Altar

Situated in a grove on the N shore of Killone Lake, 125m NE of Killone Augustinian nunnery (CL041-062001-). A stone altar, c. 5m S of St John’s holy well (CL041-062003-). The altar originally consisted of two double-faced drystone walls placed 0.75m apart and aligned NW-SE. A cement slab is laid across the two walls supporting a grotto. Limestone slabs are placed at the ends of the walls and between the slabs at N is a slab bearing the following inscription: ‘This altar was built by Anthony Roch, merchant from Ennis 1731 + IHS’. Three small water-rolled stones or ‘cursing stones’ (CL041-062008-) lie on top of the altar and a large fourth one is at the base. A new stone altar table has been built immediately to the E. It’s inscription reads ‘Dedicated to the memory of Francis O’Neill, Ballyveskil. 25/10/1949 - 30/08/2009. 23 June 2010’. Mass continues to be celebrated here on June 23rd, the eve of St. John the Baptist. (Westropp 1900, 133) The following image has been uploaded: CL041-062004-_01.jpg View of altar from NE. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 7 November 2016

Linked to St John’s holy well, the altar is associated with traditions of early Christian worship and may have been used for ritual purposes connected to the saint’s patronage. The proximity to the Augustinian nunnery suggests a possible medieval devotional or pilgrimage connection.