Altar Stone

Located in mixed woodland on the floor of the Cappagh valley. The cross-inscribed stone, possibly an altar stone, from Knockmaon church (WA030-042001-) is now outside the E wall of the bawn (WA030-006002-) attached to Cappagh tower house (WA030-006001-) (Power 1918a, 90). It is a granite block (min. dims. 2.25m x 0.7m; T 0.25m) with a ringed-cross in relief at the centre of one side. (Redmond 1895, 262; O'Connell-Redmond 1918-19, 102) O'Connell-Redmond, G. (1918) The castles of north-east Cork and near its borders. JCHAS 24, 1-6, 62-6, 93-103, 145-51. Power, Rev. P. (1898a) Ancient ruined churches of Co. Waterford, WAJ 4, 83-95, 195-219. Redmond, G. (1885-6a) Notes on the history, antiquities, archaeoloical remains and legends connected with the western end of the county Waterford, JRSAI, 17, 394-405. Date of upload/revision: 11th August, 2011. Compiled by: Michael Moore.

Likely dating to the early medieval period, the cross-inscribed Altar Stone may have been used in a Christian ritual or liturgical context, associated with the nearby Knockmaon church. It may also reflect earlier prehistoric traditions repurposed in the Christian era.