Ogham is often associated with the weathered standing stones scattered across Ireland, marking names, boundaries, and lineage. But what happened to Ogham after the age of stone inscriptions?

Did it disappear, or did it evolve?

In fact, Ogham didn’t vanish - it found new life in medieval Irish manuscripts, where scholars studied, adapted, and even played with the script in ways we might not expect.

In this episode of the Ogham Academy Podcast, we explore the journey of Ogham from carved inscriptions to the handwritten pages of medieval Irish scholars.

📺 Watch the episode below to learn more:

Ogham Beyond Stone: The Medieval Connection

The earliest Ogham inscriptions date from around the 4th to 7th centuries AD, carved into stone as memorial markers or territorial claims. However, by the 9th century, Ogham had also made its way into manuscript culture, proving that it was still actively used and understood long after stone carving ceased.

One of the most intriguing examples of this comes from the St. Gall Priscian Glosses, where an Irish scribe, possibly in a moment of mischief, scrawled the word LATHEIRT in Ogham.

This word, meaning 'excessive drunkenness' or 'hangover', appears in the margins of a Latin grammar text, offering a glimpse of how Ogham was used informally as well as formally.

While this example is amusing, it also highlights something important - Ogham was still accessible enough to be casually written by scholars centuries after its primary function had shifted.

Ogham in the Scholar’s Hands

Beyond casual scribbles, medieval Irish scholars incorporated Ogham into linguistic and grammatical studies. The Auraicept na n-Éces, or The Scholars’ Primer, presents Ogham as a sophisticated script, even claiming divine origins for its creation.

This text, a foundational work on early Irish grammar, suggests that Ogham wasn’t merely a relic of the past but was actively studied as part of Ireland’s intellectual tradition.

Another key manuscript, In Lebor Ogaim (The Ogam Tract), details different forms of Ogham, including variations not found on stone inscriptions.

This suggests that medieval scribes were expanding and adapting Ogham for different purposes, possibly for coded messages, linguistic exercises, or magical inscriptions.

This shift from stone to manuscript marks an important evolution.

Ogham was no longer just a practical tool for marking land or commemorating the dead - it had become an intellectual and cultural artefact, preserved by scholars who recognised its significance.

Why Ogham Matters Today

Understanding how Ogham transitioned from a physical inscription system to a subject of scholarly study gives us a deeper appreciation of its role in Irish history.

Rather than being a forgotten script of the past, Ogham was actively explored, adapted, and studied well into the medieval period.

And it’s not just a thing of history - today, Ogham continues to be a powerful symbol of Irish heritage, and many are working to bring it back into modern awareness.

💡 Want to explore Ogham for yourself?

Download our Free Guide to the Ogham and start learning about this fascinating script today! 

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What do you think - should Ogham be revived for modern use? Let us know in the comments!