Christ's Church Cathedral

Christ’s Church Cathedral was established by the vikings in 1030 A.D. and has continued to be a central church for the people in the area ever since. It was originally built in a Romanesque style, but when the ceiling collapsed in 1562 it was rebuild in a more Gothic style. This incident also smashed Strongbow’s tomb, which has since been replaced. The three walls of the choir’s section still remain from the original structure. Even the tiling in that area is original, and our tour guide told us of a duck that wandered onto the wet pavement and his centuries-old footprints remain.

Our tour guide gave us an exclusive trip up to the belfry, which Diana has not done before. We learned about the bells, including “Big Martha” which weighs about two and a quarter tons. After cheekily telling us that there are no rules limiting the ringing of the bells, we all took turns ringing the cathedral’s bells. The town of Dublin could hear our wonderful music from up to two kilometers away.

We were then taken down to the crypt, which is one of the oldest in both Ireland and the UK. There are two corpses in the crypt: those of a cat and a rat. They met their tragic demise during a chase and got caught in the pipes of the cathedral’s organ. Inside the tomb, there was also gold that was given as a gift from a wealthy king (probs). They also have one of the oldest copies of the Magna Carta, called the “Black Book”. It is one of the popular attractions for tourists and is located across from the giftshop. They also have costumes from the popular TV show, The Tudors, because they filmed in Christ’s Church.

Christ’s Church is still significant because it is still fully functions as a Church of Ireland with weekend services. It is the timekeeper for the city, ringing its bells every fifteen minutes and on the hour, and it is a popular tourist attraction which draws in thousands of visitors each year. Most importantly, it still stands as an everlasting symbol of how faith is central to Ireland’s population (literally).

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Erin: Christ’s Church Cathedral was one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. The architecture, both inside and out, is stunning. The stained glass windows and tiled floors were a couple of my favorite parts of the church. I really enjoyed the tour of the bell tower, and it was so exciting to have the opportunity to ring a cathedral bell. How many people can say that they have done that? Our tour guide was so witty and knowledgeable, and he really made our tour enjoyable.  

Grace: I loved visiting this site! I had two main highlights of the day: ringing the bells and seeing the costumes from “The Tudors”! I loved how cheeky and funny the tour guide was along the way, and I felt like I learned so much along the way. When we went to the belfry I was absolutely delighted that I was able to ring the bells, and they were so heavy that I was lifted off the ground every time I pulled the rope! How cool to think that we gave the city of Dublin a minor headache on a random Wednesday afternoon! I shouldn’t have been so excited about the costumes because there was an insanely old copy of the Magna Carta behind me, but I really loved that show! Admittedly, I was so excited that I cried. This site was just so old and full of history. I feel like I gained so much information in such a short time-- I am still processing all we learned.

Isaac: Christ’s Church Cathedral was absolutely beautiful. When we arrived at the cathedral, we waited in the main naive and admired the beautiful architecture. The intricacy and detail in the design was absolutely beautiful. As we were taken around the cathedral throughout the tour, I was excited to see the next room and see more of the structure. Learning about the history and past of the church was also quite interesting. After seeing the different parts of the cathedral on the ground floor, we went up to the bell tower, and was able to ring the bells of the cathedral. We then traveled down to the basement where we learned about small connections the cathedral has with modern politics, culture, and other events. The tour was a great experience!

Rae: After seeing many ruins of beautiful buildings in ruins whilst in Greece, seeing Christ’s Church Cathedral standing with such ornamentation was a great experience. It was really interesting to see the ribbed vaulting in the ceiling and the organs in the church. I found it entirely horrific that there were a mummified cat and rat in the old organ, but I suppose it’s interesting despite its gruesome nature. Going to the belfry was exciting because we got a good view of the city. Also, it was wonderful to ring the bells. I’m sure the people of Dublin were not as enthused as we were. The crypt was eerie, but it had a lot of interesting artifacts to look at. All in all, I would say it was a successful day in Dublin.

Muckross House

The Muckross House was built in 1843. If you break down the word, “muck” means pig, and “ross” means peninsula. Despite its inelegant meaning, Muckross is truly a beautiful estate. It consists of 26,000 acres of protected land. Much of this is now the Killarney National Park. Throughout the grounds there are trails, gardens, arboretums, and greenhouses. Muckross was given to Ireland in 1964, and it has been used as a museum ever since.

The house has been renovated many times for either special guests requiring improvements or to make it more appropriate for tourism. Queen Victoria’s visit in 1861 was expensive to say the very least. The family was given 6 years notice of Queen Victoria’s visit, and became nearly bankrupt due to the renovations. She arrived with an entourage of roughly 100 people. After all the money was spent and the house was ornately decorated for the royal visit, Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert only ended up staying two nights..

The house itself has many interesting features, such as the bells. Almost every room in the house was equipped with a bell that was used to alert the servants of a need. There are 34 bells in both the basement and the attic, and each one was a different size to specify which room was calling. Each servant was specified to certain quarters of the house, where they were responsible for any needs or favors. They were restricted from other rooms in the house, and often did not even know of what was happening elsewhere. Twenty-two servants in total worked at the Muckross House, and extra hands were hired in the event of a special occasion or visitor. There were many features of the house that were tailored to help hide the servants from the lives of the residents and their guests. For example, a decorative crystal window was installed above the staircase to hide the view of the stables and the workers. The servants also had their own staircase so as to avoid running into the owners of the home. The house was outfitted with electricity around 1911, and also had its first electric chandelier installed one of the main halls. Roughly seventy percent of the furniture that decorates the house today is from the residents that lived within its walls.

There seems to have been a divide between men and women that was much more present in everyday life. There were many rooms that were limited to either men only or women only. For example, the billiard room was for the men only. While the men were in the billiard room, the women would wait patiently in their boudoirs. The main reason that women avoided the billiard room was due to the fact that men often smoked inside. The women did not want their nice clothing being ruined. In fact, wealthy women of this time period were the first people to stop smoking.

The Muckross House is still significant in two main ways. One, it rests in the middle of one of Ireland’s biggest national parks, and the government works hard to preserve all the incredible animal and plant life that resides in the area. The second reason it is significant is because it holds a love/hate relationship for the Irish people in the area. It was built amidst the horrible potato famine as a way to display the lavish wealth of the English in comparison to the poverty and starvation of the native Irish. It lasts now as a symbol of British reign in Ireland, but the Irish people have warmed to the historical relevance of the house. It isn’t so much of a power-status anymore as it is a way for the Irish people to remember their past. Even if it unappreciated by many, at least it has a universal aesthetic appeal of the 19th century architecture.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Erin: Muckross House was beautiful, and both its architecture and history were stunning. The decorations were gorgeous, but I found it a bit disconcerting that the family would go bankrupt just to cater to the queen’s desires. Times were different then, though. My favorite part of the visit to Muckross House, however, was being able to walk through the gardens and arboretum. I love that there are over 26,000 acres of protected land around Muckross House that have been turned into Killarney National Park.

Grace: My favorite British monarch has always been Queen Victoria, and I have always seen her as a very influential and powerful female figure in history. It was fascinating for me to be in a country where that is not necessarily the public opinion on her reign. More than that, it was so wonderful for me to be able to step in a house that was richly decorated for her, and that she stayed in (even if for only two nights). For me it was the equivalent of buying a tissue of my favorite celebrity on Ebay-- just the thought that I was touching something that they touched was really cool. I loved how wonderfully preserved the house was, and I honestly felt sort of wealthy just standing amongst the lavishly decorated rooms. The national park around the estate really emanated God’s presence in nature. I felt so serene walking around the gardens, and I hope that someday I can come back and experience this lovely site again.

Isaac: Our visit to the Muckross House was beautiful. From the beginning of our arrival and time spent in the garden to the end of the tour through the house, I was amazed to see the design of the landscape and architecture from hundreds of years ago. When we first arrived at Muckross, I was able to walk around the property and the arboretum. The grounds were beautiful and I can only imagine what it must have been like during the prime era of this house when the residents and their guests were out and about enjoying the views. I thought it very interesting that the house was designed and decorated in the Victorian style, because Queen Victoria only stayed in the residence two nights. However, this applies even more emphasis on how important the queen’s visit was to the estate. I find it fascinating but also quite disturbing that her visit was planned for six years and nearly caused the family to go bankrupt. This took shows the significance of a visit from the queen. The decor of the house and was absolutely beautiful and gave visitors a taste of what life was like during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Rae: Being raised in a modern Victorian home, it was stunning to see a Victorian house of the age. The architecture was extravagant and detailed, so much so that I could spend at least an hour in each room looking at the designs and the furniture. The chandeliers were crystal, the walls were velvet, and the billiards table weighed three tons. It was truly a life of luxury. Not only was the house beautiful, but the grounds were as well. The arboretum was a place I could wander in for the entirety of a day. I loved the elegance and beauty of the Muckross house, and I think it speaks to the high society of Ireland 150 years ago. It was a wonderful experience that I wish I could share with my mom because she would love it even more so than I.

Newgrange

Newgrange is the oldest site in Ireland dating back to 3200 BC. Though its purpose is unknown, the general consensus is that it is either a tomb or a ritualistic site for the Neolithic people who lived in the area. Newgrange is located in Boyne Valley where the Neolithic people settled due to the rich soil, plant life, animal life, and timber in the forests. The location of the valley also offered a place of natural protection, similar to an island, with the river and high ground acting as a border around the community. The river seemed to have been a vital resource to the neolithic people, both spiritually and physically. From the river, they were able to draw their water and fish, as well as use it to transport goods and building materials. This river was also symbolized as a division between the real world and the “other world”.

Newgrange is a passage tomb, and this type of building is common with the fringe societies of Europe. Other passage tomb sites are located in Portugal, Spain, the south of France, and the Scandinavian countries. A passage tomb is a megalithic monument with a central cross-shaped chamber inside. Its main features include a kerb, a passage, a chamber, and a mound. The kerb consists of 97 stones. There are a number of carvings along the walls, but archaeologists today are unsure of whether the carvings served as an early form of writing or simply an artistic purpose. The chamber is dark within as natural sunlight is prohibited from entering, except for a very specific time of the year. The most amazing feature of this passage tomb is the upper window above the entrance that emits the light from the dawn of the winter solstice to illuminate the chamber inside for only 17 minutes.

The purpose of this architectural masterpiece is unknown, but there are many theories on why only one day a year the chamber is brightened by the morning sun. One theory is that it helps symbolize new birth and ultimate transcendence. Another theory is that the light helped serve as a calendar for the Neolithic people who used this building. It is impossible to know, unfortunately, because there was no written language or record from this time period. The only concrete evidence for the purpose of this amazing structure is that there have been human remains discovered along the floors of each chamber. This is why many believe that Newgrange was a burial site; it is also quite possible that it was built for ritual sacrifice to the gods. When we asked our tour guide about his thoughts on the purpose of this ancient place, he simply responded that he felt that there was something sacred about it, and that its purpose was for transcendent and holy reasons. He told us how in local Irish legend and folklore the area surrounding Newgrange was associated with the Tuatha De Danaan (people of the goddess, Danu), which were supernatural beings who settled and ruled Ireland before the Celts arrived. It is said that the chief deity, Elcmar, used Newgrange as his home and married to the goddess Boann, who was the river Boyne.

This site is significant in modern Ireland because it helps harken back to the country’s rich heritage and folklore. It helps demonstrate that even in the Stone Age, these people were highly intelligent and industrious. This monument is older than the Pyramids of Giza and even Stonehenge, but the interior remains in near perfect condition from when it was originally constructed over 5000 years ago. The Irish have struggled with their identity as a country for hundreds of years as they have fought invaders and kings who claimed the land as their own, but a site like Newgrange helps Ireland remember a time when their country and culture were united. It is also important to preserve these sites because oftentimes in our modern society we view the people of the past as less intelligent or unimportant, but even without the technology of our age, the Neolithic people here were able to construct a monument that has stood for 5 millennia. It has baffled even the most intelligent minds on how they managed to build such a monument. It is a site that can truly humble all that come to visit.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Grace: I am left in awe and wonder after leaving Newgrange. The area it sits in is astoundingly beautiful and untouched by man. Despite the reconstruction that happened during the excavation, I cannot believe that this ancient place is still in the same condition it was when the Neolithic people were finished with it. I had a wonderful conversation with the tour guide afterwards, and his reverence for Newgrange was so inspiring. He had worked at this monument for 20 years, but he told me that he still is working through the mystery of the place every time he enters. It was almost intimidating walking into the passage because I felt like I was approaching something sacred and special. I had chills through the demonstration of the winter solstice sun. There is a secret in Newgrange that will never be answered, and I left the place feeling a sort of burden of that knowledge. What was it used for? Why did the people spend so long building it? What was the purpose of the winter solstice light? And my biggest question of all: Why was it constructed in a cross-shape? Only God knows the answers, and I can’t wait to ask him someday.

Erin: Newgrange was not like anything I have ever seen before. Even though I got a little claustrophobic when we entered the tunnel, I was still able to appreciate the design and how well the interior has been preserved. Even though we only saw a simulation of the winter solstice, it was still breathtaking -- quite literally as I was almost hyperventilating at this point. Despite the claustrophobia, I thought Newgrange was stunning; not just because of the architecture but also the ingenuity and dedication of the Neolithic people who built it.

Rae: After spending all of January looking at temples in ruins, Newgrange is a breath of fresh air. Its age and status in this present day is entirely amazing. Though we only saw a simulation of the winter solstice light, it was captivating. It is easy to understand why the sight emulates a sense sacred space. The brilliance in the engineering of the structure is incredible. It is difficult to understand just how ancient this monument is because it seems so new and beautiful. I would most definitely go back to experience the atmosphere present there.

Isaac: Newgrange was absolutely stunning. The condition of the interior for its age is incredible, not to mention the architectural genius of the structure. Upon entering the tunnel, we immediately had to squeeze between to rocks and duck from the cross beams supporting the walls. Once we got to the end of the tunnel, I was a bit surprised that the center room was not larger, but as we spent time admiring the structure, I was thoroughly impressed. Our tour guide the turned off the lights, and we were able to see how the natural sunlight shines all the way into the depth of the tunnel. It is incredible that with the limited technology during the time it was built, they were able to tell exactly where the sun would shine on the winter solstice. For about 17 minutes they were able to have the warmth of the sun illuminate the deep, dark room. It was also very interesting to see the ways in which they lived their daily lives 5000+ years ago as farmers, hunters, and craftsmen.

Trinity College: The Book of Kells and The Long Room

Trinity College has a very unique beginning. The land was originally owned by a monastery, until it was bought by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. She commissioned it as a Protestant university. Trinity is the first university established in Ireland, and now educates over 17,000 students every year. It is 47 acres and 1 kilometer in length. It was originally built outside of the Dublin walls, but now it sits at the heart of the city, as everything has developed around the university.

It was the first university to grant women with degrees. Ironically enough, the man impeding women from graduating with degrees, Provost George Salmon, had a daughter who graduated with a degree shortly after his death. Now there are two female students for every one male student at the university.

Trinity famously houses the Book of Kells, a large, decorated text made in 800 AD, in the Old Library. The pages were made of calfskin, and the inks were brought all the way from modern day Iraq. It was given to the university in 1661 in order to rebound and preserve the precious manuscript. The book was recently rebound by the university into 4 volumes -- each volume being one of the Biblical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Today, two of the gospels are displayed at a time for visitors to observe; one book open to a textual page, and the other book to an ornamented page to give the viewers an accurate depiction of the rest of the Kells manuscripts.

The Long Room was built between 1712 and 1732, and it is the longest single chamber in the world. It houses many artifacts including the oldest harp in Ireland, (which is the national symbol of Ireland, the Guinness logo, and the Irish currency), one of the last remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, and 14 marble busts created by famous sculptor Pieter Scheemakers. Within the library, roughly two-hundred thousand of the library’s oldest books are housed, and are still available for checkout by university students today. The books are ordered not according to the Dewey Decimal System, subject, or genre, but rather by size. The larger books are housed on the lower shelves, and the size of the book decreases with increasing shelving height. This keeps the library aesthetically pleasing as well as helping with the efficiency of space. Therefore, students desiring to check out books must know the exact dimensions of the book.

Today, all three of these things (Trinity, The Book of Kells, and The Long Room) hold significance for both cultural and historical reasons. Trinity is one of the most prolific and praised universities in the world, and has a continued tradition of excellence since its establishment in 1592. The fact that Trinity holds the Book of Kells shows its devotion to the preservation of historical artifacts, and helps educate all that walk through about the importance of remembering the past. The Long Room shows how Trinity has a passion for the beauty of learning. There are many aesthetically pleasing aspects of the Long Room, and this was absolutely intentional in order to display these old, wonderful books. In all, we loved our experience here, and recognize how important Trinity is to the cultural heart of Ireland.

Personal Reflections

Rae: Though the entirety of the campus was entirely beautiful, I most enjoyed seeing the Long Room. The Book of Kells was a lovely thing to see, especially since I learned about it through Western Art History. However, the Long Room was impressive in its size and also in the books that it housed. Also, I find it absolutely amazing that the university is so old and yet it thrives still today. It is in the center of Dublin, and is therefore an integral part of the community. Through this experience, I have better come to understand the importance and prominence of Trinity University.

Isaac: The entirety of Trinity College was absolutely stunning. From the entryway at the front of the University to the residential buildings that over a hundred years old. It was fascinating learning about the history and origin of the college, such as George Salmon’s influence until his death, which finally allowed for the acceptance of women. The contrast of architectural styles of very intriguing, including the library in contrast with its neighboring natural science museum. The intricate architecture was baffling, as each decorative aspect was unique and not repeated. The Book of Kells was quite impressive, and it was great to see it in person after learning so much about it. My favorite aspect of our visit was the Long Room, and the impressive architecture and ordering its walls. The size was shocking, and beauty of the design and order was impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed this visit, and have come to appreciate the history and future of Trinity College.

Grace: I think I want to transfer now. Trinity College is astoundingly beautiful, holds so much history, and is at the center of Dublin. What more could I look for in a college? All jokes aside, I really enjoyed the incredible historical significance of the university, and wished that I could take more time to explore. The Book of Kells and The Long Room were both things I have wished to see my whole life, but never actually believed that I would witness in person-- they both took my breath away. I couldn’t believe how old the Book of Kells was, and how remarkable the condition of it was in. To think that something so valuable and precious as this manuscript was written as a celebration of Jesus’ life just fills my heart with joy. It couldn't be more appropriate! And the Long Room? W O W. I had chills for the entire time I was there. I could have sat in that room for hours taking it all in. The whole experience at Trinity was wonderful, and I learned so much. I really hope we can go back soon!

Erin: Trinity College has a beautiful campus and an intriguing history. Although the university is home to over 120 different nationalities now, it was originally only accessible to Protestant males. The population of the university has grown and expanded over time, but the campus has remained the same for the most part. Many of the buildings are hundreds of years old, and there are even a few Oregon Maples that are almost as old as the building. Two of my favorite buildings on Trinity’s campus are the Old Library and the Museum Building. The Old Library houses the Long Room, which is absolutely beautiful -- everything from the smell of the old books to the way the sun streams in the windows. The Museum Building has beautiful carvings of native Irish plants and originally housed all the samples of plants and animals.

Glendalough Monastery

In Wicklow County, there is an eleventh century monastery called Glendalough. It was founded by Saint Kevin in the eighth century. The original structures built in the 8th century by Saint Kevin have since deteriorated because they were all wooden structures, but the 11th century stone replacements still remain in shockingly good condition. The four standing buildings were surrounded with graves ranging from the 11th century all the way to the present. There is the famous round tower, the Saint Peter and Paul’s cathedral, Saint Stephen’s church, and the abbot’s house.


The Glendalough round tower is over 30 meters tall, the doorway being three meters off the ground, and there are four windows at the top of the tower each facing North, South, East, and West. The round tower was thought to be used for a variety of reasons. It was thought to be used as a beacon for weary pilgrims, the height helped demonstrate the wealth of the monastery, it protected valuable objects, but mainly it was used as a bell tower to mark the five daily times of prayer for the monks. In Ireland, there were over 100 round towers thought to have existed at the same time, and now only 67 are still standing. They are important to modern Ireland because they are a standing symbol of the original Irish monasteries before all religious institutions were designed in the Romanesque fashion. If you were to put your back against the door of the tower, you would be facing the most important building in the monastery. In Glendalough, that building was Saint Peter’s and Saint Paul’s cathedral.

The cathedral was built on original Irish rock, but you can see the progression of Romanesque influence when you view the sandstone detailing on the arches. It is interesting that Romanesque design is seen in the windows and arches on top of the original Irish foundation. This is a prominent example of the conversion from monasteries being purely Irish to being unified throughout the entire European continent. In fact, the 11th century was a very transitional time for Ireland because it was a change from being  independent homesteads and tiny villages to merging with the modern society. The cathedral is the centerpiece and most important structure in the monastic lifestyle, and its design can even reflect the changing atmosphere in the country despite dwelling in a seemingly desolate valley away from civilization.

The most intact building in the Glendalough monastery is the Saint Kevin’s church, and it is also the only church with an original intact roof. The whole building, including the roof, was made of stone. Inside it is barren except for the altar which was the original altar that Saint Kevin used in the 8th century. It is the only surviving piece from the original church Saint Kevin founded. The interior of the church would have been painted in fabulous frescoes depicting biblical stories. These frescoes have not survived all the weathering through the last thousand years, but they were key in helping set an existential atmosphere when one entered the building of worship. The frescoes would have had to be painted quickly due to the quick-drying nature of the plaster, and each one helped add character and color to the church. These are very present in churches spanning the next centuries, and Saint Stephen’s church is one of the earliest examples of such art in Irish monasteries.

The abbot’s house was not a residence as much as it was a modern-day office. The holy relics from saints and priests were kept in this small building; the abbot, who was in charge of that particular monastery, protected the relics and blessed those who journeyed to see them. Relics are still in use today; in fact, the heart of the patron saint of Dublin, Saint Lawrence O’Toole, has been preserved and kept in Christ Church cathedral. Pilgrimages were made to visit these relics because it was believed that by being in the presence of these items one could glean the mystical properties of whichever saint it belonged to. The presence of the relics helped bring people to the church and thereby bringing them closer to God.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Isaac:

The location of the monetary was absolutely stunning, and the two lakes between the valley was a great location for such a site. I was surprised to see such old structures holding together as well as they are. Having learned much about this kind of architecture and art, it was fascinating to see this site with so many examples. I appreciated hearing about their resilient faith lived out in the monasteries, as it was a lifestyle that required extreme dedication and sacrifice. I believe that we can learn much from this lifestyle. We also walked up along the trail up over to the westernmost lake and saw the waterfall at the edge of the lake. The view was beautiful and it was great to see the near exact perspective that the monks would have had over a millennia ago.

Grace:

I thought that this location was incredibly beautiful, and it made my head spin when I thought about how old it was. It was weird to think about all the people who have wandered these ruins, and all the people that used to live and study the gospel here. The valley was virtually untouched by man-made expansion; when one stands by the Upper Lake it is almost as if you have been transported back 1000 years ago when the monastery was founded. I could see why the location was so ideal for a group of people that longed for solitude save only the company of God. It is sometimes hard to understand why people would feel led to move away from society and devote themselves solely to God in a remote environment, but I think now I have a better idea of why this would be so appealing. The only sounds you could hear were the rushing wind and the waves from the lake crashing on the shore. I finally had a moment to take a deep breath and appreciate the incredible unaltered beauty of the Irish landscape. God created this world with a breath. The majesty of this area could only be created by a God with an appreciation for beauty and intelligence. I can comprehend for the first time that living in solitude in the wilderness is more than just being alone--- it is about soaking the gloriousness of God’s creation into our very bones. It is easy for me to be distracted by human creations and devices, and visiting this site helped me see how important it can be to separate myself for a moment and fully embrace the natural beauty of our world.

Erin:

Glendalough is beautiful location where nature and history collide. From an environmental standpoint, it was surprising to see how well the buildings and grave markers are preserved. It was amazing to think how much history is contained in that site; how many people have walked under the arch, how many prayers were recited in the cathedral, how many pilgrims saw the round tower in the distance and were filled with hope. It is easy to understand why Saint Kevin picked Glendalough as his place of silent retreat to God. The beauty and solitude found in that valley reflects God’s presence.

Rae:

Glendalough is a perfect embodiment of the history I was looking forward to seeing in such an ancient country. There were grave markers littering the beautiful green countryside, standing as a testament to its age. The roundtower is an amazing monument that suggests the intelligence of the Irish, and especially the fact that it is still standing intact. The buildings are also beautifully preserved, even without the roofs. St. Kevin’s church was wonderful to see as the roof is made of stone and is one of the very few ancient churches that still has a roof. The short trek to the lake is one that is certainly rewarding. The view was absolutely lovely, especially with the winding waterfall. If all monasteries are this beautiful, I am deeply looking forward to visiting them in the future.