Floating Stones

County Cavan

In Ireland there are many stories of stones that float on water.

St Mogue was born on an island near to Templeport Lake in County Cavan, and the priest who conducted his baptism crossed a river on a large floating stone to get there.

The priest returned to the mainland in the same manner he had came, on the floating stone. Thereafter, the stone was kept for many years as a method of carrying coffins to the island for burial purposes. Then a courting couple decided to use the stone as a means for a gentle cruise down the lake.

The stone was hurt by such a silly use, that it broke into three parts ~ and perhaps inevitably the couple drowned.

St Barry once used a stone as a boat to cross the river Shannon. He kindly left the stone to the people who locally used the river as a means of transport. He told them as long as they remained kind and caring to one another, the boat would continue to carry them across the river. However, after many good years of service the stone "boat" sank, cause: the people stopped caring for each other and became selfish.