The Mysterious Disappearance of the Ogham Stones
Long before the familiar Gaelic script, Ireland had a unique writing system known as Ogham, dating back to around the 4th century AD. These mysterious inscriptions, carved into standing stones, are scattered across the country, mainly in the south and west. What’s surprising is how many of these stones have vanished or been repurposed over the centuries—used as building materials, boundary markers, or simply lost to time.
One famous story involves the Ogham stones at a site called Cashel, which were once central to Irish culture but mysteriously disappeared during the 17th century. Some historians believe they were deliberately destroyed during English campaigns to suppress Gaelic culture, while others speculate about natural erosion and local superstitions leading to their removal. The loss of these stones is a silent testimony to the clash between ancient Irish identity and colonial forces.
The Irish Samurai: Thomas Blake Glover
Few realize that the Irish influence stretched far beyond Europe, reaching even the samurai class in Japan. Thomas Blake Glover, born in County Antrim in 1838, became an unlikely figure in Japanese history. Emigrating to Japan in the mid-19th century, Glover played a significant role in the country’s industrialization during the Meiji Restoration.
He helped import Western technology and weapons, supporting the forces that would overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate. In fact, Glover is credited with helping the Satsuma rebels acquire arms, which were pivotal in Japan’s modernization and eventual emergence as a world power. His story is an unexpected link between Irish ingenuity and Japan’s dramatic transformation. shutdown123