Page 38 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

COUNTY WICKLOW'S 'HIDDEN' HERITAGE PARK

We walked up the short Church Road to the main
Roundwood Road. If we had turned left here, then first right, we
could have visited the ruins of St Molin’s church and St Kevin’s
holy well nearby. Both saints are connected with this ancient site.
St Molin ruled over the monastery of Glendalough for a time, and
the townland of Glassnamullen is no doubt called after him.
However, as time was limited, we turned right for 150m to visit
the impressive remains of the hillfort on our right. As we stood
on the mound and surveyed the surrounding countryside, we
could realise that this site dominated the whole area of the
Vartry. What is now called Vartry was originally called Feartry.
Liam Price says the word ‘feartry’ means fort or fortress. In the
sixth century one of the named places in the land of Feartry was
Dunmore, or the big fort. In documents of the ninth century the
area around this fort was a centre of importance long before
Roundwood or Leitrim is even mentioned. As we could see, it
was very large and well-fortified. The outer bank and moat has
been largely filled in over the years, and originally was much
higher and deeper. The river Vartry close by also formed part of
its outer defences.

We continued our walk along the main road to the next T-
junction. On the left was a famous public house named The
Tavern, but it is now a private residence. It was here the
members of the Bray Harriers frequently met after a day’s hunt
over Calary Bog. Up the side road from here are the remains of
an old house where it is said that Rev John Darby lived when he
was in charge of Calary parish. Incidentally, he left the parish
after a riding accident.

There is a bridge over the river at this point, and along the
left-hand bank the remains of an old road, which led past Calary
Church and was the original way to the church before the existing
road was built. This road is probably a continuation of the old

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