Iollan Mac an Leagha
Encyclopedia
Iollan Mac an Leagha was an Gaelic
author
and scribe
.
Iollan, or Uilliam, Mac an Leagha was a member of 15th century Irish scribal family. Among his children were Connla, Eóghan, and Maoleachloinn (fl.
1487), all of whom worked as scribes throughout Ireland in the late 15th century. His books contain lives of saints, homilies, prayers, with an excursion into mythology represented by a 'Life of Hercules
' translated from a contemporary printed book." (1).
A decorator and illuminator, Iollan was responsible for some of the most lavish and carefully planned books, one of which - 'History of the Children of Israel' - he boasted of writing in two summer days. They include:
He also signed his name to the following:
It has been suggested that this a volume referred to in medieval sources as The Book of Carrick. It was printed as Annla Gearra as Proibhinse Ard Macha
in 1958-59.
The latter was written by him in 1467 at Melaigh Móire, south of Windgap
, on the borders of counties Kilkenny
and Tipperary
, for Aodh Mág Raith (died 1491).
This was begun in 1473 for Donnchadh mac Brian Dubh Ó Briain, the end which was partly written by his son, Maoleachloinn, in 1497; presumably Iollan was dead by then.
Religious texts by him are:
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and scribe
Scribe
A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing...
.
Iollan, or Uilliam, Mac an Leagha was a member of 15th century Irish scribal family. Among his children were Connla, Eóghan, and Maoleachloinn (fl.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1487), all of whom worked as scribes throughout Ireland in the late 15th century. His books contain lives of saints, homilies, prayers, with an excursion into mythology represented by a 'Life of Hercules
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
' translated from a contemporary printed book." (1).
A decorator and illuminator, Iollan was responsible for some of the most lavish and carefully planned books, one of which - 'History of the Children of Israel' - he boasted of writing in two summer days. They include:
- Bibliothèque Nationale de FranceBibliothèque nationale de FranceThe is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
MS Celtique I - British LibraryBritish LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
EgertonEgertonEgerton is a surname.Egerton may also refer to:Places:*Egerton, Cheshire, England*Egerton, Greater Manchester, England*Egerton, Kent, England*Egerton, Nova Scotia, Canada*Egerton, Southgate, Ontario, CanadaOther uses:...
MS 91 - Trinity College Dublin MS 1298 (formerly MS H 2.7)
- National Library of IrelandNational Library of IrelandThe National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
MS. G.9
He also signed his name to the following:
- British LibraryBritish LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
Additional MS 30512
It has been suggested that this a volume referred to in medieval sources as The Book of Carrick. It was printed as Annla Gearra as Proibhinse Ard Macha
Annla Gearra as Proibhinse Ard Macha
Annla Gearra as Proibhinse Ard Macha, aka The Short Annals of Armagh, aka British Library, Additional MS 30512, compiled c. 1460-75.The Annala Gearra Ard Macha covers events in Irish history from the lifetime of Lóegaire mac Néill Annla Gearra as Proibhinse Ard Macha, aka The Short Annals of...
in 1958-59.
- British LibraryBritish LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
Additional MS 11809 - Royal Irish AcademyRoyal Irish AcademyThe Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
MS 23. P.3 (ff 1-17)
The latter was written by him in 1467 at Melaigh Móire, south of Windgap
Windgap
Windgap , is a village in County Kilkenny, in Ireland. Windgap is located in the South Western part of Kilkenny on the border with Tipperary just south of Callan, Kilkenny. It is part of the parish of Killamery...
, on the borders of counties Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
and Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, for Aodh Mág Raith (died 1491).
- Bibliothèque Nationale de FranceBibliothèque nationale de FranceThe is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
MS Celtique I
This was begun in 1473 for Donnchadh mac Brian Dubh Ó Briain, the end which was partly written by his son, Maoleachloinn, in 1497; presumably Iollan was dead by then.
Religious texts by him are:
- 'Dialogue of the Body and Soul'
- 'History of the Monks of Egypt'
- 'Lives of the Irish Saints'
Source
- Literature in Ireland, by James Carney, in A New History of Ireland, volume, two, pp. 803–04.