Glendalough

The ruins of Glendalough - some of its buildings including its Round Tower are still standing - up in the Wicklow Mountains, is one of the loveliest places in Ireland. The name means 'valley of the two lakes'. Originally a hermitage of Saint Kevin, it soon became an important site, where illuminated books similar to the great Book of Kells were made. In modern times, the father of Oscar Wilde liked to take parties of people there. Glendalough features prominently in the 'Vikings' and 'Brian Boru' chapters of the first book of Rutherfurd's Irish saga.