Lebor Gabála Érenn

The Lebor Gabála Érenn is one of the major Irish accounts of the medieval time. This “book” describes the invasion of the island by six inhuman mythical people, before the arrival and the terrestrial reign of the Gaëls. After being transmitted exclusively in an oral way until the end of the 8th century, this myth founder of the Celtic Ireland then was copied, developed and altered by the clerks so that it is more in phase with teaching of the Catholic church and the culture of the time. The first written version of the Lebor Gabála Érenn , almost an outline (the Historia Britonum of Nennius), date of VIIIe century or beginning of the 9th century. There exist 5 versions of this myth (R 1, R 2, R 3, Min and K) distributed in 18 manuscripts written between the 12th century and the 18th century.

See also Irish Celtic Mythology

People of Cesair

people of Cesair . Cesair (or Cessair) is the girl of Bith, it is the first woman with living in Ireland during fifty days before the Flood which will destroy all its people, except one: Fintan.

Fomoires

the Fomoires (Fomores) unload on the island after the Flood, they are sometimes called “Giants of the Sea”. Many, they are described like dreadful, inhuman and démoniaques, and are equipped with magic capacities. They will fight all the successive occupants, they represent chaos and the perpetual disorder.

Partholoniens

the Partholon iens , of the name of their chief Partholon, arrive 278 years after the Flood, the feastday of Beltaine (May 1st). They come 2520 years close Adam, it is under their age, which will last 5000 years, that appear the Druidisme, the Agriculture, the breeding, the Métallurgie, but they must fight Fomoires. An epidemic will decimate them. (First conquest).

Nemediens

the Nemed iens are led by Nemed, whose name means crowned. After one period of peace, they must resist Fomoires which try to reconquer the island and manage to be established to with it. Némédiens must pay them tribute each year. After a last revolt, they must flee. (Second conquest).

Fir Bolg

the Fir Bolg succeed Némédiens, the name Bolg would have a relationship with the lightning but some make a bringing together with the Celtic people of the Belgian . They will enter in war with new arrivals, the Tuatha Dé Danann and will be overcome at the time of the “First Battle of Mag Tuireadh”, (Third conquest).

Tuatha Die Danann

The Tuatha De Danann or Tuatha Dé Danann (Tribe of the Gods of Arts or Tribe of the Dana Goddess) are the gods of Ireland (with equivalences in everyone Celtic, which one finds in many accounts. The “second Battle of Mag Tuireadh” the met with the catches with Fomoires which they put in rout. But vis-a-vis Milésiens, they must be folded up in Sidh. (Fourth conquest).

Milesiens

The Milesiens , which one calls also the “wire of Mile” are originating in Spain, they are the human ones. They also arrive the feastday of Beltaine. Their chief is it “spins” Amorgen Glungel. After having évincés Tuatha Die Danann, they take possession of the island, they are Gaèls. (Fifth conquest).

Manuscripts of Lebor Gabála Érenn

Eighteen traditional manuscripts of Lebor Gabála Érenn

I. Draftings.

There exist five draftings of Lebor Gabála Érenn:

the First Drafting, R1: contained in the manuscripts L and F.
the Second, R2: contained in the manuscripts has, D, E, Delta, P, R and V.
the Third, R3: contained in the manuscripts B, Bétâ, Bétâ1, Bétâ2, H and Mr. It is a compilation of elements of R 1, R 2 and other sources.
the Drafting Min (contraction of Míniugud): present to the sides elements of R2 in Delta, R and V.
the Drafting K (also 23K32): late version (1631) of Micheál Ó Cléirigh.

Notes: R3 and K are artificially arranged accounts. K is based on R2 (D), even if it has affiliations with M, and R3.

II. Manuscripts.

One counts today in all 18 manuscripts concerning Lebor Gabála Érenn. But in fact, one can First of all bring back this number to 11 (, the manuscripts V are only the parts of the same document, just like the manuscripts F. Then, the manuscript has is a copy of the manuscript D and the manuscripts  are derivatives of the B).

a: Stowe A.2.4, written at the XVIIe century and preserved at Royal Irish Academy.
b: Delivers of Ballymote, written in XIVe century (RIA, referred 23.P.12).
Bétâ: H.2.4, written in 1728 and preserved at Trinity Library College of Dublin.
Bétâ1: H.1.15, written about 1745 (TCL, Dublin).
Bétâ2: Stowe D.3.2 (RIA).
D: Stowe D.4.3, written in first half of XVe century (RIA).
E: E.3.5., No 2, written at the beginning of XVe century (TCL, Dublin).
F1: Deliver of Fermoy, written in second half of XIVe century (RIA, referred 23 E. 29).
F2: Stowe D.III.I, written in second half of XIVe century.
H: H.2.15, no.1, written as soon as possible in first half of XIIIe century (TCL, Dublin).
L: Deliver of Leinster, written about 1150 (TCL, Dublin, referred H.2.18).
Delta: Deliver of Lecan, First text, written about 1417-1418 (RIA, referred 23.P.2).
M: Deliver of Lecan, Second text.
P: P 10266, written about 1480-1520 and preserved at the Library National in Dublin.
R: Rawlinson B.512, written in XVe century and preserved at Bodleian Library.
V1: Stowe D.5.1 (RIA).
V2: Stowe D.4.1 (RIA).
V3: Stowe D.1.3 (RIA).

III. Lost Manuscripts.

Q and X: R1 originals.
W and Z: R2 originals.
VB: original from which B is drawn.
2VB: original from which  B is drawn.
nVB: predecessor of B.
VBH: common predecessor of B and H.
&L: manuscript parallel with L.
&R3: manuscript from of which all the existing R3 manuscripts are drawn.
&R3: copyist or compiler of R3 (is perhaps that of the &R).

Manuscripts attached to the myth of the invasions of Ireland

I. the testimony of Nennius.

The writings of Nennius are oldest testimonys concerning Lebor Gabála Érenn.

Historia Britonum : 35 manuscripts (oldest, which is not the original, goes back to 828-829: Harleian ms 3859).
the Irish version of Historia Britonum: contained in 3 manuscripts:

Book of Lecan.
Book of Ballymote.
H. 3.17 (gathering work of the writings of XIVe, XVe and XVIe centuries).

II. The Book of the Brown Cow

Dublin, Royal Irish Academy, ms 1229 (alias 23 E 25 alias Lebor Na hUidre, date of XIe century and modified in XIIe)

III. Two battles of Mag Tuired.

the First Battle of Mag Tuired: only one manuscript:

- H.2.5, written between XIVe and XVIe century and preserved at the TCL, Dublin.

the Second Battle of Mag Tuired: two manuscripts:

- Harleian 5280, written in XVIe century and preserved at British Museum. - Ms. 24 P 9, written about 1651-1652 (RIA).

IV. Giraud de Cambrie.

There exist 4 manuscripts (the original manuscript is lost):

M: Mm.5.30, written in XIIe century and preserved at University Library of Cambridge.
H: Harleian 3724, written in XIIIe century and preserved at British Museum.
P: MS.181, written in XVe century and preserved at St Peter' S College, Cambridge.
ms 700, written before 1438 and preserved at the National Library off Ireland.

V. Chronicum Scotorum.

There exist 6 manuscripts:

Original: H.. 1, No 8, written at the XVIIe century (TCL, Dublin).
P., 35,5, written about semi-XVIIIe century (RIA).
Three manuscripts with the RIA.
a manuscript with the College off St Patrick' S, Maynooth.

VI. Geoffrey Keating.

History off Ireland: work completed about 1634.

Bibliography: Primary sources

Lebor Gabála Érenn

Keating G., The History off Ireland , volume I, translated and annotated by David Comyn, London, Irish Texts Society, 1902,237 pp.
ibid, volume II, translated and annotated by Patrick S. Dinnan, London, Irish Texts Society, 1908,425 pp.
Kock John T., The Celtic Heroic Old: Literary Sources for Ancient Celtic Europe and Early Ireland and Wales , Andover, Celtic Studies Publications, 1997,411 pp.
Lizeray H. and O' Dwyer W. (transl.), Leabar Gabala, Delivers Invasions of Ireland , Paris, Maisonneuve brothers and CH. Leclerc, 1884,255 pp.
Macalister R.A.S (transl.), Lebor Gabála Érenn, The Book off the Taking off Ireland , Share I, volume XXXIV, Dublin, ITS, 1932,2nde ED. 1938,269 pp.
ibid, Share II, volume XXXV, Dublin, ITS, 1933,2nde ED. 1939,273 pp.
ibid, Share III, volume XXXIX, Dublin, ITS, 1937,2nde ED. 1940,206 pp.
ibid, Share IV, volume XLI, Dublin, ITS, 1941,342 pp.
ibid, Share V, volume XLIV, Dublin, ITS, 1942,2nde ED. 1956,581 pp.
O' Cleirigh Micheál, Leabhar Gabhála , volume I, Dublin, Hodges, Figgis and Co., 1919,285 pp.

Additional texts with the Lebor Gabála Érenn

Ammien Marcellin, History , volume V, books XXVI-XXVIII, text established, translated and with accompanying notes by Marie-Anne Marié, Paris, Beautiful Letters, 1970,308 pp.
Fraser J, The First Battle off Moytura in Eriu, The Newspaper off the School off Irish Learn ing, volume VIII, Dublin, Hodges, Figgis and Co, 1916,1-63.
Giraud de Cambrie, The first version off the Topography off Ireland by Giraldus Cambrensis , translated and annotated by John O' Meara, Dundalk, Dundalgan Close, 1951,121 pp.
Gray Elizabeth has, Cath Maige Tuired, The Second Battle off Mag Tuired , Dublin, ITS, 1992,141 pp.
Guyonvarc' H Christian-J., Mesca Ulad: The Intoxication of Ulates , Rennes, Ogam, 1962,38 pp.
Hennessy William Mr. (transl.), Chronicum Scotorum , London, Longman, Green, Reader and Dyer, 1866,419 pp.
Nennius, British History and The Welsh Asses , translated and annotated by John Morris, London, Phillimore, 1980,100 pp.
Nennius, The Irish version off the Historia Britonum off Nennius , translated and annotated by J.H. Todd, Dublin, Irish Archaeological Society, 1848,417 pp.
Stokes Whitley, The Second Battle off Moytura , in Re-examined Celtic , volume XII, Paris, Emile Bubble, 1891,52-130 and 306-308.
--, Three Irish Glossaries , London, Williams and Norgate, 1892,416 pp.
Yeats W.B., Druid Kraft: The Writing off the Shadowy Toilets , text translated and with accompanying notes by Michael J., Sidnell, George P. Mayhew and David R. Clarck, Dublin, Dolmen Close, 1972,349 p

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