ATKINSON, Robert. Et al. The Ancient Laws of Ireland comprising introduction to the Senchus Mor … and Law of Distress and Hostage Sureties, Tenure and Social Conditions, Customary Law and the Book of Aicill, Brehon Law Tracts, and Glossary. Edited by Robert Atkinson. With coloured folding plates from the original manuscripts.

SENCHUS MOR - THE ANCIENT LAWS OF IRELAND

Six volumes. Dublin: Thom, 1865-1901. Royal octavo. Black buckram, titled in gilt. Ex libris with bookplates and stamps. A very good set of this rare and important work.

The Senchus Mor or Ancient Laws of Ireland have their origin in the pre-Christian era. They were compiled during the reign of Laeghaire, son of Niall, King of Erin, and they were completed nine years after the arrival of Patrick in Erin, i.e. 441 A.D. The earliest reference to the Senchus Mor is in the Annals of the Four Masters - “The age of Christ 438. The tenth year of Laeghaire. The Senchus and Feinechus of Ireland were purified and written”. The judges were called Brehons, they had law schools and collections of laws in tracts, all in the Irish language, by which they regulated their judgements. The two largest and most important of these manuscripts that miraculously have come down to us are the Senchus Mor and the Book of Aicill, treating Irish civil and criminal law respectively. The most learned John O‟Donovan and Eugene O‟Curry, along with Rev. T. O‟Mahony translated the various Law-tracts, in the libraries of Trinity College Dublin, the Royal Irish Academy, the British Museum and the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. The editors were R. Atkinson, W.N. Hancock, T. O‟Mahony, A.G. Richey, W.M. Hennessy. Glossary compiled by R. Atkinson. Parallel Gaelic text and English translation, with introduction and notes in English. Half-title: Hiberniae leges et institutiones antiquae; or, Ancient laws and institutes of Ireland.