Irish Blessing
From the Gaelic Beannacht meaning 'Blessing'.
This framed Ogham Wish is a wonderful gift, suitable for many occasions such as baptisms, communions, confirmations, housewarmings, or newborn gifts. Each individual piece is handpainted on handmade paper by Ethel Kelly in Co. Roscommon, Ireland.
Frame size: 6" x 11"
History of Ogham
Ogham (pronounced 'ohm') was the earliest form of writing in Ireland, existing from the 4th-9th centuries AD. Typically etched into stone or wood, it consists of a series of strokes along a line, where the strokes' quantity, length, and direction determine the letter. Most of the letters correspond to the Roman alphabet, with a few local additions, so in fact, it's a translatable cipher rather than a language, read from the bottom-left upwards.
Some historians believe it may have been used as a secret alphabet that Roman Britain wouldn't be able to understand, while others suggest it may have been developed by early Christian communities as a form of shorthand. Most surviving examples are found on stone monuments in southern Ireland, though there are also some inscriptions in the west of Britain too, particularly in Wales.
