Patrons The Book of Fenagh Manuscript This festival involves considerable expense. Thus In 1516 Tadgh O Rodaigh, the comharb (successor to St Book of Fenagh Festival we are asking people who feel strongly about Caillin) of the abbey, commissioned Muirgheas Mac Paidin Fenagh or have strong attachment to it, to become uí Maoil Chonaire, to make a copy of the Old Book of Patrons of the Festival. The Patron fee is €50. Fenagh, which had become worn from age. The Old Book only had verse, and Muirgheas added prose passages to the Patrons receive the following benefits: new Book of Fenagh. There is now no trace of the Old Book. • A reserved place at the medieval concert with concert entry fee covered by the Patron fee. There are three early copies in manuscript form, apart from Féile Leabhar Fidhnacha the original, (Copy A), in the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in • A specially hardbound copy in buckrum of Dublin. Portions of a copy, called manuscript B are in the the new book, The Making of the Book of Fenagh, library of The British Museum. A further copy, copy C, is signed by the editors. These special copies will in the Bibliotheque Royal, Brussels. A fourth copy, referred only be available to Patrons. to as copy D, is in The RIA. • And of course free admission to the generally None of the four manuscripts are complete. The original available free events. manuscript, Copy A, is the most complete and the most Becoming a Patron important one. If you would like to become a patron, a form More recent copies is available from the Visitor Centre in Fenagh or to download from the Fenagh.com website. In the 1870s, Lady Louisa Tenison of Castle Tenison (later You can pay on the website using PayPal. If you named Kilronan Castle) commissioned W. M. Hennessy wish to reserve extra tickets for the concert or and D. W. Kelly to produce a translation and first printing attend the BBQ and Drama, details can be included of The Book of Fenagh in 1875. It is thought that only fifty on the form or when you are paying by Paypal. You copies of Hennessy and Kelly’s book were printed. Lady can also pay by forwarding a cheque or postal order Louisa was particularly interested in Fenagh, funding the to the Visitor Centre with the completed Patron building of a wall to surround the abbey in Fenagh. form, or of course you are welcome to call into the Visitor Centre in Fenagh. The book contains two photographs, one of the Fenagh cromlech and the other of the larger abbey. It is thought Contact: Teresa Lennon, Fenagh Visitor Centre that these photographs are the first photographs of Leitrim. Phone: (071) 964 5590 Because of the scarcity of the first printing of 1875, the Web: www.fenagh.com Irish Manuscripts Commission printed a facsimile of the E-mail: [email protected] 1875 version in 1939. FB: ‘Book of Fenagh 500’ Two specially commissioned facsimile pages of the original 1516 manuscript in the RIA are now on display at The Fenagh Visitor Centre. In more recent times, copies of the 29th July - 31st July 2016 1875 edition have become available by ‘Print on Demand’ on the web. Programme of Events All events are in the Community Centre unless otherwise stated Friday 29th July 8pm Launch of the Festival and the new publication: The Making of The Book of Fenagh 8.15pm Lecture 1: The making of The Book of Fenagh Speaker: Professor Raymond Gillespie, Maynooth University The Book of Fenagh 500 Festival Booking for the Events Saturday 30th July The Lectures This year, 2016, marks the 500th anniversary 10am Launch of The Book of Fenagh facsimile of the writing of The Book of Fenagh in 1516. Booking is not necessary and admission to these 10.15am Lecture 2: Scribes and Scholars and is free, although a voluntary contribution on The Book of Fenagh is one of Ireland’s most The Book of Fenagh the day will be appreciated. You do not have to important medieval manuscripts. The book Speaker: Dr. Bernadette Cunningham, attend all of the lectures if you do not want to: is kept in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. Royal Irish Academy To mark the 500th anniversary, a ‘Book just pick whichever ones in which you have an 11am of Fenagh 500 Festival’ will take place in Tea/Coffee Break interest. Fenagh on the August bank holiday weekend, 11:15am Lecture 3: Fenagh in 1516: The Social and 29th July-31st July. Religious Context for The Book of Fenagh Walking Tours Speaker: Fr. Liam Kelly These are also free and do not need booking. A major programme of events has been organized. 12:30pm Lunch available There are two alternative times for the walking A new book is being published, The Making of 1:30 pm Fenagh Visitor Centre tour. the Book of Fenagh, which will contain a series Walking tour of Fenagh (1) of articles about Fenagh and the original book. Medieval Concert 2-4pm St. Caillin’s NS Three talks will take place during the festival This will take place in St. Catherine’s Church School Children Exhibition/Displays based on the new book. The book is being edited of Ireland. Places are limited to 100, and must 3pm Fenagh Visitor Centre by Professor Raymond Gillespie of Maynooth be booked in advance. Price €10 per person. It University, Professor Salvador Ryan of St. Patrick’s Walking tour of Fenagh (2) is anticipated that this event will be booked out College, Maynooth and Dr Brendan Scott of The 4:30pm St. Catherine’s Church of Ireland early. Breifne Historical Society, who are publishing the Concert of Medieval Music book. Sunday 31st July Medieval BBQ and Historical In addition to this, a great range of other activities 11:30am St. Mary’s Church, Foxfield Drama and Music Presentation will take place as set out below. Even if you are not Mass (with Bishop Francis Duffy) You must book for this event as places are a history buff, the events will be of great interest. 2-3pm St. Caillin’s NS limited. Price is €15 per person. A single €15 School Children Exhibition/Displays Fenagh is one of the most historic locations in covers both the BBQ and the Drama and Music 5pm Medieval BBQ Leitrim and the Festival is a great opportunity to Presentation. learn about Fenagh and to have a very enjoyable 6:30pm Fenagh from St. Caillin through the ages weekend. Drama and Music Presentation This festival is supported by Leitrim Tourism