Provenance
Discovery: Cuppage et al (1986, 255) noted that ‘This ogham stone was the first to be recorded in this country’. Edward Lhwyd mentioned the stone in 1702-1707 where at the time the stone stood upright in a field near the strand of Trabeg in the townland of Emlagh East and barony of Corkaguiney (Cuppage et al 1986, 255). According to Macalister (1945, 172-173), ‘it was removed to Chute Hall about 1849 but was soon returned. It now lies recumbent on a concrete base on the seashore near its original location’.
Findspot: Emlagh East (Imleach Dhún Séann), Co. Kerry, Ireland (ITM coordinates: 448277, 600058)
Last recorded location(s): In situ (lying on plinth, washed by high tide)
Support
National Monuments Service SMR ID: KE053-040----
Object type: Cross-carved pillar
Material: Sandstone
Dimensions: H 2.40 × W 0.70 × D 0.25 m
Inscription
Text field: Latin linear cross on current upper surface, which comes into contact with inscription but there is a question of whether the cross or inscription was earlier. Macalister (1945, 172) argues the ‘cross which is not a later addition, but older than the Ogham, for the L2 of CALIACI has been shortened to avoid running into it’ However, another possibility is that the carver of the cross cut into the L score of the ogham inscription, which was already on the stone. It could be argued that, if the cross had been earlier, the sculptor would have shortened both scores of the L rather than just the second.
Letters: Pocked and rubbed in neat, evenly-spaced strokes. Initial B sloped in parallel with following R. Double letters (CC, QQ) clearly distinguished by space.
Edition
Transcription: BRUSCCOS MAQQI CALIACỊ
Critical apparatus:
- McManus (1991, 66) advises to ‘ignore the letters after CALIACI in Macalister’s (CALIACI[AS] M[AQQI MUCOI…)’. He also noted that the Is of CALIACI were unclear. This reading was confirmed on inspection of the 3D data. The five notches of the first I are just about visible on the 3D model along with three notches of the final I.
Translation
of Bruscus son of Cailech
Commentary
This is one of the inscriptions listed by McManus (1991, 93-94) to be among the earliest in the corpus showing no trace of vowel affection. It may be dated to the first half, or the early second half, of the fifth century (McManus1991, 97).
The name BRUSCCOS (Latinized Bruscus, brosc? ‘thunder’) also occurs on CIIC 63. Glenawillin I, Cork (BRUSCO MAQI DOVALESCI) (McManus 1991, 106).
Lankford (2006) notes that the name Cailech occurs in the genealogies: Cailech m. Era m. Irchuind [Corca Duibne] (LL 324g33, O’Brien CGH 529).
References
- Bennett, Uí Shíthigh, Holden, and Ó Bric 1995, 10
- Cuppage 1986, 255
- Lankford 2006,
- Macalister 1945, 151, 172-173
- McManus 1991, 66, 93-4, 106, 108, 116, 125