What is recorded here

Clooneen graveyard in County Laois still holds a smooth limestone bowl beside a little stream, marking the vanished church probably dedicated to St. Kieran. The hollow is small enough to fit within both hands, yet deep enough to catch rain, dew or tears before returning them to the earth. It is not a grand monument, but a quiet instrument of memory: a place where water could be made holy and grief could be given shape.

Church probably dedicated to St. Kieran (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 139). Situated in undulating countryside. A bowl shaped hollow (D. c. 0.36m, D. c. 0.15m) cut into a limestone rock. Described by Carrigan as 'known as Clooneen (the little meadow), is 'Clooneen graveyard'. The church (LA027-001001-) of Clooneen is gone, leaving no trace behind. Part of the churchyard (LA027-001003-) has been enclosed by a stone wall by the Board of Guardians. There are several headstones, but none inscribed. Interments are very rare. Outside the graveyard wall, to the north, beside the little stream, is a holy water stone of the most primitive description, being nothing more than a bowl shaped hollow, 14 in. in diameter and 6 in. deep, cut into the extremely rough surface of a bluish limestone rock several feet long and 2ft. Wide' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 138-9). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Laois' (Dublin Stationery Office, 1995) compiled by P. David Sweetman, Olive Alcock and Bernie Moran. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 December 2007

Likely dating to the early medieval period, the bullaun stone may have had Christian or pre-Christian ritual significance, possibly used for anointing or as a holy water font. Such stones are often associated with saintly sites and local pilgrimage traditions.

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