Annála Uladh
TCD 1282 (H.1.8). 16th century. Vellum
This manuscript contains Irish annals for the years 431-1504 AD. Its principal scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín was a member of a hereditary learned family, historians to the Maguires of Fermanagh. The Annals of Ulster were compiled on Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh under the direction of Cathal Óg mac Maghnusa, archdeacon of Clogher. The medieval chronicle, one of a number of regional Irish annals, covers events that occurred in the northern half of Ireland.
Annals were compiled in monasteries such as Armagh, Clonmacnoise, Emly and Iona. They record the deaths of important churchmen, the reigns of kings and other significant events. Early records were in Latin but from the eighth century they were written in Irish and became more expansive. The Four Masters did not simply transcribe material from the Annals of Ulster. They selected and adapted records and changed the bias of later entries to suit their patrons the O'Donnells.
