Emlagh East Ogham Stone

This stone was erected as a grave marker, with inscription in Primitive Irish, some time in c. AD 400–470, making it contemporary with Saint Patrick.^[7] Nearby is a flat stone named Lackshivaunnageelagh (Leac Shiobhán na nGeimhleach, "flagstone of Siobhán of the captives"), and there is a tradition of an old church at the strand and evidence for a graveyard found nearby.^[8] It originally stood in a field near the strand at Trabeg and was noted by Edward Lluyd in 1702; it was moved temporarily to Chute Hall about 1849 and now lies on a concrete base near its original location.^[9][10][11] A translation of the text was published by the Royal Irish Academy in 1879.^[12]

The stone is grit, 239 × 61 × 28 cm. The inscription reads ᚛ᚁᚏᚒᚄᚉᚉᚑᚄᚋᚐᚊᚊᚔᚉᚐᚂᚔᚐᚉᚔ᚜ BRUSCCOS MAQQI CALIACỊ ("of Bruscus son of Cailech").^[13][12]

A cross is carved into the stone; it is not clear if it was put there before or after the inscription. The name Bruscus (perhaps meaning "thunder") also appears on CIIC 64 in Glenawillin, located 140 kilometres (87 mi) to the east. In addition, Bruscus was the name of an ecclesiastic who was contemporary with Saint Patrick.^[13] The name Cailech appears in genealogical accounts of the Corcu Duibne. The inscription is one of the earliest Ogham inscriptions to have no evidence of vowel affection.^[14]