Saint Kevin’s Kitchen, better known as Saint Kevin at Glendalough, is a small and very unique chapel church that is located in the glacial valley of Glendalough, in the County of Wicklow, within the eastern part of the Republic of Ireland.
Definitely one of the most unusual features of the small church is the round tower, or the belfry, which has a conical cap, and it is integrated with the church. Sometimes it is believed that the bell tower was a chimney to a kitchen, due to its size and shape, thus Saint Kevin’s Kitchen; however, it has never been used as such.
Dedicated to the Irish saint who is known as the founder and first abbot of Glendalough, the chapel is a great example of a builder’s desire to integrate a circular bell tower within a rectangular church, creating this Irish treasure as a historic landmark of the eastern part of the country. Standing three floors high, the tower can be accessed from the upper croft chamber of the church roof.
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The roof itself is a different and unique story, as it is constructed entirely from corded stone in a steep shape. This creates a unique structure that makes Saint Kevin’s Kitchen popular among historic structure enthusiasts. Internally, the chapel is supported by a semi-circular vault, where a wooden upper floor can be seen with access to the roof chamber.
There are no certain sources that claim whether there was only a nave built when it was constructed in the 12th century, but nowadays we are able to see the rectangular church that is surrounded by a stone wall marking the church’s grounds, with another smaller object right next to it.
In conclusion, as Saint Kevin’s Kitchen is surrounded by the stupendous Irish nature, it is attracting visitors who would like to gaze at the unusual stone formation that the magnificent Irish builders carved out, and see perhaps one of the greatest historic treasures from eastern Ireland.
