Bullaun stone in Ballynahown

In grassland, just below ridge of low hillock on NE facing slope. Bullaun stones (WM035-007----; WM035-007001-) 440m and 460m respectively to NNW. Ballynahown Court 580m to NE. An irregular-shaped earthfast boulder (1.15m x 1.25m; H 0.45m) with two bowl-shaped hollows on its upper surface. The sides of the hollow have a reddish appearance. The SE hollow (top diam. 0.33m; base diam. 0.15m; D 0.09m) is 0.19m from the NW hollow (top diam. 0.38m; base diam. 0.15m; D 0.05m) which is not as well preserved. The remains of a third shallow depression (diam. 0.29m) can be seen on the N quadrant of the boulder surface. A double row of pitted dots can be seen running along the N face of the side of the boulder. The significance of this feature is uncertain. This boulder is now located in open grassland and was located 20m E of a tree-ring now levelled which is depicted on the revised 1910 ed. OS 25-inch map. This tree-ring is not depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map and was probably a landscape feature associated with nearby Ballynahown Court. Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 08 August 2014

Probably dates to the early Christian period, often associated with ritual or ecclesiastical use. Bullaun stones are traditionally linked to the preparation of holy bread or as sites of pilgrimage and spiritual significance.