Deciphering and demystifying the centuries of fact, fiction and speculation about Ogham, the first written form of Irish, can be an overwhelming task. But let’s start with the basics – Ogham is a writing system of intersecting and perpendicular lines written on a single line called a drium. It was originally written on trees and on stones. Beyond these two pieces of information, however, very little is agreed upon by the scholars who have tried to make sense of Ogham.
The following is a brief list of some of the arguments regarding Ogham, written in very general terms regarding what some say so as not to get too bogged down in endless quotes and citations.
Ogham pronounced (OH-um or AHG-m) is believed to be named for Ogma, the Celtic god of eloquent speech. It is also at times referred to as “The Tree Language” since it was written on trees, as well as the fact that the many of the letters themselves are named for and associated with the names of trees.
The Ogham Alphabet itself consists of anywhere from 20 – 25 distinct characters, depending on which version you use. It is usually divided into sets of five letters called aicme. Early examples have symbols with multiple uses – example F/V or S/X.
The version of the alphabet pictured here is considered one of the oldest, with the one exception being that the letter “P” has been added. This letter was lacking in early versions of the alphabet. Ogham is read from bottom to top. In rare cases when it has been written sideways there is almost a 50/50 split on whether it is read right to left or left to right. Some even say that on wood and trees it is right to left and on parchment left to right. One other interesting piece of speculation is that it may be a written form of a primitive sign language given that uses from 1-5 full and half lines – like fingers.
So, when was Ogham first used? The pendulum of time swings rather widely on this subject, but the general consensus places Ogham’s birth at about the 4th Century A.D., although some say the 2nd Century. There exists a small vocal minority who place its origin earlier…much earlier… at 3000 B.C. However, there is little or no historical or archeological evidence to support this theory.
Where was Ogham first used? If we assume that Ogham was first used in the 4th Century, then after seventeen hundred years, obviously none of the trees on which Ogham had been written still survive. All that we have left are stones and a few manuscripts. There are fewer than 400 known stones to remain in existence. Over 180 of these exist in the South and West of Ireland. The remainder are spread throughout the rest of Ireland and the British Isles. There have been some recent discoveries that at first seemed to be Ogham related, but which have since been discounted as geological phenomena, rather than proving to be man-made Ogham writing.
There are others that speculate that examples of ancient Ogham exist in North America. The possibly does exist that another group of people, from a different place and a different time, also carved lines into stones as a way of communicating with others, yet it would seem highly unlikely that this form of ancient writing is the same as that practiced in Ireland and, instead, it is more probable that this “North American Ogham” would have evolved separately.
Who created Ogham? Barring the case for North American primitive use, Ogham by most accounts is an Irish invention. It is thought to have been used by the early Irish who wanted to maintain a level of secrecy from outside visitors and invaders. Some think that necessity was the mother of Ogham’s invention; the somewhat restrictive Latin alphabet could not support the distinctive sounds of the Irish language and thus a separate written language structure had to be created.
Why was Ogham used? Once translated, what we have of Ogham stones are fairly innocuous in their message. They, for the most part, honor a person by name. It is thought that the stones were mainly used for marking territory or as an indication of a land transaction.
Hopefully, you’ve found this brief overview of Ogham interesting and informative. For more information on Ogham, and to see this ancient language being used by modern artists, check out OghamArt.com. Some other websites that can provide additional information regarding the history of Ogham are: http://www.omniglot.com/writing/ogham.htm and http://ogham.lyberty.com/index.html
About the Author – Chris Conway from OghamArt.com began working with Ogham by doing watercolor paintings of names and words for friends and family. The curiosity and questions aroused by these gifts drove additional exploration into the history of Ogham and, eventually, a business devoted to exploring this uniquely Irish language as an art form. Chris and his wife Colleen enjoy the opportunity to explain Ogham to those that they meet at various art fairs and to discuss its rich history with them. By far their most popular service is their custom work, where they create a print of a name or word specifically for the purchaser. They find that this allows others to express themselves and link more deeply with their Irish heritage.
You can find their website at www.oghamart.com and see how they have repurposed this mysterious writing system for use in a new, exciting and beautiful way. You can contact them via e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter (Contact information can be found on their website).
The Round Tower and Glendalough
When visiting Ireland, many tourists enjoy exploring the ancient ruins that are such a fascinating study in Celtic history…these monasteries, beehive huts, castles, and burial grounds have remained standing for thousands of years, and they have become powerful symbols of Irish and Celtic culture.
Unique design elements, featuring themes of spirituality, faith, and eternity are a focus at these hallowed sites: the mystical spirals, knot work, and crosses of the Insular Art Movement often add touches of hidden meaning to gorgeous stone work. If you’re interested in learning more about ancient ruins in Ireland and their historical significance, have a look at our quick guide to some of the best places to visit:
Glendalough, County Wicklow – A gentle valley flanked by the Wicklow Mountains provides a graceful setting for the ruins of the Glendalough monastic settlement. In 618 A.D., a monk named Kevin (known after his death as Saint Kevin) became the founder of this unique order, and he and his ilk constructed ancient churches, a “priest’s house”, a stately circular tower, and many other beautiful stone structures…
Tourists are free to explore the ruins on foot at their own chosen pace. Lakes, streams and rolling hills add to the splendor of this singular site. For an unforgettable day trip that wraps you in the mists of time, consider visiting the exceptional ruins of Glendalough on your next trip to Ireland.
Fahan Beehive Huts (Glenfahan), County Kerry – The distinctive beehive huts that dot the landscape of County Kerry are also known as Clochans, and they are believed to have been constructed during the early years of the Middle Ages.
Today, tourists enjoy visiting the little round huts, while also admiring the pretty rural landscape of this southwestern part of Ireland. Often, the local farmers will ask for a Euro or two in exchange for entrance to the field where these Fahan stone structures are found.
Tully Castle, County Fermanagh – This spectacular site is found in County Fermanagh, close to Blaney village. The stone fortress was built in 1619 by a well-to-do Scotsman whose name was John Hume. Visitors to these ruins enjoy the colorful history of this castle, which was burned down and left uninhabited after the Irish Rebellion in the 17th century.
Today, visitors tour the shell of Castle Tully and also enjoy its stunning gardens, which feature hedges trimmed into careful, geometric shapes. The castle itself rises 2 ½ stories high, and features four towers that were meant to defend the fortress from attack.
Newgrange Passage Tomb, County Meath
This megalithic landmark was built more than 5000 years ago, and it is famous for the way its long passageway glows with light from the Winter Solstice Sunrise. Today, you must enter a lottery to experience this moment of illumination; if you are lucky enough to be chosen, you can enjoy the beauty of this man-made wonder in a most extraordinary way. Of course, you will also find much to marvel at, whichever day you decide to visit Newgrange…
The huge edifice that is Newgrange covers one full acre of land, and it features a pale, white-quartz façade, as well as a series of kerbstones that are decorated with all manner of ancient and mysterious symbols.
Leigh Maher is the owner of the online Celtic jewelry store: Irish Celtic Jewels (http://www.irishcelticjewels.com/). On his site, he shares tips and information about all things Irish, including jewelry, weddings and history.