Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg
Encyclopedia
Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg, last King
of the Senchineoil
of Magh Senchineoil, now in County Galway
.
people, who were said to be of Fir Bolg
origin, a population group from Irish mythology. It was asserted by T. F. O'Rahilly
that the Fir Bolg may have been inspired by both the historical Iverni
and Laigin
, although this is not widely accepted in Irish scholarship, these historical kindreds having no convincingly demonstrated association with the mythological one in the surviving corpus, beyond linguistic speculation. Related may have been the Fir Domnann
, who settled in what is now Connacht
.
The Fir Bolg of Connacht were ruled by King Aonghus mac Úmhór
. Mac Fhirbhisigh states that Aonghus led his people, the Tuath mhac nUmhoir, to the coast of Galway Bay
and the Aran Islands
, after been driven out by warfare with "Clann Chuian and the kindred of the Gaoidhil (Gaels
)." The fortress of Dún Aonghasa on Inishmore, which legend states he built, is still called after him. O'Rahilly places these events in the second century B.C.
Aonghus's son, Conall Caol, settled with his people in what was then the kingdom of Aidhne
.
missionary
, Grellan
, established a church at Cill Cluaine (near present-day Ballinasloe) in Magh Seincheineoil. Cian is said to have "waited on the saint at the place."
In this time the kingdom was invaded by a branch of the Airgíalla
, led by Eochaidh Ferdaghiall, his son Maine Mór
and grandsons Amhalgaidh and Breasal mac Maine Mór
. According to Leabhar Ua Maine
:
Mac Fhirbhisigh quotes a quatrain
which describes the army:
The translation says:
.
Cian intended to use Amhalgaidh to force Maine Mor and his followers to withdraw. However, Amhalaidh became involved with the wife of one of Cian's officers, who killed him. With Amhalaidh dead, Cian chose to mount a surprise attack on the Airgíalla.
However, Grellan became aware of the Fir Bolg's army, which, as the guarantor of the truce, placed him in danger from both sides. Grellan,
of the Uí Maine, as the descendants of Maine Mor were later called.
Mac Fhirbhisigh wrote of him "Although this Cian was notable at that time, there is scarcely any little thing known of the flower of his kindred because of the intermingling of the family of the Collas with it until now. Thus it was with many more of their septs in Ireland, who were exterminated, whether it was something else or their ill-will towards Clann Mhilidh that [caused] God to will their punishment. However, although they have gone, I do not forbear to remember every band of them which is brought to my attention in poem or in book." He locates their territory in northern Ui Maine, while listing five other branches located between the east shore of Lough Corrib
to the River Suck
, as well as the adjoining area of County Clare
.
The Senchineoil are mentioned only in a very few, scattered references. It is unclear if they were the same people as the Soghain
, or if both races were Fir Bolg.
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
of the Senchineoil
Senchineoil
The Senchineoil was the name of the pre-Gaelic inhabitants of what is now central and east County Galway and south County Roscommon.-Overview:...
of Magh Senchineoil, now in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
.
Background
Cian is identified as the king of Magh Senchineol, home to the SenchineoilSenchineoil
The Senchineoil was the name of the pre-Gaelic inhabitants of what is now central and east County Galway and south County Roscommon.-Overview:...
people, who were said to be of Fir Bolg
Fir Bolg
In Irish mythology the Fir Bolg were one of the races that inhabited the island of Ireland prior to the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann.-Mythology:...
origin, a population group from Irish mythology. It was asserted by T. F. O'Rahilly
T. F. O'Rahilly
Thomas Francis O'Rahilly was an Irish scholar of the Celtic languages, particularly in the fields of Historical linguistics and Irish dialects. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy.-Biography:He was born in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland...
that the Fir Bolg may have been inspired by both the historical Iverni
Iverni
The Iverni were a people of early Ireland first mentioned in Ptolemy's 2nd century Geography as living in the extreme south-west of the island. He also locates a "city" called Ivernis in their territory, and observes that this settlement has the same name as the island as a whole, Ivernia...
and Laigin
Laigin
The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin , were a population group of early Ireland who gave their name to the province of Leinster...
, although this is not widely accepted in Irish scholarship, these historical kindreds having no convincingly demonstrated association with the mythological one in the surviving corpus, beyond linguistic speculation. Related may have been the Fir Domnann
Fir Domnann
The Fir Domnann were an ancient Irish people located in the west and north of Connacht, in Irrus Domnann, from which Erris in County Mayo now takes it's name. In Irish mythology they make up one third of the Fir Bolg. They are probably related to the British Dumnonii, and to the Irish Laigin...
, who settled in what is now Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
.
The Fir Bolg of Connacht were ruled by King Aonghus mac Úmhór
Aonghus mac Úmhór
Aengus mac Umor was a mythical Irish king.The Fir Bolg of Connacht were ruled by King Aonghus mac Úmhór. Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh states that Aonghus led his people, the Tuath mhac nUmhoir, to the coast of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands, after being driven out by warfare with "Clann Chuian and...
. Mac Fhirbhisigh states that Aonghus led his people, the Tuath mhac nUmhoir, to the coast of Galway Bay
Galway Bay
Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about long and from to in breadth...
and the Aran Islands
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands or The Arans are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. They constitute the barony of Aran in County Galway, Ireland...
, after been driven out by warfare with "Clann Chuian and the kindred of the Gaoidhil (Gaels
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
)." The fortress of Dún Aonghasa on Inishmore, which legend states he built, is still called after him. O'Rahilly places these events in the second century B.C.
Aonghus's son, Conall Caol, settled with his people in what was then the kingdom of Aidhne
Aidhne
Aidhne also known as, Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne, Maigh Aidhne / Maigh nAidhne was the territory of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne, a tuath located in the south of what is now County Galway in the south of Connacht, Ireland. Aidhne is coextensive with the present diocese of Kilmacduagh...
.
Grellan and the Uí Maine
The ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, Grellan
Grellan
Saint Grellan is an Irish saint and patron saint of the Kelly and Donnellan clans and of the parish of Ballinasloe, in County Galway, Ireland.-Early life:...
, established a church at Cill Cluaine (near present-day Ballinasloe) in Magh Seincheineoil. Cian is said to have "waited on the saint at the place."
In this time the kingdom was invaded by a branch of the Airgíalla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
, led by Eochaidh Ferdaghiall, his son Maine Mór
Máine Mór
-Biography:Máine Mór descended from Colla da Chrioch of Oirghialla/Oriel, which became overpopulated. Máine Mór, his father Eochaidh Ferdaghiall and his two sons Breasal and Amhlaibh, travelled to Connacht to seek new lands...
and grandsons Amhalgaidh and Breasal mac Maine Mór
Breasal mac Maine Mór
Breasal mac Maine Mór, 2nd king of Uí Maine, fl. 4th-century/5th-century.John O'Donovan remarked that "Bresal, son of Maine, thirty years, when he died a natural death, which the poem states was surprising, as he had been much engaged in wars." He participated in the war that led to the foundation...
. According to Leabhar Ua Maine
Leabhar Ua Maine
Leabhar Ua Maine is an Irish genealogical compilation, created c...
:
These fine hosts suddenly and heroically proceeded in well arranged battalions, with their flocks and herds, from Clochar Mac Daimhin to Druim Clasach, which is called Tir-Many, situated between Loch Ri and the river Suca. They plundered the country, and despatched messengers to Cian, lord of the country, to Magh Seincheineoil, and they told him that the descendants of Colla da Chrioch had come to demand tribute and territory from him. And Cian was terrified by these sayings. He assembled his great forces, and their number was thirty hundred, who bore shield and sword and helmet.
Mac Fhirbhisigh quotes a quatrain
Quatrain
A quatrain is a stanza, or a complete poem, consisting of four lines of verse. Existing in various forms, the quatrain appears in poems from the poetic traditions of various ancient civilizations including Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and China; and, continues into the 21st century, where it is...
which describes the army:
Aoinfhear as gach lios amach/as eadh do thigeadh le Cian/a Maigh Sencheneiol, ni breug/dech cceud are fhichit ceud sgiath.
The translation says:
One man out of every fort/is what went forth with Cian/from Magh Seincheineoil, no falsehood/ten hundred and thirty hundred shields.
Truce
To prevent battle and further bloodshed, Grellan negotiated a peace between the Airgíalla and Cian. To celebrate the occasion, Cian organised a feast which Amhalgaidh and forcibly taken hostageHostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
.
Cian intended to use Amhalgaidh to force Maine Mor and his followers to withdraw. However, Amhalaidh became involved with the wife of one of Cian's officers, who killed him. With Amhalaidh dead, Cian chose to mount a surprise attack on the Airgíalla.
However, Grellan became aware of the Fir Bolg's army, which, as the guarantor of the truce, placed him in danger from both sides. Grellan,
from the door of his church, perceived these arms, and these great hosts, he raised his two hands to God, being apprehensive that his guarantee would be violated, and he obtained his request from God, for the great plain was softened and made a quagmire under the feet of Cian and his people, so that they were swallowed into the earth; and the place received the name of Magh Liach, i.e. the plain of sorrow, from the sorrow of the heroes, who were thus cut off by the holy cleric.
Aftermath
Grellan became the patron saintPatron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the Uí Maine, as the descendants of Maine Mor were later called.
Mac Fhirbhisigh wrote of him "Although this Cian was notable at that time, there is scarcely any little thing known of the flower of his kindred because of the intermingling of the family of the Collas with it until now. Thus it was with many more of their septs in Ireland, who were exterminated, whether it was something else or their ill-will towards Clann Mhilidh that [caused] God to will their punishment. However, although they have gone, I do not forbear to remember every band of them which is brought to my attention in poem or in book." He locates their territory in northern Ui Maine, while listing five other branches located between the east shore of Lough Corrib
Lough Corrib
Lough Corrib is a lake in the west of Ireland. The River Corrib or Galway river connects the lake to the sea at Galway. It is the second largest lough in Ireland . It covers 178 km² and lies mostly in County Galway with a small area of its northeast corner in County Mayo.The first canal in...
to the River Suck
River Suck
The River Suck is a river in Ireland, approx. in length.It is the main tributary of the River Shannon. It meets the River Swilly a few kilometres north of the village of Shannonbridge to form the Suck-Swilly, which becomes the River Shannon....
, as well as the adjoining area of County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
.
The Senchineoil are mentioned only in a very few, scattered references. It is unclear if they were the same people as the Soghain
Soghain
The Soghain were a people of ancient Ireland. Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh identified them as part of a larger group called the Cruithin, and stated of them:...
, or if both races were Fir Bolg.