The Fir Bolg
The Fir Bolg
The Fir Bolg
The Fir Bolg were the descendants of the Nemedians who fled to Greece after the battle with the Fomorians and arrived back in Ireland around 230 years after the Nemedians fled and 37years before the arrival of the Tuatha De Danann.
Whilst in Greece the descents of the Nemed grew in number which caused concern for the Greeks and so they pressed the Nemedians into slavery. It was during this period of slavery that they gained the name Fir Bolg, meaning ‘Bag Men’ or ‘Men of Bags,’ after the leather bags they were forced to carry by the Greeks containing heavy soil and rocks from the mountains, to make the land more fertile.
In time, five brothers – Sláine mac Dela (which meant the First King of Ireland), Gann, Genann, Sengann, and Rudraigne decided that it was time to escape and they made boats constructed from the leather bags that had been part of their slavery. This allowed the Fir Bolg to sail to Ireland.
Once the Fir Bolg arrived in Ireland, the land was divided into five parts – Gann and Sengann took two parts of Munster, Genann took Connacht, Sláine took Leinster, and Rudraigne took Ulster. They arrived on a land which was already ready for cultivating and so they did not need to spend time on land clearances as they predecessors had. The Fir Bolg reigned over Ireland for the next 37 years and in that time, they had nine High Kings.
The Kings of the Fir Bolg
When we look at the reigns of the Kings of the Fir Bolg, we find different dates, depending on the source used. We will, therefore, add the dates according to the Forus Feasa ar Erinn -Geoffrey Keating and also from the Annals of the Four Masters . Both dates are listed below, the firrsrt from Forus Feasa ar Erinn and the second from Annals of the Four Masters.
Sláine mac Dela 1514-1515BC 1934-1933BC
Rudraige mac Dela 1513-1511BC 1933-1931BC
Gann and Genann mac Dela 1511-1507BC 1931-1927BC
Sengann mac Dela 1507-1502BC 1927-1922BC
Fiacha Cennfinnán mac Starn 1502-1497BC 1922-1917BC
Rinnal mac Genann 1497-1491BC 1917-1911BC
Fodbgen mac Sengann 1491-1497BC 1911-1907BC
Eochaid mac Sengann 1487-1477BC 1907-1897BC
Unlike the previous settlers of Ireland, the Fir Bolg had a less mystical and more structured time, which put in place systems that would follow into future arrivals and would play a part in shaping the future of Ireland.
In their time, the Fir Bolg did not fight any battles against outsiders until the arrival of the Tuatha De Danann, 37 years after the Fir Bolg first set foot on Ireland. The legacy of the Fir Bolg can be seen by looking at the main characters of the time.
The first high king was Sláine mac Dela and his role was crucial in the return of the Fir Bolg to Ireland. He, however, had a short reign of only one year. As a leader, he was known for his wisdom, strategic thinking, and leadership skills and his rule was known for building the foundation of the Fir Bolg’s social and community structures. Even though his reign was short, he was buried with honour in a mound, and his burial site became a place where people would visit with reverence.
Rinnal mac Genann was the sixth high king of the Fir Bolg and though he is not as well-known as Sláine mac Dela or Eochaid mac Sengann, his role in the lives of the Fir Bolg was still extremely important. Rinnal was responsible for creating the legal structure of the Fir Bolg and he created the legal codes for dealing with everything from disputes between people and land ownerships. His work meant that the Fir Bolg society was able to work in a way that was not violent or disruptive as there were legal ways to settle disputes. He reigned for around six years and there are disputes over whether he was assassinated or died of natural causes.
Sreng was not a high king, but he played an important part in the story of the Fir Bolg. He was a warrior known for his extreme strength and bravery and he came into play during the battle of Mag Turied, following the arrival of the Tuatha De Dannan. Sreng faced Nuada, the King of the Tuatha De Dannan in battle and succeeded in cutting of the king’s hand. Under the traditions of the Tuatha De Danna this meant that the Nuada was, temporarily unable to rule. The Fir Bolg were, ultimately, defeated by the Tuatha De Danna, but because of his reputation as a warrior Sreng was offered land which he accepted, remaining in Ireland with the Tuatha De Danann. Sreng was an example of the strength and valour of the Fir Burg warriors and the respect that his gained him.
The last high king of Ireland under the Fir Bolg was Eochaid mac Sengann and his reign was known for prosperity and organisation, as he created better forms of governing. He was known to be a fair, wise, and just leader who forbade the telling of untruths. His reign unfortunately came to a tragic end when he led his people into battle against the Tuatha Dé Danann and it cost him his life. His death signalled the end of the dominance of the Fir Blog, and the beginning of the time of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
From the Book of Invasions:
The Fir Bolg were here for a season
in the great island of the sons of Mil;
the five chiefs which they brought with them
from over yonder I know their names.
A year had Slanga, this is true,
till he died in his fine mound;
the first man of the Fir bolg of the peaks
who died in the island of Ireland.
Two years of Rudraige the Red,
till he died in Brug Brat-ruaid,
four of Genann and of Gann,
till plague slew them in Fremaind.
Five years of Sengann--they were reposeful--
till Fiachu son of Starn slew him;
five others--it was through battle--
Fiachu Cendfhindan was king.
Fiachu Cendfhindan before all,
his name endures for ever;
whiteheaded all, without reproach,
were the kine of Ireland in his presence.
Till he fell at the hands of red Rindail,
he got six [years] with his free host;
The grandson of Dela fell then in Eba,
at the hands of Odbgen.
Four to noble Odbgen till the battle
of Murthemne of the nobles:
Odbgen died without reproach
at the hands of the son of Erc, of lofty Eochu.
Ten years to Eochu son of Erc,
he found not the border-line of weakness:
till they slew him on the battlefield,
the three sons of Nemed son of Badra.
Till Rinnal grew, there was no point at all
upon a weapon in Ireland;
upon harsh javelins there was no fair-covering,
but their being rushing-sticks.
In the time of Fodbgen thereafter
there came knots through trees:
the woods of Ireland down
till then were smooth and very straight.
The pleasant Tuatha De Danann
brought spears with them in their hands:
with them Eochu was slain,
by the seed of Nemed of strong judgement.
The names of the three excellent sons of Nemed
were Cessarb, Luam, and Luachra:
it is they who slew the first king with a point,
Eochu son of Erc, in Ireland.
Thereafter the Tuatha De fought for the Fir Bolg,
it was a rought appearance.
They took away their goods
and their lordship from the Men.
§53. Fintan cecinit of the division of the Provinces -
The five parts of Ireland
between sea and land,
I entreat the fair candles
of every province among them.
From Drobais swift and fierce,
is the holy first division to
the Boyne white and vast
south from white Bairche.
From the Boyne, tuneful and whitely-glowing
with hundreds of harbours
To the Meeting with sound of assembled waves
of the cold Three Waters.
From that same
Meeting with nimble .....
From the Bel of the brave Cu
who is called 'glas.'
From Lumnech of huge ships--
broad its surface--
To Drobais of armed multitudes,
pure, on which a sea laugheth.
Knowledgeable prostration,
pathways are related,
perfection in the matter of correction
towards a road into five.
The points of those provinces
to Uisnech did they lead,
Each of them out of its ....
..... till it was five.