Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch)
A beautiful glacial valley of two lakes, home to one of Ireland's most important early monastic settlements.
Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch, 'the valley of the two lakes') in County Wicklow is one of Ireland's most atmospheric places: a wooded valley cradling two dark lakes beneath steep mountains.
Here, in the 6th century, St Kevin founded a monastery that grew into a great centre of learning. Its round tower, stone churches and Celtic crosses still stand, drawing pilgrims and visitors for over 1,400 years.
At a glance
- Gleann Dá Loch means 'the valley of the two lakes'.
- Home to a monastery founded by St Kevin in the 6th century.
- Famous for its round tower and early Christian ruins.
In County Wicklow
Glendalough is in County Wicklow, Cill Mhantáin in Irish, which means “St Mantán's church”.
More in Wicklow
- The Wicklow Mountains (Sléibhte Chill Mhantáin): A sweeping granite upland known as the 'Garden of Ireland's' wild heart.
- Bray Head (Ceann Bhré): A headland rising above the Victorian seaside town of Bray.
Other places of this kind
- The Cliffs of Moher (Aillte an Mhothair): Sea cliffs located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region.
- Newgrange (Sí an Bhrú): A prehistoric monument in County Meath, older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids.
- The Giant's Causeway (Clochán an Aifir): Around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast, a UNESCO site wrapped in the legend of Finn McCool.
- The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig): A dramatic outcrop crowned with medieval buildings, once the seat of the kings of Munster.
- Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis): A great early monastery on the banks of the Shannon, once a renowned centre of learning.
- The Hill of Tara (Teamhair na Rí): The ancient inauguration site of the High Kings of Ireland, rich in myth and archaeology.
The Irish name
The Irish form of Glendalough is Gleann Dá Loch. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.