Tag: Glendalough

St Kevin’s Way (Pilgram Path), Co Wicklow

27/08/2023.Reading time 2 minutes.

St Kevin’s Way follows in the footsteps of St Kevin through the hills of Wicklow to the haunting and mysterious valley of Glendalough where he spent the rest of his life in solitary prayer and contemplation. After Kevin’s death in AD 618, what had been a humble hermit’s retreat developed into an impressive monastic city […]

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#OTD in Irish History | 2 July:

02/07/2023.Reading time 15 minutes.

1790 – In an election for Speaker of the Irish parliament, John Foster defeats William Brabazon Ponsonby by 145 votes to 105. 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: Rebels defeat small force of Yeomanry at Ballraheen Hill; they move to camp at Croghan. 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: Execution of Father John Murphy. 1800 – The […]

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In the Liturgical calendar, today is the Feast day of Saint Cóemgen, also known as Kevin and Kevin of the Angels, founder and first abbot of Glendalough in Co Wicklow.

03/06/2023.Reading time 3 minutes.

St Kevin’s life is not well documented, as no contemporaneous material exists. His Latin vita maintains that he was descended from a royal line and was related to the Dál Messin Corb. He was given the name Cóemgen, which means “gentle one”, was baptised by Cronan, and educated by St Petroc during that saint’s sojourn […]

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#OTD in 1597 – Death of Fiach MacHugh O’Byrne (Fiach Mac Aodh Ó Broin), Lord of Glenmalure.

08/05/2023.Reading time 5 minutes.

Fiach MacHugh O’Bryne (Fiach Mac Aodh ÓBroin) was the son of the chief of the O’Byrnes of the Gabhail Raghnaill. His sept, a minor one, claimed descent from the 11th century King of Leinster, Bran Mac Maolmordha, and was centred at Ballinacor in Glenmalure, a steep valley in the fastness of the Wicklow mountains. Their […]

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#OTD in Irish History | 29 April:

29/04/2023.Reading time 13 minutes.

1653 – Birth of shoemaker and astrologer, John Whally, in London. 1665 – Birth of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde and an ancestor of Princess Diana. The Dublin-born Irish general became one of the most powerful men in the Tory administration, governing England in the early part of the 18th century – from 1710 […]

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St Kevin’s Church, Wicklow Gap, Co Wicklow

21/03/2023.Reading time 3 minutes.

St Kevin’s life is not well documented, as no contemporaneous material exists. His Latin vita maintains that he was descended from a royal line and was related to the Dál Messin Corb. He was given the name Cóemgen, which means “gentle one”, was baptised by Cronan, and educated by St Petroc during that saint’s sojourn […]

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#OTD in Irish History | 19 October:

19/10/2022.Reading time 15 minutes.

1610 – Birth of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond; royalist soldier; and three times Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 1649 – New Ross town, Co Wexford, surrenders to Oliver Cromwell. 1680 – Birth of minister and church leader, John Abernethy, in Coleraine, Co Derry. 1745 – Death of Jonathan Swift. He was an Irish satirist, […]

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#OTD in Irish History | 2 July:

02/07/2022.Reading time 15 minutes.

1790 – In an election for Speaker of the Irish parliament, John Foster defeats William Brabazon Ponsonby by 145 votes to 105. 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: Rebels defeat small force of Yeomanry at Ballraheen Hill; they move to camp at Croghan. 1798 – United Irishmen Rebellion: Execution of Father John Murphy. 1800 – The […]

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#OTD in 1597 – Death of Fiach MacHugh O’Byrne (Fiach Mac Aodh Ó Broin), Lord of Glenmalure.

08/05/2022.Reading time 5 minutes.

Fiach MacHugh O’Bryne (Fiach Mac Aodh ÓBroin) was the son of the chief of the O’Byrnes of the Gabhail Raghnaill. His sept, a minor one, claimed descent from the 11th century King of Leinster, Bran Mac Maolmordha, and was centred at Ballinacor in Glenmalure, a steep valley in the fastness of the Wicklow mountains. Their […]

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#OTD in Irish History | 29 April:

29/04/2022.Reading time 13 minutes.

1653 – Birth of shoemaker and astrologer, John Whally, in London. 1665 – Birth of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde and an ancestor of Princess Diana. The Dublin-born Irish general became one of the most powerful men in the Tory administration, governing England in the early part of the 18th century – from 1710 […]

Read More