G 349

Miscellaneous

19th cent. Paper. 22.5 × 18 cms. 238 pp. with scribal numbering [vi] + 1-30 + two unnumbered pages (now numbered 31-31a) + 32-37 continued to end in modern pencil. Scribe: Michael Hanrahan, Kilrush (Co. Clare), 1876. A fragment of another manuscript, written by Eugene Curry, 1837, has been bound in with the present manuscript and is now pp. 204-211 (`O Curry's MSS' in pencil, p. 204 upper marg.) With the exception of this fragment the remainder of the manuscript was written for `Mr. Maurice Lenihan J.P. M.R.I.A., Limerick', several letters to him from the scribe now occupying pp. 182-203. A single leaf (22.5 × 16.5 cms), pp. 14-15 of another collection written by the main scribe, is loosely inserted in the manuscript: p. 14 contains stt. (numbered) 22.6.2 of `Woulfe's translation' of Cúirt an Mheadhon-oighche, p. 15 stt. 26.3-30.2 of Irish original (running title `Merryman'). Also loosely inserted is a fragment of a paper wrapper addressed by the scribe to Maurice Lenihan and on which later were written directions for the binding of the present manuscript. Two sheets (50 × 38 cms) - the first of which is `No. 22. Catalogue of Books, Manuscripts, Antiquities, &c on sale by H. T. Wake Cockermouth' dated 28/6/78 containing 82 items, the second `Catalogue of Books, Coins, &c on sale by H. T. Wake, Cockermouth. No. 23' dated 23/8/78 containing 75 items - are pasted on last page

Bound in half-leather with `Irish MSS / Thomond's Extent. O'Corry's [sic] MSS' on spine; `Séamus Ó Casaide 18. v. 1936' inside front cover. Ó Casaide ms 16.

Page

[1]-[iii] `Contents'. List of contents. Pp. [iv]-[vi] blank.

1 `Thomond's extent.' Beg. Túadh-mhúmhain i.e. North-Munster, or Thomond, under its ancient kings, extended from the Isles of Arran, off the coast of Galway to the mountain of Eibhline near Cashel. Followed (p. 2) by chapters on `Clare County' and (p. 3) `Corcabhaiscinn and the Clanna Baoiscinne'. Ends (p. 6) which anciently belonged to the O'Brien's and O'Donnell's. `M.H. Kilrush.'

7 `Kilrush and Inis Cahy.' Historical account beg. Ireland had her monarchs, provincial kings, and petty princes when Saint Patrick came to preach Christianity in this country in A.D. 432. Ends p. 30. `M.H.' Followed (p. 31) by drawing of the inscription of the `Old Tomb in Inis Cahy' and (p. 32) an explanation of that inscription beg. At the head or do monach. Pray for monk. Ends (p. 38) I knew the men who were paid for the repairing of Inis Cahy Round Tower in 1855, as they were natives of the town of Kilrush, and heard them talk of their difficulty in erecting scaffolding to do the work. `Kilrush 8th November 1876. / Michael Hanrahan.' Pp. 39-45 blank.

46 Suím Cíosa Mhurchadh Í Bhríain Tíghearna Thuadhmhúmhain Sonn. Prefactory remarks beg. `this transcript of O'Brien's Rentcharge on Tuadhmhúmhain i.e. North Munster or Thomond ... is taken from an old book containing a collection of deeds'. Text proper beg. (p. 48) Ag so suím cíosa Mhurchadh Í Briain, úa Thráigh na Croise síar; ag Corcabhaisginn íartharuíghe .i. naoi marcc cíosa. Ends (p. 60) acas seise Chathrach Mheic Oillille - Selle. `Deire mar fuaireas.' Followed by `Translation of the foregoing Irish Rent-Roll; by the writer'. Beg. This is O'Brien's Rent Charge from the Strand of the Cross (the Ferry) westward. Ends (p. 73) and the plough-land of Cahair Mac Oillille. Sella. `End.' With footnotes. P. 74 blank.

75 `Aithríghe Sheághain do Hóra.' A Mhic Muire na ngrás do cuireadh chum báis. 12 stt. numbered. `Deire mar fuaireas.'

80 `Dómhnall toc cct. Air an gcnagaire. / This mans name was Daniel Mc Mahon who kept a school in the Chapel of Lisey-Casey, and is said to have gone to a public house in that locality. It appears that he was limited to a noggin of whisky per day, and upon seeing a noggin at which a pig had been nibbleing and was much deformed, his Muse got excited, and produced the following dialogue, viz., F. Gráin ┐ deacair ort, a chnagaire an chinn bheártha. 19 stt. numbered. `Deire mar fuaireas.'

85 Dhá mhéid eóluis, rádharc is fóghluim. 1 st.

86 `Dearbhuighthe Dhoiminic do Búrc, a mnaoi Shíomuin mac Fhearghúis Mac Ceódhruis do láthair Thomáis Uí Mhíodhchain; ag Cíll Fíonnabhra. Kilfenora.' Dar dhroichiod na Crannuídhe is dar Rúidhrídhe na gainimhídhe. 6 stt. numbered.

89`Freagra Shíomuin mhac Fheargúis Mhac Ceódhruis .i. caoinchéile Mhurrain ghlémhíanaicc imghean Aodh air Dhoiminic leathamharcach do Búrc. le Séamus Mac Cúnsaidinn.' A éigse Chlár Fódla sa chléircheap na nórdaibh. 9 stt. numbered.

93 `Mionadh Mhurrain inghean Aodh ag bréagnughadh a fir pósta .i. Síomon mac Fhearguis Mac Ceódhruis, agus ag deimhniúghadh dearbhaighthe Dhoiminic do Búrc, le fíorghlana a neamhchíonta féin, do láthair Thomáis Uí Mhíodhchain.' Mo bhrón is mo chúmhadhchreach mar posadh air ttúis me. 9 stt. + 1 (`An Ceangal'). `Deire mar fuaireas.'

98 `Seaghan Buídhe. Old song.' Air maidin Dé Dómhnadh ag gabháil síos an bóthar. 4 stt. numbered.

99 `Uilliam Mac Gearailt cct.' Gabh thorm, a dhonais, táimse tuirseach dhíot. 2 stt. alternating with English version beg. Pass on, O misfortune, I'm weary of thee. `Críoch.'

100 Is mairg ag a mbí caraid ghann. 1 q. Pp. 101-3 blank.

104 `Clíodhna agus inghean Chaitilinn Dubh. / I have taken the following poem from MSS. and from persons who have learned it orally, and stated that Caitilinn Duv was a witch or charmer who lived a long time ago in the west of the County of Clare, to whom several persons came for the purpose of employing her to exercise her art in restoring a young gentleman recently taken by the fairies ... Caitilinn being sick regretted not being able to undertake the task ... wherefore Caitilinn's daughter besought her mother to let her go on the mission ... and [she] went to the fort where she was met by the Queen and spoke as follows.' A Chlíodhna, go mbeanuíghe Críosd féin duit. 41 stt. numbered. `Deire.' With footnotes. Ed. from this manuscript by B. Ó Cuív, Béaloideas xxii (1953) 102-111.

117 Account of and stories concerning the Gobán Saor. Headed `Goban Saor i.e. Gobban the Builder'. Beg. There is one name, and only one, which can properly be said to be associated with the building of Round Towers in Ireland. The name is that of Gobban Saor. Ends (p. 128) I have not seen the story about the sheep skin, the young Gobbán's wife, and the building of the stately castle, in any book, but learned it orally. `M. H.' Pp. 129-37 blank.

138 `An Sutach 'sa mháthair.' Do ghluais chúghain cúpla a dtúis na hoídhche. Arranged in 46 (numbered) stt. + 2 (`An Ceangal'). `Deire mar fuaireas. / I am informed by Mr. John O'Daly, Printer and Publisher of Irish Books, No. 9 Anglesea Street, Dublin, that the foregoing poem was composed by David Barry, of Bunaston, in the County of Cork. Mr. John O'Daly was secretary to the Ossianic Society and publisher of their works &c. M.H.' (p. 151).

152 Achdra Agus Parliment Chlann Thomáis Mhic Lóbuis Sonn. Beg. Feacht naon dá'r éirghe agus dá'r fhás bruith, cogadh agus coinbhliocht, áruith agus cath- fhearg idir na dúilibh díabláidhe agus na déithibh ithfrionda. Ends (p. 165) Agus d'imthigh sé uatha ┐ do sgaip ┐ do sgaoil an Párliament íar sin. Followed by `An Ceangal': Táid na rachtaibh sin do cheapadar go léir air gcúl. 8 + 2 lines. `Deire.' Some footnotes.

166 `Translation Of The Adventures And Parliament Of The Sons Of Thomás Mac Lóbuis. by the writer'. Beg. On a certain time that there arose and grew rage, war, slaughter and battle anger. Ends p. 181) He then left and they dispersed.

183 Acephalous. Dar bríathar, is dar gnótha gach éifid is óinmid = line 13 of A éigse Chláir Fódla 'sa chléircheap na n-órdaibh (for which see p. 89 above). Breaks off with page at line 29. Addressed on p. 182 (with postage stamp dated `Oc 24 76') to Mr. Maruice Lenihan.

184-203 (vertical) five letters, some of which may be incomplete, written by the scribe, at Moor St Kilrush, between Oct 24th and Nov 7th 1876, to Maurice Lenihan. The contents include: names of well-known and not so well-known Irish scholars and scribes of the county and surrounding counties, and how `Hodges & Smyth had an agent here over 40 yrs ago, who bought up most of the M.S. in this locality' (p. 199); an account of Dunlickey Castle `built for piracy' (p. 199) and later successfully explored by local people for its buried treasure; an assessment of some Co. Clare poets and `Munster bards'; lists of Irish texts which the scribe was offering to write for Lenihan (most of which are now in the present manuscript). The cost of writing those items is also given with the comment that `It would be better for a person to go breaking stones than writing Irish for sale' (p. 185). See A. Mac Lochlainn, `Social Life in County Clare, 1800-1850', Irish University Review (1972), pp. 74-5.

204 `Aengus na nAer Ua Dálaigh .i. an bárd ruadh cct.' An tech diola nách diol damh. 107 qq. With marginal notes.

211 Deed of purchase. Beg. As e so cundra Donncha Í Ímhair re cloinn Mhathghamhna mac Seaain Duibh .i. da fhicid bo do thabhairt do chloinn Mathghamhna meic Seaain Duibh, mar gheall ar ledhcheathramhain na Craige do Bhaile Ui Chomruídhe. Ends As iad urradha risin cunnradh sin do chomhaill ... meic Sída. `This is one of a series of brehon Law deeds, published by James Hardiman, in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy for 1828. They are all well written on small slips of vellum, and relate chiefly to the transfer mortgage &c of property in the County of Clare. There are a good many of them without dates or signatures, which fact would refer their origin to 12, and 13 centuries. The above deed relates to property which certainly belonged to our family at one period. Dublin [?] November [?] [due to lower margin cropping] 1837. Eugene Curry.'

212 `Giorfhoid Mac Gearailt cct. Air Mháighe Ghlas na ngealbhánta. Fonn:- Cnoicinn Fraoicc. With Mr. Thomas Madigan's translation.' Is mithid feasda trácht air dhearamad na mbárdaibh. 7 stt. numbered alternating with English version The bards have not repeated this Máighe-Ghlas narration. `Deire.' Some footnotes.

218 `giorfhóid Mac Gearailt cct. Air Mháigheaghlas na slóigh. Fonn Caitilinn Tiríall.' A shuadhaibh ná'r chreachartha air sheanachus laoidhe. 6 stt. numbered. With footnotes.

223 `Giorfhóid Mac Gearailt cct. Ag freagra dEóghan Úa Chómhraídhe. Fonn:- Seághan Úa Duíbhir.' Mo chrádh mar claoidhe gan chasadh ár bhfáigibh grínn 'sár bhflatha. 6 stt. numbered + 4 (`An Ceangal'). `Owen Curry's father was a feather-monger and lived at Dunaha where the former taught a hedge school for many years ....'

228 `Garrett Fitzgerald happened to be at Kilmaly Chapel on a Sunday morning waiting to hear mass, and a man was looking out for a person to write a ticket to lay upon the altar, to get the priest to publish an ass that strayed from him on the same morning; and being directed to the former, he wrote as follows, viz:-' Athair miúlach 'tá stágach gúngach. 8 lines. `This document was laid upon the altar, and looked at by the priest, who was ignorant of the vernacular tongue, and consequently laid it by .... The man then came to Garrett and told him what the priest said. Wherefore he told him to being it to himself and that he would read it .... All of which was done ....' Ed. from this manuscript by B. Ó Cuív, Béaloideas xxii (1953) 111-112.

230 `A raibh tú ag an gCarraig? / This beautiful and melodious song was composed early in the last century, by Dominick O Mangan, or Mongáin, for a celebrated beauty of her day, Eliza Blacker, of Carrick, County of Armagh, who became afterwards Lady Dunkin .... Dominick O'Mongáin, or Mangan was a gentleman bard, who was blind from his birth; and a native of the County of Tyrone. Bunting notices him at page 78 of his Ancient Music of Ireland, ti which we refer the Reader.' A raibh tú ag an gCarrig, 'sa bhfeacadh tú féin mo ghrádh. 6 stt. numbered alternating with English version Have you been at Carrick, and saw you my true love there? `Deire.' P. 233 blank.