No More Learning

39 This is found in vol. vi. , fol. paper, written by Michael Oge O'Longan, between the years 1 8 10 and 1822. It contains three hundred and sixty pages. P. 13.
Limerick, and Kerry. It was transcribed, 4° There is another copy of this Poem between the years 1796 and 1818. It has in vol. xiv. , transcribed by Michael 467 numbered pages, with a few at the
O'Longan, son of Peter and father of beginning, not numbered, p. 209.
thirty-two
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 14.
Expedition to Leinster. 47 It contains forty-four stanzas. There is a
poem «8 ascribed, with apparent propriety,*? to Cormac Mac Cullinan, among the O'Longan Collection. There, the introduction of the Anglo-Normans
into Erinn, by Dermod Mac Morrough, is foretold, as also their defeat, in
several battles, by Donnell Mor O'Brien, King of Munster. That poem is
addressed to Sealbhach, the priest, and a Secretary to King Cormac. It consists of 72 verses. In the Psalter Mac Richard, Bodleian Library,
Oxford,
there is a 5° the Duties of a and addressed to Poem, regarding King,
Cormac Mac Cuillionan, King and Bishop of Cashel, in the ninth and
beginning of the tenth century. There is an anonymous poem of con- siderable antiquity, and which appears to have been written for some King of Cashel—possibly by or for Cormac Mac Cullinan. 51 It contains one hundred and eight verses. A poem, reciting the names of Irish Saints, and the tribes towhicheachSaintbelonged,isascribedtoCormac,bysomewriters; but,
2
Copies of this poem are in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, and other copies were in possession of William Monck Mason, as also of Edward O'Reilly. This latter writer tells us, that one of these poems contains the monarch's will, and
that he forbears giving a particular accouut of each poem, because not serving to illustrate the history or antiquities of Ireland. 53 Bishop Nicholson fell into a strange mistake,5* in ascribing to Cormac Mac Cullinan a poetical tract, which is said to have been composed by Cormac Ulfada, a King of
Ireland in the third century. He confounded this King, who lived in pagan times, with the bishop and King of Cashel. . 55 This mistake has been com- mented on, likewise, by Walter Harris. s6
It is more than questionable, if any of the existing ruins on the Rock of Cashel date back to the time of this holy bishop. Still, popular tradition and
it is more usually attributed to his secretary Sealbhach. 5
fancies57 to insuchabelief. 58 Thebeautifulandwell- delight indulge
poetic
known stone-roofed church called Cormac's Chapel has been popularly but
erroneously ascribed to the king-bishop, Cormac Mac Cullenan. However, it is much later than his time and by more than two centuries. 5 ? Its erection
« See O'Longan's "Catalogue of Irish McMullen, (Una), such traditions are ex- Manuscripts belonging to the Royal Irish pressed. There we find an exquisite
Academy," vol. iv. , p. 38. There is another copy of this in vol. xiv. . p. 181.
48 SeeO'Longan MSS. , vol. viii. , p. 266, R. I. A.
« In Eugene O'Curry's opinion. 50 At folio 72.
51 Vol. xiv. , O'Longan's Manuscripts, p,
76.
5* See
" Majestic pile, whose hoary forehead rises In proud defiance of the storms of time, Great King of ruins, on thy rock-throne
seated
In lonely grandeur, solemn, sad, sublime. The footsteps of a thousand years have
trodden
The changing universe since thou wert
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," Januarii. Supplementum, num. x. ,
Colgan's
young;
53 Edward O'Reilly's Chronological Since through thy sculptured aisles and
p. 5-
Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," vol. i. , part i. , p, 61.
54 In his "Irish Historical Library. "
num. i. ,
55 Dr. Lanigan very truly remarks,
Of — of power destroyed,
'
Appendix,
pp.
66,
67.
"
glory passed away.
Nicholson was—very poorly acquainted with "
Irish history. " Ecclesiastical History of
Ireland," vol. iii. , chap. xxii. ,sect. vi. , n. 61,
p. 358.
s6 See Harris' Ware,- vol. iii. "The
Writers of Ireland," book i. , chap, i. , p. 5. 57 In a varied and admirable collection of
national poems and versicles, by Mary A.
ssjhe reader is referred to what has been
already stated, on this subject, in the Life of St. Albert, bishop of Cashel, at the 8th day of January, in the First Volume of this
work, Art. i. , chap. i.
59 It has been observed, by Sir Winston
"
that
"Snatches
of St. Song," p. 61,
U. S. A. , 1874.
Louis,
apostrophe to old Cashel : —
lofty arches
In solemn strains Jehovah's praises rung. Thou seemest left, to tell our race to-day
'
September 14. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
to Cormac Mac Carthy, who flourished in the twelfth century, who 63—
is
was also King—and it has been stated bishop of Minister, and of the
owing
same tribe as our king-bishop.
63
61
named and s—imilar
Being similarly having powers—remarkable, likewise, for his piety and zeal to promote religion it is
easytoconceive,howbothcouldhavebeenconfounded. Accordingtothe Munster Annals or,
King Cormac's Chapel, Exterior.
nates of Ireland, both lay and ecclesiastical. This pious, brave and liberal prince had con- tinual contention for the sovereignty of Munster during the term of his reign ; and in 1138, he was treacherously murdered by Dermod Sugach O'Conor Kerry, at the instigation of Turlough O'Brien, who was his own son-in-law,
gossip and foster-child.
Both exteriorly and interiorly, Cormac's Chapel is one of the most perfect and interesting ecclesiastical structures of that period now existing within the
Churchill, that the armorial ensign of King of the world 2855, unto the year of Grace Stephen— who ruled in England from a. d. 1660," p. 209, and Kent's "Grammar of 1135 to 1 1 55—had for device Mars, a Heraldry. " Appendix 1. Herlim's Cata- Sagittarius, and Sol. See in the " Divi logues, 1674, P« 4°« There is a curious Britannici : being a Remark upon the Lives representation of the stone over the door- of all the Kings of this Isle, from the year way entering Cormack's Chapel on the
as they are generally called, the Annals
of Innisfallen, Cor- mac, son of Muir-
eadhach, son of Carthach, was de- throned by Tur-
lough O'Conor, King of Ireland, in 1127,63 and obliged to go on a pil-
grimage to Lismore, while his brother Donogh was inau- gurated in his place. To this period, like-
has been ascribed the erec-
tion of Teampull Chormaic, and so named from the founder. 64 How- ever, he was after- wards restored to the throne of Mun-
ster, and in 1134, the same record chronicles the con- secration of Cormac
Mac Carthy at Cashel, by the Archbishop and Bishops of Mun- ster, and the mag-
wise,
344 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 14.
limits of the British empire. In the general plan, it has many points of
resemblance with the earlier stone-roofed churches of the Irish, as in its
simple division into nave and chancel, and in the crofts or apartments placed
over them ; but in other respects, it is unlike them ; and, taken as a whole,
it may be considered unique in Ireland. 6* This building, which is evidently
the earliest ecclesiastical one on the Rock, stands in close proximity to
the Cathedral, which latter has been built against it, with an entrance from
the south transept, the intention being to convert the chapel into a chapter-
66
stone, porch,
lines of each roof have been kept parallel to produce symmetry in the barge-
68
courses.
The southern elevation of the nave is divided into four storevs. 69 The
Rock, on which has been carved, the figure Scriptores," tomus i. Prolegomena, p. of a Centaur and Sagittarius combined, cxliii.
It consists of a nave and chancel, with two quadrangular towers at
house.
the east end of nave ; the latter has a deeply -projecting north porch, and the chancel has a recess or sub-chancel at the east end. Both nave and sub- chancel are roofed with as also the north tower and 6? while the
aiming an arrow at an animal presenting the
appearance of a lion. See "The Irish
62
However, Dr. O'Brien, who correctly
Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 24, p. 189.
60 "
translates rxig-efcop mum^m "royal bishop
of Munster," believes that the scribe Dr. George Petrie thus writes: "It Maelbrighde had no other foundation for
will be recollected that in one of the passages already cited—that from the Annals of
styling Cormac Royal Bishop of Munster than because he had repaired the Cathedral Church of Cashel, and two churches at Lismore, and was otherwise reputed a man of a pious and holy life.
InnisfalUn, at the year 1 127—it is stated,
that on his expulsion from the throne of
Cashel in 1127, Cormac was obliged to take
refuge in Lismore, where lie was forced to
receive a bachall, or crozier : but though Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1026, 1027. there is nothing improbable in ihe circum-
stance that a deposed prince, ot his high character for piety, should have received ihe episcopal rank to reconcile him to his 1. 1 lien condition, the statement in the Annals is not sufficient to establish that such was the fact, as the word bachall is used in the Irish authorities not only to denote the crozier of a bishop, abbot, or abbess, but also the penitential staff of a pilgrim. But there is another historical evidence of much higher authority, because a contemporaneous one, which would go far indeed to establish the fact that Cormac had received an episcopal crozier, and enjoyed the dignity of a bishop,
when he was restored to his throne. This
following entries of a manuscript copy of the Gospels written in Ireland, and now preserved
amongst—theHarleianMSS. intheBritish "
Museum n. 1802. " Ecclesiastical Archi-
tecture and Round Towers of Ireland,"
Eirinn, do Reir an Arthar Seathrun Ceiting,
Ollamh re Diadhachta, or the History of Ireland from the Earliest Period to the
English Invasion, by the Rev Geoffrey Keating, D. D. , the consecration of this
chapel took place in 1 134, chap, vii. , p. 605. John OMahony's edition, New York, 1 866, 8vo.
6s See Dr. George Petrie's " Ecclesias-
tical Architecture and Round Towers of
Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs, i. , p. 292.
66
evidence is found in the last of the
part ii. , sect. , iii. , subs. 1, p. 307. This tecture of Ireland, No. viii. Cashel, pp.
writer afterwards cites the Irish passage of
403 to 417.
08 An admirable of the whole ground plan
group of ruins on the Rock of Cashel is shown in a woodcut, at p. 413, ibid.
69 The architectural notices contained in thetextaremainlytakenfromtheaccurate description of Richard Rolt Brash, in his "Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland, to the Close ol the Twelfth Century. " In the seventh chapter of that work referring to
a scribe, who called Cormac
MacCarthaigh
royal bishop of Munster and of all Ireland
in his time, where he asks for a prayer at
the end of St. John's Gospel, as contained
inthatManuscript. Seep. 308.
61
Dr. O'Brien has published the fore- going Irish extract in his Irish Dictionary. Also Dr. Charles O'Conor gives a fac-simile of the original in " Rerum Hibernicarum
63 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
64 According to the Foras Feasa ar
The accompanying illustration from a terior view of Cormac's chapel. —
°7 There are — interesting descriptions
illustrated with admirable drawings
ruins on the Rock of Cashel, in the "Gentle- man's Magazine and Historical Review," by J. H. Parker, vol. ii. , tor October, 1864, new series, vol. xvii. Notes on the Archi-
photograph, drawn on the wood and
engraved by Gregor Grey, presents an ex-
of the
September 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 345
doorway is towards the west end. The jamb consists of an external pillar,
arrangement. This ope is much damaged, and at present it is built up. The left-hand side of the door shows one semicircular-headed panel ; the right- hand side of the door has two panels in like style. They are recessed six inches ; the arches are incised with chevrons, the springs from imposts consisting of a deep square and hollow, enriched by circular billets. These form a string-course.
The second storey is marked by a bold string-course, consisting of a deep square and hollow, over which was formerly an arcade of arched panels, someofthemenclosingwindow-opes; oneofthesepanelsonlyremainsso. The arch is plain, springing from angle-shafts having carved caps, the abacus of which ran along the piers throughout.
Two rude rectangular opes have been broken through where formerly panels were, and the work of this portion is much mutilated and altered. The third storey has an arcade of panels, having plain arches springing from narrow piers, furnished with angle-pillars having carved caps, all much mutilated, the abacus, as before, forming imposts. The fourth storey has six columns, and two angle-columns next to the end piers, supporting the ornamental eave-course ; they have also carved caps, and rest upon a bold string-course, consisting of a square, with the ball ornament in a hollow. This is continued round the southern tower. Between the pillars are a series of corbels carved into human heads. 7°
The southern tower is about 68 feet in height, has seven stages marked
by string-courses ; the entasis is very graceful ; the fourth stage has an arcade of semicircular-headed panels, two on the front and one on each side ;
these have angle-shafts with carved caps. At various stages are rectangular slits for the admission of light. The tower finishes at present with a plain parapet of rubble limestone work, evidently of an age much later than the original building. There can be no doubt that it was finished at first with a stone roof in the same manner as the northern tower. The east side being fair with the east gable of nave, the original orna—mental barge of the stone roof has been continued down on the tower wall an admirable contrivance to preserve the symmetry of the roof-gable. The moulded barge finishes on
1
each side with a grotesque head. ?
The south side of chancel has three storeys ; the first is plain, and shows
an over-thickness, above which is an arcade of six semicircular-headed panels,
the arched heads of which finish with a torus moulding, and spring from small
shafts having carved capitals ; the latter remain, the pillars have disappeared. This arcade is returned on the east gable so far as the altar recess. The
upper storey also recedes, and is plain to the eaves, being formed by a deep square and hollow enriched with the hall ornament, and supported at
Cashel,areintroducedthefollowingplates: Tower,withmeasurements. Platexxxiv. , Plate xxxi. , Ground Plan of Cormac's Exterior of South Elevation of Cormac's Chapel, with Plan of Overcroft, and Chapel, with Top of Tower restored. measurements. Plate xxxii. , Section of Plate xxxv. , Details from Cormac's Cormac's Chapel, looking East. Plate
xxxiii. , Jamb of North Porch, Jamb of Chancel Arch, and Window n South
a semi-hexagonal pier, and an inside square pillar and reveal
the shafts of the pillars are gone—the caps and one base remain. The semi-hexagonal piers are carved with incised surface-ornament ; two of the capitals show human heads, the others are mutilated. The arched head is solid, and on it there is carved a nondescript animal in bold relief; it has two orders carved into chevrons, with a bold label, consisting of square and circular billets in a hollow. The arch mouldings spring from an abacus having a similar
Chapel.
7° See ibid. , p. 92.
7l See ibid. , pp. 92, 93.
;
346 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 14.
intervals of about 15 in. by corbels of grotesque animal heads. This eave-
course runs across the east gable, forming a string-course, over which appear two circular opes for lighting the croft over chancel ; they are about 6 in. diameter, and finish with a moulded arris enriched with the ball ornament. Above these in apex of gable is a narrow semicircular-headed ope. 7* The north side of the building is completely blocked up by the chancel of the Cathedral. 73 The north tower is of more massive dimensions than the south, with which it corresponds in the height of its stages and the level of its string-courses. It finishes with a high-pitched pyramidal roof of stone, built of ashlar blocks, and in good preservation. It is not so high to the eaves by one stage as the southern tower. 74
The interior of Cormac's Chapel is not less curious and interesting in its
architectural features. The nave measures thirty feet in length, by eighteen
in breadth. There is a lower storey consisting of a series of rectangular piers
supporting semicircular arches, and forming deeply-recessed panels between ;
the piers have caps, composed of a deep square, with a billet ornament under
same ; the surface of these piers, on front and sides, are richly diapered with
a variety of incised ornament. The face of the walls interiorly is ornamented
with columns and circular ribs under the circular arch. 75 The arches, both
on faces and sofFets, are enriched with chevrons. Above these arches is a
deepstring-course,consistingofasquareandchamfer; restingonthiswe
have at each side an arcade of stout three-quarter columns, having moulded
bases and carved capitals, from which spring the rectangular ribs of the
barrel vault. The capitals have a deep abacus consisting of a square and
chamfer, the bells being carved in a variety of design, no two being similar.
The nave is spanned by a barrel vault, having plain ribs springing from the
capitals of the columns on the flank walls. It was lighted by two window-
opes at the south side, the internal jambs and arches of which remain, but the
external -opes have been cut away, and formed into rude square apertures.
There was also a window-ope in the west gable. These appear to have been
all the original provision made for lighting the nave, which must have been
6
very dark. ?
At the north side of the nave, and close to the east gable, there is a very
elaborate doorway leading into the ground floor of the north tower. It appears to be a feature far in excess of its intended use, being of large size, richly ornamented with several orders of carved arch-members, springing from jamb pillars having carved capitals. The shafts of these are detached, and octagonal in section, each of the sides being hollowed or fluted. The door-ope has been much narrowed by the insertion of chamfered piers of limestone. The exterior moulded arch-member being thrown above the string-course of the lower storey of the arcading, the work over it is stepped. The column of the upper arcade, which comes right over the centre of the
73 For a correct and an interesting wood- cut representing the exterior of Cormac's Chapel, the reader is referred to the work of
effigy of Saint Patrick. " —John O'Mahony's " Sunny Side of Ireland. How to see it, by the Great Southern and Western Rail- way," p. 54.
75 See George Wilkinson's "Practical
Geology and Ancient Architecture of
Ireland," sect, v. , p. 96.
7« Arthur Hill has published in a
"
Ancient Architecture of Ireland," sect, v. ,
p. 96.
73 See Richard Rolt Brash's
George Wilkinson,
Practical Geology and
"
tical Architecture of Ireland, to the Close of the Twelfth Century," chap. vii. Cashel,
p. 93.
74 "In the burial ground outside is the
lamous Cross of Cashel, with a sculptured
Chapel
letterpress architectural description, see A. D. 1874.
Ecclesias-
large 4to size a "
Monograph of Cormac's
"
with beautiful illustrations and
September 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 34?
arch, is shortened to meet the difficulty. In the south wall there is a corre- sponding door leading to the south tower ; it is of small size, plain and unornamented. 7^ The chancel is a very interesting feature. It measures 12 feet 8 inches in length, and n feet 6 inches in breadth, clear of walls. It is groined by diagonal ribs, moulded, their intersection being covered by a group of four human heads. The north and south walls have arcades, supported on three-quarter columns, with bases and carved capitals. This chancel is lighted by small semicircular-headed windows in the north and south walls, having large inward splays. There was no east window, consequently it was badly lighted. ? 8 The east end shows a double recess, the external one nearly the full breadth of the chancel, and having a moulded arch springing from
St. Cormac's Chapel, Rock of Cashel, Interior.
double columns at each side. The key-stone is a grotesque human head, and immediately over it there is a line of five presenting the same character. The inner recess is 5 feet wide and 3 reet 3 inches in depth ; it has a feature in the character of areredos, being an arcade of three small arched recesses. The arch members are moulded and spring from three-quarter shafts, having scalloped capitals and curiously-moulded bases. Over this arcade there is a string-course enriched with the billet, and supported at intervals by human heads ; this arcade is continued on the sides of the recess, and on to the north and south walls of chancel. The shafts of the pillars in the recess are enriched with the chevron and other ornaments. The nave and chancel are not placed symmetrically with each other, the former being much wider than the
" The imaginative antiquary, Marcus were manifestly an effort o—f after times to Keane, who absurdly considers Cormac's adapt it to Christian uses. " " Towers and
"
the only specimen of a Cuthite structure of the temple class in Ireland," also remarks that it seems to have been built without windows suitable for glass, as " the lights now appearing in it
Chapel to be
Temples of Ancient Ireland," p. 12.
78 The accompanying interior illustration,
from an approved engraving, has been drawn on the wood and engraved by
Gregor Grey.
348 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September14.
latter ;? 9 nor is the chancel arch in the centre, as it abuts more to the side wall. 80 At the head of a newel stairs, there is a door-ope leading to a chamber over the nave in the interior of the southern tower. This is a lofty apartment, being in length 27 feet and in breadth 16 feet 6 inches, clear of walls ; its height to the soffit of its acutely-pointed vaulting is 2 1 feet. At the west end, there is a large recess for a fireplace, with a flue in the thickness Of the gable. At each side, and nearly on a level with the hearth, there is a rectangular flue, which runs through the gable and along the flank wall, and opening into the towers ; they are nearly on a level with the present floors. The object for which these air-passages were constructed has been variously surmised. 8 ' This chamber was originally lighted by two well-constructed rectangular opes in the stone roof, at the south side, the weatherings of which were con- trived with skill and judgment. There were also two narrow semicircular- headed slits, in east gable. In the upper parts of both east and west gables, there are two rude opes but of recent date. At a height of 7 feet 2 inches from the floor, there were ranges of corbels projecting internally from the stone roof. Four of these at one and two at the other, are still 82
that over the nave ; this ope is 2 feet 7 inches wide, it is semicircular-headed, and has a flight of six steps descending to the floor of the former, the difference of level being 5 feet. The wall is no less than 5 feet 4 inches thick. The chamber is 12 feet 3 inches square, and has a pointed vault84 of similar construction and materials to that over the nave ; it is 14 feet 6 inches
in height. The provision for lighting was very limited.
After those occurrences, already related, Lorcan the Dynast of Thomond
returned the visit of Cormac. 8- The king is said to have assigned the northern half of his place at Cashel for the accommodation of his dis- tinguished guest, and of the many retainers accompanying him. 86 The
object of those visits undoubtedly comprised political motives ; for, at this time, Domhnal, son to Cathil, and King of Connaght, was preparing a large army for the invasion of Thomond. This incursion took place, in the
8
following year, but it proved unsuccessful. ? Fortune seemed to favour all
King Cormac's attempts, after he had obtained possession of the throne ;
while his glory and prosperity might have remained unclouded, to the closing scenes of his life, were it not for the evil and fatal advice of those in whose
side, remaining. The chamber^ over the chancel is entered by a door-ope in the east gable of
counsels he reposed too much confidence.
88
Hitherto his days appear mostly
H. Parker's Notes on the Architecture of Ireland, No. viii. , Cashel,
p. 409.
80 From a thorough examination of the
79 See
J.
Architecture of Ireland to the close of the Twelfth Century," chap, vii. , p[>. 95 to 98.
8z
The angles of the southern tower being filled up with masonry to the height of the steps of the newel stairs, it is circular so far,
building, Mr. Brash has failed to ascertain
the reason of this strange proceeding ; he but from that upwards it is square. The
can only conjecture that, when this edifice was erecting, a more ancient church or oratory had been in existence, and that the chancel of the new church was pushed on one side to avoid the removal of what may have then been an object of great reverence, though subsequently taken down to make room for the Cathedral.
81
Dr. Petrie considers them to have been flues for warming the apartment by heated air passing through them ; but, as there is about 12 inches of solid masonry between them and the chamber, their effect as a
heating agent would be very trifling, in the
steps are much worn and damaged.
83 See J. H. Parker's article for a wood -cut of section across nave and upper chamber,
p. 410.
8* It is fourteen feet, six incites, in height. 8s By some of our historians, this visit has
been assigned to a. d. 903.
opinion of Mr. -Brash. See
"
Ecclesiastical
^See Dr. Keating's "General History of Ireland," book ii. , part i. , chap, i. , pp. 523, 524. John O'Mahonys edition.
86
See Ferdinando Warner's "History of
Ireland," vol. i. , book ix. , p. 367.
87 See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's
"General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , book x. , chap, v. , p. 184.
September 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 349
to have passed, in the tranquil pursuits of literature. Almost seventy years had elapsed, after his birth and these flowed on like a long and bright
unclouded sunshine. Such a term was spent in contemplation, repose and exercises of devotion. 89 But, as calm days will sometimes terminate in the din and confusion of gathering tempests ;'] thus likewise went down the obscured sun of the good monarch's closing years. His long and honourable career as a student and an ecclesiastic leave few traces on our annals ; yet certain results of his studies and varied abilities remain in those literary relics, which have survived his more obscured years.
To Cormac Mac Cullenan is ascribed an Irish Glossary or Dictionary of Etymologies, called Sanas Chormaic. 9° Some Manuscript copies have
2
been preserved,** and Dr. Whitley Stokes 9
has ably edited this learned
compilation,underthetitle"ThreeIrishGlossaries,viz. : Cormac'sGlossary,
Codex A. (from a MS. in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy) ;
O'Davoren's Glossary, (from a MS. in the Library of the British Museum) ; and a Glossary to the Calendar of Oingus the Culdee (from a MS. in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin) ; with an Introduction 93 and
Index. "94 TheManuscriptofCormac'sGlossary95thereprintedbelongsto the fourteenth century. It is the oldest complete copy known to exist, and now it is preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy. 96 This is
followed by two fragments of the same Glossary found in the Book of Leinster, a Manuscript of the thirteenth century, now preserved in the
Library of Trinity College, Dublin. Afterwards was published the supple- mentary "Sanas Chormaic or Cormac's Glossary," translated and annotated
89 See Wills' " Lives of Illustrious and 93 In the preface, which extends to 75
Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , second pages, the editor gives a full description of
period, p. 185.
90 See O'Reilly's "Chronological Account
of nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," vol. i. ,part i. , p. 60. See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. ,
"
Writers of Ireland," at Cormac Mac Culinan. Book i. , chap, vii.