The Amra Choluim Chilli of Dallan Forgaill (from Lebor na hUidre)

"...begged strenuously that, by the intervention of his prayers and merits, he might deserve to enjoy the honor of a tomb the same as his own (that is, to be buried with him); and this, granted by Divine goodness, he obtained."

The above extracts regarding Dallan and his poetry will be quite sufficient. I shall now proceed to give my reader the plan of publication I intend to adopt.

The work will be finished in two parts. Part I (the present volume) contains the Ancient Preface; the Exordium, or Prelude to the Amra original: Amra Choluim Chille, an ancient Irish panegyric or eulogy for St. Columba; and the Amra proper with their ancient commentaries, along with a literal translation of the whole. Part II will contain topographical, biographical, and historical notes; a critical and grammatical analysis of every word in the text; and copious indexes.

Furthermore, as the preface to the Amra found in the Lebor Brec original: "Speckled Book," a medieval Irish manuscript supplies several important records omitted in that of the Lebor na hUidre original: "Book of the Dun Cow," the oldest surviving manuscript in Irish, this preface will also be provided. This will include the marginal notes and secondary glosses of the present copy, accompanied by literal translations. The poetic characteristics of our poem will be examined in an appendix, which will also discuss Irish poetry in general. To distinguish the main text from the commentaries, it is printed in large letters exactly as it appears in the original. On the whole, I have strong hopes that my edition of the Amra, when completed, will receive the approval of my spiritual friends, St. Columba and St. Dallan above, as well as that of my literary friends here below.

Dublin, August, 1871.                                       J. O’B. C. John O’Beirne Crowe

...ocean, in the district of Tirconnaill modern Donegal, which is called Bugellaigh, and in the diocese of Raphoe; in this church St. Conall is venerated on the 12th of May. [St. Dallan’s feast day is the 29th of January].—Editor.

16. A defect of one page in the Lebor na hUidre is supplied from the Lebor Brec, which, though only a fragment, fortunately preserves the last leaf of the Amra and the greater portion of the preface.—Editor.