Survey Data
Reg No
15315022
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Archaeological, Historical, Social
Original Use
Mass rock
Date
1680 - 1750
Coordinates
222755, 249733
Date Recorded
22/07/2004
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Former mass rock/altar built into the side of a hill, erected c.1689. Constructed using rubble limestone with a cut stone flagstone/slab to the top. Site now heavily overgrown. Slab reads ‘ME FIERI FECIT JOANNES DALTON, SACERDOS 29 AUG. ANNO DOMINI 1689’ (Archaeological Survey, site WM024-008001-). Site now overgrown and inscription no longer legible. Located adjacent to a holy well (WM024-008002-) to the west slop of a hill to the northeast of Ballymore.
Appraisal
A former altar/mass rock, which represents an interesting historical fragment in the landscape to the northeast of Ballymore. Although dated 1689, this feature was probably used as a mass rock throughout the eighteenth century, particularly during the first half of the century, a period when Roman Catholics were not permitted to practice their religion under the Penal Laws in force at the time. According to local sources, the Father Dalton recorded on the stone tablet was a local priest killed/executed for saying Catholic mass at this time, an offence under these laws. The holy well, located adjacent to the north (WM024-008002-), is a site of pilgrimage on the 15th of August and local tradition claims it is a cure for 'bad veins'.