55 



they inhabited, to prove that these Belgic tribes were Gallic or 

 Celtic'*"' The ancient map of Ireland, and even those of the 

 middle ages, are very different from that of the present ; and, 

 if any names are exempt from change, those of the rivers and 

 mountains are in general the only ones, whose routs are per- 

 petuated. But Ptolemy's map proves, that tlie ancient names 

 for the former of these are neither commemorated in our re- 

 cords, nor preserved by tradition. 



About 45 years after Christ, Mr. Whitacre supposes, that the 

 Belgae, our Fir-bolgs, had steered for the S. shore of Ireland from 

 the coasts of Dorsetshire, Devonshire, Somersetshire and Cornwall ; 

 after more than twenty of their towns had fallen into the possession 

 of Vespasian in 30 engagements with the proper Belgs, Duro- 

 triges, and Damnonii. And the first body of the Belgce, that 

 landed in Ireland, were, according to him, the Vodiae, Oudiai, or 

 UdisE of Ptolemy ; a small embarkation from Inishuna, the hungry 

 island of Macpherson, which Whitacre supposes to have been 

 one of the Silley islands ; probably the Cassiteris of the Phenicians, 

 and Silura of Solinus, an isle which he conjectures to have once 

 existed near the W. point of Cornwall."^- 



Though it may be impossible to trace the origin of the tribe with- 

 out indulging in fancy, we find a pretty evident memorial of their 

 subsequent settlement S. of Cork, in the name of a territory called 

 Aoibh or Ibh Idouth.'™- This comprehends the present baronies of 

 Ciaruidhe Chuirithe (Kevvy curry), Cuirseacha (Courcy's^, Barra- 

 eha ruath (Barryroe), and, according to Richard's map, the greatest 

 part of the principality of Corca-luideh, the ancient kingdom of 



us. Eadem, p. 236. 149. Eadem, p. '2il. 150. Camden, p. 271. 



