Oratory (in ruins) — Cill Maoilchéadair

The Early Christian and Medieval ecclesiastical complex at Kilmalkedar (KE042-026----) lies at the foot of the W slopes of Reenconnell hill, overlooking Smerwick Harbour. The Reenconnell ridge peaks at 907 feet/276m to NE of the site and the area around Kilmalkedar is sheltered on its N and S sides by spurs of this hill. (5) (Fig. 186: This rectangular drystone building, c. 3.3m N-S x 3.06m E-W externally, is situated c. 50m NE of the Romanesque church; it is marked as an Oratory on the OS maps. The walls, .63m thick, are built of split stone set in a clay bond and the roof is formed by flat flags resting on the corbelled side walls and angles of the building. A lintelled doorway at the E end of the N wall is 1.06m high but may be partially rebuilt (OSL). The interior was lit by a splayed lintelled ope in the W wall. The narrow rectangular light was set back from the external wall face and the surviving N jamb was rebated for a shutter, the pivot stone and drawbar socket for which survive. See attached plan of Oratory taken from Cuggape 1986. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 855. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013