Part of a Shrine to St. Columba / Mass Rock and bullaun stone at Terryglass Catholic Church in North Tipp.
Folklore suggests that it was a part of a Shrine that housed the remains of St. Columba at one stage. It also says that the rock was later used as a mass-rock at this site. This is slightly contradicted by the folklore saying it was located at the National School in Terryglass prior to the 1930s when it was moved to the "new" cemetery.
I had initially wondered if it may... have been the base of an old high-cross and whether there may be any faint carvings on it that could be brought up with a light but I think that seems unlikely after a second visit to it recently.
From an information board at St. Columbas Headache Well.
"For centuries, pilgrims have prayed for healing at St. Columba's Headache Well. St. Columba's founded a monastery in Tir Dhá Ghlas in 549AD. Some years after his death, his remains were returned to Tir Dhá Ghlas to be laid to rest in a special shrine. Part of this shrine now forms the base of a cross in the grounds of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. This stone bears special historical significance as it was as a Mass Rock in Penal times."
From duchas.ie
"(In May, 1934 The revered relic of St. Columba was removed from its resting place in the school yard. It was probably placed there when the old Catholic Church was erected, sometime between the years 1826 and 1832. The present national school is part of this church.
The school children, boys and girls, under the direction of Mr. Manuel D. Hickie, Oldcourt shifted the large stone from its long resting place and conveyed it to the new cemetery beside the church of the Immaculate Conception. The object in procuring the help of the school children in the removal of the relic was to impress upon their young minds the glory of Ireland's historic past dating back even thirteen centuries and also to encourage them to pass down to the next generation the same beautiful story. Hence it will pass from generation to generation."
https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922122/4854211
"The church of the Immaculate Conception is built on a mass-rock site. The old Catholic Church (its predecessor) was built on the grounds attached to the monastery. Tradition still speaks of a still older Catholic church, a low thatched building dating back to the eighteenth century. This one too, was built on the old monastic grounds, but no remains of it are to be seen though the spot it occupied is known traditionally. It was in existanc probably up to the year 1826."
https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922122/4854212
"For centuries, pilgrims have prayed for healing at St. Columba's Headache Well. St. Columba's founded a monastery in Tir Dhá Ghlas in 549AD. Some years after his death, his remains were returned to Tir Dhá Ghlas to be laid to rest in a special shrine. Part of this shrine now forms the base of a cross in the grounds of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. This stone bears special historical significance as it was as a Mass Rock in Penal times."
From duchas.ie
"(In May, 1934 The revered relic of St. Columba was removed from its resting place in the school yard. It was probably placed there when the old Catholic Church was erected, sometime between the years 1826 and 1832. The present national school is part of this church.
The school children, boys and girls, under the direction of Mr. Manuel D. Hickie, Oldcourt shifted the large stone from its long resting place and conveyed it to the new cemetery beside the church of the Immaculate Conception. The object in procuring the help of the school children in the removal of the relic was to impress upon their young minds the glory of Ireland's historic past dating back even thirteen centuries and also to encourage them to pass down to the next generation the same beautiful story. Hence it will pass from generation to generation."
https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922122/4854211
"The church of the Immaculate Conception is built on a mass-rock site. The old Catholic Church (its predecessor) was built on the grounds attached to the monastery. Tradition still speaks of a still older Catholic church, a low thatched building dating back to the eighteenth century. This one too, was built on the old monastic grounds, but no remains of it are to be seen though the spot it occupied is known traditionally. It was in existanc probably up to the year 1826."
https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922122/4854212
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