Book of the O'Conor Don

Book of the O'Conor Don, the, a 17th-cent. paper manuscript containing a large collection of bardic poetry. The manuscript was written by Aodh Ó Dochartaigh for Somhairle Mac Domhnaill, a captain in Tyrone's Irish Regiment in Flanders (see also Duanaire Finn). In the 18th cent. it came into the possession of Charles O'Conor the Elder of Belanagare, Co. Roscommon, and today it is in the O'Conor-Nash family home, Clonalis, Co. Roscommon. With the exception of a few earlier items, the poems span practically the entire bardic period from the late 12th to the early 17th cent. Among the many poets represented are Eochaidh Ó hEódhasa and Tadhg Dall Ó hUiginn.