Gaelic Manuscripts

A very large and important body of manuscripts, representing a rich tradition of history, religion and literature from the early 15th to the late 19th century. First to be acquired were 114 volumes, transcribed principally by the scribal family of Ó Longain, for John Murphy, Bishop of Cork (1772-1847). The Irish manuscripts collected by Dr Laurence Renehan (1797-1857), church historian and president of Maynooth (1845-1857) came as part of a large bequest. Manuscripts (115 in number) collected or transcribed by Eugene O’Curry (1796-62), leading Gaelic scholar and Professor of Archaeology and Irish History at the Catholic University of Ireland, comprise the third major collection. Other manuscripts have been magnanimously given to the library since that time. All are listed and described in a printed catalogue begun by Paul Walsh, and completed by Pádraig Ó Fiannachta.

• Catalogue

Further information

• Ó DÚSHLÁINE, Tadhg: ‘The religious mind of Maynooth’s Gaelic manuscripts’ in Agnes  Neligan (ed.), Maynooth library treasures (Dublin, 1995), pp. 91-111
• Ó FIANNACHTA, Pádraig: ‘Lámhscríbhinní Gaeilge an Choláiste’ in  Etaín Ó Síocháin (eag.), Maigh Nuad: saothrú na Gaeilge, 1795-1995 (Maigh Nuad, 1995), pp. 36-48
•  Ó FIANNACHTA, Pádraig: ‘Lámhscríbhinní Gaeilge Mhaigh Nuad’ in Léachtaí Cholm Cille, xxiii (1993), pp. 177-99

Maynooth Manuscripts on Microfilm

The following manuscripts have been microfilmed and may be consulted in the John Paul II Library on the microfilm reader-printer:

B 2-5; B 7-9; B 11-13; B 16-20; C 3-4; C 6-7; C 10-13; C 14-17; C 19024; C 25-30; C 31-35; C 37-9; C 41-9; C 51-8; C 60-1; C 63-5; C 67-71; C 73; C 75-84; C 86-8; C 90-92; C 94-6; C 100-6; C 108-115; DON 1-3; DON 6; DON 9-12; DON 14; DR 1-4; H 1-7; LAV 12; LAV 15; LC 1-2; LOM 1-3; LM 1-5; M 1-78; M 80-7; M 89-112; M 114; MF 1-5;  MF 7-10; MF 12-4; R 64-73; R 75-6; R 78-81; R 97

Irish Script on Screen

A number of Maynooth manuscripts are being digitized as part of the Irish Script on Screen project, Meamram Páipéar Ríomhaire. The project, run by the School of Celtic Studies at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, digitises a selection of manuscripts from various Irish institutions, with commentary. These form a valuable corpus for the use of scholars and students that can be examined minutely on screen, without the need for access to, or handling, the original manuscripts.