We tend to think of the fifth century as the century of *Anglo-Saxon* invasion of 'mainland' Britain. But it was just as much the century of Irish invasion, from the West - with Irish settlements in what is now Wales and an invasion of western Pictland (now Scotland) that established the successful Irish kingdom of Dalriada.

Needless to say, at that date there was no Celtic solidarity - indeed no sense of a common Celticness. The unfortunate Picts and west Britons would have given a hollow laugh if told that the raiding and invading Irish were their 'Celtic cousins'. That only comes very much later with the common threat from an overmighty, often bullying, neighbour, England (and France, for the Bretons): I believe, but have never followed it up, the first evidence of a common bond between the peoples we now term 'Celtic' comes at the end of the 13th century, when the Scots, then being 'hammered' by Edward I, appeal to the Irish for help against their common foe the English. Now I think about it, don't some Irish archers turn up to help Wallace in Braveheart - so it must be true .....