The first invaders of Ireland were the Fir Bolg. They arrived to an uninhabited Ireland. They were descendents of a group of Nemedians who fled Greece to escape the enslavement the Greeks had forced them to endure.

The Fir Bolg divided Ireland into Five Provinces: Connaught, Ulster, Leinster and two Munsters. They were the first invaders to establish a system of justice in Ireland.

The next invaders were the Tuatha De Danaan. This translated means the people of the Goddess Dana. They were defeated in the battle of Mag Tuiread and were followed by the Milesians from Spain.

The arrival of Stone Age settlers before 7000 BC on the North-East of the country found the areas rich in flint. These were hunters and the flint was known as Bann Flakes as they were found in large numbers on the river Bann. They were also found in Rathfarnham, Loughlinstown and Dun Laoghaire.

3000 years later, agriculture, with the clearing of woodlands, the creation of fields and the sowing and rearing of these fields was evident. It was also when the people built Dolmans to their dead. A megalithic tomb was found at Taylor's Grange in Ballinteer and a holy well at Ticknock. This tomb known as Brehon's Chair consists of a burial chamber in which cremated remains were placed along with personal ornaments.

There are some twenty-seven megalithic tombs in county Dublin in the area of Rathdown. These can be visited and make a worthwhile day out. In the Phoenix Park there is a burial cist excavated in 1838. It originates from about 2500 to 1700 BC. This is older than the Boyne Valley passage grave. Found in the cist were a flint knife, a bone toggle and shell necklaces. It's called the Cromlech at Knockmary. There were originally two cists found but one was moved.

It was then the advent of the Bronze Age and people of Celtic Iron Age were still arriving from about 500 BC. It was a time when bronze weapons and tools were made and that period also passed. Many ringforts date from this time onwards. These were areas with Rath in the name, like Rathfarnham, Rathgar, and Rathmicheal. They were used up to the 17th century. Killegar has ten of these ringforts. They were eventually used by farmers to corral cattle.

Upon the arrival of Christianity in the 5th century AD, churches were built at a speedy rate. Saint Nahi's Church being one of them built in the 7th century at Dundrum. Soon monasteries were built and the effect of the church on the communities of Ireland was more evident.

It gave rise to wealth which had a dramatic effect on Dublin. The Vikings invaded and formed settlements in Dublin. On the banks of the Liffey at Kilmainham, Islandbridge we can find a 9th century Viking cemetery to the memory of Viking women.

Also found were Scandinavian bronze oval brooches and a triangular gilt bronze mount for a book. This was the largest Viking cemetery outside Scandinavia.

Above: Knockmary Burial Mound in Phoenix Park. It was excavated in 1838. From the Neolithic and early Bronze Age around 2500 to 1700 BC