Bullaun stone

The National Monuments Service's description

Not marked on OS 1836 or 1876 eds. Three large irregularly shaped boulders set close together. The largest of these contains eleven bullauns, some of which are apparently natural depressions, while the other two boulders contain one and four basins respectively. Rounded stones have been placed into each bullaun, probably in relatively recent times. These are known locally as 'St Brigid's Stones' and were formerly used as cursing stones (local information). (Wakeman 1875, 460; Wood-Martin 1902, 60; Lowry-Corry 1939, 103-4; Richardson and Lowry-Corry 1940, 170; Price 1959, 166; Killanin & Duignan 1989, 78; Harbison 1991, 226-7)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1995). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Updated by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 2 November 2014

References

Lowry-Corry, D. 1939 Notes on the traditions and early history of the Parish of Killinagh. Ulster Journal of Archaeology 2, 102-4.

Price, L. 1959 Rock-basins or “bullauns”, at Glendalough and elsewhere. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 89, 161-88.

Richardson, P. and Lowry-Corry, D. 1940 Some further megalithic discoveries in the counties of Cavan and Leitrim. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 70, 169-81.

Wood-Martin, W.G. 1902 Traces of the Elder Faiths of Ireland; a folklore sketch; a handbook of Irish pre-Christian traditions, 2 vols. London, New York and Bombay. Longmans, Green and Co.

Wakeman, W.F. 1875 On certain markings on rocks, pillar-stones, and other monuments, observed chiefly in the County Fermanagh. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 13, 445-74.

Killanin, M.M. and Duignan, M.V. 1967 (2nd ed.) The Shell guide to Ireland. London. The Ebury Press.