Ogham Stone — Ballybeg (costello By.)

In pasture, located on a broad level terrace on the SSW-facing slope of a ridge. The terrace is backed by gently rising ground which blocks views NNW−E. To S of the stone, the ridge slope falls steeply, giving extensive views SE−W across a broad valley, surrounded by rolling grassland. On the far side of the valley to SSW, the horizon is defined by a high ridge, Kiltullagh Hill, on the summit of which a standing stone (RO032-001001-) is visible, and to E of that a church (RO032-002001-). Both the ogham stone and the standing stone are located close to the Mayo/Roscommon border which follows a roughly NE−SW zig-zag path through the landscape. Upright pillar-like block of stone (H 2.2m), roughly rectangular in profile, tapering from a broad squarish base (0.57m N−S; 0.5m E−W) to a narrow rectangular top (0.37 N−S; 0.22 E−W), with an ogham inscription scored across the SE angle. The tapering of the stone is more pronounced along the E−W axis, and is more marked above a slight natural kink or shoulder, which occurs c. 0.65m below the top of the stone. Although the stone stands more or less vertical, the kink/shoulder is biased to S, and produces the impression of a gentle tilt in that direction. The top surface of the stone rises slightly to S, and appears to have a naturally ridged or irregular surface, but the stone is too high for this to be examined closely. The ogham inscription is clearly visible between c. 0.65m to c. 1.5m above the ground level, cut across the sharply right-angled SE corner. The scores are large, broad and regularly spaced. However, sections of the inscription appear to have been damaged by flaking or abrasion of the stone surface, and in parts the sharpness of the corner has been somewhat rounded by use of the stone as a scratching post by farm stock. The uppermost 0.65m portion of the SE angle has a rough and irregular, lichen-covered surface, and a poorly defined angle: it is unclear if this surface has been damaged, or perhaps was never inscribed. A shallow depression, eroded by farm stock encircles the base of the stone. Lichen grows on the stone surface in parts, but the inscription is largely lichen-free. It was read by Macalister (1945, 8-9, no.6) as: QASIGN[I] MAQ[I]. An account of the stone in 1900 (JRSAI 30, 164, ‘Miscellanea –The Tullaghane ogham stone, Co. Mayo’) records that ‘the stone had fallen from its erect position, and had lain on the ground until it was re-erected in the year 1861’, and ‘a large chip seems to have been knocked off the incised angle near the bottom…’. (Jane O’Shaughnessy, NMS, field report) Compiled by: Nora White Date of upload: 11 October 2017