Early Irish History and Mythology (Irish History and Genealogy) (Irish History & Genealogy)

This book is concerned mainly with the early history of Ireland. Events and persons of early Christian Ireland are occasionally discussed; but for the most part it confines itself to the history of Ireland previous to the official introduction of Christianity in A.D. 431. The main source from which this history has been reconstructed is native Irish tradition, which has been supplemented to some extent by the testimony of classical authors and by linguistic evidence. In the Additional Notes a few of the views expressed in the body of the book are modified or withdrawn. But for the most part — and this accounts for their unusual length — these Additional Notes are intended to make the book as self-contained as was reasonably possible. At the outset of my work I had hoped to supplement it at a later date by writing a couple of other books on kindred themes; but I later realized that there is no prospect of my obtaining the necessary leisure to undertake these. I. ON PTOLEMY’S GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND 1 II. FIR BOLG. BOLG. BULGA 43 III. THE GAÍ BULGA AND ITS KIN 58 IV. THE BOLGIC INVASION 75 V. IARNBÉLRE, 'THE LANGUAGE OF THE ÉRAINN' 85 VI. THE LAGINIAN INVASION 92 1. Lagin, Domnainn, Gálioin, p. 92. 2. The Laginian Invasion according to 'Lebor Gabála', p. 99. 3. Labraid Loingsech, p. 101. 4. 'Togail Bruidne Da Derga', p. 117. 5. 'Togail Bruidne Da Choca', p. 130. 6. The Laginian Conquest of Connacht, p. 141. VII. GAUL. 'QUARIATES'. IR. 'CAIRID' 147 VIII. TUATHAL TECHTMAR 154 1. The Conquest of the 'Aithechthuatha', p. 154. 2. The Tuathal Techtmar of History, p. 161. IX. THE FIVE PROVINCES 170 X. MUG NUADAT 184 XI. THE GOIDELIC INVASION 193 XII. NIALL OF THE NINE HOSTAGES 209 XIII. SOME QUESTIONS OF DATING IN EARLY IRISH ANNALS 235 XIV. HISTORY OR FABLE? 260 1. Euhemerists and Others, p. 260. 2. 'Lebor Gabála', p. 263. 3. The Genealogies, p. 267. 4. The Ulidian Tales, p. 269. 5. Finn and the 'Fiana', p. 271. 6. Conn Cétchathach; Cormac ua Cuinn, p. 281. XV. THE TRAVELLER OF THE HEAVENS 286 1. 'Án', 'Áine', p. 286. 2. The Heavenly Horse, p. 290. 3. Italo-Celtic 'Jānos', p. 294. 4. 'áinne', 'fáinne', p. 300. XVI. THE THREE GODS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP 308 XVII. THE WISDOM OF FINN 318 1. The Source of Wisdom, p. 318. 2. The Seer, p. 323. 3. How Finn acquired Wisdom, p. 326. 4. The Chewing of the Thumb, p. 334. 5. 'Teinm Laido', p. 336. APPENDICES I. CRUTHIN AND ULAID 341 II. ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE PICTS 353 III. ON THE NAME 'ALBA' 385 IV. MAG TUIRED 388 V. LUAIGNI. LUIGNI 391 VI. EARLY KINGS OF CONNACHT 395 VII. 'THE THREE CONNACHTS' 405 VIII. 'THE EARLIEST IRISH HISTORIES' 409 IX. SOME MODERN THEORIES REGARDING THE GOIDELIC INVASION 419 X. 'PRITENI', 'PRITANI', 'BRITANNI' 444 ADDITIONAL NOTES 453 INDEX OF AUTHORS QUOTED OR REFERRED TO 640 LINGUISTIC INDEX 544 GENERAL INDEX 547 ABBREVIATED REFERENCES 562 CORRIGENDA, ETC. 565