THE FIGHT WITH THE FIR BOLGS ©
by Nancy Bell
Come nearer to the fire while the moon floats high above us in the dark seas of the midnight sky. I have a story to tell you of the Fir Bolgs and the invasion of the Tuatha de Danaan. The Fir Bolgs were the fourth race to be dominant in Ireland; they overcame the Men of Nemed before them to claim the right to rule Ireland. This is the story of how the Fir Bolg in their turn were overcome by the Tuatha de Danaan. The Tuatha de Danaan would in the fullness of time be overcome by the Children of Mil, but that's a story for another day.
It is said that the Tuatha de Danaan came to Ireland through the air and the high air and their arrival in Ireland was concealed by a heavy mist. They came from a place to the north of Ireland where they left four cities of great learning. They were Falias, Gorias, Finias and Murias. Each of the four cities had a wise man to teach the wisdom of the Tuatha de Danaan and each city had a great treasure. The Stone of Virtue that was the Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny came from Falias and was given by Morias; the Spear of Victory came from Finias and was given by Arias the fair-haired poet. The Sword came from Gorias and Urias of the noble nature gave that Sword. The Cauldron came from Murias and was given by Senias. These four treasures from their old world the Tuatha de Danaan brought with them to Ireland out of the mist of their arrival.
Nuada was the king of the Tuatha de Danaan, but Manannan mac Lir was considered greater still. With them came Ogma, brother to the king, who taught them the written word, Diancecht that knew healing, Credenus the craftsman, Goibniu the great smith. With them came their women as well. The foremost of their women was Badh, a fierce battle goddess and Macha who fed on the war dead, also the Morrigu—the crow of battle—and the three daughters of the Dagda Eire, Podia and Banba. Eadon was the nurse of poets and Brigit who was a woman of poetry and worshiped by the poets. She was also a woman of healing and a smith worker. One side of her face was ugly but the other was most beautiful. Her name means fiery arrow. The greatest of all the women and queens who came with the Tuatha de Danaan was the one considered the Mother of the Gods and her name was Dana. The Tuatha de Danaan treasured above all things three things. The triad of the plough, the hazel tree, and the sun. They also kept a well below the sea where grew nine hazels of wisdom, they held all inspiration and knowledge of poetry. The trees would flower and fruit at the same time and fall into the well from which a great wave of purple would rise. The five salmon who dwelt in the pool would rise and eat the hazel nuts and any person who would eat of the salmon would be endowed with all their wisdom and inspiration. From the well sprang seven streams of wisdom that returned to it again.
It was on the first day of May, Beltaine, that the Tuatha de Danaan landed to the northwest of Connacht. The Fir Bolgs could see nothing except the mist that lay close on the hills. Eochaid, son of Erc was the king of the Fir Bolgs. News came to him at Teamhair of a new race of peoples having settled at Magh Rein. Eochaid was troubled by this news as his Druids had warned him that soon a strong enemy would come against him.
Eochaid sent out his champion Sreng to meet with the strangers. As he approached the Tuatha de Danaan camp the Danaans sent out their champion Bres to meet with Sreng. The two champions exchanged pleasantries and examined each others weapons. The spears of the Fir Bolg were heavy and strong and sharpened on the edges, the spears of the Tuatha de Danaan were sharp thin hard pointed things. The champions made an exchange of weapons so that each could show what the other side used. Bres sent this message to the Fir Bolg, that if they would give up half of Ireland then there would be peace, otherwise they would battle.
Sreng went back to his king and advised against war but Eochaid and his chief men decided to fight rather than risk losing the whole of Ireland eventually.
Bres returned to his king and advised that he thought that there would be a war soon.
The queens of the Tuatha de Danaan, they who were known as Badb, Macha and Morrigu sent mist and clouds of darkness over Teamhair and showers of fire and blood over the people. This lasted three days and then the Druids of the Fir Bolgs, Cesarn, Gnathach and Ingnathach broke the enchantments.
And so it began. The Fir Bolgs gathered at the eastern end of the plain of Magh Nia. Nuada offered again to take half of Ireland and not to war. Eochaid refused and negotiated a period of readiness in order for both sides to prepare properly for battle. They agreed to a period of three months for preparation after which the battle for Ireland would begin.
On Midsummer Day the battle began. First there was a contest of hurlers, three times nine hurlers from each side. None survived the match. Eochaid sent a messenger to Nuada asking if the de Danaans would prefer to fight every day or every second day. Nuada sent reply that they would fight every day but with an equal number of men on each side. Eochaid was not pleased as the Fir Bolgs outnumbered the Tuatha de Danaan.
The battle was waged for four days with great feats from both camps and many champions died. For the living the physicians on both sides would bath them in healing herbs and plants of every sort so they would be well and strong for the next day. On the fourth day the de Danaans waxed stronger than the Fir Bolgs and the Fir Bolgs were driven back. Eochaid went in search of some water with three fifties of his men, they were followed by three fifties of the de Danaans and a fierce battle was fought at Traigh Eothaile and King Eochaid was killed. They buried him there and raised a great cairn of stones over him.
There were but three hundred men left of the Fir Bolgs and they were led by Streng. Nuada offered them peace and Streng accepted. Nuada gave Streng the choice of one of the five provinces of Ireland and Streng chose Connacht where he and his people and his children's children lived after them.
This is the tale of the first battle fought by the Tuatha de Danaan and the last battle fought by the Fir Bolgs. It is called by some first battle of Magh Tuireadh. And the Tuatha de Dananns ruled Ireland from the high Hill of Tara until they in their turn were ousted by the Sons of Mil. But as I said at the beginning that is story for another day.
Nancy Bell is proud Albertan, horsewoman, wife, mother and grandmother. She lives on a farm near Balzac, Alberta with her husband, two horses, various dogs, cats and whatever else happens to wander into the yard. Nancy has been writing all her life, she especially enjoys writing poetry and has just completed a novel for young adults (and those young at heart) which is rich with magic and extraordinary characters. Nancy welcomes feedback from her readers and can be contacted at emilypikkasso@gmail.com
The Fight With The Fir Bolgs copyright © 2009 by Nancy Bell, all rights reserved. Used with permission. Top of Page
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