Bullaun stone in Brockagh

Situated in a field N of St Kevin's Road. Nine granite boulders with thirteen basins. Four of these stones are in a group and are known as the 'Seven Fonts'. Marked on the OS 6-inch map 100m to the NW is 'Thornbush (site of), St Kevin's Keeve'. Earthfast, partially overgrown rock (possibly bedrock?) projecting through sod cover with a single, water-filled basin. Healy records a bullaun in this area (designated WI023-005005- and not located by me), but his one has two basins. It's possible that sod cover obscures a second basin in this rock and that it may be Paddy Healy's previously recorded one. Described by Healy (1972, 129) as a boulder measuring ' 1.8m x 1.3m x 0.9. Top only showing 2 basins, diam. 0.3m x 0.28m; depth 0.16m; diam. 0.32m x 0.29m x 0.16m. In centre of same field. Two basins 0.18m apart' The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 19 November 2012

Likely dating to the Early Christian period, bullaun stones were traditionally used for ritual purification or as holy water fonts in monastic sites. The name "Seven Fonts" suggests a possible ecclesiastical or ceremonial function, possibly linked to St Kevin or early Christian pilgrimage practices.