Brandon Monument — Airghleann

This record is for the possible original location of this stone which is marked on the OS maps as Brandon Monument. The stone stands in the elevated and exposed gap between Masatiompan and the steep N slopes of Brandon Mountain, and commands a dramatic view to both sides of the mountain range. When first discovered, the stone stood buried in peat to within 2 feet (.6m) of the top (Hitchcock, quoted in Macalister 1945, 140-1). It had fallen by 1937 (Henry 1937, 276), and eventually became buried beneath an accumulation of hillwash and a thin sod cover. It was rediscovered and re-erected in 1982 and again following winter storms in 1995. At that time it was re-erected in a more secure location 4.4m to the NW. Cuppage (1986, no. 790) recorded that local information indicates that the location recorded in 1982 was some 10 to 12m downslope from its original location. The position as indicated here can only be considered as approximate. It is a smooth sandstone pillar measuring 1.9m high, c. 0.36m wide and c. 0.15m thick. Both faces are inscribed with crosses and there appears to have been some dressing of the stone to prepare surfaces for the carvings. One face bears a Maltese cross with a hook-like expansion at the right side of the upper arm; this is a monogram form of the chi-rho symbol. The opposite face bears a Maltese cross within a circle; the lower arm is linked to the circle by a short, straight stem. An ogham inscription has been carved along both edges and across the top of the former face. It reads: QRIMITIR RON(AN)N MA(Q) COMOGANN which can be translated as Ronán the priest son of Comgán. The top right corner is damaged and the AN recorded by Macalister is unclear as is the Q lower down the same edge. Otherwise the scores are clearly legible. A plinth-like step at the base of the stone suggested to Macalister that a slab had been detached to remove an earlier pagan inscription. A 2nd slab (KE025-002002-), now missing, bore the letters M:C 16 June (Windele 1848, 490) or MG 16 IVNE (Hitchcock). On the opposite side were some rude ogham scores. Curran (no.1) recorded the discovery of a 3rd stone embedded in the turf bank. This was a flat stone, about 2.5cm thick, with a circular groove, about .45m in diameter, carved on one face. The outlying portion of the stone had been removed from about half the circumference as if it had been intended to shape it into a circular disc. This has not been located. It has been suggested that the track leading up to the stone from Tiduff village may be an old pilgrims' path and that the stone itself may have been associated with the pilgrimage to Mount Brandon (Harbison, forthcoming). The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 790. In this instance the entry has been revised and updated. This stone has been studied as part of the ‘Ogham in 3D’ project undertaken by the School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. To access details go to the following website: https://ogham.celt.dias.ie/search.php?ciic=145 Revised by: Paul Walsh Revised date of upload: 31 December 2014