Bullaun stone in Summerhill (rathnaveoge Par.)

Situated in the interior of a ringfort (TN023-004001) 0.8m from the S bank. A roughly triangular-shaped sandstone conglomerate boulder (dims. 0.9m x 0.87m; 0.3m H), with two circular depressions (diam. 0.16m; 0.7m; 0.29m diam.; 0.12m D) and a channel (dims. 0.15m L x 0.05m W) running from the larger depression to the edge of the boulder's surface. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008

Likely dating to the Early Christian or earlier Iron Age period, the bullaun stone may have been used for ritual purposes, such as the preparation of holy water or as part of a ceremonial site linked to the nearby ringfort. Such stones often feature in local folklore as sites of spiritual or healing significance.