Gallarus

72 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Gallarus, from 22 m² to 303,170 m² (30.32 ha, 74.91 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary; 32 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland: DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings; GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Gallarus in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 23 Nov 2025Conditional

  construct a new dwelling with wastewater treatment unit and sand polishing filter, reallocation of a car parking space from Gallarus Visitor Centre car park to residential use and all associated stie services

  Permission · Kerry County Council, 2561080

• 12 Jun 2025Conditional

  (A) foirgneamh stórais a chur i bhfearas agus (B ) cead sealadach ar feadh tréimhse trí bliana a fháil chun structúr sealadach le háiseanna leithris a chur i bhfearas (A) to erect a storage building and (B) to obtain temporary permission for a period of three years to erect a temporary structure with toilet facilities.

  Permission · Kerry County Council, 2560508

• 4 Jun 2025Conditional

  Chun teach cónaithe a thógáil le córas cóireála fuíolluisce agus scagaire snasta lena n-áirítear na hoibreacha suímh go léir atá riachtanach. Construct a dwelling house with a wastewater treatment system and a polishing filter including all necessary site works.

  Permission · Kerry County Council, 2560475

• 30 Sept 2024Conditional

  Retention permission to retain (a) gable window to existing dwelling house ( b) garden shed, ( c ) existing septic tank and reedbed serving existing dwelling house and (d) all buildings within revised site boundaries at Gallarus, Ballydavid, Dingle, Co. Kerry

  Retention · Kerry County Council, 2460742

• 4 Sept 2024Conditional

  chun (A) foirgneamh stórais a chur i bhfearas agus (B ) cead sealadach ar feadh tréimhse trí bliana a fháil chun structúr sealadach le háiseanna leithris a chur i bhfearasto (To put (A) a storage building in good order and (B) to obtain temporary permission for a period of three years to put a temporary structure with toilet facilities in good order)

  Permission · Kerry County Council, 2460655

• 2 Aug 2023Conditional

  TO CONSTRUCT A SINGLE STOREY DRESSING ROOM BUILDING, ALSO TO INCLUDE ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Kerry County Council, 23876

• 22 Feb 2021Conditional

  TIGH CÓNAITHE PÁIRT AON STÓR GO LEITH, PAIRT AON STÓR A THÓGÁIL; AONAD CÓIREÁLA FUÍOLLUISCE A SHUITEÁIL AGUS OIBREACHA LÁITHREÁIN COIMHDEACHA A DHÉANAMH [ CONSTRUCTION OF A PART STOREY AND HALF, PART SINGLE STOREY DWELLING HOUSE, INSTALLATION OF AN ON-SITE WASTE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission, 1 home · Kerry County Council, 21160

• 15 Jul 2020Conditional

  (A) AN TIGH A ATHRU AGUS A MEADU (B) AN DABHACH MHUNLAIGH ATA ANN A LEAG AGUS CUIR AS FEIDHM (C) AONAD CHUN COIREAIL A DHEANAMH AR UISCE NA DRAMHAIOLA AGUS SCAGAIRE GAINIMH A THOGAIL AR AN LATHAIR. (A. RENOVATE AND EXTEND THE EXISTING HOUSE (B) DECOMMISSION THE EXISTING SEPTIC TANK (C) INSTALL A WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND POLISHING FILTER)

  Permission, 1 home · Kerry County Council, 20630

• 30 Oct 2019Conditional

  CHUN {A} {1} LIONTA LIATHROIDE AR CHUL DHA BHAIDE A CHOIMEAD {2} COMHARTHAÍOCHT AONARACH AR AN SLÍ ISTEACH A CHOIMÉAD (3)AN FÁIL Ó THUARISCEART GO DTÍ IMEALL OIRTHUAISCEART AN TSUÍMH A CHOIMÉAD AGUS (4)NA STRUCTÚIR TAOBH ISTIGH DE NA TEORANNACHA LEASAITHE A CHOIMÉAD AGUS (B) INA THEANNTA SIN, IS MIAN LINN CEAD IOMLAN PLEANÁLA A LORG CHUN (1)DHÁ BHINSE D'IONADAITHE A CHUIR SUAS,(2)PÁIRCEÁIL DO DHAOINE FAOI MHÍCHUMAS A CHUIR AR FÁIL (3)RÁILLE A CHUR TIMPEALL NA PAIRCE (4)SÉ COLÚN SOILSE LED 20M AR AIRDE DON ÁIT IMIRTHE A THOGAINT AGUS (5)COMHARTHAÍOCHT SPRAEÁILTE AR AN SLÍ ISTEACH I (RETAIN (A)(1)BALL NETTING TO REAR OF TWO NUMBER GOALS(2)STAND ALONE SIGN AT ENTRANCE(3)PERIMETER FENCING TO NORTH AND NORTH EAST OF THE SITE (4)RETAIN ALL STRUCTURES ON SITE WITHIN REVISED SITE BOUNDARIES AND (B) FULL PERMISSION TO (1) ERECT TWO NUMBER DUGOUTS, (2) PROVIDE DISABLED CAR PARKING, (3) PROVIDE RAILINGS TO PITCH AREA, (4) ERECT 6 NO. 20M HIGH LED LIGHTING COLUMNS SERVING THE PLAYING AREA AND (5) SIGNAGE SPLAYED ENTRANCE WALLS

  Retention · Kerry County Council, 191113

• 28 May 2018Conditional

  CHUN PÁIRC IMEARTHA UILE AIMSIRE A LEAGAN AMACH, LE FÁLÚ A BHAINEANN AGUS 4 UIMHIR12m AR AIREAD CAIGHDEÁIN SOLAS AGUS OBAIR SUIMH DEANTA CHOMH MHAITH (PLANNING PERMISSION FOR AN ALL WEATHER FOOTBALL PITCH WITH ASSOCIATED PERIMETER PITCH FENCING AND 4 NUMBER FLOOD LIGHT STANDARDS(12 METRES) ALSO TO INCLUDE ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS)

  Permission · Kerry County Council, 18507

• 15 Sept 2017N/a

  CEAD PLEANALA CHUN PAIRC IMEARTHA TRAENALA A LEAGAN AMACH, LE 4 UIMHIR CAIGHDEAIN SOLAS AGUS OBAIR SUIOMH DEANTA CHOMH MAITH (PLANNING PERMISSION FOR A TRAINING FOOTBALL PITCH 4 NUMBER FLOOD LIGHT STANDARDS SERVING IT AND ALSO TO INCLUDE ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS)

  Permission · Kerry County Council, 17919

• 18 Apr 2017Conditional

  RETAN FOR AN EXISTING 2 STOREY DWELLING HOUSE AS CONSTRUCTED

  Retention, 1 home · Kerry County Council, 17343

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Protection Area: Dingle Peninsula SPA 004153
• Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Smerwick Harbour Sandhills And Marshes 001958

Recorded monuments

• KE042-062 Enclosure
  Description

  The sub-circular, univallate enclosure shown on the OS maps has been destroyed. It was located on low-lying land E of Smerwick Harbour, on the boundary between 2 fields. A semi-circular curve in the field wall at this point preserves the outline of the E portion of the site. The internal diameter was very approximately 27m NE-SW. A quernstone was apparently found during the destruction of the site but this is now missing. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 685. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

• KE042-063 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  There is no visible trace of the circular fort marked on the 1st edition of the OS map and described in the OSNB (Kilmalkedar, 7) as being about 1 chain (c. 20m) in diameter. On the 2nd edition of the OS map it is shown as roughly oval in plan. It was situated on the low-lying, generally marshy land on the E side of Smerwick Harbour. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 684. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

• KE042-064 Castle - tower house
  Description

  National Monument No. 65. Gallarus Castle: FitzGerald tower house which is situated in the village of Gallarus on the S shores of Smerwick Harbour. Probably 15th century in date, the castle was occupied by the FitzGeralds until 1688 (McKenna 1979, 13). In 1605 a land grant from King James I to Donat, Earl of Thomond included ‘the castle town and lands of Galleris, estimated at 2 carucates, except the third part of one carucate there; parcel of the estate of Gerald Fitz-Richard of the same, attainted’ (CPR 3 Jas. I, 79; Erck 1846, 222). Between the 4th and 5th of September 1631 Sir Richard Boyle 1st earl of Cork at Lismore castle received his rent from ‘morrice ffitz Gerald [Maurice FitzGerald] of the Galleris, & his tennant leeftenant [lieutenant] Taylor, that I had formerly disbursed for them to free them, and the Galleris owt of the Cowrt of Wardes, ix pounds ix shillings vi pence ster: of which ix pounds ix shillings vi pence I gave back & bestowed upon poor Morrice fitz gerrald ix pounds ix shillings vi pence’ (Grosart 1886, 100). It is now a National Monument and in recent years the stonework has been repointed and a felt and concrete capping added to the roof. The 4 storey rectangular keep measures 10.5m x 8.65m externally and rises from a battered base. The castle retains its vaulted roof but the battlements have fallen. The walls are built of split stone rubble and pinnings laid in mortar with face bedded sandstone quoins. The majority of the window opes are now defaced and many of the internal doorways lack their sandstone dressings. The internal planning of the castle, basically similar on each floor, consists of a main chamber, c. 6.15 x 4.3m, with a mural passage in the thickness of the N wall later accommodating the stair which commences at 3rd storey level. The principal floors were of beam wall-plate construction throughout, the built-in beams supported by rough corbels which project from the E and W walls. Both of these walls slope inwards on the interior from the level of the 2nd floor, effectively reducing the span of the arched roof; the increased wall thickness was utilized to gain mural chambers in the SE and NW angles. The mural passageways and chambers were ceiled by flags resting on the oversail formed by the inward corbel of the supporting walls. This feature, repeated on the lintelled embrasures of the larger windows, is reminiscent of the dry stone building techniques traditional to the area. A ragged gap in the N wall marks the site of the ground floor entrance; section of the draw bar socket for the door is preserved, but the entrance passageway, fitted with a small mural chamber opening to the W, is now defaced. The remains of the flagged roof of the entrance area indicate that it was not angled to accommodate a mural stairs. It seems likely therefore that the blocking wall which prevents access to the main ground floor chamber at present was originally fitted with a doorway. No trace of this is preserved however and entry must be gained by ladder from above. The main chamber was lit by 2 narrow double-splayed loops with lintelled rear arches in the E and S walls; the latter has irregularly-splayed ingoings and both windows were closed by wooden shutters secured by draw bars. A narrow loop in the W wall is set in a lintelled embrasure with widely-splayed ingoings. There is a wall-cupboard at the S end of the E wall and a corner cupboard in the SW angle. Communication between the main chambers at 1st and 2nd storey level was probably by means of an internal wooden stairs secured in a small recess in the NE corner. The 1st floor chamber was lit by windows in the W, S and E walls; the opes now lack their heads but the surviving dressings indicate narrow lights with chamfered jambs rebated for shutters. The windows were set in rectangular lintelled embrasures, that on the S being fitted with window seats. A rectangular doorway at the E end of the N wall gave access to the mural chambers here. The projecting sandstone jambs were rebated for a door which could be secured from within the chamber by a drawbar; the door when open occupied a shallow recess on the E wall designed for its reception. The solid floor of the chamber in the thickness of the NE angle has been partially quarried away and the garderobe shaft, delivering from the upper floor, has been exposed and broken back to enable modern access to the 3rd and 4th storeys of the castle. At present the chute terminates at 1st floor level and has no visible outlet. A vertical groove in the canted W wall of the passage probably secured a stone or wooden latrine. The chamber was lit by 2 splayed lintelled opes in the N and E walls, both now defaced externally. The flagged floor of the chamber which occupied the western section of the passage has largely fallen and there is a large break in the outer N wall. This chamber, entered by a door opening to the W, now represented only by draw bar sockets in the N and S walls, was lit by a narrow round-headed light in the W wall. The ope had splayed ingoings and a lintelled rear arch but the jambs have fallen. The splayed ingoing of what was probably a similar ope is visible adjoining the fallen section of the N wall and the chamber was fitted with a wall-cupboard on the S. Access to the 2nd floor was probably again by means of an internal wooden stairs. The main chamber at this level was lit by narrow lights in the E, S, and W walls. The E light is now defaced and the lintelled head and flagged bed of the embrasure have been largely broken away. The S window, set in an embrasure with curved ingoings and fitted with window seats, has a modern head; the chamfered sandstone jambs were rebated for a shutter, secured by a draw bar. The W window, set in a rectangular lintelled embrasure, now lacks its jambs but preserves its unusual pointed head formed by 2 inclined sandstone blocks. There is a large walk-in cupboard or wardrobe in the SW corner. A round-headed doorway in the SE corner gave access to the mural chamber in the angle here. This rectangular chamber was ceiled by flags supported in part by a corbelled projection of the S wall, and was lit by a small rectangular light on the S. A rectangular doorway at the N end of the W wall of the main chamber led to an L-shaped chamber in the thickness of the NW angle. The chamber was fitted with a wall-cupboard on the S and lit by a splayed ope in the N wall, now defaced externally. A large set-back central doorway in the N wall of the main chamber retains section of its round head and broadly chamfered jambs. The latter were rebated for a door which could be secured from within the chamber by a draw bar. This doorway gave access to a small mural lobby lit by a window in the outer N wall of the castle. The ope, set in a rectangular lintelled embrasure, is now defaced but the large upper pivot stone for a shutter is preserved. The flagged roof of this area incorporates 2 stones worked and assembled to form a rectangular opening, the function of which is unclear; the opening is too small to have facilitated the passage of goods etc. A doorway, only the draw bar sockets of which are preserved, opened off the lobby to the E and led to the mural stairs here. The S wall of the passage is checked to accomodate the door and the ascent was lit by a splayed lintelled ope in the N wall. The stair runs as a straight flight to the NE angle, in which, in the form of a turnpike, it makes a half turn. A window ope in the E wall, now a featureless gap externally, illuminated the stairway here. The garderobe chamber, opening off the stairwell to the S, at 3rd floor level, now lacks its floor and the walls have been largely refurbished to support the modern drainage system of the roof. The 3rd floor of the castle consists of a large main chamber with a continuous mural passage in the N wall and NW angle as well as the garderobe chamber in the thickness of the E wall. A short flight of steps, leading

• KE042-065001 Clochan
  Description

  A small, intact 'beehive' hut, of relatively modern construction, located beside derelict farm buildings in Gallarus village. Mortar was used in its construction. D: 2.2m. H: 2.5m. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 1277. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 5 August 2013

• KE042-070 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Internal diam. 33.5m N-S, 37.5m E-W A univallate rath situated on the low-lying land SE of Smerwick Harbour. It is located at the junction of 3 fields, and field fences raditate out from the site at SW, NW and E. The enclosing earthen bank and fosse are much eroded and disturbed in places. The fosse is c. 2 to 3m wide and a maximum of .75m deep. The bank is revetted internally with drystone-walling, up to 1.8m high. It rises a maximum of 2.5m above the bottom of the fosse and averages 3.5 to 4m in width at base. There are traces of drystone facing on the outer flank of the bank at WNW. The entrance faces E and consists of a .5m wide break through the bank. The fosse at this point is only barely perceptible and it is not clear whether or not there was a causeway. A .5m wide gap through the bank at WSW appears to be a secondary feature. There may also have been an entrance gap at WNW where the bank is very eroded and overlain for a short stretch by a stone wall. A roughly circular raised area, up to .6m high, occupies the centre of the interior and may be a house-platform. It has a stony surface, and 1 to 2 courses of drystone masonry survive along its SW edge. A large slab set on edge lies directly S of this latter feature. Another large prostrate slab, in the E sector of the raised area, could possibly be part of a souterrain KE042-070001-. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 427. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

• KE042-070001 Souterrain
  Description

  Univallate rath KE042-070---- is situated on the low-lying land SE of Smerwick Harbour. A large prostrate slab, in the E sector of the raised area within the interior, could possibly be part of a souterrain KE042-070001-. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 427. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

• KE042-071001 Ecclesiastical enclosure
  Description

  National Monument No. 66. Gallarus Oratory (KE042-071004-) /Sáipéilín Ghallarais is situated on the lower NW slopes of Lateevemore, overlooking the broad crescent of land that surrounds Smerwick Harbour. It stands at the SE side of a large stone-walled enclosure, directly SW of a leacht-type feature at the head of which stands an Early Christian cross-slab with an inscription in half-uncial script. The enclosure measures c. 36m NE-SW x c. 44m NW-SE internally, but the W half of its outline is no longer traceable. It may originally have been oval or sub-circular in plan. The drystone enclosing wall stands to a maximum height of 1.3m and averages c. 1.3m in thickness but, though it preserves the line of the original wall, it may have undergone rebuilding and repair due to its maintenance as a field boundary and due to the use of its N section as a boundary between the townlands of Gallarus and Ballynana. An internal dividing wall isolates the SE sector, containing the oratory, leacht and cross-slab, from the remainder. This, too, was in use in the 19th century as a field boundary (2nd edition OS map). The area to E of it raised slightly above the remainder of the interior and the wall stands to a maximum height of .95m on its E side and 1.2m on its W side. Access is now provided by a modern stile at about its mid-point. At the same point, a low footing projects .26m out from the E side of the wall, for a distance of about 1.8m. The function of the short length of walling that extends W from the dividing wall is not clear. Oratory: Situated at the E side of the enclosure is the well-known 'boat-shaped' oratory, the only perfect example of its type to survive in Ireland. The building measures 6.86m x 5.74m externally. It rests on a stone plinth, c. 0.21m wide, which forms a continuous course along the N, E and S walls but rises to a slightly higher level on the W gable, where it is interrupted by the doorway. The walls are built of sandstone rubble; the external facing stones and neatly angled quoins, bedded at a slight tilt, are bevelled to give a weathered surface to the exterior. A slight sag is visible on the exterior in the centre of the N and S walls. Internally the walls are dressed to a fairly flat finish up to a height of c. 1.7m; above this the stonework has been wrought to achieve the remarkably smooth line of the corbelled vault. As the fabric of the wall is nowhere exposed in its entirety, it is not clear whether the lime mortar visible in the interior was used merely as an 'internal pointing' to the stonework (Leask 1955, 23), or was more extensively utilized as 'a structural medium' for the interior of the wall (Harbison 1970, 43). The pointed inner vault, now exhibiting a slight deflection in cross-section, is closed by flat flags 3.95m above floor level. Externally the ridge line is capped by triangular stones partly restored by the OPW. The inward curve of the gable walls is less marked at this site than at the nearby St. Brendan's oratory (KE042-020----). The oratory measures 4.65m x 3.15m internally and the walls are c. 1 to 1.2m in thickness. The E gable is pierced by a round-headed window, 1m high internally, with splayed ingoings and inclining jambs. The deeply-plunging sill debouches on the exterior face .4m above the inner sill. The external ope is .37m in height and has a round head carved from 2 stones, one of which continues through to the inner face. A broken stone in the wall face immediately above the window may once have formed a hood. The round head on the interior, skilfully wrought from 3 stones, was accommodated to the slightly narrower width of the embrasure by a shallow offset dying into the soffit c. midway through the ope. Three corbels projecting from the internal face of the E gable, above the level of the window, may have supported a pendant lamp or book. The lintelled doorway in the W gable, c. 1.7m high, inclines in elevation from a basal width of .72m to .58m under the head. The ingoings and scontions are formed of neatly-wrought and perfectly-jointed stones and the threshold is flagged. Above the through lintel on the inner face are 2 projecting stones, each with a squared perforation, .11m wide, continued as a groove on the wall face above. These undoubtedly served to secure the door frame and a carved stone now lying loosely on the leacht may have served as the heel stone of a wooden door post. The small stone cross which presently surmounts the E gable has been placed there by the OPW; however the previous existence of a socket stone in this position indicates that the oratory had at least one gable ornament (Harbison 1970, 53-4). For a full discussion on a possible date for the erection of the oratory see Harbison 1970, 34-59. Leacht (KE042-071002-) and Cross-slab: The cross-slab (KE042-071003-) stands at the E end of a low rectangular mound or bed of stones, including much quartz, which measures 9m E-W x 5m N-S. The slab is 1.1m high and .3m wide. The upper part of its W face is occupied by an equal-armed cross within a circle, the head continuing at least 5cm beyond the circle and the side arms expanding slightly where they meet the circle and projecting slightly beyond it. The ornament beneath this does not form any recognisable pattern. The inscription on the lower part of the stone has been variously interpreted in the past and is now extremely faint. Macalister (1949, 96) gave the reading: COLUM MAC DINET The 1st word can still be read but the other two are not clear. MAC is possible but not certain. Dinet is also possible but the 1st letter is barely traceable, the next could be M or IN, the E is clear and the final letter appears to be a C but could possibly be T. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 839. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

• KE042-071002 Leacht
  Description

  National Monument No. 66. Gallarus Oratory (KE042-071004-) /Sáipéilín Ghallarais is situated on the lower NW slopes of Lateevemore, overlooking the broad crescent of land that surrounds Smerwick Harbour. It stands at the SE side of a large stone-walled enclosure, directly SW of a leacht-type feature at the head of which stands an Early Christian cross-slab with an inscription in half-uncial script. Leacht (KE042-071002-) and Cross-slab: The cross-slab (KE042-071003-) stands at the E end of a low rectangular mound or bed of stones, including much quartz, which measures 9m E-W x 5m N-S. The slab is 1.1m high and .3m wide. The upper part of its W face is occupied by an equal-armed cross within a circle, the head continuing at least 5cm beyond the circle and the side arms expanding slightly where they meet the circle and projecting slightly beyond it. The ornament beneath this does not form any recognisable pattern. The inscription on the lower part of the stone has been variously interpreted in the past and is now extremely faint. Macalister (1949, 96) gave the reading: COLUM MAC DINET The 1st word can still be read but the other two are not clear. MAC is possible but not certain. Dinet is also possible but the 1st letter is barely traceable, the next could be M or IN, the E is clear and the final letter appears to be a C but could possibly be T. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 839. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

• KE042-071003 Cross-slab
  Description

  National Monument No. 66. Gallarus Oratory (KE042-071004-) /Sáipéilín Ghallarais is situated on the lower NW slopes of Lateevemore, overlooking the broad crescent of land that surrounds Smerwick Harbour. Cross-slab: The cross-slab (KE042-071003-) stands at the E end of a low rectangular mound or bed of stones, including much quartz, which measures 9m E-W x 5m N-S. The slab is 1.1m high and .3m wide. The upper part of its W face is occupied by an equal-armed cross within a circle, the head continuing at least 5cm beyond the circle and the side arms expanding slightly where they meet the circle and projecting slightly beyond it. The ornament beneath this does not form any recognisable pattern. The inscription on the lower part of the stone has been variously interpreted in the past and is now extremely faint. Macalister (1949, 96) gave the reading: COLUM MAC DINET The 1st word can still be read but the other two are not clear. MAC is possible but not certain. Dinet is also possible but the 1st letter is barely traceable, the next could be M or IN, the E is clear and the final letter appears to be a C but could possibly be T. To see a 3D model of this monument, visit; https://skfb.ly/MYKF The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 839. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

• KE042-071004 Church
  Description

  National Monument No. 66. Gallarus Oratory (KE042-071004-) /Sáipéilín Ghallarais is situated on the lower NW slopes of Lateevemore, overlooking the broad crescent of land that surrounds Smerwick Harbour. Oratory: Situated at the E side of the enclosure is the well-known 'boat-shaped' oratory, the only perfect example of its type to survive in Ireland. The building measures 6.86m x 5.74m externally. It rests on a stone plinth, c. 0.21m wide, which forms a continuous course along the N, E and S walls but rises to a slightly higher level on the W gable, where it is interrupted by the doorway. The walls are built of sandstone rubble; the external facing stones and neatly angled quoins, bedded at a slight tilt, are bevelled to give a weathered surface to the exterior. A slight sag is visible on the exterior in the centre of the N and S walls. Internally the walls are dressed to a fairly flat finish up to a height of c. 1.7m; above this the stonework has been wrought to achieve the remarkably smooth line of the corbelled vault. As the fabric of the wall is nowhere exposed in its entirety, it is not clear whether the lime mortar visible in the interior was used merely as an 'internal pointing' to the stonework (Leask 1955, 23), or was more extensively utilized as 'a structural medium' for the interior of the wall (Harbison 1970, 43). The pointed inner vault, now exhibiting a slight deflection in cross-section, is closed by flat flags 3.95m above floor level. Externally the ridge line is capped by triangular stones partly restored by the OPW. The inward curve of the gable walls is less marked at this site than at the nearby St. Brendan's oratory (KE042-020----). The oratory measures 4.65m x 3.15m internally and the walls are c. 1 to 1.2m in thickness. The E gable is pierced by a round-headed window, 1m high internally, with splayed ingoings and inclining jambs. The deeply-plunging sill debouches on the exterior face .4m above the inner sill. The external ope is .37m in height and has a round head carved from 2 stones, one of which continues through to the inner face. A broken stone in the wall face immediately above the window may once have formed a hood. The round head on the interior, skilfully wrought from 3 stones, was accommodated to the slightly narrower width of the embrasure by a shallow offset dying into the soffit c. midway through the ope. Three corbels projecting from the internal face of the E gable, above the level of the window, may have supported a pendant lamp or book. The lintelled doorway in the W gable, c. 1.7m high, inclines in elevation from a basal width of .72m to .58m under the head. The ingoings and scontions are formed of neatly-wrought and perfectly-jointed stones and the threshold is flagged. Above the through lintel on the inner face are 2 projecting stones, each with a squared perforation, .11m wide, continued as a groove on the wall face above. These undoubtedly served to secure the door frame and a carved stone now lying loosely on the leacht may have served as the heel stone of a wooden door post. The small stone cross which presently surmounts the E gable has been placed there by the OPW; however the previous existence of a socket stone in this position indicates that the oratory had at least one gable ornament (Harbison 1970, 53-4). For a full discussion on a possible date for the erection of the oratory see Harbison 1970, 34-59. To see a 3D model of this monument visit: https://skfb.ly/BTL8 The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 839. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

• KE042-073 Souterrain
  Description

  During the removal of a field fence in 1979 a souterrain was discovered and subsequently inspected by Kelly (1982-3, 11); it is no longer visible. The opening made by the mechanical excavator was insufficient for access and part of the wall of the chamber had to be removed manually. The souterrain consisted of an oval chamber with a low, narrow passage leading NNE from its NW corner. The drystone chamber walls, which inclined slightly, were built on a foundation course of large blocks. At floor level the chamber measured c. 1.7m long E-W and 1m wide, and it was roofed by 2 slabs .9m above the floor. A deposit of coarse silt, up to .12m thick, was excavated from the chamber floor and scattered through it was a quantity of charcoal. Two upright slabs formed the passage walls where they met the chamber, but beyond this the walls appear to have been of drystone construction roofed with slabs. The passage was c. 0.46m wide, .6m high and completely blocked by collapse after a length of c. 1m. Though there are no surface indications of any associated monument, the curving outline of the field boundary at this point (2nd edition OS map) may indicate the former existence of an ancient enclosure. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 764. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

• KE042-073001 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  During the removal of a field fence in 1979 a souterrain KE042-073---- was discovered and subsequently inspected by Kelly (1982-3, 11); it is no longer visible. Though there are no surface indications of any associated monument, the curving outline of the field boundary at this point (2nd edition OS map) may indicate the former existence of an ancient enclosure KE042-073001-. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 764. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 7 August 2013

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands in the townland of Gallarus.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

About 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

Susceptibility high, moderately high, moderately low, low, low (inferred), on the 1:50,000 map.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Gallarus.

Flooding

The flood maps of the Office of Public Works: floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency; Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland; both CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Gallarus with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Kerry.

Name

Gallarus · Gallaras

Area

1,861,099 m² (186.11 ha, 459.89 acres)

Civil parish

Kilmalkedar, and its townlands

Barony

Corkaguiny

Electoral division

Kilmalkedar, the unit of the census

Census 2022

Kilmalkedar electoral division: 514 people in 216 households; 90% of households own their home; 29% of homes were built since 2001; 10% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 33% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballynana, Caherdorgan North, Caherdorgan South, Cloghaneduff, Emlagh, Emlagh East, Lateeve More, Murreagh

Gaeltacht

In an Irish-speaking area

Placenames

Gallarus on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address; old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.