Did you know that Ogham — Ireland’s oldest alphabet — is often called the Celtic Tree Alphabet?

Ogham is Ireland's earliest known alphabet, originating around the 4th century CE. It was primarily used for inscriptions on stone monuments and wooden staves, serving as a means of communication and record-keeping.

The alphabet consists of 20 characters, each represented by a series of notches or strokes along a central line. These characters are known as feda (singular: fid), meaning "trees" or "branches" in Old Irish. While some of these characters correspond to tree names, it's important to note that not all of them do. 

For instance:

• ᚁ (B): Beith – commonly associated with the birch tree.

• ᚇ (D): Dair – linked to the oak tree.

• ᚄ (S): Saille – associated with the willow tree.

These associations are often derived from medieval glosses and interpretations, such as the Bríatharogam (Word Oghams), which provide poetic descriptions for each letter 

The Role of Trees in Early Irish Society

In early Irish culture, trees held significant importance. They were not only sources of material resources but also symbols of various concepts and values. The association of certain Ogham characters with trees reflects this cultural reverence.