Eber Finn

In Irish mythology Eber Finn (Heber, Eibhear) was a son of Míl Espáine (Miled or Milesius) and Scota who participated in the Milesian conquest of Ireland. Eber landed in Ireland at Inver Sceni in Bantry Bay. Eber and his brother Eremon fought the De Danann in battle at Taillte and killed the three kings and the three queens of the De Danann. The survivors of this battle escaped into the hills, which may be the foundation of later stories about enchanted folk and fairies living under the Irish hills. Once conquered, the island was divided between Eber and Eremon, Eber taking the southern half and Eremon the north. Eber was unhappy with this division, feeling that his half was inferior, and went to war against his brother, but was defeated and killed. In one version of the story, it was Eber's wife who was discontent. She wished to possess the hill of Tara, which lay in Eremon's half, but Eremon's wife would not give it up, and so battle ensued. When Eber was slain, high kingship of all Ireland fell to his brother. However, for many centuries afterward, the Eremonians, descendants of Eremon, and the Eberians, descendants of Eber, continued to fight with each other. And the Eberians also fought with the Ithians, descendants of Miled's uncle Ith, over control of Munster. Eber's sons were Conmhaoil, Ér, Orba, Ferón and Fergna. The name Hibernia (used by Julius Caesar) for Ireland might be derived from Eber (or Heber), and the name Ireland itself from Ir. The Northmen (Vikings) and Saxons called the place Ir-land or Ir-landa.

References

• If You're a Wee Bit Irish. Ulliam O'Duirnin (Irish Family Names Society:La Mesa, CA). 1978.
• The Story of the Irish Race. Seumas MacManus. Wings Books, Random House. 1990 edition.