Lebor Gabala Erenn
The
Book of the Takings of Ireland
better
known as
The
Book of Invasions
This text--found in both the Book of Leinster and the Book
of Fermoy--is the core text of the mythological cycle in
Irish literature, as well as the earliest known history
written by the Irish. It tells of the successive
invasions of Ireland by different tribes, from the creation
of the world to the coming of the Milesians (Iberian
Celts):
§01-13:
Biblical History
§14-25:
Gaedhil History
§26-29:
Cessairians
§30-38:
Partholonians
§39-47:
Nemedians
§48-54:
Fir Bolgs
§55-64:
Tuatha De Dannan
§56-60:
The First Battle of Magh Turedh
§65-:
The Milesians
Of the above invasions, the Partholonians and the Nemedians
are also discussed in the
Historia Brittonum, which
is generally dated to the 8th or 9th century, if no
earlier; Giraldus Cambrensis also mentions these two
tribes.
In truth, Ireland was settled by several groups of people:
nomadic hunters and gatherers; pre-Celts and the Cruithan
(Picts); Iron-age Celts, first from Northern Europe, and
the second possibly from Spain. This--a hypothesis--is
reflected by the existence of the Milesians. Also, there is
the curious story of the "Black Irish"--that the existence
of the short, dark-haired and occasionally olive-skinned
people, usually found in the west of Ireland, are the
result of the intermarriage of shipwrecked Armada sailors
and local girls. Some say this is history; others say it is
myth. Either way, it isn't hard to see a connection between
the pre-historic Milesians--son of Mil of Spain--and the
Spanish sailors of the 16th century.
The translation provided here is the Irish Texts Society
edition, with the final section--that of the
Milesians--provided by the Cross & Slover translation.
To my knowledge, they are both public domain.