Open [38.2 MB]

Irish Principality
in Wales
The conquest of North Britain or Caledonia had been
achieved by the Irishmen of Ulster,
the kinsmen of the
princely clans of the O'Donels and O'Neills. The conquest
of North Wales appears likewise to have been
achieved by the Ultonians. South Britain, including
south Wales and the Cornish peninsula, appear to have
become Irish through the efforts of the men of Munster.
During the historic period there appears to have been no
fundamental difference in the Irish nation. All the
governing clans, septs and races, equivalents of the Roman
gens, point to a common origin, all are Irish and Gaelic.
The Irish carried their pedigree to an incredible an-
tiquity. The immediate eponym of the race was Galamh,
from Gal, valor, a name which might be exprest by the
Latin miles, a knight, whence came the names Milesius
and Milesian. All the Milesian families traced their
names to Galamh or Milesius. From three of the sons
of Milesius, namely, Heber, Ir and Heremon, who in-
vaded Ireland, are descended all the Milesian Irish of
Ireland and Scotland, and the reputed descent from these
sons colors all Irish history. From Heber, the eldest
brother, the provincial kings of Munster (of whom thirty-
eight were high monarchs of Ireland) and most of the
noble families of Munster were descended. From Ir,
the second brother, all the provincial kings of Ulster (of
whom twenty-six were high monarchs of Ireland) and
all the old and noble families of Ulster, and many noble
families in Leinster, Munster and Connaught, derive
their pedigrees.
From Heremon, the youngest of the three brothers, and
the chief of them from the number and distinction of his
descendants, according to Irish genealogical compilations,
were descended one hundred and fourteen monarchs
161