Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh (

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

1624–1664) was an Irish historian and genealogist, known in English as Peregrine O'Clery.

Life and work

Ó Cléirigh was a son of Diarmaid Ó Cléirigh, and thus a third-cousin once removed to Brother

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Mícheál Ó Cléirigh (), sometimes known as Michael O'Clery, was an Irish chronicler, scribe and antiquary and chief author of the ''Annals of the Four Masters'', assisted by Cú Choigcríche ÓCléirigh, Fearfeasa ÓMaol Chonaire, and Pe ...

, whom he assisted in compiling the ''

Annals of the Four Masters The ''Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland'' () or the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' () are chronicles of Middle Ages, medieval Irish history. The entries span from the Genesis flood narrative, Deluge, dated as 2,242 Anno Mundi, years after crea ...

''. However, Paul Walsh believed him to be a son of Diarmad mac An Chosnamhghaigh mac Concoigríche mac Diarmada Ó Cléirigh, who died in 1552. This Diarmaid was a brother of Tuthal (died 1512) and Giolla Riabhach (died 1527).

was the son of Donnchaidh, a son of Uilliam son of Tuathail Ó Cléirigh, who died in 1512. The first modern-day editor of the annals, John O'Donovan, believed that Ó Cléirigh was the son of the poet and historian Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh, although this has since been disputed. Along with Brother Mícheál, Ó Cléirigh transcribed the years 1332–1608 in the annals. The earliest copy of Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh's life of Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill is in his handwriting. He also wrote a poem on Mary, sister of

Red Hugh O'Donnell Hugh Roe O'Donnell II (; 20 October 1572 – 30 August 1602), also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell, was an Irish Chief of the Name, clan chief and senior leader of the Irish confederacy during the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War. He was ...

, who died in 1662, which is now among the Phillips Manuscripts at the

National Library of Ireland The National Library of Ireland (NLI; ) is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The mission of the National Library of Ireland is "To collect, preserve, promote and make accessible the ...

.Phillips MS 23068 (NLI G 167) He seems to have given material to Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh, which the latter inserted on page 299 of

Leabhar na nGenealach ''Leabhar na nGenealach'' ("Book of Genealogies") is a massive genealogical collection written mainly in the years 1649 to 1650, at the college-house of St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway, by Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh. He continued to add m ...

His own principal work is the compilation known as the O'Clery Book of Genealogies. He died at Gortnaheltia, in the valley of Glenhest at the foot of Nephin Beg, overlooking Lough Beltra. He bequeathed his books to his sons Diarmaid and Seán. It is believed that Cú Choigcríche's descendants are the Cleary and Clarke families of Brackleagh, Glenhest, Burrishoole,

County Mayo County Mayo (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, County Mayo, Mayo, now ge ...

The O'Clery Book of Genealogies

References

* http://www.ucc.ie/faculties/celtic/lss/c001/soc.htm

Sources

* ''O'Clerys in west Mayo'', by Padraig Ó Móghráin, pp. 70–73, in ''Measgra i gCuimhne Mhichíl Chléirigh'', ed. S. O'Brien, 1944. * ''The Celebrated Antiquary: Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (c.1600-1671) - His Life, Lineage and Learning,'', by Nollaig Ó Muraíle, An Sagart, Maynooth, 1996; reprinted 2003. ; . See pages xix, 12, 20–1, 27, 59, 172, 176, 183, 214, 234–6, 275, 327–8. * ''Notes on Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh One of the Four Masters'', Cathair na Mart 2001 (Journal of the Westport Historical Society), pp. 27–44, An Br. Angelo Mac Shamhais, OSF. * ''Irish Leaders and Learning through the Ages'', edited by Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2003. {{DEFAULTSORT:O Cleirigh, Cu Choigcriche People from County Donegal People from County Mayo Irish scribes 17th-century Irish historians Irish genealogists Irish book and manuscript collectors Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Irish-language writers

Life and work

The O'Clery Book of Genealogies

See also

References

Sources