Kevin (d. c.618), found and abbot of Glendalough (Co. Wicklow).
The Latin and Irish Lives all date from at least 400 years after
his death, tell little about the saint, and were written to further
the claims of Glendalough, by then an important monastery and
diocese.
Kevin was traditionally of a noble Leinster family which was
ousted from the kingship. From childhood he was educated by monks.
After ordination, he settled as a hermit at Glendalough, most
probably by the Upper Lake, marked by the cave called "St. Kevin's
Bed" and the Teampull na Skelling (the rock church), the former
being a Bronze Age rock tomb, re-used by the saint. As disciples
gathered round him, these premises became too small and the
monastery was moved down near the Lower Lake after his death. Later
again, perhaps in the time of Laurence O'Toole, more churches were
built even further to the east. But out of all the surviving
buildings at Glendalough only those by the Upper Lake can be
certainly associated with Kevin.
There are a number of Legends about him, but almost no
historical facts. He is said to have fed his community for some
time on salmon brought to him by an otter. It is also claimed that
he went to see Ciaran of Clonmacnoise just before his death and
that Ciaran gave him his bell. Artists have represented a blackbird
who is supposed to have laid one of her eggs in his hand
outstretched at prayer, the saint remaining in this position until
it was hatched. Kevin was reputed to have died at the age of one
hundred and twenty. Glendalough eventually founded other
monasteries and became an important pilgrimage centre.