'''Book of Lismore''', is an Irish
vellum manuscript, compiled in early 15th century,
Lismore,
Ireland. Its original name was ''Leabhar Mhic Cárthaigh Riabhaigh'' (The Book of Mac Cárthaigh Riabhach). It should not be confused with the similarly-named ''
Book of the Dean of Lismore'', a Scottish manuscript from the 16th century.
The manuscript was compiled from the early, and lost, ''Book of
Monasterboice'' as well as other manuscripts. The ''Book of Lismore'' contains a variation of themes. Part of the book references the lives of Irish saints, notably,
St Brigid,
St Patrick, and
St Columba. The Book of Lismore also contains ''
Acallam na Senórach'', a most important
Middle Irish narrative dating to the
12th century, a text pertaining to the
Fenian Cycle.
The book also contains ''Leabhar Ser Marco Polo'', an Irish translation of The Book of Sir Marco Polo, or ''
Il Milione''.
Some of the pages and text of the book became mislaid to scholarly pursuit soon after its discovery in 1814, but it is believed that copies of these pages still survive in scholarly articles written in the 19th century.
Sources
''Lives of saints'', Author ''
Whitley Stokes'', Publisher Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1890.