That hollow is what makes it worth knowing about. This is a bullaun stone, a type of ancient carved rock found across Ireland and often associated with early Christian or pre-Christian ritual use. The term refers simply to a stone with one or more cup-shaped depressions ground into it, though their exact original purpose remains a matter of debate among archaeologists. Some were likely used for grinding or processing, others appear to have acquired sacred significance over time, accumulating folklore about healing waters that gather in the bowl.

The stone itself is modest in scale, roughly square and measuring about sixty centimetres on each side, with only sixteen centimetres of its bulk visible above the bog surface. The bowl carved into its top is smooth to the touch, oval in shape, roughly thirty-six centimetres by twenty-seven, and about ten centimetres deep, the kind of dimensions that suggest repeated, purposeful use rather than a natural hollow. It sits on an east-west terrace on the southern side of Shehy Beg, embedded in rough hill grazing and bog, which has likely helped preserve it by keeping it away from agricultural disturbance. Beyond its physical description, the record is quiet on dates and names, as is often the case with bullaun stones, which resist precise attribution and tend to outlast whatever community or tradition first shaped them.