Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Bullaun stone
Kilmog Or Racecourse, County Kilkenny, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Kilmog Or Racecourse
- County
- Kilkenny
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.60863, -7.26564
- SMR number
- KK023-009001-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
According to the OS Letters (1839), 'A little to the east of the liagan on the west side of the road from Kilkenny to Kells, is a stone called (Glúin Phádraig) Gluin (Gloon) Phadraig, i.e., Patrick's Knee. There are two holes in the top of this stone, six inches [0.15m] deep, six inches [0.15m] in diameter and six inches [0.15m] asunder; part of one of these holes and of the stone is broken away. We have been able to collect the following Authentic little piece of the history of this stone from the local Seanchaidhe:- Finn Mac Cool sent to St. Patrick for some certain request, which the Saint refused to grant, whereup0on Finn took up this bit of a rock and flung it at the Saint's head. It fell short, however, of the mark, whereupon the Saint went over to it and kneeling on it, impressed it with the marks of his knees, while offering a fervent prayer to God for his delivery from so ponderous a visitant' (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 1, 267-8 (90)). Shearman (1876-8, 200) also refers to this tradition, though he dismisses them as, 'mere natural indentations or water-worn marks on the limestone rock'. He adds that an, 'old hawthorn bush over-shadows the Glun Padraig; on its branches hang the usual ex votis of shreds torn from the garments of the visitors and devotees' (ibid.). Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 393) quotes the description in the OS Letters and also mentions the holy tree, 'Patrick's Bush' (KK023-009002----). Carrigan (ibid., 392-3) also refers to a church (KK023-009003-)and graveyard (KK023-009004-) which according to tradition were located adjacent to the bullaun and holy tree. The standing stone mentioned in the OS Letters is located c. 300m to the NW.
Compiled by: Jean Farrelly
Date of upload: 1 June 2021
References
O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Kilkenny collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Bray.
Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.
Shearman, Rev. J.F. 1876-8 Loca Patriciana – Part XI. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 14, 188-245.
Nearby in the register
- Ritual site - holy tree/bushunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.