MS A 14

IIIF Manifest

CollectionUniversity College Dublin

LocationDublin, Ireland

ShelfmarkMS A 14

LanguagesIrish; ga

Date created1600-1699

Paginationxvi ff. + 8 pp. + 97 ff.

SubjectHistory of Ireland; Genealogy; Calendar

ProvenanceAt least part of the MS was written at the convent of Kildare between September 4th and 28th (see f. 52 v i), but neither scribal signatures nor year appear. The initial intention of the Irish Franciscans at Louvain, Belgium in the early seventeenth century to collect the lives of the saints developped into a major historical and genealogical project which involved locating, collecting, and transcribing materials on the secular and ecclesiastical history of Ireland. Dispersal of the original and much larger collection of Irish and Latin manuscripts from Louvain began in the late eighteenth century with the French revolution. The collection was moved for safekeeping to St Isidore's College, Rome in 1792 where it remained until 1872 when it was moved to the Franciscan Friary at Merchants' Quay Dublin, again for safe-keeping, then to Section A (hence the name) of the newly established Franciscan Library at Dún Mhuire, Killiney in 1946, and, finally to University College Dublin in November 2000.

CoverageKildare; Belgium; Italy; Dublin

MaterialPaper

BindingsCover similar to those of A 10, etc. with title in gilt on spine 'Franciscan Library MSS., Seatrun Ceatinn, Forais Feasa ar Eirinn, A 14.' Press -mark A 14 labelled on front cover. Old vellum cover, marked 'No. 9' now preserved seperately belongs either to this MS or A 15.

ScribesColgan, Fr. John; Ó Cléirigh, Br. Micheal

ContributorsConvent of Kildare, Co. Kildare; Franciscan Archives, 1792-2000; UCD, 2000

Dimensions12.4" x 7.7" + 6.1" x 7.5" + 11.6" + 4.5" x 3.9" + 11.8" x 7.9"

Online since2011

NotesContains a Calender of Irish saints from January to August [f.i], a list of Irish ecclesiatics for the years 884-900 arranged in alphabetical order [f.iii], a list of kings from 1133-116(0) [x] together with a copy of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn [p.1]. Scribes: (1) Ff. i-ii, xv-xvi, appear to be the work of Fr John Colgan. (2) and (3) Ff. v-vi, vii-viii (cf. P. Walsh, Gleanings² (1933) 27-8). (4) F. ix. (5) xiii-xiv. (6) Pp. 1-12 (Díonbhrolach). (7) and (8). Two scribes collaborated in writing the body of the History. The first of these wrote ff. 1-35 r, 52 v (colophon only)-71 v m, 87 r-90 v, 94 r and brief passages elsewhere, while the second wrote most of ff. 35 r i-52 v, 71 v m-82 v, 83 v 7-86 v, 90 v i-93 v. The first hand seems to be that of Br Míchéal Ó Cléirigh, who also wrote ff. iii-iv, x-xii, of this MS. (9) Another hand appears on ff. 83 r 3-v 6. Consulted by Comyn and Dinneen for the ITS (Irish Texts Society) edition and briefly described by them (ITS IV (1902) xiii, VIII (1908) xxxi-xxxii). Evidently the copy used by Colgan for Acta Sanctorum (1645).

RightsCopyright University College Dublin; Copyright image source Irish Script on Screen, School of Celtic Studies, DIAS.

DescriptionUCD MS A 14 is a Gaelic manuscript from the 17th century. Written in Gaelic on paper possibly by Fr. John Colgan and Br. Míchéal Ó Cléirigh (one of the Four Masters), it contains various religious and genealogical material together with a copy of Keating's Foras Feasa ar Éirinn. Part of the Franciscan Collection previously kept at the Franciscan College, Louvain; St. Isidore's College, Rome, 1792; Franciscan Friary, Merchant's Quay, Dublin, 1872; Franciscan Library, Dún Mhuire, Killiney, Co. Dublin, 1946 and, from November 2000 University College Dublin.

ReferencesBreatnach (Pádraig A.): Scríbhinní i láimh Eoghain Ruaidh Mhic an Bhaird. In Éigse 36 (2008), pp. 43–62. Draws attention to a manuscript (Franciscan MS A 14 f. ix) written in the same hand that wrote the poem Dána an turas trialltar sonn found in MS Brussels 6131-33 (identified by Míchéal Ó Cléirigh as an autograph of Eoghan Ruadh Mac an Bhaird), and presents evidence from the material in that document that Mac an Bhaird was its author. Breatnach (Pádraig A.): Duanaire i láimh an údair: filíocht Eoghain Ruaidh Mhic an Bhaird i Leabhar Inghine Í Dhomhnaill in Celtica 33 (2021), pp. 307–323. Argues, based on a palaeographical comparison with confirmed testimonies of Mac an Bhaird’s hand, that the poems in fols. 22-27 of Brussels MS 6131-33 (Book of O’Donnell’s Daughter) are an original autograph in the hand of the poet.

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Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in University College Dublin

A 14

FORAS FEASA AR ÉIRINN, ETC:

17th cent. Paper. Ff. xvi (now numbered in pencil) + 8 (pp. 1-12, foll. by two blank leaves) + 97 (foliation 1-82 continued in pencil to 94 with 3 blank leaves after f. 52). Ff. i-vii, ix, xi-xiii, c. 31.5 × 19.5 cms; f. viii, 15.5 × 19 cms; f. x, two strips, c. 29.5 and 11.5 × 10 cms, joined together and folded; ff. xiv ff., c. 30 × 20 cms. Most of ff. i-xvi appear to have been loose leaves bound in at beginning. The whole MS has been interleaved in binding; many leaves repaired with tissue paper. Ff. i-ii, iv, xi-xii recto, xiii-xvi, and some of the pages at end are in 2 cols; ff. iii, xii verso, are in 3 cols. Bound in cover similar to those of A 10 etc., with title in gilt on spine: 'Franciscan Library MSS., Seatrun Ceatinn, Forais Feasa ar Eirinn, A 14'. Press-mark A 14 labelled on front cover. Old vellum cover, marked 'No 9', now preserved separately belongs either to this MS or A 15.

At least part of the MS was written at the convent of Kildare between September 4th and 28th (see f. 52 v i), but neither scribal signatures nor year-dates appear. Scribes: (1) Ff. i-ii, xv-xvi, appear to be the work of Fr John Colgan. (2) and (3) Ff. v-vi, vii-viii (cf. P. Walsh, Gleanings² (1933) 27-8). (4) F. ix. (5) xiii-xiv. (6) Pp. 1-12 (Díonbhrolach). (7) and (8) Two scribes collaborated in writing the body of the History. The first of these wrote ff. 1-35 r, 52 v (colophon only)-71 v m, 87 r-90 v, 94 r and brief passages elsewhere, while the second wrote most of ff. 35 r i-52 v, 71 v m-82 v, 83 v 7-86 v, 90 v i-93 v. The first hand seems to be that of Br Míchéal Ó Cléirigh, who also wrote ff. iii-iv, x-xii, of this MS. (9) Another hand appears on ff. 83 r 3-v 6.

Consulted by Comyn and Dinneen for the ITS edition and briefly described by them (ITS IV (1902) xiii, VIII (1908) xxxi-xxxii). Evidently the copy used by Colgan for Acta Sanctorum (1645).

'Ex libris Conventus de Dun na ngall' occurs in Colgan's hand at f. 53 r i; a note, 'Atá buil na hoidhche ar sin' occurs (in a nonscribal hand?) at f. 37 v i.

i . Calendar of Irish saints from January to August. Beg. Ianuari. [1. Brighit, crossed out] 2. Mainchíne et Scuithíne. September to December on f. iv.

iii . List of Irish ecclesiastics for the years 884-900, arranged in alphabetical order. Beg. A. 884. Aedhan Abb.

v . [Elegy on Niall Garbh Ó Domhnaill (ob. 1626).] Bean do lamhaigheadh leith Cuinn. 60 qq. Ed. from this MS by P. Walsh, Gleanings² (1933) 27-52.

vi verso. Blank.

vii . [Elegy on Éamann Ó Braonáin (ob. 1632).] Coitchenn cumha chloinne Néill. 36 qq. Ed. from this MS by Walsh, Gleanings² (1933) 12-26; cf. IBL 29 (1943-4) 14-15, 41.

viii verso. Blank.

ix . (a) Note on SS Colmcille and Adamnán, partly illegible. Beg. As follus dagach aonduine. Ends iar bfagbail astata aga mac Conn óg [nó Aod dubh, above line]. (b) Note on the monasteries of Ireland. Beg. Na (?) comaoine do cuiredar ar egluis Dé (?). Ends Mainisder oirderc anuird mionúr a nDun na nGall. . . moran do dhaoinibh naomtha. (c) Note, lightly cancelled: Do cumhduighedh an da cathair easbuig do bhi futha mar ata Doire 7 Rath Bot. ... (d) Note similarly cancelled and illegible at end. Beg. Trachtad (?) ar mhed an stata do bhi ag U Domhnaill 7 ara saidbreas dothaobh mara 7 tire. For these notes and those on the verso, see C. Mooney, Donegal Annual 2 (1953-4) 465-7.

ix verso. (a) Note: Re linn an Pap[a] C(e)lestino 7 an Impire Theodosio (et ?) anaois ar ttigerna 423 t(áinig) ar bpatrun Padraig go hEirinn. Iar ttecht don fprionnsa Conall mac Neill daladh ummoro re [de]uosion mór, 7 re humhlacht ag glacadh baisdidh, 7 chreidimh. Adubhairt Padraig na briathra (?) ris. Bednnuigim (?) etcetera. (b) Note on Cenél Conaill. Beg. Da derbadh go coitchenn do reir mar dogeibhter sgriobhtha. Ends Tug cath don Iarla Ruad.

x . List of kings, 1133-69. Beg. [Tiger]nan Ua [Ruairc] (1133). Ends Tadhg Ua Ferghail do marbadh 116[0].

xi . 'Do rioghaibh F(h?)er mbolcc ~ dfad abflaithesa' ['3266 an tan tangatur', in margin]. Foll. by 'Do rioghaibh Tuaithe Dé Danann' and 'Do rioghaibh mac Miledh'. Beg. Slainge 2 bl. Ends (f. 12 b í) Maoilechlainn cedna iar mBriain .9. mbliadhna doridhisi, 7 aécc Anno Domini. 1022.

xii c 1. 'Do Rioghaibh go ffresabhra'. Beg. [ó Éimer, in margin] Toirrdhelbach O Briain mac Taidhg mc. Briain Boroimhe 12 (?). Ends O Eiremon Ruaidhri mac Toirrdhealbhaigh moir. 17.

xii c m. Note beg. 426. Ag sin an lion ata o Eireamhoin mac Milidh do naomhaibh agarab eidir angeneligh do lenmhain go hAdhamh do reir na seinleabra.

xii d 1. Genealogy. Beg. Aonghas [.i. easpucc, over line] mac Aonghobhann. Ends mac Rudhraighe.

xii e 1. Genealogy. Beg. Moninne inghen Mochta. Foll. by note: 'naoi ffichit bliadhan fot asaogail.

xiii . Part of index to a tract on declension, containing the letters D to Ua. Beg. Dalbh i[onann] 7 tráigh (?) fer. 7 b. Cf. IGT II §39. Ends (f. xiv d i) uala Jon. 7 guala / uirri. on umhla .7 aidide on umhla. as / doigh lem gurab umhla don uachtaran / chialluighid .7 nac é an begmeas bios / aguinn or uinn fein. Part of the beginning of this index is now A 31, item 12.

xv . List of contents of Foras Feasa, entitled 'Suim athchuimir na Stairesi adiaig'. Beg. (B)rollach na staire. fol. 1. Some items in Latin. Ends (f. xv d 9) Treas do Breatnuibh do dul da ndidion go hEirinn, 7 clemnas do dhenamh inte 18. Rest of col. blank.

xvi . Lists of authorities: 'Authores qui in Prologo citantur', 'Authores qui citantur in corpore Historiae . . .', 'Chronica Hiberniae aliaeque historiae' (foll. by 'Atáid fós morán do stairibh eile ar faghail go fóill mur ata Oighidh na gCuradh . . .'). Most of f. xvi verso blank.

1 . Foras Feasa ar Éirinn. The preface (Díonbhrolach) beg. Ag so díonbhrolach nó brolach cosnuimh Fhoruis Fheasa ar Eirinn, mur abfuil suim shenchusa Eireann go cumuir. Ends (p. 12) . . . óir ma atá enní inbheime ann. ní hó mhailis acht ó aineolus atá ann. Bhur mbochtchara bithdilsi [sic] go bás, Séthrun Ceitinn. Most of p. 12 blank.

1 . 'Foras Feasa ar Eirinn an ceidleabhar. Ag so do shenchus Éireann . . .'. Beg. Ar tus cuirfiom síos annso gach ainm da raibe ar Éirinn riamh. Foll. (f. 52 v i by 'Acconueint Cille Dara do tionnscnadh an leaburso do sccriobadh .4. September et tairnicc asccriobadh .28. don mí cédna. 54 stuagha go leith robai isin sencairt don céid leaburso et cuicc stuagha go leith isin sencus'.

53 . 'Acc so síos do Rioghaibh Erenn et da ndalaibh deis creidim et da handalaibh go toidheacht Gall innte'. Book II of Foras Feasa ar Éirinn. Beg. Adeir Sanderus san céd leabar do shiosma na Saxan go ttuccatar Gaoidhil do lathair iar ngabail creidim iad fein .... Ends (f. 84 r m) Tangadur taoisigh oile in Eirinn ittús gabhaltus gall in euccmais an chúiccir do luaidheamur thúas nach dearna na feilbearta do rónsat an cúigear cédna 7 do rinne morán maithiosa in Eirinn .... Finid. At the bottom of the page occur 2 11. of writing now cancelled: Do bhris na gaill sin mo chroidhesi (?) / 7 ni fearr daibhsion mas olc do sgriobhadh go holc. F. 84 v blank.

85 . 5½ 11. of writing, beg. Et fáccbhus bardá mór ann 7 téid féin go Luimneach. Ticc Cathal Croibhdearg abhfoslongpurt na nucht. . . . Rest of page and all of ff. 85 v, 86 r blank.

86 v . Genealogies. (Part of Foras Feasa ar Éirinn.) Principal divisions: 'Do ghabhlucchadh cloinne Mileadh Easpaine'; 'Do craobhsccaoiledh sleachta Eibhir . . . Geinealach Méig Cartaigh Moir . . . Siol Eoghain uile' (87 r); 'Do craobhsccaoiladh shleachta Corbmaic .i. an dara mac Doilill Olum.. . . Geinealach shíol mBriain, .i. Iarla Tuadhmuman . . . gach cineadh do Dal cCais . . .' (88 r); 'Do ghabhluccadh sleachta Céin mc. Oillealla Óluim' (88 v m); 'Do chraobhsccaoiladh sleachta ír mc. Miledh' (89 r); 'Do ghabhlucchadh sleachta Fergusa mc. Roigh, ar tús do gheinelach Uí Chonchobhair Chíarraighe' (89 v); 'Do chraobhsccaoiladh sleachta Eiremhoin' (90 r); 'Do ghabhluccadh sleachta Conaill Gulban mc. Neill Naoighiallaigh' (90 v); 'Craobscaoiladh slechta an treas meic dEochaidh Muighmedhoin mur ata Fiachraigh' (91 r); 'Do craobhsccaoiladh slechta Luighdeach mc Ithe' (94 r).

94 v. Blank.