Nemglan is a supernatural figure who appears as a minor character in the ''

Togail Bruidne Dá Derga ''Togail Bruidne Dá Derga'' (''The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel'') is an Irish tale belonging to the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It survives in three Old Irish, Old and Middle Irish recensions, it is part of the Lebor na hUidre, Book ...

'', or "The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel", a tale from

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths indigenous to the island of Ireland. It was originally Oral tradition, passed down orally in the Prehistoric Ireland, prehistoric era. In the History of Ireland (795–1169), early medieval era, myths were ...

which survives in versions from the 12th century onward. Little is known about him, as he is mentioned only in this tale, but he is called a birdman or king of the birds. His name appears to be

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic (, Ogham, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ; ; or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic languages, Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive written texts. It was used from 600 to 900. The ...

for 'heavenly clean' or 'unclean'. Nemglan "appeared to the heroine

Mess Búachalla Mess Búachalla (the cow-herder's foundling) was the mother of the High King Conaire Mór in Irish mythology during the first century BC or first century AD. Her origins are somewhat confused. In the tale ''Tochmarc Étaíne'' she was the daught ...

in the form of a bird and seduced her", fathering

Conaire Mór Conaire Mór (the great), son of Eterscél, was, according to mediaeval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland sometime during the 1st century BC or 1st century AD. His mother was Mess Búachalla, who was either the daugh ...

, the high king of Ireland.

References

Irish gods Characters in Irish mythology Animal gods {{lit-char-stub