ABSTRACT
Like most island people, the Irish were for many centuries a maritime race; their warriors (43) and merchants had close contacts with Britain and Europe, and their fishermen fished not only for the domestic market but also for export. As far back as the first century AD there are references in history and legend to foreign merchants attending great fairs to exchange their wines and spices for hides and cloth. With the coming of Christianity military expeditions abroad ceased, but commercial intercourse continued.
