Anon. / Bhedel, Uilliam (translator). Leabhuir An Tsean Tiomna. [The Old Testament]. Ar na dtarruing on teanguidh ughdarach go gaidhlig tré chúram agus sáothar, an Dochtúr Uilliam Bhedel, Roimhe so Easpog Chillemóire a nErin. [Translated from the original to Irish through the care and work of Dr. Uilliam Bhedel, formerly the Bishop of Killmore, Ireland]. Dublin, Printed by G.&J. Grierson & M. Keene for the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1827. 23.5 x 14.5 cm. 1305 pages. Contemporary full calf. Gilt title on spine. Blind celtic decorations on front and rear board. Very good condition. Binding rubbed and bumped with small material losses to corners (see images). Edges age darkened. Lacking front free end paper. Occasional mild foxing / staining.

Translations of the Bible into Irish were first printed and published in the 17th century: the New Testament, the Tiomna Nuadh, in 1602, the Old Testament, the Sean Thiomna, in 1685, and the entire Bible, the Biobla (Old and New Testaments combined) in 1690.
After the Tudor reconquest of Ireland, the established Church of Ireland attempted to consolidate the Reformation in Ireland, with little success among the Gaelic Irish. The first translation of the New Testament (Tiomna Nuadh) was begun by Nicholas Walsh, Bishop of Ossory, who worked on it until his untimely death in 1585. The work was continued by John Kearney (Treasurer of St. Patrick’s, Dublin), his assistant, and Dr. Nehemiah Donellan, Archbishop of Tuam, and it was finally completed by William O’Domhnuill (William Daniel, Archbishop of Tuam in succession to Donellan). The Irish New Testament was printed in 1602 and was reprinted in 1681. The entire Bible (Old and New Testaments combined) was first published in 1690.
The work of translating the Old Testament was undertaken by William Bedell (1571-1642), Bishop of Kilmore, who completed his translation within the reign of Charles I. However, the Old Testament was not published in Irish until 1685, in a revised version by Narcissus Marsh (1638-1713), Archbishop of Dublin.
In 1817 the British and Foreign Bible Society published an edition of ‘An Biobla Naomhta’. It was printed in London in Roman typeface and included the Bedell Old Testament and the O’Donnell New Testament. It is sometimes called the Bedel or Bedell version.
The Rt. Rev. William Bedell, D.D. (Irish: Uilliam Beidil), was an Anglican churchman who served as Lord Bishop of Kilmore, as well as Provost of Trinity College Dublin.
William Daniel (Irish: Uilliam Ó Domhnaill, or Ó Domhnuill) D.D. was an Irish clergyman who served as the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Tuam from 1609 until his death in 1628.
Born in Kilkenny, he was one of the first appointed Scholars of Trinity College Dublin, and afterwards one of the college’s first elected Fellows. While at Trinity College, he took up the work of translating The New Testament (Tiomna Nuadh) into Irish. William Daniel also translated an Irish version of the Book of Common Prayer, which was published in 1608.
He was appointed Prebendary of Stagonil in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin in 1591, and Treasurer of the cathedral in 1609. He was nominated Archbishop of Tuam on 28 June and consecrated in August 1609. After he became archbishop, he continued to hold the treasurership in commendam. The Archbishop died at Tuam on 11 July 1628 and was buried in the same tomb with his predecessor Nehemiah Donnellan in St Mary’s Cathedral, Tuam (Wikipedia).

• Keywords: Classical & Old Literature · History & Culture · Language · Religion
• Language: Irish
• Inventory Number: 104200AB

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