ARCHDEACON, Matthew. Legends of Connaught, Irish Stories &c. [ORIGINAL SUBSCRIBER’S COPY]

Dublin: Published by John Cumming, 1839. Octavo. pp. xvi, 406. Recent maroon buckram, title in gilt on morocco letterpiece on spine. A well read copy with occasional light foxing and browning, mild staining. Signature of Lyons Carney, Chancery, Castlebar, an original subscriber, on titlepage. A good copy of an exceedingly rare item.
COPAC locates the Cambridge, Glasgow, British Library and TCD copies only. WorldCat 1. Loeber
A77. Brown 130.
The author states in his preface that each of the stories are based on fact. There are seven stories in this volume: Fitzgerald (based on the life of the notorious George Robert Fitzgerald, executed in 1786); The Banshee; The Election; Alice Thompson; M’Mahon; The Rebel’s Grave; and The Ribbonmen. Events in Connaught at the close of the eighteenth century. Archdeacon died in 1853 in destitute circumstances. There is an eight page list of subscribers drawn from Dublin, Castlebar, Sligo, Galway, Ballina, Westport, Ballinrobe, Newport, Claremorris, Crossmolina, Swineford, Ballaghaderreen, Hollymount, Ballyhaunis, Cong, Foxford, Killala, Tuam, Ballinasloe, Clifden, Castlerea, Loughrea, Athlone and Headfort. The Rev. William H Maxwell, author of ‘Wild Sports of the West’ and William Larminie author of ‘West Irish Folk-Tales and Romances’ were original subscribers. Other literary notables included: Lady Morgan, William Carleton, Daniel O’Connell, Thomas Davis, James Hardiman, and the Most Rev. John MacHale

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