Part #8 - Ireland
Time Period: 2nd century AD
Ireland, known as "Ierne" or "Hibernia" in Antiquity, lay at the fringe of the known world of classical Antiquity. Considering this, it is quite remarkable what amount of detail was known about it, which are also found in Ptolemy's Geography. The problem however is that there's a considerable amount of discontinuity between ancient Ireland and the later medieval Ireland, suggesting considerable amount of turmoil and political changes in Ireland in the intermediate centuries. This also makes it kind of difficult identifying the landmarks that are mentioned. Nonetheless, if you, from the alternate history perspective, wish to create a Roman (or otherwise ancient) Ireland, this might be your best shot.
Ancient Irish was a Q-Celtic language (as opposed to the P-Celtic languages spoken in Britain and Gaul, but similar to the Celtic dialects and languages spoken in Hispania - which lends some merit to the Irish legend regarding the Milesians). Paradoxially, ancient Irish as late as the 4th century
AD probably was however much closer to
Gaulish,
despite Gaulish being a P-Celtic language. This was because it was closer to Common Celtic than to modern Irish - because the Irish language made a lot of innovations later on. If you want to feature ancient Irish personal names, you might wish to consider this trivia.
Irish tribes
Auteini - "Uaithni" in Medieval times
Brigantes - also in Britain, Gallaecia and Vindelicia
Cauci
Coriondi
Darini - Ulster region (the name "Dairine" derives from them)
Eblani
Erdini
Gangani or Cancani - Connacht region (the name "Connacht" actually derives from "Cancani")
Iverni - Munster region
Manapii or Menapii - Also in Gallia Belgica
Nagnatae or Magnatae
Robogdii - northeastern Ireland (Ulster)
Uellabori or Vellabori
Uennicnii or Vennicnii (northern Ireland, Donegal area)
Uodiae or Vodiae
Uolunti or Volunti - Ulster (the name "Ulaidh" derives from them)
Irish towns (coastal):
Magnata - somewhere near the west coast (inside Magnatae territory)
Manapia - possibly Wicklow (specifically the settlement that predated Wicklow, since the town itself was founded much later by the Vikings)
Eblana - at/near the site of Dublin
Irish towns (inland):
Dunum ("Fort")
Hibernis - probably along the Shannon
Laberus
Macolicum
Regia
Regia Altera ("Another Regia") - probably along the Moy river
Rhaeba
Rivers
Argita river (Main)
Ausoba river (Moy river?)
Birgus river (Barrow river)
Bubindas river (Boyne)
Dabrona river (Blackwater river)
Duris river (Shannon estuary)
Iernus river (Laune)
Libnius river (Garavogue river?)
Logia river (Lagan)
Modonnus river (Liffey)
Oboca river (eastern coast, ???)
Ravius river (Erne river)
Senus river (Corrib river?)
Vidua river (Foyle)
Vinderis river (Fane)
Other features:
"Boreum promontory" - approximately 54°40' N, 8°47' W
Monaoeda Island - The Isle of Man
"Promontory of the Rhobogdi" - 55°13' N, 6°08' W (inside Moyle District, Northern Ireland)
"Sacred promontory" - Carnsore point, Wexford County
"Southern promontory" - possibly Mizen Head, Cork County
"Vennicnian promontory" - Malin Head, Donegal County