InGaelic Ireland, between the 5th and 9th centuries AD, a dairthech[1] (literally "oak-house") was a type of oratoryorchurch built of oak-wood.[2]
The dairthech was the earliest kind of church built in Ireland, from the earliest Christian times (5th century AD) onward. They were gradually replaced by stone churches.[citation needed]
A typical dairthech was rectangular, measuring 4.5 m (15 ft) by 3 m (9.8 ft).[2] Some were wider up to 4.5 m (15 ft), and congregations of 150–260 people are recorded.[3] It had a high pointed gable.[4] Oak was used as a building material as a holdover from Celtic religion, where the oak was imbued with magical powers.[5]
Little is known about the internal structure of the dairthech, although descriptions of the murder of EchtigerninKildare in AD 760 offer a few hints, mentioning a chancel-screen (Old Irish: cróchaingel) and altar (altóir). Cogitosus describes painted partitions dividing clergy from laity and women from men.[6]
