Killinagh, county Cavan

H 059 378 - Sheet 25

Nearest village: Blacklion

Not far from the ruins of a megalithic tomb known as "St Brigid's House", and beyond the modern graveyard,
is a large boulder ("St Brigid's Stone") with 2 smaller ones containing 16 hemispherical depressions known as 'bullauns' (hollows),
measuring from 15 to 30 cms in diameter, and each holding a smooth rounded or oval pebble or pestle.
These stones are known as "cursing-stones" though they might just as well be "curing-stones".
In recent folklore, the stones were turned anti-clockwise while a spell or a curse was put upon someone -
but if there was no just cause the curse would rebound upon the curser.
The original ritual or ceremonial function of such stones will probably never be known.
They are aways associated with Christian sites, though obviously pre-date them - as of course do Holy Wells.

See also Glassamucky, county Dublin.