Text, The Mullamast Stone

Like some decorated Iron Age standing stones, the Mullamast, Co. Kildare, pillar-stone belongs to a tradition associated with pagan beliefs relating to fertility. It too is decorated overall with La Tene designs, both incised and in relief. Spiral ornament and animal-headed designs on the Mullamast stone, however, are best compared with decoration found on brooches of the 5th to 7th centuries AD, and suggest an early medieval date for it. The Mullamast stone may have been considered to have magical properties, and deep score-marks suggest that weapons were sharpened on it, perhaps to ensure success in battle. Mullamast was the seat of the kings of the Leinster territory of Ui Dunlainge, a dynasty that also supplied provincial kings.