This course will examine the main events from the arrival of the Gaelic Celts in 1699BC to the arrival of Saint Patrick and Roman Christianity. I will use the timeline from the (AFM) Annals of the Four Masters that was written in the 1630’s. The narrative is based on the Lebor Gabála Érenn (LGE) that was written in the 11th century. Today’s scholars believe that the Gaelic Celts arrived at Ireland around 500 B.C.

This account in the LGE is sometimes referred to as "Irish mythological history". It was written by Christian monks who put together an origin history of Ireland based on the Old Testament and the oral and written history of Ireland available to them.

In this account the last group of Celts to arrive in Ireland were called the "Milesians" from Galicia in Spain. These are said to be the origin of all Gaelic Irish people.

Two "Milesians", Heber…