G 379

Miscellaneous

19th cent. Paper. Two fragments of separate manuscripts bound in half-leather (23 × 19 cms) with `Clíodhna ┐ ingean Chaitilinn Dubh - M. Ua H. d'aithsgríobh' gilt-lettered on spine. ó Casaide ms 46.

(a)

22.5 × 17 cms. Copybook containing 30 pp. with modern pencil pagination. Scribe: M[ícheal] Ua H[anracháin]. A former owner, Mrs (?) B. F. Keane wrote the items (in pencil) on pp. i, 26; another hand (unidentified) wrote the item (in pencil) on the back cover. `B. F. Keane' on p. 13; four lithographic engravings on cormers of front cover; engraving of `Kingstown Harbour' on back cover; a former number `520' labelled on front cover.

Page

i If from the word glove / you take the letter g. 1 st. Pp. ii-iii blank.

iv `Mr. James Keane / I do not consider this to be a good copy of Clíodhna's poem, & hope that you may get a better copy from onemore competent; as we often meet M.S. copies of songs and poems not according to the author's version. I hope you will be kindly pleased to send me Tomás mac Lóbuis, and I shall return it to you as soon I take my copy of it. D.V. / M. Úa H.'

1 `Clíodhna agus inghean Chaitilinn Dubh. / The following poem has been taken from persons who had learned it orally, & stated that Caitilinn Dubh was a witch or charmer, who lived a long time ago in the west of the County of Clare ... she was met by the queen and spoke as follows.' A Chlíodhna, go mbeanuíghe Críosd féin duit. 92 lines. With footnotes. `Críoch mar fuaireas.' This manuscript was consulted by B. Ó Cuív in his edition (from G349) of the text, Béaloideas, xxii 102-111.

10 Prose tract on the fairies. Beg. As the fairies have been connected with the subject matter of the foregoing poem, it may not be amiss to inform the reader how the Irish people are traditionally led on to a belief in these beings. Authorities cited are `Mr. Richardson', `Col. Charles Vallancey's Vindication of the Ancient History of Ireland page 232', `O'Brien's Irish Dictionary'. Followed by `M[ícheal] Úa H[anracháin]'13 Prose tract on `Holy Fires' (`Vallancey, p. 344'), `Kipur' (p. 17), `Round Towers' (p. 19). Beg. In A.D. 79 Tuathal Teachtmhar came to the throne of Ireland. Breaks off p. 24 ceanach signifies merchandize, the same as aonach, whence the Enakim. Followed by catchword The. Includes (p. 21) quatrain Gan teacht fear a faraidh ban.

26 `Mr. John King / Moretown Vermont North America.' And when I return again / my native land to see. 1 st. `Mrs (?) B. F. Keane.'

Back cover. Prose. Beg. Eir last night about tree week ago I received a letter of an old Hags death & been so overjoyed by the sad news that every tear I lett fall from the back of my belly split six fathoms of turf. Overwritten on engraving on verso of back cover.

(b)

15 × 18.5 cms. Consists of 20 unnumbered pages. 7 blank, containing letter dated `Clonkeen 28.2.70' from Patrick O Donovan to `P. W. Joyce, Esq LLD' enclosing `an Irish verse relating to Carrig-Cleena' and `the literal meaning in English'. Poem beg. with `Translation'. Cleena! may Christ bless you with Irish version (in roman script) facing: `The Girl'. A Cleena! go manig Chriost dhuit. 55 lines. Followed by prose beg. About a mile or so distant from Carrig-Cleena ia a holy well. Letter concludes with `I hope the present class enjoys better health than the Autumn class did; though I heard of no death except one. I was disappointed at not being called on Special Class this time but I suppose there were no vacancies'.