207 



ing the local traditions connected with them, all of which he 

 compared with the existing records in the historical manuscripts 

 preserved in the Libraries of the Academy and the University. 

 The object of these inquiries was to collect materials for the 

 Historical and Antiquarian memoirs, which it was the original 

 intention of the enlightened officers at the head of the Irish 

 Survey to compile and publish, — an intention which (as the Aca- 

 demy are aware) was unhappily frustrated by the interference of 

 Government. In the researches in which Mr. O'Donovan was thus 

 for many years engaged, he acquired the vast amount of historical 

 and topographical knowledge which his subsequent writings have 

 displayed. He availed himself of the same opportunities to perfect his 

 acquaintance with the dialects of the Irish language; and he has 

 thus been enabled to throw a light on this department of philology, 

 such as probably no other could have done. 



The works edited by Mr. O'Donovan for the Irish Archaeolo- 

 gical Society are the first of his published labours which claim 

 our attention. They are the following : 



1. " The Circuit of Ireland, by Muircheartach Mac Neill, 

 Prince of Aileach. A Poem written in the Year 942, by Cormacan 

 Eigeas, Chief Poet of the North of Ireland." 



2. " The Battle of Magh Rath (Moira), from an ancient Manu- 

 script in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin." 



3. " An Account of the Tribes and Customs of the District of 

 Hy-Many, commonly called O'Kelly's Country, in the Counties of 

 Galway and Roscommon. Edited from the Book of Lecan, in the 

 Library of the Royal Irish Academy." 



4. " An Account of the Tribes and Customs of the District of 

 Hy-Fiachrach, in the Counties of Sligo and Mayo. Edited from 

 the Book of Lecan, in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, and 

 from a copy of the Mac Firbis Manuscript in the possession of the 

 Earl of Roden." 



Mr. O'Donovan has also edited the following minor pieces in 

 the Miscellany of the Irish Archaeological Society, viz. : " An An- 

 cient Poem attributed to St. Columbkille ;" " The Irish Charters 

 in the Book of Kells;" " A Covenant in Irish between Mageoghe- 

 gan and the Fox ;" and *' The Annals of Ireland from A. D. 1453 



