Bullaun stone

The National Monuments Service's description

On a very gradual NE-facing slope in undulling terrain, field recently ploughed, leaving the boulder on a slightly higher, small island of unploughed land. There is good views to the N of the Galtee Mountains, to the NE and to the S-SW of the Comeragh Mountains. The view is limited to the E and W by rising ground and a hill dominates the view to the S. A roughly rectangular earth-fast boulder of red sandstone conglomerate, with small quartz pebble inclusions (dims. 1.35m x 1.12m; H 0.22 on S side, 0.4m on N side). On the surface of the boulder there are five roughly circular depressions in the upper surface, though the one in the centre of the upper N surface is oval. Three of the depressions (diam. 0.27m N-S; 0.25m E-W; D 0.1m; diam. 0.28m N-S; 0.38m E-W; D 0.2m; diam. 0.34; D 0.23m), are roughly in a line from E-W in the northern half and there are two depressions (E diam. 0.35m N-S; 0.27m E-W; D 0.18; W diam. 0.28m N-S; 0.3m E-W; D 0.2m) in the southern half. The depressions on the E, S and W of the upper surface are open sided where they meet the edge of the boulder, possibly where the edge has fractured. Only the complete central oval depression had water in it at time of visit. According to local tradition the water in this bullaun stone cures warts.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 15 March 2017