Works
ed. Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Dublin, (1808)
Commentary
Joseph Th. Leerssen, Mere Irish & Fior-Ghael: Studies in the Idea
of Irish Nationality, Its Development and Literary Expression Prior To
The Nineteenth Century (John Benjamins Pub. Co., Amsterdam & Philadelphia,
1986), remarks that a glimpse of the Gaelic outlook on the process of
osmosis between Anglo-Irish and Gaelic scholars in in the Celtic revival
is afforded by a letter which An Mangaire Sugach [Andrew Magrath] wrote
in 1787 to McElligott (later a member of the Gaelic Society) ... explaining
the paucity of surviving manuscripts [quotes:] ‘there were so many
severe & penal laws Instituted & enacted against them, their authors
patrons & other encouragers; by which means they were expelled, &
oblig’d to quit their country, family, friends & other protectors;
so that there are hardly any fotsteps [sic] of them to be traced till
now that by the lenity of the present Government, they begin to breathe,
& hope to be encouraged, & redressed; yet it will take up a great
deal of Time & labour to collect speciments of their work & anecdotes
of their lives, & [sealing wax here] translations, and that by traversing
a great part of the country far & near & by Improving an acquaintance
with many distant Correspondents’ (RIA MS 24 0 55; Leerssen, op.
cit., p.288]
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)