Provenance
Discovery: Discovered c.1854 by Mr. R. Chearnley on a low wall beside a grave in the graveyard at Ardmore (Macalister 1945, 260). One of three ogham stones discovered at this site (see also I-WAT-002 and I-WAT-003). Other early features at Ardmore include St Declan’s oratory, cathedral ruins (Romanesque), a round tower and a graveyard, all within a D-shaped enclosure (dims. c. 200m N-S; c. 130m E-W; WA040-008023-).
Findspot: Ardmore (Aird Mhór), Ardocheasty (Ard Ó Séasta), Co. Waterford, Ireland (ITM Coordinates (approximate): 618842, 577448)
Last recorded location(s): Standing in a corner of the chancel of the ruined cathedral opposite Ardmore 1 (I-WAT-004). Examined and recorded in 3D by the Discovery Programme in 2012 as part of the OGHAM in 3D project.
Support
National Monuments Service SMR ID: WA040-008007-
Object type: Pillar
Material: Sandstone
Dimensions: H 1.33 × W 0.33 × D 0.23 m
Decoration: This ogham stone has a small, incised, equal-armed cross on the sloping top of the stone, on the side opposite the inscription.
Condition: This stone is in reasonably good condition.
Inscription
Text field: The short ogham inscription (reaching to about half way up the stone) runs up on the left angle of the front face in its current position.
Letters: The ogham strokes have been v-cut, rather than pocked. They are short and even the M and D resemble vowel strokes.
Edition
Ogham text: ᚐᚋᚐᚇᚒ
Transcription: AMADU
Commentary
This appears to be an example of a Latin name, Amatus ‘beloved’, in an Irish ogham inscription (McManus 1991, 113). AMADU is also a possible example of an o-stem dative singular used here instead of the usual genitive.
References
- Fitzgerald 1855, 40-49, 287-91
- Macalister 1945, 257-260
- McManus 1991, 113, 117, 123
- Moore 1999, 197
- Rhys 1903, 381–386
- Westropp 1903, 353–380