Cloonmorris Ogham stone facts for kids
The Cloonmorris Ogham Stone is a very old stone monument. You can find it at Saint Michael's Church, Bornacoola in County Leitrim, Ireland. It's special because it has ancient writing carved into it called Ogham.
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What is the Cloonmorris Ogham Stone?
This stone is the only one with Ogham writing found in County Leitrim. Experts first looked at it in 1909. Back then, it marked a family burial spot near the old Cloonmorris church ruins.
How Old is the Stone?
The Cloonmorris Ogham Stone is about 0.85 meters long. It was made a very long time ago, between the years 400 and 550 AD. This means it's over 1,500 years old! It also seems to have a connection to early churches.
Reading the Ancient Writing
The writing on the stone is a bit hard to read because it's worn away. The inscription might say something like "QENUVEN". Scholars have tried to figure out the full name or message. One idea is that it could be a memorial for someone named Qenuvin-dagnas.
A Name Across Lands
Interestingly, a similar name, Qennovindagni, is found on an old stone in Wales. This suggests that the person might have been from Ireland, even though the stone is in Wales. There were also saints in Ireland named "Ceanannan" or "Cenannán". One famous saint, Sinchell the Elder, was even said to be the son of a "Ceanannan".
Where is the Stone Now?
The Cloonmorris Ogham Stone is located very close to the border between Longford and Leitrim counties. This area was once part of an ancient territory called Conmhaícne. In 1978, the stone was moved. It was placed on a stand near the churchyard entrance. However, when it was moved, it was accidentally put in upside down!
