Mass Rock

The Penal Laws were introduced and enforced in Ireland during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Their main aim was to suppress the Catholic Religion. Catholic Priests were forbidden to administer to their flocks with a price put on their heads. Sometimes a Priest was allowed in an area if they had guarantors. A 1714 list of priests in Co. Cork “Denis O’Leary, Kilmehill and Macloneigh, Suretyes, Edmd. Barrett, Thos. Murphy of Curahaly. Edmund Barrett would have lived in Carrigboy Castle.
The outlawed priests travelled incognito and ministered to the people secretly. They offered mass in lonely valleys, on rough stone altars. The massrock in the Commons would have been in an ideal location; in a secluded location with plenty of shelter. There were many other mass rock locations in the area - Inchigeela, Kilnadur, Coolaclevane (called Carriganaffrin) and Cooldaniel. An ancient wedge tomb was used as an altar at Cooldaniel.
As time went on, the laws were relaxed and simple penal churches were built. We know of at least two in the locality; at Kilnadur and Cooldorrihy.
Anne Bradley

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THESE MASS ROCKS ARE NEEDED AGAIN

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see interesting piece in History Today www.historytoday.com/gillian-kenny/ireland-back-future