The souterrain (CO122-049002-) is located in the northern half of one (CO122-049001-) of six known ringforts in the townland, at least three of which contain souterrains. Brash (1879, 145-8) describes earth-cut chambers and passages with a stone-built entrance passage (L 3.9m; W 1.2m; max. H 1m) roofed with seven lintels. Ogham inscriptions were found on two lintels and a support stone near the entrance.

Monument

1 of 3 Ogam stones re-used in the construction of a souterrain - support stone, 0.97m x 0.3m x 0.13m (converted from Macalister 1945, 75).

Text

Inscribed on one angle, up. 'The last word is worn and flaked away except the first two letters... The first two scores of the N have been made with a slope under the influence of the preceding G... The scores are fine and minute, becoming more so in the latter part of the inscription.' (Macalister 1945, 75). 'Of Macalister's GA-, there are hardly any traces visible at all' (Gippert 2001, 71). While the G is in fact clear, the A is not. Regarding MOCOI, at most 6 notches are discernible after a damaged C, rather than 7 required for OI.

Transliteration

COỊMAGNI MAQI MOCỌỊ G[ ̣ ̣ ? ̣ ̣]

Translation

'of Cóemán son of the descendant of G?'

Commentary

Case ending in tact but vowel affection present: 'the U of MUCOI has been lowered to O'. This indicates a date of approximately the end of the 5th century (McManus 1991, 94, 97)
Cóem 'dear, precious' and diminutive suffix -agni (>-an(n)), cp. 166. Ballinvoher, Kerry (COIMAGNI MAQI VITALIN).

Locations

Found

Support stone in a souterrain in the townland of Ahalisky, barony of East Carbery. The original location of this stone may be accessed via the National Monuments Service Historic Environment viewer on www.archaeology.ie. (GPS coordinates -8.847020, 51.681206)

Original

Unknown

Last recorded

National Museum of Ireland (NMI Ref. 1927:3), 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)

History of Recording

Discovered by Brash 1868. All three stones were 'taken out of the cave sometime toward the end of the nineteenth century, by the proprietor, the late Mr. R. Bence Jones, and placed on a rockery in his garden: but afterwards acquired from him by the Royal Irish Academy' (Macalister 1945, 73).