This large earthfast boulder, measuring 1.45 metres long, 0.93 metres wide and 0.23 metres thick, bears a distinctive circular bowl carved deep into its surface. The bowl itself is quite substantial, with a top diameter of 24 centimetres tapering down to 16 centimetres at its base, and reaching a depth of 25 centimetres.

The stone’s journey to its current location is a story of preservation through repurposing. Originally positioned at the roadside overlooking the Atlantic Sea, the bullaun stone was discovered buried beneath the topsoil in the garden of an old cottage before being relocated to its present spot. According to local knowledge, this roadside bullaun dates back to the 17th or 18th century and played a practical role in the area’s fish salting industry, a vital part of coastal Donegal’s economy during that period.

Bullaun stones like this one are found throughout Ireland and typically served various purposes; from grinding grain to holding holy water, though this particular example’s association with fish processing offers a glimpse into the maritime heritage of the region. The stone’s transformation from a working tool of the fish salting trade to a garden ornament reflects how historical artefacts can be preserved in unexpected ways, maintaining their physical presence whilst their original context gradually fades into local memory.