Cloghnagalt — Foilatrisnig

Cloghnagalt/Cloch na nGealt (Stone of the Lunatic): This bullaun stone is located about 30m W of the Glannagalt river and about 20m E of a ringfort (KE036-059----). It consists of an irregularly-shaped block of sandstone with a roughly flat upper surface out of which a roughly circular depression has been carved. The stone is .49m high, .89m wide and .74m thick and the depression measures .37m in diameter and .09m in depth. Gleann na nGealt has been the traditional resort of lunatics since at least the 17th century (De Brún 1973, 197). They came to drink the water and eat the watercress at 2 wells in the valley (KE036-071---- and KE036-057----). The bullaun is traditionally the repository for milk and food provided for the lunatics by the women of the valley (An Seabhac 1939, 283). Two further depressìons, apparently natural, are said to be the handprints of those who drank from the bullaun. Joyce (1869, 161) recorded the following details about this stone and two holy wells; 'There are two wells [KE036-057/071----] in the glen, called Tobernagalt, the lunatics’ well, to which the madmen direct their way, crossing the little stream that flows through the valley, at a spot called Ahagaltaun, the madman’s ford, and passing by Cloghnagalt [KE036-058----], the standing stone of the lunatics; and they drink of the healing waters, and eat some of the tresses that grow on the margin—the water and the cress, and the secret virtue of the valley, will restore the poor wanderers to sanity'. To see a 3D model of this monument, visit; https://skfb.ly/6XQVY See attached colour photograph courtesy of Amanda Clarke. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 964. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 16 May 2022