The Annals of the Four Masters, also known as “Annála Ríoghachta Éireann” or “The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland”, is a comprehensive chronicle of Irish history from the earliest times until 1616. The work is written primarily in Irish and is one of the most important sources of knowledge on Ireland’s ancient history. The annals are named after the four medieval Irish scholars—Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Peregrine Ó Duibhgeannain—who compiled the work between 1632 and 1636.
The four monks were part of a scholarly group known as the Franciscan Brotherhood and began their work under the patronage of Fearghal Ó Gadhra, a Gaelic lord. They primarily worked in a Franciscan friary in Donegal, though they also travelled extensively to gather material. Their goal was to create a historical record that affirmed Ireland’s status as a learned nation with a rich history.
The Annals comprise an expansive collection of stories, poems, genealogies, and local histories. These include accounts of legendary and historical kings, battles, ecclesiastical histories, and significant events in the cultural and political life of Ireland. The content is organized according to the years of occurrence, with each entry marked by the year it took place.
While the Annals are generally considered reliable, they should be used with some caution as a historical source. The authors had their biases, and the chronological structure can be problematic, with earlier events often poorly dated or exaggerated. Nonetheless, they are an invaluable resource for understanding Ireland’s complex past and provide critical information about events and figures absent in other sources.
The Annals have been translated into English multiple times, most notably by the 19th-century scholar John O’Donovan. Today, they are a central part of Irish historical studies and remain a testament to the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
