MS 23 P 6 (The Annals of the Four Masters)

IIIF Manifest

TitleAnnals of the Four Masters

CollectionRoyal Irish Academy

LocationDublin, Ireland

ShelfmarkRIA MS 23 P 6; 687

LanguagesIrish; Latin; ga; la

Date created1632;1633;1634;1635;1636

Pagination287 ff.

SubjectAnnals; Historical Tract

ProvenanceMS 23 P 6 was written by Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, Cú Coigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Conaire Ó Cléirigh and two others. The compilation of the Annals of the Four Masters was sponsored by Fearghal Ó Gadhra (d. 1660) of Coolavin, Co. Sligo.

CoverageDonegal, County Donegal

MaterialVellum; Paper

Ornamental reader's aidsRun-over Symbols--Extracolumnar--Abstract--Bracket (single outline): ff 22vb, 23ra, 27rb

ScribesÓ Cléirigh Mícheál; Ó Cléirigh Cu Choigcríche; Ó Cléirigh Conaire; Colgan John

ContributorsÓ Gadhra Fearghal

Dimensions9" × 6"

Online since2002

RelationRIA MS 23 P 7; UCD OFM MS A 13

NotesNollaig Ó Muraíle (Celtica 19, pp 75-95) has argued that RIA MS 23 P 6 and RIA MS 23 P 7 form one manuscript and along with UCD OFM MS A 13 should be considered a complete autograph set of the Annals of the Four Masters in two volumes. See also P. A Breatnach, The Four Masters and Their Manuscripts; Studies in Palaeography and Text, (Dublin 2013), pp 65-7

RightsCopyright Royal Irish Academy; Copyright image source Irish Script on Screen, School of Celtic Studies, DIAS.

DescriptionRIA MS 23 P 6 is an autograph manuscript of the Annals of the Four Masters or Annála Ríoghachta Éireann for the years 1171-1499 written by Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, Cú Coigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Conaire Ó Cléirigh and two others. Other material relating to the compilation of the Annals is included, such as a Latin Testimonium and annalistic notes and excerpts in the hand of John Colgan. The bulk of the manuscript was written in 1632-1636 in the Fransiscan Priory in Donegal and may have been in Lovain for a time. It should be considered as part of the same manuscript as RIA MS 23 P 7 . The manuscript was in the possession of Charles O'Conor of Belangare by at least 1778. It was subsequently in the possession of William Burton Conyngham and Austin Cooper from whom it was acquired for the Royal Irish Academy in 1831 by George Petire, arriving as 'a mere unbound roll' (O'Donovan, AFM I, p. xi n). The manuscript was then bound as two volumes, MS 23 P 6 and MS 23 P 7.

ReferencesNollaig Ó Muraíle, 'The autograph manuscripts of the Annals of the Four Masters', Celtica 19 (1987), pp. 75–95.; P. A Breatnach, The Four Masters and Their Manuscripts; Studies in Palaeography and Text, (Dublin, 2013), pp. 65-7

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Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in Royal Irish Academy

687 23 P 6

Annals of the Four Masters

17th cent. Paper, except two folios in vellum. Average measurement 9 × 6, inserted into leaves 13½ × 7 7/10; vellum leaves, 11 × 7. Ff. 287 numbered 1-34, after which come the two vellum leaves unnumbered (35 and 36 below), then the numbering recommences going from 1-145, where the leaf is marked 145-9, and continuing from 150-255. There are remains of the original ink foliation, which has been partially restored in pencil on the paper mount. Scribes : Michel Ó Cléricch, Cúcoigriche Ó Cléricch, Conaire Ó Cléricch, and two others, Dún na nGall, 1632-1636 (vide the Testimonium on the 2nd vellum leaf). A detailed study of the different hands has been made by O Curry (Acad. Cat., p, 284 ff.). Ff. 2v, 4v, 7v, 8v, and 5v bis are blank. The first seven folios are written in two columns. There are marginal notes and corrections by Charles O Conor. The edges of the leaves are considerably worn away at the beginning, involving the loss of part of the text, especially on the first sixteen pages. Bd. in leather with stamped ornamentation; gilt lettering on back : "Annals of the IV Masters, 1171-1499. Original MS. Royal Irish Academy." Accounts of the ms. are to be found in O Donovan's "Introductory Remarks" to his edition of the Annals (Vol. I, p. viii ff.), and in O Curry's "Lectures on the MS. Materials of Ancient Irish History" (Lect. VII). Former Academy number, 1/5.

fo.

1 . Notes used in the compilation of the Annals.

9 . Annals of the Four Masters, acephalous. The text begins with part of the entry for the year 1170 : . . . aibh Thicckearnain Ui Ruairc. Do radsat iarttain (— ed. O Donovan, Vol. II, p. 1178, 1. 7).

35 . Mícheál Ó Cléirigh's dedication to Feargal Ó Gadhra (= ed. O Donovan, Vol. I, lv).

36 . The Testimonium by Brothers Bernardinus Clery, Guardianus Dungallensis, Muiris Ulltach (two of this name), and Bonavantura Ó Domhnill, leathoir Jubilat (= ed. O Donovan, Vol. I, lxiii).

37 . The Second Book of the Annals, from 1208 to 1499.