Kilmalkedar Church (Cil Maolcheadair)

"This is one of the most important ecclesiastical sites in the whole of the Dingle Peninsula. The early history of the site is associated with Saint Maolcethair who died in 636. The church is 12th-century Romanesque, consisting of a nave and chancel. Animal heads can be seen at the top of the antae. Part of the original stone roof is still preserved. The Romanesque doorway has a tympanum with a head on one side and an imaginary beast on the other. The chancel arch also bears Romanesque decoration. The chancel was enlarged, probably some time around 1200. The blind colonnade on the interior walls of the nave shows, together with the tympanum, that this church has been strongly influenced by Cormac's Chapel in Cashel. Inside the church is a stone inscribed with a cross; there is another with the Alphabet inscribed. In the graveyard outside are a very attractive early sundial, a large cross carved out of stone, and an ogham stone with the inscription ANM MAILE-INBIR MACI BROCANN (The name of Mael Inbir son of Brocan). About 150 yards north-east is Saint Brendan's House, a two-story medieval building which probably served as the priest's residence. Its walls are thick, and are wider at the bottom." -Guide to National and Historic Monuments of Ireland, Peter Harbison.

Whilst exploring the buriel grounds we were approached by and chatted with a local man, I say a local man although he said he left The Dingle Peninsular many years ago although many of his relations remain in the area; mostly beneath our feet. He pointed in the general direction as to where his grandparents were buried and then down along the road to where the family home was and where he went to school. A veritable mine of local information he spoke about the ruins of Saint Brendan's House and a nearby field where a stone stands where once stood a magic cow, this incredible cow gave milk to all but when a wicked man attempted to exploit this wonderous beast it promptly disappeared! We left just a coach full of tourists arrived.