Emlagh East Ogham Stone

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Emlagh Ogham Stone
Native name
Cloch Oghaim Imleach Dhún Séann (Irish)
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Emlagh Ogham Stone in Ireland
Type ogham stone
LocationEmlagh East, Dingle,
County Kerry, Ireland
Coordinates 52°07′54″N10°12′58″W / 52.131528°N 10.216215°W / 52.131528; -10.216215
ElevationSea level
Height2.39 m (7 ft 10 in)
Builtc. 400–470 AD
Owner Office of Public Works
Official nameEmlagh East Ogham Stone [1]
Reference no.221.46

The Emlagh East Ogham Stone, also called the Priest's Stone (Cloch an tSagairt) is an ogham stone (CIIC 180) and a National Monument located in County Kerry, Ireland. [2] [3] [4] It was the first ogham stone recorded in the country. [5]

Contents

Location

Emlagh East ogham stone is located on the south end of Short Strand, near to Doonshean. [6]

History

This stone was erected as a grave marker, with inscription in Primitive Irish, some time in c. AD 400–470, making it contemporary with Saint Patrick. [7] Nearby is a flat stone named Lackshivaunnageelagh (Leac Shiobhán na nGeimhleach, "flagstone of Siobhán of the captives"), and there is a tradition of an old church at the strand and evidence for a graveyard found nearby. [8] It originally stood in a field near the strand at Trabeg and was noted by Edward Lluyd in 1702; it was moved temporarily to Chute Hall about 1849 and now lies on a concrete base near its original location. [9] [10] [11] A translation of the text was published by the Royal Irish Academy in 1879. [12]

Description

The stone is grit, 239 × 61 × 28 cm. The inscription reads ᚛ᚁᚏᚒᚄᚉᚉᚑᚄᚋᚐᚊᚊᚔᚉᚐᚂᚔᚐᚉᚔ᚜ BRUSCCOS MAQQI CALIACỊ ("of Bruscus son of Cailech"). [13] [12] A cross is carved into the stone; it is not clear if it was put there before or after the inscription. The name Bruscus (perhaps meaning "thunder") also appears on CIIC 64 in Glenawillin, located 140 kilometres (87 mi) to the east. In addition, Bruscus was the name of an ecclesiastic who was contemporary with Saint Patrick. [13] The name Cailech appears in genealogical accounts of the Corcu Duibne. The inscription is one of the earliest Ogham inscriptions to have no evidence of vowel affection. [14]

References

  1. "National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship" (PDF). 4 March 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  2. White, Nora (7 October 2015). "Ogham in 3D: Digitizing a Unique Aspect of Ireland's Cultural Heritage // Articles // breac // University of Notre Dame". breac.nd.edu.
  3. Newby, Eric; Petry, Diana (1970). Wonders of Ireland: a personal choice of 484. Stein and Day. ISBN   9780812812749 via Google Books.
  4. Williams, Howard (6 December 2012). Archaeologies of Remembrance: Death and Memory in Past Societies. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN   9781441992222 via Google Books.
  5. White, Nora (2021). "ogham stones" (PDF). The Heritage Council. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  6. Galway, Moore Institute @ NUI (9 May 2018). "Ireland Illustrated: View a Record". NUI Galway.
  7. Monk, Michael A.; Sheehan, John (23 April 1998). Early Medieval Munster: Archaeology, History and Society. Cork University Press. ISBN   9781859181072 via Google Books.
  8. "Leac Shiobhán na nGeimhleach/Lackshivaunnageelagh". Logainm.ie.
  9. @NdeFaiote (3 January 2019). "Ogham stone at Emlagh East (Imleach Dhún Séann), Co. Kerry. First to be recorded in Ireland by Edward Lhwyd in early 1700s. Originally stood in a field near the strand at Trabeg. Moved temporarily to Chute Hall about 1849, now lies on a concrete base near its original location" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  10. Weir, Anthony (23 April 1980). Early Ireland: a field guide. Blackstaff Press. ISBN   9780856402128 via Google Books.
  11. "Archaeologia Cambrensis". W. Pickering. 23 April 1849 via Google Books.
  12. 1 2 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Polite literature and antiquities. Royal Irish Academy. 23 April 1879 via Google Books.
  13. 1 2 Royal Irish Academy (23 April 1850). Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Royal Irish Academy via Google Books.
  14. "Ogham in 3D - Emlagh East / 180. Emlagh East". ogham.celt.dias.ie. 2013.