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Gallarus Oratory, Dingle
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Gallarus Oratory, Dingle

Gallarus Oratory tips and photos posted by real travelers and Dingle locals.
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• 12 Reviews

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Gallarus Oratory: for most tourists the reason to come to Dingle
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  • globetrott
  • Updated By globetrott on April 5, 2006
  • Dingle Page by globetrott
  • Gallarus Oratory on Dingle peninsula - Dingle
    Gallarus Oratory on Dingle
    peninsula
    by globetrott, 2 more photos
    Gallarus Oratory is without doubt the main attraction in Dingl Island ! It is a tiny church dating back to the 6th century and it was built like a boat standing upside down. There is no seperate roof, but the walls are meeting on top and all of the stones were perfectely set togeather without any kind of a cement. There is just an open door at one side and a tiny round window at the other side of the building.
    Get inside of the tiny church, and you will see that wind and rain have NO chance at all to get inside these perfect walls - it might even be a good idea to find shelter there in case of a sudden rainfall, like they happen quite often in Ireland. The monks also left a small cemetary and on my last picture you may see the most beautiful tomb of it.
    You may park your car only on a small car-park next to the oratory, and you have to pay a small fee for the parking.
    The entry to Gallarus Oratory and the tiny cemetery around of it is free of charge and also possible any time of the day. So you don't have to stick to opening-times, you may even be lucky and park for free, when you come very early or very late !

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  • Address: Gallarus Oratory / Dingle peninsula
  • Directions: Gallarus Oratory is north of Dingle-town,take the road R559 !Plenty of signposts will show you the way to Gallarus Oratory !
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    Gallarus Oratory: Oldest Unrestored Church in the World
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  • RickinDutch
  • Updated By RickinDutch on March 16, 2006
  • Dingle Page by RickinDutch
  • Gallerus Oratory - Dingle
    Gallerus Oratory
    by RickinDutch
    Just east of Ballyferriter, about 5 km out of Dingle, is the Gallarus Oratory, the oldest (1,400 years old) un-restored church in the world. It is the only Oratory that has remained in perfect condition and needs no restoration. It resembles a boat turned upside down. Each rock is laid at an angle with the outside edge lower than the inside edge, so it stays dry even in Ireland's rainy climate. There is one small window high up on the wall opposite the entry way. It is amazing that this is all dry rock contruction - no moss or anything else used to chink the rock. A true work of devotion.

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  • Directions: Just east of Ballyferriter.
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    Gallarus Oratory: Avoid the Visitors Center at the Gallarus Oratory
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  • Updated By kittyo on October 11, 2007
  • Dingle Page by kittyo
  • Visiting the Gallarus Oratory is a worthwhile sight and it is actually free. But a local landowner has set up a tourist business near the site. He has created signage that direct oratory visitors into his parking lot. He charges 5 Euros to walk across his field to visit the oratory. Instead, ignore the no left turn sign and turn up the overgrown road far to the right. This road actually takes you nearer to the oratory and it is free. This business owner has no scruples about pretending to be a government site. Skip the center.

  • Directions: Once you get to the center, exit the parking lot and ignore the no left turn. Turn up the overgrown road and drive all the up to the oratory. Here is where all the locals park.
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    Gallarus Oratory: GALLARUS ORATORY....
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  • eden_teuling
  • By eden_teuling on October 20, 2003
  • Dingle Page by eden_teuling
  • GALLARUS ORATORY - Dingle
    GALLARUS ORATORY
    by eden_teuling
    This is one of the best preserved early Christian church buildings in Ireland!

    The Unique feature of GALLARUS is that it was built throughout or UNMORTARED stone, yet is completely watertight after so many centuries...

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  • Address: DINGLE PENINSULA
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    Gallarus Oratory: Gallarus Oratory
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  • kathycollins
  • By kathycollins on September 13, 2002
  • Dingle Page by kathycollins
  • Gallarus Oratory - Dingle
    by kathycollins
    This non-motared stone building has stood in the face of winter gales for centuries - without leaking!

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    Gallarus Oratory: Gallarus Oratory
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  • orlikins
  • Updated By orlikins on September 30, 2002
  • Dingle Page by orlikins
  • Inside the Oratory - Dingle
    Inside the Oratory
    by orlikins
    An Christian chapel built in the 600-700's, its still perfectly intact. It's totally bare inside

    History of the Oratory

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    Gallarus Oratory: Gallus Oratory
    jnyvegas
  • By jnyvegas on November 16, 2004
  • Dingle Page by jnyvegas
  • Gallarus Oratory - Dingle
    by jnyvegas
    A little hard to find, but when you do find the parking lot and gift shop, the gallus oratory is through the back door of the gift shop, no signs or anything pointing you that way..its about 200 yards up a slight hill. After you buy your ticket they usually direct you to a movie theatre (a Trailer) to see a 20 minute movie (it is a little boaring).

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    Gallarus Oratory: Swim with Fungi the Dingle Dolphin
    sfghesquiere
  • By sfghesquiere on March 9, 2008
  • Dingle Page by sfghesquiere
  • Fungi the Dolphin - Dingle
    Fungi the Dolphin
    by sfghesquiere
    Its a rear experience to be able to swim with a dolphin. Here in Dingle Bay you have the opportunity to hire wet suits, gloves, boots, fins, a snorkel, & goggles and avail of a two hour long boat trip out to see Fungi in he's natural environment. Once you arrive at the mouth of the harbour you can jump in and spent time swimming around while you watch dive in and around you. Many visitors have come back time and time again to experience the joy and pleasure they get from such an experience.

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  • Address: Dingle Pier & Marina
  • Directions: Boat trips leave Dingle pier all day, every day, all year round to see Fungi, wild and free in his natural habitat.
  • Website: http://dodingle.com/pages/fungi_dingle_dolphin.html
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    Gallarus Oratory: Grave stone next to gallus oratory
    jnyvegas
  • By jnyvegas on November 16, 2004
  • Dingle Page by jnyvegas
  • Gallarus Oratory - Dingle
    by jnyvegas
    Not much to see here but the building is kinda cool.

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    Gallarus Oratory: Gallarus Oratory
    AR76
  • Updated By AR76 on January 23, 2004
  • Dingle Page by AR76
  • Gallarus Oratory - Dingle
    Gallarus Oratory
    by AR76
    This converted ship-shaped stone building is one of the earliest examples of a Christian church in Ireland.

    Although it is hard to tell when exactly it was built, they estimate it to date from the 9th-12th century AD. No mortar was used when building this oratory.

    The early pilgrims used it for their religious services. The building has no door, only an opening (mind your head!), and there is one window hole (no glass of course) opposite the entrance. So you can imagine that this dark and drafty place can get freezingly cold, especially in winter.
    The pilgrims however didn't mind - in fact, enduring these circumstances was seen as a form of penance, a test of their faith.

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