1132 A.D.
- 1132 A.D. O'Hanlon, Life of St Laurence O'Toole II: "Laurence ... O'Toole was born in the year 1132". St Laurence O'Toole was the patron saint of Dublin → Henry II of England, who is often coupled with Laurence O'Toole in FW, was born in 1132 (actually 5 March 1133, but 25 March was observed then as New Year's Day)
- 1132: 1132 = 283 x 4. In the Annals of the Four Masters, the death of Finn MacCool is dated to 283 A.D. In Joyce's manuscripts File:MMLJ.png is the siglum for the Four Old Men
- 1132 feet per second: the speed of sound in air
- 32 feet per second per second: acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the Earth, and therefore an integral part of the law of falling bodies → symbolic of the Fall of Man, it recurs throughout Ulysses as well as FW
- Romans 11:32: "For God has consigned all men to disobedience that he may show his mercy to all"
- 11: in the denary system of numbers, 11 represents the beginning of a new cycle
Commentary
This marks the first reference (or, at least, first easily noticed reference) to the year and number 1132, which recurs throughout Wake.
Two significant events in Irish history occurred in 1132:
"Diarmaid Mac Murrough has the abbey of Kildare in Ireland burned and the abbess raped. He becomes king of the province of Leinster.
St Malachy is made bishop of Armagh in Ireland to impose the Roman liturgy on the independent Irish church."
Wikipedia
Other sources give 1133 as the date Mac Murrough became king, though the burning of the abbey occurred in 1132.
Needless to say, speculation about the meaning of 1132 extends far beyond these references to recorded Irish history. For example, a summary of Campbell & Robinson's "Skeleton Key" interpretation may be found under the heading "Four Dates" here: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/v/vonmeierk/4-04GOOD.html
"Laurence O'Toole was born in the year 1132" (McHugh)
According to Clive Hart, Structure and Motif in Finnegans Wake pp. 70ff., FW begins at 11:32am on a Friday morning. This is supported by a comment made by ALP in her letter at FW 617.23: "Femelles will be preadaminant as from twentyeight to twelve" (cf. FW 003.01, the opening line of FW, in which the female Eve comes before Adam) → but this could also be cited in support of the claim that FW starts at 11:32 pm, and covers the hours of darkness of a single night as John Bishop believes (Joyce's Book of the Dark)!
Hart also believes that Book II of FW ends at 11:32pm, twelve hours after the novel's commencement (FW 339.34).
1132 A.D. in the Annals of the Four Masters
M1132.0 The Age of Christ, 1132.
M1132.1 Maelmaedhog Ua Morgair sat in the successorship of Patrick, at the request of the clergy of Ireland.
M1132.2 Maelbrenainn Ua hAnradhain, successor of Brenainn of Cluain-fearta, died.
M1132.3 Maelbrighde Mac Doilgen, noble priest of Ard-Macha, and senior of the priests of Ireland, died in the fifty-second year of his priesthood, and in the eightieth year of his age, on the 27th of August.
M1132.4 Uareirghe Ua Neachtain, head of the Culdees of Cluain-mic-Nois, and its venerable senior, died.
M1132.5 Cucaille Ua Finn, airchinneach of Cill-Colgain, died.
M1132.6 An army was led by Conchobhar Ua Lochlainn to Ath-Fhirdiadh; and Tighearnan Ua Ruairc came into his house, and gave him hostages.
M1132.7 Maelseachlainn, son of Diarmaid Mac Murchadha, lord of Ui-Ceinn-sealaigh, was slain.
M1132.8 Maenmhagh was plundered by Conchobhar Ua Briain, who carried off many cows.
M1132.9 The castle of Bun-Gaillmhe was burned and demolished by a fleet of the men of Munster; and a great slaughter was made of the people of West Connaught, together with Ua Taidhg an Teaghlaigh, and many other noblemen.
M1132.10 The son of Amhlaeibh Ua Lochlainn, lord of Corca-Modhruadh, was slain by the same fleet.
M1132.11 A great slaughter was made of the Connaughtmen by the men of Munster, wherein Conchobhar Ua Flaithbheartaigh, lord of West Connaught, the two sons of Cathal Ua Mughroin, and many others, were slain.
M1132.12 Oilen-na-Beithe in the Sinainn was burned by the men of Munster, and twenty persons, together with the chief of Muintir-Chinaith, fell there.
M1132.13 Diarmaid Mac Eitigen, chief of Clann-Diarmada, died.
M1132.14 The prey of Feasog by Tighearnan Ua Ruairc, against a party of the men of Teathbha and of Connaught, until he reached the camp of Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair.
M1132.15 Magh-Luirg was plundered by the men of Breifne.
