origins of the irish people?

Question

When was the island of Ireland first settled, and by whom? Where dit the original settlers come from? how did they get there? I read somewhere once that there was some evidence of Phonecian traders having been in Ireland. Can anyone elaborate on there, please?

Answer 1

c 10,000 BC Earliest settlers arrived in Ireland, in the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age period. They crossed by land bridge from Scotland. These people were mainly hunters.

c 3000 BC Colonists of the neolithic, or new stone-age period , reached Ireland. These people were farmers. Remnants of their civilization have been excavated at Lough Gur in Co. Limerick.

cc 2000 BC Prospectors and metalworkers arrived. . Items (such as axe-heads, pottery and jewelery) made by these bronze-age people, have been found.

1699 BC Beginning of the MILESIAN GENEALOGIES

c 1200 BC More people reached Ireland, producing a greater variety of weapons and artifacts. A common dwelling of this period was the "crannog", an artificial island, constructed in the middle of a lake.

c 600 BC Celts started arriving in Ireland, from central Europe. The Celts belonged linguistically to the Indo-European culture.

c 200 BC The Celtic culture of the La Tene civilization, named after a Celtic site in Switzerland, reached Ireland. Celtic Ireland was not politically unified, only by culture and language.

c100 BC Arrival of the Gaels

200 AD Beginnings of High Kingship at Tara, Co Meath

c 300 AD Ireland inhabited by tribes known as Scoti

377-405 Naill of the Nine Hostages, High King

428-463 AD King McNeill reigned

431 AD Pope Celestine 1 sent Palladius to the Irish, as their first Bishop. Palladius died soon after.

432 AD Arrival of St. Patrick to help convert pagan Gaelic Kings to Christianity.

550 AD onwards Irish monks re-Christianize Europe

Answer 2

Actually, God created Ireland and the Irish, saw the best of work was done, and turned the rest of creation over to interns.

That explains both the platypus and the English.

Answer 3

the irish of today are decendants of the celts (pronounced "kelt)
probably ferocious sea-farers and of pagan belief.

Answer 4

short answer, see "how the irish saved civilization" (a small book)