34^ [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



persecution and oppression of his creed and race, and even the 

 general ruin of his country, were not only staring him in the 

 face, but actually upon him. Those were not, I say, any mean 

 or mercenary motives that induced this noble man to determine, 

 that, although himself and his country might sink for ever 

 under the impending tempest, the history of that country, at 

 least, should not be altogether lost." The Four Masters who 

 compiled from all available sources the book of Annals which 

 now bears their name, were Michael O'Clery, Conary O'Clery, 

 Cucory O'Clery, and Ferfeasa O'Mulconry. The place where 

 they performed their work was the Abbey of Donegal, and the 

 Irish gentleman who encouraged them in this undertaking, 

 and who bore all the expenses of it, was Ferral O'Gara, lord of 

 Coolavin and Moy Gara, in the County of Sligo. The O'Clerys 

 were Donegal men ; Michael, the chief of the Four Masters, 

 and his brother Conary were born near Ballyshannon ; the 

 remains of their hereditary castle on a rock overhanging the 

 sea at Kilbarron are still to be seen. Cucory O'Clery came of 

 a family settled in the North-West of Donegal. Of the fourth 

 master, Ferfeasa O'Mulconry, nothing is known but that he was 

 a native of the County of Roscommon, and a hereditary anti- 

 quary. Michael O'Clery dedicated this great work to his 

 patron, Ferral O'Gara, and the following is a literal translation 

 by Dr. John O'Donovan of this dedication : — " I beseech God 

 to bestow every happiness that may redound to the happiness 

 of his body and soul, upon Fearghal O'Gadhra, Lord of Magh 

 Ui Ghadhra and Cuil Obh Finn, one of the two knights of Par- 

 Hament who were elected [and sent] from the County of 

 Sligeach (Sligo) to Ath-cliath (Dublin) this year of the age of 

 Christ, 1634. It is a thing general and plain throughout the 

 whole world, in every place where nobility or honour has pre- 

 vailed in each successive period, that nothing is more glorious, 

 more respectable, or more honourable (for many reasons) than 

 to bring to light the knowledge of the antiquity of ancient 

 authors, and a knowledge of the chieftains and nobles that 

 existed in preceding times, in order that each successive gene- 



