Kilmalkedar Church, Dingle

Kilmalkedar Church, situated in Dingle, overlooking Smerwick Harbour, reflects Ireland's rich religious heritage. Founded by Saint Maolcethair in AD 636, the site, also known as Chill Maolchéadair, holds historical and religious significance. Spanning 10 acres, it includes a Hiberno-Romanesque church, a stone cross, an ogham stone, a sundial, remnants of Saint Brendan’s House, and religious artifacts.

The ancient phases of Kilmalkedar are faintly visible today, with early evidence of its significance dating back to the 6th or 7th century, notably through the ogham stone and nearby large cross. Its prominence escalated with its connection to Saint Brendan and its critical position on the Cosán na Naomh, a pilgrimage route leading to Mount Brandon, thereby cementing its status as a central religious site controlling a vast parish.

In the 12th century, amid dynastic struggles in Munster, a Romanesque church was built within the ecclesiastical complex. Designed by the master architect responsible for Cormac’s Chapel on the Rock of Cashel, it showcases a fusion of Romanesque and Irish architectural styles, epitomizing Hiberno-Romanesque architecture. Likely influenced by dynastic alliances, the church's construction was supported by the Mac Carthaigs, who sent the skilled architect to their allies in Dingle.

The church itself boasts distinctive architectural features, including an ornately decorated doorway with zig-zag motifs and a central carving that possibly represents its founder or a significant ecclesiastical figure. The use of projecting antae and blind arcading on the interior, alongside the finely decorated chancel arch, exemplifies the Romanesque style, while the presence of the 'Alphabet Stone' adjacent to the arch adds a unique cultural and educational aspect to the site.