dwells with him in Tír Tairnigiri (Land of Promise), and bears him a daughter named Plur na mBan (Flower of Women). Another Niamh, the wife of Conall Cearnach, becomes the mistress of Cúchulainn during the last period of his life. The third Niamh, the daughter of Celtchair, married Conganchas Mac Daire, a warrior whom no one could slay. She learns the secret of his invulnerability and tells her father, who slays Conganchas. Niamh then marries the son of Conchobhar Mac Nessa, Cormac Cond Longes.

Nisien

[W] Brother to Efnisien and half-brother to Bran, Branwen, and Manawydan, children of Llyr. He is the “peace-maker,” as opposed to his strife-inducing brother. He is the son of Penardun, wife of Llyr, who marries Eurosswyd.

Niul

[I] Son of Feinius Farsaidh, a famous wise teacher invited by the pharaoh Cingris to settle in Egypt. He marries Cingris’ daughter Scota; their son is Goidel. Niul befriends Aaron, and Moses heals Goidel from the bite of a serpent, it being foretold that no serpent would live in the land of the Gaels.

Nodens

See Nudd.

Noidhiu

[I] Son of Fingel. His father was a mysterious god who slept with Fingel. She gave birth after nine years and nine months. She wanted to destroy the child, but the baby uttered nine judgments and obtained the right to live.

Noinden

[I] The curse put on the men of Ulster by Macha, sometimes called “The Birth Pangs of Ulster.”

Nos Galan-Gaeof

[W] The Welsh winter festival, equivalent to the Samhain Feis.

Nuada

[I] Chief druid of Cahir Mór, a king and ancestor of Fionn Mac Cumhail who built the fortress on the Hill of Allen. More famous, however, is Nuada Argetlámh, Nuada of the Silver Hand. He appears as the supreme leader of the gods, possessed of a sword from which none could escape. He was the first ruler of the Dé Danaan on their arrival in Ireland but lost his hand at the first battle of Magh Tuireadh fighting against the Firbolg. The god of medicine, Dian Cécht, made him a silver hand, but later Dian Cécht’s son, Miach, made him a new hand of flesh and blood with which he regained his position, displacing the half-Fomorii, Bres. Nuada set off the events that led to the second battle of Magh Tuireadh against the Fomorii. In this battle Nuada and his wife, Macha, are slain by Balor of the Evil Eye. Nuada is cognate with the Welsh