What is recorded here

Cill Chuáin in County Kerry holds a Bullaun stone marked by three small circles inside a larger depression, beside the graveyard where a church stood by 1475. The markings suggest repeated prayer or meditation, perhaps by someone who sat there until flesh and stone became familiar with one another. Brandon Peak watches from above, giving the place a tone of endurance rather than display.

Kilquane church and graveyard/ Cill Chuáin (KE034-106004-): The modern rectangular graveyard and site of the medieval parish church are located directly S of Kilquane village at the foot of the W slopes of Brandon Peak. Bullaun Stone (KE034-106002-): An irregularly-shaped stone measuring 0.8 x 0.78m, with a large irregularly-shaped depression, 0.43 x 0.53m, on its upper surface. At the base of the larger depression are 3 circular depressions varying from 0.13 to 0.21m in diameter and from 0.14 to 0.08m in depth. Church (KE034-106003-): There appears to have been a church here by 1475 (Cal Pap Reg, 13, 460). It is not included however in the list of churches in the diocese in 1622 (TCD Ms 2158, 94) and may have fallen into disrepair before that date. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 857. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 9 August 2013

A bullaun stone, likely dating to the early Christian period, often used for ritual purposes such as the preparation of holy water. Such stones are associated with local saints and may have had both religious and folkloric significance in the medieval Christian tradition.

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