Anglo-Saxons. In a manuscript dated a.d. 817, now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, it is written that Nennius was once attacked by an Englishman who sneered that the Welsh had no native alphabet and had to use the Latin characters. This was a rather curious attack as not only did English use the Latin alphabet for writing, but it was the Celts, predominantly the Irish, who taught literacy to the English. However, the manuscript records that, as a response, Nennius invented an alphabet to confound his critic.

Nera

[I] A servant of Ailill of Connacht who went on an adventure to the Otherworld, where he lived, became a lover of a woman of the sídhe, and had a son. Nera escaped from the sídhe with his wife and child and warned Ailill and Medb that people of the sídhe were planning to destroy their city. Ailill sent Fergus Mac Roth to destroy the sídhe, but not before a great deal of plunder was taken.

Nessa

[I] Daughter of Eochaidh Sálbuidhe of Ulster. She married Fachtna, king of Ulster. In one version of the tale she slept with Cathbad the druid and bore him a son who became Conchobhar Mac Nessa. Her husband Fachtna died and his half-brother, Fergus Mac Roth, fell in love with her. She agreed to become his wife if he let her son Conchobhar rule as king for one year. She was an ambitious and powerful woman and, after the year was up, Conchobhar refused to give up the throne and Fergus was chased into exile.

Niall Noíghiallach

[I] Niall of the Nine Hostages, youngest son of Eochaidh Muigl Mheadoin, High King of Ireland, a.d. 358–366. Niall was High King from a.d. 379–405 and was the progenitor of the Uí Néill dynasty. He is recorded as raiding Britain and Gaul during the time of Theodosius the Great. But myth and history are fused in the story of his rise to kingship whereby he has to overcome his wicked stepmother, Mongfhinn, who abandons him as a baby naked on a hill. He is raised by a wandering bard, Torna Éices. Sithchenn the smith foretells he will be High King. Then he comes across an old hag who demands that he and his companions give her a kiss. Only Niall has courage to do so, and she turns into a beautiful woman named Flaithius (Royalty), the personification of sovranty. She foretells he will be the greatest of Ireland’s High Kings.

Niamh

[I] There are three characters called Niamh in the sagas. One, the daughter of Manannán Mac Lir, becomes the lover of Oisín,