Ireland I-KER-020 CIIC 153

Baile an Reannaigh | Ballinrannig 6 (I-KER-020)

Inscription

CCICAMINI. MAQQ[/I] C[A]TTINI

Ogham reads along the stemline — usually bottom to top on standing stones. How to read Ogham →

Stone ID
I-KER-020
CIIC Ref.
153
Country
Ireland
This record is drawn from the OG(H)AM corpus — the authoritative scholarly database of Ogham inscriptions, compiled by a team of epigraphers, archaeologists, and linguists. Transcription conventions and dating follow established epigraphic standards.

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 I-KER-019 were moved by Lord Ventry to Chute Hall, near Tralee, where they still remain. This stone was recorded using photogrammetry in 2017 by Helena Zacharias, a participant on the Corca Dhuibhne 3d project.

Support

National Monuments Service SMR ID: KE042-057011-

Object type: Pillar

Material: Sandstone

Dimensions:

Inscription

Text field: The inscription is on diagonally opposed angles.

Letters: Pocked in relatively long, neatly-spaced strokes. Interesting difference in vowel strokes on arris (wedge-shaped) and where stemline not on arris (straight, short stroke). ‘Of 4I [MAQQI], all but I1 is chipped off, as are also the proximal ends of the C of Cattini and the following A’ (Macalister 1945, 149). It is noteworthy that there appears to be slightly extra space left here between the name of the person commemorated CCICAMINI and the following formula word MAQQI (represented by ‘vac.’ below).

Edition

Transcription: CCICAMINIvac. MAQQ[/I] C[A]TTINI

Translation

of C? son of Caitne

Commentary

The father’s name CATTINI (later Caitne) likewise occurs as the father’s name in an inscription found at Ballintaggart (CIIC 157 (I-KER-024)), a site also located in Corca Dhuibhne territory.

References

  • Bennett, Uí Shíthigh, Holden, and Ó Bric 1995, 7-8
  • Cuppage 1986, 250-252
  • Macalister 1945, 144, 149
  • McManus 1991, 108
  • Vallancey 1804, 226
#ogham#ireland

Plan Your Visit

Visiting the Baile an Reannaigh | Ballinrannig 6 (I-KER-020) Ogham Stone

The Baile an Reannaigh | Ballinrannig 6 (I-KER-020) stone is one of Ireland's finest early medieval monuments — and well worth the journey. Whether you're a dedicated epigrapher, a history enthusiast, or simply someone who loves exploring ancient places, seeing a 1,500-year-old inscription in person is an experience unlike any other.

🗺️

Getting There

Use the map and coordinates on this page to navigate directly to the stone's recorded location. Many Ogham stones are in rural churchyards or open countryside — sturdy footwear is recommended.

📷

What to Bring

Bring a camera with a good zoom for inscription detail. Raking light (early morning or late afternoon) makes Ogham strokes far easier to see and photograph. A notebook for rubbings or sketches adds to the experience.

🏨

Where to Stay

There's plenty of accommodation near Ireland. Browse hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses close to the stone using the map below — filter by price, rating, and availability to find the perfect base for your trip.

Hotels & accommodation near Baile an Reannaigh | Ballinrannig 6 (I-KER-020)

Prices shown are per night — click any pin to book

Accommodation listings are provided by Stay22. Ogham Lore may earn a small commission on bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you.