Saint Brigids Stone, a Laois Bullaun Stone.

Saint Brigids Stone.

In the Laois townland of Ballybuggy south of Rathdowney and hidden away in lush green and grassy fields lies Saint Brigids Stone. 

It is a large Bullaun Stone standing in an upright position with a single depression.

The site was believed at one time to be a Ringfort on which a later "Nunnery" Church was constructed dedicated to Saint Brigid. 

There is a single piece of carved limestone from a window which is lying inside the later graveyard which seems to be all that remains on site from any buildings of earlier times.

Just outside the graveyard and to the north is Saint Brigids Stone. It can be easily overlooked because its view is partially hidden by thickets of Blackberrry thorn.

The graveyard itself lies across a field and the entry is marked by a red Iron gateway with a small Cross on top. 

Judging from occasional records it would appear that Ballybuggy was an important if small local site.

Various archaeological interpretations suggest an extended period of habitation and ritual in the area although today at first glance it may seem remote and rural. 

A tranquil spot easily accessable it is well worth a visit just to see Saint Brigids stone.

Saint Brigids Bullaun Stone standing upright and alone at Ballybuggy in Laois.

Co-ordinates here : 

52°50'26.4"N 7°36'25.0"W

52.840664 - 7.606932

 

Foulkscourt Castle, Kilkenny

 Just a very quick post of a few photographs from Foulkscourt Castle, a beautiful Tower House with a partial Bawn Wall and Gatehouse which is still intact.

It is hidden away not far from Johnstown in Kilkenny beside the River Goul.

It's one of several Tower Houses that still has an intact Gatehouse nearby.

 

Coordinates here : 

52°45'40.5"N 7°34'51.4"W

52.761246 - 7.580947

Kilkenny has many fine examples of Irish Tower Houses dotted throughout the County which are a pleasure to visit.

 

 

Originally believed to be a Butler Castle it later passed to the Hely family who are associated with nearby Johnstown.

 

The Nine hole Stone, Offaly

 Nine hole Stone

There is a large multiple Bullaun Stone in Offaly called the Nine hole Stone. 

Curiously enough the stone actually consists of a large slab with 10 depressions in it and a small narrow channel along its length.

 

 

Up until the early 1800's it was considered to be a curing stone, each of its Bullauns curing a different ailment.

 

 

Located in the townland of Meelaghans outside Tullamore the stone is on private property so I met the owner and gained access. 

In the 1970's it is reported that the water from the Bullauns was believed to be a cure for warts however this may have been recorded in error as there is also a "Wart Stone" nearby.

 

 

The exposed face of the Nine hole Stone is almost perfectly flat and it's possible that the surrounding earth was once several feet lower which would have seen the Bullauns elevated higher and more "table" like.

 

Like all Bullaun Stones this Nine  hole Stone is a mystery and there is no way of knowing for certain what its original purpose may have been.

 

Grinding grains, nuts, paints and medicines, or collecting rain water perhaps for use in unknown rituals? 

Occasionally some Bullaun stones are known as "Cursing" or "Swearing" stones and were believed to be used in attempts to cast spells or curses. Others were believed to have been used to swear an oath of loyalty or make a promise.

 

Today most are associated with sites of veneration or devotional sites where prayers are offered. 

 They are often associated with curative properties for illness.

Some Bulluans seem to predate written history but they are difficult to put a date on or reference in time when individual stones appeared in certain areas.

 

 

Most of the Bullauns in Ireland have smooth polished depressions in them and are near perfectly circular in appearance. 

It's impossible to know their exact function but interesting to ponder and certainly the Nine hole Stone is one of the more unusual Bullaun Stones in Ireland.

The word Bullaun is ocassionaly spelled in Irish as Bulláun, Bullán and Búllán. Although widespread in Ireland they are not unique to the country and similar stones are found worldwide.

The Nine Hole Bullaun Stone is located in a small copse of trees and scrub.

Meelaghans is quite close to Tullamore and lies just across nearby railway tracks in open grassy fields. It is easy enough to find.

Keep the Wheels turning.....

Coordinates here : 

53°15'03.5"N 7°26'06.4"W
53.250976 - 7.435099

Being one of the larger and more unusual Bullauns it is well worth visiting but I'd advise checking with the landowner first.

 

 

 

 

The Ardmore Stone, Donegal

 The Ardmore Stone Donegal.

 

Perched in a field on a small hillside just outside the village of Muff in Donegal and overlooking Lough Foyle lies the Ardmore Stone, sometimes called the Ardmore Gallaun.

 

 

 

This large upright monolith is almost perfectly rectangular in shape and probably weighs at least several tons. It must have taken quite some effort to set it upright in its present position.

 

 

One face of the stone in particular is covered with simple Cup marks along with several  Cup and Ring marks and some of them are surrounded by multiple carved rings.

 

 

The markings on the stone date it to sometime in the Bronze Age so it's at least 2500 years old but probably older.

 

There are Portal Dolmens (tombs) nearby and  at one time there were many standing stones located around the area, many of which have since disappeared over time.

 

 

The collection of ancient tombs and stones located around the area attest to its historical significance as a place of continuous occupation for millennia and the close proximity to Lough Foyle would have provided for easy access by boat and also served as a source of food from the sea.

 

The townland here is called Ardmore hence the name for the stone. 

The parish area is known in Irish as Iskaheen (Eskaheen) which can be interpreted into English as clear water/pleasant water. 

Ardmore translated to English can be interpreted as meaning great height or a great plateau.

 

 

The Ardmore Stone is located in pasture on private property so my thanks go to the owner Seán for kindly allowing me access to take some photographs.

 

 

The angle of the sun made it difficult to take decent pictures and the inquisitive cattle nuzzling my bag made for unsteady shooting so the images are not great quality.

 

 

The area is a scenic gateway for further exploration of the Inishowen peninsula and further afield.

 

The Ardmore Stone itself is a beautiful relic from times past and its sheer size combined with its wonderful rock art make it very unusual and well worth a visit but do check with the landowner first for permission to access it.

 

Coordinates here : 

55°04'58.0"N 7°15'42.0"W

55.082777 - 7.261677

 

 

Dúchas.ie - On Standing Stones....

 

Database of Irish Placenames logainm.ie - Eskaheen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pallas Castle, Galway

Pallas Castle

 

 

One of the most beautiful Tower Houses in Ireland is nestled away at Pallas in the east Galway area.

 

 

An OPW managed site, there is free entry and when I visited in 2020 it was wonderfully quiet with the sun shining and the colour of the blue skies and green grass contrasting brightly. 

Pallas Castle is often described as the best preserved Tower House in Ireland and in reality it probably is.

 

The Tower House at Pallas in Tynagh was first constructed in the 1500's by the Burke's who would have originally been known by their Norman surname, De Burgh or De Burgo. 

It later passed into the hands of the Nugent family.

A lot of Tower Houses in Ireland eventually fell into quite ruinious conditions however this particular example has been thoughtfully cared for over the intervening centuries and is particularly attractive and well maintained.

The surrounding Bawn wall is particularly striking with its turreted corners and intact Wall walks and parapets.

Entrance to the Bawn is through a two storey Gatehouse on which is mounted an armorial plaque dated 1719 with an inscription in Latin.

I don't now whether or not this would have been a family crest but I imagine it was.

There is also the ruins of what looks like a Jacobean era house beside the Tower.

I didn't see any signage for the Castle but perhaps I just missed it. 

The approach into the site at Pallas Castle is along a very narrow road but well worth the effort in locating it.

The Tower House itself wasn't open when I visited but the grounds and bawn were a pleasant surprise and fantastic to wander around.

 

The reward for travelling to Pallas is the beautiful views unfolding as you approach what is probably quite rightly often called Irelands best preserved Tower House.

Co-ordinates Here:

53°07'35.8"N 8°21'42.7"W 

53.126620 - 8.361846

 

A few more Photographs of Pallas Castle.