Cooradarrigan: Mass Rock CO139-043

Cooradarrigan Mass Rock is about 1.5km north of Schull and probably lies where it fell but could perhaps have been moved. This 4m long stone is probably a fallen Standing Stone and possibly the last remaining stone of a Stone Row. Its listing as a mass rock means that it was a place where clandestine religious ceremonies were celebrated during "penal times" when the practice of Roman Catholicism was illegal under British rule.

South is in the sea [Pic].

North is on a slope [Pic].

A rise in the local north-eastern ground provides a useful marker for the northern part of the solar cycle and north lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. rises.

Eastwards, both cross-quarters are at the start of slopes. The equinox is in a dip.

To the south-east, the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. zone spans a low hilltop.

The south-western horizon is the most distant one. The south end of a prominent hill marks major standstill moonset. The hilltop is the major eighth; just as from the nearby Boulder-Burials but the lunar sixteenth has moved from the bottom of the dip to the foot of the hill. The ringfort encircled hill that, from the other site, marked a month centered on the winter solstice now marks the solstice itself and the next dip marks the minor end of the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range rather than the lunar minor eighth.

The western and north-western horizon is formed by the slope of Mt. Gabriel, which provides enough humps and bumps to be a usable measuring device.

The equinox is in a slight dip. The equinox / winter cross-quarter mid­point is also in a dip. The equinox / summer cross-quarter mid­point is at a rocky high point.

The north-western sequence is delimited most prominently by the quarter-month south of the cross-quarters and the lunar major eighth. The cross-quarters fall at a smaller step. The most prominent rocky outcrops are before/after summer solstice.

This is the most westerly of the three sites at the south foot of Mt. Gabriel. To its north-east are:

• Cooradarrigan Boulder-Burials about 230m away.
• Rathcool Standing Stone Pair 496m away.

It is worth comparing their use of the available horizons.

• O'Brien (1992,12) reported a "possible destroyed stone circle in Derryconnell townland (Nat. Museum of Ireland files)". This lost site, further to the east, is contextually credible and might perhaps be recovered using Whole Horizon Analysis Techniques. From such a location the lunisticeLunistices are the most northerly and southerly moons of the month. The lunar equivalent of solstices - more. range would spread further along Mt. Gabriel's ridge top.
• Standing Stone CO139-036 near the coast to the south remains unsurveyed.

Technical Notes | Top

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References

• Archaeological Survey of Ireland, record details. www.archaeology.ie/archaeological-survey-ireland
• POWER, D. et al. 1992 Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Volume 1: West Cork. Dublin: Stationary Office. p353, no.3262.