Texts

verse beg. Naoimhsheanchas naomh Innsi Fáil

  • Early Modern Irish
  • verse

A metrical list of the saints of Ireland that represents an expanded version (243 qq) of an earlier such list. This recension is considered to be the work of Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh or Peregrine O’Clery, who prefixed a prose preface in which he explains that he supplied additional verses for saints not previously included and names the sources he used, including the Félire Óengusso and Martyrology of Gorman. His text is accompanied by glosses that appear to have the Martyrology of Donegal as their source.

First words (verse)
  • Naoimhsheanchas naomh Innsi Fáil
Manuscripts
ff. 2r–20r
beg. ‘Naoimhsenchus naomh inse Fail’
243 qq, with a prose preface on f. 1r.
Language
  • Early Modern Irish
Form
verse (primary)
Length
Number of stanzas: 243
Textual relationships
(Possible) sources: Náemhshenchas náemh Insi Fáil (Version A)Náemhshenchas náemh Insi Fáil (Version A)Versified list of the saints of Ireland.
Náemhshenchas náemh Insi Fáil (Version B)Náemhshenchas náemh Insi Fáil (Version B)Versified list of the saints of Ireland.
Félire ÓengussoFélire ÓengussoFélire Uí Gormáin (Martyrology of Gorman)Félire Uí Gormáin (Martyrology of Gorman)Irish metrical calendar of saints compiled by Máel Muire Ua Gormáin in the 12th century.Martyrology of DonegalMartyrology of DonegalExtensive martyrology (calendar of saints) prepared by Mícheál Ó Cléirigh in the early part of the 17th century (c.1630).
Associated items
List of Irish saints (Colum Cille o Dhoire)List of Irish saints (Colum Cille o Dhoire)

A catalogue of roughly 150 saints of Ireland, whose selection may ultimately derive from the Martyrology of Donegal. It is extant in two versions, both of which may be linked to members of the Ó Cléirigh family: as a set of glosses to Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh’s version of the versified list of Irish saints beg. Náemhshenchas náemh Insi Fáil; and as a list found at the end of Rawl. B 484, which may be in the hand of Mícheál Ó Cléirigh.

Classification

Subjects

saints of IrelandIreland and Irish history, Irish people, saints
saints of Ireland
id. 27585

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.] Grosjean, P., “Naemsenchus náemh nÉrenn”, in: J. Fraser, Paul Grosjean, and J. G. OʼKeeffe (eds), Irish texts, fasciculus III, London, 1931. 40–80 + corrigenda + fasc. V: 100 (corrigenda).
Celtic Digital Initiative – PDF: <link>

Secondary sources (select)

Breatnach, Pádraig A., The Four Masters and their manuscripts: studies in palaeography and text, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2013. xiv + 206 pp.
Plummer, Charles, “A tentative catalogue of Irish hagiography”, in: Charles Plummer, Miscellanea hagiographica Hibernica: vitae adhuc ineditae sanctorum Mac Creiche, Naile, Cranat, 15, Brussels: Société des Bollandistes, 1925. 171–285.
Utrecht University Library: <link>
227–229 [id. 188.]
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
February 2022, last updated: June 2023