TCD 1282 (H.1.8). 16th century. Vellum This manuscript contains
Irish annals for the years 431-1504 AD. Its principal scribe
Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín was a member of a hereditary learned family,
historians to the Maguires of Fermanagh. The Annals of Ulster
were compiled on Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh under the direction of
Cathal Óg mac Maghnusa, archdeacon of Clogher. The medieval
chronicle, one of a number of regional Irish annals, covers
events that occurred in the northern half of Ireland. Annals
were compiled in monasteries such as Armagh, Clonmacnoise, Emly
and Iona. They record the deaths of important churchmen, the
reigns of kings and other significant events. Early records were
in Latin but from the eighth century they were written in Irish
and became more expansive. The Four Masters did not simply
transcribe material from the Annals of Ulster. They selected and
adapted records and changed the bias of later entries to suit
their patrons the O'Donnells.