Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh (

fl. ''Floruit'' (; abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for "they flourished") denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indicatin ...

1624–1664) was an Irish historian and genealogist, known in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

as Peregrine O'Clery.

Life and work

Ó Cléirigh was a son of Diarmaid Ó Cléirigh, and thus a third-cousin once removed to Brother

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Mícheál Ó Cléirigh (), sometimes known as Michael O'Clery, was an Irish chronicler, scribe and antiquary and chief author of the ''Annals of the Four Masters,'' assisted by Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Per ...

, whom he assisted in compiling the ''

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' ( ga, Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' (''Annála na gCeithre Máistrí'') are chronicles of medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Deluge, dated as 2,24 ...

''. However, Paul Walsh believed him to be a son of Diarmad mac An Chosnamghaigh mac Concoigríche mac Diarmada Ó Cléirigh, who died in 1552. This Diarmaid was a brother of Tuthal (died 1512) and Giolla Riabhach (died 1527).

was the son of Donnchaidh, a son of Uilliam son of Tuathail Ó Cléirigh, who died in 1512. The first modern-day editor of the annals, John O'Donovan, believed that Ó Cléirigh was the son of the poet and historian Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh, although this has since been disputed. Along with Brother Mícheál, Ó Cléirigh transcribed the years 1332–1608 in the annals. The earliest copy of Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh's life of

Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill Hugh Roe O'Donnell (Irish: ''Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill''), also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell (30 October 1572 – 10 September 1602), was a sixteenth-century leader of the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. He became Chief of the Name of Clan O'Donnel ...

is in his handwriting. He also wrote a poem on Mary, sister of

Red Hugh O'Donnell Hugh Roe O'Donnell ( Irish: ''Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill''), also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell (30 October 1572 – 10 September 1602), was a sixteenth-century leader of the Gaelic nobility of Ireland. He became Chief of the Name of Clan O'Donne ...

, who died in 1662, which is now among the Phillips Manuscripts at the

National Library of Ireland The National Library of Ireland (NLI; ga, Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann) is the Republic of Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The mission of the National Library of Ireland i ...

.Phillips MS 23068 (NLI G 167) He seems to have given material to

Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (), also known as Dubhaltach Óg mac Giolla Íosa Mór mac Dubhaltach Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh, Duald Mac Firbis, Dudly Ferbisie, and Dualdus Firbissius (fl. 1643 – January 1671) was an Irish scribe, translator, histori ...

, which the latter inserted on page 299 of

Leabhar na nGenealach ''Leabhar na nGenealach'' ("Book of Genealogies") is a massive genealogical collection written mainly in the years 1649 to 1650, at the college-house of St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway, by Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh. He continued to add ...

His own principal work is the compilation known as the O'Clery Book of Genealogies. He died at Gortnaheltia, in the valley of Glenhest at the foot of

Nephin Beg Nephin Beg or Nefin Beg

, overlooking Lough Beltra. He bequeathed his books to his sons Diarmaid and Seaán. It is believed that Cú Choigcríche's descendants are the Cleary and Clarke families of Brackleagh, Glenhest,

Burrishoole Burrishoole () is one of the nine baronies of County Mayo in Ireland. It is named after the former Gaelic territory of Umhaill, which also included Murrisk barony, and roughly means the "borough of Umhaill". Legal context Baronies were creat ...

County Mayo County Mayo (; ga, Contae Mhaigh Eo, meaning "Plain of the yew trees") is a county in Ireland. In the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Counci ...

The O'Clery Book of Genealogies

References

* http://www.ucc.ie/faculties/celtic/lss/c001/soc.htm

Sources

* ''O'Clerys in west Mayo'', by Padraig Ó Móghráin, pp. 70–73, in ''Measgra i gCuimhne Mhichíl Chléirigh'', ed. S. O'Brien, 1944. * ''The Celebrated Antiquary: Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (c.1600-1671) - His Life, Lineage and Learning,'', by

Nollaig Ó Muraíle Nollaig Ó Muraíle is an Irish scholar. He published an acclaimed edition of Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh's ''Leabhar na nGenealach'' in 2004. He was admitted to the Royal Irish Academy in 2009. Life and career A native of Knock, County Mayo, Ó ...

, An Sagart, Maynooth, 1996; reprinted 2003. ; . See pages xix, 12, 20–1, 27, 59, 172, 176, 183, 214, 234–6, 275, 327–8. * ''Notes on Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh One of the Four Masters'', Cathair na Mart 2001 (Journal of the Westport Historical Society), pp. 27–44, An Br. Angelo Mac Shamhais, OSF. * ''Irish Leaders and Learning through the Ages'', edited by Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2003. {{DEFAULTSORT:O Cleirigh, Cu Choigcriche People from County Donegal People from County Mayo Irish scribes 17th-century Irish historians Irish genealogists Irish book and manuscript collectors Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Irish-language writers

Life and work

The O'Clery Book of Genealogies

See also

References

Sources