Bullaun stone (present location) in Great Island

A bullaun stone described by Westropp (1918, 11) as ‘three feet by two feet by 15 inches (dims c. 0.9m x c. 0.6m; H c. 0.4m) with an oval scoop 12 inches by 10 inches (dims c. 0.3m x c. 0.25m)’ was on the perimeter of enclosure (WX039-018001-) at N. This enclosure is attached to the perimeter of the ecclesiastical enclosure (WX039-018007-) of Kilmokea church at NE. The bullaun stone was moved c. 1976 to a location on open, accessible ground at Loughtown, a part of Great Island, c. 1km to the SW of the original location. The stone is a triangular granite piece (dims 0.8m x 0.7m) with an undulating upper surface (H 0.28-0.52m) that has a grey patina where it was exposed on the bank of the annexe but the underside is a clean white. There is one basin (diam. 0.3-0.32m), the depth of which varies (0.16-0.23m) with the surface of the stone. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 28 April, 2015

Likely dating to the early Christian period, bullaun stones were often used for ritual purposes, such as the preparation of holy water or as pilgrimage sites associated with local saints. They are sometimes linked to folklore involving healing or protection.