Bullaun stone

The National Monuments Service's description

On the N verge of a farm road. A moss-covered irregularly shaped boulder (1.06m x 0.67m; H 0.45m) with a roughly central circular bowl-shaped hollow (diam. c. 0.25m; D 0.075m) in its upper surface. Cooke (1906, 10) noted that the water in the hollow is 'received from the droppings off the bank and bushes above' and that it had 'due superstition attached to it'. He also noted that it had rags hung around it and that prayers were said there (ibid.). A mature whitethorn tree spreads its branches over the stone. Traditionally this bullaun stone formed part of the 'rounds' ritual which could commence either here or at 'Tobermurry' (KE058-085----), c. 200m to the E, and involved proceeding clockwise around the remains of a possible church (KE058-084001-) in a children's burial ground (KE058-084----) which is situated between the bullaun stone and the well (Minutes of the Co. Kerry Field Club). The 'rounds' were paid after dark or before daylight on 1st May and 1st August (Minutes of the Co. Kerry Field Club). A possible holy well (KE057-098----) may also be in the vicinity.

See attached photographs of bullaun stone courtesy of Amanda Clarke.

Compiled by: Elizabeth Byrne, Ursula Egan and Sheila Ronan, Archaeological Survey Unit, University College, Cork.

Date of upload: 31 January 2011