G 23

Poems from Leabhar Branch; Pairlement Chloinne Tomáis

18th cent. Paper. 21 × 16 cms. Pp. [2]+64+[2]. Scribe: Aodha Ó Dálaigh who transcribed the ms. for Francis Cheney in the year 1727 (p. 17). A scribal entry on p. 17 indicates that part of the ms. was written in the house of Cheney's father (Francis Andrew) on the 25 Nov. In that entry the scribe writes Seineadh as the Irish form of the name Cheney, while in an earlier note (p. 2) dated 27 January (mi na ced mhiosa) of the same year also on p. 8 the scribe writes it as Labhraidhe (<Slabhraidhe?). There are many blank pages in the ms. some of which were used Francis Cheney himself (pp. 1, 2) and by subsequent owners (Robt. Cheney, pp. 8, 64; Noah Lyon, p. 64) for writing their names, some money accounts and other miscellaneous scribblings. Various dates ranging from 1729-1753 are also entered on these pages.

Francis Cheney's father, given as Francis Andrew (Proinsias Andrias) by the scribe (p. 17), was probably the Andrew Francis Cheney who is recorded in Alumni Dublinenses as having been born in Priedaux, France, the son of Francis, esq.,and as having matriculated on 12/4/1693 at the age of 17 years. From some of the jottings in the ms. (see pp. 8, 64) it would appear that the owner (or owners) of the ms. in the years 1742 and 1753 had connections with the spinning industry.

The ms. is bound in full rexine with two blank pages inserted by the binder after the front cover and two before the back cover. The no. 4^to/No. 6 Irish MSS. Paper of the Heber collection appears on the recto of the fly-leaf and the figures 642, 3/13/6 are written on the verso. Phillipps MS. 9358 is written on p. 1 of the ms. A scribal foliation, 1-19, begins on p. 19 of a modern pencilled pagination.

Page

1 Francis Cheney his Book and ha. Scribblings and notes such as Foran's wife April 23 1752, 1751 Lent Will^m Rossetor £4 8s. 8d August 6.

2 Scribal entry: Ag so leabhar Phroinsiais Uí Labhraidhe an seachtmhadh la fiotad do mhi na ced mhiosa agas an bhliadhain d'aois an Tighearna mile agus seacht ccéad et seacht mbliadhna 20^t. The following appears on top of this page: The Exposcitur of Mr. Francis Cheney - Junor, and written underneath is the following: Patrick Donnelly's Maid June 17 1751, Jan.^ry 7 1752 James McCabe and Betty Curry, Salarmoniark, White Jan.^ry 17 1753.

3 Donchadh O Muirghiosa. Beg. Da rann deg mo chuthracht d'Aodh, 12 qq. See ed. Mac Airt, Leabhar Branach, p. 23.

5 Giolla na Naomh Ruadh mhac Eochadha. Beg. Día do reitioch ar gcarat, 10 qq. See ed. Mac Airt, Leabhar Branach, p. 148.

8 The following lines of verse, addressed to Proinsias Ó Labhraidhe: Déumuis eól cuibhithe cuimseach: / air gach neach búan annsa/uaimse ortsa, oransa; /oramsa dhuitse dhusa dhamhsa ┐c. These lines are repeated (in another hand) with the name Riobaert ui Labhraige and the year 1729 written underneath.

On this page is the following: October 18 1742 Due to the spinner An flin - £0, Mary flin, H. hylan, Sally Short, Peg Kelly, y^e Cooper, Mable Glin.

9 Aonghus mhac Doighri í Dhálaigh. Beg. Sgel tasgmhar do rainig fa criochaibh Fail, Amhrán 37 ll., continued on p. 11. See ed. Mac Airt Leabhar Branach, p. 150.

10 Blank except for some jottings and the following: May 22^d 1729, To ( ) for buttons, With Betty Curry ale and dram 9½^d.

12 Blank.

13 Giolla na Naomh Ruadh mac Eochadh. Beg. Fuasgail do gheall a dhuine, 11 qq. Continued on p. 15. See ed. Mac Airt, Leabhar Branach, p. 129.

14 The following quatrain (in another hand): Gach rig colach do ní drúis | is chuireas a dhuil ann olc | sé an gniomh soin tar gach sgeul | chaileas a sheann ┐ a shliocht. Also the following: Thomas Archbold of Reabuck the County of Dublin these.

15 Dochtuir Ceitinn. Beg. A Eire mhaordha na maoíllionn mbán, 12 stt. Ends p. 17 followed by scribal entry: Finit per me Aodha Ó Dalaigh and cugeadh la fiodhat do mhi Nobheaimberr 1727 a ttigh a dune uaisail Proinsias Andrias Seineadh da mhac Proinsias Og.

18 Blank.

19 Pairlement Chlainne Tomáis. Headed Eachtra Chlainne Tomais da ngoirthair Parlimeint na mbodach an so. Beg. Lá náon diair fhas coimheirge et coimhbliochta cogaidh idir na deamhna aittreabha ifrionn. Ends imperfectly, p. 63, corres. to ed. Bergin, Gadelica, p. 148, l. 1175.

64 Blank except for names and jottings. In addition to the names of owners mentioned in introductory note above the following are also found: William Owens Jan^ry 8 1753, Charles Dun, Gnevy, Laurence Adderly.