Manuscript launched this week charting history of O’Reilly clan

A unique Irish manuscript relating to the history and genealogy of The O’Reilly clan from the Kingdom of Breifne – today the modern County Cavan – was launched in a limited edition of 225 copies in Belfast this week.
The 18th Century Irish manuscript was discovered in 2008 and purchased by Professor Nikolaus Grüger at a rare books auction in Munich. The advantage of this unknown manuscript, written by the Chevalier Tomas O’Gorman, is that it used traceable references and contemporary research culled from the Books of Ballymote and Lecan, both written around 1400.
Professor Grüger is the husband of Belfast born international opera singer Dr Angela Feeney. He dedicated this launch to his late parents-in-law Billy and Mary Feeney who nurtured his love of Irish culture and history, and wishing to leave a legacy in their memory.
Copies of the leather bound book can now be viewed in libraries throughout Ireland and the United States.
“I felt very strongly that this manuscript should be returned home to Ireland and made available to historians, student research, general interest and of course those named O’Reilly,” said Professor Grüger. “If we could only know the travels and adventures of this manuscript throughout the last 225 years – the last entry being 1789 – and how it ended up in Munich.
“Through the generous sponsorship of Mr Brendan Boyd we have now been able to make this facsimile available to all those interested.”
The Belfast launch took place at the city’s Linen Hall Library where the library was presented with a facsimile no three copy.