Bullaun stone

The National Monuments Service's description

The Holy Stone: Now lying on the road side at the top of Main Street in Dingle Town. This is a large, irregularly-shaped boulder, measuring 3.48m long x from .87 to .75m wide, with 7 large circular or oval cup-marks or basin-like depressions on its upper surface. The 2 smallest depressions are .08 to .12m in diameter and about .02 to .03m deep. The remainder range from .16 to .28m in diameter and from .5 to .13m deep. A channel runs to the edge of the stone from two of the depressions.
One of the traditions surrounding the stone connects it with the catholic church which stood in nearby Chapel Lane from 1702 to 1812; the depressions were used for holding holy water (McKenna 1979, 2-3). Rounds were also reputedly made at the stone (OSNB Dingle, book 2, 23). Another tradition is that it once formed part of the complex of standing stones and rock art at Milltown (KE043-213----) (Macalister 1898b, 164).

To see a 3D model of this monument, visit; https://skfb.ly/6UQWB

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 966. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 7 August 2013

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1987 Urban archaeological survey - county Kerry. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

OSNB - Ordnance Survey Name Books. Pro-forma books arranged by Civil Parish for recording townland and other name-forms and compiled in the course of the OS 6-inch survey 1824-1841. The name books also include minor names and incidental references to antiquities. National Archives of Ireland.

Cuppage, J. 1986 Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.

McKenna, J. 1979 Dingle.... some of its story. Tralee.