TESTIMONIALS.
The Fathers of the Franciscan Order, subscribers hereunto, do certify that Fergal O'Gara was the nobleman who prevailed on Brother Michael O'Clery to bring together the antiquaries and chronologers, who compiled the following Annals, (such as it was in his power to collect,) and that Fergal O'Gara, aforesaid, rewarded them liberally for their labour.
This collection is divided into two parts, and from the beginning to the end has been transcribed in the Convent of the Brothers of Donegal, who supplied the transcribers with the necessary viands for their maintenance. The first volume was begun in the same Convent, A.D. 1632, when Father Bernardine O'Clery was guardian thereof.
The antiquaries and chronologers who were the collectors and transcribers of this work we attest to be Brother Michael O'Clery; Maurice O'Maolconery, the son of Torna, who assisted during a month; Ferfesa O'Maolconery, the son of Loghlin, (and both those antiquaries were of the county of Roscommon;) Cucogry (Peregrine) O'Clery, of the county of Donegal; Cucogry O'Duigenan, of the comity of Leitrim; and Conary O'Clery, of the county of Donegal.
The old books they collected were the Annals of Clonmacnois, an abbey consecrated by St. Kiaran, son of the Carpenter; the Annals of the Island of Saints, on Lough Ribh, (now Lough Ree, or that part of the Shannon between Athlone and Lanesborough); the Annals of Senat Mac Magnus, on Lough Erne, (in the county of Fermanagh); the Annals of the O'Maolconerys; and the Annals of Kilronan, (a parish in the county of Roscommon) compiled by the O'Duigenans. These antiquaries had also procured the Annals of Leacan, compiled by the Mac Firbises, (after having transcribed the greater part of the first volume,) and from those Annals they supplied what they thought proper in the blacks they left for any occasional information they could obtain. The Annals of Clonmacnois and those of the Island of Saints came down no farther than the year of our Lord 1227.
The second part of this work commences with the year of our Lord 1208, and began to be transcribed in the present year 1635, when Father Christopher Dunlevy was guardian; and these Annals were continued down to the year 1608, when Father Bernardine O'Clery was for the second time elected guardian.
Brother Michael O'Clery above-mentioned, Cucogry O'Clery, and Conary O'Clery, were the transcribers of the Annals from 1332 to 1608. The books from which they transcribed were; the greater part of O'Maolconery's book, ending with 1505; the Book of the O'Duigenans, aforesaid, from the year 900 to 1563; the Book of Senat Mac Magnus, ending with 1533; a part of the Book of Cucogry the son of Dermod, son of Teige
