Leabhar na Núachongbhála
TCD 1339 (H.2.18) 12th century. Vellum.
The Book of Leinster is the largest surviving compilation of early Irish learning dating from the twelfth century and is one of three such miscellanies, the others being Lebor na hUidre and Rawlinson B502. Up to six scribes worked on this manuscript, notably áed Ua Crimthann, abbot of Terryglass, Co Tipperary. It contains an important selection of medieval Irish texts in prose and verse. They include the Leabhar Gabhála, a narrative on the origin of the Irish, the corpus of topographical lore Dinnshenchas érenn and the heroic epic, Táin BÓ Cúailnge.
The manuscript was used by many later scholars among them Mícheál Ó Cléirigh who consulted it in the friary of Kildare in 1627. Known also as Leabhar na Núachongbhála after Oughavall, Co Laois where it was kept by the O'Mores. It was acquired by the Welsh antiquary Edward Lhuyd in 1700 and obtained by Trinity College Library in 1786.
