What is recorded here

Bullaun stone in Tullylease is a small oval stone with a worn cup in the middle, kept on the floor of a wall press beside the chancel in County Cork. It may have held holy water for generations before the old church fell into ruin, while people still came to wash or pray near St Berichter’s stone. Even reduced to a shallow mark, it records the patience of repeated use and the belief that clean water could touch the divine.

In church (14455), within early ecclesiastical enclosure (13892); on floor of wall press at E end of S wall of chancel. Roughly oval stone (0.34m x 0.23m; Th 0.14m), with worn circular hollow in centre (diam. 0.18m; D 0.06m). Noted by Grove White (1905-25, vol. 4, 272) in 1907 as 'small cup stone' near St Berichter's stone (13925); 'it held water winter and summer and was formerly the holy water font in the old church.' The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). 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 medieval period, the Bullaun stone was probably used for grinding herbs or holy oils, often associated with Christian or pre-Christian ritual practice. Such stones are sometimes linked to local folklore involving healing or saintly traditions.

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