Fir Bolg
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
Gaels.
The origin of their name is the subject of some dispute. Many commentators consider them the "men of Builg" or "men of bags", or possibly "men with spears", from
bolg meaning
spear 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).
These people arrived in Ireland in three groups, the Fir Bolg, the
Fir Domnann and the Gailiуin (a modern misprint). The Fir Bolg are likely derived from the historical Belgae, known from
Gaul and
Britain, and related to the historical Builg of
Munster; the Fir Domnann are probably related to the British
Dumnonii; and the Gailуin are another name for the Laigin, who founded
Leinster. 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. 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 laborers, the Fir Bolg would have found it useful to wear
trousers rather than the robes and garb of the Celts. This theory, however, remains largely speculative, and there is little hard evidence to confirm this interpretation.
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.
*[
1]
*[
2]
