Templebryan Ogham and Bullaun stone Situated up a small lane, to the left side of the Farmhouse at Templebryan stone circle, is an early ecclesiastical enclosure. At the site are the ruin of a stone oratory, shown in the image bottom right, and a large needle shaped pillarstone with a very faint ogham inscription and small cross pattee inscribed on the western side. The weathered ogham inscription, on the northwest corner, was read by Macalister in 1945 as 'AN M TENAS MACI V' It was impossible to get a good image of the ogham or the inscribed cross on this visit. There is an excellent view of this site on google maps. You can clearly see the ruin of the church in a rectangular graveyard situated inside the large oval christian enclosure.
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Cross pattee
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Ogham stone and bullaun
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Lying almost at the foot of the ogham stone is a sandstone boulder with a single bullaun. Known locally as the 'wart well' as it was believed to be a cure for warts. The stone measures 0.54m x 0.70m. The bullaun is 0.36m in diameter and c.0.15m in depth. Bullauns are usually associated with early christian sites but some are from a much earlier age. The ogham stone, bullaun stone and the ruined oratory are all situated inside the early christian enclosure.
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Situated: From Clonakilty take the Ballinascarty road, after about 2 1/2 kilometres just after a left turn you will see one of the stone circle standing above you in the field to your left. The landowner is at the next farmhouse on your left. Please ask for permission. Discovery Map 89: W 3869 4393. Last visit Sept 2006. Longitude: 8° 53' 9" W Latitude: 51° 38' 41" N Photos: Jim Dempsey. |
Oratory ruins |
