Inse an t-Sagairt

Inse an tSagairt has for generations been a place of pilgrimage and reverence for the people of the Sheen Valley and Mass is still celebrated here on occasions. The Mass Rock here at Inse an tSagairt, Field of the Priest, was used to celebrate Mass during penal times (1691–1829), a period when the Catholic religion was outlawed in Ireland. Under the shelter of the large rock, the smaller boulder was used as the altar.

According to local legend, a priest named Father John O’Neill met a tragic end here while conducting Mass in 1828. During this period, a bounty of £45 was offered for a priest’s head. The tale goes on to say that the culprits carried the head to Cork to claim their reward. However, the Catholic Emancipation had just been enacted, and as a result, they received no payment.

But their hopes were shattered as their plans were altered
And the hand of God in the end had won
So with disappointment and feelings bitter
The severed head in the Lee they flung
Since that fateful morning, times have greatly altered
We’re no longer in dread of the Saxon foe
For the favours granted, through prayers of the martyr
The people now to the Mass rock go

An extract from the poem Inch An tSagairt by Mary C. Daly

On the left-hand side of the large rock, a well or bullaun carved from another rock, was used as a holy water font. It’s believed that the water in the well never evaporates and contains miraculous cures. The large divide or opening in the mountain behind this rock created during the Ice Age, may help to explain the initial purpose of the well. Originally this rock was a bullaun stone used by the early settlers in the valley some 4,000–5,000 years ago. Research indicates that this site may have been used as part of a solar calendar and a place of sun worship.

It has been observed that the sun shines in this area for just 6 months of the year – from the spring to autumn equinoxes The first rays of sunlight appear through the top of the opening on the spring equinox. The opening also marks the exact position of the sun at mid-day when observed from the bullaun stone. Enjoy the walk back, as you reflect on 10,000 years of our unique history!