Mass Rocks

I came across a website called Find a Mass Rock which reminded me that although I sometimes came across these antiquities I often overlooked them.

 

Below is pictured  Oughaval Mass Rock outside Stradbally in Laois, which I had just passed days earlier.

In Irish a Mass Rock is called Carraig an Aifrinn from the  Irish words for rock and mass.

It was then I realised that these places of interest which were all about evading the sanctions against freedom of worship imposed by the Penal Laws on Ireland and its inhabitants are probably much forgotten about. 

The laws affected Catholics and dissenters such as Presbyterians and Methodists.

I'm no expert on the Penal Laws enacted in the 1600's however I do know they subjugated the population through harsh and extreme measures against practicing their religion, going to schools, property ownership, and a host of other things which today we take for granted.

I recently passed a mock up of a "Hedge School" at Garrymona in Offaly and it struck me as to how difficult those times must have been for the ordinary inhabitants of Ireland.

It is difficult to imagine the concept of going to school or a place of worship as being illegal.

I presume the abundance of Donkeys in Ireland was another example of the repressive laws of the time. It was illegal for a Catholic to own a Horse of high value so I guess the Irish stuck with Donkeys instead.

I imagine the ruling ascendancy feared large groups of natives on horseback or the idea that local Gaelic chiefs would be able to raise Mounted Militia's if they could own decent horses.

The website Find a Mass Rock looks like a work in progress and struck me as a very good idea indeed, a way of recording the past before it disappears forever.

 

It's likely if you asked today what's a Mass Rock or What's a Hedge School, what were the Statutes of Kilkenny or describe the Penal Laws ? you might well get a blank look in a lot of instances...... All the more reason for documenting history while it is still around us and we can.

Keep the Wheels turning. 

 

 

The Wart Stone in Offaly, a single Bullaun in a large and elongated rock platform is believed to have been used as a Mass Rock. I've pictured it below amongst others.

These are some photographs of a few Mass Rocks from Offaly, Carlow, Tipperary and Kilkenny. 

You will often pass a roadside sign indicating their presence although some are occasionally unsigned.

Keep the wheels turning.

The Wart Stone, a Mass Rock in Offaly.

 

 Rahan Mass Rock and Well, Offaly.

Gurteenshinguan Mass Rock near Dunkerrin, Offaly/Tipperary border.

Mass Rock near Clashganny, Carlow.

Killeshin Mass Rock near the Waterworks in Laois.

Erry Mass Rock, Offaly.

Knocktopher, Mass Rock, Kilkenny.

Ballinamurra Mass Rock, Tipperary.

Things to see in Sligo

I've been on the indoor trainer this week not out and about cycling on the road. I ended up in County Sligo for a couple of days (without the bicycle) so rather than a full page of information I've just time to post a few photographs to whet the appetite for visiting beautiful Sligo in Ireland's North West.

From a Neolithic Stone Circle (remnants of a tomb) located in the most unlikely of places (a roundabout at Garravogue Villas) to the Labby Rock Portal Dolmen, Creevykeel Court Tomb or Knockrea Neolithic Cairn (Queen Maeve's Cairn).

From Carrowmore Neolithic Complex or W.B. Yeats resting place of Drumcliffe with it's High Cross and Round Tower remains to Holycross Dominican Abbey in the Town Centre, or from majestic Benbulben to Carrowkeel I'm barely scratching the surface......... 

It's a great place to visit with some outstanding Neolithic Sites and ancient Megaliths, some of the most important and impressive in Ireland.

The natural landscape of Sligo with it's mountains and valleys, and it's coastline on the Atlantic Ocean is wild and weather worn, sculpted throughout the millennia by time and nature.

Carrowkeel has few visitors and yet is home to around fourteen 6000 year old Passage Tombs many of which you can enter. Carrowmore is busier but easier to access.

The Labby Rock Portal Dolmen has a 70 ton Capstone and is located in a remote area behind the stunning Lough Arrow.

Creevykeel is a large Neolithic Court Tomb and in fact a comprehensive list of Neolithic sites and Megalithic structures in Sligo would be endless.

A huge number of impressive antiquities are scattered throughout Sligo waiting to be discovered by the visitor. Some of the more interesting or visually striking have to be sought out and lie well off the beaten track.
 

On the summit of Knocknarea any climb will be rewarded with outstanding views in every direction and the sight of Queen Maeve's Cairn, an impressively large Neolithic burial structure which although unopened is believed to be a large Passage Tomb.

Holycross Dominican Priory (Sligo Abbey) lies right in the heart of town and is well worth taking the time to explore.
Close by, the Abbeyquarter (Garravogue Villas) Stone Circle is very unusual just by virtue of it's location. Nearby is the old building of Sligo Gaol.

This is Yeat's country and his final resting place of Drumcliffe is home to a delightful little Church, High Cross, and the remnants of a Round Tower. While there and inside the Church I did notice that although there were many visitors not too many ventured inside the Church.

Do take the time to go inside if in the area, they are only too happy to encourage visitors. The Cheesecake in the Cafe here is outstanding and most of the foodstuffs looked like they were not mass produced which is commendable.

So that's my quick post on Sligo. I've not gone into too many specifics but half the pleasure in visiting anywhere is from finding out about it yourself and exploring hidden places off the well worn tracks.

Mind you, that's not to say the more well known attractions of Sligo are any less impressive but sometimes it's the peace and quiet that is an added draw to an area. Enjoy Sligo, I know I for sure did.

A few pictures I've posted below are from Carrowkeel Neolithic Burial Complex. Alone as I wandered from Passage Tomb to Passage Tomb I was enchanted by this isolated neolithic wonderland, all the more so to have it to myself. Words cannot describe it's beauty.

Saint Manchan, Offaly

For various reasons I've not been cycling much this last few weeks so I decided to throw together a quick post linking to a page on Lemanaghan in Offaly.

Lemanaghan Historic Site, Offaly

It's a place I pass through sometimes and it's off the beaten track. It's full of history and nice and tranquil, well worth a visit. Check out the link above for more information.

Depending on spelling he is either Saint Manchan or Manchán and not to be confused with a Manchan associated with Leitrim.

There's a few pictures posted below but more information at the link posted above.

The Book of Leinster

I passed Oughaval on a cycle this week. The ruined Church at Oughaval once housed the Book of Leinster for many centuries. 
To find Oughaval head out of Stradbally village in Laois along the N80 and up to the Windy Gap, it is on the right hand side as you head uphill on a bend in the road and easily seen.

The Church itself is a wonderful building with crenellations which make it look quite Castle like. It dates from the 15th and 18th centuries and is on the site of a previous 6th century monastery.

The Book of Leinster originally known as Lebar na Núachongbála is a 12th century manuscript which is a compendium of history, mythology and martryology. It is now housed in Trinity College Dublin.

This area is awash with history and sites of interest so it's well worth visiting on a cycle.

English Translation :Táin Bó Cúalnge - From the book of Leinster

Ballycoolan Cairn, Laois

Today I cycled past Stradbally and down the N80 before heading for Ballycoolan in search of what is listed on the Record of Monuments and Places as "Cairn Unclassified".

Why this Cairn is unclassified I have no idea so I'll guess that no archaeological investigation has taken place. If that's the case this is a shame.

It's a bit difficult to reach this Cairn but the views of the surrounding countryside are outstanding on a clear day. I hid the bike in some scrub and put on a pair of runners before searching for it.

 Today I could clearly see Mount Leinster looming in the distant Blackstairs mountains and The Wicklow and Dublin mountains seemed just a stones throw away.

Laois has very little by way of Megalithic structures so I have no idea why more investigation is not done on structures such as the probable Cist at Manger or this Cairn at Ballycoolan. I can only presume it is either a lack of resources or a lack of appreciation for these places and their intrinsic historic and heritage value.

The Cairn here at Ballycoolan has a couple of depressions in it which would seem to suggest that underneath it there was at some stage a hollow area, suggestive of a burial chamber or chambers. These depressions lead me to believe that the Cairn is not contemporary and dates to pre history, that's my uneducated 2 cents worth.

These pictures don't do the site justice and standing beside the Cairn it is easier to get a picture of what exactly it may have represented. There is no logical reason for the depressions on the Cairn other than the stones collapsing into a buried hollow in the Cairn itself.

Keep the wheels Turning.

Vicarstown, Laois

I got a short spin in yesterday through Stradbally, over the Windy Gap and back home through Vicarstown in Laois.

 

 You can hire Barges to travel along the Canal at Vicarstown and there's also a local spot hiring bicycles, no idea who runs it but it's a great idea.

There's lots of safe cycling along the Tow Paths which run alongside the Canal and it's a very picturesque area with Fisherstown quite close as well.

 

If you're ever in the area check it out.