G 174

Ossianic Verse

18th-19th cent. Paper. 16 × 9 cms. 39 pp. interleaved (17.5 × 11.5 cms), the last page consisting of three small fragments labelled on interleaf. The volume consists of fragments of two different manuscripts by two unidentified scribes. The name `Ribeard Breathnach' (p. 1) (`Robert Welsh' [repeated], p. 2) occurring in the first fragment (pp. 1-4) suggests a connection with the Ó Longáin scribes, for which see introductory remarks to G 94 above. Considerable misplacement of leaves and lacunae throughout (see below). Slips of paper were inserted in three places at time of binding showing the lacunae in the text; one of these, however, (following p. 6), can be discounted. Many margins are badly frayed; traces of scribal numbering in fragment two (pp. 5- 39) will be found on pp. 20, 10, 28, 34, 36 (scribal 57, 59, 61, 67, 71 respectively). Jottings in the manuscript include: `Dr. Gulian this is to tell you now that I am in good health', p. 2, and attempts at Ogham writing (by Ribeard Breathnach) on p. 1.

Bound in yellow boards with `An Irish Poem' in ink on spine and `Phillipps MS 23925' on verso of second interleaf. Not listed in Phillipps's Catalogus.

Page

3 Teachtaire Dé ó sé an bás. 4 qq.

4 Naomhtha ceárda Mhic Muire. 10 qq. Continued pp. 1-2.

2i (a) Os feas gur sgríobhtha an teanachaoicht si C [blank]. 1 line.

(b) Atá mo shúilsi le hódhbhean na ccómhacht is na naoimh. 1 st. for `Domhnall geal ó Caoimh'.

5-38 A series of Ossianic lays, mainly written as one poem. Acephalous. First complete quatrain beg. A Phattraig as truagh an sgeal. The following first lines may be noted: Miann mhic Cumhaill fá maith gnaoi, p. 5; Cnoc an Áir an cnoc so shiar (`Ag so an tuara[s]gabháil do bheir Oisín do Phádraig air theacht Thailc mic Treoin chum na Feinne a toruigheacht a mhná'), p. 14; Oisín as binn linn do ghlór, p. 31; Lá dha raibh Fionn na bhflaith (ms bhslath) (`Ag so an tuarasgabháil do thug Oisín do Pháttraig air sheilg do rin Fionn'), p. 36. Approx. 200 qq., many defective.

The following is the proper sequence of the pages: 5-8, 17-18, 21-4, [...], 19-20, 9-10, 27-34, [...], 35-7, 25-6, 11-16, [...].