Description and compilation
Described by''" ... who or what prompted Mac Fhirbhisigh to undertake the compilation of Leabhar na nGenealach? ... how much planning and organisation (such as the collection of source material) preceded the writing of the book ..? Did he, at any time during the compilation ... entertain hopes of seeing it printed ...? Unfortunately, we have very little in which to base even the most tentative of answers to these questions. We simply do not know ..."''Nor is it known how he supported himself in Galway, though he did commissions for the Poor Clares and John Lynch while there. O Muraile suggests that it was a work compiled in his spare time, in between possible tutorial work for the children of local families (see
''"Na slioinnte, iomorra, da suarraighe atáid, ní fuigfeam dar ndeóin éanghloinneadh aca gan a aireamh ó a cheap fén / of the surnames, moreover, however undistinguished they may be, we do not willingly leave a single one of them without reckoning it from its own stock"''.David Sellar, who was the
Contents
Díonbhrollach (preface)
This preface states it was ''... compiled by Dubhaltach Mac Fhiribhisigh of Lecán, 1650''. The díonbhrollach describes the contents of the book, including: * An extended title on the contents, place and time of writing, author and purpose of composition. * A defence of ''senchas'', the truthfulness and validity of the tradition. * Critical remarks on the supposed descent of all the Irish fromIt is customary for great lords that, when their families and kindreds multiply, their clients and their followers are oppressed, injured and wasted. ranslation by Thomas Charles Edwards in ''Early Irish & Welsh Kinship'', p. 221/blockquote> * How Leabhar na nGenealach deals with all race and all peoples of Ireland – free and unfree tribes,Fir Bolg In medieval Irish myth, the Fir Bolg (also spelt Firbolg and Fir Bholg) are the fourth group of people to settle in Ireland. They are descended from the Muintir Nemid, an earlier group who abandoned Ireland and went to different parts of Europe. ...,Gaels The Gaels ( ; ; ; ) are an Insular Celts, Insular Celtic ethnolinguistic group native to Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. They are associated with the Goidelic languages, Gaelic languages: a branch of the Celtic languages comprising ...and all subsequent invaders. * A note ondialect A dialect is a Variety (linguistics), variety of language spoken by a particular group of people. This may include dominant and standard language, standardized varieties as well as Vernacular language, vernacular, unwritten, or non-standardize .... * An apology by Mac Fhirbhisigh for any deficiencies of this first draft '' ...Till God give us another time more tranquil than this to re-write it.''
Rémhrádh (introduction)
Begins with the following introduction: ''"Senchus genealach gabháltas uasal Éreann agus Albansgot go ccraobhsgaoileadh a ccineadhach ó créudthós na n-aimsior n-aicsidhe gus aniú (mar ghebh mid / The history of the genealogies of the invasions of the nobles of Ireland and of the Scots of Alba with the genealogical branchings of their races from the beginning of visible times until today, as we find, according to the order"''. Mac Fhirbhisigh draws upon arecension Recension is the practice of editing or revising a text based on critical analysis. When referring to manuscripts, this may be a revision by another author. The term is derived from the Latin ("review, analysis"). In textual criticism (as is the ...of ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' (The Book of the Taking of Ireland) byMícheál 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 ÓCléirigh, Fearfeasa ÓMaol Chonaire, and Pe ...for a summary which deals with the legendary invaders of Ireland from the time ofPartholón Partholón () is a character in medieval Irish Christian pseudohistory, said to have led one of the first groups to settle in Ireland. His name comes from the Biblical name ''Bartholomaeus'' (Bartholomew), and may be borrowed from a character in ...toMíl Espáine In Irish origin myths, Míl Espáine or Míl Espáne (later Latinization of names, Latinized as Milesius) is the mythical ancestor of the final inhabitants of Ireland, the "sons of Míl" or Milesians (Irish), Milesians, who represent the vast maj .... Following this, Mac Fhirbhisigh begins the book proper, with the genealogies of Síol Éreamhóin (Érimón Érimón (Modern ), commonly Anglicised as Heremon, son of Míl Espáine (and great-grandson of Breoghan, king of Celtic Galicia), according to medieval Irish legends and historical traditions, was one of the chieftains who took part in the ...).
Leabhar I to IV
This is the first division or 'book' of Leabhar na nGenealach. Titled ''"Craobhsgaoileadh CloinnePartholón Partholón () is a character in medieval Irish Christian pseudohistory, said to have led one of the first groups to settle in Ireland. His name comes from the Biblical name ''Bartholomaeus'' (Bartholomew), and may be borrowed from a character in ..."'' (the propagation of the family of Partholón) it describes the ancestry and descendants ofPartholón Partholón () is a character in medieval Irish Christian pseudohistory, said to have led one of the first groups to settle in Ireland. His name comes from the Biblical name ''Bartholomaeus'' (Bartholomew), and may be borrowed from a character in ..., who was the leader of the second group of people to settle in Ireland. It covers pages 27 to 30 in theautograph An autograph is a person's own handwriting or signature. The word ''autograph'' comes from Ancient Greek (, ''autós'', "self" and , ''gráphō'', "write"), and can mean more specifically: Gove, Philip B. (ed.), 1981. ''Webster's Third New Intern ...of the work. The following divisions cover all the invaders of Ireland up to the Milesians.
Leabhar V
Book five comprises some three hundred and fifty pages of theautograph An autograph is a person's own handwriting or signature. The word ''autograph'' comes from Ancient Greek (, ''autós'', "self" and , ''gráphō'', "write"), and can mean more specifically: Gove, Philip B. (ed.), 1981. ''Webster's Third New Intern ..., representing just under half of the total text. It concerns the following groups and dynasties, and their many sub-divisions:Cenél nEógain Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history * Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...andCenél Conaill Cenél is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cenél Conaill, the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Conall Gulban, son of Niall Noígiallach defined by oral and recorded history *Cenél nEógain (in English, Cenel Eogan) is ...(NorthernUí Néill The Uí Néill (; meaning "descendants of Niall") are Irish dynasties that claim descent from Niall Noígíallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a historical King of Tara who is believed to have died around c. 405. They are generally divided ...); Clann Cholmáin and Síl nÁedo Sláine (Southern Uí Néill);Uí Briúin The Uí Briúin were a royal dynasty of Connacht. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brión, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with th ...andUí Fiachrach The Uí Fiachrach () were a royal dynasty who originated in, and whose descendants later ruled, the ''coicead'' or ''fifth'' of Connacht (a western province of Ireland) at different times from the mid-first millennium onwards. They claimed descen ...(Connachta The Connachta are a group of medieval Irish dynasty, dynasties who claimed descent from the legendary High King of Ireland, High King Conn of the Hundred Battles, Conn Cétchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles). The modern western Provinces of ...);Airgíalla Airgíalla (; Modern Irish: Oirialla, English: Oriel, Latin: ''Ergallia'') was a medieval Irish over-kingdom and the collective name for the confederation of tribes that formed it. The confederation consisted of nine minor kingdoms, all indepen ...(including the Uí Maine, theDéisi The ''Déisi'' were a social class in Ireland between the ancient and early medieval period. The various peoples listed under the heading ''déis'' shared a similar status in Gaelic Ireland, and had little or no actual kinship, though they were ...and theDál Riata Dál Riata or Dál Riada (also Dalriada) () was a Gaels, Gaelic Monarchy, kingdom that encompassed the Inner Hebrides, western seaboard of Scotland and north-eastern Ireland, on each side of the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North ...); theLaigin The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as ''Cóiced Laigen'', meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinste .... While much of Book Five's information is derived from theBook of Lecan The ''Great Book of Lecan'' or simply ''Book of Lecan'' () ( RIA, 23 P 2) is a late-medieval Irish manuscript written between 1397 and 1418 in Castle Forbes, Lecan (Lackan, Leckan; Irish ), in the territory of Tír Fhíacrach, near moder ...or theBook of Ballymote The ''Book of Ballymote'' (, RIA MS 23 P 12, 275 foll.), was written in 1390 or 1391 in or near the town of Ballymote, now in County Sligo, but then in the tuath of Corann. According to David Sellar who was the Lord Lyon King of Arms in ..., Mac Fhirbhisigh added material not found in either of these sources; indeed, much of it is entirely unique to Leabhar na nGenealach. In a small number of cases – Ó Néill and Mac Suibhne – this is due to Mac Fhirbhisigh updating pedigrees to his own lifetime. In the UF tract this applies to the later generations of the Clan MacFhirbhisigh, their pedigree appearing in no later manuscript. The Leabhar Oirghiallach is in many instances very obviously drawn from versions of the Books of Lecan and Ballymote, yet once again there is unique material concerning Clann MacDonnell, a gallowglass family. They derive from ''a leabhar teagloim'', and ''a Leabhar Balbh Shémus Mec Fhirbhisigh'', neither of which now survives. The latter, ''The Dumb Book of Séamus Mac Fhirbhisigh'' was written by Mac Fhirbhisigh's great-grandfather, Séamus mac Diarmada Chaoich. Other sources for the remaining subjects include: '' Senchus fer n-Alban''; the ''Book of Uí Maine'', from sections now missing; Amhra Colm Cille; ''Opus chronologicum'' by Ubbo Emmius; versions of ''De Shíl Chonairi Móir'', ''De Maccaib Conaire'', the ''Duan Albanach The Duan Albanach (Song of the Scots) is a Middle Gaelic poem. Written during the reign of Mael Coluim III, who ruled between 1058 and 1093, it is found in a variety of Irish sources, and the usual version comes from the ''Book of Lecan'' and ' ...''; the poem 'Saor do leannán, a Leamhain' byMuireadhach Albanach Ó Dálaigh Muireadhach Albanach Ó Dálaigh ("Scottish Muireadhach"); (c''.''1180–c''.''1250) was a Gaels, Gaelic poet and crusader and member of the Ó Dálaigh bardic family. Early career Muireadhach was born at Derrywarragh Island, Derryvarra, Co. Mea ...(fl. 'c'. 1200). ''Leabhar Laighin'' is in part derived from the books of Lecan and Ballymote, and the ''Book of Glendalough'' (aka ''Book of Leinster The Book of Leinster ( , LL) is a medieval Irish manuscript compiled and now kept in Trinity College Dublin. It was formerly known as the ''Lebor na Nuachongbála'' ("Book of Nuachongbáil"), a monastic site known today as Oughaval. In 2023 ...''). However, once again, entirely unique material found in no other surviving manuscript is preserved here by Mac Fhirbhisigh. The only source explicitly named – though he refers vaguely to other books – is once called ''Leabhar Buidhe Lecan Mec Fhirbhisigh'', now lost.
Leabhar VI
This book outlines the history and genealogical ramifications of the descendants of Íor son ofMíl Espáine In Irish origin myths, Míl Espáine or Míl Espáne (later Latinization of names, Latinized as Milesius) is the mythical ancestor of the final inhabitants of Ireland, the "sons of Míl" or Milesians (Irish), Milesians, who represent the vast maj ..., known as the ''Síol Ír''. The material was derived from ''Leabhar Uí Dubhagáin'' (aka Leabhar Ua Maine). This section is followed by a shorter one treating of theDál nAraidi Dál nAraidi (; "Araide's part") or Dál Araide, sometimes List of Latinised names, latinised as Dalaradia or Anglicisation, anglicised as Dalaray,Boyd, Hugh AlexanderIrish Dalriada ''The Glynns: Journal of The Glens of Antrim Historical Societ ...and the descendants ofFergus mac Róich Fergus mac Róich/Róigh (literally "Virility, manliness, son of great stallion") is an Irish hero and a character in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Formerly the king of Ulaid, Ulster, he is tricked out of the kingship and betrayed by Conc .... It ends with a version of ''Clann Ollamhan Uaisle Eamhna'', similar to, though not exactly, the one found in Leabhar Ua Maine. Mac Fhirbhisigh added "a great amount of additional material ... both in the margins and interlineally ... those inserted between the lines are variant readings, some of them of considerable interest, deriving as they do from quite a differentrecension Recension is the practice of editing or revising a text based on critical analysis. When referring to manuscripts, this may be a revision by another author. The term is derived from the Latin ("review, analysis"). In textual criticism (as is the ...of the work; ... represented by just one manuscript older than LGen, namely RIA B iv2."
Leabhar VII
Book seven deals with the descendants of Ebhar mac Milidh, written or begun in 1649, comprising pages 599 to 689 (eight-five pages are blank). As Mac Fhirbhisigh intended to merely summarise material, he did not reproduce the original texts, which were extracts from Saltair Chaisil, written inLatin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun .... Pages 640.5 to 645.5 feature the descendants ofBrian Bóruma Brian Boru (; modern ; 23 April 1014) was the High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. He ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill, and is likely responsible for ending Viking invasions of Ireland. Brian Boru is me ..., such as the O'Briens, including theAnglo-Irish Anglo-Irish people () denotes an ethnic, social and religious grouping who are mostly the descendants and successors of the English Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland. They mostly belong to the Anglican Church of Ireland, which was the State rel ...Plunkett family. This was a fabrication, based on the Plunkett's status in the late 16th century, claiming them as descended from King Donnchad mac Briain, who died in Rome in 1064. As did Geoffrey Keating, Mac Fhirbhisgh reserves doubts on this, though pointing out that it should not be discounted merely because of Donnchad's age, as "there is no period in a man's life in which he may not beget." The families ofEustace Eustace ( ) is the rendition in English of two phonetically similar Greek given names: *Εὔσταχυς (''Eústachys'') meaning "fruitful", "fecund"; literally "abundant in grain"; its Latin equivalents are ''Fæcundus/Fecundus'' *Εὐστά ..., Bennett and Power, along with others, are given the same ancestor. Further sections concern the descendants of Cian macAilill Aulom Ailill Ollamh (or Oilill Olum) in Irish traditional history was the son of Mug Nuadat and was a king of the southern half of Ireland, placed in the 3rd century by early modern Irish genealogy. Sadb ingen Chuinn, daughter of Conn of the Hundred B ..., which were at least partly assembled in the early 8th century. The final section is at least in part derived from the Book of Ui Maine.
Leabhar VIII
Titled ''Naoimhsheanchas'', this book concerns the genealogies of the Irish saints. "This now extends from p. 692 to p. 753, but it contains various layers of material inserted at different times and from quite a variety of sources. They include the Book of Leinster, the Book of Ui Maine, Leabhar Breac, and Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh's recension of ''Naoimhsheanchas Naomh Inse Fáil''. Mac Fhirbhisigh thought well enough of Ó Cléirigh's additions to incorporate them into LGen. While most of the text was written at that period '' .e., c.1650', it is clear from variations in the ink and handwriting that Dubhaltach made numerous later additions to the work. The most notable of these appear to date from 1653, and other insertions may have been made in 1657 and 1664." The ''Naoimhsheanchas'' is set out in much the same manner as Leabhar na nGenealach itself; "... the layout of the saints genealogies (on pp. 697–739) exactly parallels the sequence of the secular genealogies of the Gaoidhil (orGaelic Gaelic (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...people) in LGen." ''Rém Ríogharaidhe Éreann'', a catalogue of the Kings of Ireland to 1198, concludes the book. Mac Fhirbhisigh's main source is very likely to be RIA MS C iii3 or volume c of theautograph An autograph is a person's own handwriting or signature. The word ''autograph'' comes from Ancient Greek (, ''autós'', "self" and , ''gráphō'', "write"), and can mean more specifically: Gove, Philip B. (ed.), 1981. ''Webster's Third New Intern ...section of theAnnals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' () or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' () are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Genesis flood narrative, Deluge, dated as 2,242 Anno Mundi, years after crea ...– which he refers to as ''Leabhar Airison Fhearghaill Uí Ghadhra'', Fearghal Ó Gadhra being a patron of the annals – covering the years AM 2242 to AD 1171. Mac Fhirbhisigh notes that the text was completed ''"...i cColáisde na Gaillmhe dhia Céadaoin vii. Augusti. anno MDCXLIX / in the college ofGalway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ..., 8 August 1649."'' Given that Galway was within days of plague, famine and siege, O Muraile expressed the wish "for the merest hint by Mac Fhirbhisigh of what conditions were like in the stricken city while he was penning his list of Irish kings!"
Leabhar IX and the ''Clár''
Covering pages 768 to 852, it consists of eleven distinct sections, almost all on invaders (Vikings, Normans, Welsh, etc. ..). Pages 853–932 comprise the ''Clár'', or index of the secular genealogies, while pages 926–932, ''Clár Naomh nÉireann'', is an index concerning Irish saints. It finishes with a dedication and note by Mac Fhirbhisigh: ''Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, DF do theagair agus rus graif for Iuil, 1653 / To the greater glory of God. D bhaltach MacF irbhisigharranged and wrote it during July (?) 1653.'' This is followed by three poems from pages 935 to 957: 'Triallam timcheall na Fodla'; Tuilleadh feasa ar Eirinn oig'; 'Foras focal luaightheal libh'
Cuimre na nGenealach
The ''Cuimre'' is an abridgement of Leabhar na nGenealach. The original is now lost, but it survives in two apparently incomplete 18th century transcripts; RIA MS 24 N2, and Maynooth Irish MS B 8. While containing about 30% of the material of Leabhar na nGenealach, it also contains much new, and some unique material. Mac Fhirbhisigh began it on Monday 1 April 1666, at his home at Castletown, Co. Sligo. By Saturday 5 May, he had completed some 45% of the surviving material, and would appear to have finished prior to returning toDublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...and working forSir James Ware Sir James Ware (26 November 1594 – 1 December 1666) was an Anglo-Irish historian. Personal details Born at Castle Street, Dublin on 26 November 1594, James Ware was the eldest son of Sir James Ware (1568–1632) and Mary Bryden, daughter of .... Mac Fhirbhisigh was stabbed to death by Thomas Crofton in a shebeen at Doonflin, Co. Sligo, in January 1671.
Modern edition
''Leabhar na nGenealach'' was edited and published in 2004 as ''The Great Book of Irish Genealogies''. The editor,Nollaig Ó Muraíle Nollaig Ó Muraíle is an Irish scholar. He published an 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 Muraíle ..., had been studying the book since 1971. It was published in five volumes by De Burca Books in 2004 inDublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ....
See also
* Genealach Chloinne Fheorais * Leabhar Cloinne Maoil Ruanaidh * Leabhar Ua Maine * MS 1467 * Lost Annals of Lecan * Ó Cléirigh Book of Genealogies
References
*Ó Muraíle, Nollaig (1996). ''The Celebrated Antiquary''. Maynooth. *MacFhirbhisigh, Dubhaltach; Ó Muraíle, Nollaig, editor (2004). ''Leabhar Genealach: The Great Book of Irish Genealogies''. Dublin: DeBurca. (Alternate names by which it may be referenced include ''Leabhar Mor nGenealach'', and ''Leabhar Mor na nGenealach'').
External links
Leabhair Mhóra na nGenealach / Great Books of Gaelic Genealogies
* https://www.ucd.ie/specialcollections/archives/dubhaltachmacfirbisigh/ * https://web.archive.org/web/20100821075322/http://www.deburcararebooks.com/geneal.htm
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leabhar Na Ngenealach 1649 books 1650 books 1666 non-fiction books 17th-century history books 2004 non-fiction books 1649 in Ireland 1650 in Ireland 1666 in Ireland 17th-century manuscripts 17th-century Irish literature Genealogy publications Irish-language manuscripts Irish genealogy Irish non-fiction books History of Galway (city)