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 The image above is of the south view of the stars that surround us on the night of the Full Moon in July. The red line marked HORIZON shows above and below the land we stand on. At 8pm or 20:00 the Moon is not visible to us and neither are the stars because the sun glare obscures the sky and the solidity of the Earth hides what is below the horizon. Moon rise is at 21:40 but sun glare still obscures the heavens... Happy Full Moon to all.
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 Clonmacnois Ogham Stone
Clonmacnois Monastic Site Co. OFFALY This stone was found in 1822 by Petrie, then it got lost but now has now been found again.... Horizontal Ogham on stone example. First recorded in 1822, it features both Roman-alphabet script spelling "Colman" and a secondary Ogham inscription. It is safely housed and displayed within the site's visitor center. Some have 'declared' that Thcob should be read as Bocht. No clarity as to why it should be read backwards but other written info on Ogham such as found in Auraicept na hÉces, a 12th century collection of older manuscripts disagrees. In Auraicept na hÉces we are told how to read Ogham: “Ogham is climbed (i.e. read) as a tree is climbed, i.e. treading (feet) on the root of the tree first with one’s right hand before and one’s left hand last. After that it is across it and against it and through it and around it". This 'root' we are to stand on is obviously the root of the tree and the trunk is the stem of the tree. We stand with our feet at the root to read Ogham. The term “feather-mark” was coined by R. A. S. Macalister, an early twentieth-century ogham scholar. Macalister described the shape as resembling an arrow shot across the page, with the ᚛ symbol standing in for the fletching / feather at the tail end of the shaft, marking where reading should begin and in which direction. Mind you - the same man believed that Ogham originated in Cis Alpine Gaul! In my book "OgamNua a seekers guide" I refer to the fletching feather as "roots or feet" as I was writing horizontally and from left to right. If the person who carved Thcob was a stonemason without knowledge of Ogham: he would simply do as asked. To get paid. Thcob as Latin or old Irish means no thing at all. It would then only be recognised by regular users of Ogham as back to front words that tries to hide its meaning. Bocht in Irish translates to Poor in English. If the person who caused Bocht to be carved into a grave slab wanted people to know that Colman was poor then writing it in backwards Ogham really limits the readership... Ah shure who knows? Get my book at https://www.celticdruidtemple.com/ogamnua-book.html Quote "The Irish Neolithic has just gotten a new star find... an amethyst pendant bead. Well done to Hugh and Sue at our Maree excavation!" NUIG on FB, 23rd July 2026. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057073796068 gives much much detail. This discovery shows the complexity of culture in Ireland's first farming communities. The Maree site features a court tomb, a burial monument with an open area where rituals or ceremonial activities took place, and a portal tomb, a stone-built burial chamber marked by a large capstone.  A small amethyst pendant found in the newly discovered portal tomb on Thursday is said to be unlike anything else discovered at similar sites across Ireland.  The excavation is being carried out by researchers and students from University of Galway, alongside community volunteers, and hosted by the local landowners, the Burke family. Led by Dr Michelle Comber and Dr Noel McCarthy of the Discipline of Archaeology at University of Galway, the excavation in the Maree area of Co Galway has revealed two different types of megalithic tombs dating back almost 6,000 years.The excavation uncovered stone tools, prehistoric pottery and cremated bone, including a small amethyst pendant from the portal tomb. While quartz beads are known from a few megalithic sites, nothing like this amethyst pendant is known from anywhere in Ireland.  More info at https://www.galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/archaeologists-uncover-rare-neolithic-tombs-in-maree-oranmore-226521 The lady who found this piece of jewelry is called Sue. The whole team doing the excavation are all excited and Sue is 'just' another archaeologist... Her second name is hidden respecting the team... this is standard practice during discoveries at a dig.  The image above is of Quartz beads found at ancient temples in Ireland. It is the toughest stone in the land. The unanswered question is how did the Irish stone age people cut spiral / vortex groves and neat countersunk holes for turning such rocks into jewels? Only a harder stone can cut quartz...
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