What is recorded here

Bullaun stones are holy wells where water gathers in a hollow stone, often marked by prayer notches or worn edges. In Ballina the stone sat inside the south quadrant of a long burial ground, half buried and full of water while grass covered its sides. People may have knelt there to ask for healing, to name a child, or to remember someone lost. The graveyard still stands, but the stone has vanished from the place where it was described.

Unable to locate bullaun stone that was located in S quadrant of graveyard (OF008-037001-). Described in 1977 as 'long narrow burial ground approx. 58m long by East-West by 17m N-S at its widest part. The burial ground is surrounded by a stone wall. There is no visible trace of a church. In the western end of the graveyard is a stone wall enclosing a rectangular area the private burial ground of the 'Featherstone H' family. Inside the wall of the burial ground on the south is what appears to be a bullaun stone. This is set in a depression in the ground and is full of water. The sides and top of the stone are now covered with earth and grass making it impossible to examine the stone in detail. This appears to be a 17th or 18th century burial ground. It is still in use' (ASI file 1977). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 23 May 2011

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.