Irish Mythology and Folklore

The Nemedians and the Fir Bolg, the Third and Fourth Invaders of Ireland

After the death of Partholòn's people, Ireland was left primarily uninhabited.

The Nemedians, or the people of Nemed, set sail from the Caspian Sea with forty four ships. However, after over a year of sailing through harsh conditions, the only ship to arrive on the shores of Ireland was that belonging to their leader, Nemed. Onboard with him was his wife, his four sons, and a few other families. Unfortunately, after only twelve days ashore, Nemeds wife died. Despite this, the Nemedians flourished in Ireland. During their reign, four lakes burst from the ground, and the people cleared twelve great plains across the land.

Of course, the Fomorians once again rose from the sea to conquer Ireland, and many great battles were fought between the Nemedian people, and the sea giants. After defending his people from the Fomorians, and surviving for nine years in Ireland, Nemed died of plague, along with three thousand of his people.

Without their leader, the remaining Nemedians were oppressed by two Fomorian kings, Morc and Conand. At the start of every winter, the settlers were forced to give two thirds of their crops, two thirds of their milk, and two thirds of their children as sacrifice to the oppressive Fomorians.

After many years of this, the Nemedian people finally rose up against their oppressors, attacking Conand's tier fort with over sixty thousand warriors. Many men died, but finally, the Nemedians defeated and killed the Fomorian king. Enraged at the death of his fellow ruler, Morc launched another attack on the humans. He uses his powers over the sea to create a great tidal wave, much like his ancestors had done against the old gods, which flooded the land, and killed many of the surviving Nemedians.

After plagues, wars, monsters and forces of nature, only thirty of the Nemedian people were left alive. The set out into the world, abandoning Ireland and leaving the land for the Fomorians.

Some, went inland to Britain, where they became the ancestors of the Bretons. Others, went south to Greece, in search of better things. Finally some of the Nemedian people took their ship, and sailed into the 'great north of the world', just as the old gods had done centuries before...

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As I mentioned, a third of the Nemedian people went south to Greece in search of better things. Unfortunately, they didn't find any. The time the people spent there was spent as slaves, hauling great sacks of soil and clay across the country. It was because of this, they became known as the Fir Bolg, (Fear-Bol-g), translating loosely to 'The Men of the Bag'.

After nearly two hundred and fifty years, the Fir Bolg escaped from Greece, historically at roughly the same time as the Israelites escaped Egypt during the biblical Exodus. In a great fleet of ships, the Fir Bolg set out for the abandoned home of their ancestors- Ireland.

The Fir Bolg were the fourth people to invade Ireland, and with them from Greece, they carried their bags of soil, which they spread across the rocky land they settled on to make it fertile. They divided Ireland into five provinces, each being ruled over by the five great chieftains that had brought them here. In the north, Rudraige (Roo-der-ay) took the province of Ulster. The chieftain Genann (Jean-an) took Connacht (Con-ort) to the west, and Sláine (Slay-ine) took Leinster (Line-stir) to the east. In the south, Gann (Gan) took North Munster, whist Sengann (Shawn-gan) took South Munster.

Amongst them, they established a high kingship. A succession of nine high kings ruled Ireland over the span of the next thirty seven years. The final high king, Eochaid mac Erc (Ee-ock-aid mac Er-ck), was said to be the example of a perfect king, the likes of which Ireland had never seen, and would likely never see again. He was the first king to establish a system of justice in Ireland, and during his reign the people prospered. No rain fell while the kingdom was under his rule, but despite this, there was a bountiful harvest every year. Eochaid ruled for ten long years, until finally, was killed in battle. It seemed that even being the perfect king, could not protect him and his people from the new gods...