Danustouch
August 16th, 2001, 11:27 AM
I hope you all enjoy this article, those of you who are interested in Irish history. I've been doing my geneology now, for almost a year..i've found out some fairly interesting stuff. My great great grandfather owned 38 acres in Coolna Carrick, Cross Doney, County Cavan, Ireland. Which is close to the territory of the famous Cuchulainn (sp). Though MY family settled there during the protestant settlement period of Irish history. They were originally scottish highlanders. The family crest, depicts a stag, on a hill, under a tree, with a full moon over head. Thought that was really witchy and interesting :) . Anyway...I've been coming across much of these articles, while doing my family history research. Interesting thing though..My hubby is 1/4 Irish, and THAT irish lineage is from the SAME county that my family came from..believe it or not. He's a RILEY...the Riley's (o'reilly, reilly) were mainly found in County Cavan. I just thought that that was really, really odd.
Anyway..enough of my chatter..here's the article.
*************************************
Before the dawn of history, the Celts subjugated the German people and established themselves in Central Europe. The Celts were a warlike people, rich in the arts of civilized life, who subdued and dominated. They had a high degree of political unity and a single king. Evidence from 900 BC shows them to have been miners and agriculturists, and blessed with the use of iron instruments. They invaded Italy twice, in 7 BC and 4 BC, and stormed Rome in 300 BC. A great Celtic wave, moved west over the Rhine, and penetrated into England, Scotland, and Ireland. The end of the continental power of the Celts began when the oppressed Germans rose up against them in 3 BC. A fugitive colony of Celts settled in Asia Minor, in a territory they named Galatia (Gaels). In 4 BC, a Roman writer called Ireland, "Insula Sacra", indicating that the early pagans esteemed Ireland as a holy isle. Caesar refered to Ireland as Hibernia. In Caesar's day, the Celts (Gauls) dominated France and used Greek writing in almost all their business.
According to legend, the first people to come to Ireland were a tribe from Macedonia led by a chief called Parthalon. After three centuries, the whole nation was wiped out by a plague.
The next inhabitants were from Greece and descended from Nemedius, eleventh in descent from Noah. The quarelsome and disunited Nemedians were reduced to the level of serfs by the piratical Fomorians. The Nemedians returned to Greece, where they were again enslaved and made to carry soil in leather bags to mountain slopes to create farms. They became known as Fir Bholg, men of the "leather bags". After 200 years of Greek slavery, they escaped in the captured ships of their masters, reconquered Ireland and lived there in peace for a generation or two before the Tuatha De Danann arrived and forced the Firbolgs into partial serfdom. When the De Danann first arrived in Ireland (after living for a time in Scandinavia), Lug went to Eochaid, the Firbolg king at Tara, and sought an office. After much negociation, the king made him chief professor of the arts and sciences. In a famous battle at Southern Moytura (on the Mayo-Galway border), the Tuatha De Danann defeated the Firbolgs. The Firbolg king was killed and the hand of the De Danann king, Nuada, was severed. Nuada's silversmith made him a silver hand (Nuada of the Silver Hand) and a settlement was reached giving Connacht to the Fir Bolg. The settlement didn't last and the Fir Bolg were again defeated and retreated to the western mountains and the isles of Aran.
Unlike the uncultured Firbolgs, the Tuatha De Danann were highly civilized and skilled in the crafts. They brought with them to Ireland a heavy block of stone that had been the coronation seat of the kings of Scythia, the country of their origin. The Liath Fail (Stone of Destiny) served in Ireland for many centuries as the coronation seat. Then it was carried to Scotland, where at Scone it continued as the coronation seat of Scottish kings. In 1269 the stone was captured by the English and taken to London. It exists today in Westminster Abbey, set in the coronation chair on which the kings and queens of England have ever since been crowned.
The Firbolg and the Tuatha De Danann, who occupied the land before the Milesians invaded, were not exterminated, but dominated by the less numerous but more powerful Milesian aristocracy and soldiers with superior weapons of iron. The Milesians brought the Gaelic language. All three of these races were different tribes of the great Celtic family, who long ago had separated and over the centuries blended again into one tribe of Gaels.
Subsequently, the Gaedhal (Gaels) came from Scythia (vast undefined area of Southwest Europe and parts of Asia) to Ireland through Egypt, Crete, and Spain. They were called Gaedhal because their ancestor was Gaodhal Glas; the child that Moses cured of a serpent bite and promised that no serpent would infest the happy western island that his descendants would one day inhabit. Niul, a grandson of Gaodhal, was invited to Egypt as an instructor by one of the Pharaohs. He married Pharaoh's daughter, Scota. Niul and his people grew rich and powerful. They resented the injustice of a later Pharaoh, and were driven from the land. They travelled to Spain where they heard of Ireland, perhaps from Phoenician traders. They believed it was the Isle of Destiny fortold by Moses. Their leader was Mile, whose wife also was a Pharaoh's daughter named Scota. The Irish race is popularly known as the Milesian race, descended from Mile of Spain. Kings of Ireland in 1000 BC were descended from King Mile who turned his attention to Ireland to fulfill an ancient Druidic prophecy.
Mile's uncle, Ith, was sent to Ireland to investigate. The Tuatha De Danann, suspecting the purpose of his mission, killed Ith. Mile gathered another army to take revenge, but he died in Spain. His eight sons and wife, Scota, set out on a voyage to the Isle of Destiny with family and followers. When they attempted to land in Ireland, five of the sons and many followers were lost in a great storm, raised up against them by the wizard De Danann. Eventually they landed. The three grandsons of Lug were reigning when the Milesians came (The De Danann hero, Lug, was the son of Manannan mac Lir, the sea-god and fabled king of the Isle of Man). Three De Danaan queens: Banbha, Folda and Erie ruled in rotation. Erie was on the throne when the Milesians arrived. Heber (and his followers) landed at Inver Sceni (in Bantry Bay) and defeated a De Danann army under Queen Erie, but lost his mother (Queen Scota) in the battle. Heremon (and his followers) landed at Inver Culpa (mouth of the Boyne). Heber and Heremon joined forces in Meath and went against the De Danann in general battle at Taillte. The three kings & queens of the De Danann were slain (Eothor & Banbha, Teathoir & Folda, Cathoir & Erie). The De Danann survivors fled to caves in the remote hills. Glimpses of these fugitive hill-dwellers by descendants of Mile, coupled with the magical skill of the De Danann, gave foundation for future stories of enchanted folk, fairies, living under the Irish hills.
Heremon (Mile's eldest son) reigned for 14 years along with his brothers: Heber, and Ir. Heremon got the Northern half of the isle, Heber got the southern half and Ir got the northeastern corner. They named the land Scota after their mother. Scota was one of the earliest names of Ireland and the people were commonly called Scotti or Scots. It was taken by the Irish King Colla in 357 AD, when he was exiled to the Scottish western isles, leaving Ir-land (land of Ir) to the youngest son of Mile.
The Milesians divided Ireland into 5 provinces and set a subject king over each province. A Connacht prince called Tuathal founded the supremacy of Connacht among the provinces of Ireland. From him, Conn Cead Cathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles) whose name is perpetuated in the name Connacht. Conn made himself High King of Ireland and extended his personal kingdom of Connacht until it reached from the western sea to the eastern. Among his descendants were Finn Mac Coul and Neill of the Nine Hostages. Neill was progenitor of a long line of Connacht kings who were also High Kings of Ireland, a line known as the Ui Neill or O'Neills.
Among Conn's descendants were:
Fionn Mac Cumail (Finn Mac Cool) son of Cumal and leader of the Fian (Fenians) Legends of Finn More Finn Legends
Neill of the Nine Hostages Connacht kings (High Kings of Ireland) descended from Ui Neill (O'Neill).
Columcille (St. Columba, O'Neill descendant) left Ireland for Scotland and founded Iona abbey.
Anyway..enough of my chatter..here's the article.
*************************************
Before the dawn of history, the Celts subjugated the German people and established themselves in Central Europe. The Celts were a warlike people, rich in the arts of civilized life, who subdued and dominated. They had a high degree of political unity and a single king. Evidence from 900 BC shows them to have been miners and agriculturists, and blessed with the use of iron instruments. They invaded Italy twice, in 7 BC and 4 BC, and stormed Rome in 300 BC. A great Celtic wave, moved west over the Rhine, and penetrated into England, Scotland, and Ireland. The end of the continental power of the Celts began when the oppressed Germans rose up against them in 3 BC. A fugitive colony of Celts settled in Asia Minor, in a territory they named Galatia (Gaels). In 4 BC, a Roman writer called Ireland, "Insula Sacra", indicating that the early pagans esteemed Ireland as a holy isle. Caesar refered to Ireland as Hibernia. In Caesar's day, the Celts (Gauls) dominated France and used Greek writing in almost all their business.
According to legend, the first people to come to Ireland were a tribe from Macedonia led by a chief called Parthalon. After three centuries, the whole nation was wiped out by a plague.
The next inhabitants were from Greece and descended from Nemedius, eleventh in descent from Noah. The quarelsome and disunited Nemedians were reduced to the level of serfs by the piratical Fomorians. The Nemedians returned to Greece, where they were again enslaved and made to carry soil in leather bags to mountain slopes to create farms. They became known as Fir Bholg, men of the "leather bags". After 200 years of Greek slavery, they escaped in the captured ships of their masters, reconquered Ireland and lived there in peace for a generation or two before the Tuatha De Danann arrived and forced the Firbolgs into partial serfdom. When the De Danann first arrived in Ireland (after living for a time in Scandinavia), Lug went to Eochaid, the Firbolg king at Tara, and sought an office. After much negociation, the king made him chief professor of the arts and sciences. In a famous battle at Southern Moytura (on the Mayo-Galway border), the Tuatha De Danann defeated the Firbolgs. The Firbolg king was killed and the hand of the De Danann king, Nuada, was severed. Nuada's silversmith made him a silver hand (Nuada of the Silver Hand) and a settlement was reached giving Connacht to the Fir Bolg. The settlement didn't last and the Fir Bolg were again defeated and retreated to the western mountains and the isles of Aran.
Unlike the uncultured Firbolgs, the Tuatha De Danann were highly civilized and skilled in the crafts. They brought with them to Ireland a heavy block of stone that had been the coronation seat of the kings of Scythia, the country of their origin. The Liath Fail (Stone of Destiny) served in Ireland for many centuries as the coronation seat. Then it was carried to Scotland, where at Scone it continued as the coronation seat of Scottish kings. In 1269 the stone was captured by the English and taken to London. It exists today in Westminster Abbey, set in the coronation chair on which the kings and queens of England have ever since been crowned.
The Firbolg and the Tuatha De Danann, who occupied the land before the Milesians invaded, were not exterminated, but dominated by the less numerous but more powerful Milesian aristocracy and soldiers with superior weapons of iron. The Milesians brought the Gaelic language. All three of these races were different tribes of the great Celtic family, who long ago had separated and over the centuries blended again into one tribe of Gaels.
Subsequently, the Gaedhal (Gaels) came from Scythia (vast undefined area of Southwest Europe and parts of Asia) to Ireland through Egypt, Crete, and Spain. They were called Gaedhal because their ancestor was Gaodhal Glas; the child that Moses cured of a serpent bite and promised that no serpent would infest the happy western island that his descendants would one day inhabit. Niul, a grandson of Gaodhal, was invited to Egypt as an instructor by one of the Pharaohs. He married Pharaoh's daughter, Scota. Niul and his people grew rich and powerful. They resented the injustice of a later Pharaoh, and were driven from the land. They travelled to Spain where they heard of Ireland, perhaps from Phoenician traders. They believed it was the Isle of Destiny fortold by Moses. Their leader was Mile, whose wife also was a Pharaoh's daughter named Scota. The Irish race is popularly known as the Milesian race, descended from Mile of Spain. Kings of Ireland in 1000 BC were descended from King Mile who turned his attention to Ireland to fulfill an ancient Druidic prophecy.
Mile's uncle, Ith, was sent to Ireland to investigate. The Tuatha De Danann, suspecting the purpose of his mission, killed Ith. Mile gathered another army to take revenge, but he died in Spain. His eight sons and wife, Scota, set out on a voyage to the Isle of Destiny with family and followers. When they attempted to land in Ireland, five of the sons and many followers were lost in a great storm, raised up against them by the wizard De Danann. Eventually they landed. The three grandsons of Lug were reigning when the Milesians came (The De Danann hero, Lug, was the son of Manannan mac Lir, the sea-god and fabled king of the Isle of Man). Three De Danaan queens: Banbha, Folda and Erie ruled in rotation. Erie was on the throne when the Milesians arrived. Heber (and his followers) landed at Inver Sceni (in Bantry Bay) and defeated a De Danann army under Queen Erie, but lost his mother (Queen Scota) in the battle. Heremon (and his followers) landed at Inver Culpa (mouth of the Boyne). Heber and Heremon joined forces in Meath and went against the De Danann in general battle at Taillte. The three kings & queens of the De Danann were slain (Eothor & Banbha, Teathoir & Folda, Cathoir & Erie). The De Danann survivors fled to caves in the remote hills. Glimpses of these fugitive hill-dwellers by descendants of Mile, coupled with the magical skill of the De Danann, gave foundation for future stories of enchanted folk, fairies, living under the Irish hills.
Heremon (Mile's eldest son) reigned for 14 years along with his brothers: Heber, and Ir. Heremon got the Northern half of the isle, Heber got the southern half and Ir got the northeastern corner. They named the land Scota after their mother. Scota was one of the earliest names of Ireland and the people were commonly called Scotti or Scots. It was taken by the Irish King Colla in 357 AD, when he was exiled to the Scottish western isles, leaving Ir-land (land of Ir) to the youngest son of Mile.
The Milesians divided Ireland into 5 provinces and set a subject king over each province. A Connacht prince called Tuathal founded the supremacy of Connacht among the provinces of Ireland. From him, Conn Cead Cathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles) whose name is perpetuated in the name Connacht. Conn made himself High King of Ireland and extended his personal kingdom of Connacht until it reached from the western sea to the eastern. Among his descendants were Finn Mac Coul and Neill of the Nine Hostages. Neill was progenitor of a long line of Connacht kings who were also High Kings of Ireland, a line known as the Ui Neill or O'Neills.
Among Conn's descendants were:
Fionn Mac Cumail (Finn Mac Cool) son of Cumal and leader of the Fian (Fenians) Legends of Finn More Finn Legends
Neill of the Nine Hostages Connacht kings (High Kings of Ireland) descended from Ui Neill (O'Neill).
Columcille (St. Columba, O'Neill descendant) left Ireland for Scotland and founded Iona abbey.