Ireland

Ireland is an island in north-western Europe and a home to the Three Races since antiquity.

History

In ancient times, the High Kings of Ireland were crowned upon the Stone of Destiny (which they called the Lia Fáil). According to one story by Shari, the Stone arrived in Ireland in the company of Scota and the three surviving sons of the Gathelus. Upon landing in Ireland, Scota and one of her sons were killed in battle. Two sons, Eremon and Eber Finn survived and soon after Eremon was the first High King of Ireland to be crowned upon the Stone of Destiny at Tara. ("The Rock")

In another version of the tale, also told by Shari, the Stone arrived in Ireland with the prophet Jeremiah, who gave it to King Eochaid as a dowry for Princess Tamar Tea Tephi. Eochaid set up the Stone at Tara and called it the Lia Fáil. ("Rock & Roll")

In the 1st Century, Cu Chullain lived in Ireland as one of its greatest heroes. He angrily split the Stone of Destiny in half after it refused to recognize Lugaid Red-Stripe as High King of Ireland. Cu Chullain was accompanied by the Hound of Ulster, a member of the Irish Clan. When Ireland was suffering from the wrath of the Banshee, Cu Chullain and his faithful Hound defeated her. Upon his death, Cu Chullain was entombed in Cairn na Chullain.

Around the year 500, an Irish prince named Fergus took one half of the Stone of Destiny with him to Scotland.

In 962, Indulf fled to Ireland from Scotland after losing the throne. His son Culen went with him, and after Indulf's death, Culen led an Irish army against Scotland in the Battle of Gaine to reclaim the Scottish throne, where he was successful. Culen's son, Constantine, also had Irish troops at the Battle of Rathveramoen. ("The Oath", "The Promise")

In 1314, the Irish lord Cormac Maccarthy allied with Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn, helping him defeat the English. In gratitude, Robert gave Cormac a piece of the Stone of Destiny, which Cormac's descendants installed in his castle; it resides there to this day, as the Blarney Stone. ("Rock of Ages")

In 1996, Elisa Maza, Goliath, Angela, and Bronx arrived in Liscoo, Ireland on the Avalon World Tour and there met the Banshee and Rory Dugan, who was Cu Chullain reborn. With Bronx's help, Cu Chullain was again able to defeat the Banshee. Soon after, the Banshee either fled the island to hide and/or was dragged back to Avalon by the Weird Sisters. ("The Hound of Ulster", "The Gathering" Part One)

Real World History

Ireland is the second largest island in Europe. It lies to the northwest of Continental Europe with the island of Great Britain lying to the east. Politically it is divided into the Republic of Ireland, a sovereign state occupying five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, occupying the northeastern sixth of the island. The name 'Ireland' derives from the name Ériu (in modern Irish, Éire) with the addition of the Germanic word 'land'.

The population of the island is slightly under 6 million (2006), with just over 4.2 million in the Republic of Ireland (1.6 million in Greater Dublin) and about 1.7 million in Northern Ireland (0.6 million in Greater Belfast).

See Also

• Ireland at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia