Yellow Book of Lecan


The Yellow Book of Lecan, or TCD MS 1318, is a late medieval Irish manuscript.
It contains much of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, besides other material. It is held in the Library of Trinity College Dublin.

Overview

The manuscript is written on vellum and contains 344 columns of text.
The first 289 were written by 1391; the remainder were written by 1401. It is written in Middle Irish.
Lecan was the site of the Mac Fhirbhisigh school of poetry in the territory of Tír Fhíacrach Múaidhe, now Lackan in Kilglass parish, County Sligo.
The manuscript is currently housed at Trinity College, Dublin. It should not be confused with the Great Book of Lecan.
The book contains nearly the whole of the Ulster Cycle, including a partial version of the Táin Bó Cúailnge which is a compilation of two or more earlier versions, indicated by the number of duplicated episodes and references to other versions in the text. This incomplete Táin Bó Cúailnge overlaps with the partial version given in the Book of the Dun Cow; the complete text known today was derived from the combination of these s. The version of Fergus mac Róich's death tale in the Yellow Book of Lecan is the oldest one that survives. The Yellow Book of Lecan also contains parts of the Táin Bó Flidhais or the Mayo Táin, a tale set in Erris, Co. Mayo.
In addition to that material which would be placed with certainty within the Ulster Cycle, the book has a later version of The Voyage of Máel Dúin, a collection of Irish triads, and the same ogham tract as is recorded in the Book of Ballymote. Also of note is Suidiugud Tellaich Temra. It contains a story of the life of Saint Patrick as told by Fintan mac Bóchra that contains the account of Trefuilngid Tre-eochair, a giant at the Hill of Tara who is first to hear about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

History

obtained the book from one of two sources; Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh about March 1700 at An Pháirc, An Spidéal; or from Dáithí Óg Ó Dubhda of Bunnyconnellan, County Sligo, in the same year. Ó Flaithbheartaigh and Ó Dubhda would have obtained them from Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh, whose family created and preserved the book. Lhuyd bound together seventeen manuscripts as a single volume and dubbed them The Yellow Book of Lecan.
Some of the manuscripts were written by Giolla Íosa Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh between c.1398 and c.1417. Nollaig Ó Muraíle calls it
a great composite manuscripts. Ninety-nine folios of Giolla Isa's survive, containing some of the most important Irish literary texts from the Old and Middle Irish periods, including the only complete copy of Rescension I of Táin Bó Cúailnge. Two colophons by Giolla Íosa indicate 1392 as the date of writing, though the work may not have been brought to completion for some years after that"

Giolla Íosa was assisted by his student, Murchadh Ó Cuindlis. Ó Cuinnlis penned an excellent manuscript in east Ormond which is now part of YBL.
Giolla Íosa wrote that he wrote this book for himself and for his son after him, and elsewhere, that it was for himself and his family after him.
Ó Muraíle further states:"That is one index of Giolla Íosa Mac Fir Bhisigh's importance; to his scribal labours we owe the preservation of the most celebrated of medieval Irish tales, Táin Bó Cúailnge." YBL also contains Aided Nath Í, Togail Bruidne Da Derga, Táin Bó Fraích, Longes ma nUislenn; Dá Brón Flatha Nime and Mesca Ulad by his son, Tomás Cam Mac Firbhisigh.
In 1986 Professor Tomás Ó Concheanainn stated his belief that much of the Yellow Book of Lecan/Leabhar Giolla Íosa was derived from Leabhar Gleann Dá Locha and Lebor na Nuachongbála now The Book of Leinster.
A fragment of the Yellow Book is in the hand of Solamh Ó Droma, one of the three scribes of the Book of Ballymote.
Lhuyd derived the title from a note by Ciothruadh Mac Fhirbhisigh:

ar an Buide Leacain anim an leabhair so; mise Cirruaidh mac Taidg Ruaidh/The Yellow Book of Lecan is the name of this book; I am Ciothruagh son of Taidg Ruaidh''

Contents

The numbering for the texts given below is both by column and by number of pagination. The titles here do not necessarily refer to the titles given in the manuscript, but conform to those of the main recensions.
columnspagetext
1–2436-7Life of St. Féchín of Fore
3–87255, 283Sanas Cormaic 'Cormac's Glossary', text B
88–122421-31Etymological tract: O'Mulconry's Glossary
123-4432-3One leaf with the beginning of Togail Bruidne Da Derga
125-8434-5Life of St. Féchín of Fore
128–216361–404Duanaire or Book of Miscellaneous Poems, written by Seanchan, son of Maelmuire O'Maelchonaire in 1473. Includes Aibidil Luigne maic Éremóin 'The alphabet of Luigne mac Éremóin'.
217405Cáin Domnaig 'The Law of Sunday'
221407Regula Mochuta Raithin
224?On the Célí Dé.
227 410Rhapsody of the Irish prophet Bec mac Dé
228b 410Apgitir Chrábaid
229a 411Bríathra Flainn Fhína maic Ossu 'The wise sayings of Flann Fína Or Aldfrith, son of Oswiu'.
23341396-line poem ascribed to Flann Fína
234 – 236413b-414bAudacht Morainn 'The Testament of Morann', a Speculum principum or 'Mirror of princes'
236414Trecheng Breth Féne, known as the "Triads of Ireland".
244418Tech Midchuarta.
245419Suidigud Tige Midchuarta.
247420Short account of the twelve Apostles
248420Poem ascribed to Cormac mac Cuilennáin
249284History of the Jews from Abraham to David.
281–310Cath Maige Rath 'The Battle of Mag Rath'. Cf: cols 945-9.
310313b-318bAided Muirchertaig meic Erca 'The Death of Muirchertach mac Ercae'
320 318Poem ascribed to Columcille
321319Fled Dúin na nGéd 'The Banquet of the Fort of the Geese'
332.324First rann by Mac Liag, bard of Brian Boru.
333325Fianṡruth, list A
335326Short account of St. Cuimín Fota, metrical dialogue between him and St Comgan
336326Metrical prayer by St. Mael Isa O'Brallaghan
336 326Scúap Chrábaid 'Besom of Devotion', litany ascribed to Colcu ua Duinechda
between 336 and 337small scrap of vellum
338 327Irish Litany to the Holy Trinity
338b 327List of Archbishops of Armagh from St. Patrick to Giolla Mac Liag.
338b 327Short genealogical account of the Clann Breasail
339328Frithfolaid ríg Caisil fri túatha Muman 'The counter-obligations of the king of Cashel towards the peoples of Munster'.
340Poem ascribed to St. Moling, entitled Baile Moling 'St Moling's Ecstasy/Prophecy'
341329Tochmarc Moméra 'The Wooing of Moméra'
343 331Various extracts:
1. how Finn mac Cumaill made peace between Glangressach, chief ollam of the Meic Miled, and Sodelb, daughter of Cormac; 2. Aided Fergusa maic Roig 'The Death of Fergus mac Róich' ; 3. the arrival of Silvius, grandson of Ascanius, in Britain.
344 330Account of celebrated trees of Ireland prostrated by a storm in the year 665.
344 330Account of St. Bec mac Dé.
345 331Táin Bó Flidhais.
365-6A short account of the mother and five sisters of St. Patrick.
367-8Illegible
after 368Inserted letter written by Thaddæus Roddy of Crossfield in 1700
370iFragment of 8 ff. Immram curaig Maíle Dúin 'The voyage of Máel Dúin's coracle'. On ff. 380-1, a footnote reads "The Yellow of Lecan is the name of this book. I Cirroe, the son of Teige Roe."
391 11Immram Snédgusa ocus Maic Riagla 'The Voyage of Snedgus and Mac Riagla'
395 13Immram Brain maic Febail 'The Voyage of Bran mac Febaill'
397 Irish homily
400 or 399 16Echtra Condla 'The adventure of Connla'. Cf: cols 914-5.
401438–455Fragment of nine ff. Dindsenchas of Tara and Aicill, all down to Slíab Mairge. The dindsenchas on Tara includes Turim Tigi Temrach "The enumeration of the House of Tara".
437a-450341-66Medical treatise. See further col. 463, 465–6
477–86454–7Medical treatise on four elements, de semine animalium; de virihus animalium.
487-99456-62Commentary on seventh book of the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, ascribed to Gillapatrick Albanach in 1413 on the penultimate page. These ff. "were formerly inverted by mistake of the binder, and the numbering of the cols, was perverted accordingly."
500217Leabhar Ollamhan, including the Auraicept na n-Éces 'Poets' Primer', a treatise on Ogam, etc., written in 1408. Irish notes written by scribe at the bottom of several pages.
549241b-251bImmacallam in dá Thuarad 'The Colloquy of the Two Sages'.
570-2Catechism, beginning with the maxims of St. Fursa; cf: col. 228.
573–958Probably part of the Yellow Book of Lecan
573–61917Táin Bó Cúailnge
62041Account of Ailill's and Medb's heroes
64453Táin Bó Dartada 'The Raid of the Cattle of Dartaid'
646Táin Bó Regamon
648Táin bó Regamna
649Táin bó Fráich
65860Táin bó Aingen = Echtrae Nerai
66262Account of the Patriarchs
68071Amra Coluimcille 'Songs of Columcille', written by Dallan Forgaill
69074 a 31Longes Labrada 'The Exile of Labraid '
70081Homily In Teanga Bithnua 'The New Tongue'
70581Continuation of In Teanga Bithnua
70786Immram Snedhghusa acus mec Riaghla "The Voyage of Snedgusa and Mac Ríagla", also Eachtrae clerech Choluimcille 'The adventures of Columcille's clerics'. Cf: the different version at col. 391.
71691Togail Bruidne Da Derga 'The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel'
between 731–2In O'Donovan's time, four paper leaves now transferred to the end of the book. One leaf tells of Brian Boru.
740105Suidiugud Tellaich Temra 'The Settling of the Manor of Tara'
749 109Longes mac n-Uislenn 'The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu
754112Orgain Denna Ríg 'The Destruction of Dind Ríg'
756 113Esnada Tige Buchet 'The Songs of Buchet's House
759 105Fled Bricrenn ocus Loinges mac nDuíl Dermait 'Bricriu's Feast, and the Exile of the sons of Dóel Dermait'
765 s.f.117Tochmarc Becfhola 'The Wooing of Becfhola'
768 119Fianṡruth, List B
770b 120How Enoch and Elijah were taken up into Heaven
772 121Stories about King David of Israel
776 123Aided Con Roí 'The Violent Death of Cú Roí'. On the deaths of Cú Roí mac Dáire and Blathnát.
780 125Poem by Flanacan son of Cellach, king of Bregia
781 125Clesa Conculaind 'The Feats of Cú Chulainn'
782 126Assembly of Druim Cet
783 126bAided Néill Nóigíallaig maic Echdach Muigmedoin 'The Death of Niall of the Nine Hostages'
785 127Elegy on the death of Niall of the Nine Hostages
786128Gein Branduib maic Echach ocus Aedáin maic Gabráin 'The Birth of Brandub son of Eochu and of Aedán son of Gabrán'
786 128a-132bScéla Cano meic Gartnáin 'The Story of Cano son of Gartnán'
795132Part of Cath Cairn Chonaill 'The Battle of Carnn Conaill'
795 133Story about St. Colman mac Duach and King Guaire
797 133Story about King Guaire, Mac Dá Cherda and Cuimín Fota.
798 s.f.134Story about Mac Dá Cherda son of Mael Ochtrach
800 135'Why Mongán was Deprived of Noble Issue', story about Mongán, Eochaid the chief poet of Ireland, and Fiachnae mac Báetáin, king of Ulster.
802136Stories about Mac Dé
803 136The Conversion of Constantine and the Finding of the Cross
805 137On the first satire composed in Ireland by Cairbre for Bres mac Eladan
806 138On King Salemon of Greece
807 138On the beheading of the John the Baptist and poem on the four Herods by the poet Bran
808 139Tréide Cétna Labratar iarna Genemain? On the three persons in Ireland who spoke directly after birth.
810 140Description of the Banqueting Hall at Tara, cf: col. 244.
811 140Poem on the sons of King Cormac mac Airt; short notes on St Patrick
812–823141Passion of the Lord
823Gospel of Nicodemus
839 154Homily of the Blessed Virgin
852-7161-3'Dialogue of the Soul and Body'
857 fin.163Word from the scribe, Giolla Íosa Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh in 1380.
858164Short story about St. Columcille and Aidan son of Gabrán
858 164'Precepts of Gregory of Rome'
860165Life of Gregory
863 166Tegasc Rig Solmain meic David 'Instructions of King Solomon son of David'
869 169Homily on Michael the Archangel
869b169Poem and description of the 17 wonders on the night of Christ's birth; memorandum by a later Mac Firbis.
869c-d, 870–875171Aided Díarmata meic Cerbaill 'The Death of Diarmait mac Cerbaill' in prose and verse
875 174On the migration of the Ciarraighe into Connaught
876 175Tochmarc Étaíne 'The Wooing of Étain'
877 175Fotha Catha Cnucha 'The Cause of the Battle of Cnucha'
878 176Abbot Hugh on a legend about the Dagda and others of the Tuatha Dé Danann
880177Tochmarc Lúaine 7 Aided Athairne 'The Wooing of Lúan and the Death of Athairne'
885 179b-180aCompert Conchobair 'The Conception/Birth of Conchobor'
886 180 Geneamuin Chormaic Ua Chuind 'The Birth of Cormac mac Airt'
889 181Echtra Cormaic i Tír Tairngire 'Cormac mac Airt's Journey to the Land of Promise'
898 – 906186Aided Chrimthainn meic Fhidaig 7 Trí Mac Echach Muigmedóin 'The Death of Crimthann son of Fidach and of Eochaid Muigmedóin's three sons'
902 188Echtra mac n-Echach Muigmedóin 'The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedon'
906 190Imtechta Moga Ruith 'The Adventures of Mog Ruith'
907190The Four Jewels of the Tuatha Dé Danann. On the Tuatha Dé Danann and their magical education, with a poem on the same.
907Scribe Giolla Íosa Mór Mac Fhirbhisigh
908191Baile Findachta, Ríg Connacht. Poem on the baile of Fínnachta, king of Connaught.
909 191b-192bSuidigud Tellaig na Cruachna 'The Settling of the Manor of Cruachan', also known as Aided Nath Í 'The Violent Death of Nath Í'.
910 192Poem ascribed to Torna Éces, on pre-Christian kings of Ireland buried on Croghan; on burial places in Teltown
911 s.f.192Compert Mongáin 'The Birth of Mongán'
912'A story from which it is inferred that Mongán was Finn mac Cumaill' and Aided Fhothaid Airgdig 'The Violent Death of Fothad Airgdech'. Cf: col. 953-4.
913 193Scél Mongáin 'Stories of Mongán'
914 194Tucait Baile Mongáin 'The occasion of Mongán's frenzy'
914 Echtrae Chonnlai 'The adventure of Connla'. Cf: cols. 399–400.
916195Story about Mac Liag, chief poet of Brian Boru
917 s.f.195Story about the poet Flann mac Lonáin
919 196Poem
920197On the seven orders of 'bards'
938 205Aided Meic Con 'The Death of Mac Con'
939 206Cath Almaine 'The Battle of Allen'
942 207Cath Duine Bolc 'The Battle of Dunbolg'
945 s.f.209Cath Maige Rath 'The Battle of Mag Rath'
949 211Ces Noínden Ulad 'The Debility of the Ulstermen'
951 212Bruiden Átha Í
951 212'How Fiachna mac Baedáin Obtained the Kingdom of Scotland'
952Tucait Fagbála in Fesa do Finn 7 Marbad Cuil Duib 'How Finn obtained knowledge, and the slaying of Cul Dub'
953 213'A story from which it is inferred that Mongán was Finn mac Cumaill' and Aided Fhothaid Airgdig 'The Violent Death of Fothad Airgdech'. Cf: col. 912.
955214Aided Óenfir Aífe 'The Death of Aífe's only son '
957 214Cáin Domnaig'' 'The Law of Sunday', cf: col. 217.

Manuscripts