Killarney), which are also in Latin and Irish, were
perhaps compiled about 1215, though they may have begun two centuries
earlier. The invaluable _Annals of Ulster_ were compiled on Belle Isle
on Upper Lough Erne by Cathal Maguire (d. 1498), and afterwards
continued by two different writers down to 1604. This work, which deals
with Irish affairs from A.D. 431, exists in several copies. The _Annals
of Loch Ce_ (near Boyle in Roscommon) were copied in 1588 and deal with
Irish events from 1014 to 1636. The _Annals of Connaught_ run from 1224
to 1562. The _Chronicon Scotorum_, one copy of which was transcribed
about 1650 by the famous antiquary Duald MacFirbis, deals with Irish
affairs down to 1135. The _Annals of Boyle_ extend down to 1253. The
_Annals of Clonmacnoise_, which come down to 1408, only exist in an
English translation made by Connell MacGeoghegan in 1627. The most
important of all these collections is the _Annals of the Four Masters_
(so christened by Colgan), compiled in the Franciscan monastery of
Donegal by Michael, Conary and Cucogry O'Clery and Ferfesa O'Mulconry.
The O'Clerys were for a long period the hereditary ollams to the
O'Donnells. Michael O'Clery (1575-1643), the greatest of the four, was a
lay brother in the order of St Francis, and devoted his whole life to
the history of Ireland. He collected all the historical MSS. he could
find, and was encouraged in his undertaking by Fergal O'Gara, prince of
Coolavin, who paid all expenses. The great work, which was begun in 1632
and finished in 1636, begins with the arrival in Ireland of Ceasair,
granddaughter of Noah, and comes down to 1616. Nearly all the materials
from which O'Clery drew his statements are now lost. O'Clery is also the
author of a catalogue of the kings of Ireland, the genealogies of the
Irish saints, and the Martyrology of Donegal and the Book of Invasions.

Of less interest, but every whit as important, are the lists of
genealogies which occupy a great deal of space in LL., YBL. and BB., and
two Trinity College, Dublin, MSS. (H. 3.18 and H. 2.4). But by far the
most important collection of all is that made by the last great
shanachie Duald MacFirbis, compiled between 1650 and 1666 in the college
of St Nicholas at Galway. The only portions of any considerable length
which have as yet been published deal with two Connaught tribes; viz.
the Hy Fiachrach from Duald mac Firbis and the Hy Maine (O'Kellys), and
a Munster tribe, the Corcalai