The (Great) Book of Lecan (Irish: Leabhar (Mór) Leacain) (RIA, MS 23 P 2) is a medieval Irish manuscript written between 1397 and 1418. It is in the possession of the Royal Irish Academy and should not be confused with the Yellow Book of Lecan, an earlier and more complete manuscript.[1]
Leabhar Mór Leacain is written in Middle Irish and was created by Adam Ó Cuirnín for Giolla Íosa Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh. The material within was transcribed from the Book of Leinster, latter copies of the Book of Invasions, the dinsenchas, the banshenchas and the Book of Rights.[1]
At one stage it was owned by James Ussher. James II of England then deposited it at the Irish College, Paris. In 1787, the Chevalier O'Reilly returned it to Ireland; where it was at one stage in the possession of Charles Vallancey. He passed it on to the Royal Irish Academy.[2]
There were originally 30 folios; the first nine were apparently lost in 1724. The pages are unfortunately covered in a greasy substance which makes them transparent and reduces their legibility.[1]
See also
External links
- Irish Sript on Screen has a facsimile
References
- ^ a b c Jones' Celtic Encyclopedia
- ^ Mary Frances Cusack, ‘’An Illustrated History of Ireland’’ Project Gutenberg eBook
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
