Poems from the Nugent Manuscript

Abstract

This thesis comprises an edition of nine bardic poems composed during the Classical Modern Irish period. The main source used is National Library of Ireland Manuscript G 992 (also known as ‘The Nugent Manuscript’, ‘The Book of Delvin’ and An Duanaire Nuinseannach), a vellum manuscript written in the midlands in the sixteenth century. All copies of the poems appearing in other manuscripts have been consulted also. The poems conform to the standards of Classical Irish, a literary register used in the com¬position of bardic poetry from roughly 1200 to 1700 in Ireland and Scotland. Bardic praise poems were commissioned by wealthy nobles, both Gaelic and Anglo-Norman. The poetry was composed by hereditary professional poets who were handsomely rewarded for their work.