Leacht

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 66. Gallarus Oratory (KE042-071004-) /Sáipéilín Ghallarais is situated on the lower NW slopes of Lateevemore, overlooking the broad crescent of land that surrounds Smerwick Harbour. It stands at the SE side of a large stone-walled enclosure, directly SW of a leacht-type feature at the head of which stands an Early Christian cross-slab with an inscription in half-uncial script.

Leacht (KE042-071002-) and Cross-slab: The cross-slab (KE042-071003-) stands at the E end of a low rectangular mound or bed of stones, including much quartz, which measures 9m E-W x 5m N-S. The slab is 1.1m high and .3m wide. The upper part of its W face is occupied by an equal-armed cross within a circle, the head continuing at least 5cm beyond the circle and the side arms expanding slightly where they meet the circle and projecting slightly beyond it. The ornament beneath this does not form any recognisable pattern. The inscription on the lower part of the stone has been variously interpreted in the past and is now extremely faint. Macalister (1949, 96) gave the reading:

COLUM MAC DINET

The 1st word can still be read but the other two are not clear. MAC is possible but not certain. Dinet is also possible but the 1st letter is barely traceable, the next could be M or IN, the E is clear and the final letter appears to be a C but could possibly be T.

The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 839. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 8 August 2013

References

Macalister, R.A.S. 1949 Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Cuppage, J. 1986 Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne.