Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in the National Library
G 117
FORAS FEASA AR ÉIRINN; VERSE (mainly religious)
Late 17th- early 18th cent. Paper. Part (a) 16 × 28.5 cms (some pages smaller); part (b) 18 × 30 cms. i-xvi [iii-iv, ix-x, missing] + 246 pp. (scribal pagination: part (a) [Díonbhrollach and list of kings unnumbered] 1-175 with 5-6, 13-18, 105-110 missing, 151 skipped, 170 twice; part (b) [177]-[243] with 232-3 missing and [2]40 should read 241). Both parts are written on different paper and are now copiously interleaved (interleaves 33 × 20 cms).
Scribes: part (a) and the first 13 pages of part (b) (pp. 181-192 [187]m) were written by Eoghan Ó Caoimh, part (a) in the years 1693-4 (pp. 97, 174) and his contribution in part (b) in 1703 (p. 185 [180] col. b: '... mhairios annois Anno Domini 1703'); the remainder of part (b) (pp. 192 [187]m-246) was written by Art Ó Caoimh (and not by an tAthair Séamus de Nógla as stated in Manuscript sources for the history of Irish civilization (1965), ed. Hayes). Although unsigned, his writing in this volume is similar to that in the Stoneyhurst MS A. 11.20 (signed p. 400 [low. marg. pagination]) and in RIA 23 E 23 (unsigned; unidentified in RIA Cat., 1683), two of several volumes (including the present manuscript) he wrote in collaboration with his father, Eoghan (cf. also RIA 23 M 32 and 23 M 33, the latter mainly the work of Art — unidentified in RIA Cat., 63).
The present volume was written for Father Séamus do Nógla as indicated by Eoghan in the following note on p. 174: 'Ag so fós don Athair Séamus do Nógla dfóirlíonadh a leabhair tar ceann gurab anshocair an sagart é lé haois ealadhan.' Father Séamus may have been a relative of Eoghan's wife, Eilionóir do Nógla.
At the time the manuscript was interleaved several leaves were misplaced: the list of kings, now occupying pp. 175-9, presumably preceded the Díonbhrollach (cf. its position in G 17 and 23 E 23, other copies by this scribe); pp. i-vi (iii-iv missing) are inverted and in the following sequence vi-v, ii-i; pp. 11-12, 19-20 (1348 missing) now stand after p. xii; pp. xv-xvi, 181-2, 227-8 are in reverse order. The cropping of margins in part (a) has caused loss of scribal pagination, running title and text in several places; a later hand has replaced the lost pagination (with comments on pp. 233-4, 238) and also made necessary changes in some of the scribal numbering.
Jottings in the manuscript include: p. i (misplaced and inverted, see above) '575 Monk Mason MSS'; p. 97 'Fine coronatur nobile semper opus: J.M.'; p. 181 'p. 177 1st of this part.'
Bound in full rexine by the National Library with the spine of the previous binding labelled inside the front cover; 'Phillipps MS 15613' on recto of first interleaf. Listed under 'Miscellanea ex Bibl. variis' in Phillipps's Catalogus.
Page
i Part (a) FORAS FEASA AR ÉIRINN. (See introductory remarks above for misplacement of leaves). An Eipistil chum an léaghthóra. Beg.Ag so dionbhrollach no brollach cosnuimh Foruis Feasa ar Éirinn. Ends (p. 1) bhúr mbochtcharaid bhithdhíleas Séathrún Ceatinn D. D. foll by 'Atá an stair so rannta ann dá leabhar an céadleabhar nochtas dála Éirionn ó Ádhamh go teacht Phádraig an Éirinn; ⁊ an dara leabhar ó theacht Phádraig go gabháltas Gall nó gus an am so'. P. 1 Liber Primus. 'Ag so do sheanchas Éirionn ... aois an Tighearna annois 1629.' Beg. Ar ttúis cuirfiom síos annso gach ainm dá raibh ar Éirinn riamh. Ends (p. 97) 23 mbliadhan a bhflaithios Éireann dó foll, by 'finis libri primi per me Eugenius Keeffe. 27° Die ffebr. 1693. 'Liber Secundus begins on p. 97. Ends (p. 162 [163]) Conntae Thíre Conuill nó Dúinn >na nGall (headed 'Ag so an líon conntaedha atá an Éirinn,' p. 161). P. 162 (163) 'Do Ghabhlúghadh Chloinne Mílidh annso síos.' Ends p. 174 ('Críoch an leabhair', upper marg.) foll, by 'Finis. Misi Eóghan Ó Caoimh do sgríobh an leabhar sin san bhliadhainsi daois Chrios. 1694. ⁊ sirim ar gach léaghthóir mo leathsgéal do ghabháil tré gach dearmad ⁊ tré gach droch chur síos dá bhfuil san leabharso, do bhrígh gur luas láimhe ⁊ easbaidh eóluis as cionntach riú. ⁊ fós as mór do chuir orm nách cluinim caismirt Thaidhg ag leadhba chSeoirsi, iná Hannraoi ag Amhlaoibh ar sgórnuig. uch.' Pp. 175-9, containing a list of kings of Ireland from Slainge to Ruadhrí Ó Conchúbhair, are misplaced and should precede the Dionbhrollach (see introductory remarks). P. 180 blank.
Owing to loss of leaves the following lacunae occur in the text: pp. iii-iv = ed. ITS iv, 10.30-20.47; pp. ix-x = ed. ITS iv, pp. 42.1 (section vi)-54.9 (section vii); pp.5-6 = ed. ITS iv, pp. 114.37- 126.82; pp. 105-110 = ed. ITS ix, lines 711-1234.
181 col. a, Part (b) [CRAOBHSGAOILE GEARALTACH]. Beg. Craobhsgaoile Sleachta na hlarlachta .i. Gearaltaicc annso síos. Seamus mac Ghearóid do bhí chúig bhliaghna fithchiod ina iarla. (P. 181 col. b) 'Sliocht Seáin Challuinne' concluding (p. 183) with Do cuireadh ceathrar clainne. 6 qq., (p. 183 [178]) Iarla Chille Dara, (p. 184 [179]) Tighearna na Claonghlaisi, Ridire an Ghleanna, Sliocht Bhaile an Fheiritéara, Sliocht Bhaile an Áird, (p. 185 [180]) an Ridire Fionn, Sliocht Bhaile hí Chríonáin, Sir Seon ó Chluain, Sliocht Bhaile na Martra, Iarla Barrach, (p. 186 [181] running title 'Seanchas Barrach') an Barrach Og, Iarla Úrmhúmhan, Tighearna Mhóta Goiréad, (p. 187 [182] running title 'Seanchas Buitléarach') Tighearna na Catharach, Iarla Clainne Riocáird, Barún Caisleáin hI Chonuing, an tAicéadach, mac an Mhíleadh a cCeara, an Seódhach. Ends p. 187 (182) foll, by colophon 'Ag sin a bhfuaras do sheanchas Gall, ⁊ dá bhfághainn ní budh mó de do chuirfinn annso é, ⁊ ní ar mhaithe ris an sealbhadóir acht ris an léaghthóir. ⁊ saoilim gurab ionchuir annso caoineadh na nGearaltach.' See following item.
188 (183) 'Caoineadh na nGearaltach annso.' Fada ó chéile gasra Gréag. 16 qq. Foll. (p. 189[184]) by 'Ag so an ceangal do chuir Dáibhí Ó Bruadair air an ndán sin.' As fada liom go dearbhtha sas lánbhrónach. 3 qq.
189 (184) 'Ag so dán eile bladhmannach do rineadh dona Gearaltachaibh, ⁊ saoilim gurab ionchuir annso é.' Gá mhéid gabháil fuair Éire. 37 qq.
192 (187) 'An réim ríogradh ⁊ Giolla Caomháin cc.' Éire árd inis na ríogh. 157 qq.
202 (197) 'Ag so síos suim na ríogh do ghabh Eire ó aois Phadraicc go gabháltas Gall. (P. 203 [198]) Ag so an dara roinn don réim ríogradh. Nescio quis cc.' Eire óg inis na naomh. 54 qq.
206 (201) Fuaras a Psaltair Chaisil. 31 qq.
208 (203) 'Ag so síos dán do rín an bráthair bocht dórd St. Proinnsias Bonaventura Ó hEóghusa gárdian bráthar nÉireannach a Lobháin, deiriceadh dáirighthe do thuit an eiriceacht le mearghrádh an tsaoghail ⁊ anmhiann a cholla .i. Maolmuire Mhág gCraith do bhí ina árdeasbog Caisil.' (p. 209[204]) Truagh liom a chompáin do chor. 89 qq.
215 (210) 'Ag so síos dán do rín Eóghan Ó Dubhthaicc bráthair bocht dórd San. Proinnsias don Mhaolmhuire chéadna, ⁊ do dhaoinibh eile do thuit an eiriceacht léna nanmhiann féin ⁊ lé mearghrádh an tsaoghail.' Léig dod chómhmórtas duinn. 98 qq.
221 (216) 'Nescio quis cecinit.' Caoin tú féin a dhuine bhoicht. 8 qq.
222 (217) 'Nescitur quis cecinit.' Ná tréig mo theagasg a mheic. 11 qq. + 1 st.
223 (218) Rachad déisteacht Aifrinn Dé. 11 qq.
223 (218)i 'Author nescitur mihi.' Eisd mhosna a Mhuire mhór. 20 qq. + 1 St.
225 (220) 'Ó Dáluicc Fionn cc.' A cholann chugad an bás. 17 qq. + 1 st.
226 (221) 'Gofraicc Fionn Ó Dáluicc .cc.' Mairg mheallas muirrnn an tsaoghail. 42 qq.
229 'Ó Dáluicc Fionn cc.' A fhir luígheas ina leabaidh. 11 qq. (fragmentary).
230 '[Au]thorem nescio.' [Fóir mhangar a Dhé Bhí]. 13 qq. (fragmentary).
230 i 'Muiris mac Dáithbhí Dhuibh cc.' [Taire dhuit a ógáin]fhinn. 24 qq. (fragmentary).
232 'Ó Dáluicc Fionn .cc.' Reacfad feasda dán ré Dia. 14 qq.
233 (22[8]) 'Authorem nescio.' Dia do bheatha a Mhuire mhór. 15 qq. (fragmentary).
234 ([2]29) 'Duain lóchrainn sonn ⁊ Donnchadh Mór Ó Dáluicc .cc.' Lochrann soillse ag síol Ádhaimh. Breaks off (due to loss of leaf) with stanza 39.
237 'Duain na mbreath' (running title). Acephalous. Beg. here Tugas díbh an saoghal séimh. Last 25 qq. of As fada fairsiong pobal Dé.
238 ([2]35) 'Ó Dálaigh Fionn .cc.' Gabh do chead a cholann chriadh. 13 qq.
239 'Nescitur quis haec cecinit.' Éist rém fhaoisdin a Iosa. 22 qq.
240 i 'Ó Dáluicc Fionn .cc.' Léig dod bhaois a bhean an sgátháin. 11 qq.
241 (23[7]) 'Nescitur author.' Marthuinn duit a chroch an Choimhdhe. 45 qq.
244 ([2]40) 'Authorem huius nescio.' Ní bás acht deaghailt ré Dia. 29 qq.
246 'Nescitur author.' Iomdha sgéal maith ar Mhuire. Breaks off end of page with stanza 10.