Mass-rock in Commons (muskerry West By.)

In pasture sheltered by trees. According to local information, a mass-rock was located on a raised triangular area (8m N-S; 5m E-W; H 0.4m) in the SW corner of a field. The field is known locally as the 'altar field', though there is no evidence of an altar stone. A lintelled wall cup-board (Wth 0.7m; H 0.6m; D 0.75m) is built into the W end of the boundary wall at the S. A holly tree grows from a collection of mainly small stones piled randomly against the S wall to the E of the wall cup-board. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009

A mass-rock used during the period of Catholic persecution in Ireland, linked to the celebration of clandestine Masses, often associated with local saints or priests who evaded authorities. The term "altar field" suggests a long-standing tradition of religious observance at the site.