Mícheál Ó Cléirigh

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Mícheál Ó Cléirigh (c. 1590 – 1643) was an Irish chronicler, and chief author of the Annals of the Four Masters, assisted by Peregrine O'Clery, Fergus O'Mulconry, and Peregrine O'Duignan. His name is Anglicized as Michael O’Clery.

Grandson of a chief of the sept of Uí Chléirigh in Donegal, he was born in Kilbarron near Creevy, between Rossnowlagh and Ballyshannon on Donegal Bay, and was baptized Tadhg, but took the name of Mícheál when he became a Franciscan friar. He was a cousin of Lughaidh Ó Cléirigh (fl. 1595-1630), who, with his son Cacrigcriche Ó Cléirigh (d. 1664), one of Mícheál's co-workers, is also famous as an Irish historian.

Ó Cléirigh had already gained a reputation as an antiquary and student of Irish history and Irish literature, when he entered the Irish College of St Anthony at Louvain (Dutch:Leuven). In 1620, through the initiative of lugh Boy Macanward (1580-1635), warden of the college, and himself a famous Irish historian and poet, and one of an old family of hereditary bards in Tyrconnell, he began to collect Irish manuscripts and to transcribe everything he could find of historical importance; he was assisted by other Irish scholars - Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maolchonaire, Peregrine O'Duignan - and the results were Reim Rioghroidhe (Royal List) in 1630, Leabhar Gabhala (Book of Invasions) in 1631, and his most famous work, called by John Colgan (d. 1659), the Irish biographer, the Annals of the Four Masters (1636). Subsequently produced his Martyrologium of Irish saints, based on various ancient manuscripts, an Irish glossary and other works. Ó Cléirigh lived in poverty, and died at Louvain (Dutch: Leuven).

Mícheál Ó Cléirifgh appears as an historical character in Darach Ó Scolaí's novel, An Cléireach.

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