Stone Age Man Designs
Sam Moore is a Dublin man who has lived in England, Spain, South America and the States and has now made Sligo his permanent home. He is a writer and historian, with a strong interest in archaeology and mythology. Sam teaches calligraphy and paints when he gets time. He is also very interested in the ancient alphabet of Ireland - Ogham - and has been carving Ogham on stone for many years.
Sam lives near the place of origin of the 'Book of Ballymote', in which a treatise on the Ogham Alphabet was recorded in c1400 AD, thus allowing modern scholars to translate this ancient alphabet. Ogham is the earliest form of Irish writing in which the letters are made up of strokes set at different angles against or across a central line or edge of a stone pillar. Later, other symbols called forfeda were added. The surviving examples are carved on pillar stones and commemorate a person's name, or acted as a tribal boundary marker. It dates from the pre-Christian era and flourished between the 5th and 8th centuries AD. There are 400 examples of Ogham stones throughout Ireland, mainly in the south west, and they are also found in areas of Irish colonisation in Britain at the end of the Roman period. The form of Irish on the pillars is often very ancient and it seems to be adapted from the Latin alphabet.
Ogham is frequently mentioned in Irish myths and sagas. Its invention is attributed to Ogma Grian-aineach (the sunny face), who was brother of the Dagda, father god of the Túatha Dé Danann. It also served as a mnemonic aid for the Irish bards and druids to memorise poems and tribal lore. It had strong magical associations with many of these being linked to the mystical properties of trees. Each letter of the alphabet takes the name of a tree in Irish.
Sam normally carves peoples names on the Ogham stones that he makes. They make wonderful wedding, christening, anniversary or corporate gifts. All Sam's work is by order - the customer dictates what they want on the stone. Due to the nature of Ogham only one or two names generally fit on the stone. Sam also creates more artistic pieces in Ogham with carvings on the stone and the opening line of an ancient poem carved - reflecting the bardic use of this amazing alphabet.
Sam Moore, Stone Age Man Designs, Carrickbanagher, Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland
Tel: + 353 (0)71 89317 / Email:stoneageman@hotmail.com
