Sreng

Fir Bolg warrior who cuts off the right arm of the Tuatha Dé Danann king Nuadu at the First Battle of Mag Tuired. Sreng was first a Fir Bolg ambassador known for his delaying tactics. On their initial meeting Bres offered to divide Ireland between them, but as Sreng was impressed with the superiority of Tuatha Dé weapons he refused. He and the Fir Bolg went on to battle, where he severed Nuadu's arm. On the next day Nuadu asked Sreng to tie his right arm behind him so that they might have a fair combat, and again Sreng refused. To make peace the Tuatha Dé Danann then offered Sreng and the Fir Bolg the province of Connacht as a peace settlement, which he accepted.

In Irish mythology Sreng (often misinterpreted as Streng) was a champion of the Fir Bolg or Men of Bolg. In the first Battle of Magh Tuiredh he faced Nuada, king of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and with one great blow he cut off half his shield and severed Nuada's arm at the shoulder.

Although nearing defeat, Sreng and the three hundred surviving Fir Bolg vowed to fight to the last man. The Tuatha Dé Danann invaders, however, considered them so noble that they offered them one fifth of Ireland. They agreed, and stood down from the conflict. The Fir Bolg chose Connacht, where men traced their descent from Sreng until the 17th century.

References

• Squire, Charles. "Celtic Myth and Legend." Newcastle Publishing Co., USA, 1975. Reprinted from the first edition in 1905, Great Britain. ISBN 0-87877-029-1.

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