The origins of The Shamrock Club Ogham - ancient Irish alphabet explained

Your own piece of ancient Irish history, hand-painted from Roscommon

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As part of your esteemed Gold and Green Shamrock membership, you receive a sleek and beautiful Ogham (pronounced “AHG-m” or “OH-ehm”) marked with the ancient Irish alphabet composed of 25 unique symbols dating back to the 1st century.

This artwork is original and carefully hand-painted on handmade paper in the studio of Ethel Kelly, based in Knockcroghery, county Roscommon.

Once hung in your living room, placed on your mantel, or showcased elsewhere in your home you can dazzle and beguile your guests with the following Ogham facts.

1. Originally carved in rocks, it is to be read from bottom to top.

2.  The Ogham is inspired by the ancient Irish God of Ogham or “God of Eloquence.”

3.  Another interpretation of the word is from the Irish og-úaim or “point seam,” referring to the seam made by a sharp weapon.

4. There are only 400 stone monuments inscribed with the Ancient Ogham (carved from left to right) in Ireland and Britain with the majority of the Irish ones to be found in Counties Kerry, Cork, and Waterford.

5. Nicknamed the “Celtic Alphabet Tree,” the main twenty letters of the text are of tree names sacred to the druids including birch, willow, oak, hazel, and apple.

6. The stone-based languages are known as “primitive Irish.”

7. The Ogham is confirmed in the 15th century book The Book of Ballymoote to be a secret ritualistic language

8. Here are the Ogham Consonants...

 

9. Here are the Ogham Vowels...
 

10.  The Complete Ogham Tree...

Thanks again for your patronage in the Shamrock Club and if you have not yet joined or are interested in becoming a new member just in time for St Patrick’s Day, you can find more information here.




 

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