The Earliest Settlers in Our Parish

For thousands of years, Ireland was covered by ice and once there was a meltdown, animal life returned, such as wild boar, deer, wolves and bears. Even down in the plains, dense forests regrew, namely forests of pine, oak, hazel and Elm.

About 6000 BC, our first setters appeared. They made their way across the narrow sea between Scotland and Ireland and evidence has been found in Mount Sandel in Co. Derry that a settlement was there around 6000 BC. They were hunters and gatherers and used the lakes, rivers and coastal waters to get around. No roads existed then.

It is very likely that those early inhabitants never reached our parish but a new tribe began to arrive around 3,500 BC. These were known as our first farmers and already had learned to till the soil and to grow and harvest crops. They even kept domestic animals.

Evidence of these immigrants is seen by the megalithic tombs erected. For example, we have a court tomb in Carrowreagh and wedge tombs in Culdaly. The boulders used could be up to 35 tonnes in weight, therefore it needed a gathering of people to move those rocks. Because the new arrivals were farmers it was necessary for them to stay in one place. Thus communal help to move the megalithic rocks was available.

Later, about 600 BC the Celts arrived. They came from central Europe and had a powerful reputation as warlike. What we know about them is from the writings of Roman and Greek scholars as they had no written language of their own. Funny enough, the Celts were described as loving bright clothes and much jewellery. They even had red hair and freckles. They created no towns as they favoured living in isolated farmsteads. The forts of today could be used as evidence as to where they lived.

They were very learned and handed on stories through word of mouth. We know them as Druids- pagan priests. It’s amusing that when the Romans were next door in England for 500 years they never contemplated visiting Ireland. It seems the war like reputation of the Celts kept them out. The Romans even named Ireland ‘Hibernia’, which means wintery or primitive. In other words, it was not a country that they desired to conquer.