The Milesian Settlement of Ireland
The Milesians had
three leaders when they set out for the conquest of Ireland—Eber
Donn (Brown Eber), Eber Finn (Fair Eber), and Eremon. Of these the
first-named, as we have seen, was not allowed to enter the land—he
perished as a punishment for his brutality. When the victory over the
Danaans was secure the two remaining brothers turned to the Druid
Amergin for a judgment as to their respective titles to the sovranty.
Eremon was the elder of the two, but Eber refused to submit to him.
Thus Irish history begins, alas! with dissension and jealousy.
Amergin decided that the land should belong to Eremon for his life,
and pass to Eber after his death. But Eber refused to submit to the
award, and demanded an immediate partition of the new-won territory.
This was agreed to, and Eber took the southern half of Ireland, “from
the Boyne to the Wave of Cleena,” while Eremon occupied the north.
But even so the brethren could not be at peace, and after a short
while war broke out between them. Eber was slain, and Eremon became
sole King of Ireland, which he ruled from Tara, the traditional seat
of that central authority which was always a dream of the Irish mind,
but never a reality of Irish histor
