G 62

Poems; Imtheacht an Chúigir

18th cent. Paper. 15.8 × 10 cms. Pp. [x] + 376. Scribe: Maurice Newby (pp. 81, 376). Some additions and corrections in the hand of Seán Ó Neachtuin occur in the two Ó Neachtain compositions on pp. 1, 177. Ó Neachtain has also supplied a colophon on page 176 (see infra). Two colophons written by Newby (pp. 81, 376) have been struck through by Ó Neachtain and in the first instance (p. 81) he has written his own name above and underneath. Cf. Eg. 165 (B.M. ii, p. 377) where Ó Neachtain similarly treated Newby's colophon and also made corrections in the transcripts. The Ó Neachtain compositions in these two mss. would seem to have been executed by the scribe under the author's eye. The dates contained in the colophons in the present ms. (pp. 81, 176, 376) show that it was written in the years 1716-1717. The poems on pp. 83-155 appear to have been copied by Newby from a ms. (R.I.A. 23 A 40) transcribed by Seán Mac Solaidh in 1713 for Tadhg Ó Neachtain (see R.I.A. Cat. Ir. Mss. p. 427) or from Mac Solaidh's exemplar. The similarity between both transcripts extends even to the incorrect marginal numbering of the quatrains (see p. 139 of this ms. and cf. 23 A 40, p. 175. O'Curry made the necessary corrections in the latter ms. and also supplied the marginal numbering of the remaining quatrains on p. 176 which is not found in this ms. [see p. 140]).

The scribe paginated only alternate pages from p. 1 to p. 139 after which he changed to foliation (ff. 140-257), but a modern hand has continued the pagination which has been adopted in the present catalogue. Pp. 156-175 are blank but were obviously intended for the remainder of the poem Seanchas ┐ maitheas Maodhóige which begins on p. 155 (note catch-word at end of page). The ms. belonged to Henri mac an tSaoir (Ag so leabhar Henri Mic Antsaoír 1790 on inside of back cover) before it came into the possession of Edward O'Reilly (no. 170 of his collection) who supplied the title Poems and Prose Historical and Romantic on the inside of the front cover.

The ms. is bound in full leather with vellum covering which is now worn on top of spine. Phillipps 10289 is written on inside of front cover. Five blank leaves were inserted by the binder after the front cover but the first one has been partly pasted to the cover and has been used by the former owners for their catalogue numbers; the relevant excerpt from O'Reilly's Sale Catalogue is also pasted on it.

Page

1 Seán Ó Neachtuin. Headed Fiormáltus. Beg. Suidh frum síos a Phattruic, 327 qq. + 7 qq. of `ceangal' (beg. p. 79 Goll mórghalach na mborb mbeart). This `ceangal' has been mistakenly entered as a separate poem in the R.I.A. Cat. Ir. MSS., p. 374 under the heading "Ainglíota's address to Goll mac Morna." The poem contains several corrections and additions in the author's hand. The author's colophon in the last two quatrains of the `ceangal' (pp. 80-1) gives the date of its composition as the 3rd March, 1713. The story contained in the poem is briefly told by O'Grady in B.M. i, p. 637. See also note by Flower, B.M. ii, p. 346, art. 2. In later copies this poem is titled "Suirghe Ghuill". A copy in a contemporary ms. (R.I.A. 23 I 1, p. 35: scribe, R. Tipper) contains 328 qq. (R.I.A. Cat. Ir. Mss., p. 374) but as q. 49 on p. 43 (=p. 12, ll. 6-9 in this ms.) is again repeated in q. 54 on p. 42 this brings the correct total to 327 qq. as in the present ms. The poem ends here p. 81 followed by ora pro scriba Mauricio Newby Septembr. 15 1716, which has been struck through and Seaan Ua (O) Neachtuin cecinit written above and underneath.

82 Blank.

83 Giolla Caomhain Ó Cuirnín. Réim Rioghraidhe. Beg. Éire árd inis na ríogh, 154 qq. (marginal numbering by scribe). Ends p. 120. Cf. BB, p. 45 b.

121 Giolla Modhuda ua Caisside. Beg. Éire óg innis na náomh, 83 qq. Ends p. 140. On the succession of the Christian kings of Ireland. Cf. BB, p. 49 b, G 2 supra.

141 Beg. Athair chaich chuimsigh neimhe, 54 qq. On Adam and his descendants. Ends p. 154. See ed. Macalister, Lebar Gabála Érenn, part i, p. 172, I.T.S. vol. xxxiv.

154 Beg. Trí mhíle blíadhain mbreágh 2 qq. On the date of the Milesian invasions. Cf. R.I.A. 23 A 40.

155 Seanchas ┐ maitheas Maodhóige do réir Shioruidh Ó Cruinnín. Beg. Seanchus Maodhóige meabhair linn, 3½ qq. Cf. R.I.A. 23 A 39 (36 qq.), 23 A 40 (36 qq.).

156=175 Blank.

176 Blank except for the following colophon (in Seán Ó Neachtain's hand): Imeacht cuigir iar na cuma le Seaan ua Neachtuin go ndeana Dia feartach da mhorthrocaire grasa air anam. 6^o die Augusti 1717.

177 Seán Ó Neachtuin. Imtheacht an Chúigir (title on previous page, see p. 176 supra). Beg. Do bhí Fionn calmthreasach mac Cubhaill, Goll glonnach gníomheachtach, Osgar óg árdmheanmnach, Diarmuid dunn dreachach deaghbheartach, ┐ Oisín oirdheirc mac Fhinn (do réir mar d'aithris Oisín do Phattruic) (┐ mar airthreósadsa dhibhsi a modh gur me Oisín a sgéuluidheacht) do bhíomuir (ar se) an cuigar dubhradh cheana lá n-aen air Thuiluidh árd fhadamharcach na Formúla an n-ía[r]thar Laighean. This pseudo-Ossianic story is probably another example of the curious allegorical tendency in Ó Neachtain. See B.M. ii, pp. 89-90 for other examples. This copy contains corrections in the author's hand. Ends p. 372 with the following: ... agus críochnuidhim imeacht an chuigair an n-ainim an nAthar, an Mhic, ┐ an Spiraid Naoimh amen. a leightheóir, ┐ a scribhneóir do scríobhfas nó leighfhios an sdair so cuirim d'úalach ort beannacht a thabhairt air anam an muttair .i. Seaán Ó Neachtuinn.

373 Seán Ó Neachtuin. Beg. `S cumhaigh liom imtheacht chúigair. 17 qq. A summary in verse of the preceding tale on p. 177 supra. Ends p. 376 with the following colophon finem huic operi imposuit scriba Mauricius Newby 20 die mensis Novembris 1717 which has been struck through (see introductory remarks above).