Penal Mass station in Rathtillig

Unlocated Mass-Station within townland that is described in The History of the Queens County as 'Another Mass-station mentioned by Mr. Wall was to the S.E. of Arles at a distance of about half a mile. It is situated on the lands of Rathillig. The place was formerly called Poul-an-an. There is believed to be a fairy hole underneath the hill, and an underground passage to Arles. Whether Mass used to be said on the hill (where once a very fine whitethorn grew, regarded by some as a Mass-bush) or 'in ye open field' below, tradition saith not. A striking confirmation of Mr. Wall's account of Rathillig, as a Mass-station of ancient standing, is furnished by the following extract from the report made in 1612 by Dr. Ram, Protestant Bishop, concerning the condition of his diocese. Enumerating the priests who "resort the diocese, and their ordinary harbourers', he sets down '5. Sir Thomas Reugh, priest, keeping about a XII month since at the house of Garrat McTeg of Ratellick in the parish of Killaban; wher (his arm being broken) he lay at cure, but since I have not heard of him' (O'Hanlon and O'Leary 1907, vol. 2, 580). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007

Penal Mass stations were used in secret by Catholics during the 17th and 18th centuries when public Catholic worship was banned in Ireland. The site at Rathtillig would have been a discreet location for celebrating Mass and maintaining religious practice under persecution.