Érainn

Érainn. Historical population of early Ireland that first settled the island in perhaps the 5th century BC. Centred in what is now Co. Cork, the Érainn were identical with the Iverni or Everni noted by Ptolemy (2nd cent. AD), adapting those names from the Érainn subdivision, the Corcu Loígde. Scholars no longer believe that the Érainn were the aboriginal population of Ireland. Received opinion today asserts that the Érainn were preceded by the Cruithni[Picts] and followed by the Lagin and Féni. T. F. O'Rahilly argued several provocative theses concerning the Érainn in Early Irish History and Mythology (1946): (a) that the Érainn were a P-Celtic people who preceded the Q-Celtic Goídels who eventually dominated Ireland; (b) that they could be identified with the Belgae who left what is today the Low Countries and crossed Britain to reach Ireland; (c) that the Nemedians and Fir Bolg of the pseudo-history Lebor Gabála[Book of Invasions] are based on them. Further, he thought that Togail Bruidne Da Derga[The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel] was based on the memory of defeat by the Lagin.

Although many scholars doubt the Érainn's identification with the P-Celts, and therefore the British, O'Rahilly's views have not been overturned. Several important smaller groups were actually subdivisions of the Érainn, notably the already cited Corcu Loígde, the Corcu Duibne of Kerry, the Déisi of Waterford, the Múscraige[Muskerry], the Osraige[Ossory], who allied themselves with the Q-Celtic Eóganacht, and, in the north of the island, the Dál Riada who colonized Gaelic Scotland and the Ulaid who gave their name to Ulster. Their principal ancestor-deity was Dáire mac Dedad. The territorial goddess Mór Muman[Great of Munster] apparently was first a goddess of the Érainn.