St Saviours Priory, Glendalough

This work was first created in wax, moulded, cast and then carefully hand-painted by me in my studio in the West of Ireland.

Fragile edges, cracks and weathered stone are intentionally created as a reflection of life, which appears to be an unending fascination for me.

Variations in colour occur between editions. I do not aim to replicate any piece. If you have seen a particular example you love, please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate your request.

This is an original artwork, extremely limited with only 10 editions.

Shipping:

• Ireland: €8 with tracked An Post delivery (2-3 working days; allow longer at Christmas).
• International: €60 via tracked postal service. Please note that all shipments going outside the EU may be liable for import duties.
• US collectors: the work is classified as original artwork and not subject to tariffs on import, though a small customs processing fee may apply. To read more, please click here.
• DHL/UPS shipping available on request (please contact me for a quote).

Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I am not responsible for delays due to customs.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! All my contact details can be found here.

A Litte History

St Saviours Priory, Glendalough, was founded around 1162 for Augustinian monks and is attributed to St Laurence O’Toole (Lorcan Ua Tuathail).

St Saviours sits apart from the main monastic city of Glendalough as the incoming Augustinians didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye with the existing settlement.

At this time, Glendalough was extremely wealthy and powerful, but by the early 1200s it lost its status and importance and went into a rapid decline leaving behind a wonderful time capsule of early Romanesque architecture that was never updated with the later Gothic style.

St Saviours was somewhat questionably restored in the 1870s, but for me that just adds to the story of the building.

To reach the priory today, you take a walk through the woods and turn off down a little narrow track through a young Silver Birch woodland and, after a meander through the trees, the ruins appear bathed in light.

While the main site is always busy, this spot, perhaps the most beautiful of all, is often silent. An absolute joy to visit. To be transported away, to ponder history and escape into fantasy.

It remains one of the most beautiful places I have visited.

Further reading:

https://www.tuatha.ie/glendalough-monastery/

https://glendalough.wicklowheritage.org/places/a-brief-history-of-glendalough-and-surrounding-areas-written-in-1998