Glencree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glencree |
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| Gleann Crí | |
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 Glencree
Location in Ireland
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| Location | County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Governing body | National Parks and Wildlife Service |
Glencree is a beautiful valley found in the Wicklow Mountains in eastern Ireland. Its name means "Valley of the Shaking Bog." It's one of the closest valleys in these mountains to Dublin city. The River Dargle flows through the valley, which reaches a height of about 400 meters (1,312 feet). The village of Enniskerry is located at the bottom of the valley.
Long ago, in medieval times, Glencree was covered in thick forests. It was known as a royal forest, which meant it was owned by the king. It seems to have been the only royal forest in Ireland. The trees were mostly oak.
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The Old Army Barracks
At the top of Glencree, you'll find a military road. The British Army built this road in the early 1800s. They used it to chase after the United Irishmen fighters who were hiding in the mountains after the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
A barracks, which is like an army camp, was built near this road in 1806. After the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, the British Army left the building.
From Barracks to School
In 1858, the old barracks became a special school called St Kevin's Reformatory. It was run by a group called the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). Boys lived in the back building, which is now empty. Some boys tried to escape back to Dublin. In 1878, a young student named Shane Bodkin sadly died after trying to leave the school. The school closed in 1940.
After World War II, from 1945 to 1950, the Irish Red Cross and French Sisters of Charity used the building. They took care of German and Polish children who had lost their parents in the war. This was part of something called Operation Shamrock.
Glencree Peace Centre
In 1975, the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation opened here. Its main goal was to help people from different communities in Northern Ireland get along better.
Today, the center runs many programs. They bring people from places around the world where there have been conflicts. They have programs for young people, women, former fighters, and leaders. The center also teaches people how to solve problems peacefully. Every year, they host a summer school to discuss important topics about conflict and society.
German War Cemetery
The Glencree German War Cemetery is a special place. It was officially opened on July 9, 1961. There are 134 graves here. Most of the people buried are German air force (Luftwaffe) or navy (Kriegsmarine) members.
- Fifty-three of the graves have names.
- Twenty-eight are unknown.
- Forty-six were German civilians. They were being sent from Britain to Canada during the war. Their ship, the SS Arandora Star, was sunk by a German U-boat (a submarine) in July 1940.
- Dr. Hermann Görtz, a German spy, is also buried here.
The German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge) takes care of this graveyard.
Next to the German Cemetery, by the Glencree River, there is a Mass rock. This was a secret place where people could attend religious services long ago when it was forbidden.
Other Interesting Places
The Grotto
In the valley, near the Glencree River, you can find a small shrine called a grotto. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Reconciliation.
Former Youth Hostel
There used to be a youth hostel near the Glencree gates. A youth hostel is a place where travelers, especially young people, can stay cheaply. This hostel was run by An Óige from 1950. It was sold on May 2, 2003. The mountains around Glencree are still very popular for walking and hiking.
Movies Filmed in Glencree
Glencree's beautiful scenery has been used in several movies:
- Casino Royale (1967)
- Where's Jack? (1969)
- Zardoz (1973)
- The First Great Train Robbery (1978)
- Green Journey (1990)
Images for kids
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Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Glencree, Wicklow, Ireland
See also
In Spanish: Glencree para niños
