In the Mythological Cycle of Irish Mythology, the Fir Bolg (men of bags) arrived in Ireland after suffering 200 years of slavery in Greece. The Fir Bolg were descended from the Muintir Nemid, who, following the defeat of the Nemedians by the Fomorian Sea raiders, they fled with a small band to the safety of Greece
Over the years they began to grow in number and prospered, but as their numbers grew, it caused the Greeks to become wary of them. This fear led the Greeks to oppress the Nemedians by putting them into bondage, forcing them to carry soil in woven bags in order to improve the rocky fields of that land. It is said that because of these bags of soil, the Nemedian people became known as the Fir Bolg, which means the men of the bag.
Formation of the Firbolg, the Fir Domnanns, and the Gaileoins
After 200 years, the progeny of Simeon Breac, grew tired of the toil and hardship and decided that they would leave it behind and return to Ireland and resettle the land that once belonged to their ancestor Neimheadh. They were divided into three groupings, the Firbolg, the Fir Domnann and the Gaileoin who were ruled by five chieftains and they would divide Ireland into five parts to be shared between them. The chieftains were all brothers, the sons of Dela who was the son of Lot. They were to flee from Greece in ships built from the bags that they had been forced to fill with earth during their years of servitude.
Their arrival in Ireland
The first group, 1,000 warriors of the Gaileoin, under the leadership of Sláine mac Dela landed at Inbhir Sláine and the share of the land that was theirs was from Inbhir Colptha to Comar trí nUisce (Leinster).
The second group was the Fir Bolg numbering 2,000 warriors and they were led by Gann and Sengann. They landed at Inhir Dubhglais and Gann was given the land from Comar to Bealach Conglais (North Munster) whilst Sengann was awarded the land from Bealach Conglais to Luimneach ( South Munster).
The Fir Domnann landed at Inbhir Domnann. This group also numbered 2,000 and were under the leadership of Genann and Rudraige. Genann was to take the lands of Mebh and Aillil (Connacht) whilst Rudraige was allotted the land of Conchubhair (Ulster).
The first King of Ireland
The landings in Ireland were all made within a week during the month of August. The five brothers then decided that Sláine would be given the title of King and his rule lasted one year before falling in battle at Duinn Righ.
After the death of Sláine, the kingship was passed down through the five chieftains and others for 36 years until the time of Eochaid mac Eirc the ninth king whose wife, Tailtiu, was the daughter of the king of Spain.
For the 37 years since their arrival in Ireland, the Fir Bolg made war upon no other people except between themselves, and if they did make contact with the savage Formorians who had defeated their forefathers, it was not in conflict.
During his reign, which was to last ten years, Eochaidh established in Ireland, for the first time, the rule of law. He banished the telling of untruths and in his time, there was no moisture to wet the land of Ireland except the morning dew.
The dream of Eochaidh
It came about that one night Eochaidh had a dream in which he saw a great fleet of ships coming to Ireland. His poet advised him that it was a prophecy and so it turned out to be. From the northlands came the ships of strangers who were led by the king Nuada. These new people were known as the Tuatha Dé Danann (People of the goddess Danu) who landed in Connacht and before long a confrontation between them and the Fir Bolg came about. After the defeat at the Battle of Mag Tuired the Fir Bolg was driven from Ireland by the Tuath Dé.
Sources
- The History of Ireland by Geoffrey Keating. Corpus of Electronic Texts (CELT). Published by the Irish Text Society, London for D. Nutt and translated by P.S. Dineen M.A. in 1908 Digitised for Google by Harvard University American Collection
- Lebor Gabála Éireann Part Vl. Edited and Translated by R.A. Stewart Macalister D. Litt. Index compiled by Michael Murphey 2008 (CELT).
Last updated March 2, 2020.