MacFirbis (Irish:Mac Fhirbhisigh), also known asForbes, was thesurname of a family ofIrishhereditary historians based for much of their known history at Lecan,Tireragh (nowLackan,Kilglass parish,County Sligo). They claimed descent fromDathí (d.418?/428?), said to be one of the last paganKings of Connacht, and were thus one of the many families who sprang from theUí Fiachrach dynasty. The progenitors of the MacFirbis family descend from Amhailgadh, whose brothers included Fiachra Ealg (ancestor ofO'Dowd) and Eocha Breac (ancestor ofO'Shaughnessy).

Based initially atCong, the family may have beenerenaghs prior to becoming historians and genealogists to the Ui Fiachrach Muaidhe (branch of the Uí Fiachrach based in northConnacht) and several other patrons. While this was their main function, they also appear to have served as poets andbrehons to their patrons, possibly even musicians.

Among the earliest known members of the family wereAmhlaoibh Mór mac Fir Bhisigh (died 1138), Domhnall na Sgoile Mac Fir Bhisigh (fl.c. 1250) andGilla Isa Mac Fir Bisigh, who died in 1301.

In the late medieval era the most well known wasGiolla Íosa Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh fl. 1390–1418. The Mac Fhirbhisigh, long after moving to Lecan (Lacken),Tireragh, built Lacken Castle (Castle Forbes,54°14′31″N9°04′19″W / 54.242°N 9.072°W /54.242; -9.072), now ruined, inKilglass parish in 1560. Here they kept a school of poetry and history. They lost possession of the castle before 1625.^[1]

Fear Dorcha MacFhirbhisigh (fl.c. 1600?) was noted as well-travelled in Scotland, showing how far afield members of the clan would venture in practising their art.Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh (fl.c.1640-January 1671) compiledLeabhar na nGenealach, a massive compilation of Irish genealogies.

• Fear Bisigh mac Domhnaill Óig
• Great Book of Lecan
• Yellow Book of Lecan
• Ó Duibhgeannáin
• Irish genealogy

• The Celebrated Antiquary,Nollaig Ó Muraíle,Maynooth, 1996.
• Irish Leaders and Learning Through the Ages, Fr.Paul Walsh, 2004. (ed. Nollaig Ó Muraíle).
• John O'Donovan (ed., trans.),The Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, Commonly Called O'Dowda's Country, Irish archaeological society, 1993,p. 168.

• Forbes family pedigree at Library Ireland

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