‘Following in the footsteps of monks and others who have lived and prayed here for centuries, we draw our energy from the inspirational and sacred landscape of mountains, valleys and lakes and open ourselves to its healing and restoring power. We are conscious that in this place, we walk on holy ground.’

To mark our 10th anniversary and the launch of our new website, we in Glendalough Hermitage Centre hosted a celebration on Friday night last, 30 September featuring a Concert of Music and Spiritual Reflection with Fr. Liam Lawton and the St. Kevin’s Parish Choir. We were delighted with the number of people who came, friends, the founders and those who helped get the Hermitage Centre off the ground, our neighbours, parishioners and past guests. 

The celebrations began as evening fell. The gathering dusk was lit by beautiful glass candle holders decorated by the children of the nearby Scoil Chaoimhin Naofa as Fr. Oliver Crotty PP of St. Kevin’s Parish, Glendalough blessed the grounds. As a light mist fell on the gathering, a cherry blossom tree was planted amidst the Hermitages by Andrew Doyle T.D.

Andrew recalled being present ten years ago when Fr. Sean O’Toole, then PP at St. Kevin’s Church, saw a dream become a reality, when the five hermitages were officially opened.

At Fr. Sean’s invitation in 2001, two Sisters of Mercy – Sr. Kathleen Delaney & Sr. Mary McKeever – came to run the hermitages and to accompany pilgrims on their spiritual journey through the sharing of prayer, silence and conversation. Since then, Mercy sisters have maintained a contemplative and compassionate presence in Glendalough, seeking to make the riches of its peace and tranquility available to those who are looking for rest or are troubled or anxious in an increasingly busy and stressful world.

Andrew said that the Hermitage Centre was at the heart of the essence of Glendalough and that its continued growth and development would leave a legacy for the generations of pilgrims to come as had been the case with the thousands of pilgrims who had flocked to the Monastic Site in the past. He pointed out that Glendalough, while having a unique setting, had the edge on other tourist locations given its history as a centre for Celtic spirituality. “Anything we do here should sustain and enhance the special place that we have,” he told the gathering.

Chair of the Board of the Centre, Bernie Healy, said that ‘Spiritual Tourism’ was attracting ever increasing numbers as pilgrims of all persuasions find a welcome in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. “The Sisters here offer a space of silence and solitude where the peace and beauty of Glendalough can nurture and heal the soul,” she said.

The tree-planting was followed by the hauntingly beautiful and reflective music of Fr. Liam Lawton. Fr. Liam spoke movingly about how Glendalough has been a place of refuge for him over the years and has inspired much of his music. The landscape is filled with echoes of the lives of people who have come to this sacred place through the centuries seeking God and spending their lives in prayer and solitude.

These lives were remembered in a Ritual of Light held towards the end of the concert when Fr. Sean carried a lantern symbolizing the light of Christ which was tended so faithfully over the years and has now been rekindled in the Hermitage Centre. Mercy sisters passed the light from the lantern among the congregation until the whole church was a blaze of light. Sisters then invited people to see this light as a reflection of the light of Christ within and to nurture it by taking time apart for prayer – whether by themselves or by joining them in the Hermitage.

The evening ended with the large congregation enjoying refreshments at the nearby Brockagh Resource Centre. Pat Casey, a local councillor, and Sr. Peggy Collins rsm both spoke of the contribution made by the Hermitage Centre in its ten years of existence and looked forward to future possibilities and development.

We, Sisters of Mercy who work here would like to express our gratitude to all who came and to all who helped to make the evening such a success. We particularly thank the local people of Glendalough and Laragh who have made us so welcome and who are so much a part of our lives. We also thank our Board of Directors, in particular Bernie Healy our chairperson and the Sisters of Mercy who have provided us with so much support. We would also like to give a special mention to our fellow wayfarers, Fr. Michael Rogers and Sr. Breda Ahern of Tearmann and Sr. Genevieve of An Clochan - they pioneered the way in making Glendalough known and loved by a new generation. Finally, without the vision of Fr. Sean O’Toole and the generosity of Srs. Kathleen Delaney and Sr. Mary McKeever, the Hermitage Centre would never have become a reality and for this we thank  them sincerely.

We sisters, at this time, are very aware that we hold this sacred space of the Hermitage Centre in trust for others and we continue to welcome all who come to be nourished and find peace, hope, and the Sacred  here in Glendalough.