Celtic Heroes

Firbolgs



The Firbolgs or Fir Bolgs were descendants of the surviving Nemedians who fled from Ireland to Greece. The Firbolgs arrived in Ireland 230 years after Starn departed from Ireland.

Seimon, the son of Erglan and great grandson of Starn (son of Nemed), was the leader who brought them to Greece. The Firbolgs didn't migrated to Ireland until eleven generations after Seimon.

Five sons of Dela migrated to Ireland with their family and followers, where they divided the whole isle between themselves. However their power in Ireland was short-lived, because they only ruled for 37 years, before Tuatha Dé Danann arrived and defeated them.

The Firbolgs' last king was Eochaid Mac Eirc, whose wife, Tailtiu, was the foster mother of Lugh Lamfata, the Danann hero and solar god.

See also the Firbolgs in the Book of Invasions.



Below is the family tree of the Firbolgs, during the arrival of Tuatha Dé Danann and the First Battle of Magh Tuiredh.

Eochaid Mac Erc was the last Firbolg king in Ireland, and he died in battle. Eochaid was married to Tailtiu, daughter of the King of Spain, who was sometimes known as Magmor (though this could be the name of place). Tailtiu was also the foster-mother of the Danann hero, Lugh Lamfada. One of the great fairs in Ireland was named after her. Lugh held a feast and funeral games after her death.

Tailtiu was a scene of the battle between the Danann and the Milesians, where the Milesians became the conqueror and the Danann were forced to live in the Otherworld.







Tuatha Dé Danann

The genealogy in Irish myths, particularly those of the Irish deities are very confusing. Particularly, if you decided to read from several different sources to construct the family tree.

Not only those genealogy of the Tuatha Dé Danann can be conflicting or contradicting from one source to other sources, but the genealogy can be conflicting within the same material (source). This can be frustrating.

Here, I have set up several different trees for the sake of completeness. Unfortunately, the three genealogy are far from complete, since there are other materials (sources or translated texts) that I have not yet read.

Please try to refrain from thinking that these genealogy to be accurate, since Irish myth never claimed to be accurate. It was much more easier completing genealogy for the Welsh deities than for the Irishs.

I have also a new tree called Nemedians, whom the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Firbolgs were descendants of.

1st Genealogy
2nd Genealogy
3rd Genealogy


1st Genealogy

The first genealogy show that most of the Tuatha Dé Danann come from the mother goddess, Danu. Danu, or Anu in Irish myth may have played a more important role in early Irish myth.








2nd Genealogy

The alternative genealogy show that some of the Tuatha Dé Danann are more closely related to the Fomorians.

Example of this, is that the Dagda and Ogma were seen as the son of Elatha, king of the Fomorians, and of Ethlinn, the daughter of Balor of the Evil Eye (a Fomorian leader).

Note that all the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians, shown below, are descendants of Alldui, a shadowy figure. Alldui was the grandfather of Neit and the great, great grandson of Nuada Airgetlám (Nuada of the Silver Hand). To avoid more confusion, I decided to leave out Alldui's different ancestors.








3rd Genealogy

Below, is another alternative genealogy, which show that the seven Danann champions or chieftain happened to be the seven sons of Ethliu.