Texts

Martyrology of Donegal

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh
  • Irish
Extensive martyrology (calendar of saints) prepared by Mícheál Ó Cléirigh in the early part of the 17th century (c.1630).
Title
Martyrology of Donegal
Also known in Latin as the Martyrologium Dungallense or Martyrologium sanctorum Hiberniae.
Author
Ó Cléirigh (Mícheál)
Ó Cléirigh (Mícheál)
(d. 1643)
Irish scholar, historian and scribe.

See more
Language
  • Irish
Textual relationships
Related: Carais Páttraicc phuirt MachaCarais Páttraicc phuirt MachaMiddle Irish poem on the virtues of the saints of Ireland, attributed to Cuimíne of Condere (Connor, Co. Antrim).Cotlud cen chrinad collaCotlud cen chrinad collaShort Irish poem (2qq) on the saint Mo Chóe of Óendruim/Nóendruim (modern Nendrum, Co. Down).
List of Irish saints (Colum Cille o Dhoire)List of Irish saints (Colum Cille o Dhoire)

A catalogue of roughly 150 saints of Ireland, whose selection may ultimately derive from the Martyrology of Donegal. It is extant in two versions, both of which may be linked to members of the Ó Cléirigh family: as a set of glosses to Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh’s version of the versified list of Irish saints beg. Náemhshenchas náemh Insi Fáil; and as a list found at the end of Rawl. B 484, which may be in the hand of Mícheál Ó Cléirigh.

Náemhshenchas náemh Insi Fáil (Version C)Náemhshenchas náemh Insi Fáil (Version C)

A metrical list of the saints of Ireland that represents an expanded version (243 qq) of an earlier such list. This recension is considered to be the work of Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh or Peregrine O’Clery, who prefixed a prose preface in which he explains that he supplied additional verses for saints not previously included and names the sources he used, including the Félire Óengusso and Martyrology of Gorman. His text is accompanied by glosses that appear to have the Martyrology of Donegal as their source.

Associated items
Carais Páttraicc phuirt MachaCarais Páttraicc phuirt MachaMiddle Irish poem on the virtues of the saints of Ireland, attributed to Cuimíne of Condere (Connor, Co. Antrim).Cotlud cen chrinad collaCotlud cen chrinad collaShort Irish poem (2qq) on the saint Mo Chóe of Óendruim/Nóendruim (modern Nendrum, Co. Down).
Story of Mo Chóe and the angelStory of Mo Chóe and the angelA short story in which Mo Chóe (Caelán), while building his church at Nendrum, is approached by an angel in the form of a magnificent bird. Two versions of it are known, one of which is found in the entry for the saint's feast-day in the Martyrology of Donegal.

Classification

Sources

Primary sources Text editions and/or modern translations – in whole or in part – along with publications containing additions and corrections, if known. Diplomatic editions, facsimiles and digital image reproductions of the manuscripts are not always listed here but may be found in entries for the relevant manuscripts. For historical purposes, early editions, transcriptions and translations are not excluded, even if their reliability does not meet modern standards.

[ed.] [tr.] OʼDonovan, John, James Henthorn Todd, and William Reeves [ed. and tr.], The martyrology of Donegal: a calendar of the saints of Ireland, Dublin, 1864.
Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link>
Text and translation.
Contributors
C. A., Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
October 2010, last updated: January 2024