Grianghraf de ghrúpa comhrá na Gaeilge sa leabharlann Iárnach, Baile Átha Cliath

Photograph of Irish Language conversation group in The Central Library, Dublin

By kind permission of Dublin City Public Libraries

Bookcover of the Thomas Kinsella translated and Louis Le Brocquy illustrated, 'The Tain'

Bookcover of the Thomas Kinsella translated edition, of 'The Tain' 1970. The illustrations on the bookcover are by Louis Le Brocquy.

Photograph of Irish Language conversation group in The Central Library, Dublin

Photograph of Irish Language conversation group in The Central Library, Dublin

By kind permission of Dublin City Public Libraries

Dr. Briona Nic Dhiarmada, Author of the Irish Language & Legends Feature

Dr. Bríona NicDhiarmada lectures in Irish in the Dept. Of Languages and Cultural Studies, University of Limerick. She was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and UCD. Among her publications are Téacs agus Comhthéacs (with M.Ní Annracháin), Cork University Press 1998 as well as various articles on aspects of Irish language literature. She was a contributing editor to The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing Vols. IV & V. She has previously worked as a scriptwriter and as a producer/director in television.

The Irish Liber Hymnorum 1

This is a sample of a piece of manuscript taken from the ancient writings known as the Irish Liber Hymnorum. This manuscript, made of vellum, was a compilation of prayers and hymns written in Latin and Irish, which were cited in the early Celtic Church. It was written in the eleventh century. It contains 34 vellum folios and an additional 3 scraps of vellum bound in at the end. The initial letters of the hymns are decoratively illuminated for the fist 31 folios, after which the style becomes less decorative and is thought to be of a much later date. Ref: The Irish Liber Hymnorum edited from the Manuscripts with translation notes and glossary, by J.H. Bernard, D.D., and R. Atkinson, LL.D., Volume 1, Test and Introduction, London, 1898

The Book of the Dean of Lismore 2

Here are two facsimiles from the Book of the Dean of Lismore: (1) Autograph of Dean McGregor, (2) part of Ossian’s Ode To Finn This manuscript is a collection of native literature from the Highlands of Scotland written in both Scottish and Irish. It contains poetry and annals from both countries showing the similarities between the two with the influence of the bardic schools. Much of the poetry is of a particular kind known as Ossianic Poetry. These ancient bardic verses were composed by Ossian and his clan. The manuscript itself is believed to have been written by James McGregor, the Dean of Lismore, after inspection of his signature found on one of the pages in the book. The language is written in a phonetic orthograghy as opposed to Gaelic/Irish orthography, meaning that the words are written as they are pronounced. This is similar to the principal of the Welsh and Manx languages. However the letter used is the English letter of the 15th and 16th centuries. Ref: The Dean of Lismore’s Book; a selection of ancient Gaelic poetry from a manuscript collection made by Sir James McGregor, Dean of Lismore, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, edited with a translation and notes by the Rev. Thomas McLoughlan and an introduction and additional notes by William F. Skene Esq, Edinburgh Edmonston and Douglas 1862, Page xcvi.

The Book of the Dean of Lismore 1

Here are two facsimiles from the Book of the Dean of Lismore: (1) Genealogy of McGregor, by Dougal the servitor and (2) lines by Countess of Argyle. Almost all of the book, with the exception of a few latin notes is written in Gaelic and hosts a collection of Irish poetry. On page 144 the genealogy of the mcgregors was written by the brother Dougal. It outlines their line of decent from the Scottish kings. It is signed in the year 1512. Ref: The Dean of Lismore’s Book; a selection of ancient Gaelic poetry from a manuscript collection made by Sir James McGregor, Dean of Lismore, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, edited with a translation and notes by the Rev. Thomas McLoughlan and an introduction and additional notes by William F. Skene Esq, Edinburgh Edmonston and Douglas 1862, Frontpiece.

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Round Tower and Church, Clonmacnois

This is a photo of the ruins of Teampull Finghin, part of the ancient centre of Celtic Christianity at Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly, in Ireland. The monastic settlement was founded by St. Ciaran around 548AD. A local prince, Diarmuid ua Cerbhaill assisted the saint to erect the monastery there, and when he was elected king shortly after, he endowed the monastery with valuable riches. It was here that the book of Dun Cow and other ancient manuscripts are believed to have been written. Like most monastic sites of the Early Christian period, it was plundered by the Viking raids of the 9th and 10th centuries and again by the English Crown in Tudor times. Today the remains of the church at Teampull Finghin can be seen with a round tower attached to it. It is uncertain as to whether the round tower was built before or after the church as both structures have been damaged and reconstructed after various raids. The tower measures at 48 feet high to the base of the cap and has a diameter of 12 feet 6 inches at ground level.