Mass-rock in Coomleagh East

In rough hill grazing, high up on the W side of a S-facing valley and to the W of a S-flowing river. According to Myler (1998, 75), mass was celebrated here on a large rock in penal times. The mass-rock 'has a row of six candle holes on the top of it' and there is a small stone stile behind the rock to the NW where confessions were heard (ibid.). On the way up to the mass-rock was a small hut where the priest used to sleep (ibid.). A local person knew about the mass-rock but was unable to identify its location. There is no visible trace of the mass-rock in this location or in the surrounding area. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 5' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). Date of upload: 22 December 2009

This mass-rock is associated with the celebration of Catholic Mass in penal times, when open practice of the faith was forbidden. It is traditionally linked to the surrounding rural parish communities who would gather secretly to hear Mass, often under threat of persecution.