Hello, my name is Oisín Ó Dubhshláine and welcome to the fourth epsiode of our series on the Invasions of Ireland. Last week, we spoke about the coming and going of the Nemedians. Today, we’ll turn to their descendants who returned to Ireland. This is the story of the Coming of the Fir Bolg.
When the Nemedians fled from the Fomorians, ten of them went south to Greece. In return for sanctuary, they were treated like slaves. They carried everything they had in bags on theis bellies or “bolg” in Irish. It’s said that this is the reason for the name Fir Bolg or Men of Bags which was given to them. The Fir Bolg had great talent for agriculture and they carried fertile soil with them everywhere. It’s said that they worshipped the earth as a god.
After two hundred years in Greece, the Fir Bolg rebelled and escaped. Five thousand of them came to Ireland. When they arrived, they divided the country in five. Dela was the leader of the FIr Bolg and he had five sons. They each took a province or “Cúige”. Cúig means five in Irish. Gann was in charge of North Munster and Segann was in charge of South Munster. Genann took Connaught and Reraige Ulster. This left Sláine, the youngest son in charge of Leinster.
The Fir Bolg did not only create the provinces but it was them who founded the High Kingship in Ireland. Sláine Mac Dela was the first High King in Ireland and he settled in Tara. He had a wife and her name was Fuad. There were two groups in the FIr Bolg. Those who followed Sláine were named the Fir Gailióin. The word Gailíoin is said to come from gae, the old Irish word for spear. The other section of the Fir Bolg were called the FIr Domnann. It’s thought that the word Domnann has a connection to the Irish word for Earth. Could it be that the Fir Gailíoin were the fighters of this tribe, and that the Fir Domnann were the farmers?
The High Kingship continued for thirty seven years. The Fir Bolg stayed in Ireland without any issues from any other tribe during this period. Until the next tribe came to Ireland on ships of silver. But that’s another story.
This is our story on the Coming of the Fir Bolg. Join us next week for our next story.
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