Ogham inscription


Roughly 400 known ogham inscriptions are on stone monuments scattered around the Irish Sea, the bulk of them dating to the fifth and sixth centuries. Their language is predominantly Primitive Irish, but a few examples record fragments of the Pictish language. Ogham itself is an Early Medieval form of alphabet or cipher, sometimes known as the "Celtic Tree Alphabet".
A number of different numbering schemes are used. 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 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, 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 in the south of Ireland across to Dyfed in south Wales. The remainder are mostly in south-eastern Ireland, eastern and northern Scotland, the Isle of Man, and England around the Devon/Cornwall border. The vast majority of the inscriptions consists of personal names, probably of the person commemorated by the monument.

Orthodox inscriptions

In orthodox inscriptions, the script was carved into the edge of the stone, which formed the stemline against which individual characters are cut. The text of these "Orthodox Ogham" inscriptions is read beginning from the bottom left side of a stone, continuing upward along the edge, across the top and down the right side.
MacManus lists a total of 382 known Orthodox inscriptions. They are found in most counties of Ireland, concentrated in southern Ireland: County Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Mayo, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath, Carlow, Wexford, Limerick, Roscommon, Antrim, Cavan, Louth, Tipperary, Armagh, Dublin, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Londonderry and Tyrone. Other specimens are known from Wales, Breconshire and Carmarthenshire, Glamorgan, Cardiganshire, Denbighshire, Powys, and Caernarvonshire ), from England Devon, elsewhere ); the Isle of Man, and with some doubtful examples from Scotland

Formula words

The vast majority of inscriptions consists of personal names and they use a series of formula words, usually describing the person's ancestry or tribal affiliation. The formula words used are MAQI – 'son' ; MUCOI – 'tribe' or 'sept'; ANM – 'name' ; AVI – 'descendant' ; CELI – 'follower' or 'devotee' ; NETA – 'nephew' ; KOI – 'here is'. 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:
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 – 'hound' or 'wolf' and CATTU – 'battle'. These occur in names such as CUNANETAS – 'Champion of wolves'; CUNAMAGLI – 'prince of wolves'; CUNAGUSSOS – ' strong as a wolf'; CATTUVVIRR – 'man of battle'; CATABAR – 'chief in battle'; IVACATTOS – 'yew of battle'. Other warlike names include BRANOGENI – 'born of raven'; TRENAGUSU – 'strong of vigour'; and BIVAIDONAS – 'alive like fire'.
Elements that are descriptive of physical characteristics are also common, such as VENDUBARI – 'fair-headed'; CASONI – 'curly headed one'; DALAGNI – 'one who is blind'; DERCMASOC – 'one with an elegant eye'; MAILAGNI – 'bald/short haired one' and GATTAGLAN – 'wise and pure'.
Other names indicate a divine ancestor. The god Lugh features in many names such as LUGADDON, LUGUDECA and LUGAVVECCA, while the divine name ERC appears in names such as ERCAIDANA and ERCAVICCAS . Other names indicate sept or tribal name, such as DOVVINIAS from the Corcu Duibne sept of the Dingle and Iveragh peninsulas in Co. Kerry ; ALLATO from the Altraige of North Kerry and CORIBIRI 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 MAQI-CARATTINN – 'son of rowan'; MAQVI QOLI – 'son of hazel' and IVOGENI – '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 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 QRIMITIR RONANN MAQ COMOGANN, 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 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 on public display in 'The Stone Corridor'. The inscriptions were
collected by antiquarian Abraham Abell 1783–1851 and were deposited in the Cork Institution before being put on display in UCC. He was a member of the Cuvierian Society 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 in Co. Kerry. The inscriptions are arranged in a semicircle at the side of the road and are very well preserved.
IDTextTranslation / Personal namesLocationNotes
CIIC 1
LIE LUGNAEDON MACCI MENUEH		"The stone of Lugnaedon son of Limenueh".Inchagoill Island, Co GalwayCISP INCHA/1
CIIC 2
QENUVEN		Qenuvendi, "white head", corresponding to early names Cenond, Cenondÿn, Cenindÿn See Cloonmorris Ogham stoneBornacoola in county LeitrimCISP CLOOM/1
CIIC 3
CUNALEGI AVI QUNACANOS		"Cunalegi, descendant of Qunacanos"Island, Costello, Co MayoCISP ISLAN/1
CIIC 4
LUGADDON MA LGUDEC
DDISI MOCQU SEL		Lugáed son of LuguidKilmannia, Costello, Co MayoCISP KILMA/1
CIIC 5
ALATTOS MAQI BRMAQ		Qasignias son of...Tullaghaun, Costello, Co MayoCISP TULLA/1
CIIC 7
MAQ CERAN AVI ATHECETAIMIN		Son of Ciarán, descendant of the Uí RiaghanCorrower, Gallen, Co MayoCISP CORRO/1
CIIC 8
MA CORBAGNI GLASICONAS		Son of the tribe Corbagnus GlasiconasDooghmakeon, Murrisk, Co MayoCISP DOOGH/1
CIIC 9
MAQACTOMAQGAR		Son of Acto, son of GarAghaleague, Tirawley, Co MayoCISP AGHAL/1 Almost illegible
CIIC 10 /
LGGSD LEGwESCAD / MAQ CORRBRI MAQ AMMLLOGwITT		Legwescad, son of Corrbrias, son of AmmllogwittBreastagh, Tirawley, Co MayoCISP BREAS/1
CIIC 38
CORBI KOI MAQI LABRID		Here is Corb, son of LabraidBallyboodan, Knocktopher, Co Kilkenny
CIIC 47
NETACARI NETA CAGI		Netacari, nephew of CagiCastletimon, Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow
CIIC 50
VOTI		of Votus
Vow 		Boleycarrigeen, Kilranelagh, Co Wicklow
CIIC 180
BRUSCCOS MAQQI CALIACỊ		"of Bruscus son of Cailech"Emlagh East, Dingle, Co Kerry
CIIC 193
ANM COLMAN AILITHIR		" the name of Colmán, the pilgrim"Maumanorig, Co KerryCISP MAUIG/1
CIIC 200
MAQI-TTAL MAQI VORGOS MAQI MUCOI TOICAC		Son of Dal, son of Vergosus, son of the tribe of ToicaCoolmagort, Dunkerron North, Co KerryCISP COOLM/4
CIIC 300
CUNNETAS MAQI GUC NETA-SEGAMONAS		Cunnetas, Neta-SegamonasOld Island, Decies-without-Drum, Co WaterfordCISP OLDIS/1
CIIC 317
DOTETTO MAQ		Dotetto, MaglaniAghascrebagh, Upper Strabane, Co TyroneCISP AGHAS/1
CIIC 1082
GLANNANI MAQI BBRANNAD		Ballybroman, Co KerryCISP BALBR/1
CIIC 1083
COMMAGGAGNI MUI SAMMNN		Rathkenny, Ardfert, Corkaguiney, Co KerryCISP RTHKE/1
—
NM SILLANN MAQ FATTILLOGG		Ratass Church, Tralee, Co KerryCISP RATAS/1

Wales

The orthodox inscriptions in Wales are noted for containing names of both Latin and Brythonic origin, and are mostly accompanied by a Latin inscription in the Roman alphabet. Examples of Brythonic names include MAGLOCUNI and CUNOTAMI . Wales has the distinction of the only ogham stone inscription that bears the name of an identifiable individual. The stone commemorates Vortiporius, a 6th-century king of Dyfed. Wales also has the only ogham inscription known to commemorate a woman. At Eglwys Cymmin in Carmarthenshire is the inscription AVITORIGES INIGENA CUNIGNI or 'Avitoriges daughter of Cunigni'. Avitoriges is an Irish name while Cunigni is Brythonic, reflecting the mixed heritage of the inscription makers. Wales also has several inscriptions which attempt to replicate the supplementary letter or forfeda for P.
IDTextTranslation / Personal namesLocationNotes
CIIC 423
QQAGTE		Son of Quegte?Castle Villa, Brawdy, PembrokeshireCISP BRAW/1
CIIC 426
NETTASAGRI MAQI MUCOE BRIACI		Nettasagri, BriaciBridell, PembrokeshireCISP BRIDL/1
CIIC 427
MAGLDUBAR QI		Magl, DubrCaldey Island, Penally, PembrokeshireCISP CALDY/1
CIIC 456
GENDILI		GendiliusSteynton, PembrokeshireCISP STNTN/1 Latin "GENDILI"

England, Isle of Man, Scotland

England has seven or eight ogham inscriptions, five in Cornwall and two in Devon, 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. The Isle of Man has five inscriptions. One of these is the famous inscription at Port St. Mary which reads DOVAIDONA MAQI DROATA or 'Dovaidona son of the Druid'.
IDTextTranslation / Personal namesLocationNotes
CIIC 466
IGENAVI MEMOR		Lewannick, CornwallCISP LWNCK/1 Latin text "INGENVI MEMORIA"
CIIC 467
UCAG / CAGI		UlcagniLewannick, CornwallCISP LWNCK/2 Latin text "C IACIT VLCAGNI"
CIIC 470
LANI		Worthyvale, Slaughterbridge, Minster, CornwallCISP WVALE/1 Latin text "LATINI IC IACIT FILIUS MACARI"
CIIC 484
USTI		St. Kew, CornwallCISP STKEW/1 A block of granite, Latin "IVSTI" in a cartouche
CIIC 489
SVAQQUCI MAQI QICI		" of Safaqqucus, son of Qicus"Fardel Manor, near Ivybridge, DevonCISP FARDL/1
CIIC 488
ENABARR		To compare with the name of the horse of Manannan Mac Lir Roborough Down, Buckland Monachorum, DevonCISP TVST3/1
CIIC 496
EBICATO I MUCO bcatos-mqi-rcts		"Ammecatus son of Rocatus lies here"
"bicatos son of Rocatos"		Knoc y Doonee, Kirk AndreasCISP ANDRS/1 Combined Latin and Ogam
CIIC 501
CUNAMAGLI MAC		"Of Bivaidonas, son of the tribe Cunava"Ballaqueeney, Port St Mary, RushenCISP RUSHN/2
CIIC 506
VICULA MAQ CUGINI		Vicula, CuginiGigha, ArgyllCISP GIGHA/1
CIIC 507
CRON		Poltaloch, Kilmartin, ArgyllCISP POLCH/1 Fragment, recognised in 1931
CIIC 1068
LUGNI		Ballavarkish, BrideCISP BRIDE/1 Recognized 1911; crosses and animals, 8th or 9th century

Scholastic inscriptions

The term 'scholastic' derives from the fact that the inscriptions are believed to have been inspired by the manuscript sources, instead of being continuations of the original monument tradition. Scholastic inscriptions typically draw a line into the stone's surface along which the letters are arranged, rather than using the stone's edge. They begin in [the course of the 6th century, and continue into Old and Middle Irish, and even into Modern times. From the High Middle Ages, contemporary to the Manuscript tradition, they may contain Forfeda. The 30 or so Pictish inscriptions qualify as early Scholastic, roughly 6th to 9th century. Some Viking Age stones on Man and Shetland are in Old Norse, or at least contain Norse names.

Scotland

Isle of Man

ITRA : IS : LAIFA : FUSTRA : KUÞAN : ÞAN : SON : ILAN +