Emlagh East Ogham Stone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emlagh Ogham Stone |
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| Native name Irish: Cloch Oghaim Imleach Dhún Séann |
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| Type | ogham stone |
| Location | Emlagh East, Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland |
| Elevation | Sea level |
| Height | 2.39 m (7 ft 10 in) |
| Built | c. 400–470 AD |
| Owner | Office of Public Works |
| Official name: Emlagh East Ogham Stone | |
| Reference no. | 221.46 |
The Emlagh East Ogham Stone is a very old stone with special carvings. It's also known as the Priest's Stone (Cloch an tSagairt in Irish). This stone is an ogham stone, which means it has ancient Irish writing on it. It's also a National Monument, which means it's a protected historical site in County Kerry, Ireland.
Contents
What is the Emlagh Ogham Stone?
The Emlagh Ogham Stone is a tall, narrow stone. It stands over 2 meters (about 7.8 feet) high. It's made from a type of rock called grit. The most important part of the stone is the unique writing carved into its edge. This writing is called Ogham.
Where can you find this ancient stone?
You can find the Emlagh East Ogham Stone in a place called Emlagh East. It's located at the southern end of Short Strand. This area is close to a spot known as Doonshean in County Kerry, Ireland.
How old is the Emlagh Ogham Stone?
This stone is incredibly old! It was first put up around 400 to 470 AD. That means it's about 1,600 years old. It was placed there to mark a grave. The writing on it is in a very early form of the Irish language called Primitive Irish.
The stone's journey over time
The Emlagh Ogham Stone didn't always sit in its exact spot. It used to stand in a field near the beach at Trabeg. People knew about it as far back as 1702. For a short time around 1849, it was moved to a place called Chute Hall. Now, it rests on a concrete base very close to where it originally stood.
What was near the stone long ago?
Close to the Ogham stone, there's another flat stone. It's called Lackshivaunnageelagh. This name means "flagstone of Siobhán of the captives." People also believe there was an old church nearby on the strand. There's even proof that a graveyard was found in the area.
What does the Ogham writing say?
The Ogham writing on the stone looks like a series of lines and notches. It reads: ᚛ᚁᚏᚒᚄᚉᚉᚑᚄᚋᚐᚊᚊᚔᚉᚐᚂᚔᚐᚉᚔ᚜. In our alphabet, this translates to "BRUSCCOS MAQQI CALIACỊ". This means "of Bruscus son of Cailech." So, the stone tells us about a person named Bruscus and his father, Cailech.
Who were Bruscus and Cailech?
The name Bruscus might mean "thunder." This name also appears on another Ogham stone found about 140 kilometers (87 miles) to the east. The name Cailech is found in old family records of a group of people called the Corcu Duibne. They were an important group in ancient Ireland.
The cross on the stone
There's also a cross carved into the stone. It's not clear if the cross was put there before or after the Ogham writing. This adds a bit of mystery to the stone's history!
