asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will initiate discussions with the responsible authorities in Britain with a view to securing the early return of the book The Annals of Innisfallen to a suitable centre in Killarney, County Kerry.
Written Answers. - Return of Book.
843.
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Professor Dooge)
I understand that title to the original manuscript of The Annals of Innisfallen is vested in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, in whose possession it has been for over 200 years. It would appear therefore that the only way of securing the return of the manuscript to this country would be by purchase. However, I have no reason to think that the Bodleian Library would be willing to sell it.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that there are some 30 manuscript copies of this work in various libraries. The National Library of Ireland hold three copies by different scribes, as well as a microfilm of the original. A facsimile was published by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies in 1951.