In Irish mythology the Fir Bolg (Fir Bholg, Firbolg) were one of the races that inhabited the island of Ireland prior to the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
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Mythology
In far antiquity the Fir Bolg were the rulers of Ireland (at the time called Ériu) immediately before the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann, or the Children of Danu, who many interpret as the Gaelic gods. The King of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Nuada, sued for half the island for his people, but the Fir Bolg king refused. They met at the Pass of Balgatan, and the ensuing battle - the Battle of Mag Tuired - went on for four days. During the battle Sreng, the champion of the Fir Bolg, challanged Nuada to single combat. With one sweep of his sword, Sreng cut off Nuada's right hand. However, the Fir Bolg were defeated and their king, Eochaidh, was slain by a goddess, The Morrígan, though the fierce efforts of their champion Sreng saved them from utter loss.[1] The Tuatha Dé Danann were so touched by their nobility and spirit they gave them one quarter of the island as their own. They chose Connacht and are mentioned very little after this in the myths.[citation needed][2]
The origin of the Fir Bolg name is the subject of some dispute. Many commentators consider them the "men of Builg" or "men of bags", or by comparison with the modern Irish word bolg meaning 'belly' (and originally meaning 'bag'). Alternatively they may be related to the Belgae tribe, whose name meant the "shining ones" (from Proto-Celtic *belo, meaning "bright"). In Early Irish, "boillsg" meant gleam; from Proto-Celtic *bolg-s-cio-; related to Latin "fulgeo", shine, English "effulgent", Lithuanian "blizgù" and even Russian "byela" (white). Other sources derived from the earliest Irish monastic texts claim they were the "people of Bolg" the word Fir, in this case, having no specific gender inflection. Essentially Bolg was the Neolithic Zeus, circe 4000-3200 BC[3]. Bolg was the power behind fire-light, sunlight-shadow, lightening and thunder, also specifically the rainbow, (refracted prismatic light) all of which are clearly demonstrated at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in the Boyne Valley[4]. The mythical Fir Bolg rise to dominance over Ireland correlates with the historical people known as the Larne Tree Clearance culture who were probably also the builders of the Boyne Mounds, most especially Dowth[5]. They were masters of flint tools and axe production and enjoyed trade goods from salt and jet routes to Western Europe.
Tribal origins and history
These people arrived in Ireland in three groups, the Fir Bolg, the Fir Domnann and the Gaileanga. According to the model proposed by O'Rahilly: the Fir Bolg are linked to the historical Belgae, known from Gaul and Britain, and to the historical Builg of Munster; the Fir Domnann to the British Dumnonii; and the Gaileanga are the Laigin, who founded Leinster.[6] According to this model, the three groups probably represent the Ivernic-speaking peoples who inhabited Ireland before the Goidelic-speaking Gaels.
Other theories have been advanced about the origin of the Fir Bolg. Some scholars have related the name of a Celtic god with the word Bolg.[citation needed] The Fir Bolg, according to one legend, were involved in carrying bags of earth at one point in their history, hence the "Men of Bags" interpretation. Others speculate that "Bolg" relates to a word for small boats.
One interpretation which has gained ground is drawn from the recorded histories. The Fir Bolg, according to this theory, were largely conquered by the Gaels, and thus, as a lower class in society, would have had different customs befitting a lower social status. In particular, this theory holds that "Fir Bolg" is a corruption of a term for "Breeches-Wearers", reasoning that, as manual labourers, the Fir Bolg would have found it useful to wear trousers rather than the robes and garb of the Gaels. This theory, however, remains largely speculative, and there is little hard evidence to confirm this interpretation.[citation needed]
The Fir Bolg were recorded as being ejected from Ireland and returning under a King named Aengus. The Fir Bolg were given, as a place of settlement, the Aran Islands and surrounding coastland (the largest of these Islands, Inishmore--Árainn--is home to a fortress allegedly related to Aengus and the Fir Bolg, Dún Aengus). This episode of history, in which the Fir Bolg come from what is assumed to be a place near modern Scotland, settle in Ireland, and then go to the Aran Islands, on Ireland's western fringe, has given rise to one interpretation of Fir Bolg origins. A Pictish invasion of Ireland is the proposition in this account, and the Aran Islands were a last refuge for this invading force.
| Preceded by Nemedians |
Mythical invasions of Ireland | Succeeded by Tuatha Dé Danann |
References
- ^ Ellis, Peter Berresford (2002) The Mammoth Book of Celtic Myths and Legends; pp 28. Constable & Robinson
- ^ Squire Celtic Myth and Legend; pp. 47-77
- ^ citation needed
- ^ citation needed
- ^ citation needed
- ^ O'Rahilly, T. F. (1946) Early Irish History and Mythology. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
- Carey, John (1998) Fir Bolg: a Native Etymology Revisited in: Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies 16 (Winter 1998), pp. 77-83.
- Squire, Charles (190-?] Celtic Myth and Legend. London: Gresham
Further reading
- Arbois de Jubainville Cycle Mythologique Irlandais
- Wilde, William R., Sir Loch Corrib, Its Shores and Islands, chap. viii
External links
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