Noah came out of the Ark.--You
get a glimpse in Wales of the struggle there was between
Hebrao-Christian chronology and the Celtic sense of the age of
the world: in the pedigree of an ancient family, where, it
is said, about half way down the line this entry occurs after one
of the names: "In his time Adam was expelled from Paradise." In
Ireland, indeed, there was at least one man from before the Flood
living in historic times: Fintan, whom, with others, Noah sent
into the western world while the Ark was building. Here is one
of Fintan's poems:

"If you inquire of me concerning Ireland, I know and can relate
gladly all the invasions of it since the beginning of the
delightful world. Out of the east came Cessair, a woman,
daughter of Bith, with her fifty maidens, with her three men.
The flood came upon Bith on his mountain without mystery; on
Ladru at Ard Ladran; on Cessair at Cull Cesra. As for me, for
the space of a year, beneath the rapid flood, on the height of a
mighty wave, I enjoyed sleep which was exceeding good. Then, in
Ireland, I found my way above the waters until Partholan came out
of the East, from the land of the Greeks. Then, in Ireland, I
enjoyed rest; Ireland was void till the son of Agnoman came,
Nemed with the delightful manners. The Fir Bolg and the Fir
Galioin came a long time after, and the Fir Domnan also; they
landed at Erris in the west. Then came the Tuatha De Danaan in
their hood of mist. I lived with them for a long time, though
their age is far removed. After that came the sons of Mile out
of Spain and the south. I lived with them; mighty were their
battles. I had come to a great age, I do not conceal it,
when the pure faith was sent to Ireland by the King of the
Cloudy Heaven. I am the fair Fintan son of Bochra; I proclaim
it aloud. Since the flood came here I am a great personage
in Ireland."

In the middle of the sixth century he was summoned as a witness
by the descendants of Niall of the Nine Hostages against King
Dermot MacKerval, in a dispute as to the ancient divisions of
Ireland. He came to Tara with nine companies in front of him,
and nine companies behind: they were his descendants. This,
mind you, is in strictly historical times. The king and his
people received him kindly, and after he had rested a little, he
told them his story, and that of Tara from its foundation.
They asked him to give them some proof of his memory. "Right
willingly," said Fintan. "