The Wart Stone
Not far from the Nine Hole stone in Offaly lies an equally interesting and unusual Bullaun Stone known as
"The Wart Stone".
The Wart Stone is a large single Bullaun which is elongated and somewhat table shaped.
It is believed the Wart Stone was once used as an Altar during the Penal Laws in Ireland which outlawed open worship by Catholics and Protestant "Dissenters" such as Methodists, Calvinists and Presbyterians.
The laws were introduced from the 1600's onwards in an effort to promote the Anglican Church of Ireland to a position of primacy in Ireland.
They ultimately failed to achieve that objective and today the remains of many beautiful but long abandoned Anglican Churches are scattered across Ireland.
During much of this era Priests who practised their religion or offered the rites of Mass were often hunted down and flogged or killed.
"Mass Rocks" became the primary place of worship for those who found their faith outlawed.
These were often large boulders or rocks which would have been used in place of an Altar while Mass was celebrated in a hidden field or hollow.
To show some scale there is a bottle in some of the photographs.
Although secular in outlook I almost felt blasphemous for placing a modern plastic bottle onto an ancient stone, especially one that was so unusual.
Bullaun Stones with their origins lost in the mists of time seem to exude a special charm.
They are enigmatic.
In a world where everything demands explanation isn't it nice when there is something which remains a little mysterious.
Something of which although we know its latter use we can't figure out where it began or originated from.
Coordinates here:
53°15'00.5"N 7°26'05.6"W
53.250129 - 7.434895
53.250129 - 7.434895
Keep the wheels turning.
