Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Inscribed stone
Church Island, County Sligo, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Church Island
- County
- Sligo
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 54.25350, -8.38673
- SMR number
- SL015-096004-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1790 "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Built into the inner frame of the doorway of a church (SL015-096001-). This inscribed stone was first described by Wood-Martin (1882, preface xiv) as follows: ‘The stone, rough and uneven in shape, measures eighteen inches [0.45m] by seven inches [0.17m], and is built into the wall in the inner side of the entrance door of the church.’ He sent a cast of the stone to Sir S. Ferguson who pronounced that inscription was in ogham characters, placed on the flat of the stone rather than as is usual along the edge or angles. Fennell (1904, 169) published a sketch of the inscription, and noted that ‘It has been regarded as an ogham, and again, as Roman numerals written in church text.’ The inscription does not appear to be ogham. Its exact nature, however, has not been established or its meaning deciphered.
Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy
Date of upload: 30 September 2020
References
Fennell, W.J. 1904 Church Island, or Inismore, Lough Gill. Ulster Journal of Archaeology 10, 166-169.
Wood-Martin, W.G. 1882 History of Sligo, county and town, from the earliest ages to the close of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Dublin. Hodges Figgis and Co.
Nearby in the register
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
- Ritual site - holy/saint's stoneunder 1 mi
- Enclosureunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.