logo-mini

Are you sure you want to leave the feed?

Oops... something went wrong!

My Ireland

Looking for inspiration? Planning a trip? Or just want to scroll yourself happy? We'll show you an Ireland that's tailor-made for you.

  • #Landscapes
  • #CultureandHeritage
  • #OutdoorActivities
  • #Landmarks
MyICallOut_FindTheThings_EN_Desk_Above-Left MyICallOut_FindTheThings_EN_Desk_Above-Left

Oops... no internet connection

While offline, you can still add items to My board. New travel reccomendations will only show up once you’re back online.

    See what Ireland has in store for you

    Oops... no internet connection

    While offline, you can still add items to My board. New travel reccomendations will only show up once you’re back online.

    My board

    Look out for the little heart icon around Ireland.com. Simply tap the heart to add items to your board!

    Emptyboard Emptyboard
    gallarus-oratory-county-kerry-hero-v1 gallarus-oratory-county-kerry-hero-v1

    Explore Gallarus Oratory

    Add a trip to one of the best-preserved ancient churches on the island of Ireland to your travel itinerary
    • #ChristianHeritage
    • #HistoricIreland
    • #WildAtlanticWay
    County Kerry
    Historic landmarks
    2 hr 35 mins from Cork Airport
    star-wars-last-jedi-malin-head-county-donegal star-wars-last-jedi-malin-head-county-donegal

    The Gallarus Oratory is a bewitching, intriguing structure.

    Located on a wild and dramatic piece of land on the Dingle Peninsula, it boasts spectacular views out towards Smerwick Harbour – a large bay – on one side, and the hauntingly magnificent Mount Brandon on the other. Thought to be over 1,000 years old, this Early Christian church is staggeringly beautiful, with a shape that resembles that of the hull of an upturned boat. Built from slanted dry stone, Gallarus Oratory is one of only three dry-stone churches in Ireland that still have their corbelled roof in working condition. The other two can be found on Skellig Michael.

    If you’re planning on visiting the Gallarus Oratory, our advice is go off-season and early morning, so you have the place to yourself (it opens at 9am). There’s nothing like stepping into the cool dark interior and seeing the light spilling through the tiny window – it’s an amazingly profound experience, with everything around you as it would have been all those years ago. Poet Seamus Heaney even immortalised the experience in his poem, In Gallarus Oratory:

    You can still feel the community pack
    This place: it’s like going into a turfstack,
    A core of old dark walled up with stone
    A yard thick. When you’re in it alone,
    You might have dropped, a reduced creature,
    To the heart of the globe.

    The window here has its own story – legend has it that if a person can climb out of the window, it will result in the cleansing of their soul, although we don’t recommend trying! You can enjoy more stories from this part of County Kerry in Gallarus Oratory Visitor Centre where a popular attraction is the audio-visual display of the surrounding area.

    gallarus-oratory-county-kerry-inset-image-v1 gallarus-oratory-county-kerry-inset-image-v1

    Gallarus Oratory, County Kerry

    Need to know

    1

    Visitors to Gallarus Oratory recommend watching the audio-visual display of Gallarus Oratory’s surroundings before visiting the church so that you can get your bearings.

    2

    Treat yourself to a Gallarus Oratory souvenir from the gift shop inside the Gallarus Oratory Visitor Centre.

    3

    Entry to Gallarus Oratory is free but there is a small fee payable at the admission booth to access the Visitor Centre, toilets and gift shop.

    Things to see and do nearby

    Attraction

    Louis Mulcahy Pottery

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Attraction

    Pirates of Dingle Bay Cruise by Kerry Aqua Terra

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Attraction

    Dingle Sea Safari

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Attraction

    Dick Mack's

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Accommodation

    Dingle Harbour Cottages

    4/5

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Attraction

    Killarney National Park

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Attraction

    Ceann Sléibhe (Slea Head)

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Accommodation

    Killarney Lodge

    4/5

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Attraction

    An Chonair (Conor Pass)

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details

    Attraction

    Molly Gallivan's Cottage and Traditional Farm

    Visit website

    Kerry

    View details