Legend of Ireland’s First Inhabitants
The first inhabitants of Ireland, according to a legend quoted by Keating from the Saltair of Caiseal, were " three virgin daughters of the wicked Cain." " Some others say it was three fishermen un¬willingly driven by a storm from Spain," Keating adds; "and as the island pleased them they returned for their wives." Having come back to Ireland they were overtaken by the Deluge at Tuaidh-Inbhear and drowned.
According to the l.cabhar Gabhala, Ceasair with three men and fifty maidens embarked in a ship to save themselves from the flood. They rowed from Meroe Island to the Tyrrhene Sea, and after many days’ voyaging reached Spain. From Spain they came to Ireland in nine days, landing on " a Saturday, the fifteenth day of the moon at Dun na mBarc in Corco Dhuibhne." Ireland, " where came not evil nor sin, and was till then free from reptiles and monsters, as told them by prophets in the East, would be safe from the flood."
From Dun na mBarc they found their way to Cumar na dTri nUisce, and after many journeys, vicissitudes and losses, they were, like the fisher-folk from Spain, overtaken by the flood, and all drowned. i.cahhar Droma Sneachta, differing somewhat from the Leabhar Gabhala, says " thrice fifty women came there and three men, one of whom was Ladhra," the others being Bioth and Fionntan. Barrann and Balbha, as well as Ceasair, are mentioned elsewhere in association with them, while Banbha, and not Ceasair, is named in the Book of Drom Sneachta.
Keating says, further, " there came a youth of the family of Nin mac Beil, whose name was Adhna son of Bioth, to reconnoitre Ireland about seven score years after the deluge." He soon went back with an account to his people, bringing with him some of the grass of Ireland, as recorded also in the Saltair of Caiseal. But " know thee, reader, that it is not as genuine history I set down this occupation, nor any occupation of which we have so far treated, but because I have found them written in old books."
