Souterrain in Whitefield

Four ogham stones were displayed by the Macgillycuddy of the Reeks at the Dublin Exhibition in 1853. At least two of these, (1) and (2), were discovered in a souterrain in this townland (Macalister 1945, 208). The souterrain, not marked on the OS maps, is locally reputed to have been located on the NW side of Baunclune House, but no surface trace of it remains. The ogham stones are now in NMI (W9-12; W9 in KCM, LI992:31). (1) This regular slab measures at least 1.14m in height and .28m x .14m at base. Its deeply carved inscription is evenly spaced along the dexter angle and across its top. Macalister (1945, 209) read this as: ALATTO CELI BATTIGNI The N is erroneously depicted as a Q. (2) This pillar-shaped stone is at least 1.4m high and measures .3m x .16m at base. Macalister (1945, 209) read the deeply cut inscription as: GOSOCTEAS MOSAC MAKINI The K is represented by a forfid but would be more meaningful as a P. (3) This pillar, now broken on top, measures at least 1.16m in height and is .2m x .2m at base. The inscription is neatly executed on two angles, reading up-up. Macalister (1945, 211) read it as: NOCATI MAQI MAQI-REC[. . . .]MAQI MUCOI UDDAMI There is a roughly cut cross on each face of the stone. (4) This stone stands at least 1.06m high and is trapezoidal in section, measuring .26m x .23m. The inscription is executed in broad, deep scores along both angles. The dexter angle is badly damaged and Macalister (1945, 212) interpreted the remaining scores as: L[A]G[O]BB[. . . . The inscription on the second angle is poorly executed and reads: MUCO-TUCACAC The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 908. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 29 July 2013