O'DO
world the mass of materials collected with such study and investigation, were left to seek occupation elsewhere. He was called to the Bar in 1847. He was now en- gaged on the great work of his life — the translation, annotating, and editing of the first complete edition of the Annals of the Four Masters, for Hodges & Smith, the Dublin publishers. The volumes of the Annals from 1172 to 1616 appeared in 1848, and from 2242 a.m. to 1171 a.d, in 185 1. They fill six volumes (3,764 pp.) and index (405 pp,)— Irish and English on opposite pages : often more than half of both pages being occupied with notes in small type. This work gained for O'Donovan the degree of LL.D, from Trinity College, and the Royal Irish Academy awarded its highest distinction — the Cunningham medal, O'Curry says : " The translation is executed with extreme care. The im- mense mass of notes contain a vast amount of information, embracing every variety of topic — historical, topographical, and genea- logical — upon which the text requires elu- cidation or correction ; and I may add, that of the accuracy of the researches which have borne fruit in that informa- tion, I can myself, in almost every instance, bear personal testimony, . . There is absolutely nothing left to be desired, . There is no instance that I know of in any country, of a work so vast being undertaken, much less of any completed in a style so perfect and so beautiful, by the enterprise of a private publisher," The Irish type for the Annals was cast from designs drawn by George Petr The work was entrusted to Michar" ., Gill, College Printer, Dublin, who .ais and similar books printed ab the
same period, carried typography t y higher perfection than it had ever before at- tained in Ireland, On the completion of this work, John O'Donovan looked for- ward with gloomy apprehensions towards the future of himself and his numerous children, and even thought of emigrat- ing ; but the establishment, in November 1852, of a commission for the translation of the ancient laws of Ireland {SenchiLs Mor) gave him and O'Curry the prospect of a narrow livelihood for some years to come. The translation was commenced by them in January 1853, and continued "regularly daily from ten a.m, to four p.m., at a scale of remuneration quite in- adequate for the work, which no other living scholars had qualified themselves to execute," The first volume was not given to the world until 1865, long after the de- cease of both the great translators. For the Archaeological and Celtic Society he
O'DO
edited The Topographical Poems of John O'Duhhagain and of Giolla na Naomh O'Euidhrin, from the original Irish manu- script in the library of the Royal Irish Academy, with a translation, notes, and introductory dissertations, and finally re- vised the work for the press ; but it was not published until 20th January 1862, the index being entirely the work of Dr. Reeves, His translation of The Martyro- logy of Donegal, for the same Society, was edited in 1864 by Dr. Todd and Dr. Reeves. Nor was his supplement to O'Reilly's Irish Dictionary given to the public until after his death. There is scarcely an important work on Irish antiquities or topography which appeared during his manhood that does not to some extent bear the marks of his scholarship. We are told that " O'Donovan had begun life full of hope in the resurgence of true Irish learning, trusting that the results of his exertions, while advancing the repu- tation of his country, would gain for him- self somewhat of national gi'atitude and estimation; . . [but as the years passed over] he gradually fell into a condition of fixed depression and despondency, taking an interest only in the education of his children, and in preserving and eluci- dating the historic records of the ancient Irish. . . O'Donovan may be said to have been the first historic topographer that Ireland ever produced, and in this de- partr ent he will, in all probability, never be er u,lled, as a combination of circumstances milar to those under which he acquired his knowledge is not likely to arise again." "st He died in Dublin, 9th December 1861, aged 52, and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. The materials for this notice are taken almost entirely from an article in the Dublin Review, by his friend J. T. Gilbert, "st(si) 134 233 260 300*
O'Dovany, or O'Devany, Cornelius, Bishop of Down and Connor. He em- braced the rule of St. Francis in his youth, and was consecrated Bishop 27th April 1 582. He was imprisoned in Dublin Castle for some three years preceding 1590, being obliged at times to keep himself alive by drawing up crusts of bread through a hole in the floor from other prisoners confined beneath him. After being at liberty for several years, he was again arrested in June 161 1, on the charge of having assisted Hugh O'NeiU with his counsel during his wars, and aided him in his flight to the Continent. In the face of a strong alibi, and the provisions of a recent Act of oblivion, he was sentenced to death, and sufiered in company with the Rev. Patrick 1 Locheran, his friend and companion, in a
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