The Celts Arrive In Ireland
The Celts arrived in Ireland at various stages and their migration was a lengthy process. They came as different groups or tribes taking control of different areas in Ireland.
The Celts arrived in Ireland approximately 700BC and continued their migration until about 400AD. During this time the different tribes that had arrived had established their own regions, today they are known as provinces.
The history of the Celts in Ireland
There was no recorded documents of when and how the Celts arrived in Ireland or how the settled into the Irish way of life. When the Christians arrived, after the Celts, they started documenting events. They also recorded stories and poems heard from Celtic mythology or local folklore leaving clues to what may have happened.
A Celtic scholar T. F. O’Rahilly based a study on influences on the Irish language and a critical analysis of Irish mythology and pseudohistory. This was called O’Rahilly’s historical model and could gives us some understanding of Ireland’s Celts. His study has been the topic of debate for many historians.
O’Rahilly came up with how the Celts may have invaded Ireland in four seperate waves:
- The Cruithne or Priteni arrived between 700 – 500 BC
- The Builg or Érainn arrived around 500 BC
- The Laigin, the Domnainn and the Gálioin arrived around 300 BC
- The Goidels or Gael arrived around 100 BC
The first group of Celts that arrived in Ireland approximately 700BC were named Priteni. They settled in parts of Ulster and Leinster but would later be replaced by other tribes.
The second arrival wave was the Bolgic’s who arrived around 500BC and would take control of nearly half of Ireland. Four tribes of the Bolgic’s included:
- The Uluti who took control over the northern part of Ireland
- The Darini and Robogdii who settled in the north eastern part of Ireland
- The Iverni who settled in Munster
- The Ebdani who settled in the east
The Laginians who were the 3rd group to arrive, around 300 BC, settled in the west coast, what is known today as the province of Connacht. They had also taken over the Leinster area. It was also around the same time the La Tène culture may have been introduced to Ireland.
The provinces of Ireland was now starting take shape and a 5th province would be added to the land.
The invasion from the Goidelic or Gaelic would be the last Celts to arrive in Ireland. These people came in two different groups the Connachta and then the Eóganachta.
The Connachta tribe arrived and pushed their way to the Hill of Tara and sacked the Ernean king. They carved a new region between Ulster and Leinster and it became known as Meath (the 5th province).
The Eóganachta tribe arrived more quietly than the previous Connachta tribe. The settled in Munster and gradually became more powerful and dominant in the province.
When the Celts did come to Ireland they brought with them a totally different culture, languages, art, technology and belief’s. They had introduced using Iron for making tools and weapons. The Celts also brought the sense of kingship, kingdoms and power. They divided their lands up with each being d ruled by different kings. In Ireland the Bolgic tribes had control of the northern part of the island and the Laginians controlled the southern region.
The Celts had a strong sense of honor, especially in battle. To be bold and show courage in a battle gave a Celtic man honor and a high reputation. However, unlike times to come in the future, in this Iron Age it was the aristocracy who fought in battle. Peasants and people of a lower class were not forced to fight or take part in battle, but to stay on their farming plots and act as slaves for their King.
The biggest intrusion into Gaelic society, the introduction of Christianity.