St Brendan's Oratory, Kilmalkedar, Kerry

Kilmalkedar / Cill Maoilchéadair

St Brendan's Oratory

The stone oratory at Kilmalkedar is the same style as the more famous 'boat -shaped' oratory at Gallarus. The building is longer than Gallarus but slightly narrower. Since our first visit the walls have been sagging, the O.P.W have carried necessary work to save the building from collapsing inward. The oratory was entered through an inclined doorway with a lintel, in the west gable. Internally the oratory measures 5.55 metres X 2.8 metres. It was lit by a narrow rectangular light in the east gable.

The oratory is situated 400 metres west of Kilmalkedar church just north of the Saints Road -The pilgrimage trail to Mount Brandon. The bottom image was taken during the preservation work. No trip to Kilmalkedar would be complete without visiting St Brendan's Oratory.

Kilmalkedar / Cill Maoilchéadair St Brendan's Oratory The stone oratory at Kilmalkedar is the same style as the more famous 'boat -shaped' oratory at Gallarus. The building is longer than Gallarus but slightly narrower. Since our first visit the walls have been sagging, the O.P.W have carried necessary work to save the building from collapsing inward. The oratory was entered through an inclined doorway with a lintel, in the west gable. Internally the oratory measures 5.55 metres X 2.8 metres. It was lit by a narrow rectangular light in the east gable. The oratory is situated 400 metres west of Kilmalkedar church just north of the Saints Road -The pilgrimage trail to Mount Brandon. The bottom image was taken during the preservation work. No trip to Kilmalkedar would be complete without visiting St Brendan's Oratory.
Doorway exterior	Doorway interior
East window and stone altar
Situated: Very easy. 400 metres west of Kilmalkedar church. From the church head west along the R559. On your right, opposite the new cemetery, a track that takes you straight to the oratory. Discovery Map 70: Q 3991 0646. Last visit July 2021. Longitude: 10° 20' 28" W Latitude: 52° 11' 12" N Google Map Photos: Jim Dempsey.