Annals of the Four Masters

Plantin-Moretus Museum Kotomi_ via Compfight

The Annals of the Four Masters is a history book written between 1632 and 1636.

The books contains information about

the family history of the kings and chieftains,

battles and wars with the Vikings, Normans and English invaders.

 

The Annals of the Four Masters mentions Rathdown

to the North of Greystones.

The Annals say King Heremon built a rath there towards the end of Bronze Age (500BC)

You can read more about the Annals of the Four Master on the ‘Ask about Ireland’ website.

Please note: the picture above is just an illustration.  It is not from the real Annals of the Four Masters.

What was the Bronze Age like? What is its link to Greystones?

Casting Bronze Age SwordsCreative Commons License Karsten Wentink via Compfight

The Bronze Age was the time between the Stone Age and the Iron Age. Bronze is a mixture of tin and copper. Bronze is harder than stone or either of the metals (tin and copper) from which it is made. Because bronze is stronger it could be used to make stronger tools and weapons. These discoveries led to improvements in the way people lived their lives.

Casting Bronze Age SwordsCreative Commons License Karsten Wentink via Compfight

The Bronze Age was happening in Europe around 4000BC.  But it did not begin in Ireland until settlers came from France arrived in Ireland around 2000BC. They knew how to make tools and weapons from bronze. They taught the Irish how to do this.

You can read more about the Bronze Age on the ‘Ask About Ireland’ website HERE and a powerpoint about The Bronze Age on the Seomra Ranga website HERE.

Casting Bronze Age SwordsCreative Commons License Karsten Wentink via Compfight

According to the Annals of the Four Masters, people lived in Greystones during the Bronze Age. A rath was built near the end of the Bronze Age in Rathdown to the north of Greystones by King Heremon.