Hibernia - Ireland and Its Neighbours

Ireland and Its Neighbours

From early in the archaeological record, the peoples of North West Europe, including Britain, Gaul, Spain and Ireland had mutually warred, traded and settled.

Ptolemy, in 100s, records some Irish tribal names identical to those of tribes in Gaul and Britain, suggesting significant Celtic settlement. Recent genetic and linguistic research suggests the interesting possibility that these tribes may have been descended from the first neolithic farmers to reach Ireland (alluded to in Ireland's allegoric history: The Book of the Taking of Ireland)

At this time Ireland, western and central Europe were all home to several Celtic peoples with their associated Celtic religion, and they were supervised by the Druids. A number of historians have argued that the people of Ireland and Britain shared a broadly similar Celtic heritage. The Isle of Anglesey, Welsh Ynys Môn, was a centre of the Druidic religion, just across the Irish Sea from Ireland. Other historians, however, have disputed that such a homogeneous group existed. The application of the "Celtic" label to the inhabitants of Britain and Ireland c.1 AD may, however, be misleading as the genetic evidence suggests that most inhabitants of both islands are predominantly descended from palaeolithic hunter-gathers of Iberian and neolithic farmers of Germanic (mid-European) origin. An invasion of bands of Gaelic (Milesian) warriors from Iberia c.1500BC may have had more of a linguistic than a genetic impact.

Transport and communication was often along rivers and coasts, with the Irish Sea being a part of this network. When Julius Caesar briefly invaded southern England in 54 BC, he received the submission of many tribes, including that of the Orcadians in the Orkney Islands, north of Scotland. Communications could be long distance, but whether any Irish knew of the Romans at this time is uncertain.

Rome often projected its power beyond its boundaries. Beyond the West coast of Britannia was the Irish Sea, with many easy crossings, and many distinctive mountain landmarks to ease navigation. The spread of Roman power to Ireland's neighbours would have had significant effects on Ireland. By 51 BC the part of Gaul in what is modern France had been conquered by the Romans, with the permanent garrisoning of Britain starting after the second invasion in 43. England and Wales would remain within the Roman Empire for another 350 years.

Revolts by the newly subjugated British tribes may have increased settlement from Britain to Ireland and reduced settlement in the other direction. Events such as the destruction of the druidic shrine and sacred groves at Anglesey in 60 by the Roman general Gaius Suetonius Paulinus would have been noticed in Ireland.