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St Olans Stone

Ritual site, holy/saint's stone
St Olans Stone
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What is recorded here

St Olans Stone is a half-metre boulder outside an early church wall in County Cork, marked by two shallow dents that people still call the saint’s footprints. On September fifth, visitors complete a round touching the stone, the well, and the cap, carrying grace from one place to another. The stone was moved near a graveyard around 1985, yet the old route lives on in the act of walking it.
Outside N perimeter of early ecclesiastical enclosure (9199). Boulder (H 0.6m; 0.66m x 0.7m) with two depressions on its upper surface, believed to be St. Olan's footprints. One of three stations, the others are St. Olan's Well (9271) and St. Olan's Cap (7959) at which rounds are paid on St. Olan's day (Sept. 5th). Stone moved c. 1985 to within adjacent graveyard (9523). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009 Images provided by and copyright of Amanda Clarke 2016-2022 https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/
St. Olan's Stone at Coolineagh is associated with St. Olan (or Olan), a 7th-century Irish saint and companion of St. Brigid, believed to have founded a monastery in Kildare. The stone's two depressions are traditionally interpreted as the saint's footprints, linked to pilgrimage or devotional practices at the site.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.

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