Brian Ó Cuív
(1916-1999)
Astronomical
Volvelle
Astronomical
Volvelle
(Reverse)
Manuscripts reproduced by kind permission of the President and Scholars of Corpus Christi College.
B 2.10.1: Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford and Oxford College Libraries: Part 1: Descriptions
by † Brian Ó Cuív
2001. xl + 324 pp.
€20
ISBN 1 85500 197 7
Available online
This book, except for the plates, is available for download in PDF format. You will need a viewer, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, to view it. Follow the links on the contents listing below. We would appreciate any feedback you may have on this online version.
Although this online version is available free of charge, copyright (as detailed below in the copyright statement) is retained in its entirety by the publisher. You may, of course, print out the downloaded copy for personal use.
Copyright in the whole and every part of this publication belongs to the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (School of Celtic Studies), and it may not be used, sold, licensed, transferred, copied, rented or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner or form or in or on any medium by any person other than with the prior written consent of the publisher.
Download the book (992 kB, PDF format)
Preface
The idea of preparing a descriptive catalogue of the Irish language manuscripts in the Bodleian and Oxford college libraries occurred to me when I was appointed Rhŷs Research Fellow in the University of Oxford for the year 1979-1980 and was made a Senior Visiting Research Fellow in Jesus College. Having discussed the project with David G. Vaisey, Keeper of Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian, I commenced the work of compilation in October 1979, and between then and September 1980 I examined the manuscripts and made extensive notes about their physical condition, make-up and contents.
After my return to Dublin in the autumn of 1980 my duties in the School of Celtic Studies occupied most of my time. However, I continued to do some work on the catalogue, and in the summer of 1983, when I was back in Oxford for a short period, I checked some of my earlier observations.
I did not get down to the serious task of putting my notes into a coherent form until a few years ago when I began to use a computer and found the work progressing relatively rapidly. During a further visit to Oxford in July 1996 I discussed a variety of topics relating to the catalogue with Dr Bruce C. Barker-Benfield, Senior Assistant Librarian in the Department of Western Manuscripts at the Bodleian. Since then his advice, encouragement and help have been pivotal in its progress. In January 1997 I submitted to him draft descriptions of all but one of the manuscripts catalogued here, and he read each of them - with the exception of two (52, and 53) which had been returned to the library of Corpus Christi College - with the relevant manuscript beside him, correcting and supplementing my work in many places, especially in relation to physical condition and binding.
During 1997, having incorporated Dr Barker-Benfield's notes and corrections in my work, I rechecked my description of the contents of the manuscripts, using copies of the manuscripts on microfilm or in photostat form, as well as my original notes. In November of that year I spent four days in Oxford during which I discussed a number of points with Dr Barker-Benfield and checked some details in a number of manuscripts. I also discussed with both Dr Barker-Benfield and Dr David Cooper the possibility of my descriptions being used in conjunction with an Internet programme on Images of Celtic Manuscripts in Oxford libraries.
I then began what I hoped would be the final stage of revision. Unfortunately this was interrupted in April 1998 when I suffered a cardiac arrest, and it was not until August of that year that I was able to submit a further draft of the descriptions to Dr Barker-Benfield, together with a specimen of the proposed format of the volume.
The suggestion that the catalogue be published by Oxford University Press for the Bodleian Library had been mooted during discussions I had with David Vaisey in 1980. However it was made known to me in 1996 that the School of Celtic Studies wished to act as publishers. That proposition was accepted by the Bodleian Library, but close liaison was maintained with the Library through Dr Barker-Benfield.
My revised descriptions were read in full by Professors Fergus Kelly and Tomás Ó Concheanainn, and by two referees, and in part by Professor David N. Dumville, and I am grateful to all of them for suggestions for improvement. Special mention must be made of Dr Aoibheann Nic Dhonnchadha who very generously used her familiarity with Irish medical manuscripts to ensure that the description of the scientific material in 5 (MS. Fairfax 29), 41 (MS. Selden Supra 32), and 46 (Corpus Christi College MS. 129) would be as full and as accurate as possible. I am also indebted to William O'Sullivan, former Keeper of Manuscripts in Trinity College in Dublin, and Tomás Ó Concheanainn for giving me their opinions on the hands of the two main scribes in 33 (MS. Rawl. B. 489). I am especially grateful to Professor Kelly for supervising the final revision of my work, for arranging and supervising the preparation of camera-ready copy, and for seeing that the work of printing and publication was completed as expeditiously as possible.
I have already acknowledged the help I received in my work from a number of colleagues and other scholars. I take this opportunity of thanking Dr Pádraig de Brún for information about book-sales catalogues and for assistance on many occasions; also Dr Aidan Breen, Dr Anthony Harvey and Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle for information on Hiberno-Latin sources and Irish place-names. I place on record here my thanks to the electors of the Rhŷs Visiting Fellowship, and to the Principal, Fellows and other members of Jesus College for the kindness shown to me during the year 1979-80, when I was Senior Visiting Research Fellow, and on occasions when I returned to the College, and especially to Professor D. Ellis Evans and his wife Sheila and to Professor T. Charles-Edwards. I am grateful to all the staff of Duke Humfrey's Library in the Bodleian - and I recall particularly the courtesy and patience of Jean-Pierre Mialon - and to the librarian of Corpus Christi College, Ms. Christine Butler. I must also thank members of my family for advice in connexion with the use of a computer for compiling the indexes, and especially to my son Eón who helped me in designing the lay-out of the volumes and who provided a specimen format for the opening pages. The line-drawings in the descriptions of MSS. Rawl. B. 489 (33), Rawl. B. 513 (39) and Rawl. B. 514 (34), were made by my son Ruairí, who also was of great help and used his professional expertise in choosing items for the plates to be reproduced in Part 2, in preparing them for display, and in advising me about their reproduction. As I have already made clear, my debt to Dr Barker-Benfield is immense. Dr Cooper's generous assistance with the provision of the digital images for the plates was invaluable. Their support was such that I now consider them to be my friends as well as colleagues.
I was facilitated in my work in Dublin by the library staffs of the Royal Irish Academy, Trinity College (department of manuscripts), and the National Library of Ireland. The Directors and Governing Board of the School of Celtic Studies continued, after my retirement from the post of Senior Professor in 1988, to allow me the use of all the facilities of the School. Above all I am indebted to them for undertaking to publish this catalogue.
My endeavour has been to produce a useful and accurate tool for future scholars, and I am grateful to all those who have helped me. I am conscious of the fact that defects and inaccuracies may remain, and I accept full responsibility for them. In asking for readers' indulgence I express the hope that they will recall the proverb Is leor ó Mhóir a dícheall.
BRIAN Ó CUÍV
To the very great regret of his colleagues at the School of Celtic Studies, Professor Emeritus Brian Ó Cuív died on the 14th November 1999 in his eighty-third year. His hope of seeing the Catalogue on which he had lavished so much care and scholarly zeal was sadly not realised. However, work on the Catalogue continued throughout the academic year 1999-2000, and a full rechecking of his final version was carried out. Camera-ready copy of the present volume was then prepared by Eoin Phillips, technical consultant at the School. It is intended to have part 2 (indexes and plates) in print by the year 2002.
FERGUS KELLY
See also
This is one of a pair of volumes available individually (see also Part 2) or as a set.