Ulster poems

Plus other related material in four notebooks, now bound together, c. 1746-1832. Several hands. I. Ulster poems in hand of Art MacBinighacht [Arthur Bennett], 1831-2, including poems by Seamus Mac Cuarta Aodh Mac Gabhrain, Art Mac Binighacht, Peadar O'Durnnin Padrug Mac Allindun Art Mac Cubhaidh Niall og Mac Murcadha, several available in printed versions. II. Fenian poems and miscellaneous notes in hand of Matthias Mac Gill, mostly dated 1746-50. Many differ markedly from printed versions. The related material (fos 100-15v) includes amatory verses, forms of petition and will, both re Co. Down, medical recipes, note re tithes in Downpatrick deanery, genealogical notes on McGill and Smith, and copy of Joseph Addison, 'When all thy mercies, O my God', all in English. III. Further compositions in two hands, one of them that of Peadar Mha Guidhir [Peter Maguire], 1755. IV. Further compositions in a single hand, no date.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Monck Mason sale, 1858. From the library of William Reeves, bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore (d. 1892). Purchased by the Library from Bernard Quaritch, 27 Feb. 1893 (Cat. 132, lot 363). General Fund.

A full list is available in the Manuscripts Reading Room.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

Microfilm available

An incomplete description of the MS is printed in Gaelic Journal 14 (1905) 855-6, and 15 (1905) 28-9.