G, GORT, ivy in the Ogham alphabet. The bird ... - Rodney Mackay

to be derived from Scota, the first queen-mother of the
Milesians (and thus a counterpart of Danu). The term Scoti
was definitely preferred by continental writers as the name
for the people of Eiru. Thus it is explained that “Hibernia is
the nation of the Scots,” Scotia being a name “which links
itself to no land on earth.” As late as the seventh century,
we find native “Irishmen” referring to themselves as Scots
when they were in exile. Further, as time passed, they even
began to designate their homeland as “the land of Scots.”
In the third century the Scots began a colonization of
the southwestern peninsula of Dal Riada in Alba. The first
colonies in this new place received military help from Tara
in order to put down the neighbouring Picts.In the following
century, a Munsterman, Lugaid mac Conn, fleeing from
enemies, made himself the chief power in this new land.
From his son came the ancestors of the lords of Argyle; the
MacAllens, Campbells and the MacCallums. A hundred years
further on Cabri Riata established kingdoms in both Ireland
and Scotland. The Picts were not enamoured of any of this
and would have driven the Scots from their land, except for
the efforts of the high-king Niall of the Nine Hostages. The
effect of all this was the establishment of a huge military
presence in Alba by the sixth century, when it became an
independent kingdom under Aedh ard-righ. For a time it was
powerful enough to hold Antrim, in Ireland proper, as an
appanage. That was the state of things until the end of the
eight century when began to pressure them in Argyllshire
and Dalriada. Looking for a more secure place they marched
into Pictland and conducted campaigns against these people
until 850 A.D., when Cinead (Kenneth) mac Alpein
completely overthrew the Picts by very devious means, and
became high-king of all Scotia, Some claim that he even
subdued the Britons on his southern borders and the Anglo-
Danish population of the southeast.
At this time, with the Scotic people in a position of
power, Ireland was called Scotia Major and Scotland,
Scotia Minor, but the title fell away from Ireland as their
power waned. In the eleventh century, when all Scotland