Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Mass-rock
Ballinaltig Beg, County Cork, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Ballinaltig Beg
- County
- Cork
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- NULL
- Latest-edition OS map
- Altar (1935)
- Coordinates
- 52.19103, -8.41484
- SMR number
- CO026-071----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In tillage, adjacent to tree. Indicated and named 'Altar' on 1842, 1905 and 1935 OS 6-inch maps. Natural rock outcrop. Recorded in OS Field Book of 1839 (Grove White 1905-1925, vol. 1, 81-2) as having been formerly used as an altar and 'is up to the present time held in great veneration by the inhabitants, who often come to pray at it'. Veneration had however declined by the time of Grove White's visit in 1906. According to local tradition, recorded by Dr Johnson, a passage from the fox covert in the adjoining townland of Corbally is said to run directly under the rock (ibid. 82).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009
Nearby in the register
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
- Ringfort - rathunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.