Their purpose remains contested, with interpretations ranging from fertility symbols to apotropaic carvings intended to ward off evil. The example associated with Ballyportry, in County Clare, adds a further wrinkle to this already complicated category, in that it is no longer where it was first found.

The carving was originally discovered close to Ballyportry Castle, a tower house in north Clare. At some point it was moved from that location, and the two records, the original findspot near the castle and the present location of the stone itself, are now held separately. The castle with which it was associated is a recognisable landmark in the area, but the figure's original relationship to the structure, whether it was built into the fabric of the castle or found nearby in a looser sense, is not clear from what survives.