St. Manchan's Oratory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Manchan's Oratory |
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| An Teampall Geal, Templemanagan | |
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Teampall Mhanachain
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 St. Manchan's Oratory
Location in Ireland
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| 52°09′16″N 10°19′53″W / 52.154529°N 10.331290°W | |
| Location | Ballymorereagh, Dingle, County Kerry |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Catholic (pre-Reformation) |
| History | |
| Dedication | Manchan |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | ruined |
| Style | Celtic Christian |
| Years built | c. 7th–9th century AD |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Width | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Height | 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in) |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Floor area | 28 m2 (300 sq ft) |
| Materials | dry stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Ardfert and Aghadoe |
St. Manchan's Oratory, also known as An Teampall Geal (which means "the bright church"), is a very old small church in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a special place and a protected National Monument. This means it's an important historical site that the country helps to look after.
Contents
Where to Find St. Manchan's Oratory
This ancient church is in a place called Ballymorereagh, which is also known as An Baile Riabhach. It sits on the southeast side of Lateeve hill, also called Leataoibh. The oratory is about 4.5 km (2.8 mi) east-northeast of Dingle, a well-known town in County Kerry.
What St. Manchan's Oratory Looks Like
The Church Building
St. Manchan's Oratory is shaped a bit like a boat, similar to another famous old church called Gallarus Oratory. It stands about 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in) tall and has a decorative top part called a finial.
Near the oratory, you can find a hidden underground passage called a souterrain. People often called this one Poll na Sagart, which means "the priest's hole." This name comes from old stories that Catholic priests used to hide in these passages during difficult times in Irish history, like the Penal era. There is also an old burial ground nearby with stones marked with crosses. To the south of the oratory, there is a holy well called Tobermanaghan, which people believed had special powers.
The Ogham Stone
An ogham stone is a tall stone with ancient Irish writing carved into its edges. The ogham stone at St. Manchan's Oratory is about 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) tall. The carvings on it read: "of Cellach, son of the son of Ania, of the tribe of...". Experts believe this stone was made between the 5th and 7th centuries AD.
