It is not particularly large, measuring 1.8 metres long by 0.68 metres wide, but its decoration is distinctive enough to reward a close look: two sets of three concentric circles, joined by a central band divided into three sections by transverse lines, a cup mark pressed into the centre of one of the circle sets, radiating lines at the undamaged end, and five semi-circular loops running along each edge.

The slab belongs to a category known as Rathdown-type slabs, a grouping of decorated grave markers found predominantly in the coastal and upland areas of south County Dublin and north County Wicklow. The type is named for the medieval territory of Rathdown, and the slabs are generally associated with the early medieval to medieval period, though the precise dating of individual examples remains a matter of scholarly discussion. The geometric decoration, particularly the use of concentric circles and cup marks, has older resonances, sometimes compared to prehistoric rock art traditions, though in this context the slabs functioned as Christian grave markers. This particular example was documented by Ó hEailidhe in 1957 and has since been secured to the external face of the south wall of Rathmichael church, close to the south-west angle of the structure.

Rathmichael church ruins are accessible on foot, set into the hillside landscape of Carrickgollogan. The slab is fixed in place against the exterior of the south wall, so it can be examined without entering any enclosed space. The carved surface faces outward, and the detail of the loops along the edges and the concentric circles becomes clearer once your eyes adjust to the texture of the stone. Lichen and weathering have softened the surface somewhat, so low-angled light in the morning or late afternoon makes the carved lines easier to read. For those who want to examine the decoration in detail before or after a visit, a three-dimensional digital model of the stone is available at skfb.ly/oHrsS.