Myths and poems of rarely seen historic manuscripts to be reproduced

Seamus Enright

A collection of manuscripts transcribed in the Derrylin area, dating from the early 1700s, contains a rich tapestry of legends, myths, history, genealogy, poetry, religious prayers and stories. These are the focus of a new book to be launched next month.

Measuring more than 1,000 pages of unique material, the Book of Knockninny, which is currently held in Dublin's Royal Irish Academy, was delivered under the patronage of notable Brian Maguire.
Remarkably, it was only recently that locals became aware of the existence of the locally-compiled text. Following that, a group of distinguished scholars, led by Professor Raymond Gillespie from NUI Maynooth and Belturbet native Dr Brendan Scott, undertook to examine its contents.
Together they engaged other leading historians and the new book is a compilation of those endeavours. There will be two local launches - the first on Friday, November 8 at 7.30pm and the second on Saturday, November 9, at 10am at Aughakillymaude Culture Centre, Derrylin, Co Fermanagh.
Fr Ultan McGoohan, then parish priest in Knockninny, was among those locally to first lay eyes on the original Book of Knockninny in almost 300 years when a group from the area travelled to see it last year.
Interestingly, it was a reference in another book on local history, compiled by Monsignor Liam Kelly, Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Kilmore, that piqued Fr McGoohan's interest and opened the discussion that led to the book's discovery.
That detail was of a “great gathering” of poets, musicians and scholars, “possibly the largest and maybe the last in the province” that was held in the parish of Knockninny in 1718.
“I happened upon it and one thing led to another. The book has been kept in the Academy on Dawnson Street for more than a century now. It has never been put on exhibition, never on public display, so to see it was a rare honour, and it's the honour now of the parish and the people of Aughakillymaude that it has now been studied by eminent researchers so that its contents can now be read and studied by many,” Fr McGoohan told The Anglo-Celt.
The new book includes essays about the content and the context of the Book of Knockninny, with a special reference also to the role of Brian Maguire as a patron of learning.
Mons Kelly will be on hand to officially launch the book on Friday, November 8, followed by a short lecture and entertainment. The opening address will be provided by Michael McBarron, with an introduction to the new book provided by Dr Brendan Scott.
On Saturday, November 10, respected historians Prof Raymond Gillespie, Dr Nollaig O'Muraile and Prof MacMurchaidh will give two further talks on the subject.
Local schools will also make a presentation on a local history project they have been working on and, weather permitting, attendees will visit the burial place of the Maguire's at Callowhill cemetery.