But the most influential group to head to the Irish shores were the Celts. The Celts were originally from lands around the Caspian sea and they were a proud tribal and warlike race. Two groups of them settled in the British Isles; The Brythoni who settled in Britain, and the Gaels who settled in parts of Scotland and all over Ireland. By 500 BC Ireland was probably a completely Celtic country. While the Celts in Europe were eventually assimilated into the Roman Empire, in Ireland they survived. Indeed, so well did they survive that one of the Celtic languages is still in use today, experiencing quite a strong revival in, of all places Northern Ireland, amongst others.
It was the Celts who provided Ireland with language, songs, poetry and magnificent artefacts such as the Ardagh Chalice and The Book of Kells. They were also one of the most democratic groups in Europe, and they valued their family above all. Their period in Irish history is still widely believed to have been the richest period that Ireland has undergone. Unfortunately, they were also a self-destructive race. Gaelic society was a tribal one which, while united by language, culture and religion, also stubbornly refused to yield to anything like political unity. So while the rest of Europe tended to drift, often bloodily, towards forming coherent political entities, Ireland remained divided. For one fleeting moment the tribes were united under the High King Brian Boru in the 9th Century but this only lasted until his death. .
This lack of unity has often been seen as the Celt's undoing. However, it also ensured their ultimate survival. Their tribal society meant that they were used to switching allegiances for tactical reasons and they found it easier to adapt to changing influences as theirs was a highly flexible society; hence the change from Paganism to Christianity. Also, as they were never only one unit their defeat was never absolute.
