Leabhar na nGenealach: Difference between revisions

Described by [[Eoin MacNeill]] ''"by far the largest and fullest body of Irish genealogical lore"'', it contains roughly twice as much material as found in the [[Book of Ballymote]] and the [[Book of Lecan]]. It preserves notes on families from all parts of [[Ireland]], Gaelic [[Scotland]], the pre-[[Gaels|Gaelic]], [[Viking]] and [[Normans_in_Ireland#Old_English|Old English]] peoples of [[Ireland]]. It features an eighteen -page preface, nine 'books' or divisions and a seventy-four -page Clar or general index in double columns. It consists of eight hundred and seventy one pages, 95% of which is in Mac Fhirbhisigh's handwriting. The remainder is in the hand of an unknown [[amanuensis]], and incorporates some pages written in 1636 by [[Mícheál Ó Cléirigh]].

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 [[The Tribes of Galway]]). Unlike the [[Annals of the Four Masters|Four Masters]], he appears to have had neither patron nor sponsorship of any sort.

As to the question of why he wrote Leabhar na nGenealach, Mac Fhirbhisigh himself stated it was his intention to ''"... do mhórughadh glóire Dé agus do ghéunamh iúil do chách i ccoithchinne / to increase the glory of God and to give knowledge to everyone generally"''. Thus it appears to have been a labour of love, and as a strong defence of traditional [[irish language|Gaelic]] learning, though not uncritically so. That it seems to be a book written for all the peoples of Ireland is indicated by the following:

<blockquote>''"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 willingwillingly leave a single one of them without reckoning it from its own stock"''.</blockquote>

* How Leabhar na nGenealach deals with all race and all peoples of [[Ireland]] -– free and unfree tribes, [[Fir Bolg]], [[Gaels]] and all subsequent invaders.

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 a [[recension]] of ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'' (The Book of the Taking of Ireland) by [[Mícheál Ó Cléirigh]] for a summary which deals with the legendary invaders of Ireland from the time of [[Partholón]] to [[Míl Espáine]]. Following this, Mac Fhirbhisigh begins the book proper, with the genealogies of Síol Éreamhóin ([[Érimón]]).

This is the first division or 'book' of Leabhar na nGenealach. Titled ''"Craobhsgaoileadh Cloinne [[Partholón]]"'' (the propagation of the family of Partholón) it describes the ancestry and descendants of [[Partholón]], who was the leader of the second group of people to settle in [[Ireland]]. It covers pages 27 to 30 in the [[autograph]] of the work. The following divisions cover all the invaders of Ireland up to the [[Milesians (Irish)|Milesians]].

Book five comprises some three hundred and fifty pages of the [[autograph]], representing just under half of the total text. It concerns the following groups and dynasties, and their many sub-divisions: [[Cenél nEógain]] and [[Cenél Conaill]] (Northern [[Uí Néill]]); [[Clann Cholmáin]] and [[Síl nÁedo Sláine]] (Southern Uí Néill); [[Uí Briúin]] and [[Uí Fiachrach]] ([[Connachta]]); [[Airgíalla]] (including the [[Uí Maine]], the [[Déisi]] and the [[Dál Riata]]); the [[Laigin]].

While much of Book Five's information is derived from the [[Book of Lecan]] or the [[Book of Ballymote]], 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 -– [[O'Neill dynasty|Ó Néill]] and Mac Suibhne -– this is due to Mac Fhirbhisigh updating pedigrees to his own lifetime. In the U FUF 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 Mca DomhnaillMacDonnell, a [[Gallóglaighgallowglass]] 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 poem 'Saor do leannán, a Leamhain' by [[Muireadhach Albanach Ó Dálaigh]] (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]]''). 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.

This book outlines the history and genealogical ramifications of the descendants of Íor son of [[Míl Espáine]], known as the ''Síol Ír''. The material was derived from ''Leabhar Uí Dubhagáin'' (aka the[[Leabhar Book of UíUa Maine]]). This section is followed by a shorter one treating of the [[Dál nAraidi]] and the descendants of [[Fergus mac Róich]]. It ends with a version of ''Clann Ollamhan Uaisle Eamhna'', similartsimilar to, though not exactly, the one found in theLeabhar Book of UíUa Maine.

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 in [[Latin]].

Pages 640.5 to 645.5 feature the descendants of [[Brian Bóruma]], such as the [[O'BrienBriens]]s, including the [[Anglo-Irish]] [[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 of [[Eustace]], Bennett and Power, along with others, are given the same ancestor.

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 ''[i.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. 697-739697–739) exactly parallels the sequence of the secular genealogies of the Gaoidhil (or [[Gaels|Gaelic]] 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 the [[autograph]] section of the [[Annals of the Four Masters]] -– which he refers to as ''Leabhar Airison Fhearghaill Uí Ghadhra'', Fearghal Ó Gadhra being a patron of the annals -– covering the years [[Anno Mundi|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 of [[Galway]], 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!"

Covering pages 768 to 852, it consists of eleven distinct sections, almost all on the post-Gaelic invaders (Vikings, Normans, Welsh, etc. ..). Pages 853-932853–932 comprise the ''Clár'', or index of the secular genealogies, whilcwhile pages 926-932926–932, ''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[ubhaltach Mac] F[hirbhisigh] arranged 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'

==Modern Editionedition==

''Leabhar na nGenealach'' was edited and published in 2004 as the ''The Great Book of Irish Genealogies''. The editor, [[Nollaig Ó Muraíle]], had been studying the book since 1971. It was published in five volumes by De Burca Books in 2004 in [[Dublin]].

[[Category:21stIrish-centurylanguage booksmanuscripts]]

[[Category:1640s1649 books]]

[[Category:2000s2004 books]]