G 87

Transcript of Ó Cléirigh's Book of Genealogies

19th cent. Paper. 26 × 22.5 cms. xxii + 260 pp. Scribe: Seaan Ó Cleirigh (p. 241), who, in his pedigree in RIA 23 M 5, p. 247, (written 1838), claims direct descent from Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh through a son Cú Choigcríche who died 1664. The pedigree he gives in the present manuscript (p. 241) does not, however, include Cú Choigcríche: `Seaan Ó Cleirigh m Pattraicc m Cosnamhaigh m Cairpre m Diarmada m Lughaidh m Meiccon ...'. In his discussion on the parentage of Cú Choigcríche Fr. Paul Walsh says: `... there appears to be no evidence whatever for the existence of Cúcoigcríche, son of Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh, apart from the nineteenth-century pedigree of Seán ó Cléirigh' (The life of Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill, ITS xlv pt. ii 16; cf. Éigse xi, 119) and even now it appears Seán Ó Cléirigh himself is not consistent in his evidence. Although no scribal date is given in the manuscript (watermark 1820) his style of handwriting would indicate it was written about the same time as his other extant copy of these genealogies, RIA 23 P 4, written in 1823.

There is a scribal pagination beginning with the list of monasteries, a modern pencilled pagination covering the index and some errors in the scribal numbering has, however, been adopted in the present catalogue. There are several blank pages, with no loss of text, in the body of the manuscript; pp. i-xxii, 242-60 are also blank. Marginal and interlinear notes by Sir William Betham occur on pp. 182-3, 233-4. Bound in half-leather with `Leabhair O Cleirigh' written and `13247' labelled on spine; `Leabhar O Cleirigh' in gilt frame on front cover; `WB' and `Phillipps MS 13247' inside front cover; `Vol. LXXVIII' (of Betham Collection) on p. 1 and `Leabhar O Cleirigh' on p. v.

The text (pp. 7-241) is a transcript of RIA 23 D 17 - believed to have been written by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh - with the difference that sometimes there are additions to the genealogies and occasionally omissions from them. The index to the genealogies in the present manuscript (pp. 1-5) is not however a transcript of Patrick Lynch's index to the genealogies in 23 D 17.

The following additional material relating to the Geraldines has been incorporated by the scribe in the present copy: (p. 203) `Muirchadh O Dala cct.' Canfuighear liom lorg na bhfear. 97 qq.' (p. 209) `Iarlaidhe Deasmhumhan'. Se Tomais don bhuidhein bhuirb. 1q. (p. 210) `Ag so craobhsgaoile agus Seannchus Gearaltach le Torna Ua Maolconra o teaghacht Muiris moir ar ttús go hEirinn go haimsir Sheamuis Mic Gearoid an dana an tighearna deanach'. Beg. Muiris mac Gearailt an cead duine do thainic go hEirinn. Ends (p. 213) gur baineadh a cheand a nGleann na nGinnce ┐c. (cf. RIA 23 G 12, pp. 197-207 for another copy of above material by the same scribe).