Location – St. Kevin’s chapel is at the very edge of the graveyard, but it easy to spot as it is the most complete of the churches there.
OS: T 122 967 (map 56)
GPS: T 12254 96783 (Accuracy – 3m)
Longitude: 6° 19' 38.55" W
Latitude: 53° 0' 36.06" N
Description and History – Dating to the 12th century this simple nave and chancel church is also known as St. Kevin’s kitchen. This name comes from the erroneous belief that the bell-tower was a chimney for a kitchen. Unlike many of the churches at Glendalough, this had a stone roof which still survives. Originally the building consisted of a nave only. The chancel and sacristy was added at a later date, but the chancel is now missing, although some of the chancel arch can still be seen. A fine barrel-vaulted ceiling can be seen inside with a corbelled stone roof outside. The survival of this building in such good condition is phenomenal and it remains one of only two intact medieval churches in Ireland with an incorporated round tower. Like the other round tower at Glendalough the four windows at the top face North, South, East and West. Trinity church at Glendalough also had an incorporated tower but this collapsed in the 19th century. Inside the church is housed a wealth of curiosities such as cross slabs.
Difficulty – Easy to spot and to get to. The walking path runs right by it.
This chapel can seen from all around Glendalough.
As seen from near the round tower.
With the Cathedral nearby.
You can clearly see here where the chancel use to butt up against the nave.
Window into the sacristy.
Some of the curiosities inside.
