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The Annals of the Four Masters / Annála Ríoghachta
Éireann
Best known of all the works produced by the Franciscan friars in
Ireland are the Annals of the Four Masters. The Annals contain a
complete early history of Ireland up to the early 17th century and
were complete in August 1636, in County Donegal.
The Annals were based on earlier works including the Annals of
Loch Cé (1014), the Annals of Ulster (15th century) and the
Annals of Connacht (1234). They were compiled by Cúcoigcríche
Ó Duibhgennáin (County Leitrim), Fearfease Ó
Maolconaire (County Roscommon), Cúcoigcríche Ó
Clérigh and the most well known of the four, Friar Michael
Ó Clérigh (County Donegal d. 1643). Michael Ó
Clérigh (also known as Tadhg an tSléibhe before he
became a friar) was from a family of scholars renowned for their
interest in native Irish history and poetry. A professional chronicler
trained in the Irish bardic schools, he was sent to Ireland to collect
information on his antiquities and the lives of the Irish saints
and to return the information collected to his superiors in Louvain.
Irish Palaeography
The text used in Irish manuscripts of the period is completely
different from the English text. The style of the text in these
manuscripts is based on a tradition that developed in Ireland from
the 7th century onwards (the Early Christian period). It is an insular
script developed from earlier Roman texts unique to monasteries
in Ireland and Britain.
Any one volume or manuscript was worked on by a number of scribes
who painstakingly transcribed from one volume to another, copying
earlier works.
The text can be very difficult to read. It takes years of scholarly
work to become an expert. The text, written in Latin or old Irish,
has no punctuation and uses lots of abbreviations. You will notice
little strokes above letters for abbreviations. Common ones used
are the nomina sacra or sacred names, for example: ihs for Jesus
and xps meaning Christus or Christ.
Spelling in Irish manuscripts differs from those on the continent;
they may have been influenced by native language. They also use
lots of ligatures.
What is Palaeography?
Palaeography is the study and deciphering of old handwriting. When
you first look at documents form the 16th century the handwriting
can appear illegible. It takes a bit of practice, determination
and knowledge of a few simple rules to help with transcribing.
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