This bullaun stone, measuring 1.75 metres by 1.15 metres and standing just over half a metre tall, features a distinctive circular hollow carved into its upper surface. The depression, roughly 27 centimetres across and 23 centimetres deep, has been worn smooth by centuries of use. You’ll find it on the northern side of a public road, positioned beside a large millstone and a babbling stream, with an old smithy standing to the west.

Bullaun stones like this one are scattered throughout Ireland, silent witnesses to centuries of folk tradition and religious practice. The hollows in these stones were traditionally used for grinding grain or herbs, though many later became associated with Christian sites and local healing customs. Some communities believed that rainwater collected in these depressions possessed curative properties, whilst others used them as part of religious rituals or pilgrimages.

The placement of this particular stone near both a millstone and smithy suggests it was once part of a busy rural workspace where various trades converged. Its irregular shape indicates it’s likely a natural boulder that was modified rather than a purpose-built stone, a common practice that made use of the landscape’s existing features. Today, it remains accessible to visitors curious about Ireland’s archaeological heritage, offering a tangible connection to the everyday lives and beliefs of those who came before us.