Bullaun

Following the closure of the church the bullaun is now housed close to the reputed burial site of St Patrick. Dean of Down Cathedral, the Very Rev Henry Hull, said: "The gift from the Army is not only welcome but poignant coming in time for the annual ...

The church fell into decline and the historic bullaun disappeared. After being used as a bird bath in a Downpatrick garden it was placed in the safekeeping of St Martin of the Mournes - the church at Ballykinler - and used for baptism. Down Cathedral ...

Following the closure of the church the bullaun is now housed close to the reputed burial site of St Patrick. Cathedral Dean, the Very Rev Henry Hull, said: "The gift from the Army is not only welcome but poignant coming in time for the annual ...

The granite bullaun has a history dating back more than 1,000 years to one of the patron saint's earliest landing sites in Ireland and has since served as a font for holy water. In Celtic times mystical powers were attributed to it and rainwater which ...

Bullauns are stones with a small hollow and in Celtic times were attributed power and mysticism with collected rainwater believed to hold healing powers. They continued into Christian times with some being used to hold Holy Water and others holding ...

The church fell into decline and eventually much of the stonework was used for local building work, while the historic bullaun, which was central to pilgrimages, disappeared. After being used as a bird bath in a Downpatrick garden it was placed in the ...