Inscribed slab

The National Monuments Service's description

Part of exhibition display, Visitor Centre (30 August 2005). According to Macalister (1949, 84-5) `The stone was found in digging a grave and the remaining portion is said to still be in the ground...[the other portion] is now clamped against the inner face of the north wall of the Cathedral chancel'. The slab was described by Macalister (1949, 84) as `it has a panel of floral work in the middle flanked by two others, apparently quite plain: but that on the sinister side has the sadly abraded inscription'. The inscription on this slab was read by Macalister (1949, 84-86) as ‘[{A}{W}]{*}:ORDOMUIRCHER[TAC] HUCHATHAL[A][I][N] | CUSDOGUT{N}OD{A}R:{A}{W}:I:DOTHIGERNAUFOG[ARTAIG] which he expanded into {AW} *: OR DO MUIRCHERTACH U CHATHALAIN OCUS DO GUTNODAR, {AW} :I: DO THIGERNA U FOGARTAIG’. According to Macalister 91949, 86) this may be the same `Muirchertach ua Cathalain, lord of Ui Fogartaig, who was slain in the great battle of Móin Mór in 1151, according to the Four Masters'.
Described by Leask (1950, 43-4) as ‘part of a rectangular slab, 2 feet 10 inches [0.86m] wide and, now, 3 feet 9 inches [1.14m] long. A broad band of scroll foliage branching from a stem (that of a cross?) fills the centre of a panel; on each side are undecorated spaces in one of which a much worn inscription, which is now obliterated, was discerned many,years ago. It read "Or do Muirchertach U Chatala(n) ocus do gutnodar aw. i. Thigerna U Fag…". While Guthnodar is unknown, Muirchertach Ua Cathalan, lord of Ui Fogartaig, was a notable person slain at the battle of Moin-mor, in 1151’.

See attached screenshots of 3D model of inscribed slab created by The Discovery Programme. 3D model can be accessed at the following website: https://skfb.ly/ALLC

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 10 December 2012

See linked image with drawing from Macalister, R. A. S. 1949 Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum Vol. II. Dublin: Stationery Office.

References

Leask, H.G. 1950 Glendalough, Co. Wicklow: national monuments vested in the Commissioners of Public Works. Dublin. Stationery Office.

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