Cursing stone in Kilriffet

Situated on SE facing slope of rising ground in upland area with centre of possible ecclesiastical enclosure (TN026-070----) 100m to the W. Earthfast stone used as a bullaun stone (TN027-170001-) with long rectangular mortise or slot cut into surface of rock with at least twelve water-rolled oval or spherical-shape stones jammed into slot. These water-rolled stones are very similar to cursing stones found on early Christian sites at Inishmurray Co. Sligo and Caher Island, Co. Mayo. A shallow bullaun beside the slot indicates that the earthfast stone was used at some stage as a bullaun stone for grinding purposes. At least one of these water-rolled stones fits into the bullaun suggesting that this stone was used as a rubber stone for the bullaun. At least thirteen other water-rolled stones of varying shapes and sizes can be seen lying on the surface of the earthfast boulder. Other loosely scattered angular-shaped stones appear to be the remains of field clearance debris. The egg-shaped stones are similar to stones found associated with holy wells and are often used as cursing stones (Mac Mahon 1981, 36-7). These water-rolled stones may indicate that the earthfast rock was used as a penitential station. The earthfast stone appears to have had several functions. It may originally have been used as a bullaun stone, which later had a rectangular slot cut into the surface of the stone. The slot may have been cut in order to support a cross of wood or stone. The angular stones may have formed some form of low cairn or leacht around the earthfast stone which could date from the early mediveal period. Some of the water rolled stones may have been deposited at this stone around this period. Alternatively, during the post medieval period the earthfast stone may have been used as a penitential station where pilgrims could have brought more water-rolled stones that were then jammed into the rectangular slot. These stones may have been used as cursing stones by local pilgrims. Interestingly there is no local tradition about people using these stones for such a purpose (Mac Mahon 1981, 35). The field in which the stone is located is known as the 'kyle field' (Mac Mahon 1981, 36). Instead of being the result of field clearance debris, some of the angular stones may have formed a low drystone leacht with the slot in the earthfast stone supporting a wooden or stone cross. There are numerous low undulating earthworks in the field in which the stone is located. At time of visit there were traces of a possible cropmark to the E and N of the stone which could indicate that there was an enclosing element around this stone although no such enclosing feature shows up on aerial photographs (OSI 2005). Cursing stones are associated with early Christian church sites such as Inishmurray, Co. Sligo and Caher Island, Co. Mayo. A small sandstone pebble measuring 3.85cm in width and 5cms in length with a Chi-Rho monogram was found beneath a bullaun stone at Kilcorban Dominican Priory, Co. Galway (Higgins 1993, 164-5). These water-rolled oval-shaped stones have been variously described as ‘cursing stones’, ‘cure stones’, ‘swearing stones’, ‘turning stones’, ‘altar stones’ and ‘priests’ stones’ and appear to have a secondary use at penitential stations where they are used as prayer stones (Gibbons 1989, 77). The largest collection of cursing stones can be found on the island monastery of Inishmurray, Co. Sligo (Higgins 1993, 165). Cobble stones or water-rolled stones are commonly found associated with an altar or leacht (O’Sullivan & Ó Carragáin 2008, 335). At the monastery of Inishmurray, Co. Sligo, a large collection of beach cobbles known as the ‘Clocha Breaca’ can be found on top of a drystone leacht, 14 of these cobbles are carved mainly with cross motifs, the majority of cobbles have no carvings (O’Sullivan & Ó Carragáin, 335). The carved cobbles appear to date from the 9th – 11th centuries, while some of the plain cobbles may have been added over the following centuries by pilgrims carrying out their penitential rounds on the island. Gibbons, M. (1989) ‘Review of The Early Christian Cross Slabs, Pillar Stones and Related Monuments of County Galway, Ireland by J. Higgins’ Archaeology Ireland Vol. 3, No. 2. Higgins, J. (1993) ‘A Chi-Rho Decorated Pebble from Kilcorban, County Galway. JRSAI Vol. 123, 164-5. Mac Mahon, M. (1981) ‘A “Font” at Kilriffet’, in Power, M. (ed.), Cois Deirge, Summer issue. O’Sullivan, J. & Ó Carragáin, T. (2008) Inishmurray Monks and Pilgrims in an Atlantic Landscape. 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: 14 April 2012