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Cona Bhacain

Standing Stone / Menhir

<b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetieImage © Andy Sweet
Also known as:
  • Bhacain
  • Con Bhacain
  • Cona' Bhacain

Nearest Town:Kinlochleven (36km WNW)
OS Ref (GB):   NN483416 / Sheet: 51
Latitude:56° 32' 30.61" N
Longitude:   4° 28' 3.03" W

Added by BigSweetie


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<b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie <b>Cona Bhacain</b>Posted by BigSweetie

Folklore

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According to the New Statistical Account for Fortingal (1845, v10):
Caisteal coin a-bhacain- the Castle of the dog's kennel.
This bacan, or stake to which the Fingalians tied their stag-hounds, and from which the castle is named, is a thin stone, about 2 and a half feet in height, resembling the letter q, with the small end set into the ground, up on a little green eminence.
It is known as Caisteal a' Chonbhacain, from a remarkable stone in its vicinity, which was till recent times practically an idol.

-from 'The Circular Forts of North Perthshire' by W J Watson, in PSAS for 1912, p30.
http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_047/47_030_060.pdf

Perhaps that's just a less coy version of BigSweetie's quote below.
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
26th March 2008ce
Edited 26th March 2008ce

This stone is also associated with the legends of the Fianna, led by Finn MacCool / Fionn MacCumhaill / Fingal. It is said that Finn used to tie his dog, Bran, to this stone while he was at his nearby fort, hence it's shape, and it's name Bhacain, or tether-stake. BigSweetie Posted by BigSweetie
3rd January 2004ce

Archie McKerracher wrote of a legend that this stone was "used to protect maidens' virtue, for when the girls returned from harvesting in the godless Lowlands they were sent underneath it, and no unwanted children occurred" BigSweetie Posted by BigSweetie
3rd January 2004ce

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Old Maps - Con Bhacain


view the site on the old OS map
BigSweetie Posted by BigSweetie
3rd January 2004ce