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Ballaun Stone, Gortletteragh Wood

Opposite the Priest's Rock rests a Ballaun Stone or Rock Basin with its hand carved deep hollow in the centre. Its many users included farmers who would crush young wind bush stocks and feed the mushy produce to their working horses. Women would use the stone in grinding down oats for bread or broth making. But because of its closeness here to the Priests Rock, it's widely believed that this stone was also used as a Baptismal Font. The original purpose of ballaun stones is not really known, but they have an undisputable association with water and Brigid worship. A 'ballaun' is a deep hemispherical cup hollowed out of a rock. Ballaun Stone refers to the rock itself, which can have many ballauns in it, although many are single