The Irish language manuscript holdings of the Academy have been catalogued in detail in the descriptive catalogue published under the title ‘Catalogue of Irish manuscripts in the Royal Irish Academy’ (28 fasc., Dublin, 1926-1970). Copies of the printed catalogue are available for consultation in the Reading Room. For more information on the printed catalogue read Elizabeth FitzPatrick’s A brief introduction (Dublin, 1988).

Closeup of a folio from The Annals of Connact.

Annals of Connacht

A major historical resource for the province of Connacht, the Annals of Connacht place special emphasis on the O'Conor family, ancient rulers of Connacht.

Annals of the Four Masters

The renowned Annals of the Four Masters chronicles the history of Ireland from prehistory to 1616, the year in which Hugh O'Neill, the 'Great O'Neill', Earl of Tyrone, died.

Volvelle with moving parts attached to a vellum manuscript page.

Astronomical and Medical Tract

An Arabic astronomical tract and a medieval medical treatise are rendered into Irish in this 15th century compilation. Copiously illustrated.

Manuscript detail showing the name Aodh at the centre in Irish script.

Beatha Aodha Ruaidh Uí Dhomhnaill / Life of Red Hugh O'Donnell

Earliest surviving version of a seventeenth-century biography of Aodha Ruaidh Uí Dhomhnaill / Red Hugh O'Donnell.

Decorated capital letter with zoomorphic designs and interlacing, with red, orange and green pigments.

Book of Ballymote

A "bolg an tsóláthair" or miscellany, the Book of Ballymote is an iconic and hugely important 14th century manuscript containing key texts such as the Book of Invasions, Book of Rights, Dindshenchas etc.

Detail of the top of a column of Irish writing with a large capital t at the beginning of a sentence and diminuendo lettering following.

Book of Fenagh

The Book of Fenagh is a sixteenth-century O'Roddy compilation of prose and verse based on the Book of St Caillín.

Irish manuscript detail focused on a black decorative capital letter.

Book of Fermoy

Containing material relating to the Roche family, poems of Gearóid Iarla and the Book of Invasions, the Book of Fermoy is an important Munster compilation.

Detail of an Irish manuscript on paper with rubricated heading and black writing beneath.

Book of Knockninny / Leabhar Chnoc Ninne

The Irish language manuscript known as the Book of Knockninny was compiled in 1718 for Brian Mág Uidhir of Knockninny, County Fermanagh. It contains a selection of historical poems and prose texts and is usually referred to as the Book of Knockninny.

Detail from an Irish manuscript showing a paragraph with a table beneath. In the cells of the table, the writing in entered in alternate diagonal slants.

The Book of O'Lees / Book of Hy-Brasil

The Book of O'Lee's is an iconic medieval text translated into Irish from a Latin version of an Arabic text. Its format is unique in the Irish canon and its history is both colourful and dramatic.

Detail of an Irish manuscript written on paper.

Book of O'Loghlen / Leabhar Uí Lochlainn

The Book of O'Loghlen is an eighteenth-century duanaire or book of praise poems compiled by the renowned scribe Aindrias Mac Cruitín in honour of the O'Loghlens of the Burren, County Clare.

Detail from an Irish manuscript with a zoomorphic design and three columns of writing.

Book of Uí Mhaine / The Book of Hy Many / The Book of the O'Kellys / Book of Ó Dubhagáin

A "bolg an tsóláthair" or a bag of mixed content, the Book of Hy Many is the work of multiple scribes based in Uí Mhaine. It contains genealogies, historical and religious material.

Detail from an Irish manuscript showing the scribe's signature

Foras Feasa Ar Éirinn

Introduction to the seminal Geoffrey Keating history of Ireland, Foras Feasa Ar Éirinn, and its textual transmission over three centuries.

Detail of an Irish manuscript page with a primitive drawing of a menorah.

Leabhar Breac / The Speckled Book / The Book of Mac Egans / Leabhar Mór Dúna Doighre

Leabhar Breac is a miscellany of historical, literary and religious texts.

Irish manuscript page detail. Writing in two column with two distinctive diagonal blank lines running through each column, created by the scribe leaving well-placed gaps in every line of text.

Leabhar Chlainne Suibhne / The Book of the Mac Sweeneys

The Book of the Mac Sweeneys, a compilation of praise poems, devotional texts and the history of the Mac Sweeneys of Fanad, is an important manuscript relating to Fanad, County Donegal.

Detail of a badly damaged paper manuscript with Irish writing and evidence of conservation work, such as the addition of Japanese paper to damaged edges.

Leabhar Gabhála / The Book of the Invasions

The original legend known as Leabhar Gabhála or the Book of Invasions exists in many variant versions, in poetry and prose.

Detail of an Irish manuscript showing the beginning of the genealogies of Mary and Joseph.

Leabhar Mór Leacain / The Book of Lecan

The Book of Lecan is a major 14th-15th century compilation of historical, genealogical, biblical and hagiographical material.

Irish manuscript detail showing a capital r decorated with red, yellow and purple pigments.

Lebor na hUidre / The Book of the Dun Cow

Traditionally associated with a relic of St Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, the Book of the Dun Cow is the earliest surviving manuscript with literature in Irish and contains the earliest recorded version of the Táin Bó Cuailgne story and many other legends and tales.

Detail of an Irish manuscript. A capital letter decorated with red pigment.

Liber Flavus Fergusiorum

Named after a former owner, Dr John Fergus, the Liber Flavus Fergusiorum contains a miscellany of religious material, legends and a translation of the medieval French tale of Fortinbras.