| Language | Irish |
|---|---|
| Subject | Ireland |
| Publication place | Ireland |
TheAnnals of Inisfallen (Irish:Annála Inis Faithlinn) are achronicle of themedieval history ofIreland.[1]
There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between 433 and 1450. The manuscript is thought to have been compiled in 1092, as the chronicle is written by a single scribe down to that point but updated by many different hands thereafter.[2] It was written by themonks of Innisfallen Abbey, onInnisfallen Island onLough Leane, nearKillarney inMunster, but made use of sources produced at different centres aroundMunster as well as aClonmacnoise group text of the hypotheticalChronicle of Ireland.[3] It is regarded as the main source for the medieval history of Munster.[4]
As well as the chronological entries, the manuscript contains a short, fragmented narrative of the history of pre-Christian Ireland, known as thepre-Patrician section, from the time ofAbraham to the arrival ofSaint Patrick in Ireland. This has many elements in common withLebor Gabála Érenn.[5] It sets the history of Ireland and theGaels withinEusebian universal history, which is provided both by a Latin world chronicle and extracts fromRéidig dam, a Dé, do nim, aMiddle Irish poem attributed toFlann Mainistrech in later manuscripts.[citation needed]
The annals are now housed in theBodleian Library inOxford. In 2001, Brian O'Leary, aFianna Fáil councillor in Killarney, called for the annals to be returned to the town.[6] Although it was loaned to Ireland on occasion it remains in Oxford.