St. Commaneths Stone (Bulláin)

Situated on a low SE-facing slope of rising ground in an upland area with a nearby stream to the SE and a church (TN031-010001) some 200m to the SW. Although at some distance this is possibly associated with the church site to the SW as there is a holy well called 'St Commaneth's Well' (TN031-010002) close to the church. A large earthfast boulder (dims. 2m x 0.9m x 0.65m) with two deep depressions (dims. 0.35m x 0.17m; 0.38m x 0.10m) and one shallow one on its upper surface. 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 medieval period, St. Commaneths Stone may be associated with a Christian settlement or pilgrimage site, reflecting the influence of early Irish saints in the region. The name suggests a connection to Saint Commaneth, a local figure in Irish hagiography, and the stone may have had a commemorative or ritual function.