How the Milesians came to Ireland

Niul, the youngest son of Feinas (king of Scythia) went to Egypt on the invitation of the king Pharao Cincris, who, in return for teaching the youth of the country, gave him land at Campus Circit beside the Red Sea. He also gave him, as Giolla Caomhain relates, his daughter Scota in marriage. Their union was blessed by the birth of a son, Gadheal Glas. Soon after, the children of Israel escaping from Pharao encamped beside Campus Circit where dwelt Niul who treated them with characteristic kindness. For this, Moses and Aaron were deeply grateful. lt happened that at that very juncture Gaedheal Glas was wounded by a serpent. Niul took the youth to Moses, who prayed to God and, applying the rod held in his hand to the wound, healed it. And Moses said that in what place ever the stock of that youth might settle, there no serpent would ever have venom (prophets in the East at that time held that lreland was free from reptiles and monsters!). From this Gaedheal are the Gaels named!

By favour of Moses, Niul with 1,000 armed men witnessed next day from the ships of Pharao the opening of the Red Sea for the children of Israel and its closing on Pharao with 60,000 foot and 50,000 horse. Whereupon Niul determined to to remain in the territory. At his death, Gaedhael and his mother Scota took possession of the lands. Gaedhael himself was succeeded in due course by Easru and Sru. After some years the Egyptians made war on Sru, grandson of Gaedheal. So he and his followers set out in four ships for the island of Crete (Candia, serpent free, as Ireland). Thence they sailed under Eibhear Scot to Scythia where, Giolla Caomhain tells us, they came into conflict with their kinsmen. After five generations they were expelled, eventually reaching an island in the Caspian sea. Having spent a year on the island, they set sail in three ships, sixty in each ship. They made for the strait that leads westward from the Caspian to the narrow sea which comes in from the northern region. There they were driven by a storm to an island called Caronia in the Pontic sea where they abode for a year and a quarter. Caichear, their Druid, placed wax in the ears of the crews to defeat the designs of mermaids who were attempting to overcome them. In this manner they reached the port of Sliabh Rife in the north Thrace to Gothia, where a son, Eibhear Gluinfhionn, was born to one of their leaders.

After eight generations they proceeded under Bratha in four ships, by Crete and Sicily, having Europe on the right, to Spain. Braganza in Portugal is named after this Bratha, and the Brigantes are named after his son Breoghan (Brigus). Castile was named Brigia in ancient times. It was Brigus who built Brigansia near Corunna and the tower of Breoghan in Carunna itself. He had ten sons, one of whom, Bile, was father of Golamh or Milidh of Spain.

O'Kelly, p9. (researched by Enda Bracken, Naas)