WORKS RELATING TO BRIAN TO HIS TIMES, AND TO HIS ANCESTORS I-CHIEF ORIGINAL SOURCES. Wars of the Gaedhil with the Gaill. Ed. by Rev. James Henthorn, Todd, 1867. The Story of Burnt Nial. Ed. by Sir George Webbe Dasent (1860 and 1900), Chapters cliii.-clvi. Annals of Tighernach:-Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores. Ed. by Rev. C. O'Conor. Annals of Loch Ce. Ed. by W. M. Hennessy. Ed. by W. M. Hennessy. Ed. by Rev. Denis Murphy, S.J. Annals of Innisfallen. Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores. Ed. Rev. C. O'Conor. Chronicon Scotorum. Ed. by W. M. Hennessy. Annals of the Four Masters. Ed. by John O’Dɔnovan. The Book of Armagh. Ed. by Rev. Dr. J. Gywnn; p. 32. Orkneyinga Saga, etc. Ed. by Gudbrand Vigfusson. 1887. Brut y Tywysogion. Ed. by Rev. J. Williams ap Ithel. 1860. On the Fomorians and Norsemen, by Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh. Ed. by Alexander Bügge. Caithreim Cellachain Caisil. Ed. by A. Bügge. 1905. Treatise on the DalgCais, Leabhar Ui Maine. Twigge; N. Munster Archæ !. Sɔc., Vol. i. Ed. by R. W. Leabhar na gCeart, or The Book of Rights. Ed. by John O'Donovan. 1847. Circuit of Ireland, by Cormacan Eigeas. Ed. by same. II-EARLY POEMS. (See Hodges and Smith's Catalogue, R.I.Acad.) 1. Cormac Mac Cuileanan's Poem on Conall Each luath, son of Lughaidh Meann (c. 380). 2. Poem on Lachtna and King Felim of Cashel (c. 840). 3. King Flann Sunach defeated by King Lorcan at Magh Adhair (c. 877). 4. Flann MacLonain's poem on Lorcan's defeat of the Connacht Men. 5. Flann's panegyric on Lorcan and Essida (of the Ui gCaisin) (c. 880). 6. Boroma Fort and its festive arrangements (attributed to Mac Liag, Brian's bard).* * See Eugene O'Curry's Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish, Vol. ii., Lecture vi., p. 120; MSS. R.I.A., 23 G 8. 7. Poem of Donchad, son of Brian, vaunting his father's fame. 8. MacLiag's Elegy, "Where, O Kinccra, is Brian?" 9. Poem by the Ccmharbh of St. Patrick, praising King Mathgamhain when he tock the shield of Ua Ruairc of Breffni. 10. Contemporary panegyric on Cenedid, son of Lorcan. II. "Cenn Coradh where happens to be." 12. Verses by St. Brenan cf Birrha cn the two Aedhs-of Crag Liath and cf Cashel. This is also in the Book of Lecan. The document,* usually regarded as the ancient Book of Munster, has many of the above poems. For early Christian Kings of Cashel see the Book of Ballymote, the Lives of St. M chulleus (Analecta Bollandiana, xvii., p. 135), and of St. Flannan (Codex Salmaticens, 1881, ed. by Car. de Smedt), as well as the Lives cf St. Senan (in Colgan, Acta S.S., and the Book of Lismore), may be consulted for early history of The mond. The alleged reimposition of the Boruma Laighin, by Brian, rests cna mcre than acubtful poem attributed to Mac Liac (see Erru, Vcl. v., p. 7). III-GENERAL HISTORY (ONLY CHIEF SOURCES GIVEN). History of Ireland, by Rev. Geoffrey Keating, Bock ii., Sect. xxv. (Irish Texts Scc., Vel. ix.) Historical Memoirs of the O'Briens, by John O'Donoghue. Story of an Irish Sept (MacNamara of Ui gCaisin), by a Member (Dr. N. C. MacNamara). "The Blessed Bryan Bcrcimha, King of Munster, Irish Monarch and Martyr" (Lives of the Irish Saints, Vol. iv., p. 276), by Rev. Canon John O'Hanlon. The Scandinavian Kingdom of Dublin, by Charles Haliday. Ed. by J. P. Prendergast; 1882. Tanistry," by Rev. Dr. O'Brien (Bishop of Cloyne), in General Vallancey's Collectanea, Vol. i. IV-FORTS AND BUILDINGS. "Iniscaltra," etc., Round Towers of Ireland, by George Petrie. 'Iniscaltra, Killaloe, and Tomgraney," Notes on Irish Architecture, by Lord Dunraven. The Churches of Co. Clare" (Proc. R.I.A., Vol. vi., Ser. iii.), by T. J. Westrc pp. "Forts in Eastern Co. Clare": Magh Adhair (Proc. R.I.A. Vcl. xxvii.); Killaloe, its R yal Farts (Ibid., Vcl. xxix.) ; Lisnagree, etc. (Ibid., Vel. xxxii.), Same. " 'Magh Adhair" (Ibid., Vol. iv., Ser. iii., p. 55), Same. * MSS., R.I.A., 23 E. 26, p. 39, etc. Killaloe, its Ancient Palaces and Churches" (Journal R.S.A.I., Vcl. xxii.), Same. V-Papers on SPECIAL Points of the HISTORY. "The Site of the Battle of Clontarf "* (Roy. Hist. and Arch. Soc., 1879, Vol. v., Ser. iv.); (R.S.A.I., Vcl. xv. ccnsec. p. 169), Thomas O'Gorman. "The Tide on April 23rd, 1014; High Water in Dublin Bay and the Battle of Clontarf" (Proc. R.I.A., Vol. vii., Ser. i., 1857-8, p. 495, Rev. Samuel Haughton. 'The Ancient Name of Dublin," etc. (Trans. R.I.A., Vol. xxii., p. 446); Charles Halliday. The text of Cath Cluana Tairbh" (Gaelic Journal, vii.), J. MacNeill. The Banshee Aibhinn and other beliefs: "Folk Lore Survey of Co. Clare" (Folk Lore, Vol. xxi., pp. 186, 191, 338); “Co. Clare Folk Tales and Myths" (Ibid., V.1. xxiv., pp. 96, 201, and especially pp. 365-369), T. J. Westropp. "Forests of the C unties in the Lower Shannon Valley" (Proc. R.I.A., Vol. xxvii., p. 270), Same. Early Italian Maps of Ireland with Nctes cn Foreign Settlers and Trade" (Proc. R.I.A., Vol. xxx., p. 375) Same. Weapons: "Scandinavian Objects found at Island Bridge and Kilmainham " (Ibid., Vol. x), Sir. W. Wilde; (Ibid., Vol. xxvii. (c) p. 107), George C ffey and E. C. R. Armstrong. The find is probably of the early ninth century. Art (Reaction of Scandinavian and Irish), Royal Irish Academy Collection Guide, George Coffey, 1909, pp. 16, 17. "Boruma (Eriu, Vol. v., p. 7), by John MacNeill. "The Stowe Missal" ("Or do Donclad MacBriain do rig hErend"), Early Christian Art in Ireland, Margaret Stokes, 1888, p. 95; Christian Inscriptions of Ireland, Vol. ii., p. 53, Same and George Petrie; also Trans. R.I.A., V.l. xiii., and M nk Mason; Ibid., Vol. xxiii. (Rev. Dr. Todd); Ibid., Vol. xxiv. (Rev. Dr. MacCarthy). 'The alleged Harp cf King Brian," Irish and Highland Harps, p. 53, R bert Bruce Armstrong; also Eugene O'Curry's Lectures on MS. Materials, Vol. iii., and Proc. R.S.A.S., (1880-81), p. 23; Edward Bunting, Ancient Irish Music (1840), PP. 4, 43; Dublin Penny Journal, Vol. i., p. 48. T. J. WESTROPP. * Rev. Canon O'Hanlon, loc. cit., assumed the well site to be authentic, and the tumuli about Clontarf to date from the battle. For neither of these facts is there any evidence; and the Wars show that the pursu t ended at the weirs and shore near Ballybough. He says that Nial's Saga dates Brian's battle on Christmas Day; this is wrong-it dates it correctly, on Good Friday. The Chronicon Scotorum locates the battlefield between the Tolka and Dublin ford. SOME NEW BOOKS 1. A Garden of Girls. Dublin: The Talbot Press. By Mrs. Thomas Concannon, M.A. The gifted authoress of these portraits of "Famous Schoolgirls of Former Days," as the sub-title runs, is already well known in the little world of literature in Ireland; the praise that greeted her recent work in the Iona Series, The Sorrow of Lycadoon, has hardly yet had time to die away, and there is little need to speak to those who have read it of her extensive learning and her marked literary taste and skill. The purpose of the book is suggested in a few words of the preface: “I cffer this little bock (which aims at a reconstruction as faithful and accurate as careful research could achieve, of the real schoollife and education of real little girls in many ages, and in many lands) to all those interested in the education of Irish girls of To-day-the w: men of a great and splendid To-morrow. If it be true, as Cardinal Logue reminds us, that 'A nation is what its Women make its Men,' at no time was the question of the education of her girls of more importance to Ireland than it is now." The company of girls is eminently varicd. The first is Darlugdacha, a ward of St. Brigid; others belong to Germany, Italy, France, Poland, England, Scotland, America; their lives were lived in widely different ages of history. Some are demure, scme a little naughty and mischievous. But the picture of each is pleasantly painted, and in the background we see something of the methods of education which produced distinguished and noble types of womanhood. It must have required much care and study to reconstruct so vividly the surroundings of these young girls; but the work is done with unobtrusive skill, and the narrative moves casily. A most interesting selection of little personalities has been made, and what is still better, they are made to live, they are actual, full of genuine, tcuching human nature. It is a book which, we think, readers will find it difficult to lay down. 2. How to Spend Holy Week in the Spirit of the Church. From the French of Père Jacques de Guerville. Adapted by a Benedictine of Princethorpe Priory. London: R. & T. Washbourne, Ltd. (Price, paper 6d. ; cloth, Is.) The French original of this little treatise (which did not reach us in time to receive notice before Holy Week) was pub lished in 1698. It takes up the devotional, not the liturgical aspect of those solemn days; and provides reflections which are short, full of matter, and straight to the point, and which are, at the same time, animated by sincere and feeling piety. One who fills his mind with the truths suggested will be pretty sure to spend Holy Week in a thoroughly Christian spirit, and derive much profit from the sacred ceremonies. The booklet is neatly brought out, with large and well spaced type. 3. The Life of St. Francis of Assisi. By Father Cuthbert, O.S.F.C. London: Longmans, Green & Co. (Price 6s. net.) The first edition of this work appeared in the Summer of 1912; so well was it received that early in the following year came a second edition, and now we have before us a new and cheaper impression of the same. The life is excellently written, based on sound historical sifting, and not without the touch of poetry which the subject demands. Given a good biography, such as this, to whom will St. Francis of Assisi not appeal? He is surely one of the most fascinating characters in all the wonderful roll of God's heroes. Father Cuthbert has provided some good illustrations of the spots so often hallowed by the presence of St. Francis. 4. Maxims from the Writings of Mgr. Benson is a neat little volume of Messrs. Washbourne's Angelus Series and costs one and threepence net. The maxims are selected by the compiler of Thoughts from Augustine Birrell, etc., and he has gathered for us many interesting, beautiful and brightly expressed sayings from Mrg. Benson's works, which, needless to say, offer ample material for selection. In such a choice personal taste counts a good deal, but we think that the choice made in this instance will please a good many. 5. San Miniato. By E. J. Watson. Bristol: Partridge and Love, Ltd. (Price 6d. net.) Here we have a rendering in fresh, vivid, artistic prose of the incident which inspired Burne-Jones to paint his celebrated picture, "The Merciful Knight "the tale of San Gualberto of old Florence and how his heart was changed and his hatred conquered. The telling takes only twenty pages; but quality is of much more consequence than quantity. 6. Spiritual Director and Physician. From the French of Rev. Father V. Raymond, O.P.; translated by Don Aloysius Smith, C.R.L. London: R. & T. Washbourne, Ltd. (Price 5s. net.) The purpose of this work is brought explicitly before us by |