Excerpts from the Book of Invasions

The Expeditions of the sons of Mil over sea
From Spain of clear ships
They took, it is no deed of falsehood
The battle-plain of Ireland in one day
This is the tale that they went on sea
With multitude of wealth and people
To a brave show God brought them
With sixty-five choice vessels
They landed at the noble creek
Which is called the White Rampart
It was a cause of sickness, and attempt without failure
From the sight of the warrior Lugaid
From thence it is from that out
The creek of Fail of generous bands
From the day she died in white Banba
Fial daughter of Mil of Spain
At the end of three days, brilliant preparation
The Tuatha De fought
The battle of Sliab Mis, glory that was not failure
Against the great sons of Mil
They won, a saying without reproach
The battle against fair-headed Banba
Where died Fas woven in verse
With the very fair daughter of Pharaoh
Before the end of a year, it was lasting fame
Among the chieftains of the heavy hosts
Into twice six divisions, a pleasant course
They afterwards divided Ireland
Over the north side a progress without sorrow
Eremon was taken as high prince
From Srub Brain, which verses adorn
Over every tribe to the Boyne
These are the five guardians of control
Whom he accepted to accompany him
Amergin, Sedga also
Goisten, Sobairce, Suirge
Eber, son of Mil grace-abounding
Takes the southern half
From the eternal Boyne, choice the share
To the wave of the daughter of Genann
These are the five, with hundreds of exploits
The chiefs who were subordinate to him
Etan, and Un of joyous rule
Mantan, Fulman, and Caicer
In this same year
The royal forts were dug
By the sons of Mil, honour of pledges
After the full division of Ireland's island
Rath Oinn, Rath Beothaig here
By Eremon in Argat Ros
In Sliab Mis, after a series of omens
The building of Dun Nair by Goisten
Suirge wide-extended, who displayed valour
Built the high Dun Edar
And the sounding, glorious achievement
Of his fort by Sobairce
By Eber of bright valour, was dug
Rath Uaman in the plain of Leinster
Rath Arda Suird, it enriched him
Was dug by Etan son of Uicce
Rath Carraig Fetha thus
Was made by Un son of Uicce
And by Mantan, glorious deed
The founding of Carrig Blaraige
Rath Rigbard in good Muiresc
Very keen Fulman built it
Caicer of battles, a pleasant fulfilment
Took Dun Inne in the west of Ireland
These are their deeds of valour
Of the clear, glorious, great royal host
It was a great achievement, after battle, without stain
Theirs was every profit, every expedition

O noble son of Ugaine
How does one arrive at knowledge of Ireland
The conquest of its company?
Before they overflowed Scythia
They reached the host-king of Shinar
They approached Egypt
Where Cingeris was extinguished
So that a great troop was destroyed
Who died in the Red Sea
They flowed through a space very faithful
With Pharaoh fought
Niul contracts with Scota
The conception of our fathers
They took the name Gaedels
The name Scots spreads
The fair daughter of Pharaoh
They overspread lands
Burst into Scythia
Determined long combat
The Children of Nel and Noenbal
Golam was a young lord
Who slew the son of Neman
Escaped to Egypt
Where was Nectanebus
Pharaoh was welcoming
To Golam; gave
A marriage Nectanebus
Scota was at cot's head
A name was changed from them
They advanced past Africa
Good was the man under whom they trembled
Fenius Farsad, the keen
Well he spread for us a lasting name
They approached Spain
Where was born a numerous progeny
Donn, Airech, Amergin
Eber, Ir, Colptha himself
Eremon, Erannan
The eight sons of Golam
Mil's renown came upon them
The sons of Mil wealthy
Their scholars resolved
Divided ships
The Men returned from the burial of Fial
They divided Ireland
In twice six, an inheritance of chieftains
Seek the truth of every law
Relate sharply the inquiry
O Son!

The two sons of Mil, famous in dignity
Took Ireland and Britain
With them there followed hither
A gentle poet and a harper
Cior son of Cis, the bright poet
The name of the harper Cennfin
With the sons of Mil, of bright fame
The harper sounded his harp
The princes, with many battles
Took the kingdom of Ireland
They did it with brightness, merry the sound
Eber and Eremon
They cast a lot swiftly
About the great men of art
So that there fell to the lot of the southerner
The harper, just and fair
Melody of music more beautiful than any company
Is from the southward in the south of Ireland
It was thus it will be to the fortunate Judgment
With the famous seed of Eber
There fell to the lot of the northerner
The man of learning with great excellence
Hence the tribes who brought him boast
Knowledge of poetry and learning

The chiefs of the voyage over the sea
By which the sons of Mil came
I have in recollection during my life
Their names without lie
Donn Eremon, noble Emer
Ir, Amergin without partiality
Colptha, Airech, Febra the keen
Erannan, Muimme fine and smooth
Luigne, Laigne, Palap the lucky
Er. Orba Feron, Fergin
Eber son if Ir. Brega, I shall say
Cuala, Cualgne, Blad rough and strong
Fuad and Muirthemne with fame
Eblinne, Nar, Buas with battle
Bres, Buaigne, and Fulman
Mantan, Caicer, slender Suirge
En, Un and rigid Etan
Sobairce, Sedga of spears
And Goisten the champion
The conquered noble Ireland
Against the Tuatha De of great magic
In vengeance for Ith of the steeds
Thirty, ten, and one chieftain

The men you have found are in possession
Over the nine green-necked waves
Of the sea advance ye
Unless by your power then be planted
Quickly let the battle be prepared
I assign the possession
Of the land ye have found
If ye love concede this award
If ye love not concede it not
It is I that say this to you