At the now ruined west door of the entrance to Bonamargy Friary there is a holed stone cross which is said to mark the grave of the legendary prophet and recluse, Julia McQuillan, known as ‘The Black Nun’.
Julia was the only McQuillan known to have been buried in Bonamargy, despite the fact that the monastery had actually been founded by Rory McQuillan in 1500. It was primarily a MacDonnell friary and the coffins of several Earls of Ulster and chieftain, Sorley Boy MacDonnell, lie within.
The Black Nun was said to have been blessed with the gift of prophecy, and some of her prophecies have actually come true. She chose to live alone among the ruins of Bonamargy after the Friary fell out of use in the 17th century. Some believe that Julia was murdered on the steps leading to the upper floor of the Friary, others say she fell off the thirteenth step and bad luck will befall anyone who sets one’s foot there.
At her own request, Julia was buried at the entrance to the church so that worshippers on entering might tread on her grave as a token of her humility. Her ghost is said to haunt the building.
Holed-stones, like this one at Bonamargy were used at marriage ceremonies where couples made their vows while they held hands through the hole in the stone. Holed-stones were also used by pregnant women who passed the clothes meant for the new baby through the hole, with a prayer to ensure they would have an easy birth. Such practices and beliefs were condemned by the church as pagan rituals and eventually fell out of usage.
There is a similar holed standstone cross with a circular head at the entrance to the ancient church of Layde outside Cushendall.
This post is part of the What’s That? Project. Funded by The Community Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund & The Community Foundation for NI. The aim of the project is to highlight local historical sites and give people a short history of what is there. Photos by John Healy.
It’s soo cool to learn more about it
I’m so fascinated about ancient runes and graves