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The History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating Foras Feasa ar Éireann le Seathrún Céitinn Translated into English by Edward Comyn Patrick S. Dinneen and With a memoir of Geoffrey Keating by Michael Doheny Published by the Ex-classics Project, 2009 http://www.exclassics.com Public Domain -1- GEOFFREYKEATING Introduction....................................................................................................................6 Bibliographicand editorial note.....................................................................................7 MEMOIR OFTHEREVERENDGEOFFREYKEATING,D. D................................8 byMichael Doheny........................................................................................................8 ABHEAN LÁNDESTUAIM....................................................................................24 EDITOR'S PREFACE.................................................................................................25 THEAUTHOR TOTHE READER............................................................................34 BOOK I........................................................................................................................54 SECTION II.Herefollows everydivisionwhich was madeon Ireland.....................56 SECTION III.OfthesubdivisionofMeathandof theprovinces here.......................58 SECTION IV.Ofthe creationofthefirst fatherfrom whom wehavesprung, i.e. Adam,here, andofhis racetoNoah, andfrom that toNoah's children's children,until thegenealogical account ofeachtribewhichobtainedpossessionof Ireland is given byus completelyuptoNoah; andalso thekinshipofeachpeopleofthesesamewith eachother.....................................................................................................................63 SECTIONV. Oftheinvasions of Irelandbeforethedelugedownhere.....................65 SECTIONVI. I.Ofthefirst occupationthat was madeon Irelandhere.....................69 II. Ofthe first chief-conquest whichwas madeon Ireland afterthedeluge, namelythe invasionofPartholónhere...........................................................................................69 III. Hereis thedivisionwhichthefoursons ofPartholónmadeon Ireland; andit is the first partitionof Ireland................................................................................................72 IV.OfthepeopleofPartholónhere.............................................................................73 SECTIONVII.Ofthesecondconquest which was madeon Irelandhere,i.e.the conquest ofthechildren ofNeimheadh.......................................................................74 SECTIONVIII. OftheinvasionoftheFirbolghere...................................................78 SECTION IX.Ofthe first kings whotookthesovereigntyof Ireland; andofevery kingafterthem who assumedit,accordingtotheorderoftheperiods andof the invasions, downhere....................................................................................................80 SECTIONX. OftheinvasionoftheTuathaDé Danannhere.....................................82 SECTIONXI.Ofthebranchingof thetribethat was noblest oftheTuatha DéDanann downhere.....................................................................................................................86 SECTIONXII.Ofthekings ofthe TuathaDéDanannhere, andofthelengthoftheir sovereigntyover Ireland..............................................................................................87 SECTIONXIII. Oftheoriginofthe childrenofMíleadh,oftheirproceedings, andof theirtransactions, oftheirgenealogy, andofeveryoccurrencethat happenedtothem, from Fénius Farsaidhdowntotheinvasionof Irelandbythem,herebelow (stated)..89 SECTIONXIV.Herebelow(wetreat)definitelyapart concerningthetrue originfrom whichthetheraceofGaedheal havesprung; and oftheirproceedings till thearrival of thesons ofMíleadhin Ireland.....................................................................................91 Prefacetovolumes 2and 3..........................................................................................93 XV.Thedoings of Feinius Farsaidhthe grandfatherofGaedheal till his returnfrom thePlainofSeanair,and till his death,as follows.......................................................95 XVI.OfthejourneyingofNiul toEgypt from Scythia,andofhis doings thereuntil his deathas follows:.....................................................................................................98 XVIII. OfthejourneyingoftheraceofGaedheal from GothiatoSpainas follows.106 XIX............................................................................................................................109 XX..............................................................................................................................113 XXI.Ofthe comingofthesons ofMilidhto Irelandas follows:..............................117 XXII...........................................................................................................................120 XXIII..........................................................................................................................123 -3- THEHISTORYOF IRELAND XXIV.Ofthekings ofthechildrenofMilidhbeforetheFaithandofthelengthof theirsovereigntyin Irelandas follows.......................................................................126 XXV...........................................................................................................................129 XXVI..........................................................................................................................132 XXVII........................................................................................................................137 XXVIII.......................................................................................................................140 XXIX..........................................................................................................................142 XXX...........................................................................................................................145 XXXI..........................................................................................................................148 XXXII........................................................................................................................150 XXXIII. Herefollows first abriefsummaryofthe adventurewhichledtothedeathof Conchubhar................................................................................................................153 XXXIV.Ofthedeathof Ceat son ofMagha, as follows...........................................155 XXXV.The causeofthe deathofMeadhbhofCruachain,as follows.....................157 XXXVI.......................................................................................................................159 XXXVII.....................................................................................................................161 XXXVIII....................................................................................................................163 XXXIX.......................................................................................................................165 XL..............................................................................................................................169 XLI.............................................................................................................................174 XLII............................................................................................................................178 XLIII..........................................................................................................................182 XLIV..........................................................................................................................186 XLV...........................................................................................................................190 XLVI..........................................................................................................................194 XLVII.........................................................................................................................198 XLVIII.......................................................................................................................203 XLIX..........................................................................................................................206 L.................................................................................................................................209 LI................................................................................................................................211 LII..............................................................................................................................213 BOOK II. I. Ofthekings of Ireland andoftheirhistoryafterthe Faithand ofits annals tothecomingoftheNormans hither, andtotheiracquiringsupremacyoverthe country, as follows:....................................................................................................215 II. Onthekings of Irelandafterthe Faithas follows:................................................219 III................................................................................................................................222 IV...............................................................................................................................225 V.................................................................................................................................228 VI...............................................................................................................................231 VII..............................................................................................................................234 VIII.............................................................................................................................237 IX...............................................................................................................................240 X.................................................................................................................................243 XI...............................................................................................................................246 XII..............................................................................................................................250 XIII.............................................................................................................................253 XIV............................................................................................................................257 XVI............................................................................................................................263 XVII...........................................................................................................................266 XVIII..........................................................................................................................268 -4- GEOFFREYKEATING XIX............................................................................................................................272 XX..............................................................................................................................275 XXI............................................................................................................................280 XXII...........................................................................................................................284 XXIII..........................................................................................................................287 XXIV..........................................................................................................................291 XXV...........................................................................................................................294 XXVI..........................................................................................................................300 XXVII........................................................................................................................303 XXVIII.......................................................................................................................305 XXIX..........................................................................................................................308 XXX...........................................................................................................................311 XXXI..........................................................................................................................314 XXXII........................................................................................................................317 XXXIII.......................................................................................................................320 XXXIV.......................................................................................................................323 GENEALOGIES........................................................................................................327 SYNCHRONISMS....................................................................................................355 NOTES ONPEOPLE ANDPLACES.......................................................................376 ENDNOTES..............................................................................................................579 -5- THEHISTORYOF IRELAND Introduction TotheEx-classics Project Edition. SeathrúnCéitinn(GeoffreyKeating)was aCatholicpriest from Co.Tipperary whoministeredtohis flockindefianceoftheEnglish Penal Laws inthe early17th century.Heis saidtohavewrittenhis historywhilehidingfrom theEnglish inacave intheGlenofAherlow. His otherworks includethedevotional works The Three Shafts of Death(Trí bior-ghaoitheanbháis )and Anexplanatorydefenceof themass (Eochair-sgiathanAifrinn), andanumberofpoems, ofwhich Farewell toIreland (Slánleh-Éirinn)andO WomanFull of Wiles (A BheanlándeStuaim)are thebest known. TheHistoryof Ireland was writtenin Irish about 1632andwas verypopular andwidelycirculatedin manuscript,printingofbooks in Irish beingeffectively prohibitedbytheEnglish rulers. Init he gives ahistoryof Irelandfrom earliest times until theNormaninvasionof1169AD.His sources weremostlyolder Irishannals andhistories, someofwhicharenowlost,which hesummarisedinmodern(i.e.17th century) Irish inafluent andreadablestyle.Most previous andcontemporaryIrish historians wroteinaveryarchaicandstiltedlanguage,whichneededspecial training toread,so Keating's historybecamethestandard version.Hewas also popular becauseheprovided evidencerefutingtheanti-Irishpropaganda ofEnglish writers, wholikedtoportraythe Irish as savages inordertojustifytheirconquest and expropriation. Theevents inBook1ofthework,dealingwiththetimebeforethe comingof St.Patrick,are generallyregardedas mythical bymodernscholars. Bethat as it may, theywereundoubtedlybelievedtobetruebyKeatingandhis contemporaries, andhis successors at least as far downas SylvesterO'Halloraninthelate18thcentury.Every nationneeds afoundingmyth,andthesuccessive invasions byFormorians, FirBolg, TuathaDéDanaanand Milesians are Ireland's. Much Irish literature,art andmusic draws onthem; theyareto Irelandwhat Livy's earlybooks weretoRomeor Geoffrey deMonmouth's historywas toBritain. Book2,whichdeals withevents from thecomingofSaint Patricktothe Norman Invasion,is muchmorehistoricallyaccurate.Apart from someincredible miracles attributedtosaints, theevents described almost certainlyhappenedmoreor less as Céitinndescribed them. It is also muchmorereadablethan Book1, withmore actionandfewerlongking-lists andGenealogies. -6- GEOFFREYKEATING Bibliographic and editorial note. TotheEx-classics Project Edition. Foras Feasa ar Éirinn was writtenabout 1630andcirculatedwidelyin manuscript form; theprintingofbooks in Irish beingeffectivelyforbidden bythe English rulers of Ireland at thetime.Therehavebeenthreefull translations into English:  ByDermodO'Connor,1723,several times republishedinthe18th &19th centuries.  ByJohnO'Mahony,1866.This versionis inprint (in2006)from Irish Roots Café.  ByDavidComynandPatrickS.Dinneen, Irish TextsSociety1902-1914.This versionis also inprint andcanbeorderedthrough abookshop orvia http://www.litriocht.com TheO'MahonyandComyn/Dinneenversions are availableinbookform only inveryexpensivemulti-volumelibraryeditions. TheO'Mahonytranslationis also availableas pageimages (verypoorquality) at Google Books This versionis basedontheComyn/Dinneen edition.This is ascholarly versionoftheoriginal Irish text,carefullycollated from thebest manuscripts, witha translationonoppositepages andverycopious annotations. Ouraim herehas beento producea readingversion,so thefollowingchanges havebeenmade.  The Irish text is not included(it is printedintheoldhalf-uncial alphabet and cannot beOCR'd)  Also omittedarethevariorum notes givingthedifferent readings ofvarious manuscripts, andalternativeversions ofthepoems as quotedinotherworks.  Corrigendahavebeensilentlyapplied.  Otherfootnotes and endnotes havebeenincludedintheEndnotes section.  TheTableofSynchronisms has beenincluded as pageimages only.This is becauseofits verycomplex layout andthe Irish names beinginhalf-uncial script.  TheMemoirofGeoffreyKeatingis from theO'Mahonytranslation -7- THEHISTORYOF IRELAND MEMOIR OF THE REVEREND GEOFFREY KEATING, D. D. by Michael Doheny THEmaterials foramemoirofDoctorKeatingare meagre andunreliable. No twoofthefragmentaryaccounts ofhis life,heretoforepublished,agree eveninthe dateofhis birthortheplaceofhis education.This seems discreditableto Ireland.That so distinguishedascholarandeminent adivinehas undoubtedclaims toahighplace intheannals ofthecountry, anda grateful recognitioninthememoryandtraditions of thepeople,admits ofno question.Hehas done eminent service,and yet noonecan point towherehewas bornorwherehelies. Noris this apparent forgetfulness owing toawant ofappreciationinhis owntimeorafterwards. Theruthless handof"British civilization,"laudablyzealous toeradicateeveryvestigeof"Irish barbarism,"and especiallytheCeltictongue,destroyedwithdiligent hasteeveryrelicofnational literatureit couldclutch. Theremainderwere,for themost part,hid,where theywere inaccessiblefor generations, orburied,wheretheyneverhavebeen,andneverwill be, seen. Longbeforethen,the"Statuteof Kilkenny," inits wisdom,providedand enacted,that the Irish alphabet was a "felony,"and theteachingthereof "præmunire." Wearenot informedhowmany,orwhetherany, incurredthedreadedpenaltyof "præmunire,"but this maybeowingtothedifficultyoffinding"facilejudges," and "well affectedjuries,"for the"Statute"was longbeforethetimewhenthat notorious casuist,SirJohnDavies, learnedthetruevalue of these"institutions." Inhis day,it maybesafelyinferred,that toframe anindictment underthe"Statute,"wouldbaffle evenhis ingenuity, fornoonewas left who could identifythe "felony,"or remotely comprehend what constituted"præmunire."Those whocherishedthe Irish tongue, takingwiththem whateverliterarytreasures theypossessed,hidthemselves inthe depths oftheforests, withwolves fortheir companions, where British "civilization" went howlingontheirtrackas iftheywereveritablebeasts ofprey. Henceit is that weknow so littleofGeoffreyKeating,whowas himself compelledtoquit thehaunts ofmenandtakerefugewiththebeasts ofthewoods. Henceit is, too,that goodmenofalaterday,unabletodiscoverthesources ofhis information,haverejectedhis authority.EvenMoorediscreditedit,mainlyonthe ground,that its earlysources flowinconfluence withthefabulous andimpossible. This objectionis thechiefoneurged against him; and yet it lies withgreaterforce against Livy's grandhymnofRomanStory,against Herodotus, thefatherof profane history,and against thefountainofGrecianliteratureandfirst sourceofGrecian history,thematchless songof Homer,whereintruthandfable,fact andmiracle, wrestlewitheachother evenas menwrestlewiththeGods ofOlympus. It maybe urgedagainst all historyofancient origin.Theshadows ofRomancebecoming instinct withtraditioncolouredtheearlyliterature ofthemiddleages andimpartedto it its most attractivecharm.Eveninourowntime,andinthis hardrepublic, the traditions andsuperstitions oftheredmanbegintotingeourhistoricliterature. Perhaps this topicis unsuitedfordiscussionhere. It is introducedtoshewthat the objectionis untenable.DoctorKeatingmerelygives as current traditions what modern criticism rejects as fabulous; andsuchtraditions, fabulous ornot,areindispensableto thetrueunderstandingof thecharacterandcustoms ofapeople--andthetrue delineationoftheirhistory. -8- GEOFFREYKEATING But theobjectionis not ofso muchimportancein itselfas inits tendencyto discredit thehistorianwhenhecomes todeal withfacts. Someofthese facts, seeminglyimprobable,weredisputedwithvehement zeal.But thecontradictions have beenoflate refutedbypositiveproof.Throughthegenerous efforts ofthe Archeological andother kindredsocieties, Irish manuscripts, of great age and undisputedauthority,havebeenbrought tolight whichproveincontestablymanyof thedisputedfacts inKeating's history.Modern Irish learningis nowso ripe in discernment,that it candistinguish theageof amanuscript byits style.Some,ofthese mentioned,are cotemporaneous withoccurrences deemedfabulous inKeating,and theyfullycorroboratehim.Theynot onlyprovehis accuracy,but attest his vast eruditionandapplication; fortotranslate,tocollateandcompare,so as to makethem achainof conclusiveevidence,has foraquarterofacenturytaskedthe energies, not ofone,but ofseveral of ourmost eminent scholars andassiduous workers. If we furtherconsidertheirfacilities, theirleisure,theiradvantages andopportunities, and thecircumstances which surroundedKeating,our astonishment at his achievement must beindeedgreat.Thosecircumstances, as will appear, account forthe confusion that,inmanyplaces, characterises his narrative. It is evident suchconfusion results from adefect of accurate data.But his sincerityis unimpeachable, andso well establishedis his authoritythat inreconcilinganyslight differencebetween the "annalists,"JohnO'Donovan,themost gifted Irish scholarofourday,orperhaps any other,reconciles them byquotingDoctor Keating. This is especiallyso withregardto theannals ofthefourMasters, whichwereconcludedinDoctorKeating's time. It is impossiblehecouldhave seenthem,and yet nearlyall their facts andhis areidentical, andwheretheyarenot,thereareinmanyinstances higher authorities onhis side. Thereis nodoubt then,that whenthehistoryof Irelandconies tobewritteninits fullness,DoctorKeating's authority,wherehespeaks positively,will beunquestioned. It is nowtimeweshould saywhat we canofthesubject ofthis memoir personally.Doctor Keatinghimselftraces his lineagetothedistinguishedfamilyof that name,whosevarious branches heldhigh rank andlargepossessions inthe Counties ofWexford,Kildare,Carlow,Waterford, TipperaryandCork.Accordingto thetraditions ofthefamily, adoptedand,so tosay, legalisedbythebooks ofHeraldry in Ireland,thefounderof thehouse,whoseoriginal nameis nowunknown, was oneof thepioneers ofthe Normaninvaders, whokindled thebeacon firethat lit thewayof Fitzstephens intoCuanandBhanilch.Thestorygoes, that as helaybyhis watchfire,a wildboarchancingtoprowl that way,was proceedingtoattackhim,until frightened bythesparklingofthefire,whenhe fledindismay. The watcher,thus providentially saved,adopted forhis crest awildboarrampant,rushingthroughabrake, withthe motto,"fortis et fidelis," andhis namebecame,wearenot toldhow,Keatingor Keting,from the Irish words, "Ceadtinne," "first fire." As earlyas the year1179,onlyten years afterthelandingof Fitzstephens, we find thename "Halis Keting,"asubscribingwitness toagrant toDunbrodyAbbeyby HenrydeMoutmorencie. This fact,intheabsence ofotherevidence,would be sufficientlyconclusive, against theassumptionthat Keatingwas a corruptionofthe Normanname,Etiennre,"fornosuchcorruptionhadtakenplaceat that earlydate,nor didtheinvaders holdfamiliarintercourse withtheIrish. As DermidMacMurchadarrivedin Ireland,from his exile,a yearbeforethe landingof Fitzstephenandwas accompaniedbyWelshmen,andas hewas anxiously expectingthearrival ofhis auxiliaries, nothingwouldbemorenatural than that oneof thoseWelshmenshouldbeemployedas a watcherfortheir coming, and,onhis -9- THEHISTORYOF IRELAND success,shouldberewardedbytheperfidious princehimselfwiththetitleand distinctionof"Ceadtine." "Halis Keting"was undoubtedlythefounderofthehouse.He receivedlarge grants ofland.His principal estateand residence was Baldwinstown,inWexford.His descendants, beingin connection,ifnot kindred, withtheGeraldine, extendedtheir swayovermanycounties,andweredistinguished forhospitalityand courage. NarraghmoreinKildare, theresidenceofoneofthefamily,has remainedfamous to ourowndayforits "Ceadmilefailte,"which was knownall overthe Island.Kindling thefire,that lit thefoeman's way,was bynomeans acherishedtitleto Irish gratitude. But,inprocess oftime,manyoftheNorrnans, as was proverbial oftheGeraldines, becamenationalised,and indefianceofthe "StatuteofKilkenny," Londonedicts and otherdevices of"British civilisation,"enteredintohonoredrelations offosterage and gossipred withthe Irish. Nay,sometimes theywent theaudacious lengthof intermarrying,beingso rudeoftasteas toprefersome"silvertongued" Irishbeautyto thehaughtiest Normandame.AmongtheseweretheKeatings, who,onmanyan occasion,provedthemselves opponents to London lawandKingbishops. Inthe reignof HenryVII.,James Keating,Priorof Kilmanham,stormed DublinCastle,andheldit formonths against theGovernment.Hewas afterwards dislodgedand attainted,andParliament,infurtheranceof civilization,enactedand ordainedthat noperson bornin IrelandshouldeverthereafterbePriorofKilmainham; asalutaryenactment whichbecameaprecedent in practice withtheEnglish garrison in Irelandeversince.Duringthe "rebellion"ofthe great Earl ofDesmond,the Keatings ofCarlowdidsuchgoodserviceinhis causethat thewholeSept, branchand name,wereattainted.Howit faredwiththeTipperaryfamilies, withwhom theDoctor is moreimmediatelyconnected,wehaveno recordof.Possiblythat,beingunderthe protectionofOrmond,andholdingtheirestates inhis palatinate,theytooknopart for oragainst theirkinsman ofDesmond. GeoffreyKeatingwas bornwhenGeraldof Desmondheldregal swayinhis "Kingdom ofKerry,"and openedasylums formonkandpriest inhis manifold strongholds, inopendefianceofthe"Statutes insuchcasemadeandprovided," andin still moredaringdefianceofthefrowns andmenaces ofhis "well beloved and gracious mistress." ThedateofKeating's birthis fixedbysomeat 1570and bysome at 1581,andhis birthplaceat Burgess andTubridrespectively. Bothplaces areinthe parish ofTubrid,nearClogheen,andnot farfrom NicholstownorShanbally, the principal seats ofthe KeatingfamilyinTipperary. Theexact localityis oflittle importance,andthedate 1570,maybeassumedas correct,forotherwisehe would havebeenbut amerechildwhensent awayfrom Ireland,andit wouldbeimpossible forhim tohaveacquired aperfect knowledgeofthe Irish language.His parents, we aretold,wereinaffluent circumstances. But thefact,that theirnames have not been preserved,leads tothe conclusionthat the"reformation"extendedits civilising influencetothem andthat theyheldtheirpossessions inaquasi incognito. GeoffreyKeatingwas sent toschool at averyearlyage; but his proficiencyat that time,orwhat werehis particularstudies, we arewithout anyaccount of.As, however,the Irish and Latinwerethelanguages ofthe"schools,"it is tobe presumed hefirst masteredthedifficulties ofhis nativetongueandbecamefamiliar withits complex construction.His works, too,consideringthat hespent thebest years ofhis youthandmanhood abroad,abundantlytestifythat studyof Irish engagedhis earliest attention.His opportunities foracquiringathoroughknowledge,not onlyof Irish but -10-