Chapter XXIX: (pp. 432-444)

As for the unfounded theory,--that Ireland was colonised by Phœnicians arriving from Spain, whose last settlement in the island was established by Heber and Heremon, sons of Milesius, and descendants of _Feni an fear soid_, “the Phœnician wise man,”--it is pointed out that Heber and Heremon (brothers of Amergin, the bard) were in reality the sons of _Gallamh_, and invaded Ireland at the head of a Scythian, not Phœnician, colony (p. 393). Upon historical evidence, the date of this invasion is fixed at B.C. 1002; while it is agreed on all hands that the _Tuath-de-danaans_ had landed about two hundred years before, or B.C. 1202, which latter date exactly corresponds with that given by most Oriental authorities for the exodus of the Buddhists from India. About this time, indeed, Ireland seems to have borne the character of an Oriental asylum--a circumstance to which may be attributed the Eastern costumes and aspect of the figures depicted in its ancient sculptures, the Eastern character of traditional religious and ceremonial usages, and the national reverence for the shamrock, corresponding with that shown to the trefoil (or _trisula_) in Persia (_Iran_).