Holed stone in Ráithín Uí Bhuaigh

In 2010 a graveyard survey carried out by Laurence Dunne recorded the following details: 'Raheenyhooig- Ráithín Uí Bhuaigh Graveyard [KE053-059002-] is situated on elevated ground, at 50m OD, sloping towards and overlooking Dingle Harbour 0.8km to the north. Examination of the 2nd Edition of 1896 clearly shows the enormous changes that Lord Ventry made in 1870 including the planting of trees, construction of squared off enclosing banks and new roadway as well as the Ventry mausoleum-denoted ‘Vault’ on the map. An ‘L’ shaped pathway is also shown. Of particular interest is the denotation of the remains of the previous enclosure [KE053-059001-] or raheen of the burial ground by a curving array of hachures. In the course of this study a coherent section of the early enclosure and at least thirty archaeological artefacts (mainly cross-slabs) were recorded at Raheenyhooig. A single holed-stone (135), 0.35m H x 0.30m W x 0.06m T, was recorded in Raheenyhooig Graveyard within the upper southern limits of the earlier enclosure. The unhewn stone of local sandstone is pierced with a central very finely executed hour-glass circular perforation measuring 80mm on the outside and narrowing to 50mm in the middle. The stone is also notched on its sides. Holed or perforated stones, while a facet of early ecclesiastical sites, are not very common and not well understood. Some notable examples include the early cross inscribed pillars slabs and ogham stones at Reask, Kilfountain and Kilmalkedar. The Dingle Archaeological Survey recorded a holed stone in the nearby, early ecclesiastical site of Maumanorig, that, unfortunately, it is now missing. Three other similar holed-stones were recorded by the writer at nearby Kildrum Graveyard' (Dunne 2010, 3-14). See attached plan and photograph courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of upload: 28 June 2022