Ogham Stones: Run Your Hand Across a Piece of History

Céad Míle Fáilte – and welcome to your Letter from Ireland for this week.

We’ve just passed the Celtic festival of “Lúnasa” (pronounced “Loo-na-sa”), marking the traditional start of the harvest season here in Ireland. However, we still have a few weeks of nice weather and school holidays ahead. How’s the weather in your part of the world today?

I’m having a cup of Lyons’ tea as I write, and I do hope you’ll join me now with a cup of whatever you fancy as we start into today’s letter.

Recently in The Green Room (our Irish genealogy membership site), we featured some ancient Irish writing displayed on an entrance stone to a cave. A number of members expressed an interest in learning more about the script shown – called “Ogham writing” – and this mysterious script is the subject of today’s letter.

Our guide on the trip that featured the Ogham stone was an archaeologist and historian called Daniel Curley who manages the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre up in County Roscommon (well worth a visit if you are ever in that part of the world). While chatting to Daniel, I noticed a tattoo on his right forearm and asked him about its significance. “It’s Ogham writing and says ‘Daniel – son of Patrick – son of Daniel’” he explained. As an archaeologist and historian, that lineage and script is very significant to him. 

But, what is this “Ogham writing”?

The Origins and Significance of Ogham Writing.

The word “Ogham” (pronounced “OH-am”) first appeared in early Irish literature back in the 8th century AD, but the Ogham script itself dates back to the 4th century AD. It’s believed to be one of the earliest forms of writing in Ireland, predating the widespread use of the Latin alphabet. While the Latin alphabet can be found today in carefully preserved manuscripts, Ogham writing is mostly preserved in the form of carvings on tall standing Ogham stones dotted across the rural landscape of Ireland.

The Ogham script consists of lines and notches carved along the edge of a standing stone. While these inscribed standing stones can be found in Celtic regions such as Wales and Scotland, the vast majority – over 400 – are located in Ireland. They’re particularly concentrated in the southern counties, with Kerry, Cork, and Waterford boasting significant numbers.

The inscriptions on these stones typically contain personal names, often in the form of “[Person’s name] son of [Father’s name].” This suggests that they could have served as boundary markers or memorials. These ancient inscriptions provide invaluable insights into early Irish names, familial relationships, and territorial divisions of early medieval Ireland.

Run Your Hand Across these Ancient Irish Ogham Stones.

While you can have fun chasing around rural Irish fields in search of these stones, there is a remarkable Ogham stone collection housed at University College Cork (UCC). The collection features 28 Ogham stones, most of which were gathered from various sites in County Cork in the mid-19th century – and provides a wonderful opportunity for scholars and visitors alike to study these ancient inscriptions up close for inspection and comparison.

The UCC collection includes stones with various types of inscriptions, showcasing the diversity of Ogham writing and offering insights into early Irish names and genealogies. This concentration of Ogham stones in one location has been crucial in advancing our understanding of early Irish language and society. If you ever have the chance to visit Ireland, I highly recommend seeking out some of these remarkable stones, particularly the collection at UCC. They offer a tangible connection to Ireland’s ancient past and a glimpse into the origins of Irish writing and culture. 

And who knows? Maybe you’ll also get a chance to visit the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre up in Roscommon – and ask Daniel Curley to roll up his sleeve and give you a look at his personal genealogy laid out in Ogham form. Just tell him I sent you!

There’s something truly magical about these silent witnesses to Ireland’s history. They have stood tall through the centuries and connect us to ancient writing traditions across Ireland and Europe.

As a little bonus, would you like to see how your own name appears in the Ogham script? Here is an Ogham Translator website – just input your own name and enjoy its appearance in this ancient Irish script: https://ogham.co/

Well, that’s it for this week. As always, feel free to share the Irish surnames and stories in your own family tree.

Slán for now,

Mike.