St James' Church, Dingle

St James' Church, Dingle (must see)

Saint James' Church holds a significant place in the town's history and serves as a reminder of its medieval past. Located on the northeast side of Dingle's main street within the medieval walled town, the church site has a rich heritage that dates back to the 13th century.

Originally, the parish church was built by Spaniards and later appropriated to the Augustinian priory of Saint Mary's Killagh near Milltown. Some of the original masonry, including chamfered quoins, was utilized in constructing the present structure, connecting it to its medieval origins.

The church holds further historical importance as the location where The Treaty of Dingle was signed on April 28, 1529. This treaty, involving the Earl of Desmond, James Fitzgerald, and the envoy of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, King of Spain, incorporated a significant portion of southwest Ireland into the Habsburg Monarchy. It also granted Irish people citizenship rights in Habsburg Spain, Austria, and the Netherlands.

Over time, much of the original church fell into ruins, with only Saint Mary's side chapel being maintained for divine service. Inside this chapel, a black marble tablet with a Latin inscription in gold letters commemorates John Fitzgerald, Knight of Kerry, who passed away in 1741.

In 1807, the present church, incorporating Saint Mary's chapel, was constructed through a generous gift of £1,100 from the Board of First Fruits. Throughout the years, the church underwent renovations, including alterations in 1974 that modified its appearance. In 2004, the Georgian Society provided funding for the repair and restoration of the church's ten lancet windows, including the intricately designed chancel window with timber tracery.

Adjacent to the church, the graveyard houses several noteworthy tombstones. Among them is a tombstone dating back to 1504, marking the burial place of one of the Fitzgeralds. Although broken and weather-worn, it bears the Desmond arms and features an inscription in a mix of Latin and Irish, reflecting the historical and cultural influences of the time.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Dingle. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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St James' Church on Map

Sight Name: St James' Church
Sight Location: Dingle, Ireland (See walking tours in Dingle)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Dingle, Ireland

Create Your Own Walk in Dingle

Create Your Own Walk in Dingle

Creating your own self-guided walk in Dingle is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Dingle Pub Crawl

Dingle Pub Crawl

Just as anywhere else on the “Emerald Island” (that's Ireland), pub culture in Dingle is an integral part of the town's social fabric and a major draw for residents and visitors. Dingle's pubs are lively meeting hubs where friends and neighbors catch up, and tourists mingle with locals, whilst sipping their drink.

Spots like An Droichead Beag Bar and O'Sullivan's...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Dingle Introduction Walking Tour

Dingle Introduction Walking Tour

The world is full of charismatic locations patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. One such charming spot waiting to be discovered is the port town of Dingle, in County Kerry, on the southwest coast of Ireland.

The Dingle area was originally inhabited by a Celtic tribe called Corcu Duibne. During the medieval period, in the late 12th century, Dingle became an important trading port,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles