What is recorded here

Belgian monks of Glenstal Abbey built a modern stone roof over the ancient mass-rock in Cappercullen Glen, embedding fragments from Owney Abbey and the Walsh family mausoleum into its walls. Patrick Kerin carved floral motifs onto panels now supporting the shelter, while a thirteenth-century Cistercian stone props the rear altar. The stream beside the rock still marks the boundary between Garranbane and Boarmanshill, carrying water past stones that have served many faiths and centuries.

Mass-rock (H 0.8m x Wth 0.8m x T 0.5m) located in woodland in Cappercullen Glen beside a stream which marks the townland boundary between Garranbane and Boarmanshill with Cappercullen Castle (LI007-010001-) 465m to SW. Mass-rock now standing beneath a modern stone roofed structure constructed by the Belgian monks of Glenstal Abbey with modern altar stone placed on top of the mass rock. Fragments of two 17th century tombs (LI007-015----/016----) and a sixteenth century tomb (LI007-017----) all of which come from Abbey Owney (LI014-014002-) in Abington have been built into the mass shelter. Two square shaped stones to the E of the shelter appear to be decorated and possibly came from the 17th Walsh family mausoleum at Owney Abbey. These stones have been built into the cliff face and reused as seats beside the mass shelter. Other cut stone fragments can be seen lying scattered around the site. 13th century architectural fragment from the Cistercian Owney Abbey (LI014-014002-) consisting of a dressed stone with roll moulding on the angle has been reused as a leg to support the rear altar of the mass-shelter. Two cut stone panels (H 0.9m x Wth 0.45m) decorated with incised floral motifs and S-shaped scrolls have been incorporated into the pillars of the mass shelter on either side of the mass-rock. These two fragments probably came from the 17th century wall memorial (LI014-014017-) of Edmund Walsh of Owney Abbey (LI014-014002-) and were carved by Patrick Kerin. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien and Matt Kelleher based on details kindly provided by Derek Ryan Date of upload: 4 July 2017

A Mass-rock used during the 17th and 18th centuries by Catholics celebrating clandestine Masses in Ireland under Penal Laws. Such sites often became associated with local saints or Marian devotion, and some were later linked to healing traditions or seasonal rituals.

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