Kilbrittain in County Cork, Munster, Ireland — Irish South-West ((Éire) North Atlantic Ocean)

The Book of Lismore

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 18, 2019

1. The Book of Lismore Marker

Inscription.

THE BOOK OF LISMORE. It is believed that the Book of Lismore was compiled in the 15th Century to commemorate the marriage of the Gaelic lord Finghin Mac Cárthaigh Riabhach, of Kilbrittain Castle, to Caitilín, daughter of the seventh earl of Desmond. The medieval manuscript contains 166 large vellum folios of material that a learned person of the time would have been expected to know. It has passed through some of the most influential families in the land. It has resided in abbeys, castles, libraries and in the homes of those who had the responsibility for its custodianship. It has been read, studied and transcribed , illuminated even , by noblemen, scholars and scribes. It later became known as Leabhar Mhic Cárthaigh Riabhaigh. MacCarthy was patron of the friary at Timoleague, and some of the book's pages were copied there in 1629 by the scribe Mícheál Ó Cléirigh. During a raid on Kilbrittain in 1642, the book was taken by Lewis, Lord Kinalmeaky, of Lismore who sent it back to his father, with a letter, at Lismore Castle. The book remained there until it was discovered behind a wall at the castle in 1814, during rebuilding works.

THE BOOK OF LISMORE. It is believed that the Book of Lismore was compiled in the 15th Century to commemorate the marriage of the Gaelic lord Finghin Mac Cárthaigh Riabhach, of Kilbrittain Castle, to Caitilín, daughter of the seventh earl of Desmond. The medieval manuscript contains 166 large vellum folios of material that a learned person of the time would have been expected to know. It has passed through some of the most influential families in the land. It has resided in abbeys, castles, libraries and in the homes of those who had the responsibility for its custodianship. It has been read, studied and transcribed — illuminated even — by noblemen, scholars and scribes. It later became known as Leabhar Mhic Cárthaigh Riabhaigh. MacCarthy was patron of the friary at Timoleague, and some of the book's pages were copied there in 1629 by the scribe Mícheál Ó Cléirigh. During a raid on Kilbrittain in 1642, the book was taken by Lewis, Lord Kinalmeaky, of Lismore who sent it back to his father, with a letter, at Lismore Castle. The book remained there until it was discovered behind a wall at the castle in 1814, during

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rebuilding works.

The Book of Lismore is written in Irish, but not the modern version spoken today. It is written on vellum, made from calfskin, an expensive material at the time of the book's writing, in the 15th century. The Book of Lismore contains many important texts, including a cosmological work, the Ever-new Tongue; the most extensive account of the lives of the saints in an Irish-language medieval manuscript; an Irish translation of the travels of Marco Polo; and one of the greatest compositions of the Fenian Cycle, Acallam na Senórach, or The Conversation of the Old Men. The illustrated capitals are thought to have been added in the 19th century by Donnchadh Ó Floinn, an Irish-language scribe living on Shandon Street in Cork. The book is today held in The Glucksman Gallery in University College Cork. There is a copy held in Kilbrittain Castle.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Communications • Man-Made Features • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1629.

Location. 51° 40.299′ N, 8° 40.655′ W. Marker is in Kilbrittain, Munster, in County Cork. Marker is on Munster Route R603, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on a building ruins set back from the road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kilbrittain, Munster P72, Ireland. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 kilometers of

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 18, 2019

2. The Book of Lismore Marker

Kilbrittain Castle visible in distance

this marker, measured as the crow flies. Kilbrittain Castle (here, next to this marker); Triangulation Pillar (approx. 10.9 kilometers away); Nineteenth Century Ship's Bollard (approx. 10.9 kilometers away); RMS Lusitania Lifeboat Davit (approx. 11 kilometers away); Lusitania Memorial Garden (approx. 11 kilometers away); Old Head of Kinsale / An Seancheann (approx. 11 kilometers away); R. M. S. Lusitania (approx. 11 kilometers away); Victims of the RMS Lusitania Sinking (approx. 11 kilometers away).

Also see . . .
1. The Book of Lismore. (Submitted on September 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Lives of the Saints from The Book of Lismore. (Submitted on September 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. The Book of Lismore: Eugene Curry's account. (Submitted on September 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 107 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 15, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.