Provenance
Discovery: Discovered in the NW quadrant of a large rath or ringfort (CO055-007001-) at Castle farm (also site of Ballyknock castle CO055-007004-). According to Barry (1891, 524), this roofing flag was ‘next to No. 6’ in the souterrain (CO055-007003-) where fourteen other ogham stones were also found (I-COR-031 - I-COR-045), all but one (I-COR-031) acting as lintels. The inscription on this stone was not visible in situ. A high percentage of ogham stones in Ireland are found reused in souterrains, particularly in Co. Cork but this is the highest number from a single souterrain.
Findspot: Ballyknock North (Baile an Chamhaicigh Thuaidh), Co. Cork, Ireland (ITM Coordinates: 594327, 586954)
Current repository: Ireland University College Cork (inv. no. 19)
Last recorded location(s): The stone is currently on permanent display in the Stone Corridor (‘Rúin na gCloch / Stories in Stone’ exhibition), University College Cork, where it was examined and photographed for the OG(H)AM project in May 2024.
Support
National Monuments Service SMR ID: CO055-007010-
Object type: Pillar
Material: Sandstone
Dimensions: H 1.47 × W 0.35 × D 0.22 m
Condition: Barry (1891, 524) noted that the stone was 1.47m (58in.) in height. All of the ogham stones in the UCC collection underwent conservation in 2006. The stones are currently in display cases and held in position by brackets. The current visible extent above the display case is 1.21m (48in.).
Inscription
Text field: The inscription begins 0.71m (28in.) from the bottom on the dexter edge (Barry 1891, 524). The final three notches are duplicated on the adjacent edges of the top.
Letters: The inscription is pocked in short, irregular strokes.
Edition
Ogham text: ᚁᚏᚐᚅᚐᚅ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚑᚊᚑᚂᚔ
Transcription: BRANAN MAQI OQOLI
Critical apparatus:
- The last three strokes of the final -I are duplicated at the top of the stone in both directions.
Translation
of Branán son of Úachall/Ochall
Commentary
The initial personal name appears to be Branán (bran ‘raven’ + diminutive suffix, earlier *BRANAGNI), which is found without the diminutive suffix in Knockshanawee 5 (I-COR-066: BRANI). According to McManus (2004, 20) the fathers name (OQOLI) may correspond to either later attested Úachall or to Ochall in Mac-Ochall, ‘equated by Marstrander with Gallo-Latin opulus “field maple”. If the latter, one might be tempted to read MAQI-OQOLI “devotee of the field maple” (compare Mac-Dara “devotee of the oak-tree”)’.
References
- Barry 1891, 514-535
- Macalister 1945, 87-88, no. 88
- Power and et al. 1994, no. 4221
- McManus 2004, 20, no. 19