CIIC no. 069

Location and history:

According to Brash, OIM 145, and Macalister, CIIC, a total of three stones were found in a souterrain on the townland of Ahalisky, parish Kilmalooda, two of which (including the present one) were used as lintels, "the third as a prop". Brash states (ib.) that there are five "fine raths" on the townland; the present one "is in a green field close to the public road, and about one furlong from Curravallaheen Cross-Roads" (Brash describes the rath in great detail). The townland is spelt "Aghaliskey" in Brash, OIM and JRSAI 10, 1869, 438. The name was interpreted as "Agha-Lusca, the Cave-Field, from the number of raths on it" by Brash (OIM, 148) who quotes "Agha-Loscadh, i.e. the Field of the Fires" as another interpretation proposed by (Z.) Hawkes. Brash (ib.) gives a detailed survey of the environment, reporting that "the tradition of the country states, that here the ancient kings of Carbery were buried". There is "certainly no church or Christian edifice" but a "Keel or pagan burial-ground"; "the old pagan cemetery was plundered of its monuments by the rath-builders .. What an antiquity this fact suggests for the Ogham!" Near the site, there is also "the celebrated stone circle of Temple Brien" and other prehistoric findings. - Aghaliskey was accordingly listed by Brash, JRSAI 10, 1869, 128 in his inventory of Ogham inscriptions that were found near "pagan killeens".

According to Brash, OIM, 145 and JRSAI 10, 1869, 438, the first two stones were discovered in 1841 by Zachariah Hawkes of Monees and (J.) Windele, the third one by Brash himself during a visit to the site (together with Robt. Day, of Cork, and Z. Hawkes) on April 16, 1868. Windele published the discovery in the Cork Examiner of Jan. 18, 1842, and a first "rendering of the principal inscription" by "Rev. Mathew Horgan, of Blarney" appeared (in the same newspaper?) on June 25, 1849. According to Macalister (CIIC I, 73, n.1), the discovery was (after that?) claimed by one "Mr. Caulfield, of Cork" in a letter to the RIA.

The stones were moved to the garden of on Mr. R. Bence Jones "of Lisalan, Clonakilty" by the end of the 19th century (before the publication of Macalister's Epig., vol. 3), afterwards to the RIA collection; now they are in the Dublin N.M. (Macalister, CIIC).

The present stone was the fourth out of the seven "roofing-slabs on the cave" (Macalister, CIIC), counting from the entrance (Brash, OIM).

Size according to Macalister, CIIC: 4'5" x 1'2" x 0'9 1/2".

Published illustrations:

Macalister, Epig. 3, 55 ( inscription only)

Macalister, CIIC 1, 74 ( draft).

Size according to Brash, OIM 145-6: 6' x 1'4" x 9"

Length according to Macalister, Epig. 3, 55: 5'10"

Size according to Macalister, CIIC: 4'5" x 1'2" x 0'9 1/2"

Reading Brash, OIM 146:

ᚌᚔᚏᚑᚌᚅᚊ

GIROGNQ

The O "is rather doubtful". The inscription might have been much longer originally. - This is a proper name "Girogan", "probably a primitive form of Cerrigan, carrigan, or Corrigan, .. the C and G being used interchangeably in old Irish, and the vowels equally so". - Brash's reading is quoted by Ferguson, OI, 100 (158.) who states that "analogy would lead us to expect i instead of q".

Reading Macalister, Epig. 3, 55 (138.):

ᚌᚔᚏᚐᚌᚅᚔ

GIRAGNI

"After the r there is only one point, not two, as Brash gives .. The final i consists of rather long scores, not of notches", thus explaining Brash's reading a Q. - The name Giragnos appears as Geran, "the name if an abbot of Saighir, who died in 868, according to the Four Masters".

Reading Macalister, CIIC:

GIRAGNI

"The notches of the final I are rather long", reminding of a Q. As against Brash, there is no O but an A."

Reading McManus, Guide 65:

GIRAGNI

Reading Gippert (1988):

Dexter angle up:

GIRAGNI

ᚌᚔᚏᚐᚌᚅᚔ

ᚋᚋᚐᚐᚐᚐᚐᚐᚋᚋᚁᚁᚁᚁᚁᚐᚐᚐᚐᚐ

Additional literature:

Cork Examiner, 18.1.1842: Windele

Cork Examiner, 25.6.1849: M. Horgan

PRIA 4, 1849, 387: Caulfield.

End of output