This unusual site is located in a lovely woodland setting in Mulmountry townland, just off the Brownscastle Road. It presents as a natural cleft in the bedrock, which has a sloping bed-like appearance.
According to tradition St. Munna (Ó Riain 2011, 505-07) of Taghmon slept here overnight, having watered his horse at the nearby holy well (WX036-036001). As a result the stone was considered blessed and this is reflected in the presence of an inscribed cross motif on its surface. The stone was also believed to have curative powers and local folklore suggests that ‘any one who lie on that bed with a pain in their back will be cured‘ (School’s Folklore Collection). The name of the adjacent townland Cloghulatagh, is derived from Cloch Chodlata – the stone of sleep – and this undoubtedly refers to the saint’s stone (Ó Riain 2011, 505-07).
References
Moore, M. J. 1996 Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford, the Stationary Office, Dublin
Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0883, Page 059 (Caroreigh National School, 1934)
Taghmon Heritage 