ALPHABETS - Ogham Stones - Celtic Ogham stones (from left to right) February ( Willow ), Earth ( Beech, the Phagos ) and Water ( Poplar ). Hanging near the socle of the Southern Cross at Monasterboice, Ireland. - Ogham is the earliest form of writing in Ireland, it dates to around 3rd century A.D. and was in use for around 500 years. The Ogham alphabet is made up of a series of strokes along or across a line. The alphabet was carved on standing stones to commemorate someone, using the edge of the stone as the centre line. They normally read from the left hand side bottom up, across the top and if need be down the other side.