Extant manuscript for an English-Irish Dictionary of Ulster Irish compiled for and in association with the Belfast born industrialist and Gaelic Scholar, Robert Shipboy MacAdam (1808-95).
The manuscript consists of some 23 folios arranged alphabetically and containing the completed results of MacAdam's attempts to compile an English-Irish Dictionary in collaboration with the native Irish speaker, Hugh MacDonnell of Co. Meath. The completed work contains approximately 1,145 pages which have been tabulated into 4 columns to record the various entries. All but Letter F and the beginning of Letter G are to be found. A traditional gaelic script is also used throughout. The manuscript itself has been assessed to date from 1842-56.
The strength of this manuscript lies in the importance of the document as an original piece of unpublished work. It is indicative of the efforts of Irish men in the late 18th and 19th centuries to cultivate and propagate an interest in the Irish culture, and, in this case, the survival of the Irish language in particular. Described at one time as the "defender of the old Irish tongue," Robert Shipboy MacAdam was an influential figure in this regard. This manuscript would be of interest to students of Celtic and/or Irish Studies, the Gaelic Language and lexicography in general.
The collection consists of 23 folios containing approx. 1145 pages (11.5 x 14.5 inches)
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Queen's University Belast has legal ownership of the material i nthis collection. The usual terms and conditions apply with regard to rights management.
It is unclear when and how collection came to be held at Queen's University Belfast.