Gallarus Oratory was built between the seventh and eight
century and is the best preserved early Christian church in Ireland. It represents the apogee of dry-stone corbelling, using
techniques first developed by Neolithic tomb-makers. The stones were layed at a slight angle, lower on the outside then the
inside to allow water to run off.
According to local legend, if a person climbs out
of the oratory via the window, their soul will be cleansed. This is, however, physically impossible, because the window is
approximately 18cm in length and 12cm in width.