St. Kevin's Church — Attraction in The Municipal District of Wicklow

Looks magnificent and unusual against the backdrop of the mountains. It's worth seeing!!!

St. Kevin’s Church, also known as St. Kevin’s Kitchen, is located in Glendalough Monastery in County Wicklow, Ireland, next to Glendalough Tower. Here are some key facts about it: • History: The church dates back to around the 10th to 11th centuries and is one of the surviving structures of the monastery founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. The name “St. Kevin’s Kitchen” comes from the mistaken belief that the stone tower above the nave (similar to a chimney) was used for cooking. In fact, it is a miniature round tower that served as a bell tower. • Architecture: • The building is built in the early Irish Romanesque style, using slate and granite. • It has a rectangular nave with a steep stone roof, typical of early Irish churches. The stone roof helped protect against fire and raids. • The nave is dominated by a small round tower (around 4 metres high), which was probably used as a bell tower or to house relics. • The entrance is decorated with a simple arch, and inside there are remains of an altar and small windows that allowed minimal light. • Purpose: The church was used for worship and possibly as a place to store sacred relics. Its compact size suggests that it was intended for a small monastic community. • Condition and significance: The church is well preserved, although it suffered damage during the Middle Ages, particularly after the attacks on the monastery in 1398. Today it is part of the historic Glendalough complex, attracting tourists and pilgrims. Its unique stone roof and bell tower make it an important example of early Christian architecture in Ireland. • Location: The church is located near Glendalough Tower, among other monastic buildings such as the cathedral and St Kevin's Cross, in a picturesque valley between the Upper and...

Be prepared to walk a long distance from the parking lot. Parking was inadequate for the amount of visitors even in the office season (April). No paths for disabled visitors 😞 personally stairs were quite difficult to master. The site itself was well presented . Much to our surprise we found an important person probably related. The hotel seemed very commercial and oddly placed among the heritage site. I don't regret visiting however I wouldn't say it was on the top of the list of...

It was a fantastic place. I enjoyed learning about the history. My in laws are Irish and they explained to me why the tower has a door. Monks used to hide valuable objects inside such as a chalice from the church. Sometimes the monastery was invaded and people used stairs to get inside and there was no way out. It was a place to hide until reinforcements arrived. It is incredible how it has been preserved. It’s worth a visit if close...