Altar

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in a grove on the N shore of Killone Lake, 125m NE of Killone Augustinian nunnery (CL041-062001-). A stone altar, c. 5m S of St John’s holy well (CL041-062003-). The altar originally consisted of two double-faced drystone walls placed 0.75m apart and aligned NW-SE. A cement slab is laid across the two walls supporting a grotto. Limestone slabs are placed at the ends of the walls and between the slabs at N is a slab bearing the following inscription: ‘This altar was built by Anthony Roch, merchant from Ennis 1731 + IHS’. Three small water-rolled stones or ‘cursing stones’ (CL041-062008-) lie on top of the altar and a large fourth one is at the base. A new stone altar table has been built immediately to the E. It’s inscription reads ‘Dedicated to the memory of Francis O’Neill, Ballyveskil. 25/10/1949 - 30/08/2009. 23 June 2010’. Mass continues to be celebrated here on June 23rd, the eve of St. John the Baptist. (Westropp 1900, 133)

The following image has been uploaded:
CL041-062004-_01.jpg View of altar from NE.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 7 November 2016

References

Westropp, T.J. 1900 Augustinian houses, Co. Clare, Clare, Killone and Inchicronan. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 30, 118-35.