Mass Rock Sites of:
County CORK
Drombeg Mass Rock Site
SITUATED ON PRIVATE LAND
This Mass Rock site is a short drive from Clonakilty and is located on private farmland land.
The Mass Rock is accessed through pasture land and is located within the inner space of a ringfort which consists of a partially stone faced earthen bank with western entrance.
Coorleigh South Mass Rock Site
SITUATED ON PRIVATE LAND
This is an example of an earlier archaeological monument being used as a Mass Rock. The Mass Rock is situated in pastureland on the south side of the road in the modern day parish of Barryroe. The field containing the Mass Rock is bounded on the road side by a ditch and hedgerow as well as a metal fence. The site slopes gently in a south-westerly direction.
The altar stone of the Mass Rock consists of a cup-marked stone measuring approximately 2m long by 1.5m wide.
Dromaclarig Mass Rock Site
SITUATED ON PRIVATE LAND
This large irregularly shaped earthfast boulder is situated in undulating ground in rough pasture in the parish of Bantry . The hill rises sharply to the west of the Mass Rock which sits in a natural hollow. The Mass Rock is 2.5m long and 1.7m at its widest point and stands at a maximum height of 1.3m.
The Mass Rock has two natural ledges but no obvious markings.
Mishells Mass Rock Site
The Mass rock is situated in the parish of Bandon and is located on the west side of a lane, known as Long Lane, which appears to now be used as a bridle path.
The lane is flanked on either side by large fields and is easily accessible although the Mass Rock may be difficult to see due to scrub growth.
The Mass Rock is composed of an irregularly shaped sandstone block and is situated below a single large fir tree.
Co-ordinates: 51° 45’ 53.46’’ N -8° 45’ 30.39’’ W
Carker Middle Mass Rock Site
This Mass Rock is situated in a coniferous forest, on the south slope of the Ballyhoura Mountain range.
It can be accessed via the Canon Sheehan Loop walk which takes approximately 2.5 hours.
Parking is available in the Glenanaar Forest Car Park. The Mass Rock is clearly signposted from the forest dirt track.
Co-ordinates: 52º 16’ 24.9”N -8º 32’ 18.5”W
The site is made up of a number of rocks.
The largest rock is flat topped and measures approximately 2m by 1.5m and is almost 1.5m in height.
There is a another rock measuring almost 2m by 1m and 1m in height together with two smaller rocks.
Upper Scarteen – The Chalice Tree
SITUATED ON PRIVATE LAND
Mccarthy (1991) states that ‘there is a glen between Upper Scarteen (Newmarket) and Knockduff Lower known as Gleanteenanafrann, the Glen of the Mass.
Tradition tells us that the glen was the scene of the death of two priests in those days of persecution …… Many people still come to pray at the Chalice Tree.’ (McCarthy 1991:86).
Entries within the Schools manuscript Collection of the Folklore Archives at University College Dublin also talk of the Chalice Tree. ‘In my uncle’s land in Scarteen about two miles north of Newmarket there is a field and in the middle of this field there is a tree known as the Chalice Tree.
When this tree blooms each year the blossoms are of a rich red colour. It has a long straight stem and it is shaped like a chalice. Therefore it gets its name from this (S351:332).
The landowner advised that the path leading to the Chalice Tree was once part of the old Cork Butter Road and that Mass was last celebrated at the tree about 40 years ago.