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The name that is upon the island of Ireland is one that goes back to the oldest times. Yet would you believe that we know the origin story of that name and also why it is upon the island? Ireland in our native Irish is named Eireann or Eire, the origin of which is the name of one of the island’s old Goddesses of Sovereignty, Ériu. Yet to know why it is that name we must tell the story of the trio, Banba, Fotla, and Eriu, sovereignty Goddesses of Ireland
The last Kings of the Tuatha Dé Danann
After the second battle at the plain of Moytura, Lugh ruled in Ireland as King for forty years. He was followed by the Dagda for eighty years, then eventually by a trio of the Dagda’s grandsons, namely Mac Cuill, Mac Cécht, and Mac Gréine.
In the traditions of the old way a king was to be wed to a Goddess who represented the sovereignty of the land and its bond and connection with the Otherworld. These three kings were wed to Eriu, Fotla, and Banba and it was said that the kings were obliged to rule in turns and in the year each one was king his wife’s name was given to the island that year.
This agreement to shared rule, though sometimes contentious, lasted until the arrival of the Son’s of Mil, the final tribe to take Ireland. Unlike other arrivals, this was not some homecoming of descendants of older peoples. The Milesian’s came in invasion, bringing their forces of conquest out of Spain.
The Sons of Mil
The arrival of the sons of Mil would change the ruling structure of Ireland and bring towards a close the mythological era of Irish lore. Even here though we find the powers of the Otherworld at play through the sovereignty of the Goddesses of the land.
When the Milesian’s began their conquest they came to each of the Goddesses in various locations on the island and it was their File, Amergain, known as ‘White knee’, son of Mil who spoke for his people.
What follows is the passage from the Book of the Taking of Ireland as translated by R. A. S. Macalister in Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1941.
§77. The sons of Míl had colloquy with Banba in Sliabh Mis. Said Banba unto them: If it be to take Ireland ye have come, not right were the good-fortune in which ye have come. It is by necessity, said Amorgen Glúingel, the poet. A gift from you to me then, said she. What gift? said they. That my name may be on this island, said she. What is thy name? said they. Banba, said she. Let it be a name for this island, said Amorgen.
§78. They had colloquy with Fotla in Eblinne. She spake with them in like manner, and desired that her name should be upon the island. Said Amorgen: Let Fotla be a name upon this island.
§79. They had colloquy with Ériu in Uisnech. She said unto them: Warriors, said she, welcome to you. Long have soothsayers had [knowledge of] your coming. Yours shall be this island for ever; and to the east of the world there shall not be a better island. No race shall there be, more numerous than yours. Good is that, said Amorgen; good is the prophecy. Not right were it to thank her, said Éber Donn, eldest of the sons of Míl; thank our gods and our own might. To thee ‘tis equal, said Ériu; thou shalt have no profit of this island, nor shall thy progeny. A gift to me, ye sons of Míl, and ye children of Breogan, said she; that my name shall be on this island. It shall be its principal name, said Amorgen.
In this way we see that the Son’s of Mil, though coming in conquest, performed in essence a type of pilgrimage to consult with the sovereignty of the land and by the third interaction they had gained insight and in some manner acceptance.
We see the effect of this knowledge later when, through guile, the three kings convince the invaders to return to their ships. The Tuatha De Danann then have their sorcerers and druids call up a storm to threaten the ships. Amergain it is again who saves the day by use of the names that now exist upon the island. He calls out to the Goddesses of sovereignty and in their names seeks to re enter Ireland. In this manner the storms are overturned.
Yet for all that the return is now permitted, there is still consequence for the unjust. Eber Donn, threatens to lay his spears over all the peoples of the island, women and children included. His threat is such that he and his ship are not permitted to return and are instead dashed upon the rocks of the coast, leaving them to die. In other versions a strange plague strikes just his ship and they all die. The other Sons of Mil will not risk bringing a sickness back to Ireland and Eberr Donn and his folk are buried on a rocky island off the coast. The island is still connected to tales of Teach Donn, or the House of the Dead, today.
The Name the Land still Carries.
The Sons of Mil take Ireland and the Tuatha Dé Danann are tricked into the Otherworld through the ‘hollow hills’ or ‘Sí’ as they are called in the old language. Yet the rule of Ireland falls to the three remaining sons of Mil and it is not a peaceful or abundant time.
Ireland, once bountiful and beautiful, becomes a wasteland where no grain grows and cattle give no milk. This is not because outsiders came, as the Sons of Mil were accepted by the island’s sovereignty. It was instead caused by the cruel misuse of power by those who put themselves in charge.
Eventually Amergain is called upon again as File of his people and it’s said that abundance was restored once the Milesians made friends with the Dagda.
The peoples of Ireland are said to descend from the Milesians yey many are the families that claim older lineages to the bloodlines of the Tuatha Dé, what has not been disputed down through all the years to today is the name that still lives upon the island.
Our lore has entire texts called ‘dindshenchas’ or ‘the lore of place names’ where in we can trace the tales that give the naming to many of Ireland’s hills, rivers, lakes, towns and many other features. Yet the name Eire still remains to speak to all of the land as one whole.
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Thanks for this wonderful article. Would you consider to insert in IPS a class around Ériu, how to connect with her, what her items on the altar, what offerings she would appreciate and so on?