The History of Ireland Geoffrey Keating Foras Feasa ar

597 Pages·2009·3.11 MB·English

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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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