Ogham (also spelled as Ogam) is a fascinating and uniquely Irish alphabet, made up of notches and lines that are either horizontal or diagonal. These symbols represent the sounds of an early form of the Irish language.

Many of our students are eager to learn how to read Ogham, so let's dive into that.

Sources to Read Ogham From

To understand Ogham, it’s important to know about its two main sources in Ireland: inscribed stones and the manuscript tradition.

The Ogham stone inscriptions are the earliest examples we have of the written Irish language, also known as Gaeilge. These inscriptions date back to at least the 400s CE (Common Era), making them some of the oldest written records in Ireland.

These stones typically feature the names of important people, often including information about their family or tribe, and sometimes even referencing geographical areas.

While the Ogham stones are ancient, the earliest surviving Ogham manuscripts are slightly younger.

These manuscripts suggest that the Ogham alphabet was well-known, not just in Ireland but also among scholars in other parts of the world. This knowledge may have spread as Irish scribes traveled, taking their learning with them.

One notable example is the Codex Bernensis 207, which is housed in Switzerland. This manuscript, which dates back to the 8th or 9th century CE, is mainly focused on Latin grammar.

However, it also includes examples of Ogham, showing that scholars outside of Ireland knew about and could read this unique script.

The Codex Bernensis might look complex, but it’s not the only early manuscript featuring Ogham. Other important sources include:

• Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana MS Reg. Lat. 1308 fol. 62v, dated to 876-877 CE
• MS Oxford St John’s College 17, fol. 7v, created in the early 1000s
• The Annals of Inisfallen, found in the Bodleian Library at Oxford (MS Rawlinson B 503), from the late 1000s CE

These manuscripts are invaluable for understanding how Ogham was used and read in the past. However, you don’t need to dig into ancient manuscripts to read Ogham today.

How to Read Ogham Today

When it comes to reading Ogham, there are two main methods, depending on the source.

The first method is used for reading Ogham inscriptions on stones. These inscriptions are read from the bottom to the top:

Ogham is climbed (i.e. read) as a tree is climbed, i.e. treading on the root of the tree first with one’s right hand before and one’s left hand last. After that it is across it and against it and through it and around it.

This is from the Auraicept na n-Éces, a 'Scholar's Primer' from around 650-700 CE. 

When reading Ogham inscriptions on stones, it’s helpful to remember that they were written in Irish (or sometimes Latin). This is an important consideration for anyone interested in writing Ogham as well.

To write in Ogham, you should always start with Irish words and phrases. Trying to translate directly from English into Ogham usually doesn't work very well because the structure and sounds of the two languages are quite different.

The second method of reading Ogham is used for texts written horizontally on a page. This can be confusing at first, especially if you’re used to the vertical stone inscriptions, so let’s break it down:

1. First Group of Letters (Aicme Beithe): These letters point to the right when written vertically. When written horizontally, they will point downward. This group includes the letters beith, lus, fern, sail, and nin.

2. Second Group of Letters (Aicme Húatha): These letters point to the left when written vertically. When written horizontally, they will point upward. This group includes the letters húath, dair, tinne, coll, and ceirt.

3. Third Group of Letters (Aicme Muine): These are slanted lines that flip direction when moving from vertical to horizontal writing. Vertically, they slant from side to side; horizontally, they slant up and down. This group includes the letters muin, gort, ngétal, straif, and ruis.

4. Fourth Group of Letters (Aicme Ailme): These letters are straight lines when written vertically. When written horizontally, they can either remain straight lines or be represented by dots. This group includes the letters ailm, onn, úr, edad, and idad.

Reading Ogham: An Example

To make this clearer, let’s look at an example. If you wanted to write the Irish word Sláinte (which means 'health') in Ogham, you would need to consider these rules for horizontal writing.

By understanding these two methods - reading vertically on stones and horizontally on pages - you can begin to grasp how Ogham was used historically and how it can be read today.

It may seem complex at first, but with some practice, it becomes much easier to understand.

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I hope this explanation has helped demystify the process of reading Ogham. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient inscriptions or writing your own Ogham texts, knowing these basics will set you on the right path.

Happy reading!