Bullaun stone in Drumcliff South

Located in grounds of Rathcormack Catholic church, on the SW side of the church, at a modern shrine to St. Columcille. This bullaun stone is cemented into the flat top of a modern stone-built circular pillar (diam. 0.75m; H 0.9m), so that only the upper surface (0.53m by 0.48m) of the bullaun stone is visible. It is roughly square with rounded corners, and has a central circular hollow (diam. 0.25m; D 0.11m), which appears to be steep-sided with a flat base. The hollow was water-filled at the time of visit. According to local information, the bullaun stone was brought here from Urlar townland, but its exact provenance is unknown (pers. comm. Tamlyn McHugh, April 2018). Attached images: SL008-210----_01.JPG Location of bullaun stone, viewed from W SL008-210----_01.JPG Top of bullaun stone, viewed from E Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 21 August 2018

Probably dating to the early Christian period, the bullaun stone may have been repurposed from a prehistoric ritual or ceremonial site. It is likely associated with pilgrimage or penitential practices, and its location near a shrine to St. Columcille suggests a later Christian adaptation of an earlier sacred site.