A collection of all the surviving textual witnesses to the saint’s life. Includes: (chap. 4) ‘The early vernacular life: texts and translation’ [semi-diplomatic texts from MSS Brussels 2324-2340, Book of Fermoy and RIA A iv 1; with English translation of Brussels]; (chap. 6) ‘The Latin life: texts and translation’ [from Marsh Z 3.1.5 and Rawlinson B 485]; (chap. 8) ‘The late vernacular life: edition of the text’ [based on King’s Inns 19 and four other MSS; with variants from St. Colman’s College Fermoy 24 and RIA 23 M 50].

In Appendices: 1. Notes to the texts; 2. John Lynch’s adaptation of Finbarr’s Life [taken from J. F. O’Doherty 1944 (BILL III: 7595)]; 3. The Paris Mass of St Finnbarr; 4. The lost original Life: an outline reconstruction; 5. The office lives of Fymberrus of Caithness (i.e. Aberdeen) and of Mac Cuilinn of Lusk (i.e. Lusk).

Rev. by
Pádraig A. Breatnach, in CMCS 32 (Winter, 1996), pp. 111-118.
Séamus Mac Mathúna, in ZCP 54 (2004), pp. 232-238.
Cormac Ó hÁdhmaill, in SAM 16/1 (1994), pp. 311-312.
Olivier Szerwiniack, in ÉtC (1996), pp. 288-292.