48. Now as for the Fir
Bolg, they brought five chieftains with them, ut dixi
supra, to wit, Gann,
Genann,
Rudraige,
Sengann,
Slanga: those were
the five sons of Dela. Their five wives next, Anust, Liber, Cnucha,
Fuat, Etar: [unde dicitur]
Fuat, wife of Slanga, you do not think it crooked, Etar
wife to Gann with valour, Anust wife of Sengann of the
spears, Cnucha who was wife of pure Genann.
Liber wife of Rudraige of the Road, a people sweet, that
was not narrow: Slanga, master of wiles, I suppose, Fuat
was his wife.
49. The Fir Bolg separated into three. With Slanga s. Dela s. Loth his third
[landed] in Inber Slaine: his Fifth is from Inber Colptha to Comar Tri
nUisce; a thousand men his tally. The second third landed in Inber
Dubglaisi with Gann and Sengann: two thousand were their tally, Gann
from Comar Tri nUisce to Belach Conglais, Sengann from Belach Conglais
to Luimneach - that is, over the two Fifths of Mumu. Genann and
Rudraige with a third of the host, they landed in Inber Domnann:
[whence they are called Fir Domnann]. Genann it is who was king over
the Fifth of Medb and
Ailell; Rudraige over the Fifth of
Conchobor -
other two thousand were his tally. Those are the Fir Bolg, the Fir
Domnann, and the Gailioin.
As to the Fir Domnann, the creek takes its name from them. The Fir
Bolg - they were named from their bags. The Gailioin, from the
multitude of their javelins were they named.
They made one Taking and one princedom, for they were five brethren,
the five sons of Dela s. Loth. And in one week they took Ireland,
[though the days were different]. On Saturday, the kalends of August,
Slanga landed in Inber Slaine. On Tuesday Gann and Sengann landed.
On Friday Genann and Rudraige landed: and thus is it one Taking,
though they were differently styled. The Gaileoin, from Slanga were
they named. From Gann and Sengann were the Fir Bolg named. The
Fir Domnann were named from deepening the earth: they were Genann
and Rudraige with their followers.
For they are all called Fir Bolg,
and thirty-seven years was the length of their Lordship over Ireland.
The five sons of Dela were the five kings of the Fir Bolg, i.e., Gann,
Genann, Rudraige, Sengann, Slaine.
50. [Now these men, the Fir Bolg, were the progeny of Dela.] Slanga was
the eldest, s. Dela s. Loth s. Oirthet, s. Tribuat s. Gothorb s. Gosten s.
Fortech s. Semeon s. Erglan s. Beoan s. Starn s. Nemed s. Agnomain.
No king took, who was called "of Ireland," till the Fir Bolg came.
Nine kings of them took Ireland. Slanga, one year - it is he who died
of the Fir Bolg in Ireland at the first. Rudraige, two years, till he
died in Brug Bratruad. Gann and Genann, four years, till they died of
plague in Fremaind. Sengann, five years, till he fell at the hands of
Rindail s. Genann s. Dela. Rindail, six years, till he fell at the hands
of Fodbgenid s. Sengann s. Dela in Eba Coirpre. Fodbgen, four years,
till he fell in Mag Muirthemne at the hands of Eochu s. Rindail s.
Genann s. Dela.
Eochu son of
Erc, ten years. There was no wetting in
his time, save only dew: there was no year without harvest.
Falsehoods were expelled from Ireland in his time. By him was
executed the law of justice in Ireland for the fist time. Eochu son of
Erc fell at the hands of three sons of Nemed s. Badra: he is the first
king of Ireland who received his death-wound in Ireland. [Unde Colum
Cille cecinit "Dean moresnis a mic," etc.]
51. The Fir Bolg gave them [the Tuatha De
Danann] battle upon Mag Tuired;
they were a long time fighting that battle. At last it broke against the
Fir Bolg, and the slaughter pressed northward, and a hundred
thousand of them were slain westward to the strand of Eochaill. There
was the king Eochu overtaken, and he fell at the hands of the three
sons of Nemed. Yet the Tuatha De Danann suffered great loss in the
battle, and they left the king on the field, with his arm cut from him;
the leeches were seven years healing him. The Fir Bolg fell in that
battle all but a few, and they went out of Ireland in flight from the
Tuatha De Danann, into Ara, and Ile, and Rachra and other islands
besides. [it was they who led the Fomoraig to the second battle of
Mag Tuired]. And they were in [those islands] till the time of the
Provincials over Ireland, till the Cruithne drove them out. They came
to Cairbre Nia
Fer, and he gave them lands; but they were unable to
remain with him for the heaviness of the impost which he put upon
them. Thereafter they came in flight before Cairbre under the
protection of Medb and Ailill, and these gave them lands. This is the
wandering of the sons of Umor. [Oengus son of Umor was king over
them in the east], and from them are named those territories, Loch
Cime from Cime Four-Heads son of Umor, the Point of Taman in
Medraige from Taman son of Umor, the Fort of Oengus in Ara from
Oengus, the Stone-heap of Conall in Aidne from Conall, Mag Adair from
Adar, Mag Asail from Asal in Mumu also. Menn son of Umor was the
poet. They were in fortresses and in islands of the sea around
Ireland in that wise, till Cu Chulaind overwhelmed them.
52. Those are the kings of the Fir Bolg and their deaths; unde poeta cecinit :
The Fir Bolg were here for a season in the great island of
the sons of Mil; the five chiefs which they brought with
them from over yonder I know their names.
A year had Slanga, this is true, till he died in his fine
mound; the first man of the Fir bolg of the peaks who died
in the island of Ireland.
Two years of Rudraige the Red, till he died in Brug Brat-
ruaid, four of Genann and of Gann, till plague slew them in
Fremaind.
Five years of Sengann - they were reposeful -till Fiachu
son of Starn slew him; five others - it was through battle
-Fiachu Cendfhindan was king.
Fiachu Cendfhindan before all, his name endures for ever;
whiteheaded all, without reproach, were the kine of Ireland
in his presence.
Till he fell at the hands of red Rindail, he got six [years]
with his free host; The grandson of Dela fell then in Eba,
at the hands of Odbgen.
Four to noble Odbgen till the battle of Muirthemne of the
nobles: Odbgen died without reproach at the hands of the
son of Erc, of lofty Eochu.
Ten years to Eochu son of Erc, he found not the border-
line of weakness: till they slew him on the battlefield, the
three sons of Nemed son of Badra.
Till Rinnal grew, there was no point at all upon a weapon
in Ireland; upon harsh javelins there was no fair-covering,
but their being rushing-sticks.
In the time of Fodbgen thereafter there came knots
through trees: the woods of Ireland down till then were
smooth and very straight.
The pleasant Tuatha De Danann brought spears with them
in their hands: with them Eochu was slain, by the seed of
Nemed of strong judgement.
The names of the three excellent sons of Nemed were
Cessarb, Luam, and Luachra: it is they who slew the first
king with a point, Eochu son of Erc, in Ireland.
Thereafter the Tuatha De fought against the Fir Bolg, it was a
rough appearance. They took away their goods and their
lordship from the Men.
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