Early 11th Century Record

Above: Book of Ballymote

Early in the eleventh century, in 1015, is recorded the death of Mac Liag, the distinguished arch-ollamh of Brian Boirmhe, and reputed author of " Wars of the Gael and Gall." Amongst the other renowned authors and minstrels of the time were Cuan Ua Lochain, to whom is ascribed, at least in part, the " Book of Rights," i.e. Leabhar na gCeart, and Mac Giolla Caoimh who thus early visited Greece and Palestine. An equally distinguished writer of the time was Giolla Comhghaill Ua Sleibhin, trusted envoy of Maelsheach-lain and " chief poet of the North of Ireland," who died in 1031. Just a decade later is recorded the death of Mac Beathaidh, " chief poet of Ard Macha and Ireland in general." In 1064 " Blind O Lonain, chief poet and chief historian of Munster died"; in 1079 Ceallach Ua Ruanadha, "chief bardic professor of Ireland rested in peace " ; and in 1088 " Tighearnach Ua Braoin, chief comharb of Coman and Ciaran, a paragon of learning and history, and Maeliosa Ua Maelghiric, chief poet and chief ollamh."
Coming to the twelfth century, the Four Masters in 1118 record that O Baoigheallain chief poet of Ireland was killed by Spailleach O Flannagain ; in 1130, that " Gollchluana ollamh of Westmeath in.poetry died." The following year " Feardana Ua Carthaigh chief poet of Connacht fell in battle " ; in 1139 " Cuchonnacht Ua Dalaigh chief ollamh in poetry died at Cluain Ioraird "; in 1143 " Giolla Aonghusa Ua Clumhain ollamh of poetry in Connacht " passed away. " Raghnall Ua Dalaigh ollamh of Desmond in poetry’ died in 1161 ; " Domhnall Ua Sleibhin chief poet of Oirgh-ialla," in 1168 ; " Aindileas Ua Clumhain, ollamh in poetry,’ in 1170. Most of these and countless others unnamed, like Flann Mac Lonain, "Virgil of the Scotic race," and the reH owned Cineadh 0 Hartagain, were the familiar friends and counsellors of kings : Cuan O Lochain, indeed, was chosen Regent on the death of Maelsheachlain II, thus illustrating the national standing of the poet—who was entitled to the same eineachla or compensation as the provincial king—as another record, " bishop and excellent scribe/’ which occurs frequently in the obituary notices that crowd the Annals, indicates the national appreciation of the tireless writing and unique penmanship of the Gael.
Oghamchraobh was the earliest form of writing used in Ireland. According to the Annals it was practised hundreds of years before the coming of Saint Patrick, and it certainly survived him : " Some of the Irish glosses surviving 011 the Continent since the seventh and eighth centuries are, indeed, in Ogham." Its alphabet was referred to as beth litis nion (b.l.n.) from its first letters ; the other letters are sometimes referred to as feadha. It was generally written on pillar stones, the letters being cut across a perpendicular line called the /lease. In the Tain Bo, Cuchulainn is mentioned as having cut the ogham-craobh on branches, which he scattered lor the hosts of Meadhbh. They were ultimately brought for interpretation to Fearghus mac Roigh. Cuchulainn also met a pillar-stone beside Dun Xeachtain in Leinster. On it was a notice that every hero passing by was expected to strike his fighting staff. To give Fionn certain information Lomna cut an ogham on a four square rod. Similar examples might be multiplied. The most usual inscription on the pillar stone was the record ol some   hero’s death :   his flag was  placed   on   his  tomb,
his name written in oghamchraobh and a dirge chanted over his remains. These stones were placed over heroes’ graves as late as 600. Hundreds of them still survive, particularly in Kerry and Cork, occasionally in Connacht and Ulster. Many, also, must be buried away in the bogs. Some, too, are met with in Wales and not a few in Scotland. For a long time the inscriptions were thought to convey little ; but their import is no longer in doubt, as they are read with comparative ease since the discovery, in the Book of Ballymote, of the key to the whole system. Their elucidation has also been simplified by bilingual inscriptions—Ogham and Latin—on pillar-stones, especially in Wales.