Annal M22421
M2242.0
The Age of the World, to this Year of the Deluge, 2242.
M2242.1
Forty days before the Deluge, Ceasair came to Ireland with fifty girls and three men; Bith, Ladhra, and Fintain, their names. Ladhra died at Ard Ladhrann, and from him it is named. He was the first that died in Ireland. Bith died at Sliabh Beatha, and was interred in the carn of Sliabh Beatha, and from him
the mountain is named. Ceasair died at Cuil Ceasra, in Connaught, and was interred in Carn Ceasra. From Fintain is named Feart Fintain, over Loch Deirgdheirc.
Cessair (Cesair or Ceasair) is a valiant female character primarily from The Book of Invasions (the Lebor Gabála Érenn), a medieval Irish text that recounts the mythical history of Ireland. According to the myths, Cessair was the daughter of Bith (Bioth) and Birren (Barrann); granddaughter of Noah (Noe); and great-granddaughter of Lamech. Her husband was Fintan (Fintain or Fionntain), and it is possible Ladhra was her brother.
The legend of Cessair involves the first attempted settlement of Ireland. Cessair, her father Bith, husband Fintan, and a small group of people sought refuge from upcoming flood to end all floods by sailing to Ireland after being denied passage on Noah's Ark. The story went something like this:
Bith: Dad, can I come on the ark with you?
Noah: Nope.
Fintan: Noah, how about me? Can I go?
Noah: Not going to happen.
Bith, Fintan: Oh, woe is us! Whatever shall we do?
Cessair: Shut up and listen, and I'll tell you.
Bith and Fintan nod in agreement.
Cessair: First off, screw God. Secondly, we'll build and worship our own idol.
And so they did.
The Idol: Build your own boat, and go west, y'all.
And so they did. They sailed past Egypt and Spain, then *poof* Ireland, the western edge of the world.
They landed at Dún na mbarc, in the district of Corca Dhuibhne, on Bantry Bay two score days before the flood and proceeded on to where the Suir and Nore and Barrow rivers join (Waterford Harbour). Long story short, what happened next was the men divided the women amongst themselves and went their ways. Ladhra died first, earning the distinction of being the first person buried under Irish soil. Bith passed next, leaving Fintan with all those women. Fintan, however, flies before them from Leinster to Lough Derg. Having been abandoned by her dear husband, and losing her father and brother, Cessair died of a broken heart in what is now County Sligo. No one is entirely sure what happened to the rest of the ladies. Fintan shapeshifted a few times, survived the Noachian flood, and lived another five thousand plus years. It is from him that we know all this to be true.
It's important to note that Irish mythology contains various cycles and narratives, and the stories can vary in different versions. The Book of Invasions, in particular, is a complex and multi-layered text with various versions and redactions, and different manuscripts may provide slightly different details. Remember: the story of Cessair is just one chapter in the complex tapestry of Irish history.
<Tem42> Also, how in the unholy name of those who defy God to found a nation, is Cessair not noded?
Sources:
1https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100005A/index.html
http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~meehan/donnelly/name.html
Book of Invasions III
https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100054/
iron noder