Bullaun stone in Kilquade

Recorded by Price in this notebook, dated 4th May 1959, as follows; ‘Patrick Healy told me that a bullaun stone had been found near Kilquade Church and had been brought to the church by Father Masterson, the parish priest. I went to see it today. It is at the E side of the church, placed on the stump of a large tree. It is a very curious stone, a block of granite about 3ft. 3 in. by 2 ft. 3in. [which] has three hollows or basins, much broken, on the one side and a large oval hollow on the opposite side. The large hollow has been placed mouth downwards on the stump, so it is not easy to measure: but it appeared to be (approximately) 23in. by 13in. and 9in. deep, with a hollow worn or ground smooth. On top there are three hollows, all broken on the outer edges: (a) three quarters complete: 12in. x 10in. and 11in. deep: it is the end of the longer axis that is broken away, so the 12in. is an estimate. (2) about half remaining: 8in. deep and it was probably about 10in. in diameter. (3) very much broken away: it was probably about 10in. in diameter: I could not measure the depth. [drawing] This is a rough drawing of the top of this tone with the large oval hollow indicated underneath. The edges of the stone have been broken away, it would seem with a sledgehammer; they are not worn away by weather. The hollows of the three basins are smoothly and evenly rounded.’ (Corlett and Weaver 2002, 644-5). This bullaun stone is now in front of Kilcoole Church (see WI013-062001-). Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 07 February 2013

Likely dating to the early Christian period, bullaun stones were often used for ritual purposes, such as anointing or as holy water basins, and are associated with local saints or pilgrimage traditions. This stone may have been moved to the church as part of a 20th-century effort to preserve or venerate local sacred heritage.