Bard - History of Irish Bards

History of Irish Bards

Mythological Stories make up much of the early Bardic History. The first mention of the bardic profession in the history of Ireland is told in the story of the Irish colony of Tuatha-de- Danan. During the tenth year of the reign of the last Belgic Monarch, the people of the colony of Tuatha-de-Danan, as the Irish called it, invaded and settled in Ireland. They were divided into three tribes. The Tuatha who were the nobility and lords, the De tribe who were the Priests, those devoted to serving God or Dee, and the Danan tribe who were the poets and bards. This account of the Tuatha-de-Danan remains legend itself as it was passed down by the bards of the time, however the story is an integral part in the oral history of Irish Bards. The story of the first invasion of Ireland by the Milesians started the most widely recognized era of Druids and bards. The three Prince's Heremon, Heber and Amergin came and established themselves as rulers over the the druidic people, the Danonians. Heremon and Heber equal partitioned the kingdom, cleared lands, and erected palaces. Amergin became the first Arch-Druid, Ard- Filea, or Chief Bard of Ireland. This put him in the position of poet, historian and legislator.