Ogham stone in Aghaleague

In pasture, located in damp, flat lowlying ground on the W side of a stream valley. The N-flowing stream is located 40m to E of the stone. Immediately to W of the stone, ground rises gradually at first, and then more abruptly to the heather-covered summit of a hill. There are good views northwards along the course of the stream and along the slopes of the ridge which define the opposite, E side of the valley. Rising ground and a plantation of mature conifers restrict views at S−SW. Not indicated on any edition of the OS 6-inch maps. An upright sandstone slab (H 1.9m; Wth 2.2m NE−SW at base; T 0.1-15m) of relatively uniform thickness, with a roughly triangular-shaped profile along its NE−SW long axis, bearing an ogham inscription on the narrow SW face of the stone. The stone leans markedly to NW: the current height of the stone (i.e. vertical drop from top to the ground surface) is 1.9m, however, if the stone were fully vertical, its height would be c. 2.3m. Viewed broad-side on, the stone resembles a right-angled triangle, with a broad base (2.2m) tapering to a narrow, somewhat angular top (Wth c. 0.7m). The apex of the top forms a small peak above the straight SW side of the stone, and from there the top slopes down, merging seamlessly with the slanting, narrow NE side, which has an undulating surface. The broad NW face has a flat, smooth surface, the upper third of which is obscured by lichen. The broad SE face, almost entirely covered by lichen, has a somewhat rougher surface, on which are evident a number of shallow, linear grooves and indentations, and several small, shallow, circular depressions (diam. 2-6cm), all of which appear to be natural features. The SW end of the stone presents a narrow, vertical relatively flat face (T 0.1-0.12m), which bears the ogham inscription. The broad grooves (H 2-2.5cm; D 0.5-1cm) and notches are weathered and largely lichen-covered. They are scored across the flat face and the corner angles, and are clearly visible on the upper 0.7-0.8m of the SW face. The original full extent of the inscription is unclear. The middle section (L 0.5m) of the SW face presents a smooth, almost polished surface, probably the result of farm stock using this side of the stone as a scratching post; part of the inscription may have been obliterated here. A single horizontal groove, which may be an ogham score, is visible at the lower end of this smooth section. The lowest 0.6-0.8m of the SW face has a rough surface, split by a natural vertical fissure; there are a number of slight indentations here but it is unclear if any represent remnants of ogham script. A number of small stones protrude from the sod at the base of the stone, particularly on the NW side, and there is a slight depression encircling the base, caused by farm stock. (Jane O’Shaughnessy, field report) The inscription was read by Macalister (1945, 12, no. 9) as: MAQ-ACTO MAQ GAR..., which may have once been followed by the MAQI MUCOI formula, but there is no evidence for this. Compiled by: Nora White Date of upload: 12 September 2017