Location of Inse an tSagairt – Eircode Q9VR364
Why is it a place of pilgrimage?
The Mass rock at Inse an tSagairt in the townland of Innisfoyle has for generations been a place of pilgrimage and reverence for the people of Bonane. There is a very strong folk belief that a priest was murdered while celebrating Mass there during penal times. Folk belief has it that this event occurred in 1828.
At that time there was a woman in Glengarriff, known as Nell na Deataighe. Nell ran a shebeen (illegal pub) and a house of ill repute! The priest spoke out against her activities. It was in her house that the murder was plotted! There was still a price of £45 on the head of a priest and this provided an incentive, not to mention immunity from prosecution. Five men with the name of Con or Conchabhar, (pronounced “Kruhoor” meaning Con or Cornelius) plotted the murder in Nell’s shebeen. They were known by their nicknames of Cronchabhar Randum, Conchabhar Raibheach, Conchabhar Clampar,Conchabhar Chuithig and Conchabhar Mhiceire. They became aware that Mass was to be celebrated at the Mass rock at Inse an tSagairt. They crossed the mountain from Glengarriff and made their way down a rocky ravine in the mountain, clearly visible from the Baureragh Road, known as Eisc Caol. They came upon the priest while he was celebrating Mass and with no chance for escape they dragged him to a fallen tree nearby where he was decapitated. A journey to Cork by the perpetrators to claim the reward proved in vain. Catholic Emancipation was in the offing so the money was never paid and the head was dumped in the river Lee! There is a bullaun stone at the site which was said to have been used as a baptismal font and holy water font. There is a local belief that the water from this holy water font has curative properties. Due to the efforts of Fr. Eugene Daly (his mother claimed to have been miraculously cured by the water from the holy water font at Inse an tSagairt)
Mass was concelebrated at Inse an tSagairt on 21 June 1981 for the first time since penal times. Fr. O’Neill, Fr. John Shine and Fr. Michael Madden were the concelebrants. Mass has regularly been celebrated there since then.
Further information:
Local filmmaker and producer Matt Sullivan created a short video, telling the story and history of Inse an tSagairt. This short video can be viewed by following this link: https://fb.watch/nB2JwoWTTM/.
