This is a pretty special little building that has been de-sensitised and made sterile for the sake of tourism. The (rumoured) 6th or 7th century building is unique in its completeness, although some say it may be as late as 12th century. It is of stone construction and rectangular in plan, the side walls one and a half times as long as the front and rear walls. There are just two opening in the structure, the door and the small window in the opposite wall. The door is lintelled and slopes gently in, the round headed window in the east wall splays greatly on the inside.

To look at from the front (or rear) it is of almost triangular form, the side walls curving gently in to reach a peak, 6m up. Although it uses a corbelling technique some motar was used in its construction, as there is no counterweight on the outside to help balance the stone.

The surrounding area is now gravelled and extremely well manicured. This removes quite a lot of potential ambience from the site. There is a little visitors centre nearby, but you do not have to pay to see the oratory as it stands on a pilgramage route that is a public right of way.

Click Thumbnail to View Full Size Image

___

All Sites Visited On 10th August 2002    « Previous Site    Next Site »

It is said that if you can climb out of the oratory via the little window then your soul is cleansed. This is probably akin to the early rebirth folklore often attached to holed stones and tombs.

A Random Selection of Nearby Monuments

St. Columb's House (Co. Meath)

Kilmalkedar (Co. Kerry)

Show All 3 Oratories Featured on megalithomania.com