Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in the National Library
G 113-114
TALES; VERSE; GLOSSARY
18th cent. Paper. G 113, 84 pp. interleaved; G 114, 178 pp. interleaved. Leaves of ms 30.5 × 18.5 cms, interleaves 34×21 cms (watermark 1835).
Scribe: Uilliam Mac Cartain (Gulielmus Curtain), 1700-1703. (G 114 p. 138 line 3-9 is however in the hand of Eoghan Ó Caoimh [cf. G 117, pp. 178-87].) These two manuscripts formed a single acephalous volume when they were acquired by Phillipps. An older pagination 207-470, most of which is scribal, is continuous through the two mss. The missing portion at the beginning of these manuscripts is now RIA 23 H 18, a manuscript written by the same scribe in 1701-2, similar to the present manuscripts in paper and dimensions with a scribal pagination 5-206 (the first two leaves are lost). It has not been ascertained when the Academy volume was separated from the present manuscripts (but see further). A modern pencilled pagination which is separate for each of the two manuscripts has been adopted for this catalogue.
There are four items in G 114 by Séamus Mac Gearailt, two of which are signed and dated (p. 134, 1736; p. 143, 1740), a third dated only (p. 144, 1742); the fourth item is on p. 154. Mac Gearailt's hand also occurs in the Academy fragment, p. 39 i (not noted in RIA Cat., p. 2144). The unidentified hand in the latter manuscript, p. 136, occurs in G 114, p. 169. The stanza on p. 170 of this latter manuscript is in the hand of Seamus Deacon who wrote his name and the stanza on p. 88 of the Academy manuscript in 1728. Additional material was inserted by Phillipps (at time of binding) at end of G 114; it consists of (a) bifolium watermarked 1821 written by Edward O'Reilly and now numbered pp. 175-8 and (b) bifolium and 2 single sheets, unpaginated and pasted on last end-paper, apparently written by Joseph Longan, with comments by Phillipps.
There is, however, a leaf in G 114 (pp. 141-2), written in a crude unidentified hand, which obviously did not form part of the original manuscript but whose existence there now can be explained from a later period when the three manuscripts, still forming a single volume, were in the possession of a 'Myles Coyle' in Mayo. The following note in the Academy manuscript, p. 191 (not given in full in RIA Cat.) shows the volume was acquired by Coyle in 1775: 'Sodh e labhar Mhuilmuire Mc Couiall do canaoibh lés ó an Tomás Mc Goibhaonn seagart poarasté Mhió san mblaogainn díos Criost 1775'. The following jottings in G 114, p. 142 were also written by Coyle: (a) '[. . .] 1775 Then recd, from John Moore Esqr Five pounds ...[...]', (b) 'Aprill 29th 1775 per Myles Coyle', (c) 'Whereas this day came before us Catren Walsh of Ballaughiowly in the' [Co. Mayo]. Coyle's name appears also in the latter manuscript on p. 154.
Further evidence in the manuscripts showing their association with several people in Mayo, some prior to 1775, is: (a) the name 'Reverend Father Thomas Kelly' in the Academy manuscript, p. 162, is followed by 'at Mayo' (the latter statement not noted in RIA Cat.); (b) the following entries in three different unidentified hands in G 114: (i) 'I promise to pay James Merrick of Killglassan [par. of Mayo] or orders the sum of one thousand three hundred and forty eight pounds thirteen shill, and ten pence ster. value received the 14th 1754', p. 144.
'I promise to pay (? Brown) of Castle mc Garrett or order... ', p. 170.
This hand also wrote the names 'James Winston' and 'Barnaby Durken' and other jottings on p. 59.
(ii) 'I promise to pay unto Mr. Dan Coghlan Esqr one of his majesty's Justis of the peace in the said county of Mayo (. . .) to wit (. . .) my hand the (. . .) of May 1770', pp. 144, 143 (frag.), 150 (frag.); 'I promise to pa[y] Ben and J 4768 16, etc., p. 134.
Other jottings in this hand on p. 154.
(iii) 'We or either of us jointly and will [. . .] promise to pay John Brown or [order] the sum of [. . .] pounds sterling for value recd this 20th of M[. . .] 17[. . .] County [. . .],' p. 154.
Further jottings mostly in G 114, include: 'Shan Oheelee', p. 28 'haamandemon', p. 126, a drawing of a 'turkey cock' p. 154, and some accounts here and there in both manuscripts.
A former owner of 23 H 18 and G 113-114 was Edward O'Reilly, in whose catalogue (RIA 23 H 1) they are numbered 182 and 183 respectively. (The present division of the latter into two volumes is due to Sir Thomas Phillipps; see below). The separation of 23 H 18 had evidently taken place before O'Reilly's time, for although he describes no. 183 in his catalogue as being 'in the same writing as the foregoing number' he does not connect the two manuscripts with each other. O'Reilly transcribed several items from these manuscripts in BL Eg. 154 (see BM i 580-88). The occasional non-scribal numbering in dark ink in G 114 appears also to be in his hand.
The following lacunae occur in the manuscripts: G 113, one leaf missing following p. 30 (scribal 237-8); G 114, 2 leaves missing following p. 64 (scribal 356-9), one following p. 158 and one before p. 171. At the time of binding pp. 163-4 were misplaced and reversed, they should precede p. 159 and in the order pp. 164-3. G 114, in particular, is in a bad condition and considerable portions of the text are lost owing to worn edges and discolouration, which condition drew the following comments from Phillipps in his Catalogue, no. 13826: 'Wm. Mac Curtain's Copy of the Poems of Ossian, Vol. 2nd beginning at page 207 only. This 2nd Vol. is now divided into 2. Vol. 1 containing from p. 207, to 292. (In this Vol. one Cover of the old Book is bound in [at end of vol.], to shew the shameful neglect of the Irish in not properly binding their most valuable works, by which neglect it is probable that more of their books have been destroyed, than by their Civil Wars.) A copy of the above 2 Vols. pp. 207 to 472 was made by Joseph Langan for me'. This copy is now G 90; see above.
The manuscripts are bound (by Bretherton 1848) in red russian with marbled end-papers. G 113: 'Ossian's Poems Transcribed by W. Mac Curtain 1703 Vol. 2. Part 1' in gilt on spine. A former paper cover with the shelf-mark '183' is bound inside front cover with the relevant excerpt from O'Reilly's sale catalogue labelled on it and the following written on it: '183/813/828 3 vols 8/-/- 3/5/31', '13826 Ph', 'now to be bound in 2 Vols', 'Vol. 2 Part 1'. Phillips's comment 'My belief is, that this is the 2nd half of the Volume from which MacPherson published his Poems of Ossian. Thos. Phillipps of Middle Hill 1850' and 'Phillipps Ms 13826 vol. 1' are on the verso of first end-paper; 'No 183' on p. 1 upp. marg. G 114: 'Ossian's Poems Transcribed by William Mac Curtain A.D. 1703,/Michael O Clery's Irish Vocabulary copied by Wm Mac Curtain A.D. 1702,/Prosodia Hibernice/Irish Poems/ Vol. 2 Part 2.' in gilt and '13826' labelled on spine; 'Vol. 2 Part 2' on verso of first end-paper, '13826 Ph' and 'Phillipps Ms 13826 Vol 2' on verso of front blank page. The manuscripts are included in a section 'Ex bibl. Misc.' in Phillipps's Catalogue.
G 114
1 DEARGRUATHAR CHONAILL CHEARRNAICC AIR ÉIRINN AG DÍOGHAIL BHÁIS CHOINGCULOINN ORTHA. Beg. Gabhthar mo charbad ⁊ mheich go ndeachuin dá fhéachuin cá líon do fhearaibh Éireann do bhí ag marbhadh mo dhalta ar Magh Muirtheimhne. Ends (p. 13) a ccarad agus a ccómhchéile Choingculoinn. Foll. by 'Gonadh é sin bás Choingculoinn et Brisleach Mhagh Murtheimhne go nuige sin ⁊ deargruathar Chonaill Chearrnaicc ar fhearaibh Éireann ag díoghail bháis Choingculoinn ortha arna chríochnúghadh le hUilliam Mac Cartain aniógh Satharrnn Cásga an 27. lá don Mhárta 1703'.
13 i 'Uilliam Mac Cartain, cct.' Misi dho sgríbh lé díthchioll tréanfhórsa/croinic na saoithe saoidmhear ccéimchródha. 1 st.
14 FEIS TÍGHE CHONÁIN CHEINNTSLÉIBHE ANNSO. Beg. Sealg et fiadhach thromthorthach shaoraibhinn do comóradh le Fionn mac Cúmhuill. Ends (p. 30) sul fuaradar táthadh na leighios. Foll. by 'arna sgriobhadh lé hUilliam Mac Cartain an .17. la don Abraon, 1703'.
31 AGALLAMH NA SEANÓIREADHA ANN SO SÍOS (with running titles 'Caithreim Fhinn mic Cúmhaill', pp. 32-3, 'Agallamh Chaoillte ⁊ Phádraig ann so', pp. 34, 36-8, 40-2) Beg. Iar ccur chatha Gabhra ⁊ iar ttuitim úrmhór na Feinne ní raibh rath ná righ ortha. Breaks off p. 42 with poem Clíodhna cheannfhionn buan a béad. 7 qq.
43 'Agallamh Phádraig ⁊ Oisín'. Mian mhic Cúmhaill fá maith gnaoi. 52 qq.
46 'Oisin cc (running title 'Agallamh Phádraig ⁊ Oisín', p. 47). Cnoc an áir an cnoc so shiar. 19 qq.
47 i 'An fear céadna cc' (running title 'Agallamh Phádraig7 Oisín', p.
48 i Lá dá raibh Fionn ag ól. 19 qq.
49 'Tuarusgbháil chatha Gabra ann so síos amhuil nochtas Oisín mac Finn do Phádraicc ímtheacht an chatha sin, ⁊ mar do huit Osgar mac Oisín ann'(running titles 'Tuarusgbháil chatha Gabhra' and 'Agallamh Phádraig ⁊ Oisín' on alternate pages). Mór anocht mo chúmha féin. 86½ qq.
54 'Tairrngaire Fhinn mic Cúmhaill ann so air Eirinn, et Oisín mac Finn cc. do láthair Phádraicc'. A Oisín iomráidhsi linn. 46 qq.
57 i 'Oisín mac Finn cc. air bhás Aodha mic Gara Ghlúnduibh .i. gaisgeadhach dFiannaibh Éireann'. [Cear]d ghaisge do fhóghnadh dAodh. 11 qq. 'Finis'.
58 'Uilliam Mac Cartain cc. 29 die Marii 1703'. Ró stríocad dom phrímhrith sdo rian mo lámh. 6 stt. Lament for the Fiana and for the plight of the clergy, in particular that of Dr John Baptist Sleyne, bishop of Cork.
60 'October 24th 1702. An ainm na Tríonnoide Ronaomhtha Amen'. FOCLÓIR NÓ SANASÁN NUA. Title and Dedication, p. 60; Preface to the reader, pp. 60-2; Glossary A-U, pp. 62-105, but two leaves of the ms (foil. p. 64). are missing which contained the second half of A and the greater part of B [=ed. RC iv p. 363 Airne – p. 374 braccaille], (P. 105) 'Ar na sgríobhadh le hUilliam Mac Cartain an tara lá do December san mbliaghain daois Chríost. 1702'.
105 'PROSOIDIA AN DÁNA DÍRICC ANN SO. Ar na sgríobhadh ar ttús le Giolla Bríghide Ua Heoghusa.' Beg. Is é is dán ann .i. cómhrádh múisioca nó ceolmhar do níthear do réir na siolladh, na bhfocal ⁊ na cceathramhan. Ends (p. 115) agus na haigeanta bunata. 'Finis, nóin tSathrainn xmbris 5° 1702'.
116 '24° xmbris 1688: iar niompughadh bhfear Saxan uile go rotruaillithe a naghaidh a rí dlithigh féin le prionnsa na bPléimion- nach: Daibhí Ua Bruadair cct.' Na dronga sain diompuigh cúl re creasaibh córa. 1 st. 'Confusion will be their end' in margin.
116 'Iar ttogbhail a neach sa narm ó Ghallaibh: 26° Feb. 1688. Dáibhí Ua Bruadair cct'. A náit an mhaghaidhsi a naitreabhuibh Gall do bhá. 8 stt. + l. 'Bith mar sin'.
117 Ós anafa a mbliagna dfiannaibh einge Éilim. 1 stt. + l.
118 'Daibhi Ua Bruadair cct'. A rí na cruinne do rín isi. 18 stt. + 7. 'Finis per me Gulielmus Curtain'.
121 'Daíbhí .h. Bruadair cct: 1° Novembris 1692'. Mithid soicheim go síol cCarrthaicc. 42 qq. + l st. The closing stanza is not included in Mac Erlean's edition of the poem, ITS xviii pp. 200-215. Its content, moreover, confirms the suggestion made by the editor (op. cit. p. 210, n. 3) that the poem was addressed to Cormac mac Donnchadha mic Dhiarmada.
124 'Dáibhí .h. Bruadair cct'. [I]s urchra chian dom iad a nathrú slí. 8 stt. (last st. fragmentary). Not included in Mac Erlean's edition ITS xi, xiii, xviii.
125 'Daibhí Ó Bruadair cct'. A Shíle an tseaca a shlat na cciabh go drúcht. 9 stt. + l + l.
126 'Uilliam Mac Cartain cct. an .14. lá do July Anno Domini 1700'. Níor bhuiribe an fhuireann sin a narrthuíghibh Gréag. 7 stt. + l + l. On Sir James Cotter.
127 'Uilliam Mac Cartain cct. an 29 lá do xber 1701. ag breith bhuídheachais le hEoin Baiste Mac Sleighne .i. easbag Chorcuidhe Chluana ⁊ Rois tre iasacht leabhair do dháil an teasbudh reamhraidhte dhó'. A leabhair bhig tráth dho dháil damh sulth air fhiannaibh. 5 stt. + l.
128 'Chum an fhir chéadna'. Is ceann cléire thú air Éirinn is taoisioch leágha. 1 st.
128 'Chum an Easbuidh chéadna'. Triall an Easbuidh chneasda chaoin gan cháim. 1 st.
128 'Uilliam Mac Cartain .cc. 27° februarii ag cuimhnióghadh ar an ionarbadh do rineadh an tan sin lé Gallaibh ar Eoin Baiste Mac Sleighne .i.easbag Chorcuídhe Chluana ⁊ Rois. Mo phéin mo thurruinn mo thuirse mo léan mo chreach. 5 stt. + l + l.
129 'Eoghan Ó Caoimh cc ar imtheacht an Easbuidh réamhráidhte'. Mo bhrón mo mhille annois mo lean go luan. 3 stt.
130 'Clarissimo Nobilissimoque Domino Iacobo Comiti de Barrymore Vicecomiti de Ibane Baroni de Ibane Equiti de Castlelyons'. Illustres animae heroum gens inclyta bello. 30 elegaic couplets. 'Cornelius Curt[ain cct.].'
133 'In nobilem ad modum iuvenem Iacobum Cotter variolis graviter agrotantem'. O dilecte Deo, et nostro charissime cordi. 31 hexameters. 'Cornelius Curtain cct'.
134 'Uilliam Mac Cartáin cct an tan do bhi a nuacht bháis'. Do chriothiodar mo chosa et níl toradh air mo chríon cnábhaibh. 2 stt. 'Arna sgriobhadh le Seamus Mac Gearailt an 21 lá don miosa 8ber 1736'.
135 'In adventum illustrissimique [sic] nobilissimique Domini Comitis de Clincarthy gratulatio'. Ite triumphali reboantes voce camaenae. 31 hexameters. 'Haec carmina qualia cunque sint benevola mentis propensione nobilissimo Domino Carolo Mc Cartie dicat vovet et consecrat vates carteadum familae observantissimus. Cornelius Curtain Priest c[ct]'.
136 'Mianna Chormuic mic Airt'. Miann Chormuic tíghe Teamhrach. 10 qq.
136 'Fuatha Chormuic mic Airt annso'. Fuath liomsa fuatha Chormaic. 16 qq.
137 'Cormac mac Airt cc'. As misi Cormac ua Cuinn. 7 qq.
138 'Agallamh Phádraig et Oisín annso'. A Oisín as fadda [sic] do shuan. 29 qq.
139 i Miami mhic Cúmhaill fá maith ghnaoi. 3 qq.
140 Iomdha éagnach ag Éirinn. 18 qq.
141 (not part of original manuscript; see introductory remarks above). Atá tri haibhne inar ttír. 15½ qq.
142 (not part of original manuscript; see introductory remarks). 'Eogan Ó Caoimh cc'. Ar treasgr[a]dh a nEacharaim do shiol Eibhir. 8 stt.
143 'Aodhagáin Ua Rathaile cc'. Gile na Gile do conarc air slígh an uaignas. 9 stt. 'Arna sgriobhadh le Seamus Mac Gearailt ann 22 lá don mhiosa September 1740'.
144 'Tomás Prinnbhíol cc ag moladh trí heasbaig .i. Conchubhar Ua Caoimh Easbag Luimna Tadhg Mac Carthaigh Easbag Corcaidh Donchadh 1 Muircheartaicc Easbag Chiaraighe'. Trí mhile don Mhúmhain trí triuir trí heasbaig trí treoin. 3 stt. 'November 4th 1742'. The remainder of the page contains promissory notes for which see introductory remarks above.
145 'Dáibhith .h. Bruadair cc air leagadh a nairm do Ghaoidhealaibh Anno Domini 1652'. Créacht do dháil me am arrthach galair. Contained 50 stt.+2, but the torn lower margins of pp. 145-6 caused complete loss of 2 stt. and part loss of 4 others.
147 'Dáibhi Ua Bruadair cc air bhás Mhuiris Mic Éamuinn Chaisleáin an Li[sín]'. Biaidh éigsi uim an éagso go cullóideach. Contained 10 stt. + l but the torn lower margin of p. 147 has caused loss of 1 st. and part loss of another. The above stanzas correspond to stt. lv-lxv of 'ceangal' of poem D'éag an fhéile i n-éitteacht Muiris (ed. ITS xiii, pp. 196-8).
148 'Aongus na ndaor. cc'. Clann Riocaird ag teacht ó Aifrionn. 9 qq.
149 [A Chia]rraoi caoinidh Eamonn. 14 qq. The name 'Eamonn' is all that remains of the heading.
149 [Ceas do thuit] ar Inis Mhóir na mbeann. 5 stt. (fragmentary). These stanzas, treated here as a separate poem, form the 'ceangal' to the preceding poem in ed. ITS xiii 152.
150 '[. ..] do o Ga[. .. ch ...] treigin a locht⁊ ainmhiann et tarla dho fá dheoig nár ghabh a chomhairle'. [S]guir dod chriosgaoil crean re gaois. 9 qq. +1 st.
151 Bráthair don bhás an daidhbhreas. Contained 26 qq. but the torn lower margin has caused complete loss of 1 q. and part loss of 2 others.
152 'Seaán mac Muiris Í Urthuile cc.' Mo thruaighe teasda manam. Contained 17 qq. but due to the torn lower margin 1 q. is completely lost and 2 others are fragmentary. On the death of 'Uilliam' (qq. 3,15), 'an óig Urthuilicc' (q. 10).
153 m 'An túghdar céadna .cc. ar an ccúis ccéadna'. Annois tuigim imtheacht Uilliam. 8 qq.
153 i A mhic ná meabhraig éigsi. 2 qq.
153 i Ó dhéagadar Greagaicc badh tím ré dáimh. 1 st. The 'ceangal' of poem Ceist. cia do cheannóchadh dán.
153 i 'Eoghan .h. Caoimh. cct'. [...] ach liom dar dias duit sas diogh bhálach. 1 st.
153 i [...] miste liom [...]. Page torn.
154 'Eoghan Úa Caoimh cc'. [Dá mbeadh] agam a ceann ler mheamhraig Ovid stair. 1 st. Followed by a stanza beg. (...) riath iarthar go follas atá am brúth. Mention is made in last line of 'Diarmuid Ó Donnobháin'. The remainder of the page contains names, scribblings and drawings (see introductory remarks).
155 [. . .]g ar bhfas air Éirinn óig. 6 stt. Lamenting the plight of the Irish people.
155 'Seáán mac Muiris Í Urthuile .cc.' As aithreach liom bheith gohóg. 7 qq.
156 Short prose passage headed by chart (alphabet and numerals). Beg. An modh ar a nathantar cia don lanúmhuin as taosga geabhus [bás]. Chum fuasgladh na ceiste so.
156 Prognostic. Beg. An tí beirthear Dia Domhnaigh biaidh ina dhuine mhórchómhachtach.
156 i The following note: 'As é fad Éirionn ón ttaoibh thuaidh gus an ttaoibh theas ó Cloich Stacáin go Baoi [Béarra: Ó Longáin's copy, G 90] trí mhíle ⁊ trí chéad ⁊ a tarsna ó Innmhear Mór go hlorrus Dhámhnonn dá mhíle ⁊ céad.'
156 i An tí geintear san ghaoith aneas. 4 qq.
156 i Sinnseardhacht ní ghabhann ceart. 1 q.; last two lines fragmentary.
157 'Teagasg Dáibhí hÍ Bhruadair do thrúipéir do bhí ag [dul] an arm an lá sin. Gidh eadh bíth gur chuige do cuadhus ní chuige do bíothas. Anno Domini 1686'. A thrúipfhir más músgailt ón mbaile hálgus. 9 stt. (9th st. fragmentary); presumably contained 11 stt. Marginal notes in English.
158 'Tadhg Dall Ó Huigin cct'. [Lios] Gréine is Eamhuin dUlltaibh. 18 qq.
158 i See under p. 164.
159 'Cathréim an dar[a] King Séamus et Dáibhí Ó Bruadair .cc. October. Anno Domini 1686'. D'fhigh duine éigin roimh an ré se. 22 stt. The remaining stanzas were presumably on the lower half of p. 161, which is now torn away.
162 'Daibhith .h. Bruadair .cc.' [D]o chonnra foirceadail orainn ós cíos dlightheach. 6 stt. The 6th stanza fragmentary. Lower half of page torn away.
164 'Dáibhí Ó Bru[adair]' (p. 158 i). Acephalous (owing to loss of one leaf). Beg. here [Mac] Anchises aimsear allód =q. xxiv of poem beg. Searc na suadh an chrobhaing chumhra. Continued on p. 163 and finished on p. 159 (see introductory remarks above). Foll, by 'Finis per me Gulielmus Curtain 26° die Aprilis. 1703.'
165 '[D]ona nodaibh bhíos san Gaoidheilg ann so.' Beg. a. amháin. Lower margins torn causing loss of text.
169 The opening words of the following items on
this page are missing due to torn inner margin:
(a) [...] onionn et leámh an tsean eaduigh.
(b) [...]adh go dobronach. 1 st.(?)
(c)[...] da míoll na nglan saoí súarc. 1 st.(?)
(d) [...] Mac Guidhir gort gabhraigh. 1 q.
(e) [...] ... de an fearr fúirnist/as liom féin an méid so dam chiontaibh ar ttús. 14 lines.
170 Jottings, accounts; the foll, quatrain in the hand of Seamus Deacon [see introductory remarks]: orchra cnead ⁊ ceast ⁊ deara ⁊ caoighi.
171 Tract in Irish and English on the Irish Alphabet followed (p. 173) by same in Latin ('Modus pervilis legendi Linguam Hybernicam'). Acephalous. Beg. here Do dheaghfhograchaibh ann. a sé aco do shíor leathan mar atá ann so. 'Gulielmus Curtain scripsit'.
175 (not part of original ms; see introductory remarks). English translation (incomplete) of COMHRAC FHIR DIADH AGUS CHON CULAINN. Headed 'Combat between Cuchullin and Fear Dia'. Beg. It was then the men of Ireland consulted. Breaks off top of p. 176. Pp. 177-8 blank. Bifolium and two single sheets (pasted on last end-paper; see introductory remarks above) containing a list of contents, in English, of ms G 1 above.