Then, even though they knew they were destined to lose, those three queens went out with their armies and fought the Milesians. They all were killed, as they knew they'd be. Why isn't explained, and the way they died isn't either; all the legends give is the name of the Milesian warrior who killed them. Since the three queens were all of such beauty as to stop the Milesians dead in their tracks, and since it was traditional on both sides to go into battle nude, some truly fine scenes are possible...

Particularly since the queens went into this battle knowing full well they'd be killed. All they'd asked was that the island be known by their names; the terms "Eire" and "Ireland" are of course taken from Eriu's name (the same name as the modern Erin). In old literature Ireland is commonly referred to as Banba and Fodla, too, but those names have more or less dropped out of use.