Editing Fir Bolg (section)

== Myth == <!--please use [[narrative present]] tense for myths-->
''[[Lebor Gabála Érenn]]'' tells of Ireland being settled six times by six groups of people. The first three—the people of [[Cessair]], the people of [[Partholón]], and the people of [[Nemed]]—were wiped out or forced to abandon the island. The Fir Bolg are said to be descendants of the people of Nemed, who inhabited Ireland before them. All but thirty of Nemed's people were killed in warfare and disaster. Of this thirty, one group flees "into the north of the world", one group flees to [[Great Britain|Britain]], and another group flees to Greece. Those who went into the north became the [[Tuatha Dé Danann]] (or Tuath Dé), the main pagan gods of Ireland.

Those who went to Greece became the Fir Bolg. ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' says that they were enslaved by the Greeks and made to carry bags of soil or clay, hence the name 'Fir Bolg' (men of bags). The ''[[Cath Maige Tuired]]'' says that they were forced to settle on poor, rocky land but that they made it into fertile fields by dumping great amounts of soil on it. After 230 years, they leave Greece at the same time as [[The Exodus|the Israelites escaped from Egypt]]. In a great fleet, the Fir Bolg sail to [[Iberia]] and then to Ireland.

Led by their five chieftains, they divide Ireland into [[Provinces of Ireland|five provinces]]: [[Gann mac Dela|Gann]] takes North [[Munster]], [[Sengann mac Dela|Sengann]] takes South Munster, [[Genann]] takes [[Connacht]], [[Rudraige mac Dela|Rudraige]] takes [[Ulster]], and [[Sláine mac Dela|Slánga]] takes [[Leinster]]. They establish the [[High King of Ireland|High Kingship]] and a succession of nine High Kings rules over Ireland for the next 37 years. The seat of the high-kings is established at [[Hill of Tara|Tara]], a site with significance through Medieval times as a source of religious and royal power.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Echard |first1=Sian |last2=Rouse |first2=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UXoqDwAAQBAJ&q=Bhreathnach+2005+fir+bolg&pg=PA1777 |title=The Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature in Britain |year=2017 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-118-39698-8 |language=en}}</ref> The last High King, [[Eochaid mac Eirc]], is the example of a perfect king. The Fir Bolg are also said to have included two sub-groups known as the [[Fir Domnann]] and Fir Gáilióin.

After 37 years, the Tuath Dé arrive in Ireland. Their king, [[Nuada]], asks to be given half the island, but the Fir Bolg king Eochaid refuses. The two groups meet at the Pass of Balgatan, and the ensuing battle—the First [[Cath Maige Tuired|Battle of Mag Tuired]]—lasts for four days. During the battle, Sreng, the champion of the Fir Bolg, challenges Nuada to single combat. With one sweep of his sword, Sreng cuts off Nuada's right hand. However, the Fir Bolg are defeated and their king, Eochaid, is slain by the three sons of Nemid. Sreng saves them from total destruction, however.<ref>[[Peter Berresford Ellis|Ellis, Peter Berresford]]. ''The Mammoth Book of Celtic Myths and Legends''. London: Constable & Robinson, 2002. p.&nbsp;28</ref> According to some texts, the Fir Bolg flee Ireland.<ref>Koch, p.&nbsp;1327</ref> According to others, the Tuath Dé offer them one quarter of Ireland as their own, and they choose [[Connacht]]. They are mentioned very little after this in the myths.<ref>Squire, pp.&nbsp;47–77</ref>

The ''[[Historia Brittonum]]''—which was written earlier than the ''Lebor Gabála''—says there were only three settlements of Ireland: the people of Partholón, the people of Nemed, and the [[Gaels]]. However, it mentions that a leader called ''Builc'' or ''Builg'' and his followers had taken an island called Eubonia, believed to be the [[Isle of Man]].<ref name=koch749/> The ''Lebor Gabála'' adds the Fir Bolg into the scheme and increases the number of settlements to six. It has been suggested that this number was chosen to match the "[[Six Ages of the World]]".<ref>[[Marie-Louise Sjoestedt|Sjoestedt, Marie-Louise]]. ''Celtic Gods and Heroes''. Dover Publications, 2000 [1949]. p.&nbsp;3</ref>

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Nemed]]ians}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lebor Gabála Érenn|Mythical settlers of Ireland]]|years}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tuatha Dé Danann]]}}
{{s-end}}