O'Reilt.y — Milesian Colonization relative to Gold-mining. 75 



"would have become known to the Phoenicians as soon as they began to 

 trade along the "west coast of Spain from Cadiz to Coruna, later on as 

 regards Gaul, when they became acquainted with the northern coast of 

 ►"pain and the western coast of Gaul. If, therefore, their arrival or 

 first trading with Comwall be placed "roughly" about 1000 B.C., it 

 is reasonable to suppose their previous acquaintance with the west 

 coast of Spain, and the north coast of same at a still earlier date, and 

 to place this acquaintance even earlier than the date usually given for 

 the foundation of Cadiz, viz. 1100 B.C., since it is hardly to be assumed 

 that that city was founded immediately on their passing the pillars of 

 Hercules rather many years afterwards, when the extent of their trade 

 and their knowledge of the country had developed to the point of 

 giving rise to its foundation. These are the considerations which, along 

 with other reasons ali'eady dwelt upon led the writer of the present 

 paper to place the arrival of the Milesian colony in Ireland somewhat 

 about the twelfth century e.g. 



Taking Professor O'CiuTy's "Lectures on the Manners and Customs 

 of the Ancient Irish" as a guide, we have the following as the first 

 mention of the working of gold in Ireland, vol. ii., p. 5 : — " The next 

 entry to be found in our ancient authorities, throwing any light upon 

 the progi'ess of our early civilization, is found in the records of the 

 reign of Tighearnmas M'ToUaigh, one of the earliest of the Milesian 

 Icings of Ireland. Tighearnmas, who was of the race of Eremon, 

 became king in the year of the world 3580, according to the ' Annals 

 of the Pour Masters,' or 3089, according to the chronology followed 

 by M'Geoghegan, that is about 1620 years b.c. according to the former, 

 or 915 B.C. according to the latter authority. And this king is every- 

 where recorded as having been the first to discover gold and to work 

 gold mines in this country. The precise situation of these original 

 gold mines is not laid down for us ; but it is recorded that it was in 

 ihe forests standing on the east side of the river Liffey ; that the ore 

 was smelted by a worker in metals of the name of Juchaden, who was 

 a native of that district. We may therefore fairly infer that the gold 

 itself was discovered in Leinster, and this opinion is strengthened by 

 oui' finding the people of Laighin or Leinster, called afterwards 

 ' Laighnigh-an-oir,'' or the Lagenians of the Gold, because as it is 

 stated, it was in their country that gold was first discovered in 

 Erinn." 



To this same monarch is attributed the introduction of ornamental 

 drinking-cups, and of colours in di'ess, as well as ornaments of brooches 

 of gold and silver. 



