Gallarus Oratory

Gallarus Oratory

Gallarus Oratory
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Ancient church built over 1,000 years ago.
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  • CumbrianDan
    London, United Kingdom100 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If passing: pop in.
    The information video before actually seeing the church was brilliant and really helped to set the scene and to tell the incredible story of this beautiful church. Such a fascinating piece of Irish history. The facilities were brilliant - adequate parking, a decent WC block and a very informative and welcoming attendant. No question too big or small.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written March 23, 2024
  • gary f
    Cleveland, Ohio314 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolutely beautiful venue!
    The Gallarus Oratory is the oldest church in Ireland and it's located in a beautiful serene setting. Very scenic and extremely quiet. I was awestruck and the majesty of this simple stone building. Our driver, Michael Blake, The Killarney Driver, took us here as a spur of the moment stops and we are glad he did. The visiter's center is very nice and the movie about the church is very well done. highly recommended.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written April 22, 2024
  • Trip43615660509
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun Experience
    We had such a lovely time here. It was a very quick walk. They believe this old Christian church was built sometime between the 9th and the 12th century. Traditionally it is believed whoever could climb out through the small window would have their soul cleansed, allowing them guaranteed access to heaven. Well, I definitely couldn’t get through, ha. The man working at the front was extremely kind. My father suffered from a Covid related injury, leaving it difficult for him to walk. He let my father drive through so that he could see the historic landmark.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written May 21, 2024
  • daodrisceoil
    Cork, Ireland2 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gallarus Oratory Scam
    The paid access through the 'Visitor Centre' is a SCAM. Access to the oratory, a National Monument, is free 24/7, by going 200/300m further east. There is a parking area there (no charge) and the walk from your car is far shorter. The unwary visitor is led to believe that the 'Gallarus Oratory' that appears on Google Maps, for example, is the official carpark, visitor centre, and only access. It is not. Remember, the free access, which is a shorter and better way to visit the Oratory is 200/300m eastwards from the SCAM and unfortunately better signposted access. I repeat, avoid the scam. It is a disgrace that it is there. The information there is poor at best. It leaves a bad taste. AVOID and DO NOT PAY the disgraceful scammers.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written June 14, 2024
  • Joseph S
    49 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great attraction
    Church was a standing ancient church outside of Dingle near an end of Slea Head Drive. It is a fully intact stone structure, including roof. There is a small ancient cemetery attached to the location. The facility offers a video overview as well. They are more than accommodating and permit the cars of those who cannot walk the distance to drive up much closer.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written July 11, 2024
  • Extremely normal person
    Houston, Texas71 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great brief stop for those interested in antiquity or sacred spaces
    I visited the Gallarus Oratory with my wife, kids (14, 11, 7yo), and parents (70s). The whole stop is not very long, but, if this kind of thing is interesting to you, then I highly recommend it. We stopped at the pay lot, which has a small shop, nice facilities, and an orientation video. This costs money, obviously. Down the road, there is a free lot from which one can also access the Oratory. Our group really got a lot out of the video presentation, which is ~ 10 minutes long and provides a huge amount of context for the oratory, from its beginnings over 1000 years ago to its use for Easter Mass today. We also used the facilities. The Oratory itself is a simple, one-room, dry stone church surrounded by a low stone wall and situated among green hills crisscrossed with more stone walls. Its boat-like shape and clever, sturdy construction really evoked a solid, lasting antiquity like few other monuments that we saw in Ireland. Our whole party enjoyed quietly standing in the church and walking around it, thinking of the Christians so many years ago worshipping there. It was so peaceful and wholesome. Visiting the Gallarus Oratory is not likely to take a long time. We spent less than an hour, and that was with the video presentation. Nonetheless, we really felt that we had experienced something deep and rich and meaningful. My sense is that if you have no interest in religion, ancient construction, sacred spaces, or the like, that this monument may well not change your mind. (It also may not be very interesting to you if you are a very small child or are acting like one.) However, if these things are interesting to you, then this is a brief but powerful stop worth making.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written July 16, 2024
  • NSj
    Province of Valladolid, Spain16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful experience, thank you
    I went to make this visit with my wheelchair and despite being an uncomfortable path, Johnny has taken it upon himself to open the door for us to drive to the oratory. Fantastic experience and highly recommend the visit. It's a magical place.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written August 10, 2024
  • Linda D
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A hidden, historical gem.
    The visit to the oratory was wonderful. The introductory film was very informative but standing in the actual church space was amazing and awe inspiring. We had to remind ourselves that this building and the stele which shows how Patrick blended the Celtic circle with the Christian cross are truly 1400 years old, not reproductions. The visit doesn’t take long, but is more than worth your time! Also, the gentleman in the gift shop was very kind and concerned that we have a good experience.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written August 21, 2024
  • AlbertSalichs
    Manresa, Spain24,073 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Tiny early christian stone church
    Gallarus Oratory is located in Dingle Peninsula and it is a stone church built between the 6th and 9th centuries. It is one of the most well preserved early christian churches in Ireland. It is a small and very tiny church, which you can visit and enter inside the little hall. In fact, the building seems like an inverted boat, very curious.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written September 26, 2024
  • Yuliia S
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great place to visit during your Slea Head trip
    Gallarus Oratory was a perfect ending of our one-day Slea Head trip. The territory is well maintained, has everything you need for a comfortable visit. It was extremely interesting for me to look around the Oratory itself, stand inside, imagine people visiting it hundreds of years ago, learning more about this place. I highly recommend visiting Gallarus Oratory while traveling around Slea Head.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written September 29, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
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Isa2650
3 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Beautiful building worth a visit if you are on the Dingle Peninsula. On the other hand, 4 euros is excessive, especially since we saw too late that we can visit it for free. Do not park in the main car park. Just before the site you have to continue the small road for about 100 meters and there is a small car park and a small, very well maintained access path.
Google
Written August 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Conor K
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Solo
The Gallarus Oratory is a beautifully preserved example of early Irish Christian architecture. Its unique stone design, resembling an upturned boat, has stood the test of time for over a thousand years. The peaceful setting and the surrounding scenic drive make it well worth a visit, offering a quiet, reflective experience in a historic atmosphere.
Written December 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adrian C
Miltown Malbay, Ireland6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
This is a review for the visitors' centre and oratory. The visitor centre provides lots of free parking so no problems there. A small fee (€4 per adult June 2022) gains access to the oratory, although there is a public right of way further up the road, but no parking. The nominal fee is well worth it - you get access to an audio visual interpretation of the oratory, access to toilets and there is an onsite café and small gift shop. Others have complained about the entry fee but it's not a huge factor tbh. The oratory is a short walk up a pleasant fuchsia lined path and wildflower meadow with dramatic views of the islands and sea behind. The structure itself is to be admired for the craftsmanship, longevity and as a testament to human kind's resilience and adaptability. The area is steeped in religious history and this is a part of that history. If religion isn't your bag, don't take offence at others right to it (as some others have - it's a religious oratory so if you aren't into that don't visit!). The kids enjoyed it which is a good litmus test.

On the way out the proprietor gave us a very pleasant job of feeding 2 young calves with some calf nuts. A great task for us city slickers!
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peter O
Tralee, Ireland16 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
I live about 50km from this site. I have visited many times, but not in the last 10 years or so. What a letdown, I arrived to the site to discover that you now have to pay €5 per person to see the oratory. This was always free of charge in the past. I do not know whether this is a private or public enterprise, that restricts the access to the site. The oratory itself is in the same perfect condition, as it has been, for the past 1400 years. It is well worth seeing.
Afterwards I discovered that 75 metres up the road, there is still a public right of way access to the site, free to use with no charge. So everyone park your car, and go back to the road, walk 75 metres and explore the site to your heart's content. You will avoid the rip off charge.
Written June 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TerryStratford
Stratford, Canada51 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
Worthwhile stop - happily paid the admission in order to support the site. Good video gives some excellent background about the site and it's significance. The impressive and intelligent skills of the ancient stone mason in constructing the oratory is well-explained. Very well kept site - clean grounds and facilities.
Written October 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PassengerOnEarth
Neufahrn bei Freising, Germany13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Well worth to visit the Gallarus Oratory. The friendly employees at the visitor centre explain where to go and what to see. A very interesting historical site!
Next to the visitor center there is a kind of cinema displaying a film about the history of Dingle and its culture.
Big parking area, a café and a small shop is also provided. Entrance fee is 4 € for adults or free with an OPW heritage card.
I don't understand comments like the one before saying that places like this are not worth an entrance fee. You have to pay the same amount of money for every little private farm entry without any information at all, no café, toilets, parking & services. And if you really want to save money, go and buy a OPW Heritage Card and you will have free access to about 85 historical sites in Irland!
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brendan H
Cork10 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
This review is specifically for the visitor centre, not the oratory itself, which is maintained by the OPW (3/5, worth taking a look if you are in the area, use the small access path after the big entrance to the visitor centre).
The visitor centre is nothing more than a scam, took our money and we walked out the back door to an empty field without so much as a sign pointing to the actual site, we wandered across the wide, field, through a gate, and across the path that we could have accessed for free if we had known.
Our ticket was filled with weird judgemental religious nonsense about how "it was built when Men understood god, not like today" which was bizarre and creepy, made us pretty certain that not only had we funded a scam, we had funded a weird religious one, something we would never do.
Written June 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland11,388 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
We loved our visit to the wonderful Gallarus Oratory near Ventry snd Dunquin. It's a place I've always wanted to see having read about it since I was a child in History class at school.
It is a beautiful Oratory, amazingly well preserved after well over a thousand years. Still waterproof, still with hardly a stone displaced despite not one single bit of mortar being used.
The stones are placed at a sllight angle moving inwards to keep out the rain and bear weight and honestly the place must look almost exactly as it did all those eons ago.
There is a good audio visual room by the visitors centre where there is small shop snd toilets. The oratory is about 200m along the path behind the trees.
I think you can go for free via a local road bur at the visitors centre I was happy to pay the fee, I think it was only €4.
Anyway, an amazing place. One notbto be missed in my opinion.
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jennifer H
Columbus, OH655 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
This is not a must see, especially if you’ve already seen old stone buildings. Make sure to skip the visitors center and do the free parking right by the building. We deciding against paying €10 per person and were walking back to our car when the older gentleman who was at the desk came out and said we should go. We felt bad so we did it but it definitely isn’t worth the cost. We didn’t watch the video though.
Written May 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ProfessorCJG
Connecticut9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
When we read about the Gallarus Oratory before our trip, we weren't sure it was worth a visit. It seemed so simple. But seeing it in person is a powerful experience -- just to see the incredible care and skill of the builders. The stones fit together marvellously, and the structure is still water-tight after hundreds of years.
As others have noted, the man in charge of admissions at the site was very kind and informative.
Written November 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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