A copy of the map made by ' Ptolemy ' 2nd Century AD but based on an account from around 100 AD
Irish History
And
The Fighting Irish
And
The Fighting Irish
roman influences and Irish colonies
In the last centuries BC, the rest of Celtic Europe fell to the expanding Roman Empire. The Celts of southern Britain were conquered in 43 AD. Stopping short of the Picts of modern-day Scotland, the Roman Emperor Hadrian built his famous wall between the Celts of the north and Roman Britain. The Roman Legions never invaded Ireland, but we know that they did consider it. During a foray into southern Scotland, the Roman General Agricola looked across the North Channel towards the Irish coast. The writer Tacitus reports that Agricola " saw that Ireland....conveniently situated for the ports of Gaul might prove a valuable acquisition. " and that " I have often heard Agricola declare that a single legion, with a moderate band of auxilaries, would be enough to finsih the conquest of Ireland. " However an invasion never took place - not because the Irish qould be too hard to defeat, but simply because the Romans decided it would'nt be worth the effort.
Ireland did however, come under heavy Roman influence, even if not under its rule. In the first and second centuries AD, there is evidence that there was sparodic trading between the Irish and the Romans of Britain. Tacitus, writing in the first century AD, says of Ireland " the interior parts are little known, but through commercial intercourse and the merchants there is better knowledge of the harbours and approaches. " Evidence of a Roman trading post has been found near Dublin. However it was not until the fourth and fifthe centuries AD that there is evidence of prolonged Roman influences in Ireland. Roman coins and other implements have been found in Ireland. There is evidence that the language spoken by the Eoganacht of Munster, who arrived at the end of the Iron Age, had been heavily influenced by Latin. Finally, it is certain that ' Ogham ' the first written scripts in the Irish language, was based on the Latin alphabet.
Towards the end of the pre-Christian period, as the Roman Empire and its colony in Britain declined, the Irish took advantage and began raiding western Britain. Picts from Scotland and Saxons from Germany raided other parts of the colony. As their raids got ever more successful, the Irish began to colonise western Britain. The Erainn of Munster settled in Cornwall, the Laigin of Leinster settled in south Wales while the Deisi of south-east Ireland settled in north Wales. Cormac of Cashel ( writing much later in 908 AD ) records that " The power of the Irish over the Britons was great, and they had devided Britain between them into estates . .and the Irish lived as much east of the sea as they did in Ireland. " These colonies were all defeated by the Britons within the next century or so, although the Irish Kings seemed to be still ruling in south Wales as late as the tenth century. But by far the most successful colony was that of the Dal Riata in western Scotland. Their colony thrived and, in fact, it seems that most or all Dal Riatans untimately left northern Ireland for the new colony. Probably founding the colony around 400-500 AD. Dal Riata was well established by 563 AD and in the ninth century it took control of Pictland, to the east, and founding the united kingdom of Scotland.
Ireland did however, come under heavy Roman influence, even if not under its rule. In the first and second centuries AD, there is evidence that there was sparodic trading between the Irish and the Romans of Britain. Tacitus, writing in the first century AD, says of Ireland " the interior parts are little known, but through commercial intercourse and the merchants there is better knowledge of the harbours and approaches. " Evidence of a Roman trading post has been found near Dublin. However it was not until the fourth and fifthe centuries AD that there is evidence of prolonged Roman influences in Ireland. Roman coins and other implements have been found in Ireland. There is evidence that the language spoken by the Eoganacht of Munster, who arrived at the end of the Iron Age, had been heavily influenced by Latin. Finally, it is certain that ' Ogham ' the first written scripts in the Irish language, was based on the Latin alphabet.
Towards the end of the pre-Christian period, as the Roman Empire and its colony in Britain declined, the Irish took advantage and began raiding western Britain. Picts from Scotland and Saxons from Germany raided other parts of the colony. As their raids got ever more successful, the Irish began to colonise western Britain. The Erainn of Munster settled in Cornwall, the Laigin of Leinster settled in south Wales while the Deisi of south-east Ireland settled in north Wales. Cormac of Cashel ( writing much later in 908 AD ) records that " The power of the Irish over the Britons was great, and they had devided Britain between them into estates . .and the Irish lived as much east of the sea as they did in Ireland. " These colonies were all defeated by the Britons within the next century or so, although the Irish Kings seemed to be still ruling in south Wales as late as the tenth century. But by far the most successful colony was that of the Dal Riata in western Scotland. Their colony thrived and, in fact, it seems that most or all Dal Riatans untimately left northern Ireland for the new colony. Probably founding the colony around 400-500 AD. Dal Riata was well established by 563 AD and in the ninth century it took control of Pictland, to the east, and founding the united kingdom of Scotland.
everyday life in celtic ireland
Although very like the Celtic cultures of the rest of Europe, that of Ireland had been influenced in part by the preceding Bronze Age culture. So Ireland's culture was not totally like that of mainland Europe. However in many regards it was very similar. Much of what we know about specifically Irish culture has come down through the years in the form of ' Heroic Tales ' such as the Ulster Cycle which tells of the exploits of Cu Chullain, the Hound of Ulster. Once thought to be historicaly unreliable, these Heroic Tales describe a way of life that fits well with what we know about the Celts of mainland Europe. Thus it seems that, while the events described may have been embelished over the years, the underlying themes and props in the stories may be accurate descriptions of life in Iron age Ireland.
Cu Chullain Carries Ferdiad Across The River
It was in many ways, a culture based around war. Ireland was divided into dozens - possibly hundreds - of petty kingdoms. Within the kingdoms, it was the blacksmiths, druids and poets who were held in high esteem; the black smiths for making weapons of war, the druids for making prophesies and soothsaying, and the poets for putting the exploits of the warriors into verse. It was a cultures based around honour. The aristocracy in this culture was was made up of warriors, who sought fame and recognition by doing battle with their enemies. The young warrior would be initiated by mounting his chariot, before proceeding to battle and cutting off the heads of his enemies to bring home as trophies. At the celebratory banquet afterwards warriors would compete for the
' hero's portion ' of the food being served. The weapons brandished by these warriors consisted of round wooden shields, with iron spears or swords. The spear seems to have been more common than the sword.
By the later Celtic period, Ireland was ruled by a series of perhaps 100 to 200 kings, each ruling a small kingdom or ' tuath. ' The kings came in three recognised grades, depending on how powerful they were.
' hero's portion ' of the food being served. The weapons brandished by these warriors consisted of round wooden shields, with iron spears or swords. The spear seems to have been more common than the sword.
By the later Celtic period, Ireland was ruled by a series of perhaps 100 to 200 kings, each ruling a small kingdom or ' tuath. ' The kings came in three recognised grades, depending on how powerful they were.
