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Construction of a Ranaghan mass path stile
A mass path is a pedestrian track or road connecting destinations frequently used by rural communities, traditionally leading to a church celebrating Sunday Mass. They were most common during the centuries that preceded motorised transportation in Western Europe, and in particular the British Isles, and the Netherlands (where such a path is called kerkenpad (lit. “church path”).
Mass paths typically included stretches crossing the fields of neighbouring farmers, and were likely to contain stiles when crossing fences or other boundaries; plank bridges were used to cross ditches.
Some mass paths are still used today in the Republic of Ireland,[1] but are usually subject to Ireland's complicated rights of way law.[2]
See also
Notes
- ^ GoKerry.ie. "Derrynane Mass Path, Caherdaniel - GoKerry". Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ Coillte trail including mass path; accessed 2010 Archived 2007-11-29 at the Wayback Machine.