Ogham is not a language. It is an alphabet based on the Latin alphabet. It was thought to have been invented in Ireland and derived from the Latin which had been introduced here by the early converts to Christianity. No examples of Ogham stones have been discovered on the Continent. There are about 300 inscriptions in Ireland nearly all in the south; 125 in Kerry, 85 in Cork 47 in Waterford and 12 in Kilkenny and 8 each in Mayo and Kildare. In Waterford Ogham stones are found in places such as Ardmore, Drumlohan, Kilgrovan, Ballyquin, Dromore, etc.
The letters are represented by lines or dots cut or marked to left, right, on or across a central stem line and are usually read from bottom upwards. The stones carry little information, they may start off with the words 'The stone of...' or where the word anm appears, 'the name of' or 'soul of'. Also found is 'nephew of', 'servant of' etc.
William Williams of Dungarvan found the Kilgrovan Stones in 1857. These were a group of five inscribed stones. The site was visited by the architect and antiquarian R. B. Brash in 1869. He gave their position as being 20 perches from the sea. A cillin or small church had existed in this field in 1869. The stones had been gathered together in one spot by this stage. When Professor Macalister visited the site in 1894 he discovered that some of the stones had been broken at the tops and bottoms. At the turn of the century the stones were transferred from Clonea to Mount Melleray. The transfer had been arranged by Rev. Patrick Power of Waterford, who later became Professor of Archaeology at U.C.C.
The five stones at Mount Melleray were numbered. No. 1 is of green stone, 4 ft. high and 1ft. 3in. wide. It has the inscription in ancient Irish Na Maqi Lugudeca Mucoi Cunea, which translates Na, the son of Lugudecos, the descendant of Cuneos. No. 2 is inscribed Nisigni Maqi Er... which translates Nisignos the son of Er...(last name obliterated). No. 3 is the largest, made of slate, measuring 6ft by 2ft. It reads Debrani Maqi Elti Avi Ogatos, which translates Debranos son of Eltos grandson of Ogatos. Part of the first name of the fourth stone was broken off. It reads Agni Mucoi Cun Ia, which translates Agnos the descendant of Cunios. No. 5 stone has little inscription. Maqi(the son of) and one letter E. The words The soul of is understood before the first name on each stone. The five stones lay in a fenced off grove of trees at Melleray for over 40 years. In 1977 they were moved indoors and were erected in the foyer of the old secondary school.
