The Parish Shrine to St Kevin was created in the spring of 2016, and formally blessed by our Bishop, The Right Rev Joseph A Toal, Bishop of Motherwell, during his Pastoral Visitation to the parish in April 2o16.   At the Shrine hangs a tapestry which depicts the scene of the glacial valley of Glendalough  (Gleann Dá Loch, meaning "Valley of two lakes") where St Kevin lived and ministered, with the beautiful mountains of County Wicklow.   For thousands of years people have been drawn to ‘the valley of the two lakes‘ for its spectacular scenery, rich history, archaeology and abundant wildlife.   Today, as in the yesterday of St Kevin's time, Glendalough is recognised as a remarkable place that will still your mind, inspire your heart and fill your soul.

In the centre of the  tapestry we see the early medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, namely The Round Tower and St. Kevin's Church or "Kitchen".

This fine Round Tower, built of mica-slate interspersed with granite is about 30 metres high, with an entrance 3.5 metres from the base.  The tower originally had six timber floors, connected by ladders. The four storeys above entrance level are each lit by a small window; while the top storey has four windows facing the cardinal compass points. Round towers, landmarks for approaching visitors, were built as bell towers, but also served on occasion as store-houses and as places of refuge in times of attack.

This stone-roofed building called  St. Kevin's Church or Kitchen originally had a nave only, with entrance at the west end and a small round-headed window in the east gable. The upper part of the window can be seen above what became the chancel arch, when the chancel (now missing) and the sacristy were added later. The steep roof, formed of overlapping stones, is supported internally by a semi-circular vault. Access to the croft or roof chamber was through a rectangular opening towards the western end of the vault. The church also had a timber first floor. The belfry with its conical cap and four small windows rises from the west end of the stone roof in the form of a miniature round tower.

The Statue of St Kevin, specially commissioned for the Parish and speculated to be one of its kind in Great Britain, shows Kevin holding a blackbird, corresponding to the story accosted with St Kevin. 

"If you've come to Wicklow, chances are that a visit to Glendalough (Gleann dá Loch, 'Valley of the Two Lakes') is one of your main reasons for being here. And you're not wrong, for this is one of the most beautiful corners of the whole country and the epitome of the kind of rugged, romantic Ireland that probably drew you to the island in the first place.

The substantial remains of this important monastic settlement are certainly impressive, but the real draw is the splendid setting: two dark and mysterious lakes tucked into a deep valley covered in forest. It is, despite its immense popularity, a deeply tranquil and spiritual place, and you will have little difficulty in understanding why those solitude-seeking monks came here in the first place."  (The Lonely Planet)