Glencree

Glencree ( _ga. Gleann Crí) is a valley in the Wicklow Mountains in eastern Ireland. It is the second closest valley in the mountains to Dublin city, the first being Glencullen. The river Dargle flows down the valley, which rises to a height of abut 400 metres. The foot of the valley is site of the village of Enniskerry.

The Barracks

The top of the glen emerges onto the military road, constructed by the British Army in the early 1800s in order to hunt down the United Irishmen guerrillas, holding out in the mountains after the Irish Rebellion of 1798. A barracks was built at Glencree, just off the road in 1806. With then end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, the building was vacated by the British Army.

In 1858 the buildings were converted into a reformatory school. St. Kevin’s Reformatory was operated by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). it closed in 1940 [ [http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0077/D.0077.193911150002.html Dáil Éireann - Volume 77 - 15 November, 1939 - Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Glencree Reformatory ] ]

It was used to house German prisoners of war during the First World War 1914-18, when Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom. During the Second World War, 1939-1945, when the Irish Free State was neutral, Glencree housed German Air Force pilots who crashed in Ireland as well as German agents who were captured trying to plan anti-British activities with the IRA.

Under "Operation Shamrock" the Irish Red Cross and the French Sisters of Charity cared for German and Polish war orphans from 1945 to 1950.

The Glencree Centre for Reconciliation opened in 1975 to foster better relations between the two communities in Northern Ireland. Currently, they run a broad range of programs aimed at bringing various actors from global conflict zones to the valley. At present, there are programs serving youth, women, ex-combatants, the churches, victims, and political/ economic leaders. Also, the Centre provides training in mediation and conflict resolution, as well as hosting a summer school each year on a topic of relevance to the Irish conflict and society. Of late, they have begun broadening their reach to include actors from other global conflicts, most notably from the Middle East, Sri Lanka, and Haiti. Finally, the Centre runs a volunteer program that invites adults from around the world to serve from 2 months to one year on program and service work. From September 2007, volunteers will fulfil only menial tasks, with six interns working on the programs. On the site, there is a gift and coffee shop. When programs are not in session, the rooms are rented in hostel-style.

German war cemetery

Glencree Deutsche Kriegsgraberstatte was dedicated on 9 July 1961. There are 134 graves. Most are Luftwaffe (air force) or Kriegsmarine (navy) personnel. 53 are identified, 28 are unknown. Six deaths date from World War I, they were prisoners of war held by the British. Forty six German civilian detainees were being shipped from England to Canada for internment when their ship, "Arandora Star" was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Tory Island in July 1940. Dr Hermann Görtz, a German spy is also here. He committed suicide as he feared he would be handed over to the allies at the end of the war. It is administered by the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge in German [ [http://www.volksbund.de/kurzprofil/homepage_en.asp German War Graves Commission homepage (in English)}] ] ) ::It was for me to die::Under an Irish sky::There finding berth::In good Irish earth::What I dreamed and ::planned bound me::to my Fatherland::But War sent me::To sleep in Glencree +::Passion and pain ::Were my loss my gain:::Pray as you pass::To make good My loss

Alongside the German Cemetery, on the bank of the Glencree River, a Mass Rock is located.This can be accessed by a narrow riverside path .

Grotto

In the valley, where the Glencree River (little more than a stream) flows, there is a grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Reconciliation.

Youth Hostel

There was previously a youth hostel some metres outside the Glencree gates. The mountains around Glencree are popular for walking. [ [http://www.iol.ie/~imra/route_glencree.html] Irish Mountain Running Association] This hostel, operated by Óige since 1950, was sold 2 May 2006. Hostel-style accommodation is now available in the Centre for Reconciliation.

As a film location

"Casino Royale (1964), Where's Jack? (1969), Zardoz (1973), The First Great Train Robbery (1978) and Green Journey (1990)" were filmed here.

References

Websites

* [http://www.irishwarmemorials.ie/html/showMemorial.php?show=249 Glencree German Cemetery]
* [http://www.glencree.ie/ Glencree Centre for Reconciliation]
* [http://www.iol.ie/~imra/route_glencree.html Irish Mountain Running Association]

*RTÉ Radio 1 programme on Glencree Valley http://www.rte.ie/radio1/shanksmare/rams/2006/23june.smil