Possibly originated from Kilbarrymeaden early ecclesiastical site in the neighbouring townland, consisting of a church (in ruins) within a small rectangular graveyard and a double bullaun and well nearby (Moore 1999, 177).

Monument

Grit, 1.17m x 0.27m x 0.14m (converted from Macalister 1945, 280).

Text

'inscribed on two angles (up-up)' (Macalister 1945, 280). Only faint traces of the T and R of ATAR are visible on the 3D model. The vowels are unclear.

Transliteration

BIVODON MUCOI ẠTẠR

Translation

'of Béoáed descendant of ?'

Commentary

In this inscription the endings of the names are gone (BIVODON-AS, ATAR-I/AS), which may suggest a date in the middle or second half of the sixth century (McManus 1991, 95, 97).
The personal name BIVODON (ModIr. Béoáed) contains the elements BIV- 'alive' and, one of the most frequently occurring elements in final position, -AIDONAS 'fire' (McManus 1991, 103, 105). The spelling -ODON, instead of -AIDON (cf. CIIC 504 BIVAIDONAS) may be due to 'rounding of the first element of a diphthong or a reduction of AI to /ә/' (McManus 1991, 118).
MUCOI ATAR is an example of an unidentified tribal name (McManus 1991, 112).

Locations

Found

Found on farmland in 1874(?) (Barry 1896, 129) in Kilbeg townland in the barony of Decies without Drum. Precise location unknown.

Original

GPS coordinates of possible original location National Monuments Service Historic Environment viewer on www.archaeology.ie-7.323246,52.165161

Last Recorded

National Museum of Ireland (NMI Ref. RSAI - ), Dublin. The present location of this stone may be accessed via the National Monuments Service Historic Environment viewer on www.archaeology.ie. (GPS coordinates -6.254558,53.340408)