AN INQUIRY 



INTO THE 



PRIMITIVE POPULATION OF IRELAND. 



»*-^e« 



Sunt qui delectationis causa, rebus veris nonnihil msutiuntur, s»pe etiam veritatem omittentes. 



Hen. Corn. Agrippa de Historia. 



The desire of illustrious descent is natural to the human charac- 

 ter, and consequently we find but few, if any nations, that had 

 not aspired to the honour. The transition from belief to confi- 

 dence, is rapid in imcultivated minds, and curiosity is awakened 

 by the recital of achievements, which moderns could not presume 

 to equal. To gratify it, the story must be artfully managed 

 and agreeably told. The most amusing, and, to a savage mind, 

 the most persuasive form, is that of poetry. Accordingly, the first 

 historians were poets, ^vho, from vanity or interest, were induced, 

 as in this island, to beguile the time of their hearers with the 

 narration of wonderful national exploits. Similar favours were 

 expected by, and conferred upon, individual chiefs. In conse- 

 quence those bards, who were designated by twelve difltrent appel- 

 lations in the Irish language, were said to be courted as men of 

 learning, and appointed to assist the rulers of Ireland with advice : 

 in recompense for which services they were personally distinguished 

 by some trifling piece of finery, and even granted considerable 

 tracts of land.'- 



1. Histoire d'Irlande par M. I'Abbe Ma Geogbegan, tom. 1. p. 105. 



