AKA The Annals of Donegal comprised of the:
Annals of Tigernach,
Annals of Clonmacnaoise,
Annals of Inisfallen,
Annals of Ulster,
and the Book of Conquests; and the books of O'Maol Conereys, Kilronan, Leacan, Isles of the Saints, MacMangus, etc. (Michael O'Clery, et al, compilers 1332-1608).
(Note Bene: Most of this is more or less from the Univ. of Cork electronic texts and Annals, v.2, Owen Connellan, tr., Dublin, 1845. I've long since lost the original links. So sorry. I compiled this timeline at the end of last century (by hand)—at a time when I had limited internet access—and there was no such thing as broadband so I've included a Wikipedia link above. Hope that helps. There is so much more available on the web these days than when I began studying the Irish texts.
I spent a lot of time searching UC Berkeley Library microfiche databases. I also spent a lot of time in the dusty library basement with turn of the (19th) century facsimiles of Irish Annals. This was all long before I started blogging—as blogging hadn't yet been invented. I never expected my notes to live on in this form. But someone asked me for a timeline. And so here it is.
This timeline is also augmented from miscellaneous timelines I was reading [they are marked in various ((inventive)) parentheses]. I used several timelines in order to be able to read Patrick's Confessios and Adámnan's Life of Columba in some sort of quasi-historical context.
So this is really my personal cribnotes for a class I took at UC Berkley on Medieval Irish texts with Professor Dan Melia. I found it helpful to have both the subject's and the author's timeline at hand—especially since the Viking invasions both promulgated and destroyed much of Ireland's literary history and oral tradition.
I found that I had to read the texts with two minds, maybe three minds—from the medieval mindset—and from the modern mindset—simultaneously. What was commonplace knowledge during medieval times was often omitted from the texts. (So you have to fill in the missing blanks with your modern mindset). Current medieval notions and schools of thought also have to be kept in mind. What was accepted knowledge, what was the new thinking of the time, etc. And keep in mind what was considered to be old-fashioned thinking way back then.
You have to bring a lot to the table to read ancient texts. You cannot read the texts with 20th or 21st century eyes—then judge them with with modern morals and value systems. That will interfere with your understanding of the medieval world. Sorry this is so clumsily said—I'm sure someone has said this more succinctly. Just my observations.
I loved Dan Melia's advice on reading the texts: you need to build separate rooms in your mind to house the texts. Mansions of the mind! I needed a freakin' master floor plan to find my way out of the labrynth. The timelines were my only hope. There are also some lovely quatrains buried in the Annals. Tidbits to keep you going. —MH)
At Cell Fhine he left his books, and a shrine with the relics of Paul and Peter, and many martyrs besides. He left these four in these churches: Augustinus, Benedictus, Silvester, and Solinus. Palladius, on his returning back to Rome (as he did not receive respect in Ireland), contracted a disease in the country of the Cruithnigh, and died thereof.
431. Saint Patrick was ordained bishop by the holy Pope, Celestine the First, who ordered him to go to Ireland, to preach and teach faith and piety to the Gaeidhil, and also to baptize them.
432. Patrick came to Ireland this year, and proceeded to baptize and bless the Irish, men, women, sons, and daughters, except a few who did not consent to receive faith or baptism from him, as his Life relates.
[There were more than a few that resisted—but Patrick was not above smiting the non-believers.. Interesting, he was given the tropes and powers of the druids. Monks hedging their bets?]
Ath Truim was founded by Patrick, it having been granted by Fedhlim, son of Laeghaire, son of Niall, to God and to him, Loman, and Fortchern. Flann Mainistrech cecinit:
Patrick, Abbot of all Ireland,
son of Calphrann, son of Fotaide,
Son of Deisse,—not fit to be dispraised,
son of Cormac Mor, son of Lebriuth,
Son of Ota, son of Orric the Good,
son of Moric, son of Leo of full success,
Son of Maximus, 'tis not unfit to name him,
son of Encretti, the tall and comely,
Son of Philisti, the best of men,
son of Fereni without a tempest,
1Son of Britan, otter of the sea,
1from whom the vigorous Britons came;
Cochnias was his modest mother;
1Nemthor his native town;
1Of Munster not small his share,
which Patrick redeemed from sorrow.
437. Finnbharr Mac Ua Bairdene, died.
438. The Seanchus and Feinechus of Ireland were purified and written, the writings and old books of Ireland having been collected and brought to one place, at the request of Saint Patrick. These were the nine supporting props by whom this was done:
Laeghaire, i.e. King of Ireland,
Corc, and Daire, the three kings;
Patrick, Benen, and Cairneach, the three saints;
Ross, Dubhthach, and Fearghus, the three antiquaries,
as this quatrain testifies:
Laeghaire, Corc, Daire the stern,
Patrick, Benen, Cairneach the just,
Ross, Dubhthach, Fearghus with goodness,
the nine props these of the Seanchus Mor.
(Armagh founded)
447. Secundinus, i.e. Seachnall Mac Ua Baird, the son of Patrick's sister, Darerca, Bishop of Ard Macha Armagh, yielded his spirit on the twenty seventh of November, in the seventy fifth year of his age.
Annals of Clonmacnaoise,
Annals of Inisfallen,
Annals of Ulster,
and the Book of Conquests; and the books of O'Maol Conereys, Kilronan, Leacan, Isles of the Saints, MacMangus, etc. (Michael O'Clery, et al, compilers 1332-1608).
(Note Bene: Most of this is more or less from the Univ. of Cork electronic texts and Annals, v.2, Owen Connellan, tr., Dublin, 1845. I've long since lost the original links. So sorry. I compiled this timeline at the end of last century (by hand)—at a time when I had limited internet access—and there was no such thing as broadband so I've included a Wikipedia link above. Hope that helps. There is so much more available on the web these days than when I began studying the Irish texts.
I spent a lot of time searching UC Berkeley Library microfiche databases. I also spent a lot of time in the dusty library basement with turn of the (19th) century facsimiles of Irish Annals. This was all long before I started blogging—as blogging hadn't yet been invented. I never expected my notes to live on in this form. But someone asked me for a timeline. And so here it is.
This timeline is also augmented from miscellaneous timelines I was reading [they are marked in various ((inventive)) parentheses]. I used several timelines in order to be able to read Patrick's Confessios and Adámnan's Life of Columba in some sort of quasi-historical context.
So this is really my personal cribnotes for a class I took at UC Berkley on Medieval Irish texts with Professor Dan Melia. I found it helpful to have both the subject's and the author's timeline at hand—especially since the Viking invasions both promulgated and destroyed much of Ireland's literary history and oral tradition.
I found that I had to read the texts with two minds, maybe three minds—from the medieval mindset—and from the modern mindset—simultaneously. What was commonplace knowledge during medieval times was often omitted from the texts. (So you have to fill in the missing blanks with your modern mindset). Current medieval notions and schools of thought also have to be kept in mind. What was accepted knowledge, what was the new thinking of the time, etc. And keep in mind what was considered to be old-fashioned thinking way back then.
You have to bring a lot to the table to read ancient texts. You cannot read the texts with 20th or 21st century eyes—then judge them with with modern morals and value systems. That will interfere with your understanding of the medieval world. Sorry this is so clumsily said—I'm sure someone has said this more succinctly. Just my observations.
I loved Dan Melia's advice on reading the texts: you need to build separate rooms in your mind to house the texts. Mansions of the mind! I needed a freakin' master floor plan to find my way out of the labrynth. The timelines were my only hope. There are also some lovely quatrains buried in the Annals. Tidbits to keep you going. —MH)
((From the Annales Cambriae; ‡ = different MS)) and is marked as such. Often, there was a conflict of dates—I noted them whenever possible. My comments are marked with [these.]
(429) 430. The second year of Laeghaire. In this year Pope Celestinus the First sent Palladius to Ireland, to propagate the faith among the Irish, and he landed in the country of Leinster with a company of twelve men. Nathi, son of Garchu, refused to admit him; but, however, he baptized a few persons in Ireland, and three wooden churches were erected by him, namely, Cell Fhine, Teach Na Romhan, and Domhnach Arta.
(429) 430. The second year of Laeghaire. In this year Pope Celestinus the First sent Palladius to Ireland, to propagate the faith among the Irish, and he landed in the country of Leinster with a company of twelve men. Nathi, son of Garchu, refused to admit him; but, however, he baptized a few persons in Ireland, and three wooden churches were erected by him, namely, Cell Fhine, Teach Na Romhan, and Domhnach Arta.
431. Saint Patrick was ordained bishop by the holy Pope, Celestine the First, who ordered him to go to Ireland, to preach and teach faith and piety to the Gaeidhil, and also to baptize them.
432. Patrick came to Ireland this year, and proceeded to baptize and bless the Irish, men, women, sons, and daughters, except a few who did not consent to receive faith or baptism from him, as his Life relates.
Ath Truim was founded by Patrick, it having been granted by Fedhlim, son of Laeghaire, son of Niall, to God and to him, Loman, and Fortchern. Flann Mainistrech cecinit:
Patrick, Abbot of all Ireland,
son of Calphrann, son of Fotaide,
Son of Deisse,—not fit to be dispraised,
son of Cormac Mor, son of Lebriuth,
Son of Ota, son of Orric the Good,
son of Moric, son of Leo of full success,
Son of Maximus, 'tis not unfit to name him,
son of Encretti, the tall and comely,
Son of Philisti, the best of men,
son of Fereni without a tempest,
1Son of Britan, otter of the sea,
1from whom the vigorous Britons came;
Cochnias was his modest mother;
1Nemthor his native town;
1Of Munster not small his share,
which Patrick redeemed from sorrow.
437. Finnbharr Mac Ua Bairdene, died.
438. The Seanchus and Feinechus of Ireland were purified and written, the writings and old books of Ireland having been collected and brought to one place, at the request of Saint Patrick. These were the nine supporting props by whom this was done:
Laeghaire, Corc, Daire the stern,
Patrick, Benen, Cairneach the just,
Ross, Dubhthach, Fearghus with goodness,
the nine props these of the Seanchus Mor.
(Armagh founded)
447. Secundinus, i.e. Seachnall Mac Ua Baird, the son of Patrick's sister, Darerca, Bishop of Ard Macha Armagh, yielded his spirit on the twenty seventh of November, in the seventy fifth year of his age.
[The first instance of copyright.]
