nd settled in Ireland. Migrating people could travel to the Ireland's eastern shore directly from Britain or from the Continent via Britain. On the other hand, people can migrate from the south and west, from the Continent, either from Gaul (France) or Spain. During the Viking period, the Vikings landed upon northern shores from Scandinavia via either their bases from Britain (northern England or Scotland) or the Hebrides islands (especially in Orkney).
It is not certain if the people, known to the Roman people as the Picts that lived in ancient Alba (Scotland), had lived in Ireland too. Since the Picts left no records, it is also uncertain of what the Picts called themselves. In the Q-Celtic language, like Irish, the Picts were called Cruithni, Cruithnig, Cruithne or Cruithin. While in P-Celtic, the Picts were called Preteni or Pretani.
According to the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy, Ireland was called Ierna; it was called Hiberia. The people of Ierna were known as the Iverni, which had been identified with the Érainn. It is generally believe today that the Erainn or Iverni arrived after the Cruithni (Picts).
It was also said the Belgae, a tribe that lived in Gaul, between the Seine and Marne, had also settled and established a southern kingdom in Britain, before Caesar's campaign in Gaul. They may have also migrated to Ireland, however, one scholar argued that the Erainn could identify with the Belgae, a view that most scholars discredited.
The Lagin followed Erainn, and settled mostly in the region that was later called Leinster, but also in Connacht. It is said in their legend that the Lagin had come from Armorica (Brittany).
The true Gaels or Goidels or Irish were the last invaders, known as the Féni, and are equated with the legendary Milesians in the Lebor Gabala (Book of Invasions). It is generally believed that the Feni migrated to the isle directly from the Continent, instead of via Britain.
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Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of Invasions of Ireland) | The Real Invasions
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First Created (Book of Invasions): 03/11/1999.
Last Modified: 24/07/06.