Excerpts from the Book of Invasions

The 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 Fail 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

Over 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, honour 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 valour

Built the high Dun Edar

And the sounding, glorious achievement

Of his fort by Sobairce

By Eber of bright valour, 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 valour

Of the clear, glorious, great royal host

It was a great achievement, after battle,

without stain

Theirs was every profit, every expedition

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!

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

The chiefs of the voyage over the sea

By which the sons of Mil came

I have in recollection during my life

Their names without lie

Donn Eremon, noble Emer

Ir, Amergin without partiality

Colptha, Airech, Febra the keen

Erannan, Muimme fine and smooth

Luigne, Laigne, Palap the lucky

Er. Orba Feron, Fergin

Eber son if Ir. Brega, I shall say

Cuala, Cualgne, Blad rough and strong

Fuad and Muirthemne with fame

Eblinne, Nar, Buas with battle

Bres, Buaigne, and Fulman

Mantan, Caicer, slender Suirge

En, Un and rigid Etan

Sobairce, Sedga of spears

And Goisten the champion

The conquered noble Ireland

Against the Tuatha De of great magic

In vengeance for Ith of the steeds

Thirty, ten, and one chieftain

The men you have found are in possession

Over the nine green-necked waves

Of the sea advance ye

Unless by your power then be planted

Quickly let the battle be prepared

I assign the possession

Of the land ye have found

If ye love concede this award

If ye love not concede it not

It is I that say this to you

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