When the sons of Mil reached their landing-place they made no
delay until they reached Sliab Mis; and the battle of Sliab Mis
was fought between them and the Tuatha De Danann, and the victory
was with the sons of Mil. Many of the Tuatha De Dannan were
killed in that battle. It is there that Fas wife of Un son of
Uicce fell, from whom is named Glen Faise. Scota wife of Mil fell
in the same valley; from her is named " Scota's Grave",
between Sliab Mis and the sea. 

The sons of Mil went afterwards to
Tailltiu, and another battle was fought between them and the
Tuatha De Danann there. Vehemently and whole-heartedly was it
fought, for they were from morning to evening contending,
bone hewing , and mutilating one another; till the three kings and
the three queens of Ireland fell there- Mac Cecht by Eremon, Mac
Cuill by Eber Finn, Mac Greine by Amergin, Eriu by Suirge, Banba
by Caicer, and Fodla by Etan. Those were the deaths of their
chiefs and princes. 

After that the Tuatha De Danann were routed
to the sea and the sons of Mil and their host were a long time
following the rout. There fell, however two noble chiefs of the
people of the sons of Mil in inflicting the rout, namely, Fuad in
Sliab Fuait, and Cualgne in Sliab Cualgne, together with other
warriors besides, who fell together on both sides.

When the Tuatha De Danann were crushed and expelled in the battles that
were fought between them, the sons of Mil took the lordship of Ireland. 

After that there arose a contention between the sons of Mil
about the kingship, that is between Eremon and Eber, so that
Amergin was brought to make peace between them. He said that the
inheritance of the eldest, of Donn, should go to the youngest, to
Eremon, and his inheritance to Eber after him; Eber did not
accept that, but insisted on dividing Ireland.

Eremon agreed to do so. 

Accordingly Ireland was divided in two between them, the
northern half to Eremon, from Srub Brain to the Boyne, the
southern half to Eber, from the Boyne to Tonn Cliodna. 

"There were five chieftains in the division of each of them. With Eremon
first, Amergin, Sedga, Goisten, Suirge, and Sobairce. 

Now in that year these forts were dug by Eremon and his people: 

Rath Beothaig, above the Nore in Argat Ros; Rath Oinn, in the

territory of Cula, by Eremon; the Causeway of Inber Mor, in the
territory of Ui Enechglais, by Amergin; the building of Dun Nair,
in Sliab Modoirn, by Goisten; the building of Dun Delginnse, in
the territory of Cuala, by Sedga; the building of his fort by
Sobairce in Morbolg of Dal Riada; the building of Dun Edar by Suirge. 

These are the forts built by Eber and these the
chieftains that were with him: Etan, Un, Mantan, Fulman, and
Caicer were his five chieftains. Rath Uaman, in Leinster, was dug
by Eber; Rath Arda Suird by Etan son of Uicce; the building of
Carrig Blaraige by Mantan; the building of Carrig Fethnaide by Un
son of Uicce; the building of Dun Ardinne by Caicer; the building
of Rath Riogbard, in Muiresc, by Fulman. 
So that for the commemoration of certain of the aforesaid
matters this was said: 

Expeditions of the sons of Mil over sea 
From Spain of clear ships, 
They took , it is no deed of falsehood, 
The battle-plain of Ireland in one day. 

This is the tale that they went
on sea, With multitude of wealth and people, 
To a brave show God brought them, 
With sixty-five choice vessels. 

They landed at the noble creek
Which is called the White Rampart; 
It was a cause of sickness, and attempt without failure, 
From the sight of the warrior Lugaid. 

From thence it is from that out 
The creek of Fial of generous bands; 
From the day she died in white Banba-- 
Fial daughter of Mil of Spain.

At the end of three days, brilliant preparation, 
The Tuatha De fought 
The battle of Sliab Mis, --glory that was not failure,
Against the great sons of Mil. 

They won, a saying without reproach, 
The battle against fair-headed Banba, 
Where died Fas woven in verse, 
With the very fair daughter of Pharaoh. 

Before the end of a year, it was lasting fame, 
Among the chieftains of the heavy hosts, 

Into twice six divisions, a pleasant course, 
They afterwards divided Ireland. 

Over the north side a progress without sorrow,
Eremon was taken as high prince;
From Srub Brain, which verses adorn, 
Every tribe to the Boyne.

These are the five guardians of control 
Whom he accepted to accompany him; 
Amergin, Sedga also, Goisten, Sobairce,
Suirge. 


Eber, son of Mil grace-abounding, 
takes the southern half, 
From the eternal Boyne, choice the share, 
To the wave of the daughter of Genann. 

These are the five, with hundreds of exploits, 
The chiefs who were subordinate to him;
Etan, and Un of joyous rule, 
Mantan, Fulman, and Caicer. 

In this same year 
The royal forts were dug, 
By the sons of Mil,--honor of pledges, 
After the full division of Ireland's island. 

Rath Oinn, Rath Beothaig here,
By Eremon in Argat Ros; 
In Sliab Mis, after a series of omens, 
The building of Dun Nair by Goisten. 


Suirge wide-extended, who displayed valor, 
Built the high Dun Edar; 
And the sounding, glorious achievement, 
Of his fort by Sobairce. 

By Eber of bright valor, was dug 
Rath Uaman in the plain of Leinster; 
Rath Arda Suird, it enriched him, 
Was dug by Etan son of Uicce. 

Rath Carraig Fetha thus, 
Was made by Un son of Uicce; 
And by Mantan,--glorious deed, 
The founding of Carrig Blaraige. 

Rath Rigbard in good Muiresc, 
Very keen Fulman built it;
Caicer of battles, a pleasant fulfilment, 
Took Dun Inne in the west of Ireland. 
These are their deeds of valor,

Of the clear, glorious, great royal host; 
It was a great achievement, after battle , without stain; 
Theirs was every profit, every expedition. 

Of the adventures of the Gaedels from the time when they went
from Scythia till they took Ireland and the division of Ireland
between them, with their chieftains, the poet Roigne Roscadach
son of Ugaine Mor said to Mal son of Ugaine his brother, when Mal
questioned him: "Sing thy description in the great knowledge
of Ireland, O Roigne," Roigne answered him and said: 

O noble son of Ugaine, 
How does one arrive at knowledge of Ireland,
The conquest of its company? 
Before they overflowed Scythia 
They reached the host-king of Shinar; 

They approached Egypt, 
Where Cingeris was extinguished, 
So that a great troop was destroyed, 
Who died in the Red Sea. 

They flowed through a space very faithful, 
With Pharaoh fought; 
Niul contracts with Scota, 
The conception of our fathers. 

They took the name "Gaedels,"
The name "Scots" spreads, 
The fair daughter of Pharaoh.

They overspread lands, 
Burst into Scythia, 
Determined long combat-- 
The Children of Nel and Noenbal. 

Golam was a young lord, 
Who slew the son of Neman, 
Escaped to Egypt, 
Where was Nectanebus. 

Pharaoh was welcoming 
To Golam; gave 
A marriage Nectanebus, 
Scota was at cot's head; 

A name was changed from them. 
They advanced past Africa, 

Good was the man under whom they trembled; 
Fenius Farsad, the keen, 
Well he spread for us a lasting name. 

They approached Spain, 
Where was born a numerous progeny, 
Donn, Airech, Amergin, 
Eber, Ir, Colptha himself, 
Eremon, Erannan, 
The eight sons of Golam. 
Mil's renown came upon them, 
The sons of Mil wealthy; 

Their scholars resolved, 
Divided ships, 
The Men returned from the burial of Fial. 
They divided Ireland, 
In twice six, an inheritance of chieftains.

Seek the truth of every law, 
Relate sharply the inquiry , O Son! 

After Eremon and Eber had divided the chieftains, they had two
distinguished artists who had come into their company from the
east, namely, a poet and a harper. Cir son of Cis was the poet,
Cennfinn the harper. They cast a lot on them to know which of
them should be with each of them; so that, through the decision
of the lot, the harper went southward to Eber and thence melody
of music and harmony followed in the Southern Half of Ireland.
The poet went to Eremon, and knowledge of poetry and song
followed him in the North ever after. To commemorate this it was said: 

The two sons of Mil, famous in dignity, 
Took Ireland and Britain; 
With them there followed hither 
A gentle poet and a harper. 

Cior son of Cis, the bright poet, 
The name of the harper Cennfin; 
With the sons of Mil, of bright fame, 
The harper sounded his harp. 

The princes, with many battles, 
Took the kingdom of Ireland; 
They did it with brightness, merry the sound, 
Eber and Eremon. 

They cast a lot swiftly 
About the great men of art; 
So that there fell to the lot of the southerner 
The harper, just and fair. 

Melody of music more beautiful than any company 
Is from the southward in the south of Ireland; 
It was thus it will be to the fortunate Judgment 
With the famous seed of Eber. 

There fell to the lot of the northerner 
The man of learning with great excellence; 
Hence the tribes who brought him boast 
Knowledge of poetry and learning. 

top

© Shee-Eire: