Penal Mass station in Tawnycorragh

Located on the N side of the ravine (Wth c. 5m; D c. 5m) of an E-W section of a NW-SE stream that forms the boundary with Co. Roscommon. This is a D-shaped shelf (dims. c. 15m E-W; c. 8m N-S) 1-1.5m over the stream bed and surrounded by cliffs (H c. 5m). It iis known as Poll na hAltora - the hollow of the altar where it is thought a wooden altar was used (Gallogly 1993-4, 433). Acces is by a ramp, which drops down from the level of the filed c. 30m to the E. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Leitrim' compiled by Michael J. Moore (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2003). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 September 2008

The Penal Mass station in Tawnycorragh is associated with clandestine Catholic worship during the 17th and 18th centuries, when open practice of the faith was suppressed in Ireland. Such sites were often linked to local saints or priests and became focal points for religious devotion and community resistance.