Measuring just 32 centimetres long and 15 centimetres high, this modest piece bears the carved symbols of a mallet and chisel, the traditional marks of a stonemason’s trade. Below these tools runs a weathered inscription in Irish, though time has taken its toll on the lettering.

What remains of the inscription tells us that someone named O’Dubdagan created this stone for a certain Domnall O R, though the fragmentary nature of the text leaves the full story incomplete. The surname at the end has been partially lost, and scholars have puzzled over whether this might refer to a local patron or perhaps someone of greater significance. R.A.S. Macalister, who catalogued the inscription in 1949, provided the translation we rely on today, noting the formulaic nature of such dedications in medieval Ireland.

The stone forms part of Clonca church, which holds National Monument status as number 25 in the register. This classification recognises the site’s archaeological and historical importance, protecting it for future generations. The church itself dates from different periods, with various additions and modifications over the centuries, and this small inscribed stone represents just one chapter in its long history; a personal monument to craftsmanship and commemoration built directly into the fabric of the sacred building.