O'Hanlon — On the Book of Clonenagh. 7 



from Ceal Teora, "The burial ground of the boundary," from Teor, 

 s. k., a land-mark, a boundary; " or "Teora, s. in., a border, limit boun- 

 dary." 



It is probable that in remote times the River Gooish formed a 

 division of territories in this district ; and the ancient cemetery, being 

 close to its banks, may have been so named from its position. 



IV. — The Missixg Book of Cloxexa&h. By Rev. Jobcn t O'Haklon-, 



M. R. I. A. 



[Read April 11, 1870.] 



Aitoxg the missing or lost books of ancient Erinn, the "Book of Cluain 

 Eidhneach," in Leix, is specially enumerated.* According to a state- 

 ment made by Professor Eugene 0' Curry, undoubtedly the Book of 

 Clonenagh, with many other missing and valuable Irish works, was 

 extant in 1630. In his preface to the " General History of Ireland," 

 by Dr. Jeoffry Keating, this author states that the Book of Fionntan 

 a Laogliis was among the records of first importance which survived to 

 his time.f It is also one of the works which he has often quoted, and a 

 copy of which probably had been in his possession. £ At least, he appears 

 to have had some extracts from it, for he alludes to it as, "Leabap 

 Chluana h-Gi&neac pionncain, i Laoigip," " The Book of Clonenagh 

 of Eintan in Leix."§ Clonenagh is situated near lloimtrath, in the 

 Queen's County. The inscription over Tybrud old church, which had 

 been founded by the Priests, Eugenius Duhy and Jeoffry Keating, D. D., 

 bears date A. D. 1644. At that time its founders were dead, and had 

 beenburiedin the adjoining churchyard. || "Whatbecame of Dr. Keating's 

 own books or MSS. we have no means left for ascertaining. 



The latest record I have been able to obtain regarding the ex- 

 istence of Clonenagh Alonastery dates back to the eleventh century. If 

 For several generations since that time it appears to have been de- 

 serted, and to have become a ruin. As in many similar instances, it 

 may have happened, that various sacred relics and books belonging to 

 its religious community passed into the hands of laics; especially " The 

 Book of Clonenagh, " one of its most prized literary treasures, pro- 



* See Professor O'Curry's "Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish 

 History," Lect. i., p. 21. 



t See Dermod O'Connor's Translation, pp. 52, 53, Duffy's edition of 1841. 



j Mr. O'Mahony, in his Edition of Keating's History of Ireland, bearing the Irish 

 title, u Foras Feasa ar Eirinn Do reir an Athar Seathrun Getting Ollamh re Diadhachta,'' 

 says, in a note to the preface, " ' The Hook of Cluain Aidneeh Fintan,' i. e. ' the Book 

 of Clonenagh,' a monastery near Mountrath, in the Queen's County, erected by St. 

 Fintan. Keating elsewhere calls this the Annals of Cluain Eidhnech. This manu- 

 script, which was one of great importance, is now unknown, p. lxii. n (118) 



§ See O'Donovan's Introduction to the " Book of Bights" and pp. xxv to xxvii, 

 and note (ra), ibid. 



|| See " Life of Jeoffry Keating," prefixed to his History. 



•j See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 593. 



