G 63

Transcripts from Book of Lismore; Tales; Verse

19th cent. Paper. 19 × 11.5 cms. Pp. 432 + [16]. The ms. is composite, comprising two formerly separate mss. with separate scribal pagination. The first part (pp. 1-224; watermarked 1821), which consists of transcripts from the Book of Lismore, was written partly by Edward Ó Reilly and partly by his sons, Patrick and Miles. It was a "small paper book" - no. 67 - at the time (i.e. 1825) O'Reilly compiled the catalogue of his Irish mss. (now R.I.A. 23 H 1), and it formed the second of a trio of books of "the same kind and sized paper" - nos. 66 and 68 being the other two - which "contain all that was legible or interesting in the Lismore Book". No. 66 is now G 67 infra, but no. 68 did not find its way into the collection. O'Reilly says "the Book was lent to the writer of this by Colonel Curry his Graces Agent through the kindness of Chas. H. Tuckey Esq^r. Part of the ms. that was illegible I have restored and have made or caused to be made copies of almost the entire Book." This Chas. H. Tuckey "of Parsons Green near Clogheen, Co. Tipperary" appears to have been the owner of several Irish mss., some of which O'Reilly copied for his own collection (ibid. no. 62 and see infra second part of this ms.). O'Reilly gives the corresponding pages of the Book of Lismore in the lower margins. He also notes the chasms in his exemplar (see blank pages 120-28). "The Laoidhs or poems ([i.e. from Caithréim Cheallacháin Chaisil, p. 129 et seq.] are transferred to the end of this copy [i.e. pp. 193-214], and, in this instance only differing from the Lismore Book" (23 H 1, p. 135).

The second part, which occupies pp. 229-431 (scribal pp. 1-203) also watermarked 1821, appears to have been written by Edward O'Reilly. It closely resembles his hand in G 66 infra, which according to him (23 H 1, No. 59) "was one of the first books I ever wrote in Irish." In these two mss. his writing is smaller and neater than in his later works (cf. supra, first part of the present ms.). This part was later (post 1825) bound in with the first by O'Reilly (his bookplate is affixed inside the front cover). O'Reilly's exemplar for this part has been ascertained from the scribal colophons which he also transcribed verbatim into this ms. (see pp. 306, 349). It is a ms. written by Ríghrí Mac Raghnaill (Roger Reynolds) "a mbaile an Chaisleán an Róstig" (Castletownroche, near Fermoy) within the years 1768-1779 and is now R.I.A. 23 H 15 (at one time owned by Chas. H. Tuckey, whose bookplate is affixed inside front cover and whose name in Irish "Cathal Ua Tucaoidh" occurs on front flyleaf). Only some of the items have been transcribed into the present ms., including Mac Raghnaill's colophon (23 H 15, p. 190, and p. 349 of this ms.) which declares that his "object is to preserve the fragments of the older literature for lovers of poetry and gay romance" (see R.I.A. Cat. Ir. Mss., p. 2736). O'Reilly writes A.D. 1014 after Cath Chluana Tairbh (p. 309) for A.D. 1022 in Mac Raghnaill's copy (p. 61). References to the first pages of the corresponding items in Mac Raghnaill's ms. are given below. A modern pencilled pagination, which continues the scribal numbering of the first part through the second part of the ms., has been adopted in the present catalogue, the scribal pagination being given in brackets following.

The ms. is bound in leather with Leabhar Leasa Mhoir and An chead Alt gilt-lettered in panels on spine. The binder inserted two blank leaves after the front cover and two before back cover. O'Reilly's cat. no., 67 is pasted on front cover and also on p. 1 while the relevant excerpt from his Sale Cat. is pasted inside of front cover. Phillipps Ms. 10290.

Page

1 Sdair na Lumbardach. Beg. Do sdair na Lumbardach annsa a nainm Dé ┐ Pelagius Papa ┐ na hEglaisi cu coitcheann. Lis., 112 a 1.

55 l. 20 [The Book of Marco Polo]. Beg. riguibh ┐ taisechaib na cathrac sin. Lis., 121 a 1. O'Reilly transcribed this text as part of the preceding text and did not list it amongst the items contained in the present ms. (See 23 H 1, no. 67).

120-128 Blank.

129 [Caithréim Cheallacháin Chaisil]. Beg. Airdri oirrdirc airdmenmnach roghabhustar flaithius ┐ forlamus for da coigedh Muman dar ainm Airtri mac Cathail meic Finguine. Lis., 148 a 1. Cf. G 22 supra, p. 101.

192 Blank.

193-214 The poems from the above text (p. 129) are collected together on these pages (see introductory remarks supra).

215 Air Fighnin Mac Cartaigh. Beg. Ni ted a negen an aisgidh, 44 qq. Lis., 158.

224 Note on the above poem beg. Cuirmid ar ar son and só nach iad clann Diarmada meg Carrthaig do cuaidh le egcóir. Lis., 158 v 12-31.

225-28 Blank.

229 Tóruigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne. Beg. La dar eirigh Fionn mac Cubhaill amach an Almhuin leathan mhór Laíghion ┐ do shuig ar an bhfaithche gan giolla gan óglaoch ionna fhochair. 23 H 15, p. 33. See B.M. ii, p. 387. Ends p. 305 (77) followed on p. 306 by Ríghrí mac Raghnaill's colophon (see introductory remarks supra).

306 Beg. Litir Chaol mair an ccóll, 1 st. 23 H 15, p. 56.

307 (79) Diairmúid Ó Duibhnne ***. Beg. Aoibhinn chathaim an bhlíaghuin, 12 stt. 23 H 15, p. 74. Printed Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge, August, 1902.

308 Beg. A fhir úd dam chur amach, 1 q. 23 H 15, p. 74 i.

309 (81) Cath Chluana Tairbh annso. Anno Domini 1014. Beg. Do ghabh Brían Bóirmhe mac Cinnéide mic Lorcáin ... ríoghacht Eirionn 12. bhliadhain. 23 H 15, p. 61. See B.M. ii, p. 403.

330 (102) Dáibhí Ó Bruadair. Beg. Searc na suadh an chrobhaing chubhra, 40 qq. + 11 stt. Preceded on p. 329 (101) by a note: Here followeth a Poem and Letter of Thanksgiving sent by the author hereof to John Keating Lord chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland after his Gaol Delivery of the Gentlemen Impeached and arraigned in Munster upon account of the Pretended Popish Plot. Sent by Limerick Post. May 10th 168 ... A 2 is added in pencil after the 8. 23 H 15, p. 69. Printed The Irish Rosary, October, 1932.

337 (109) Letter (in English) singed by permission David Bruader beg. My Lord. The Author of the Inclosed poem. Headed Herefater follows a true Copy of the Letter wherein the foregoing lines were inclosed and sent to Dublin By Limerick Post. May 1682. 23 H 15, p. 72.

341 (113) [Dáibhí Ó Bruadair]. Beg. Da bfaiceadh mo príonsa gnúis is geuga an fhír, 1 st. Headed A Prophecy I made for John Fitzgerald when he was carry'd for England upon account of the pretended popish plot in 1680. 23 H 15, p. 73 m.

341 (113) [idem]. Beg. Feair furránta fail fosadh, 1 q. Headed The authors answer to one who said the foregoing verse may be applied to anyone at pleasure. 23 H 15, p. 73 i.

342 (114) Bruighean Cheise Coradh. Beg. Sealg fiadhach ┐ fiannchosgur do comóradh le Fionn mac Cumhuill fa chriochaibh chaomháille an Choruinn. 23 H 15, p. 187. Ends p. 349 (121) followed by Ríghrí mac Raghnaill's colophon (see introductory remarks supra). For printed editions see Best: Bibliography of Irish Philology, 1913-41.

350 Donnchadh draoi mac Fir Feasa. Tóruígheacht Conall Gulban mac Neill Naoighiallaigh annso air Eithne Uchtsholus inghion Rígh Laighion etc. Beg. Rígh uasal árdchómhachtach ró ghabh flaithios ┐ ardcheandus Eireand feacht naill. Ends p. 431 (203) followed by scribal colophon: Ag sin Eachtra Chonnaill Gulban go nuige sin et Donnchadh draoi mac Fir Feasa do sgriobh í, ┐ atá ar lorg file ┐ adhbhur léagha noch do chom an chéad uair í .i. Mleachloinn Buídhe Ó Leighin ┐ Domhnall mac Aodha mic Ainmhire .i. an bile tug an dá bhreith do Cholum Cille ┐ as é Donnchadh draoi is firínníghe do chuir an eagair í a ccríochaibh Lochlonn d'éis chuarda na cruinne do thabhairt dóibh, ┐ do sgriobhadh ina dhiaig sin le Caoimhghinn Ghlinne Dhá Lóch í. 23 H 15, pp. 201-231. For information regarding this tale see B.M. ii, p. 416. Cf. G 20 supra.