Westropp — The Earthworks, 6fc, of S. E. Co. Limerick. 129 



and for mythology. Topographical comment — I will not say criticism — has 

 been equally inefficient. 1 A theory is not refuted by saying " all the great 

 antiquarians are against you," " the Psalter of Tara (!) refutes that," or 

 " O'Donovan has set the question past all doubt." These remarks only prove 

 that we have hardly commenced scientific archaeology in this country. 



(A) — The Borderland before History. 



Ireland being cutoff so much from the world-centre in the beginning of our 

 era, naturally got little record from Greece, Italy, or from those who have left us 

 so little independent material about themselves as Gaul and Britain have done. 

 A great geographer, about a.d. 160, collected the names and positions of 

 several nations and places in our island. Beyond that, we only get a tale of 

 an expelled chief, who, late in the first century, sought aid from a foreigner 

 against his countrymen; a hint of an unrecorded landing " beyond the shores 

 of Juverna " ; sketches of " the Scot " (doubtless our Mall of the Nine 

 Hostages) " making the sea foam with hostile oars " ; of his defeat and the 

 grief of " icy Ierne " at the slaughter of her sons — little else. Our native 

 material in general was handed down (much, presumably, in mnemonic verses) 

 by schools of bards and druids till Ireland, fully Christianized, reduced her 

 tales to writing in the late sixth or earliest seventh century. There is little 

 doubt as to our having some slightly altered material preceding, perhaps, the 

 fourth century. Unfortunately this has been recast, so that even its broad 

 outlines may be questioned. Ptolemy knows nothing of Tara or the 

 Milesians f all his tribes are of the " tributary " or " non-Milesian " races 3 

 and the Ulidians and Picts. However, much of value escaped, for Boman 

 culture never intervened, and Christianity in Ireland was a tactful, warm- 

 hearted mother, and learned the stories to tell to her children. 



Of course, we should not presuppose that the ancient Irish had no 

 writings. Their Gaulish and British kindred had them. Probably rituals 

 and mysteries were not written ; 4 but genealogies, lists of chiefs, and even 



1 I discuss the one valid objection made to the identity of Oenach Culi at the end of 

 this paper. 



2 This may arise from his only giving coast tribes. 



3 I use this term ' ' Milesian " for the fair races presumably British, but commit myself 

 to no theory in using these conventional names. Mil seems to have been a god, not 

 unknown in Europe, so also was his father Bile. Rhys regards Mil as " the Celtic Dis " 

 (Hib. Lect., iv, p. 582). Nuada was son of Beli in Welsh story. Beli was adored at Uianech. 



1 1 have not noted any definite pagan ritual save the sunward turn, certain formal 

 curses, the offerings of men, cattle, pigs, milk, corn, and brushwood, and the excessive 

 prostrations before Crom Cruach [but, since this was written. Professor Macalister's very 

 suggestive paper on Tara gives much food for thought.] See preface to "Three Irish 

 Glossaries," pp. xxxv-vi. 



[20*] 



