This document provides an overview of the history, preservation, cataloguing, and collections of the library at St Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork, Ireland. It discusses the origins and buildings that have housed the library over time. It also describes efforts to preserve manuscripts and rare books in the collection, as well as the process of cataloguing the works. The document outlines provenance of materials, including donations from bishops, institutions, and families connected to Cork. It highlights the variety of bindings and printers represented in the collections, including examples from continental Europe and Britain.

1. St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Library
Elaine Harrington | Special Collections Librarian
UCC Library
History, Preservation and Use of Religious Libraries in Ireland
18 October 2019

2. St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and Its Library
Braun & Hogenburg. Civitates orbis terrarvm. [Coloniae Agrippinae: apud Petrum a Brachel,
1576-1618]. Vol 6: Cork. Strongroom U.314 (v.6)
Pic Credit: A star called sun https://twitter.com/torban69/status/969947368794804225

3. Preservation
Aquinas, Thomas. Incipiu[n]t preclarissima opuscula diui Thome aquinatis sacri ordinis p[re]dicato[rum] in quibus o[mn]is ph[ilosophi]e [&] diuina[rum] scriptura[rum] theoremata est co[m]plexus. [Venice:
Hermann Lichtenstein, 1497]. L.3.18

4. Cataloguing
M. Tullii Ciceronis De officiis libri tres,
Cato maior, Laelius, Paradoxa,
Somnium Scipionis / ex recensione
Ioannis Georgii Graevii...
Amstelodami: Ex typographia P. & I.
Blaeu. Prostant apud Wolfgang,
Janssonio-Waesbergios, Boom, a
Someren, & Goethals, 1688. E.4.12
The Annual Register, or, A View of the
History, Politics, and Literature for the
Year.... R.5.1 y.1758
An Account of the Dispensary for
Administering Advice and Medicines to
the Ooor in the City and County of
Cork: At the Dispensary, or At Their
Own Habitations; Instituted in the Year
1787. Cork: printed by William Flynn, at
the Shakspear, 1788. U.6.15 v.15
Soto, Domingo de. Commentariorum fratris Dominici
Soto Segoviensis, theologi, Ordinis Praedicatorum,
Caesareae Maiestati à sacris confessionibus, publici
apud Salmanticenses professoris, in Quartum
Sententiarum: cum indice copiosissimo atque
locupletissimo. Salmanticae [Salamanca]: Apud
Ioannem Mariam à Terranoua, expensis Benedicti
Boyerii bibliopolae, MDLXVI [1566-1569]. R.3.3

5. Margaret Connolly. “Books Connected with Battle Abbey.”
Item: [Biblia Latina / cum glossa ordinaria Walafridi Strabonis aliorumque et interlineari Anselmi Laudunensis et cum postillis ac moralitatibus Nicolai de Lyra et expositionibus Guillelmi Britonis in omnes prologos
S. Hieronymi et additionibus Pauli Burgensis replicisque Matthiae Doering]. Basiliae: per Johannem Petri de Langendorff et Johannem Froben de Hamelburg, 1498. R.2.4
Article: Connolly, Margaret. “Books Connected with Battle Abbey Before the Dissolution: Some New Discoveries.” The Library 7.1 (2000): 119-32.

6. Early Modern Works
Top-bottom: Page 69, Page 71-72 Minute Book Library Committee 1850 – 1885,
Queen’s College Cork. U.376
Biblia sacra polyglotta: complectentia textus originales, Hebraicum, cum Pentateucho Samaritano,
Chaldaicum, Græcum; versionumque antiquarum, Samaritanæ, Græcæ, Chaldaicæ, Syriacæ (LXXII
Interp.); Arabicæ, Æthiopicæ, Persicæ, Vulg. Lat….; / edidit Brianus Waltonus. Londini: imprimebat
Thomas Roycroft, MDCLVII [1657]. D.1.7

7. Provenance – Browne, Bishop of Cork & Ross
Romanæ historiæ anthologia recognita et aucta: An English Exposition of the Roman Antiquities; wherein many Roman and English offices
are parallel'd, and divers obscure phrases explain'd. For the use of Abingdon School. London: Printed by R. W. for Peter Parker, and are to
be sold at his shop at the Golden Legg and Starr, over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1674. Q.4.2

8. Provenance – Crowe, Bishop of Cloyne
Explicatio mandati secundi Decalogi / Per patrem
Thomam Sanchez Cordubensem .. Madriti: praelo et
expensis Ludouici Sanchez typographi regii, MDCXIII
[1613]. R.3.8 v.2
Pastoralis solicitudinis, sive de officio et potestate
episcopi tripartita descriptio ... / Auctore Augustino
Barbosa I.V.D. Lusitano ... cum sex tripli indice. Parisiis
apud Michaelem Sonnium, via Iacobaea sub scuto
Basiliensi, MDCXXV[1625]. F.2.6

9. Provenance – Stopford, Bishop of Cork & Ross
The Monthly Review. T.4.2 y.1800 (1)
Ferguson, Adam. Institutes of Moral
Philosophy: For the Use of Students in
the College of Edinburgh. Edinburgh:
printed for A. Kincaid & W. Creech, and
J. Bell; sold in London by S. Crowder
[and others], 1773. K.7.32
Anticipation: Containing the Substance of His M-----
y’s Most Gracious Speech to Both H----s of P--l-----t,
on the opening of the approaching session, together
with a full and authentic account of the debate which
will take place in the H---e of C-----s, on the motion
for the address, and the amendment. With notes.
Dublin: Printed for the company of booksellers, by
Byrn and Son, MDCCLXXVIII [1778]. T.4.17 v.11
The Statutes at Large, Passed in the Parliaments
Held in Ireland: from the Third year of Edward the
Second, A.D. 1310 ... with marginal notes, and a
complete index to the whole. Dublin: Printed by
George Grierson, 1786-1804. I.S.1-I.S.31

10. Provenance: Family
Corpus juris civilis: Pandectis ad Fflorentinum archetypum expressis, institutionibus, codice et novellis, addito textu Graeco, ut & in digestis &
codice, legibus & constitutionibus Graecis, cum optimis quibusque editionibus collatis… / opera & studio Simonis van Leeuwen JC. Lugd. Bat.
Amstelodami: apud Joannem Blaeu, Ludovicum & Danielem Elzevirios; Lugd. Batavorum [Leiden]: apud Franciscum Hackium, 1663. E.1.6

11. Provenance – Ex Libris Various Cork Figures
C. Iulii Cæsaris quæ extant / ex
emendatione Ios. Scaligeri. Lugduni
Batavorum [Leiden] : ex officina
Elzeviriana, 1635. H.7.12
Arnoldi Corvini a Belderen I.C. Jurisprudentiae
Romanae summarium, seu, Codicis Justinianei
methodica enarratio: Cum juris civilis antiqui,
novissimi, nec non pontificii & municipalis, pro
varietate materiarum diversis & congruis locis
inserta brevi declaratione. Amstelodami : Apud
Ludovicum & Danielem Elzevirios, CIC ICC 2Y
[1655]. A.3.3
Cappell, Jac... Observationes in Novum
Testamentum: exceptis Actibus Apostolorum &
Apocalypsi D. Ioannis / Nunc demum XXXIII post
Authoris obitum annis, in lucem editae ;
procurante Ludovico Cappello ... Una cum
ejusdem Ludovici Cappelli Spicilegio ante annos
XXV primum edito, nunc denuo ab Autore aucto,
castigato & emendato. Amstelodami: Apud
Ludovicum & Danielem Elzevirios, [1657]. S.6.17
Annotations upon all the books of the Old and New
Testament: this second edition so enlarged, as they
make an entire commentary on the sacred scripture:
the like never before published in English. Wherein the
text is explained, doubts resolved, scriptures
parallelled, and various readings observed. By the
labour of certain learned divines thereunto appointed,
and therein employed, as is expressed in the preface.
London: Printed by John Legatt, 1651. A.2.1d v.1

12. Provenance – Ex Libris Robert Day
Cave, William. Apostolici, or, The History of the Lives, Acts, Death, and Martyrdoms of Those
Who Were Contemporary with, or Immediately Succeeded the Apostles: As also the most
eminent of the primitive fathers for the first three hundred years; to which is added, a
chronology of the three first ages of the church. London: Printed by A.C. for Richard Chiswel at
the Rose and Crown in S. Pauls Church-yard, 1677. P.2.8 (1) v.[1]

13. Provenance: Institutions
Omerou Ilias: kai eis autio scholia Didymou. Ex Theatrou on Oxonia: [s.n.], [1676]. H.6.7
Evangelium secundum Matthaeum ex codice rescripto in
bibliotheca collegii SSæ. Trinitatis juxta Dublin / Descriptum opera
et studio Johannis Barrett. Cui adjungitur appendix, collationem
Codicis Montfortiani complectens. Dublinii: ex Ædibus
Academicis, excudebat R.E. Mercier, Academiae Typographus,
MDCCCI [1801]. Q.2.20

14. Provenance: Institutions
Raven, Charles. Bird Haunts and Bird Behaviour. Illust. with photographs by the author. London: M. Hopkinson,
1929. AA.8.2
Report of her Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire
into the state, discipline, studies, and revenues of the
University of Dublin, and of Trinity College: together with
appendices, containing evidence, suggestions, and
correspondence / Presented to both houses of parliament by
command of Her Majesty. Dublin: Printed by Alexander Thom,
1853. W.2.6

15. Bindings
Sententiae et regulae vitae ex Gregorii
Nazanzeni scriptis collectae: Eiusdem iambi
aliquot, nunc primum in lucem editi / per
Ioannem Sambucum Pannonium.
Antverpiae: ex officina Christophori Plantini,
MDLXVIII [1568]. E.7.24
A Sermon Preached Before the Incorporated
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts: at their anniversary meeting
in the parish church of St. Mary-le-Bow, on
Friday, February 19, 1779 / by the
Honorable and Right Reverend Father in
God, James, Lord Bishop of Saint David’s.
London: Printed by T. Harrison and S.
Brooke in Warwick-Lane, 1779. W.2.9
Quarta pars totius summe maioris beati
Antonini. Venetijs: per Lazarum de
Soardis, MDIII [1503]. W.2.12 v.4
Orlandino, Niccolo. Historia Societatis
Iesu. Coloniæ Agrippinæ [Cologne]:
Sumptibus Antonij Hierat, MDCXV [1615].
L.3.15

16. Continental Printers – Elzevir
C. Iulii Cæsaris quæ extant / ex
emendatione Ios. Scaligeri. Lugduni
Batavorum [Leiden]: ex officina
Elzeviriana, 1635. H.7.12
Corpus juris civilis: Pandectis ad Fflorentinum
archetypum expressis, institutionibus, codice et
novellis, addito textu Graeco, ut & in digestis & codice,
legibus & constitutionibus Graecis, cum optimis
quibusque editionibus collatis… / opera & studio
Simonis van Leeuwen JC. Lugd. Bat. Amstelodami:
apud Joannem Blaeu, Ludovicum & Danielem
Elzevirios; Lugd. Batavorum [Leiden]: apud
Franciscum Hackium, MDCLXIII [1663]. E.1.6
[Hesiodou Askraiou ta heuriskomena]. =
Hesiodi Ascraei quae extant / ex recensione
Johannis Georgii Graevii, cum eiusdem
animadversonibus & notis, accedunt nota
inedita Josephi Scaligeri et Francisci Guieti.
Amstelodami : Apud Danielem Elzevirium,
CLC LCCIXVIL [1667]. F.7.18

17. Continental Printers –Stephanus, Plantin, Blaeu
Eusebiou tou Pamphilou euangelikes
proparaskeues bib. pentekaideka. Lutetiae
[Paris]: Ex officina Rob. Stephani, typographi
regii, regiis typis, MDXLIIII [1544]. O.2.2
Sententiae et regulae vitae ex Gregorii
Nazanzeni scriptis collectae: Eiusdem iambi
aliquot, nunc primum in lucem editi / per
Ioannem Sambucum Pannonium. Antverpiae:
ex officina Christophori Plantini, CIC IC LXVIII
[1568]. E.7.24
[Aischylou tragodiai Z ... Aeschyli
tragœdiæ VI]: Quæ cùm omnes multo
quàm antea castigatiores eduntur, tum
verò una, quæ mutila & decurtata prius
erat, integra nunc profertur. Scholia in
easdem, plurimis in locis locupletata, & in
penè infinitis emendata / Petri Victorii cura
et diligentia. [Genevæ]: ex officina Henrici
Stephani, MDLVII [1557]. E.3.15
M. Tullii Ciceronis De officiis libri tres,
Cato maior, Laelius, Paradoxa, Somnium
Scipionis / ex recensione Ioannis Georgii
Graevii... Amstelodami: Ex typographia P.
& I. Blaeu. Prostant apud Wolfgang,
Janssonio-Waesbergios, Boom, a
Someren, & Goethals, MDCLXXXVIII
[1688]. E.4.12

18. Printers – Great Britain
Philosophiae moralis institutio compendiaria libris III:
ethices et jurisprudentiae naturalis elementa continens /
auctore Francisco Hutcheson. Glasguae: In Aedibus
Academicis excudebant Robertus et Andreas Foulis,
MDCCLV [1755]. R.6.11
Stanyan, Temple. The Grecian History. London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson in the Strand,
MDCCXXXIX [1739]. E.5.1 v.1

19. Printers – Dublin
Le primer report des cases & matters en ley resolue & adiudge en les Courts del Roy en Ireland [1604-1612] / Collect et digest per Sr. Iohn Dauys
chiualer Atturney Generall del Roy en cest realme. Dublin: Printed by Iohn Franckton, Printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie, 1615. A.3.19
Mericke, John. A Briefe Abstract of All the English
Statutes which Are in Force with in the Realme of
Ireland: and is verie usefull for sheriffes, iustices of
the peace, escheators, coroners, and other officers
in particular, as all His Maiesties subiectes in
generall / per I.M. de Societate Interioris Templi
London. ac Feodarium poruinciae [sic] Conac. in
Hibernia. Dublin: Imprinted by John Franckton for
the Society of Stationers, 1625. B.7.12

20. Printers – Cork
Maginn, John. A Compendium of Rhetoric: Compiled for the Use of the Diocesan School of Cork. Cork: printed by A. Edwards, bookseller, 1801.
S.7.23

21. Travel to the North & West
A Journey through Sweden: containing a detailed account
of its population, agriculture, commerce and finances...
Written in French by a Dutch officer, and translated into
English by William Radcliffe. Dublin: Printed for Graisberry
and Campbell, for P. Byrne [etc.] 1790. S.5.21
A Philosophical and Political History of the Settlements
and Trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies.
Trans. from the French of the Abbé Raynal, by J.
Justamond. Dublin: Printed for John Exshaw, no.86, and
William Halhead, no.63 Dame-street, 1779. E.5.7 v.1

22. Travel on the Way to the East
Bell, John. Travels from St. Petersburg in
Russia to Diverse Parts of Asia. Dublin:
Printed for Robert Bell ..., 1764. A.5.14 v.1

23. Staunton, George. An Authentic Account of An Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China...: Taken chiefly from the papers
of His Excellency the Earl of Macartney... Sir Erasmus Gower...and of other gentlemen in the several departments of the embassy. Dublin:
Printed for P. Wogan [et al.], 1798. A.5.12
Travel to the East

24. Fragments
Bacon, Francis. Sylva sylvarum, sive, Hist. naturalis. Amstelodami : Ex officina Elzeviriana,
[1661]. G.7.24
Spelman, Henry. Glossarium archaiologicum: continens latino-barbara, peregrina, obsoleta, &
novatæ significationis vocabula; quæ post labefactatas a Gothis, Vandalisq[ue], res Europæas, in
ecclesiasticis, profanisq[ue], scriptoribus, variarum item gentium legibus antiquis municipalibus,
chartis, & formulis occurrunt; scholiis & commentariis illustrata; in quibus prisci ritus quam-
plurimi, magistratus, dignitates, munera, officia, mores, leges ipsæ, & consuetudines enarrantur.
Londini: Apud Aliciam Warren, MDCLXIV [1664]. G.2.4

25. Matters French
Descartes, Rene. Meditationes de prima philosophia: in quibus Dei existentia, et animae
humanae à corpore distinctio, demonstrantur; his adjunctae sunt variae objectiones doctorum
virorum in istas de Deo et anima demonstrationes, cum responsionibus auctoris. Amsterdam:
Elzevir, 1678. P.4.11
Claude, Jean. An Account of the Persecutions and Oppression of the Protestants in
France. London: s.n., 1686. Q.3.4 v.23
https://libguides.ucc.ie/mattersfrench/about

26. HI 6091: Work Placement in Special Collections
Scot, Reginald. The Discouerie of Witchcraft: Wherein the
Lewde Dealing of Witches and Witchmongers is Notablie
Detected. London: Imprinted b William Brome, 1584.
J.6.22
Watson, Richard. A Collection of Theological Tracts. Cambridge: Printed by J. Archdeacon, for J. & J. Merrill, T.
Evans, and J. & J. Fletcher, 1785. A.4.27d
http://blogs.ucc.ie/wordpress/theriverside/2017/09/21/hi6091-work-placement-special-collections/

27. Contact
Elaine Harrington,
Special Collections Librarian
UCC Library
University College Cork
Cork
e.harrington@ucc.ie | @walkerabroad
https://www.slideshare.net/nzwalker
The River-side @theriversideUCC
http://blogs.ucc.ie/wordpress/theriverside/