In the 1630s four professional historians compiled a set of annals of Irish history that emulated the early modern trend of writing national histories. The 'Four Masters' were Mícheál Ó Cléirigh OFM, Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maoil Chonaire and Cú Choigcríche Ó Duibhgeannáin. They were assisted by two scribes Muiris Ó Maoil Chonaire and Conaire Ó Cléirigh. The annals were compiled between 1632 and 1636 at the Franciscan house at Drowse, near Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. They contain a history of Ireland from the biblical Flood to the death of Hugh O'Neill in 1616. Two sets of the annals were made, one destined for Louvain, the other for their patron in Ireland.
Volumes of the annals survive in the Royal Irish Academy, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. The 2007 exhibition reunited the autograph manuscripts of the Annals of the Four Masters for the first time since 1636.
Section 3 consists of all the autograph manuscripts of the Annals of the Four Masters and an autograph manuscript of Mícheál Ó Cléirigh 'Genealogies of the Saints and Kings of Ireland'
