Ogham inscription

Roughly 400 inscriptions in the ogham alphabet are known from stone monuments scattered around the Irish Sea, the bulk of them dating to the fifth and sixth centuries. The language of these inscriptions is predominantly Primitive Irish, but a few examples are fragments of the Pictish language. Ogham itself is an Early Medieval form of alphabet or cipher, sometimes also known as the "Celtic Tree Alphabet".
A number of different numbering schemes are used. The most common is after R. A. S. Macalister's Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum. This covers the inscriptions which were known by the 1940s. Another numbering scheme is given by the Celtic Inscribed Stones Project and is 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. Sabine 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 bulk of the surviving ogham inscriptions stretch in an arc from County Kerry in the south of Ireland across to Dyfed in south Wales. The remainder are, for the most part, found 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 consist 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 but are concentrated in southern Ireland, with the highest numbers found in County Kerry, Cork, and Waterford. Other counts are as follows: Kilkenny ; Mayo ; Kildare ; Wicklow and Meath ; Carlow ; Wexford, Limerick, and Roscommon ; Antrim, Cavan, Louth, and Tipperary ; Armagh, Dublin, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Londonderry and Tyrone.
Other specimens are known from Wales ; Breconshire and Carmarthenshire ; Glamorgan ; Cardiganshire ; Denbighshire ; Powys, and Caernarvonshire ). A few are known of from sites in the Isle of Man, in England, such as Cornwall, Devon, and some doubtful examples from Scotland.

Formula words

The vast majority of inscriptions consists of personal names and use a series of formula words, usually describing the person's ancestry or tribal affiliation.
Formula words used include the following:

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:

X MAQI Y
X MAQI MUCOI Y
X MAQI Y MUCOI Z
X KOI MAQI MUCOI Y
X MUCOI Y
X MAQI Y MAQI MUCOI Z
Single name inscriptions with no accompanying formula word
ANM X MAQI Y
ANM X
X AVI Y
X MAQI Y AVI Z
X CELI Y
NETTA 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 – 'hound' or 'wolf' and CATTU – 'battle'.
These occur in names such as:
Other warlike names include:
Elements that are descriptive of physical characteristics are also common, such as:
Other names indicate a divine ancestor. The god Lugh features in many names such as:
The divine name ERC appears in names such as:
Other names indicate sept or tribal name, such as:
Of particular interest is the fact that quite a few names denote a relationship to trees, such as:
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 removed the word MUCOI on account of its supposedly pagan associations and added crosses next to them.
Other scholars, such as McManus, argue that there is no evidence for this, citing inscriptions such as
where QRIMITIR is a loan word from Latin 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|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, known as the Dunloe Ogham Stones, can be seen at Dunloe near Killarney in County 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	LIE LUGNAEDON MACCI MENUEH	"The stone of Lugnaedon son of Limenueh".	Inchagoill island, County Galway	CISP INCHA/1
CIIC 2	QENUVEN	Qenuvendi, "white head", corresponding to early names Cenond, Cenondÿn, Cenindÿn See Cloonmorris Ogham stone	Bornacoola, County Leitrim	CISP CLOOM/1
CIIC 3	CUNALEGI AVI QUNACANOS	"Cunalegi, descendant of Qunacanos"	Island, Costello, County Mayo	CISP ISLAN/1
CIIC 4	LUGADDON MA LGUDEC DDISI MOCQU SEL	Lugáed son of Luguid	Kilmannia, Costello	CISP KILMA/1
CIIC 5	ALATTOS MAQI BRMAQ	Qasignias son of...	Tullaghaun, Costello	CISP TULLA/1
CIIC 7	MAQ CERAN AVI ATHECETAIMIN	Son of Ciarán, descendant of the Uí Riaghan	Corrower, Gallen, County Mayo	CISP CORRO/1
CIIC 8	MA CORBAGNI GLASICONAS	Son of the tribe Corbagnus Glasiconas	Dooghmakeon, Murrisk, County Mayo	CISP DOOGH/1
CIIC 9	MAQACTOMAQGAR	Son of Acto, son of Gar	Aghaleague, Tirawley, County Mayo	CISP AGHAL/1 Almost illegible
CIIC 10	/ LGGSD LEGwESCAD / MAQ CORRBRI MAQ AMMLLOGwITT	Legwescad, son of Corrbrias, son of Ammllogwitt	Breastagh, Tirawley	CISP BREAS/1
CIIC 38	CORBI KOI MAQI LABRID	Here is Corb, son of Labraid	Ballyboodan, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny
CIIC 47	NETACARI NETA CAGI	Netacari, nephew of Cagi	Castletimon, Brittas Bay, County Wicklow
CIIC 50	VOTI	of Votus Vow	Boleycarrigeen, Kilranelagh, County Wicklow
CIIC 180	BRUSCCOS MAQQI CALIACỊ	"of Bruscus son of Cailech"	Emlagh East, Dingle, County Kerry
CIIC 193	ANM COLMAN AILITHIR	" the name of Colmán, the pilgrim"	Maumanorig, County Kerry	CISP MAUIG/1
CIIC 200	MAQI-TTAL MAQI VORGOS MAQI MUCOI TOICAC	Son of Dal, son of Vergosus, son of the tribe of Toica	Coolmagort, Dunkerron North, County Kerry	CISP COOLM/4
CIIC 300	CUNNETAS MAQI GUC NETA-SEGAMONAS	Cunnetas, Neta-Segamonas	Old Island, Decies-without-Drum, County Waterford	CISP OLDIS/1
CIIC 317	DOTETTO MAQ	Dotetto, Maglani	Aghascrebagh, Upper Strabane, County Tyrone	CISP AGHAS/1
CIIC 1082	GLANNANI MAQI BBRANNAD		Ballybroman, County Kerry	CISP BALBR/1
CIIC 1083	COMMAGGAGNI MUI SAMMNN		Rathkenny, Ardfert, Corkaguiney, County Kerry	CISP RTHKE/1
—	NM SILLANN MAQ FATTILLOGG		Ratass Church, Tralee, County Kerry	CISP 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 INIGENA CUNIGNI AVITTORIGES 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.

ID	Text	Translation / Personal names	Location	Notes
CIIC 423	QQAGTE	Son of Quegte?	Castle Villa, Brawdy, Pembrokeshire	CISP BRAW/1
CIIC 426	NETTASAGRI MAQI MUCOE BRIACI	Nettasagri, Briaci	Bridell, Pembrokeshire	CISP BRIDL/1
CIIC 427	MAGLDUBAR QI	Magl, Dubr	Caldey Island, Penally, Pembrokeshire	CISP CALDY/1
CIIC 456	GENDILI	Gendilius	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, 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.
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'.

ID	Text	Translation / Personal names	Location	Notes
CIIC 466	IGENAVI MEMOR		Lewannick, Cornwall	CISP LWNCK/1 Latin text "INGENVI MEMORIA"
CIIC 467	UCAG / CAGI	Ulcagni	Lewannick, Cornwall	CISP LWNCK/2 Latin text "C IACIT VLCAGNI"
CIIC 470	LANI		Worthyvale, Slaughterbridge, Minster, Cornwall	CISP WVALE/1 Latin text "LATINI IC IACIT FILIUS MACARI"
CIIC 484	USTI		St. Kew, Cornwall	CISP 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, Devon	CISP FARDL/1
CIIC 488	ENABARR	To compare with the name of the horse of Manannan Mac Lir	Roborough Down, Buckland Monachorum, Devon	CISP TVST3/1
CIIC 496	EBICATO I MUCO bicatos son of Rocatos"	Knoc y Doonee, Kirk Andreas	CISP ANDRS/1 Combined Latin and Ogam	-
CIIC 501	CUNAMAGLI MAC	"Of Bivaidonas, son of the tribe Cunava"	Ballaqueeney, Port St Mary, Rushen	CISP RUSHN/2
CIIC 506	VICULA MAQ CUGINI	Vicula, Cugini	Gigha, Argyll	CISP GIGHA/1
CIIC 507	CRONcrosses and animals, 8th or [9th century">Celtic cross">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.

Isle of Man

CISP KMICH/1, an 11th-century combined Runic and Ogam inscription in Kirk Michael churchyard, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man
:
:
:
:
::Transcription:
:blfsnhdtcqmgngzraouei
:MUUCOMAL LAFIUA MULLGUC
:MAL : LUMKUN : RAISTI : KRUS : ÞINA : IFTIR : MAL : MURU : FUSTRA : SINI : TOTIRTUFKALS : KONA : IS : AÞISL : ATI+

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

::Translation:
:An ogham abecedarium
:"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"
:
or possibly
:...BAC......OCOICATIALL possibly 'A thong of fifty warriors'
:An ogham inscription in Old Irish discovered at the Speke Farm keeill by the seventh fairway of the Mount Murray golf course five miles southwest of Douglas by a Time Team excavation.
: Has been defined as an 11th - 12th century inscription on stylistic grounds
:However there has been at least one proposed date of 6th - 8th century from the association of a 6-7th century grave nearby, with the possibility of the more familiar variant reading '..A...MACI MUCOI CATIALL' '..., son of the tribe of Catiall.'

Ireland

A 19th-century ogham inscription from Ahenny, Co. Tipperary
: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
:: "Fán liag so ina luí atá Máire Ní Dhíomsaigh ó mBaile na gCrannaibh"
:: "Beneath this stone lieth Mári Ní Dhíomasaigh from Ballycranna"

Manuscript tradition

Latin text written in ogham, in the Annals of Inisfallen of 1193
:
:nummus honoratur sine / nummo nullus amatur
:This is a hexameter line with internal rhyme at the caesura, to be scanned as follows: nūmmŭs hŏnōrātūr || sĭnĕ nūmmō nūllŭs ămātūr.
:"Money is honoured, without money nobody is loved"
Fictional inscription: a Middle Irish saga text recorded in the Book of Leinster mentions the following ogham inscription:
:
:
:
: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.
J. Higgitt, K. Forsyth, D. Parsons, Roman, Runes and Ogham. Medieval Inscriptions in the Insular World and on the Continent, Donington: Shaun Tyas.
Jackson, K.H., Notes on the Ogam inscriptions of southern Britain, in C. Fox, B. Dickins The Early Cultures of North-West Europe. Cambridge: 197—213 .
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.
Macalister, R. A. S., Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum' Vol. II., Dublin: Stationery Office.
McManus, D, A Guide to Ogam, An Sagart, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
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.