Penal Mass station in Macnadille

In a flat-bottomed, grass-covered D-shaped quarry (dims. of top 14-6m NNW-SSE; 10m ENE-WSW; dims. of base 7.5m NNW-SSE; 6.3m ENE-WSW; D 1-1.4m generally to 1.7m at N) at the crest of the N-facing slope of an E-W ridge. A tongue of unexcavated material (dims. 2.2m N-S; 1m E-W; H 1m) attached to the E side of the pit is said locally to be where Mass was celebrated. (Keenehan et al. 2006) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010

Penal Mass stations were used in secret by Catholics during periods of religious persecution in Ireland, particularly following the Reformation. This site at Macnadille would have been a place for clandestine worship and the celebration of Mass, reflecting the resilience of Catholic faith in the face of suppression.