Altar

The National Monuments Service's description

Located in the N of a graveyard (DG084-001002-), which is enclosed within the S half of an ecclesiastical enclosure (DG084-001001-). Not shown on the 1836 OS 6-inch map, but indicated as ‘Altar’ on the 1907 edition, this altar (Wth 1.05m; D 0.0.45m; H 0.63m) is roughly constructed of drystone walling. It is built against the NW side of a raised area (H c. 2m at N) of rock outcrop and boulders, which is largely obscured by sod and vegetation cover, with a rowan tree growing out of it. Three stone objects -a fragment of a quernstone, a cylindrical stone simply decorated around its circumference with grooves, and an undecorated cylindrical stone- rest on the flat slab that forms the top of the altar; another stone with a modern carving of a face was added in 2011. (Beglane et al. 2016, Appendix 2; Appendix 3). Mass was celebrated here during Penal times (Meehan 1997, 15). There is a penitential cairn (DG084-001005-) immediately to SE, and two others (DG084-001006-; DG084-001007-) c. 8m to SSW.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 9 August 2017

References

Beglane, F., Meehan, H., and Nugent, L. 2016 Conservation Management Plan for the ecclesiastical enclosure and pilgrim landscape of Diset, Inver parish, Co. Donegal. November 2016. Unpublished report submitted to the NMS.

Meehan, H. 1997 Disert in the Blue Stacks. Donegal Annual 49, 12-23.