G 78

Táin Bó Cuailnge; Agallamh an Othair ris an mBás

19th cent. Paper. 19 × 24 cms. (pp. 5052) + 18.5 × 23 cms. (pp. 52-100) with pp. 1-4 of lesser dimensions. 100 pp. The volume is composed of fragments of different compilations. Scribe of the frist fragment (pp. 1-4) and the second (pp. 5-52): Peattair Ó Longáin, 1844 (p. 1); the third fragment (pp. 52-100) appears to be in the hand of Pól Ó Longáin (cf. G 75). Pagination is modern; pp. 5-12 wrongly inserted at time of binding, the text shows they originally followed p. 36. Initial copital of text on p. 3 illuminated. Jottings in the manuscript include: (a) p. 2, arithmetical sums; (b) p. 4, money calculation, `Peattair óg Ó Logain mac Michíl Uí L'; (c) `Written in 13 cent. by Dennis O Daly, Abbot of Boyle, and translated by John Collins of Carberry'.

Bound in three-quarter leather with marbled end-papers for Phillipps by Bretherton 1848. `Caithreim Toirdealbach' and `Death and the Patient' in gilt on spine; `NB To get Eugene Curry's Lectures on the manuscript Literature of Ireland' (in pencil by Phillipps), `10838 Ph' and `Phillipps MS 10838' on verso of first end-paper; `Mss Ph 10838' written and `10838' labelled on p. 53.

Page

1 Title-page: `Caithréim Thoirdhealbhuicc/.../iarna chéadsgríobha le Sean mac Rughraidhe Mic Craith/.../ Agus iar na sgriobhadh anois chum usaide ┐ cathamhaimsire/Uilliam S. Ó Briain, ball don tSeanuid/le/Peattair Ó Longáin/.../ 1844'. Text follows on p. 3.

2 (vertical) `The Harp that once through Tara's Hall;. Ta cruit na suadh is suairc a spreagad. 2 stt.

3 Caithréim Thoirdhealbhuig. Headed `Ag so don tsean ┐ don phrímhleabhar seanchais ... ó na Ranna 1721'. Beg. Ar tteacht dúrlámhas Eireand a seilbh Gall. Breaks off p. 4 with Do ghairm ar ttúis é. Cf. RIA 24 M I for a complete copy of text by Peadar Ó Longáin for William S. O'Brien.

14 Táin Bó Cuailnge. Acephalous and defective (see introductory remarks for misplacement of pages). Beg. a bhfainne, a bhfailgeadha, a nórnasga, a nórduisi = ed. C. O Rahilly, The Stowe Version of Táin Bó Cuailnge, line 61. Breaks off p. 46i with teagaisgidh [an giolla] dho Teamoir Taillte = op. cit., line 1091.

Another fragmentary copy of the IIb version of Táin Bó cuailnge agreeing in all respects with the defective copies (written by Peadar Ó Longáin) noted by Miss O Rahilly, op. cit. lvii-lviii.

The proper sequence of the present text is: pp. 14-36, 5-12, 37-8, 47-8, 43-6. Blank pages are left at pp. 13, 39-42, 49-52.

52 Blank.

54 `Cómhagal idir na mBás agus an Tothar.' Cia sin thall ag teacht go ttígh mé. 540 lines arr. in 4-lined stt. Accompanied on opposite pages by translation, `A Dialogue between Death and the Patient'. What slender form is that, what palefac'd spright. 540 lines.