Ireland

Glendalough Ruins and Lakes

Back in March, and again the beginning of June, I decided that I needed to get out of the city and go see a bit more of Ireland. I had heard many lovely things about a place called “Glenda-lock”, which is situated in the Wicklow mountains. I have to say that after taking a friend there in March, I had to return in June (when the weather was better) and take my mom and a bunch of photographs.

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(Sunset at the Upper Lake at Glendalough)

Glendalough (Irish: Gleann Dá Loch, meaning “Glen of Two Lakes”) is one of the most visited places in Ireland. It’s located in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and has lots of walks and trails. 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.

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(House ruins with foggy mountain in the background)

It is also renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest (now in ruins). Kevin was born to one of the ruling families of Leinster, and studed under several early Christian leaders. During this time, he went to Glendalough and was enchanted by its beauty.

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(St. Kevin’s Cell)

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(Looking through the interior of St. Kevin’s Cell)

Shortly later, St. Kevin returned with several monks to found a monestary. As his fame spread, the settlement grew. Kevin died in 618, but the settlement continued for nearly 600 years – surviving through Viking Raids and deaths of many Abbots. In 1398, English troops finally invaded and destroyed the peaceful monestary for good.

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(Cemetery with 30 meter high Round tower to watch for raiders – Lower lake of Glendalough)

Since then, the place has remained one of pilgrimage, and I can see why as it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s mentioned in many manuscripts and there are remnants of cemeteries, workshops, guest houses, infirmaries, farm buildings and dwellings all over the upper and lower lakes. Most of the buildings that exist today are from the 10th and 12th centuries.

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(St. Kevin’s church)

For More information, please see http://www.glendalough.ie/heritage_of_glendalough.php

For more pictures of my trips there, please see my flickr set.

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Powerscourt Estate and Gardens Day Trip

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In the end of May, my mom and step dad came to Ireland to visit. We took several day trips about the area and had a really great time seeing each other. On May 31, mom and I went to Powerscourt Estate and Gardens because I had a discount ticket for the bus trip down which included the entry.

Bus tour with a long winded guide...
(me and mom on the upper deck of the bus – don’t we look happy)

Powerscourt is situated in the Wicklow mountains about 35 minutes south of Dublin, and was originally built as a country castle estate around 1300 by Baron La Poer (Anglocised to Powers). The castle’s position was of strategic military importance, in that the castle’s owner could control access to the nearby Dargle, Glencree and Glencullen rivers. The original home built here was 3 stories and had some 68 rooms. Over time, the castle changed hands many times.

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In the 1700’s, the castle was remodeled to have the current palace built around the remnants of the castle which had been gutted by fire. In the 1800’s, the house underwent renovations to “modernize” the estate. Mervyn Wingfield, seventh Viscount Powerscourt, decided that the grounds needed redone as well.

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He had the grounds were laid out include a walled garden (above), tower valley (with stone tower – below),

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fish pond, grottoes,

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(Grotto looking into the Japanese Gardens)

and terraces – all of which were said to have been inspired by a visit to Versailles. A century later, the Japanese garden

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and a pet cemetery (below)was added. The entire parkland was completed around 1880.

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Today, the home is a tourist attraction, has a 18 hole golf course, a beautiful waterfall, and even has a Ritz Carlton hotel nearby commanding some of the best views of the mountains.

More information about the Powerscourt House & Gardens can be found at:

www.powerscourt.ie

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For more pictures from the gardens, please see my flickr site here.

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A Day trip to Malahide Castle

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Malahide Castle is one of the oldest and most historic castles on the East Coast of Ireland, just North of Dublin. From 1185 until 1975, (Nearly 800 years) it was the home of the Talbot family – with only one short exception – the period from 1649-1660, when Oliver Cromwell granted it to Miles Corbet after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. (Miles Corbet was later hanged and the home restored to the Talbot family.)

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In 1169, at the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion, Malahide township was under the control of Hammund Mac Turkill, the last Viking King of Dublin. As the Normans gained land under Henry II starting in 1174, they were granted out to English noblemen. The actual estate began in 1185, when Richard Talbot, a knight who accompanied England’s King, Henry II to Ireland in 1174, was granted the “lands and harbour of Malahide” (something like 600 acres). Strongbow (I seriously love this guy’s name) was granted the remainder of Leinster county.

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The oldest parts of the castle date back to the 12th century, including the current cafe area and a circular staircase which led to the original 13th century keep. Starting during Edward the IV, the building was added on to. In the 1640’s, under Cromwell, the building itself, old moats, and walls started falling into disrepair as they were filled in and/or harvested for stone building projects. In 1700, the Talbots worked to restore the building to live-able condition, tearing down the fortifications – and vowing that never again should the castle be held by “userpers”. In the place of the fortifications, they planted evergreens on the grounds and started the botanical gardens. The round towers also added in 1765, and several of the windows (including the ones in the great hall) were enlarged. In the years between 1765 and 1782, there was a fire which damaged the west wing of the castle. During the restoration, drawing rooms were added and alternations to the bedrooms (raising ceilings / floors) were made.

One feature on the inside (no pictures allowed inside during the internal tour) is a beautiful Oak Room with carved 16th century wood paneled walls and fireplace. The carvings are all out of the bible, and it is known as one of the best examples of this type of carving in Ireland. The Oak Room itself was expanded in 1820 when the entrance porch was added.

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Today, the castle and gardens encompass some 260 acres of parkland (which consist of wooded areas, cricket greens, soccer fields, a golf course, numerous hiking trails, tennis courts, etc.) and the Talbot Botanic Gardens. The Demense as the parkland is known, is one of the few surviving examples of 18th century landscaped parks, and the Botanic Gardens are known for their many plants from the southern hemisphere and the Victorian conservatory. The castle and grounds can easily be seen in a day trip from Dublin (as is evidenced by me taking my mom while she was visiting) and offers a good day out in good or bad weather. (I recommend trying the food at the cafe inside the castle – delicious!)

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For more information, please see the Malahide Castle Website at:

http://www.malahidecastle.com/history.asp

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