Bullaun stone (present location) in Townfields

Originally from St Kieran's church (TN010-084001), Modreeny, this bullaun is presently at the front of St Michael and John's Roman Catholic church, situated to SE of Cloughjordan village. A roughly circular conglomerate boulder (H 0.36m x 0.82m x 0.72m) with a central circular depression (D 0.15m; 0.4m x 0.36m) on the upper surface. The bullaun rests on the plinth of a reused limestone block. 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 period, bullaun stones were traditionally used for ritual purposes, such as the anointing of holy water or as baptismal fonts. They are often associated with local saints and may have had both religious and folkloric significance in the community.