Henry Morris Manuscripts

Henry Morris

UCD Library Special Collections holds the manuscripts collected by Henry Morris.

Identity Statement

Reference code IE/ UCD/SC/Morris Ms

Title
Henry Morris Manuscripts.

Dates
1732-1920

Level of Description
Fonds.

Extent
27 items.

Context

Creator
Henry Morris (Énrí Ó Muirgheasa) (1874-1945).

Biographical History

• Henry Morris or Énrí Ó Muirgheasa was born in Co. Monaghan.
• He was a teacher and subsequently a school inspector for the Department of Education. 
• He was involved in the revival of Irish language and antiquarian studies.
• He is best known for recordings of oral tradition and folklore in Irish in the North Louth and South Armagh area during the 1940s.
• He was also a collector of 18th and 19th century Irish manuscripts.
• He was awarded an honorary MA from Queen’s University Belfast in 1936.

Source of Acquisition
Deposited in UCD by Frank Morris, nephew of Henry Morris.

Scope and Content

• Manuscripts containing catechisms, religious tracts, prose, songs and poems, Ossianic material from northern poets written by various scribes from the north-eastern part of Ireland and collected by Morris.
• Manuscript 7 contains prose tales written in 1732 by scribe Padraig ó Pronntaigh, mhic Néill etc.
• Manuscript 12 is a copy of Keating’s Foras Feasa ar Eireann by the scribe Aodh Ó Néill of Newry.

Access and Use

• The material in this collection is available by appointment to students, teaching staff, and independent researchers. We also welcome interested members of the public.
• Please contact us at (opens in a new window)special.collections@ucd.ie for further information. To book an appointment (opens in a new window)click here.

Reproduction
Photocopying or digital photographing of this material is not permitted.

Language
Mainly in Irish.

Finding Aid
The material is listed online in (opens in a new window)Sources: A National Library of Ireland database for Irish research. This search tool is the online version of "Hayes, Richard J. (1965) Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilisation, Boston: Hall", also available in James Joyce Library, Level 2, Ref GR 016/091.

Morris described 17 of these manuscripts in Morris manuscripts, an article in Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge 1904–1905

More Information

Find information on Henry Morris in the (opens in a new window)Dictionary of Irish Biography. 

Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail, 'Lámhscríbhinní Uí Mhuirgheasa: foinsí luachmhara an léinn dúchais in Ultaibh', Léachtaí Cholm Cille 51 (2021), 22–58.