What is recorded here

Catsby cavern on Abbey Island holds two carved basins and a flat altar, marking it as a Bullaun stone tied to Assaroe Abbey. The small depths suggest repeated prayer rather than grand display, while the projecting altar invites a person to stand before the rock and offer something up. That much is written; the rest belongs to imagination. Perhaps a hermit knelt there at tide-time, wetting the stone with tears or rain, until devotion itself polished the mark.

A natural cavern known locally as 'Catsby' contains two basins carved in the natural rock (1) .05m in depth and 0.1m in diameter (2) .25m in depth and 0.3m in diameter. There is also a flat projecting area of rock 2m x .5m known as an 'altar'. This site is traditionally associated with Assaroe Abbey nearby (DG107-044001-). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.