GLENDALOUGH

Map Reference: T312197

The main collection of monuments at Glendalough, in Camaderry townland, may be entered through the remains of the Gateway. This is the only surviving example in Ireland. It is a rectangular building with round arches in the N and S walls, and was originally two storey. The most visible monument from the Gateway is the Round Tower. This is about 31m high. The doorway is about 1.7m high and about 3m above ground level. The conical cap was rebuilt in 1876 using the original stones. A short distance to the south of the Round Tower is a small building called the Priest's House. It has the remains of a Romanesque arch on the exterior of the E wall and a carved panel over the S doorway. This is now incomplete and very worn. It apparently depicted a central robed figure with a kneeling figure on either side. To the E of the Priest's House is a large nave-and-chancel church known as the Cathedral. It has a flat-headed W doorway with inclined jambs and a fragmentary Romanesque chancel arch. There are some interesting gravestones attached to the inner wall of the church and a very fine bullaun stone built into the base of the N wall of the Chancel. A short distance to the S of the Cathedral is a tall plain High Cross with an unpierced ring. To the SE of the Priest's House is St Kevin's Church or St Kevin's Kitchen. This is the only surviving roofed building at Glendalough. It was originally a small rectangular single-celled church with a croft in the roof and a belfry (round tower) at the W end. There is a lintelled W doorway with inclined jambs. A chancel and sacristy were added in the E but the chancel has now been removed. Beside the church is a very fine bullaun stone. A short distance away is the low ruin of a small nave-and-chancel church known as St Kieran's Church.

REEFERT CHURCH, GLENDALOUGH

Map Reference: T311196

Reefert Church, in Lugduff townland, is situated near the SE corner of the Upper Lake. It is a nave and chancel church with the nave 8.9m by 5.3m and the chancel 4m by 2.5m. There is a simple chancel arch and a lintelled W doorway with inclined jambs. There are two round-headed windows in the S wall of the nave and a similar window in the E wall of the chancel. There are six enternal corbel stones at the corners. A short distance SE of the church is a shale cross with some interlaced decoration. Further to the NE is a circular structure which may be the low remains of a small cashel. There are traces of a low platform running around the inside of the wall.

ST SAVIOUR'S PRIORY, GLENDALOUGH

Map Reference: T133963

This is situated about 1km downstream, on the other side of the river, from the main collection of monuments at Glendalough. It is a nave-and-chancel church with some attached buildings. The east window of the church and the chancel arch have fine Romanesque decoration, including animal and human masks and geometric patterns.