Bullaun stone in Lorrha

Situated at Lorrha Roman Catholic church at the SW end of the village adjacent to the Dominican Friary (TN004-010001-). Bullaun stone at the NE corner of the church is a conglomerate boulder (dims. 0.86m x 0.76m x 0. 42). One face appears to be split. It has a very steep-sided central bowl (dims. 0.58m x 0.42m x 0.25m D) with a relatively flat base. Adjoining one side of the bowl there is a shallow semicircular hollow (diam. 0.42m x 0.1m D). 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 (5th–10th centuries AD), the Bullaun stone was probably used for ritual or symbolic purposes, such as the preparation of holy communion or as a pilgrim stone. Such stones are often associated with local saints and may have had both religious and folkloric significance in the community.