Many people believe that the Mass Rock at Innispollen was a penal Mass site but we now know that in this part of North Antrim, as it belonged to the Earl of Antrim, himself a Catholic, priests moved about fairly openly.
The Church at Craigagh had fallen into ruin and it is probable that the Mass Rock was a ‘Mass Station’ where Mass was celebrated when a priest was available. The site contains stone on which a crucifix has been carved with the letters IHC Nazarii (Jesus of Nazareth). It is reputed to have been brought from the Scottish Isles by a sailor called O’Neill. After the Church was rebuilt a Eucharistic Procession was started in 1891 and for many years’ huge crowds turned out, with buses bringing people from all over Antrim and beyond. It takes place on the Sunday after the feast of Corpus Christi. The congregation gather first at Craigagh Church, where Benediction is given. Led by a Crossbearer and two Acolytes the procession makes its way to the altar in the woods, where Mass is celebrated.
In former days the ladies of the Parish wore long white dresses when they took part in the procession but nowadays it is only children who are dressed in their white communion dresses.
Preparation of the processional route and the decoration of the altar takes place on the eve of the celebration. Moss is gathered in Craigagh Wood and woven into a canopy above the altar, which is then covered in flowers.
Sadly, numbers attending are falling year on year and of course, Covid 19 has meant that it had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021.
This post is part of the What’s That? Project. Funded by The Community Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund & The Community Foundation for NI. The aim of the project is to highlight local historical sites and give people a short history of what is there. Photos by John Healy.
