Geoffrey Keating's History of Ireland, transcribed by Conchubhar O'Corbain for Seamus og McCoitir (James Cotter junior), September 1709, 206 folios: (fos 10-12v) list of kings of Ireland; (fos 15-29) preface; (fos 30-198) text. On fos 1 and 10 is the signature of James Cotter, 18th century.
Geoffrey Keating: History of Ireland
- This material is held at
- ReferenceGB 12 MS.Add.4181
- Dates of Creation1709 (copy of 17th century original)
- Name of Creator
- Physical Description1 volume
- Direct Link
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Geoffrey Keating (1570?-1644?) was born in a village near Burgess in the county of Tipperary, Ireland. He attended a nearby school, before completing his education at university abroad. He returned to Ireland over twenty years later, having been ordained a Roman Catholic priest. Keating preached in the south of Ireland, before settling in the glen of Aherlow, Tipperary, and devoting his time to writing. His history of Ireland, entitled 'Foras Feasa ar Eirinn' (Foundation of Knowledge in Ireland), the preface of which was dated 1629, was the first connected history of Ireland written in the Irish language, and became popular throughout Ireland.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for consultation by holders of a Reader's Ticket valid for the Manuscripts Reading Room.
Acquisition Information
Purchased 1901.
Note
Description compiled by Robert Steiner, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives. The biographical history was compiled with reference to the entry on Keating in Sidney Lee, ed., Dictionary of national biography, Vol. X (London, 1908), pp. 1162-1163.
Other Finding Aids
Additional Manuscripts Catalogue.
Bibliography
The history was printed by the Irish Texts Society in 4 volumes, London, 1902-1914.