What is recorded here

Nine bee-hive huts, an underground chamber and a strong cashel wall still stand on Illauntannig, the largest of the Magharee Islands off the northern tip of the Dingle peninsula. At the foot of the stone cross a small bullaun stone holds a steep circular depression fourteen centimetres wide and seven centimetres deep. A second bullaun stone waits at the sea edge a hundred metres south, while cross-slabs, a hand-bell and quern fragments fill the enclosure. The island has kept its Christian shape through salt, wind and forgotten years.

National Monument No. 67. Illauntannig is the largest of the Magharee Islands which lie off the N tip of the peninsula that separates Brandon Bay and Tralee Bay. The Early Christian settlement KE019-002001- is enclosed by a strong cashel wall and is comprised of 2 small oratories, 3 bee-hive huts, a Man-made underground passage and wall-chamber, 3 leachts, a burial ground and a stone cross. Three cross-slabs, a bullaun stone, a hand-bell and fragments of 5 quern-stones have also been discovered within the enclosure and a 2nd bullaun stone lies at the edge of the sea about 100m to S. The hut-site, old field walls and reputed cross-inscribed boulder on Reennafardarrig may also be related to this early settlement. Bullaun stones: (1) At the foot of the stone cross is a small stone with a steep-sided circular depression, .14m in diameter and .07m deep. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 843. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 8 August 2013

Dated to the Early Christian period, the Bullaun stone in Illauntannig was likely used for ritual purposes, such as the preparation of holy water or as a baptismal font. Such stones are often associated with monastic sites and may have held spiritual significance within the local Christian community.

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