Texts

Fragmentary annals of Ireland

Incoming data

A fragmentarily preserved text of Irish annals and narrative expansions, possibly compiled in the 11th century and perhaps based on the lost Annals of Clonenagh (Radner). Five fragments now remain in a late, 17th-century transcript, each covering a part of the period between 573 and 914 and focusing on the province of Leinster.

Manuscript witnesses

Text

Broken book of Giolla na Naomh Mac Áedhagáin (lost)

Dubhaltach’s version of FA (below) was itself copied from what he called a ‘broken book’ of Giolla na Naomh Mac Áedhagáin. If the latter is identical with the ollamh of that name recorded in the annals and if he was the scribe (rather than merely the owner) of the manuscript, this book would seem to date to the early 15th century.

Text

Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique, MS 5301-5320

ff. 1a–36a

MS

Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique, MS 5301-5320

f. 3–f. 38

Text

Manuscript written by Dubhaltach Óg Mac Fir Bhisigh for John Lynch (lost)

The uniquely preserved text in the Brussels manuscript (below) was transcribed from a now lost manuscript written by Dubhaltach Óg Mac Fir Bhisigh for John Lynch.

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.] Radner, Joan N. [ed. and tr.], Fragmentary annals of Ireland, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1978.

CELT – edition (2–182),: <link> CELT – translation (3–183): <link> CELT – introduction (vii–ix): <link>

[ed.] [tr.] OʼDonovan, John [ed. and tr.], Annals of Ireland: three fragments, Dublin: Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society, 1860.

Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Digitale-sammlungen.de: <link> Digitale-sammlungen.de: View in Mirador

Secondary sources (select)

Hamel, A. G. van, “The foreign notes in the Three fragments of Irish annals”, Revue Celtique 36 (1915–1916): 1–22.

Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link>

Mac Niocaill, Gearóid, The medieval Irish annals, Medieval Irish History Series, 3, Dublin: Dublin Historical Association, 1975.

Mc Carthy, Daniel P., The Irish annals: their genesis, evolution and history, Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2008.

comments: Contents: Chronicles and annals: origins, compilation, taxonomy and nomenclature (p. 1); Witnesses to the annals: the primary manuscripts (18); Annalistic literature (61); World history in Insular chronicles (118); The Iona chronicle (153); The Moville and Clonmacnoise chronicles (168); Liber Cuanach and its descendants (198); The Armagh and Derry chronicles (223); The Connacht and Fermanagh chronicles (245); The Regnal-canon chronicles (271); Final compilation stages (304); Reliable annalistic chronology (342); Epilogue (355); Twelve centuries of Irish chronicling: from Bethlehem to Bundrowes (355); Necessity for a comprehensive analysis of chronicle features (357); Outstanding chronicle compilations (358); Manuscript witnesses to the annals (361); Survey of annalistic verse up to A.D. 1000 (364); The regnal-canon (368); Bibliography (375) and index (393).