<< Our Photo Pages >> Gallarus Oratory - Ancient Temple in Ireland (Republic of) in Co. Kerry
Submitted by Sunny100 on Monday, 18 October 2010 Page Views: 6449
Multi-periodSite Name: Gallarus Oratory Alternative Name: Gallarus ChurchCountry: Ireland (Republic of) County: Co. Kerry Type: Ancient Temple
Nearest Town: Dingle Nearest Village: Gallarus
Map Ref: Q392049
Latitude: 52.172954N Longitude: 10.351237W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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rrmoser would like to visit
LeGuMa visited on 1st Jan 2001 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5
X-Ice visited on 4th Aug 1982 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5
HChavez visited - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4
MelissaBWrite have visited here
Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 4.67 Access: 4.67
Gallarus Oratory (Church of the Foreigners) dates from the 8th century CE. A small oratory or church built without any mortar, it is built like an up-turned boat out of nicely shaped stones, three and a half feet thick, and all neatly fitted together. There is a tiny window and a narrow door (5ft 6' high). Inside, the building measures 10x15 feet and has corbel-style vaulting.
It is in quite excellent condition despite it's age and, due to it's shape and style of building, it has been well protected from the elements. Some historians think this is the best preserved example in Ireland and perhaps also the oldest church in Ireland. Certainly it is a very interesting little building and just looking at it you might think of similar buildings with sloping walls out in the east - for example the pyramids at Giza. That and the oratories ridged roof may have something to do with cosmic energy and other spiritual significance.
The Journal of Antiquities also features a page for this ancient church - see their entry for the Gallarus Oratory, Co.Kerry, Southern Ireland, which includes a photograph and background information. The Oratory also has its own web page which can be found at the Gallarus Oratory Visitor Centre webpage. The Visitor Centre is open daily from Easter to October and on request during the off season. Visit their webpage for the email address and telephone number.
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