'On a gentle SW-facing slope. Circular grass-covered area with mature deciduous trees (diam. 55m E-W; 54m N-S) defined by an earthen bank ... [Two] standing stones (RO015-051001-; RO015-051003-) are inside the perimeter at SW, the first with an ogham inscription. In 1985 a second ogham stone (RO015-051004-) was discovered in the bank that became dislodged and is now lying on top of the bank at SW' (NMS Survey database).

Monument

Sandstone (SMR file), 1.09m x 0.41m x 0.51m (converted from Macalister 1945, 16).

Text

'The V is faint and there is a fracture at the end of the inscription, but it seems to be complete' (Macalister 1945, 16). Gippert remarks that 'by 1996, the angle seems to have suffered more levelling so that the B-strokes of the N have become even harder to trace. Of Macalister's reading, neither the medial O nor his V could be ascertained'

Transliteration

CUṆ[OV]ATO

Translation

Commentary

This is one of the inscriptions listed by McManus (1991, 94-5) in which apocope (loss of final consonants or syllables) begins to show itself (CUNOVATO (earlier -os). 'The final S has been dropped but lowering has not taken place in the first syllable'. On this basis it may be dated to the first half of the sixth century (McManus 1991, 97, 176 note 40). However, although Macalister (1945, 16) notes that the inscription 'seems to be complete', an original CUNOVATOS is possible considering that the end of the stone is fractured. This would make the estimated date even earlier.

Locations

Found

Discovered in the rath/ringfort sometime before 1914 (first mention) in the townland of Drummin and barony of Castlereagh. (GPS coordinates -8.369881, 53.834383)