A Remarkable Record of Irish History: The Annals of Inisfallen

One of Ireland's most important medieval manuscripts, the Annals of Inisfallen, is now on public display in the Glucksman Gallery, UCC as part of a major new exhibition, Recording the Past: The Annals of Inisfallen and the Making of Irish History. The free exhibition runs until 1 November 2026.

Close to a thousand years old and hand-written in Irish and Latin, the 57 vellum leaves of The Annals of Inisfallen document the history of Ireland before the arrival of St Patrick and afterwards. The Annals present a continuous, year-by-year narrative of death, conflict, dramatic weather events and unusual occurrences in one of the most important surviving records of medieval Ireland.

Uniquely, the events that are recorded in The Annals of Inisfallen from the late 11^th to the 14^th century are contemporary with the writing of the book, involving contributions from a succession of thirty scribes. Later additions extend the historical record into the 15^th century. Invasions of Ireland from the mythical Tuatha Dé Danann, Viking raids on Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry, and the coming of the Normans are all detailed in the manuscript. Much of the later, contemporary section concerns west Munster and is a vital eye-witness archive for Irish history and an important source for the development of the Irish language.

The manuscript is thought to have been initially copied in the monastery of Lismore in Co. Waterford from materials created in the monasteries of Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly and Emly in Co. Tipperary. In the 12th century, the manuscript was brought to west Munster, most likely to the island monastery of Inisfallen, where the annual records were continued. Its pages preserve a unique record of Ireland's political, ecclesiastical and cultural life across generations.

‘This powerful, all-action history book is a monument to the work of a multitude of scribes who facilitated the transition from Latin to Irish as the language of record and scholarship, a language that, remarkably, is still very much with us.” - Pádraig Ó Macháin, Professor of Modern Irish at UCC

Enabled by the generous support of Brian McCarthy, Fexco, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Kerry County Council, and Cork University Foundation, the exhibition in UCC brings together the manuscript's remarkable story with new interpretation that explores its origins, its journey through history and its continuing relevance for scholars and the public alike. Visitors will also be able to discover how digital technologies are making medieval manuscripts accessible to audiences around the world.

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