Cursing stone in Killian, County Clare

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

What is recorded here

Read the whole record

Situated in the basin of a bullaun stone (CL026-003003-) lying inside the perimeter of an ecclesiastical enclosure (CL026-003001-). The bullaun is named 'Doughnambraher Font' on the OS 6-inch maps (1840 and 1920). Seven 'fist-sized' egg-shaped water-rolled stones lie in the basin which is sometimes waterfilled and associated with the cure of warts. There were previously ten stones (MacMahon 1994, 17) although the number seems to vary up and down over time (Lenihan 1994, 44). Stacpoole (1904, 190) includes nine stones in his drawing. 'Rounds' performed here involved rubbing each stone against the afflicted part of the body and placing an offering of some sort under the bullaun. In February 1993 this practice continued (Lenihan 1994, 44). While stones of this type are generally classified as cursing stones there is no known evidence of their use for that purpose in this instance. Cursing stones are known from a variety of ecclesiastical sites and are present on the altar (CL041-062003-) at St. John's Well, Killone (CL041-062004-).

From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record CL026-003007

Places near here

Photo credits

Maker not stated on source page, www.msn.com
Mike Searle, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Maker not stated on source page, www.pinterest.com
Drow69, Wikimedia Commons
Maker not stated on source page, au.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, en.wikipedia.org
Maker not stated on source page, en.m.wikipedia.org
JohnArmagh, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Kmcnamee, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage

Drummeen Castle (in Ruins)Castle, hall-house · 1277 yd

Explorer Tom Drummeen Castle in Ballycarroll is a hall-house that probably groans in the wind like a tired grandpa. It’s got a…

Dromore CastleCastle · 1468 yd

Explorer Tom Dromore Castle would review its visitors as 'adequate' because they all stand by the nature reserve car park and take…

Dromore Castle (in ruins)Castle, tower house · 1469 yd

Explorer Tom Dromore Castle used to be on an island, which sounds like a very expensive holiday home. Teige built it, probably while…

Standing stone in CarrownacloghyStanding stone · 1662 yd

Explorer Tom Standing stone in Carrownacloghy is where the map makers got confused and drew a mountain that isn’t there. Or maybe…

Dromore Wood LoopWalking route · 1713 yd

Explorer Tom Dromore Wood Loop sets off from the nature reserve car park near Ruan and takes you through Clare woodland to lakes, a…

Megalithic structure in Dromore (inchiquin By.)Megalithic structure · 1.1 mi

Explorer Tom Megalithic structure in Dromore has a rivalry with Newgrange because everyone forgets this one exists while they queue…

Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Aughrim (ross) (inchiquin By., Ennis Ed)Fairy fort / stone ringfort · 1.1 mi

Explorer Tom Fairy fort / stone ringfort in Aughrim has a curse that only affects people who don't wave hello when they pass by.…

Enclosure in Aughrim (kelly) (inchiquin By.)Enclosure · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom Enclosure in Aughrim is hiding a message in its stones, probably something like 'Please stop touching me' or 'I was…

Abbey (in ruins)Religious house, Augustinian canons · 1.7 mi

Explorer Tom Abbey on Inchicronan Island has a ghost that's too lazy to haunt it properly and just naps in the ruins instead. The…

Ruan GAA pitchGAA ground · 2.0 mi

Crusheen GAA pitchGAA ground · 2.3 mi

Ballymacquiggan BridgeBridge · 4.0 mi

Explorer Tom Ballymacquiggan Bridge in County Clare would tell a teenager that the 1800s were basically the same, just without Wi-Fi…

More archaeology and monuments in County Clare · All of County Clare

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover