Mass Rock Sites of:
County CORK
Priest's Rock, Dunmanway (North)
Priest’s Rock is situated to rear of a house in Main Street in Dunmanway town. (see also County Cork; p.4 'Dunmanway North')
The Archaological Survey of Ireland states that it is ‘Marked on O.S. 1st and 2nd ed. (1842, 1903) as Priest's Rock: derivation of name not known locally.
According to the landowner, the rock forms part of a Hexagon Rock as shown on 3rd ed. (1935)’
https://maps.archaeology.ie/HistoricEnvironment/
Midleton Mass Rock
SITUATED ON PRIVATE LAND
The Midleton Mass Rock is situated in a stream and has an inscribed cross on its surface.
Many thanks to
Sabrina
Kretschmer
for the information and photographs concerning this site.
Dromusta Mass Rock
SITUATED ON PRIVATE LAND
This Mass Rock is (marked 'MR' on the map) located on private land. It sits in a boggy hollow, circa 0.5 of an acre in area and at a height of 330 feet OD. This masks the rock from view on all sides. However, there is a clear view of the surrounding countryside from its edge.
The altar stone is north-facing and consists of a natural ledge on a long rocky outcrop. The outcrop is now covered in gorse.
Despite its remote location, the Mass Rock was highly accessible by a number of tracks or bohereens (marked 'T' on the map). This gave the priest a number of escape options if the need arose.
Folklore has it that the priest waited at a sheltered spot (marked 'A' on the map) until he was signalled to the Mass Rock. A small stream flows here and the location has the local name of Atha an tSagairt, which translates as 'the ford of the priest'.
I am very grateful to Kieran McCarthy for bringing this Mass Rock to my attention as it was one of the sites that had eluded me during my PhD research in County Cork. Kieran has provided the map and other details and hopes to supply photographs next summer.
