1150 CE - Lebor Gabha'la Erenn

by Larry Chamberlin

Book of Leinster, Lebor Gabha'la Erenn and Lebar na Nuachonghbhala are all names of the same "book", known as the "Book of the Takings of Ireland" or "Book of Invasions,". They are well familiar to us in modern redactions such as "The Story of the Irish Race" (MacManus) and the many 'myth retold' stories of Peter Tremayne (nom de plume for Peter Berresford Ellis) and Kenneth Flint. The earliest surviving manuscript is the "Lebar na Nuachonghbhala," compiled in its surviving form in 1150 by Fionn macGormain of Glandalough, and commonly called the "Book of Leinster." It is a manuscript generated in a monastery (i.e. Christian) which sets down myths of the ancient people of Ireland (i.e. pagan).

It preserves a previously oral tradition, dealing with the genealogies of Irish chieftains, including historical figures, such as Niall of the Nine Hostages, as well as the entire mythos of the "Irish race." Even in its depiction of events surrounding historical figures, the facts are decidedly suspect, being essentially a book of myths for the people. It was begun in the seventh century as part of an attempt to depict the Irish as a unified people, in language, race, land and heritage. It provided a genealogy of the Kings of Ireland back to Noah; described the legendary (i.e. mythical) succession of settlements of Ireland by pre-Celtic and Celtic waves. It includes a list of about 250 major and 100 minor tales the filidh were expected to know.

It is believed the filidh took the lead in committing the oral history to writing between the seventh and twelfth centuries. As one writer has pointed out, the Gaels tended to "adjust" what happened to them into what "should" have happened. The mythical nature of the Irish traditions actually reflects the attempt to reconcile the vagaries of the unforseeable with their understanding of the proper order of things.

Sources:

Oxford History of Ireland, ed. R. F. Foster, Oxford University Press, (c)1989, ISBN 0-19-285271-X

A History of Ireland, Peter & Fiona Somerset Fry, Rutledge, (c)1988 & Barnes & Noble [reprint] 1993, ISBN: 1-56619-215-3

The Celts, Norton-Taylor, Duncan, Time-Life Books, New York (c)1974, Library of Congress # 74-17779

Chronicles of the Celts, Iain Zaczek, Collins & Brown, London, (c)1996, ISBN: 1-85585-407-4

***The Celts, Jean Markale (orig. publ. as "Les Celts et la Civilsation Celtique" by Payot, Paris, 1976; U.S. ed. publ. by Inner Traditions, Rochester, Vermont, 1993, ISBN: 0-89281-413-6)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: *** = These tracts deal with mythical legends and historical events, without clearly distinguishing between the two. Markale, while presenting the historical texts of the contemporary writers in great detail and with a fine critical analysis, nonetheless includes events from Irish legend without properly disclaiming their authenticity. Despite this shortcoming, if one is cautious enough to note the sources, the books is excellent.

prepared by Larry Chamberlin

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