Bullaun stone in Oughtihery

Standing on its side by verge of road. Subrectangular stone (0.7m X 1.5m; T 0.28m) with four hollows on original upper surface. Two roughly circular hollows close together at one side (diam. 0.14m; D 0.03m; diam. 0.14m; D 0.045m); other two at opposite side (diam. 0.14m; D 0.04m; diam. 0.25m x 0.16m; D 0.12m). Largest hollow incomplete as stone broken or worn at this point. Considered locally to be a holy stone. According to Brash (1879, 133-4), ''Cloch-Beannachadh', i.e. the Stone of Blessing or Benediction....lay formerly near a holy well [(9292)] .....the devotee placed his or her knees in the smaller hollows, and repeating a certain number of prayers, dropped an offering of some minute article into the larger; this operation, and certain rounds and washings at the well, were deemed a specific for rheumatic pains and other ailments'. Stone removed from well and built into roadside fence where it was seen by Windele in 1851; by 1871 it had fallen out of fence and was lying by roadside (ibid., 134). May be associated with possible early ecclesiastical enclosure (9207) c. 500m to NE. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

Likely dating to the Early Christian or later prehistoric period, the Bullaun stone may have been used for ritual purposes, such as the preparation of holy water or as a pilgrim site. Hollows on such stones are often associated with Christian tradition, though they may reflect earlier pagan practices.