What is recorded here

Bullaun stone in Ullard is a large triangular granite boulder with one deep basin, lying on an east-facing slope beside the medieval church and holy well of St Fiachra. Tradition credits Fiachra with founding that church in the latter part of the 6th century, while the stone itself may have marked prayer, sacrifice or the memory of water long before the church gave the place a name. Two hawthorn trees once overhung it, shading the basin like a small altar under leaf and rain.

In the field immediately NW of the medieval church of Ullard (KK025-038001-) on an E-facing slope, in pasture. The church is c. 52m to the S, a holy well 19m to the N and another bullaun stone (KK025-038006-) lies 12m to the E. The church and holy well are dedicated to St Fiachra, who according to tradition founded a church here in the latter part of the 6th-century (Vigors 1893, 257). The bullaun stone (H 1m; Wth 1.8m narrowing to 0.66m; L 1.72m) is a very large triangular granite boulder with a single basin in its upper surface (dims. 0.33m x 0.28m; D 0.30m). When visited in 1994 it was overhung by two hawthorn trees, which are now no longer there. See attached photographs: KK025-038008-_01 bullaun (KK025-038006-) to left, bullaun (KK025-038008-) to the right and church (KK025-0380081-) in background KK025-038008-_02 bullaun Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 15 February 2017

Probably dating to the early medieval or later prehistoric period, bullaun stones like this one were often used for ritual purposes, such as the anointing of the sick with holy water from nearby wells. They are associated with Christian and possibly earlier pagan traditions, and may have been incorporated into local folklore as sites of healing or spiritual significance.

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