Ireland I-COR-002 CIIC 56

Ráth an Tóiteáin | Burnfort (I-COR-002)

Inscription

SAGITTARI

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

Stone ID
I-COR-002
CIIC Ref.
56
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: Discovered by Cork antiquarians, J. Windele and A. Abell, in a souterrain (SMR ID: CO042-052002-) of a ringfort (SMR ID: CO042-052001-) called Ráth an Tóiteáin (‘Fort of the Burning’), which gave the townland its name. The Greenhill ogham stones (I-COR-003 and I-COR-004) are c. 900m to NW (Power et al. 1997, no. 7956). This ogham stone was deposited in the museum of the Royal Cork Institution in 1835.

Findspot: Burnfort (Ráth an Tóiteáin), Co. Cork, Ireland (ITM Coordinates: 559024, 591294)

Last recorded location(s): Subsequently lost from Museum of the Royal Cork Institution, probably when the Institution building was replaced by the Athenaeum in 1853 (Macalister 1945, 61).

Support

National Monuments Service SMR ID: CO042-052003-

Object type: Pillar

Material: Slate

Dimensions: H 1.67 × W 0.48 × D 0.20 m

Condition: An ogham stone reused in a souterrain and now lost.

Inscription

Text field: Windele (1850, 143) states ‘The lettering is on the angle…The inscription commences two feet eleven inches (88cm) above the supposed base, and ends within eight inches (20cm) of the other extremity of the stone’.

Letters: The execution technique is unknown. Windele (1850, 143) states: ‘The longest score is two and a-half inches (63mm) long, the shortest one inch (25.4mm)’.

Edition

Ogham text: ᚄᚐᚌᚔᚈᚈᚐᚏᚔ

Transcription: SAGITTARI

Commentary

The interpretation of this inscription was the subject of much debate in the 19th century (Macalister 1945, 61). Windele (1850, 142-145) included this inscription as an example in his publication on the controversy over ogham inscriptions being pagan or christian.

References

  • Macalister 1945, 61
  • Oldham 1844, 516
  • Power, Byrne, Egan, Lane, and Sleeman 1997, no. 7956
  • Windele 1850, 142-145
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Plan Your Visit

Visiting the Ráth an Tóiteáin | Burnfort (I-COR-002) Ogham Stone

The Ráth an Tóiteáin | Burnfort (I-COR-002) 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.

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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.

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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.

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Where to Stay

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