The stone was discovered in the same cave as {12}, "in the roof of a small branch passage, on the right-hand side of a visitor entering the cave" (thus Macalister, CIIC); this is the "eastern passage, marked B" on the woodcut describing the site in Ferguson, PRIA 9, 1867, fig. 1). Cf. {12} for more details and picture materials concerning the site.
The stone was "raised, and turned on its side" when visited by Ferguson (30.9.1864), so that "four of the characters and part of the fifth", which "were hidden under the face of the stone .. were, for the first time since the construction of the cave, offered to human observation"; "both these lintels may have been monumental pillar-stones, brought not improbably from the adjoining cemetery of Relig-na-Ree."
The present stone could not be identified when the cave was visited in 1978 and in 1996; most probably, this is due to the fact that the right-hand branch has filled up with mud.
Published illustrations:
- Ferguson, PRIA 9, 1867, 169 (sketch of the inscription);
- Macalister, CIIC (sketch).
QRAGUISMU
A "curved character occurring near the end of the group" is taken as the forfid -UI- here. "The writer is not aware at present of any corresponding proper name". For the initial cluster, Ferguson refers to QRITTALEGI QRITUMAH as appearing on one "of the inscribed stones in the Academy's collection .., No. 5" {142: Ballineanig}.
QRAGUISMU/F
Qraguismu / Qraguismf
The inscription "exhibits an example of one of the subsidiary group of diphthongal forms", i.e., the forfids. - "Probably Qragui may detach itself as a proper name, and the rest of the legend remain to be regarded as a siglum or monogram not yet interpretable".
The stone is not included in Macalister, Epig.
QREGAS MU[...
The vowel notches are "almost completely effaced". The top was probably mutilated by the souterrain builders.
QREGAS MU[...
At the destroyed end, MU[COI] may be reconstructed.
There is no new reading available yet.
For further references cf. no. {12.}
Last changes of this record: 15.04.97
Copyright Jost Gippert, Frankfurt a/M 1996. No parts of this document may be republished in any form without prior permission by the copyright holder. 