Provenance
Discovery: First recognised in 1782 by Pelham and recorded by Vallancey (1804, 226; Macalister 1945, 144). Exposed by a storm at a probable early ecclesiastical site known as Cillvickillane (Cill Mhic Uíleáin), along with six other ogham stones, a possible fragment of an 8th ogham stone, a cross-inscribed stone, a number of graves and quantities of bone, and the ruins of several houses. Windele’s sketch of the site shows the ogham stones set out in a rough semi-circle on top of the mound with a slab-lined grave positioned nearby. Chatterton describes the houses as being beyond the mound nearer the sea. Windele interpreted these as the remains of an ancient village, but it has also been suggested that one of the structures, roughly 20 feet x 12 feet (6 x 3.7m), was a church (Cuppage 1986, 250). Only one of the ogham stones (I-KER-021) remains on site.
Findspot: Ballinrannig (Baile an Reannaigh), Co. Kerry, Ireland (ITM coordinates (approximate - location of remaining stone): 436682, 605700)
Last recorded location(s): Macalister (1945, 144) noted that in the mid 19th century this stone and three others (I-KER-015, I-KER-016 and I-KER-018) were moved by Lord Ventry to the grounds of Burnham House (now Coláiste Íde), between Dingle and Ventry, where they remain today. This stone was recorded in 2017 by Orla Breslin, a participant on the Corca Dhuibhne 3d project.
Support
National Monuments Service SMR ID: KE042-057008-
Object type: Pillar
Material: Slate
Dimensions: H 1.16 × W 0.34 × D 0.14 m
Condition: When visited in 2016 the stone was partially covered in moss and lichen, making the inscription difficult to read, particularly in the problem areas at the beginning and end of the inscription.
Inscription
Text field: The inscription is on two diametrically opposed angles (up-down), although only a few scores survive on the second angle.
Letters: Pocked in evenly-spaced strokes but loss due to damage on one angle and obscuring by moss
Edition
Transcription: GṚAVICAS MAQI MUCOI [DO(?)]VVỊṆỊẠṢ
Critical apparatus:
- On the first angle, the initial letters of the personal name are not clear and Cuppage (1986, 251) disagrees with Macalister’s (1945, 146) initial GR. 2. On the second angle, only a few scores survive, which Macalister (1945, 146) interpreted as DOVVINIAS. 3. Macalister (1945, 146) read: ; GṚAVICAS MAQI MUCOI/ [DO(?)]VVỊṆỊẠṢ 4. Cuppage (1986, 251) read: ; ̣ ̣ ? ̣ ̣NAVICAS MAQI MUCO[I]/ ̣ ̣ ? ̣ ̣S ; 4. McManus (1991, 66) read: ; G̣ṚAVICAS MAQI MUCO ̣ ̣ ? ̣ ̣/
References
- Bennett, Uí Shíthigh, Holden, and Ó Bric 1995, 7-8
- Cuppage 1986, 250, 251
- Macalister 1945, 144, 146-147
- McManus 1991, 66
- Vallancey 1804, 226