The Rev. J. H. Todd on an Ancient Irish Missal. 



beNQchc t)e an cecli an 

 maiN as a liaRilLiuch 



" The Blessing op God on eveet 

 so0l who deserves it." 



Dr. O'CoNOR renders this, " Benedictio Dei unicuique qui huic operi contulit 

 plus vel minus" — " To each soul who worked (or contributed to this work) 

 much or Httle." But this is rather a paraphrase than a translation, and is evi- 

 dently founded on a mistake as to the meaning of the last word in the inscrip- 

 tion, which is from the root ruiUim, to deserve^ with the eclipse or omission of 

 the initial c. 



The inscription on the lower rim, constituting the opposite side of the 

 square, ought, perhaps, to be read next. It is as follows: — 



OR DO t)ONt)chat) mace 

 bwaiM t)0 TJ15 heneND 



" A Peater for Donnchadh son of 

 Brian, King op Ireland." 



These words enable us to date the inscription, as Dr. O'Conor has well ob- 

 served. For this Donnchadh, son of the celebrated Brian Boroimhe, was actually 

 King of Munster, but afterwards became King of Ireland, having first caused 

 his brother, Tadhg, joint king with himself of Munster, to be murdered, A. D. 

 1023; which fact is thus recorded in the Annals of Tighernach at that date; 

 and it is to be remembered that Tighernach was a contemporary writer:* — 



Tadhg, son of Brian Boroimhe, was killed 



Cabs mac byiiaiTi bojioitiQ tio mapbab 

 o'eiib a bpell, lap na umaiU bi'a bpachap 

 .1. Do t)hoTit)chQ6. 



by the Elians with treachery, they having been 

 instigated thereto by his brother, vi^., by 

 Donnchadh. 



And the same statement is made by the Four Masters at the same year. 



In 1026 Donnchadh invaded Leinster, and assumed the sovereignty of Ire- 

 land, having succeeded in carrying off hostages from Meath and Bregia, from 



* I quote from the MS. of Tighernach in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, the text of 

 this important Annalist having been most incorrectly printed by Dr. O'Conor. 



