An Chraobh Airgid

People

The Fir Bolg

Fir Bolg

The people who held Ireland when the Tuatha Dé Danann came.

Open it on the full site There every name opens, and a web shows who is kin to whom.

Like the Tuatha Dé Danann they came of Nemed, whose children left Ireland under the tribute of the Fomorians. Their branch went to Greece and was kept at hard labour there, until they made boats of their sacks and came home; Lady Gregory calls them “the Men of the Bag”. Their king, Eochaid mac Eirc, fell in the first battle of Mag Tuired, and afterwards Sreng took Connacht for them in a peace. Other books send the survivors to the islands, and Keating says they held forts and islands in Ireland until Cú Chulainn and the Ulstermen drove them out.

Kin and bonds

In the tales

  • The Coming of the Tuatha Dé Danann They burned their ships on the shore, and for three days a druid’s mist hid them. Then they sent word to the people who held Ireland: half the land, or a battle.
  • The Second Battle of Mag Tuired A beautiful king who gives nothing, a stranger with every art, an eye no army can face, and a harp that plays sorrow, laughter and sleep.

See also

  • Cú Chulainn The Hound of Culann: the great hero of the Ulster tales.
  • Eochaid mac Eirc The king of the Fir Bolg when the Tuatha Dé Danann came, who dreamed of black birds.
  • The Fomorians Old enemies of the gods. In folklore, giants.
  • Mag Tuired Cunga Moytura, by Cong. The plain by Cong where the Tuatha Dé fought the Fir Bolg.
  • The Morrígan Goddess of battle and prophecy.
  • Sliabh an Iarainn Slieve Anierin. The Iron Mountain, where the Tuatha Dé stood when their mist lifted.
  • Sreng Champion of the Fir Bolg, who struck off Nuada’s arm and won Connacht for his people.

Sources

Medieval manuscript. Written down by Irish scholars between the eighth and seventeenth centuries.

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