Ireland and its people

  The modern name of "Ireland" seems to have originated with the Northsmen in about the seventh century called the land "IR" or "IRE" and after that the English called it Ireland.  The name was first used in the eleventh century.  The Gaelic is  Eir)an (pronounced "Arra An"), the anglicized version Erin.  The island was called Hibernia by the Romans, perhaps named after Heber the first king of the Milesians - A Celtic tribe.  In the earliest literature was known as Scotia.   Scotia is thought to have been derived from the name of a daughter of Pharaoh, and ancient female ancestor of the Milesians.  The oldest known written reference to the island ws the name Ierna by the poet Orpheus in the sixth century B.C.   Aristotle also made reference to Ierna.

  The Irish race of today is descended from the Celtic people suppose to be from  Milesius of Spain who invaded Ireland in 1000 B.C. The race that occupied the land were composed of the Firbolg and the Tuatha DeDanann along with the Milesius. All three were different tribes of Celts.

  The Celts became great artisans and craftsmen.  La Tene design at the dawn of the iron age was carried by the Celtic tribes to the island.  There work in metals became well renowned throughout the known world.  They traded art works, crafts of wool and skins with the Phoenicians.

  The people wre known as Scots, from the island's name Scotia inthe 4th century A.D.  By the time St. Patrick was posted to the island (432 A.D.), the cities of Cashel and Armagh were growing. The Celtic Christians held outposts from Iceland to the Danube, spreading and keeping piety and learning through much of the Dark Ages. In 665 A.D. the English aligned themselves with Roman Christianity and left Celtic Christianity standing alone.  From 834 A.D. to 1014 A.D. the Norsemen continuously invaded the island.  Through they raidid and pillaged the coastal towns, and controlled the harbors from Galway to Cork, the Celts were able to retain their form of law and government.  The two cultures mingled each leaning from the other.  Brian Boru, drove out the Norsemen in 1014.