Dunloe Ogham Stones, Archaeological collection of Celtic stones near Beaufort, Ireland
Dunloe Ogham Stones is a collection of at least eight standing stones with carved inscriptions positioned along the road leading from the Gap of Dunloe toward Beaufort. Each stone bears Ogham patterns, an early Irish script dating from around the 5th century.
Most of the stones were discovered in 1838 during construction work near Dunloe Castle, with seven found inside an underground chamber. This discovery helped researchers understand how early Irish communities incorporated memorials into their landscape.
The stones display Ogham script, Ireland's earliest writing system, with inscriptions marking family connections and honoring members of the Tóecraige tribe. This ancient script was how early Irish people recorded their lineage and important individuals in stone.
The stones sit along the road to the Gap of Dunloe south of Beaufort and are fairly easy to reach when visiting the valley. The site is open to the public, but weather in this hilly area can change quickly, so visitors should be prepared for rain.
One central stone originally came from Kilbonane Church and bears the inscription CUNACENA, meaning dog-head in ancient Celtic language. This unusual carving provides rare insight into the personal names and nicknames that early Irish people used.
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