Texts
Senchas síl Ír
Incoming data
The catalogue entry for this text has not been published as yet. Until then, a selection of data is made available below.
One of the major compilations of Irish genealogical material and king-lists, describing the Ulaid and (allegedly) related population groups whose descent is traced from Ír, one of the sons of Míl. The oldest seven manuscript versions of the collection represent at least three distinct recensions. In John V. Kelleher's view, their “chief theme is that the true Ulaid (fír-Ulaid) are the Dál nAraide and Uí Echach Coba, and this particularly set forth in the tracts that begin the section, which recount the senchus of Síl Ír, the Ulaid kings of Ireland, the kings of Emain Macha, etc. Also of Síl Ír are the Ciarraige, Corco mdruad, Conmaicne, and Ulaid. In the corpus the historical Ulaid are closely related to the Érainn and both are attached to the ancestral line of Dál Cuinn at Óengus Turbech Temrach, 19 generations before Conn Cétchathach. However, not much attention is paid to Dál Fiatach in Rawl. 502.”
Manuscript witnesses
Text
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 2
incipit: Hir filius septimus Version edited by Dobbs.
ff. 129v(280)b–138v(298)
MS
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 23 P 2
incipit: hIr filius septimus Miled fuit[?]. cum uenisent filii Militis ad Hiberniam mortus est
f. 114(123)r–
Text
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS 24 N 2
context: Cuimre na ngenealach (Dubhaltach Mac Fhir Bhisigh) Abbreviated version (Cuimre)
Text
Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, MS D ii 1
Acephalous and incomplete. Begins with the final portion of the quatrain on Dún Báetáin and proceeds with the section on the Dál Fiatach, headed Míniugudh seancasa Fear nUladh annseo .i. Dal Fhiatach mar adeir Leabar Sabaill Padraig.
Text
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339
rubric: Senchas Síl h-Ír fo h-Erinn in so sis incipit: H-ír octauus filius Militis
p. 329e-333
MS
Dublin, Trinity College, MS 1339
rubric: Senchas síl hÍr fo hErinn in so sis incipit: hír octauus filius Militis qui cum uenissent filii Militis in Hiberniam mortuus est
p. 329e
Text
Dublin, University College Library, Additional Irish MS 14
context: Leabhar mór na ngenealach (Dubhaltach Mac Fhir Bhisigh) Dubhalthach Mac Fhir Bhisigh (Leabhar genealach).
Text
Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Adv. MS 72.1.6
To be verified.
Text
Maynooth, Russell Library, MS B 8
context: Cuimre na ngenealach (Dubhaltach Mac Fhir Bhisigh) Abbreviated version (Cuimre)
Text
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud Misc. 610/Leabhar na Rátha
rubric: Senchus sil hIr in so
ff. 106vc.3–111rb.inf
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud Misc. 610/Leabhar na Rátha
rubric: Senchus sil hIr in so incipit: Hír septimus filius Miled, qui cum uenissent filii Militis ad Hiberniam in Sicilia insola sepultus est
f. 106vc.3–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: Hic etiam adhuc plura praetermitto [inline] ... Genel. Conmaicne [left margin] incipit: Coic m. la Cuscraid incl. Scuchais in fer cerdda ar cáe Conmaicne genealogies. First section (f. 87ra.36-rb.4) incl. verse attrib. to Pátraic, beg. Scuchais in fer cerdda ar cae (8qq); followed by two further sections headed: Genel. nEithne (f. 87rb.4-14, with heading in left margin) and Genel. Conmaicne Cuili Talad (rb.14-23).
in section: f. 87r(161)a.36–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: Senchas Sil hIr fo hErind incipit: hIr septimus filius Militis qui cum uenissent filii Militis ad Hiberniam in insola Sicciliae sepultus est de quo tertia plebs regalis generis exortus est incl. Secht prímríg for hÉrind áin, Secht meic Carbaid cróda in chrech Tract on the Ulaid and allegedly related population groups whose descent is traced from Ír, a son of Míl. Incl. (a) Opening passage in Latin (f. 84va.26-29); (b) genealogical section in Irish (f. 84va.30-vb.52), incl. verse beg. Secht meic Carbad cróda in chrech (8qq, headed De quibus hoc carmen dicitur), a list of kings of Ulster from Dál Fiatach, verse beg. Secht primrig for hErind ain (5qq, headed De quibus dicitur hoc carmen) and a list of 24 kings from Cermna to Cóelbad, headed Is iat so immorru na rig-sin; (c) two lists of Ulster kings, with regnal years, one headed Anmann inso na rig o Chimbaeth co Conchobor (ff. 84vb.52-85ra.) and the other Na rig immorro iar Conchobor (85r.6-15). Both f. 85r and f. 85v contain a single column. Ed. CGH 269-277.
in section: f. 84v(156)a.25–
Text
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: Senchas Sil hIr fo hErin Shortest version. Its arrangement of the material differs from that of LL and Laud 610.
ff. 84v(156)a.25–87v(162)g.55
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
incl. Ro-mbáe laithi rordu rind, A Fhiachnae na ráid in gáe Genealogical sections headed: (a) De forslointib .h. nEchach (f. 85r.15-19); (b) De forslointib Ulad iar coitchiund inso (f. 85r.19-f. 85v.), incl. verse attr. to either Cú Chulainn or Conchobor mac Nessa, beg. Rombae laithi rordu rind (3qq, f. 85v.2ff), and verse attr. to Mongán mac Fiachnai (Mongan m. Fiachna cecinit do thecosc a athar), beg. A Fhiachnae na raid in gae (23qq); (c) Item g. Con Caulaind (f. 85v.32, with heading in left margin), pedigree of Cú Chulainn, occupying one line followed by an erasure of about five lines; (d) G. Sil Moga Ruith (85v.38-54), with pedigrees for Cú Allaid and Mog Ruith, ending i sunn condrecat fri Ciarraige. Ed. CGH 278-286.
in section: f. 85r(157).15–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
Ciarraige genealogies, beg. with the pedigree of Flann Feórna mac Colmáin. No heading. Many individual pedigrees are included under section headings. Following CGH, sections beg. on f. 86ra: Cl. Dunchada; Cl. Cathasaig; Cl. Mael Chobae; Cl. Con Cothaid; Cl. Echdach; Cl. Ailella; Cl. Oengusa; Cl. Murthuile; Cl. Arttgaile; Cl. Rechtabrat; Cl. Duinnd Cothaid; Cl. Donngail; Cl. Duib Da Braine; Cl. Duib Da Thuili; Cl. Duib Daurlais; .h. Dunchada Bic; .h. Duiblu; .h. Chongair; .h. Faebairdatha; Cl. Con Gamna; Cl. Con Coingelt; Cl. Duib Indrecht; Cl. Cellaich; Cl. hUargalaich; .h. Angeda; .h. Congusa; .h. Baethallaich.. Beg. on f. 86rb: .h. Etalaich; .h. Chonbraind; Cl. Gaethnemaig; Cl. Leain; .h. Charaige; Cl. Coluimm; .h. Murgalaich; .h. Fethamla; .h. Thommain; Cl. Fianchuire; Cl. Fianchoe; Cl. Fianairle; Cl. Mile; Cl. Sochraidi; Cl. Donngaile; Cl. Cholcenn; .h. Muirdebair; .h. Abartaich; .h. Gemeil; Cl. Chartaich; Cl. Conchobuir; .h. Chon Cuan.
Beg. on f. 86va: .h. Dungusa; Cl. Taircheltaich; Cl. Duib Nam; .h. Sneidgaile; Cl. Indsain Meic Aine; De .h.[b] Ambrit; Cl. Forgill; Cl. Conallaich; Cl. in Baain; .h. Ailchine; Cl. Amorgin; Cl. Scellain; Cl. Fidchuire; Cl. Enidri; .h. Liga; De hUib Angain; Cl. Cetheirnich; .h. Aithirne.
Beg. on f. 86vb: .h. Cholla; Cl. Sarain M. Duibi; Cl. Barddain; Cl. Etnu M. Duibe; .h. Chorbbain; .h. Chon Duin; .h. Findtigirn; .h. Eothigirn; .h. Eothigirn [sic, for Fidabrat]; .h. Chummaind; .h. Mc Linge; .h. Brocain; .h. Bruinniuca; .h. Chairetha; .h. Daigri; .h. Diugurnaich; Cl. Faelchon; Cl. Luigne. Beg. on f. 87ra: Cl. Setnae; Cl. Garbain; Cl. hUaire; Uib Luchta in so sis; Cl. Aingeda; Cl. Lassirne; Cl. Flaind; Cl. Fogartaich; Cl. Eichlich; Cl. Flanngusa; Cl. Coimdellaich; Cl. Diumassaich. Ed. CGH 287-314.f. 85v(158).43–
MS
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502/2 (ff. 19-89)
rubric: Gen. Corco mDruad incipit: Conchubar ⁊ Lochlaind dá mac Mael Sechlainn Corco m'Druad genealogies. After the pedigrees of the opening section (a.23-34), further pedigrees are found under two section headings: Nunc .h. Nad Fraich (ra.31-34) and Muinter Minain nunc (ra.34-36). Ed. CGH 315-316.
f. 87r(161)a.23–
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.
[dipl. ed.] OʼSullivan, Anne [ed.], The Book of Leinster, formerly Lebar na Núachongbála, vol. 6, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1983. xv + pp. 1327-1708.
CELT – pp. 1327–1595 (excl. pp. 1596–1708): <link>
LL
[ed.] OʼBrien, M. A. [ed.], Corpus genealogiarum Hiberniae, Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1962.
comments: Reprinted in 1976 and 2005, with an introduction by J. V. Kelleher.
CELT – pp. 1–332 (Rawl. B 502): <link>
269–328 (Rawl. B 502); 405–413 (LL and see further genealogies later on) Rawl B 502 and part of LL, with variants
[ed.] [tr.] Dobbs, Margaret E., “The history of the descendants of Ir [part 1]”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 13 (1921): 308–359.
Internet Archive: <link>
Lec B
[ed.] [tr.] Dobbs, Margaret E., “The history of the descendants of Ir [part 2]”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 14 (1923): 44–144.
Internet Archive: <link>
Lec B
[ed.] [tr.] OʼGrady, Standish Hayes, “Extracts [Irish text and translation]”, in: Standish Hayes OʼGrady, Silva Gadelica (I–XXXI): a collection of tales in Irish, vol. 2: translation and notes, London: Williams & Norgate, 1892. 455–499, 500–548, 571–576.
Secondary sources (select)
Kelleher, John V., “The pre-Norman Irish genealogies”, Irish Historical Studies 16:62 (September, 1968): 138–153.
Its “chief theme is that the true Ulaid (fír-Ulaid) are the Dál nAraide and Uí Echach Coba, and this particularly set forth in the tracts that begin the section, which recount the senchus of Síl Ír, the Ulaid kings of Ireland, the kings of Emain Macha, etc. Also of Síl Ír are the Ciarraige, Corco mdruad, Conmaicne, and Ulaid. In the corpus the historical Ulaid are closely related to the Érainn and both are attached to the ancestral line of Dál Cuinn at Óengus Turbech Temrach, 19 generations before Conn Cétchathach. However, not much attention is paid to Dál Fiatach in Rawl. 502” (p. 141).
