Local History Douglas Hyde, former President of The Republic of Ireland, Literary Scholar, and Gaelic Revivalist, provides an excellent summary, introduction, and commentary on many of the early genealogical lineages proported to include roots through Ireland, in his wonderful book: "A Literary History of Ireland". He proposes, based on his research into Irish Annals, that the accepted history of Ireland begins with the literary language and writings after the arrival of Saint Patrick. For it was the Latin of Patrick, merged with the Gaelic of Ireland, and Patrick's own Bretonic or Welsh Celtic background, that blossomed into an Ireland literary tradition, providing writen history verifiable thereafter. Thus Irealnd lineages as well, in parallel with local place names and clans, have a solid basis from about 350 A.D. and certainly after 650 A.D. Writings from this period, from the generations preceeding Nail of the Nine Hostages, to the time of the compiled Annals (1000 A.D. or 1600 A.D.), and then to our day, are commonly accepted as authentic by Irish Studies and Historians. They are presented in the form of Local Histories -- naratives about the control of tribal lands, derivation of place names, and connections to significant events in history. Therefore, the places and times become recorded for analysis and interpretation, comparison, and accepted. The landscapes receive their names and their significance, from battles, or livings, or sightings, or doings, findings, or takings. Lineages apear, in the form of familiar surname pride: O'Neil, O'Sullivan, O'Malley, Mac Mahon, O'Toole, etc. >=welcome>about>help> back(to"start")>LocalHistories>continue

Summary of Accepted Lineages A Literary History of Ireland Primary Sources The Book of Leinster The Book of Ballymote The Red Book of Ulster The Book of Limerick Annals of the Four Masters The Book of Lismore The Book of Invations The Book of the Dun Cow The Book of the Genealogies The Yellow Book of Lecan