Annals of Inisfallen to go on public display in University College Cork

2 September 2026
  • Close to a thousand years old, the manuscript is considered one of the most important surviving records of medieval Ireland
  • Recording the Past: The Annals of Inisfallen and the Making of Irish History exhibition opens at the Glucksman, University College Cork, from 2 September to 1 November 2026

One of Ireland's most significant medieval manuscripts will be available for the public to view in a major new free exhibition in University College Cork (UCC) that opens today (2nd September).

One of the most important surviving records of medieval Ireland

Close to a thousand years old and hand-written in Irish and Latin, the 57 vellum leaves of The Annals of Inisfallen document the history of Ireland before the arrival of St Patrick and afterwards. The Annals present a continuous, year-by-year narrative of death, conflict, dramatic weather events and unusual occurrences in one of the most important surviving records of medieval Ireland.

Uniquely, the events that are recorded in The Annals of Inisfallen from the late 11th to the 14th century are contemporary with the writing of the book, involving contributions from a succession of thirty scribes. Later additions extend the historical record into the 15th century.

Ten centuries of history recorded

Invasions of Ireland from the mythical Tuatha Dé Danann, Viking raids on Skellig Michael off the coast of Kerry, and the coming of the Normans are all detailed in the manuscript. Much of the later, contemporary section concerns west Munster and is a vital eye-witness archive for Irish history and an important source for the development of the Irish language.

The manuscript is thought to have been initially copied in the monastery of Lismore in Co. Waterford from materials created in the monasteries of Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly and Emly in Co. Tipperary. In the 12th century, the manuscript was brought to west Munster, most likely to the island monastery of Inisfallen, where the annual records were continued. Its pages preserve a unique record of Ireland's political, ecclesiastical and cultural life across generations.

Pádraig Ó Macháin, Professor of Modern Irish at UCC said:

This powerful, all-action history book is a monument to the work of a multitude of scribes who facilitated the transition from Latin to Irish as the language of record and scholarship, a language that, remarkably, is still very much with us.

Strong academic links between UCC and Oxford

The manuscript entered the collection of the seventeenth-century Irish historian Sir James Ware before passing through subsequent collectors to Richard Rawlinson, whose bequest brought it to the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford, where it has been preserved for more than 250 years.

The exhibition – Recording the Past: The Annals of Inisfallen and the Making of Irish History – in the Glucksman in UCC, reflects the strong academic and cultural links between University College Cork and the University of Oxford, highlighting the shared commitment of both institutions to advancing research, preserving cultural heritage and expanding public access to knowledge. The Annals are on public view until the 1st November.

Enabled by the generous support of Brian McCarthy, Fexco, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Kerry County Council, and Cork University Foundation, the exhibition in UCC brings together the manuscript's remarkable story with new interpretation that explores its origins, its journey through history and its continuing relevance for scholars and the public alike. Visitors will also be able to discover how digital technologies are making medieval manuscripts accessible to audiences around the world.

Prof. John O’Halloran, President, University College Cork, said:

The Annals of Inisfallen is one of the great treasures of Ireland's written heritage. This exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to engage with a manuscript that has shaped our understanding of medieval Ireland. By bringing together scholarship, interpretation and digital access, we hope to inspire new audiences to discover the richness of our shared history and the extraordinary work of the scribes who preserved it.

Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s Librarian and the Helen Hamlyn Director of University Libraries, said:

The Bodleian is delighted to collaborate with University College Cork to exhibit the Annals of Inisfallen in Ireland for the first time in over forty years. Giving the public a chance to view and get up close with this much treasured manuscript will help support greater understanding and appreciation of the medieval period, the role of manuscripts in preserving knowledge, and allow us to celebrate the shared responsibilities of libraries like the Bodleian and the University College Cork Library in preserving the past for the benefit of the present and the future.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan T.D. said:

I commend UCC and all involved in this exhibition which our National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Monuments Service, are proud to support as joint funders. Our involvement reflects the NPWS's role as custodian of Inisfallen Island within Killarney National Park and our shared commitment to safeguarding its exceptional natural, archaeological and cultural heritage.

The story of Inisfallen is deeply woven into the history of Killarney National Park. I hope this exhibition inspires everyone to explore the story of Inisfallen, to reflect on the remarkable legacy preserved within the Annals, and to appreciate the enduring connections between landscape, history and identity.

Niall O’Donnchu, Director-General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service added:

The Annals of Inisfallen are among Ireland's most significant historical records and the island remains an integral part of Killarney National Park today. We are proud to support this exhibition and the opportunity it provides to connect people with an extraordinary chapter of Ireland's natural and cultural heritage. Through this exhibition, visitors can explore not only the remarkable manuscript itself but the enduring relationship between humanity and nature that it represents. Through the NPWS and NMS, we are delighted to work alongside University College Cork in bringing the story of Inisfallen to new audiences.

Michael MacDonagh, Chief Archaeologist of the National Monuments Service said:

Ireland’s medieval manuscripts are a window onto a remarkable past that we cherish today. To have the Annals here is a wonderful example of respect, partnership, cooperation and heritage vision. We commend that vision and are very pleased to support it.

Kerry Bryson, CEO of Cork University Foundation said:

We are deeply grateful to all our supporters and donors for their extraordinary generosity in support of this historic exhibition. It is only with philanthropic support that we have been able to ensure that The Annals of Inisfallen are visible and accessible to our local and national communities, enabling all of us to engage with our history in a meaningful way.

Liz Jolly, University College Cork Librarian said:

Recording the Past reflects the very best of what can be achieved through collaboration. UCC and UCC Library greatly value our partnership with the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, and we are delighted to work together to bring renewed attention to the Annals of Inisfallen, one of the most important records of Ireland’s past. Through this exhibition, we are deepening connections across UCC and with regional and international partners, creating new opportunities for discovery and knowledge exchange with our communities and the public.

Further information

  • The manuscript known as ‘The Annals of Inisfallen’ (a single bound volume, Bodleian Library MS. Rawl. B. 503) consists of a year-by-year chronicle in the Irish language and Latin, first copied from an earlier exemplar around 1092 but then continued down into the 15th century by over forty later hands.
  • Some unusual occurrences captured include comets, the great snow of 1047 and the gift of a camel from the King of Scotland to the great grandson of Brian Boru in the year 1105.
  • Its origins and history are not entirely clear. According to the late Professor Brian Ó Cuív, who catalogued the Bodleian’s Irish manuscripts in the 1990s, the first scribe might have been writing either in the church of Emly or in that of Lismore, incorporating material from a chronicle belonging to the Emly community.
  • The Annals were continued in one or other mid-Munster monastery until sometime between 1130 and 1159, when it passed to a west-Munster monastery (probably Inisfallen), where additions were made up to the 15th century. Nothing further is known of the history of the manuscript until it passed into the possession of Sir James Ware (1594 – 1666), the Irish historian and politician, for whom it was rebound. From Ware, it passed through several intermediate owners to Richard Rawlinson (1690 – 1755), who bequeathed his great collection to the University of Oxford. There is no suggestion that Ware acquired his manuscripts illegally. Indeed, in collecting Irish manuscripts, he had been helped by Irish scholars of the calibre of Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh.
  • The Bodleian Libraries have made The Annals of Inisfallen freely available online through the Digital Bodleian, where a complete high-resolution digital facsimile supports research, teaching and public engagement worldwide. This digital access enables readers everywhere to explore one of Ireland's most important historical sources while ensuring the long-term preservation of the original manuscript.
  • The provision of support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in close collaboration with its sister agency the National Monuments Service (NMS), reflects its role as protective custodian of Inisfallen Island within Killarney National Park. The island’s history is inseparable from the wider narrative of the National Park, and its preservation and interpretation are essential to understanding the remarkable legacy of this unique place. Through supporting this exhibition, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Monuments Service alongside the University, will safeguard and celebrate an exceptional piece of heritage, promoting a deeper appreciation of Inisfallen’s historical, cultural and environmental importance, while creating new opportunities for audiences to connect with the past, inspire future research, and share knowledge locally, nationally and internationally for generations to come.