BRASH — On an Ogham-inscribed Stone at Kilbonane. 29 



Inscription No. 3. 



This is also on the face of the stone to the right of that last de- 

 scribed, of which it is probably a continuation ; it occupies a space of 

 two feet in length, finishing within ten inches of the top, as follows : 



M i ll 



LAM I TA I DAG N I 



These characters are well cut, evenly spaced, and perfectly preserved 

 and legible. 



Inscription No. 4. 

 The following characters are on the right-hand angle of the monu- 

 ment, commencing at seven inches from the bottom. I had no facility 

 for raising it, to ascertain, beyond doubt, whether there were characters 

 additional to what I have here set forth, as the inscription to me looks 

 incomplete ; my sense of touch, however, could not detect any sup- 

 plementary scores. 



-H"ii m » " +— 



N GO N I 



I have thus endeavoured to lay before the Academy a description 

 of this monument, the most remarkable of its class hitherto made pub- 

 lic. With the exception of the legend on the left-hand angle, the in- 

 tention of which is obvious, I am unable to offer any conjecture as to 

 the nature or object of the inscriptions. If we assume that this stone 

 was the monument of one individual, whose name and patronymic are 

 given on the left angle, we may presume that the other inscriptions 

 contain some particulars as to the person commemorated ; and this may 

 afford some clue to its interpretation. The absence of divisional points, 

 and the probably obsolete forms of language used on these monuments, 

 are no doubt serious obstacles to the investigation. I would, however, 

 especially commend the legends on this stone to the careful examina- 

 tion of our Gaedhelic scholars, believing that in competent hands this 

 Megalithic record may be made to yield up those secrets hidden from 

 us through past ages. 



I would most earnestly press upon the Academy the necessity of 

 taking instant measures for the protection of this valuable monument ; 

 it lies prostrate on the ground in a popular cemetery, trampled over at 

 every interment by the iron-shod brogues of the peasantry, and liable 

 to constant injury and defacement. It is already broken across and may 

 at any time be mutilated beyond repair. I would suggest that applica- 

 tion be made by the Academy in the proper quarter to insure the future 

 preservation of this relic of the past. 



I do not counsel its removal from its present locality, but it should 

 certainly be raised from its prostrate position, and, its parts being 

 united by copper cramps, it might be secured against one of the walls 

 of the old church, which appear to be in a tolerably sound condition. 



R. I. A. PROC. — VOL. II., SER. II., POL. LIT. AND ANTIQ. F 



