THE 'THREE FRAGMENTS' (or 'Fragmentary Annals of Ireland')
Scribe Dubhaltach Mac Fir Bhisigh, in 1643, copied such text as was legible from a very distressed vellum manuscript, which had belonged to Giolla na Naomh Mac Aodhagáin (possibly died in 1443). Both the vellum manuscript and Dubhaltach's copy are now lost. The rescued material consists of annals approximately corresponding to the periods 573-628, 662-704, 716-35, 851-73, 906-14 (the annals, themselves, are not given A.D. dates). There are suggestions that they may, partially at least, be derived from annals kept at the monastery of Clonenagh, however, the 'Three Fragments' tend to be viewed as a somewhat dubious source. The antiquity of its origins cannot be verified, the chronological arrangement is confused, and there are obvious legendary accretions.