GENESIS OF CELTIC IRELAND

2500 BC - 1500 BC Metal trades were introduced into Europe using copper and bronze, as early metal workers in the Balkans had a great influence in Central Europe, and Neolithic pastoralist tribes in Central and Northern Europe had since developed stone axes, but by now also copper or bronze half - hole axes were in use in the Balkans. The pastoral peoples, who ranged from the area north of the Pontic Steppes from the Caucuses, were also in proximity to the metal resources, and this included Asia Minor and Upper Mesopotamia and Northern Anatolia in the homeland area of the Indo - European peoples of which the Keltoi / Celts where a part of. The Pontic and European pastoralists also carried out single grave burials mostly under a round tumulus / barrow and in pottery - urns.

2500 BC - 1200 BC The *Early Bronze Age.

2500 BC This was the period when the Full Court Cairns were constructed at Creevy Keel Hill in Co. Sligo in the north - west of the Connacht Province and at Bally Glas / An Baile Glas (The Grey Place) in Co. Mayo in the mid - west of Connacht where they were to be a part of a group on the western shores of Killala Bay. Another of these is at Cohaw near Cootehill / Muinchille (Sleeve) in Co. Cavan in Southern Ulster with a double forecourt that has since been excavated and partially reconstructed. The Poul na Brone Dolmen also is situated in Thomond / Northern Munster and another is at New Grange from this period, and Human remains were to be discovered in more modern times also from this period in the caves in Co. Waterford in the south - east of the Munster Province.

2500 BC - 2000 BC was the actual beginning of the Bronze Age in Ireland, which was to last until 600 BC or 300 BC and many bronze, copper and gold artifacts were exported to Briton / Britain and the Continent, and this has led on to more gold hoards being discovered in Ireland then anywhere else in Europe. The earliest copper tools including axes, daggers and halberds were made from copper that was originally mined in the Munster Province, as there were ancient mines recorded on Mount Gabriel in Co. Cork in Southern Munster containing 25 mineshafts.

2379 BC It had now been 280 years since the original followers of Partholon who was descended from 11.Japeth and his son 12.Magog had arrived in Ireland and they had well and truly prospered and multiplied, despite the ongoing pressure from the Hamitic Fomorians descended from 11.Ham, and due mostly to their previous physical efforts during that period Ireland was by now composed of 4 plains and 10 lakes. The majority of the Partholonians were at this time to be wiped out by another epidemic or plague with Tuan mac Cairell / Cyril being among the few who were to survive. It began on the 1st May / Beltaine and spread like wildfire lasting for 7 days and thousands of the existing Partholonians were to quickly die as a result, and as they began to feel its effects they gathered together on the Old Plain / Sean Magh, the one that they had initially created when they had first arrived into Ireland. (They did this so that those of them who may survive this affliction might easily inter those who were to expire.) This plain is now known as Tallaght in Co. Dublin in the north - east of Southern Leinster / Sean Magh Ealta Edair / Taimhleacht Muintir Partholoin (The Old Plain - Grave of Partholon's People). This massive ill-fated circumstance was to mean that there were to be basically no inhabitants of any significance in Ireland for the next 30 years.

2349 BC The next wave of Scythian Celtic people were to come from the south - eastern part of Europe from near the Euxine Sea, who were to be led by another descendant of 11.Japeth and his son *12.Magog known as Nemedh / Neimheidh descended from Aduam "Bau" the Scythian Greek who was a descendant of Paim, a descendant of Tait the brother of Partholon and in turn descended from 13.Fathnachta / Fathochta. Among this particular group, known now as the Nemedians, were his wife, Macha and his Chiefs, Ainnin, Fergus "Leithdheirg," and his sons, Iarbhaine the Prophet, Sdarn and Slanga, and Ibcan his grandson. 12 days after they arrived into Ireland his wife, Macha, died. They too soon came up against the wrath of the Hamitic Fomoiri Sea Pirates situated on Tory Island who were descended from 11.Ham, but were able to defeat them in 4 battles and were also to continue to occupy Ireland for the next 200 years. During this period they also went about improving their situation in Ireland by opening up a further 12 new plains, and also 4 more lakes / lochs appeared during this time. Unfortunately for Nemedh, eventually he and 2,000 of his followers were to likewise die in another great epidemic that occurred on the Great Island of Barry More in Co. Cork in Southern Munster. Artur, a son of Nemed, who was to be born in Ireland, was to lead the Nemedians in a disastrous battle against the Hamitic Fomorians at Cramh Ros.

The surviving followers of Nemedh had continued on despite the constant oppression from the Fomoiri Sea Pirates who were situated off the north coast on Tory Island, who were the descendants of 11.Ham, and who were never in any great numbers due to their particular seafaring lifestyle. As Sea Rovers two of their Chiefs, Morc, the son of Dela, and Conan, the son of Febar, had constructed a Tower fortress there on Tory Island, which was actually situated off the north coast of Co. Donegal in the north - west of the Ulster Province from where they carried out their raids in the region. They were also demanding that 2/3rds of the Nemedian children be handed over to them as tribute each year at the time of Samhain, which was to turn out to be the breaking point for the Nemedians.

+On to Seanchus of Celtic Ireland - 8

Situated on the western bank of the Hunter River, midway between Muswellbrook and Denman the doorway to the Heart of Australia's "Horse Capital" in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales., Australia.

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