The Irish standard., 1892-12-24
OLD MANUSCRIPTS
Thirty Nine Volumes Now Locked
Up in the Archives Of the Dub
lin Franciscans
MOST VALUABLE RECORDS.
Allin the Irish Language and Con-
tanning Authentic mfor-
nation.

It is the most interesting thing in the
world for anybody who likes to read
about the saints and scholars Of ancient
Ireland to take glance through the
MSS written in Irish by Irish writersin
the "long, far-off, unhappy years" The
discovery of such document as the
papyrus of the Septusgint is able 10
create furore in the literary world, ard
old classical and Oriental manuscripts
are preserved as priceless treasures, bat
with old Irish documents the case is nbt
exactly the same. Beyond doubt there
are few enthusiasts who treasure these
MSS as the apple of their eye, but the
general public do not take SO much in
terest in them as they ought. In the
Franciscan Monastery, Merchants Quay,
there is collection of very valuable
MSS. The story OF how these MSS were
first compiled, and how they made their
way to Dublin is among the most inter
estlng one can find in Irish literary an
nails. The Franciscan College Of Lou
vain was established in 1907, through
the efforts Of Friar Jonry, Provincial Of
the Order of st. Francis, by Bull OF
Pope Paul the Fifth. It was meant as a
place of refuge for those Irish Francis
cans who wee then cruelty persecuted,
and hunted like wolves from Ireland.
The system Of ruthless persecution car
ried on in those dark days against Cath.
olics, and above all against Catholic
priests, has but few parallels in civilized
history; and it is difdcnlt to think of or
write about it with calmness. In face OF
it, the poor Franciscans had no alterna-
tive but to leave their native country;
and it was in Louvaiu that most Sf eenem
found refuge. There was an actual law
written upon the statute book prohibit
ing Friars of the Order of st. Francis
from teaching in ireland. The Francis
can College at Louvain soon burst into
notoriety; the fame OF it's scholars spread
through Europe. Shortly after its es'
Establishment it became the centre of Or
ganization for the preservation and pub
lication of the early history and hagio-
graphy Of Ireland. Father Conry may
fairly be said to have been the leading
figure of this movement. He was of a
Connaught family, and was educated for
the most part in Spain and the Neither
lands. He was 9 theologian Of. very
great distinction, and achieved consider
able reputation as an expounder OF the
doctrines of st. Augustine. He was
made Archbishop of Tuam by the Pope,
and was said to have stood high in the
favor of the court 81 Spain. He died
in 1929, and his remains were inferred ut
Louvain. Father Hugh Ward, another
distinguished Fran c'scan, took up the
thread that was broken by the death Of
the Archbishop. He conceived the pro-
ject of editing the acts of the Irish saints
and other ancient manuscripts Of Ireland.
The task of collecting the Gaelic materi-
ais obtainable in Ireland was committed
to lay brother named Michael OOlery,
who belonged to the family Of renowned
Irish writer's Of the same name. No bet
ter choice could have been made O'Clery
seems to have been most industrious
and researchful man, and lovers Of the
Irish language are under very great
debt to him. Among the works in the
Irish language thus executed and brought
to Louvain were tho Leabhar Gabhala,
or Chronicle of the Conquests of Erin;
the Calendars of the Irish Saints, the Sue.
cession and Pedigree Of the Irish Kings
and Saints, the Annals Of Ireland by the
Four Masters, styled also the Annals Of
Donegal from having been compiled in q
hut built amid the ruins Of q dismantled
Franciscan Convent Of Donegal In 1913
Michael O'Olerys Glossary Of Obsolete
Irish Words was printed at Louvain.
The collection Of the Acts Of the Irish
Saints, prepared by Father Colgan, . ma
tive OF Donegal and professor Of theology
at Louvain, was printed q the expense
Of Hugh O'Reilly, primate Of all Ireland,
with the title Acts Of the saints of Old
and Greater Scotia, otherwise Hibernia.
the Island Of Saints. Another volume
containing ancient lives of ST Brigid and
ST Columba, was puhlished two years
afterward. A catalogue Of MSS found
in Colgan's call after his desth in
1868 is still extant, ard anong his COM
pilations and those Of his fellow workers
there were some documents Of great in
.terest dealing with The. labon Of Ir1sh
mliissiionariies - England and continental
countries 1,hree off those Volumes we're