Texts

An introduction to the tract De gabálaib Érenn. It lists the peoples who are said to have invaded Ireland before the Goídil, namely Cessair, Partholón, Nemed, the Fir Bolg, the Fir Domnann, the Gáiléoin and the Túatha Dé Danann. Their narratives are told in the course of the tract.

Manuscript witnesses

MS
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 12 
incipit: Sguirim tra do scelaib na nGhaedheal adfeadsam go ro ais-neidheam ...   incl. Hériu a cía fhiarfaigther dim   
in section: f. 12ra.inf–f. 12rb = p. 21a–p. 21b
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 512/III (ff. 75B-100, 37-44) 
context: Lebor gabála Érenn (Recension B)   incipit: Scuirem do scelaib na nGoidel   incl. Lebor gabála Érenn/2A. Introduction, Lebor gabála Érenn/2B. The Antediluvians, Capa is Laigni is Luasad grind   Macalister, vol. 2, §§ 172-173. Incl. first line of poem beg. Capa is Laigne is Luasat grind.
in section: f. 76Bra.13–f. 76Bra.31

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.] Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 2, Irish Texts Society, 35, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1933.  

Concerning this section in the recensions which he calls R1, Min, R2 and R3, Macalister writes that it “has suffered modification in translation from the original Latin and in subsequent transmission [...] and in consequence two versions R1 and R2, differing widely, have come into being. [...] The version [of this section] in Min need not detain us: it does not differ essentially from R1. We turn now to R3, which in this section is very clumsy and awkward patchwork, based upon the two earlier versions, with the addition of some extraneous matter. [...] The close relationship of his [the compiler's] MS of R1 (*Q), to F, observed in the preceding section is here maintained.”

Internet Archive: <link>
§ 166 Rec. A.
[ed.] [tr.] Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 2, Irish Texts Society, 35, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1933.  

Concerning this section in the recensions which he calls R1, Min, R2 and R3, Macalister writes that it “has suffered modification in translation from the original Latin and in subsequent transmission [...] and in consequence two versions R1 and R2, differing widely, have come into being. [...] The version [of this section] in Min need not detain us: it does not differ essentially from R1. We turn now to R3, which in this section is very clumsy and awkward patchwork, based upon the two earlier versions, with the addition of some extraneous matter. [...] The close relationship of his [the compiler's] MS of R1 (*Q), to F, observed in the preceding section is here maintained.”

Internet Archive: <link>
§ 172 Rec. B.
[ed.] [tr.] Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 2, Irish Texts Society, 35, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1933.  

Concerning this section in the recensions which he calls R1, Min, R2 and R3, Macalister writes that it “has suffered modification in translation from the original Latin and in subsequent transmission [...] and in consequence two versions R1 and R2, differing widely, have come into being. [...] The version [of this section] in Min need not detain us: it does not differ essentially from R1. We turn now to R3, which in this section is very clumsy and awkward patchwork, based upon the two earlier versions, with the addition of some extraneous matter. [...] The close relationship of his [the compiler's] MS of R1 (*Q), to F, observed in the preceding section is here maintained.”

Internet Archive: <link>
§ 186 Rec. C.
Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 3, Irish Texts Society, 39, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1937.
Internet Archive: <link>
§ 303 Miniugud.

Secondary sources (select)

Scowcroft, R. Mark, “Leabhar Gabhála. Part I: the growth of the text”, Ériu 38 (1987): 79–140.  
esp. 103–104