Leabhar Ard Mhacha

The manuscript was once reputed to have belonged to Naomh Pádraig and, at least in part, to be a product of his hand. Research has determined, however, that the earliest part of the manuscript was the work of a scribe named Ferdomnach (bás 845 nó 846). Ferdomnach wrote the first part of the book sa bhliain 807 nó 808, for comarba Phádraig, Torbach abb Ard Mhacha.[1] Two other scribes are known to have assisted him.

The people of medieval Ireland placed a great value on this manuscript. Along with the Bachal Íosa, it was one of the two symbols of the office for the Ardeaspag Ard Mhacha. The custodianship of the book was an important office that eventually became hereditary in the MacMoyre family. It remained in the hands of the Mac Maoir family in the townland of Baile an Mhaoir near Corr Leacht until the late 17th century. Its last hereditary keeper was Florence MacMoyer.

Faoin mbliain 1707, it was in the possession of clann Brownlow as An Lorgain. It remained in the Brownlow family go dtí an bhliain 1853, when it was sold to the Irish antiquary, William Reeves. Sa bhliain 1853, Reeves sold the Book to John Beresford, Ardeaspag Ard Mhacha, who presented it to Coláiste na Tríonóide,[2] where it can be read online from the Digital Collections portal of the Trinity College library.[3]

Tá an leabhar 195 le 145 le 75 mm ar tomhas.[4] Bhí ann ó thús 222 fóilió de phárpháipéar, ach tá 5 ar iarraidh inniu.[5] Tá dhá cholún téacs ann scríofa le mionchló na n-oileán. Tá ceithre mhionsamhail ann d'abhatáir na Soiscéalaithe. Tá dathanna dearg, buí, glas nó dubh curtha ar roinnt litreacha. Tá tiachóg leathair a bhaineann leis an lámhscríbhinn, a rinneadh a meastar sa chúigiú haois déag.[5]

Foilio 32v le habhatáir na soiscéalaithe

Tá téacs ann sa Leabhar as an Vulgáid, ach feictear freisin Vetus Latina i nGníomhartha na nAspal agus eipistilí Phóil.[6]

Tá ann sa lámhscríbhinn trí líníocht lánleathanaigh manuscript has three full-page drawings, and a number of decorated initials in typical ealaín na nOileán. Ar fhóilió 32v feictear abhatáir na ceithre Soiscéalaí. Tá iolar Eoin cosúil le Leabhar Dhioma. In áiteanna eile, feictear buí, dearg, gorm agus glas.[7]

Is a bhuí le Rev. Charles Graves dáta an lámhscríbhinn, a bhain sa bhliain 1846 brí as ainmneacha leath scriosta le feiceáil sna colafain, .i. Ferdomnach scríobhaí agus Torbach easpag, a choimisiúnaigh an leabhar. Dar le hAnnála na gCeithre Máistrí, fuair Torbach bás sa bhliain 807[8] agus Feardhomhnach sa bhliain 844.[9] Ní dhearnadh easpag de Thorbach ach sa bhliain 807, agus is léir dá bharr gur scríobhadh an leabhar timpeall an ama seo. Go tútach, bhain Graves úsáid as tuaslagán ceimiceach chun na litríochta a dhéanamh soléite, le tairbhe ámh go bhfuil na hainmneacha dofheicthe anois.[4][10]

Is féidir an lámhscríbhinn a rinneadh ina dá leath.

• O'Neill, Timothy. The Irish Hand: Scribes and Their Manuscripts From the Earliest Times. Corcaigh: Cork University Press, 2014. Isbn 978-1-7820-5092-6
• "Palaeographical Considerations in the Study of the Patrician Documents in the Book of Armagh" (1982). Scriptorium 36: 3–28. doi:10.3406/scrip.1982.1240.

• Catholic Encyclopedia, The Book of Armagh
• "Liber Ardmachanus: the book of Armagh" (1913). Baile Átha Cliath, Hodges, Figgis & Co., Ltd..
• "Book of Armagh" . Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann.
• "Book of Armagh" . Trinity College Digital Collections. MS 52.
• "Treasures of early Irish art, 1500 B.C. to 1500 A.D." (pdf) (1977). Thomas J. Watson Library: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. OCLC 893699154.
• "Book of Armagh" . Codices Latini Antiquiores (CLA) 2. Earlier Latin Manuscripts. CLA 270.