Ogham stone

The National Monuments Service's description

There are two stones with ogham inscriptions in the passage of Tomb 1C East and three similar inscriptions (ME019-030091-) in the passage of Tomb 1C West at Knowth. The ogham is a scholastic exercise and depicted with a central incised stem rather than using the arris or angle of an upright stone. Orthostat 56 in the E chamber has an inscription which could have many interpretations but with abbreviations the most likely is: OMA TALLURG MO MENMAM - the cave (úama) of Tallurg, of the tribe of Menman. Variations of Tolarg as a personal name occur amongst the Pictish kings in the seventh and eight centuries, and one half-king of south Brega bore the name in the ninth century. Menma is attested in a tenth century genealogy of the Ciannachta.
A second ogham inscription is lightly incised on corbel 41 in the S recess of the E chamber. It can have various interpretations but the most likely is: BREQAI, which is almost identical to an ogham inscription (No. 3) in the W tomb. It is a version of Breccán, a proper name and an eponym of the church of Ardbraccan (ME025-022----).

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload; 21 September 2020

References

Byrne, F. J. 2008 Chapter 1, Appendix 1.2 The inscriptions in the main passage tomb at Knowth. In Byrne et al. 2008, 89-120.

Byrne, F. J., Jenkins, W., Kenny, G., and C. Swift. 2008 Excavations at Knowth 4: Historical Knowth and its Hinterland. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy