The medieval Irish Book of Invasions, an amalgam of bible and Irish lore, was considered to be the origin story of the Irish people. McAlister's definitive translation was compiled from several manuscripts dating from the 12th to 15th century, but textual analysis suggests dates the stories date earlier. The relevant passage on Nel and Moses describes how Nel and his son Gaedel Glas, having participated in the great Tower of Babel project, are retained by the Pharoah as tutors. Subsequent marvelous events are discussed in the Irish Book of Invasions as follows:

So Nel son of Feinius Farsaid dwelt southward in Egypt.




Then Nel son of Feinius came to converse with them: and there Aaron [brother of Abraham (sic)] met Nel; and Aaron told him tidings of the Sons of Israel, and the miracles and marvels of Moses, and how the ten plagues were brought upon the people of Egypt by reason of their enslavement.












It was after this adventure that the tribe of wandering Gaels went to Spain, dwelling in the place now known as the province of Galicia, still to this day a stronghold of Gaelic music.