For
to read the originals aright needs many years of labour, the Irish
tongue presenting at different epochs the characteristics of
distinct languages, while the peculiarities of ancient caligraphy,
in the defaced and illegible manuscripts, form of themselves quite
a large department of study. Stated succinctly, the mythological
record of the bards, with its chronological decorations, runs thus:--
AGE OF KEASAIR.
2379 B.C. the gods of the KEASAIRIAN cycle, Bith, Lara, and
Fintann, and their wives, KEASAIR, Barran and Balba; their sacred
places, Carn Keshra, Keasair's tomb or temple, on the banks of the
Boyle, Ard Laran on the Wexford Coast, Fert Fintann on the shores
of Lough Derg.
About the same time Lot Luaimenich, Lot of the Lower Shannon, an
ancient sylvan deity.
AGE OF PARTHOLAN AND THE EARLIEST FOMORIAN GODS.
2057 B.C. a new spiritual dynasty, of which PARTHOLAN was father
and king. Though their worship was extended over Ireland, which is
shown by the many different places connected with their history,
yet the hill of Tallaght, ten miles from Dublin, was where they
were chiefly adored. Here to the present day are the mounds and
barrows raised in honour of the deified heroes of this cycle,
PARTHOLAN himself, his wife Delgna, his sons, Rury, Slaney, and
Laighlinni, and among others, the father of Irish hospitality,
bearing the expressive name of Beer. Now first appear the Fomoroh
giant princes, under the leadership of curt Kical, son of Niul, son
of Garf, son of U-Mor--a divine cycle intervening between KEASAIR
and PARTHOLAN, but not of sufficient importance to secure a
separate chapter and distinct place in the annals.
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