They can marvel at the site, take pictures, learn religious history, and enjoy recreational activities in the area. Combining faith and tourism is a success at Glendalough.

The Monastic Site of Glendalough

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About Alice H. Murray

After 35 years as a Florida adoption attorney, Alice H. Murray now pursues a different path in the publishing industry. With a passion for writing, she is constantly creating with words. Her work includes contributions to several Short And Sweet books, The Upper Room, Chicken Soup For The Soul, Abba’s Lessons (from CrossRiver Media), and the Northwest Florida Literary Review. Alice is a regular contributor to GO!, a quarterly Christian magazine in the Florida Panhandle, and she has three devotions a month published online by Dynamic Women in Missions. Her devotions have also appeared in compilation devotionals such as Ordinary People Extraordinary God (July 2023) and Guideposts’ Pray A Word A Day, Vol. 2 (June 2023), pray a word for hope (September 2023), Too Amazing For Coincidence: Heavenly Interventions (August 2024), pray a word for strength (September 2024), and God’s Constant Presence: Held In His Hand, January 2025. Alice’s first book, The Secret of Chimneys, an annotated Agatha Christie mystery, was released in April 2023. Her adoption devotional, God Adopted Us First – Faith Lessons from an Adoption Attorney’s Adventures was published in October 2025. Winged Publications released Alice’s second Agatha Christie annotation, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, in December 2025. Alice’s latest book baby is Sightings: 52 Devotion For Spotting God In Daily Life, published in June 2026. On a weekly basis, Alice posts on her blog about current events with a humorous point of view at aliceinwonderingland.wordpress.com. You can read more about the author here.

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