Sometimes even it is to a confederation of certain Gallic tribes that the name Specially applies.

However it be, the Gauls appear to have been the first inhabitants of western Europe.

In the most ancient historical memorials they are found there, and not only in Gaul, but in Great Britain, in Ireland, and in the neighboring islets.

In Gaul, after a long predominance, they commingled with other races to form the French nation.
But, in this commingling numerous traces of their language, monuments, manners, and names of persons and places, survived and still exist, especially to the east and south--cast, in local customs and vernacular dialects.

In Ireland, in the highlands of Scotland, in the Hebrides and the Isle of Man, Gauls (Gaels) still live under their primitive name.
There we still have the Gaelic race and tongue, free, if not from any change, at least from absorbent fusion.
From the seventh to the fourth century B.C., a new population spread over Gaul, not at once, but by a series of invasions, of which the two principal took place at the two extremes of that epoch.