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XXVI 
0^ THE BTJLLAN, OE ROCK-BASIlSr, AS POUJ^D IN 
IRELAND ; WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TWO 
INSCRIBED EXAMPLES. By W. E. WAKEMAN, 
F.R.H.A.A.L (With Plates XVL, XYII., and XVIIL) 
[Read June 11, 1888.] 
Basiis^-like hollows, artificially formed in the undisturbed rock, or 
sunk in boulders, are of frequent occurrence in almost every district 
in Ireland. 
These very curious and, indeed, mysterious relics of an early, but 
as yet unascertained period, are usually styled by Gaelic-speaking 
people lulldns, which term may be translated ''Little Holes." 
Though remains of this class have for some time attracted the 
attention of not a few writers on the subject of Irish antiquities, no 
attempt, as far as I know, has hitherto been made to classify them, 
or to point to specialities which many most interestingly present. 
They seem to have been overlooked almost, or entirely, by Petrie, 
O'Donovan, 0' Curry, Lord Dunraven, DuNoyer, and Sir William 
Wilde. Like the crannog question, theirs had long remained with- 
out inquiry until the bishop of Limerick, the Right Rev. Charles 
Graves, in Papers read at meetings of this Academy, set antiquaries 
on a new train of thought. Dr. Graves seems to have been of opinion 
that our rock-markings, cups, basins, &c., have been connected with 
sepulchral rites. His lordship, I have no doubt, has shot an arrow 
in the right direction. 
As huUdns very frequently occur in apparent connexion with a 
considerable number of our most venerable ecclesiastical establish- 
ments, they have been supposed by some writers to be unquestionably 
of Christian origin, and to have served the purpose of baptismal fonts. 
We find them, for instance, at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow ; Cong, 
Co. Galway ; UUard, Co. Kilkenny ; TemplenafErin, Co. Fermanagh ; 
Killinagh, in the same district ; Roscom, Co. Galway ; Rathmichael, 
Co. Dublin ; Inismurray, Co. Sligo ; and in scores of other sites of 
primitive Christianity in Ireland. 
If they had been intended for fonts, it is impossible to account for 
K.I.A. PEOC, SEE. III., VOL. I. U 
