The duanaire was a household treasure as well as a literary document, assembled to record the poems commissioned by successive generations of a noble family from their bardic poets. Several important duanaire manuscripts survive, including the Duanaire Finn, which preserves Fenian poems, and the Duanaire Mhéig Uidhir. These compilations are primary sources for understanding the relationship between patron and poet in Gaelic Ireland. For modern poets and scholars, the duanaire represents both a model of poetic community — verse sustained by social obligation and mutual honour — and a poignant record of a culture under threat of erasure.

Duanaire is a manuscript anthology, often compiled to preserve the poetry of a specific family or region. These collections are crucial for the survival of Irish verse, especially after the decline of oral transmission. In poetry studies, the duanaire represents the transition from oral to written culture and the effort to safeguard heritage. Analyzing a duanaire reveals editorial choices, thematic preferences, and the social networks of poets and patrons. It is a tangible link to the literary past, offering insights into canon formation.