The Dingle Loop - Part II

We continued our adventurous drive in Dingle. Our next stop was at the Gallarus Oratory. This was built 1,300 years ago and is one of Ireland's best preserved early-Christian churches. 

The oratory is made of finely fitted drystone and even on the inside it is completely waterproof. The walls are very thick and the opening into the oratory is small and we had to duck our head (even me!). The monks must have been so tiny!

The altar would have been under this window

The entrance into the Oratory

The interior roof inside the Oratory

this looks like it is a grave marker

the walk back to the car

Our next stop was the ruined church of Kilmalkedar. This was the Norman center of worship for this end of the peninsula. It was founded by St. Maolcethair who died in 636. The present church was built in the 12th century. It was built when England replaced the old monastic settlements in an attempt to centralize their rule. The 12th century Irish Romanesque church is surrounded by a graveyard. In front of the church there are old medieval tombs and early-Christian crosses. 

Kilmalkedar Church and Graveyard

This stone they think stood here 900 years before this church was built. It is notched with mysterious code-script from the 3-7th century. It marked a grave, indicating that this was a pre-Christian holy spot. Apparently this hole was drilled though the top of the stone as a place where people would come to seal a deal. Standing in front of the graves of their ancestors and in front of the church they would, "swear to God" by touching thumbs through this stone. 

What are these two swearing to God?

The church fell into ruin during the persecution of the church. As the Catholic church had to go underground until the early 19th century. Kilmalkedar was never rebuilt. 

Here are some pictures from what they think was the chancellor's house. The chancellor was a high official in the diocese. I honestly don't remember taking these pictures so I believe K and T were taking these of each other. 

 We finished our drive of the Dingle Loop. We did it and it was amazing! It was such a wonderful day. The loop brought us right back into Dingle Town.