Pictish Mystic · Lore · Fomorians
Nemtuir the Red: the Fomorian Who Sacked Ailech
Nemtuir the Red, of the Fomoraig, is remembered in one verse for one deed: he slew Net son of Indui and his two wives at Ailech. After the slaying, the three kings of the Tuatha Dé divided Ailech's cattle and treasures. This is what the Book of Invasions says about him, told from the Fomorian side.
Ailech of Net
In the north stood Ailech. The Book of Invasions says: “Fea and Nemaind were the two wives of Net, a quo Ailech Neit.” Net son of Indui stands near the root of the Tuatha Dé family lines: “Lug son of Cian son of Dian Cecht son of Esarg son of Net son of Indui son of Alldui.”
The Two Wives
“Fea and Neman, the two wives of Net son of Indiu, two daughters of Elemar of the Brug.” The prose and the verse name the wives differently: Fea and Nemaind (or Neman) in the prose, Badb and Neman in the verse. We give both, as the text does.
The Verse
The poet Fland Mainstrech counted the deaths of the Tuatha Dé. Among them: “Net son of Indui and his two wives, Badb and Neman without deceit, were slain in Ailech without blame by Nemtuir the Red, of the Fomoraig.” That single verse is the whole of what the text tells us about Nemtuir.
What Came After
The next part of the Book of Invasions picks up the thread: “There was in fact a convention of the men of Ireland at Ailech of Net, after the slaying of Net son of Innui of Ailech by the Fomoire. The three kings were dividing the cattle and the treasures of the king of Ailech at the time.” The three kings were Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht and Mac Greine. Into that gathering came Íth son of Breogan, but that is another tale.
One More Thread
The Second Battle of Mag Tured calls Balor “grandson of Net” and “Balor son of Dot son of Net”. Whether that Net is the lord of Ailech, the texts do not say, so we don't claim it.
From Their Side
This part is a reading, not the text: Nemtuir is a name without a story. One red name, one raid, and a hall left for others to divide.
Sources
- Lebor Gabála Érenn, part 4 (Tuatha Dé Danann), Mary Jones, Celtic Literature Collective: https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/lebor4.html
- Lebor Gabála Érenn, part 5 (the Sons of Míl), Mary Jones, Celtic Literature Collective: https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/lebor5.html
- The Second Battle of Mag Tured, Mary Jones, Celtic Literature Collective: https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/2maghtured.html
Story told by John.
These are legends from medieval manuscripts, not recorded history.
First shared on TikTok @johnshaw333.
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