Texts

Litany of Irish saints II (a)

  • Early Irish
  • prose
First words (prose)
  • Trí choicait curach di ailithrib Roman gabsat hErinn im Ele, im Notal, im Neman cáid, im Chorconutain, Per Iesum
Author
Ascribed to: Óengus of Tallaght
Óengus (mac Óengobann) of Tallaght
(fl. early part of the 9th century)
author of Félire Óengusso

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Language
  • Early Irish
Provenance
Origin: Ireland
Ireland
No short description available

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Lis Mór
Lis Mór ... Lismore
County Waterford
No short description available

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Sanderlin suggests that the text was written at Lismore, Co. Waterford.
Form
prose (primary)

Classification

Sources

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] [tr.] Plummer, Charles, Irish litanies: text and translation, Henry Bradshaw Society, 62, London: Henry Bradshaw Society, 1925.  
Edition, with English translation, introduction and textual notes. of a selection of Irish litanies.
CELT – edition: <link>
60–67 (first 49 articles)

Secondary sources (select)

Sanderlin, Sarah, “The date and provenance of the ‘Litany of Irish saints-II’ (The Irish litany of pilgrim saints)”, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 75 C (1975): 251–262.  
abstract:
A linguistic analysis of the ‘Litany of Irish saints-II’, articles 1-49, suggests that it was written ca. A.D. 900. Certain elements are older than this date, notably the references to Romani and ‘Egyptian monks’, and possibly also the pilgrimage element; while other aspects, particularly the inclusion of various immrama legends, are evidently contemporary with the language. The litany also displays a curious three-fold martyrdom concept in that every article appears to reflect one of the three ‘colours’ of martyrdom. This concept is possibly as old as the seventh century in Ireland. The various archaisms in the short litany may be explained by the suggestion that an antiquary was responsible for the compilation. As it is in Irish, not Latin, there is reason to doubt that this litany was ever said. A study of the identifiable place-names and geographic indications, strongly suggests that the litany was written at Lismore, Co. Waterford.
Hughes, Kathleen, “On an Irish litany of pilgrim saints compiled c. 800”, Analecta Bollandiana 77 (1959): 305–331.
Contributors
C. A., Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
August 2020, last updated: January 2024