Further Observations on Reader’s Aids in Irish Manuscripts

Scribes of Irish manuscripts used a variety of symbols to assist their readers by clarifying the layout of text on the page or by drawing attention to significant textual or codicological matters. While many of these take the form of standard technical signs, some scribes used ornamental symbols which are worthy of further examination as they may be of diagnostic significance for the identification of hands, schools or scribal networks. Reader’s aids such as manicules can also provide evidence of Ireland’s engagement with a wider European scribal culture.