Post by Ptarmigan on May 22, 2008 6:23:52 GMT
The History of Ulster ~ The Early Irish
From the very slender evidence we possess, based chiefly on antiquarian research in connection with the etymology of local names, it appears that the earliest inhabitants of Ireland were of Turanian origin and known as Fomorians.
How long they held possession it is impossible to discover, but they gave way before a Belgic race bearing the not very euphonious name of Firbolgs, who in their turn were conquered by a fresh tribe of invaders, the Tuatha-da-Danaans, said to have been of Pelasgic origin, but who are now believed to have been an Aryan Celtic race, a branch of that great stock which dominated Gaul and Spain and a large part of Southern Europe.
The History of Ulster ~ The Early Irish
How long they held possession it is impossible to discover, but they gave way before a Belgic race bearing the not very euphonious name of Firbolgs, who in their turn were conquered by a fresh tribe of invaders, the Tuatha-da-Danaans, said to have been of Pelasgic origin, but who are now believed to have been an Aryan Celtic race, a branch of that great stock which dominated Gaul and Spain and a large part of Southern Europe.
The History of Ulster ~ The Early Irish