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Line 6: − − Cessair (or Ceasair) was the leader of the first inhabitants of Ireland before the Biblical Flood. − − She was daughter of Noah's son Bith and his wife Birren. When her father was denied a place in the ark by Noah, Cessair advised him to build an idol. This idol advised them that they could escape the Deluge in a ship. Cessair, along with three men, Bith, Fintan and Ladra, and fifty women, set off and sailed for more than seven years. They landed in Ireland at Dún na mBarc (Donemark, on Bantry Bay in County Cork), forty days before the Flood, in 2958 BC according to the Annals of the Four Masters, 2361 BC according to Seathrún Céitinn's chronology. − − The three men shared out the women as wives between them. Cessair and sixteen others went with Fintan, seventeen, including Barann, went with Bith and sixteen, including Balba, with Ladra, but Ladra died and his wives were shared between Fintan and Bith. Then Bith died. Fintan found himself with all the women, and fled. Six days before the Flood, Cessair died of a broken heart at Cuil Ceasrach in Connacht. − − The rest of Cessair's people were wiped out in the Flood, with the exception of Fintan, who turned into a salmon. After a series of animal transformations he eventually became a man again and told his people's story. − − The Book of Druimm Snechta, says that it was Banba who came to Ireland with three men and fifty women, two hundred and forty years before the Flood (2490 BC by his chronology). Her people lived in Ireland for forty years and died of plague. In the usual scheme Banba is numbered among the Tuatha Dé Danann, who lived in Ireland much later. − − Seathrún Céitinn also refers to a legend that three fishermen from Spain, Capa, Laigne and Luasad, were driven to Ireland by a storm a year before the Flood. They liked it, so they went home to get their wives, returned shortly before the Flood, and were drowned. − − During Noah's Flood great quantities of trees and vegetation were uprooted, transported for long distances, and deposited at various locations. In some locations, large quantities of plant masses were subsequently covered with vast quantities of sediment. In a relatively short time, these plants were turned to coal. In other locations the plant masses were covered by more plant masses but not with much sediment. In this case the plants were converted to peat. − − After the Flood, some of the descendents of Ham, Shem, and Japheth began to settle in the land of Ireland. Eventually, many of these people began to harvest the peat deposits. Today the Irish continue using dried peat for fuel in place of firewood. −
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== History ==
== History ==
Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]].
Historically, Ireland's culture has been distinct from other regional cultures, as it was the one of the only [[Celtic]] territories never conquered by the [[Roman Empire]].
Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 8th century until 1014, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf.
Ireland suffered from regular Viking incursions from the late 8th century until 1014, when High King Brian Boru defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf.