G 141

Ó Gormáin's English-Irish Phrasebook

18th cent. Paper. 17.5 × 14 cms. [viii] + 108 (scribal 1-108 beg. on p. 2) + [88] pp. Scribe: Muiris Ó Gormáin (unsigned and undated).

The manuscript was probably written for a Thomas Quin who declared his ownership inside front cover `Ag so leabhar Thomais Í Chuinne 1770.' in p. 1 `Thomas Quin his Irish Book 1773' and on a blank unnumbered page towards the end of the manuscript. It (`The Irish Dictionary') was `lent to the Revd John Gerrard of Francis St. Chapple' December 1781 (p. 1). A Robert Watson Wade `bought this Book in Dublin October 1832 and had it rebound as it is now' but later gave it as a `gift to I.B.' (recto of front flyleaf) whose signature `I. Belfour' occurs on p. 1.

Bound in half-leather with marbled end-papers, `Irish MS 1775' in gilt and `17832' labelled on spine; `7 / 6 / Rodd / MSS / 594,' `MS 218' (cancelled) and `Phillipps MS 17832' on verso of front end-paper. Both covers and spine now loose. Listed under `Miscellaneous MSS.' in Phillipps's Catalogus.

Page

1 See above.

3 `Pléaráca na Rúarcach.' Nodhluic na Rúarcach a ccuimhne an uile dhuine. 48 lines, arranged in 2-line stt. with English rendering headed `The Description of an Irish Feast translated almost letterally out of the original Irish in the year 1720 by Dean Swift' on p. 2 opposite. O Ruark's noble Fare, will ne'er be forgot. 44 lines. `Finis.'

10 A Vocabulary English And Irish. Beg. with the numerals (in words) up to 52. The phrasebook, which is divided into 26 sections beg. (p. 11) To thank and shew a kindness/carrthannacht to thaisbeanadh. Ends (p. 108) with section Of news/do nuaidheacht (beg. p. 105) The remainder of the manuscript is blank. For a full discussion on the text see T.P. McCaughey, Éigse xii (1967-8), 203- 27.