Front matter
THE
H I S T 0 K Y
COMMENCING
Chapter I
B. c. Page
1000. Celtic Origin of the Irish 25
Different Fortunes of Ireland
and Britain . . 25
PhcEnician Intercourse with
the Irish , . .25
The BelgEe, or Fir-bolgs . 26
Objections answered ; Authority of Tacitus . . 26 Homer's Knowledge of Isles beyond the Pillars from the Phoenician Voyagers . 27 The Argonautics ; Ireland
named lernis . . 27
A Work of the Age of Aristotle names the two cliief British Isles, Albion and lerne . . .27
The Phoenicians keep their
Trade secret . . 27
The Western or Tin Isles first explored by the Massilian Greeks . . .27
The Periplus of Hanno . 27
Ciiaracteristic Features of Ancient Ireland . . 28 Inscription at Tangiers . 28 Authority of Herodotus . 29 Ancient Ireland better known
than Britain ; Authorities 29
Geography of Ptolemy . 29
Tacitus; Life of Agricola . 30 Intercourse of Ireland with the
PhcBnician Spaniards . 80
The Title, Sacred Isle ; Authority of Plutarch ; Diodorus
Pass
Siculus . . .30
Geography of Strabo; Ireland
likened to Samothrace . 31 Traditions of Ireland; Intercourse with Gallicia . 31 Opinions of Antiquaries . 32
Chapter II
The earliest Superstitions traceable in the Monuments of Ireland . . 32
Three Stages of Superstition 33 Magi, or Druids . . 33
Sun Worship . . 33
Moon Worship . . 34
Fire and Water Worship . 34 Sacred Fountains . . 34
The Field of Slaughter; Childsacrifice . • .35 Round Towers of Ireland . 36 Opinions about them . 36 Christain Emblems on those of
Swords and Donoughmore 37 Probably Fire-Temples . 37
Connexion of Sun-Worship
with Astronomy . . 38
The Round Towers called
Celestial Indexes . . 39
Beyond the reach of Historical
Record . . .39
Other ancient Monuments of
Ireland ; the Cromleach 40
The Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny . . .41
IV
ANALYTICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
Page
Rocking Stones . . 41
Sacred Hills . . 42
The Dynasts inaugurated
thereon . . .42
Barrows and Cairns . . 43
Sacred Groves and Trees . 43
CHAPTER IIL
Irish Druidism; of a mixed
Character . . .45
Different from that of Gaul,
as Recorded by the Romans 45 British Druids not mentioned
by Csesar; the Inference . 45 Early Heathen Pre-eminence
of Ireland . . 47
CHAPTER IV. Learning of the Irish Druids
Ancient Language . 47
Phoenician and Irish Alphabets . . .48 Early Use of Letters in Ireland 49 Proofs thereof . . 49 Ogham Character . . 49 Introduction of the Roman
Character . . .52
Mistaken Identify of the Irish Language with the Punic of Plautus . . .52
Astronomical Skill of the Irish Druids . . .53
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You’ve reached the end of The history of Ireland; commencing with its earliest period, to the great expedition against Scotland in 1545.