Ogham inscriptions
Encyclopedia
There are roughly 400 known ogham
Ogham
Ogham is an Early Medieval alphabet used primarily to write the Old Irish language, and occasionally the Brythonic language. Ogham is sometimes called the "Celtic Tree Alphabet", based on a High Medieval Bríatharogam tradition ascribing names of trees to the individual letters.There are roughly...
inscriptions on stone monuments scattered around the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, the bulk of them dating to the 5th and 6th centuries. Their language is predominantly Primitive Irish, but a few examples record fragments of the Pictish language
Pictish language
Pictish is a term used for the extinct language or languages thought to have been spoken by the Picts, the people of northern and central Scotland in the Early Middle Ages...
. Ogham itself is an Early Medieval form of alphabet or cypher, sometimes known as the "Celtic Tree Alphabet".
There are a number of different numbering schemes. The most widespread is CIIC, after R. A. S. Macalister. This covers the inscriptions known by the 1940s. Another numbering scheme is that of the Celtic Inscribed Stones Project, CISP, based on the location of the stones; for example CIIC 1 = CISP INCHA/1. Macalister's (1945) numbers run from 1 to 507, including also Latin and Runic inscriptions, with three additional added in 1949. Ziegler lists 344 Gaelic ogham inscriptions known to Macalister (Ireland and Isle of Man) , and seven additional inscriptions discovered later.
The inscriptions may be divided into "orthodox" and "scholastic" specimens. "Orthodox" inscriptions date to the Primitive Irish period, and record a name of an individual, either as a cenotaph or tombstone, or documenting land ownership. "Scholastic" inscriptions date from the medieval Old Irish period up to Modern times.
The vast bulk of the surviving ogham inscriptions stretch in arc from County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
(especially Corcu Duibne
Corcu Duibne
The Corcu Duibne was a notable kingdom in prehistoric and medieval County Kerry, Ireland which included the Dingle Peninsula, the Iveragh Peninsula and connecting lands...
) in the south of Ireland across to Dyfed
Dyfed
Dyfed is a preserved county of Wales. It was created on 1 April 1974 under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, and covered approximately the same geographic extent as the ancient Principality of Deheubarth, although excluding the Gower Peninsula and the area west of the River Tawe...
in south Wales. The remainder are mostly in south-eastern Ireland, western Scotland, the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
, and England around the Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
/Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
border. The vast majority of the inscriptions consist of personal names, probably of the person commemorated by the monument.
Orthodox inscriptions
MacManus (1991) lists a total of 382 known Orthodox inscriptions. They are found in most counties of Ireland, concentrated in Southern Ireland: County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
(130), Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
(84), Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
(48), Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
(14), Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
(9), Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
(8), Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
and Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
(5 each), Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
(4), Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
(3 each), Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
(2 each), Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
and Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
(1 each). Other specimens are known from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
(ca. 40: Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
(16), Breconshire and Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
(7 each), Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
(4), Cardiganshire
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
(3), Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
(2), and Carnarvonshire (1)), from England (Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
(5) Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
(2), elsewhere (1?)); the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
(5), and with some doubtful examples from Scotland (2?)
Formula words
The vast majority of inscriptions consist of personal names and use a series of formula words, usually describing the person's ancestry or tribal affiliation. The formula words used are MAQI ᚋᚐᚊᚔ - 'son' (Modern Irish mac); MUCOI ᚋᚒᚉᚑᚔ - 'tribe' or 'sept'; ANM ᚐᚅᚋ - 'name' (Modern Irish ainm); AVI ᚐᚍᚔ - 'descendant' (Modern Irish uí); CELI ᚉᚓᚂᚔ - 'follower' or 'devotee' (Modern Irish céile); NETA ᚅᚓᚈᚐ - 'nephew' (Modern Irish nia); KOI ᚕᚑᚔ - 'here is' (equivalent to Latin HIC IACIT). KOI is unusual in that the K is always written using the first supplementary letter Ebad. In order of frequency the formula words are used as follows:- X MAQI Y (X son of Y)
- X MAQI MUCOI Y (X son of the tribe Y)
- X MAQI Y MUCOI Z (X son of Y of the tribe Z)
- X KOI MAQI MUCOI Y (here is X son of the tribe Y)
- X MUCOI Y (X of the tribe Y)
- X MAQI Y MAQI MUCOI Z (X son of Y son of the tribe Z)
- Single name inscriptions with no accompanying formula word
- ANM X MAQI Y (Name X son of Y)
- ANM X (Name X )
- X AVI Y (X descendant of Y)
- X MAQI Y AVI Z (X son of Y descendant of Z)
- X CELI Y (X follower/devotee of Y)
- NETTA X (nephew/champion of X)
Nomenclature
The nomenclature of the Irish personal names is more interesting than the rather repetitive formulae and reveals details of early Gaelic society, particularly its warlike nature. For example, two of the most commonly occurring elements in the names are CUNA ᚉᚒᚅᚐ - 'hound' or 'wolf' (Modern Irish cú) and CATTU ᚉᚐᚈᚈᚒ - 'battle' (Modern Irish cath). These occur in names such as (300) CUNANETAS ᚉᚒᚅᚐᚅᚓᚈᚐᚄ - 'Champion of wolves'; (501) CUNAMAGLI ᚉᚒᚅᚐᚋᚐᚌᚂᚔ - 'prince of wolves'; (107) CUNAGUSSOS - '(he who is) strong as a wolf'; (250) CATTUVVIRR ᚉᚐᚈᚈᚒᚍᚍᚔᚏᚏ - 'man of battle'; (303) CATABAR ᚉᚐᚈᚐᚁᚐᚏ - 'chief in battle'; IVACATTOS ᚔᚍᚐᚉᚐᚈᚈᚑᚄ - 'yew of battle'. Other warlike names include (39) BRANOGENI ᚁᚏᚐᚅᚑᚌᚓᚅᚔ - 'born of raven'; (428) TRENAGUSU ᚈᚏᚓᚅᚐᚌᚒᚄᚒ - 'strong of vigour'; and (504) BIVAIDONAS ᚁᚔᚍᚐᚔᚇᚑᚅᚐᚄ - 'alive like fire'. Elements that are descriptive of physical characteristics are also common, such as (368) VENDUBARI ᚍᚓᚅᚇᚒᚁᚐᚏᚔ - 'fair-headed'; (75) CASONI ᚉᚐᚄᚑᚅᚔ - 'curly headed one'; (119) DALAGNI ᚇᚐᚂᚐᚌᚅᚔ - 'one who is blind'; (46) DERCMASOC ᚇᚓᚏᚉᚋᚐᚄᚑᚉ - 'one with an elegant eye'; (60) MAILAGNI ᚋᚐᚔᚂᚐᚌᚅᚔ - 'bald/short haired one' and (239) GATTAGLAN ᚌᚐᚈᚈᚐᚌᚂᚐᚅ - 'wise and pure'.Other names indicate a divine ancestor. The god Lugh
Lugh
Lug or Lugh is an Irish deity represented in mythological texts as a hero and High King of the distant past. He is known by the epithets Lámhfhada , for his skill with a spear or sling, Ildánach , Samhildánach , Lonnbeimnech and Macnia , and by the...
features in many names such as (4) LUGADDON ᚂᚒᚌᚌᚐᚇᚑᚅ , (286) LUGUDECA ᚂᚒᚌᚒᚇᚓᚉᚐ and (140) LUGAVVECCA ᚂᚒᚌᚐᚍᚍᚓᚉᚉᚐ, while the divine name ERC (meaning either 'heaven or 'cow') appears in names such as (93) ERCAIDANA ᚓᚏᚉᚐᚔᚇᚐᚅᚐ and (196) ERCAVICCAS ᚓᚏᚉᚐᚍᚔᚉᚉᚐᚄ . Other names indicate sept or tribal name, such as (156) DOVVINIAS ᚇᚑᚍᚍᚔᚅᚔᚐᚄ from the Corcu Duibne sept of the Dingle and Iveragh peninsulas in Co. Kerry (named after a local goddess); (215) ALLATO ᚐᚂᚂᚐᚈᚑ from the Altraige of North Kerry and (106) CORIBIRI ᚉᚑᚏᚔᚁᚔᚏᚔ from the Dál Coirpri of Co. Cork. Finally of particular interest is the fact that quite a few names denote a relationship to trees, names like (230) MAQI-CARATTINN ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚉᚐᚏᚐᚈᚈᚔᚅᚅ - 'son of rowan'; (v) MAQVI QOLI ᚋᚐᚊᚍᚔ ᚊᚑᚂᚔ - 'son of hazel' and (259) IVOGENI ᚔᚍᚑᚌᚓᚅᚔ - 'born of yew'.
The content of the inscriptions has led scholars such as McNeill and Macalister to argue that they are explicitly pagan in nature. They argue that the inscriptions were later defaced by Christian converts, who deliberately attacked them by removing the word MUCOI ᚋᚒᚉᚑᚔ on account of its supposedly tribal, pagan associations, and adding crosses next to them to Christianize them. Other scholars, such as McManus argue that there is no evidence for this, citing inscriptions such as (145) QRIMITIR RONANN MAQ COMOGANN ᚛ᚊᚏᚔᚋᚔᚈᚔᚏ ᚏᚑᚅᚐᚅᚅ ᚋᚐᚊ ᚉᚑᚋᚑᚌᚐᚅᚅ᚜ , where QRIMITIR is a loan word from Latin presbyter or 'priest'. McManus argues that the supposed vandalism of the inscriptions is simply wear and tear, and due to the inscription stones being reused as building material for walls, lintels, etc. (McManus, §4.9). McManus also argues that the MUCOI formula word survived into Christian manuscript usage. There is also the fact the inscriptions were made at a time when Christianity had become firmly established in Ireland. Whether those who wrote the inscriptions were pagans, Christians, or a mixture of both remains unclear.
Ireland
Ireland has the vast majority of inscriptions, with 330 out of 382. One of the most important collections of orthodox ogham inscriptions in Ireland can be seen in University College Cork (UCC) on public display in 'The Stone corridor'. The inscriptions werecollected by antiquarian Abraham Abell
Abraham Abell
-Early career:Abell was born in Cork, Ireland, into a Quaker family of eleven children. His family had long standing in business. He also was successful in business and noted for his charity. He served as treasurer of the Cork Dispensary and Humane Society....
1783-1851 and were deposited in the Cork Institution before being put on display in UCC. He was a member of the Cuvierian Society
Cuvierian Society
The Cuvierian Society of Cork was founded as a committee of the Royal Cork Institution in October 1835. The meetings were held on the first Wednesday of the Autumn and Winter months in the Library of the Royal Cork Institution. The Society was named after the noted French naturalist and...
of Cork whose members, including John Windele, Fr. Matt Horgan and R.R. Brash, did extensive work in this area in the mid-19th century. Another well-known group of inscriptions can be seen at Dunloe, near Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
in Co. Kerry. The inscriptions are arranged in a semicircle at the side of the road and are very well preserved.
| ID | Text | Translation / Personal names | Location | Notes |
| CIIC 1 | ᚛ᚂᚔᚓ ᚂᚒᚌᚅᚐᚓᚇᚑᚅ ᚋᚐᚉᚉᚔ ᚋᚓᚅᚒᚓᚆ᚜ LIE LUGNAEDON MACCI MENUEH |
"The stone of Lugnaedon son of Limenueh". | Inchagoill Island, Co Galway | CISP INCHA/1 |
| CIIC 2 | ᚛ᚊᚓᚅᚒᚃᚓᚅᚇᚔ᚜ QENUVEN[DI] |
Cloonmorris, Mohill, Co Leitrim | CISP CLOOM/1 | |
| CIIC 3 | ᚛ᚉᚒᚅᚐᚂᚓᚌᚔ ᚐᚍᚔ ᚊᚒᚅᚐᚉᚐᚅᚑᚄ᚜ CUNALEGI AVI QUNACANOS |
"Cunalegi, descendant of Qunacanos" | Island, Costello, Co Mayo | CISP ISLAN/1 |
| CIIC 4 | ᚛ᚂᚒᚌᚐᚇᚇᚑᚅ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚂᚒᚌᚒᚇᚓᚉ᚜ ᚛ᚇᚇᚔᚄᚔ ᚋᚑ[--]ᚉᚊᚒᚄᚓᚂ᚜ LUGADDON MA[QI] L[U]GUDEC DDISI MO[--]CQU SEL |
Kilmannia, Costello, Co Mayo | CISP KILMA/1 | |
| CIIC 5 | ᚛ᚐᚂᚐᚈᚈᚑᚄ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚁᚏ᚜ ALATTOS MAQI BR[ |
Rusheens East, Kilmovee, Costello, Co Mayo | CISP RUSHE/1 | |
| CIIC 6 | ᚛ᚊᚐᚄᚔᚌᚔᚅᚔᚋᚐᚊᚔ᚜ QASIGN[I]MAQ[I] |
Tullaghaun, Costello, Co Mayo | CISP TULLA/1 | |
| CIIC 7 | ᚛ᚋᚐᚊ ᚉᚓᚏᚐᚅᚔ ᚐᚍᚔ ᚐᚈᚆᚓᚉᚓᚈᚐᚔᚋᚔᚅ᚜ MAQ CERAN[I] AVI ATHECETAIMIN |
Corrower, Gallen, Co Mayo | CISP CORRO/1 | |
| CIIC 8 | ᚛ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚋᚒᚉᚑᚔ ᚉᚑᚏᚁᚐᚌᚅᚔ ᚌᚂᚐᚄᚔᚉᚑᚅᚐᚄ᚜ MA[QUI MUCOI] CORBAGNI GLASICONAS |
Dooghmakeon, Murrisk, Co Mayo | CISP DOOGH/1 | |
| CIIC 9 | ᚛ᚋᚐᚊᚐᚉᚈᚑᚋᚐᚊᚌᚐᚏ᚜ MAQACTOMAQGAR |
Aghaleague, Tirawley, Co Mayo | CISP AGHAL/1 Almost illegible | |
| CIIC 10 | ᚛ᚂᚓᚌᚌ[--]ᚄᚇ[--]ᚂᚓᚌᚓᚄᚉᚐᚇ᚜ / ᚛ᚋᚐᚊ ᚉᚑᚏᚏᚁᚏᚔ ᚋᚐᚊ ᚐᚋᚋᚂᚂᚑᚌᚔᚈᚈ᚜ L[E]GG[--]SD[--] LEGwESCAD / MAQ CORRBRI MAQ AMMLLOGwITT |
Breastagh, Tirawley, Co Mayo | CISP BREAS/1 | |
| CIIC 141 | ᚛ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ..ᚑᚌᚌᚑᚇᚔᚉᚐ᚜ MAQI MAQ[I..O]GGODIKA |
Aglish, Corkaguiney, Co Kerry | CISP AGLIS/1 The ogham stone was cut into an early Christian gravestone, at which time were added a cross pattée Cross pattée A cross pattée is a type of cross which has arms narrow at the centre, and broader at the perimeter. An early English example from the start of the age of heraldry proper A cross pattée (or "cross patty", known also as "cross formée/formy") is a type of cross which has arms narrow at the... and an arrow-like motif flanked by two swastika Swastika The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient... s |
|
| CIIC 193 CIIC 193 -References:... |
᚛ᚐᚅᚋ ᚉᚑᚂᚋᚐᚅ ᚐᚔᚂᚔᚈᚆᚔᚏ᚜ ANM COLMAN AILITHIR |
"[written in] the name of Colmán, the pilgrim" | Maumanorig, Co Kerry | CISP MAUIG/1 |
| CIIC 200 | ᚛ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚈᚈᚐᚂ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚃᚑᚏᚌᚑᚄ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚋᚒᚉᚑᚔᚉᚐᚉ᚜ MAQI-TTAL MAQI VORGOS MAQI MUCOI TOICAC |
Maqi-Ttal, Vorgos, Toicac | Coolmagort, Dunkerron North, Co Kerry | CISP COOLM/4 |
| CIIC 300 | ᚛ᚉᚒᚅᚅᚓᚈᚐᚄ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚌᚒᚉᚑᚔ ᚅᚓᚈᚐ ᚄᚓᚌᚐᚋᚑᚅᚐᚄ᚜ CUNNETAS MAQI GUC[OI] NETA-SEGAMONAS |
Cunnetas, Neta-Segamonas | Old Island, Decies without Drum, Co Waterford | CISP OLDIS/1 |
| CIIC 317 | ᚛ᚇᚑᚈᚓᚈᚈᚑ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚋᚐᚌᚂᚐᚅᚔ᚜ DOTETTO MAQ[I MAGLANI] |
Dotetto, Maglani(?) | Aghascrebagh, Upper Strabane, Co Tyrone | CISP AGHAS/1 |
| CIIC 1082 | ᚛ᚌᚂᚐᚅᚅᚐᚅᚔ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚁᚁᚏᚐᚅᚅᚐᚇ᚜ GLANNANI MAQI BBRANNAD |
Ballybroman, Co Kerry | CISP BALBR/1 | |
| CIIC 1083 | ᚛ᚉᚑᚋᚋᚐᚌᚌᚐᚌᚅᚔ ᚋᚒᚉᚑᚔ ᚄᚐᚋᚋᚅᚅ᚜ COMMAGGAGNI MU[CO]I SAMMNN |
Rathkenny, Ardfert, Corkaguiney, Co Kerry | CISP RTHKE/1 | |
Wales
The orthodox inscriptions in Wales are noted for containing names of a Latin origin and some names in Brythonic (or early Welsh), and are mostly accompanied by a Latin inscription in the Roman alphabet. Examples of Brythonic names include (446) MAGLOCUNI ᚋᚐᚌᚂᚑᚉᚒᚅᚔ (Welsh Maelgwn) and (449) CUNOTAMI ᚉᚒᚅᚑᚈᚐᚋᚔ (Welsh cyndaf). Wales has the distinction of the only ogham stone inscription that bears the name of an identifiable individual. The stone commemorates VortiporiusVortiporius
Vortiporius was a king of Dyfed in the early to mid-6th century. He ruled over an area approximately corresponding to the modern Pembrokeshire. As a mythical king in Geoffrey of Monmouth's treatment of the Matter of Britain, he was the successor of Aurelius Conanus and was succeeded by...
, a 6th century king of Dyfed
Dyfed
Dyfed is a preserved county of Wales. It was created on 1 April 1974 under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, and covered approximately the same geographic extent as the ancient Principality of Deheubarth, although excluding the Gower Peninsula and the area west of the River Tawe...
(originally located in Clynderwen
Clynderwen
Clynderwen is a rural village in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village is known as a camping destination and is popular for self-catering holidays...
). Wales also has the only ogham inscription known to commemorate a woman. At Eglwys Cymmin (Cymmin church) in Carmarthenshire is the inscription (362) AVITORIGES INIGENA CUNIGNI ᚛ᚐᚍᚔᚈᚑᚏᚔᚌᚓᚄ ᚔᚅᚔᚌᚓᚅᚐ ᚉᚒᚅᚔᚌᚅᚔ᚜ or 'Avitoriges daughter of Cunigni'. Avitoriges is an Irish name while Cunigni is Brythonic (Welsh Cynin), reflecting the mixed heritage of the inscription makers. Wales also has several inscriptions which attempt to replicate the supplementary letter or forfeda
Forfeda
The Forfeda are the "additional" letters of the Ogham alphabet, beyond the basic inventory of twenty signs. The most important of these are five forfeda which were arranged in their own aicme or class, and were clearly invented in the Old Irish period, several centuries after the peak of Ogham usage...
for P (inscriptions 327 and 409).
| ID | Text | Translation / Personal names | Location | Notes |
| CIIC 423 | ᚛ᚊ[--]ᚊᚐ[--]ᚌᚈᚓ᚜ Q[--]QA[--]GTE |
Castle Villa, Brawdy, Pembrokeshire | CISP BRAW/1 | |
| CIIC 426 | ᚛ᚅᚓᚈᚈᚐᚄᚐᚌᚏᚔ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚋᚒᚉᚑᚓ ᚁᚏᚔᚐᚉᚔ᚜ NETTASAGRI MAQI MUCOE BRIACI |
Nettasagri, Briaci | Bridell, Pembrokeshire | CISP BRIDL/1 |
| CIIC 427 | ᚛ᚋᚐᚌᚂᚔᚇᚒᚁᚐᚏ[--]ᚊᚔ᚜ MAGL[I]DUBAR [--]QI |
Magl[ia], Dubr[acunas] | Caldey Island, Penally, Pembrokeshire | CISP CALDY/1 |
| CIIC 456 | ᚛ᚌᚓᚅᚇᚔᚂᚔ᚜ GENDILI |
Steynton, Pembrokeshire | CISP STNTN/1 Latin "GENDILI" | |
England, Isle of Man, Scotland
England has seven or eight ogham inscriptions, five in Cornwall and two in Devon near the Cornish border, which are the product of early Irish settlement in the area. A further inscription in Silchester in Hampshire is presumed to be the work of a lone Irish settler. Perhaps surprisingly, Scotland has only three orthodox inscriptions, as the rest are scholastic inscriptions made by the Picts (see below). The Isle of Man has five inscriptions. One of these is the famous inscription at Port St. Mary (503) which reads DOVAIDONA MAQI DROATA ᚛ᚇᚑᚍᚐᚔᚇᚑᚅᚐ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚇᚏᚑᚐᚈᚐ᚜ or 'Dovaidona son of the Druid'.| ID | Text | Translation / Personal names | Location | Notes |
| CIIC 466 | ᚛ᚔᚌᚓᚅᚐᚍᚔ ᚋᚓᚋᚑᚏ᚜ IGENAVI MEMOR |
Lewannick Lewannick Lewannick is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles southwest of Launceston. The civil parish has a population of 884.... , Cornwall |
CISP LWNCK/1 Latin text "INGENVI MEMORIA" | |
| CIIC 467 | ᚛ᚒᚂᚉᚐᚌᚅᚔ᚜ U[L]CAG[.I] / [.L]CAG[.]I |
Ulcagni | Lewannick, Cornwall | CISP LWNCK/2 Latin text "[HI]C IACIT VLCAGNI" |
| CIIC 470 | ᚛ᚂᚐᚈᚔᚅᚔ᚜ LA[TI]NI |
Worthyvale, Slaughterbridge, Minster, Cornwall | CISP WVALE/1 Latin text "LATINI IC IACIT FILIUS MACARI" | |
| CIIC 484 | ᚛ᚔᚒᚄᚈᚔ᚜ [I]USTI |
St. Kew St. Kew St Kew is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The principal settlements in the parish are the church town, St Kew, and nearby St Kew Highway .... , Cornwall |
CISP FARDL/1 A block of granite, Latin "IVSTI" in a cartouche Cartouche (design) A cartouche is an oval or oblong design with a slightly convex surface, typically edged with ornamental scrollwork. It is used to hold a painted or low relief design.... |
|
| CIIC 489 | ᚛ᚄᚍᚐᚊᚊᚒᚉᚔ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚊᚔᚉᚔ᚜ SVAQQUCI MAQI QICI |
"[The stone] of Safaqqucus, son of Qicus" | Ivybridge, Fardel, Devon | CISP FARDL/1 |
| CIIC 488 | ᚛ᚓᚅᚐᚁᚐᚏᚏ᚜ ENABARR |
Roborough Down, Buckland Monachorum, Devon | CISP TVST3/1 | |
| CIIC 496 | ᚛ᚓᚁᚔᚉᚐᚈᚑᚄ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚋᚒᚉᚑᚔ᚜ EBICATO[S] [MAQ]I MUCO[I] [ |
Silchester, Hampshire | CISP SILCH/1 Excavated 1893 | |
| CIIC 500 CIIC 500 The stone was discovered in 1909. The stone's material is 'clay slate' and is believed to have originated from hills six miles to the south of the site where it was found.-External links:* -References:*... |
FILIVS-ROCATI | HIC-IACIT [.]b[i]catos-m[a]qi-r[o]c[a]t[o]s |
"Ammecatus son of Rocatus lies here" "[Am]bicatos son of Rocatos" |
Knoc y Doonee, Kirk Andreas | CISP ANDRS/1 Combined Latin and Ogam |
| CIIC 501 | ᚛ᚉᚒᚅᚐᚋᚐᚌᚂᚔ ᚋᚐᚉ᚜ CUNAMAGLI MAC[ |
CISP ARBRY/1 | ||
| CIIC 502 | ᚛ᚋᚐᚊ ᚂᚓᚑᚌ᚜ MAQ LEOG |
CISP ARBRY/2 | ||
| CIIC 503 | ᚛ᚇᚑᚍᚐᚔᚇᚑᚅᚐ ᚋᚐᚊᚔ ᚇᚏᚑᚐᚈᚐ᚜ DOVAIDONA MAQI DROATA |
"Dovaido son of the Druid." | Ballaqueeney, Port St Mary, Rushen | CISP RUSHN/1 |
| CIIC 504 CIIC 504 CIIC 504 is an Ogham inscription. It was discovered at Ballaqueeney in 1874 by Reverend F. B. Grant during the process of excavating dirt for use as railroad ballast.... |
BIVAIDONAS MAQI MUCOI CUNAVA[LI] |
"Of Bivaidonas, son of the tribe Cunava[li]" | Ballaqueeney, Port St Mary, Rushen | CISP RUSHN/2 |
| CIIC 506 | ᚛ᚍᚔᚉᚒᚂᚐ ᚋᚐᚊ ᚉᚒᚌᚔᚅᚔ᚜ VICULA MAQ CUGINI |
Vicula, Cugini | Gigha, Argyll | CISP GIGHA/1 |
| CIIC 507 | ᚛ᚉᚏᚑᚅ[-]ᚅ᚜ CRON[-][N][ |
Poltaloch, Kilmartin, Argyll | CISP POLCH/1 Fragment, recognized in 1931 | |
| CIIC 1068 | ᚛ᚂᚒᚌᚅᚔ᚜ LUGNI |
Ballavarkish, Bride | CISP BRIDE/1 Recognized 1911; crosses and animals, 8th or 9th century | |
Scholastic inscriptions
Forfeda
The Forfeda are the "additional" letters of the Ogham alphabet, beyond the basic inventory of twenty signs. The most important of these are five forfeda which were arranged in their own aicme or class, and were clearly invented in the Old Irish period, several centuries after the peak of Ogham usage...
. The 30 or so Pictish inscriptions qualify as early Scholastic, roughly 6th to 9th century. Some Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
stones on Man and Shetland are in Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
, or at least contain Norse names.
Scotland
| ID | Text | Translation / Personal names | Location | Notes |
| CISP BRATT/1 | ᚛ᚔᚏᚐᚈᚐᚇᚇᚑᚐᚏᚓᚅᚄ᚜ IRATADDOARENS[ |
Addoaren (Saint Ethernan?) | Brandsbutt, Inverurie Inverurie Inverurie is a Royal Burgh and town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north west of Aberdeen on the A96 road and is served by Inverurie railway station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line... , Aberdeenshire |
CISP BRATT/1 Pictish(?), dated 6th to 8th century |
| CISP BREAY/1 | ᚛ᚉᚏᚏᚑᚄᚄᚉᚉ᚜ : ᚛ᚅᚐᚆᚆᚈᚍᚍᚇᚇᚐᚇᚇᚄ᚜ : ᚛ᚇᚐᚈᚈᚏᚏ᚜ : ᚛ᚐᚅᚅ[--] ᚁᚓᚅᚔᚄᚓᚄ ᚋᚓᚊᚊ ᚇᚇᚏᚑᚐᚅᚅ[--]᚜ CRRO[S]SCC : NAHHTVVDDA[DD]S : DATTRR : [A]NN[--] BEN[I]SES MEQQ DDR[O]ANN[-- |
Nahhtvdd[add]s, Benises, Dr[o]ann | Bressay Bressay -Geography and geology:Bressay lies due south of Whalsay, west of Noss, and north of Mousa. At , it is the fifth largest island in Shetland. The population is around 400 people, concentrated in the middle of the west coast, around Glebe, Fullaburn and Maryfield.... , Shetland |
CISP BREAY/1 Norse or Gaelic, contains five forfeda |
| ? | ᚛ᚁᚓᚅᚇᚇᚐᚉᚈᚐᚅᚔᚋᚂ᚜ [B]ENDDACTANIM[L] |
a blessing on the soul of L. | Birsay Birsay Birsay is a parish in the north west corner of The Mainland of Orkney, Scotland. Almost all the land in the parish is devoted to agriculture: chiefly grassland used to rear beef cattle... , Orkney |
Excavated in 1970. See Buckquoy spindle-whorl Buckquoy spindle-whorl The Buckquoy spindle-whorl is a famous spindle-whorl dating from the Early Middle Ages, probably the 8th century, excavated in 1970 in Buckquoy, Birsay, Orkney, Scotland. Made of sandy limestone, it is about 36 mm in diameter and 10 mm thick... |
| ? | ᚛ᚐᚍᚒᚑᚐᚅᚅᚒᚅᚐᚑᚒᚐᚈᚓᚇᚑᚍᚓᚅᚔ᚜ AVUOANNUNAOUATEDOVENI |
Avuo Anuano soothsayer of the Doveni | Auquhollie, near Stonehaven Stonehaven Stonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehaven, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the seaside... |
CISP AUQUH/1 |
Isle of Man
- CISP KMICH/1, an 11th century combined Runic and Ogam inscription in Kirk Michael churchyard, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man
- blfsnhdtcqmgngzraouei
- MAL : LUMKUN : RAISTI : KRUS : ÞINA : IFTIR : MAL : MURU : FUSTRA : SINI : TOTIRTUFKALS : KONA : IS : AÞISL : ATI+
[B]ITRA : IS : LAIFA : FUSTRA : KUÞAN : ÞAN : SON : ILAN + - (Ogham abecedariumAbecedariumAn abecedarium is an inscription consisting of the letters of an alphabet, almost always listed in order. Typically, abecedaria are practice exercises....
) - "Mucomael grandson/descendant of O'Maelguc"
- "Mal Lumkun set up this cross in memory of Mal Mury her foster-son, daughter of Dufgal, the wife whom Athisl married,"
- "Better it is to leave a good foster son than a bad son"
Ireland
- A 19th century ogham inscription from Ahenny, Co. Tipperary (Raftery 1969)
- Beneath this sepulchral tomb lie the remains of Mary Dempsey who departed this life January the 4th 1802 aged 17 years
- fa an lig so na lu ata mari ni dhimusa / o mballi na gcranibh
- "Beneath this stone lieth Mári Ní Dhíomasaigh from Ballycranna"
Manuscript tradition
- Latin text written in ogham, in the Annals of Inisfallen of 1193 (ms. Rawlinson B. 503, 40c)
- numus honoratur sine / numo nullus amatur
- This is a hexameterHexameterHexameter is a metrical line of verse consisting of six feet. It was the standard epic metre in classical Greek and Latin literature, such as in the Iliad and Aeneid. Its use in other genres of composition include Horace's satires, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. According to Greek mythology, hexameter...
line with internal rhymeInternal rhymeIn poetry, internal rhyme, or middle rhyme, is rhyme that occurs in a single line of verse.Internal rhyme occurs in the middle of a line, as exemplified by Coleridge, "In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud" or "Whiles all the night through fog-smoke white," in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." ...
at the caesuraCaesurathumb|100px|An example of a caesura in modern western music notation.In meter, a caesura is a complete pause in a line of poetry or in a musical composition. The plural form of caesura is caesuras or caesurae...
, to be scanned as follows: nūmus honōrātur || sine nūmō nullus amātur. - "Money is honoured, without money nobody is loved"
- Fictional inscription: a Middle Irish saga text recorded in the Book of LeinsterBook of LeinsterThe Book of Leinster , is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled ca. 1160 and now kept in Trinity College, Dublin, under the shelfmark MS H 2.18...
(LL 66 AB) mentions the following ogham inscription:- ᚛ᚌᚔᚚ ᚓ ᚈᚔᚄᚓᚇ ᚔᚅ ᚃᚐᚔᚇᚉᚆᚓ᚜ ᚛ᚇᚘᚐ ᚋᚁᚐ ᚌᚐᚄᚉᚓᚇᚐᚉᚆ᚜
- ᚛ᚌᚓᚔᚄ ᚃᚐᚔᚏ ᚐᚏ ᚈᚆᚓᚉᚆᚈ ᚇᚔᚅᚇ ᚃᚐᚔᚇᚉᚆᚔ᚜
- ᚛ᚉᚓᚅ ᚉᚆᚑᚋᚏᚐᚉ ᚅᚑᚓᚅᚃᚆᚔᚏ ᚇᚑ ᚃᚆᚒᚐᚉᚏᚐ᚜
- Gip e tised in faidche, dia m-ba gascedach, geis fair ar thecht dind faidchi cen chomrac n-oenfhir do fhuacra.
- "Whoever comes to this meadow, if he be armed, he is forbidden to leave the meadow, without requesting single combat."
Literature
- Brash, R. R., The Ogam Inscribed Monuments of the Gaedhil in the British Isles, London (1879).
- J. Higgitt, K. ForsythKatherine ForsythKatherine S. Forsyth is a British historian who specializes in the history and culture of Celtic peoples during the 1st millenium AD, in particular the Picts...
, D. Parsons (eds.), Roman, Runes and Ogham. Medieval Inscriptions in the Insular World and on the Continent, Donington: Shaun Tyas (2001). - Jackson, K.H.Kenneth H. JacksonKenneth Hurlstone Jackson was an English linguist and a translator who specialised in the Celtic languages. He demonstrated how the text of the Ulster Cycle of tales, written circa AD 1100, preserves an oral tradition originating some six centuries earlier and reflects Celtic Irish society of the...
, Notes on the Ogam inscriptions of southern Britain, in C. Fox, B. Dickins (eds.) The Early Cultures of North-West Europe. Cambridge: 197—213 (1950). - Macalister, Robert A.S. The Secret Languages of Ireland, pp27 – 36, Cambridge University Press, 1937
- Macalister, R. A. S., Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum Vol. I., Dublin: Stationery Office (1945).
- Macalister, R. A. S., Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum Vol. II., Dublin: Stationery Office (1949).
- McManus, D, A Guide to Ogam, An Sagart, Maynooth, Co. Kildare (1991)
- MacNeill, Eoin. Archaisms in the Ogham Inscriptions, 'Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy' 39, pp 33–53, Dublin
- Ziegler, S., Die Sprache der altirischen Ogam-Inschriften, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht (1994).