Templecashel Oratory (in Ruins) — Baile Na Bhflann

This fine example of a 'boat-shaped' oratory is located on the lower SE slopes of Coomaneaspig, about 400m from the cliffs on the N side of St Finan's Bay. A short distance to E is Gillagh stream, which discharges into Boat Cove just below the site. The oratory stands in the SE section of an artificial rectangular terrace (KE096-003002-), c. 35m N-S x c. 14m E-W, which features a drystone revetment at SE. Rounds formerly performed at the site involved walking along the limits of this terrace (Lynch 1902a, 57). The oratory lacks its corbelled roof and its basal levels are concealed by a build-up of collapse and hill-washed material. It measures 5.7m x 5.1m externally. The walls are of drystone construction, and survive at W to a maximum internal height of 2.55m. The long quoins are neatly angled and, along with the external facing stones, are worked to give a smooth surface finish to the building. Internally the walls are dressed to a very flat, smooth finish. The vault was probably closed at a height of about 2.75m above present internal ground level. The building measures 3.75m x 3.2m internally and the walls are 1m thick at present external ground level. The E end-wall is pierced by a flat-headed window with splayed ingoings, slightly inclining jambs and a deeply plunging stepped sill. The external ope is .44m high and .34m wide. A projecting slab in the external wall-face, immediately above the window, is pierced by two holes, one of which is damaged, while another such slab, just beneath the base of the window, features a pivot-hole in its undamaged end; these slabs probably served to secure a shutter. The lintelled doorway in the W end-wall is only .65m high above external ground level, and inclines in elevation from .55m to .45m beneath its head. The ingoings and scontions are formed of neatly jointed stones. Two slabs with broken squared perforations project internally above the level of the lintel, and served to secure the door frame. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 929. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013