Drummin

Ogham Stone, Stone Pair, Rath

since I was in the vicinity I decided to visit the ogham stone here at Drummin. It turned out to be one of the most intriguing sites I have visited lately. There is what appears to be a stone pair standing within the SW perimeter of a large ringfort. One of the stones appears to have been white washed, a practice that is not uncommon throughout Ireland. The white washed is the ogham stone, pictured below, it measures 1.05m H x 0.45m W x 0.5m thick. Owing to damage to the stone the inscription has proved to be quite difficult to read - some suggestions are CUNAVATO or CUVEATA. The second stone of the pair stands 1.5 metres south of the ogham stone. It too measures 1.05m in height by 0.6m wide and only 0.25m thick. The ringfort is about 55 metres in diameter and has a deep fosse and outer bank.

The outer bank at the SW now forms a field wall. Immediately below the pair of stones, outside the field wall, is a third possible standing stone lying prostrate. It is thought to have fallen from the bank. I wondered whether it was part of the entrance, forming a step in the bank leading into the ringfort, similar to the large stones at the monastic enclosure surrounding St Mella's Cell. The landowner led me to another stone he found in one of his fields, it looks like a font or stoup. A great site to visit with lots of mystery.

The Ogham Stone

Looking along the Fosse

Possible font at the gateway.