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CIIC 263. Ardmore I, Co. Waterford

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© Nora White 2011-12-22

Transliteration

LUGUDECCAS MAQỊ/  ̣  ̣ ?   ̣  ̣MU]/COI NETA-SEGAMONAS/ DOLATI BIGAISGOB...

Translation

'of Luguid son of ...? descendant of Nad-Segamon'

Commentary

The personal name LUGUDECCAS is a compound of LUG and DECAS (*dek- 'best of/through Lug (uel sim.)' (McCone 1996, 119) or possibly with E reflecting lowered *i, *dik 'pointing out Lug (uel sim.)' (Stifter 2011, 24). This name displays a pre-apocope -as ending (i.e. probably pre-6th century, cf. Later spellings in 286. Kilgrovan, Waterford (LUGUDECA), 4 Kilmannin, Mayo (LUGUDEC) and 108. Kilcullen South, Cork (LUGUDUC for -DEC?) [-DECAS > -DECA > -DEC] (McManus 1991, 103, 116). In this occurrence of the name we also have an example of 'apparantly meaningless' doubling of consonants with CC rather than a single C elsewhere (McManus 1991, 124-5).

The kindred or sept name NETA-SEGAMONAS consists of the element Nad- 'sister's son, champion' and a personal name Segamon (McManus 1991, 109-10, 112). One theory is that this may be the Gaulish name Segomo (McManus 1991, 179 n. 46). It is noteworthy that a Nia Segamon is listed in the historical sources as a prehistoric king of Cashel and that his 'supposed grandson, Lugaid Luaigni, is also listed as a prehistoric king of Munster and Ireland' (Bhreathnach 2014, 43-4). It may be that this inscription commemorates this important king. The fact that MUCOI NETA-SEGAMONAS 'descendant of Nad-Segamon' is also found on an ogham stone at nearby Island (CIIC. 300) and possibly also Knockboy (CIIC. 292) may suggest that this was a dynasty which controlled the area of west Waterford in the 5th century.

Macalister's (1945, 260) interpretation of this inscription as bearing the equivalent of vici episcopus (BIGA ISGOB) is 'extremely doubtful' (McManus 1991, 61).

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