THE early history and antiquities of Ireland have been subjects of doubt and controversy, for a longer time, and perhaps in a greater degree, than generally occurs of any other country; and, though it stands admitted, that, like those of most other nations, the origin and primitive state of this Island are considerably involved in darkness and fable, yet, it seems also agreed, that few countries have a higher claim to antiquity, [g] or have advanced better proofs in support of that distinction, than this, the most westerly and secluded kingdom of Europe.

However, on this latter point, as on many others connected with the subject, much has been said and written on both sides; writers stand in hostile array against each other, and throughout a discussion, wherein the spirit of calm investigation after truth should alone predominate, those angry disputants have generally indulged in the most acrimonious feelings, and not infrequently in the most puerile reflections. Those who decried, as well as they who supported, the claim to antiquity, were, though from different causes, in this respect equally reprehensible. The former, in general unacquainted with the language, and consequently with the written memorials of the country, could not patiently brook the imputations of ignorance and misconception, which were most liberally bestowed on them by their antagonists; and therefore, after frequently supplying the place of knowledge by supposition, and of argument by angry declamation, they seldom failed to complete their labours by recriminating charges of national prejudice, and gross misrepresentation, against their more confident opposers.

Ptolemy, the Greek geographer, who flourished in the second century has handed down, through the medium of his own language, the names of several rivers, cities and tribes, then situate on the western coast of lreland. The accounts which he has given, though considered correct and highly curious and valuable, are still liable to many objections; and may, even without going so far as to coincide with the author of the Oxgygia, in his remarks on their authenticity, be pronounced in many particulars erroneous, and such as cannot be entirely depended upon, without cautious and careful examination.

To the veracity of the geography nothing is imputable; he related what he heard from those who had visited the country; for it appears that this Island, though unfortunately never under the dominion of the Romans, yet carried on an extensive trade with the empire. Tacitus, in the tract before referred to, asserts that its ports and harbours were better known than those of Britain, from a greater commerce and resort of merchants; and from those visitors it was, that Ptolemy drew the accounts which he had of the coasts of Ireland; for he does not seem to have mentioned, or even known anything of the interior of the country, except a few places which lay immediately contiguous to the coasts.

At the commencement of the ninth century, the Danes began to pour in swarms from their northern hive upon Ireland; terror and devastation marked their progress in every quarter; neither the venerable remains of antiquity, the feelings of humanity, nor the divine spirit of the christian religion, could make an impression on those ferocious monsters, who, with fire and cword, burned and massacred all before them, without distinction. In the year 835, an army of these adventurers, under the command of their sanguinary leader Turgesius, over-run and ravaged the province of Connaught [n], committing, in their progress, the most dreadful carnage, and, in the general wreck and destruction which then took place, the ancient town of Galway was destroyed.

That this insatiable enemy did not spare a place so well adapted for commerce, or afterwards settle there, according to the policy adopted at Waterford, Limerick, and other parts of the kingdom, appears extraordinary, unless that they might, perhaps, have considered its situation as too remote, for purposes of internal traffic or conquest.