Nemed
Leader of the third legendary settlement of Ireland
- Known from
- Lebor Gabála Érenn (11th century)
- Descent
- From Noah through Magog
- Achievements (legend)
- Cleared twelve plains; built two royal forts
- Enemies
- The Fomorians, ruling from Conand's Tower on Tory Island
- Descendants (legend)
- Fir Bolg and Tuatha Dé Danann
The leader of Ireland's third legendary settlement, whose people were struck by plague and then forced to pay tribute to the Fomorians.
What is Nemed known for?
Nemed leads the third settlement of Ireland in the Lebor Gabála Érenn. Like Partholón, he is given descent from Noah through Magog. His people clear twelve plains, form lakes and build two royal forts, and they defeat the Fomorians in several battles.
After Nemed dies of plague, the Fomorians oppress his surviving people from Conand's Tower on Tory Island, off the northwest coast, demanding a heavy yearly tribute of corn, milk and children at Samhain. The Nemedians rise up and storm the tower, but most of them are killed. The few survivors scatter; the text makes some of their descendants return as the Fir Bolg and the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Nemed is known only from medieval Irish legendary history, which scholars read as a learned construction rather than a record of real migrations.
He leads the third wave of settlers, oppressed by the Fomorians, in the site's account of the Lebor Gabála Érenn.
Mentioned on these pages
- Rabbit holeLebor Gabála Érenn (Book of Invasions)
- PlaceTory Island
Sources
- Nancy Effinger Wilson, 'Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of Invasions)', Irish Mythology (Texas State University Pressbooks)Reference
- Wikipedia, 'Lebor Gabála Érenn'Reference
- Wikipedia, 'Nemed'Reference
Pictures on profile pages are drawn placeholders, not likenesses. Public-domain portraits and photographs will replace them.