MacGEOGHEGAN, M. l’Abbé. Histoire De L’Irlande Ancienne et Moderne. Tirée des Monumens les plus authentiques.

DEDICATED TO IRISH SOLDIERS IN THE SERVICE OF FRANCE

With six folding maps (one coloured in outline) by Robert de Vaugondy. Three volumes. Paris & Amsterdam: Chez Antoine Boudet, 1758/63. Quarto. pp. (1) xlviii, 488, 2 (errata), (2) lxxxiv, x, 376, [2], (3) ix, [1], 377-798. Title vignettes; head and tail- pieces, capitals, marginal notes. Contemporary full mottled calf, spine divided into six panels by five gilt raised bands, title and volume number in gilt on contrasting red and black morocco labels in the second and third panels the remainder tooled in gilt to a centre-and-corner design. All edges sprinkled. Armorial bookplate of James Clealand, Rathgill near Bangor, and James Rose Cleland, Rath Gael House on pastedowns. Wear to spine ends and extremities. All edges sprinkled. A very good set. Scarce.
COPAC locates 10 sets only.
James MacGeoghegan (1701-1764), historian and cleric was born near Uisnech in County Westmeath and belonged to the family known in Irish as Cinel Fhiachach. He was a kinsman of Richard MacGeoghegan the defender of Dunboy in 1602, and Conall MacGeoghegan, translator of the Annals of Clonmacnoise, as well as Francis O'Molloy, author of Lucerna Fidelium;. This three volume work extends from the earliest period to the Treaty of Limerick. It combines Jacobitism with Irish patriotism, asserting the Royal title of the Stuarts while condemning England's misgovernment of Ireland, insisting on Ireland's status as a kingdom, and praising its past cultural achievements. It is dedicated to the Irish troops in the service of France and the author consulted the manuscript copy of the Book of Lecan, which at that time was housed in the Irish College in Paris. An English translation by Patrick O'Kelly appeared in Dublin in 1831 and was republished in 1844 with a continuation to the present time by John Mitchel. The maps included are: Carte de Ancienne Irlande; Province Ultonie; Province de Momonie; Province de Connacie; Province de Midie et de Lagénie; Royaume d'Irlande (coloured in outline).

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