MS 23 E 25 (Leabhar na hUidhre)

IIIF Manifest

TitleLeabhar na hUidre

CollectionRoyal Irish Academy

LocationDublin, Ireland

ShelfmarkRIA MS 23 E 25; 1229

LanguagesIrish; ga

Date created1000-1099; 1100-1199; 1106

Pagination67 ff.

SubjectProse; Poetry; Religious Tract

ProvenanceFormer Academy manuscript number 3/42. Thought to be written at the Monastery of Clonmacnoise County Offaly around 1100.; The manuscript came into the possession of the O'Donnells of Donegal and was used in 1359 together with An Leabhar Gearr ('The Short Book', now lost) to ransom a member of the family taken prisoner by Cathal Óg Ó Chonchubhair, of the Uí Chonchubhair family of Sligo. It was recovered by Aedh Ruadh O'Donnell, Lord of Tírconnell in 1470 when he raided their stronghold (AFM, M1 1470.9). It was lost sight of from 1470 until the early sixteenth century, when it was in the hands of Muirghius (+1543) Ó Maolchonaire (see RIA MS D iv 3 Lebar Gabála).; Michael O’Clery, Mícheal Ó Cléirigh, in his version of Lebar Gabála (ed. Macalister-MacNeill, p. 5), gives as a source “Leabhar Baile Uí Maoilchonaire do scríobh Muirghes mac Páidin Uí Maoilchonaire as Leabhar na Huidre.” On 6th May, 1628, it was at Drowes (Drowes river, Leitrim and Donegal?) in the hands of Br. Michael Ó Cléirigh, Mícheal Ó Cléirigh (Jennings, Michael Ó Cléirigh, p. 60, note 6, cf. Best-Bergin, (eds.)1929: Lebor na Huidre, Book of the Dun Cow Dublin., p. xi). The next reference to Lebor na Huidre is that of George Petrie, MRIA (1790-1866) in his essay on Tara (R.I.A. Trans., xviii, 1837) It was then in the possession of Messrs. Hodges & Smith, of College Green from whom it was purchased by the Academy as part of the Hodges and Smith Collection in 1844. On p. 27b a late hand states 'Misi Uilliam 0 Flait[ ]. Misi Uilliam [ ].

CoverageClonmacnoise, County Offaly; County Donegal; County Sligo; Drowes, County Leitrim; Dublin

MaterialVellum

DecorationDecorative Initials

Ornamental reader's aidsRun-over Symbols--Extracolumnar--Abstract--Bracket (double outline): p. 31b;Run-over Symbols--Extracolumnar--Abstract--Bracket (single outline): pp 11b, 12a, 14a, 19a, 80b, 82b

BindingsIn 1881 the manuscript was repaired and the leaves were framed in brown parchment. In 1967 it was cleaned, repaired and rebound by Roger Powell at a cost of £528Stg. The cockled leaves were separated from the parchment frames, flattened, and interleaved with new parchment. They were resown and bound in English oak with the spine covered with alum-tawed pigskin. To prevent cockling of the Vellum leaves, the rebound manuscript is kept under slight pressure in a teak case, specially designed by Edward Barnsley.

Scribesmac Céilechair meic Cuinn na mBocht Máel Muire

ContributorsMonastery of Clonmacnoise, 1106; O'Donnells of Donegal, 1359; Uí Chonchubhair family of Sligo, 1359-1470; O'Donnells of Donegal, 1470; Messrs. Hodges & Smith, College Green, Dublin; Hodges and Smith Collection RIA, 1844

Dimensions11" × 8"

Online since2001

NotesMany scholars have commented on the composition and background of Lebor na hUidre. Eugene O'Curry compiled a catalogue of its contents in 1861 while a facsimile made by Joseph O'Longan, Seosamh Ó Longain was produced in 1870. John O'Beirne Crowe observed in 1871 that there was more than one hand involved in its preparation. Heinrich Zimmer's Paper of 1887 examined how several of the saga texts were redacted and also traced the background of Meic Cuinn na mBocht, the scribe's Máel Muire's family to seventh-century Armagh. R.I. Best's study of 1912 identifiying three separate hands the first scribe A, the main scribe Máel Muire Meic Cuinn na mBocht and the scribe H who had written the homilectical texts. A diplomatic edition of the text was undertaken by R.I. Best and Osbourne Bergin in 1929. Fr. Paul Walsh pointed out some factual errors in this edition and established that the Sigraid Ó Cuirnndín who re-inked the manuscript while it was in Connacht (1359-1470 ) was not the same scribe suggested by R.I. Best and Osbourne Bergin but a later bearer of that name. Hans Oskamp's extensive study in 1966-67 differed radically from what went before suggesting that scribes A and Máel Muire did not work together but that Máel Muire worked slightly later and that the work was in fact undertaken not in Clonmacnoise but in centres associated with with some of the manuscripts that are mentioned in scribal colophons as sources for Lebor na hUidre i.e. Armagh, County Armagh; Monasterboise, County Louth or Durrow, County Laois. Subsequent to its coming to Clonmacnoise and prior to the sacking of that monastery in 1178 it suffered damage which resulted in the scribe H restoring, completing, interpolating and reordering the manuscript. A different view was put forward by Tomas Ó Concheanainn in his 1973-74 study i.e. that H was actually Máel Muire who worked on the manuscript until his untimely death in 1106. In a later series of studies in 1996-97 Ó Concheanainn restated his belief that Máel Muire was H and also that the manuscript may have been in the monastery of Roscommon, or elsewhere in central or eastern Connacht before being brought to Donegal in 1470. In 1994, Gearóid mac Eoin also suggested that the manuscript had spent time in the Roscommon area but possibly with a member of the Uí Mhaoil Chonaire family who were later to come to prominence in Cluain Polcáin, County Roscommon. Greg Toner (in 2009) and Ruairi Ó hUiginn (in 2006 and 2014) suggest H's interventions in the text Táin Bó Flidais and The Annals of Tigernach betray a distinct interest in history. Marie Herbert, 2007 has argued that the libraries of Armagh and Monasterboice were the ultimate source of some of the main content of the manuscript. Elizabeth Duncan, 2015 has suggested that H was not one but a multiplicity of scribes.

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

DescriptionRIA MS 23 E 25 is the oldest manuscript in existence written entirely in the Irish language. Written on vellum and dating from the 11th/12th century the only scribe named in the manuscript is Máel Muire mac Céilechair meic Cuinn na mBocht, also know as M who is the principle scribe. There are two more scribes referred to as A, the first scribe and H, a later interpolator, whom some scholars believe may be Máel Muire. The manuscript is thought to have been compiled in Clonmacnoise in the eleventh century, although some scholars suggest that it may have been compiled in Armagh, County Armagh, Monasterboice, County Louth or Durrow, County Laois before being brought to Clonmacnois possibly by Máel Muire. Subsequent to its being damaged at some time in the early twelfth century it was restored, completed, interpolated and reordered by H. Most scholars suggest a date not later than 1130 for this restoration It came into the possession of the O'Donnells of Donegal who in 1359 used together with An Leabhar Gearr ('The Short Book', now lost) to ransom a member of the family taken prisoner by Cathal Óg Ó Chonchubhair, of the Uí Chonchubhair family of Sligo. It was recovered by Aedh Ruadh O'Donnell, Lord of Tírconnell in 1470. Further to its being used by antiquary and archaeologist George Petrie in 1837 it was bought by the RIA in 1844 from the Dublin Booksellers Hodges and Smith. In its present form the manuscript contains thirty-seven different texts ranging from an incomplete version of the Táin Bó Cúalilnge to other tales from the Ulster Cycle i.e. Mesca Ulad, Táin Bó Dartada, Tain Bó Flidais, Serglige Con Culainn, Síaburcharpat Con Culaind, Fled Bricend, Tochmarc Emere, Compert Con Culainn. Also included are tales associated with legendary Irish kings such as Aided Nath Í , Togail Bruidne Da Derga and Fotha Catha Cnucha together with 'Historical Tract' texts like Sex Aetates Mundi and Lebor Bretnach. In addition Lebor na hUidre contains a copy of what might be the oldest Irish-language text in existence, Amra Choluim Chille, composed after the saint's death around 597. Other religious texts include Dá Brón Flatha Nime, Scéla Laí Brátha, Scéla na Esérgi and Fís Adamnán. Unfortunately, more than half of the texts contained in the manuscript are incomplete due to the loss of leaves. According to Hans Oskamp it originally contained at least 110 leaves and as late as the seventeenth century it contained at least a further twenty-one leaves in addition to the sixty-seven leaves which now survive.

ReferencesScholarship on the manuscript, its language, history and scribes are available at bill.celt.dias.ie; online indexes; manuscript repositories; RIA, Dublin 23 E 25. A bibliography of secondary sources on the texts in the manuscript is also available at this site.

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Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in the Royal Irish Academy

1229

LEBOR NA HUIDRE

11th-12th cent. Vellum. Ca. 11 × 8 (three intercalated leaves smaller). The MS. now consists of 67 leaves only, being but a fragment of the original MS. The pagination in Clarendon type given in the table of contents infra is that of the first Facsimile (1870), and runs consecutively 1-134,ignoring all chasms. The MS. bears two foliations, the earlier of the two being an alphabetic foliation, standing on the recto, inf. marg., viz., b, g-m; o, s, z, est (formerly g) a, b, t, v, x, z, 7, est, amen, a-g, i-[x],[z], 7, est, amen, a-l, r, s, s, t, x, u, followed by two leaves bearing no signature, m(?), the last two leaves of the MS. bearing no alphabetic foliation. This foliation appears on the intercalated leaves, where it is (acc. to Best-Bergin, Lebor na Huidre, Dublin, 1929, p. xviii) due to a later hand. An early 17th century foliation stands on the recto, sup. marg., viz., 2, 7-12, 14, 18, 23, 25-27, 30-43, 45-79, 84, 80, the last three leaves bearing no foliation. The present sequence of folios is, therefore, slightly different from that obtaining in the early 17th cent. The MS. is defective at the beginning and end, and lacunae occur before pp. 3, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27, 55, 83, 113, 121, 125, 129. The original composition of the gatherings is no longer ascertainable, as the leaves were separated from their conjugates in 1881 (when the MS. was being repaired), and remounted. To judge by the gaps in the early foliations at least sixty-six leaves have been lost - fifty-one before the 17th century foliation and sixteen since that time (acc. to Best-Bergin, op. cit., p. xxiii). It is probable that leaves had disappeared before the earlier foliation was added - e.g., after p. 2, where the gap in the alphabetic foliation does not appear sufficient to have contained the missing material. A text lost in toto from the MS. is a copy of Lebar Gabála, the LU version of which is constantly referred to by Muirghius (mac Paidín) Ó Maolchonaire in marginal notes to his copy of Lebar Gabála, D. iv. 3, supra. Br. Michael Ó Cléirigh's statement in the preface to his Lebar Gabála that one of his sources was an Ó Maolchonaire MS. which derived from Lebor na Huidre, corroborates the evidence of the marginal notes in D. iv. 3, which may have been Br. Michael's source. The hands in the present MS. have been studied in detail by R. I. Best, Ériu vi, 161 ff., and the results of these investigations are incorporated by Best-Bergin in the Introduction to their diplomatic edition of the MS., to which the reader has already been referred. Two principal hands are distinguished and the hand of a later interpolator, apart from those of scribes of scholia and adscripts, viz., A, the hand which is seen at the beginning of our MS. in its present fragmentary state; M, the hand of the main scribe, who names himself (in probationes pennae) Mael Muri mac meic Cuind (na mbocht), pp. 55, 70, and is referred to in a late 14th cent. note as Moel Muiri mac Ceileachair mac meic Cuind na mbocht, p. 37 b m. (see infra). This scribe has been identified with Mael Muire mac Célechair, who was slain in the Daimhliag of Clonmacnoise in the year 1106 (FM sub anno). The hand of the interpolator, dated by Thurneysen ( Die irische Helden-und Königsage , p. 31) as 13th cent., is that of the transcriber of the Homilies in Lebor na Huidre; and has been named H by R. I. Best on this account. For the detailed distribution of the interpolations and of the hands A and M, see R. I. Best, loc. cit., and Best-Bergin, op. cit., pp. xiii-xxiii. There are some original defects in the vellum, notably of pp. 7, 8; 21, 22; 67, 68; 73, 74; 99, 100; 133-4. Pp. 125-6, 131-2 have been cut in half, and now exhibit one column only. Otherwise the handwriting is in double column, with the exception of an intercalated leaf. The ruling is by dry-point. The capitals are of zoomorphic design, illuminated in red, yellow, and purple.

The faded script of the MS. was restored in the year 1380 by Sigraid Ua Curnín, who was slain by the English of Leinster in 1388 (Ann. Conn. and F.M. sub anno). This restoration was undertaken at the behest of the then owner of the book, Domnall mac Muirchertaig meic Domnaill [Ó Conchobair] Lord of Cairbre (1362-1395), who died in 1395 (see Rev. Paul Walsh, Restoration of LU, 1380, Catholic Bulletin, xxix (Nov., 1939), 733-6). This is stated in the note already referred to, written by Sigraid Ua Curnín, on p. 37 b m. of our MS.: 'Orait do Moelmhuiri mac Ceileachair mac meic Cuind na mbocht ro scrib ⁊ ro scrút a lebraib egsamlaib in lebur sa. Oráid do Domnall mac Muirchertaigh meic Domnaill meic Taidhg meic Briain meic Aindrias meic Briain Luighnigh meic Toirrdelbaigh Moir. Issie in Domnall sin ro fhúrail athnúidhiughadh na pearsainni sin ler scribadh in scíamhlebhar sa ar Shigraid Hua Cuirrndín ⁊ ca ferr duind ar mbeandacht do chur a mbel duine co fer in liubair sea na a fágbail aigi ⁊ sechtmhuin onúdh co Satharn Cásc ⁊ sectmuin onde co haíne in Césda⁊ ⁊ (sic) da aíne ordha uirri .i. áeni na féli Muiri ⁊ aini in Césda ⁊ is ingnadh mór sin ic araile d'eolchaibh.' The book was in Cairbre during the reigns of ten lords of the country from the time it was seized from Ó Domnaill as ransom for the son of Ó Domnaill's ollam. The Ó Domnaill in question here was Seáan mac Conchobair meic Aeda, who reigned over Tír Chonaill from 1356-1380 (Walsh, loc. cit., who bases his proof on the evidence of the Annals of the Four Masters, sub anno 1470, and further data from the genealogies). There is, therefore, an error in the statement entered in the MS. on p. 37 b m. (in rasura), which runs: 'Orait and so d'Aodh Ruadh mac Neill Ghairbh I Dhomhnaill do tobaigh co foregnac an leabar so ar Chonnachtaib ⁊ in Leabar Gearr maille fris iarna mbeith n-ar n-ecmuis o aimsir Cathail Oig I Concabair co haimsir Ruaidri meic Briain ⁊ dechneabur tigernad etorro for Cairbre ⁊ a n-aimsir Concobair [recte Seaain meic Concobhair] meic Aedho Hi Domnaill rucadh siar iad ⁊ is mar seo rucadh iad .i. in in (sic) Leabar Gearr a fhuasclodh I Dochartoigh ⁊ Leabar na Huidri do dul a fuasclodh meic ollamon I Domnaill re seanchus arna ngabail do Cathal a ngill fris ar Cenel Conaill fris sin (sic) o Concobur co Haedh.' LU was recovered by Aedh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill when he captured the castle of Sligo in 1470 (FM sub anno). Ruaidhri mac Briain was still living in 1471. His remote predecessor, Cathal Óg mac Cathail, died in Sligo in 1362, having been lord of Cairbre presumably since the death of his brother, Ruaidhri mac Cathail, in 1350. Cathal Óg is heard of for the first time in 1359 (FM sub anno), when he captured Séan Ó Dochartaigh, chief of his name, at Ballyshannon, and received as ransom for him and other notabilities of Cenél Chonaill the Leabhar Gearr (now lost)and our present MS.(Walsh, loc. cit.).

The later history of LU is obscure. It was lost sight of from 1470 until the early sixteenth century, when it was in the hands of Muirghius (+1543) Ó Maolchonaire (see 1224 supra). On 6th May, 1628, it was at Drowes, in the hands of Br. Michael Ó Cléirigh (Jennings, Michael Ó Cléirigh, p. 60, note 6; cf. Best-Bergin, op. cit., p. xi). The next reference to LU is that of Petrie in his essay on Tara(R.I.A. Trans., xviii, 1837); it was then in the possession of Messrs. Hodges & Smith, of College Green. The MS. itself bears no indication of former ownership, with the exception of the memoranda already cited. On p. 27b in a late hand occurs a fugitive 'Misi Uilliam O Flait[ ]. Misi Uilliam [ ].' The present binding dates from 1881, when the MS. was taken asunder and repaired. Hodges & Smith Collection, 226. This collection was acquired by purchase for the Royal Irish Academy from Messrs. Hodges & Smith in 1844. Former Acad. no. 3/42.

One leaf is wanting before p. 1.

1 , 2 (b)[SEX AETATES MUNDI.] Acephalous and fragmentary. Beg. here Togorma o tát Frigiae. Breaks off (p. 2, col. b), owing to a lacuna in the MS., with the words .i. o gen Abraim co gabáil ríge do Dauid i Tír Caldeorum. Ed. Edmund Hogan, The Irish Nennius from LU, R.I.A. Todd Lect., Series VI (1895), 1 ff., from this MS. as part of the following completely independent tract.

An indeterminate number of leaves are lost between pp. 2, 3.

3 , 7(g). [LEBOR BRETNACH.] Acephalous and fragmentary. Beg. here (four leaves being lost) Acht cena ol se. a rí failsigfitsea fírinne duitsiu . Ed. A. G. Van Hamel, Lebor Bretnach (Irish MSS. Commission, Dublin, 1932), from all the known MSS. of the text.

5 , 8(h). [Amra Choluim Chille.] Beg. Loc dond remoculsa chetus Druimm Ceta. Breaks off (p. 14, col. b), owing to a lacuna in the MS., with the words no aicilled grammatacdu ocus Grécu. Ed. Atkinson, Irish Liber Hymnorum (1898), and Whitley Stokes, Rev. Celt. xx, p. 30 seqq. (from Rawl. B. 502, Facs., p. 95). The text of LU was used by J. O'Beirne Crowe as basis for an edition of the Amra (Dublin, 1871).

5 , 8 (h), sup. marg. Cetracha sacart a lín, 1 q. In the hand of Mael Muire.

11 , 11 (l), sup. marg. Día ecna dia dilgud dess, 3 qq. In the hand of Mael Muire.

A leaf is lost after p. 14.

15 , 14 (o). A few lines of an acephalous fragment of prose text. Cf. Rawl B. 502, Facs., p. 107.

15 , 14 (o) m. Colum Cille. Dia ard airlethar, 3 qq.

15 , 14 (o) i. Colum cáid cumachtach, 5 qq. Ed. Pokorny, ZCP 8, p. 285, from Rawl. B. 502, Facs., p. 107 a 19, and our MS.

15 , 14 (o) i. SCÉL TUAIN MEIC CAIRILL DO FHINNEN MAIGE BILE. Beg. Iar dudecht do Finnén Maige Bile cosin toscelu i tír nÉrend i crich Ulad. P. 16 of the text has been erased and rewritten by H. Breaks off (p. 16, col. b) owing to a lacuna in the MS., with the words ⁊ o gaib iascaig co filet a crechta in[ ]. The interpolated text of H contains the following poems not occurring in the other known copies of the text:- (p. 16 ) Tuan mac Cairill, Amnirt indiu mac Senbath, 6 qq.; (p. 16 i.) idem, Glasreng me indiu eter cuanaib, 6 qq.; (p.16, col. b) idem, Séig indiu glasreng indé, 4 qq. The non-interpolated section is the recension found in H. 3. 18, fo. 38 a, and Rawl. B. 512, fo. 97 b. A different recension occurs Laud 610, fo. 102 a. Ed. Meyer, The Voyage of Bran, vol. II, Appendix A.

One or more leaves are wanting before p. 17.

17 , 18 (s). [DA BRÓN FLATHA NIME.] Acephalous, owing to lacuna in the MS. Beg. here Héle co mbí fo chrund bethad hi pardus ⁊ soscela ina laim. Ed. Dottin, Rev. Celt. xxi, p. 349.

At least four leaves are wanting before p. 19.

19 , [23] (z). [MESCA ULAD.] Acephalous, beg. here dianda tairle mo lorgsa mairfidus. Ed. W. M. Hennessy, R.I.A. Todd Lect., Series I, from LL and this MS., and J. C. Watson, Mediaeval and Modern Irish Series, XIII (1942). The text is in Mael Muire's hand.

20 . [23] (z) v, col. b i. TÁIN BÓ DARTADA. Beg. Boí Eocho Bec mac Corpri rí Clíach. Breaks off after the initial lines owing to lacuna in the MS. Ed. Windisch, Irische Texte 2, Serie II; Thurneysen, Zu irischen Hss. u. Litteraturdenkmälern, p. 90.

One leaf is lost before p. 21.

21 , 25 (est, older g). [TÁIN BÓ FLIDAIS.] Acephalous, owing to lacuna in the MS. Beg. here Cid dofuci or Ailill Find. The text is interpolated by the scribe H. Ed. Windisch, Irische Texte 2, Serie II, and M. Dobbs, Ériu viii, p. 133.

21 . 25 (est, older g), col. b, inf. marg. Bricne. Ailid Ailill amra triath, 3 qq. In the hand of the scribe H.

22 , 25 (est) v, m. IMMRAM CURAIG MAIL DÚIN. Beg. Bai fer amra, di Eoganacht Hinussa .i. Ailill Ochair Ága a ainm. Title and opening lines of the text are supplied by the interpolator H, the original having been erased at this point. H also interpolates on pp. 25-26 b, where the text breaks off imperfectly, owing to a lacuna in the MS., with the words ⁊ imraiset a timchéll d'íarraid chonairi inti ⁊ ni. Ed. Stokes, Rev. Celt. ix, pp. 447-95; x, pp. 50-95, 265, and A. G. Van Hamel, Mediaeval and Modern Irish Series, XII (1941).

Some leaves are wanting before p. 27.

27 , 30 (t). FÍS ADOMNÁIN (title in the hand of Mael Muire). Beg. Is uasal ⁊ is adamraigthe in Coimdiu na ndúla ⁊ is mor ⁊ is machdaigthe a nert ⁊ a chumachta. The first 10 lines are in the hand A. Ed. Windisch, Irische Texte I, p. 165 ff., from LU and LB; Vendryes, Rev. Celt. xxx, pp. 349-83, from Paris Bibl. Nat. 8175.

31 , 32 (x) b, l. 34. SCÉLA LAÍ BRÁTHA. Beg. Dia do bennachad na n-éstidi uli. In the hand of interpolator H on erased columns. Ed. Whitley Stokes, Rev. Celt. iv, pp. 245-57, 479; Rev. Paul Walsh, Mil na mBeach, pp. 62-8.

34 , [33 v] (z). SCÉLA na ESERGI. Beg. Tabrad cách dia airi co ticfa bráth. In the hand of interpolator H, on erased columns. Ed. Whitley Stokes, Rev. Celt. xxv, pp. 232-59; Rev. Paul Walsh, Mil na mBeach, pp. 69-78.

38 , 35 (est) v. AIDED NATH Í ⁊ Á ADNACOL. Beg. Ro gab Nath Í mac Fíachrach Herind ⁊ ro insaig co Slíab nElpa. The conclusion of the text is interpolated by H from another recension. The following longer poems occur in the text:- Torna Éces, Celis cách a Cruacho chróderg, 5 ll. idem. Atá fótsu rí fer Fáil, 10 qq. (p. 38 b) Niam is Drucht is Dathi, 10 qq. Elsewhere entitled (YBL; Facs., p. 191 b) SUIDIGUD TELLAIG na CRUACHNA. Ed. V. Banateanu, ZCP, xviii, p. 160.

38 , 35 (est) v, b, sup. marg. Failet tri écis cen ail, 2 qq. In the hand of scribe H.

Pp. 39-46 are intercalated here.

39 ,36 (Amen). AIDED ECHACH MEIC MAÍREDA. Beg. Ri maith ro gab Mumain .i. Mairid mac Cáiredo. In the hand of interpolator H. The following longer poems occur in the text:- (p. 39 b) Curnan, Ticid ticid gebid faebra, 2 qq.; (p. 40) Li Ban. Fo Loch Echach adba dam, 22 qq.; (p. 40 b) Murgein is gein co mbúadaib, 5 qq. Ed. S. H. O'Grady, Silva Gadelica.

Pp. 41, 42 are palimpsest.

41 , 37 (a) b. FOTHA CATHA CNUCHA. Beg. Dia mboí Cathair Mór mac Fedelmthi Fir Urglais meic Cormaic Geltai Gaíth i rrigi Temrach. In the hand of interpolator H. Ed. W. H. Hennessy, Rev. Celt. ii, pp. 86-93, from this MS.

43 , 38 (b). SEIRGLIGI CON CULAIND ⁊ ÓENÉT EMIRE. Beg. Ooenach dogníthe la Ultu cecha bliadna .i. tri lá ría samfuin. In the hand of interpolator H. At the top of this page in faded ink, which has not been retouched, occur the words "Slicht Libair Budi Slani." The following longer poems occur in the text:- (p. 44 b) A Cu Culaind fot galar, 5 qq.; (p. 45 b) Lí Ban. Fo chen Labraid Lúath \ lam ar claideb \ comarbae buidne, 13 ll. idem. Fo chen Labraid Lúath \ lam ar claideb augra, 13 ll. idem. Fo chen Labraid Luath | lam ar claidem \ láechdu ócaib, 10 ll. Labraid. Ni ual na húabur dam,a ben, 6 ll.; (p. 46 b) Cu Culaind. Nirbat taerrechtach debtha dene dóergairce, 41 ll. ("Bríatharthecosc Con Culaind"); (p. 47) Láeg. Mor espa do láech, 16 ll.; Emer. A meic Riangabra fó rir, 12 qq.; (p. 47 b) idem. Erig, a gérait Ulad, 6 qq.; Li Ban. Atá Labraid for lind glan, 8 qq.(interpolated in part by H); (p. 48) Láeg. Ranacsa rem rebrad ran, 18 qq.; idem. Atconnarc tír sorcha sáer, 9 qq.; (p. 48 b) Fand. Segda cairptech docing rot, 11 qq. (in the hand of H); (p. 49) Li Ban. Fo chen Cu Chulaind, 13 ll. (in the hand of H); Cu Chulaind. Tarlucus urchur dom sleig, 5 qq. (in the hand of H); (p. 49 b) Fand. Messe ragas for astur, 7 qq.; (p. 50) idem. Fégaid mac laechraidi Lir, 13 qq. Ed. Windisch, Irische Texte I, and Myles Dillon, Serglige Con Culainn, Columbus, Ohio (1941).

50 , 41 (e) v, sup. marg. (in the hand of Mael Muire). Mac Lonan. Mian mná Tethrach a tenid, 1 q.

50 , 41 (e)v b. SENCHAS na RELEC. Beg. Mórrí mórbrethach ro gab os Herind .i. Cormac mac Airt meic Cuind Cetchathaig. The following poem occurs (p. 51 b):- Cinaed Hua Hartacan. Án sin a maic Meic ind Óc, 22 qq. Ed. John O'Donovan, R.I.A. Trans. xx, pp. 98-106, from this MS.

52 , 42 (f) v. GENEMAIN ÁEDA SLÁNE. Beg. Temair na ríg is si bá dodgnas díles do cech ríg no gebed Herind. Includes the following poem:- (p. 53) Fland Manistrech. Mugain ingen Choncraid chain, 15 qq. Ed. S. H. O'Grady, Silva Gadelica, pp. 1-11, from this MS.

53 , 43 (g). TUCAIT INNARBA na NDESSI I MMUMAIN ⁊ AIDED CHORMAIC (last three words added by H in rasura). Beg. Cid dia tá cóechad Cormaic hi Temraig. Text emended by H. Breaks off imperfect (p. 54 b), owing to a lacuna in the MS., with the words ba f[í]r ón ro srainset na Desse taris aniar. Ed. K. Meyer, Y Cymmrodor, xiv, pp. 104-25, from Rawl. B 502, Facs., p. 131 b; Ériu iii, pp. 135-42, from Laud 610, fo. 99 b; Anecdota from Irish MSS., 1, pp. 15-24, from T.C.D. H. 2. 15, p. 67 a. The present text does not agree with the other known recensions.

Some leaves wanting before p. 55.

55 , 45 (i). TÁIN BÓ CUAILNGE. Beg. Tarcomhlád slóiged mór la Connachtu .i. la Hailill ⁊ la Meidb ⁊ hetha húaidib cossna tri chóiced aili. The text is interpolated at many points by H. Text breaks off imperfectly (p. 82 b), owing to a lacuna in the MS, with the words Conid de atá Mag Mandachta .i. Mand échta .i. écht Maind and (hand H in rasura). Other copies of this older recension occur YBL Facs., p. 17 a, and Egerton 1782, p. 88 a. For the tradition of the MSS, see Thurneysen, ZCP ix, p. 418; x, p. 205, and Die irische Helden- und Königsage, p. 96. The following longer poems occur in this recension:- (p. 55 b) Fedelm. Atchiu fer find firfes cles, 10 qq. (in the hand of interpolator H in rasura); (p. 57) Dubthach. Atmaid nád chúalaid co sse, 5 qq.; (p. 57 b) Medb. A Ferguis is andam amne, 3 qq.; Fergus. A Medb, cid not medraisiu, 3 qq.; idem. Id inso ced sloindnes dún, 1 q.; In drui. Crephnas churad caur rod lá, 2 qq.;(p.73 b) Fergus. A Fir Baíth is báeth do fecht, 299.; (p. 77) M'óenurán dam er étib, 4 qq.; (p. 78) Lug. Atraí a meic mórUlad, 17 ll. (last five ll. in hand of interpolator H retouched); (p. 81) Dubthach Dóel Ulad. Masu hé in riastartha, 4 qq.; (p. 81 b) Fergus. Ber ass Dubthach nDóeltengaid, 7 qq. Ed J. Strachan and J. G. O'Keeffe, Táin Bó Cuailnge (Dublin 1913) (from YBL with variants from LU).

69 , 52 (q), inf. marg. (late hand). Beith at altrainn d'ardrig Alban, 1 q.

There is a lacuna in the MS. before p. 83.

83 , 59 (z). [TOGAIL BRUIDNE DÁ DERGA.] Acephalous, owing to the loss of one leaf. Beg. here airiut. Naté em ol sesseom ní aurchur sáegail damsa in breth ronucus. Pp. 93-4 intercalated by H (retouched). The following longer poems occur:- (p. 91) Ingcel. Atchiú flaith n-árd n-airegdae, 59 ll.; Gáir Ossair \ assir chumall, 6 ll.; (p. 91 b) Gáir Ossir \ ossar chumall, 20 ll.; Dommárfas imned, 7 ll. Ed Eleanor Knott, Mediaeval and Modern Irish Series, vii. (1936).

83 , 59 (z) b, inf. marg. (in a later hand). A deg ruithnecht am bulg dubh, 1 q.

87 -89 , 61-62 (est Amen), sup. marg. (in the hand H). Cain treith doadbanuur, 21 ll. "Monor secht mac Duind Désa."

99 , 67 (e) b. FLED BRICREND (headed here "Incipit Fled Bricrend ⁊ in Curathmír Emna Macha ⁊ in Briatharchath ban Ulad ⁊ Tochim Ulad do Chrúachnaib Ai ⁊ Cennach ind Rúanada i nEmain Macha"). Beg. Boí fled mór la Bricrind Nemthenga do Chonchobur mac Nessa ⁊ do Vltaib huile. Text is interpolated by H, pp. 103-4, 105, 108 b, 109-110. Ends imperfectly (p. 112 b) with the words Taét co tallursa a chend de innocht ⁊ co talla, five leaves being lost. Ed. Windisch, Irische Texte, and G. Henderson, Irish Texts Society, from LU with variants from Eg. 93, H. 2. 17 (Windisch), and conclusion from Edinb. MS. XL (Henderson).

Five leaves are lost before p. 113.

113 , 74 (r). SIABURCHARPAT CON CULAIND. Beg. Dolluid Patraic do Themraig do erail creitme for ríg nErend. H interpolates, p. 115, in rasura. The following poem occurs (p. 114):- Cú Chulaind. Immáredindsea márgraige, 48 qq. (last 14 qq. in the hand of interpolator H in rasura). Ed. Zimmer, Festschrift für deutsches Altertum xxxii, p. 249, from LU. Meyer, Anecdota from Irish MSS. III, p. 49, prints the text of Egerton 88, with variants from Brit. Mus. Add. 33,993.

115-118 are interpolated by H in rasura.

115 , 175 (s) b. CATH CAIRND CHONAILL RIA DlARMAIT MAC SLANI FOR GUARI ADNI. Beg. Diarmait mac Aeda Sláne Sinech Cró rod n-alt. In hand H. The following longer poems occur:- (p. 115 b) A Diarmait a mallchobair, 5 qq.; (p. 116) Cammin. Imbíat fáebra fri fáebra, 2 qq.; (p. 117) Sínech. Cach mac tigirn timcraidi, 10 qq. Ed. Whitley Stokes, ZCP iii, pp. 203-19, from this MS.; S. H. O'Grady, Silva Gadelica I, p. 396; II, p. 431, edits the recension in Egerton 1782 fo. 59 b.

116 , 75 (s) v, sup. marg. In the hand H. Mac Da Certa. Gort maccu Cirb cruth rod gáb, 2 qq.

117 , 76 (s) b. COMTHOTH LÓEGAIRE CO CRETIM ⁊ A AIDED ADFÉT IN SCEL SO. Beg. Baí comthinol fer nErend hi Temraig i n-amsir Lóegaire meic Neill. In hand H. Ed. Charles Plummer, Rev. Celt vi, pp. 162-72; Whitley Stokes, Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, pp. 562-7, from this MS. The recension, H. 3. 18, p. 358, is pr. John O'Donovan, R.I.A. Trans. xviii, pp. 71-6.

119 , 77 (t). FÁSTINI AIRT MEIC CUIND ⁊ A CHRETEM. Beg.(prose) Lá ro boí Art mac Cuind ic selga i mBregaib;(verse) Caín do Denna Den, 39 qq. Ed. John MacNeill, R.I.A. Proc. 3, Sec. iii, pp. 529-39, from this MS.

120 , 77 (t) i. ECTRA CONDLA CHAIM MEIC CUIND CHETCHATAIG. Beg. Cid día n-apar Art Óenfer. Includes verse (p. 120 b) Tathut airunsur álaib, 3 qq. Ed. J. Pokorny, ZCP xvii, p. 193.

120 , 77 (t) v, b m. [CETHRI ARDA IN DOMAIN.] Beg. Cethri arda in domain .i. tair ⁊ tíar tess ⁊ túaid. Incomplete, owing to a lacuna in the MS. Ed. D. Hyde, Celtic Rev. x, p. 141, from this MS.

There is a lacuna in the MS. before p. 121.

121 , 78 (x). [IMRAM BRAIN MEIC FEBAIL.] Fragment merely, beg. here Lil in chertle dia dernaind boí in snáthe inna certle hi lláim inna mná consreng dochom poirt. Ed. K. Meyer, Voyage of Bran, and A. G. Van Hamel, Mediaeval and Modern Irish Series, XII (1941). Cf. V. E. Hull, ZCP, xviii, p. 409.

121 , 78 (x) m. TOCHMARC EMERE. Beg. Bai ri amra airegda i nEmain Macha fecht n-aill .i. Conchobur mac Fachtna. Text of Version I interpolated from Version III. Pp. 123-124 (smaller leaf), 125-26, are intercalated by H (retouched). P. 127 to end of text is interpolated in rasura by H. Includes verse passages: (p. 125 b) Scatach. Fo chen a scith búagnigi, 81 ll.; (p. 127 b)Macrad Emna alli sluaig, 15 qq. Ed. K. Meyer, Rev. Celt. xi, p. 434, from Rawl. B. 512 (Version I); ZCP iii, p. 229, from Harleian 5280 (Version III); A. G. Van Hamel, Mediaeval and Modern Irish Series III (1933), p. 16, from Stowe D. iv. 2 (Version III). Cf. Thurneysen, Die irische Helden- und Königsage, p. 377, and ZCP viii, p. 498.

128 , 80 v. COMPERT CON CULAIND ("a Libur Dromma Snechta," add. by hand H). Beg. Láa n-áen ro bátar mathi Ulad im Chonchobur I nEmain Macha. Text of Version I, interpolated from Version II. P. 128 b m to end of text is in hand H in rasura. Ends imperfectly (p. 128 b), owing to a lacuna in the MS., with the words or Fergus dorraegai. Ed. Windisch, Irische Texte I, p. 136, from LU and Egerton 1782 (Version I); K. Meyer, ZCP v, pp. 500-4 (Version II); R. Thurneysen, Zu irischen Handschriften und Literaturdenkmälern, pp. 31-41 (critical reconstruction of the original text of the Book of Druim Snechta); A. G. Van Hamel, Mediaeval and Modern Irish Series III (1933).

There is a lacuna in the MS. before p. 129.

The three texts following here under the title Tochmarc Étaíne are independent tales. Cf. Thurneysen, Die irische Helden- und Königsage, p. 598, and Ériu xi.

129 (m ?). [TOCHMARC ÉTAÍNE.] Version I. Fragment merely, owing to a lacuna in the MS. Beg. here athaigi ⁊ a gríanan co senistrib solsib fri techt ass ⁊ tobreth tlacht corcra impe. Includes the poem: (p. 129) Etain indiu sund amne, 5 qq. The missing portion of the text is preserved in a fragmentary state in the lexicographical excerpts T.C.D. H. 3. 18, p. 605.

129 (m ?) b. TOCHMARC ETAINE. Version II. Beg. Gabais Eochaid Haeremon ríge nErend ⁊ argiallsat cóic coicid Erend dó .i. rí cach cóicid. A second copy of this text occurs YBL Facs., p. 175 a; it has been used by the later compiler Egerton 1782, fo. 106. For a study of the two recensions of Version II, see Lucius Gwvnn, ZCP ix, p. 353; x, p. 212.

130 b. TOCHMARC NÉTAINE. Version III. Beg. Fecht n-aile asraracht Eochaid Airem rí Temrach lá n-álaind i n-amsir samrata. There is a lacuna in the text after p. 130 b, and the conclusion of text is lost, owing to the fact that one column of the leaf 131/132 (pp. 131 a, 132 b) has been cut off. The following poem occurs (p. 131 b): A Bé Find in raga lim, 7 qq. Ed. Windisch, Irische Texte, I, p. 130 (text of Versions I and II and Egerton Recension of Version II); Stern, ZCP v, p. 522 (text of the excerpts H. 3. 18 of Version I); A. H. Leahy, Heroic romances of Ireland, I, 27-32; II, 143 (text of Version III); O. J. Bergin and R. I. Best: Ériu xii, 137 (text of Phillips 8214 = YBL, col. 985, and YBL 876).

There is a lacuna in the MS. before p. 133.

133 .[Compert Mongan.] Acephalous, beg. here, decming a chobair di. Ed. K. Meyer, Voyage of Bran, I, p. 42.

133 . "Scel asa mberar combad hé Find mac Cumaill Mongán ⁊ aní día fil AIDED FOTHAID AIRGDIG a scél so sís." Beg. Bai Mongan hi Ráith móir Maigi Lini inna rigu. Ed. K. Meyer, op. cit., p. 49.

134 . SCÉL MONGÁN. Beg. Dia mboí dano Forgoll fili la Mongan fecht n-and. Ed. K. Meyer, op. cit., p. 52.

134 b. TUCAIT BAILE MONGÁN. Beg. Eíssistir ben Mongan .i. Findtigernd do Mongán. Ed. K. Meyer, op. cit., p. 56, from this MS. This and the three foregoing tales are ed. V. E. Hull, ZCP, xviii, p. 409, from H. 4. 22.

134 b m. Hond úair dunánic Fáilbe, 3 qq. Breaks off imperfect. Headed "Inna hinada hi filet cind erred Ulad inso. A lLibu[ ]."