Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
initiative of a man who simply owns the adjacent land—not the oratory. If you park in his
lot, you'll have to pay the fee, even if you skip the facilities and walk up the public lane.
The Gallarus Oratory, built about 1,300 years ago, is one of Ireland's best-preserved
early-Christian churches. Shaped like an upturned boat, its finely fitted drystone walls are
still waterproof. Lower your head (notice how thick the walls are), walk inside, and give
your eyes a moment to adjust to the low light. A simple, small arched window offers scant
daylight to the opposite wall, where the altar would have stood. Picture the interior lit
by candles during medieval monastic services. It would have been tough to fit more than
about a dozen monks inside (especially if they decided to do jumping jacks). Notice the
holes once used to secure covering at the door, and the fine alternating stonework on the
corners.
From the oratory, return to the main road and continue, following the brown
Ceann
Sléibhe/Slea Head Drive
signs. If instead you continue up the narrow lane from the free
parking lot, you'll end up on R-559 (a shortcut to Dingle that misses the Kilmalkedar
Church ruins).
37.7 km:
Bear right at the fork and immediately take a right at the next fork. Here you
leave the Slea Head Drive and head for Dingle (10 km away) by staying on R-559 (
do not
follow Slea Head Drive from this point onward).
