Penitential station

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture on the Burren plateau, at the S base of a low E–W ridge, within a multiperiod field system (CL009-001001-). Listed as ‘Fulacht fia (possible)’ in the RMP (1996). Noted on Robinson’s map (1977) as an ‘arched stone for headache cure.’ It consists of a flat-topped grass-covered cairn (diam. 2.8m; H 0.4m). At its centre stands an arch-shaped stone (int. dims. H 0.37m; Wth 0.32m; D 0.1–0.12m), with its two arms (each Wth 0.1–0.12m; D 0.12–0.18m) embedded in the cairn. The stone is now broken into three pieces but it was originally a single piece of unworked weathered limestone. The arch faces St. Colman’s well (CL009-006001-), which lies c. 2m to the S. According to local sources, headaches were cured by inserting one’s head into the space under the arch. A hut site (CL009-006003-) lies c. 4m to the S, on the other side of the holy well. There is an enclosure (CL009-007----) c. 94m to the E.

The following image has been attached:
CL009-006002- (looking N).jpg

Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott

Date of upload: 18 October 2021

References

Record of Monuments and Places as established under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, County Clare. Issued by National Monuments and Historic Properties Service 1996. Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

Robinson, T. 1977 (revised 1999) The Burren: a two-inch map of the uplands of north-west Clare. Map scale 1:31680. Roundstone: Folding Landscapes.