Pictish Mystic · Lore · Book of Invasions
Nemed: the Third Taking of Ireland
Lebor Gabála Érenn, "the Book of the Taking of Ireland", is a medieval history put together by monastic scholars, here told from Macalister's translation. After Partholón's people died of plague, the book says Ireland lay empty for thirty years. This is myth and medieval learning, not recorded history.
One Ship Out of Forty-four
Nemed son of Agnomain came from the Greeks of Scythia. He had forty-four ships on the Caspian Sea for a year and a half, but only his own ship reached Ireland. With him came his four sons: Starn, Iarbonel the Soothsayer, Annind and Fergus Red-Side.
Lakes, Plains and Forts
Four lakes burst out in his time, and Loch Annind broke over the land while his son Annind was being buried. His people cleared twelve plains, among them Mag Macha and Mag Muirthemne. Two royal forts were dug. The four sons of Matan Munremar dug Ráith Cindeich in one day, and Nemed had them killed in Daire Lige before the next morning, so they could never build a better one.
Against the Fomoraig
Nemed won the battle of Ros Fraechain against Gand and Sengand, two Fomorian kings, and three more battles against the Fomoraig at Badbgna, Cnamros and Murbolg. Then he died of plague on Oilean Arda Nemid in Munster.
Conand's Tower
After him his people were crushed by Conand son of Febar and More son of Dela. Conand's Tower stood on Toirinis, where the Fomorian fleet lay. Every Samhain, two-thirds of their children, their corn and their milk had to be brought to Mag Cetne. In anger and grief the men of Ireland rose. Thirty thousand by sea and thirty thousand by land stormed the tower, led by three champions, Semul, Erglan and Fergus Red-Side, and Conand and his line fell.
The Sea Rises
Then More son of Dela came with sixty ships. The two sides fought so hard that no one fled, and the book says the sea came up over them all. Only one ship escaped, with thirty warriors.
The Scattering
Bethach died in Ireland of plague. Fergus Red-Side's son Britán Mael went to Britain, and the book makes him the father of all the Britons. Three sons of Beoan went to the north of Alba. Semeon went to the Greeks, where his people were enslaved carrying clay up rough mountains to make flowery plains. After two hundred and thirty years they fled in boats made of their bags, or stolen ships in another version, and came home as the Fir Bolg.
The Northern Islands
The book closes this part with the children of Bethach in the northern islands of the world, learning druidry, knowledge, prophecy and magic. It goes on to trace the Tuatha Dé Danann to them.
These are legends from medieval manuscripts, not recorded history.
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