Ardfert Cathedral

PricingFree with English Heritage membership

EH members go freeInfo

Free entry for English Heritage members

This place is cared for by the Office of Public Works, which runs Ireland's national heritage sites as Heritage Ireland. English Heritage members are entitled to free entry to all OPW sites from the first year of membership. Show your current membership card at admissions.

Bring the card itself: joint and family memberships admit the named holders only.
Guided sites may run tours at set times; unguided sites are free to everyone.
Prices here are in euro.

More information

ParkingNo car park

Arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.

Parking details

OPW's social guide: 'We can park our car on the street nearby.' Ardfert is 10 km from Tralee on the R551 Tralee to Ballyheigue road; visitors park on the village streets by the entrance. No bus is named.

Driving pin: OPW's own pin at the visitor-centre entrance on the street.

About

St Brendan the Navigator was born near Ardfert in the 6th century and founded a monastery here before his legendary voyage, and his cult inspired the three medieval churches that stand on the site today. The cathedral, begun in the 12th century, is the oldest of them, with a Romanesque arched doorway on its west front, a magnificent 13th-century window and a striking row of nine lancet windows in the south wall. One of the smaller churches is a fine example of late Romanesque building; the other, Temple na Griffin, takes its name from a carving of a griffin and a dragon joined together. A visitor centre holds panels, a model of the site and carved stones found here, among them the effigy of a bishop, and guides explain how each building fits the timeline. The cathedral stands in Ardfert village, 10 km from Tralee, with parking on the street, and the Franciscan friary is a short walk away.

ClosedPick a day for times and prices

Site Closed Site is now closed for the 2026 season. We look forward to welcoming visitors again in 2027.

Today, Saturday 24 October

Ardfert CathedralClosed

Closed for the winter.

Opening times may change at short notice.

Open seasonally: in 2026 from 12 March to 30 September, daily 10:00 to 18:00 with last admission at 17:15 (the page header calls the season March to October with variable hours and asks visitors to check in advance). OPW looks forward to welcoming visitors again in 2027. Out of season visitors report walking round the outside of the ruins and the graveyard, an active cemetery, while the visitor centre is closed; OPW does not say so. Recheck 1 March 2027.

Entry is through a visitor centre with an exhibition, a model of the site and carved stones; guides show visitors round. Some steps and bumpy graveyard ground, gravel inside the cathedral; keep to the paths. No toilets listed; public toilets are across the road in the park.

Dogs: OPW lists dogs on lead for Ardfert Cathedral; a 2025 visitor reports a 'no dogs' sign at the front of the cemetery, so check on arrival.

Photo: Ardfert Cathedral's crenellated walls and pointed arcade rising above the graveyard. Zairon, CC BY 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ardfert_Ardfert_Cathedral_Exterior_South_Side_2.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.