Ogham

Ogham is an ancient Irish script consisting of a series of strokes across a narrow strip of paper or stone. It is one of the oldest forms of writing in Ireland, dating back to the 4th century. The word "ogham" is derived from the Old Irish "ogam" meaning "to cut". This refers to the way the script was cut into stone or wood. The strokes of ogham are known as "feda" (singular "fiodh"). There are 20 main feda, each representing a different letter of the alphabet. In addition, there are 5 "secondary" feda which are used in certain circumstances. The main feda are arranged in 4 groups of 5, known as "aicme". The first aicme is made up of the 5 letters B, L, N, F and S. The second aicme consists of the letters H, D, T, C and Q. The third aicme contains the letters M, G, NG and Z. The fourth and final aicme is made up of the letters R, A, O and U. The secondary feda are used for vowels and are known as "coll" (singular "ceann"). There are 4 coll, representing the vowels A, E, I and O. These are placed above or below the main feda. Ogham can be written left-to-right or right-to-left. It is usually written vertically, but can also be written horizontally. The earliest surviving examples of ogham date from the 4th century. They are found on stone monuments known as "ogham stones". These stones were used as grave markers or memorials. The vast majority of ogham stones are found in Ireland, but a few have also been found in Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man and England. The most famous ogham stone is the "Clochafarmore Stone" in County Kerry, Ireland. This stone is over 5 metres tall and is covered in ogham writing. Ogham is a fascinating script with a rich history. It is a unique part of Ireland's heritage and is well worth studying.