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LESSON 6

Ireland and the Sea

INTRODUCTION

CELTIC MYTHOLOGY

SEAFARING MONKS

INVADERS CAME IN SHIPS

Celtic Mythology

Ireland is an island and because of this the folklore and history of our country is very much concerned with the sea, with ships and with seafarers. The earliest invaders came to our shores in ships and it was natural that the seas around us should give rise to tales and legends amongst our ancient ancestors. They created mythical heroes and gods who were believed to live in strange and wonderful lands. Such a mythical figure was Manannan Mac Lir, sea-god of the Tuatha De Danann, who were the inhabitants of Ireland in the Bronze Age.

As his name suggests, he was said to live on the Isle of Man, in a mysterious palace beyond the reach of ordinary navigators. Poets have described him travelling over the waves in his chariot. The second part of his name means ‘son of Lir’ or ‘son of the sea’. Lir had other equally famous children who figure in the well-known saga, The Children of Lir.


The Children of Lir sculpture in the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin

Each new group of invaders seems to have brought their own sea-god with them and duly proclaimed him ruler of the newly conquered seas.

Raiding Britain
The Irish chieftains, who were also skilful sailors, crossed the Irish Sea to raid Britain, which was then occupied by the Romans and they brought back plunder and slaves.

One of the chieftains, Niall of the Nine Hostages, brought back St. Patrick as a slave. A Roman scribe of the time, Claudius Claudianus, wrote of the sea-raiders 'when the Irishman moved, all Ireland and the sea moved with his hostile oars'.

The attacks of on Britain are believed to have ceased about 446 A.D. and it is probable that the spread of the Christian faith, which St. Patrick brought on his second coming to Ireland, caused the change.

Did you know?

There are fabulous stories in Celtic mythology. Try to read some of these great adventures. Here are some interesting facts.

Manannan Mac Lir is the god of the sea in Irish, Scots and Manx (Isle of Man) mythology.
Lir was also a god of the sea.
The Tuatha De Danann were the fifth group of inhabitants of Ireland, according to the Book of Invasions. It is said that they defeated a race of people called the Fir Bolg and took possession of Ireland.
Niall of the Nine Hostages was a High King of Ireland in the 5th Century.
Claudius Claudianus was a poet and writer who lived in Rome in the 5th Century.