Glannagalt Bullaun Stone, Kerry

Foilatrisnig / Faill an Trisnigh

Cloch na nGealt, Bullaun stone and Ringfort

In the northern quarter of the Glennagalt Valley in Foilatrisnig Townland is a univallate ringfort or rath. The remaining banks of the rath can be seen at the top image below. Growing around the banks are a number of hawthorn trees, traditionally in Ireland these were known as fairy trees and the ringforts, fairy forts. Fairy trees or rag trees are also associated with holy/sacred wells, so it's not surprising to discover that there are a number of sacred/ holy wells in the valley. This magical glen is known as the 'Valley of the Lunatics'. About twenty metres east of the rath is a bullaun stone, Clochnagalt/Cloch na nGealt (Stone of the Lunatic).

For centuries lunatics were drawn to the Valley to drink water from the wells and eat the watercress that grew around them. It is believed that the local women in the valley would leave food and milk at the bullaun stone for the mad people. The block of sandstone is almost a metre wide and is about half a metre high, with a single bullaun in the upper surface. Two depressions at the sides of the stone are said to be the handprints of the people who drank from the bullaun.

Foilatrisnig / Faill an Trisnigh Cloch na nGealt, Bullaun stone and Ringfort In the northern quarter of the Glennagalt Valley in Foilatrisnig Townland is a univallate ringfort or rath. The remaining banks of the rath can be seen at the top image below. Growing around the banks are a number of hawthorn trees, traditionally in Ireland these were known as fairy trees and the ringforts, fairy forts. Fairy trees or rag trees are also associated with holy/sacred wells, so it's not surprising to discover that there are a number of sacred/ holy wells in the valley. This magical glen is known as the 'Valley of the Lunatics'. About twenty metres east of the rath is a bullaun stone, Clochnagalt/Cloch na nGealt (Stone of the Lunatic). For centuries lunatics were drawn to the Valley to drink water from the wells and eat the watercress that grew around them. It is believed that the local women in the valley would leave food and milk at the bullaun stone for the mad people. The block of sandstone is almost a metre wide and is about half a metre high, with a single bullaun in the upper surface. Two depressions at the sides of the stone are said to be the handprints of the people who drank from the bullaun.

Situated: On private farmland in Foilatrisnig Townland, about 120 metres south west of Tobarnagalt Well. Discovery Map 71: Q 6710 0826. Last visit June 2021. Longitude: 9° 56' 42.5" W Latitude: 52° 12' 37.6" N Google Map Photos: José Gutiérrez.
Ref: Mac Eoin, Gearóid S. “Gleann Bolcáin Agus Gleann Na nGealt.” Béaloideas, vol. 30, 1962, pp. 105–20. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/20521271.