At the time when the prehistoric kingdom of Dalriada flourished, Ireland was one of the richest countries in the world with trade links as far afield as Crete and Phoenicia. The culture of its people, their religious concepts, inventions, technical developments, art and ideas had a significant impact on Western Europe that is still felt today. Here Michael Sheane looks at the archaeological evidence and the earliest written accounts of Dalriada to provide this fascinating overview of what is known of the people who shaped modern Ulster.