ProvenanceThe latest date found in the MS is 14 September 1609 (p. 96 i) and the author may have died about this time. The following reference shows that he was dead by 1615: 'Examination of Lodder M'Donnell the 29th of May. He says he saw Couconnagh O'Kernan, a rhymer or chronicler . . . and that he thinks he was brother to Teige Oge O'Kennan that went with Tyrone and died at Roome . . .' (Cal. state papers Ire. 1615-25, 63; cf. PRIA 36 C 6 (1922) 117-18; BM Cat. i, 385 n. 2). The text has been edited from this MS with translation etc. by P. Walsh, Archiv. Hib. 2-4 (1913-15) app., and separately, The Flight of the Earls (Maynooth and Dublin 1916)
CoverageItaly; Dublin
MaterialPaper
BindingsBound in boards and vellum with '19', 'The Flight of the O Neils' in ink and press-marks A 29 and I 8 labelled on front cover.
ScribesÓ Cianáin, Tadhg
ContributorsO Neill, Aodh, Baron of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone [barún Dungenainn]
Dimensions8.9" x 6.3"
Online since2004
NotesF.i. [List of Popes.] Beg. 61. Vigilius primus anno—DXXX(. . .). Ends 237 Paulus papa quintus anno MDCVI. On f. vi r begins a list, 'Nomina Pontificum omnium a nativitate Christi'. Beg. 1 Sanctus Petrus anno—33. Ends (f. vii r i) [77]. Eugenius primus anno ( ), so that there is an overlap of 17 names between the two lists. F.iii. verso 'Nomina Imperatorum Romanorum'. Beg. 1. C. Julius Cesar ex fundatione Romana anno 706. Ends (f. v verso m) 138. Rudolphus secundus anno domini 1576 sub Gregorio XIII anno 4. Rest of page blank.P.[1]. [The Flight of the Earls.] Beg. A nainm Dhé. Ag so pairt do sceloib et dimthechtoib Í Neill on uair for fhagoip se Eire. Space left for ornamental capital A at beginning. Breaks off (p. 135 i) with events of the end of November 1608, apparently unfinished.
RightsCopyright University College Dublin; Copyright image source Irish Script on Screen, School of Celtic Studies, DIAS.
DescriptionUCD MS A 21 is a Gaelic manuscript from the 17th century. Written in Gaelic on paper by Tadhg Ó Cianáin in Rome in 1609 for Aodh O Neill Baron Dungannon. It contains a copy of 'The Flight of the Earls' together with two lists of Popes. It was more than likely brought to St. Isidore's College, Rome where it was added to the Franciscan collection after 1792; the Franciscan Friary, Merchant's Quay, Dublin from 1872; the Franciscan Library, Dún Mhuire, Killiney, Co. Dublin from 1946 and, in November 2000 University College Dublin.
ReferencesÓ Macháin (Pádraig): Observations on the manuscript of Tadhg Ó Cianáin in Tadhg Ó Cianáin (2011), lgh. 171–205. Franciscan A 21.
Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in University College Dublin
A 21
THE FLIGHT OF THE EARLS
17th cent. Paper. 22.5 × 16 cms. Ff. v (numbered in pencil)+pp. 136 +
ff. 2 (numbered in pencil vi-vii). Scribe: Tadhg Ó Cianáin, Rome 1609,
the author of the work. Scribal notes: 'Tadhg O Cíenain do scribh isan
Roimh 1609' (15 i); 'Mar do batar tra sligthe salchae ~ ardbhothair
imchomhga aimhreidhe o Doua go Turnae ni hinnill rug fer a scriptha ~ a
fhaisnéissi so mess no brethnughadh ar in region . . .' (16 m);
'Tabair bennacht for anmain in Taidg fuair gne dia shaóthar sa ~cetera'
(48 i); 'Tadhc O Cienain do scrip ~ tabairsi mile bennacht for a
anmain ~cetera 1609' (77 i); 'Tadc do scribh ~ bennacht fora anmain.
1609' (94 i); 'Ane .14. septembris .1609. ro hadhlaicedh mac ~ oigri
diles dingbala Í Neill .i. Aodh O Neill barún Dun Genainn . . .' (96
i); 'Tabair bennachtain for anmain in sgribnóra' (129 i). The extra
leaves at beginning and end (part of the original MS) seem to be in two
other hands.
Bound in boards and vellum with '19', 'The Flight of the O Neils' in ink
and press-marks A 29 and I 8 labelled on front cover. Writing on f. vii
verso: (a) 'Ni ben (?) re ccaithim díasle . . .'. (b) 'The contents of
this Book should be considered.—I think'. Cancelled with pencil lines.
f.
i. [List of Popes.] Beg. 61. Vigilius primus
anno—DXXX(. . .). Ends 237 Paulus papa quintus anno MDCVI. On f. vi
r begins a list, 'Nomina Pontificum omnium a nativitate Christi'. Beg.
1 Sanctus Petrus anno—33. Ends (f. vii r i) [77]. Eugenius
primus anno ( ), so that there is an overlap of 17 names between the
two lists.
iiiverso 'Nomina Imperatorum Romanorum'.
Beg. 1. C. Julius Cesar ex fundatione Romana anno 706. Ends (f. v
verso m) 138. Rudolphus secundus anno domini 1576 sub Gregorio XIII
anno 4. Rest of page blank.
p.
[1]. [The Flight of the Earls.] Beg. A
nainm Dhé. Ag so pairt do sceloib et dimthechtoib Í Neill on uair for
fhagoip se Eire. Space left for ornamental capital A at beginning.
Breaks off (p. 135 i) with events of the end of November 1608,
apparently unfinished. The latest date found in the MS is 14 September
1609 (p. 96 i; see above) and the author may have died about this
time. The following reference shows that he was dead by 1615:
'Examination of Lodder M'Donnell the 29th of May. He says he saw
Couconnagh O'Kernan, a rhymer or chronicler . . . and that he thinks he
was brother to Teige Oge O'Kennan that went with Tyrone and died at
Roome . . .' (Cal. state papers Ire. 1615-25, 63; cf. PRIA 36 C 6
(1922) 117-18; BM Cat. i, 385 n. 2). The text has been edited from
this MS with translation etc. by P. Walsh, Archiv. Hib. 2-4 (1913-15)
app., and separately, The Flight of the Earls (Maynooth and Dublin
1916).
