The Coming of the Milesians

The sixteenth century scholar, O'Flaherty, fixes the Milesian invasion of Ireland at about 1000 B.C. - the time of Solomon. It is proven that the Celts whenever they arrived, had, before the dawn of history, subjugated the Germanic tribes and established themselves in Central Europe. At about the date we have mentioned, a great Celtic wave, breaking westward over the Rhine, penetrated into England, Scotland, and Ireland. Subsequently another wave of Celts swept over the Pyrenees into the Spanish Peninsula.

Other waves of Celtic immigrants came westward still later. A Celtic cemetery discovered at Hallstatt in upper Austria proves them to have been skilled in art and industries as far back as 900 B.C...It shows them as miners and agriculturalists, blessed with the use of iron instruments. They invaded Italy twice, in the seventh and the fourth centuries before Christ. At this time they were at the climax of their power, and they stormed Rome itself in 300 B.C. The rising up of the oppressed Germans against them, nearly three centuries before Christ, was the beginning of the end of the Continental power of the Celts. After this they were beaten and buffeted by Greeks and by Romans, and even by races they despised...

Milesian ship at sea

Broken and blown like the surf on a beach, they spread out in all directions, to the North, South, East and West. A fugitive colony of these people, which had settled in Asia Minor, in the territory which from them (the Gaels) was called Galatia, and among whom Paul worked, was found to be still speaking a Celtic language in the days of St. Jerome, five or six hundred years later. Eoin MacNeill and other scientific enquirers hold that it was only in the fifth century before Christ that they reached Spain, and that they eventually reached Ireland after a long and arduous journey by sea. In Caesar's day the Celts (Gauls) who dominated France used Greek writing in almost all their business, public or private.

The Milesians landed first at Kerry and proceeded to Tara where they met the Kings of the Tuatha Dé Danaan who claimed control of Ireland at the time. They objected to the arrival of the Milesians, so Amergin agreed that he and his companions would leave the island and land again, having withdrawn in their vessels beyond the magical "ninth wave" off the coastline. The Tuatha Dé Danaan took advantage of this offering of good faith by having their Druids raise a fierce storm that scattered the Milesian fleet, and they also caused the entire land surface to be hidden in a thick fog. Amergin used his druidic skills to calm the storm and clear the fog, and the Milesians landed again. This time, Amergin's first words upon landing were the poem we know today as the "Song of Amergin". Having landed in Ireland on Bealtaine, (May 1st),the Milesians defeated the Tuatha Dé Danaan three days later, and became the dominant force in Ireland.

Of the Milesians, Eber and Eremon divided the land between them - Eremon getting the Northern half of the Island, and Eber the Southern. The North-eastern corner was given to the children of their lost brother, Ir, and the South-western corner to their cousin Lughaid, the son of Ith. The oft-told story says that when Eber and Eremon had divided their followers, each taking an equal number of soldiers and an equal number of the men of every craft, there remained a harper and a poet. Drawing lots for these, the harper fell to Eremon and the poet to Eber, which explains why, ever since, the North of Ireland has been celebrated for its music, and the South for its song.

Peace fell upon the land then, and the happiness of the Milesians was only broken when, after a year, Eber's wife discovered that she must be possessed of the three most pleasant hills in Éirinn, or else she could not remain another night on the Island. Now the most scenic and beautiful of all these was the Hill of Tara, which lay in Eremon's half, and Eremon's wife would not have the covetousness of the other woman satisfied at her expense. So, because of the quarrel of the women, the tranquil peace of the Island was broken by battle. Eber was beaten, and the high sovereignty settled upon Eremon.

They came from a land beyond the sea,
And now o'er the western main.
Set sail in their good ships, gallantly,
From the sunny lands of Spain.
"Oh, where's the isle we've seen in dreams,
Our destined home or grave?"
Thus sang they, as by the morning beams
They swept the Atlantic wave.

And lo, where afar o'er ocean shines
A sparkle of radiant green,
As though in that deep lay emerald mines
Whose light through the wave was seen.
"'Tis Inisfáil --- 'tis Inisfáil!"
Rings o'er the echoing sea;
While bending to heaven, the warriors hail
That home of the brave and free.

Then turned they unto the Eastern wave
Where now their Day-God's eye
A look of such sunny omen gave
As lighted up sea and sky.
No frown was seen through sky or sea,
Nor tear o'er leaf or sod,
When first on their Isle of Destiny
Our great forefathers trod.

("The Coming of the Milesians", by Thomas Moore)

Celtic motif

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