Images

Image of Ballard (Bullaun Stone) by ryaner

The second, single bullaun is quite a gem too.

Image credit: ryaner
Image of Ballard (Bullaun Stone) by ryaner

Looking north down the Avonmore river valley.

Image credit: ryaner
Image of Ballard (Bullaun Stone) by ryaner

Only re-discovered when the hedge here was cut back about 8 years ago.

Image credit: ryaner
Image of Ballard (Bullaun Stone) by ryaner

The third bowl on the large boulder is 28cms in diameter.

Image credit: ryaner
Image of Ballard (Bullaun Stone) by ryaner

The large stone in the wall has the 3 bowls on its top surface, the single bullaun lies beside the road.

Image credit: ryaner
Image of Ballard (Bullaun Stone) by ryaner

These pair are 25cms and 27cms in diameter.

Image credit: ryaner

Articles

Ballard

These two stones, one single and portable and one a triple bullaun, are in the isolated townland of Ballard, above the Avonmore River and north-west of the peak of Trooperstown Hill. The single bullaun stone has been damaged some time ago but is a little gem in itself, a Wicklow granite stone with a weathered brown look.

The triple bullaun, a glacial erratic, is thought to be in its original location, now incorporated into the wall at the gable end of a cottage. It’s quite a tall stone, well over a metre when you stand on the road, and the bowls are not immediately apparent as you stroll by.

On the day I visited all three were holding water, one with some type of seed floating within, all three quite magical in their beauty and simplicity. Two are set quite close to each other to the south, with a natural channel connecting them – the other, the largest, is the one with the seeds in the photo.

Quite a journey to get to if approached from the Annamoe to Laragh road, through the forestry tracks and all, but very well worth a visit. I did knock at the cottage but there was nobody home at the time.

Sites within 20km of Ballard