Féachtar ar ogham mar an chéad fhoirm scríbhneoireachta a bhí in Éirinn agus meastar gur marcóirí teorainneacha do thalamh a bhí sna clocha oghaim. Séard atá sna hinscríbhinní ar na clocha oghaim ná ainmneacha daoine, maraon leis an gceangal a bhí ag an duine sin le tuismitheoirí nó treabh, sé sin X mac le Y. De gnáth tosaíonn an inscríbhinn ag bun an ghalláin ar chlé aníos agus séard atá sna marcanna ná sraith de ghearrthacha comhthrománacha nó trasnánacha agus poncanna. Is é líon agus ord na marcanna a léiríonn an litir. Tá clocha oghaim ar fud na hÉireann, ach tá líon mór acu le fáil i gcontaetha Chorcaí, Chiarraí agus Phort Láirge, ach go háirithe.
Is féidir leat a thuilleadh eolais maidir le hoghamchraobh a fháil ar an suíomh idirlíon Ogham in 3D – is féidir leat triail a bhaint as ogham a scríobh, fiú amháin!
Féach ar roinnt phictiúirí de chlocha oghaim in Eaglais; san Aird Mhór; i nDrom Lócháin; sa Chnoc Buí agus in áiteanna eile i bPort Láirge ar shuíomh idirlíon Ogham in 3D
One of the earliest writing forms in Ireland and ogham stones are thought to serve as boundary markers for land. Ogham stones inscriptions record the names of individuals accompanied often by their parental or tribal connection i.e. X son of Y. The standing stone is inscribed usually from the bottom left upwards and the marks made are a series of horizontal or diagonal slashes and dots the number and sequence indicating the letter. Ogham stones are found throughout Ireland but there is a particular concentration in the counties of Cork, Kerry and Waterford.
You can find out more about the ogham alphabet by visiting the Ogham in 3D website – you can even try writing in Ogham.
Take a look at some of the images of ogham stones from Aglish; Ardmore; Drumlohan; Knockboy and elsewhere in Waterford on the Ogham in 3D Website.
