This is the history of Ireland.
When Éirinn first rose, the waves of the Iapetus Ocean1 tossed about to and fro in anxious anticipation. This was ~420 million years ago according to paleogeologists. Two continent-sized masses–Laurentia and Gondwana—neither of which exist today, collided and one was pushed over the other.2 This act of creation made cousins out of the mountains of Donegal and the Appalachian Range in the eastern U.S., each of which share a common ancestor and amazing similarities. This is how Ireland was brought forth, her limestone exterior already littered with the fossilized remains of billions of bivalves and brachiopods. Thus, roused from her slumber, she emerged majestically from the sea even as did Aphrodite. She now bathed in the warm rays of a Silurian sun and pondered her future.
It was during the Mesozoic Era when there were fearsome beasts that prowled the forests of Ireland, for most of the land was arboraceous back then. Precisely two species were properly Irish: the Scelidosaurus, a herbivorous, four-legged relative to the armored Ankylosaurus and a ferocious carnivore called the Megalosaurus. As dinosaurs go, the Megalosaurus was a mere 9 meters long and a wee 3 meters tall. It weighed only 71 stone. Still, it was quite frightful. Antediluvian fossils of such terrifying reptiles are scarce in Ireland, mind you, though the bones of sea dwelling ichthyosaurs have been found along the northern coast of this land, the twentieth largest island in the world. In Wales, however, only 317 km east of Ireland, as many as ten different species of dinosaurs lived (including the Megalosaurus.) Perhaps the Irish Sea served as a barrier to isolate the Emerald Isle from the encroachment of many other species of lizards that roamed the countryside of Wales. But this is what we hear from men of learning. Believe what you will.
THE AGE OF ICE
Nor did Ireland escape the Pleistocene ice age which ended 11,000-14,000 or so years ago. Most of Ireland was covered by a thick sheet of ice, perhaps hundreds of meters thick, and likely excluding the far south of the country. The glaciers pockmarked the countryside with drumlins at Clew Bay and of County Down in the North. Glacial valleys such as Glenmalure in the Wicklow Mountains and Owenbrin, south of Tourmakeady created a breathtaking lifelines to the land.
Today
“In her sun, in her soil, in her station thrice blest,
With her back towards Britain, her face to the West,
Erin stands proudly insular, on her steep shore,
And strikes her high harp ‘mid the ocean’s deep roar.3
THE FIRST PEOPLE IN IRELAND
The very first people to arrive in Ireland were Neolithic as far as prehistoric time was measured. They arrived around 7,000 B.C. These were the Stone Age people4 who were very likely farmers or gatherers. Neolithic people were the first to clear the land in order to plant crops. They left behind their tools, pottery, weapons and even rudimentary structures to remind us of their presence. They also took pains to honor their dead. This was done through passage graves which are present at Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange; court cairns such as are found at Creevykeel, Co. Sligo, and dolmens that exist to this day at Poulnabrone, Co. Clare.5 Some of these show that these early Irish men and women had a knowledge of astronomy and a love of storytelling and art.6
THE CELTS
The Celts arrived in Ireland somewhere between 600 and 150 A.D. from Western Europe and quickly conquered the inhabitants they encountered. Even today, they are a prominent ethnic group among European nations. It was the Celts who produced the Gaelic language that many people of Ireland, and tens of thousands of Scots, proudly recall and speak even to this day.
The Celts had a reputation of being a fierce people, making daring raids into England under Roman rule with little fear that Rome would molest them in return. According to the Irish Times:
“The Romans never conquered Ireland. They did not even try. The closest they came was 20 years after the invasion of Anglesey, when Agricola [Roman General and governor Gnaeus Julius Agricola from 40-73 A.D.], eyeballed the north coast of Ulster from the ‘trackless wastes‘ of Galloway. According to Tacitus, Agricola’s son-in-law, the governor brazenly remarked that Ireland could have been conquered and occupied by a single legion with a few auxiliaries.7“
Yet, there are occasional Roman martial artifacts scattered about Éire that suggest trade and provisional military camps, or perhaps from reconnoiter and reconnaissance incursions on a very limited basis and minimal scale.
As well as the Gaelic tongue, the Celts brought their religious beliefs with them to Ireland. Their pantheon was a mixture of gods, bards, kings, banshees, fairies, far liatha and luchorpán (leprechauns) to name just a few of the things that might go bump in the night. And they brought stories of Éirinn.
ÉIRINN
Many nations have a figure, usually female, that serves as a personification of that nation. In the U.S., it is Columbia. Columbia comes from the Latin word Columba which means peace, harmony, and gentleness. Unfortunately, none of these virtues appear to be present in abundant supply in America today. Most likely, the fact Columbia suggests Christopher Columbus helped it gain widespread acceptance in early America. National hymns, sailing ships and space shuttles, counties and cities have appropriated this name with which to identify themselves across North America.
In England, this visage is Britannia, a term used by Ancient Rome to describe the British Isles. France has created Marianne, to represent the principles of the French Revolution (liberté, équité & fraternité.)
These personifications played an important role in political cartoons in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They often appeared on military recruiting posters in a time of war or national emergency. But they also call for somber, respectful contemplation and are used when the people of a country need to be rallied to a Cause.
Éirinn is a proper noun that is at the root of many Irish greetings and slogans (e.g., “Éirinn go Brách” which means “Ireland, forever” or “In Ireland Forever.”) In fact, if not for Éirinn, there might not be a country named Ireland, for Ireland’s name is derived from hers. Éirinn is featured prominently among the Tuatha Dé Danann, which the Irish believed was a supernatural race of gods. This circle consisted of descendants of the goddess Danu, who was once worshipped many, many leagues beyond the borders of the Emerald Isle (the Danube River in Central Europe is named for her.) The Tuatha Dé Danann were described as described as “tall with red or blonde hair, blue or green eyes, and pale skin.” This description fits many Irish men and women even to this day, as does the fond love, occasional luck and outstanding skill of the Irish in many matters and especially when it comes to equestrian husbandry, by the way.
In addition to their pagan gods, there were also malevolent supernatural beings to be feared called the Fomóiri, said to live under the water. Ireland also had a version of the Scottish Kelpie called the Each-uisge which lived under the water, as well as mermaids. Here is a very brief bestiary on what some unfortunate soul might encounter walking alone at night in the wayside.
GOD COMES TO IRELAND
In an earlier post, I wrote of when Christianity first came to Ireland. St. Patrick is the person who is associated with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Of St. Patrick, we know his birth name was Maewyn Succat, and that
“he wasn’t even an Irishman by birth, though no one knows for certain where he was born. Perhaps it was Scotland, perhaps Wales or England. Nor do we know just when he was born; was it 373 A.D. or 390 A.D.? Neither is the year of his death certain, with scholars divided between 461 A.D. and 493 A.D. Patrick’s father was a Roman or British army officer and also a deacon, though as a wain, Patrick was not Christian.”
Yet, his influence on Ireland and to no small extent America as well, continues to this day.
LET ÉIRINN MAKE MEN
Irish men and women love music–lively music. In fact, the Irish harp is a symbol that represents the country. Irish are passionate, warm and inviting and witty. Everyone has a favorite limerick (or ten.). Irish are lovers of learning, poets, talented actors and actresses, adventuress and ahead of most nations in terms of social conscious and justice. And they love their ale.
This then is when and how Éirinn rose and the men and women she begot.
FOOTNOTES
1Later to be renamed as the Atlantic.
2https://www.wildernessireland.com/blog/irelands-geology/
3From the poem “When Erin First Rose” by William Drennan.
4https://www.askaboutireland.ie/
5https://www.askaboutireland.ie/
6http://www.carrowkeel.com/files/main.html
7https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/what-did-the-romans-ever-do-for-ireland-1.4205876