These mysterious carved boulders, catalogued as DG045-009001 and DG045-009002, offer a tangible link to Ireland’s early Christian and possibly pre-Christian past, though their exact origins remain frustratingly elusive to local historians.

The larger of the two stones, positioned on the western side, is a substantial boulder measuring 1.22 metres by 60 centimetres. Its surface features two depressions of notably different sizes; a prominent basin 29 centimetres across and 17 centimetres deep occupies one end, whilst a much smaller hollow, just 5 centimetres in diameter and at least 4 centimetres deep, has been carved into the opposite end. Across the road on the eastern side, its companion is a more modest, roughly square block about 31 centimetres across, bearing a single depression 14 centimetres wide and 6 centimetres deep.

Whilst no records exist regarding how these stones came to rest along Kilmacrenan’s main street, their presence speaks to a long tradition of bullaun stones throughout Donegal and Ireland. These basin stones were typically used for grinding grain or herbs, holding holy water, or in various folk remedies and rituals. The documentation of these particular examples comes from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled by Brian Lacey and his team in 1983, which catalogued the county’s field antiquities from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century.