Lebor gabála Érenn

Lebor gabála Érenn
‘The book of the taking of Ireland’

Manuscripts

The various manuscript witnesses of the Lebor gabála are typically subdivided into a number of classes according to the recension or redaction to which these copies are thought to belong (such as A, B, M and C below). This does not mean that the manuscript texts of each recension present a uniform, homogeneous picture. In fact, these often exhibit innovations (interpolation, cross-contamination, rearrangement, etc.) that come with the scribe or that have been adopted from the exemplar. Nevertheless, there are also classes of closely related manuscript copies that form what might be called ‘subrecensions’.

^{n. 1} See R. Mark Scowcroft, ‘Leabhar Gabhála. Part I: the growth of the text’, Ériu 38 (1987) and R. Mark Scowcroft, ‘Mediaeval recensions of the Lebor Gabála’ in Lebor gabála Érenn... (2009).

Lists of manuscripts and other details specific to each recension will be treated separately. See the following pages:

The four main medieval recensions or redactions

Recension A = R¹ (Macalister) = a (Scowcroft) = A (Thurneysen, Van Hamel):

Recension B = R² (Macalister) = b (Scowcroft) = BI (Thurneysen) = Ba (Van Hamel):

Míniugud recension = Min (Macalister) = m (Scowcroft) = BIII (Thurneysen) = Bb (Van Hamel):

Recension C = R³ (Macalister) = c (Scowcroft) = C (Thurneysen, Van Hamel):

Modern recension

Ó Cléirigh recension, i.e. the modernised version by Micheál Ó Cléirigh (1631) = K or R⁴ (Macalister) = D (Thurneysen, Van Hamel)

Revision of the Ó Cléirigh recension (forthcoming)

Other

Lebor gabála Érenn (annalistic version) (forthcoming)

Language

Middle Irish, Early Modern Irish

Date

11th-12th century (Recension A)

Textual relationships

The earliest references to the invasions tradition are in the Cambro-Latin compilation Historia Brittonum, and the poem Can a mbunadas na nGaedel by Máel Muru Othna, both dated to the 9th century.

Influenced

Foras feasa ar Éirinn, Annals of the Four Masters

Classification

Cycles of the Kings Irish legendary history Mythological Cycle

Subject tags

 Míl Espáine  Cesair  Partholón  Nemed mac Agnomain  Túatha Dé Danann  Fomoire  Fir Bolg

Contents

Work in progress

Following the example of R. Mark Scowcroft, ‘Leabhar Gabhála. Part I: the growth of the text’, Ériu 38 (1987), the compilation may be divided into five distinct tracts:

^[1] The origins and wanderings of the Goídil » entry

A. Introductory matter » entry

^[2] De gabálaib Érenn » entry

^[3] De fhlaithiusaib Érenn » entry

^[4] Comaimsera ríg in domuin ocus gabal nÉrenn / fri rígaib Érenn » entry

^[5] Christian kings of Ireland » entry

• Sources

Notes

^1.

See R. Mark Scowcroft, ‘Leabhar Gabhála. Part I: the growth of the text’, Ériu 38 (1987) and R. Mark Scowcroft, ‘Mediaeval recensions of the Lebor Gabála’ in Lebor gabála Érenn... (2009).

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 the entry for the relevant manuscript.

[ed.] [tr.] Macalister, R. A. S., Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, Irish Texts Society 34, 35, 39, 41, 44, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1932–1942. Internet Archive – Vol. 1 (1938 ed.): <link> Internet Archive – Vol. 2 (1939 ed.): <link> Internet Archive – Vol. 3 (1940 ed.): <link> Internet Archive – Vol. 4 (1941 ed.): <link> Internet Archive – Vol. 5 (1956 ed.): <link>

[ed.] [tr.] Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 1, Irish Texts Society 34, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1932. Internet Archive: <link>

[ed.] [tr.] Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 2, Irish Texts Society 35, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1933. Internet Archive: <link>

[ed.] [tr.] Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 3, Irish Texts Society 39, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1937. Internet Archive: <link>

[ed.] [tr.] Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 4, Irish Texts Society 41, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1939. Internet Archive: <link>

[ed.] [tr.] Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 5, Irish Texts Society 44, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1942. Internet Archive: <link>

[tr.] Carey, John [tr.], “[Various contributions]”, in: Koch, John T., and John Carey (eds.), The Celtic Heroic Age. Literary sources for ancient Celtic Europe and early Ireland & Wales, Celtic Studies Publications 1, 4th ed. (1995), Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2003. [Various]. § 108. Translation of the first recension (A).

Secondary sources

Carey, John [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: textual history and pseudohistory, Irish Texts Society, Subsidiary Series 20, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 2009.

Scowcroft, R. Mark, “Leabhar Gabhála. Part I: the growth of the text”, Ériu 38 (1987): 79–140.

Scowcroft, R. Mark, “Leabhar Gabhála. Part II: the growth of the tradition”, Ériu 39 (1988): 1–66.

Hamel, A. G. van, “On Lebor Gabála”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 10 (1915): 97–197. Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link>

CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts, Online: University College Cork. URL: <http://www.ucc.ie/celt>. “Online index to the Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of Invasions) based on R. A. S. Macalister's translations and notes”, compiled by Michael Murphy. direct link

Queried results

if available

Thanisch, Eystein P., “The reception and use of Flann Mainistrech and his work in medieval Gaelic manuscript culture”, 2 vols, vol. 2: Appendices, PhD thesis: University of Edinburgh, 2015. Edinburgh Research Archive – PDF: <link> 21   [App. 8] “Aideda in ‘Éstid a eolchu cen ón’ and LGÉ N (prose)” 33   [App. 11] “Aideda in ‘Éstid a eolchu cen ón’ and LGÉ F (prose)”

Thanisch, Eystein P., “The reception and use of Flann Mainistrech and his work in medieval Gaelic manuscript culture”, 2 vols, vol. 1, PhD thesis: University of Edinburgh, 2015. Edinburgh Research Archive – PDF: <link> 124   [3] “Erudition and elucidation: Flann Mainistrech in Lebor gabála Érenn”

Clarke, Michael, “The Leabhar gabhála and Carolingian origin legends”, in: Moran, Pádraic, and Immo Warntjes (eds), Early medieval Ireland and Europe: chronology, contacts, scholarship. A Festschrift for Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Studia Traditionis Theologiae 14, Turnhout: Brepols, 2015. 441–479.

Harlos, Axel, “Abraham: Referenz und Autorität für die mittelalterliche irische Identitätsfindung im Lebor gabála Érenn”, in: Lieb, Ludger, Klaus Oschema, and Johannes Heil (eds), Abrahams Erbe: Konkurrenz, Konflikt und Koexistenz der Religionen im europäischen Mittelalter, Das Mittelalter: Perspektiven mediävistischer Forschung. Beihefte 2, Berlin: De Gruyter, 2015. 170–184.

Hemprich, Gisbert, Rí Érenn – ‘König von Irland’ – Fiktion und Wirklichkeit, 2 vols, Bonner Beiträge zur Keltologie 2, Berlin: curach bhán, 2015. 31   [4] “Die Quellen” 31   [4.1] “Lebar gabála und Réim rígraide” 4.1.1. Exkurs: Bezeichnungsproblematik beim Ursprungsmythos; 4.1.2. Das eigentliche Lebar gabála; 4.1.3. Réim rígraide; 4. Forschungsstand und Textausgaben; 4.1.5. Unpubliziertes Material / Desiderata; 4.1.6. Die Handschriften; 4.1.7. Die Rezensionen. 72   [4.4] “Von Lebar gabála abhängige Listen” 78   [4.6] “Mit Lebar gabála thematisch verwandte Texte”

McLeod, Neil, “Irish law and the wars of the Túatha Dé Danann”, in: Breatnach, Liam, Ruairí Ó hUiginn, Damian McManus, and Katharine Simms (eds), Proceedings of the XIV International Congress of Celtic Studies, held in Maynooth University, 1–5 August 2011, Dublin: School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2015. 75–94.

Thanisch, Eystein, “Flann Mainistrech’s Götterdämmerung as a junction within Lebor gabála Érenn”, Quaestio Insularis 13 (2012): 68–93.

Poser, Thomas, Dagmar Schlüter, and Julia Zimmermann, “Migration und ihre literarische Inszenierung. Zwischen interkultureller Abschottung und transkultureller Verflechtung”, in: Borgolte, Michael, Julia Dücker, Marcel Müllerburg, Paul Predatsch, and Bernd Schneidmüller (eds), Europa im Geflecht der Welt. Mittelalterliche Migrationen in globalen Bezügen, Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 2012. 87–100.

Breatnach, Pádraig A., “On the Ó Cléirigh recension of Leabhar gabhála”, Éigse 37 (2010): 1–57.

Lajoye, Patrice, “À propos de la Chronique apocryphe bulgare et du Livre des conquêtes de l’Irlande. Le troisième fils et le tiers du peuple”, in: Hily, Gaël, Patrice Lajoye, and Joël Hascoët (eds.), Deuogdonion: mélanges offerts en l’honneur du professeur Claude Sterckx, Publication du CRBC Rennes 2, Rennes: Tir, 2010. 369–380.

Toner, Gregory, “Macha and the invention of myth”, Ériu 60 (2010): 81–109. “Macha, daughter of Ernmas” Cites passages concerning the ‘mast of Macha’ (e.g. CIH 632.20-23). “Macha, wife of Nemed”

Ó Riain, Pádraig, “Scottorum origines fabulosae: the Metz version of Lebor gabála Érenn”, in: Carey, John [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: textual history and pseudohistory, Irish Texts Society, Subsidiary Series 20, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 2009. 33–47.

Ó Riain, Pádraig [comp.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, vol. 6: Index of names, Irish Texts Society 63, London: Irish Texts Society, 2009.

Carey, John [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: textual history and pseudohistory, Irish Texts Society, Subsidiary Series 20, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 2009.

Carey, John [tr.], “[Various contributions]”, in: Koch, John T., and John Carey (eds.), The Celtic Heroic Age. Literary sources for ancient Celtic Europe and early Ireland & Wales, Celtic Studies Publications 1, 4th ed. (1995), Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2003. [Various].

Ó Concheanainn, Tomás, “Lebor gabála in the Book of Lecan”, in: Barnard, Toby, Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, and Katharine Simms (eds.), ‘A miracle of learning’: studies in manuscripts and Irish learning. Essays in honour of William O’Sullivan, Aldershot: Ashgate, 1998. 68–90.

CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts, Online: University College Cork. URL: <http://www.ucc.ie/celt>.

Littleton, C. Scott, and Linda A. Malcor, “Did the Alans reach Ireland? A reassessment of the ‘Scythian’ references in the Lebor gabála Érenn”, in: Greppin, John, and Edgar C. Polomé (eds), Studies in honor of Jaan Puhvel, 2 vols, vol. 2: Mythology and religion, JIES Monograph 21, Washington, DC: Institute for the Study of Man, 1997. 161–182.

Myrick, Leslie Diane, “The stelographic transmission of prediluvian scéla: an apocryphical reference in the Irish Lebor gabála”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 47 (1995): 18–31.

Szerwiniack, Olivier, “D’Orose au Lebor gabála Érenn: les gloses du manuscrit Reg. lat. 1650”, Études Celtiques 31 (1995): 205–217.

Scowcroft, R. Mark, “Leabhar Gabhála. Part II: the growth of the tradition”, Ériu 39 (1988): 1–66.

Scowcroft, R. Mark, “Leabhar Gabhála. Part I: the growth of the text”, Ériu 38 (1987): 79–140.

Carey, John P., “Lebar Gabála, Recension I”, unpublished PhD dissertation: Harvard University, 1983.

Scowcroft, Richard Mark, “The hand and the child: studies of Celtic tradition in European literature”, PhD thesis: Cornell University, 1982.

Macalister, R. A. S., Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, Irish Texts Society 34, 35, 39, 41, 44, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1932–1942. Internet Archive – Vol. 1 (1938 ed.): <link> Internet Archive – Vol. 2 (1939 ed.): <link> Internet Archive – Vol. 3 (1940 ed.): <link> Internet Archive – Vol. 4 (1941 ed.): <link> Internet Archive – Vol. 5 (1956 ed.): <link>

Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 5, Irish Texts Society 44, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1942. Internet Archive: <link>

Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 4, Irish Texts Society 41, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1939. Internet Archive: <link>

Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 3, Irish Texts Society 39, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1937. Internet Archive: <link>

Thurneysen, Rudolf, “Partholón”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 20 (1936): 375–381.

Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 2, Irish Texts Society 35, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1933. Internet Archive: <link>

Hamel, A. G. van, “Partholon”, Revue Celtique 50 (1933): 217–237.

Macalister, R. A. S., “The ‘Fermoy’ copy of Lebor gabála”, Ériu 11 (1932): 172–173.

Macalister, R. A. Stewart [ed.], Lebor gabála Érenn: The book of the taking of Ireland, 5 vols, vol. 1, Irish Texts Society 34, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1932. Internet Archive: <link>

Thurneysen, Rudolf, Die irische Helden- und Königsage bis zum siebzehnten Jahrhundert, Halle: Niemeyer, 1921. Internet Archive: <link> 47   [1.15] “Lebor Gabāla und Acallam na Senōrach”

Meyer, Kuno, “Partholón mac Sera”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 13 (1921): 141–142. Internet Archive: <link>

Thurneysen, Rudolf, “Zur keltischen Literatur und Grammatik: 4. Zu Lebor Gabála”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 12 (1918): 283–284. Internet Archive: <link>

Gwynn, Lucius, “Leabhar gabhála and the Book of Leinster”, Ériu 8 (1916): 114–116.

Hamel, A. G. van, “On Lebor Gabála”, Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 10 (1915): 97–197. Internet Archive: <link> Internet Archive: <link>

Thurneysen, Rudolf [ed.], Zu irischen Handschriften und Litteraturdenkmälern II, Abhandlungen der königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philologisch-Historische Klasse 14.3, Berlin, 1913. 1–9   [15] “Leabhar Gabhála”

web page identifiers

page name: Lebor gabála Érenn
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page url: //www.vanhamel.nl/codecs/Lebor_gab%C3%A1la_%C3%89renn
page ID: 4019
page ID tracker: //www.vanhamel.nl/codecs/Show:ID?id=4019

Contributors

Patrick Brown, Dennis Groenewegen, Julie Le Blanc

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