Annals of the Four Masters

The Annals of the Four Masters ( Irish: Annala Ríoghdhachta Éireann, English: Annals of the Four Masters, Latin: Quatuor magistrorum Annales Hibernici ) is the largest medieval Chronicle of Ireland. It was compiled in the early 17th century by Mícheál Ó Cléirigh and other agents from several sources that have not been preserved in the original. The text in the Irish language begins with the Flood and extends to the year 1616. The events before the birth of Christ are counted in world years (AM ) from the creation of the world in the epoch of 5200 BC. The Flood is dated to the year 2242 AM. With the birth of Christ in the year 5200 AM the count changes to the Christian era.

Manuscripts received

There are six surviving manuscripts:

• Three of the manuscripts belonging to the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. The first consists of 522 pages and covers the period from 2242 AM to 1171. It can be in their five different manuscripts recognize, including the Mícheál Ó of Cléirigh.

• The second manuscript of the Royal Irish Academy covers the period 1170-1616.

• Furthermore, the Royal Irish Academy possesses a copy of the first part, which originated in the House of Charles O'Conor of Belanagare.

• University College Dublin has a manuscript with entries from 2242 AM to 1169th Again the handwriting of Mícheál Ó Cléirigh be seen, but other were involved. In addition, there are marginal notes by John Colgan.

• The Library of Trinity College, Dublin, has a 466- page manuscript, which covers the period from 1334 to 1605 and was transferred from Ó Conaire Cléirigh along with two other copyists.

• In addition, in Dublin Trinity College has in the years 1734 and 1735 made ​​by Hugh O'Mulloy for John O'Fergus copy of the first-mentioned manuscript.