There is an excellent copy of this ancient poem in the Book of Leacan;[452] there was another copy in the Burgundian Library of Brussels, which is, we believe, now in the Franciscan Convent, Merchants’ Quay, Dublin.
CHAPTER XXIV—(continued).
OTHER DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS OF OUR GAEDHLIC SCHOOLS.
| “I’d rather turn one simple verse True to the Gaelic ear, Than classic odes I might rehearse With Senates list’ning near.” —M‘Gee. |
I.—Gaedhlic Scholars of the Sixth and Seventh Centuries.
Besides Cennfaeladh and Cormac Mac Cullinan, there were from the sixth to the seventh century at least twelve or thirteen other Gaedhlic writers, whose names cannot be passed over without some notice in a work like this. Our account of these writers, however, must necessarily be very brief, for in many cases little or nothing is known of the history of their lives, and to a great extent their writings are still unpublished. O’Curry[453] and O’Reilly[454] are the two principal authorities in this part of our subject.
The first on O’Curry’s list is Amergin Mac Awley (Amalgaidh), the author of the celebrated work known as the Dinnsenchus. This ancient and highly interesting topographical poem was, it is said, compiled at Tara, so early as the year A.D. 550, that is, during the reign of Diarmaid Mac Cearbhaill, but it has certainly received some additions from later hands.
Amergin himself is described as chief poet of that monarch; but according to O’Reilly, he must not be confounded with another Amergin Mac Awley, who flourished towards the end of the seventh century, and was the author of some law tracts, copies of which are still extant in the library of Trinity College. The Dinnsenchus has been recently published in fac simile by Professor Atkinson of Trinity College. The work is specially interesting and valuable on account of the incidental historical references, which it contains, and the topographical information which it supplies. The stories themselves, though in many instances far-fetched and improbable, are not without their value in illustrating the habits and thoughts of our Celtic ancestors. Copies of this ancient tract are found in the Book of Leinster, the Book of Ballymote, and there is also an imperfect copy in the Book of Leacan, which shows the value that was set upon it by our ancient scholars. The published fac simile copy is taken from the Book of Leinster.