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I 


THE    LATE    REV.  GEORGE   THOMAS   STOKES,  D.D., 

.,  M.R.I.  A., 

Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History  in  the  University  of  Dublin. 


JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  viii.  (Frontispiece], 


THE    JOURNAL 


OF   THE 


ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES 

OF    IRELAND 


FOKMERLY 


Hojal  Historical  auto  gJrcfj&olosical  Association 


OF    IRELAND 

POUNDED,  IN  1849,  AS 


Itilfeemtg  Archaeological  Society 

VOL.  VIII.— FIFTH  SERIES 
VOL.   XXVIII.— CONSECUTIVE    SERIES 


1898 


DUBLIN 
PRINTED    AT    THE    UNIVERSITY    PRESS 

FOB    THE    SOCIETY 

BY  PONSONBY  AND   WELDRICK 
1898 

[ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED] 


ffSZZF?. 

MAR  1 7  1972 


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THE  COUNCIL  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  understood  that  they  do 
not  hold  themselves  responsible  for  the  statements  and  opinions 
contained  in  the  Papers  read  at  the  Meetings  of  the  Society, 
and  here  printed,  except  as  far  as  No.  26  of  the  General  Eules 
of  the  Society  extends. 


PEEFACE, 


THIS,  the  fiftieth  year  of  the  Society's  existence, 
has  been  one  of  continued  prosperity  and  progress, 
and  also  of  very  considerable  activity  in  the  different 
departments  of  the  Society's  work.  In  no  branch  has 
more  been  accomplished  than  in  the  publications  of 
the  Society  for  the  year. 

The  production  of  a  Volume  for  each  successive 
year  has  not  inaptly  been  compared  to  the  building 
up  of  a  cairn  commemorative  of  the  progress  of  the 
Society,  marking  its  onward  path  in  an  increasing 
sphere  of  usefulness.  The  builders  of  the  cairn  are 
not  alone  the  contributors  to  the  Volume  ;  every 
Member  of  the  Society  who  has  contributed  to  its 
funds,  may  fairly  claim,  with  some  degree  of  honest 
pride,  that  he  or  she  has  helped  to  raise  the  pile. 

In  the  Volume  thus  dedicated  to  the  Members,  the 
work  dealing  with  the  Primaeval  period  opens  with 
"  The  Dun  at  Dorsey,  Co.  Armagh,"  followed  by  others, 
comprising  "  The  Prehistoric  Remains  in  Burren,  Co. 
Clare."  In  Prehistoric  Art,  Mr.  Coffey's  Paper  on 
"  Knockmany"  deserves  attention  ;  while  as  a  con- 
tribution to  the  illustration  of  the  Stone  Age,  Mr. 
Knowles's  Paper  on  u  Flint  Scrapers"  is  elaborate  and 
exhaustive.  Mr.  Wakeman's  Paper  on  "  The  Antiquity 
of  Iron  "  will  be  read  with  interest. 

The  Ogam  Finds  of  the  year  have  been  duly 
chronicled,  and  there  are  five  Papers  on  Ogam  Inscrip- 

a2 


IV  PREFACE. 

tions  in  the  present  Volume,  some  of  considerable 
importance,  notably  those  by  Principal  Rhys,  LL.D., 
F.S.A.,  who  devotes  much  time  to  the  elucidation  of 
Irish  Ogams. 

By  far  the  greater  proportion  of  Papers  are  on 
Ecclesiastical  subjects,  the  principal  of  which  are 
" St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  Limerick";  "  The  Monasteries 
of  Moyne  and  Rosserk";  "  Bally  wiheen  Church,  Co. 
Kerry";  "  Kilmakilloge  Church,  Co.  Kerry";  and 
"  Kilmahuddrick,  Co.  Dublin"  ;  Miss  Stokes  contributes 
an  interesting  Paper  on  "  The  Instruments  of  the 
Passion "  ;  the  Rev.  J.  F.  M.  ffrench  gives  a  timely 
contribution  on  u  County  Wexford  and  other  Chalices"; 
while  Mr.  Coleman's  Note  on  "  Irish  Bells  in  Brittany  " 
is  of  interest. 

A  unique  contribution  will  be  found  in  Col.  Vigors's 
Paper  on  "  Notarial  Signs-Manual,"  which,  however, 
contains  only  a  few  examples  relating  to  Ireland. 

"  Kilelton  in  Glenfas,"  by  Miss  Hickson,  who  is  one 
of  the  most  valued  contributors  to  the  Journal,  will  be 
appreciated  by  all  who  take  an  interest  in  the  ancient 
Kingdom  of  Kerry  ;  a  Paper,  by  Lord  Walter  Fitz 
Gerald,  on  "  Walter  Reagh  Fitz  Gerald,  a  Noted 
Outlaw  of  the  16th  Century,"  brings  to  light  some 
hitherto  unknown  facts  in  the  history  of  a  member  of 
the  family  of  which  it  has  been  said  that  its  history 
is  the  history  of  Ireland. 

Dr.  Robert  Munro  gives  much  interesting  informa- 
tion on  a  difficult  problem  in  his  Paper  on  "  Otter-  and 
Beaver-Traps "  ;  Mr.  Goddard  H.  Orpen  deals,  in  a 
scholarly  way,  with  the  "  Site  of  Raymond's  Fort, 
Dundunnolf";  and  Dr.  Frazer  writes  of  "  The  Stone 
Chair  of  the  Clandeboy  O'Neills." 


PREFACE.  V 

Many  will  find  much  of  interest  in  the  Papers 
dealing  with  social  life  in  comparatively  modern  times 
(17th  and  18th  centuries),  as  depicted  in  "  Stillorgan 
Park  and  its  History";  "  The  Diary  of  a  Dublin 
Lady  of  the  18th  Century";  "  Mount  Merrion  and  its 
History";  and  "  The  List  of  Presbyterian  Marriages 
in  Armagh  Congregation." 

The  pages  devoted  to  "  Miscellanea  "  are  becoming 
more  attractive,  and  contain  many  valuable  notes  on 
subjects  of  general  interest.  Of  these  may  be  men- 
tioned— "  Forts  on  Loop  Head,  Co.  Clare,"  by  Mr. 
Westropp;  "  The  Ulcerative  Disease  of  Bronze,"  by 
Dr.  Frazer;  and  a  description  of  "An  Ancient  Cause- 
way in  Co.  Kildare,"  by  Lord  Walter  Fitz  Gerald. 

In  connexion  with  the  Excursions  of  the  Society,  the 
"  Ancient  Church  of  Kilcummin"  has  been  well  described 
and  illustrated  by  Mr.  Westropp  ;  and  a  hitherto  un- 
noticed Souterrain  at  Killala  is  recorded  and  illustrated. 

While  gratefully  acknowledging  the  obligations  of 
the  Society  to  the  contributors  who  are  still  left  to  us, 
it  is  meet  that  a  tribute  should  be  paid  to  the  memory 
of  one  who  has  passed  away  : — 

The  year  has  left  more  than  one  blank  in  the 
world  of  Irish  Historical  Research  and  Archaeology, 
but  none  which  will  be  more  severely  felt  than  that 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  THE  REV.  GEORGE  THOMAS 
STOKES,  D.D.,  M.R.I.A. 

Dr.  Stokes  was  indeed  a  remarkable  man.  He 
combined  great  originality  of  thought  with  indomitable 
industry,  and  united  the  learning  of  the  scholar  with 
knowledge  of  men  and  of  passing  events.  In  no  less 
degree  he  possessed  the  power  of  imparting  with 
attractive  force  the  riches  of  his  well-stored  mind. 


vi  PREFACE. 

It  was  his  ambition  to  redeem  the  history  of  his 
country  from  its  traditional  dulness,  and,  gifted  as  he 
was,  he  did  not  fail  in  his  design.  By  the  works  with 
which  his  name  must  ever  be  most  closely  connected, 
his  histories  of  the  Celtic  and  Anglo-Norman  Churches 
in  Ireland,  he  earned  enduring  distinction  as  a  dramatic 
historian. 

But,  besides  the  talented  author,  we  have  lost  in 
Dr.  Stokes  a  firm  friend,  a  delightful  companion,  and 
a  true  Irishman.  We  have  to  mourn  one,  in  character 
essentially  generous  and  warm-hearted ;  one  whose 
influence  was  ever  exerted  to  inspire  others  with  that 
enthusiasm  for  research  which  he  himself  possessed,  and 
whose  vast  knowledge  was  always  at  the  disposal  of 
those  who  sought  his  aid. 

George  Thomas  Stokes  was  the  eldest  son  of 
John  Stokes,  of  Athlone,  and  was  born  there  in  1843. 
He  was  educated  at  Gal  way  Grammar  School,  at  the 
Queen's  College,  Galway,  and  at  Trinity  College, 
Dublin.  In  1866  he  was  ordained  for  the  curacy  of 
Dunkerrin,  in  the  Diocese  of  Killaloe,  and  in  the 
following  year  was  appointed  to  the  curacy  of  St. 
Patrick's,  Newry.  Two  years  later  he  was  nominated 
the  first  Vicar  of  All  Saints',  Newtown  Park,  in  the 
Diocese  of  Dublin  —  a  charge  he  retained  until  his 
death.  In  1893  he  was  elected  by  the  Chapter  of  St. 
Patrick's  Cathedral  to  the  Prebend  and  Canonry  of 
St.  Audoen. 

In  collegiate  circles  Dr.  Stokes  was  singled  out  as  a 
man  likely  to  make  his  mark;  and,  after  acting  for  a 
time  as  deputy  to  Dr.  Reichel  in  the  Chair  of  Eccle- 
siastical History  in  the  University  of  Dublin,  he  succeeded 
him  in  1883  as  Professor  on  the  termination  of  Dr. 
ReichePs  period  of  office. 


PREFACE.  Vll 

Dr.  Stokes  was  an  omnivorous  reader,  as  his 
contributions  to  the  Journal  prove.  In  his  two  earliest 
Papers  he  treats  of  subjects  widely  divergent,  the 
biography  of  a  lawyer  and  oriental  scholar,  and  the 
history  for  a  century  of  a  provincial  town,  yet  he  shows 
himself  to  be  equally  familiar  with  the  literature  bear- 
ing on  the  one  and  on  the  other.  He  was  a  diligent 
student  of  newspapers  and  magazines,  and  was  fond  of 
insisting  on  the  importance  of  even  the  most  fugitive 
periodicals  as  sources  of  historical  information. 

Amongst  his  contributions  to  the  Journal  there  is 
none  more  valuable  than  the  calendar  of  the  "  Liber 
Niger,"  on  which  he  expended  much  time  in  making;  and 
it  is  a  subject  for  regret  that  he  was  unable  to  undertake 
the  publication  of  the  "Repertorium  Viride,"  as  had 
been  arranged. 

In  1887  he  was  appointed  Librarian  of  Marsh's 
Library.  His  passion  for  books,  and  his  antiquarian 
tastes,  made  him  an  ideal  custodian  ;  and  his  aim 
there,  as  elsewhere,  was  to  make  the  library  known 
and  popular. 

This  is  not  the  place  to  dwell  on  Dr.  Stokes's  work 
as  a  clergyman,  but  it  may  be  mentioned  that  his 
Commentary  on  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  entitles  him 
to  a  high  place  amongst  theologians,  no  less  than 
amongst  historians. 

Dr.  Stokes  gave  his  mind  no  rest,  and  in  1895  his 
health  broke  down  under  the  strain.  He  recovered 
sufficiently  to  partly  resume  his  work.  From  his  chair 
in  College  he  delivered,  two  years  ago,  a  series  of 
lectures  on  "How  to  Write  a  Parochial  History,"  which 
deserve  more  publicity  than  they  have  received;  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  engaged  in  delivering  a 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

course  of  lectures  on  "  Great  Irish  Churchmen  of  the 
18th  Century."  But  his  weakened  frame  was  unable 
to  withstand  the  attack  of  pneumonia  which  prostrated 
him  last  spring,  and  on  March  24,  1898,  he  entered 
into  his  rest. 

He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Fanny,  daughter  of 
the  late  Norman  Puzly ;  and  secondly,  to  Katharine, 
daughter  of  the  late  Henry  J.  Dudgeon. 

The  following  is  an  attempt  at  a  bibliography  of 
his  works: — 

"The  Work  of  the  Laity  in  the  Church  of  Ireland,"  Dub.,  1869. 
Articles  in  Smith's  "Dictionary  of  Christian  Biography,"  1880-87. 
"Ireland  and  the  Celtic  Church,"  Lond.,  Isted.,  1886;  2nd  ed.,  1888. 
"Mediaeval  History,"   being  vol.  ii.  of    "A   Sketch  of  Universal 
History,"  Lond.,  1887. 

Co-translator  with  C.  Wright  of  "The  Writings  of  St.  Patrick," 
Lond.,  1888. 

"Ireland  and  the  Anglo-Norman  Church,"  Lond.,  1888. 

Editor  of  "Pococke's  Tour  in  Ireland,"  Dub.,  1891. 

Commentary  on  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  in  the  "Expositor's Bible," 
Lond.,  1891-92. 

Articles  in  the  "  Contemporary  Review,"  from  1880-1891  :  On 
Greek  and  Latin  Christian  Inscriptions;  The  Bollandists;  John 
Nelson  Darby ;  Alexander  Knox  and  the  Oxford  Movement;  The 
Apology  of  Aristides ;  and  Reviews  of  Ecclesiastical  and  Church 
History. 

Contributions  to  the  Journal,  from  1890-1897:  Dudley  Loftus  ; 
Athlone  in  the  Seventeenth  Century;  Killeger  Church;  Itine- 
rary of  Excursion  in  North  Dublin  ;  The  Island  Monasteries  of 
Wales  and  Ireland ;  St.  Fechin  of  Fore  and  his  Monastery  ; 
Notes  to  Butler's  Journey  to  Lough  Derg ;  Calendar  of  the 
Liber  Niger  (three  parts);  The  Antiquities  from  Kingstown  to 
Dublin  (two  parts);  Itinerary  of  Excursion  in  King's  County; 
St.  Hugh  of  Rahue. 

Contributions  to  the  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy, 
from  1892-1897:  Greek  in  Gaul  and  Western  Europe,  down  to 
A.D.  700 ;  The  Knowledge  of  Greek  in  Ireland  between  A.D.  500 
and  900  ;  Concerning  Marsh's  Library. 


CONTENTS. 


VOLUME  VIII.,  FIFTH  SERIES. 

1898. 

PAET    I. 

PAPERS : 

PAGE 

The  Dun  at  Dorsey,  Co.  Armagh.     By  the  Rev.   Henry  W.  Lett,   M.A., 

M.R.I.A.,  Hon.  Provincial  Secretary  for  Ulster  (Four  Illustrations),         ..         1 

Bally wiheen  Church,  Ballyneanig,  Co.  Kerry.     By  R.  A.  S.  Macalister,  M.A. 

(Four  Illustrations),    '        ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..15 

Stillorgan  Park  and  its  History.     By  Francis  Elrington  Ball,  M.R.I. A.,          . .       21 

St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  Limerick  :  Its  Plan  and  Growth.     By  Thomas  Johnson 

Westropp,  M.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow  (Five  Illustrations),  ..  ..       35 

Find  of  Cist  with  Human  Remains,  Dunfanaghy,  Co.  Donegal  (Reported  by 
Archdeacon  Baillie).  By  W.  Frazer,  M.R.T.A.,  Vice- President  (Three 
Illustrations),  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  .,  ..49 

Notes  on  the  Newly -discovered  Ogam-stones  in  Co.  Meath.  By  Robert 
Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  Hon.  Secretary  ;  and  Principal  Rhys,  F.S.A.,  LL.D., 
Hon.  Fellow  (Four  Illustrations),  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  53 

Miscellanea— TJlcerative  Disease  of  Bronze  or  "  Bronze  Cancroid" — The  Moat 
of  Patrickstown  (One  Illustration) — The  Photographic  Survey — Historic 
Truth  and  Sham  Legends — Malay  Weapon  supposed  to  be  Danish — The 
Retrospect  of  1897 — Tombstone  near  Geashill  (One  Illustration) — Kerry 
Ogam  Finds,  1896— Dublin  Castle  :  Threatened  Demolition  of  the  Record 
Tower  in  1793 — Cinerary  Urn  found  in  the  Parish  of  Adamstown,  Co. 
Wexford,  1897  (One  Illustration)— A  Lake  Legend  in  the  Dingle  District — 
Colpoys  of  Ballycarr — Admiral  Sir  John  Colpoys — Celtic  Art  and  its 
Developments,  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..61 

Notices  of  Books,         . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  74 

PROCEEDINGS : 

Annual  General  Meeting,  Dublin,  llth  January,  1898,        ..  ..  ..83 

Evening  Meetings,       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..91 


CONTENTS. 


PAET    II. 

PAPERS : 

PAGB 

Knockmany.    By  George  Coffey,  A.I.B.,  M.R.I.A.,  Fellow  (Two  Plates  and 

Twelve  Illustrations),          ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..93 

St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  Limerick :  Its  Plan  and  Growth.     By  Thomas  Johnson 

Westropp,  M.A.,  M.E.I.A.,  Fellow  (Five  Illustrations),  ..  ..112 

A  Notice  of  some  County  Wexford  and  other  Chalices.  By  the  Rev.  J.  F.  M. 
ffrench,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow  and  Vice- President  (One  Plate  and  One  Illustra- 
tion), ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..126 

The  Instruments  of  the  Passion.    By  Miss  Margaret  Stokes,  Son.  Fellow  (One 

Plate  and  Two  Illustrations),  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..136 

Notes  from  the  Diary  of  a  Dublin  Lady  in  the  Reign  of  George  II.     By  H.  F. 

Berry,  M.A., 141 

Site  of  Raymond's  Fort,   Dundunnolf,    Baginbun.     By   Goddard  H.  Orpen, 

B.A.,      ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..     155 

The  Gallans  near  Dingle.     By  R.  A.  S.  Macalister,  M.A.  (Three  Illustrations).      161 
Kil-Ma-Huddrick,  near  Clondalkin,  Co.  Dublin.     By  E.  R.  M'C.  Dix,  . .     165 

Miscellanea — Irish  Bells  in  Brittany  (Four  Illustrations) — Legend  of  Molaga's 
Well,  Co.  Kerry — Inscribed  Stones  in  Cairn  W.  of  the  Slieve-na-Caillighe 
Series  (Two  Illustrations)— Dalkey— Waterford  and  South-East  of  Ireland 
Archaeological  Society— The  Gallan  at  Tallaght  (One  Illustration)— King 
John's  Castle,  Kilmallock— Irish  Texts  Society— Kerry  Ogam  Finds- 
Wooden  Bowl  found  at  The  Doon,  King's  County — Archaeological  Mis- 
takes— Remains  of  Urn  found  in  a  Cavan  Bog  (One  Illustration) — Clon- 
macnoise,  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  167 

Notices  of  Books,         ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  179 


PROCEEDINGS: 

Second  Quarterly  Meeting,  Dublin,  15th  June,  1898,  ..             ..             ..182 

Auditors'  Report          . .             . .             . .             . .  . .             . .             . .     184 

Jubilee  Banquet,           ..             ..             ..             ..  ..             ..             ..     187 

Excursion,     ..             ..             ..             ..             ..  201 


CONTENTS.  XI 


PAKT    III. 

PAPERS : 

PAGE 

On   Notarial  Signs-Manual.     By  Colonel  P.  D.  Vigors,    Vice -President   (One 

Hundred  and  Ten  Illustrations),         ..  ..  ..  ..  ..203 

Some  Ogam-stones  in  Connaught.     By  Principal  Rhys,  LL.D.,  F.S.A.,  Hon. 

Fellow  (One  Plate),  .....  ..  ..  ..  ..230- 

On  the  Antiquity  of  Iron  as  used  in  the  Manufacture  of  certain  "Weapons, 
Implements,  and  Ornaments  found  in  Ireland.  By  W.  F.  Wakeman,  Hon. 
Fellow  (Eight  Illustrations),  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  237 

Some  further  Notes  on  Otter-  and  Beaver-Traps.     By  Robert  Munro,  M.A., 

M.D.,  Hon.  Fellow  (One  Illustration),  ..  ..  ..  ..     245 

The  '«  Bambino  "  of  New  Ross.     By  Michael  J.  C.  Buckley  (One  Illustration),     250 

The  Clandeboy  O'Neills'  Stone  Inauguration  Chair,  now  preserved  in  the  Belfast 
Museum.  By  Dr.  W.  Frazer,  M.R.I.A.,  Vice-President  (Two  Illustra- 
tions), ,.  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..254 

Rosserk  and  Moyne.     By  the  Very  Rev.  Monsignor  O'Hara  (Four  Plates),      . .     258 

Miscellanea — The  Great  Cross  at  Monasterboice  (One  Plate) — Monasterboice 
Cross — Preliminary  Programme  of  the  Excursion  to  the  "Western  Islands 
and  Coast  Highlands  of  Scotland,  July  or  August,  1899 — Local  Govern- 
ment (Ireland)  Act,  1898 — Congress  of  Archaeological  Societies— Bally- 
wiheen  Church,  Co.  Kerry — Note  in  reference  to  the  Breastagh  Ogam- 
stone — Downpatrick  Head — "  "Wexford  and  other  Chalices" — Downpatiick 
Head — Dunmoe  Castle — Oratory  of  St.  Columkille  at  Gartan — Ancient 
"Wooden  Vessel — White  Lough  Crannoge,  Co.  "Westmeath — Lough-a-Trim 
Crannoge,  Co.  Westmeath — Discovery  of  Coins  in  Dungannon,  . .  264 

Notices  of  Books  (Two  Illustrations),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..     279 


PROCEEDINGS  : 

Third  Quarterly  Meeting,  Ballina,  2nd  August,  1898,  ..  ..  ..281 

Excursions  (One  Plate  and  Seven  Illustrations),     . .  . .  . .  . .     28S 


Xll  CONTENTS. 


PAET    IV. 

PAPERS : 

PAGE 

Walter  Reagh  Fitz  Gerald,  a  Noted  Outlaw  of  the  Sixteenth  Century.     By  Lord 

Walter  Fitz  Gerald,  Fellow,  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .     299 

Kilelton  in  Glenfas.     By  Miss  Mary  A.  Hickson,  Hon.  Local  Secretary  for 

South-  West  Kerry,  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .     306 

The  Lake  and  Church  of  Kilmakilloge,  the  Ancient  Church,  Holy  Well,  and 
Bullan-stone  of  Temple  Feaghna,  and  the  Holy  Well  and  Shrine  at 
St.  Finan's,  Co.  Kerry.  By  Francis  J.  Bigger,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow,  with  a 
Note  by  P.  J.  Lynch,  Hon.  Provincial  Secretary,  Mtmster  (One  Plate  and 
Four  Illustrations),  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..314 

Notes  on  Dunbeg  Fort,  Co.  Kerry,  with  special  reference  to  the  Drawings  and 
Description  by  George  V.  DuNoyer.  By  P.  J.  Lynch,  Hon.  Provincial 
Secretary,  Munster  (Two  Illustrations),  ..  . .  ..  ..  325 

Mount  Merrion  and  its  History.     By  Francis  E.  Ball,  M.R.I. A.  (One  Plate),         329 

List  of  (Presbyterian]  Marriages  copied  from  "  The  Session-book  of  the  Con- 
gregation of  Armagh."  By  Dr.  W.  Frazer,  M.R.I.A.,  Fellow,  ..  345 

Prehistoric  Remains  in  the  Burren,  Co.  Clare  (Carran  and  Kilcorney).  By 
Thomas  J.  Westropp,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  Fellow  (One  Plate  and  Eight  Illus- 
trations), ..  ..  ..  ..  ,.  ..  ..  353 

Irish  Flint  Scrapers.     By  W.  J.  Knowles,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice- President  (Fifteen 

Illustrations),         ..  ..  ..  ..  tf  .,  .,     367 

The  Recent  Discoveries  of  Ogams  in  the  County  of  Antrim.     By  the  Rev. 

George  R.  Buick,  M.A.,  LL.D.,       . .  . .  . .  . .  . .     393 

Newly-discovered  Ogams  in  Mayo  and  Antrim,  with  Readings  of  those  hitherto 

undescribed  in  Cork  and  Waterford.     By  Principal  Rhys,  LL.D.,  F.S.A.,       396 

Ogam  Inscriptions  discovered  in  Ireland  in  the  year  1898.   By  Robert  Cochrane, 

F.S.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  Hon.  Secretary  (Five  Illustrations),  ..  ..399 

Miscellanea — The  Rathcroghan  Ogams — Forts  near  Loop  Head,  Co.  Clare — 
Kilmakilloge,  Co.  Kerry — Attacotti  and  Aithechtuatha— Notes  on  the 
Marriages  and  Successions  of  the  De  Burgo  Lords  of  Connaught  and  the 
Acquisition  of  the  Earldom  of  Ulster — Ruins  on  Inishrobe,  Co.  Mayo — 
Stone  Chalice — Altar  Tombs — Ancient  Footway  of  Wooden  Planks  across 
the  Monavullagh  Bog,  Co.  Kildare,  . .  . .  . .  . .  409 

PROCEEDINGS : 

The  Fourth  General  Meeting  in  Dublin,  llth  October,  1898,  . .  . .     419 

Evening  Meeting,  29th  November,  1898,  ..  ..  ..  ..     421 


LIST    OF   ILLUSTKATIONS. 


An  asterisk  prefixed  indicates  a  Plate. 


PAGE 

*Portrait  of  the  late  Rev.  George  Thomas  Stokes,  D.D.,  M.R.I. A.,         . .     Frontispiece. 
Wall  of  Dun  at  Dorsey,  Co.  Armagh  (from  a  Photograph),  . .  . .         3 

Plan  of  the  Dun  at  Dorsey,  Co.  Armagh,  . .  . .  . .  . .         4 

Sections  of  the  Rampart,       ,,         ,,  ..  ..  ..  ..         5 

The  White  Stone  of  Calliagh  Beri,  Co.  Armagh  (from  a  Photograph),  . .         8 

Bally  wiheen  Church,  Co.  Kerry,  North- East  View,  . .  . .  . .       16 

Plan,  17 

,,  ,,  ,,  Section  of  Font  and  View  of  Cross,  . .       19 

St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  Limerick,  Capital  in  South  Arcade,  . .  . .       36 

,,  ,,  ,,  Budston's  Sedilia,  ..  ..  ..39 

Galwey  Arms,  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  43 

St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  Limerick,  Galwey  Monument,          . .  . .  44 

Dunfanaghy  Cist,  Antrim,  Inferior  Maxilla  of  Male  Skull  (from  a  Photograph),       49 
„  ,,  Skull  of  Female,  ..  ..  ..  ..50 

,,  „  Front  View,  . .  . .  . .  51 

Map  showing  position  of  the  Painestown  Ogam-stone,  Co.  Meath,    . .  . .       54 

The  Painestown  Ogam-stone,  Co.  Meath  (from  a  Photograph  by  the  Rev. 

Dr.  Healy),         ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..55 

The  St.  Cairan's  Church  and  Ogam-stone,  Co.  Meath  (from  a  Photograph  by 

the  Rev.  Dr.  Healy),         ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..56 

The  Painestown  Ogam -stone  (from  a  Rubbing  by  Mr.  Cochrane),  . .       58 

Moat  of  Patrickstown,  Co.  Meath,  and  Brooch,     . .  . .  . .  63 

Tombstone  at  Geashill,  King's  County,  . .  . .  . .  68 

Fragment  of  Cinerary  Urn,  Adamstown,  Co.  Wexford,      . .  . .  70 

*Cairn  and  Chamber  on  Knockmany,  Co.  Tyrone,  looking  South-east  (from  a 

Photograph  by  R.  Welch),  ..  ..  ..  ..       to  face      93 

Cairn  and  Chamber  on  Knockmany,  Co.  Tyrone,  Plan  of  Cairn,        . .  . .       98 

,,  ,,  „  Plan  of  Chamber,  ..       99 

*  ,,  „  ,,  Stone  A  (from  a  Photograph 

by  R.  Welch),  to  face    101 

,,  „  ,,  Stone  A,  from  Drawing,      ..       ib. 

Stone  D,  ..  ..104 

Ornaments  on  Bronze  Vessels,  ,,  ..  ..  ..    105-107,109 

Stones,  Cloverhill,  Co.  Sligo,  . .  . .  . .  . .  107,  108 

St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  Limerick,  Plan,  ..  ..  ..  ..116 

,,  ,,  ,,          Sedilia  in  North  Transept,  ..  ..     117 

,,  „  „          Incised  Slab  ,,         ..  ..  ..     118 

Costumes  of  Mayors  of  Dublin,  Waterford,  and  Limerick,  circa  1380,  . .     123 


LIST    OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

Costume  in  Munster,  circa  1380,  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..124 

*Chalices  of  Manorhamilton,  Kilmore,  and  Adare,  and  the  Mayler  Chalice,  to  face     133 
Kilkenny  Chalice  (by  R.  Oliver  Cochrane),  . .  . .  . .  ib. 

*The  Tomb  of  William  Fitz  Gerald,  Kilkea  Castle  (from  a  Photograph  by  Miss 

Stokes),  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ,-  ..      to  face     137 

*The  Tomb  of  William  Fitz  Gerald,  Kilkea  Castle  (Instruments  of  the  Passion),        ib. 
St.  Bernard  of  Clairveaux,        ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..     138 

The  "  Gates  of  Glory,"   near  Dingle,    Co.   Kerry   (from  a  Photograph  by 

R.  A.  S.  Macalister),          ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..161 

Stone  near  the  "Gates  of  Glory,"  Dingle,  Co.  Kerry  (from  a  Photograph  by 

R.  A.  S.  Macalister),          . .  . .  . .  . .  . .  . .     162 

Stone  near  the  "  Gates  of  Glory,"  Dingle,  Co.  Kerry,  Cup-and-Circle  Mark- 
ings (from  a  Photograph  by  R.  A.  S.  Macalister),        . .  . .  . .     164 

St.  Pol's  Bell  and  St.  Goulven's  Bell,  Brittany  (by  R.  Oliver  Cochrane),          :      167 
St.  Meriadec's  Bell  and  St.  Ronan's  Bell  (by  R.  Oliver  Cochrane),  . .  . .     168 

Inscribed  Stones,  Slieve-na-Caillighe  (by  Mr.  Rotherham),  . .  171,  172 

Fragment  of  an  Urn  found  in  a  Bog,  Co.  Cavan,  . .  . .  177 

Notarial  Signs  Manual  (1116-1291),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..207 

(1295-1303),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..208 

(1311-1320),       ..  ...  ..  ..  ..     209 

(1327-1361),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..210 

(1376-1380),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..211 

(1381-1394),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..214 

(1395-1405),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..215 

(1400-1417),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..216 

(1420-1457),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..217 

(1463-1475),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..222 

(1503-1512),       ..  ..  ..  ..  .,223 

(1514-1574),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..22o 

(1234-1487),       ..  ..  ..  ..  ..227 

*0gam- stone  at   Breastagh,  Co.   Mayo — Four  Views   (from  Photographs  by 

T.  J.  Westropp),  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..       to  face    230 

Iron  Weapons  (by  W.  F.  Wakeman),     ..  ..  ..  ..  241,243 

Bivalvular  Trap  of  Oak  found  at  Adamshof ,  Prussia,          . .  . .  . .     246 

The  "Bambino"  of  New  Ross  (from  a  Photograph),          ..  ..  ..250 

The  Clandeboy  O'Neills'  Stone  Inauguration  Chair  (by  R.  Oliver  Cochrane),         255 
*Rosserk  Friary,  Co.  Mayo,  from  North-west  (from  a  Photograph),    . .       to  face     258 

*  ,,  ,,  ,,          Double  Piscina,  ..  ..  ..       to  face    258 

•*  Moyne  Friary,         ,,          Cloister  Garth,  ..  ..  ..       to  face    260 

*  ,,  ,,  ,,          from  North-east,         ..  ..  ..       to  face    262 

*Muredagh's  Cross  (East  Face),  Monasterboice,  Louth,        ..  ..       to  face    264 

Devenish  East  Window,  now  in  Monea  Church,                  . .             . .             . .  277 

„       High  Cross  (West  side),  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..278 

Clochogle  Cromlech,  Ballina,  Co.  Mayo,                . .             . .             . .             . .  285 

Lia  na  Managh,  Kilmoremoy         ,,         (by  Mr.  Robert  Sterliug),     . .              . .  287 

Plan  of  Souterrain,  Killala,           ,,          (by  Robert  Cochrane,  F.S.A.),             . .  292 
Rathfran  Monastery,  from   South-west,   Co.   Mayo  (from  a  Photograph  by 

T.  J.  Westropp),                . .             . .             . .             . .             . .             . .  294 

*Kilcummin    Church,    South-east  View   and   Interior    (from   Photographs   by 

T.  J.  Westropp),                 ..              ..              ..              ..              ..       to  face  296 

Kilcummin  Church,  West  Doorway — Outer  Face,               . .              . .              . .  298 

*Bullan-stone,  Feaghna,  Co.  Kerry  (from  a  Photograph  by  J.  St.  J.  Phillips) ; 
St.  Finan's  Holy  Well,  Kenmare  (from  a  Photograph  by  R.   Welch), 

to  face  314 


LIST    OF   ILLUSTRATIONS.  XV 

PAOB 

Kilmakilloge  Church,  Co.  Kerry,  Ground  Plan  (by  W.  J.  Fennell),               . .  314 
„                „                „         Exterior  Elevation  and  Plan  of  Door  (by 

W.  J.  Fennell),     . .             . .             . .  316 

Kilmakilloge  Church  and  Lake  (North-west  View  of  Church),          . .             . .  317 

Kilmakilloge  Church,  East  Window  (Exterior  Elevation)  and  Plan,                 . .  322 

Dunbeg  Fort,  Co.  Kerry,  General  Plan  (by  Mr.  Lynch),                    . .             . .  326 

„          ,,          ,,  Sections  of  Wall,  and  Plan  of  Entrance  (by  Mr. 

Lynch),  ..  ..  ..  ..327 

*Mount  Merrion— Three  Views  (from  Paintings  by  Ashford),              . .      to  face  344 

Diagram  of  Prehistoric  Remains  in  Carran,  &c.,  Co.  Clare  (by  Mr.  Westropp),  352 

Parknabinnia  and  Creevagh,  Co.  Clare,  Plans  of  Five  Cromlechs,  357 


Creevagh  Cromlech,  from  the  North-west, 
Fanygalvan,  Co.  Clare,  Plan  of  Cromlech, 
Poulcaragharush  Caher,  Gateway, 
Poulacarran  Caher,  Gateway, 
Plans  of  Forts  near  Carran,  ,. , 


359 
360 
362 
ib. 
363 


*Cliff  Fort,  Carran,  and  Fort  of  Cahergrillaun  (from  Photographs  by  Thomas  J. 

Westropp),  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..      to  face    364 

Moheramoy Ian  Caher,  Gateway  (by  Mr.  Westropp),  ..  ..  ..     365 

Flint  Scrapers  from  Perigord  (by  Miss  Knowles),  . .  . .  . .     368 

,,          „        from  Co.  Antrim,  ,,  ..  ..  ..  372-383 

Bracklaghboy,  Co.  Mayo,  Ogam-stone  (from  a  Photograph  by  Sergeant  Lyons, 

R.I.C.),  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..401 

Bracklaghboy,  Co.  Mayo,  Ogam-stone  (from  a  Rubbing  by  Mr.  Cochrane),     . .     403 
„  „  ,,  ,,  Section  of  Mound,       ,,          ,,  ..     404 

Ballyandreen,  Co.  Cork,  ,,  (from  a  Sketch  by  the  Rev.  P.  Sweeney),     406 

Bitllynavenooragh,  Co.  Kerry,  Ogam-stone  (from  a  Sketch  by  Mr.  P.  J.  Lynch),     407 
Group  of  Forts  at  Loop  Head,  Co.  Clare,  Plan  (by  Mr.  Westropp),  ..     410 


THE   JOURNAL 


OF 


THE'LKOYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES 

OF  IRELAND, 
FOR  THE  YEAR  1898. 

PAPERS  AND  PROCEEDINGS-PART  I,  'FIRST  QUARTER,  1898. 


: 

THE  DUN  AT  DORSET,  CO.  ARMAGH. 

BY  THE  REV.  HENRY  WILLIAM  LETT,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A., 
Hox.  PROVINCIAL  SECRETARY  FOR  ULSTER. 

[Read  JANUARY  12th,  1897.] 

TN  the  county  of  Armagh,  barony  of  Upper  Fews,  parish  of  Creggan, 
and  townland  of  Dorsey,  there  are  remains  of  a  most  extensive  and 
remarkable  earthwork. 

It  is  marked  "  Ancient  Intrenchment  "  on  the  Ordnance  Survey  Index 
Map  of  county  of  Armagh,  and  "Intrenchment"  on  Sheet  No.  59,  of 
1-inch  Ordnance  Survey  of  Ireland  ;  and  it  is  set  out  as  an  irregular 
trapezoid  one  mile  long  and  six  hundred  yards  wide,  on  Sheet  No.  28  of 
the  64nch  Ordnance  Survey  Map  of  county  Armagh.  The  greatest 
length,  is  from  east  to  west.  The  west  end  is  semicircular,  while  the 
south-east  corner  forms  a  wide  blunt  angle,  and  the  north-east  corner  an 
acute  angle.  The  remains  at  these  several  places  happen  to  be  those 
which  are  least  altered,  and  there  is  no  peculiar  configuration  of  the 
ground  to  account  for  the  variety  of  outline. 

The  simplicity  of  the  groiind  plaD  and  the  peculiar  situation  point  to 
this  earthwork  having  been  constructed  at  a  much  earlier  date  than  any 
intfenchment  or  "  ditches,"  such  as  were  thrown  up  by  armies  in  the 
field  in  comparatively  modern  warfare. 

In  some  of  the  numerous  Irish  wars  this  ancient  earthwork  may 
have  been  temporarily  used  as  advantage  point  by  one  side  or  the  other, 
but  everything  about  it  indicates  its  extreme  antiquity.  For  example, 

JOUR.   U.S.  A.  I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  I.,   5TH  SER.  B 


2  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

the  stream  on  the  east  of  it  has  in  the  lapse  of  centuries  altered  its  course 
and  cut  almost  right  through  the  "  walls." 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  earthwork  is  or  rather  was  an 
enormous  dun  or  ancient'  earthen  fortified  residence,  and,  so  far  as  is 
known,  it  is  the  most  extensive  in  all  Ireland. 

The  fortifications  of  this  vast  enclosure  originally  consisted  of  a 
rampart  with  deep  fosses  on' both  sides,  and  smaller  ramparts  or  parapet^ 
outside  the  fosses:  the  whole  wall  measures  120  feet  across;  the  outer 
ramparts  are  5  feet  high  and  18  feet  wide,,  while  each  fosse  is  23  feet 
deep  and  12  feet  wide  at  the  bottom. 

Some  portions  still  remain  in  such  excellent  preservation  that  we  are 
able  to  realise  what  a  great  dun  it  once  was,  but  the  greater  portion  has 
been  destroyed  in  the  course  of  ages,  and  the  work  of  destruction  is  still 
in  progress.  At  one  spot  an  industrious  farmer  has  made  very  consider- 
able alterations  within  the  last  three  years.  It  is  therefore  thought 
advisable  to  put  on  record  a  full  account  of  its  present  state. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  Paper  the  Ordnance  Survey  Map  issued  in 
1837  has  been  compared  with  a  copy  of  the  new  issue,  and  very  con- 
siderable differences  exist  between  these  maps.  The  most  noticeable 
being  that  in  the  four  places  where  the  lines  of  the  "  walls"  pass 
through  boggy  or  marshy  ground  ;  they  on  the  former  map  are  set  out 
and  described' as  constructed  with  "  piles,"  whereas  in  the  new  map  this 
is  not  noticed.  O'Donovan  noticed  this  feature  when  he  visited  the 
place,  and  there  does  not  appear  any  reason  to  set  aside  the  opinion  of 
such  an  accurate  scholar.  It  is  a  great  liberty  to  take  with  the  informa- 
tion he  collected.1 

The  locality  lies  to  the  west  of,  and  yet  quite  close  to  the  wild  and 
picturesque  neighbourhood  of  Forkill,  just  on  the  west  verge  of  the 
steep  and  rocky  hills  that  stand  out  like  sentinels  before  the  great  round 
mass  of  Slieve  Gullion,  which,  1893  feet  in  height,  towers  up  grandly 
above  them  all,  at  a  distance  of  only  four  miles. 

The  space  enclosed  by  this  earthwork  is  now  occupied  by  well  culti- 
vated farms,  with  the  exception  of  a  boggy  band  that  runs  north  to 
south  right  through  the  middle,  and  a  rocky  bit  to  the  east  of  this.  The 
ground  rises  to  the  east,  so  that  the  east  end  is  on  a  hill,  while  the  west 
end  takes  in  a  portion  of  another  hill  called  Drumill. 

Five  county  roads,  one  being  the  leading  road  from  Dundalk  to 
Armagh,  pass  north  to  south  through  the  dun,  and  two  streams  flow 
through  it  in  a  like  direction,  while  a  third  stream  runs  parallel  to  the 
eastern  ramparts. 

In  order  to  make  a  circuit  of  the  dun  we  shall  start  from  the  point 
where  the  five  roads  meet  at  Drumill  Bridge  ;  as  to  this  spot  the  visitor 
will  travel  by  road. 

1  O'Donovan,  in  "0.  S.  MSS.  of  County  Armagh." 


THE   DUN  AT  DORSEY,  CO.    ARMAGH. 

From  1  to  2  1  the  earthen  "  walls"  run  along  the  margin  of  a  little 
glen,  and  are  traceable  west  and  east  through  arable  fields.  They  then 
tend  slightly  to  the  south,  and  near  the  bridge  on  the  edge  of  the  bog 
turn  at  a  right  angle  to  the  north-east.  In  the  bog  there  is  not  a  trace, 
but  on  the  Ordnance  Survey  6-inch  Map  the  line  is  marked  "piles." 
Passing  across  the  bog  and  stream  the  '*  walls  "  are  next  found  at  the 
base  of  the  hill  at  3,  where  one  hundred  yards  are  in  good  preservation  ; 
of  this  a  view  from  a  photograph  by  Mr.  Edgar  Connor,  of  Newry,  is 
given.  The  north  fosse  here  is  14  feet  deep,  and  the  south  23  feet. 
The  difference  has  been  brought  about  by  a  partial  filling  of  the  north 
fosse,  and  a  cottage  has  been  built  in  it  on  the  top  of  the  hill.  The 
section  No.  1  was  taken  here  a  few  yards  west  of  the  road  which  cuts 
through  the  ramparts.  (Section  c  on  map.) 


Wall  of  Dun  at  Dorsey,  at  3  on  Plan. 

To  the  east  of  this  road  the  "  walls  "  go  in  a  north-easterly  direction 
down  a  hill,  both  fosses  exist  here ;  the  inner  rampart  has  been  levelled, 
but  that,  on  the  outside  is  in  good  preservation,  except  where  a  com- 
mencement has  been  made  by  the  farmer  to  cart  it  away  for  "top- 
dressing  "  his  fields. 

A 1 4  a  stream  has  made  a  curve  and  cut  deeply  into  the  walls,  carried 
away  a  portion  of  the  outer  rampart,  and  worn  its  bed  far  into  the 
central  rampart,  having  been  assisted  by  the  formation  of  a  weir  across 
the  stream. 


1  See  plan  on  next  page. 
B2 


^1Bw# 


THE  DUN  AT   DORSET,  CO.  ARMAGH. 


5 


'  From  4  to  the  next  road,  there  are  but  the  merest  traces  left  in  the 
fields,  and  the  same  is  the  state  for  100  yards  after  crossing  the  road. 

At  5  the  inner  fosse  exists  for  a  distance  of  200  yards,  all  the  other 
portions  haying  been  "  improved  "  away,  and  the  occupier  of  the  land  is1 
each  year  doing  his  best  to  obliterate  what  is  left,  by  filling  and  levels 
ling. 

The  "walls"  next  turn  at  an  acute  angle  to  the  west,  and  up  to  6 
can  be  traced  in  a  very  wide  depression  along  the  north  side  of  a  fence.  } 

When  we  get  west  of  6  the  fortification  is  more  visible  though 
greatly  altered.  The  rocky  nature  of  the  ground  very  likely  made  the* 
earth  of  the  original  ramparts  valuable  and  was  early  used  to  improve 
it  for  cropping. 

From  6  to  7  it  is  faintly  marked  alongside  a  wide  irregular  fencCi 
From  7  to  8  it  is  more  distinct,  a  small  portion  of  one  of  the  fosses  still 
remaining  outside  the  fence  of  the  garden  of  the  farmstead  near  7. 


C- 


Sections  of  the.  Rampart. 

The  spot  marked  8  is  on  the  steep  slope  of  a  hill,  and  the  "  walls") 
run  down  to  the  bog  across  which  again  on  the  old  6-inch  Ordnance' 
Survey  Map  lines  of  "  piles  "  were  set  out.  ';  '  :  : 

In  the  west  of  this  bog  are  two  small  rocky  elevations,  the  most 
northerly  of  them  being  a  little  the  larger*  The  tops  of  both  these 
hillocks  have  an,  irregular  parapet  formed  of  large  stones  round  them; 
The  visitor  is  at  once  struck  with  their  resemblance  to  small  "forWJ 
.j  These  were  probably  the  citadels  where  the  chief  resided.,  They 
must  have  been  very  secure  retreats,  having  been  surrounded,  except  on 
the  west,  by  water  or  impassable  morass,  for  even  now  with  all' the> 
advantages  of  modern  draining  and  cutting  put  of  the  peat,  the  ground 
is  unpleasantly  marshy,  and  is.. liable',  to  floods  in  wet  weather.  The 
entrance  to  these  citadels  was  -across. a  narrow  valley  .on  the  west. 


6  ROYAL    SOCIETY   QF^  ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

Up  the  rising  ground  from  this  bog  at  9  to  the  next  farm  house  the 
"  walls"  are  all  but  untraceable,  and  after  passing  it  not  a  trace  is  left 
in  the  fields  of  a  highly  cultivated  and  neat  farm  till  we  reach  10,  where 
a  portion  of  the  centre  ramparty  about  30  yards  in  length,  still  exists 
with  some  very  old  white  thorns  or  "  fairy  bushes  "  growing  on  it. 

The  number  of  such  " fairy  bushes"  throughout  the  district  is  note- 
worthy. They  abound  and  afford  evidence  of  a  surviving  belief  in  the 
existence  of  the  fairies,  and  this  we  found  in  conversation  with  the 
natives  to  be  in  full  force*  And  a  hint  that  the  tales  they  told  of  the 
doings  of  the  fairies  might  be  explained  as  the  effect  of  natural  causes, 
only  produced  more  assertions  "  of  wise  saws  and  modern  instances." 

Traces  of  the  "  walls"  are  found  from  10  to  11.  At  11  there  is  a 
small  bit'of  one  of  the  ramparts  still  left.  It  is  to  be  observed  that  from 
9  to  11  the  line  of  the  "  walls  "  curves  gently  to  the  south. 

From  11  the  a  walls"  are  distinctly  marked  along  the  edge  of  a  very 
deep  bog  where  large  quantities  of  turf  are  now  each  year,  as  they  no 
doubt  have  for  centuries  been,  prepared  for  fuel. 

In  this  bog  the  old  6-inch  Ordnance  Survey  Map  once  more  sets  out 
a  short  line  of  "  piles."  And  the  natives  tell  of  their  having  found  oak 
"  stakes"  or  "stabs"  here  with  "collars"  of  oak  fitted  to  them,  and 
that  "  this  was  the  way  out  to  the  country,  and  away  through  Ireland." 
On  the  6-inch  Ordnance  Survey  Map,  dated  1836 ;  at  this  spot  is  a  bit 
of  "piles"  set  out  into  the  bog  at  right  angles  to  the  line  of  the 
"  walls." 

This  bog  is  very  deep ;  it  is  now  a  hollow  basin,  30  feet  lower  than 
the  ground  inside  the  "  walls  "  at  12  ;  it  is  called  Tonlislegh  bog. 

One  of  the  few  lisses  in  the  district  is  on  a  hill  in  Cregandufi3  town- 
land,  half  a  mile  to  the  south  of  this  spot.1 

We  saw  and  measured  a  stump  of  an  oak  tree  projecting  in  the  boggy 
meadow  here  and  found  it  to  be  4  feet  in  diameter. 

The  fosses  of  the  "walls"  have  been  filled  up  and  thu  ramparts 
levelled  along  the  margin  of  this  bog,  but  the  double  depressions  <ire 
distinctly  visible  as  they  curve  round  in  an  easterly  direction  towards 
the  foot  of  the  hill. 

The  "walls"  run  up  and  over  this  hill  to  1,  in  a  north-easterly 
direction.  Both  fosses  of  this  portion  for  150  yards  are  distinct;  the 
outer  or  southern  rampart  exists  in  several  places,  but  the  inner  or 
northern  rampart  has  been  all  removed.  At  one  place  a  field  road  has 
been  made  across  the  "  walls  "  by  filling  in  the  fosses. 

On  the  descent  of  the  "  walls  "  towards  1,  at  the  "  Five  roads,"  the 
fosses  are  deep  and  well  preserved,  and  the  whole  is  studded  with  very 
old  "  fairy- thorns." 

1  It  is  remarkable  that  there  is  almost  an  absence  of  the  lisses,  which  are  so  common 
elsewhere,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  this  great  dun.  On  Sheet  28  of  Ordnance  Survey 
6 -inch  Map  of  county  Armagh,  there  are  only  two. 


THE   DUN   ATPORSEY,   CO.   ARMAGH.'  7 

The  inhabitants  of  the  district  hold  that  this  part  of  the  fortifications 
is  the  peculiar  haunt  of  fairies ;  they  assured  us  that  "  it  would  be 
unlucky  to  cut  down  one  of  the  thorns  or  so  much  as  even  a  branch, 
and  when  the  bridge  below  was  being  fixed  three  years  ago  Brian 

K would  not  let  one  branch  be  touched,  and  his  son  Owen  would 

not  lend  his  saw  to  cut  a  bit  of  one  that  was  in  the  men's  way.  Nobody 
would  take  a  chip  off  them  thorns,  and  look  how  gay  they  be,  and  mind 
you,  every  one  of  them  is  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  years  old.  One 
night  I  sat  up  to  watch  the  turf  in  the  bog  that  was  a  stealing,  and  I 
saw  and  heard — but  I  would  not  do  it  again  for  all  the  turf  that  ever 
were.  I  sat  among  the  bushes  beyont  there,  and  I  will  not  tell  why  I 
wouldn't  do  it  again.  One  evening  we  saw  a  funeral  coming  along  the 
road  from  Dundalk,  and  it  went  up  the  rampart  above  there  among  the 
thorns,  and  they  laid  the  corpse  down  and  dug  a  grave,  and  put  it  in. 
The  police  got  to  hear  of  it,  and  they  come  and  searched  and  searched 
the  place  everywhere  but  not  a  trace  of  anything  did  they  see  or  find. 
And  why  should  they,  for  sure  it  was  not  earthly.  A  girl  who  was 
herding  the  cows,  and  was  at  her  sewing  as  she  did  so,  saw  a  boy,  her 
cousin,  come  along  towards  a  gap  in  the  fence  near  her.  She  bent  her 
head  a  moment  while  hiding  her  sewing  in  her  dress,  and  when  she 
looked  up,  the  boy  was  gone,  and  though  she  ran  everywhere  and  called 
his  name  he  was  not  there." 

We  asked  a  boy  who  happened  to  be  herding  cattle  near  the  bog,  had 
he  heard  of  or  ever  seen  a  fairy.  "  I've  heard  of  them,  but  I  never  saw 
one  myself."  "  "Would  you  like  to  be  out  at  dark  on  the  old  rampart?" 
we  inquired.  "I  would  not  like  to  be  there  by  myself,"  was  his 
reply. 

Within  the  dun,  on  the  highest  point  of  this  hill  at  13,  is  a  "  Stand- 
ing stone,"  5  feet  high,  having  in  it  several  deep  and  curious  marks  like 
the  impressions  of  a  huge  finger,  which  were  pointed  out  to  us  as  "  Cal- 
liagh  Beri's  finger-marks."  The  stone  is  locally  known  as  "  the  White 
Stone  of  Caliagh  Beri,"  by  whom  the  local  tradition  relates  it  to  have 
been  thrown  into  its  present  position  from  her  lake  on  the  top  of  Slieve 
Gullion.  We  found,  as  is  mentioned  by  Professor  Joyce  in  "  The  Chase 
of  Slieve  Gullion,"  in  bis  Celtic  Romances,  that  the  natives  of  Dorsey 
hold  to  a  belief  in  certain  magical  effects  produced  by  the  water  of  Lough 
Calliagh  Beri.  They  would  not  tell  us  what  would  happen  to  anyone 
rash  enough  to  bathe  in  it,  but  vaguely  hinted  that  it  would  be  some- 
thing dreadful. 

Dr.  Joyce's  account  of  the  tradition  is,  that  "  Milucra,  a  daughter  of 
Cuillenn,  the  smith  of  the  Dedananns,  who  lived  at  Slieve  Cuillinn  (i.e. 
Slieve  Gullion),  brought  all  the  Dedananns  by  a  summons  to  meet  her 
at  Slieve  Cuillinn,  and  there  caused  them  to  make  her  a  lake  near  the 
tpp  of  the  mountain,  and  she  breathed  a  druidical  virtue  on  its  waters, 
that  all  who  bathed  in  it  should  become  grey." 


8 


ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRKLAND. 


The  existence  of  the  tradition  about'  the  "  "White  Stone  of  Calliagh 
Beri"to  a  certain  extent  connects  this  dun  with  Cuillenn  the  smith, 
who  is  stated  to  have  lived  on  Slieve  Gullion,  and  given  it  his  name. 
But  a  more  unsuitable  place  for  a' residence  could  scarcely  be  found  than 
the  steep  slopes  of  the  great  bleak  mountain.  No  dbubt  Cuillenn  lived 
somewhere  near  it,  and  visitors,  and  customers  or  employers,  whether 
friends  or  foes,  coming  to  -avail  themselves  of  his  great  skill  in  metal 
work,  would  direct  their  journey  towards  the  isolated  mountain  which 


The  White  Stone  of  Calliagh  Beri. 

forms  such  a  prominent  landmark,  and  knew  it  as  Sliab  Cuillinn,  or- 
"  Guillen's  Mountain,"  because  not  very  far  from  its  base  was  the  abode 
of  the  artificer,  while  a  generation  later,  somewhere  thereabout,  was  the 
stronghold  of  the  warrior  Cuchulainn.1 


1  O'Curry  ("  Battle  of  Mach  Leana,"  p.  91)  states  that  Sidh  Cuillinn  was  the  fairy 
mansion  of  the  mountain  Sliab  Cuillinn,  now  Slieve  Gullion,  in  the  county  of  Armagh.. 
He  says  that  it  received  its  name  from  Cuillenn  Cairpthech,  or  the  charioteer,  son  of 
the  King  of  Britain,  who  was  killed  there  by  Congal  Claringnech,  monarch  of  Erin. 
The  same  author  ("  Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Ancient  Irish,"  iii.,  p.  327)  gives 
Sidh  Findacha  as  a  synonym  of  Sliab-g-Cuillinn.  He  also  relates  that  this  fairy 
mansion  of  Sliab  Cuillinn  was  the  resi_d,e.nce  of  .Ailean,  the  son  of  Midna,  a  famous 
chief  of  the  Tuatha  de  Danann  race,  who  was  powerful  enough  to  make  an  excursion 
into  Meath,  and  burn  Tara  every  year.  It  is  told  in  "  The  Dialogue  of  the  Ancient 
Men  "  (of  Lismore)  how  the  Palate  of  .Tara  was  set  on  fire  every  Kovember  eve  by  thia 
Ailean.  He  was  accustomed  to  approach  Tara  playing  one  or  more  musical  instru- 


THE  DUN   AT   DORS^Y,   CO.    ARMAGH.  9 

The  remains  of  this  gigantic  dun  at  Dorsey  are  sufficient  to  demon- 
strate how  powerful  and  numerous  must  have  been  the  tribe  or  clan 
which  required  and  was  able  to  construct  such  an  erection. 

The  natives  now  know  the  townland  as  Dorsey  Maclvor,  and  gave 
"the  clergy"  as  their  authority,  but  they  said  the  landlord  called  it 
' '  Dorsey-  proper. ' ' 

In  Sir  Charles  Coote's  "  Survey  of  County  of  Armagh,"  p.  324,  this 
fortification  is  mentioned :— "  Near  to  this  place  (Newtownhamilton) 
are  yet  to  be  seen  the  lines  of  circumvallation  of  an  encampment 
above  a  mile  and  a-half  in  circumference,  where  it  is  said  the  Irish 
army  had  hemmed  in  a  large  detachment  of  Cromwell's  forces,  and 
besieged  them  during  an  entire  winter.  This  place  is  called  Clogh-a- 
meather."1 

It  is  also  mentioned  in  Lewis's  "Topographical  Dictionary,"  and  in 
Proc.,  R.H.A.A.I? 

Most  interesting  and  valuable  notes  on  it  are  to  be  found  in  the 
O'Donovan  MS.,  Ordnance  Survey  of  Ireland,  county  Armagh,  No*  1, 
dated  JSTewry,  April  22,  1835.  O'Donovan  says  : — 

"I  next  proceeded  westwards  (from  Kilnasaggart,  one  mile  north  of 
Faughart,  county  Louth)  to  view  a  curious  rampart  in  the  townland  of 
Dorsey,  in  the  parish  of  Creggan. 

"  It  resembles  the  Dane's  Cast,  except  that  instead  of  running  directly 
across  the  country  it  forms  a  figure  of  a  spheroidal  form,  consisting  of  a 
lofty  rampart  and  two  deep  ditches.  It  is  levelled  iii  many  places,  but 
the  peasantry  point  out  how  the  ring  was  connected. 

"  It  was  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  in  the  greatest  diameter,  and 
about  2£  miles  in  circumference. 

"In  the  low  and  boggy  parts  of  the  townland  the  rampart  was  con- 
nected by  means  of  a  causeway  formed  of  pieces  of  timber,  morticed  and 
connected  by  tenents. 

"Some  of  the  peasants  say  it  is  the  work  of  the  Danes,  others  hear 
that  it  was  made  during  the  waars  of  Ireland. 

"  The  ancient  road  to  Armagh  passed  through  this  rampart. 

"  The  name  of  the  townland  is  tx5pr-a,  which  the  peasantry  say  sig- 
nifies GATES,  because  there  were  many  gates  on  the  road  passing  through 

ments,  in  such  soft  and  soothing  stiains,  as  to  throw  .the  guards  into  a  deep  sleep,  till 
he  had  accomplished  his  purpose,  "for  even  women  in  labour,  and  wounded  cham- 
pions, would  be  put  to  sleep  by  the  plaintive  fairy  music,  and  the  sweetly-tuned  strain 
of  song  which  the  skilful  performers  raised  who  burned  Tara  every  year." 

1  On  the  map  in  Sir  C.  Coote's  " Armagh  "  (Dublin,  1804),  the  "encampment" 
is  not  marked,  but  it  gives   "Dorcey's  Mill,"  to  the   west  of  Silver  Bridge,  on  the 
rivet  "Ureagan,"  which  enables  us  to  identify  the  locality.     We  did  not  discover 
the  existence  of  the  name  "  Clogh-a-meather."     This,  no  doubt,  is  Cloch-an-mhothair, 
"  the  stone  oi  the  ruined  rath,  or  dun,"  and  a  synonym  for  the   "white  stone  of 

.Calliagh  Beri." 

2  "Report  on  Ancient  Monuments  in  the  County  of  Armagh,"  by  H.  W.  Lett. — 
Our  Journal,  1883,  1884,  vol.  vi.,  p.  431. 


10  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

this  rampart.  They  sometimes  call  the  townland  baile  na  nt)6]ir»a, 
i.e.- the  town  of  the  gates,  and  sometimes  t>6ppa  an  peaba,  the  gates  of 
the  Fews. 

"  My  opinion  respecting  this  gigantic  fortification  is,  that  it  was  erected 
by  the  chief  of  the  territory  for  two  purposes.  1.  To  serve  as  a  fastness 
into  which  lie  might  drive  his  cattle  and  convey  his  other  property  in 
time  of  war  with  his  neighbours ;  and  2,  to  command  the  great  and  im- 
portant pass  into  the  North.  That  it  was  used  by  O'Neill  in  later  times 
can  scarcely  be  doubted ;  many  leaden  balls  shot  off  the  ramparts  were 
found  by  the  farmers." 

We  also  heard  of  the  finding  of  these  bullets  of  lead  in  proximity  to 
the  "  walls,"  but  could  not  hear  of  any  now  in  existence.  Our  informant 
as  to  this  believed  that  the  "  ould  intrinchments  were  made  by  the  sojers 
who  fired  the  bullets."  An  opinion  which  will  have  as  much  weight 
with  antiquaries  as  that  which  makes  out  this  gigantic  dun  to  be  a 
portion  of  "the  Great  Wall  of  Ullidia,"  commonly  known  as  the 
"  Dane's  Cast,"  or  JJlecmn-na-muice-buibe.1 

The  district  in  which  Dorsey  is  situated  is  connected  with  some  of 
the  most  interesting  of  the  ancient  heroes  of  Ireland.  It  contains  a 
small  group  of  mountains  which  are  partly  in  the  counties  of  Armagh 
and  Louth.  Through  them  the  Great  Northern  Railway  now  winds  its 
iron  track  between  Dundalk  and  Newry  by  the  Moyry  Pass.  It  may  be 
roughly  set  down  as  twelve  miles  in  length  and  seven  miles  in  width. 
This  was  the  haunt  in  ancient  times  of  the  sword-maker  Cuillenn  and  of 
Cuchulainn  the  chief  of  the  Red  Branch,  who  lived  about  the  date  of  the 
Christian  era.  Slieve  Gullion,  in  the  north-west  extremity,  records  the 
name  of  Cuillenn  the  worker  in  metals  of  the  Tuatha  De  Danaan,  and 
Slieve  Cuailgne(Cooley)  in  the  south-east,  now  called  Carlingford  Moun- 
tain, takes  its  name  from  Cuchulainn.2  The  mountains  known  as  Slieve 
Fuaid  and  Slieve  Fidhe,3  from  which  the  modern  barony  of  Fews  in 
county  Armagh  takes  its  name,  are  also  in  the  same  district,  though 
neither  is  now  reckoned  to  be  within  the  boundaries  of  the  barony, 
while  Dundalk  lies  just  within  the  district  at  its  extreme  south.  Dr. 
Joyce4  considers  that  the  name  Dundalk  "was  originally  applied  not 
to  the  town  of  Dundalk  but  to  the  great  fortress,  now  called  the  Moat 

1  For  a  full  description  of  "  The  Great  Wall  of  Ullidia,"  see  the  Ulster  Journal 
of  Arch&ology,  vol.  iii.,  New  Series. 

2  The  history  of  how  Setanta  received  his  name  of  Cu  Culainn  has  been  recently 
treated,  in  a  romantic  fashion,  by  Standish  O'Grady,  in  his  very  readable  volume, 
"  The  Coming  of  Cu  Culain." 

3  The  origin  of  the  names  Slieve  Fuaid,  and  Slieve  Cooley,  is  accounted  for  by  the 
occurrence  related  by  the  "  Four  Masters,"  A.M.  3501  : — "  The  battle  was  at  length 
gained  against  the  Tuatha  de  Datianns,  and  they   were  slaughtered  whenever  they 
were  overtaken.     There  fell  from  the  sons  of  Milidh,  on  the  other  hand,  two  illus- 
trious  chieftains   in   following-   of   the  rout,    namely,   Fuad  at  Sliabh  Fuaid,    and 
Cuailgne  at  Sliabh  Cuailgne." 

4  "  Irish  Names  of  Places,"  First  Series. 


THE  DUN   AT    DORSEY,    CO/ARMAGH.  II 

of  Castletown,  a  mile  inland,"  which,  he  says,  "there  can  he  no  doubt 
is  the  Dun  Dealgan,  or  Bun-Delca,  of  the  ancient  histories  and  romances, 
the  residence  of  Cuchulainn,  and,  according  to  O'Curry,  it  received  its 
name  from  Delga,  a  Firbolg  chief,  who  built  it."1 

But  large  as  this  dun  at  Castletown  may  he  compared  with  the  ordi- 
nary duns  and  raths  and  lisses  throughout  Ireland,  it  is  a  mere  doll's 
house  in  comparison  with  the  dun  at  Dorsey.  It  could  not  have  sufficed 
for  the  principal  stronghold  of  such  a  chief  as  Cuchulainn  with  his 
numerous  tribesman.  It  was  probably  a  secondary  fortress  or  outpost  to 
protect  the  landing-place  frequented  by  their  boats. 

Cuchulainn's  principal  abode  must  be  looked  for  somewhere  further 
inland.  It  is  only  a  few  miles  to  the  gigantic  dun  at  Dorsey.  The 
heroes  of  those  times  were  not  so  fastidious  about  distances  as  we  have 
come  to  be,  and  Cuchulainn  was  fond  of  long  excursions. 

O'Curry  relates  that  Cuchulainn  made  an  expedition  on  one  occasion 
into  the  county  Kerry,  where  in  Cathair  Chonroi,  on  the  river  Finnghlais, 
to  the  west  of  the  bay  of  Tralee,  he  killed  Curoi  Mac  Daire,  and  returned 
laden  with  spoil,  and  accompanied  by  Curoi' s.  wife,  Blaithnaid,  the 
daughter  of  Midir,  king  of  Firfalgia. 

If  Cuchulainn  resided  in  the  dun  at  Castletown,  the  question  arises 
who  owned  the  great  stronghold  at  Dorsey?  It  is  more  reasonable  to 
regard  the  latter  as  his  abode,  as  it  certainly  was  within  his  district.  It 
is  to  be  noted  that  the  dun  at  Dorsey  has  in  the  lapse  of  centuries  lost  its 
appellation,  for  such  an  erection  must  surely  at  one  time  have  been  called 
a  Dun,  the  appellation  of  Dorsey  or  "  Gate"  being  merely  descriptive  of 
the  position  it  occupied  as  holding  the  entrance  into  Ulidia.  It  would 
appear  that  Cuchulainn  had  several  residences  within  his  territory,  for 
in  a  very  curious  and  very  ancient  legend,  which  is  a  compound  of 
Druidism  and  fairy  lore,  given  in  the  "Leabhar  na-h-TJidhre,"  it  is 
related  how  the  lady  Emer,  the  most  cherished  of  Cuchulainn's  women, 
pined  in  grief  and  jealousy  at  her  court  at  Dun-Delca.  She  was  suffering 
because  Cuchulainn,  her  husband,  had  fallen  in  love  with,  and  had  living 
with  him  the  lady  Fand,  wife  of  Manannan  Mac  Lir,  the  famous  Tuatha 
De  Danann.  And  an  account  is  given  of  the  wonderful  things  that  were 
done  to  and  by  all  concerned.  There  was  not  room  in  such  a  compara- 
tively'small  dun  as  that  at  Castletown  for  such  events,  while  the  great 
dun  at  Dorsey  was  capacious  enough  to  have  contained  separate  abodes  for 
Cuchulainn  and  all  his  ladies  and  \varriors,  and  their  families  and 
followers. 


1  J.  O'Donovan,  in  "  Ordnance  Survey  MSS.  of  County  Louth,"  p.  47,  writes: — 
"Dun  Dealgan,  i.e.  the  fort  or  fortress  of  Dealga.  Here  t lie  famous  warrior 
Cuchulainn  (called  by  MacPherson,  in  his  *'  Poems  of  Ossian,"  Cuthu'llen)  held  his 
principal  residence.  This  celebrated  fort  has  given  name  to  the  present  town  of 
Dundalk,  which,  in  all  our  Irish  MSS.,  is  called  Tragh  bhaile  Duna  Dealgan,  i.e.  the 
strand-town  near  the  fort  of  Dealgan." 


12  ROYAL    SOCIETY.  OY    ANTIQUARIES    OF  IRELAND. 

O'Donovan1  quotes  an  Irish  story,'  entitled,  ^Toruidheacht  Gruaidhe 
Grian  Sholais,"  written  by  a  native  of  the  district  of  ,Cuailgne  or  Cooley, 
in  county  Louth.  This  distinctly  mentions  SJieve  Fidhit  and  Slieve  Feadha 
as  two  of  the  Cuailghe  mountains.  The  following  is  an  ex.tract  from  this 
work  :— "  This  district  is  thus  situated  ;  the  noisy ,, fretting,  wailing  sea, 
and  the  flowing  fierce  brine  on  one  side  of  it,  and  the  lofty,  towering, 
delightful  mountain,  full  of  white,  foaming,  pure-watered  streams,  of 
delightful  green-sided  valleys,  and  of  smooth-skirted,  waving  woods  on 
the  other  side."  This  is  an  excellent  description  of.  the  region  west  of 
Carlingford  Lough. 

The  territory  known  as  Muirtheimhne  comprised  that  part  of  the 
presen,t  county  of  Louth,  which  .extends  from  the  Cuailgne  Mountains  to 
the  river  Boyne,  for  Dundalk,  Louth,  Dromiskin,  Faughard,  and  Monas- 
terboice,  are  mentioned  as  being  in  it.2 

The  rich  and  fertile  plain,  extending  from  Dublin  to  the  mountains  of 
Louth  and  Armagh  was  called,  according  to  O'Donovan,3  TTIasbfieas; 
i.e.  Campus  Bregarum,  and  at  the  formation  of  Oriel  that  part  of  Moy 
Bra,  which  lies  in  Louth,  was  called  TTIacaip.e  Oipgiall,  or  the  plains 
of  Oriel."  This  name  arose  subsequent  to  the  formation  of  the  Oirghiall, 
i.e.  of  the  Orier  county  by  the  Clanna  Rury,  and  the  confinement  of  the 
Ulidians,  or  Ulstermen,  to  the  east  of  the  Great  Wall  of  TJlidia,  about 

A.D.332.4  :;; 

This  plain  appears  to  have  had  another,  name.  In  the  "  Annals  of 
the  Four  Masters,"  at  the  year  of  Christ  1178,  we  have  this,  entry:—-! 
"John  De  Courcy  with  his  foreigners  repaired  to  Machaire  Conaille,  and 
committed  .depredations,  there.  .  They  encamped  for  a  night  in  Glenree, 
where  Murrough  O'Carroll,  Lord  of  Oriel,  and  Cooley  Mac  Donslevyr 
King  of  Ulidia,  made  a  hostile  attack  upon  them,  and  drowned,  and  other- 
wise killed  four  hundred-and-fifty  of  them.  One  hundred  of  the  Irish> 
together  with  O'Hanvy,  Lord  of  Hy-Meith^Macha,  fell  in  the  heat  of  the 
battle."  .  ; 

Here  we  have  those  ancient  foes,  the  Ulidians  and  men  of  Orier, 
united  in  common  cause  against  De  Courcy,  .and  punishing  him  somewhere 
in  the  valley  through  which  flows  the  Glanrigh,  or  Glenree  river,  oil 
which  Newry  is  built,  , 

Dr.  O' Donovan's  note  to  the  ajbove,  in  his  edition  of  the  "Four 
Masters,"  is  as  follows ;— 

"Machaire  Chonaille,  i.e.  the  plain  of  Conaille  Muirthemhne,  a  terri- 
tory comprising  the  level  part  of  the  present  county  of  Louth,  as  appears 
from  the  ancient  *  Lives  of  St.  Bridget  and  St.  Monenna,'  and  from  the 
'  Festiology  of  ^JEngus,'  and  other  Calendars,  which  place  in  this  territory 

1  "  Book  of  Rights,"  edited  by  John  O'Donovan,  p.  21. 

2  O'lJonoyan,  in  "  Book  of  Hights."     '  .    ...     ;    ..   .. 

3  "  0.  S.  MS3.  of  County  Armagh,"  p.  1222.   •:.;.;      . 

4  Ulster  Journal  of  <drcheeologi/,  1896-1897,  vol.  3,  pp..  65-82...      .  .. 


THE   DUN  AT  DORSEY,    CO.    ARMAGH*  13 

the  churches  of  Fuughart,  Inniskeeri,  -Kill  Uinche,  and  Druim  Ineas- 
clainn." 

This  district  retained  the  name  of  Ghonaille' in  the  1 7th  century,  as 
we  learn  from  Archbishop  Ussher,  who,  in  his  "Notices  of  St.  Bridget 
and  St.  Monena,"  has  the  following  notice  of  this  territory  :—- 

"  Intra  alterum  autem  a  Dundalkia  milliarium,  in  Louthiano  comitatu 
et  territorio  olim  Conayl-Murthemni  et  Campo-Murthemne  (in  quo 
Conaleorum  gens  max;rae  viget,  de  qua  et  ipsa"  Sanctissima  Monenna 
procreata  est:  ut  babet  in  libri'secundi  Yitse  illius  initio  Conchubranus) 
hoclie  Maghery  Conall  dicto,  posita  est  villa  Fochnrd,  quern  locum  nativi- 
tatis  Brigidiae  virginis  habitum  fuisse  ;  et  in  Vita  Malachiae  notavit  olim 
Bernarduni,  et  hodierna  totius  viciniee  traditio  Fochardum  Brigidiae  earn 
appellantis  etiam  nunc  confirmat."1 

The  Conaleorum  gens  here  mentioned  were  the  descendants  of  Comill 
Cearnach,  the  most  distinguished  of  the  heroes  of  the  Eed  Branch  in 
Ulster,  who  flourished  early  in  the  first  century  of  the  Christian  era. 

According  to  the  "  Annals  of  Ireland"2  there  was  a  remarkable  cairn 
on  Sliab  Fuaid,  called  Fionn-Charn  na-foraire,  i.e.  "the  white  cairn  of 
watching."  The  site  of  this  cannot  now  be  identified;  no  doubt  the 
stones  that  composed  it  were  ages  ago  used  for  building  houses  or  the 
making  of  roads.  The  use  of  this  cairn  is  described3  as  follows : — 
"  Cormac  Connlojngeas  was  the  distinguished  son  of  the  celebrated 
king-  of  Ulster,  Connor  Mac  Nessa,  who  died  in  a  fit  of  anger  on  the  day 
of  the  Crucifixion  of  our  Saviour,  on  learning  from  his  druid  that  the 
Son  of  God  was  unjustly  put  to  death  that  day  by  the  Jews.  The  reason 
why  Cormac  Connloingeas  was  called  the  Champion  of  the  Cairn,  that 
is,  the  "White  Cairn  of  Watching,  or  Sliab  Fuaid,  was  this: — At  that 
cairn  he  was  champion  guarding  his  own  province  of  Ulster."  This 
points  to  the  White  Cairn  of  Watching  having  been  near  the  pass  into 
Ulster.  It  could  hardly  have  been  as  near  Newtownhamilton  as  some 
have  supposed  it ;  more  likely  it  was  somewhere  near  the  White  Stone  of 
Calliagh  B.eri^at  Dorsey.  The  following  passage  from  the  "Tain  Bo 
Cuailgne,"4  while  not  specifying  the  cairn,  alludes  to  its  position  and 
use  : — "  Cuchulainn  was  nursed  in  the  home  of  his  father  and  mother  in 
the  plains  of  Muirthemhne,  where  he  learned  about  the  young  warrior- 
knights  of  Emania.  He  longed  to  be  with  them,  and  at  last  his  wishes 
were  accomplished.  And  when  the  day  came  on  which  Cuchulainn  was 
knighted  and  admitted  amongst  the  youth  of  Emania  (i.e.  Navan  or 
Armagh),  he  drove  three  times  round  Emania.  Cuchulainn  then  asked 
his  charioteer  where  the  great  road  which  passed  Emania  led  to,  and  he 

1  Usher,  "  Primordia,"  pp.  705,  706. 

2  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  edited  hy  J.  O'Donovan,  p.  26,  note  c. 

3  "Coinanmcmn,"  MSS.  T.C.D.,  H.  3.  18,  page  o94,  quoted  by  E.  O'Curry  in 
"  The  Battle  of  Magh  Leana." 

4  "Book  of  Rights,"  edited  by  E.  O'Curry,  p.  58. 


14  ROYAL  SOCIKTY    OF   ANTIQUARIES  -OF    IRELAND. 

answered  that  it  led  to  Ath-na-Foraire  (i.e.  the  Ford  of  Watching)  at 
Sliabh  Fuaid.  '  Why  is  this  ford  called  the  Ford  of  Watching'?  said 
Cuchulainn.  'Because,'  said  Ibhar,  '  there  is  an  Ultonian  chieftain  con- 
stantly watching  and  guarding  there  in  order  that  no  foreigners  should 
come  into  Ulster.'  Cuchulainn  is  credited  with  the  performance  of  many 
feats  on  the  day  upon  which  he  first  received  the  arms  of  a  hero  or  knight 
at  E mania,  after  which  he  set  out  to  the  border  of  the  ancient  Uladh  or 
Ulster.  And  Cuchulainn  said  to  his  charioteer,  '  Put  pressure  on  the 
horses  now.'  '  In  what  direction  ? '  said  the  charioteer.  '  As  far  forward 
(i.e.  from  Emania)  as  the  road  reaches,'  replied  Cuchulainn.  And  so  they 
drove,  till  they  came  to  Sliab  Fuait,  where  they  met  Conall  Cernach.  It 
was  to  Conall,  now,  it  happened  to  protect  the  province  of  Uladh  that 
day.  For  one  of  the  champions  of  Uladh  used  to  take  his  day  in  turn 
upon  Sliab  Fuait,  to  protect  anyone  who  came  with  a  poem,  or  to  fight 
with  a  man ;  so  that  it  was  there  he  would  meet  them,  in  order  that  none 
should  go  to  Emania  without  being  perceived." 

Other  copies  of  the  "  Tain"  call  this  place  "  at  napopaipe,  the  Ford 
of  Watchings,"  and  add  "that  the  champion  who  kept  watch  was  bound 
to  give  combat  to  any  hostile  parties  who  approached  Emania,  and  there 
can  be  little  doubt  that  the  White  Watch-cairn  was  on  the  hill  of  old."1 

With  the  drying  up  of  the  old  morasses  by  the  cutting  out  of  bogs  in 
making  fuel,  and  the  reclamation  of  low-lying  grounds,  the  fords  have  in 
this  district  all  long  since  disappeared ;  but  close  to  the  east  of  the  dun 
at  Dorsey  we  still  find  a  spot  called  Silver  Ford,  or  Silver  Bridge. 

In  the  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  at  the  year  A.D.  1607,  is  an 
account  of  O'Neill's  adventure,  in  which  this  "  Silver  Ford"  is  distinctly 
mentioned;: — "  On  the  next  day  he  went  to  Sradbhaile-Duna  Dealgain 
(i.e.  Dundalk).  He  proceeded  on  Monday  from  Sradbhaile,  through 
Bealach-mor-an-Fhedha  (the  great  road  of  the  Fews),  to  Bel-atha-an- 
Airgit  (i.e.  the  town  of  the  Silver  Ford),  across  Sliab  Fuait  to  Armagh.'* 

1  "  The  Battle  of  Magh  Leana,"  edited  by  E.  O'Curry,  p.  58. 


(    -16     ) 


BALLYWIHEEN   CHURCH:,  BALLYNEANTG,  CO.  KERRY. 

BY  R.  A.  S.  MACALISTER,  M.A. 

[Submitted  JANUARY  12th,  1897.] 

T^HE  adjacent  townlands  of  Ballyneanig1  Church  Quarter  aud  Bally-' 
wiheen  are  situated  about  a  mile  south,  of  Smerwick  Bay,  and  will 
be  found  on  the  6-inch  Map  of  Kerry,  Sheet  42.  This  district  is  ex- 
tremely interesting,  and  contains  numerous  remains  of  both  the  pre-  and 
post-  Christian  periods.  Two  or  three  fields  west  of  the  church  which 
is  the  subject  of  the  present  Paper,  is  a  colossal  gallan,  the  largest  of  the 
many  examined  by  rae  in  Corkaguiney:  this  I  found  to  be  about  17  feet 
high.  Close  to  this  is  a  well,  dedicated  to  Mo-Laga,  and  another  gallan, 
neither  of  which  I  had  time  to  examine.  A  little  further  west  is  a 
ceallurach,  with  the  dilapidated  and  almost  shapeless  remains  of  an 
oratory  of  the  Teampull  Geal  type ;  and  south  of  this  is  the  Cathair  na 
gcat,  with  a  well-known  Ogham  inscription.  Ballyneanig  itself  long  ago 
supplied  an  Ogham  to  the  Royal  Irish  Academy's  collection.  About 
300  yards  north  of  the  church  is  a  small  earthen  ring-fort,  while  less 
than  a  mile  to  the  north-east,  across  a  little  meandering  stream,  is  the 
ceallurach  of  Reask,  with  its  famous  cross — a  superb  piece  of  simple 
ornamental  design.  The  inhabitants,  who  preserve  in  a  high  degree  the 
charming  Celtic  trait  of  courteous  and  dignified  hospitality,  are  a  slightly 
mixed  race ;  the  normal  blue^eyed,  fair-haired  type  being  mingled  to  a 
small  degree  with  a  dark-haired,  dark-brown-eyed  race,  which  is  found 
sporadically  in  Corkaguiney. 

The  place-name  Ballyneanig  is  worthy  of  notice.  It  is  obviously 
baile  an  aonaig,  "the  place  of  the  assembly" — a  name  which  suggests 
that  it  might  have  been  used,  in  prehistoric  times,  as  the  scene  of  tribal 
meetings  :  possibly  around  the  gallan  already  described.2 

I  visited  this  place  on  the  9th  July,  1896,  and  then  made  the  measure- 
ments and  notes  from  which  the  following  Paper  has  been  prepared. 
On  plan  the  church  is  a  simple  rectangle.  The  masonry  is  coarse  and 
wide-jointed ;  a  bad  sandy  mortar  is  used,  which  crumbles  to  powder 
under  the  fingers.  There  is  but  one  doorway,  3  feet  1  inch  wide,  near 
the  western  end  of  the  north  side  ;  this  is  rebated  internally  for  5  inches, 
for  the  reception  of  a  door,  and  shows  bolt-holes  on  the  reveal.  Like  all 
the  other  opes  in  the  building,  this  doorway  is  trabeated.  It  presents 
an  interesting  piece  of  rude  construction  ;  the  lintel  for  the  inner  order 
was  found  to  be  too  short,  and  was  accordingly  supported  on  another 
long  stone,  corbelled  out  and  counterpoised  with  a  third. 

1  Pronounced  Bally-ne-a-nig. 

2  This,  however,  is  actually  in  Bally  wiheen  townland. 


16 


ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OP    IRELAND. 


The  remaining  architectural  features  may  be  briefly  described.  The 
east  wall  has  a  narrow  lancet  window,  4  feet  2  inches  high,  splayed 
internally.-  The  outside  lintel  of  this  opening  projects -outwards  two  or 
three  inches,  ho  doubt  to  throw  rain  away  from  the  window.  At  each 
end  of  the  lintel  of  this  window,  internally  as  well  as  externally,  is  a 
small  opening  extending  a  short  distance  into  the  wall ;  these  are  pro- 
bably putlog  holes.  There  is  a  larger  opening  on  the  present  ground 
level,  one  fo^t  in  depth,  in  the  south  corner.  This  is  probably  iwt- 
aumbry  or  locker; 

.  The  south  wall  has  two  windows;  the  eastern  window  is  3  feet 
8  inches  high,  and  5  inches  across,  splayed  externally  and  internally,  and 
curiously  treated.  An  upright  course  of  slabs  on  edge  is  inserted  between 
the  splays  in  the  eastern  jamb,  forming  the  edge  of  what  in  a  glazed 


North-east  View.  ••'/;-] 

window  would  be  the  glass-line  ;  in  the  western  jamb  there  is  a  similar 
course,  which  however  is  bonded  to  the  outer  splay.  The  lintel  is  3  feet 
long.  The  western  window  of  the  south  wall  is  now  partially  blocked 
by  the  accumulation  of  earth  against  the  outside  of  the  wall.  It  is  at 
present  2  feet  7  inches  above  the  ground,  and  1  foot  4£  inches  where 
blocked.  The  inner  lintel  of  this  window  is  half  of  a  " holed"  slab: 
the  indentation  can  be  distinctly  felt  on  the  inner  edge.  East  of  this 
window  is  another  locker-like  recess. 

The  west  wall  has  a  plain  opening,  2  feet  6^  inches,  in  height,  and 
1  foot  11  inches  broad,  high  up  in  the  gable,  with  jambs  slightly  inclined. 
On  the  level  of  the  sill  of  this  window  the  wall  is  set  back  about  two 
inches.  Just  below  this  are  two  putlog  holes,  one  at  either  end  of  the 
wall.  At  a  djepth  of  1  foot  7£  inches  below  the  set-off  is  a  projecting 
stone  shelf,  1  foot  5  inches  broad  at  the  wall  end,  and  tapering  out- 
wards ;  it  is  two  inches  deep,  and  projects  eleven  inches. ,  It  could  hardlv 
have  been  required  for  any  ritual  object  at  the  west  end,  and  there- 
fore was  probably  intended  simply  as  a  support  for  a  light l- 

1  These  being  above  the  level  at  which  the  plan  is  taken,  are  not  shown  in  it. 


BALLYWIHEEN    CHURCH,  COUNTY   KERRY.  17 

Besides  the  doorway  already  described,  there  is  a  window  at  the 
eastern  end  of  the  north  wall,  splayed  internally,  resembling  the  east 
lancet  in  all  particulars  except  in  its  inferior  size  and  in  the  absence  of 
the  projecting  lintel.  There  is  another  aumbry  or  locker  at  the  west 
•end. 

The  roof  was  probably  of  a  simple  coupled  rafter  construction  ;  the 
only  indications  of  its  nature  being  the  setting-ofC  of  the  gables  for  the 
reception  of  the  timbers.  The  roof  was  probably  covered  with  thatch. 
There  would  be  a  much  greater  quantity  of  debris  scattered  about 
had  any  more  durable  material  been  used.  The  pitch  is  unusually  low. 

The  overall  dimensions  of  the  church  are  : — Length,  37  feet  8  inches  ; 
breadth,  14  feet  3  inches.  Thickness  of  walls  average  2  feet  10  inches. 


Ground  Plan  of  Church. 

The  ground  has  been  raised  considerably  by  frequent  interments  both 
within  and  (on  the  south  and  west)  without  the  church.  The  present 
doorway  is  only  3  feet  8  inches  high,  and  the  sills  of  all  the  windows, 
•except  the  western,  and  the  eastern  (on  the  outside)  are  at  or  below  the 
level  of  the  ground.  The  doorway  cannot  be  compared  with  that  of 
Teampull  Geal,  as  evidence  that  its  present  diminutive  height  was  inten- 
tional ;  the  latter  (whose  doorway  measures  3  feet  2  inches  by  1  foot 
S  inches  only,  and  never  was  any  larger)  is  essentially  an  oratory  for  a 
single  ecclesiastic,  not  improbably  a  missionary.  The  church,  however, 
is  the  place  of  worship  of  a  settled  Christian  community,  and  a  door  less 
than  6  feet  high  would  have  been  most  inconvenient. 

Lying  on  the  sill  of  the  east  window  inside  are  two  stone  objects 
worthy  of  notice.  One  of  these  resembles  a  nether  quern  stone,  much 
injured;  it  is  13  inches  in  diameter.  The  other  is  a  circular  bowl, 
10  inches  deep  and  14  inches  in  external  diameter;  the  bottom  is 
rounded,  and  in  the  centre  is  drilled  a  hole  2  inches  in  diameter. 

JOUR.  U. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  I.,   5XH  SER.  C 


18 


ROYAL   SOCIETY   OP   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


The  two  fit  together  to  form  a  font,'  or  stoup,  as  represented  in  the- 
figure.  A  rough  sketch  of  it  is  given  in  Brash's  ^Ecclesiastical  Archi- 
tecture," which,  however,  contains  no  notice  of  the  church.  ';  -: 

There  are  two  stones'  of  interest  in  the  graveyard,  both  set  up  tc~ 

mark  modern  graves.     One  of 

these  bears 

cross    with 

The  other 


a    simple    incised 
expanding    ends* 
is   of  a   kind  new 
to  me  ;  it  is  the  lower  part  rqf 
a   slab   which   seems  to   have- 
been,  at  some  recent  time,  per- 
•f orated  along  the  line  of  f  racf- 
ture  with  three  circular  holes  * 
from   the    central    perforation* 
depends    a    JL-shaped     groove 
(see  illustration  below).     It  ifr. 
Section  of  Font.  possible    that   when    complete- 

the  stone  bore  a  cross  potent^ 

though  in  Du  ISToyer's  sketch  this  does  not  appear.     In  the  annexed 
figure;  the  portion  seen  by  Du  Noyer,  but  now  gone,  is  dotted  in. 

It!  is  noteworthy  that  in  almost  every  one  of  the  numerous  putlog 
holes  and  apparent  aumbries  in  the  church  wall  a  skull  or  a  portion 
of  one  has  been  inserted. 

A  man  who  assisted  me  in  measuring  told  me  that-  very  few  are- 
buried  in  this  church  who  are  not  McDonnells.  This  may  be  taken  for 
what  it  is  worth ;  the  only  inscribed  tombstone  is  to  the  memory  of  a 
Kennedy  (dated  1869).  From  another  helper  I  learned  that  the  church- 
yard is  haunted  by  fairies,  . ...  ,  , 

In  seeking  to  estimate  the  date  of  this 
church,  we  ;must  take  into  account  its 
remote  positio.n  :and  its  Delation  to  other 
buildings  in  the  neighbourhood.  ;  JQlmal- 
Ijedar  gives  us  a  ;  minor  limit,  for  it  is 
most  distinctly  earlier  than  .that  beautiful 
church :  the  lavish  wealth  of  ornamenta- 
tion, as  well  as  the  arcuated  construction, 
being  entirely  absent  from  Ballywiheen. 
TJnfortunately  Caher(|uin  church,  a  mile 
and  a  thirjd  to ; the  north  from  Ballywiheen, 
is  too  much  of  a  ruin  to  give  any  :reli-  ^HUu'n^  ; 

able   indication  of  date  ;    but  the  careful 

masonry,  and  the  clear  division  of  chancel  Stonb  Cross,  fracture^.      ' 

ffom  nave,  show  that  it  tools  .probably  J  :      , -'..i 

much  later,  and  I  am  incline*!  to  tjiink  it  later  than  the  English  annex^i 
#on.     On  the  other;  bandit  is  certainly;  later  than  the  oratories  of  the 


BALLY WIHEEN    CHURCHr    COUNTY   KERRY.    -  19 

Gallerus  and  Teampull  Geal  type,  if  we  read  history  aright  from  the 
evidence  yielded  by  its  larger  size;  and  on  the  whole  we  may  thus 
regard  the  date  as  placed  between,  say  A.D.  850  and  1000,  unless  the  church 
has  been  rebuilt  at  some  later  date  in  the  original  style.  The  only  other 
building  in  the  district,  known  to  me,  comparable  with  this  is  Teampull 
Beag — a  little  church  on  the  outskirts  of  the  ruins  of  the  ancient  so-called 
city  of  Fahan.  This  building  I  have  not  personally  visited,  but  I  am 
indebted  to  my  friend  Mr.  J.  Curran  of  Yentry,  for  a  careful  ground  plan 
and  other  particulars.  .Prom  these  I  gather  that  the  plan  is  rect- 
angular, the  door  is  at  the  centre  of  .the  south  wall,  there  .are  three 
windows,  splayed  internally  (two  in  the  south  and  one  in  the  east  wall), 
and,. as  at  Ballywiheen,  a  considerable  number  of  locker-like  openings 
in  the  wall.  The  graveyard  contains  a  cross-inscribed  stone. 

The  building  described  in  the  foregoing  Paper  is  really  in  Bally- 
neanig  Church  Quarter ;  the  graveyard  wall  forms  part  of  the  townland 
boundary.  But  as  it  is  generally  known  in  the  neighbourhood  as 
Bally  wiheen  Church,  I  have  thought  it  inadvisable  to  disturb  the 
nomenclature.  • 


NOTE    ADDED    IN    THE    PttESS. 

Since  this  Paper  was  sent  to  press,  I  have  received  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Curran,  whose  ready  helpfulness  I  gratefully  acknowledge.  From 
this  letter  I  extract  the  following  additional  particulars  about  the 
church  : — 

"  At  one  time  long  ago  there  were  two  brothers,  one  of  whom  lived 
at  Ballywiheen,  and  the  other  at  Ballyneanig.  There  were  scarcely  any 
fences  at  that  time,  and  the  Ballywiheen  man,  who  was  more  honest  and 
religious  than  his  brother,  had  often  to  complain  of  trespass,  and  especi- 
ally of  the  desecration  of  the  graveyard  by  his  brother's  cattle  and  pigs. 
At  length,  in  order  to  relieve  himself  from  any  responsibility  in  this 
matter,  he  built  a  boundary  wall  between  the  two  properties,  and  set  it 
out  in  such  a  course  as  left  the  churchyard  entirely  on  his  brother's 
land.  This  explains  why  the  church  is  known  by  the  name  of  the 
wrong  townland. 

"  There  is  a  legend  about  Mo-Laga's  well  which  runs  thus  (my  in- 
formant heard  it  from  his  father,  in  whose  boyhood  the  event  was  said 
to  take  place) : — '  There  was  a  marriage  at  Ballywiheen.  The  priest  in 
those  times  performed  the  rites  in  the  house,  where  the  festivities  were 
held,  and  often  stayed  with  the  guests  for  a  good  part  of  the  night.  In 
the  course  of  the  evening  the  cook,  in  great  alarm,  informed  the  man  of 
the  house  that  the  pot  of  water — which  ought  by  that  time  to  have  been 

C2 


20         ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

fully  boiled — was  as  cold  as  when  she  hung  it  over  the  fire.  When  the 
priest  learned  the  cause  of  the  alarm,  he  asked  where  the  water  had  heen 
obtained.  They  told  him  that  it  was  from  the  holy  well,  as  that  was  the 
best  water  in  the  place.  He  bade  them  lift  tho  cover  and  bring  a  light : 
when  this  was  done  a  trout  was  seen  swimming  about  in  the  pot.  The 
priest  directed  them  to  replace  the  trout  in  the  well,  and  after  they 
obeyed  the  water  boiled  properly.' 

"I  tried  to  find  whether  anyone  ever  saw  or  heard  of  the  church 
being  roofed,  but  those  whom  I  have  consulted  never  heard  the  old 
people  say  anything  of  the  kind. 

"The  church  is  dedicated  to  St.  Fionan.  A  less  reliable  story  I 
heard  from  another  man  ascribes  it  to  St.  Peter.  The  townlnnd  takes 
its  name  from  St.  Baethin." 

I  have  seen  Teampull  Beag,  at  Fahan,  since  the  above  was  written, 
and  a  full  account  is  included  in  a  survey  of  the  "  City  of  Fahan," 
recently  read  before  the  Royal  Irish  Academy.  It  is  smaller  and  ruder 
than  Ballywiheen,  but  bears  a  striking  resemblance  to  it. 


STILLORGAN  PARK  AND  ITS  HISTORY. 
BY  FRANCIS  ELRINGTON  BALL,  M.R.I.A. 

[Read  SEPTEMBER  28th,   1897.] 

A  STKANGER  would  little  think  to-day  on  seeing  Stillorgan  Park  for 
•^^  the  first  time,  intersected  as  it  is  by  public  roads,  and  dotted  over 
with  villas  either  completed  or  in  course  of  erection,  that  it  had  once 
been  the  site  of  a  large  and  handsome  mansion,  the  home  of  distinguished 
statesmen  and  politicians.  Still  less  would  he  imagine,  looking  at  the 
places  by  which  it  is  surrounded,  that  it  had  at  one  time  formed  only 
part  of  a  demesne  of  much  greater  extent.  Yet  such  is  the  case.  Where 
Park  House,  the  residence  of  Henry  J.  Monahan,  Esq.,  now  stands,  there 
was  formerly  a  stately  dwelling,  known  as  Stillorgan  House,  the  owners 
of  which  in  the  eighteenth  century  played  no  unimportant  part  in  the 
public  affairs  of  their  time.  This  house  originally  stood  in  a  park  which 
covered  a  large  tract  of  country,  stretching  on  the  south  to  Newtown  Park- 
avenue,  on  the  east  to  Elackrock,  and  on  the  north  to  Merrion- avenue. 
Of  this  house  and  park  I  hope  to  be  able  to  tell  something,  but  I  could 
wish  their  history  had  formed  the  subject  of  a  Paper  from  the  pen  of 
Dr.  Stokes,  who  can  make  the  dry  bones  to  live,  and  who  has  already 
touched  briefly,  only  too  briefly,  upon  their  past  glories.1 

Stillorgan,  which  is  a  corruption  of  the  Irish  words,  Tigh  Lorcain  or 
the  house  of  Laurence,2  has  probably  been  the  site  of  a  human  habitation 
from  a  remote  period,  and,  as  was  proved  by  the  discovery  there,  of  an 
ancient  and  remarkable  tomb,  was  chosen,  in  very  early  times  as  the 
burying  place  of  some  great  Irish  or  Danish  chief.3  A  church,  which 
was  dedicated  to  Saint  Bridgid,  and  which  occupied  the  ground  on  which 
the  present  church  is  built,  existed  there  at  the  time  of  the  Norman 
Invasion^  and  this  church,  together  with  the  lands  of  *'  Stachlorean," 
subsequently  came  into  the  possession  of  Raymund  Carew,  one  of  the 
early  English  settlers.4 


JC    iUJlUltUk  JXU.     J.0£7i;,   y]J.    O,    «7. 

Dr.  Joyce,  suggests  ("Irish  Barnes  of  Places,"  ed.  1869,  p.  58),  that  a  church 
built  at  Stillorgan,  by  Si.  Laurence  O'Toole,  and  that  the  place  derives  its  name 


1  See  the  Journal  for  1895,  pp.  8,  9. 

I 

was  built 
from  him. 

3  This  tomb,  to  which  I  shall  again  have  occasion  to  refer,  was  discovered  on  June 
26,  1716,  in  Stillorgan  Park.     It  was  examined  by  Sir  Thomas  Molyneux,  then  the 
best  authority  on  archaeology,  as  well  as  the  most  distinguished  physician  in  Ireland. 
See  "  Dictionary  of  ^National  Biography,"  and  "  Irish  Builder  "  tor  1887,  p.  101.     He 
says,  that  the  cavity  was  only  2  feet  long,  16  inches  wide,  and  14  inches  deep.     It  was 
lined  with  four  rude  flagstones  and  covered  by  "  one  huge  massy  stone,"  that  ten  men 
could  not  lift.    In  it  were  found  the  bones  of  a  man  and  an  empty  urn.    See  Molyneux' s 
"  Discourses  concerning  the  Danish  Mounts,  Forts,  and  Towers  ot  Ireland"  ;  Dublin, 
1725,  p.  201. 

4  The  lands  of  Stillorgan  then  extended  to  the  sea,  probably  where  Blackrock 
now  stands,  and  this  portion  of  them,  called  Argotin,  Carew  gave  to  St.  Mary's  Abbey, 


22  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

During  portion  of  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  centuries  members 
of  the  Hacket  family  appear  to  have  been  tenants  of  the  lands,1  which, 
however,  prior  to  the  year  1390,  became  the  property  of  John  Cruise, 
Justice  of  Ireland.  He  was  a  magnate  of  importance  both  in  Dublin  and 
Meath,  who  distinguished  himself  in  diplomatic  as  well  as  in  military 
expeditions,  and  received  the  honour  of  knighthood  for  his  services.2 
During  his  lifetime  he  gave  the  lands  of  Stillorgan,  or  some  portion  of 
them,  to  a  certain  John  Derpatrick  and  his  wife,  who  was  probably 
Cruise's  daughter,  but  on  their  son  being  declared  an  outlaw,  the  estate 
reverted  to  the  Cruise  family.3  About  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century 
through  the  marriage  of  Sir  Thomas  Plunkett,  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's 
Bench,  to  the  only  daughter  of  Sir  Christopher  Cruise,  the  lands  and 
manor  of  Stillorgan,  for  such  it  was,  passed  to  the  Plunketts  of  Rathmore, 
from  whom  the  noble  families  of  Dunsany,  Killeen,  and  Louth  are  de- 
scended.4 Whether  the  Cruises  or  the  Plunketts  ever  resided  at  Stillorgan 

which  then  owned  the  adjoining  manor  of  Carrickbrennan.  See  Mills' s  "Norman 
Settlement  in  Leinster,"  in  the  Journal  for  1894,  p.  167,  and  Gilbert's  "  Chartuluriea 
of  St.  Mary's  Abbey,"  vol.  i.,  p.  111.  He  also  granted,  in  1216,  to  the  Priory  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  the  church,  with  the  advowson,  and  the  land  round  it  called  ' '  Athnekyl." 
The  church  was  afterwards  attached  to  the  mother  church  of  Clonkeen,  or  Kill-of- 
the- Grange.  Soon  after  the  Reformation  it  was  in  ruins  and  so  remained  until  replaced 
by  the  present  structure  in  1707.  See  Archdall's  "  Monasticon  Hibernicum,"  vol.  i., 
p.  154,  "Calendar  of  Christ  Church  Deeds,"  passim,  and  Mant's  "  History  of  the 
Church  of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  204.  There  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Represen- 
tative Body  of  the  Church  of  Ireland  a  map  "of  eight  acres  called  the  Glebe  of 
Stillorgan,  otherwise  Acrankill,"  made  in  1770.  A  house  is  marked  on  it  which  was 
then  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Peter  "Warren,  and  which  became  subsequently  the  country 
residence  of  Alderman  Nathaniel  Warren,  who  was  Lord  Mayor  of  Dublin  in  1782- 
83,  M.P.  for  Dublin,  1784-90,  and  for  Callan  from  1790  until  his  death  in  January, 
1796.  It  is  now  the  residence  of  R.  P.  White,  Esq.,  and  is  known  as  Woodview. 

1  In  the  roll  of  service  for  Michaelmas,  1295,  William  Haket  is  returned  as  paying 
1  mark  for  "  Staglorgan,"  and  Mr.  Mills  thinks  that  John  Haket,  whose  name  appears 
frequently  in  the  accounts  of  the  Priory  of  the  Holy  Trinity  from  1337  to  1346,  was 
the  tenant  of  Stillorgan.    See  Sweetman's  "  Calendar  of  Documents  relating  to  Ireland," 
1293-1301,  p.  108,  and  Mills's  "Account  Roll  of  the  Priory  of  the  Holy  Trinity," 
p.  152. 

2  He  owned  amongst  other  places  the  manors  of  Merrion  and  Thorncastle.     Besides 
filling  the  office  of  a  justice  in  eyre,   he  was  a  guardian  of  the  peace  for  Dublin  and 
Meath,   and  a  member  of  the  great  councils  and  parliaments  of  his  time.     He  was  on 
one  occasion  sent  to  England  as  a  confidential  envoy  to  communicate  with  the  govern- 
ment on  the  state  of  Ireland  :  and  took  part  in.  an  expedition  against  the  O'Tooles,  in 
which  he  was  severely  wounded.     He  died  about  1407.     See  "  Calendar  of  Patent  and 
Close  Rolls  of  Ireland"  (1828),  vol.  i.  p.  142  ;  D'Alton's  "  King  James's  Irish  Army 
List,"  pp.  567-68,  and  "  History  of  the  County  Dublin,"  pp.  26,  27,  29. 

:i  John  Derpatrick  was  killed  in  1410,  when  serving  under  the  Lord  Deputy  in  an 
expedition  against  the  O'Byrnes.  He  left  two  sons,  Robert  and  Stephen.  Robert 
married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Jacob  Uryell,  Chief  Baron  of  the  Irish  Exchequer,  and 
died  about  1420,  leaving  an  only  daughter,  Alice.  His  widow  married  secondly, 
Bartholomew  de  Bathe  of  Drunicondra,  whose  son,  by  a  previous  marriage,  Sir 
William  de  Bathe,  subsequently  married  Alice  Derpatrick.  The  lands  of  Stillorgan 
were  held  "  in  tail  male,"  and  on  the  death  of  Robert,  his  brother  Stephen,  then  a 
minor,  succeeded  to  it.  Bartholomew  de  Bathe  was  guardian  of  portion  of  the  lands 
during  the  minority,  and  William  Tynbegh  of  the  remainder.  Whitelaw  and  Walsh's 
"  History  of  Dublin,"  vol.  i.,  p.  178;  Burke's  "  Peerage  "  under  De  Bathe  ;  "Calendar 
of  Patent  and  Close  Rolls  of  Ireland"  (1828),  vol.  i.,  pp.  218,  223,  227,  233. 

4  A  romantic  story  founded  on  Sir  Thomas  Plunkett' s  marriage,  is  to  be  found  in 


STILLORGAN   PARK  AND    ITS   HISTORY.  23 

is  uncertain.  All  that  the  documents  relating  to  the  place  from  the 
twelfth  to  the  seventeenth  century  tell  us  is,  that  there  was  a  mill 
within  the  manor  and  a  wood  near  the  church  :  but  though  it  is  not  likely 
that  there  was  a  strongly  fortified  Anglo-Norman  castle  at  Stillorgan, 
such  as  existed  at  Bullock,  there  probably  was  a  less  pretentious  dwelling. 
During  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  a  lease  of  the  manor  and  lands  was 
given  by  the  Plunketts  to  Jacques  Wingfield,  the  Master  of  the  Ordnance 
in  the  Queen's  Irish  Army.  He  was  an  officer  who  discharged  his  duties 
very  far  from  efficiently,  and  at  one  period  of  his  career  he  owed  the 
retention  of  his  office  more  to  the  soundness  of  his  patent  than  to  personal 
bravery.1  He  died  in  1587,  and  the  Plunketts  then  gave  a  lease  of  the 
lands  to  a  Mr.  James  Wolverston,  who  was  living  in  the  neighbourhood 
at  "  Ballenyloor,"  now  known  as  Leopardstown.2  His  father,  Mr. 
George  Wolverston,  who  was  probably  a  cadet  of  the  ancient  English 
family  of  that  name  now  seated  in  Staffordshire,  had  resided  at  Stillorgan 
for  some  time,  and  had  been  appointed  a  Captain  of  the  O'Byrne's  country,3 
James  Wolverston  had  himself,  also,  served  in  the  army,  under  "Wingfield, 
and  he  was  probably  the  Lieutenant  Wolverston  whose  horse  was  slain 
under  him  in  action,  and  who  was  recommended  in  1592  for  favourable 
consideration  after  seventeen  years'  service.  His  Avorldly  circumstances 
prospered,  and  he  died  in  1609,  possessed  of  much  land  in  the  county 
Dublin  and  in  the  county  Wicklow,  of  herds  of  "  garrens,"  of  cows,  and 
of  swine,  of  flocks  of  sheep,  of  a  stud  of  horses  at  Glencullen,  and  of 
another  at  "  Frainestown,"  besides  great  store  of  corn,  much  household 
^tuff  and  plate.4 

-an  article  on  -'Rathmore  and  its  Traditions,"  which  appeared  in  the  Dublin  Univer- 
sity Magazine  for  September,  1854.  The  article  was  reprinted  with  appendices  and 
notes,  .in  1880,  by  the  short-lived  Meath  Antiquarian  "Society."  See  also  Lodgers 
f<  Peerage  of  Ireland,"  by  Archdall,  vol.  vi.,  p.  181. 

1  See  Bagwell's  "Ireland  under  the  Tudors,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.   24,  25,  29  ;  iii.,  pp.  61, 
72,  139,  172  ;  "  Calendar  of  State  Papers  Ireland,''  1588-92,  p.  161,  and  from  1558  to, 
1587 passim;  Lodge's  "  Peerage  of  Ireland,"  by  Archdall,  vol.  v.,  p.  267. 

2  An  inquisition,  made  in  1618,  states  that  Richard  Plunkett,  lately  of  Rathmore, 
in  the  county  Meath,  was  seized  of  the  lands  of  "  Stalorgan,"  containing  300  acres, 
-and  that  by  his  deed,  .dated  February  3,    1588,  he  had  let  the  premises  to  James 
Wolverston  for  a  term  of  seventy-seven  years,  at  a  rent  of  £4  13s.  4rf.  ."  Calendar  of. 
Irish  Inquisitions,"  vol.  i.,  Jac.   i.,  No.  36.-    For  the  history  of  Leopardstown,,  see 
Mills's  "  Norman  Settlement  in  Leinster,"  in  the  Journal  for  1894,  p.  166.  . 

3  He  was  residing  at  Stillorgan  in  the  reign  of  Mary.     Frequent  pardons  were 
extended  to  him  by  the  Crown  for  any  offences  he  might  have  committed  against  the 
rigour  of  the  law  in  his  expeditions'  against  the  Irish.     He  appears  in  the  list   of 
pensioners  in  1586,  and  made  his  nuncupative  will  in  1588.     A  William  Wolverston  of 
Stillorgan,  probably  his  brother,  is  also  joined  with  him  in  the  pardons  and  was  placed 
on  the  list  of  impotent  soldiers  in  1575.     See  "  Calendar  of  Fiants,"  Philip  and  Mary; 
187  ;  Elizabeth,  582,  660,  1162,  1739;   "  Calendar  of  State  Papers,"  Carew,  1575-88; 
p.  86;   Ireland,  1586-88,  p.  41;  Dublin  Consistorial  Will. 

4  He  mentions  in  his  will,  besides  the  farm  and  town  of  Stillorgan,  the  lands  of 
Newtown,  and  of  Glencullen,  in  the  county  Dublin,  and  the  lands  of  Bray,  Kilpoole,1 
Monckland,  and  Frainestowji,  in  the  county  Wickl.ow.     He,  "had  to  .wife  '.'  Margaret 
(who  died  April  12,  1620),  daughter  of  Richard  Archbold  of  Kilmacud,  and  left  four 
sons,  William  who  succeeded  him  at  Stillorgan,  Robert  who  settled  at  ^Rathbran  itt 


24  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

James  Wolverston's  eldest  son,  Mr.  William  Wolverston,  succeeded 
to  the  lands  of  Stillorgan,  and  we  find  him  residing  there  in  1641,  when 
the  great  rebellion  broke  out.  The  Wolverstons  had  intermarried  with 
the  Irish  and  with  the  early  English  settlers,  and  although  regard  for 
his  life  and  property  may  have  prevented  Mr.  Wolverston  taking  an 
active  part  with  the  rebels,  his  sympathies  were  with  them  none  the- 
less.  Thus,  when  in  that  awful  winter  his  neighbours  seized  the  wife  of 
the  curate  of  Kill-of-the-Grange,  and  brought  her  to  his  house,  although 
he  commanded  them  not  to  hang  her  on  his  land,  he  did  not  take  any 
steps  to  prevent  them  carrying  their  threats  into  execution  some  miles 
off  near  Powerscourt.1  His  eldest  son,  who  had  married  a  daughter  of  the 
reigning  Kavanagh  of  Eorris,  died  before  him,  and  on  Mr.  Wolverston's 
death  in  1 644,  his  estates  passed  to  his  grandson,  then  a  minor,  residing 
with  his  mother  at  "  Ballenyloor."  2 

Whatever  question  there  may  be  as  to  the  existence  of  a  castle 
on  the  lands  of  Stillorgan  prior  to  the  Wolverstons'  occupation  of 
them,  there  is  no  doubt  that  in  their  time  a  dwelling,  larger  than  any 
in  the  adjacent  country,  with  the  exception  of  Monkstown  Castle, 
was  to  be  found  there.  It  stood,  with  its  extensive  slated  out-offices, 
in  the  midst  of  a  garden,  while  a  little  way  off  an  orchard  and  grove  of 
ash  trees  concealed  from  view  the  mill  which  was  still  in  good  working 
order,  on  the  river,3 

During  the  minority  of  Mr.  Wolverston's  grandson,  the  Marquis  of 
Ormonde,  then  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  was  appointed  by  the  Crown 
guardian  of  the  Wolverston  property,  but  occupied  as  the  Marquis  was 
at  that  time  with  the  unhappy  affairs  of  his  royal  master,  Stillorgan  can 
hardly  have  received  any  attention  from  him.  Probably  the  castle  and 
lands  were  derelict  when  seized  by  a  certain  Henry  Jones,  whom  we  find 

the  coiinty  Wicklow,  find  died  in  ]630,  directing  his  bod;/  to  be  buried  in  Baltinglass- 
Church,  Christopher,  of  Newtown,  and  of  the  Kill  farm,  in  the  county  Dublin,  and  John, 
of  Newcastle,  in  the  county  Wicklow,  who  died  in  1633,  directing  his  body  to  be 
buried  at  Stillorgan.  He  died  September  9th,  1609,  and  was  buried  in  the  churchyard 
of  Stillorgan.  See  "  Calendar  of  Fiants,"  Elizabeth,  3406,  4796  ;  "  Calendar  of  State- 
Papers,  Ireland,"  1588-92,  p.  325  ;  1592-96,  p.  15,  1603-6,  p.  168  ;  Funeral  Entries 
in  Ulster's  Office  ;  Prerogative  and  Dublin  Consistorial  Wills. 

1  Hickson's  "Ireland  in  the    Seventeenth  Century,"  vol.   ii.,  p.   26;  Borlase's- 
"  Irish  Rebel! ion"  (London,  1680;  App.  p.  114). 

2  William  Wolvertun  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Robert  Barnewell  of  Shankill, 
by  his  wife  Anne,   daughter  of  Richard  Walsh,  of  Carrickmines.      His  eldest  son 
George,  who  resided  at  "Ballenyloor,"  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Murrough  mac  Biien 
Kavanagh  of  Borris,  by  his  wife  Elinor,  daughter  *of  Edward  Viscount  Mountgarretr 
and  dying  June  26,  1634,  was  buried  at  Stillorgan.      He  left  an  only  son  James  and 
seven  daughters.     William  Wolverston  had  also  other  sons,  Humphrey  of  Stillorgan,. 
John  of  Newcastle  and   of  Newtown  (who  had   a  son  Francis,   who  attended  the- 
assembly  of  confederates   at  Kilkenny  in    1647,  and   died  at   Dalkey  in  1681),  and 
Thomas  of  Brennanstown,  who  married  Katharine,  daughter  of  John  Sarsfield  of  Lucanr 
and  widow  of  William  Rochfort  of  Brennanstown.     See  "  Funeral  Entries  "  in  Ulster's 
Office;  Prerogative  and  Dublin  Consistorial  Wills  ;  D'Alton's  "King  James's  Irish 
Army  List,"  p.  295. 

3  See  Lodge's    "Desiderata    Curiosa   Hibernica,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  541;  Maps  of  the 
Down  Survey,  and  Hearth  Returns  in  the  Irish  Public  Record  Office. 


STILLORGAN    PARK   AND   ITS   HISTORY.  25 

occupying  them  under  the  protectorate.  Soon  after  the  restoration  Jones 
was  arrested  on  suspicion  of  being  concerned  in  a  plot  to  restore  the 
Commonwealth,  but  his  arrest  only  anticipated  his  eviction  from  Still- 
organ,  as  Mr.  Wolverston's  grandson  had  obtained  a  Decree  of  Innocency 
from  the  Commissioners  under  the  Act  of  Settlement,  who,  fortunately  for 
him,  held  that  his  grandfather  had  always  lived  inoffensively,  and  ordered 
that  the  "Wolverston  estates  should  be  restored  to  him.1  His  mother, 
during  the  Commonwealth,  had  got  into  serious  trouble  with  the  authori- 
ties for  harbouring  on  her  premises  at  "  Ballenyloor,"  a  girl,  who  was 
afterwards  sentenced  to  be  hanged,  and  she  was  ordered  off  to  Con- 
naught  in  the  general  order  for  transplantation,  but  whether  she 
managed  to  evade  the  order  altogether,  or  whether  her  son  accom- 
panied her,  I  have  been  unable  to  ascertain.2  He  lived  for  only  three 
years  after  the  recovery  of  his  property  and  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
six  years,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  children.  His  widow,  who  was  a 
sister  of  the  tenth  Lord  Dunsany,  married,  soon  after  Wolverston's  death, 
Mr.  Bryaii  O'Neill,  of  Upper  Claneboys,  who  succeeds!  to  the  baronetcy 
which  had  been  conferred  upon  his  father  by  Charles  I.,  in  consideration 
of  his  gallant  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Edge  Hill,  and  who  was  appointed 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  Court  of  King's  Bench  in  Ireland  by  James  II.3 
The  O'Neills  appear  to  have  resided  at  Stillorgan  for  some  time,4  but 
about  the  year  1680  they  sold  the  estate  to  Sir  Joshua  Allen  of  Dublin, 
from  whom  the  present  proprietor,  the  Earl  of  Carysfort,  is  descended  in 
the  female  line.5  Sir  Joshua  Allen  was  the  eldest  son  of  a  Mr.  John 
Allen,  whose  ancestors,  originally  of  English  extraction,  had  settled  in 
Holland,  and  who  came  over  from  that  country  to  Dublin  at  the  close  of 
Elizabeth's  reign.  John  Allen  in  his  will  modestly  describes  himself  as 
a  bricklayer,  but  he  was  really  a  master  builder,  and  Lodge  quaintly 
tells  us  that  "  being  very  handsome  in  his  person  and  of  great  skill  in 

1  The  property  in  the  county  Dublin,  to  which  James  Wolvertton  proved  his 
title,  included,  beside  the  manor,  castle,  town,  and  lands  of  Stillorgan,  the  lands  of 
Newtown,  of  Leopardstown,  of  Ballycorus  and  of  Callary,  a  chief  rent  from  Kilma- 
cud,  a  castle  and  several  tenements  in  Little  Bray,  Hackett's  land  near  Shanganagh, 
land  and  tenements  in  Dalkey,  and  land  in  Roebuck.  See  "  Roll  of  Innocents," 
iv.  17,  in  Irish  Public  Record  Office,  and  "  Calendar  of  Ormonde  Papers,"  in  "  8th 
Report  of  Historical  Manuscript  Commission,"  App.,  pp.  502,  512,  541. 

-  See  Loftus's  "  Court  Martial  Book  "  in  Marsh's  Library  ;  Prendergast's  u  Crom- 
wellian  Settlement  of  Ireland,"  p.  xx. 

3  The  baronetcy  is  presumed  to  be  extinct,  but  a  lineal  descendant  of  Sir  Bryan 
O'Neill  is  stated  to  have  heen  living,  in  1865,  in  a  miserable  backroom  in  Cook-street, 
Dublin,  in  absolute  indigence  and  destitution,  and  another  man,  who  claimed  to  be  a 
descendant,  was  employed;  about  1820,  in  a  small  inn  near  Duleek,  as  "  boots  and 
ostler."  See  Madden's  "History  of  Irish  Periodical  Literature,"  vol.  ii.,  p. 
61;  Burke's  "  Extinct  Baronetcies  "  under  O'Neill  of  Upper  Claneboys;  Lodge's 
"  Peerage  of  Ireland,"  by  Archdall,  vol.  vi.,  p.  211  ;  Prerogative  Will  of  Lady  Mary 
O'Neill. 

*  See  "  County  Dublin  Subsidy  Rolls  "  in  Irish  Public  Record  Office. 

3  In  1684,  Sir  Joshua  Allen  disclaimed  all  intention  of  passing  letters  patent  for 
the  church  land  of  Stillorgan,  and  ]  conclude  he  was  in  possession  of  Stillorgan  Park 
prior  to  that  time.  See  "  Calendar  of  Christ  Church  Deeds,"  467. 


26  RO YAL   SOCIETY  G J*  ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

Architecture,  he  was  much  esteemed  and  consulted  by  the  most  eminent 
bf  the  nobility  and  gentry  in  their  buildings,  particularly  by  the  Earl 
of  Stratford,  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  in  his  large  intended  edifice  near 
Naas."  He  died  in  1 64  I,  enjoining  his  wife  to  be  a  loving  careful  mother 
to  his  children,  and  to  bring  them  up  "  in  the  fear  of  God,  in  the  Protes- 
tant religion  then  established."  l  His  son  Joshua  was  a  man  of  great 
mercantile  ability ;  he  soon  acquired  an  ample  fortune  and  took  a  leading 
place  among  the  citizens.  He  was  elected  successively  Sheriff,  Alderman, 
and  Mayor  of  Dublin,  and  during  his  tenure  of  the  latter  office,  probably 
when  presenting  the  freedom  of  the  city  in  a  gold  box  to  the  Earl  of 
Essex,  he  received  the  honour  of  Knighthood.2  Sir  Joshua,  Lord  Claren- 
don says,  was  as  wise  a  man  as  you  could  meet  with  of  his  profession, 
and  of  as  clear  a  reputation  as  anyone  in  this  kingdom,  and  soon  after 
James  II.  had  ascended  the  throne,  he  foresaw  the  coming  troubles,  and 
though  then  extensively  engaged  in  business,  began  to  entertain  some 
idea  of  removing  to  England.  Clarendon,  after  his  recall  from  the  Lord 
Lieutenancy,  before  he  set  sail,  sent  for  Allen  amongst  others,  and  in 
words,  which  cannot  have  had  the  ring  of  sincerity,  assured  them  that  so 
long  as  they  continued  dutiful  to  the  King  he  would  be  gracious  to  them, 
and  begged  them  to  lay  aside  gloomy  apprehension,  and  not  to  think 
of  leaving  Ireland.  In  spite  of  these  fair  words,  Allen  sought  refuge 
in  Chester,  where  we  find  him  in  1689,  acting  as  Vhomme  d>  affaire  in 
shipping  off  William's  forces.  He  came  back  to  Dublin  after  the  Battle 
of  the  Boyne,  but  did  not  live  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  that  victory,  as 
his  death  took  place  within  twelve  months  from  his  return.3 

1  Swift,  in  a  satire  on  Allen's  descendants,  says  that  John  Allen's  name  was  to  be 
found  cut  on  one  of  the  chimney  stacks  of  Howth  Castle.     Faulkner's  "  Works  of 
Swift,"  vol.  xi.,  p.  284. 

2  Sir  Joshua's  name  appears  frequently  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Corporation  in 
his  time.     While  making  improvements  in  his  father's  house,  which  was  situated  at 
Mullinahac,  where  Power's  distillery  now  stands,  and  which  adjoined  the  city  wall, 
he  had  the  misfortune  to  bring  a  large  portion  of  the  wall  to  the  ground  by  removing 
some  rubbish,  and  had  to  pay  a  large  sum  towards  the  rebuilding  of  it.     Then  we  find 
him  repaid  on  several  occasions  for  French  wine,  "rackt,"  which  he  supplied  to  be 
run  out  at  the  High  Pipe,  the  Castle  gate,  and  the  Tholsel ;  for  no  fear  of  a  govern-, 
ment  audit  then  restrained  the  expenditure  of  the  city  fathers,  and  on  high  festivals, 
such  as  the  birthday  and  coronation-day  of  King  Charles,  they  provided  claret  for  the 
populace  whose  taste   in  spirituous  liquors  has  sadly  degenerated  in  modern  times. 
We  also  find  him  acting  as  treasurer  of  a  fund  to  provide  "  tuneable  rings  of  large  bells, 
and  two  faire  audible  clocks  and  chimes  "  for  the  two  cathedrals,  and  as  treasurer  of 
an  assessment  to  build  a  new  stone  bridge.     "Irish  Builder"  for   1887,  p.    115; 
Gilbert's  "  Calendar  of  Ancient  Records  of  Dublin,"  vols.  iv.  and  v.,  passim. 

3  He  died  on   July  8,   1691,  and  was    buried  in    St.   Catherine's   Church.     He 
married  Mary  (who  died  September  4,  1709,  and  was  buried  in  St.  James's  Church), 
daughter  of  John  Wybrow  of  Chester,  by  whom  he  had  fifteen  children,  of  whom  only 
four  survived ;  a  son,  John,  who  succeeded  him,  and  three  daughters,  Elizabeth,  who 
married  Anthony  Sheppard,  M.P.  for  the  county  Longford,  Elinor,  who  married  in 
1700,  Henry  Westenra,  an  ancestor  of  the  Lords  Eossmore,  and  Mary,  who  married' 
Joshua  Cooper,  an  ancestor  of  the  Coopers  of  Markree.     See  "Lodge's  Peerage  of 
Jreland"   by  Archdall,  vol.  v.,    p.    181;  "The   State   Letters   of  Henry,'  Earl   of 
Clarendon"   (Oxon.,   1763),  vol.  i.,  pp.   156-454;   "  Diary,"  p.   13;   "Calendar  of 
State  Papers  of  William  and  Mary,"  1689-90,  passim. 


STILLORGAN  PARlt  AND  -ITS  HISTORY.'  2T 

Sir  Joshua  was  succeeded  by  his  only  surviving  son,  John  Allen,  who 
had  served  as  a  captain  in  King  William's'  army.  He  was  a  man  of  no 
ordinary  type  of  character,  and  displayed  through  life  a  rigid  adheren'ce 
to  the  principles  which  had  actuated  his  conduct  in  early  days.  Having 
regained  possession  of  the  Stillorgan  estate,  which  had  been  confiscated 
by  James,  Colonel  Allen,  as  he  had  become,  took  up  his  residence  there 
and  soon  was  recognised  as  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  county,  1'or 
which  he  was  returned  to  Parliament  as  Knight  of  the  Shire.  He  now 
became  immersed  in  politics.  For  twenty -five  years  he  occupied  a  sent 
in  the  Irish  House  of  Commons,  during  three  Parliaments  as  member 
for  the  Metropolitan  County,  during  one  as  member  for  the  county  of 
Carlow,  and  during  another  as  member  for  the  county  of  Wicklow.  He 
largely  increased  his  father's  .property  by  the  purchase  of  the  Arklow 
estate,  and  of  lauds  at  Bullock  and  at  Dalkey,  now  owned  by  Lord 
Carysfort.1  Besides  the  influence  derived  from  his  territorial  possessions 
he  had  formed  an  alliance  with  one  of  the  most  powerful  families  of  the 
day  by  his  marriage  to  the  sister  of  Robert,  nineteenth  Earl  of  Kildare, 
and  we  find  his  illustrious  brother-in-law  staying  with  Allen  at  Stillorgan 
when  appointed  one  of  the  Lords  Justices  on  the  accession  of  George  I.* 
Allen  had  strenuously  exerted  himself  to  secure  in  Ireland  the  peaceful 
succession  of  the  House  of  Hanover.  He  had  been  one  of  the  principal 
witnesses  against  the  Kev.  Francis  Higgins,  who  has  been  called  the 
"Irish  Sacheverel,"3  and  steadfastly  set  his  face  against  the  Jacobite 
tendencies  of  the_Q,ueen's.jninisters. ..,.  At.  the  -General  -Election-  of  1713 
he  had  used  his  wealth  and  influence  to  secure  the  return  to  Parliament 
of  members  sharing  his  own  views.  His  eldest  son  had  then  been 
elected  for  the  county  of  Kildare,  and  his  second  son  for  the  Borough  of 
Carysfort,  while  by  the  return  in  1715  of  his  youngest  son  for  the 
borough  of  Athy,  the  extraordinary  spectacle  was  witnessed  of  a  father 
and  three  sons  all  sitting  at  the  same  time  in  Parliament,  and  which 

1  He  purchased  in  1714  from  the  Duke  of  Ormonde  part  of  the  town  and  lands  of 
Arklow,   containing  8528  acres.     And  in  1703  he  had  bought  from  the  trustees  of 
Fori'eited  Estates,  for  £151,  19  acres  in  Dalkey,  with  four  castles  and  several  cabins 
thereon,  the  estate  of  the  late  King  James,   and  for  £1750  the  town  and  lands  of 
Bullock,  containing  209A.   3u.  24p.,  the  estate  of  Richard  Fagan,  attainted.     He  had 
inherited  from  his  father  property  in  the  county  Kildare,  and  a  mortgage  on  the  manor 
of  Rathvilly  in  the  county  Carlow.     In  1708  he  was  involved  in  no  less  than  nvi-  <.r 
six  lawsuits  with  regard  to  Rathvilly.     Archbishop  King,  as  a  friend  of  the  persons 
concerned,  tried  to  effect  a  settlement,  and  in  his  correspondence  there  is  a  letter  to  Sir 
Richard  Cox,  before  whom,  as  Lord  Chancellor,  the  matter  had  come,  and  another  to 
Colonel  Allen  himself,'  whom  the  Archbishop  had  "  rid  down  "  to  see  at  Stillorgan,  but 
whom  he  had  found  to  be  in  the  county  Carlow,  with  regard  to  the  terms  of  a  com- 
promise.    See  Lodge's   "Peerage  of  Ireland  "  by  Archdall,"  vol.   v.,  pp.  182,183; 
15th  Report  of  the  Commissioners  of  Public  Records  in  Ireland,  1821-28,  p.  356  ; 
"Archbishop  King's  Correspondence  "  in  T.  C.  D.  Library. 

2  Mant's  "  History  of  the  Church  of  Ireland/'  vol.  ii'.,  p.  227. 

3  See  "Account  of  the  Trial  of  the  Rev.  Francis  Higgins 'r  (London,-  1712), -also- 
notice  of  him  by  the   Rev.    William    Reynell,  -B.L>.,  M.H.I.A.,   in  "  Dictionaiy  of 
National  Biography."         ;  .''•''" 


28  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

was  even  more  remarkable,  all  returned  without  opposition.  A  Privy 
Councillorship  was  Allen's  immediate  reward,  and  three  years  later 
a  peerage  was  conferred  upon  him  as  Baron  Allen  of  Stillorgan  and 
Viscount  Allen  of  Kildare.1 

It  was  by  him,  immediately  after  he  came  into  possession  of  the 
Stillorgan  estate,  and  probably  on  the  site  of,  or  near  to,  the  Wolver- 
tons'  castle,  that  the  house  of  which  the  remains  have  only  disap- 
peared within  the  last  twenty  years,  was  erected.  It  was,  as  Dr.  Stok(  s- 
tells  us,  built  in  a  style  much  in  vogue  in  the  early  part  of  the  la^t 
century,  with  wings,  containing  on  one  side  a  miniature  theatre  and  on 
the  other  the  stables,  and  enclosing  in  the  centre  a  large  courtyard.2 
Mrs.  Delany,  in  describing  a  visit  she  paid  to  Stillorgan  compares  the 
house  in  appearance  to  one  made  of  cards. 

The  gardens,  which  were  so  extensive  as  to  c6ver  thirteen  acres, 
were  laid  out  in  the  old  fashioned  style,  probably  by  an  Englishman 
called  Bullein,  who  was  the  principal  rural  artist  in  Ireland  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Anne.  They  abounded  in  straight  avenues  and  alleys  with  curious 
edgings  of  box,  carefully  clipped  yew-trees,  knots  of  flowers,  topiary 
work,  and  grassy  slopes,  and  possibly  there  may  have  been,  as  in  Bullein's 
nursery,  the  representation  of  a  boar  hunt,  or  a  hare  chase,  cut  out  in  box. 
Everything  was  made  on  a  strictly  rectangular  line,  even  to  the  artificial 
fish-ponds,  with  three  of  which  the  pleasure-grounds  were  furnished. 
Though  rapidly  being  filled  with  rubbish,  two  of  these  are  still  to  be  seen. 

1  He  was  born  in  Dublin  on  February   13,  1661,   and  baptized  in   St.  Kevin's 
Churcb  eight  days  later.    Having  been  educated  under  a  Mr.  Ryder,  he  entered  Trinity 
College  as  a  fellow  commoner  in  1677,  and  was  in  1692  admitted  B.A.  speciali  gratia, 
on  being  returned  to  Parliament.     He  represented  the  county  Dublin,  1692-95,  1703— 
13,  1715-17,  tbe  county  Carlow,  1695-1703,  and  the  county  Wicklow,  1713-15.     He 
was  sworn  a  Privy  Councillor,  October  9,   1714,  and  was  raised  to  tbe  Peerage  on 
August  '28,  1717.    He  died  in  London  on  Novembers,  1726,  and  his  body  was  brought 
into  Ireland,  and  inierred  in  St.  James's  Cburch,  Dublin.    He  married  in  1684  Mary, 
eldest  daughter  of  Robert  Fitzgerald,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1692,  leaving  three  sons, 
Josbua,  Hobert,  and  Ricbard.     Of  Joshua,  who  succeeded  him,  we  shall  see  later  on. 
Robert  was  born  in  1687,  and  having  been  educated  under  a  Dr.  Jones,  entered 
Trinity  College  in  1704.     He  was  M.P.  for  Carysfort  from  1713  to  1715,  and  for  the 
county  "Wirklow  from  1715  until  his  death.     In  1736  be  was  appointed  Secretary  to 
the  Commissioners  of  the  Revenue  and  died  in  York- street  on  December  16,  1741. 
He  married  in  1707  Fiances,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Baron  Johnson,  and  had  two  sons, 
who  died  unmarried,  and  three  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Robert  Boswell  of 
Bally  curry,   county  "Wicklow,  and  another,  "a  lady  of  very  great  beauty,"  "William 
Paul  "Warren,  of  Grangebegg,  county  Kildare.     Richard  was  bom  in  1691.     He  sat 
for  Athy  from  1715  to  1727,  and  for  the  county  Kildare  from  1727  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  at  his  seat  at  Crunilin,  on  April  14,  1745.     In  an  announcement  of 
his  death  in  the  Dublin  Journal,  he  is  stated  to  have  been  "a  gentleman  of  the 
strictest  honour,  justice,  and  humanity,  and  a  sincere  friend  to  the  interests  of  true 
liberty  and  his  country."  He  married  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Major  Greene  of  Kilhighy, 
county  Tipperary,  and  had  two  sons,  both  of  whom  succeeded  successively  to  the  Allen 
titles,' and  one  daughter.     See  Lodge's  "Peerage  of  Ireland,"  by  Archdall,  vol.  v., 
p.  183  ;  "  Pue's  Occurrences  "  ;  "  Faulkner's  Dublin  Journal "  ;  Matriculation  Books, 
T.  C.D.,&c. 

2  See  Dr.  Stokes's  Paper  on  "  The  Antiquities  from  Kingstown  to  Dublin,"  in 
the  Journal  for  1895,  p.  9,  for  a  description  and  picture  of  the  house. 


STILLORGAN   PARK   AND   ITS    HISTORY.  29 

These  lay  to  the  south  of  the  house,  on  the  other  side  of  an  eminence  in 
the  undulating  surface  of  the  park,  and  the  approach  to  them  was  by  means 
of  a  curious  passage  and  tunnel,  now  amongst  the  few  remaining  relics 
of  the  residence  of  the  Aliens,  cut  through  the  mound.  The  walls  of 
the  passage  and  tunnel  are  built  of  red  brick,  and  were  evidently  decorated 
with  niches,  tablets,  and  sculptured  figures,  apparently  designed  on  some 
classic  model. 

It  was  probably  here,  when  making  the  necessary  excavations  for 
this  structure,  that  the  tomb  which  I  have  mentioned,  and  which  was 
found  in  1716,  was  discovered.  The  ground  now  occupied  by  Obelisk 
Park,  Carysfort  House,  and  Newtown  Park  Village,  then  formed  an 
extensive  deer-park,  the  wall  of  which  is  still  to  be  seen  stretching 
behind  the  first-named  place.1  The  Stillorgan  venison  was  famous,  and 
the  Aliens  were  so  generously  disposed  that  even  the  great  Archbishop 
King  did  not  hesitate  to  apply  to  them  for  the  side  of  "  a  barren  doe  " 
when  about  to  entertain  his  friends  on  the  occasion  of  the  annual  visita- 
tion of  Marsh's  Library.2 

Joshua,  the  second  Yiscount  Allen,  succeeded  to  Stillorgan  on  the 
death  of  his  father,  and  resided  there  constantly.  He  has  gained 
an  unenviable  immortality  as  the  subject  of  some  of  Swift's  severest 
satires.3  The  Dean  does  not  allow  him  the  possession  of  a  single  good 
quality  ;  but,  while  he  had  not  his  father's  wisdom  or  stability  of  mind, 
he  must  have  been  a  man  of  ability ;  and  Lodge  says  that  he  demon- 
strated it,  and  his  learning,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  by  his  speeches 

1  My  authority  for  the  size  of  the  gardens  is  a  lease  in  the  Registry  of  Deeds  Office 
(Allen  to  Tisdall,  Lib.  169,  p.  372).     In  it  there  are  mentioned  three  gardens  con- 
taining 13A.  IB.  24p.,  three  fish  ponds  containing  3A.  10p.,  the  limekiln  park  contain- 
ing 2A.  IR.  29p.,  the  haggard  20p.,  the  wood  meadow  IA.  IB.  10p.,  the  large  avenue 
4A.  IB.  4p.  (which  is  still  to  be  seen  stretching  down  towards  Merrion  Avenue),  the 
grove  3u.  38p.,  the  new  paddock  8 A.  2B.,  the  lime  tree  park  2A.  2B.,  the  low  pasture 
12A.  2B.  39p.,  the  nursery  meadow  GA.  10p.,  the  court  containing  IA.,  and  the  road 
leading  to  it  from  the  iron  gate.     Also  see  Mrs.  Delany's   "Life  and  Correspond- 
ence," vol.   i.,  p.  373;  Walker's  "  Essay  on  Gardening  in  Ireland,"    Transactions, 
R.I. A.,  vol.  iv.  (Antiquities),  p.  13  ;  London's  "  Encyclopaedia  of  Gardening,"  p.  83. 

2  His  application  on  one  occasion  was  made  in  the  following  letter  to  Lord  Allen's 
eldest  son :  —  "St.  Sepulchre's,  Oct.  10th,  1726;  Sir,  I  am  to  entertain  some  friends 
here  on  Thursday  next  at  the  Visitation  of  the  Library.     I  understand  that  a  piece  of 
venison  would  be  very  acceptable  to  them,  but  except  you  can  be  so  kind  to  me  as  my 
Lord  Allen  was  last  year,  I  know  not  how  to  come  at  it.     I  am  not  so  good  a  hunts- 
man as  to  know  whether  this  be,  at  this  time  of  year,  a  seasonable  request,  but  if  you 
should  think  it  proper,  a  side  of  a  Barren  Doe  would  be  a  new  obligation  on,  Sir, 
Yr.  Most  humble  Servt.,  W.  D.     To  the  Honble.  Jos.  Allen." 

3  ' '  Positive  and  overbearing, 

Changing  still  and  still  adhering, 
Spiteful,  peevish,  rude,  untoward, 
Fierce  in  tongue,  in  heart  a  coward, 
Reputation  ever  tearing, 
Ever  dearest  friendship  swearing, 
Judgment  weak  and  passion  strong, 
Always  various,  always  wrong." 

Scott's  "Works  of  Swift,"  vol.  xii.,  p.  424» 


30  ItOYAL    SQCrETY.  OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

in  Parliament  for  the  benefit  of  his  country.1  He  was  sent  abroad  at  an 
early  age  to  complete  his  education,  and  two  letters  of  his,  written  at 
this  time  to  Joshua  Dawson,  the  Irish  Secretary  of  State,  breathe  the 
spirit  of  patriotism  in  the  passionate  wish  he  expresses  to  be  amongst 
his  Dublin  friends  "in  a  little  hole  about  ye  round  church,"  and  show 
that,  however  easily  led  he  may  have  been,  he  was  not  without  inherent 
discretion.  The  first  of  these  letters^is  in  reply  to  one  of  Dawson's  warning 
him  against  making  an  unsuitable  match,  and,  curiously  enough,  it  is 
said  that  his  marriage  was  due  to  a  trick  played  upon  him  by  Lionel 
Duke  of  Dorset,  and  that  at  first  he  refused  to  acknowledge  the  lady  as 
his  wife.  After  a  time,  however,  she  inserted  a  notice  in  the  newspapers 
of  the  day, ,  saying  she  had  succeeded  to  a  large  fortune,  and  he  then 
became  as  desirous  to  prove  the  marriage  as  he  had  been  to  disown  itj 
and  before  he  found  the  report  was  without  foundation,  the  lady  had 
gained  complete  ascendance  over  him.2 

.  It  was  probably  by  the  second  Lord  Allen,  during  the  famine  of 
1727,  that  the  obelisk,3  still  the  pride  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  the 
most  conspicuous  object  in  the  surrounding  country,  was  erected.  It  is 
traditionally  reported  to  have  been  designed  by  Sir  Edward  Lovet 
Pearce,  the  architect  of  the  Irish  Houses  of  Parliament,  and  this  report 
is  more  or  less  confirmed  by  the  fact  that  Pearce  appears  to  have  been 
a  friend  of  the  Aliens,  and  came  to  reside  some  years  later  at  a,  small 
house  within  their  park,  then  and  until  lately  known  as  The  Grove".4 

1  Lodge's  « Peerage  of  Ireland _"  (1754), _voL _iii,,_.p.  244.     In . ArcbdallLs_jediliQn 
the  passage  is  omitted. 

2  He  was  baptized  in  St.  Kevin's  church  on  September  the  17th,  1685,  and  having 
been  educated  under  a  Dr.  Jones,  entered  Trinity  College  in  1701  as  u  Fellow  Com- 
moner.    He  was  admitted  LL.D.  in   1718.     In  1710  he  was  elected  Knight  of  the 
Shire  for  the  county  Kildare,  which  he  represented  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Allen 
titles  on  the  death  of  his  father.     He  married  on  October   18th,    1707,    Margaret, 
daughter  of  Samuel  du  Pass  of  Epsom,  Surrey,  first  clerk  in  the  Secretary  of  State's 
Office,  by  his  wife  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Edward  Ellis,  who  sent  large  sums  of  money 
to  Charles  II.  during  his  exile.     See  Lodge's  "Peerage  of  Ireland"   by  Archdall, 
yol.  v.,  p.  185;  British  Departmental  Correspondence  in  Irish  Public  Record  Office, 
Allen  to  Dawson,  24th  January,  1703,  and  llth  November,  1707  ;  Scott's  ''Works  of 
Swift,"  vol.  vii.,  p.  276. 

3  For   an    account  of  the  famine  of   1727,   see  Lecky's  "History  of  England," 
vol.  ii.,  p.  217.     Many  persons-  in  describing  the  obelisk  have  given  the  date  of  its 
erection  as  1740,  but  it  was  in  existence  in  1731,  when  Mrs.  Delany  visited  Lord  Allen, 

4  There  is  a  lease  from  Joshua,  Lord  Allen,  to  Pearce  in  Registry  of  Deeds  Office 
(Lib.  73,  p.  39),  dated  July  26tb,   1731,  conveying  to  him  the  tenements  wherein  the 
gardeners  usually  resided,  within  the  wall  leading  by  the  roadside  to  Stillorgan  and  a 
long  strip  of  ground  containing  £A.  3n.  IP.,  with  liberty  to  make  use  of  the  adjoining 
grove  containing  SA.  2u.  30p.,  and  also  of  a  coach  passage.     Pearee  died  at  Stillorgan 
on  December  7th,  1733.     He  was  then  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the  canal  from 
Lough  Neagh  to  Newry,  as  well  as  in  the  erection  of  the  Houses  of  Parliament.     See 
"  Pue's  Occurrences,"  May  22-26,  1733,  fora  reference  to  his  "indefatigable  labour 
and  prudent  conduct "  in  connexion  with  the  former  work,   and    notice  in  "  Dic- 
tionary of  National  Biography."    In  his  will  he  desires  his  executors  to  offer  his  books 
to  Trinity  College  for  two-thirds  of  their  value,  and  in  the  event  of  the  College  not 
purchasing  them,  directs  that  they  should  be  sold  in  Great  Britain.     See  Prerogative 
"Will.     Whether  the  books  were  bought  for  the  College  or  not  I  have  been  unable  to 


STILLORGAN   PARK   AND    ITS    HISTORY.  3  1 

The  obelisk  resembles  in  its  massive  style,'  and  in  its  excellent  state  of 
preservation,  the  great  work  of  Pearce's  life.  It  is  more  than  one 
hundred  feet  high,  of  cut  granite  stone,  and  rises  from  a  rustic  .base, 
formed  of  huge  uncut  rocks,  containing  a  large  vaulted.  chamber,  and 
having  on  each  side  a  double  staircase  leading  to  a  platform,  from  which 
four  doorways  of  Egyptian  design  furnish  the  entrance  to  a  small  room 
in  the  bottom  of  the  obelisk.1  ,  . 

The  second  Lord  Allen  and  his  wife  were  prominent  figures  in  the 
Dublin  Society  of  their  day,  and  Stillorgan  was  no  doubt  in  their  time 
the  scene  of  many  festive  gatherings  where  shone  -Irish  beauty,  -wit,  anH 
fashion.  Thither  rode  the  good  Archbishop  King,  in  the  hope  he^  might 
secure  Lord  Allen's  interest  for  a  friend  who  sought  a  seat  in  Parliament. 
There  was  welcomed  the  witty  Dean,  whose  friendship  Lord  Allen  'at 
first  -'•"  caressed  and  courted  and  solicited  ^"  but  whose  enmity  he  was 
rash  enough  subsequently  to  incur  4<by  rattling,  him  bitterly  undei* 
various  injurious  appellations."  Thither  w^nt  Mrs.  Clay  ton  in  her  great 
coach  drawn  by  six  flouncing  Flander's  mares,  which  outlooked  everyone 
else's.  And  there  came  to  stay  for  some  weeks  with;  Lord  Atbn  that 
gallant  soldier  and  brilliant  diplomatist  the  second  Earl  of  Stair,  escorted 
from  Don  aghadee,  where  he  landed,  by  many  persons  of  great  quality 
and  distinction.2 

iy  a  will  of  a  few  lines  'the  second  Lord  Allen  bequeathed  all  hi& 
property,  real  as  well  as  personal,  to  his  wife,  and  on  his  death  in  1742,' 
she  succeeded,  under  this  will,  :  to  Stillorgan  Park.3  He  left  a  son  and 
two  daughters.  The  son  Jonh,  third  Viscount  Allen,*  only  survived  his 

ascertain,  notwithstanding  very  kind  assistance  from  the  Assistant  Librarian,  A.  C.  Be 
Burgh,  Esq.  The  Grove  was  again  let,  in  1745,  to  Alderman~  George  Bibtqri,  who/walsL 
afterwards  created  a  baronet;,  and  was  occupied  by  him  and  his  son,  until  about  1780. 
when  it  came  into  the  possession  of  Alderman  Nathaniel  Jenkins,  a  well-known,  book- 
seller of  his  day.  Puring  the  present  century  it  was  for  many  years  the  residence.  of 
the  Hughes  family.  See  Hughes  of  the  Grove,  Burke's  "  Landed  Gentry,"  ed.  1849  ; 
also  Leases  in  Registry  of  IJeeds^Office  ;""  PbstnChaise  Companion,'*  &fcV  It  is^'now 
called  Tigh  Lor  cain  Hall.  <:•.  ;  •_:  '  ;./,,"  :;:  T  '-iri; 

1  A  picture  of  the  obelisk  appears  in  Wrights  "  Ireland  Illustrated,"  and  in  a, 
spurious  edition  of  the  "Hibernian  Magazine"  for  1773,  published  by  one  Peter 
Sequin.  u«i   . 

2  Archbishop  King's  Correspondence  in  Trinity  College  Library;   Scott's  "Works 
of  Swift,"  vol.  vii.,  p.  276;  Mrs.  Delany's  "Life  and  Correspondence,"  vol.'  iii*,, 
p.  300,  373  ;   "  Pue's  Occurrences,"  August  21-25,  September  15-18,  173£. 

3  He  died  at  Stillorgan,  after  a  long  illness,  on  December  4th,  1742,  and  was 
"decently"  interred  on  the  8th,  in  the  family  vault  in  St.  James's  Church.     The 
gravtedigger,  while  the  vault  was  open  for  Lord  Allen's  interment,  stole  a  leaden  coffin. 
put  of  it,  and,  having  melted  it  down  and  sold  it,  ran  away.     No  trace  of  the  vault  can 
now.  be  ,foundv     St.  James's  Church  was  rebuilt  in  1762,  and  the  v;vult  was  probably 
then  finally  closed  and  built,  over.     "Pue's  Occurrences;"  December  4—  7,  and  7—11  ^ 
1742,1  and  January  25!r29>  1743.  - 

4  He  was  M.P.  for  Carysfort  from  1732  to  1742.    His  death  is  thus  announced  in  thej 
Dublin  Jour  tofll  for  May  25-28,  1745.     "  Qji  Saturday  morning  last  [the  25th],  about 
e^giit   p'  flock,  /;the  Right,  ^on.  John  Lord  Viscounij;  Allen  died  ql  a  mortitication, 


occasioned  by  a  wound  he  lately  received  in  an  assault  made  upon  him  by 
dragoons  (as  found  by  the  coroner's  inquest).     The;  great  benevolence,  food  sense  ,. 


32  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

father  three  years,  and  as  he  had  never  married,  the  title,  after  his 
death,  passed  to  his  cousin.  The  eldest  daughter,  Elizabeth,  married, 
eight  years  after  her  father's  death,  Sir  John  Proby,  who  subsequently 
became  the  first  Baron  Carysfort,1  and  on  her  marriage  her  mother  settled 
on  her  the  Stillorgan  and  Arklow  Estates.  The  second  daughter, 
Frances,2  married,  eight  years  later,  Sir  "William  Mayne,  who  also  was 
raised  to  the  peerage  as  Baron  Newhaven.3 

Lady  Allen  went  to  reside  in  London  after  her  husband's  death,4  and, 
in  1754,  Stillorgan  House  and  the  surrounding  grounds  were  let  to  Mr. 
Philip  Tisdal,  then  Solicitor-General  and  Judge  of  the  Prerogative 
Court,  and  subsequently  Attorney-General  and  Secretary  of  State,  and 
for  twenty- three  years,  until  his  death,  it  continued  to  be  the  country 
residence  of  this  remarkable  lawyer  and  statesman.5  "  He  was  a  man  of 
first-rate  talents  and  one  of  the  greatest  lawyers  of  his  time,"  writes 
his  rival,  Prime  Sergeant  and  Provost  Hutchinson,  "  and  in  the  Courts 
of  Justice,  the  Senate,  the  Privy  Council,  and  the  Cabinet  maintained 
to  the  time  of  his  death  the  reputation  of  a  man  of  great  knowledge  and 
ability."  Tisdal,  we  are  told,  understood  so  well  the  farce  and  fallacy 
of  life  that  he  went  through  the  world  with  a  constant  sunshine  of  soul, 
and  an  inexorable  gravity  of  feature,  viewing  the  world  as  if  it  had 
been  a  scenic  representation,  and  he  was  in  some  respects  one  of  the 
most  singular  as  he  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  able  Irish 
statesmen  of  the  eighteenth  century.  He  lived  in  a  style  of  the 
greatest  splendour  and  magnificence,  and  during  his  occupation  of 
Stillorgan  House  it  was  the  centre  for  that  unbounded  hospitality 
in  which  he  delighted.  We  see  him  entertaining  there  the  Lords 
Lieutenant  of  the  day — in  1755  the  Marquis  of  Hartington,  in  1765  the 
Earl  of  Hertford,  and  during  his  Viceroyalty  the  Marquis  of  Townshend, 
who,  appreciating  Tisdal' s  well-known  cook  and  the  company  of  an 
*'.  eight  bottle  man,"  such  as  Tisdal  is  said  to  have  been,  was  a  frequent 


and  public  spirit,  with  other  good  qualifications  that  so  eminently  distinguished  this 
young  nobleman  has  rendered  his  death  a  universal  loss  to  the  kingdom,  and  generally 
as  well  as  deservedly  lamented.  He  is  succeeded  in  honour  and  title  by  his  cousin 
.german  John  Allen  [eldest  son  of  the  Hon.  Richard  Allen,  the  third  son  of  the  first 
Viscount],  and  now  the  Right  Hon.  John  Lord  Viscount  Allen.  His  Lordship's 
remains  were  interred  in  a  very  decent  private  manner  at  the  family  burying  place  in 
St.  James's  Church  on  Sunday  evening." 

1  See  notice  in  "  Dictionary  of  National  Biography." 

2  Mrs.  Delany  describes  this  lady  as  a  little  lively  sort  of  fairy,  who  could  say 
many  entertaining  things,  and  relates  an  anecdote  of  her  conduct  at  a  masquerade  at 
Somerset  House,  where  she  met  one  of  the  royal  princes,  and  the  celebrated  beauty, 
Lady  Coventry,  which  is  curiously  illustrative  of  the  manners  of  her  time.     Mrs. 
Delany's  "  Autobiography  and  Correspondence,"  vol.  iv.,  p.  438. 

3  See  Burke's  "  Extinct  Peerage  "  and  Lodge's  "Peerage  of  Ireland  "  by  Arch- 
dall,  vol.  vii.,  p.  119. 

4  Lady  Allen  died  in  Duke-street,  St.  James's,  London,  on  March  4th,r  1758,  and 
was  buried  in  that  parish.     Lodge's  "Peerage  of  Ireland,"  by  Archdall,  vol.  v., 
j>.  186,  and  Prerogative  Will. 

5  See  lease  already  mentioned  in  note  on  p.  29. 


STILLORGAN    PARK  AND  ITS   HISTORY.  33 

-guest  at  his  Attorney-General's  table.  There  also  met  a  small  circle  of 
political  friends — "the  cabal  at  Stillorgan  " — whom  Tisdal  was  said 
to  attract  round  him  by  his  profusion,  and  whose  meetings  were 
regarded  with  suspicion  by  his  rivals.  And  there  as  his  guest 
Angelica  Kauffmann  during  her  visit  to  Ireland  exercised  her  great 
talents.1 

After  Tisdal's  death,  which  occurred  in  1777,  the  second  Baron 
Carysfort,  who  was  an  active  politician,  as  well  as  a  diplomatist  and 
author,  and  who  was  advanced  to  the  dignity  of  an  earl,  resided  for  some 
time  at  Stillorgan.2  Then  the  place  was  again  let  to  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor of  the  day,  Lord  Lifford,  who  had  previously  rented  Santry  Court 
as  his  country  residence.  Lord  Lifford' s  appointment  to  the  Chancellor- 
ship had  been  much  resented,  as  he  was  an  Englishman,  and  occupied 
a  seat  on  the  English  Bench  when  sent  to  this  country,  but  by  the 
ability  with  which  he  discharged  the  business  of  his  court,  he  had 
gained  the  respect  of  the  public,  and  through  his  amiable  and  upright 
disposition  he  had  become  very  popular  in  private  life.  With  the 
assistance  of  a  young  and  handsome  wife  he  dispensed  at  Stillorgan  such 
hospitality  as  became  his  position,  and,  though  no  doubt  his  entertain- 
ments lacked  the  brilliancy  of  Tisdal's,  they  were  probably  even  more 
frequently  honoured  by  the  presence  of  the  Viceroys.3 

The  outlying  portions  of  the  park  began  to  be  let  as  building  sites 
after  the  second  Lord  Allen's  death,  and  Carysfort-avenue  was  made, 

1  Philip  Tisdal  was  the  eldest  son  of   Richard  Tisdal,  Registrar  of  the  Court  of 
•Chancery  in  Ireland  and  M.P.  for  Dundalk,    and   subsequently  for  the  county  of 
Louth.     He  was  educated  under  Dr.  Thomas  Sheridan,  and  in  1722  graduated  B.A.  in 
T.  C.  D.     In  1733  he  was  called  to  the  Irish  Bar,  and  was  appointed  third  sergeant  in 
1741,  Judge  of  the  Prerogative  Court  in  1745,  Solicitor- General  in  1751,  and  Attorney- 
•Oeneral  in  1760.     He  represented  the  Univei-sity  of  Dublin  in  Parliament  from  1739 
to  1776,  and  the  borough  of  Armagh  from  1776  to  his  death.     In  1763  he  had  been 
appointed   Secretary  of  State  and  Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal.     He  died  at  Spa,  in 
Belgium,  on  September  llth,  1777,  and  his  body  was  brought  home  and  interred  at 
Finglas.     His  town  house  was  in  Leinster-street.     He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Rowland  Singleton,  and  niece  of  the  Right  Hon.  Henry  Singleton,  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  had  two  daughters,  Mary,  "  a  young  lady  possessed  of  the 
-greatest  accomplishments,"  who  married  Lieutenant- Colonel  Hugh  Morgan,  and  had 
an  only  daughter,  who  married  Robert   Sterne   Tighe   of   Mitchelstown,  and  Jane, 
who  died  unmarried.      See  Burke' s  "Landed  Gentry"  under  Tisdall  of  Charlesford 
^nd  Tighe  of  Mitchelstown ;  Stubbs'  "  History  of  the  University  of  Dublin,"  p.  236  ; 
Hardy's   "Memoirs  of  Charlemont,"  vol.  i.,  page  152  ;  "  Pue's  Occurrences,"  Sep- 
tember 13-16,  1755  ;  October  22-26,  1765  ;  Freeman's  Journal,  September  30,  1777  ; 
:"  Baratariana,"  pages  172,   274;    Gerrard's  "Life  of  Angelica  Kauffrnann,"  page 
136  ;   12th  Report  of  Historical  Manuscript  Commission,  App.,  Pt.  ix.,  page  240, 
and  passim. 

2  In  the  correspondence  of  the  first  Earl  of  Charlemont  there  is  a  letter  from  the 
second  Baron  Carysfort,  dated  from  Stillorgan  Park,  on  July  10,  1780.     See   12th 
Report  of  Historical  Manuscript  Commission,  Appendix,  Part  x.,  vol.  i.,  p.  374  ;  and 
for  a  biographical  notice  of  him,  see  "Dictionary  of  National  Biography." 

3  See  Adams's  "  History  of  Sanrry,"  p.  25  ;   12th  Report  of  Historical  Manuscript 
Commission,  App.,  Part  ix.,  p.  276  ;   14th  Rep.,  App.,  Part  i.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  322.     For 
notices  of  Lord  Liiford,  see  "  Dictionary  of  National  Biography" ;  and  Burke's  "  Lord 
•Chancellors  of  Ireland." 

JOUR.  R.R.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  I.,  5TH  SER.  D 


34  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

and  Stillorgan  Castle,1  Carysfort  House,2  and  a  number  of  other  houses 
were  built  upon  it  before  tbe  end  of  the  eighteenth  century.3  After 
Lord  Lifford's  death  in  1789  Stillorgan  House  was  Jeasvd  to  a  Mr. 
^Nicholas  le  Fevre,  a  lottery  merchant  in  Dublin,  whose  advertisements 
fill  no  small  portion  of  the  newspapers  of  his  day,  and  whose  lottery 
office  was  the  house  at  the  corner  of  Graf  ton-street  and  Suffolk-street, 
now  occupied  by  Hamilton  &  Long.  In  his  time  the  park  is  stated  to- 
have  lost  all  its  former  splendour,  the  only  thing  worthy  of  notice  being 
a  new  approach,  which  appeared  useless,  so  much  had  the  place  deterio* 
rated.4  Le  Fevre  came  to  financial  grief,  and  the  mortgagees,  in  1803, 
sold  the  house  and  lands  to  Mr.  John  Yerschoyle,  brother  of  the  Eight 
Kev.  James  Verschoyle,  Bishop  of  Killala,  and  father  of  the  Right  Rev; 
Hamilton  Yerschoyle,  Bishop  of  Kilmore.5  He  died  in  1840,  and  the 
house  then  became  the  residence  of  Mr.  Arthur  Lee  Guinness,  a  brother 
of  Sir  Benjamin  Lee  Guinness,  who  restored  the  place  to  some  of  'its 
former  magnificence  and  revived  its  reputation  for  lavish  hospitality. 
The  house  remained  in  his  possession  until  about  the  year  I860,6  and 
afterwards  fell  more  and  more  into  ruin  until,  finally,  about  twenty 
years  ago,  its  walls  were  levelled  with  the  ground. 

1  Now  known  as  the  House  of  St.  John  of  God.  It  was  called,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  century, -Mount  Eagle,  and  was  occupied  by  William  Monck-Mason,  the  author 
of  the  "  History  of  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral."  It  then  became  the  residence  of  Henry 
J)eane  Grady,  a  lawyer  who  is  still  recollected  for  his  wit  and  humour,  and  whose 
house,  on  account  of  the  brilliant  matches  made  by  his  daughters,  was  called  the 
"  House  of  Lords."  After  his  death  it  was  occupied  for  a  time  by  his  son,  and  then 
sold  to  Mr.  David  Sherlock,  who  subsequently  became  a  Serjeant- at-Law,  and  M.P. 
for  the  King's  County,  after  whose  death,  in  1883,  it  was  sold  to  the  present  owners. 

~  Carysfort  House  was  built  by  a  Mr.  John  Allen,  a  Dublin  merchant.  In  1802 
it  was  sold  to  Mr.  William  Saurin,  Attorney-General  for  Ireland  for  fifteen  years,  and 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  the  Irish  Bar  has  ever  known.  In  his  time  the 
gardens  were  remarkable  for  exotics.  After  his  death,  in  1839,  his  family  occupied 
it  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  Right  Hon.  Rickard  Deasy,  then 
a  Baron  of  the  Exchequer,  and  afterwards  a  Lord  Justice  of  Appeal.  After  his  death,, 
in  1883,  it  was  sold  to  its  present  owners,  the  trustees  of  the  Convent  of  Mercy. — 
Leases  in  Registry  of  Deeds  Office,  &c. 

3  Leases  in  Registry  of  Deeds  Office,  and  "  Faulkner's  Dublin  Journal,"  Nov.- 2-4,. 
1784. 

4  See  Archer's  "  Survey  of  the  County  Dublin,"  p.  104,  and  Dutton's  "  Observa- 
tions on  Archer's  Survey,"  p.  124  ;  Picture  of  Graf  ton- street  in  1770,  in  the  possession 
of  Dr.  Stokes  ;  and  Sleater's  "  Dublin  Chronicle,"  passim. 

5  Lease  in  Registry  of  Deeds  Office,  Shaw  to  Verschoyle,  Lib.  561,  p.  850.      For 
pedigree  of  the  Verschoyle  family  see  Burke's  "  Landed  Gentry." 

6  Lord  Carysfort  tells  me  that  Mr.   Guinness,  while    the   sale  of  his  effects  at 
Stillorgan  was  taking   place,  had  a  harper  in  the   grounds   playing  funeral  dirges'- 
Mr.  Guinness  was  never  married,   and  died  at  Roundwood  House,  Co.  Wicklow,  on 
January  llth,  1863. 


ST.  MAKY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK  :  ITS  PLAN  AND 
GROWTH. 

BY  THOMAS  J.  WESTROPP,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  FELLOW. 
[Read  FEBRUARY  24th,  1897.] 

I"  IMEKICK  differs  in  a  striking  manner  from  its  sister  towns  of  Danish 
foundation  as  regards  the  origin  of  its  cathedral.  Dublin  and 
Waterford  owe  to  alien  princes  the  churches  of  the  Trinity  that  rose 
within  their  walls ;  but  in  Limerick  the  Christian  Danes  worshipped 
in  a  little  Irish  church  dedicated  to  an  obscure  early  bishop  Mainchin.1 
It  is  a  very  noteworthy  fact  that  the  long  Norse  occupation  has  left  in 
Limerick  and  its  vicinity  no  visible  relic,  whether  building,  carving,  or 
rune  to  recall  its  existence. 

In  the  clustering  houses  of  the  old  town  on  the  Island  of  Inis  Sibtonn, 
stands  the  gloomy  but  impressive  old  church  whose  history  we  will  try 
and  trace  out.  The  heavy  belfry  tower,  turreted  and  battlemented, 
rises  over  the  trees,  surrounded  by  quiet  little  graveyards  and  grass 
plots,  whence  lovely  glimpses  of  the  Shannon  and  the  graceful  "Wellesley 
Bridge  can  be  obtained.  The  massive  old  church,  its  confused  architec- 
ture recalling  nearly  every  period  of  the  seven  centuries  that  have  passed 
since  its  foundations  were  laid,  attracts  many  a  visitor.  The  first 
impression  conveyed  by  the  interior  is  coldness  and  heavy  plainness. 
By  degrees  the  quaint  vistas  and  charming  lights  and  shadows  of  the 
crossing  arcades,  the  sense  of  massiveness  and  gloom,  impress  themselves, 
and  the  visitor  forgets  the  gorgeous  minsters  of  other  sees,  and  finds 
deep  pleasure  and  interest  in  the  rude  old  structure  so  little  adorned 
by  skill  of  architect  or  sculptor.  For  such  a  person  I  strive  to  trace  the 
growth,  and  record  the  benefactors,  of  the  venerable  cathedral  down  to 
the  first  systematic  description — that  by  Thomas  Dyneley — in  1680. 

THE  FOUNDATION,  1172-1207. 

The  cathedral  of  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin  was  founded  by  Donald 
More  O'Brien,2  the  last  de  facto  King  of  Munster,  in  1172,  and  dedicated 

1  His  identity  is  very  doubtful.     Mainchin,  son  of  Sedna,  son  of  Cass  (A.D.  400), 
son  of  Connall  Eachluath,  King  of  Munster,  367  ("Leabar  Breac  "),  lived  circa  490. 
Another  Mainchin  was  possibly  the  patron  of  the  now  bare  church  site  of  Kilmanaheen, 
on  the  stream  which  flows  over  the  cascades  in  the  wooded  glen  of  Ennistymon,  and  to 
the  sea  through  the  sandhills  of  Lehinch,  the  latter  Mainchin  was  contemporary  with 
Ailbe  of  Emly  (circa  520),  says  Vita  S.  Maccrecii.     The  "Bishop"  Mainchin  of 
Luimneach,  with  no  recorded  succession  in  the  "see"  till  Danish  times,  has  much 
exercised  local  antiquaries.    The  utter  vagueness  both  of  the  term  "  Luimneach,"  and 
of  the  early  bishop's  exercise  of  his  office,  is  surely  sufficient  explanation  of  both 
difficulties. 

2  For  his  life  and  charters,  see  our  Journal,  1892,  pages  74-76.     The  foundation 
Charter  of  St.  Mary's  was  not  extant,  it  would  seem,  even  in  the  reign  of  Henry  IV., 
but  there  is  a  -grant  of  Donald  to  Bishop  Brictius,  conferring  Mungret,  &c.,  to  the 
church,  drew  1 180,  in  the  "  Black  Book."  .    ,  „     / 

D2 


36 


ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


(as  old  observance  shows)  on  the  Sunday  after  the  16th  day  of  July.1 
Tradition  alleged  that  it  stood  on  the  site  of  the  stone  fort,  which  his 
predecessors  had  huilt  among  their  Danish  subjects  when  the  older  palace 
of  Kincora  was  hopelessly  ruined. 

The  original  foundation  was  cruciform  in  plan,  with  side  aisles  to  the 
nave.  It  closely  resembled  the  Cistercian  Abbeys  of  the  period,  such  as 
Corcomroe,  built  by  the  same  prince  about  the  same  time,  and  Manister- 
nenagh,2  one  of  the  earliest  pointed  buildings  in  Munster,  founded  by 
his  predecessor  in  1148.  It  has  the  same  plain  pointed  arcade  and  round- 
headed  clerestory,  and  the  original  romanesque  west  door  was  intact  a  few 
years  since  in  a  decayed  but  recognizable  state.3  Alas !  in  the  craze  for 


Capital  in  South  Arcade. 

"  restoration,"  which  levelled  "  Ireton's  House  "  to  the  ground  in  1894 
— it  was  completely  defaced,  only  the  hood  and  innermost  arch  remaining. 
Some  antiquaries  who  ought  to  have  known  better  stated,  as  they  did  of 
the  romanesque  door  of  Killaloe,  that  it  was  the  gateway  of  the  O'Brien's 
palace. 

The  belfry  formed  no  part  of  the  first  design.4  It  rests  on  the  old 
gable  and  side  walls,  closing  two  clerestory  lights,  its  eastern  piers  and 
arch  being  built  between  the  sides  of  the  nave. 

Bishop  Donat  O'Brien5  completed  the  chancel  and  transepts  before  his 


1 "  In  the  Calendar  of  an  old  breviary,"  copied  circa  1658,  by  Rev.  Jasper  "White. 
White  says  August  15th  was  the  proper  day,  evidently  putting  the  dedication  above 
the  ancient  observance.  August  the  15th  was  observed  so  early  as  the  time  of  Bishop 
O'Dea  for  a  commemoration  of  the  dedication  as  well  as  the  feast  of  its  patroness 
(Lenihan's  "  Limerick  :  its  History  and  Antiquities,"  p.  558). 

2  See  our  Journal,  1889,  p.  232  ;  and  1895,  p.  280. 

3  A  view  from  a  not  very  satisfactory  painting  is  given  in  the  3rd  edition  of  Canon 
Meredyth's  "Handbook,"  1887.     For  the  destruction  of   "  Ireton's  House,"  see  our 
Journal,  1894,  p.  386. 

4  Mr.  Lenihan's  picture  ("  Limerick,"  p.  548)  of  the  consultation  of  the  original 
architect  and  "  the  wise  men  of  the  day,"  and  his  statement  as  to  Wilkinson's  sup- 
position that  the  tower  was  part  of  the  O'Briens'  palace,  are  equally  refuted  by  an 
examination  of  tbe  piers. 

3  The  Bishops  of  Limerick  over  the  period  of  this  Paper  were: — Gille,  1110-1140. 
Presided  at  Synod  of  Rathbreasail,  1114.  Patrick,  chosen  by  Ostmen.  Harold,  died 
1151.  Turgeis.  Brictius,  1179;  named  in  Donaldmore's  Charter.  Donat  O'Brien, 
died  1207  (Tablet).  Possibly  Geoffry  of  Dungarvan.  Edmund,  died  1222.  Hubert 
de  Burgho,  of  Athassel,  died  1250.  Robert  O'Neill,  of  Emly,  died  1272.  Gerald  (as 
in  "Black  Book  of  Limerick"  Deeds,  i.,  ii.,  vi.,  vii.,  xiv.,  xv.),  or  GeofFry  le 
Mareschal,  1272.  Robert,  of  Dundonald,  1302.  Eustace  de  L'Eau,  1311.  Maurice 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK.  37 

death  in  1207.  His  slab,  with  a  chevron  between  three  lions,  and  the 
word  "  DONOH,"  is  set  in  the  north  chancel  wall.1  We  hear  of  no  other 
addition  till  the  episcopate  of  Stephen  deVale  or  Wall  (1360-1369).2  The 
church  was  beautified  and  re-dedicated  by  Bishop  Eustace  de  L'Eau  in 
1327.  It  is  not  evident  that  any  rebuilding  had  taken  place,  so  probably 
there  were  other  reasons  for  the  ceremony. 

About  the  year  1365  Irish  annalists  record  a  very  singular  event, 
upon  which  much  doubt  has  naturally  been  thrown  by  the  silence  of  the 
State  Papers  and  English  historians.  It  is  alleged  that  after  the  over- 
throw of  the  Earl  of  Desmond  by  Brian  O'Brien,  in  the  battle  of  Manis- 
ternenagh,  the  citizens  of  Limerick  opened  their  gates  to  the  victors, 
and  received  as  their  Governor  Sioda  Cam  Macnamara,  whom  they  soon 
nfterwards  assassinated.3 

It  is  hard  to  arrive  at  the  truth.  The  roll  of  mayors  and  bailiffs  is 
unbroken  for  the  period,  but  the  Cartulary  of  the  "  Black  Book  "  ends 
about  that  time,  and  e  \ddently  extensive  repairs  were  commenced  in  the 
cathedral  in  the  next  few  years.  John  de  Burgo  of  Galway  is  stated 
on  ancient  tradition  to  have  gallantly  defended  Ball's  Bridge  against  the 
O'Briens  in  "  1361  "  or  "  1364,"  for  which  Lionel,  Duke  of  Clarence, 
knighted  him,  and  granted  to  him  and  his  descendants  the  figure  of  the 
bridge,  as  an  augmentation  of  their  arms.4  This  still  appears  iu  the 

de  Kupeforte,  1336.  Stephen  Lawless,  1353.  Stephen  de  Yalle,  1360-  Peter  de 
Curragh,  1369.  Cornelius  O'Dea,  1405  (monument);  resigned,  1426;  died,  1434. 
John  de  Mothel,  1426.  William  Creagh,  1459.  Thomas  Arthur,  1472.  Richard — , 
1486.  John  Dunow,  of  Exeter,  1486.  John  Folan,  of  Ferns,  1489.  John  Quin, 
1521;  resigned,  1551.  William  GVey  (by  Edward  VI.),  1551.  Hugh  Lacy  (by 
Queen  Mary),  resigned,  or  deprived,  as  some  say,  1571.  William  Casey,  restored 
by  Elizabeth,  1591.  John  Thornborough,  translated,  1603.  Bernard  Adams,  1604  ; 
resigned,  1617.  (Monument.) 

1  See  our  Journal,  1892,  p.  70,  fig.  4,  some  later  foliage  has  been  cut  on  it. 

2  "  Arthur  MSS.,"  quoted  by  the  late  Mr.  M.  Lenihan  (Hon.  Fellow]  in  "Limerick  : 
its  History  and  Antiquities,"  pp.  236,  &c.     Although  in  his  civil  history,  1250-1450, 
he  treats   of  everything  rather  than  the  affairs  of  the  city  and  citizens,  he  lays  us 
under  a  deep  literary  debt  by   the  publication  of  these  extracts. 

Dr  Thomas  Arthur,  a  learned  and  successful  physician  of  the  reign  of  James  I.  to 
Charles  II.,  was  an  ardent  collector  of  the  archives  both  of  his  own  and  the  other  city 
families.  He  has  been  the  means  thereby  of  preserving  to  our  days  copies  of  numerous 
documents  from  Cartularies,  long  since  scattered  or  destroyed  in  the  wars  and  cruel 
siege  of  his  native  city,  and  the  dispersion  of  its  citizens  in  the  Transplantation  of 
1652. 

3  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  1365. 

4  Dr.  Caulfield  ("Council  Book  of  Kinsale,"  p.  388)  considers  that  this  is  confirmed 
by  the  Galwey  rental  (circa  1564),  "Lymerick  ;  Pro  domo  nuper  Edmundi  Sexten  per 
ann  vii  s.     Pons  Limerici  in  possessione  Johannis  Galwe."     We  find  the  bridge  and 
its  tenements  in  possession  of  Richard  Bultingfort,   whose  family  was  closely  bound  in 
friendship  with  the  Galweys,  some  forty  years  after  the  alleged  assault. 

I  have  failed  to  gather  an)  thing  material  relating  to  the  Galweys,  Budstones,  or 
Bultingfoi  ts,  out  of  the  "Plea  Eolls  "  and  "  Exchequer  Remembrance  Rolls,"  from 
1360-1480).  Another  family  of  Galwey  living  at  Rathfarnham,  near  Dublin,  is 
mentioned  several  times.  The  Sarsfield  and  Brown  Cartularies  ("  Council  Book  of 
Kinsale,"  pp.  377,  &c.)  tell  much  about  the  family  from  January,  1390  (when  John 
and  Patrick  Galwy  appear),  down  to  the  seventeenth  century,  "  Galweis  Court," 
"•Acre,"  "  Curragh,"  and  "  Park,"  occurred  at  Kinsale  and  Cork;  also  the  note- 
worthy name  Bultingsfordistown. 


38  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

"  quadrat  insignia,  Galvy,"  in  the  south  transept.  Weighing  these 
facts,  it  seems  probable  that  the  Irish  town  on  the  mainland  may  have 
been  taken  by  the  jubilant  O'Briens  and  Macnamaras,  the  natives  pro- 
bably opening  its  defences  to  their  fellow-countrymen,  while  the  assault 
on  the  bridge  and  gate  of  the  English  town  was  repelled.  The  Macna- 
maras may  have  attempted  a  blockade  from  the  Irish  town,  and  their  chief 
been  slain  by  a  citizen  or  a  treacherous  clansman,  or  ally.  The  English 
Government  had  fallen  very  low  in  Ireland,  their  energies  being  diverted 
to  France,  and  the  city  was  hemmed  in  by  the  O'Briens  of  Pobblebrian 
and  the  Macnamaras  of  Clancuilen,  holding  the  strongholds  of  Carrigo- 
gunnell  and  Bunratty. 

THOMAS  BALBEYNE  AND  JOHN  BUDSTON,  1365-1401. 

Meanwhile  works  had  commenced  at  the  cathedral.     By  licence  of 

Bishop  Wall,  ante  1369,1  Thomas  Balbeyne,  an  opulent  citizen,  probably 

from  Bristol,  where  his  family  resided,  added  the  two  eastern  chapels 

to  the  south  transept.     The  southern  was  dedicated  to  St.  James  Major, 

the  northern  to   St.  Mary  Magdalen,   patroness  of  the  Barber  Surgeons 

cof  Limerick.2     By  his  will  he  left  Thomcor  Castle,  in  the  suburbs  of 

Limerick,  to  the  commonalty  of  the  city  if  his  brother,  Henry  Balbeyn, 

of  Bristol,  will  not  live  at  Limerick.      He   also  leaves   his  chapel  of 

St.  James,    in  the  southern  part  of  St.   Mary's,   to  Nicholas   Stretch. 

Martin   Arthur,   in    1376,    bequeathed   money   for    the    repairs.      His 

c  contemporary  John  Budston  or  Buston  gave  a  peal  of  four  bells,  and 

'  probably  made  the  sedilia  of  the  south  transept,  which  bear  his  name. 

Possibly  the  lower  part  of  the  belfry  was  also  commenced  at  this  time  by 

building  an  arch  on  strong  piers  between  the  first  and  second  bays  of 

the  nave.. 

John  Budston  was  bailiff  (sheriff)  of  the  city  in  1401.    Other  members 

'of  his  family  held  the  same  office  : — : William  Budston  in  1415  and  1424 

and  Thomas  in  1453.     His  daughter  Margaret  was  married  to  Peter 

Arthur,  and  their  son  William  Arthur  thus  records  their  grandfather's 

good  works  : — "  John  Budston,  whose  bells  resound  in  the  shrine  of  the 

Virgin,"  "this  pious  man  made  a  gift  to  the  church  aforesaid  of  four 

brass  bells."     Budston's  widow  presented  to  her  son-in-law  "  two  monu- 

^ments  of.  her  ancestors,  both  bearing  the  name  of  Budstone,  and  a  just 

'share  of  the  chapel  which  represents  the  name  and  aid  of  Magdalen."3 

1  The  chapel  of  St.  James  was  built  with  consent  of  Bishop  "Richard"  Wall,  1360, 
1369  (Balbeyne's  Will,   as  given  in  full  in  the  "Arthur  MSS.,"  p.  236).     Thomas 
Balbeyne  got  a  pardon  from  Henry  IV.  for  some  unrecorded  offence. 

2  Charter  of  Henry  VI.  to  the  barbers  and  chirurgeons,   or  guild  of  St.  Mary 
Magdalen  of  Limerick  (Lenihan,  p.  697). 

s  "Arthur  MSS.,"  pp.  368,  572,  573.  The  Budestone  family  was  of  some  stand- 
ing in  Wiltshire  in  the  previous  centuries.  Roger  Budston  held  Kingston  West  and 
' Nethercote  in  1325  ("Gal.  Inq.  ad  quod  damnuin"  19  Ed.  II.,  No.  51).  The  lands  of 
-Budstone,  in  Wilts,  were  held  by  other  families — the  Bernvals,  circa  1260,  and  the 
Gascelyns  some  ten  years  later  ("  Inq.  post  mortem  ").  v' 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK. 


39 


His  descendant,  Dr,  Thomas  Arthur,   composed  an  epitaph  or  rather  long 
moral  poem,  in  1642,  ending  thus : —     . 

"  Without  morality  all  faith  is  vain, 
John  Buston  teaches  in  this  warning  strain, 
Who  to  the  church  these  powerful  bells  has  given, 
Do  thou,  departing,  wish  him  rest  in  Heaven." 

In  the  south  transept  is  a  trefoil-headed  recess,  with  bolder  and 
earlier  mouldings  than  the  adjoining  Galwey  monument,  and  probably 
of  1369  ;  it  contains  two  stone  shelves  and  two  fluted  piscinae.  Possibly 


Budston's  Sedilia,  Limerick  Cathedral. 

!i  ;:•>    '  -,  ;     -  '    !- 

the  Galwey  tomb  has  replaced  one  of  the  two  Budston  monuments  men- 
tioned above  :  for  beyond  it,  to  the  right,  is  a  triple  sedile  with  slender 
columns  spirally  fluted  and  trefoil-headed  arches.  The  cusps  contain — 
1,  foliage;  2  and  3,  merchant  marks  with  the  letters  "  g.  t." ;  5,  the 
name  "Tons  Budston"  ;  6,  a  merchant  mark  g.  t.  Over  the  third  pillar 
is  a  shield  with  g.  for.,  the  head  of  the  letter  running  through  a  cross 
with  a  circle  and  a  crossed  merchant  niark.  r  A  small  bracket,  probably, 
for  a  lamp,  is  set  in  the  middle  recess.  rr  ..  ;o,.  . 


40  ROYAL   SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


BlCHAED    BULTINGFORT,    1369-1405. 

A  large  share  of  the  restoration  was  carried  out  by  a  citizen  whose- 
identity  stands  out  with  unusual  distinctness  and  whose  good  works 
continued  under  Bishops  Peter  Curragh1  and  Cornelius  O'Dea,  1369  to 
1405.  Richard  Bultingf  ort,  or  Bullingfort,  probably  derived  his  name  from 
that  place  in  Hertfordshire.  He  had  been  of  sufficient  influence  to  hav& 
served  as  mayor  on  five  if  not  six  occasions (1357,  '67, '76,  '80, '86,  arid '90). 
He  owned  several  tenements  in  the  city  and  its  suburbs.  One  was  near 
the  Tholsel,  one  near  the  cemetery  of  St.  Mary's,  and  a  third  nenr  the- 
bridge,  which  last  he  settled  in  trust  for  the  benefit  of  his  soul.  He  also 
held  property  in  Cork  and  a  goodly  supply  of  silver  plate.  He  had 
married  Katherine,  a  daughter  of  the  influential  house  of  Roche,  by 
whom  he  had  a  daughter  Margaret,  who  (as  we  shall  see  hereafter)  joined 
with  Geoffry  Galwey  to  put  up  a  monument  to  their  fathers,  the  only 
other  recorded  relative  being  a  certain  John,  son  of  Maurice  Bultingf  ort, 
who  had  rights  of  succession  to  one  of  the  above  tenements. 

Richard  appears  as  a  typical  mediaeval  burgess,  God-fearing,  Church- 
loving,  affectionate  to  his  wife,  family,  friends  and  servants — "Vir 
yenerahilis,"  as  he  was  remembered  half  a  century  after  his  death.  He 
died,  as  he  had  lived,  in  good  repute  among  his  neighbours,  and  wa& 
buried  in  the  chapel  of  St.  James,  to  which  he  had  been  a  benefactor, 
and  in  which  he  left  rights  of  burial  to  Nicholas  Stretch.  His  record 
forms  a  pleasant  contrast  to  the  dreary,  aimless  feuds  of  the  natives  and 
the  discontent  which  in  England  darkened  the  closing  years  of  the  hero 
of  Cressy  and  set  Henry  of  Lancaster  on  the  throne  of  his  unpopular 
cousin. 

Bultingfort's  will2  dates  on  the  Sunday  after  the  feast  of  St.  Peter 
ad  Yincula  and  his  inventory  the  Thursday  after  the  feast  of  St.  Senan 
the  bishop  (March  8th),  1406.  By  a  rare  good  fortune  it  was  enrolled 
and  preserved  to  us.  He  leaves  liberal  legacies  to  his  family  and  friends, 
to  the  Church  and  Monastic  Orders,  the  Franciscans,  and  the  repairs  of 
the  Dominicans'  chapel.  He  does  not  forget  his  trusty  servants  Laurence- 
O'Daffy  (evidently  a  Clare  man)  and  Richard  Flemyng.  He  leaves  his 

1  Called  Creagh  in  "  White  MSS.,"  but  there  is  in  the  «  Memoranda  Rolls,"  temp. 
Henry  IV.,  an  entry  to  this  effect  : — Fine  of  100  marks  on  Peter,  Bishop  of 
Limerick,  for  not  coming  to  the  Parliament  of  Kilkenny.  He  died  anno  9  Henry  IV., 
seized  in  fee  of  the  lands  of  Curragh,  and  left  Matilda  Curragh  his  heir.  A  pardon 
is  pleaded,  remitting  said  fine,  for  not  appearing  in  the  Parliament  of  13  Richard  II. 

^  2  "  Patent  Rolls  "  (Ireland),  An.  I.  Eliz.  Copies  of  the  following  medieval  wills  of 
citizens  of  Limerick  remain  : — 1361.  Edmund  Wyndebalde.  1376.  Martin  Arture. 
1401.  Thomas  Balbeyne.  1405.  Ricbard  Bultingfort.  1426.  Thomas  Arture. 
14  .  ."Widow  of  John  Budston  (extract).  1435.  Nicholas  Creagh  (extract).  1445. 
Geoffry  Galwey.  1449.  Philip  Russell.  1465.  Nicholas  Arthur.  1475.  Catherine- 
Arthur.  These  are  recorded  in  the  «'  Arthur  MSS.  "  with  three  exceptions.  The  wills 
of  1405  and  1445  are  in  the  "Patent  Rolls"  of  Elizabeth,  and  that  of  1449  is  in  the 
"Plea  Rolls"  of  Henry  VI.  I  have  to  thank  Mr.  Henry  Berry  for  his  kindness  in 
giving  me  a  reference  and  abstract  of  the  last. 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK.  41 

tenement  in  Cork  granted  by  Simon  Miagh,  to  a  certain  David  Caudebec,1 
and  his  holding  near  the  Tholsel  in  Limerick  to  one  Nicholas  Walsh. 

BISHOP  O'DEA  AND  THOMAS  ARTHUU,  1407-1421. 

The  work  went  on,  under  the  auspices  of  Bishop  Cornelius  O'Dea,  a 
member  of  that  ancient  Dalcassian  house,  which  had  its  seat  in  the  heart 
of  Clare,  where  the  massive  Round  Tower,  and  the  church  of  Dysert 
O'Dea,  with  its  ornate  door,  mark  the  site  of  St.  Tola's  Abbey.  A  century 
earlier,  the  chief,  Conor  O'Dea,  had  signalized  himself  by  slaying  Sir 
Richard  de  Clare,  and  giving  a  death  blow  to  the  Norman  colony.  His 
namesake  the  bishop  was  a  man  of  ability  and  artistic  tastes  :  he  probably 
compiled  and  certainly  completed  the  "  Black  Book,"2  which  has  preserved 
the  older  cartulary  of  the  cathedral.  Under  his  auspices  Thomas  0' Carry  d 
made  the  beautiful  mitre  and  crosier,  which,  in  spite  of  the  maker's 
inscription — was  attributed  by  the  citizens  to  a  heavenly  artificer.3  A 
later  generation  told  its  children,  with  awe,  how,  when  the  good  prelate 
had  no  pontificals  in  which  to  attend  some  meeting,  a  stranger  left  these 
lovely  objects  at  his  lodgings,  and  vanished  in  the  crowd  seeking  neither 
payment  nor  thanks.  Such  a  man  must  have  sympathized  with  any 
attempt  to  beautify  his  cathedral,  which  may  have  received  some  external 
injury  in  the  conflagration  of  1413.4 

Thomas  Arthur  (bailiff  from  1407-1410),  probably  in  the  year  of  his 
mayoralty,  1421,  aided  by  his  wife  Johanna,  daughter  of  David  Muryagh 
or  Miagh  (Mayor  of  Cork,  1379  and  1381)  was  the  next  benefactor. 
"  Thomas,  whom  the  Mayor's  retinue  distinguishes,  had  raised  the  pin- 
nacles of  thine  ancient  house.  At  his  expense  he  built  to  the  blessed 
Virgin  the  elaborate  fa9ade  of  the  choir  of  lofty  marble  ;  hence  it  bears 
the  shield  of  the  family  of  Arthur  on  its  outer  door."5  He  died  in  April, 
1426,  during  his  second  mayoralty.  Two  shields  remain  on  the  chancel 

1  David  Candebec  (sic)  appears  as  witness  to  a  Cork  deed  of  1422— a  grant  from 
Walter  Reyn  to  John,  son  of  David  Myagh  (Caulfield's  "  Council  Book  of  Kinsule," 
p.  364). 

2  The  original  is  at  Maynooth.     There  is  a  full  copy  in  T.  C.  D.,  made  under  the 
supervision  of  Mr.  .Robert  Vere  O'Brien.    Few  such  large  collections  of  documents  are 
so  lacking  in  life  and  personal  interest  as  this  one.     There  are  no  wills,  few  docu- 
ments, relating  to  the  fabric  of  the  cathedral,  and  a  dreary  wilderness  of  final  accords 
and  quit  claims. 

3  There  is  a  fine  illustration  in  "  Archseologia,"  vol.  xvii.,  p.  30.     The  inscriptions 
are — (crozier)  "  Me  fieri  i'ecit  corneli  odeaigh  epo  limiricens  Ao  Doi  M°ccccxviii  et 
consecrationis   sue   anno   xviii."      The    mitre    adds  : — "  Thomas   O'Carryd   artifex 
faciens."     Mr.  Thomas  Lbngfield,  of  the  Science  and  Art  Department,  thinks  that  the 
two  examples  of  the  syllable  "nels,"  enclosed  in  a  heart,  are  a  rebus,  "  Cor-nels," 
of  the  prelate's  name.     A  lost  relic  of  O'Dea  was  extant  in  1640.     His  seal — "  In  the 
upper  part  ...  the  Father  bearing  up  the  Crucified  Son"  ;  in  the  middle,  the  Virgin 
and  two  other  figures  ;  and  below  a  bishop,  between  the  arms  of  Ormond  and  Desmond. 
The  legend  was — "  The  seal  of  Cornelius,  by  the  grace  of  God,  Bishop  of  Limerick  " 
("  Arthur  MSS.,"  p.  572). 

4  "  All  Limerick,  both  stone  and  wooden  buildings,  was  burned  by  one  woman" 
("Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  1413). 

'     5  "Arthur  MSS.,"  p.  571. 


ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


buttresses  ;  one  is  certainly  of  Arthur,  but  the  title  "  Johannis  Artur,"1 
either  implies  that  it  was  reset  and  partly  recut,  or  else,  more!  probably, 
identifies  it  with  the  works  of  John  Arthur,  1480-87. 

EDMUND  GAL  WET,  1445. 

About  the  middle  of  the  century,  Edmund,  son  of  Geoffry  Galwey,  and 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Richard  Bultingfort,  erected  a  handsome  tomb,2  in 
memory  of  their  relatives  in  the  south  transept.  The  monument  consists 
of  a  low  cinquefoil  arch,  the  cusps  of  which  enclose  triangular  designs  of 
foliage,  while  their  points  ended  in  leaves.  It  rests  on  octagonal  piers 
of  clumsy  design,  two  to  each  side,  and  has  a  lofty  angular  hood  richly 
crocketed  and  moulded,  and  ending  in  an  elaborate  finial.  To  each  side 
a  buttress  with  a  rich  terminal  rests  on  a  corbel  adorned  with  a  small 
angel  holding  a  blank  shield.  Three  armorial  tablets  are  set  in  this 
monument,  the  first  in  the  tympanum  above  the  recess  has  the  letters 
"  8.3  R.  B."  (scutum  Eicardi  Bultingfort),  and,  below  this,  the  arms,  a 


GALWEY  ARMS.— i.  Tomb  at  Kinsale,  1627.    2.  Seal  of  Sir  Geoffry  Galwey,  1636. 

t'ess  engrailed  with  a  label  of  five  points  in  chief.  The  second,  to  the 
left,  "  S.G.G."  (scutum  Galfridi  Galwey).  Arms,  for  Galwey  a  cross 
over  it  a  bend,  impaling  u  double  eagle  displayed.  The  third,  to  the 
right,  "  S.  E.  G."  (scutum  Edmundi  Galvey).  The  Galwey  arms,  im- 
paling for  Arture  u  chevron  between  three  clarions.  There  are  traces 
of  dark-red  and  blue-grey  paint  on  these  carvings. 

Of  much  later  date  is  the  tablet  overhead ;  it  is  closely  similar  to  the 
Galwey  slab  in  Kinsale  church,  and  to  the  seal  on  Sir  Geoffry  Galwey 's 
will,  1636,  from  which  it  may  have  been  taken.  It  displays  as  crest  the 
chained  cat  of  the  De  Burghos.  Arms  quarterly — 1,  Galwey  ;  2,  A  double 
eagle  displayed ;  3,  Bultingfort  (incorrectly  as  a  fess  wavy  with  three 
plates) ;  4,  Ball's  Bridge.  Below  it,  in  strangely  combined  capitals, 

1  See  our  Journal,  1892,  page  70,  fig.  5.     Dyneley  also  mentions  the  shield  on  the 
buttress:  see  our  Journal,  1864,  p.  437. 

2  See  p.  44. 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK.  43 


"LVMNIA      (sic)    QV^}    LECTOR  |   T  VI   (tie)  l     CERNNVT     (sic)     HISCE      IOHANrs  | 

MVRIS  SCVLPTA  SACRIS  |  QVADRAT  INSIGNIA  GALWEY."  From  their  height 
and  contiguity  to  a  glaring  window,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  make  an 
accurate  sketch  of  this  escutcheon  and  inscription. 

A  long  tablet  is  embedded  in  the  back  wall  of  the  recess.  The  middle 
is  much  injured  ;  Ireton's  soldiers  are  reputed  to  have  defaced  it  out  of 
hatred  to  Sir  Geoffry  Galwey,  mayor  of  the  city  in  1652.  It  is  most  im- 
probable that  Puritans  who  spared  the  shields,  and  still  more,  the  figures  of 
angels  on  the  corbels  and  the  crosses  on  the  sedilia,  deliberately  defaced  an 
unobtrusive  black  letter  inscription  which  probably  none  of  them  could 
read.  More  probably  the  heat  of  a  memorial  lamp  hanging  in  the  recess 
injured  and  cracked  the  tablet.  It  is  figured  from  a  rubbing  and  sketch, 
and  agrees  in  the  main  with  Canon  Francis  Meredyth's2  reading  :  — 

"  (Hie  jacet  in)  tub(a  .  .  .  vener)abilis  (v)ir  Ricardus 
(-Bultig)fort  quoda  .  .  .  civitatu  lim(erici  et) 
Corcagie  q  (obi)it  .....  A  no  doi  Mccccv  .  .  .  1111 
Hie  jucet  .  .  .  venerabilis  vir  Gal(fr)idu(s) 
Galvey  qu5da  civis  (civi)tatu  limerici  Corca(gie  et) 
Yatfordie  q  obit  .  .  .  die  Januarii  Ano  Do!  M.  ccccxl  .  .  .  (E)dmu 
dus  filius  talis  Ga(lfr)idi  et  Margarete  tilie  talis  Eci  bultigfort 
ista  tuba  fieri  (fecer)ut." 

The  missing  part  in  the  second  line  is  longer  than  "  civis,"  it  may 
be  "prepositus."  In  the  third  line  the  day  and  month  are  lost.  The 
last  word  is  evidently  longer  than  "  fecit"  and  endsiu  "  unt,"  but  as  the 
singular  is  apparently  required,3  cannot  be  the  obvious  "fecerunt." 

The  will  and  inventory  of  Geoffry  Galwey  are  extant  ;4  from  them  we 
learn  that  he  practised  an  extensive  general  trade  in  linen,  hides,  salt, 
honey,  &c.  He  had  probably  seen  military  service,  for  he  owned  a 
helmet  and  t\vo  suits  of  armour,  while  lie  specifies  several  costly  robes  of 
rich  coloured  materials  and  trimmings  of  marten  and  other  furs  which  he 
leaves  to  his  sons.  He  left  legacies  to  most  of  the  city  churches,  to  the 
canons  and  chaplains  of  the  Cathedral  and  the  churches  of  Kinsale  and 
Youghal  ;  neither  did  lie  forget  the  Augustinians,  Franciscans  and 
Dominicans  of  Limerick,  nor  the  Friars  of  Timoleague,  Dungarvan  or 
A  dare,  leaving  to  the  latter  enough  to  purchase  an  iron  mortar.  He 

1  So  it  appears,  but  as  vi  are  combined,  it  may  have  been  "  tua.' 

2  Whom  1  here  thank  for  his  great  pains,  on  my  behalf,  in  deciphering  the  often 
nearly  illegible  entries  of  the  chapter-books  for  information  regarding  the  chapels. 

3  There  is  some  difficulty  about  the  facts.     Geoffry  Galwey,  as  appears  by  his 
shield   on   this   tomb,   married  not  a  Bultingfort,    but   a  lady   bearing   for  arms   a 
double  eagle.  ^  The  last  word  of  the  epitaph  is  possibly  "  fecerunt,"  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  genitive  form  of  the  lady's  name,  "  Margarita  filitf,"  would  make  her  a  wife 
of  Geoffry  Galwey.     Perhaps  the  genitive  is  only  a  mistake  of  the  carver.     That  there 
was,  however,  some  close  connexion  is  shown  !>y  the  Galwey  rental  (1564  circa)  in  the 
name  "  Butingsfordistowne  "  (Caulfield's  "Council  Book  of  Kinsale,"  p.  391,  &c.). 

4  "Patent  Rolls"  (Ireland),  An.  1  Eliz. 


f          '  ?•          _J 


FEET. 


Galwey  Monument,  Limerick  Cathedral. 


ST,  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMKRICK.  45 

left  money  for  the  repairs  of  the  chancel  of  Kilmallock,  and  for  the 
chapel  of  St.  James  Major  in  St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  where  he  desired  to 
be  buried.  His  inventory  was  taken  on  Jan.  5th,  1445,  and  his  will 
was  proved  seven  days  later.  By  a  settlement  of  the  previous  year 
Wm.  Marreys  had  settled  certain  lands  on  Galwey  and  his  five  sons, 
Richard,  GeofPry,  Edmund  (the  tomb  builder),  Walter  and  William. 
Geoffry  was  ancestor  of  the  Galweys  Baronets. 

NICHOLAS  ARTHUR,  1450-1465. 

The  Arthurs  were  buried  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  had  "  an 
ancestral  monument  on  the  left  of  the  altar  of  St.  Catherine,  virgin  and 
martyr."  Nicholas  Arthur,  who  was  buried  there,  deserves  a  full  account, 
which  would  be  a  most  instructive  social  sketch.  We  can  only  tell  his 
story  briefly — He  was  born  1405,  and  was  an  enterprising  merchant, 
exporting  horses,  hounds,  and  falcons,  scarlet  mantles  and  skins  of  otters, 
martens  and  squirrels.  He  sailed  from  Limerick  for  England,  June  22, 
1428,  but  was  captured  and  plundered  by  French  pirates,  and  kept  a 
prisoner  at  Mont  St.  Michel  for  two  years.  On  obtaining  his  freedom 
he  got  letters  of  reprisal  from  the  King  at  London,  1430,  his  claim  being 
for  £5322  13s.  4d.  He  was  also  granted  licence  for  a  fishery  at  Beagh 
Castle.  He  was  appointed  Constable  of  Limerick  Castle,  26  Henry  VI., 
and  was  Mayor  of  the  city,  1436,  1446,  and  1452.  Nicholas  Creagh 
had  bequeathed  to  him  two  messuages  in  the  parish  of  St.  Nicholas  by 
his  will,  1435.  He  married  Catherine  Skyddy  of  Cork,  Oct.  30th,  1431, 
and  got  a  dispensation  from  the  Pope  (the  bride  being  of  the  4th  degree 
of  consanguinity),  May  7,  1432.  He  presented  "  falcons  and  large  dogs 
fit  for  hunting,  a  black  marble  sculptured  with  a  team  of  leopards,  and 
Spanish  stones  "  to  King  Henry  VI.  He  died  on  the  eve  of  the  nati- 
vity of  the  B.  V.  M.,  1465,  and  was  buried  in  the  Cathedral  near  the 
altar  of  St.  Catharine.  His  wife  Catharine  desired  to  be  buried  there 
beside  her  husband  in  1475. l  Whether  both  these  chapels  stood  in  the 
present  "  Jebb  Chapel,"  or  are  represented  by  it  and  the  present  "  Napier 
Chapel "  I  have  not  been  able  to  elucidate. 

THE  NORTH  AND  SOUTH  CHAPELS,  1489-1533. 

As  the  century  ran  to  to  its  close  a  very  extensive  restoration  was 
undertaken  under  Bishop  John  Eolan  (1489).2  The  "three  transepts" 
were  rebuilt  and  the  chancel  enlarged.  Robert  and  Christopher  Arthur 
rebuilt  the  large  chapel  west  of  the  north  transept.  The  latter  (or 
perhaps  one  of  the  north  chapels)  was  probably  restored  by  the  Creaghs, 
as  their  arms  (three  branches)  were  "  drawn  in  the  chapel  on  the  left 
hand  entrying  to  the  quere  of  our  Lady's  Church  at  Limerick."3 

1  "Arthur  MSS.,"  p.  369.  2  "Arthur  MSS,,"  pp.  577,  578,  581. 

3  "MSS.  T.C.D.  E.  3.  16.  "A  herald  of  arms"  found  fault  with  this— says 
Richard  Creagh,  " Titular"  Bishop  of  Limerick,  1583— probably  as  not  being  the 


46  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

These  works  continued  for  many  years ;  in  1 50 1 ,  the  Mayor,  Christopher 
Arthur,  made  a  collection  for  the  repairs.  In  1505  his  successor~William 
Harold  imposed  severe  fines  on  offending  citizens,  and  devoted  the  pro- 
ceeds to  the  same  cause.  The  Harolds,  as  appears  from  a  slab  removed 
from  the  chancel,  repaired  that  wing  of  the  church  in  1526.  It  was  only 
in  1532-3  that  Daniel,  son  of  Geoffry  Arthur,  paved  the  three  aisles  and 
the  chancel  with  those  square  slabs  of  black  marble  which  originated  the 
popular  name  "  Leccadaniel "  surviving  in  1640.  The  Sexten  and 
Stacpole  chapels,  dedicated  the  first  probably  to  St.  Anne,  the  second 
certainly  to  St.  George, -also  date  from  circa  1500. 

BISHOP  ADAMS,  AND  DONAT,  EAKL  OF  THOMOND,  1604-1619. 

The  cathedral  suffered  horribly  all  the  rest  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
and  was  little  better  than  a  ruin  when  the  reign  of  that  great  queen — so 
glorious  for  England,  so  disastrous  for  the  west — ran  to  its  sad  close. 
Wealthy  merchants  abounded,  citizens  of  no  obscure  state,  men  with 
that  strong  love  for  their  city  and  its  shrines  more  like  an  old  Greek  or 
Koman  than  a  modern  burgess.1  Nothing  could  be  done,  the  cathedral 
was  in  other  hands,2  and  had  it  not  been  so  there  were  more  pressing 
needs  to  supply. 

The  first  Protestant  bishop  who  took  any  practical  interest  in  the 
venerable  building  was  Barnard  Adams.3  He  still  preaches  from  his 
monument  "  omnia  vidit  Solomonis  et  omnia  vana"  : 

"A  Bishop  once,  here  Barnard's  bones  remain, 
He  saw  not  all,  but  saw  that  all  was  vain." 

but  in  life  he  took  part  in  these  earthly  vanities  with  zest,  held  two 
other  sees  in  commendam,  and  accomplished  much  good  work,  which  he 
proudly  recorded  in  the  "  Black  Book  "  of  Bishop  O'Dea. 

"  Ego  Barnardus  Adaraus,  Episcopus  JLymericensis,  consecratus  An. 
secundo  illustrissimi  et  invictissimi  Regis  Jacobi,  ejus  nominis  primi, 
Anno  Salutis,  1604,  ornari  feci  ecclesiam  cathedralem  Beate  Marie 
Yirginis  (valde  ruinosam  etpene  demolitam,  ratione  bellorum  et  rebellionu 

arms  of  O'Neill,  from  whom  the  good  prelate  claimed  descent.  I  may  note  the  early 
occurrence  of  the  name  "Creagh."  as  a  suffix  to  llussell  in  the  lists  of  city  officers. 
The  only  Creagh  tomb  now  visible  hesides  that  of  Dean  Creagh,  1519,  is  in  the  most 
western  of  the  north. chapels,  and  only  dates  1631. 

1  It  may  interest  ,our  Munster  readers  to  give  a  list  (necessarily  restricted  and 
imperfect),  noticing  the  first  'connexion  of  these  various  families  with  the  city  of 
Limerick  to  the  year  1690:— 1195-1250.  Arthur,  Blunde,  Crop,  Kildare,  Eainhold, 
Russell  (alias  Creagh),  Sarvent,  Troy,  White,  Young.    1250-1300.  Harold,  Wainbold, 
Walsh.       1300-1350.    Balbeyne,    Creagh   (of  Adare),    Flemyng,   Moore,   Nophthine, 
Prendergast,  Roche.     1350-1400.  Budston,  Cogan,   Comyn,  Doridon,   Fox,   Galwey, 
Nangle,  Stritch,  Torger.     1450-1500.  Rice,  Sexten,  Stackpole.     1500-1600.  Fanning.; 
1600-1690.   Harrington,    Berkeley,    Bindon,    Bourke,    Foxon,    levers,    Ingoldesbye, 
King,  Lysaght,  Massy,  Monsell,  Waller,  Westropp,  Wilson,    Yorke.     (Benefactors  of 
the  cathedral  in  italics.) 

2  "  The  masse  put  down  the  communio  set  up  "  (Sexien's  "  Annals,"  1559). 

3  September   9th,  1622,  Dr.   Thomas  Arthur  records  his  medical  attendance  on 
"  Bernardus  Adams  pseudo  epus  Lymicens."     (See  our  Journal,  1867,  p.  33.) 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMURICK.  47 

predecensium)  in  tectis.  parietibus,  fenestris  et  pavimentis  ejusdem  et 
procuravi  organum  pulcherrimum  (antiquis  duobus  1  fractis  et  devastatis) 
et  chorum  renovavi  et  cnntatoribus  vocalibus  et  scientificis,  et  quatuor 
pueris  choristis  decoravi.  Et  sepulchrum  milii  et  successoribus  meis 
novum  juxta  sedem  episcopalera,  a  dextris  ex  adverse  monument!  Hono- 
ratissimi  Donati  comitis  Thomonie,  tune  Domini  Presidentis  Momonie 
erexi.  Et  "  Librum  "  hunc  quern  vocant  "  Nigrum  "  (the  blacke  booke), 
optimam  et  solam  reoordam  maneriorum,  terrarum,  redditum  et  cseterorum 
Episcopatum  Lymericensem  spectantium,  magna  cura  preservavi.  Et 
pallatium,  seu  domum  mansion alem  episcopi,  maximis  meis  sumptibus,  re- 
edificavi  et  splendidissimum  successoribus  meis  reliqui.  Q,ue  omnia 
secundum  veritatein  codicihujus  "  Libri  Nigri  "  ad  perpetuam  memoriara 
adjici  et  inserui  Anno  Domini,  1619  ;  Mense  Augusti,  die  ejusdem  xx." 

At  tbe  same  time  Donat,  "the  great  Earl"  of  Thomond,  after  a 
warlike  life,  was,  in  more  peaceable  times  re-edifying  and  beautifying 
the  plain  old  castle  of  Bunratty,  and  also  turned  his  attention  to  St. 
Mary's.  Deserting  the  Friary  of  Ennis,  where,  from  1306  most  of  his 
ancestors  had  been  buried,  he  purchased  a:  tomb  in  the  cathedral  chancel 
not  far  from  the  slab  of  his  ancient  clansman  Bishop  Donat  O'Brien. 
Thence  he  removed  the  effigy  and  bones  of  Cornelius  O'Dea  to  the  south 
side  on  July  14th,  1621.  Several  have  even  written  that  the  Earl 
resumed  the  old  "royal  tomb  "  of  his  race,  and  described  "  huge  bones'* 
found  in  it ;  this  is  a  mere  fancy  opposed  by  our  records.2  He  desires  in 
his  will  (Nov.  28th,  1617)  "to  be  buried  in  the  Thuombe  in  the  Cathedral 
Church  of  St.  Mary  in  the  citty  of  Limericke  which  I  lately  purchased 
there,  according  to  my  honour  and  degree."  He  leaves  "to  Barnard, 
Bishop  of  Limerick,  a  young  gelding  .  .  .  All  the  glasse  and  leade  in  my 
house  at  Bunratty,  being  not  sette  uppe  in  the  Wyndowes  there, 
towards  the  glazing  of  the  cathedral  church,"  and  desires  his  son  Henry 
"  to  repaire,  finishe,  and  make  upp  my  thuombe  at  Lymerick,  and  to 
laie  uppon  it  my  picture  in  Alablaster  in  roabes,  and  in  the  topp  of  the 
thuombe  all  pieces  of  Armor  as  is  uppon  Sre  francis  Vere's  thuombe  in 
Westminstere,  and  twoe  earles  and  twoe  barons  in  their  roabes  to  be  the 
supporters  of  the  saide  uppermost  stone,  as  the  said  Sre  frauncis  his 
thuombe  is  errected.  And  also  to  hang  and  bedeake  the  saide  thuombe, 
by  order  of  heroldrie,  wth  my  coate  Armore  and  all  other  rightedue  and 
apteyninge  to  an  Earle.  Item — I  bequeath  £20  ster.  for  the  adorninge 
of  the  quire  of  our  Ladyes  Church  in  Lymerick,  and  the  same  shalbe 
disposed  of  by  the  Maiore,  Bushopp  and  Deane  of  Limerick." 3 

Such  was  the  design  of  the  monument.    "Whether  it  was  fully  carried 

1  Compare  the  old  phrase  "a  pair  of  organs." 

2  For  of  Donald's  successors,  Donchad  Cairbrech  was  huried  in  the  Dominican 
Friary,   1241;  Conor-na-Siudaine  in   Corcomroe  Abhey,  1267;   Turlough  and  his 
successors,  from  1306,  in  Ennis  Friary. 

3  "  Prerogative  Wills,  Dublin,"  1624.     The  original  is  extant. 


48  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

out  we  cannot  tell.  The  two  effigies,  that  of  the  earl  without  limbs  or 
face,  that  of  the  countess  fairly  perfect — alone  remain,  an  interesting 
•study  of  dress.  The  rest  perished  in  the  civil  war,  but  it  is  improbable 
that  local  carvers  were  then  capable  of  such  skilled  work  as  redeems  the 
somewhat  fantastic  and  structurally  weak  tomb  of  Sir  Francis  Vere 
where  four  kneeling  knights  support  a  great  slab  loaded  with  pieces  of 
armour  over  the  recumbent  figure. 

The  stirring  events  which  next  raged  round  St.  Mary's  probably 
affected  the  main  fabric  very  little.  Resisting  the  temptation  to  tell 
how  Cardinal  Kinuccini  celebrated  high  mass,  and  laid  the  captured 
English  standards  on  the  altar,  or  how  the  Cromwellians  defaced  the 
monument  of  the  hated  Earl  of  Thomond,1  we  need  only  note  an  order 
•dated  15th  June,  1655,  which  banished  the  native  citizens  of  Limerick, 
and  probably  confused  their  traditions.2 


1  "  This  monument  being  defaced  in  the  time  of  the  late  rebellion  in  Ireland" 
says  the  inscription.     The  destroyers  are  not  named,  as  they  are  on  similar  inscriptions 
.at  Ennis,  Athenry,  and  other  places. 

2  The  "  Journal  of  the  Association  for  the  Preservation  of  the  Memorials  of  the 
Dead  in  Ireland,"  vol.  iii.,  No.  3,  1897,  gives  illustrations  of  the  tomh  of  Donald- 
more,  the  shields  on  the  Bultingfort  and  Galwey  tomb,  and  the  name  and  initials  on 
JBudston's  sedile,  pages  488,  489. 


(To  be  continued.} 


FIND  OF  CIST  WITH  HUMAN  REMAINS,  DUNFANAGHY, 
COUNTY  DONEGAL.  (REPORTED  BY  ARCHDEACON 
BAILLIE.) 

BY  W.  FRAZER,  M.R.I.A.,  A  VICE-PRESIDENT. 
(Submitted  12th  JUNE,  1897.) 

fT'HE  VENERABLE  R.  E.  BAILLIE,  Glendoon  Rectory,  Letterkenny,  has 
forwarded  some  particulars  of  a  cist  discovered  by  himself  and  his 
son,  Captain  Baillie,  in  March  1897,  at  Dunfanaghy.  It  was  situated 
•on  the  top  of  a  sandhill  which,  at  high  tide,  is  surrounded.  The 
mound  was  of  conical  form,  and  a  quantity  of  rough  stones  lay  on  the 
top  of  the  cone.  He  writes: — "on  inquiring,  I  was  told  the  story 
was  that  a  giantess  lay  buried  there,  but  little  was  known  about 


The  Inferior  Maxilla  of  Male  Skull. 

her."  He  further  mentions  that  they  obtained  the  assistance  of  some 
labourers  to  dig  down  on  the  top  of  the  mound,  when  they  came  upon 
a  flagstone  which,  when  cleared, "  was  ascertained  to  be  of  large  size, 
measuring  7  feet  in  length  by  5  feet  wide,  and  of  considerable  weight ; 
they  were  able  to  raise  it  up  a  small  distance  from  the  top  of  a  cist  which 
it  covered,  by  the  help  they  had,  and  to  get  out  several  bones,  most  of  which 
were  unfortunately  replaced,  as  night  was  approaching,  and  they  intended 
next  day  to  return  with  additional  aid  and  thoroughly  explore  the  con- 
tents ;  but  severe  weather  setting  in,  Archdeacon  Baillie  had  to  return 


JOUR,  R.S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  I.,  5TH  SBR. 


E 


50 


ROYAL    SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


home  on  Saturday  to  his  parish.  Next  day  a  number  of  roughs  collected,, 
who  pulled  the  place  to  pieces,  scattering  its  contents,  and  trampling  on 
them.  Fortunately  portions  of  two  skulls  were  secured  and  sent  to  Dublin 
the  nearly  perfect  inferior,  maxilla  of  a  male,  ,a,ncLthe  front  part  oltbe 
skull  and  facial  bones  of  a  f  e.male^  '  The  infenor^ni^xili^  l^elprig^d'to'an 
individual  of  rather  advanced  Uge  ;  the  teeth :  wMdi  rema'inecl  (fp^several 
had  fallen  from  their  sockets)  were  healthy,  ground •*  down  iroin  wear 
to  two-thirds  of  their ,  original  height,  and  tbeir  ivory  exposed.  The- 


Skull  of  Female  found  in  Cist. 

mental  prominence  is  conspicuous,  and  the  front  teeth  project  some- 
what forwards.  The  chin  was  decidedly  a  prominent  feature,  and  well-j 
shaped.  The  tubercle  inside  the  symphysis  for  insertion  of  muscles  j 
was  of  large  size,  and  well  developed.  The  angle  formed  by  the  ramus, 
Amounted  to  118°,  and  the  jaw -was  deeply  grooved,  by  rough  surfaces- 
for  muscular  attachments.  It  corresponded  in  its  massive  rectangular; 
shape,  and  projecting  chin,  with  those  observed  in  Norsemen,  in  the r 
inhabitants  of  our  Northern  Irishr  and  Scottish  coasts,  and  in  Lowland., 
Scots.  ••  .,  .-, 

The  skull  of -the  female  was  imperfect ;  what  remained  consisted  of^ 


,  !    'FIND!  OF>  CIS3?   WlTH-fiOMAN    REMAINS.  51 

both  the  "frontal  bones:  and  -part-of  tlie  parietal^  together  ^iti-tlie  bones 
of  the  face;  those  entering  into  the' skull  itself  were^  remarkable  :f or  their 
exceptional  thinness,  which  was  somewhat  less  than  -A-ths  of  an  inch. 
They  belonged  to  a  woman  of  mature  age,  the  crown  of  the  teeth  show- 
ing marks  of  wear,  but  much  less  than  those  of  the  male  lower  jaw.  The ; 
forehead  rose  vertically  to  a  considerable  height ;  the  supraciliary  ridge* 
were  little  developed;  and  the  medio-frontal  suture  is  persistent  for  '-all 
its  extent  down  to  the  nasal  bones  ;  hence  the  skull  was  "  Metopic,"  an 
abnormal  condition  found  by  Topinard  to  occur  in  about  one  cranium  out 


Female  Skull — front  view. 

of  ten  examined  in  Paris,  and  which  appears  to  be  rather  rarer  with  us. 
The  orbits  and  nasal  aperture  admitted  of  measurement,  that  of  the  nose 
was  somewhat  broad  or  platyrrhine,  its  index  amounting  to  55*3.  The 
orbits  are  mesoseme,  of  medium  size,  the  index  being  86' 1.  A  reference 
to  the  accompanying  photographs  will  show  the  character  of  these 
remains  better  than  mere  description. 

The  interments  probably  represented  the  remains  of  an  elderly  man, 
and  of  a  younger  but  fully  aged  female,  possibly  his  slave  or  wife;  and  in 
such  cases,  it  is  usual  to  assume  she  may  have  been  slain  to  attend  her 

E2 


52      ROYAL  SOCIETY  OP  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

master  on  his  journey  to  another  world.  It  is  a  source  of  regret  that  the 
cist  was  not  subjected  to  a  thorough  investigation ;  it  is  possible  that  a  clay 
urn  or  fragments  of  one  might  have  been  found,  intended  to  contain  votive 
food  offerings,  and  though  less  probable  some  form  of  stone  or  flint 
weapon  •  but  the  misguided  energy  of  ignorant  people  did  mischief ,  and 
it  is  fortunate  that  what  was  recovered  enables  us  to  settle  the  double 
character  of  the  interment  in  this  cist  of  both  a  man  and  woman,  the 
latter  being  a  person  of  rather  pleasing  features,  and  a  strong  contrast  to 
the  ruder  and  sterner  facial  appearance  the  man  must  have  preseiiteci. 


NOTES  ON  THE  NEWLY-DISCOYEKED  OGAM-STONES  IN 
COUNTY  MEATH. 

BY  ROBERT  COCHRANE,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  HON.  SECRETARY. 
WITH  READINGS  BY  PROFESSOR  RHYS,  M.A.,  F.S.A.,  HON.  FELLOW. 

[Read  28th  SEPTEMBER,   1897.] 

nPHE  discovery  of  Ogam- stones  in  county  Heath  is  interesting  in  many 
"ways,  chiefly  on  account  of  the  extension  of  the  Ogam  area  to  a 
part  of  Ireland  where  no  such  monuments  have  hitherto  heen  known  to 
exist.  On  this  point  the  late  Sir  Samuel  Ferguson  in  the  work  on 
"  Ogam  Inscriptions,"  published  after  his  death  in  1887,  says  the  divid- 
ing line  between  the  Ogamic  and  non-Ogamic  districts  of  Ireland  is 
co-incident  with  the  limits  of  the  Patrician  Mission,  and  in  treating  of 
Meath  says  that  any  traces  of  Ogam  markings  in  that  county  are  illegible 
or  quasi-Ogamic.  Describing,  in  the  Proceedings,  E.I. A.,  vol.  i.,  ser.  n., 
p.  303,  a  stone  at  Mullagh,  Co.  Cavan,  the  existence  of  which,  how- 
ever, is  extremely  doubtful,  he  mentions  that  it  is  the  first  instance 
of  a  genuine  Ogam  having  been  found  in  the  east  of  Ireland  north  of  the 
county  of  Wicklow.  The  two  monuments  now  about  to  be  described 
extend  the  limits  of  the  Ogam  area  to  about  30  miles  north  of  Dublin, 
and  about  10  miles  from  the  eastern  seaboard. 

It  has  been  observed  that  in  Ireland,  Ogams  are  more  frequently  met 
with  in  barren  and  uncultivated  districts,  on  mountain  slopes  and  lonely 
moors,  but  those  recently  discovered  in  Meath  are  in  the  centre  of  what 
has,  at  all  times,  been  considered  the  most  fertile  part  of  Ireland. 

In  a  Paper  read  by  Mr.  Eomilly  Allen,  F.S.A.,  on  10th  May  last,  before 
the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland,  on  "  Some  Points  of  Kesemblance 
between  the  early  Sculptured  Monuments  of  Scotland  and  those  of 
Ireland,"  he  mentioned  that  what  surprised  him  most,  in  going  into 
the  question  of  the  geographical  distribution  of  the  early  crosses  with 
ornament,  are  the  comparatively  small  number  there  are  in  Ireland,  and 
the  almost  entire  absence  of  crosses,  with  ornament,  in  the  district  where 
the  Ogam  inscriptions  abound. 

The  views  thus  enunciated  by  Mr.  Allen  as  to  the  distribution  of  Ogams 
is  in  accordance  with  the  opinion  expressed  by  Sir  Samuel  Ferguson  on  the 
limits  of  the  Ogamic  area  before  alluded  to,  and  both  are  based  on  the  data 
afforded  by  the  then  known  monuments  ;  but  the  discovery  of  the  Meath 
Ogams  in  the  midst  of  the  finest  examples  of  our  high  crosses,  and  in  the 
immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  most  important,  must  tend  to  a  modified 
acceptance  of  these  conclusions ;  and  it  is  perhaps  premature  to  adopt  a 
decided  attitude  on  the  question,  until  a  more  complete  and  exhaustive 


54 


ROYAL    SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


list  of  the  monuments  has  been  compiled.  That  our  Ogam  list  is  not,  as 
yet,  in  a  state  to  be  regarded  as  approaching  this  completeness,  is  shown 
by  r  the  ^finding  of.no  less  £han  ;f  our  Ogam -inscribed  stones,  within^  th  e 
past  twelve, "months,  in  Ireland ;  and  during  the  last  month  I  nad  an 
opportunity  of  examining  three  stones,  with  inscriptions  in  debased 
Latinjcapitals,  in  Pembrokeshire,  of  which  two  had,  Ogam  inscriptions 
as  well,  and  all  have  been  discovered  within  the  past  year. 

•THE  PAINESTOWN  STONE. — This,  the  most  recently  known  and  hitherto 


Map  showing  position  of  Painestown  Ogam -stone,  Co.  Meath. 

Tundeseribed,  is  easily  accessible  from  Dublin.  It  is  about  a  mile  from 
'Beauparc  railway  station,  quite  close  ^to  the  public  road,  in  a  field 
belonging  to  Captain  Thunder  of  Seneschalstown  House,  who  will  be  very 


NEWLY-DISCOVERED    OGAM-STONES    IN    CO.  MEATH.        (  55 


pleased  to  slow  it  to  anyone  who  wishes  to  makeapersonalexaminatitfti. 
r  This  gentleman  has  known  the  stone  for  many  years,  and  had  observed 

the  scores  in  the  face,'  but,  considered 

they  were  ploughmarks.     This  is  not 

surprising,  as   the  sinkings  occur  in 
"the  face  of  the  stone,  and  not  in  the 

more  usual  position  on  the   edge,  so 

that  its  true  character,  easily  passed 

unnoticed.1 

As  it  is  of  some  importance  that 

the  precise    Iticm  of  the  find  should 

be  noted,  I  have  marked  its  position 

on    the    map  herewith  which   shows 

the  railway  station  and  the  principal 
'places  in  the  neighbourhood. 

Looking  at  the  f  onn;  of  the  stone, 
"•  it   is   evident  that  it  was  originally 

intended  to  stand   erect,    though,   at 

present,    it   lies   flat.       Its    extreme 
'  length  is  7  feet  4  inches ;  breadth  at 

top,  1  foot  8  inches,   and  „ at  bottom, 

2  feet  6  inches.     The  inscription  com- 
mences at   3  feet   8  inches  from  the 

top,  or  at  exactly  half  its  height,  and 

this  allowed  the  bottom  portion  to  be 

sunk  in  the  ground  for  the  other  half 

of   its   length,    without   causing  any 
'  portion  of  the  inscription  to  be  hidden. 

•  The   stone  at   its    edge    varies   from 
8  inches  to  13  inches  in  thickness;  and 

1  the    side  opposite  to  that  on   which 
"the  inscription  occurs  is  of  a  "  saddle- 
backed"  shape,  and  in  the  middle  it 
i:  measures   18  inches  in  thickness.     I 

•  took  a  careful  rubbing  of  it  at  my  first  THE  PAINESTOWN  OGAM-"*™..  Co.  MBATH. 

visit,  While    it    lay   flat;    but    Captain       ;    (tfrtom  a'Photo  by  Rev.  Dr.  Healy.) 

Thunder  very  kindly  got  his  men  to  ; 

•raise  it  on  edge,  on  the  occasion  of  my  second  visit,  for  the  purpose 

j  : ^_ : ; — : : __; ; 

1  I  was  led  to  investigate -this  locality 'from  conversations  I 'had  with  Dr.  Moran, 
Heacl  Inspector  of  National  Schools,  whoj,s  well  acquainted- with  county  Meath.  He 
nlso  mentioned  another  stone  which,  though  most  interesting,  1  found  not  to  be  a 
true  Ogaic.  Dr.  Moran  gaveLme  the  address  of  Mr.  P.  Collins,  principal  teachefr  of 
Yellow  Furze  National  School,  who  during  an  August  holiday  kindly  accompanied 
me  in  examining  the  mai.iy  objects  of  interest  jin  the  locality.  , 

t:  The  other- stone,  a  description  of  which  I -shall  give  later,  is  in  the  townlknd  of 
Brownstown  ;  it  is  of  the  pillar-stone  type,,13;feet  2  inches  in  height,  rwith  peculiar 
markings,  and  is  known  locally  as  "  Clough  Stucka." 


56  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

of  having  it  photographed,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Healy  of  Kells,  was  good 
enough  to  photograph  it  in  this  position  which  gives  a  full  view  of  the 
face  of  the  stone,  and  shows  the  inscription  on  it. 

The  inscription  is  in  two  lines  on  the  face  of  the  stone,  and  not  on  the 
angle,  and  there  is  no  trace  of  a  stem-line  whatever — it  is  very  rarely 
that  the  stem  is  entirely  absent.  At  Lomanagh,  Ballintaggart,  and  Kil- 
bonane  where  the  inscriptions  are  not  on  the  angles,  the  stem-lines,  though 
very  indistinct,  can  with  care  be  traced,  but  on  the  Painestown  stone,  the 
closest  examination  does  not  show  any  indication  that  a  stem -line  ever 
existed.  The  ogam  markings  as  will  be  seen,  do  not  run  quite  straight, 
and  as  the  value  of  the  scores  depends  on  which  side  of  the  line  they  are 
marked  there  is  here  a  field  of  speculation  for  epigraphic  critics,  but 
Professor  Rhys  says  it  is  charmingly  easy  to  read,  and  that  there  can  be 
no  doubt  whatever  as  to  the  meaning  of  the  characters.  I  am  very 
much  indebted  to  the  learned  Professor  for  coming  to  make  a  personal 
examination  of  the  stone,  which  relieves  me  from  a  further  description 
of  the  characters,  and  it  will  be  regarded  as  satisfactory  that  the  priority 
of  reading  comes  from  one  who  has  raised  our  Ogamic  inscriptions  to  the 
high  place  they  now  occupy  in  philological  research. 

s ''/&•*  THE    ST.    CAIRAN'S   STONK. —  Another 

^fiB^n  stone    in   the   county   of  Meath   recently 

"J/  .  discovered  and  hitherto  undescribed  is  in 

/ffj/i.       «?<!  the  churchyard  of  St.  Cairan,  about  three 

ffj^  miles  from  Kells ;  it  was  discovered  recently 

Jjl  while  digging  a  grave ;  and  to  Eev.  Dr. 

Healy  of  Kells  belongs  the  credit  of  having 

first  drawn  attention  to  it. 

This  monument  though  undoubtedly 
buried  underground  for  a  long  time,  shows 
signs  of  previous  rough  treatment,  as  it  is 
much  chipped  on  the  angles.  It  is  not  so 
massive  as  the  Painestown  stone,  its  ex- 
treme length  being  only  4  feet;  it  is  of 
clay  slate,  and  measures  10  inches  in 
OGAM-STONE  IN  ST.  CAIRAN'S  CHURCH  thickness  at  its  base,  and  is  4  inches  thick 

YARD,  NEAR  KnLLS,  Co.  MEATH.  ,  . 

(From  a  Photo  by  Rev.  Dr.  Healy.)      at   the   toP'       lhe    markings    Commence    at 

12  inches  from  the  bottom. 

This  stone  stands  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  ancient  graveyard  of  St. 
Cairan,  just  over  the  spot  where  it  was  recently  dug  up,  and  it  is  used 
&s  a  headstone  for  the  grave  in  digging  for  which  it  was  discovered. 

There  are  four  high  crosses  in  the  enclosure,  some  of  which  are 
illustrated  in  Sir  William  "Wilde's  work  on  "  The  Beauties  of  the  Boyne 
and  Blackwater." 

In  this  case,  also,  Professor  Rhys  gives  a  reading  of  the  inscription, 
the  first  which  has  been  published. 


NEWLY-DISCOVERED    OGAM-STONES    IN    CO.  MEATH.          57 


THE  PAINESTOWN  STONE.    READING  BY  PROF.  RHYS. 

This  fine,  massive  monument  has  two  lines  of  Ogam  on  the  face  of  the 
st  one,  together  with  two  short  grooves  for  which  I  cannot  account ;  hut 
there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  they  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
writing,  which  shows  no  fleasc  connecting  the  letters.  There  is  absolutely 
no  room  for  doubt  as  to  any  one  of  the  letters,  and  before  I  saw  the 
stone  itself  I  had  read  it  from  an  excellent  calico -rubbing  taken  by 
Mr.  Cochrane  : — 


M    A    QU         I  CA 


HI 

AV          I          I         N         E         QUAGLA8 

With  regard  to  this,  I  ought  to  say  that  there  never  was  anything 
after  glas :  there  the  surface  is  smooth,  and  in  no  way  worn  into  a 
depression.  I  paid  particular  attention  to  this  point,  as  I  expected  a 
genitive  in  t,  Inequaglasi,  but  in  vain  ;  for  my  first  impulse  was  to  treat 
the  whole  as  equivalent  to  a  later  Maie  Cairthinn  ui  hEnechglais,  that  is, 
"  (the  stone)  of  Mac  Cairthinn,  descendant  of  Enechglass."  But  there 
is  no  occasion  to  ascribe  a  gross  blunder  to  the  inscriber  :  so  I  construe, 
according  to  a  formula  well  established  elsewhere,  "Mac  Cairthinn' s 
descendant  Enechglas."  The  inscription  seems  to  be  an  early  one,  and 
it  it  is  most  important  as  giving  us  a  nominative  Inequaglas,  with  the 
case  termination  gone,  which  there  are  other  reasons  for  regarding  as 
having  dropped  off  at  an  early  date. 

I  have  no  books  at  hand  where  I  am  penning  these  lines,  but  I  well 
recollect  the  name  of  a  sept,  or  clan,  called  after  an  Enechglas,  though 
I  rather  think  that  they  belonged  to  some  district  in  the  south-east  of  the 
island.  The  name  Mac  Cairthinn  was  hardly  a  very  common  name,  but 
I  have  a  recollection  of  meeting  with  it  in  the  pedigrees  in  the  "Book 
of  Leinster,"  and  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  it  is  there  usually  written  with 
nn  (or  nd],  for  which  I  cannot  account ;  and  I  am  pretty  sure  I  have  read 
of  a  Maccaerthennus  episcopus  somewhere. 

For  the  pleasure  of  inspecting  these  important  monuments  I  have  to 
thank  Mr.  Cochrane,  who  led  the  way  to  them,  undeterred  by  the  heavy 
rain  which  poured  down  on  us,  and  to  whom  I  leave  the  description  of 
the  details  of  their  dimensions,  the  circumstances  attending  the  discovery 
of  them,  and  other  things  of  interest  connected  with  them,  not  the  least 
of  which  is  their  being  both  found  in  Meath.  Up  to  the  date  of  the 
discovery  of  these  stones  by  Mr.  Cochrane,  no  certain  instance  of  a 


OGAM  INSCRIPTION  AT  PAINKSTOWN,  Co.  MEATH. 
(From  a  rubbing  by  Mr.  Cochrane.) 


NEWLY-DISCOVERED  QGAMr STONES Y  IN    CO.    MEATH.         1.0.9 

.Meath  Ogam  had  been  foupd;    : I- do  riot  believe  the  supposed  Qgdm 
fin  the  Chair  Cairn  at  Loughcrew  to  be  one,  and  I 'have  looked  in  vain 

for  the  one  said  to  be  at  Mullagh,'  in  the  county  of  Cavan,  on  the  borders 

of  Meath. 


THE  ST.  CAIRAN'S  STONE.-  READING  BY  PROF.  RHYS. 

The  edge  of  this  stone  is  a  little  damaged  near  the  top,  besides  that  a 
great  part  of  it  is  weatherworn,  so  that  we  have  to  supply  the  vowels 
wholly  or  in  part.  Thus  the  first  three  notches  of  the  i  of  Conni  are 
gone ;  the  third  and  fourth  notch  of  the  i  of  maqui  are  similarly  worn  off, 
but  I  thought  I  detected  the  fifth  near  the  top  of  the  stone.  A  little 
beyond,  there  seemed  to  be  a  part  of  a  following  m  on  the  front  of  the 
stone.  Then  there  was  room  for  the  u  of  mucoi,  and  the  last  notch  of  that 
u  is  still  visible,  followed  by  what  appears  like  another  notch  ;  but  this 
latter  is  on  a  part  of  the  edge  which  is  damaged  and  thin,  so  that  I  take  it 
to  be  the  first  score  of  the  letter  c  of  mucoi.  The  oi  is  all  gone,  but  1  spaced 
it,  and  found  that  it  appears  to  give  about  the  right  room  for  the  vowels 
oi.  The  next  letter  is  an  I  followed  by  space  for  u,  and  too  much  for  o.  The 
rest  is  mostly  perfect,  with  the  exception  of  the  third  and  fourth  scores  of 
the  n,  which  are  imperfect.  On  the  whole  I  may  say,  that  there  can  be 
no  doubt  except  as  to  the  mucoi,  and  1  entertain  none  even  as  to  that. 
One  or  two  remarks,  however,  ought  to  be  made  here :  among  others,  that 
the  Ogam  cutter  was  not  very  careful  as  to  his  spacing  of  the  scores ; 
thus  the  first  n  of  Conni  is  badly  spaced  :  the  same  applies  to  the  qu  of 
maqui  and  to  the  c  of  mucoi.  With  regard  to  the  latter,  it  is  also  to  be 
observed  that  there  is  a  cut,  made  by  some  tool  or  other,  askew  from  the 
base  of  the  first  score  of  the  c  to  the  top  of  the  second  score,  or  rather 
slantingly  through  the  latter  near  its  top.  This  at  first  puzzled  me,  and 
it  has  to  be  dissociated  from  the  writing  :  it  occurs  on  the  damaged  part 
of  the  edge.  Lastly,  although  the  stone  was  unearthed  the  other  day  in 
digging  a  grave,  it  must  have  long  ago  been  exposed  for  ages  to  the 
weather :  there  is  no  other  explanation  to  give  of  the  disappearance  of  so 
many  of  the  vowels,  and  the  smoothly-worn  surface  of  the  angle  through- 
out a  considerable  portion  of  its  extent. 

-H-::  ~  y-::--^::-:::::^:::  ^-^TITT— 


"  mil  run        ~- 

CON  N          I         MAQU         I  MUCO  ILUQUN  I 

A  word  now  as  to  the  names  :  Conni  is  the  genitive  of  Conn,  and  in 
modern  Irish  it  is  Cuinn,  anglicised  Quin.  But  who  this  particular 
Conn  was  I  have  no  idea.  As  to  Luguni,  that  is  the  genitive  of  a  name 
Lugun-,  which  has  been  found  in  Ogams  examined  by  me  in  the  counties 
of  Wexford  and  Kerry,  but  I  have  never  succeeded  in  cennecting  any  of 


60         -ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND.::: 

them  with  any  Luigni  of  Irish  history.  Here,  at  last,  one  is  more  fortunate. 
Some  Meath  Luigni  have  left  their  name  to  the  barony,  now  known  in 
English  as  that  of  Lune.  But  it  would  seem  that  the  present  barony  of 
Lune  is  only  a  fraction  of  the  district  which  once  belonged  to  the  Luguni 
or  Luigni,  and  I  have  a  recollection  that  O'Donovan  considered  that 
it  formerly  included  Lough  Ramor,  and  reached  somewhere  near  Navan. 
Thus  the  tract  in  question  must  have  covered  the  locality  of  this  stone, 
and  the  mucoi  Luguni,  or  the  Luigni&n  elan,  was  at  home  in  the  country 
around  St.  Cairan's. 


(       6lA    ) 


Jffifcceflanea, 

Ulcerative  Disease  of  Bronze,  or  "  Bronze  Cancroid." — Coins  and 
medals,  weapons  and  statues,  in  short,  all  objects  of  antiquity  fabricated 
from  metallic  copper,  and  its  important  alloy  made  by  adding  tin  in 
certain  proportions  to  form  bronze  are  liable  to  be  attacked  by  this 
destructive  corroding  affection. 

The  brilliant  surface  of  a  recent  medal  struck  in  bronze,  or  a  casting 
made  from  it  soon  loses  its  bright  lustre,  and  becomes  oxidized  on  the 
exterior,  assuming  in  time  some  modification  of  those  peculiar  patinas 
valued  by  persons  who  recognize  their  importance  for  increasing  the 
artistic  appearance  of  such  objects.  Thus  the  copper  may  become,  in  the 
course  of  time,  converted  into  a  dark  red  suboxide,  still  preserving  the 
sharpness  of  the  outlines  caused  by  the  die,  and  the  smooth  appearance 
which  it  had  originally,  remaining  unaltered.  This  change  is  seldom 
noticed  to  occur  to  any  great  extent  in  our  Irish  antiquities. 

When  bronze  is  exposed  to  the  continued  action  of  a  moderate  degree 
of  moisture  and  warmth,  and  in  addition  to  the  influence  of  carbonic 
acid  gas  which  abounds  in  the  case  of  volcanic  districts,  such  as  portions 
of  Italian  soil,  the  conversion  of  the  metal  proceeds  further  until  it 
acquires  a  lovely  shade  of  blue,  such  as  mineralogists  term  azurite,  or 
some  tint  of  rich  green  carbonate,  similar  to  the  various  colours  of  the 
mineral  malachite.  These  conversions  to  a  red  suboxide,  or  to  blue  or 
green  carbonate  are  all  healthy  processes,  and  so  far  from  causing  the 
slightest  injury  are  considered  to  augment  the  value  and  beauty  of  the 
bronze  when  thus  altered. 

Far  different  is  the  bronze  disease  ;  it  produces  a  remarkable  disin- 
tegrating and  destructive  effect  on  the  object  it  attacks,  and  there  are 
good  reasons  for  considering  that  it  possesses  infective  powers,  spreading 
like  a  leprosy  through  the  substance  of  the  metal,  and  slowly  reducing 
it  to  amorphous  powder ;  further,  there  are  substantial  grounds  for 
believing  it  capable  of  being  conveyed  from  surfaces  already  suffering 
with  it  to  those  yet  uninfected.  So  that  dishonest  counterfeiters  of 
antiques  now  propagate  it  on  their  modern  forgeries  to  deceive  intended 
purchasers.  This  infamous  act  is  as  yet  understood  to  be  confined  to 
Italy,  where  the  greater  part  of  these  forgeries  are  made. 

The  fabrication  of  imitations  of  bronze  antiquities  is  a  flourishing 
trade  in  Rome ;  formerly  they  were  satisfied  to  apply  deceptive  surface 
patinas  which  were  soon  recognized,  and  could  only  deceive  amateur 
collectors  with  little  experience.  Now  the  artists  are  better  educated, 
skilled  chemists,  well  acquainted  with'  modern  discoveries,  by  which 


62  ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF   IRELAND. 

identical  effects  can  be  produced  on   metallic   surfaces   that   once   de- 
manded prolonged  periods  of  time  for  their  development.     The  principal 
person  who  carries  on  these  operations  in  Borne  is  well  known ;  at  will 
he    can  produce  the  brilliant  #nd  glittering  patina  of  blue  or  green 
coloration,  or  that  rugose  surface  of  metal  which  formerly  required  pro- 
longed exposure  to  Roman  soil,  or  deposition  in  a  river-bed.    In  genuine 
antiques,  it  unfortunately  happens  occasionally  that  the  patinated  surface 
of  bronze,   soon  after  its   discovery  from   recent   excavations,  becomes ' 
affected  with  this  distinctive  bronze  disease  which  makes  its  appearance 
in  a  number  of  small  spots  of  clear  pale-blue  colour,  that  swell  and  form  } 
farinaceous  elevations;  in  the  course  of  time,   especially  when  kept  in  > 
a  moist  atmosphere,   these  spots  enlarge,   run   together  and  multiply, 
gradually  invading  the  greater  part  of  the  surface,  and  reducing  the  < 
object  to  a  powdery  condition.  "0 

"When  a  bronze  article  is  disinterred,  and  this  troublesome  malady  has 
commenced,  the  remedy  recommended  is  to  saturate  every  spot  where  it  • 
shows,  with  a  brush  dipped  in  ink,   letting  it  penetrate  deeply  and 
thoroughly.     Of  course,  the  ink  employed  is  that  old-fashioned  one  pre-  : 
pared  from  common  sulph ate  of  iron  and  oak  galls — not  any  of  the  modern 
inventions.    If  the  diseased  surfaces  appear  inclined  to  extend,  or  should 
new  spots  show  themselves,  the  process  should  be  repeated  two  or  three 
times  or  more  until  it  is  arrested.    In  the  course  of  time  the  discoloration  > 
which  the  ink  produces  will  fade  away,  and  gradually  agree  in  tint  with;j 
that  of  the  healthy  patination.    Special  care  must  be  taken  not  to  scrape"1 
the  spots  thus  acted  on  by  ink,  which  would  risk  a  fresh  outbreak  of •- 
this  infectious  malady. 

It  would  appear  that  those' jskilful  artists  of  false  antiques  having  1 
succeeded  in  counterfeiting   genuine  patinations,  so  as  to  deceive  the  , 
most  learned  collectors,  have  subsequently  gone  to  the  length  of  infecting  : 
their  reproductions  with  spots  of  the  bronze  disease.     This  is  no  mere 
superficial  imitation  which  they -cause,   but  absolute  inoculation  of  the 
destructive  canker  itself. 

I  am  induced  to  call  attention  to  this  subject  from  a  learned  article  in  ; 
the  "Revue  Archeologique  "  by  the'  late  Count  Michel  Kyskiewicz,  who,  ^ 
I  regret  to  say,  died  in  November  last  at  Rome.     It  is  contained  in  one  of  - 
his  latest  contributions  to  archeology,  and  the  last  of  a  highly  attractive ' 
and  instructive  series  of  papers  by  him,'  "Notes  and  Souvenirs  of  an  Old 
Collector."     These  are  deserving  of  study  as  they  abound  in  information  ; 
of  the  most  valuable  description  for^all  who  desire  to  understand  the 
pitfalls  and  deceptions  which  are  prepared  to  entrap  unwary  beginners, 
and  even  lead  astray  those  who  should  be  better  informed. — W.  FRAZER. 


The  Moat  -of  Patrickstowri.^The-  Moat  of  Pairickstowii  is  situated 
to   the    smith- east   of  the  hill  of  tnat  name,*  about  three  miles  from 


MISCELLANEA. 


Oldcastle,  county  Meath.  In  form  it  is  a  truncated  cone,  whose  top  is 
about  fifteen  yards  across.  Tradition  has  long  connected  it  with  the 
Danes,  and  it  would  be  a  matter  of  no  small  difficulty  to  persuade  soine 
of  the  peasants  living  in  the  neighbourhood  that  dwarf-like  men  have 
not  been  known  to  vanish  mysteriously  into  the  interior,  where  it  was 
stoutly  affirmed  existed  a  cave  with  a  passage  leading  to  it.  So  widely 
spread  was  this  idea  *that  the  owner  was,  many  years  ago,  induced 
to  excavate  and  so  settle  the  question.  This  Excavation  was  a  wide" 
cut  extending  .from  the  outside  to  a  point  about  two-thirds  across  the 
tumulus,  and  going  right  down,  to  the  maiden  earth,  on  which  it; 
stands. 

No  trace  of  a  chamber  was  found,  but  near  the  top  on  the  right-hand; 
side  (vide  illustration)  were  found  the  remains  of  fire, 
presumably  for  cremation  purposes,  although  no  re-; 
mains, of  bones  were  . found  in  the  blackened  mass, 
This,  however,  yielded  several  rusted  fragments  ol- 
iron,  which?  when  placed  together  were  found  to  fit 
each  other  so  as  to  form  an  object  about  six  inches 
long  and  one  wide,  wliicn' S^as 
probably  the  blade  of  a  knife] 
or  dagger,  all  traces  of  the 
handle  having  vanished.  , ,  T, 
The  silver  buckle  or  broocK 
illustrated  was  ,  also  found  in 
thevcharred  mass  near  the  pieces 
of  iron.  It  is  nearly  an  inch  in 
diameter,  and  shows  a  slight 
attempt  at  ornamentation-  on 
both  sides^  which  is  produced 
by  stamping  with  a  very  small, 
hollow  punch,  causing  the  metal, 
inside  to  rise^  up  in  minute, 
knobs,  partly  surrounded  by 
horseshoe-shaped  depressions.  These  are  rather  irregularly  scattered 
over  the  ring.  Several  very  similar  brooches  can  be  stten  in  the  Museum, 
at  York. 

So  me  distance  below  the  burnt  layer,  the  skull  of  a  rather  small  dog5 
was  found,  quite  perfect 'and  oUnburnt.  .  .  :,»:.;  \-  .  .;•;:;" 

I  am  not  aware  of  any  other  remains  having  been  discovered.,;  but' 
those  that  have  been  found  are  apparently  sufficient  to  show  that  the > 
tumulus  was  the  tomb  of  a  Dane. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  how  tradition  has  persisted  in  connecting 
the  moat  with,  the  Danes,,  even  after  the  lapse  of  so  many  centuries,\ 
and  that  it  has  endowed  them  with  supernatural  powers.— E.  CROFTOIT 


Moat  of  l^atricfcstown,  Co-.  Meath. 


64  ROYAL  SOCIETY.  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

The  Photographic  Survey  lias  received  the  following  accession^ 
during  1897  : — From  Mrs.  Shackleton,  87.  T.  J.  Westropp,  22.  E.  R. 
M'C.  Dix,  4.  T.  Mason,  3.  The  following  lent  negatives  for  the  use  of 
the  Society: — J.  Grene  Barry,  15.  G.  Fogarty,  10.  Mrs.  Stacpoole,  3 
(Members).  Richard  J.  Stacpoole,  4.  Photographs,  printed  and  bought 
by  the  Society,  30. 

The  following  is  the  distribution  of  the  collection  according  to 
counties  at  end  of  1897  : — 

Antrim,  45.  Armagh,  3.  Carlow,  5.  Cavan,  10.  Clare,  88. 
Cork,  14.  Donegal,  30.  Down,  74.  Dublin,  84.  Fermanagh,  15. 
Gal  way,  69.  Kerry,  48.  Kildare,  19.  Kilkenny,  45.  King's  County, 
29.  Leitrim,  8.  Limerick,  36.  Londonderry,  3.  Longford,  2.  Louth, 
31.  Mayo,  14.  Meath,  54.  MonagTian,  6.  Queen's  County,  3.  Ros- 
common,  27.  Sligo,  27.  Tipperary,  28.  Tyrone,  8.  Waterford,  17. 
Westmeath,  12.  Wexford,  29.  Wicldow,  23.  Total  of  permanent 
photographs,  909. 

ADDITIONS  DURING  1897. 

CAHLOW. — St.  Mullins,  base  of  round  tower,  cross.     Ullard,  chancel 
arches,  west  door,  cross. 

CLARE. — Dangan  (near  Fortfergus),  castle.  Doonagore,  round  castle. 
Dromore,  castle.  Dunlecky,  castle,  from  E.  (before  fall  of  tower) ;  from 
N.W.  Dysert  CPDea,  church,  door,  cross.  Ennis,  friary  (3),  screen. 
Glen,  castle.  Scatter^  Island,  Temple-na-marve. 

CORK. —  Cloyne,  round  tower.  Inisherkin,  friary,  from  N.E. ;  from 
west. 

DONEGAL. — Tory  Island,  round  tower. 

DUBLIN. — Adamstown,  castle.  Clondalkin,  round,  tower,  cross.  Finglas, 
cross.  Kilgollin,  cross,  Kilternan,  church,  window,  door,  and  font ; 
cromlech.  Leixlip,  castle.  Newcastle  Lyons,  church  tower,  east  window, 
cross.  Puck's  Castle.  Rathmichael,  church-;  ditto,  and  round  tower. 
Tulfy,  cross. 

GALWAY. — Aran  Isles,  Temple  Benen  ;  Kilgobnet ',  cemetery  on 
Inishere.  Iniscaltra,  round  tower;  St.  Mary's  church;  St.  Michael's 
church. 

KERRY. — Alleydorney,  abbey,  from  W.  Ardfert,  cathedral,  from 
S.E.,  west  door,  Templenahoe.  BaHycarlery,  Cahergel  fort.  Caher- 
dor g an,  fort  and  cells.  Derrynane,  caher ;  friary,  from  W.  Dunbeg] 
fort  (2).  Fahan,  caher  and  cells ;  Cahernamairtinech  ("  Fort  of  the 
Wolves").  Gallerm,  oratory.  Glenfahan,  cloghauns  in  caher.  j&lmal- 
kedar,  church  (6),  cross;  St.  Brendan's  House.  Lough  Curran 
west  door,  inscribed  slab ;  cloghaun  (2).  ItaJiinnane,  castle. 
St.  Michael's  rock  ;  St.  Michael's  church ;  monastic  cells  (3) ;  -steps. 


MISCELLANEA.  65 

LIMERICK. — Askeaton,  castle,  banqueting-hall;  church,  belfry ;  friary, 
from  S.,  nave,  cloister  arcade  (2),  figure  of  St.  Francis  in  cloister, 
Stephenson  monument,  refectory,  recess  in  ditto.  Ballycullane,  castle. 
Ballygrennane,  castle  (2).  Kilulta,  church.  Limerick,  castle.  Lough 
GUT,  Black  castle. 

LOUTH. — Drogheda,  St.  Peter's  church,  Golding  tombs  (2). 

MAYO. — Clare  Island,  Grania  Uaile's  castle.  Dunnamoe,  fort.  Killala, 
round  tower.  Moyne,  friary,  from  S.E.,  from  N.W.,  transept,  cloister. 
Rosserk,  friary,  church,  exterior  S.W. 

MEATH. — Ballylogan,  friary.  Bective,  abbey,  exterior,  cloister. 
Carried,  castle.  Clonard,  font,  tumulus.  Duleek,  cross,  church.  Kilcarn, 
font.  Newtown,  St.  John's  ;  Sir  Luke  Dillon's  tomb.  Trim,  Watergate, 
sheep  gate,  and  castle. 

QUEEN'S  COUNTY. — Dunamase,  castle. 

WATERFORD. —  Cluttahina,  souterrain.     Lismore,  castle. 

WESTMEATH. — Fore,  abbey  (2),  with  abbot's  house,  St.  Fechin's 
church  (3),  ditto  and  abbey,  ditto  and  Greville's  burial-ground  ; 
St.  Mary's  church  ;  east  gate  ;  west  gate. 

"WICKLOW. — Burgage,  cross.  Old  Court,  church  ;  St.  Patrick's  well ; 
base  of  cross  in  stream. 

Total  increase  for  1897  was  141  ;  increase  for  1895  was  174;  and 
for  1896,  107.  Fortunately  we  have  now  no  blanks  in  the  list  of 
counties,  but  very  little  has  been  done  to  complete  the  series  of  Round 
Towers,  and  more  noteworthy  remains  noted  in  our  last  report  (Journal, 
1896,  p.  391). 

Though  not  suitable  for  a  record,  we  have  also  available  for  illustra- 
tions and  notes  some  80  silver  prints. 

T.  J.  WESTROPP,  Son.  Curator. 

Historic  Truth  and  Sham  Legends. — The  growth  of  sham  legends, 
referred  to  by  T.  J.  W.  at  page  253,  Journal,  September,  1897,  is  un- 
ceasing, but  not  altogether  due  to  modern  tourists,  as  he  supposes,  who 
41  stimulate  "  it.  The  statement  at  page  297  of  same,  that  Raleigh  had 
anything  to  do  with  the  extermination  of  the  Italian  and  Spanish  troops 
at  Smerwick  in  1580  is  one  of  those  time-honoured  legends  which  have  no 
support  whatever  in  contemporary  records  of  a  trustworthy  kind.  The 
sole  authority  for  Raleigh's  presence  at  Smerwick  is  Hooker,  whose 
work  is  much  less  a  history  than  a  panegyric  of  his  patrons  und  country- 
men, Raleigh  and  Peter  Carew,  and  whose  account  of  the  siege  at 
Smerwick  was  written  long  after  it  took  place  from  second-hand  reports 
proved  incorrect  on  most  important  points  by  Lord  Grey's  and  Captain 

JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  I.,  5TH  SER.  F 


66  ROYAL   SOCIETY-  OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

Bingham' s  letters,  written  from  Smerwick,  giving  every  detail  of  the- 
siege  of  the  fort,  its  surrender,  the  killing  of  the  garrison,  &c.  In  The 
Antiquary  for  June  and  July,  1892,  I  gave  those  documents  in  full,  and 
a  plan  of  the  fort,  with  all  the  English  ships  of  war  on  the  Bay  of  Smer- 
wick, including  the  "Revenge"  of  Tennyson's  fine  poem.  The  original 
very  curious  plan  of  1580  remains  in  the  London  Public  Record  Office. 
In  not  one  of  those  letters  is  Raleigh's  name  mentioned  ;  while  Zouche, 
Denny,  Piers,  Chrke,  and  others  are  all  described  as  active  in  the  siege. 
Hooker  says  that  Raleigh  had  the  ward  on  the  first  day  and  the  last  day 
of  the  siege.  Grey's  despatches  show  that  this  was  not  the  case,  and 
they  are  confirmed  by  Bingham's  letter,  who  writing  of  and  on  that 
last  day  says,  after  describing  the  surrender  : — 

"  The  fandiQwhich  had  the  war  de  of  that  day,  whichwas  Mr.  Denny' s? 
then  entered  (the  fort),  but  in  the  meantime  were  also  entered  a 
number  of  mariners  upon  the  part  next  the  sea,  which  with  the 
soldiers  aforesaid,  having  possessed  the  place,  fell  to  spoiling  and 
revelling  and  withall  to  killing,  in  which  they  never  ceased  while 
there  lived  one."  (Bingham  to  Lane,  "from  Smerwiclt  Roades, 
llth  November,  1580."—"  Cotton  MSS.,"  Titus  A.,  xii.  313,  Brit. 
Museum.} 

It  was  Denny's  troop  and  the  "  mariners"  who  killed  the  Spaniards 
and  Italians.  Raleigh  was  either  in  Limerick  or  Cork  during  the  siege ; 
but  when  Denny,  who  was  sent  to  the  Queen  with  Grey's  despatch 
(after  being  knighted  for  his  services),  arrived  in  the  latter  city  en  route  for 
London,  he  was  joined  by  his  cousin-german  Raleigh,  who  accompanied 
him  to  Court.  I  may  add  that  Mr.  Hans  Claude  Hamilton,  F.  s.  A.,  late- 
Assistant-Keeper  of  Records,  London,  who  calendared  so  admirably  all  the 
Tudor  State  Papers  relating  to  Ireland,  and  had  an  exhaustive  know- 
ledge of  the  history  of  the  events  of  the  time,  told  me  he  felt  assured, 
Raleigh  was  not  present  at  the  siege  of  Fort  del  Or  at  Smerwick  at  all. 
The  reckonings  of  his  pay  in  1580  extend  from  July  13th  to  Sept.  30th, 
and  the  siege  at  Smerwick  took  place  in  November  of  that  year. 

The  killing  of  the  Spaniards  and  Italians  was  not  a  whit  more 
criminal  than  numberless  similar  cruelties  in  that  age  when  fierce,  so- 
called  "  religious"  wars  were  going  on  in  Europe.  Even  in  recent  times- 
when  a  fort  or  town  was  taken  by  an  excited  soldiery,  the  same  thing 
has  too  often  occurred.  Neither  Denny  nor  Bingham  could  have  pre- 
vented it  at  Smerwick  in  1580.  (See  Antiquary,  July,  1892,  pages 
19,  20.) — MARY  AGNES  HICKSON. 

Malay  weapon  supposed  to  be  Danish. — In  the  very  full  and  interest- 
ing notice  of  Scattery,  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Westropp,  which  appeared  in 
the  September  Number  of  our  Journal,  the  following  occurs  :- — "  Antiqui^- 


MISCELLANEA.  67 

ties  have  occasionally  been  dug  up — a  hatchet,  shaped  like  a  bird's  head, 
and  reputed  to  be  Danish,  was  exhibited  to  our  society  in  1874.  and 
eventually  proved  to  be  Malayan  !  "  In  this  Mr.  "Westropp  is  slightly 
inaccurate,  or  at  least  expresses  himself  so  as  to  be  liable  to  misconception. 
I  exhibited  this  weapon  to  our  Society  in  1874  as  Malayan,  it  having 
been  described  as  Danish  in  a  paper  previously  published  in  our  Journal. 
On  reading  the  description,  I  had  doubts  as  to  its  age,  or  Danish  origin ; 
and  the  late  Sir  James  Spaight,  in  whose  possession  it  was,  having  shown 
it  to  me,  I  at  once  saw  that  it  was  Malayan  and  quite  modern  ;  it  was 
made  in  the  form  of  a  toucan's  head,  with  a  hole  in  it,  to  represent 
the  eye  ;  it  could  hardly  be  called  a  hatchet,  as  it  was  very  thin  and 
light,  and  the  handle,  which  was  bound  with  brass  wire,  not  more 
than  4  inches  long;  it  had  never  been  in  the  ground,  not  being  in 
the  slightest  degree  corroded,  and  had  never  been  on  Scattery;  it  had 
been  for  some  time  tossing  about  in  a  public-house,  in  Kilrush,  the 
owner  of  which,  in  answer  to  a  leading  question,  said  that  he  thought 
it  was  got  on  Scattery,  the  shape,  which  was  supposed  to  represent  the 
head  of  the  Danish  raven,  was  the  only  reason  for  describing  it  as  Danish, 
I  have  a  strong  suspicion,  from  the  grinding  of  the  blade  and  the  wire  on 
the  handle,  that  it  was  manufactured  in  Sheffield  or  Birmingham,  and, 
exported  to  Singapore  or  some  of  the  Straits  Settlements,  for  trade  with 
the  Malays.  Sir  James  kindly  allowed  me  to  take  it  to  Kilkenny,  where 
I  exhibited  it  at  a  meeting  of  our  Society,  where  the  Members  present 
unanimously  agreed  with  me  as  to  its  being  a  modern  Malay  weapon.  If 
it  had  been  exhibited  to  our  Society  in  the  first  instance,  it  would  certainly 
never  have  been  described  in  the  Journal  as  Danish. — GEOEGE  J.  HEWSON, 
Fellow,  Hon.  Local  Secretary,  Limerick. 

The  Ogham  Retrospect  of  1897.— The  following  discoveries  have 
come  under  my  notice  : — 

Rathcanning,  Imoldlly,  Co.  Cork. — See  Journal  for  1897,  p.  80. 
Dooghmaheon,  Co.  Mayo. — See  Journal  for  1897,  p.  186. 
Painestown,  Co.  Meath. — See  Mr.  Cochrane's  Paper,  ante,  p.  53. 
*Ardfert,    Co.  Kerry. — In   a   field   opposite   the  Protestant  church  : 

inscription,  .  .  .  i  CT [ma]Q  LOG[U  ?]      Discoverer,   Mr.  David 

Watson. 

*Gortatlea,  Co.  Kerry. — I  doubt  whether  this  be  an  Ogham  at  all.  It 
has  some  scratches  on  one  edge,  but  nothing  definite.  There  is  also 
another  Ogham  near  Tralee,  and  one  at  least  near  Lombardstown  Station, 
of  which  I  know  nothing  definite. 

Liang  warren,    Pembroke.  —  Roman,     TIGEENACI    DOBAGNI  ;    Ogham, 
DOVAGNI. 

R.  A.  S.  MACALISTEE. 

*  Examined  by  myself. 
F  2 


ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 


Tombstone  near  Geashill.— The 

accompanying  illustration  is  of  an 
old  tombstone  taken  from  a  rubbing. 
It  bears  (as  may  be  seen)  the  inscrip- 
tion : — "Obbitus  Evline  Filia  Der- 
mici  que  Obit  6  Marc.  1603."  "  Ego 
Liaews  Felius  Mauri  Eius  maritus 
que  me  fieri  Fe."  The  tombstone 
itself  is  to  be  found  in  the  parish 
of  Geashill  (King's  County),  in  a 
place  named  Walsh  Island.  This  is 
a  small  district,  which  is  literally 
an  island  of  upland  in  the  midst  of 
the  Bog  of  Allen.  I  have  not  been 
able  to  find  out  exactly  whether  it 
should  be  spelt  Welch  Island,  deriv- 
ing its  name  from  the  peculiar  situa- 
tion in  which  the  place  is  found,  or 
as  I  have  spelt  it  above,  Walsh 
Island,  deriving  its  name  from  that 
of  people  who  reside  on  it. 

The  church  (in  ruins),  which 
presents  some  interesting  architec- 
tural features  only  bears  the  name 
Ballintemple,  and  I  have  not  been 
able  to  find  any  notices  of  it.  It 
has  been  suggested  to  me  that  it 
may  possibly  have  been  in  some  way 
connected  with  the  ancient  abbey  of 
Killeigh,  some  miles  distant.  But 
however  that  may  be,  I  feel  sure 
some  interesting  history  must  have 
been  connected  with  the  church  it- 
self, and  also  perhaps  with  the  names 
of  Evline  Fitz  Dermot,  and  her  hus- 
band Lewis  Fitz  Maurice.  The 
tombstone  is  7  feet  long,  and  about 
2  feet  wide,  and  is,  I  think,  of  a 
design  which  is  both  interesting, 
and  extremely  beautiful. — STEELING 
DE  Conner  WILLIAMS. 


MISCELLANEA.  69 

Kerry  Ogham  Finds,  1896 — In  Mr.  R.  A.  Stewart  Macalister's 
very  interesting  "  Ogham  Retrospect  of  1896,"  which  appeared  in  the 
Journal  of  December,  1896,  at  p.  393,  mention  is  made  of  my  having 
found  a  small  fragment  in  a  rath  at  my  residence.  That  is  correct,  but 
the  name  of  the  barony  in  which  Bushmount  is  situated  is  Clanmaurice, 
and  not  Trughenacmy. 

This  find  breaks  ne\v  ground,  as  Mr.  Macalister  writes  me  that  an 
ogham  fragment  has  never  been  previously  found  in  this  barony  (Clan- 
maurice).  I  picked  up  four  or  five  inscribed  stones  about  this  same  rath, 
called  "  Lisnacreavh  "  (i.-e.  the  "  Fort  of  the  Branches"),  and  they  were 
submitted  for  the  personal  inspection  of  Right  Rev.  Dr*  Graves,  who 
stated  that  "they  were  portions  of  an  ogham  monument."  I  had 
previously  sent  a  paper  mould  of  one  of  those  stones  to  Rev.  Canon 
Hewson,  of  Gowran,  county  Kilkenny,  and  his  opinion  was  that  it  "showed 
three  lines  which  were  sufficiently  straight,  parallel,  and  uniform  in 
length  to  be  ogham  scores,  and  that  these  three  straight  scores  would 
mean  a  single  letter  "t,"  or  "f,"  according  as  they  were  on  the  right- 
hand  or  left-hand  surface." 

I  found  several  of  the  most  curiously  shaped  stones — all  bearing 
unmistakable  signs  of  having  been  "  dressed  " — both  inside  and  outside 
the  rath  ;  but  this  one  particular  ogham  fragment  was  evidently  taken 
from  the  beehive-like  cell  or  "  cave,"  which  was  at  one  time  in  the 
centre  of  the  rath.  During  my  explorations,  I  discovered  that  this  cell 
had  been  uprooted  ;  and  afterwards,  I  learned  from  some  of  the  old 
people  about  here  that  this  had  been  the  case,  and  that  they  remembered 
well  seeing  the  place  where  it  existed  filled  in  with  earth  when  the 
rath  was  planted  with  trees  about  sixty -five  years  ago.  When  deepening 
a  portion  of  the  fosse  at  the  south  side  of  "Lisnacreavh,"  I  found  about 
twenty-eight  or  thirty  horse-loads  of  stones  at  a  depth  of  about  3  feet  or 
3£  feet  below  the  level  of  the  remainder  of  the  fosse.  These  seemed  to 
be  of  the  same  description  as  the  stones  I  found  in  the  interior  of  the 
rath,  i.e.  rough  -dressed,  hollowed,  and  burned  or  sooty  looking.  Under- 
neath this  huge  pile,  I  came  upon  the  foundation  of  two  'dry'  walls 
5  ft.  x  13  ft.,  about  5  yards  apart,  and  botli  running  parallel  in  a 
southerly  direction.  These  consisted  of  immense  stones,  or  boulders; 
and  though  I  thought  this  may  have  been  a  means  of  communication 
with  the  interior,  I  found  it  was  not. — R.  J.  RICE,  Lieut.-Col. 

Dublin  Castle— Threatened  demolition  of  the  Record  Tower  in 
1793. — Mr.  Evans  sends  the  following  extract  from  a  Dublin  news- 
paper a  century  ago,  which  forms  an  interesting  illustration  of  the  absence 
of  antiquarian  taste  of  the  time,  and  perhaps  explains  the  cause  of  dis- 
appearance of  some  of  our  ancient  buildings  : — 

"The  east  wing  of  the  terrace  front  of  Dublin  Castle  is  taken  down  to 
its  base,  and  a  better  foundation  for  the  new  masonry  is  effecting  by  the 


70     ROYAL  SOCIETY  QF  ANTIQUARIES  OP  IRELAND. 

means  of  a  number  of  beams  or  piles  pointed  with  iron,  which  are  to  be 
driven  into  the  ground  to  a  considerable  depth  by  Vanlue's  celebrated 
pile-engine,  one  of  which,  with  its  apparatus,  being  constructed  there  for 
that  purpose.  It  was  at  first,  as  we  are  told,  in  contemplation  to  take 
down  the  entire  front ;  but  the  stability  of  the  remaining  part  being  now 
ascertained,  that  part  only  which  is  now  taken  down  next  the  garden 
will  be  rebuilt.  It  is  said,  however,  that  the  old  black  tower  to  the 
westward  of  the  chappel  is  to  be  demolished  as  a  useless  fabric  that 
gives  a  disgraceful  gloominess  to  the  Viceregal  residence,  little  according 
with  the  style  and  elegance  of  the  other  parts." — Dublin  Evening  Post, 
Sept.  3,  1793.  

Cinerary  Urn  found  in  the  Parish  of  Adamstown,  Co .  Wexford, 
1897. — On  the  17th  of  December  a  Mr.  Doyle,  a  farmer,  while  ploughing 
one  of  his  fields  on  the  townland  of  Old  Court,  parish  of  Adamsto  vvn, 
struck  the  plough  on  a  stone  flag  of  considerable  thickness,  which  he 
proceeded  to  raise,  and  underneath  it  he  found  a  small  cist  containing 


Fragment  of  Cinerary  Urn,  Adamstown,  Co.  Wexford. 

a  cinerary  urn  turned  on  its  mouth  on  a  flag.  The  depth  of  the 
cist  was  about  two  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  ground.  This  urn  was 
about  six  inches  in  diameter  and  about  ten  inches  in  depth,  and  covered 
by  it  he  found  a  quantity  of  ashes  and  charred  bones,  among  which  could 
be  detected  a  portion  of  a  skull  and  a  piece  of  a  back-bone .  It  was  of 
the  usual  brown  terra-cotta  material,  nnd  a  portion  of  it  showed  marks 
of  having  been  subjected  to  great  heat.  The  rim  of  the  urn  was  elabo- 
rately decorated  with  a  chevron  ornamentation,  and  the  body  was  covered 
with  a  lozenge-shaped  pattern.  This  find  was  about  one  mile  distant 
from  the  place  where  the  Misterin  Adamstown  urn,  which  was  formerly 
engraved  in  the  Journal  (p.  19,  vol.  xix.),  was  discovered.  I  regret  to 
say  that  this  interesting  specimen  was  broken  by  the  finder. — J.  F. 
M.  FFRENCH,  Vice-President. 


MISCELLANEA.  71 

A  Lake  Legend  in  the  Dingle  District.— The  road  that  leads  from 
Dingle  to  the  westward  slopes  of  Brandon  Mountain  passes  at  one  plate 
-a  small  lake,  in  a  hollow  on  its  western  side.  In  this  lake  lives  a, 
"  worm  "  (what  our  chroniclers  would  call  &peist).  This  worm  is  seen 
once  in  seven  years.  Once  on  a  time  a  woman  was  passing  the  lake. 
She  had  been  to  Dingle,  and  had  bought  a  new  caldron,  which  she  was 
bringing  home.  The  worm  put  his  head  up  out  of  the  lake,  and  she, 
in  self-preservation,  threw  the  caldron  over  his  head :  whereupon  he 
said : — 

"  TTluna  mbei&ea&  an  a&cm  cuipip  ap  mo  ceann, 
loppamn  cupa  agup  leac  an  boniain  !" 

My  informant  told  me  the  tale  in  English,  but  repeated  the  doggerel 
.couplet  in  Irish.  Of  course  to  preserve  the  rhyme  the  word  ceann  must 
be  pronounced  in  the  Munster  manner.  The  verse  may  be  coaxed  into 
Equally  doggerel  English  thus  : — 

"  "Were  it  not  for  this  caldron  you've  put  for  my  bonnet, 
I'd  eat  you,  half  the  world,  and  the  things  that  are  on  it !  " 

The  narrator  said  an  a&an,  not  an  c-a&an.  This  shows  that  he 
regarded  a&an  as  a  feminine  noun — a  point  left  unsettled  by  O'Reilly's 
"  Dictionary." — R.  A.  S.  MACALISTER. 

Colpoys  of  Ballycarr.1 — The  later  descent  of  this  family  from  John 
€olpoys  of  Ballycarr,  High  Sheriff  of  Clare,  1676,  is  briefly  as  follows  : — 
John  had  issue  George  and  Raleigh ;  the  former  married  ,1  ane,  eldest 
daughter  of  Henry  Hickman,  Esq.,  of  Barntick.  He  was  High  Sheriff  of 
£lare  in  1711,  and  left  issue  an  only  daughter,  married  to  Charles  Eitz^ 
gerald  of  Castlekeale.  George  Colpoys,  by  a  settlement  of  October  9th, 
17 33  (Dublin  Registry  of  Deeds,  vol.  80,  p.  151),  settled  his  estates  on  his 
nephew  John  (eldest  son  and  heir  of  Alderman  "Rawley  "  Colpoys  of 
Limerick)  on  the  latter' s  marriage  with  Honora,  daughter  of  Hugh 
Hickman  of  Eenloe.  John  was  High  Sheriff,  1748,  and  left  an  eldest 
son  George,  High  Sheriff,  1771.  George  died  before  1784,  and  was 
buried  at  Kilnasoola  Church,  leaving  issue  by  his  wife  Mary,  four 
children — 1.  Major  John  ;  2.  Anthony,  married  1805,  Mary,  daughter  of 
;William  Butlur  of  Bunnahow,  and,  like  his  brother,  dieds.^.;  3.  Catherine, 
married  Dec.  1st,  1784,  John  O'Callaghan  of  Maryfort ;  4.  Martha, 
married  Thomas  Abbott  of  the  city  of  Dublin,  and  had  issue. 

From  the  elder  daughter  the  estates  descended  to  her  grandson 
Colonel  John  O'Callaghan,  D.L.,  now  of  Maryfort,  county  Clare,  who 
.sold  them. 

1  See  Journal,  1890,  p.  75,  and  1897,  p.  431.  Among  the  Maryfort  Papers  is  a 
'very  old  pedigree,  showing  their  descent  from  the  Colpoys  family,  in  Hampshire,  and 
their  relationship  with  the  Nevilles. 


72  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

Another  branch  of  the  family  was  founded  by  James  Colpoys — said  to 
have  been  son  of  Raleigh — he  owned  Rafollane,  near  Bally carr  and 
Crusheen;  his  will  dates  1757,  and  was  proved  1766  by  his  wife  Jane, 
daughter  of  Henry  Lucas  of  Tullamore,  county  Clare.  They  had  issue 
George  of  Limerick  (administration,  1764);  2.  Thomas;  3.  Susanna. 
George's  son  William  was  living  at  Knock  in  1783.  The  Keanes  of 
Beechpark,  county  Clare,  claim  descent  from  this  line. 

The  above  Raleigh  Colpoys  was  freeman  of  Cork,  1694,  sheriff  of 
Limerick,  1701,  and  mayor,  1709.  .He  is  said  to  have  left  a  third  son 
George,  but  I  have  found  no  document  mentioning  either  this  George  or 
the  above  James  as  his  sons. 

There  is  some  memory  of  Admiral  John  Colpoys  among  the  O'Cal- 
laghans,  but  it  does  not  suffice  to  localize  him  in  the  pedigree. 

The  arms  appear  as  a  maunch  on  the  tomb  of  Thomas  Hickman  and 
his  wife  Elizabeth,  sister  of  John  Colpoys,  1677,  in  Ennis  Friary,  and  on 
the  seal  of  James  Colpoys  of  Crusheen,  1757.  The  maunch  is  "  ermines" 
on  the  Ballycarr  seals. — T.  J.  WESTROPP. 

Admiral  Sir  John  Colpoys. — In  reply  to  a  query  in  our  Journal^ 
1897,  p.  431,  I  beg  to  give  a  pedigree  taken  from  a  document  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Tipperary  branch  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Colpoys,  of  Ballycarr,  county  Clare,  had,  among  other  sons, 
George  Colpoys,  of  Limerick,  who  married  Miss  Uniack,  of  county  Cork. 
They  had  issue  a  son,  John,  and  a  daughter.  Susan,  who  married 
Mr.  Grene,  of  Cappamurra,  county  Tipperary,  and  had  issue  a  son, 
James,  who,  by  his  wife,  Ellen  Boss,  had  issue  a  son,  John  Grene,  who, 
by  his  wife,  Hannah  Biddulph,  had  issue  a  son,  Biddulph  Grene,  and  a 
daughter,  Maria,  married  J.  Barry,  and  had  a  son,  J.  Grene  Barry. 

John  Colpoys,  of  Dublin,  married  Miss  Madden,  niece  of  Judge 
Singleton,  and  had  issue  three  children — 1.  Admiral  Sir  John  Colpoys; 
2.  Singleton  Colpoys  (who,  by  his  wife,  Miss  Baker,  left  issue  Mrs. 
Bloomfield,  now  living  in  county  Tipperary)  ;  and  3.  Anne,  married 
Edwards  Griffith,  and  left  issue— (1),  Sir  Edward  Griffiths  Colpoys 
(Admiral)  ;  (2),  Patience,  married  William  Dillon  Baker,  of  Ballydavid, 
county  Tipperary  ;  (3),  Susan,  married  George  Heastop  ;  (4),  Margaret, 
married  Dr.  Dudley,  of  Clonmel  ;  and  (5),  Anne,  married  Alderman 
Abbott,  of  Dublin.  John,  father  of  Admiral  Colpoys,  was  an  attorney, 
and  was  Registrar  to  Chief  Justice  Yorke,  whose  wife  was  a  sister  of 
Justice  Singleton. 

The  present  Mr.  Baker,  of  Ballydavid,  has  a  portrait  of  Admiral 
Colpoys,  taken  in  1812.  The  latter  was  made  a  Governor  of  Greenwich 
Hospital  in  1816,  and  died  in  1821.  My  late  uncle,  Mr.  Biddulph 
Grene,  told  me  the  following  anecdote  : — The  Admiral  was  godfather  to 
Miss  Susan  Grene,  and  her  father  had  mentioned,  in  a  letter  to  him, 


MISCELLANEA.  73 

that  she  had  learned  to  play  the  guitar;  the  Admiral  replied,  "  I  would 
sooner  hear  that  she  had  learned  to  mend  your  shirts." — J.  GRENE. 
BARRY,  Hon.  Local  Secretary,  Limerick  City. 


Celtic  Art  and  its  Developments.— This  is  the  subject  of  a  course  of 
eight  lectures  to  he  delivered  by  Mr.  J.  Komilly  Allen,  F.S.A.,  Fellow, 
the  Yates  Lecturer  in  Archaeology  at  University  College,  London,  in 
May  and  June  next.  The  lecturer  treats  of — the  origins  of  primitive 
art ;  the  evolution  of  decorative  art ;  Pagan  Celtic  art  in  the  Bronze 
Age;  in  the  early  Iron  Age;  Christian  Celtic  art  in  post-Konum  times- 
origin  and  development  of  Celtic  interlaced  work  ;  key  patterns  and 
spirals ;  Zoomorphs,  foliage,  and  figure  subjects  ;  and,  in  the  hands  of 
so  able  an  exponent,  should  prove  deeply  interesting  and  attractive. 


74  EOYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OP   IRELAND. 


of 


[NOTE. — The  works  marked  thus  (*)  are  by  Members  of  the  Society.] 

*  Studies  in  Irish  Epigraphy .  Parti.  Containing  the  Ogham  Inscrip- 
tions of  the  Barony  of  Corkaguiney  and  the  Counties  of  Mayo, 
Wicklow,  and  Kildare.  By  E.  A.  Stewart  Macalister,  M.A.  (David 
Nutt,  270-271,  Strand,  London.) 

THIS  is  a  little  book  of  90  pages,  to  he  followed  by  several  others  in  the 
same  series,  if  the  reception  accorded  to  Part  I.  warrant  a  continuation 
of  the  series.  In  the  present  volume  we  are  given  a  very  valuable 
introduction  of  19  pages,  which  will  be  read  with  much  interest  by  the 
ogham  specialist. 

We  are  pleased  to  see  that  our  author  seems  to  realize,  in  some 
measure,  the  extreme  difficulty  of  the  questions  he  has  so  pluckily  taken 
in  hand,  and  freely  admits  that  "  as  yet  many  of  its  mysteries  remain 
unpenetrated,  partly  because  accurate  copies  of  the  inscriptions  have  not 
been  available  for  the  use  of  scholars."  He  adds: — "  As  few  under- 
takings afford  so  great  a  scope  for  human  fallibility  as  the  transcription 
of  Ogham  legends,  it  is  possible  that  some  slips  have  been  made,  notwith- 
standing every  care."  We  do  not  believe  that  the  accurate  transcription 
of  the  legends  as  they  appear  now  is  the  only  difficulty — nor  even  the 
greatest  difficulty.  A  much  greater  difficulty  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  is 
to  conjecture  with  some  approach  to  truth  what  the  legends  had  originally 
been  before  the  characters  were  destroyed  by  time  or  injured  by  rude 
meddling.  Nor  would  we  wish  our  author  to  be  too  sanguine  regarding 
those  inscriptions  which  do  not  come  under  this  head.  We  have  some 
inscriptions  still  iutact,  but  are  we  unanimous  in  their  interpretation? 
Our  author  will  not  give  countenance  to  contraction  or  cryptogram.  He 
scouts  not  only  the  guesses  of  the  patriotic,  unscholarly  Munster  anti- 
quaries, but  also  the  daring  and  brilliant  theories  of  the  cryptologists, 
and  states  fearlessly  that  the  "  science  of  the  philological  school  has  at 
length  placed  this  difficult  study  on  a  firm  basis."  We  now  approach 
the  closely  barred  door  with  one  open  sesame,  and  all  the  mysteries  of  the 
ogham  system  are  revealed.  Accordingly  we  are  given  in  the  book  very 
learned  and  elaborate  paragraphs  on  Celtic  declensions  and  orthography, 
for  which  our  author  gracefully  acknowledges  his  obligations  to  the 
renowned  Celtic  scholars,  Dr.  Whitley  Stokes  and  Professor  Rhys. 
Ogham  inscriptions  have  thereby  been  reduced  to  order  "from  the 


NOTICES   OF  BOOKS.  75 

position  of   being  mere  learned  playthings  to  a  place  of  the  highest 
philological  importance." 

Now  let  us  follow  Mr.  Macalister — his  key  in  hand — to  the  Mauma- 
norig  stone.  Maumanorig  means  the  mountain  pass  of  the  Hoares. 
Hero  the  stone  is  found  in  a  Cilleen  (a  disused  burial-ground),  known 
in  the  neighbourhood  as  Cill-na-g'Colman,  the  cill  or  church  of  the 
Colmans — plural.  The  inscription  on  this  rock  is  quite  distinct  in  every 
particular.  To  any  unprejudiced  eye  there  need  be  no  question  as  to  the 
^cores  and  vowel  dots.  They  have  never  been  tampered  with.  In  the 
book  before  us  the  author  gives  five  transcripts  from  different  observers 
in  the  following  order: — Mr.  Windele,  Mr.  Brash,  Sir  Samuel  Ferguson, 
Bev.  E.  Barry,  and  his  own.  Mr.  Windele,  being, merely  a  transcriber, 
did  not  feel  tempted  to  find  an  M  or  a  B  in  the  legend  to  suit  COLOMAN  or 
COLOMBAN  of  the  cill,  and  so  gave  the  inscription  as  he  had  actually  seen  it. 
For  the  sake  of  those  readers  of  our  Journal  who  take  an  interest  in  ogham 
inscriptions,  but  have  not  access  to  the  Transactions,  R.I. A.,  it  may  be 
well  to  carry  on  the  history  of  this  very  puzzling  legend  a  little  further. 
It  occurred  to  Bishop  Graves  that  it  might  be  much  contracted, ,  or  even 
cryptic,  and  that  the  COL  OL  OL  signified  that  three  persons  of  the  name  of 
Colman  were  commemorated  by  the  one  monument.  Having  referred  to 
the  copy  of  the  "  Sanctilogium  Genealogicum  "  preserved  in  the  "  Leabhar 
Breac,"  he  found  this  actually  the  case — that  three  saints  named  Colman 
had  lived  together  in  the  "  bosom  of  the  Maum  " — now  called  Mauman- 
orig. The  end  of  the  legend  (n-ailithir)  describes  them  as  pilgrims. 
No  interpretation  could  be  more  satisfactory  than  this,  which  requires  no 
tinkering  with  the  characters  really  on  the  stone.  Again,  another 
cryptological  guess.  Our  author  has  not  as  yet  visited  the  Camp  stone, 
but  we  shall  ask  him  to  do  so  now.  The  inscription  is  carefully  and 
beautifully  cut,  and  in  excellent  preservation.  We  begin  to  read  as 
usual  from  the  bottom  upwards.  What  a  jumble  of  vowels  and  consonants, 
never  intended  to  make  any  sense.  Even  the  key-word  MAQI  hides  its 
head.  No  clue  whatever ;  but  Mr.  Brash  and  others  give  a  reading 
which  did  not  satisfy  themselves.  Bishop  Graves  comes  on  the  scene 
with  his  magic  wand — he  suspects  another  cryptic  trick.  There  is  an 
M  on  the  stone ;  he  reads  the  inscription  transposed,  and  the  key  at  once 
comes  to  light.  The  B  side  exchanged  places  with  the  H  side,  and  there 
the  mystery  lay.  The  names  on  the  stone  are  kept  alive  still  in  the 
neighbourhood  by  tradition.  So  much  in  favour  of  the  "daring  and 
brilliant  theories  of  the  cryptologists."  But  we  do  not  mean  to  urge 
that  all  ogham  inscriptions  are  certainly  cryptic — contracted,  I  believe, 
they  are  more  or  less  like  all  the  other  legends  on  stone  monuments 
where  space  is  limited.  The  Clonmacnoise  ogham  gives  COLMAN  BOCHD — 
poor  Colman.  There  is  nothing  cryptic  in  this  unless  the  question  is 
raised  which  of  the  Columns  was  intended  out  of  a  list  of  more  than  two 
hundred  of  them  known  in  Ireland. 


76  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

The  book  is  furnished  with  no  fewer  than  six  reference  indices,  the; 
letterpress  and  paper  all  that  could  be  desired,  with  a  wide  margin  for; 
notes  and  will  serve  as  a  very  handy  companion  and  guide  on  ogham  expe- 
ditions. We  shall  look  forward  with  much  pleasure  to  the  publication 
of  the  other  volumes  of  the  series.1 

P.  S. 


The  Voyage  of  Bran  :  vol.  ii.,  The  Celtic  Doctrine  of  Re-birth.     By  Alfred 
Nutt.     Grimm  Library.     (London  :  D.  Nutt,   1897.) 

THE  first  volume  of  this  work  was  briefly  reviewed  on  p.  91  of  the 
Journal  for  1896.  It  will  be  remembered  that  in  that  volume  Professor 
Meyer  edited  a  seventh-century  romance,  in  which  two  ancient  Celtic 
conceptions  were  emphasised  :  the  idea  of  a  Happy  Other-world,  and  the 
theory  of  Re-birth.  To  the  text  was  appended  an  essay  by  Mr.  Nutt,  in 
which  his  well-known  erudition  in  popular  lore  was  applied  to  trace  out 
in  all  its  varieties  the  first  of  these  conceptions.  In  the  volume  no\v 
before  us  the  second — the  Re-birth  doctrine — is  carefully  treated. 

Mr.  Nutt's  method,  in  dealing  with  this  second  branch  of  his  subject, 
is  the  same  as  that  which  he  adopted  in  the  former  volume.  He  first 
marshals  the  Irish,  and  cognate  Welsh,  literary  evidence;  then  he 
seeks  for  illustrative  material  in  other  Aryan  sources;  and  having  thus 
found  all  his  threads,  he  weaves  them  together  into  the  theory  that  these 
conceptions,  and  rites  with  which  they  are  associated,  are  the  remains  of 
primitive  beliefs  and  observances  in  connexion  with  the  vegetative  powers 
of  Nature.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Mr.  Nutt's  book  is  one  of  the  m<my 
children  of  The  Golden  Bough. 

It  would  be  impossible,  without  occupying  far  too  much  space,  to 
follow  Mr.  Nutt  step  by  step  in  his  ingenious  arguments  ;  perhaps  it 
would  hardly  be  fair  to  him  do  so.  "We  shall  therefore  confine  our 
attention  more  particularly  to  his  treatment  of  the  Irish  romances,  which 
is  always  suggestive  and  interesting.  The  obscure  cycle  of  which  Mongan, 
an  alleged  re-birth  of  "Finn,  is  the  centre,  is  first  considered,  and  treated 
with  u  remarkable  display  of  critical  acumen;  a  complete  parallel  is 
drawn  between  Mongan,  Finn,  and  the  British  Arthur.  The  birth-story 
of  Cuchullin  is  known  to  us  in  three  versions :  the  discrepancies  between 
them,  in  Mr.  Nutt's  hands,  prove  very  instructive.  But  perhaps  the 
most  interesting  portion  of  this  part  of  the  work  is  Mr.  Nutt's  applica- 
tion of  the  "  higher  criticism  "  to  that  splendid  romance  the  Tochmarc 
Etdine.  In  the  previous  volume  this  tale  proved  of  value  to  Mr.  Nutt : 
for  perhaps  the  most  glowing  account  of  the  pagan  Irish  happy  other- 

l  The_author  of  the  work  above  noticed  intimates  that  he  hopes  before  long  to  sub- 
mit his  views  on  the  cryptical  theory  to  the  Society. 


NOTICES    OF   BOOKS.  77 

world  is  contained  in 'the  song  of  Midir — a  song  that,  despite  its  many 
corruptions  and  interpolations,  and  despite  the  appalling  profundity  of 
the  bathos  in  the  last  couplet,  is  one  of  the  sweetest  little  poems  in  the 
Irish  language.  The  extraordinary  tale  of  the  Two  Swineherds  ;  the  Con- 
cobar  birth-legend  ;  the  gruesome  story  of  Conall  Cernach's  birth  ;  the 
transformations  of  Tuan  (admirably  edited  by  Professor  Meyer  as  an 
appendix)  ;  the  story  of  Aed  Slaine;  and  finally  the  Welsh  tale  of 
Taliessin  in  turn  occupy  Mr.  Nutt's  attention.  Singularly  happy  is  his 
•comparison  of  Taliessin's  song,  in  which  that  legendary  bard  relates  his 
metamorphoses,  with  the  wild  rosg  ascribed  to  Amergin — 

"  Am  gaethi  muir  .  .  .  " 

— preserved  for  us  in  the  Book  of  Ballymote. 

The  possibility  of  Christian  doctrine  having  influenced  these  tales 
must  be  considered ;  Mr.  Nutt  does  not  neglect  to  do  so,  and  on 
sufficient  grounds  to  reject  it.  A  very  interesting  digression  follows  on 
the  Irish  heretic  Erigena,  whose  system  of  pantheism  at  first  sight  seems 
inspired  by  Celtic  beliefs  such  as  that  under  discussion.  Mr.  Nutt, 
however,  succeeds  in  disproving  any  direct  connexion  between  the  two, 
and  clearly  shows  that  Erigena's  inspiration  was  drawn  entirely  from 
Greek  Pythagorean  and  Neo-Pythagorean  sources.  This  investigation 
supplies  the  connexion  between  Greek  and  Celtic  beliefs  necessary  to 
warrant  a  thorough  examination  of  their  relative  characteristics.  The 
comparison  thus  instituted  practically  occupies  the  remainder  of  the 
book,  .and  we  cannot  spare  the  space  to  follow  it  at  length.  It  ranges 
(on  the  Irish  side  of  the  subject)  from  the  human  sacrifices  on  Mag 
Slecht— the  versified  account  of  which  also  is  edited  by  Professor  Meyer 
in  an  appendix — to  the  Tuatha  De  Danann,  and  from  them  to  the  fairy 
belief  of  the  modern  peasant.  This  last  portion  of  the  book  is  perhaps 
the  least  satisfactory — not  from  any  lapse  in  Mr.  Nutt's  learning,  but 
because  the  material  available  for  scientific  treatment  is  still  meagre. 
Some  of  the  tales  of  the  peasantry  have  been  overmuch  "  edited,"  and 
others  are  forgeries  of  the  peasantry  themselves.  I  know  of  at  least 
one  man  who  openly  boasts  of  having  "  humbugged "  a  well-known 
folklorist. 

A  cavilling  critic  could  find  material  to  carp  at  in  this  as  in  any 
other  book — such  as  the  little  slip  of  calling  Etain  "  a  Tuatha  de 
Danann"1  on  p.  55.  This  reads  as  oddly  as.  "  Queen  Wilhelrnina  is 
a  Dutch."  But  he  could  not  thereby  upset  the  arguments  which 
Mr.  Nutt  handles  so  deftly,  or  disprove  the  result  of  the  author's  inves- 
tigations. 

1  It  would,  perhaps  be  better  to  spell  the  middle  word  in  the  name  of  this  people 
with  a  capital— not  only  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  a  French  particle,  but  also  because 
De  is  an  important  word. 


78  KOYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

•  Whether  native  scholars  like  it  or  not,  the  time  has  gone  by  when 
Keating  and  the  annalists  of  pre-Christian  Ireland  could  be  placed  as 
historians  on  the  level  of,  say,  Thucydides  or  Sallust.  Nothing,  indeed, 
lias  ever  been  advanced  that  need  shake  our  faith  in  the  historical 
eostence  of  Medb,  Finn,  Cu  Chulaind,  or  the  other  actors  in  the  weird 
drama  of  early  Irish  myth.  This  Mr.  Nutt  admits,  and  probably  to 
accept  their  human  existence  as  an  actual  fact  is  the  most  reasonable 
way  of  accounting  for  their  existence  as  the  centres  of  legendary  tales. 
But  their  sayings  and  doings  must  for  the  most  part  be  handed  over,, 
with  the  early  books  of  Livy,  to  the  comparative  mythologist. 

Perhaps  we  are  not  the  losers.  A  history,  fiowever  ancient,  that  i& 
almost  wholly  taken  up  with  tribal  squabbles  is  but  a  poor  past  to  look 
back  upon.  Yet  that  alone  remains  when  supernatural  incidents  that 
could  never  have  taken  place  are  eliminated.  But  a  rich  and  varied 
mythology  such  as  ours,  in  which  the  supernatural  assumes  its  proper 
place,  is  a  heritage  of  which  the  greatest  nation  on  earth  might  be  proud. 
Keating  and  his  fellow- workers  are  not  hurled,  as  mere  dupes  or  deceivers, 
from  the  historian's  seat ;  they  are  raised  to  a  higher  sphere  where, 
though  they  wrote  in  prose,  they  associate  with  Hesiod  and  Homer 
himself.  We  no  longer  regard  them  as  dry-as-dust  chroniclers  of 
human  passions  and  .the  doings  of  men's  bodies ;  they  record  for  us  the 
imaginings  and  reasonings  of  men's  minds.  In  the  hands  of  investigators 
like  Mr.  Nutt  they  gain  tenfold  more  interest  than  they  would  have 
possessed  had  they  been  but  the  recorders  of  historic  events. 

E.  A.  S.  M. 


*A    Child's  History  of  Ireland.     By  P.  W.  Joyce,  LL.D.      (Longmans, 
Green  &  Co.,  London  ;  and  M.  H.  Gill  &  Co.,  Dublin.) 

AMONG  the  writers  on  Irish  history  and  antiquities  of  the  present  century 
there  have  been  many  who  treated  these  subjects  in  a  popular  manner, 
and  not  a  few  who  have  brought  to  bear  on  them  much  research  and 
thought. 

Dr.  Joyce's  books  have  the  rare  but  happy  gift  of  combining  both 
these  qualities ;  his  deeper  books  are  full  of  interest,  and  this  little 
volume,  though  destined  for  children,  has  much  to  attract  older  students- 
and  to  originate  interesting  reflections. 

It  is  illustrated  and  bound  in  a  very  tasteful  manner ;  the  coloured 
frontispiece,  from  the  Book  of  Macl)urnan,  A.D.  850,  being  a  page  of  con- 
siderable beauty  and  merit.  It  gives  a  valuable  map  so  divided  that  each 
oblong  represents  four  sheets  of  the  Ordnance  Survey  map  of  1  inch  to  the 
mile ;  to  these  spaces  the  place  names  in  the  index  are  also  referred,  a 
very  useful  innovation. 


NOTICES   OF  BOOKS.  T9 

A  book  of  this  description  is  of  great  value  to  all  classes  of  the  com- 
munity. It  plants  an  interest  in  the  historic  events  and  places  of  our 
country  among  the  young,  and  starts  them  in  life  with  a  solid  foundation 
for  their  deeper  reading.  Many  will  now  be  in  training  from  their 
childhood  who  might  otherwise  have  gone  through  school  and  college, 
and  perhaps  to  middle  age,  poorly  instructed  in  the  rudiments  of  the- 
sciences  to  which  they  will  devote  themselves  in  later  years. 

By  such  a  work  our  clever  peasantry  might  in  many  cases  be  trained 
into  a  valuable  band  of  pioneers,  overseers  of  our  "finds,"  and  con- 
servators of  our  ancient  structures.  Many  of  our  future  clergy,  too,  of 
all  denominations  might  be  led  by  such  early  instruction  to  a  source  of 
interest  and  happiness  in  no  degree  incompatible  with  their  higher  duties. 

In  the  moderation  and  fairness  of  his  statements,  Dr.  Joyce  appears- 
as  a  valuable  helper  of  that  object  of  our  Society,  so  often  accomplished 
on  our  excursions,  the  bringing  together,  on  neutral  grounds,  of  men  of 
great  divergence  of  opinion,  to  the  softening  of  many  prejudices.  So  in 
these  days,  when  so  many  violent  opinions  are  in  print,  we  hail  this 
charming  little  book  as  by  no  means  the  least  valuable  of  Dr.  Joyce's- 
works  on  things  Irish. 

T.  J.  W. 


*  Pedigree  of  the  Magennis  ( Guinness)  Family  of  New  Zealand,  and  of 
Dublin,  Ireland.  Compiled  by  Richard  Linn,  Fellow  of  the  Eoyal 
Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Ireland.  (Christchurch,  New  Zealand  : 
Printed  and  published  by  Caygill  &  Maclaren,  Cathedral-square. 
1897.) 

MR.  LINN  has  put  together  a  number  of  interesting  notes  on  the 
Magennis  family,  formerly  rulers  of  the  territory  of  Iveagh,  in  the- 
county  of  Down,  and  has  added  many  particulars  of  the  family  of 
Guinness,  several  of  whom  are  now  settled  in  New  Zealand.  No  con- 
nexion, however,  is  shown  between  the  two  families  beyond  the  mere- 
statement  of  a  descent  without  dates,  or  any  suggestion  of  proof.  The 
head  of  the  Magennis  sept  was  raised  to  the  peerage,  as  Yiscount  Iveaghr 
in  the  reign  of  James  I.,  a  title  forfeited  by  the  attainder  of  the  fifth 
Yiscount,  in  consequence  of  his  adherence  to  James  II.  If  there  were 
any  reasonable  grounds  for  supposing  the  pedigree  here  set  out  to  be- 
correct,  the  title  of  Viscount  Iveagh  would  now,  but  for  the  attainder, 
be  vested  in  the  senior  male  heir  of  the  Guinness  family,  and  the  Crown 
would  not,  in  that  case,  have  readily  conferred  the  title  of  Iveagh  upon 
the  youngest  son  of  a  junior  branch.  Genuine  claimants  for  the  title 
existed  down  to  the  end  of  the  last  century,  the  name 'of  "  El  Conde 
Iveagh"  appearing  in  the  Spanish  Army  List  in  1768,  which  is  quoted 
by  Mr.  Linn. 


80  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

The  compiler  of  the  pedigree,  as  he  points  out,  has  not  had  the 
advantage  of  consulting  authorities,  and  has  heen  obliged  to  depend 
upon  notes  taken  years  ago.  With  the  exception  of  his  failure  to 
connect  the  two  families,  he  has  performed  his  work  well,  and  his  effort 
to  awaken  an  interest  in  investigations  of  a  like  kind  in  the  distant 
colony  deserves  to  he  crowned  with  success.  The  book  contains  illus- 
trations of  the  mins  of  the  Castles  of  Dundrum  and  Narrowater,  seats 
of  the  Magennis  family,  and  portraits  of  members  of  the  New  Zealand 
branch  of  the  Guinnesses,  and  of  the  present  Lord  Iveagh. 


"Beauties  and  Antiquities  of  Ireland.'11  The  following  letter  was 
received  too  late  for  insertion  in  the  last  issue  : — 

"  DEAR  SIK, 

"Please  permit  me  to  make  a  few  remarks  on,  and  to  point  out  a  few  misstate  - 
ments  in,  a  review  of  my  book,  Beauties  and  Antiquities  of  Ireland,  that  appeared  in 
the  last  issue  of  your  Journal.  I  will  confine  myself  almost  altogether  to  the  disprov- 
ing of  a  few  of  the  principal  statements  your  reviewer  has  made. 

"  1.  He  says  that  Dr.  Bernard  did  not  find  the  Grianan  of  Aileach  levelled  to  the 
ground.  2.  -He  implies  that  1  said  that  the  '  Book  of  Kells  '  was  taken  by  the  Danes. 
3.  He  says  that  I  stated,  at  p.  105  of  my  book,  that  only  three  ruins  stand  at  Clon- 
macnois.  4.  He  implies  that  I  was  wrong  in  stating  that  not  a  single  inscription,  in 
the  Irish  language,  is  visible  to  the  passers-by  at  Clonmacnois. 

Every  one  of  these  statements  and  implications  is  absolutely  wrong  I  might  use 
a  still  stronger  word,  and  would  be  perfectly  justified  in  doing  so.  I  will  now  take 
his  statements  and  implications  seriatim. 

"1.  Dr.  Bernard  did  find  the  Grianan  of  Aileach  levelled  to  the  ground  when  he 
undertook  its  restoration.  I  was  there  twice  in  1872.  There  was  then  hardly  any- 
thing but  the  foundation  stones  left.  The  wall  was  levelled,  in  some  places,  to  within 
a  few  inches  of  the  ground.  2.  I  did  not  say  that  the  '  Book  of  Kells '  was  taken  by 
the  Danes.  I  said  it  is  believed  that  it  was  taken  by  them,  and  its  golden  cover  torn 
off  (see  p.  278),  and  such  is  believed  by  many.  3.  I  did  not  say  that  only  three  ruins 
stand  at  Cionmacnois.  What  I  said  was  that  '  there  are  the  ruins  of  but  three  churches 
existing  at  Clonmacnois  '  (see  p.  99).  I  used  the  word  '  ruins  '  in  its  ordinary  accepta- 
tation,  and  as  it  is  generally  understood.  There  may  be  the  tracks  of  other  churches 
extant,  but  such  tracks  cannot  be  called  ruins.  The  ruins  of  the  nunnery  are  not, 
properly  speaking,  in  Clonmacnois,  they  were  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
reilig  where  the  other  ruins  are.  4.  There  are  not  any  inscriptions  in  the  Irish 
language  visible  in  Clonmacnois,  so  far  as  can  be  seen  by  the  passer-by.  I  spent  over 
an  hour  looking  for  them  when  I  was  there  last,  in  1896,  and  could  not  find  any.  I 
was  told  that  the  stones  with  Irish  inscriptions  on  them  were  locked  up  in  a  vault,  in 
order  to  keep  them  safe.  So  far  you  have  refutation  of  the  principal  erroneous  state- 
ments made  by  your  reviewer. 

"I  can  hardly  see  how  it  can  be  called  an  error  to  say  that  the  'Colloquy* 
is  a  converse  between  St.  Patrick  and  Finn,  and  others  belonging  to  the  same  cycle. 
It  is  true  that  Finn  was  supposed  to  be  dead  at  the  time  of  the  converse,  but  he  is 
quoted  so  often  in  the  tract,  and  his  remarks  are  given  such  a  prominence  in  it,  that 
he  becomes  as  one  of  the  dramatis  personce.  If  I  was  technically  wrong  in  making  it 
appear  that  Finn  was  a  living  speaker  in  the  '  Colloquy,'  your  reviewer  is  absolutely 
wrong  in  making  it  appear  that  it  was  only  Caoilte  that  conversed  with  St.  Patrick  in 
the  '  Colloquy,'  whereas  many  others,  besides  Caoilte,  held  converse  with  him. 

"  1  was  wrong  in  saying  that  the  '  Circuit '  was  published  by  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy,  but  it  was  published  by  a  kindred  society,  that  may  be  said  to  have 
grown  out  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  namely,  the  Irish  Archaeological  Society. 


NOTICES  OF  BOOKS.  8l 

Dr.  Bernard's  real  name  may  be  Bernard,  but  I  saw  it  spelled  '  Barnard.'  It  may  not 
have  been  Dr.  Graves,  Bishop  of  Limerick,  but  another  gentleman  of  the  name  of 
Graves,  that  supervised  the  excavations  round  the  Nun's  Church,  near  Clonmacnois, 
but  I  saw  it  stated  in  print  that  it  was  the  Bishop  of  Limerick.  What  possible  harm 
could  trifles  such  as  these  be  to  such  a  book  as  mine,  which  is  not  intended  as  a  work 
on  technical  matters  ?  and  what  reviewers  but  a  man  whose  mind  was  all  bitterness 
would  think  of  pointing  them  out?  I  fear  his  bitterness  has  carried  him  too  far. 
Instead  of  confining  himself  to  'the  merest  statement  of  fact,'  as  he  said  he  would,  he 
has  stated  most  glaring  untruths.  He  has  shown  such  animus  against  the  book,  that 
he  has  done  it  good,  when,  perhaps,  he  meant  to  do  it  harm. 

"As  to  what  your  reviewer  says  about  the  'feelings  of  dismay  '  with  which  he 
read  what  I  said  about  the  antiquity  of  Tara  (p.  13),  I  beg  to  challenge  him  to  dis- 
prove a  single  statement  contained  in  the  paragraph  in  which  the  passage  he  quotes 
occurred.  He  has  evidently  no  faith  at  all  in  the  ancient  records  of  the  country  of 
whose  antiquities  he  professes  to  be  a  student,  and  is  evidently  wholly  unacquainted 
with  the  language  in  which  those  records  are  written.  This  is  very  sad,  for  the 
preservation  to  the  present  day  of  so  many  names  of  places,  and  of  persons  mentioned 
in  the  very  oldest  records  of  Ireland,  is  a  most  uurious  and  interesting  fact  connected 
with  the  archaeology  of  Ireland,  beyond  that  of  all  other  European  countries.  So  far 
as  I  know,  I  am  the  first  who  has  pointed  out  the  extraordinary  facts  of  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  place-name  Tailltean,  and  of  Lugnasa,  the  Irish  name  for  the  month  of 
August,  down  to  the  present  day  (see  Beauties  and  Antiquities  of  Ireland,  p.  274). 

"Your  reviewer  implies  that  the  views  contained  in  my  book,  that  have  been 
copied  from  old  engravings,  are  inaccurate.  This  is  another  wrong  statement,  for  I 
chose  for  reproduction  only  the  views  of  places  and  things  that  I  had  seen  myself, 
and  that  I  knew  to  be  good  representations  of  them. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  that  the  inaccuracy  and  animus  of  your  reviewer  have  com- 
pelled me  to  write  this  letter.  Of  all  publications  in  Ireland,  your  Journal  should  be 
the  first  to  praise,  instead  of  to  malign,  such  a  book  as  the  one  I  have  written.  That 
it  contains  some  inaccuracies  I  do  not  seek  to  deny.  No  book  of  its  kind  is  free  from 
them.  That  they  are  not  of  a  nature  to  injure  its  popularity  is  proved  by  the  fact 
that  few,  if  any,  books  of  its  kind,  have  ever  been  so  well  received  by  the  public. 

"Respectfully  yours, 

"T.  0.  RUSSELL. 
"  November  29th,  1897." 

[This  letter  is  given  with  pleasure,  and  without  comment,  so  far 
as  it  is  an  explanation.  The  author  of  the  book,  however,  has  seen 
fit  to  single  out  four  from  the  many  remarks  of  the  notice,  and  asserts 
them  to  be  misstatements.  These  are  very  briefly  noticed. 

1.  The  author  asserts  that  Dr.  Bernard   did  find  the  Grianan  of 
Aileach  levelled  to  the  ground. 

The  author  is  referred  to  Dr  Bernard's  Paper  in  the  Proc.  R.I.  A. 
(vol.  i.,  Ser.  2,  p.  415)  where  he  states  that  the  wall  was  some  feet  in 
height.  Mr.  Russell  on  his  visit  probably  did  not  notice  that  this  lower 
part  of  the  wall  still  standing  was  enveloped  in  the  debris  of  the  fallen 
upper  part. 

2.  Mr.  Russell  says  that  he  did  not  say  that  the  "Book  of  Kells" 
was  taken  by  the  Danes. 

The  passage  in  his  book  is  : — 

"  It  was  taken  by  the  Danes,  it  is  believed,  and  the  golden  cover  torn  off  it 
it  was  found,  buried  in  the  ground,  some  time  after.     This  is  recorded  to  have 
happened  in  1006." 

3.  This,  from  the  qualification  which  Mr.  Eussell  adds,  is  in  reality 
an  explanation  by  him,  not  a  charge  of  misstatement. 

JOUR.  K. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  I.,   5TH  SER.  G 


82  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

4.  This,  too,  is  an  explanation  by  Mr.  Russell.  That  a  passer-by 
may  see  no  inscription  in  Irish  at  Clonmacnoise  we  do  not  question.  But 
that  a  visitor  with  a  guide-book  should  be  in  no  better  position,  naturally 
called  for  comment.  Clonmacnoige  possesses,  necessarily  protected  from 
the  passer-by,  but  available  to  an  interested  visitor,  the  largest  collection 
of  Irish  inscriptions  on  stone  in  Ireland.  The  Irish  inscription  on  its 
high  cross,  which  is  in  view  even  of  the  passer-by,  is  of  particular  interest, 
as  it  led  Petrie  to  the  date  both  of  cross  and  cathedral. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  authorise  the  writer  of  the  notice  to  accept 
Mr.  Russell's  challenge  as  to  the  age  of  Tara.  There  is  no  statement 
in  the  paragraph  to  which  he  refers  which  is  debateable,  except  on  the 
assumption  of  the  historical  authority  of  the  fanciful  chronology  of  pre- 
historic times,  adopted  by  the  bardic  writers  of  our  own  as  of  other 
lands ;  the  unreliable  character  of  such  chronology  Mr.  Russell  admits  in 
the  next  paragraph  of  his  book. 

There  is  really  only  one  point  in  Mr.  Russell's  letter  which  is  neces- 
sary to  refute.  His  entirely  unwarranted  assertion  that  the  notice  was 
actuated  by  animus.  The  writer  of  the  notice,  an  experienced  Irish 
antiquary,  never  heard  of  Mr.  Russell  until  he  took  up  his  book,  and  he 
commenced  it  with  a  decided  prepossession  in  its  favour.  His  animus  is 
that  which  should  animate  all  real  students,  and  which  is  one  of  the 
highest  purposes  of  our  Society,  the  desire  to  promote  in  the  study  of 
our  history  and  antiquities  a  healthier  and  more  critical  tone,  such  as 
should  most  particularly  be  expected  in  a  book  which  purports  to  be 
"  An  Archaeologist's  Manual."] 


THE  ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING  of  the  Society  was  held  (by  permission) 
in  the  Royal  Dublin  Society's  House,  Kildare- street,  Dublin,  on  Tuesday, 
the  llth  of  January,  1898,  at  4  o'clock,  p.m.  In  the  absence  of  the 
PKESIDENT, 

COLONEL  PHILIP  D.  YIGOES,  Vice-President  for  Leinster,  took  the  Chair. 

The  following  took  part  in  the  Proceedings : — 

Fellows. — Lord  Walter  Fitz  Gerald,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice- President;  W.  Frazer,  F.R.C.S.I., 
M.R.I. A.,  Vice -President;  the  Rev.  J.  F.  M.  ffrench,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice-  President ;  S.  F. 
Milligan,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice- President;  Robert  Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  Hon.  Secretary 
and  Treasurer ;  G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A.,  M.R.I. A.  ;  P.M.  Egan  ;  John  R.  Garstin, 
M.A.,  B.D.,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  G.  A.  P.  Kelly,  M.A.  ;  James  Mills,  M.U.I. A,  ;  William 
R.  J.  Molloy,  M.R.I.A.  ;  M.  M.  Murphy,  M.R.I.A.;  Andrew  Robinson,  C.E.  ;  the  Rev. 
Canon  Stoney,  D.D.  ;  W.  F.  Wakeman,  Hon.  Fellow;  W.  W.  Wilson,  M.R.I.A.; 
Robert  Lloyd  Woollcombe,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  E.  Perceval  Wright,  M.A.,  M.D., 
M.R.I.A. 

Members. — The  Rev.  Arthur  W.  Ardagh,  M.A.  ;  H.  F.  Berry,  M.A.  ;  James  Brenan, 
R.H.A.  ;  the  Rev.  R.  A.  Burnett,  M.A.  ;  M.  Edward  Conway  ;  Henry  A.  Cosgrave, 
M.A.  ;  E.  R.  M'C.  Dix;  Thomas  Greene,  LL.B.  ;  Mrs.  Greene  ;  H.  Hitchins  ;  Miss 
H.  Hughes  ;  Bryan  J.  Jones  ;  Dr.  Thomas  Laffan;  E.  W.  Lovegrove,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.  ; 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Lucas  ;  the  Rev.  Thomas  Lyle  ;  the  Rev.  A.  W.  Bradshaw  Mack,  M.A.  ; 
the  Rev.  J.  E.  M'Kenna  ;  the  Rev.  Joseph  Meehan;  J.  W.  Montgomery;  the  Rev. 
L.  H.  O'Brien,  M.A.  ;  J.  E.  Palmer;  Thomas  Plunkett,  M.K.I. A.  ;  the  Rev.  Canon 
Rooke,  M.A.  ;  Mrs.  J.  F.  Shackleton  ;  V.  E.  Smyth  ;  W.  C.  Stubbs,  M.A. 

The  Minutes  of  the  previous  Meeting  were  read  and  signed. 

The    following    Candidates,    recommended   by  the   Council,   were 
declared  duly  elected  : — 

FELLOWS. 

Bellingham,  Sir  Henry,  Bart.,  Bellingham  Castle,  Castle  Bellingham  :   proposed_  by 

Lord  Walter  Fitz  Gerald,  Vice- President. 
Deane,  Sir  Thomas  Newenham,  R.H.A. ,   Dorset  Lodge,   Killiney :  proposed  by  R. 

Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary. 
Gregg,  Huband  George,  J.P.,   Oldtown,  Edgeworthstown :  proposed  by  the  Right 

Hon.  0' Conor  Don,  President. 
Keating,  Miss  Geraldine,  Cannon  Mills  Cottage,  Chesham,  Bucks  :  proposed  by  G.  D. 

Burtchaell,  M.A.,  Fellow. 
Manning,  Percy,  M.A.,  F.S.A.,  6,  St.  Aldates,  Oxford  :  proposed  by  Robert  Cochrane, 

F.S.A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary. 
O'Reilly,  Patrick  J.,  7,  North  Earl-street,    Dublin  (Member,  1894) :  proposed  by 

R.  Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary. 


84  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND, 

MEMBERS. 
Callaghan,  Alfred  J.,  LL.D.,   ]1,  Northumberland-road,  Dublin:  proposed  by  John 

Cooke,  M.A.,  Fellow. 

Clements,  Miss,  Marlborough-road,  Dublin  :  proposed  by  John  Cooke,  M.A.,  Fellow. 
Coleman,    Rev.   Ambrose,    O.P.,    St.    Catherine's,    Newry  :  proposed  by  the   Rev. 

Dr.  Stokes. 
Crookshank,  Richard  R.  G.,  8,  Tivoli-terrace,  South,  Kingstown :    proposed  by  the 

Rev.  W.  W.  Campbell,  M.A. 
Doran,  George  Augustus,  J.P.,  University -road,  Belfast :  proposed  by  S.  F.  Milligan, 

M.B.I. A.,  Vice- President. 
Fielding,    Captain  Joshua,  J.P.,  late   4th  (R.I.)  Dragoon   Guards,  Adjutant,  Royal 

Hospital,  Kilmainham  :  proposed  by  "W.  W.  Wilson,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow. 
Fitz  Patrick,  S.  A.  0.,  Glenpool,  Terenure  :  proposed  by  John  Cooke,  M.A.,  Fellow. 
Glover,  Edward,  M.  INST.  C.E.,  19,  Prince  Patrick-terrace,  N.  C.  R.,  Dublin  :  proposed 

by  Robert  Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary. 

Kelly,  Dr.  Joseph  Dillon,  J.P.,  Earl-street,  Mullingar  :  proposed  by  James  Tuite,  M.P. 
Kennedy,  Rev.  Thomas  "Waring,  Ardamine  Glebe,  Gorey  :  proposed  by  W.  C.  Stubbs, 

M.A. 
Kerrigan,  Dr.  Owen  P.,  35,  Greville^street,  Mullingar,  and  Castletown  Geoghegan,  Co. 

Westmeath  :  proposed  by  James  Tuite,  M.P. 

Lowry,  Henry,  71,  Great  George's- street,  Belfast :  proposed  by  W.  T.  Clements. 
Magill,  Charles,  Whitehouse,  Belfast:  proposed  by  J.  P.  M'Knight. 
Martin,  Rev.  Richard  D'Olier,  M.A.,  All  Saints'  Vicarage,  via,  Waterford  :  proposed  by 

Colonel  P.  D.  Vigors,  Vice- President. 
Matthews,  George  E.,  49,  Upper  Sackville-street,  Dublin  :  proposed  by  T.  J.  Mellon, 

Architect,  Fellow. 

O'Connell,  Michael,  Listowel :  proposed  by  John  Cooke,  M.A.,  Fellow. 
O'Sullivan,  Michael,  56,  Josephine-avenue,  Brixton  Hill,  London,  S.W. :  proposed 

by  R.  A.  Stewart  Macalister,  M.A. 

Peyton,  Henry  Reynolds,  M.D.,  Monaghan :  proposed  by  Dr.  S.  A.  D'Arcy. 
Redington,  Miss  Matilda,  Kilcornan,  Oranmore  :  proposed  by  Edward  Martyn,  D.L., 

Vice-President. 

Shaw,  Thomas  J.,  J.P.,  Mullingar  :  proposed  by  James  Tuite,  M.P. 
Sherwin,  Rev.  James  P.,  St.  Michael's  Hospital,  Kingstown  :  proposed  by  the  Rev. 

Dr.  Lucas. 
Strype,    William   George,    M.INST.  C.E.,   115,  Grafton-street,  Dublin:  proposed  by 

R.  Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary. 
Webster,  William,   Solicitor,  35A,    Church-street,  St.  Helens:  proposed  by  S.  K. 

Kirker,  Fellow. 

The  Report  of  the  Council  for  the  year  1897  was  adopted  as 
follows :  — 

During  the  year  1897  the  deaths  of  six  Fellows  and  twenty-eight  Members  were 
reported,  the  resignations  of  eight  Fellows  and  seventy-five  Members  were  accepted, 
and  thirty-two  names  were  removed  from  the  Roll  for  non-payment  of  Subscriptions. 
Thirteen  Fellows  and  ninety-four  Members  were  elected  during  the  year.  There 
are  upon  the  Roll  for  1897  the  names  of  194  Fellows  and  1137  Members,  making 
1331  names  in  all. 

The  Fellows  who  died  were  : — R.  W.  Cochran- Patrick,  LL.D.  ;  the  Earl  of 
Dartrey,  K.P.  ;  the  Rev.  John  Hammond,  D.D.,  LL.D.;  Deputy  Surgeon-General 
King,  M.B.,  M.A.  ;  the  Most  Rev.  Lord  Plunket,  D.D.,  Archbishop  of  Dublin ;  and  the 
Very  Rev.  Andrew  F.  Smyly,  M.A.,  Dean  of  Derry. 

The  Council  have  to  deplore  the  loss  of  their  Colleague,  Deputy  Surgeon- General 


PROCEEDINGS.  85 

King.  He  became  a  Member  of  the  Society  in  1883  and  a  Fellow  in  1886.  In  1889 
he  was  elected  a  Member  of  the  Council  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  year  1896, 
when  he  retired  by  rotation,  continued  a  Member  of  that  body  until  a  few  weeks  before 
his  death,  when  failing  health  compelled  him  to  resign  his  seat.  For  the  past  year 
he  gave  valuable  assistance  in  editing  the  Journal,  and  his  place  cannot  easily  be 
filled. 

Of  the  Fellows  and  Members  deceased,  the  Earl  of  Dartrey,  K.P.,  was  a  Vice- 
President  of  the  Society  for  the  years  1886,  1887,  and  1888 ;  the  Very  Rev.  A.  F. 
Smyly  was  Hon.  Local  Secretary  for  the  county  of  Londonderry  ;  and  Mr.  William 
Augustus  Mahony  (the  oldest  Member  whose  death  is  reported)  was  elected  in  18f  5, 
and  was  for  some  time  Hon.  Local  Secretary  at  Enniscorthy. 

Accounts  of  the  Quarterly  Meetings  and  Excursions  have  been  from  time  to  time 
published  in  the  Journal.  All  were  most  successfully  carried  out  with  the  aid  of  the 
Hon.  Local  Secretaries.  The  June  Meeting  \vas  held  at  Lismore,  and,  in  connexion 
with  it,  a  sea-trip  round  the  Coast  of  Ireland  was  arranged  and  carried  out  in  a  manner 
which  left  nothing  to  be  desired. 

The  Vice-Presidents  who  retire  by  rotation  are  : — Lord  "Walter  Fitz  Gerald  ;  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Buick  ;  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Graves,  Bishop  ot  Limerick ;  and  the  Most  Rev. 
Dr.  Healy,  Bishop  of  Clonfert. 

The  three  Senior  Members  of  Council  who  retire  are — The  Rev.  Dr.  Healy,  Mr. 
Langrishe,  and  Mr.  Cofiey. 

During  the  year  the  Council  met  eleven  times,  and  the  Members  attended  as 
follows:— Dr.  LaTouche,  9;  Dr.  Wright,  8;  Mr.  Cooke,  7;  Mr.  Moore,  7;  Dr. 
Stokes,  7 ;  Mr.  Molloy,  7  ;  Mr.  Coffey,  7  ;  the  late  Dr.  King,  5 ;  Mr.  Kelly,  5  ;  Mr. 
Langrishe,  4  ;  Dr.  Joyce,  4  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Healy,  2  ;  Mr.  Cochrane  (Hon.  Secretary),  11. 
Mr.  Mills  was  co-opted  on  28th  October,  in  place  of  Dr.  King,  and  attended  two 
Meetings. 

As  there  was  some  doubt  as  to  the  power  of  the  Council  to  arrange  the  holding  of 
evening  Meetings  in  Dublin  during  the  winter  months,  it  is  proposed  to  alter  the 
Rule  to  enable  such  Meetings  to  be  held.  The  evening  Meetings  already  held  have 
b(.  en  largely  attended  by  the  Members  and  their  friends,  and  are  much  appreciated. 

Early  in  the  year  a  circular  letter  was  sent  out  more  clearly  defining  the  duties  of 
Hon.  Local  Secretaries  under  Rule  18,  and  only  those  Members  who  expressed  a 
willingness  to  act  in  accordance  therewith  were  nominated  by  the  Council. 

An  increased  number  have  furnished  some  interesting  reports  on  matter  connected 
with  local  antiquities  for  publication  in  the  Journal,  but  there  are  still  many  from 
whom  no  reports  have  been  received. 

The  principal  Provincial  Meeting  for  the  year  1898  will  be  held,  according  to 
rotation,  in  Connaught.  The  Council  have  decided,  on  this  occasion,  to  recommend 
that  no  Honorary  President  be  elected,  as  the  Right  Hon.  0' Conor  Don  holds  the 
office  of  President  of  the  Society,  and  they  would,  under  other  circumstances,  have 
submitted  his  name  as  Honorary  President  for  the  year. 

The  following  nominations  have  been  received  in  accordance  with  Rules  16  and 
17:— 

As  VICE-PRESIDENTS  : 

For  Leinster,         .     EDWARD  PERCEVAL  WRIGHT,  M.A.,  M.D.,  M.R.I.A.,  Member 

and  Fellow,  1887  ;  Member  of  Council,  1880-1895,  and 

1896-1898. 
For  Ulster,      .     .     ROBERT  M.  YOUNG,  B.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  Member  and  Fellow, 

1891  ;  Hon.  Local  Secretary  for  Belfast. 
For  Munster,        .     JAMES   FROST,   M.R.I. A.,    Member,    1871 ;    Fellow,  1897 ; 

Hon.  Local  Secretary  for  South  Clare. 
For  Connaught,     .     J.  J.  DIGGE&LA  TOUCHE,  M.A.,  LL.D.,   M.R.I. A.,  Fellow, 

1889  ;  Member  of  Council,  1890-1896,  and  1897-1898. 


86  ROYAL  SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF    IRELAND. 

As  MEMBKBS  OF  COUNCIL  : 

THE  REV.  EDMUND  BARRY,  P.P.,  M.R.I. A.,  Member,  1882  ;  Fellow,  1888 ;  Hon. 

Local  Secretary  for  East  Cork. 

COUNT  PLUNK.ETT,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow,  1888  ;  Member  of  Council,  1890-1891. 
LORD   WALTER   FITZ  GERALD,    M.R.I. A.,    Fellow,    1888  ;  Member  of  Council, 

1892-1895;    Vice-president,  1895-1898;  Hon.  Local  Secretary  for  South 

Kildare. 
LAVENS  M.  EWART,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow,  1891  ;   Vice- President,  1892-1897. 

As  Mr.  Ewart  has  intimated  that  he  would  be  unable  to  devote  sufficient  time  to 
act  on  the  Council,  his  name  is  not  submitted  for  election  ;  it  therefore  became 
unnecessary  to  issue  Balloting  Papers,  as  there  is  only  one  valid  nomination  for  each 
vacancy. 

The  Finances  of  the  Society  are  in  a  satisfactory  condition.  The  Auditors' 
Report  on  the  Treasurer's  Accounts  will,  as  usual,  be  brought  before  the  next  General 
Meeting  of  the  Society. 

At  the  General  Meeting  held  in  Omagh  on  the  8th  of  June,  1896,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  that  the  action  of  the  Council  in  recommending  to  the  Society  to 
sanction,  upon  certain  conditions  [i.e.  that  the  specimens  were  never  to  be  removed 
from  Dublin;  that  they  be  properly  housed  and  cared  for;  and  that,  whenever 
feasible,  such  specimens  shall  be  marked  as  from  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  Society  of 
Antiquaries  of  Ireland,  Kilkenny],  the  transfer  of  the  Museum  of  Antiquities  in 
Kilkenny,  to  the  Science  and  Art  Museum,  Dublin,  be  approved  of.  In  pursuance  of 
this  Resolution,  the  Council  proceeded  to  make  the  transfer,  and  received  from  the 
Director  of  the  Science  and  Art  Department  the  following  reply  : — 

"DEPARTMENT  OF  SCIENCE  AND  ART, 

"  KlLDARE-STREET,  DUBLIN, 

"  30th  November,  1896. 
"  DEAR  SIR, 

"  I  visited  the  Museum  of  your  Society  at  Kilkenny  on  November  24th,  as 
arranged.  There  are  many  objects  of  interest  which  would  be  a  valuable  addition  to 
the  National  Collections  in  the  Dublin  Museum,  whilst  there  are  a  considerable 
number  which  are  more  fitted  for  a  local  collection,  and  several  articles  which  possess 
a  local  interest  only. 

"  Should  the  Society  offer  this  Collection  to  the  public,  I  have  no  doubt  but  that 
the  Department  will  gladly  accept  a  large  proportion  of  the  objects  in  your  Museum, 
and  they  would  then  be  safely  housed,  and  always  available  for  examination  and 
study. 

"  I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  obedient  servaut, 

"  G.  T.  PLUNKETT, 

"  Director. 
"  THE  HON.  SECRETARY, 

"  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND." 

Early  in  1897  further  steps  were  taken  by  the  Council  to  facilitate  the  transfer, 
and  a  letter  was  written  on  the  24th  March,  1897,  urging  that  the  transaction  should 
be  brought  to  a  conclusion,  to  which  the  following  answer  was  received:  — 

' '  Science  and  Art  Museum, 
"No.  41/274/97. 

"DEPARTMENT  OF  SCIENCE  AND  ART, 

"  KILDARE- STREET,  DUBLIN, 

"2nd  April,  1897. 
"DEAR  SIR, 

"  I  have  referred  to  the  Department  your  letter  of  March  24th,  stating  that 
the  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Ireland  wish  to  transfer  to  this  Museum  the 


PROCEEDINGS.  87 

collection  now  at  Kilkenny,  and  am  directed  to  state  that  My  Lords  highly  appreciate 
the  public  spirit  and  liberality  shown  by  the  Council  and  Members  of  the  Society. 

There  are,  however,  at  the  present  time  under  consideration,  important  questions 
in  connexion  with  the  superintendence  cf  the  collection  of  Irish  Antiquities  in  this 
Museum,  and  My  Lords  are  obliged,  therefore,  to  postpone,  for  a  short  time,  their 
reply  to  the  courteous  proposal  which  you  were  good  enough  to  convey  to  me. 

"  I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

"  G.  T.  PLUNKETT. 

"  R.   COCHRANE,  Esq., 

"  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES, 
"7,  ST.  STEPHEN' S-GREEN,  DUBLIN." 

On  the  26th  of  May  Colonel  Plunkett  was  again  written  to,  to  know  whether  he 
was  yet  in  a  position  to  reply  to  the  letter  of  24th  of  March,  and  the  following  letter 
was  received  from  him : — 

"Science  and  Art  Museum. 

"DEPARTMENT  OF  SCIENCE  AND  ART, 

"  KlLD ARE-STREET,  DUBLIN, 

"  28th  May,   1897. 
"  SIR, 

"  With  reference  to  your  letter  of  March  24th,  intimating  the  wish  of  the  Royal 
Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Ireland  to  transfer  their  collections  to  the  Science  and  Art 
Museum  in  Dublin,  I  am  directed  to  inform  you  that  My  Lords  highly  appreciate  the 
motives  which  have  actuated  the  Council  and  Members  of  the  Society  in  this  matter, 
but  having  received  a  Memorial  signed  by  many  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of 
Kilkenny,  representing  that  there  is  a  strong  local  feeling  against  the  removal  from 
that  town  of  a  collection  which  has  been  kept  there  for  so  many  years,  My  Lords 
have  decided  that  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  avail  themselves  of  this  generous  offer. 

"  I  much  regret  that,  through  an  oversight,  the  reply  has  not  been  sent  to  you 
sooner. 

' '  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

G.  T.  PLUNKETT, 

« '  Director. 
"  R.  COCHRANE,  Esq.,  HON.  SECRETARY, 

"  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND, 
"7,  ST.  STEPHEN'S-GUEEN,  DUBLIN." 

The  Council  having  thus  been  unable  to  carry  out  the  Resolution  of  8th  June, 
1896,  would  remind  the  Members  that  the  charge  and  custody  of  the  Museum  remains 
as  in  1895. 

The  Extra  Volume  for  1896-1897,  "  The  Register  of  the  Diocese  of  Dublin  in  the 
times  of  Archbishops  Tregury  and  Walton,  1467-1483,"  from  a  MS.  in  Trinity 
College,  Dublin,  edited  by  Mr.  Henry  F.  Berry,  M.A.,  has  been  printed,  and  will 
shortly  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Fellows. 

The  General  Index  to  the  Journal,  1849-1889,  has  been  completed,  and  will  be 
published  during  the  year,  forming  Volume  20  of  the  consecutive  series  of  the  Journal. 

The  Council  regret  to  have  to  record  the  deaths  of  the  following 
Fellows  and  Members  during  the  year  (34  in  number)  : — 

FELLOWS  (6).— R.  W.  Cochran- Patrick,  LL.D.,  1889;  The  Earl  of  Dartrey,  K.P., 
1873,  Vice- President,  1886-88  ;  Rev.  John  Hammond,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  1896  ;  Deputy 
Surgeon- General  King,  M.B.,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  Member,  1883  ;  Fellow,  1886  ;  Most  Rev. 
Lord  Plunket,  D.D.,  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  Member,  1886  ;  Fellow,  1888  ;  Very  Rev. 
A.  F.  Smyly,  M.A.,  Dean  of  Derry,  1888. 


88    ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

MEMBERS  (28).— J.  A.  Allen,  1891  ;  John  Cornwall  Brady,  J.P.,  1888  ;  Miss 
Edith  Brown,  1891;  Very  Rev.  Dean  Byrne,  M.A.,  1868  ;  Rev.  W.  Crook,  D.IX, 
1889;  Rev.  J.  Crowe,  1889;  E.  M  Dillon,  LL.D.,  1890;  John  Dillon,  1880;  Very 
Rev.  Canon  Dunne,  P.P.,  1895;  William  Gilmour,  1892;  Samuel  Guilbride,  1886; 
Alfred  Henshaw,  J.P.,  1888;  R  J.  Hewitt,  M.D.,  1890;  Francis  McGlade,  J.P., 
1890;  William  A.  Mahony,  1865;  Rev.  D.  B.  Mulcahy,  M.R.I. A.,  1870;  Rev. 
Joseph  Murphy,  P.P.,  1896;  Thomas  F.  O'Connell,  1893  ;  Thomas  O'Hanlon,  1895  ; 
Very  Rev.  Thomas  O'Meara,  P.P.,  1895;  The  Earl  of  Roden,  1893  ;  Edmund  F. 
Ryan,  J.P.,  1870  ;  F.  W.  Smith,  1892  ;  William  Spillane,  J.P.,  i>  L.,  1889  ;  Rev.  J. 
W.  Stubbs,  D.D.,  S.P.T.C.D.,  1890;  W.  J.  Trelford,  1892;  P.  J.  Tuohy,  1890; 
Miss  Wade,  1895. 

The  following  Fellows  and  Members,  on  the  Roll  for  1895,  1896, 
and  1897,  have  intimated  their  desire  to  retire  : — 

FELLOWS  (8).— J.  G.  Wandesford  Butler,  Member,  1888  ;  Fellow,  1894  ;  Ramsay 
Colles,  M.R.I. A.,  1896;  W.  Mac  Neile  Dixon,  n.  LIT.,  1S89;  Major  E.  C.  Hamilton, 
J.P.,  1890  ;  J.  W.  Slattery,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  1891  ;  John  Stevenson,  1893;  Right  Rev. 
W.  P.  Walsh,  D.D.,  Member,  1879;  Fellow,  1888;  Vice- President,  1889-1897;  R.  E. 
Ward,  J.P.,  D.L.,  1892. 

MEMBERS  (75).  —  Thomas  Arnold,  M.A.,  1894;  Rev.  James  Adams,  1891; 
Lieut, -Colonel  C.  M.  Alexander,  J.P.,  1896  ;  The  Earl  Annesley,  J.P.,  D.L.,  1893  ; 
Rev.  J.  H.  Bibby,  1895;  Rev.  D.  Bolger,  1896;  Rev.  0.  Brighton,  M.A.,  1892; 
Mrs.  Wnldegrave  Brodie,  1897  ;  Samuel  Burke,  1891;  W.  H.  Caldwell,  M.D.,  1390; 
F.  Carter,  1894;  R.  R.  Cherry,  LL.D.,  Q.C.,  1891;  C.  G.  F.  Chute,  M.A.,  1888; 
Rev.  S.  E.  Cooney,  M.A.,  1891  ;  Ven.  Archdeacon  Daly,  M.A.,  1893;  H.  T.  Daunt, 
J.P  ,  1892  ;  Rev.  M.  Day,  M.A.,  1891 ;  Rev  J.  G.  Digges,  M.A.,  1891  ;  R.  R.  Dudgeon, 
1894  ;  John  Duncan,  1896;  Rev.  R.  Eubank,  B.D.,  1890;  Rev.  J.  A.  Fanning,  D.D., 
1890  ;  Mrs.  Frazer,  1891  ;  Rev.  R.McC.  Gilmour,  1895 ;  Mrs.  James  Godley,  1892  ; 
R.  A.  Gray,  M.  INST.  C.E.,  1858  ;  Rev.  J.  Gribbon,  1893  ;  J.  W.  Gunnis,  C.E.,  1892  ; 
Walter  Hare,  1893  ;  R.  M.  Hill,  B.A.,  1892 ;  Rev.  James  Kenny,  c.c.,  1896 ;  J.  G, 
Keogh,  1877  ;  Miss  King,  1892  ;  Miss  Leecb,  1895  ;  T.  E.  Lloyd,  1895;  Rev.  J.  F. 
Lynch,  B.A.,  1897  ;  N.  C.  Macnamara,  1893;  Rev.  J.  D.  Madden,  1893;  Rev.  H. 
Magee,  D.D.,  1891 ;  W.  I.  Mahaffy,  1895  ;  Rev.  P.  F.  Mahon,  1894  ;  L.  Mathewson, 
1891 ;  Rev.  C.  W.  O'H.  Mease,  M.A.,  1894  ;  Rev.  F.  Meredyth,  M.A.,  1889  ;  G. 
Metcalfe,  1895;  Very  Rev.  Dean  Monahan,  D.T>.,  1890;  G.  M.  Moore,  1890;  Rev. 
Canon  Morris,  M.A.,  1891  ;  W.  J.  Morrison,  1892  ;  Rev.  R.  F.  Mullins,  1889  ;  Ven. 
Archdeacon  Nugent,  M.A.,  1893;  G.  L.  O'Connor,  1895;  Major  P.  O'Leary,  J.P., 
1896  ;  Miss  Payne-Townshend,  1890  ;  Joseph  Pigott,  1877  ;  Miss  Gertrude  Pirn, 
1895;  R.  L.  Praeger,  M.R.I. A.,  1891  ;  G.  O'C.  Redmond,  M.D.,  1884;  J.  Ringwood, 
M.D.,  J.P.,  1893;  J.  W.  Robb,  1894;  L.  Roberts,  1895;  Mrs.  Ryder,  1895;  A.  E. 
Sceales,  1889;  Mrs.  Scale,  1890;  J.  F.  Smithwick,  J.P.,  1889;  Mrs.  Stone,  1890; 
R.  J.  Sullivan,  1896;  G.  B.  M.  Swifte,  J.P.,  D.L.,  1891;  M.  Tobias,  1892;  J. 
Todhunter,  M.D.,  1889;  Rev.  I.  Warren,  M.A.,  1895  ;  Rev.  P.  S.  Weldon,  1895  ;  Mrs. 
Wheeler,  1894  ;  R.  C.  Wilson,  1895;  Ven.  Archdeacon  Wynne,  D.D.,  1890. 

The  following  Fellows  and  Members,  on  the  Eoll  for  1897,  are  now 
in  arrears  two  years  and  upwards,  and  will  not  receive  the  Journal  for 
1898  until  their  Subscriptions  are  paid  : — 

FELLOW  (1). 

Elected  £     s.     d. 

1892     Upton,  W.  H.,         ..  ..  ..  ..     1896-1897     .,300 


PROCEEDINGS. 


89 


MEMBERS  (16). 


£   «.   d. 


Elected 

1891  Anderson,  Very  Rev.  J.  A.,  O.S.A., 

1892  Fitz  Gerald,  W.  J., 
1887  Hanna,  J.  A., 

1894  Hannay,  Rev.  J.  0...  M.A., 

1892  Hinkson,  Henry  A.,  M.A.,      .. 

1892  Irwin,  William, 

1894  Jefferson,  W.  G.,  M.A., 

1893  Lavell,  Rev.  Edward,  c.c.,     .. 

1890  Molloy,  Joseph,  J.P., 

1895  Moorhead,  Rev.  Joseph,  B.A., 

1891  O'Neill,  W.  P.,  M.R.I.A., 
1895  Stokes,  Michael  B., 

1892  Wakely,  John,  M.A., 
1895  Walker,  Charles  F., 

1895  Warren,  Sir  A.  R.,  Bart.,       .. 

1889  Whitty,  Rev.  T.  J., 


The  following  Fellows  and  Members  (32)  owing,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year  1897,  upwards  of  two  years  arrears,  which  have  not 
since  heen  paid,  have  been  taken  off  the  Roll  for  1897.  They  may 
become  eligible  for  re-election  on  discharging  the  amounts  due  : — 


1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

1896-1897  .. 

1 

0 

0 

Elected 

1890  Atkinson,  Henry  J.,  Michigan,  U.S.A., 

1894  Clancy,  John,  T.C.,  Dublin,  ..  ..  .. 

1894  DeCourcy,  William,  J.P.,  Urlingford, 

1894  Egan,  Rev.  S.,  c.c.,  Rush, 

1891  Gallagher,  P.  M.,  Donegal, 

1893  Goldon,  J.  W.,  M.D.,  Parsonstown,     .. 

1893  Hamilton,  Captain  J.  D.,  Lagos,  West  Africa, 

1890  Harris,  John,  Galway, 

1893  Johnston,  Miss  Anna,  Belfast, 

1893  Johnston,  Robert,  Belfast, 

1890  Lynch,  Rev.  P.  J.,  c.c.,  Monaghan, 

1893  Mac  Dermot,  C.  E.,  B. A.,  Dublin, 

1892  M'Cartan,  M.,  M.P.,  Ulster  Buildings,  Belfast, 

1895  M'Girr,  Rev.  P.,  Adm.,  Westport,     .. 

1893  M'Grath,  Rev.  T.,  P.P.,  Clogheen,     .. 

1892  Mercer,  Rev.  W.  Wilson,  Stradbally,  Queen's  Co. , 

1889  Nash,  Ralph,  Limerick, 

1890  Nolan,  Rev.  C.  P.,  Dublin, 

1883  O'Carroll,  F.  J.,  B.A.,  Hazelhatch,     .. 

1893  O'Mahony,  John,  Dublin,    .. 

1884  Orr,  Cecil,  Blackrock, 

1892  Purcell,  M.,  Solicitor,  41,  Lr.  Sackville-st,  Dublin, 

1892  Roe,  W.  E.,  Moutrath, 

1891  Sealy,  J.  H.,  J.P.,  Kilbrittain, 
1890  Shanley,  Michael,  M.D.,  Attilone, 

1893  Smith,  Rev.  Charles,  M.A., 

1892  Smyth,  T.   J.,   LL.B.,  Barrister,  28,  Goldsmith- 

street,  Dublin,  . .  . .  . , 

1893  Sullivan,  Herbert,  B.A.,  i. p.,  Charleville, 

1890  Sutherland,  P.    F.,   Municipal  Buildings,   Cork 
Hill,  Dublin, 

1889  Taylor,  Rev   G.  B.,  LL.B.,  Clontarf,  .. 
1892  Ward,  F.  E.,  Belfast, 

1890  Whayman,  Horace  W.,  Bellevue,  Newport,  Ken- 

tucky, U.S.A.  (Fellow), 

JOUR.  R. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,    PT.  I.,   5TH   8ER. 


£   *.    d. 


1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

189-5-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1893-1896 

..  2 

0  0 

1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1895-1896 

..  1 

0  0 

1894-1896 

..  1 

10  0 

1894-1896 

..  3 

0  0 

H 

90  ROYAL  SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

It  was  resolved — "  That  as  it  would  be  inconvenient  to  celebrate 
the  Jubilee  of  the  Society  in  Kilkenny,  the  Second  Quarterly  Meeting 
for  1898  be  held  in  Dublin."  • 

The  motion,  of  which  notice  was  given  at  the  previous  General 
Meeting,  was  adopted  as  follows  : — 

To  add  to  Rule  24  the  words : — 

"  Evening  Meetings  for  reading  and  discussing  Papers,  and  making  exhibits, 
may  be  held  at  such  times  as  shall  be  arranged  by  the  Council." 

The  following  were  declared  elected  as  Vice- Presidents  :— 

For-Leinster,  .  •  EDWARD  PERCEVAL  WRIGHT,  M.A.,  M.D.,  M.R.I.A. 

For  Ulster,  .         ROBERT  M.  YOUNG,  J. P.,  B.A.,  M.R.I.A. 

fbr'Mwister,  .         JAMES  FROST,  J.P.,  M.R.I.A. 

For  Connauffht,  .         J.  J.  DIGGES  LATOTJCHE,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  M.R.I.A. 

The  following  were  declared  elected  as  Members  of  Council : — 

THE  REV.  EDMUND  BARRY,  P.P.,  M.R.I.A. 

COUNT  PLUNKETT,  B.L.,  M.R.I.A. 

THE  LORD  WALTER  FITZ  GERALD,  M.R.I.A. 

The  Auditors  were  declared  re-elected. 

A  Brass  Pot  was  sent  for  exhibition,  found  in  the  townland  of 
Laughtmairida,  not  far  from  Lisdoonvarna,  county  Clare.  It  was  found 
in  May,  1897,  by  James  Donohoe,  in  bog,  at  a  depth  of  six  or  seven  feet 
from  the  surface.  The  vessel  measured  18  inches  in  height,  and  1 1  inches 
in  diameter,  and  is  of  the  late  Elizabethan  period. 

The  following  Publications  were  received  during  the  year  1897  : — 

American  Antiquarian  Journal,  vol.  xi.,  New  Ser. ;  2.  Member's  list,  &c. ;  Proc. 
April,  1897.  Anthropological  Institute  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  vol.  xxvi., 
Nos.  2,  3,  4  ;  xxvii.,  1,  2.  L'Anthropologie,  tome  vii.,  No.  6  ;  tome  viii.,  Nos.  1-6. 
Architectural,  Archaeological,  and  Historic  Society  of  Chester  and  North  Wales, 
Journal,  vol.  vi.,  1.  Belfast  Naturalists'  Field  Club,  Report,  vol.  iv.,  Series  2, 
Part  4  (1896-97).  Bristol  and  Gloucester .  Archaeological  Society,  Programmes, 
Transactions,  vol.  xix.,  Part  2  ;  xx.-,  Part  1.  British  Archaeological  Association, 
vol.  ii.,  Part  4  ;  vol.  iii.,  New  Ser.,  1,  3,  4.  Cambrian  Archaeological  Associatibn, 
Archseologia  Cambrensis,  Series  v.,  Nos.  54,  55,  56.  Cambridge  Antiquarian  Society, 
8vo  publications,  xxix. ;  Proceedings,  vol.  ix.,  No.  2 ;  Member's  list.  Cork  His- 
torical and  Archaeological  Society,  Journal  for  the  year  1897.  Hon.  Society  of 
Cymmrodorion,  vol.  xii.,  1897.  Geological  Survey  of  Canada,  Annual  Report,  New 
Series,  vol.  viii.  and  maps.  -Geological  Department,  U.S.A.,  16th  and  17th  Reports 
(1894-96).  Glasgow  Archaeological  Society,  vol.  iii.,  New  Series,  Parts  1  and  2. 
Historical  State  Society  of  Wisconsin,  Proceedings  (1896).  Historical  Society  of 
Lancashire,  and  Cheshire,  vol.  xlvii.,.New  Series  ;  vol.  xi.,  7,  8.  Institute  of  Civil 
Engineers  of  Ireland,  vol.  xxv.  Nova  Scotian-  Institute  of  Science,  Proceedings  and 
Transactions,  vol.  ix.,  2.  Numismatic  Society,  Journal,  vol.  xvii.  (1897),  Parts  2 
and  3.  Revue  Celtique,  vol.  xvii.,  No.  4  ;  xviii.,  Nos.  1-4.  Royal  Archaeological 


PROCEEDINGS.  91 

Institute  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  (Archaeological  Journal),  vol.  liii.,  No.  212  ; 
liv.,  214,  215.  Royal  Dublin  Society,  Transactions  vol.  v.,  13;  vi.,  2-13  ;  Proceed- 
ings, vol.  viii.,  5.  Royal  Institute  of  British  Architects,  Calendar,  1897-98,  vol.  iv., 
Series  3,  Nos.  1-20;  vol.  v.,  1—3.  Royal  Irish  Academy,  Proceedings,  vol.  iv., 
Series  3,  Nos.  1-4.  Sheffield  Naturalists'  Club.  Smithsonian  Institution,  Smith- 
sonian Reports,  1894,  1895  ;  14th  and  15th  Annual  Report  on  Ethnology,  1892-93  ; 
Societe  Archeologique  Create,  Viesnik  hrvatskoga  Arheoloskoga  drustva,  New  Ser., 
vol.  ii.,  1896-1897.  Societe  Archeologie  de  Bruxelles,  tomes  viii.,  xi.  Societe 
Roy  ale  des  Antiquaires  du  Nord,  Aarboger  for  Nordisk  Oldkyndighed  og  Historie,  ii., 
R.  126.  Foreningen  til  Nordisk  Fortidsmindersmerkers.Bevaring.  Society  of  Anti- 
quaries of  London,  Proceedings,  vol.  xvi.,  Nos.  3-5.  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  New- 
castle-upon-Tyne,  Register  of  Parish  of  Dinsdale,  Durham;  Proceedings,  vol.  vii., 
No.  35;  vol.  viii.,  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  4,  7,  8,  11,  13;  Index,  xiii.-xxi.  :  Programmes; 
Archseologia  Aeliana,  vol.  xix.,  1,  2.  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland,  Proceed- 
ing, vol.  xxx.  Society  of  Architects,  vol.  iv.,  Nos.  1—12;  vol.  v,  1-3;  List  of 
Members.  Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology,  vol.  xviii.,  Part  8  :  vol.  xix.,  Parts  1-8. 
Somersetshire  Archaeological  and  Natural  History  Society,  Proceedings,  vol.  xlii. 
(1896).  Surrey  Arch  ecological  Society,  Collections,  vol.  xiii.,  Part  2.  "Wiltshire 
Archaeological  Society,  vol.  xxix.,  Nos.  Ixxxvi.-lxxxviii.  ;  Inquisitions,  iv.  v. 
11  cognomine  di  Jacopo  Sannazaro,  Estratto  dal  Giornale  Araldico  Genealogico,  1897, 
Lorenzo  Salazar  (Author).  The  Ghost  Dance  Religion  and  Sioux  Outbreak,  1890 
(J.  W.  Powell).  The  Menomini  Indians,  Walter  J.  Hoffman  (Author).  Prehistoric 
Problems,  Dr.  Robert  Munro  (Author).  Cumulative  Index  to  Periodicals,  vol.  ii., 
No.  4,  Public  Library,  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  Genealogical  Magazine,  No.  1,  May, 
1897.  Annual  Report  to  Library  Syndicate.  The  Antiquary  for  the  year  1897.  The 
Irish  Builder  for  the  year  1897,  The  Reliquary  for  the  year  1897.  The  Humani- 
tarian, vol.  x.,  No.  3.  The  Practical  Photographer,  vol.  viii.,  No.  86.  Bulletin  of 
Museum  of  Science  and  Art,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  No.  1. 

.     The  Meeting  then  adjourned  to  8  o'clock,  p.m.;./;  1 

EVENING  MEETING. 

The  Society  again  met  at  8  o'clock,  p.m,  in  the  Lecture  Theatre  of 
the  Eoyal  Dublin  Society  ;  • , ;» 

THE    EIGHT  HON.  O'CoNos,  DON,  LL.D.,  M.E.I.A.,  President, 
in  the  Chair. 

The  following  Papers  were  read,  and  referred  to  the  Council :— - 

"  The  Antiquity  of  Iron  as  used  in  the  manufacture  of  certain  Weapons,  Implements^ 
and  Ornaments  found  in  Ireland"  (Part  I.),  by  W.  F.  Wakeman,  Hon.  fellow. 

"  Kil-ma-Huddrick,  near  Clondalkin,  Co.  Dublin,"  by  E.  R.  M'C.  Dix. 

In  the  absence  of  any  recommendation  from  the  Council,  in  their 
Annual  Eeport,  as  to  place  of  meeting  in  Summer,  1898,  it  was 
resolved  : — 

"  That  the  decision  of  the  question  as  to  the  place  of  the  Summer  Meeting  be 
referred  back  to  the  Council." 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  Tuesday,  22nd  February,  at  8  o'clock. 


92  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

TUESDAY,  February  22nd,  1898. 

The  Society  met  in  the  Lecture  Theatre  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society 
at  8  o'clock,  p.m.  ; 

E.   PERCEVAL  WRIGHT,    M.A.,    M.D.,    M.R.I.A.,    Vice-President, 
in  the  Chair. 

The  following  Paper  was  read,  and  referred  to  the  Council. 

"  Pictorial  History  of  Ancient  and  Mediaeval  Dublin"  (illustrated,  by  limelight,  from 
Engravings  and  Photographs),  by  E.  Mac  Dowel  Cosgrave,  M.D. 

The  Society  then  adjourned  to  Tuesday,  the  29th  of  March,   1898. 


TUESDAY,  March  29th,  1898. 

''  The  Society  met  in  the  Lecture  Theatre  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society 
at  8  o'clock,  p.m.  ; 

E.    PERCEVAL   WRIGHT,    M.A.,    M.D.,    M.R.I.A.,    Vice-President, 
in  the  Chair. 

The  following  Papers  were  read,  and  referred  to  the  Council : — 

"  The  Termon  of  D arrow  "  (with  lantern-slide  illustrations),  by  the  Rev.  S.  de  Courcy 

"Williams,  M.A. 
"  The  Instruments  of  the  Passion"  (with  lantern-slide  illustrations),  by  Mr.  G.  D. 

Burtchaell,  for  Miss  Stokes,  Hon.  Fellow. 

The  remaining   Papers   were   taken   as   read,   and   referred    to   the 
Council,  viz.  : — 
"The  Inauguration  Chair  of  the  O'Neills  of   Clandeboye,"   by   William   Frazer, 

F.R. C.S.I.,  M.K.I.A.,  Fellow. 

"  Walter  Reagh  Fitz  Gerald,   a  noted  Outlaw  of  the  Sixteenth  Century,"  by  Lord 

Walter  Fitz  Gerald,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow. 
4 '  Notes  on  the  Diary  of  a  Dublin  Lady  of  the  Eighteenth  Century"  (Part  II.),  by 

Henry  F.  Berry,  M.A. 
"Presbyterian   Marriages  from   Records  of  Armagh  Congregation,  by  W.  Frazer, 

F.R.C.S.I.,  M.U.I. A.,  Fellow. 
"  Irish  Bells  in  Brittany,"  by  James  Coleman. 

"  The  Gates  of  Glory,  Dingle,  Co.  Kerry,"  by  R.  A.  S.  Macalister,  M.A. 
"  The  Site  of  Raymond's  Fort,  Dundunolf,"  by  Goddard  H.  Orpen,  M.A. 

The  Society  then  adjourned. 


[To  face  page  93. 


THE   JOURNAL 

OF 

THE  KOYAL  SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES 

OF  IRELAND, 
FOR   THE   YEAR   1898. 

PAPERS  AND  PROCEEDINGS-PART  II.    SECOND  QUARTER,  1898, 


KNOCKMANY. 

BY  GEORGE  COFFEY,  A.I.B.,  M.R.I.A.,  FELLOW. 
[Read  FEBRUARY  24,  1897.] 


,  the  Hill  of  Baine,  is  situated  in  the  demesne  of  Cecil,  the 
residence  of  Mr.  F.  P.  Gervais,  about  two  miles  and  a  half  north 
of  the  town  of  Clogher,  the  seat  of  the  Bishopric  of  that  name,  in  the 
county  of  Tyrone.  The  adjoining  village  of  Augher,  on  the  Clogher 
Valley  Tramway,  lies  half  a  mile  nearer  Cecil,  and  is  the  most  convenient 
place  from  which  to  visit  Knockmany. 

The  hill  forms  an  outlying  eminence  of  a  range  of  mountainous  hills 
overlooking  the  river  Blackwater.  It  is  beautifully  wooded  to  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  top.  On  the  summit  are  the  remains  of  the  rude  stone 
grave  and  tumulus,  the  subject  of  this  Paper. 

Knockmany  attains  an  altitude  of  779  feet  above  the  sea-level,  The 
ground  at  Cecil  is  marked  274  feet  on  the  Ordnance  Map  ;  so  that  the  hill 
rises,  in  round  numbers,  500  feet  above  the  plain. 

From  the  summit  the  eye  sweeps  an  almost  uninterrupted  horizon. 
At  the  spectator's  feet  is  extended  the  ancient  plain  of  Clossach,  through 
which  the  Blackwater  finds  its  way  towards  Lough  Neagh. 

Knockmany  was  first  identified  with  Cnoc-Baine,  the  burial-place 
of  Baine,  mother  of  Feidhlimidh  Reachtmhar,  by  the  Very  Rev.  Canon 
O'Connor,  Parish  Priest  of  Newtown-Butler,  county  Fermanagh,  in  an 
.article  contributed  to  the  People's  Advocate,  Monaghan,  24th  Feb.,  1877. 

JOUR.  R.8.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  II.,  5TH  SKR.  I 


94  ROYAL    SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

At  my  request  Canon  O'Connor  kindly  furnished  me  with  a  more 
extended  statement  of  the  evidence,  which  I  have  much  pleasure  in 
incorporating  in  the  present  Paper,  adding  a  few  references,  which  access 
to  books  in  Dublin  has  enabled  me  to  supply. 

Under  the  year  A.D.  Ill  the  following  entry  occurs  in  the  "  Annals 
of  the  Four  Masters  "  : — 

"  The  Age  of  Christ,  111.  The  first  year  of  the  reign  of  Feidhlimidh 
Reachtmhar,  son  of  Tuathal  Teachtmhar,  as  King  over  Ireland.  Baine, 
daughter  of  Seal,1  was  the  mother  of  this  Feidhlimidh.  It  was  from  her 
Cnoc-Baine,  in  Oirghialla,  for  it  was  there  she  was  interred.  It  was  by 
her  also  Rath-mor,  of  Magh  Leamhna,  in  Ulster,  was  erected."2 

O'Donovan  does  not  appear  to  have  identified  Cnoc-Baine.  In  a  note 
to  this  passage  he  writes : — 

"  Cnoc-Baine :  i.e.  Baine's  Hill.  This  was  the  name  of  a  hill  situated 
in  the  plain  of  Magh-Leamhna,  otherwise  called  Clossach,  in  Tyrone  ;  but 
it  is  now  obsolete." 

In  a  note  on  Magh-Leamhna,  under  A.M.  3727,  he  states  its  situation 
thus : — "  This  plain  was  well  known,  and  otherwise  called  Clossach,  in 
the  time  of  Colgan,  who  describes  it  as  '  Regio  campestris  TironaB  Dio- 
cesis  Clocharensis  vulgo  Mag-Lemna  aliis  Clossach  dicta.'3  It  is  shown 
on  an  old  map  of  Ulster,  preserved  in  the  State  Papers  Office,  London,  as 
*  the  countrie  of  Cormac  MacBarone  '  [O'Neill].  The  fort  of  Augher  and 
the  village  of  Bally gawley  are  represented  as  in  this  district,  the  town  of 
Clogher  being  on  its  western  and  the  Church  of  Errigal-Keeroge  on  its 
northern  boundary,  and  the  river  Blackwater  flowing  through  it." 

Canon  O'Connor  adds  that  Ath  Earghail,  the  ford  where  occurred 
the  interesting  conversation  between  St.  Patrick  and  his  disciple,  St. 
MacCartin  (O'Curry's  ''Lectures,  MS.  Materials  of  Ancient  Irish  His- 
tory," p.  325),  "was  situated  on  the  river  Launy,  the  modern  Black- 
water,  and  lay  within  this  territory,  at  or  near  the  village  of  Augher. 
Taking  its  rise  in  the  heights  beyond  Ferdross,  the  little  river  Launy  (the 
source  of  the  Avonmore,  or  Blackwater)  for  many  centuries  preserved  the 
ancient  name  of  Magh-Leamna  [pronounced  Moy-Leney]  long  after  that 
district  became  merged  in  the  more  extensive  territory  called  Oriel." 

The  map  mentioned  by  O'Donovan  is  probably  one  of  the  maps  of  the 
Escheated  Counties  in  Ireland,  1609,  facsimiles  of  which  were  published 
by  order  of  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury  in  1861.  In  the  map  of  Tyrone 
the  district  of  "Clossogh"  is  described  as  "  Cormock  M'Barone  his 
countrie." 

On  the  northern  boundary  of  this  district  a  prominent  hill  is  marked 
"  Knocknemane."  In  the  general  map  of  Ulster  (Map  1)  the  district 

1  O'Flaherty  ("  Ogygia,"  part  iii.,  c.  56)  calls  him  Seal  Balbh,  and  says  he  was 
King  of  Finland. 

2  Rathmore  here  mentioned  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  Rathmore  of  Moylinny, 
county  Antrim. 

3  "Trias  Thaumaturga,"  p.  184,  n.  11. 


KNOCKMANY.  95 

name  is  written  u  Closoh,"  and  the  hill  referred  to  is  marked  "  Kno : 
Managh."  In  a  map  of  the  barony  of  Clogher  (Map  18)  the  name  of 
the  same  hill  is  written  "  Knocknemanny."  These  appear  to  be  corrupted 
forms  of  Knockmany.1 

In  M'Crea'smap,  dated  1802,  attached  to  the  statistical  survey  of  the 
county  of  Tyrone,  drawn  up  in  the  years  1801-1802,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Dublin  Society,  by  John  M'Evoy,  the  spelling  is  Knockmany.  This 
is  likewise  the  form  adopted  by  the  Ordnance  Survey,  1834.  Caiieton,  a 
native  of  the  parish  of  Clogher,  who  spoke  Irish,  and  was  intimately 
acquainted  with  the  traditions  of  the  locality,  also  uses  this  form,  as  in 
his  "  Legend  of  Knockmany,"  1846. 

It  has  been  desirable  to  show  that  "  Knockmany,"  the  present  local 
form,  was  the  recognised  name  of  the  hill  at  a  time  when  tradition 
maybe  presumed  to  have  been  still  unbroken,  as  the  spelling  "  Knockne- 
manne,"  on  one  of  the  escheated  counties  maps,  would  suggest  a  different 
solution  of  the  name  to  that  given  by  the  Four  Masters. 

As  we  shall  see,  there  is  authority  for  the  form  Knockmany  (Cnoc 
mBane)  as  far  back  as  the  fourteenth  century. 

The  statement  in  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters  "  is  found  also  in 
the  Leabhar  Gabhala,  or  Book  of  Invasions,  revised  by  Friar  Michael 
O'Clery  in  1631:— 

"  Eo  gabh  tra  Feidlimid  reachthmar  mac  Tuathail  teach tmair  an  Righe 
fri  remheas  naoi  mbliadan  co  nerbhailt.  Baine  inghean  Scail  mathair 
Fedlimid.  As  uaithe  ainmnighthear  Cnoc  mBaine  la  hAirgiallaibh,  ar  as 
ann  ro  hadhnachtt,  7  as  le  ro  clasadh  Rath  mor  Muighe  Leamna  in 
Ultaibh  i  comhfogus  an  cnuic  ceadna." — (MS.  in  the  handwriting  of 
Cucoigry  O'Clery,  p.  146,  Lib.  R.I.A.). 

"Feidlimid  Reachtmar,  moreover,  the  son  of  Tuathal  Teachtmhar, 
assumed  the  kingdom  during  a  reign  of  nine  years,  till  he  died.  Baine, 
daughter  of  Seal,  was  the  mother  of  Fedlimid.  It  is  from  her  that 
Cnoc  mBaine,  in  Airgiulla,  is  named,  for  it  was  there  she  was  buried ; 
and  it  was  by  her  Rath-mor,  of  Magh-Leamna,  in  Ulster,  was  dug  near 
the  same  hill." 

It  will  be  observed  that  in  this  passage  there  is  an  important  addition 
to  that  in  the  Four  Masters — namely,  the  statement  that  Rathmor  was 
near  Knockmany,  a  point  to  which  we  shall  return  presently. 

The  Leabhar  Gabhala  was  revised  by  Brother  Michael  O'Clery, 
the  chief  member  of  the  Four  Masters,  at  the  convent  of  Lisgoole,  in  the 
diocese  of  Clogher,  in  the  year  1631.  In  the  preface  O'Clery  tells  us 
that  he  "  undertook,  with  the  permission  of  his  superiors,  to  purify  and 
compile  this  book,  and  to  collect  for  it,  from  other  books,  all  that  was 
wanting  to  it  in  history  and  in  other  learning — as  much  as  we  could, 
according  to  the  space  of  time  which  we  had  to  write  it.  The  chroniclers 

1  In  Speed's  Map,  1610,  the  spelling  is  Knomanagh. 
12 


$6  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

:  who  were  with  us  for  this  purpose,  and  for  purifying  the  book,  were  :^— 
Fearfeasa  O'Mulconry,  from  the  county  of  Roscommon ;  Cucoigry 
O'Clery,  from  Bally  Clery,  in  the  county  of  Donegall  ;  Cucoigry 
O'Duigenan,  from  Bally  CoilltifogJiair,  in  the  county  of  Leitrim ; :  and 
Giollapatrick  O'Luinin,  from  Ard  Ui  Luinin,  in  the  county  of  Ferma- 
nagh." The  last-mentioned  was  chief  chronicler  of  BrienRoe  Maguire, 
Lord  .of  Enniskillen.  ?o 

The  Books  of  Invasions  which  they  had  by  them  at  the  writing  of  the 
work,  O'Clery  further  tells  us,  were  : — The  Book  of  Bally  Mulconry, 
transcribed  out  of  the  Leabhar-na-h'Uidhre ;  the  Book  of  the  O'Duige- 
nans,  which  is  called  the  Book  of  Glenn-da-locha ;  and  the  Leabhal' 
na  h'Uaccongmhala,  "together  with  other  Books  of  Invasions  and 
History  beside  them."1 

Of  the  books  mentioned,  the  Leabhar-na-h'Uidhre  is  alone  known 
to  exist  with  certainty.  It  contains  in  its  present  state  but  a  fragment 
of  the  Book  of  Invasions.  Copies  of  the  tract  are,  however,  preserved 
in  the  Book  of  Leinster  (c.  1150),  the  Book  of  Ballymote  (c.  1390),  and 
the  Book  of  Lecan  (1416). 

The  passage  concerning  Baine  occurs  in  the  copies  in  the  Books  of 
Leinster  and  Ballymote.  I  have  not  been  able  to  trace  it  in  the  Book 
of  Lecan.  The  following  is  the  text  and  translation  of  the  Book  of 
Leinster  (Facsimile,  p.  24) : — 

"Feidlimid  rechtaid  mac  Tuathail  techtmair  ocus  mac  Bane  ingine 
Scail,  diata  Cnocc  Bane  la  Airgialla,  .i.  Is  and  ro  adnacht.  Is  leis 
roclass  rath  Maige  Lemna  for  Ultu." 

"Feidlimid  Rechtaidh,  son  of  Tuathal  Techtmhar,  and  son  of  Bane, 
daughter  of  Seal,  from  whom  is  [called]  Cnoc  Bane  in  Airgiulla,  for  it 
is  there  she  is  buried.  It  was  by  him  the  Rath  of  Magh  Lemna,  in  Ulster, 
was  dug." 

The  text  in  the  Book  of  Ballymote  is  the  same  as  that  in  the 
Book  of  Leinster,  with  some  differences  of  spelling.  The  B  in  Cnoc 
Bane  is  eclipsed  by  M,  and  is  written  Cnoc  mBane.  The  latter  form,  is 
that  used  by  the  Four  Masters  (Cnoc  mBaine),  as  also  in  Leabhar 
Gabhala  of  O'Clery.  In  the  Book  of  Ballymote,  "lea"  replaces  "leis," 
making  the  passage  read,  "  it  was  by  her  "  (Baine")  the  Rath  of  Magh 
Lemna  was  dug.  This  reading  is  followed  by  the  Four  Masters  and 
O'Clery  in  the  Leabhar  Gabhala. 

In  the  Leabhar  Gabhala  the  rath  is  called  Rathmor,  and  we  have 
the  additional  statement  that  Rathmor  was  near  Knockmany.  "We  can 
fix  the  situation  of  Rathmor  independently,  and  thus  make  it  evidence 
for  the  identification  of  Knockmany.  Colgan  in  his  life  of  S.  Fanchea) 
states  that  she  was  born  at  Rathmor,  near  Clogher  (Acta  Sanctorum, 
page  1).  In  a  note  he  amplifies  this  statement:  "  Rathmoria  juxta 

1  O'Curry's  "  MS.  Materials,"  pp.  168-171. 


KNOCKMANY.  r97 

clochariam,  c.  1,  est  vicus  in  di'cecesi  ClochSrensi  juxta  ip:sum  oppidum 
Clochariam,  olimque  erat  Celebris  arx,  &  sedes  Principium  Orgiellise ;  in 
eaque  natum  esse  S.  Endeum  [brother  of  S.  Fanchea]  recitatur  supple- 
mentum  vitse  eius "  (page  3,  note  3).  We  have  it  here  stated  that 
Rathmor  was  near  the  town  of  Clogher,  and  that  in  former  times  it 
had  been  a  famous  stronghold  and  seat  of  the  Princes  of  Orgiella  (Oriel). 

Rathmor  is  not  now  known  as  a  townland  or  other  place-name  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Clogher.  But  Canon  O'Connor  is  no  doubt  right  in 
identifying  Rathmor  with  the  great  rath  in  the  palace  grounds  at  Clogher. 
It  is  the  most  important  rath  in  the  district,  and  is  in  fact  the  only  one 
deserving  the  name  of  Rathmor.  Its  situation  at  Clogher  seems  to  place 
its  identification  beyond  question.  The  rath  is  thus  described  by  Canon 
O'Connor:  — 

"  This  rath  is  very  strongly  fortified,  being  surrounded  by  three  deep 
fosses,  whilst  the  inner  tiss  is  protected  by  a  strong  earthen  breastwork. 
The  enclosed  space  within  the  rath  is  much  more  extensive  than  any  I 
have  elsewhere  seen,  affording  ample  room  for  a  princely  or  royal  resi- 
dence— for  such  it  was.  On  the  southern  declivity  of  the  hill,  on  which 
it  is  situated,  may  be  witnessed,  at  intervals  down  the  hillside,  smaller- 
circumvalations  or  fosses,  which  on  the  occasion  of  an  invasion  could 
easily  be  flooded  from  an  adjoining  lake,  thus  contributing  to  the  defences 
of  the  royal  residence.  Of  the  lake  no  trace  remains — though  a  little  to 
the  west  of  the  rath  evidences  of  an  ancient  lake  are  apparent.  Much 
credence  is  locally  attached  to  a  tradition  which  states,  that  at  the  time 
of  the  Reformation,  the  guardian  of  the  *  Bell  of  St.  M'Cartin'  for  greater 
safety  cast  the  venerated  relic  into  this  latter  lake,  which  then  wholly 
disappeared.  It  need  not  be  added  that  the  bell  has  not  since  been 
recovered.  Moss  Monachan  is  the  name  by  which  the  lake  bed  is  now 
familiarly  known,  and  it  may  have  borrowed  its  name  from  the  fact  that 
here  by  the  margin  of  this  lake  the  Clogher  monks  had  their  moss  plot  of 
turf  or  turbary." 

A  few  secondary  points  in  support  of  the  identification  of  Cnoc-Baine 
are  mentioned  by  Canon  O'Connor,  and  are  of  interest.  The  name  Baine 
is  preserved  in  the  townland  denomination  Mullaghbamey,  a  hill  not  far 
from  Knockmany.  Also  the  townland  of  Knockabainey.  some  eight  miles 
east  of  Clogher,  in  the  parish  of  Imagh,  appears  to  perpetuate  her  name. 
Horse  races  were  held  at  Knockmany  until  comparatively  recent  times. 
The  road  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  is  still  known  as  the  race-road.  Possibly 
.they  were  a  survival  of  ancient  games  of  Knockmany. 

We  may  now  consider  the  archaBological  evidence.  The  difficulty,  as 
we  shall  see,  is  to  reconcile  the  date  of  the  tomb  on  archaeological  grounds 
with  that  required  by  tradition.  The  monument  was  first  described  by 
the  Rev.  GK  Sidney  Smith,  in  a  Paper  read  before  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy,  in  1841.1  The  Paper  is  illustrated  by  a  plan  of  the  "  moats" 

1  Proc.  R.LA.tw\.  ii.,  p;  190. 


98  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

and  chamber,  and  figures  of  some  of  the  inscribed  markings  on  the  stones. 
The  plan  shows  what  are  described  as  "  two  moats,"  one  inside  the  other, 
which  I  take  to  be  an  imaginative  rendering  of  the  broken  ground  of  the 
mound.  The  figures  of  the  markings  are  deficient  and  inaccurate. 


0 


^ 


Fig.  1. — Plan  of  Cairn. 

J.  B.  Doyle  briefly  describes  the  cairn  of  Knockmany,  in  his  "  Tour  in 
Ulster,"  published  in  1854.  The  description  is  illustrated  by  a  small  wood- 
cut from  a  sketch  by  the  author.  He  states  that  two  cinerary  urns  were 
discovered  within  the  sepulchral  mound,  one  large  and  the  other  compara- 
tively small.  He  adds  that  they  were  preserved  for  some  time  at  Cecil, 
the  seat  of  Mr.  Gervais,  owner  of  the  property.1  These  urns  are  still  at 
Cecil.  They  are  of  the  bowl-shaped  type,  one  larger  than  usual.  Mr. 
Gervais  informed  me  that  they  were  not  found  in  the  cairn,  but  at  some 
distance  from  the  hill.  An  old  man  named  Torley,  who  recollected  the 
finding  of  the  urns  confirmed  this,  and  stated  that  they  were  found  at  a 
place  called  the  Flush -house,  not  far  from  Cecil  House .  A  sketch  of  one 

1  "  Tour  in  Ulster,"  p.  166. 


KNOCKMANY. 


99 


of  the  Knocktnany  inscribed  stones  is  given  incidentally  in  a  communi- 
cation by  Sir  William  Wilde,  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  R.I.A.,  for  1846.1 
It  is  probably  from  a  sketch  by  Doyle,  as  the  markings  shown  agree  with 
those  which  may  be  made  out  in  the  small  sketch  published  in  his  tour. 

The  next  notice  of  Knock  in  any 
was  by  Mr.  W.  F.  Wakeman,  in  the 
Journal  of  the  Royal  Historical  and 
Archaeological  Association  of  Ireland, 
1876.2  Mr.  Wakeman  gives  an  excel- 
lent sketch  of  the  chamber,  but  does 
not  give  a  plan.  He  figures  the  in- 
scribed stones  A  and  c.  It  requires 
much  patience,  and  favourable  con- 
ditions of  light  to  make  out  the  mark- 
ings on  such  stones.  In  fact  several 
visits  are  necessary  in  order  that  the 
stones  may  be  seen  under  different 
angles  of  the  light.  This  no  doubt 
explains  how  it  was  that  Mr.  Wake- 
man omitted  markings  in  his  drawing 
of  stone  A,  which  I  subsequently  dis- 
covered. The  Rev.  Mr.  Smith  men- 
tions and  figures  a  few  markings  on 
three  of  the  stones  on  the  left  side  of 
the  grave.  I  was  not  able  to  satisfy 
myself  as  to  the  existence  of  these 
markings,  but,  in  any  case,  they 
would  not  appear  to  be  important. 

Sir  Samuel  Ferguson,  in  "  Ogham  Inscriptions  in  Ireland,  Wales,  and 
Scotland,  1887,"  briefly  mentions  Knockmany.  He  describes  it  as  "a 
great  sepulchral  tumulus  of  several  chambers,  still  partly  covered  by  the 
remains  of  their  cairn,  but  for  the  most  part  still  open  to  the  sky.  The 
stones  of  one  of  these  chambers  only  remain."3  I  am  unable  to  confirm 
the  statement  regarding  "  several  chambers."  Indications  of  more  than 
one  chamber  were  not  apparent  when  I  visited  the  cairn. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  meeting  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries  of 
Ireland,  at  Omagh,  in  June,  1896,  Knockmany  was  included  among  the 
places  of  interest  visited.  In  the  course  of  the  inspection  of  the  monu- 
ment, some  of  the  members  suggested  that  the  under  side  of  one  of  the 
fallen  stones  was  probably  carved  with  cup  and  other  markings.  At  one 
corner  where  it  was  possible  to  pass  the  hand  under  the  stone,  it  was 
thought  that  cup  hollows  were  felt. 

At  the   end  of   August    of   that   year,    Mr.    F.  P.    Gervais   very 

1  Proe.  R.I.A.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  2G1.  2  4th  Ser.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  95. 

3  "  Ogham  Inscriptions,"  p.  62. 


Fig.  2.— Plan  of  Chamber. 


100  ROYAL  SOCIETY    QF  ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

kindly  extended  the  hospitality  of  Cecil  to  me,  for  the  purpose  of 
further  investigating  the  cairn.  During  the  space  of  a  week  I  made 
a  careful  study  of  the  monument.  Under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Ger- 
vais'  stewart,  Mr.  Johnston,  who  displayed  great  ingenuity  in  the 
management  of  the  necessary  levers  and  tackle,  the  stone  referred  to 
was  raised,  and  placed  in  a  suitable  position  for  .examination.  It 
proved  to  be  richly  carved  with  archaic  markings.  The  under  side  of, 
the  other  fallen  stone  was  examined,  but  as  it  did  not  show  indications 
of  carving,  it  was  not  raised. 

The  accompanying  plan  of  the  cairn  and  chamber  is  from  my  measure- 
ments. The  centre  line  of  the  chamber  bears  almost  due  north  and  south.. 
The  inscribed  stones  are  lettered  A,  B,  c,  and  D  :  figs.  3  and  4.  Stone  A; 
is  split,  and  shows  as  two  stones  on  plan  :  it  stands  about  4  feet  6  inches 
above  ground.  Stone  D  is  6  feet  6  inches  in  height,  and  was  originally 
imbedded  about  18  inches  in  the  ground. 

Figure  3  represents  the  stone  already  illustrated  by  Mr.  Wakeman, 
It  will  be  observed  that  my  drawing  shows  several  markings  not  included 
by  Mr.  "Wakeman.  The  materials  ^from  which  the  drawing  was  made, 
were  the  following :  in  the  first  instance  I  made  a  careful  rubbing  of 
the  stone.  On  studying  the  rubbing  within  doors  several  markings  were 
brought  to  light  which  had  escaped  notice  on  the  stone  itself.  I  then 
re-compared  the  rubbing  with  the  stone,  making  such  notes  and  supple- 
mental rubbings  as  were  necessary.  When  the  rubbings  had  been 
secured,  I  made  a  squeeze  with  fine  paper,  blotting  paper  and  paste,  of 
the  entire  surface  of  the  stone.  The  drawing  was  laid  down  from  the 
rubbings  and  squeeze  to  a  scale  of  one-fourth  ;  the  figure  here  given  has 
been  reduced  by  photography  from  the  drawing.  A  similar  process  was; 
adopted  for  stone  D.  The  squeezes  were  subsequently  deposited  in  the 
Dublin  Museum,  and  casts  in  plaster  taken  from  them,  which  may  be 
seen  in  the  Museum.  The  process  of  casting  necessitated  the  destruction 
of  the  paper  squeezes  or  moulds.  The  casts,  from  the  nature  of  the 
moulds,  are  not  so  sharp  as  the  original  impressions,  but  the  markings  are 
sufficiently  distinct  to  verify  the  drawings.  I  should  mention  that  in 
taking  the  rubbings  and  squeezes,  I  obtained  much  assistance  from  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gervais,  and  their  little  daughter,  and  from  Mr.  M'Neill,  who, 
was  staying  at  Cecil  at  the  time. 

The  markings  on  stone  c  have  been  figured  by  Mr.  Wakeman,  and 
need  not  be  re-figured.  The  straight  lines  across  the  stone  are  deeper, 
and  more  strongly  marked,  than  appears  in  the  drawing,  which  otherwise 
leaves  nothing  to  be  desired :  the  surface  of  the  stone  is  much  weathered. 

Stone  B  is  not  figured.  It  has  no  markings,  with  the  exception  of  a 
curious  deep  score  or  groove,  18  inches  long,  and  about  H  inches  wide.. 
It  is  on  the  centre  of  the  face  of  the  stone,  looking  into  the  grave,  and 
the  direction  coincides  approximately  with  the  diagonal  of  the  stone 
from  the  left  upper  to  the  right  lower  corner. 


[To  face  page  101, 


KNOCKMANY  —  STONE   A 
Photographed  by  R.  Welch. 


Fig.  3.— Stone  A.     (Scale,  ith  linear.) 


102          ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

The  majority  of  the  stones  of  the  chamber  are  of  mill-stone  grit ;  the 
stone  lately  raised  is  a  red  sandstone.  Mill-stone  grit  and  red  sandstone 
crop  out  at  Knockmany,  so  that  the  stones  may  be  presumed  to  be  local. 
In  form  the  chamber  resembles  those  known  as  "  giants'  graves."  It  was 
originally  covered  by  a  large  cairn,  the  remains  of  which  still  surround 
the  chamber.  The  cairn  has  been  dug  in,  or  possibly  stones  have  been 
drawn  from  it  from  time  to  time,  leaving  the  surface  irregular  in  places. 
Some  small  pits  thus  formed  may  have  led  Sir  Samuel  Ferguson  to  sup- 
pose that  other  chambers  had  existed.  It  is  not  probable  that  there  were 
other  chambers.  The  monument  conforms  to  the  general  type  of  such 
structures.  The  chamber  is  not  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  cairn,  but  at 
the  margin  overlooking  the  plain  of  Clossach.  Though  not  a  passage 
tomb,  it  conforms  in  this  respect  to  the  position  of  the  chamber  in 
large  cairns  to  which  access  was  preserved.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that 
none  of  the  roofing  stones  remain.  In  this  case  they  were  possibly 
removed  for  building  purposes,  the  roofing  flags  being  more  readily 
removed  than  the  side  stones,  which  are  partly  sunk  in  the  ground.  At 
the  same  time  it  is  a  curious  fact  that  in  the  case  of  the  majority  of  the 
smaller  cairns  at  Loughcrew  no  trace  of  roofing  stones  remain.  Mr. 
Thomas  Plunkett,  M.K.I.A.,  recently  excavated  a  chambered  cairn  of 
cruciform  plan  on  Belmore  Mountain,  county  Fermanagh,  in  which, 
with  the  exception  of  one  side  chamber,  no  roofing  flags  were  found : 
the  passage  and  remaining  chambers  were  filled  in  with  the  stones  of 
the  cairn.  In  this  case  the  cairn  was  intact,  and  did  not  appear  to  have 
been  previously  disturbed. 

The  general  features  of  the  cairn  and  chamber  of  Knockmany  refer 
the  tomb  to  the  Bronze  Age.  It  is  not  possible  at  present  to  explain, 
except  in  very  general  terms,  the  meanings  which  probably  underlie  the 
figures  inscribed  on  the  stones.  It  is  possible,  however,  from  a  compara- 
tive study  of  their  forms  to  infer,  I  think,  the  approximate  date  of  the 
monument. 

It  will  be  necessary  first  to  describe  in  some  detail  the  figures  on  the 
stones.  On  the  upper  part  of  stone  A  is  a  group  of  concentric  circles  with 
cup-hollow  centre.  The  diameter  of  the  outer  circle  is  12  to  13  inches. 
At  the  right  side  there  is  what  at  first  sight  appears  to  be  a  radial  groove ; 
it  shows  strongly  in  some  lights ;  but  as  the  groove  does  not  enter  the 
cup  and  does  not  cut  the  outer  circle,  and  there  is  some  indication  of  a 
flaw  at  this  part  of  the  stone,  I  am  in  doubt  if  it  is  an  intentional  groove 
of  radial  groove  type. 

At  the  left  side  of  this  group  of  circles  is  a  well  cut  zigzag  of  three 
angles.  In  Mr.  Wakeman's  illustration  of  this  stone  a  smaller  ring-and- 
cup  marking  is  indicated  at  the  right  side.  Possibly  there  is  some 
marking  at  that  place,  but  it  is  so  faint  that  I  have  not  ventured  to  include 
it  in  my  drawing.  In  the  middle,  at  the  left  side,  is  a  curious  cutting  of 
four  triangular  figures  in  a  sort  of  Maltese  cross  arrangement.  At  the 


KNOCKMANY.  103 

centre  of  the  stone  are  three  small  cup-marks.  Some  lines  round  these 
give  the  whole  the  appearance  of  a  face.  I  do  not  think,  however,  that 
it  is  a  face.  It  is  not  a  primitive  face  type.  It  is,  perhaps,  a  modification 
or  elaboration  of  the  markings  to  the  right.  Below  is  a  small  meander  or 
zig-zag  with  rounded  turns.  Below  this  is  a  set  of  concentric  circles. 
To  the  left  of  the  latter  is  a  strongly  marked  zig-zag  with  rounded  turns. 
Springing  from  the  circles,  to  the  right,  are  a  number  of  concentric 
curves  which  stand  on  a  curious  figure,  with  a  sort  of  rectangular  grid  at 
the  middle.  Above  is  a  remarkable  fan -shaped  figure,  the  motive  of 
which  suggests  metal  work ;  but  this  suggestion  of  feeling  may  be  acci- 
dental. The  whole  resembles  somewhat  a  helmet,  with  an  elaborate 
crest.  At  the  bottom,  right  side,  is  an  imperfect  spiral  of  two  turns. 
This  is  the  only  spiral  on  the  stone. 

Stone  D  shows  several  new  forms,  some  of  which  have  not  been  found 
on  stones  of  this  class  before.  The  cup-hollows  are  in  several  instances 
unusually  deeply  cut  (about  1 J  inches)  in  proportion  to  the  diameter  of 
the  hole.  They  have  been  drilled,  and,  owing  to  the  absence  of 
weathering,  show  strongly  on  the  surface  of  the  stone.  The  majority  of 
the  figures  do  not  require  special  reference.  The  most  striking  is  the 
remarkable  figure  in  the  centre  of  the  stone.  Unfortunately  the  left- 
hand  upper  corner  of  the  stone  has  flaked  off,  destroying  portion  of  a 
large  cup  and  ring  figure,  also  part  of  the  straight  groove  which  proceeds 
from  the  central  figure,  so  that  we  cannot  say  whether  this  groove  con- 
nected with  other  figures  or  not.1  To  the  left  is  a  large  rude  zig-zag  or 
snake-like  figure.  Towards  the  bottom  of  the  stone  is  a  similar  but  smaller 
figure.  Below  the  central  figure,  at  the  right  side,  is  a  large  cutting  of 
;  cup-and-rings,  partly  passing  round  the  edge  of  the  stone.  To  the  left  is 
a  remarkable,  and,  as  regards  sepulchral  stones,  unique  figure.  It  consists 
of  a  double  circle,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  sort  of  cruciform  figure 
formed  by  four  sets  of  triangles  meeting  at  the  centre.  To  the  left  are 
two  sets  of  rings,  developed  till  they  touch  like  a  figure  of  8.  The  lower 
one  of  these  consists  of  unclosed  rings,  leaving  a  ridge  or  path  to  the 
centre.  This  figure  tends  to  confirm  the  radial  groove  in  the  circles  on 
stone  A.  In  my  Paper  on  "  The  Origins  of  Prehistoric  Ornament  in 
Ireland,"  I  have  argued  the  late  appearance  of  this  type  from  its  absence 
on  sepulchral  monuments.  If  these  examples  at  Knockmany  are  estab- 
lished, that  monument  forms  the  sole  exception,  and  would  indicate  that 
it  was  erected  towards  the  close  of  the  series.  On  the  other  hand,  there  is  a 
piece  out  of  the  stone  in  the  group  of  circles  under  consideration,  at  the  left 
side.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  manner  in  which  the  rings  are  stopped 

short  at  each  side  of  this  gap  is  unusual,  and  somewhat  suggestive  of  the 

i 

1  This  upper  left-hand  corner  has  been  exposed  for  some  time  before  the  stone 
sunk  down  on  its  face.  It  is  partially  weathered,  and  some  initial  letters  have  been 
cut  on  it.  The  marking  on  the  other  portions  of  the  stone  are  quite  sharp  and 
unweathered,  and  have  nothing  indefinite  about  them. 


Fig.  4.— Stone  D.     (Scale,  -A-th  linear.) 


KNOCKMANY.  105 

treatment  of  some  forms  of  Bronze  Age  ornament  at  the  close  of  the  later 
Bronze  Age.  In  this  connexion  I  desire  to  direct  attention  to  the 
examples  among  the  remaining  markings,  in  which  curved  lines  are 
looped  at  the  end,  and  returned  in  a  concentric  curve.  An  instance 
occurs  immediately  below  the  figure  last  described,  another  to  the  left  of 
this,  and  the  same  form  is  found  among  the  curves  at  the  upper  right 
hand  side  of  the  stone,  and  in  the  large  central  figure. 

To  the  left  of  the  lower  zigzag  is  an  important  C-shaped  figure, 
consisting  of  a  curved  line,  both  ends  of  which  are  turned  in  on  them- 
selves. To  the  right  is  a  group  of  concentric  half-circles,  a  form  rare 
outside  the  Loughcrew  series.  A  large  cup-hollow,  to  the  left  of  the 
double  group  of  circles,  is  deserving  of  notice.  It  differs  from  the 
other  cups  in  that  the  cutting  is  shallow  and  the  bottom  of  the  cup 
quite  flat. 

We  have  now  to  see  whether  the  devices  on  these  stones  throw  any 
light  on  the  date  of  the  monument.  In  the  chronological  series  I  have 
sought  to  establish  for  the  New  Grange,  Dowth,  and  Loughcrew  monu- 
ments, I  have  relied  on  the  fact  that  the  finer  forms  of  the  spiral,  chevron, 
triangle,  and  lozenge  ornaments,  found  at  New  Grange,  what  I  have 
called  the  severe  tradition  of  earlier  Bronze  Age  ornament,  give  place 
at  Dowth  and  at  Loughcrew  to  debased  forms,  and  that  accompanying 
this  debasement  appear  new  forms,  the  cross  in  circle,  the  wheel,  and 
rayed  circles.  The  debasement  of  the  spiral  and  appearance  of  the  new 
forms  mentioned  is  closely  parallel  to  the  change  in  ornament  at  the 
transition  from  the  earlier  to  the  later  Bronze  Ages  of  Scandinavia,  and 
the  approximate  chronology  thus  obtained  is  based  on  the  Scandinavian 
chronology  for  the  Bronze  Ages.  The  study  of  the  Knockmany  forms 
carries,  I  believe,  the  argument  a  step  farther. 

The  spiral  has  practically  gone  out.  Plain,  concentric  circles,  the 
debased  spiral,  are  rare,  and  the  tendency 
of  concentric  circles  to  absorb  the  cup-mark 
and  take  the  normal  cup-and-ring  form  is 
marked.  The  exceptional  crest  or  fan- 
shaped  figure  on  stone  A,  though  not  neces- 
sarily copied  from  a  bronze  vessel,  seems 
to  fall  into  place  with  such  a  pattern  as 
fig.  5,1  a  not  uncommon  form  of  ornament  -pig.  5. 

on  bronze  vessels  of  the  later  Scandinavian 

Bronze  Age.  Whatever  significance  may  have  attached  to  the  devices 
on  this  stone,  it  is,  I  think,  certain  that  this  figure  is  ornamental  in 
treatment,  and,  as  it  is  not  a  sculptural  treatment  of  stone,  it  is  important 
to  note  that  it  cannot  have  been  developed  in  the  process  of  stone  carv- 
ing, or  carried  on  stone  as  a  tradition  (which  latter  might  be  the  case 

1  "  Manadsblad,"  1881,  p.  24. 


106 


ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF   IRELAND. 


with  a  specialised   symbol),   but   of  necessity   has  been  transferred  to 
stone  from  some  other  material. 

I  now  pass  to  the  consideration  of  the  C-shaped  figure.     The  accom- 
panying sketches  of  discs  of  a  well-known  form  of  Scandinavian  fibula  of 


Fig.  6. 

the  later  Bronze  Age,  from  examples  in  the  Stockholm  Museum,  show 
-us  a  similarly  shaped  ornament  on  the  centre  of  the  discs.  It  will  be 
noticed  that  we  have  here  also  the  looped  curves  to  which  attention  has 
been  directed  on  stone  D.  This  C-form  of  ornament  seems  naturally 
developed  in  the  decorative  treatment  of  these  fibulae.  Eut  it  was 
early  isolated,  and  appears  frequently  as  an  independent  ornament,  and 
was  continued  as  such  into  the  Iron  Period.  Worsaae  regards  the 
C-form  as  a  moon  symbol. 

The  example  on  the  Knockmany  stone  is  an  isolated  one,  and  it  may 
be  thought  that  too  much  importance  has  been  attached  to  its  resem- 
blance to  the  Scandinavian  forms.  But  the  argument  gains  force  when 
we  consider  that  Worsaae  (whether  we  accept  his  interpretation  of  its 
symbolism  or  not)  isolated  this  form,  and  regarded  it  as  a  definite 
symbol,  pertaining  to  the  later  Bronze  Age  of  Scandi- 
navia. Figure  7  reproduces  the  examples  he  gives 
to  illustrate  the  form.1 

In  connexion  with  the  last  figure  may  be  con- 
sidered the  looped  curves  already  referred  to.  This 
treatment  of  curves  is  found  frequently  on  the  fibulae. 
It  will  be  noticed  that  in  the  central  figure  on  stone  D,  we  have  a 
striking  example  of  this  form,  and  that  it  reproduces  the  feature  of 
the  central  line  within  the  loop  of  the  second  example,  fig.  6.  Now 
the  looped  curve  is  not  found  at  all  in  the  earlier  Bronze  Age,  it  comes 
into  use  in  the  later  Bronze  Age,  and  is  one  of  the  changes  in  ornament 
which  marks  the  transition  to  the  later  Bronze  Age. 

The  only  other  marking  that  seems  to  require  special  mention  is  that 
of  the  circle  with  cruciform  centre  of  triangles.  It  presents  some  analogy 
to  the  cruciform  markings  on  the  bottom  of  some  of  the  British  and  Irish 


"  Industrial  Arts  of  Old  Denmark,"  fig.  54. 


KNOCKMANY. 


107 


urns,  also  to  forms  of  cross  in  circle  from  the  Swiss  lake  dwellings  and 
the  north  of  Europe,  and  closely  resembles  a  form  found  on  Mycenae 


Fig.  8. 

pottery.  But  it  does  not  appear 
at  present  to  be  possible  to  draw 
any  positive  inference  from  this 
marking  at  Knockmany. 

In  the  later  period  of  bronze, 
various  modifications  of  the  wave 
pattern  appear.  Fig.  8,  from  a 
bronze  vessel,1  illustrates  one  of 
the  applications  of  the  pattern. 
This  example  suggests  to  me  to 
take  into  view  the  inscribed  mark- 
ings on  the  stones  in  the  grave 
at  Clover  Hill,  county  Sligo ;  some 
of  the  markings  on  which  have 
points  of  relation  to  the  central 
figure  on  stone  D  at  Knockmany. 
Figs.  9,  10,  and  11  of  the  Clover 
Hill  stones  are  drawn  from  rub- 
bings and  notes  made  in  1895. 
The  stones  are  much  weathered 
with  the  exception  of  that  repre- 
sented by  fig.  11.  They  were 

figured  by  Mr.  Wakeman  in  1 879,  Kg>  ^    (gcale>  ^  }{ne^} 

who  gives  a  plan  of  the  grave.2 
At  the  time  Mr.  "Wakeman  drew  the  stones,  no  systematic  attempt  had 


1  Worsaae,  1.  c.,  fig.  136.         2  Journal  R.H.A.A.I.,  4th  Ser.,  vol.  v.,  p.  552. 


108 


ROYAL   SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF   IRELAND. 


been  made  to  classify  the  Irish  markings ;  it  was,  moreover,  generally 
held  by  archaeologists  that  the  inscribed  spirals,  such,  as  at  New  Grange, 
were  the  immediate  precursors  of  the  Late  Celtic  spirals,  and  that  the 
latter  had  been  developed  from  the  former.  It  is  not,  therefore,  sur- 
prising, as  the  markings  at  Clover  Hill  depart  from  the  simple  spiral 
forms,  that  Mr.  Wakeman  should  (although  he  refers  the  markings  to 
the  Bronze  Age)  have  completed  some  of  the  less  distinct  portions  in  a 
manner  that  suggests  Late  Celtic  ornament. 


Fig.  10.     (Scale,  |th  linear.) 


Fig.  11.     (Scale,  |th  linear.) 


A  comparison  of  the  drawings  here  given  with  those  by  Mr. 
Wakeman  will  show  the  points  of  difference,  fortunately  not  of  very 
material  importance  to  the  argument.  After  I  had  completed  these 
drawings,  I  compared  them  with  drawings  of  the  same  stones  made 
independently  by  Mr.  Elcock,  of  Belfast.  My  drawings  agreed  closely 
with  Mr.  Elcock' s,  so  that  we  may  take  it  that  the  incised  markings 
shown  in  the  accompanying  figures  are  all  that  can  be  set  down  with 
certainty.  Some  of  them  are  incomplete,  but  nothing  is  gained  by 
attempted  restorations. 

The  forms  in  fig.   11  may  be  compared  with  fig.  12,  the  top  of  a 


KNOCKMANY.  109 

bronze  stud  of  the  later  Scandinavian  Bronze  Age.1  They  are  not 
-exactly  similar,  but,  I  think,  it  may  be  claimed  there  is  sufficient  resem- 
blance in  style  to  suggest  that  they  belong  to  the 
same  period  of  ornament. 

Fig.  9  is  the  most  interesting  from  the  present 
point  of  view.  The  markings  on  this  stone  are 
those  which  in  Mr.  Wakeman's  drawing  bear  the 
.nearest  resemblance  to  Late  Celtic  forms.  But 
even  in  Mr.  Wakeman's  drawing  it  will  be  ob- 
served that  the  basis  of  the  form  is  not  Late  Celtic. 
Moreover,  an  insuperable  objection  to  associating 
markings  such  as  those  at  Clover  Hill,  with  Late 
'Celtic  ornament,  lies  in  the  fact  that  at  present 
•  there  is  no  evidence  that  monuments  of  this  class 
can  be  placed  so  late  as  the  Late  Celtic  period. 
If,  however,  we  regard  the  marking  on  this  stone 
as  a  remote  rendering  of  the  wave  pattern  (compare  pjg  ^ 

fig.  8),  the  difficulty  of  the  exceptional  character  of 
the  Clover  Hill  markings  is  removed.  Mr.  Wakeman  shows  a  beak-like 
curve  projecting  from  the  end  of  the  loop  in  fig.  9.  This  marking 
appeared  to  me  too  uncertain  to  set  it  down.  If  it  is  there,  I  should 
be  inclined  to  identify  it  with  the  zoomorphic  endings  frequently  given 
to  the  crests  of  the  Scandinavian  wave  patterns,  often,  simplified  to  a 
simple  beak-like  projection. 

If  the  suggestion  be  accepted  that  the  looped  forms  at  Clover  Hill 
and  Knockmany  are  to  be  associated  with  the  looped  forms  and  the 
wave-pattern  of  the  later  Scandinavian  Bronze  Age,  we  see  that  the 
Clover  Hill  and  Knockmany  stones  fall  at  once  into  place  at  the  end  of 
the  New  Grange  and  Loughcrew  series.  In  this  argument  it  should  be 
borne  in  mind  that  the  series  must  be  taken  as  a  whole.  It  appears  to 
me  impossible  that  it  should  be  merely  a  coincidence  that  the  series  of 
changes  which  takes  place  in  the  New  Grange  and  Loughcrew  series, 
and  which  we  now  see  is  carried  a  step  farther  by  the  Knockmany  and 
Clover  Hill  examples,  should  be  so  closely  parallel  to  the  change  in 
forms  from  the  earlier  to  the  later  Bronze  Ages  of  ^Scandinavia.  And 
although  the  forms  in  the  Irish  and  Scandinavian  areas  are  not  in  all 
cases  similar,  there  are,  I  think,  a  sufficient  number  of  examples  in 
which  the  general  argument  from  the  debasement  and  ultimate  disap- 
pearance of  the  earlier  spiral  forms  is  rendered  particular,  by  the  close 
resemblance  of  the  substituted  forms,  to  justify  the  inference  of  influence. 
Or,  if  we  consider  the  entire  area  in  which  the  changes  take  place 
as  one,  we  may  regard  the  local  succession  of  forms  as  to  some  extent 
analogous  to  the  phases  which  mark  the  periods  of  Gothic  architecture, 

1  Worsaae,  I.e.,  fig.  119. 

JOUR.  U.S. A.I. ,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  II.,  5lH  SER.  K 


110         ROYAL   SOCIETY  OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

•in  which  the  individuality  of  the  local  series  is  preserved,  but,  within 
narrow  limits  of  time,  the  local  succession  of  each  period  is  marked  by 
corresponding  changes  in  forms  affecting  the  art  as  a  whole. 

The  question  of  date  now  arises.  If  Knockmany  is  related  to  the 
later  Bronze  Age  of  Scandinavia,  it  does  not  appear  possible  (adopting 
the  most  recent  chronology)  to  date  the  erection  of  the  tomb  later  than 
500  B.C.  Some  archa3ologists  would,  no  doubt,  put  it  earlier.  How  then 
is  the  evidence  of  archeology  to  be  reconciled  with  tradition  ?  The 
following  possible  explanations  appear  to  be  open  for  consideration  : — 

1.  That  Baine  was  buried  at  Knockmany,  but  either  in  a  separate 
grave  or,  as  a  secondary  interment,  in  the  already  existing  tumulus,  and 
that  the  present  name  of  the  hill  dates  from  that  time,  and  not  from  the 
erection  of  the  original  tomb. 

2.  That  the  name  Knockmany  embodies  the  tradition  of  an  earlier 
Baine,  subsequently  confounded  with  the  Baine  of  the  second  century. 
The  Four  Masters  mention  an  earlier  Baine,  under  the  year  10  A.D.     One 
of  three  queens,  Baine,  Cruife,  and  Aine,  who  fled  out  of  Ireland  after 
the  massacre  of  the  Milesian  nobility  at  Magh-cro. 

3.  That  Baine  is  to  be  identified  with  one  of  the  mythological  Aines 
of  the  Tuatha-de-Danann  race,  such  as  Aine  of  Cnoc  Aine,  in  Limerick, 
and   perhaps  Legananny,  Legdn  Aine,    Aine's   Dell,  in  the   county  of 
Down.     This  is  the  view  held  by  Mr.  Borlase  in    "  The  Dolmens  of 
Ireland."     It  is  to  be  noted  in  this  connexion  that  the  local  legends- 
associate  Knockmany   with  a  fairy  or  witch  named  Aine,    or   Aynia. 
The  tomb  on  the  top  of  the  hill  is  called  "  Aine's  (or  Aynia's)  Cove,"  a» 
I  have  myself  heard  from  one  of  the  old  men  of  the  place.1   Unfortunately 
Knockmany  is  not  included  in  the  Dindsenchus.     "We  do  not,  therefore, 
know  whether  or  not  an  alternative  folk-lore  explanation  of  the  nam'e 
existed  side-by-side  with  the  historical  explanation  given  in  the  "Book 
of  Leinster."     Alternative  explanations  of  place-names,  of  a  fabulous 
character,  appear  to  be  more  common  in  the  later  copies  of  the  Dindsenchus, 
as  in   the  Books  of  Ballymote   and  Lecan   (also  in  the  Agallamh-na- 
senorach  in  the  Book  of  Lismore),  than  in  the  Dindsenchus  of  the  Book 
of  Leinster,  and  possibly  represent  the  local  folk-lore  traditions  as  distin- 
guished from  the  Bardic  tradition.     The  subject  seems  worthy  of  critical 
examination  as  to  how  far  this  is  so.     In  later  times,  all  sorts  of  extra- 
vagant legends  concerning  the  ancient  heroes  appear  to  have  become 
current ;  and,  at  the  present  day,  Finn  and  Cuchualin  are  only  known  to 
the  peasantry  as  giants,  performers  of  grotesque  and  marvellous  feats. 
It  may  be  asked,  is  the  witch,  Aine  of  Knockmany,  an  extension  of  one 
of  these   later  legends  submerging   an   older  and  historical  tradition? 
It  will  be   recollected   that  the   revision   of  the  Leabhar  Gabhala,  by 
O'Clery  and  the  chroniclers  associated  with  him,  took  place  at  Clogher,, 

1  See  also  "Wakeman,  Journal  E.H. A.A.I.,  4th  Ser.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  96. 


KNOCKMANY'  111 

and  that  one  of  the  chroniclers,  Cucoigry  O'Duigenan,  of  Fermanagh, 
may  be  presumed  to  have  been  acquainted  with  the  legends  of  Tyrone. 
The  fact  that  these  chroniclers  accept  without  comment  the  reference  of 
Kno-ckmany  to  Baine  (concerning  whom  a  definite  tradition  is  implied  by 
the  statement  that  "  it  was  she  who  built  Rathmor  ")  is  at  least  negative 
evidence  that  the  Aine  legend  was  not  then  very  prominent.1 

4.  There  is  yet  another  way  of  looking  at  the  problem,  which  should 
be  mentioned  in  deference  to  those  who  would  urge  that  tradition  should 
be  given  greater  weight  than  archaeological  evidence.  It  is  probable 
that  the  Early  Iron  culture  reached  Ireland  as  early  as  500-400  B.C.,  and 
that  by  300-200  B.C.  it  was  more  or  less  generally  established.  In 
speaking  of  the  Early  Iron  culture,  we  must  distinguish  between  the 
introduction  of  the  new  forms  of  the  Iron  Period  and  the  general  use  of  iron. 
Iron  remained,  no  doubt,  for  a  long  time  a  rare  metal,  the  new  forms  ap- 
pearing chiefly  in  bronze  which  still  continued  in  general  use.  Side-by- 
side  with  the  new  forms  the  older  bronze  forms  would  still  be  produced, 
and  in  some  districts  the  Bronze  Age  may  have  lasted  much  later  than 
in  others.  It  may  be  argued,  therefore,  that  A.D.  Ill  is  not  too  late  a 
date  for  the  tomb  on  Knockmany.  It  is  conceivable  that  this  might  be 
so.  But  the  second  century  brings  us  well  into  what  is  known  in  Britain 
and  Ireland  as  the  Late  Celtic  Period,  and  we  have  no  evidence  that 
rude  stone  monuments,  such  as  that  of  Knockmany,  were  erected  in  that 
period.  On  the  contrary,  the  interments  in  the  Late  Celtic  Period 
point  to  the  abandonment  of  megalithic  chambers.  While,  therefore,  a 
considerable  period  of  over-lap  may  be  admitted  in  the  transition  of 
bronze  to  iron,  it  is  not  possible,  without  positive  archaeological  evidence, 
to  accept  so  late  a  date  for  the  erection  of  the  Knockmany  tomb. 

To  sum  up  then.  There  is  no  doubt  that  Knockmany  is  the  hill 
described  in  the  Book  of  Leinster  as  the  burial-place  of  Baine  ;  but  an 
archasological  examination  precludes  us,  in  the  present  state  of  our 
knowledge,  from  accepting  the  tomb  on  its  summit  as  the  grave  of 
Queen  Baine. 

1  It  would  be  a  point  in  this  argument  to  ascertain  how  far  these  chroniclers 
"  purified  "  the  Leabhar  Gabhala,  in  the  sense  of  critical  revision. 


K2 


ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF    ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK:   ITS  PLAN  AND 
GROWTH. 

BY  THOMAS  J.  WESTROPP,  M.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  FELLOW.     'T  . 

(Continued  from  page  48.)  , 

THE  CATHEDRAL  IN  1680. 

HPHE  rude  and  conventional  representations  of  the  Cathedral  in  the 
maps  of  Limerick  of  Elizabethan  and  early  Stuart  times  do  not 
help  us  to  form  any  clear  idea  of  its  fabric.  The  earliest  detailed 
drawing  and  description  is  that  of  Thomas  Dyneley,  circa  1680  r1  he, 
however,  confines  himself  to  some  general  statements,  and  an  account  of 
the  tombs.  "  St.  Mary's,  the  Mothers  (ate)  Church,  is  the  fairest,  with 
a  large, .  high,  square  steeple,  containing  six  tuneable  bells,  founded 
lately  by  one  Mr.  Perdue.  The  chiefest  contributer  towards  the  charge 
of  them  was  Mr,  William  York,  anno  1677."  He  noted  in  the  pave- 
ment to  the  right  of  the  altar  "  almost  underneath  the  ballasters  and 
neer  the  Earle  of  Thomond's  monument,"  the  slab  of  Dean  Andrew 
Creagh  (now  in  the  Jebb  Chapel).  Beside  the  last,  but  within  the  rail, 
lay  a  tomb,  with  a  floriated  calvary  cross  between  two  shields ;  to  the 
right,  for  O'Brien,  three  lions  passant ;  to  the  left,  for  Arthur,  three 
" Irish  brogues"  (so  he  quaintly  misdescribes  the  "clarions"),  adding 
a  learned  Scriptural  note  on  taking  off  the  shoe,  and  noting  the  similar 
Arthur  arms  on  the  east  buttress.  Near  the  altar,  between  it  and  the 
bishop's  seat,  lay  the  recumbent  figure,  robed  and  mitred,  of  Bishop 
Cornelius  O'Dea;  it  is  now  unfortunately  lost,  though  the  (1621)  base  of 
it  remains.  Above  this  effigy,  set  in  the  wall,  was  (and  is)  the  tablet  of 
Bishop  Barnard  Adams. 

In  the  Chapter  House  was  the  slab  of  Geoffrey  Arture,  now  removed 
to  the  opposite  transept,  and  probably  near  it  was  the  little  mural 
monument  of  Elizabeth  Hartstongue,  wife  of  the  Recorder  of  Limerick, 
dated  1663  :  it  has,  like  the  former,  been  removed  to  the  north  transept. 
Outside  of  the  right  (south)  aisle,  going  up  to  the  altar,  to  which  had 
lately  been  affixed  a  staircase  leading  "to  the  gallery  and  organs,  was 
obscured  a  very  ancient  monument  adjoining  the  wall,  '  Lumnia  qua? 
lector'" — the  Galwey  and  Bultingfort  monument.  At  the  back  of  the 
dean's  seat  lay  the  tomb  of  William  Purdue,  the  bell  founder,  now  lost, 
and  below  it  an  epitaph,  which  our  London  barrister  sneers  at  as  "a 
parcell  of  Irish  witt  and  learning,"  forgetting  that  his  own  island  was 

1  Our  Journal,  1864-1866,  pp.  433,  438. 


ST.    MA}RY*S    CATHEDRAL,    LIMERICK.  113 

even   richer    than   Ireland   in   similar,    or   even    greater,    monumental 
absurdities : — 

"  John  Stretche,  Aldermane,  third  sone  to  Bartholomews, 
This  monumente  made  in  Februarye  most  true, 
"Where  hee  and  his  heyres  males  resignt  theyre  mortalle  bons 
Till  Chryste  do  come  too  judge  all  mans  atte  ons." 

Lastly,  at  the  entrance  of  the  choir,  near  its  eastern  pillar,  on  the 
right  hand,  lay  a  small  inscribed  slab,  the  pathos  of  which  no  doggerel 
could  destroy : — 

"  Fifteene  years  a  mayd,  one  year  a  wife, 
Two  months  a  mother,  then  I  left  this  life. 
Three  months  after  me  mine  offspring  did  remain, 
Now,  earth  to  earth,  we  are  returned  again." 

THE  CATHEDRAL  IN  1897. 

Let  us  now  examine  the  venerable  building  as  it  stands  in  our  time. 
Externally  the  effect  would  be  clumsy  and  monotonous,  only  for  the 
absence  of  any  attempt  at  uniformity  in  the  details.  Every  chapel  seems 
to  have  been  built  without  any  intention  to  conform  the  level  or  shape 
of  its  windows  to  those  of  the  adjoining  fabric ;  and  the  groups  of 
chapels  on  both  sides  project  beyond  the  faces  of  the  transepts. 

The  west  fa9ade  is  also  very  plain,  though  imposing,  from  the 
unbroken  height  of  the  turreted  belfry.  Between  two  large  buttresses 
appears  a  triplet  window  of  unusually  narrow  and  lofty  proportion, 
while  below  it  is  all  that  modern  "improvement"  has  left  of  the 
Romanesque  west  door.  It  consisted  of  four  recessed  orders,  the  third 
and  fourth  having  one  keystone  in  common.  The  clumsy  round  pillars 
had  defaced  capitals,  with  conventional  foliage  similar  to  that  in  the 
nave.  The  innermost  order  and  the  hood  alone  remain  ;  it  is  reached  by 
a  flight  of  steps.  The  south  side  of  the  building  is  shown,  though  not 
very  correctly,  in  Dyneley's  view,  and  also  in  the  very  accurate  but 
ugly  view  of  1739  in  Harris1  "  Ware's  Bishops,"  from  which  the  present 
state  differs  only  in  a  slight  change  in  the  stepped  battlements  of  the 
south  wall,  which  are  now  monotonously  uniform. 

THE  NAVE. 

Entering  the  nave  .we  find  the  original  building  nearly  intact 
(1172-94).  It  has  to  each  side  four  plain  pointed  arches,  resting  on 
massive  piers,  with  circular  corner  shafts  and  capitals  of  the  Norman 
transition,1  ornamented  with  bold  flutings  and  occasional  scrolls,  fleurs- 
de-lys,  and  stiff  foliage.  Above  these  arcades,  "monks'  walks"  with 
lintelled  passages  run  through  a  plain  clerestory  of  circular  headed  opes 

1  See  Journal,  supra,  p.  36. 


114         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

and- lights,  the  latter  adorned  on  the  outside  with  a  slight  reveal  rand 
chamfer.  There  are  several  of  these  windows  on  each  side,  including 
those  stopped  by  the  piers  of  the  belfry  arch.  The  triforia  are  29  feet 
above  the  pavement,  and  the  passages  through  them  are  about  1  foot 
9  inches  wide,  and  6  feet  high .  Both  t '  walks ' '  (the  north  reached  through 
the  west  window  by  16  steps)  have  spiral  stairs  at  the  east  end,  once  lead- 
ing to  the  roof,  as  was  found  in.  1861,  but  these  flights  are  closed.  The 
south  has  a  small  slit  window  looking  into  the  transept,  21  steps  remain- 
ing. The  north  shows  15  steps,  both  flights  having  newels.  The  only 
other  feature  of  much  interest  in  the  nave  are  the  black  oak  "mise- 
reres" which  have  been  fully  illustrated  and  described  in  our  Journal 
for  1892,1  and  have  served  as  choir  stalls  for  four  centuries.  They 
probably  date  from  Bishop  Folan's  restoration  circa  1480. 

THE  BELFRY. 

The  belfry  rests  partly  on  the  west  gable  and  side  walls  of  the  nave, 
partly  on  a  high  pointed  arch  built  against  the  first  piers  of  the  arcades. 
To  ascend  it  we  pass  up  a  spiral  staircase,  set  in  the  west  wall,  and  a 
projecting  buttress  south  of  the  Romanesque  door.  Thirty-six  steps, 
having  a  circular  newel,  and  three  rude  later  steps,  bring  us  to  the 
"  monk's  walk."  The  bell-ringer's  room  is  reached  by  a  long  narrow 
stairway  of  32  steps  over  the  eastern  arch.  Prom  it  wooden  stairs  and 
ladders  lead  us  up  to  the  roof.  We  pass  through  the  bell-chamber, 
noting  the  bells  given  in  1678  by  the  munificent  "William  Yorke,  Mayor 
of  the  city  in  1673,  and  finally  stand  on  the  summit.  At  each  corner 
rises  a  small  battlemented  turret,  resting  on  the  angles,  and  on  skew 
arches;  the  two  western  turrets  have  stairs  of  18  steps  each,  and 
command  a  view  of  much  beauty  and  historic  interest. 

Below  us  the  city  lies  almost  like  an  embossed  map,  with  long 
reaches  of  the  Shannon  and  Abbey  River,  and  views  of  their  four  bridges. 
Beyond,  we  see  the  many-coloured  hills  of  Clare  and  Ara — from  Cratloe, 
where  Crimthan,  king  of  Erin,  died  of  poison,  about  370  (for  whose 
"eric"  the  Dalcassians  conquered  Thomond),  to  "Kimalta" — the  great 
dome  of  the  Keeper  Hill — and  the  Silvermines,  where  Sarsfield  blew  up 
the  English  artillery,  and  preserved  the  city  to  King  James  for  another 
year.  Over  the  southern  plains  rises  "  Knockdrumanasail,"2  or  Tory 
Hill,  named,  says  an  old  legend,  from  the  brother  of  that  Firbolg  prince 
who  built  the  vast  Dun  Enghus  on  the  cliffs  of  Aran.  Beyond  it  show 
the  Galtees,  the  border  hills  of  county  Cork  and  Knockfierna,  famed 
in  the  fairy  legends  as  the  palace  of  the  king,  Donn  firinne.  Nearer  rises 
the  turret  crown  of  the  rock  of  Carrigogunnell,  and  Singland,  where  stood 

1  1892,  Plate  facing  p.  74. 

2  The  legend  of  Asal,  son  of  Hnamore,  and  his  house  on  Drum  A  sail,  will  be  found 
in  the  "  Look  of  Leinster,"  clxxviii.,  p.  53. 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK.  115 

the  old  Dalcassian  palace.  There  St.  Patrick  baptized  Cairthin  fionn 
and  his  infant  son,  Eochy  Baillderg,  the  first  Christian  princes  of  the 
district ;  there  Mahon,  and  his  brother,  Brian  Boro,  inspected  their 
Danish  captives  after  the  victory  of  Sulchoid;  there  the  Bruces  halted  to 
defy  the  city  in  1315;  and  there,  in  the  sieges  of  the  city,  stood  the 
English  batteries.  Behind  it  rise  the  gabled  walls  of  Newcastle,  where 
King  William  is  said  to  have  dwelt  during  the  siege  of  1690,  and  below 
we  see  the  castle  of  King  John  and  the  mediaeval  buildings  near  the 
cathedral.  Every  period  of  Irish  history,  from  fabulous  times  to  the 
present  day,  is  recalled  by  the  scene. 

NORTH  AISLE  AND  CHAPELS. 

Descending,  and  going  up  the  north  aisle,  we  find  three  chapels1  of 
little  interest.  The  FIRST  CHAPEL  was  the  burial  place  of  the  Creagh 
family,  and  is  now  used  as  a  baptistery  ;  it  has  a  late  round-headed  sedile. 
In  the  wall  to  the  east  are  three  plain,  late,  oblong  openings,  the 
central  having  two  lights.  The  SECOND  CHAPEL  contains  the  Napier 
windows  and  monument.  Here  was  buried  "  Murrogh  the  burner,"  the 
cruel  Earl  of  Inchiquin,  only  marked  by  an  "I"  cut  in  the  pavement. 
Tradition  says  his  body  was  removed  and  cast  into  the  Shannon  by  some 
of  his  enemies.  An  empty  coffin  found  here  some  twenty  years  since, 
and  a  very  emphatic  passage  in  his  will,  1673,2  have  done  much  to  sup- 
port the  tradition.  In  this  chapel  is  a  late  round-headed  piscina  in  the 
west  wall.  The  THIRD  CHAPEL  is  now  called  after  Bishop  Jebb,  whose 
seated  statue  adorns  its  centre.  It  is  the  old  Arthur  chapel,  or  "  tran- 
sept," and  probably  "  St.  Nicholas'  Chapel  within  the  Cathedral,"  where 
Thomas  Fitz  Dominick  Arthur  desired  to  be  buried  in  1634.  It  is  the 
receptacle  of  many  ancient  tombs.  The  most  noteworthy  are  those  of 

1  The  following  are  some  notes  on  the  chapels  from  wills: — 1403.  Thomas  Bal- 
beyne— "My  chapel,  which  1  built  in  the  southern  part  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary, 
by  permission  of  the  Keverend   Father  in   Christ,   Kichard    (sic)   Wall,  Bishop  of 
Limerick  .  .  .  dedicated  to  St.  James."     1445.  Galfridus  Galwey — "My  body  is  to 
be  buried  in  the  chapel  of  St.  James,  in  the  cathedral  church  of  Limerick  ...  I  leave 
100  shillings  for  the  repair  of  this  chapel."     1587.  Johane,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Strech— "  To   be   buried  in  St.  An's   chapel."      1614.    John,  son  of  Bartholomew 
Strich— "To  be  buried  in  St.  James'  chapel."     1622.  Nicholas  Stackpole— « « To  be 
buried  in  St.  George's  chapel."     1634.  Thomas,  son  of  Dominick  Arthur— "  To  be 
buried  in  St.  Nicholas'  chapell."    1717.  Edmund  Pery,  of  Stacpole's  Court,  Co.  Clare — 
"  To  be  buried  in  the  Sexten  chapel."    All  the  above  notices,  from  1587,  add  "  within 
the  cathedral."     There  seems  to  be  a  confusion  in  the  first  extract  between  Stephen 
de  Valle,  Dean  of  Limerick,  1357,  Bishop,  1360,  and  Eichard  de  Valle,  of  the  diocese 
of  Cork,  appointed  Treasurer  of  the  diocese  of  Limerick,  1363. — "  Calendar  of  Papal 
Petitions"  under  dates,  pp.  304,  317,  468. 

2  "Prerogative  Wills,  Dublin."      September  llth,  1673: — "Forasmuch  as  my 
eldest  son  is  now  beyond  the  seas,  my  will  and  desire  therefore  is,  that  it  God  shall 
please  to  call  me  out  ot  this  world  before  his  (William  O'Brien's)  coming  home,  those 
of  my  friends  that  will  be  by  me  at  the  time  of  my  death,  shall  immediately,  after  my 
death,  bury  and  enterr  my  corps  privately."     He  previously  desires  "  to  be  buried  in 
Limerick  Cathedral  ...  a  handsome  monument  shall  be  erected  over  my  body."    As 
William  Lord  Inchiquin  died  abroad,  the  latter  request  was  not  carried  out. 


116         KOYALr  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


1.  King  Donaldmore  O'Brien,  the  founder  of  the  cathedral,  1194,  a 
Celtic  cross  between  four  fantastic  lions.  2.  Dean  Andrew  Creagh, 
1519.  3.  A  floriated  cross;  besides  several  tombs  of  the  Arthur  and 
Bice  families,  from  that  of  Piers  Arthur,  1649.  It  has  also  the  slab  of  the 
high  altar,  a  massive  block  of  dark  marble,  12  feet  4  inches  by  2  feet 
8  inches,  with  incised  crosses  and  17th  century  mouldings:  it  rests  on 


•  1172-1107. 

I"."'    FOUNDATION*  11 

Hill    1369-iUOO. 

m  m  i6 -11,50 

11*89-1526- 
i:..j     DOUBTFUL- 


tXURlOR  ifcO    LONG. 

,.  Ill,'   WIDt  • 

NAVE  1014'  ION&  2fc'8"*iat 
CHOIR,          36'     „        i,      ,, 
AliltJ         77      ..       I0'<n"  it 


PLAN    OF    LIMERICK    CATHEDRAL. 

ARCHITECTURAL  FEATURES  AND  OLDER  TOMBS. 


a  Altar  Slab. 

b  Piscinae,  with  Shelves. 

c  Credence  Table. 

d  Stoups. 

e  Sedilia. 

/Misereres. 

g  Stoups. 

^Miagh(?)Arms. 

i  Arthur  Arms. 


j   Closed  Door. 
k   Corbels,  1172. 
/   St.  Michael  and  Satan. 
m  Lord  Inchiquin,  1673. 
n   King    Donald,     1194  '•>    Dean 

Andrew  Creagh,  1520,  &c. 
o    Arthur,  1640,  &c. 
p   Geffry  Arture,  1519. 
q    John  ffox,  1519. 


r  Bishop  O'Brien,  1207. 

s    Earl  of  Thomond,  1624. 

/  Bishop  O'Dea,  1421. 

u  Bultingfort,  Galwey,  andBud- 

ston, 1369-1449. 
v  Stacpoole  and  Roche. 
w  William  Yorke,  1679. 
y  Dragon  and  Pelican. 


"WINDOWS  AND  MODERN  MONUMENTS. 


A  Dean  Kirwan. 
B  Preston. 

0  General  Napier,  1859. 
D  Matilda  Napier,  1840. 
E  A  large  Five-light  Window, 
over  3  smaller  Windows. 


F  Samuel  Caswell,  1874. 

G  Augustus  O'Brien  Stafford. 

H  Charles  Maunsell,  1858;  over 

it  Robert  O'Brien,  1870. 
K  Thomas  T.  Westropp,  1838. 
L  Sir  Matthew  Barrington,  1858. 


M  Viscount  Glentworth,  1844. 
N  Rev.  A.  Edwards,  1849.    "_  ?"^ 
O  Sir  M.   Barrington  ;  belo'w  it 

the    ancient    Romanesque 

Doorway. 


the  finials  of  a  late  Gothic  tomb,  fragments  of  whose  canopy  and  buttresses 
also  lie  behind  the  south  porch.  A  large  base,  with  well  cut  foliage  of 
early  Tudor  times,  lies  beneath  the  altar.  This  chapel  has  been  built 
against  the  west  side  of  the  transept,  their  joint  walls  making  a  very 
clumsy  pier.  The  only  other  noteworthy  feature  is  a  corbelling  in  the 
north-west  corner.  "We  may  here  note  that  in  both  aisles  the  original 


ST.  MARY'S    CATHEDRAL,    LIMERICK. 


117 


roof  corbels,  with  Norman  flutings  like  the  capitals,  remain  not  only  in 
the  arcade,  but  even  in  several  cases  replaced  at  their  old  level  in  the 
chapel  piers.  The  north  clerestory  had  its  original  third  and  fourth 
lights  replaced  by  two-light  windows  in  late  mediaeval  times.  This  was 
probably  done  when  the  "  Jebb  chapel"  was  built,  for  the  older  lights 
are  preserved  under  its  roof,  and  are  now  open. 

c NORTH  TRANSEPT. 

The  north  transept  retains  very  few  old  features^ or  monuments;  the 
most  noteworthy  are  a  restored  triple  arched  recess,  containing  the  inte- 
resting slab  of  Geoffrey  ("  Arterue  ")  Arture  in  curious  black  letter : 

"  Hie  jacet  in  tumuli  fundo — Sublatus  a  mundo 
Galfridus  Art'ue — Thesaurarius  quondam  istius  ecclesie 
XVI  luce  Maya — requievit  in  pace  perpetua 
Anno  crucifixi  Domini  1519 
Tu  transiens  cave — quod  hie  dices  pater  et  ave." 


Sedilia,  North  Transept. 


It  was  first  read  correctly  by  Mr.  Maurice  Lenihan,  and  so  published  in 
our  Journal,  1864,  p.  114,  and  his  "  Limerick,"  p.  578.  Dyneley  could 
only  decipher  the  name  "  Galfrid  Art,"  and  the  date,  1519.  His 


118 


ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


successors  were  less  prudent,  so  Fitzgerald1  and  Macgfegor  enriched 
archaeology  with  the  wonderful  reading  of  the  last  lines  :  "  Tu  tubis  sic; 
octavum  cane  Qui  hie  dice  octo2  precum  Eanse."  They  then  give  the 
rendering  of  some  local  bard,  with  the  complacent  comment,  that  it  has 
"  more  literal  exactness  than  poetic  fire  "  : — 

"  Do  thou  excite  the  solemn  train,  and  with  the  doleful  trumps  proclaim 
Eight  times  this  mournful  story  ; 

Then  to  Eana  oblation  make,  of  eight  prayers,  for  the  sake 
Of  his  soul  in  purgatory." 

A  pretty  incised  cross,  with  no   other  ornament  or  inscription,  is 
inserted  as  the  bottom  slab  of  this  sedile. 

In  a  shallow  circular  headed  recess  (or 
perhaps  closed  sedile)  appears  the  defaced 
slab  of  John  fCox,  of  the  same  period  as  the 
last ;  and  to  the  other  side  the  tomb  of  Eliza- 
beth Hartstongue  and  the  tablet  of  the 
Harolds,  1529,  removed  hither  from  the 
chancel.  The  organ-loft  and  all  the  build- 
ings east  of  this  transept  are  hopelessly 
modernised. 

THE  CHANCEL. 

The  choir,  having  undergone  four  or  five 
sweeping  restorations,  retains  no  undoubted 
trace  of  the  original  structure.  The  quaint 
little  tablet  with  an  escutcheon  bearing  a 
chevron  between  three  lions  and  with  the 
name  "DONOH  "3  is  probably  commemorative 
of  the  building  of  the  chancel  by  Bishop 
Donat  O'Brien,  before  1204 ;  despite  some 
later-looking  foliage,  the  main  carving  is 
probably  ancient.  The  pretentious  monu- 
ment of  Donough,  "the  great  Earl  of  Tho- 
mond,"  is  of  debased  classic  design,  with 
great  shelves  on  which  are  laid  the  broken 
effigies  of  the  older  tomb.  It  is  crowned 
with  obelisks  and  a  helmet  and  coloured  coat 
of  arms,  and  fits  into  a  large  Gothic  arch  of 
fair  design.  The  latter  cuts  into  one  of  the 
late  fifteenth-century  windows  of  badly  ex- 
ecuted decorated  Gothic — two  in  each  side 
wall — which  mark  an  addition  of  about  20  feet  to  the  original  length 

1  "  History  of  Limerick,"  by  Fitz  Gerald  and  Mac  Gregor,  vol.  ii.,  p.  551. 

2  The  «  s '  of  '  transient '  and  '  dices  '  being  mistaken  for  '  8, '  and  read  '  octavum  ' 
#nd  « octo.' 

3  See  our  Journal,  1892,  Plate  at  p.  70,  fig.  4. 


Incised  Slab,  bottom  of  Sedile, 
North  Transept. 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK.  119 

made  probably  in  1420.  The  exterior  buttresses,  as  <  noted  in  most 
previous  descriptions,  bear  the  arms  of  John  Artur  to  the  south,  and  a 
chevron  between  three  scallops  to  the  north.  In  the  south  wall  we 
may  note  the  well -moulded  arch  over  the  credence  table  and  the  epitaphs 
of  Bishops  O'Dea  and  Adams.  A  very  poorly  designed  ogee-headed  door 
occurs  in  each  side ;  the  northern  leads  to  the  organ-loft,  the  southern  to 
the  choir-room. 

The  choir  room  represents  the  conjoined  chapels  of  St.  Mary  Magda- 
lene and  St.  James,  circa  1370,  their  plain  Gothic  arches  remain  closed  in 
its  western  wall,  the  only  sign  of  the  original  work  in  the  apartment. 
A  later  triple  window  in  the  south  wall,  and  a  fifteenth-century  window 
of  two  shafts  interlacing,  remain  in  the  east  wall.  These  probably 
belong  to  Bishop  Folan's  restoration. 

SotiTH  TRANSEPT. 

The  south  transept  is  mainly  ancient.  The  arch  corbels  date  from 
1420,  and  the  west  pier  is  built  against  the  old  arcade.  The  east  wall  is 
mainly  occupied  by  the  beautiful  modern  monument  of  the  Westropps, 
1 838-66. l  It  is  much  more  suitable  for  a  reredos  in  the  bald  and  gloomy 
chancel  than  for  its  present  position.  The  south  window,  so  far  as  the 
stonework  goes,  reproduces  its  ancient  predecessor,  but  it  is  filled  with 
badly  designed  and  absurdly  small  figures,  though  it  is  better  than  the 
others,  which,  except  the  west  window  and  the  fine  Caswell  window, 
are  very  tasteless  and  gaudy.  Below  are  the  piscina,  the  Bultingford 
and  Gal wey  monument,  and  the  Budstone  sedilia,  already  fully  described.2 

This  transept,  with  the  chapels  along  the  south  aisle,  was  extensively 
repaired  by  the  Galweys,  Sextens,  and  others  about  1489,  and  restored, 
the  former  by  the  Westropps,  the  latter  by  the  Barringtons,  about 
1866.3 

SOUTH  AISLE  AND  CHAPELS. 

The  south  aisle,  and  the  "  Sexten  chapel"4  are  divided,  by  seven 

1  The  date  1830,  on  the  brass,  ought  to  be  1838. 

2  See  our  Journal,  supra,  pp.  41-43. 

3  The  principal  repairs,  &c.,  since  the  siege  of   1651,  may  be  here  enumerated — 
noting  that  in  December,    1688,  the   "Titular"   Bishop,  John  O'Molony    (Brady's 
"Episcopal  Succession,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  48),  reports  "  Ecclesia  Cathedralis,  B.  M.  V. 
dicata,  antiquse  structure,  nulla  indiget  reparatione."     William  Yorke  gave  the  peal 
of  bells,  1678.     King  "William  III.  gave  a  forfeited  mortgage  of  £1000  for  repairs 
after  the  siege,  1691.     The  chapels  east  of  the  south  transept  are  said  to  have,  been 
then  injured.     1759.  Extensive  restorations  at  a  cost  of  £1300  are  recorded  on  the 
old  candelabra  of  the  nave.     1831.  Extensive  restorations  under  Mr.  James  Payne. 
1860.  The  Dean  and  Chapter  re-edified  the  building ;  works  under  Mr.  Slator.     1866. 
The   south   transept  restored   by   direction   of  Anna   "Westropp,    widow   of   Thomas 
Westropp,  of  Ross,  Co.  Clare  (Sheriff  of  Limerick,  1807-10),  in  memory  ot  their  son, 
Thomas   Johnson   Westropp.     1869.    North  transept   and  chapels  and  south    porch 
restored  under  direction  of  Mr.  Fuller.     1893-95.  South  aisle  and  chapels  re-roofed  ; 
west  porch  removed.     At  this  time  the  old  houses,  including  "  Galwey's  Castle,"  or 
41  Ireton's  House,"  \vere  demolished,  and  gardens  laid  out  upon  their  sites. 

4  The  Sextens  were   "Priors"  of  the  cathedral  by  a  grant  from  Henry  VIII.  to 
their  ancestor,  Edmund  Sexten,  of  St.  Mary's  Priory,  1538.     This  Edmund  compiled 
a  cartulary,  now  preserved  in   the   British   Museum,    which  unfortunately  is  un- 
published, and  thus  little  available  to  our  local  writers. 


120    ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

arches  meeting  in  two  central  piers,  into  a  series  of  simple,  but  picturesque 
vistas.  The  first  bay  has  a  late  aumbry  and  piscina  with  one  shelf  and  a 
pointed  arch.  The  second  bay  has  a  round-headed  sedile,  and,  set  in  the 
central  pillar,  the  curious  carvings  of  St.  Michael  and  Satan,  the  Cruci- 
fixion and  Christ  and  Satan,  figured  in  our  Journal?  These  two  bays  once 
formed  the  Consistorial  Court.  They  contained  the  Stretch  tomb,  in 
1 680,  and  possibly  represented  the  chapel  of  St.  Anne,  in  which  that 
family  had  burial  rights.  The  eastern  bay  has  a  stiff  though  rather 
ornate  perpendicular  window  ;  the  other  bays  have  plain  windows,  with 
interlacing  shafts.  The  western  bay  has  a  stoup  near  the  south  door  and 
a  porch  in  which  is  a  pretty  pointed  recess,  with  nail-head  ornament  and 
bold  mouldings,  once  containing  a  second  stoup.  The  basin,  I  hear,  was 
given  to  a  neighbouring  chapel.  The  porch  was  rebuilt  in  1 680,  and  again 
about  18662;  it  was  formerly  much  more  lofty  as  shown  by  Dyneley's 
sketch  and  the  mark  of  the  old  roof  ridge  on  the  wall.  It  must  have 
originally  dated  at  least  from  the  early  sixteenth  century,  as  shown  by 
the  foliage  on  the  base  stones  of  the  door,  but  it  is  mainly  modern. 

The  fourth  bay  is  now  walled  at  the  east  end  and  forms  the  "Pery 
Chapel."  This  also  contains  the  tomb  of  the  families  of  Stacpole  and 
Eoche  and  is  the  "  Stacpole  Chapel,"  or  "  St.  George's  Chapel."3  It  has- 
two  stoups  or  piscinaB,  one  with  a  trefoil  and  one  with  a  rpund  head.  In 
the  western  wall  at  the  corner  of  the  ancient  aisle  a  spiral  stair  lead& 
to  an  upper  room.  In  the  graveyard  the  only  noteworthy  mediaeval 
remain  is  the  slab  in  the  Sexten  vault  with  its  carvings  of  the  seven- 
headed  dragon  and  the  pelican.4 

There  is  room  for  a  more  elaborate  history,5  and  fuller  account  than 
is  suited  to  the  limits  of  this  Paper.  If  the  latter  has  cleared  the  ground 
and  set  out  in  chronological  order  the  unusually  clear  record  of  the  growth 
of  this  venerable  church,  it  shall  have  fulfilled  its  writer's  intention  :  if 
it  leads  more  competent  writers  to  complete  the  work  in  more  perfect 
form,  it  shall  more  than  repay  the  work  of  many  interesting  days  spent 
within  those  quiet  walls.  In  any  case  recent  experience  has  again  shown 
how  essential  it  is  to  secure  accurate  records  of  the  features  of  our  ancient 

1  1892,  Plate  at  p.  70,  fig.  2. 

3  Ferrar's  ''Limerick,"  p.  543,  and  Dyneley's  sketch. 

3  Fitz  Gerald's  "Limerick,"   vol.  ii.,  p.   550;  also  will  of  Nicholas  Stackpole, 
1022.     The  name  "George"  has  been  very  prevalent  in  the  family  for  200  years. 
The  first  Pery  buried  recorded  is  that  of  William,  son  of  "William  Pery  of  Exeter, 
October,  1633    (Funeral  Entry,   Ulster's  Office),  attested  by  his   nephew,    Edmund 
Pery,  ancestor  of  the  Earls  of  Limerick.      See  also  our  Journal,   1890,  p.   76,  and 
18!) 2,  p.  73,  for  origin  of  these  families. 

4  Figured  in  our  Journal,  1892.  p.  70,  fig.  3. 

5  Some  notices  of  this  cathedral   are — Dyneley's   "Tour,"    1680,    published  in 
our  Journal,  1864,  p.  433.     Harris'  "Ware's  Bishops."     "Histories  of  Limerick," 
by  P'errar,   1767,   Fitz  Gerald,   1827,  and  Lenihan,    1866.     Kev.  Canon  Meredyth's 
excellent  little   "Guide"  (three  editions),    1883-1887.     "  Geoffry  Arture's  Tomb," 
by  Maurice  Lenihan,   in  our  Journal,   1864,  p.  114.     "Carvings  in  St.  Mary's,"  by 
T.  J.  Westropp,  ibid.,  1893,  p.  70.     "  Ireton's  House,"  by  J.  A.  Barry,  ibid.,  1894, 
pp.  386,  387;   1895,  p.  378.     "Limerick  Cathedral  Restored,"  in  The  Ecclesiologist, 
1862.     "The  Cathedral  Churches  of  Ireland,"  by  T.  M.  Fallow,  p.  60. 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK.  121 

churches  still  used  for  worship.  Even  yet  a  legacy,  donation,  or  success- 
ful collection  is  able  at  any  time  to  inaugurate  such  extensive  "  improve- 
ments "  and  "  restorations  "  as  may  in  a  few  months  replace  many  valu- 
able relics  of  ancient  work  by  the  inanities  of  some  ambitious  modern 
architect :  "  vanitas  vanitatum,  omnia  vanitas." 


APPENDIX. 

ABSTRACT       OF       WILLS. 
1.    BlCHAHD    BULTINGFORT. 

The  inventory  of  Eichard  Bultingfort  is  preserved  in  an  enrolment 
(No.  245  Patent  Rolls  Anno  I.  Elizabeths)  with  his  will  (No.  247),  both 
being  in  Latin,  from  which  I  make  the  following  extracts  and  abstract : — 
"  Inventory  of  the  goods  of  Richard  Bultyngford  at  Lymerick  the  day 
after  the  feast  of  St.  Senanus,  Bishop  and  Confessor,  Anno  1405,"  men- 
tions a  horse  and  household  goods,  e.g.  "habet  patenam  haream," l 
"  habet  aliam  patenam  in  manu  Tliomse  Balby  in  pignore,"  &c. 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I,  the  aforesaid  Richard,  being  sound  in 
mind  but  ('  hat')  sick  in  body,"  make  this  will.  "I  leave  my  soul  to  God 
and  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  and  to  All  Saints,  and  my  body  to  be 
buried  in  the  church  of  Blessed  Mary  of  Limerick.  Item.  I  leave  to  the 
fabric  of  the  said  church  for  forgotten  tithes  20s."  Item.  He  leaves  to 
the  vicars  of  the  said  church  an  annual  charge  on  a  certain  messuage  at 
the  little  laneway  (venellam)  near  the  cemetery  of  Blessed  Mary,  for  a 
service  twice  a-year.  Then  follow  legacies  "to  the  Friars  Preachers  for 
the  repair  of  their  chapel ;  to  the  Friars  Minors ;  for  the  repair  of  Holy 
Trinity  Church";  Friar  Henry ;  Ann  et  Walsh ;  Richard  Flemyng,  his 
servant,  a  horse ;  Laurence  O'Daffy,  his  servant ;  Nicholas  O'Murghy 
and  Margaret  Bultingfort,  his  daughter.  The  last  was  bequeathed  the 
messuage  in  Cork  city,  held  as  the  gift  of  John  Pollard,  and  he  gives 
various  directions  to  his  wife  Katherine  Roche  and  "John,  son  of  Maurice 
Bultingf."  about  his  goods  in  Limerick  and  Cork.  If  Margaret  dies 
without  heirs  the  lands  are  entailed  on  John  Bultingford. 

He  leaves  David  Caudebeke  the  tenement  in  Cork  held  as  a  gift  of 
Symon  Miehagh.  To  Katherine  Roche  he  leaves  his  lands,  &c.,  in 
Limerick  and  its  suburbs,  with  the  bridge  and  the  holdings  near  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Cross,  for  her  life.  After  Katherine's  death  these 
tenements  and  lands  are  to  revert  to  John  Bultingfort  and  his  children 
[membra/ne  12  begins  hereJ]  Should  John  die  without  issue  he  leaves 
the  tenement  near  the  Tholsel  to  Nicholas  Walsh.  Then  follow  elaborate 

1  This  curious  aspiration  occurs  in  other  places  in  these  wills — 'haream,'  'hat,' 
*  huuteni.' 


122          ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

trusts  relating  to  various  tenements.,  That  held  by  gift  from  Philip  nnd 
Patrick  Gammer,  that  let  to  Thomas  Comyn ;  the  one  let  to  Richard 
Troy  (called  "Alhall")  tne  tenements  of  Patrick  Cojnyn  (opposite  the 
chapel)  and  Laurence  FitzSimon.  He  leaves  William  Marshall's  tene- 
ment to  John  Spofforde  and  Mariota  Dewinys.  His  wife  is  to  sell  the 
messuage  held  from  Patrick  L'Enfaunt  and  other  plots  for  the  benefit  of 
the  testator's  soul.  He  appoints  as  executors  Katherine  Roche,  John 
Bullingfort  (sic),  Nicholas  Walsh,  and  John  Nangel. 

The  will  was  proved  by  the  said  Katherine  before  Cornelius  (O'Dea),. 
Bishop  of  Limerick,  in  the  cathedral,  the  Sunday  before  the  feast  of 
St.  Peter,  which  is  called  "ad  vincula,"  1406. 

2.  PHILIP  RUSSELL. 

The  inventory  and  will  of  "  Philip  Russell,  of  the  parish  of 
St.  Nicholas  Within  the  walls,  Dublin,  made  the  Friday  next  before  the 
feast  of  St.  Patrick  the  Bishop,  1442,"  are  enrolled  in  the  Plea  Rolls 
(28  Henrici  Sexti,  No.  434).  I  only  abstract  the  parts  relating  to  hia 
property  in  Limerick.1 

To  his  daughter  Janet  two  goblets,  two  boxes,  a  silver-gilt  girdle,, 
two  rings,  &c.  Should  she  die,  these  shall  revert  to  the  executors,, 
along  with  the  household  goods  at  Limerick.  He  leaves  his  lands  at 
Kilmallock,  for  the  benefit  of  his  soul  and  the  souls  of  his  wives. 
"  To  Thomas  Cofyn,  of  Lymerick,  my  house  in  which  he  dwells.'* 
Patrick  Lange,  of  Limerick,  my  house  in  which  John  Fyn  lived.  To 
William  Mancel,  my  servant,  the  better  of  my  two  houses  in  Grey-friars- 
lane,  Limerick.  To  my  daughter  rents,  lands,  gardens,  &c.,  in  Limerick 
(except  as  above  devised),  but  if  she  dies  he  leaves  them  for  pious  uses 
— and  appoints  as  executors  Stephen  Botyller,  currier,  of  Dublin,  and 
W.  Mauncell. 

3.  GEOFFREY  GALWEY. 

The  inventory  and  will  of  Geoffrey  Galwey,  of  Limerick,  are  enrolled 
in  the  Patent  Rolls  of  Ireland,  Anno  I.  Eliz.  Roll  1,  membrane  14. 

The  inventory  of  Galfridus  Gallwey,  at  Limerick,  5th  January, 
1445,  mentions  goods  in  the  hands  of  Edmund  Gallwey,  two  breastplates 
worth  £4,  a  helmet  worth  4s.,  a  pipe  of  honey,  &c. 

"In  the  name  of  God,  Amem  I,  Galfridus  Galwey,  sound  in  mind, 
but  sick  in  body,  make  my  will  in  this  manner :  I  leave  my  soul  to  God 
Almighty,  the  Blessed  Yirgin  Mary,  and  All:  Saints,  and  my  body  to  be 
buried  in  the  chapel  of  St.  James,  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Limerick," 
6s,  8d.  for  the  canons,  100  shillings  for  the  repair  of  said  chapel. 
"Item.  I  leave  a  chaplain  £20  to  celebrate  masses  in  the  said 
chapel  of  St.  James  for  my  soul  and  the  souls  of  my  parents." 

Then  follpw  legacies  of  6s.  B#.~to  each  of  the  vicars  of  the  Cathedral, 

1  Mr.  Henry  Berry,  of  the  Record  Office,  supplied  me  with  the  abstract  of  this  will. 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK. 


to  William  White,  W.  Appulgard,  arid  John  Fox,  to  the^Friars'Minors 
,and  the  churches  of  St.  Munchin,  St.  Nicholas,  the  Holy  Cross,  St.  John 
and  St.  Michael  in  Limerick.  Separate  legacies  for  the  repair  of  the 
chancel  and  of  the  body  of  Kilmahullok  Church,  and  to  the  friars  of  that 
town,  to  each  house  of  friars  in  Youghall ;  to  the  churches  of  St.  aPeter, 
Holy  Trinity,  St.  Katherine,  and  St.  Nicholas  in  Cork,  and  >Mthe  Friars 
Minors  and  Preachers  and  Augustinian  Hermits  of  that  city,  and  also  to- 
the  Leper's  house. 


Costumes  of  Mayors  of  Dublin,  "Waterford,  Cork,  and  Limerick,  circa  1380. 

A  legacy  of  £4  to  the  church,  £3  to  the  friars,  and  £1  to  the  poor 
of  Kinsale  ;  5/-  each  to  the  priests  of  Cork  and  Kinsale ;  40  pence  each 
to  the  churches  of  Binroan,  Bingorran,  Kilmahannok,  and  Leyon.  To 
the  friars  of  Tymlaggy,  and  to  an  anchorite,  13/4  each  ;  and  legacies  of 
6/8  to  each  order  of  friars  in  Waterford,  and  to  the  hermits  of  St. 
Augustine  of  Athdar,  for  the  purchase  of  an  iron  mortar. 

He  left  his  children  robes  and  money.  To  Patrick,  "my  scarlet 
gown,  edged  with  martin,  my  black  hood,  and  a  large  pot/'  To 
Edmund,  ''my  blue  gown  edged  with  greyn."  To  Walter,  another 


124 


ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


blue  gown.  .To  Edmund  fitz  Harry,  "  a  green  gown."  To  my  daughter 
Margaret,  for  her  marriage  portion  £6  13s.  4d.  To  my  son  Patrick, 
rents  at  Kinsall  [membrane  16  begin*].  The  lands  acquired  from  Nicholas 
Walsh1  and  John  Nangle,  in  the  city  and  suburbs  of  Limerick,  and 
at  the  Bridge,  to  his  wife  Margaret,  for  life,  unless  she  marries, 
and,  after  her  death,  to  their  son  Walter,  and  his  heirs  male  in  failure 
to  William.  The  western  part  of  the  lands  at  the  Bridge  to  his  son 
Edmund,  with  other  lands  in  the  city  and  suburbs.  He  appoints  his 
executor  John  Kenwork,  a  Chaplain  and  Canon  of  Limerick  Cathedral. 

It  was  proved  before  John,  Bishop  of  Limerick,  and  administration 
granted  to  said  executor,  and  Margaret  White,  January  12th,  1445. 


Costume  in  Munster,  circa  1380. 

MUNSTER  COSTUME  IN  1380. 

To  illustrate  the  dress  of  Munster  citizens,  I  have  copied  eight  figures 
from  the  Corporation  Roll  of  Waterford,  as  traced  for  our  Society  by 
George  Du  Noyer.  The  first  group  shows  the  mayors  of  Dublin,  Water- 
ford,  Cork,  and  Limerick  in  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  The  first  three  are 
habited  in  sufficiently  grave  and  imposing  dress ;  the  upper  figures  in 
red  robes  with  a  blue  overcape  or  gown.  The  mayors  of  Waterford  and 
Limerick  wear  large  belts  adorned  with  gilt  plates,  but  the  latter 
magistrate  is  in  other  respects  suggestive  of  being  insufficiently  clothed, 

1  See  Bultingfort's  Will,  ante,  p.  123. 


ST.  MARY'S  CATHEDRAL,  LIMERICK.  125 

and  of  being  painfully  aware  of  the  fact.     He  wears  red  hose  and  shoes 
and  a  dark  blue  tunic  and  cap. 

In  the  second  group  we  have  four  figures,  collected  from  various  parts 
of  the  same  roll,  two  burgesses,  and  between  them  a  gentleman  of  rank 
and  a  bishop;  they  all  wear  beards  closely  trimmed.  The  only  dress 
calling  for  much  comment  is  that  of  the  gentleman.  It  is  of  a  dark  sage 
green  material,  embroidered  with  white  lilies,  red  sprigs  and  gold  scrolls. 
Some  such  dress  was  in  Chaucer's  mind  as  he  described  the  gay  young 
squire : — 

"  Embroidered  was  he  as  it  were  a  mead, 
All  full  of  freshe  flowres  white  and  rede." 

Mr.  Thomas  Longfield  thinks  from  the  pattern  and  colours  that  this 
rich  robe  may  have  come  from  Southern  France.  The  hood  is  vermilion, 
held  on  the  right  shoulder  by  a  large  plated  clasp.  He  idly  plays  with  it 
and  his  gold-studded  belt.  The  others  are  sober,  wealthy  burgesses,  grave 
men  of  business,  with  a  sense  of  their  own  importance  and  weighty 
opinions.  Of  such  the  Leinster  satirist  sings  seventy  years  earlier  : — 

"  Hail  he  ye  marchands  with  your  gret  packes 
Of  drapery,  avoirdepeise,  and  your  wol  sackes, 
Gold,  silver,  stones,  riche  markes,  and  ek  pundes, 
But  little  ye  give  thereof  to  the  wrech  pouer."1 

But  rather  let  us  hope,  from  our  records,  that  the  Limerick  citizens 
"followed  after  charity  "  according  to  their  lights. 

Coinciding  in  time  and  place  with  the  men  who  enlarged  and  restored 
St.  Mary's  Cathedral,  these  quaint  old  pictures  give  us  a  most  vivid 
impression  of  these  Bultingforts,  Arthurs,  and  Galweys,  a  sketch  of 
whose  active  life  and  work  we  have  striven  to  rescue  from  the  scattered 
records  of  a  medieval  city. 

1  "Facsimiles  of  National  MSS.,  Ireland,"  No.  v.,  part  in.  (Satirical  poem, 
circa  1308.) 


JOUR.   R.S.A.I.,   VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  II.,  OTH  SER. 


126  ROYAL    SOCIETY  OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


A  NOTICE  OF  SOME  COUNTY  WEXFORD  AND  OTHER 
CHALICES. 

BY  THE  REV.  J.  F.  M.  FFRENCH,  M.R.I. A.,  FELLOW,  AND  VICE-PRESIDENT. 
[Read  SEPTEMBER  28,  1896.] 

rPnE  history,  the  form,  the  material,  and  the  workmanship  displayed  on 
the  vessels  used  in  the  services  of  the  Christian  Church  must  always 
interest  a  large  number  of  people,  and  serve  to  illustrate  the  education, 
the  culture,  and  the  art- workmanship  of  the  period  during  which  they 
were  constructed.  At  the  same  time  we  must  remember  that  the  Church, 
in  the  days  of  her  infancy,  her  weakness,  her  poverty,  and  her  persecu- 
tion, had  to  be  satisfied  with  objects  made  of  such  poor  material  and  of 
such  rude  art- workmanship  as  the  exigencies  of  her  position  enabled  her 
to  provide.  When  she  would  have  built  her  churches  of  marble,  and 
adorned  them  with  the  richest  carving  that  the  skilled  hand  of  the  sculptor 
could  have  provided,  she  often  had  to  rest  content  with  an  erection  of 
wattles  plastered  with  clay  mortar.  When  she  would  have  made  the 
vessels  used  in  the  services  of  the  Church  of  the  most  precious  metals, 
she  had  to  rest  satisfied  with  the  very  humblest  materials,  such  as  earthen- 
ware, stone,  wood,  glass,  copper,  brass,  bronze,  pewter,  &c.  The  prin- 
cipal knowledge  we  have  of  the  former  existence  of  chalices  made  of  these 
rude  materials  is  derived  from  the  ordinances  of  ecclesiastical  councils 
prohibiting  their  further  use ;  but  in  some  instances  specimens  have 
remained  down  to  our  own  time,  such  as  the  earthenware  chalice  of  St. 
Jerome,  consisting  of  an  earthen  bowl  standing  on  a  copper  foot,  which  is 
to  be  found  in  the  Church  of  St.  Anastacia  at  Rome  ;  and  the  stone  ehalice 
figured  in  Wilde's  "  Catalogue,"  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  collection  of 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy.  Of  wooden  chalices  I  believe  that  no  specimen 
which  can  be  really  identified  as  a  church  cup  is  now  to  be  found  in  Ireland ; 
yet  such  vessels  must  have  remained  long  in  use,  as  they  were  prohibited 
as  late  as  the  year  787.  Glass1  seems  to  have  been  the  earliest  material  out 
of  which  Irish  chalices  were  constructed,  and  to  have  been  in  use  at  the 
time  of  our  great  missionary  bishop,  St.  Patrick.  In  the  tripartite  life 
we  are  told: — u  St.  Patrick,  having  crossed  the  Shannon  on  his  way  to 
Connaught,  arrived  at  a  place  called  Duma-graidh  (either  in  Leitrim  or 
Roscominon),  where  he  ordained  one  Ailbe  a  priest.  As  there  was  a 
deficiency  of  sacred  utensils  for  celebrating  Mass,  the  Saint  pointed  out 

1  "Platina  asserts  that  Zephyrinus,  A.D.  197-217,  ordered  that  wine  should  be 
consecrated,  not  as  heretofore  in  a  wooden,  but  in  a  glass  vessel."  See  Smith's 
"Dictionary  of  Christian  Antiquity."  Mr.  Soames,  the  Editor  of  "  Mosheim," 
gives  the  date  of  Pope  Zephyrinus'  accession  as  201,  and  his  death  A.D.  218. 


COUNTY    WEXFOKD    AND    OTHER    CHALICES.  127 

to  him  a  subterraneous  stone  grotto,  where  he  would  find  an  altar  of  nice 
workmanship  and  four  chalices  of  glass." 

In  our  own  times  a  chalice  of  glass  was  found  not  far  from  Dublin  by 
the  workmen  who  were  engaged  in  pulling  down  a  portion  of  the  walls  of 
the  old  church  at  Tallaght ;  while  a  celebrated  cup  of  that  material  is 
preserved  in  the  family  of  Musgrave,  near  Penrith,  and  is  known  as  the 
"  Luck  of  Edenhall."  Chalices  of  brass,  bronze,  or  copper  have  been 
especially  identified  with  the  use  of  the  early  Celtic  Church,  although  at 
one  time  they  probably  were  much  more  widely  known,  and  I  think  we 
can  fairly  infer  that  they  were  introduced  into  Ireland  by  St.  Patrick 
himself  in  order  to  supersede  the  easily  broken  glass  vessels.  Ireland, 
being  a  centre  of  bronze  workmanship,  would  be  a  place  where  we  might 
expect  to  find  chalices  of  that  substance.  The  following  passage  occurs  in 
the  "Tripartite": — "The  holy  Bishop  Assicus  was  Patrick's  copper- 
smith, and  he  made  altars,  and  quadrangular  patens,  and  quadrangular 
book- covers  in  honour  of  Patrick."1  Now,  what  could  be  more  natural 
than  that  the  artificer  who  constructed  one  of  the  sacramental  vessels  of 
copper  or  bronze  should  construct  the  other  of  a  like  material?  And  in 
accord  with  this  supposition  we  find  that  when  the  celebrated  Celtic 
ecclesiastic  St.  Gall,  the  founder  of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Gall  in  Switzerland, 
was  offered  a  silver  cup  for  the  service  of  the  altar  he,  with  true  Celtic 
•conservativeness,  declined  to  take  it,  saying  that2  his  master,  Columbanus, 
was  wont  to  offer  the  Sacrifice  of  Salvation  in  brazen  vessels,  because 
Our  Saviour  is  said  to  have  been  affixed  to  the  Cross  with  nails  of  brass. 
I  do  not  know  of  a  pure  copper  or  bronze  chalice  in  any  of  our  collections, 
although  a  copper  paten  has  been  found  in  the  grave  of  St.  Tigernan  at 
Errew,  a  promontory  in  Lough  Con,  which  has  been  dated  as  far  back  as 
the  close  of  the  fifth  century.3  But  although  we  have  not  a  chalice  made 
wholly  of  either  copper,  bronze,  or  brass,  we  have  a  cup  in  which  all 
these  materials  occupy  a  prominent  place — that  noble  specimen  of  early 
Celtic  art-workmanship,  the  Ardagh  chalice,  is  constructed  of  bronze, 
brass,  copper,  lead,  gold,  and  silver,  and  is  beautifully  decorated  with 
enamels  of  three  kinds,  also  with  crystals  and  with  amber.  Of  this  cup 
Miss  Stokes,  with  truth,  says  that  nothing  so  lovely  has  been  found  in 
Celtic,  or  perhaps  in  any  Continental  art,  at  so  early  a  period  as  the 
eleventh  century.4  This  beautiful  two-handled  cup  may  be  said  to  fix 

1  Rev.  T.  Olden's  translation.     See  his  Paper  in  the  Proceedings  R.I.^i. 
3  See  Lanigan,  and  Smith's  "  Dictionary  of  Christian  Antiquities/' 

3  Sir  W.  Wilde,  in  vol.  xxi.,  Transactions  R.I.A. 

4  "Many  examples  of  two-handled  chalices  exist  on  the  Continent,  such  as  the 
chalice  of  the  Bishop  of  Toul,  A.D.  922-962,  and  another  preserved  in  the  Ahhey  of 
Wilten,  in  the  Tyrol.     Among  the  many  ancient  chalices  preserved  in  the  Tesoro  di 
San  Marco,  in  Venice,  are  several  which  resemble  the  chalice  of  Ardagh  in  form,  and, 
in  many  instances,  the  figures,  or  the  names  of  the  twelve  Apostles,  are  engraved  on 
the  cup,  and,  in  addition,  the  inscription,  which  at  once  fixes  the  sacred  purpose  of  the 
vessel,  '  Drink  ye  all  of  this,  for  this  is  My  Blood.'  "— Petrie's  "  Christian  Inscrip- 
tions in  the  Irish  Language,"  edited  hy  Miss  M.  Stokes. 

L2 


128  ROYAL   SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

the  shape  and  dimensions  of  the  finer  chalices  during  the  Celtic  period. 
It  is  7  inches  in  height,  9£  inches  in  diameter  ;  the  depth  of  the  bowl  is 
4  inches.  A  two-handled  chalice  of  this  type  is  mentioned  at  a  very  early 
period  by  St.  Adamnan  [who  lived  between  624  and  704],  and  to  the 
present  day  the  Greek  Church  retains  the  use  of  the  large  double-handled 
chalice.  The  use  of  copper  chalices  were  forbidden  at  an  early  date,  but 
this  prohibition  would  hardly  extend  to  such  beautiful  and  costly  objects 
as  the  Ardagh  chalice  or  the  Tassilo  chalice,  which  is  preserved  near 
Wels,  in  Lower  Austria.  This  last-mentioned  cup  shows  the  influence 
which  Irish  ecclesiastical  art  exercised  on  the  Continent  in  the  days  of 
Charlemagne.  It  is  made  of  red  copper,  overlaid  with  silver  work  on  a 
gold  ground,  and  ornamented  with  red  and  black  enamel,  and  takes  the 
form  of  a  large  cup  with  a  stem  wide  at  the  bottom.  It  is  ornamented 
with  representations  of  the  four  Evangelists,  in  the  style  of  the  Irish 
illuminated  books  of  the  seventh  century.  The  inscription,  which  is  in 
uncial  Roman  letters  of  the  eighth  or  ninth  century,  fixes  its  date  as 
having  been  made  in  the  reign  of  Tassilo,  Duke  of  Bavaria,  who  was 
dethroned  by  Charlemagne,  a  monarch  who  cultivated  most  friendly 
relations  with  Irish  ecclesiastics,  particularly  with  the  Senior  Lecturer 
of  the  School  of  Clonmacnoise,  who  was  the  recipient  of  no  incon- 
siderable gifts  at  his  hands.  Pewter  chalices  were  expressly  permitted 
in  Ireland  by  the  canons  passed  at  the  Provincial  Synod  held  in  Christ 
Church,  Dublin,  in  1186,  and  continued  in  use  almost  down  to  our  own 
time.  Specimens  of  these  chalices  of  various  dates,  from  the  old  Celtic 
shape  down  to  the  more  modern  forms,  may  be  seen  in  the  Museum  of 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy.  An  ivory  chalice  was  exhibited  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries  not  long  since. 

But  at  all  times  gold  and  silver  must  have  supplied  the  favourite 
materials.  Although  chalices  of  gold  are  recorded,  such  as  the  chalice 
of  gold  presented  by  the  Princess  Dearvorgil,  wife  of  O'Ruairc,  at  the 
consecration  of  Mellifont  Abbey,  in  Louth,  A.D.  1157,1  yet  neither  a 
chalice  of  silver  nor  gold  has  come  down  to  us  from  pre-Norman  times. 
The  devastations  of  the  plundering  Norsemen  must  account  for  the 
scarcity  of  these  objects.  It  should  be  remembered  that  the  war  that 
they  waged  against  Ireland  was  a  religious  war,  and  that  the  vessels  for 
the  celebration  of  Divine  Service  were  quite  as  much  the  objects  of  their 
enmity  and  cupidity  as  the  invaluable  manuscripts  which  disappeared 
either  in  the  flames  or  beneath  the  waters.  Yet  enough  remains  to  prove 
that  Ireland  at  that  time  contained  a  school  of  workers  in  the  precious 
metals  who  produced  objects  which  for  gracefulness  of  outline,  refine- 
ment of  feeling,  and  artistic  skill  displayed  in  their  construction,  have 
never  been  surpassed,  and  of  which  we  are  justly  proud. 

Perhaps  the  great  perfection  to  which  the  art-workmanship  of  the 

1  See  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters." 


COUNTY  WEXFORD    AND    OTHER   CHALICES.  129 

Celtic  period  attained  was  due  to  hereditary  training.  The  artistic 
craftsmen  were  not  merely  the  occasional  apprentices  picked  up,  as  it 
were,  promiscuously  from  various  sources,  but  they  were  the  members  of 
a  tribe,  of  a  caste,  who  from  their  earliest  childhood  were  surrounded  by 
art-workers  in  the  same  craft,  and  who  were  called  the  Cerdraighe. 
O' Curry  locates  this  family  or  tribe  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  bog  of  Cullen,  in  the  parish  of  Cullen,  in  the  county  of  Tipperary, 
and  on  the  borders  of  Limerick.  This  small  bog  has  supplied  most 
remarkable  and  extensive  gold-finds.1  After  the  coming  of  the  Normans 
Irish  art  began  to  pine  and  die.  The  hard-headed,  heavy-handed  soldiers, 
who  gradually  acquired  dominion  over  the  country,  had  little  time  to 
devote  to  the  finer  arts,  and  the  sacred  vessels  used  in  their  services  would 
naturally  bear  the  impress  of  the  Norman,  and  not  of  the  Celt.  Irish  art 
lingered  on  in  those  places  where  the  Celt  still  held  dominion,  but  it  was 
no  longer  a  bright  light — it  was  only  the  shadow  of  its  old  self,  a  flicker- 
ing in  the  socket.  Yet  the  Norman  ecclesiastics  were  not  deficient  in 
their  efforts  for  the  decent  celebration  of  the  Divine  Service;  for  we  find 
among  the  canons  passed  at  the  Provincial  Synod,  held  in  the  Church  of 
the  Holy  Trinity,  otherwise  Christ  Church,  Dublin,  in  the  year  1186, 
one  directing  that  "  in  monasteries  and  rich  churches  chalices  be  provided 
of  gold  and  silver,  but  in  poorer  churches,  where  such  cannot  be  afforded, 
that  then  pewter  chalices  may  serve  the  purpose,  which  must  be  always 
kept  whole  and  clean."  Chalices  of  gold  must  have  been  known  in  the 
British  Islands  at-  a  very  early  period ;  for,  at  the  translation  of  the 
remains  of  St.  Cuthbert,  Bishop  of  Durham  in  687,  which  took  place  at 
the  end  of  the  eleventh  century,  a  chalice,  the  upper  part  of  which  was 
of  gold  and  the  lower  part  of  onyx,  was  found  resting  on  the  saint's  breast. 
If  the  Normans  brought  over  chalices  with  them,  they  must  have  been 
lost  in  the  course  of  time,  for  none  have  remained  to  our  day. 

Indeed,  from  that  time  onward  to  the  sixteenth  century  few  vessels 
of  ecclesiastical  art-workmanship  have  survived  to  our  own  times.  A 
sketch  of  a  chalice  which  is  in  private  hands,  and  which  professes  to 
date  from  the  year  1494,  has  lately  been  exhibited  in  the  Kildare-street 
Museum.  An  interesting  specimen  of  a  sixteenth- century  chalice  will 

1  O'Curry  tells  us  that  among  these  finds  were  bars  of  pure  gold,  a  disc  of  pure 
gold,  two  chased  cups  (possibly  chalices),  bosses,  pieces  of  tube  plates  and  ribbons 
(some  of  the  former  chased),  gold  wire,  ferrules,  pommels  of  swords,  the  point  of  a 
scabbard,  pieces  of  gold  with  the  links  of  a  chain  attached,  small  clippings  of  gold 
amounting  to  about  six  pounds  ;  also  small  bronze  crucibles,  with  the  gold  arrested  in 
the  very  process  of  smelting.  O'Halloran  tells  us  that  a  gold  crown  was  found  in  this 
bog  in  1731,  which,  he  says,  was  like  the  close  crown  of  the  Eastern  princes.  (Quan- 
tities also  of  bronze  objects  were  found.)  One  of  the  bars  of  pure  gold,  which 
O'Curry  himself  saw  turned  up  out  of  this  bog,  was  5  inches  in  length,  l£  inches  in 
breadth,  and  more  than  \  an  inch  in  thickness.  This  seems  to  have  been  about  the 
size  of  the  bars,  or  ingots,  supplied  to  the  Cerds  and  the  Umhaidhe,  or  bronze- 
workers.  There  is  an  ingot  of  red  bronze  in  my  collection  which  I  procured  in  the 
county  Galway,  of  almost  the  same  dimensions.  It  is  about  5  inches  long,  and 
l£th  inches  in  breadth,  and  about  \  an  inch  ia  thickness. 


130         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

be  found  figured  on  page  213,  vol.  i.,  of  the  "Journal  of  the  Association 
for  the  Preservation  of  the  Memorials  of  the  Dead."  It  bears  the  date 
1596,  and  has  engraved  on  one  side  the  figure  of  the  Saviour  as  if  hanging 
on  an  invisible  cross,  with  drops  of  blood  falling  from  his  hands.  There 
is  a  covering  thrown  over  the  middle  of  the  body  and  the  letters  INRI 
above  the  head ;  its  height  is  8  inches,  and  the  diameter  of  the  cilp 
3  inches.  It  weighs  12  ozs.  There  is  a  paten  which  fits  the  cup,  and 
like  it  is  of  silver.  This  chalice  is  the  property  of  the  parish  of  Manor- 
hamilton,  or  Cloon  Clare,1  in  the  county  Leitrim.  Bound  the  upper  edge 
of  the  cup  there  is  the  following  inscription : — 

^  "  ECCLESL33  CLONCLARIENSI  D.  D.  NATHANIEL  COME  DE  LEITRIM  ANNO 
DOMINI  MDCCCXXXIX." 

The  inscription  round  the  base  of  the  chalice  is — 

"  IACOBVS  FILIVS  DORINI  MAC  DOMHNAILL  ME  FIERI  FECIT  ANNO  DNI. 
1596." 

Below  this  inscription  there  is  an  ornamented  band. 

At  the  Art  Loan  Exhibition,  held  at  Kildare-place,  in  May,  1886r 
a  large  collection  of  ecclesiastical  plate  was  brought  together.  Among 
other  objects  exhibited  was  a  chalice  standing  on  an  hexagonal  base, 
which  belonged  to  the  parish  of  Templeport,  in  the  diocese  of  Kilmore. 
We  were  told  in  the  catalogue  that  it  "is  believed  to  be  the  only 
specimen  of  pre-Beformation  plate  extant  in  Ireland." 

I  think  that  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  this  chalice  was  remodelled 
after  the  Bef ormation,  and  a  new  cup  added  to  the  stem  of  a  very  decided 
seventeenth-century  shape,  and  quite  unlike  the  small  bowl-shaped  cups 
that  were  in  use  before  the  Beformation,  a  beautiful  specimen  of  which 
is  engraved  in  Cripps'  "  Old  English  Plate"  as  the  chalice  of  Nettle- 
combe,  in  Somerset,  which  bears  the  date  1459.  An  equally  beautiful 
specimen,  with  ornamental  band  around  the  bowl,  and  richly  adorned 
knob,  is  to  be  found  illustrating  Cripps' s  Paper  on  "  Old  Church  Plate, 
and  how  to  describe  it,"  in  the  "Transactions"  of  the  Bristol  and 
Gloucestershire  Archaeological  Society,  and  is  described  as  part  of  the 
plate  of  Clifford  Chambers,  bearing  date  1494. 

Strange  to  say,  amid  all  the  turmoil  and  confusion  of  the  seventeenth 
century  a  remarkable  revival  of  ecclesiastical  art  workmanship  seems  to 
have  taken  place,  and  many  graceful  and  artistic  chalices,  dating  from 

1  In  the  Ulster  Journal  of  Archeology  for  January,  1898,  will  be  found  an  engraving 
of  a  very  beautiful  little  Irish  silver  chalice,  which  is  at  present  preserved  in  the  church 
of  Ferny halgh,  near  Preston.  The  cup  is  of  the  same  graceful  sixteenth -century  bowl- 
shaped  as  that  of  the  Cloon  Clare  chalice.  The  stem  is  divided  in  the  middle  by  a 
large,  richly-chased  knob,  resembling  in  shape  the  knob  of  the  Kilmore  chalice,  and 


terminating  in  a  base  of  fan-shaped  spaces,  and  beneath  all  a  six-pointed  flanged  foot. 
It  bears,  around  the  base,  the  inscription — "  Conosus  Maguire  rex  Ferma: 


Fermanse  me  fi.  fe. 
MCCCCCXXIX." 


COUNTY    WEXFORD    AND    OTHER    CHALICES.  131 

that  period,  have  been  brought  under  the  notice  of  the  Society,  such  as 
the  chalice  of  the  abbey  of  Donegal,  which  may  be  dated  about  the  year 
1641  ;  the  chalice  of  Duiske,  or  Graignamanagh,  "  finely  and  curiously 
carved,"  dated  1653  ;  the  chalice  of  Holy  Cross  Abbey,  dated  1620  ;  the 
chalice  of  the  abbey  of  Kilmallock,  bearing  the  date  1639,  and  several 
others,  of  which  short  notices  are  to  be  found  in  our  Journal.  To 
these  I  would  now  add  a  group  of  chalices  at  present  located  in  the 
parish  of  Kilmore,  which  is  situated  on  the  coast  line  of  the  barony 
of  Bargy,  in  the  county  of  Wexford.  The  first  of  these  to  which 
I  will  refer  was  used  in  the  services  of  the  church  of  St.  Patrick,  Kil- 
more,  which  is  now  represented  by  the  remains  of  the  old,  grey,  weather- 
worn, tempest-beaten,  ruined  walls,  rendered  all  the  more  sad  and 
mournful  by  the  ceaseless  sound  of  the  cold  waves  washing  over  the 
dangerous  reef  of  rocks  called  St.  Patrick's  bridge,  which  stretches  out 
to  the  Saltee  Islands.  This  church  is  remarkable  for  containing  within 
its  walls  one  of  the  few  monuments  which  have  survived  to  the  present 
day  of  the  Norman  families  who  at  one  time  held  sway  in  Wexford. 
The  family  of  Whittey,  that  it  commemorates,1  were  among  the  earliest 
Norman  settlers  who  obtained  lands  in  that  part  of  u  Obarthi  sur  la 
mere,"  which  had  formerly  been  the  territory  of  the  tribe  or  clan  of 
Deegin,  or  Duggan,  and  is  said  to  have  built  the  castle  of  Bally teigue, 
which  is  situated  not  far  from  the  old  church.  Taking  the  date  on  this 
monument,  1647,  and  the  date  on  the  chalice,  1648,  together,  I  think 
we  will  not  be  far  astray  if  we  say  that  our  chalice  was  the  gift  of  the 
family  of  Whittey  to  their  parish  church  of  Kilmore. 

This  silver  chalice,  of  which  I  show  an  illustration,  measures  6£  inches 
in  height,  and  rests  upon  an  hexagonal  stem ;  live  of  the  fan-shaped 
compartments  of  which  are  plain  and  undecorated,  and  one  is  engraved 
with  a  plain  Latin  cross,  having  over  it  the  letters  INEI  on  an  oblong 
label.  The  cross  stands  on  a  mound,  on  which  a  skull  is  depicted.  The 
cup  is  of  the  seventeenth  century,  tulip-shaped;  the  knob,  or  "knot," 
of  the  chalice,  which  is  the  most  remarkable  part  of  it,  is  a  flattened 
globe  decorated  with  six  quadrangular  bosses,  placed  diamond-wise,  each 
of  which  was  adorned  with  a  jewel  (these  jewels  have  all  fallen  out) ; 
between  the  bosses  there  are  six  raised  elongated  quadrangular  bosses, 
each  pierced  with  three  holes,  and  adorned  with  fine  cross  hatching. 

1  The  tomb  bears  the  Whittey  arms  and  the  following  inscription: — "  Hie  jacet 
Walterus  Whittey  de  Balleteigue,  &c.  Armiger,  qui  obijt  9  Novembris  Anno  Doi  1630, 
et  Helena  uxor  eius  Filia  Hamundi  Stafforde  de  Ballyconnoure  Generosi  quee  obijt 
27th  Aprilis  Anno  Doi  1646,  et  Catharina  Prima  Uxor  Ricardi  Whittey,  Armigeri, 
Filia  Phillipi  Devereux  de  Balmagir  Armigeri  quse  obijt  18  AugustiAnno  1646  quorum 
gratia  idem  Ricardus  primo  genitus  pcdicti  Walteri  et  Helehse  cum  uxore  sua  secunda 
Catharina  Eustace  filia  Olyveri  Eustace  de  Ballynunry  Armigeri ;  me  fieri  fecit 
29th  January,  A.  D.  1647.  Tee  Christian  friends  in  passing  by,  your  prayers  wee 
humbly  crave  that  heere  interred  expecting  Christ  a  Restinge  place  may  have.  And  as 
for  them  that  went  before,  prayers  you  may  surely  yielde  the  licke  of  those  that  are  to 
come  expects  when  you  have  neede." 


132         ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

The  base  of  the  chalice  measures  3£  inches  across.  The  stem  is  hexa- 
gonal. The  cup  measures  2£  inches  in  diameter,  8£  inches  in  circum- 
ference, and  is  2£  inches  deep.  Its  weight  is  5f  ozs.  and  1£  dwts.  It 
has  no  hall-mark  or  maker's  mark  of  any  kind.  The  following  inscrip- 
tion which,  owing  to  the  part  of  the  edge  which  contained  the  donor's 
name  being  broken  off,  is  imperfect,  runs  around  four  sides  of  the  base : — 
"  Is  qui  me  renouari  fecit  in  honore  S.P.  pro  parochia  de  Kilmore 
A.D.  1648."  It  is  a  long  cry  from  the  Ardagh  chalice  of  Celtic  times  to 
the  Kilmore  chalice  of  the  seventeenth  century,  yet  there  is  a  link  of 
connexion  between  them ;  for  Mr.  Johnston,  of  Grafton-street,  who  has 
himself  done  so  much  to  revive  and  restore  our  ancient  school  of  Irish 
art  workmanship,  and  who  has  had  both  cups  in  his  possession,  tells  me 
that  they  are  made  of  the  same  silver,  viz.  an  alloy  of  silver,  copper, 
and  tin.  Could  it  be  that  an  old  Celtic  chalice  of  the  "  Deegans"  had 
remained  hidden  away  in  this  remote  corner  of  the  county  Wexford,  and 
was  re-made  by  the  Whitteys  into  a  chalice  more  suitable  for  the  require- 
ments of  their  times,  and  thus  the  Celt  and  the  Norman  joined  hands 
across  the  centuries  ?  This  chalice  is  now  in  the  custody  of  the  Rev. 
Canon  Alexander,  rector  of  Mulrankin.1 

The  next  chalice  that  I  have  to  describe  is  connected  with  another 
old  Norman  county  Wexford  family,  the "  Maylers.''  I  will,  therefore, 
trail  it  the  Mayler  chalice.2 

The  cup  of  the  Mayler  chalice  measures  2-iV  inches  in  diameter, 
Til-  inches  in  circumference,  and  1-J-f  inches  deep.  The  base  of  the 
chalice  measures  3-^-  inches  across.  The  stem  and  base  are  hexagonal. 
It  measures  nearly  6  inches  in  height,  and  bears  neither  hall  nor  maker's 
mark,  or  inscription.  The  rim  which  will  be  noticed  on  the  cup  is  a 
modern  addition.  The  knob  of  the  chalice  bears  some  resemblance  to 
the  knob  of  the  Kilmallock  chalice  ;  both  are  elongated  and  pear-shaped ; 
both  knobs  are  ornamented  with  bosses,  on  each  of  which  there  is  a  head 
with  renaissance  floreation.  With  this  difference,  that  while  the  heads 
on  the  Kilmallock  chalice  are  believed  to  be  cherubs,  the  heads  on  the 
Mayler  chalice  seem  to  be  those  of  some  animal  conventionalized, 

1  To  whom  I   am  indebted   for  permission  to  have  it  photographed,  and  for  a 
description  of  the  ruins  of  the  church  of   Kilmore,  which,  owing  to  the  length  of 
this  Paper,  I  am  unable  to  insert. 

2  Not  so  very  far  from  this  neighbourhood,  in  the  parish  of  Fethard,  there  is  a  very 
curious  chalice  preserved,  which  was,  at  one  time,  used  in  the  neighbouring  parish  of 
Templetown.     The  cup  of  this  chalice  shows  that  the  bowl-shaped  form  was  sometimes 
in  use  in  the  seventeenth  century,  as  it  bears  the  date  1639,  and  the  inscription, 
«  Ex  dono  Nicholai  Loftus  de  Kicloggan  Armigeri  Anno  Salutis  1639  Calix  parochialis 
Ecclesise   Beatse   Marise   Virginis  de   Templetown  in  Comitatu  Wexfordise."      This 
chalice  is  8|  inches  in  height,  and  has  a  base  the  diameter  of  which  is  only  3f  inches. 
The  foot  on  which  it  stands  is  formed  of  a  succession  of  small  silver  shells,  and  the 
knob  is  of  a  very  unusual  shape.     It  bears  the  arms  of  Nicholas  Loftus,  of  Fethard, 
second  son  of  Sir  Dudley  Loftus.     An  engraving  of  it  will  be  found  on  p.  564,  vol.  2, 
of  the  * '  Journal  of  the  Association  for  the  Preservation  of  the  Memorials  of  the 
Dead." 


[To  face  page  133. 


Fig.  1. 

tCLOONCLARE   OR  MANOKHAMILTON   CHALICE. 


Fig.  2. 
KILMORE  CHALICE. 


Fig.  3. 
MAYLER  CHALICE. 


Fig.  4. 
ADARE  CHALICE. 


COUNTY   WEXFORD   AND    OTHER   CHALICES. 


133 


possibly  a  leopard's  head  ;  and  if  so,  this  might  point  to  the  chalice  as 
having  been  made  in  London.  The  family  of  Mayler,  with  which  this 
chalice  and  its  memories  have  been  for  such  a  length  of  time  associated, 
have  resided  in  South  Wexford  for  centuries.  They  are  descended  from 
the  Lord  Meyler  Fitz  Henry,  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Conquest,  and 
held  the  manor  of  Duncormuck  of  the  king  in  capite  until  the  time  of 
Colonel  Nicholas  Meyler,  who  was  taken  prisoner  in  battle  by  the  Crom- 
wellians  and  executed.  His  relative,  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Mayler,  P.P.,  of 
Tomhaggard  and  Kilmore,  fared  no  better,  for  he  also  lost  his  life  at  the 
hands  of  the  Cromwellian  soldiers,  but  not  before  he  had  intrusted  this 
chalice  to  the  care  of  a  Mrs.  Lambert,  one  of  his  congregation,  who 
returned  it  to  the  Mayler  family,  in 
whose  possession  it  remained  for  236 
years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  it  was  restored  to  the  little 
chapel  of  Tomhaggard  by  the  Vener- 
able Archdeacon  Meyler.  This  family 
suffered  many  things  at  the  hands 
of  the  Cromwellians,  and  only  pre- 
served a  portion  of  their  property  by 
assigning  it  to  a  Protestant  Church 
clergyman,  who  honestly  reconveyed 
it  back  to  them  when  times  got 
better. 

The  third  chalice  (figure  5)  I 
will  call  the  Kilkenny  chalice.  It 
is  the  property  of  the  Rev.  Paul 
F.  Kt'hoe,  of  Tomhaggard  and  Kil- 
more. It  has  a  tulip-shaped  cup, 
slightly  engraved  at  the  base  with 
a  decoration  of  half  circles,  which 
may  be  intended  to  represent  the 
petals  of  a  rose.  The  stem  and 
foot  of  the  chalice  are  hexagonal, 
with  plain  fan- shaped  facets,  ex- 
cept two,  on  one  of  which  is  engraved  a  figure  of  the  Crucifixion, 
with  the  letters  INRI  on  a  label  over  the  cross,  and  on  the  other 
the  name  "  O'Beirne."  Underneath  the  foot  or  base  of  the  chalice  the 
following  inscription  is  distributed  on  five  "  squares  "  : — "  P'icius  Fitz 
Geraldinus  Pastr  Ecclesiae  St.  Patrici,  Kilkenise  1621."  There  is  no 
hall  or  maker's  mark  of  any  kind.  "The  chalice  stands  6f  inches  in 
height,  the  base  measures  3f  inches  across,  the  cup  measures  2-f-  inches  in 
diameter,  8£  inches  in  circumference,  and  2^-  inches  deep."  This  chalice 
has  a  melon-shaped  knob  or  knot.  I  have  to  thank  Mr.  O'Cullen  for  kind 
assistance  in  collecting  information  about  this  and  the  Mayler  chalice. 


Fig.  5.— The  Kilkenny  Chalice. 


134         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

The  question  will  arise,  is  the  remarkable  revival  of  Ecclesiastical 
Art  workmanship  which  we  observe  in  the  17th  century  chalices  caused 
by  the  superior  skill  and  culture  displayed  by  home  workmen,  or  is  the 
improvement  only  apparent,  and  are  these  chalices  really  importations 
from  foreign  sources.  In  favour  of  the  foreign  origin  of  the  work  would 
be,  as  a  general  rule,  the  absence  of  hall  marks.  A  Charter  establishing 
the  Dublin  Assay  Office  was  granted  by  King  Charles  I.  on  the  22nd 
December,  1638,  but  the  harp,  and  subsequently  the  crowned  harp,  was 
used  as  the  mark  of  silver  assayed  in  Dublin  long  before  that.  Again,  it 
may  be  said  that  the  knob  of  the  Kilmore  chalice  shows  a  decidedly 
foreign  impress ;  and  it  might  be  contended  that  if  the  revival  in  art 
workmanship  was  a  home  revival,  how  is  it  that  18th  century  chalices 
are  often  such  poor  tilings?  "Why  was  not  the  revival  sustained  ?  On 
the  other  hand,  it  might  be  contended  that  the  absence  of  the  Dublin 
hall  mark  does  not  prove  much,  as  there  were  doubtless  at  all  times 
minor  centres  of  silver  work  in  Ireland  where  such  articles  might  have 
been  made,1  and  that  in  these  minor  centres  the  use  of  assay  or  hall 
marks  only  gradually  came  in ;  while  as  to  the  work  bearing  a  foreign 
impress,  a  demand  for  artistic  chalices  would  quickly  draw  over  foreign 
workmen  to  assist  in  their  construction,  particularly  at  a  time  when  there 
was  much  going  to  and  fro  between  Ireland  and  the  Continent,  so  that 
we  might  as  reasonably  expect  to  find  a  foreign  impress  on  work  made  in 
Ireland  as  to  find  a  Celtic  impress  on  a  cup  made  in  Bavaria  in  the  time 
of  Charlemagne ;  and  certainly  there  is  a  cup  of  apparently  the  same 
school,  and  probably  from  the  same  workshop  as  the  Kilmore  chalice  in 
the  Science  and  Art  Museum  in  Kildare-street. 

The  chief  argument  in  favour  of  these  cups  being  of  foreign  origin 
seems  to  be  the  poverty  in  design  displayed  in  the  18th  century  chalices, 
which  immediately  follow.  However,  wars  and  tumults  may  account 
for  this,  as  it  doubtless  does  for  the  scarcity  of  ancient  ecclesiastical  plate 
in  Ireland.2 

"When  the  monastic  establishments  were  despoiled,  and  in  some 
instances  this  happened  twice  over,  both  at  the  time  of  their  legal  sup- 
pression and  at  the  time  of  their  actual  destruction,  an  immense  quantity 
of  Church  plate  was  lost.  Take,  for  instance,  a  notable  instance  of  this 
mentioned  by  John  O'Donovan  in  the  Preface  to  the  "Four  Masters."  He 
tells  us  that  on  the  2nd  of  August,  1601,  the  Donegal  friars  fled  from 
their  monastery  into  the  fastnesses  of  the  country,  carrying  with  them, 

1  Mr.  Robert  Bay,  r.s.A.,  states  that,  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
even  such  a  notable  centre  of  silver  manufacture  as  Cork  (city),  had  no  goldsmiths' 
guild,  and  consequently  no  hall-,  or  guild-marks,  were  impressed  on  the  silver  manu- 
factured there.—"  The  Altar  Plate  of  the  Franciscan  Church,"  by  R.  Day,  r.s.A. 

~  In  the  great  English  county  of  Gloucestershire,  rich  in  church  buildings  and 
possessions,  only  two  specimens  of  pre-Rt-furmation  chalices  were  known  to  exist  in  the 
year  1894,  one  in  private  hands,  and  the  other  in  the  possession  of  the  parish  of 
Clifford  Chambers,  where  it  is  still  in  use. — "Transactions"  of  the  Bristol  and 
Gloucester  Archaeological  Society. 


COUNTY   WEXFORD   AND    OTHER   CHALICES.  135 

among  other  things,  sixteen  silver  chalices,  which  were  probably 
deposited  with  them  for  safe  keeping  from  all  the  country  around.  He 
further  tells  us  that  these  chalices  afterwards  fell  into  the  hands  of 
Oliver  Lambert,  governor  of  Connaught,  who  converted  them  to  profane 
uses.  Multiply  instances  such  as  this  almost  indefinitely,  and  you  will 
then  find  it  easy  to  account  for  the  scarcity  of  Church  plate  in  this 
country.  In  fact,  Irish  ecclesiastical  edifices  have  been  wrecked  so 
often,  that  the  wonder  is  that  any  specimens  of  flotsam  or  jetsam  from 
the  wrecks  remains  to  be  brought  under  your  notice. 

Three  other  seventeenth-century  chalices  that  still  exist  in  the 
county  Wexford,  have  been  brought  under  my  notice : — 

The  St.  Leonard's  Chalice  (near  Fethard)  is  of  silver ;  heightr 
8£  inches ;  diameter  of  cup,  3£  inches ;  diameter  of  base,  3|-  inches. 
The  knob  is  unusually  large,  and  elaborately  embossed.  The  base  is 
divided  into  six  panels,  every  alternate  one  being  vacant.  The  first 
engraved  panel  has  a  representation  of  the  Crucifixion  on  it,  with  spear, 
sponge,  and  ladder.  The  second  engraved  panel  has  depicted  on  it  a 
heart,  pierced  by  three  nails,  surrounded  by  lilies ;  over  it  the  letter* 
M  A  R  and  a  crown.  On  the  third  panel  there  is  a  figure  holding  a  cross 
in  his  left  hand,  and  a  lamb  under  his  right  arm.  The  lamb  holds  a 
standard.  This  chalice  bears  the  inscription — "  OKA  PRO  .  GVLIEL  . 
DANIEL  .  ET  .  vxoRE  .  Eivs  JVAN  .  1637."  Then  follows  in  later  letter- 
ing  "  OBIT  .  H^C  18  JVLY  1668  ILLE  .  VERO  .  31  MAE  .  ANNO  DN  1673." 

The  Esmonde  Chalice,  which  is  in  the  private  chapel  at  Ballyna- 
stragh,  near  Gorey.  This  chalice  is  of  silver,  with  a  tulip-shaped  cup, 
and  a  hexagonal  base.  It  stands  8  inches  high.  Each  of  the  hexagonal 
panels  is  divided  from  the  adjoining  one  by  a  scroll.  The  panels  run  up 
the  stem  half  way,  and  terminate  in  a  circular  knob,  ornamented  with 
four  square  bosses.  On  one  panel  of  the  base  there  is  an  engraving  of 
the  Crucifixion,  with  the  instruments  of  the  Passion  on  either  side  of 
the  cross  (the  ladder,  the  spear,  the  hammer,  the  scourge).  The  feet  of 
our  blessed  Saviour  rests  on  a  skull,  which  is  placed  immediately  under 
the  cross.  A.  moulding  of  pierced  work  runs  around  the  base,  and 
immediately  above  it  there  is  the  following  inscription  : — "  ORATE  PRO 

ANIMA     MORIARTI    HEU     ERIN    SACERDOTIS     QUI    ME    FIERI     FECIT     ANNO     DONE 

1636." 

The  New  Ross  Franciscan  Convent  Chalice. — This  chalice  is  preserved 
at  the  chapel  of  Bally  fad,  near  Gorey,  and  is  of  silver.  In  shape  and 
measurement  it  resembles  the  Ballynastragh  chalice.  Around  the  base 
there  is  the  inscription — "  TO  THE  FRANCISCAN  CONVENT,  NEW  ROSS."  The 
base  rests  on  a  foot,  composed  of  ten  semicircular  leaves  (shells  ?),  like 
the  Templetown  chalice.  On  these  leaves  there  is  the  following  inscrip- 
tion (a  word  on  each  leaf): — "THE  GIFT  OF  RICHARD  BUTLER  AND  AN. 
BUTLER  HIS  WIFE."  This  probably  is  the  Butler  whose  name  occurs  in 


136        ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

the  "  Depositions "  in  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  concerning  the  1641 
period.  The  knob  of  this  chalice  resembles  the  Kilmore  chalice,  in  that 
it  shows  vacancies  in  six  diamond-shaped  bosses,  that  were,  at  one  time, 
filled  either  with  enamel  or  jewels. 


ADDED    IN   THE    PRESS. 

The  Quin  Chalice  at  Adare. — The  Society  is  indebted  to  Mr.  George 
J.  Hewson  for  a  photograph  of  this  chalice,  which  is  preserved  in  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  at  Adare,  and  also  for  the  following  measure- 
ments and  particulars  : — Total  height,  9-iV  inches  ;  interior  depth  of 
<jup,  3  inches  ;  diameter  of  cup,  3£  inches  ;  diameter  of  foot,  5^  inches  ; 
weight  exactly  15  oz.  averdupoise.  Beneath  the  foot,  just  inside  the 
«dge,  there  is  the  following  inscription  : — "  EX  DONO  THAIDAI  QUIN 

ARMIGERI    DE    ADARE   IN    PERPETUUM     VSVM     PAROCHLE     SANCTI    NICHOLAI   DE 

ADARE  ANNO  DNi  1726  ORATE  PRO  EG."  Unfortunately  there  is  no  hall- 
mark to  tell  us  where  this  beautiful  specimen  of  silver  plate  was 
manufactured,  but  there  is,  Mr.  Hewson  tells  us,  a  maker's  mark,  con- 
sisting of  a  Koman  capital  B.  The  Irish  date  letter  for  1726  would 
be  an  old  English  capital  F,  so  that  all  this  cup  can  be  held  to  prove  is 
that  fine  specimens  of  the  silversmith's  work  were  known,  even  if  they 
were  not  made  in  Ireland,  in  the  eighteenth  century. 

Remarkable  Chalices. — Miss  M.  Stokes,  in  "  Six  Months  in  the 
Apennines,"  p.  179,  states  that,  in  the  year  1354,  the  wooden  cup 
preserved  in  the  monastery  of  Bobbio,  out  of  which  St.  Columban 
drank,  was  enriched  with  a  silver  band,  and  formed  into  a  chalice.  In 
the  year  1897  an  iron  chalice-shaped  cup  was  found  at  Dromineer,  on 
Lough  Derg.  It  is  9£  inches  in  height,  and  is  profusely  covered  with 
raised  ornamentation,  in  which  cross  crosslets  predominate. 


[To  face  page  137. 


(     137     ) 


THE   INSTRUMENTS   OF   THE   PASSION. 

By  MISS  MARGARET  STOKES. 
[Read  MARCH  29th,  1898.] 

^T^HE  tourist  in  the  midland  counties  of  Ireland,  if  given  to  exploring 
the  old  churchyards  he  passes  on  his  way,  cannot  fail  to  be  struck 
by  the  number  of  mediaeval  tombs  to  be  met  with  on  which  the  Instru- 
ments of  the  Passion  are  sculptured.  This  is  especially  the  case  in  the 
counties  of  Kilkenny,  Carlow,  and  in  the  south-west  portion  of  Kildare. 
"We  have  noticed  them  in  numbers  in  the  cathedral  and  ruined  churches 
of  the  town  of  Kilkenny,  and  seen  instances  of  these  sculptures  at 
Callan,  Inistiogue,  and  elsewhere ;  but  the  most  complete  collection  of 


Instruments  of  the  Passion  on  the  Tomb  of  William  Fitzgerald,  Kilkea,  A.  D.  1623. 

these  symbols  we  know  of  appears  on  the  tomb  of  William  Fitzgerald, 
in  the  ruined  church  of  Kilkea  Castle,  county  Kildare.  The  tomb  is 
now  built  into  the  corner  of  the  ruin,  so  that  only  the  west  end  and 
north  side  are  visible.  The  Crucifixion  of  our  Lord  is  carved  on  the 
west  end,  and  the  north  side  is  divided  into  three  round  arches,  the 
spaces  beneath  which  are  filled  in  with  the  following  signs : — 


1.  The  Cross. 

2.  The  Crown  of  Thorns. 

3.  Pincers  and  the  Holy  Nails. 

4.  5.  Hammers. 

6.  Cup  on  a  Pole. 

7.  The  Lance. 

8.  Sponge  on  a  Pole. 

9.  Candle,  or  Lantern. 

10.  The  Holy  Ladder. 

11.  Palm  Branch. 

12.  Handkerchief  of  Veronica, 

Veil  of  Veronica. 


oi- 


lS.  Kobe    without   Seam,    or   the 
Holy  Shroud. 

14.  Basin  and  Jug  in  which  Pilate 

washed  his  Hands. 

15.  Thirty  Pieces  of  Silver. 

16.  Sword  of  Peter. 

17.  Ear  which  Peter  cut  off. 

18.  Hand  that  Smote  Christ 

19.  Dice  for  Casting  Lots. 

20.  Column  and  Rope. 

21.  Cock. 

22.  Knotted  Cords       )  for  Flagel- 

23.  Bunches  of  Eeeds  j     lation. 


138  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

The  only  objects  missing,  to  make  the  series  quite  complete,  are — 
the  Scroll,  or  Title  of  the  Cross,  written  in  three  languages  ;  the  Thorn  ; 
the  Three  Robes,  Tunic,  Cassock,  and  Mantle ;  the  Belt,  or  Scarf,  round 
the  Loins  ;  Shoes;  and  the  "  Sagrocatino,"  or  vessel,  in  which  Christ 
first  offered  His  Blood  to  His  disciples. 

St.  Bernard,  of  Clairvaux,  has  been  represented,  in  Christian  icono- 
graphy, as  pressing  a  number  of  these  instruments  to  his  breast,  and 
holding  them  aloft  in  his  arms,  as  if  they  were  a  bundle l  of  palm  branches 
— signifying,  in  this  manner,  that,  to  him,  they  are  not  merely  signs  of 
mortification  and  suffering,  but  also,  as  he  himself  has  said,  signs  worn 
upon  his  breast,  the  breath  of  whose  perfumes  each  moment  renews  his 


St.  Bernard  of  Clairveaux. 

courage.  In  this  picture  twelve,  out  of  the  twenty -four  symbols,  are 
grouped  together — 1.  The  Scroll.  2.  Crown  of  Thorns.  3.  Ladder. 
4.  Cross.  5.  Sponge.  6.  Lance.  7.  Column.  8.  Flagellum.  9.  Ham- 
mer. 10.  Dice.  11.  Reeds.  12.  Nails.2 

There  are  several  pictures  of  the  Cologne  School  in  the  Museum  of 
Cologne  representing  a  bishop  saying  Mass  before  an  altar,  on  which 
stands  our  Lord  showing  His  wounds,  and  surrounded  by  the  Instru- 
ments of  the  Passion.  This  subject,  writes  Lady  Eastlake,  "is  also 
frequently  seen  in  miniatures,  woodcuts,  and  engravings  of  the  fifteenth 

1  Fascia,  fasciculus.  "This  fanciful  play  upon  words,"  says  Dr.  Eales,  "can 
hardly  be  translated." 

2LeP.  Ch.  Cahier,  "  Caracteristiques  des  Saints,"  page  283.  "  Cantica  Canti- 
corum,"  by  St.  Bernard.  Sermons,  translated  by  S.  J.  Eales,  D.C.L.,  page  266. 


THE   INSTRUMENTS    OF   THE   PASSION.  139 

century."  In  a  picture  of  the  School  of  Mending  is  an  illustration  of 
the  Mass  of  St.  Gregory ;  we  see  in  the  background  the  cross,  the 
column,  the  lance,  the  sponge,  the  three  nails,  the  hammer,  the  Veronica 
veil,  the  holy  robe,  the  reed,  the  hand  of  St.  Peter. 

One  of  the  strangest  applications  of  the  Instruments  of  the  Passion 
is  the  subject  called  "  The  Arms  of  Christ."  Here  we  have  a  selection 
of  these  instruments  wrought  up  into  the  form  of  shield,  helmet,  and 
crest,  with  our  Lord  and  the  Virgin  as  supporters.  It  seems  to  have 
been  of  German  origin,  and  to  have  arisen  at  the  time  when  the 
Germans  were  in  the  habit  of  receiving  commissions  to  engrave  the  arms 
and  mottoes  of  guilds  and  wealthy  families.1 

The  question  now  arises  as  to  why  this  custom,  in  Ireland,  of  repre- 
senting these  Instruments  of  the  Passion,  seems  to  be  confined  to  the 
localities  above  specified,  principally  in  the  district  of  Ossory,  on  the 
Ormonde  estates,  and  also  to  have  prevailed  at  a  period  embracing  the 
sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries.  On  the  Continent  the  custom 
appears  to  have  been  characteristic  of  German  and  Flemish  art,  and  it 
would  be  a  curious  subject  for  investigation  to  inquire  as  to  whether 
the  introduction  of  this  custom  in  Ireland  may  not  be  traceable  to  some 
special  German  or  Flemish  influences  at  work  in  the  country  at  this 
period. 

In  the  Transactions  of  the  Kilkenny  Archaeological  Society,  vol.  i., 
p.  37,  Mr.  J.  Prim  describes  a  colony  of  Flemish  mechanics  who  settled 
near  the  town  of  Kilkenny,  "  but,"  he  adds,  "it  is  impossible  to  give 
the  exact  date  at  which  they  first  came  over."  The  earliest  mention 
found  by  him  of  this  settlement  is  contained  in  a  deed  of  the  thirteenth 
year  of  Edward  III.  (1339),  preserved  in  the  evidence  chamber  of 
Kilkenny  Castle,  which  refers  to  the  town  of  Flemings,  in  Kilkenny 
(in  Villa  Flaming  or  urn  Kilkennie).  This  colony  was  removed  from  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  first  settlement  before  the  reign  of  Henry  V. 
(1413). 

Then,  in  the  year  1541,  Sir  James  Ware,  in  his  "  Annals  of  Ireland," 
informs  us  that  Piers,  Earl  of  Ormonde,  and  his  Lady,  Margaret  Fitz- 
gerald, established  Flemish  workmen  at  Kilkenny.  This  was  the  Red 
Earl,  Piers  Roe  (Petrus  Rufus),  eighth  Earl  of  Ormonde.  In  Richard 
Lawless's  "  Ormonde  Pedigree,"  which  was  probably  compiled  under 
James  I.,  and  the  MS.  of  which  is  in  Lord  Bessborough's  possession, 
we  read  the  following  : — 

"  The  said  Earl  and  Countess  planted  great  civility  in  the  counties  of 
Tipperary  and  Kilkenny,  and  to  give  good  example  to  the  people  of  that 
country,  brought  out  of  Flanders,  and  other  countries,  divers  artificers, 
who  were  daily  kept  at  work  by  them  in  their  castle  at  Kilkenny, 
where  they  wrought,  and  made  diaper,  tapestry,  Turkey  carpets, 

1  "  History  of  Our  Lord  inArt,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  369-371. 


140        ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

cushions,  and  other  like  works,  whereof  some  do  remain  as  yet  with  the 
Earl  of  Ormonde." 

Again  we  read,  in  Carte's  "  Ormonde,"  that,  in  1667,  the  great 
Duke  of  Ormonde  brought  over  from  Flanders  a  number  of  Walloon 
weavers. 

I  may  not  seem  rash  to  suggest  that  carvers  and  sculptors,  as  well 
as  proficients  in  other  arts  of  design,  may  have  been  included  in  this 
band  of  Flemish  artificers  who  settled  in  Ireland  at  this  period,  and  to 
whom  we  may  attribute  the  introduction  of  these  curious  symbols,  which 
formed  the  background  of  representations  of  the  Mass  in  Flemish  art, 
but  were  used  as  sepulchral  symbols  in  those  parts  of  Ireland  bordering 
on  the  Flemish  settlements. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  very  little  information  can  be  added  as  to 
the  history  of  the  monument  here  illustrated.  William  Fitzgerald,  to 
whose  memory  it  is  inscribed,  died  about  the  year  1632.  He  lived  at 
Castleroe,  the  ruins  of  which  house  are  still  standing,  about  two  miles 
south  of  Kilkea  Castle.  His  first  wife  was  named  Juane  Keiling,  and  his 
second  Cislie  Geidons.  He  had  a  son  named  Gerote  M'William,  of 
Castlerowe,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Kilrush,  in  the  county  of 
Kildare,  in  the  year  1641,  while  fighting  on  the  side  of  the  Confederate 
Catholics. 

In  conclusion,  I  beg  to  offer  my  thanks  to  Lord  Walter  Fitz  Gerald 
for  his  careful  rubbings  of  the  sculptures  and  inscription  on  this  monu- 
ment ;  and  to  Mr.  Richard  Bagwell,  of  Clonmel,  for  information  as  to  the 
history  of  the  Flemish  settlement  in  Kilkenny. 


NOTES  FROM  THE  DIARY  OF  A  DUBLIN  LADY  IN  THE 
REIGN  OF  GEORGE  II. 

BY    H.    F.    BERRY,    M.A. 

[Read  MARCH  29,  1898.] 

AMONG  many  private  account  books  and  ledgers,  which  had  long  lain 
in  offices  now  abolished,  and  which  were  transferred  to  the  Record 
Office  with  the  official  records  of  those  departments,  is  a  series  of  nine 
domestic  account  books,  kept  by  Mrs.  Katherine  Bayly,  whose  husband, 
John  Bayly,  held  the  pose  of  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Pells,  an  appointment 
in  the  Court  of  Exchequer,  connected  with  the  Treasury,  Dublin  Castle.1 
The  books  extend  from  16th  October,  1721  (probably  the  date  of  their 
marriage,  as  Mrs.  Bayly  notes  a  gift  of  10  guineas  from  her  husband  on 
that  day,  "to  begin,  as  he  said,  my  private  purse")  to  1774,  when  she 
died,  but  the  first  vol.  (1721-1744)  contains  little  of  interest.  Mr. 
Bayly  died  in  1753,  so  the  accounts  practically  deal  with  the  period  of 
Mrs.  Bayly's  widowhood. 

With  such  scrupulous  accuracy  and  particularity  are  the  accounts 
kept,  and  so  full  of  comments  and  explanations  are  they,  that  the  series 
forms  a  perfect  diary  or  narrative  of  events  from  day  to  day,  and  the 
writer  appears  to  have  been  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary  business 
capacity.  An  analysis  of  the  diary  may  interest  the  members  present 
at  this  evening  meeting,  as  its  pages  paint  a  vivid  picture  of  the  daily 
life  and  surroundings  of  a  family  of  position  in  the  city  150  years  ago, 
giving  some  idea  of  their  occupations  and  amusements,  the  books  they 
read,  the  people  they  met,  and  the  conditions  of  life  generally  in  Dublin 
during  the  reign  of  the  second  George. 

The  family  resided  in  Peter-street,  which  at  the  time  was  the  place 
of  abode  of  many  members  of  the  legal  profession,  in  both  its  branches ; 
they  were  members  of  the  congregation  of  St.  Bride's,  where  they  had  a 
pew,  and  in  whose  vaults  was  their  burial  place.  In  1754,  a  sum  of 
5*.  4d.  was  paid  for  paving  the  front  of  the  Peter-street  house,  28  yards, 
pursuant  to  a  summons  from  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  there  is  a  note  to  the 
effect  that  almost  every  front  in  the  street  was  paved  at  the  same  time. 
Hearth  money  was  regularly  paid  for  the  house,  and  in  July,  1754,  seven 
hearths,  at  2s.  each,  were  settled  for,  Mrs.  Bayly  making  a  note  that  the 
back-kitchen  chimney  had  been  stopped.  The  house  was  furnished  with 
a  wine  cellar,  and  in  1756  is  found  a  memorandum  of  the  manner  in 

1  The  clerk  of  the  Pells  entered  all  the  Tellers'  bills  in  a  parchment  roll,  called 
pellis  receptorum — hence  the  official  title. 

JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,   VOL.  VIII.,  PT.   II.,  OTH  SER.  M 


142         ROYAL   SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

which  the  wine  was  laid  down,  which  gives  some  idea  of  what  was  in 
general  use  at  the  period.  In  the  left  hand  hin,  the  oldest  claret, 
18  quarts ;  white  wine  in  pints  to  the  front,  red,  black,  and  green  seals; 
bottled  ale  next ;  and  Mr.  Hartley's  clarets  at  the  back,  in  pints  and 
quarts.  Middle  bin  :  in  the  corner,  Mr.  Tew's  claret,  3  dozen  quarts  and 
4  dozen  pints  ;  hock,  white  wine,  meath,  currant  wine,  and  on  the  floor 
cider,  and  four  bottles  of  "my  son's  champagne."  Mr.  Gustavus  Brooke 
was  paid  18s.  per  dozen  for  mountain  Malaga,  an  entry  which  proves  the 
firm  of  that  name  to  have  been  a  very  old  established  one  here. 

Apropos  of  the  mention  of  wine,  Mrs.  Bayly  on  one  occasion  made 
her  daughter-in-law  (who  had  been  a  Miss  Tew)  a  present  of  some  china, 
which  cost  £2  5.9.  6^.,  in  return  for  hock  sent  her  when  ill  of  the  jaun- 
dice. From  the  Memoirs  of  Tate  Wilkinson,  the  actor,  published  in  1791, 
it  appears  that  during  his  first  visit  to  Dublin  in  the  winter  of  1757-8, 
he  had  a  fever,  which  lasted  three  weeks.  He  says,  "Mr.  Chaigneau 
often  used  to  joke  and  say  what  an  expensive  guest  I  was  to  him,  in  old' 
hock ;  the  quantity  I  drank  in  whey,  by  his  account,  was  incredible." 
So  that  hock  at  this  time  must  have  been  used  as  a  remedy. 

For  some  years  before  Mr.  Bayly's  death,  the  family  had  a  country 
residence  at  Milltown,  and  in  1745,  a  number  of  articles  were  purchased 
for  its  furnishing.  While  there,  they  attended  Divine  Service  at  Donny- 
brook  church. 

Harold's  Cross  was  frequently  ordered  for  change  of  air  by  Dublin 
physicians  of  the  day,  and  before  his  death,  Mr.  Bayly  was  sent  there. 
On  his  death,  in  April,  1753,  the  family  pew  was  draped  in  mourning,  at 
a  cost  of  £1  Is.  In  1754,  the  family  went  again  to  Harold's  Cross,  and 
the  entry  in  reference  to  this  visit  is  interesting :  "  Coach  hire,  when  all 
the  girls  and  I  went  to  look  at  lodgings  at  Harold's  Cross,  and  to  take  the 
air  at  Templeogue,  2|-  hours,  2*.  4%d.  Have  this  day  agreed  with 
Mrs.  Middleton,  for  two  middle  rooms,  the  street  closet,  use  of  the 
parlour  and  kitchen,  with  a  bed  for  my  man  servant,  the  dairy  and  leave 
to  walk  when  we  please  in  the  garden,  at  the  rate  of  15s.  a  week,  and 
gave  her  earnest  2s.  8^."  On  this  occasion  they  went  in  coaches  each 
Sunday  to  different  churches,  viz.  St.  Peter's,  Rathfarnham,  and  Donny- 
brook,  and  one  day  paid  Is.  Id.  for  going  with  Mrs.  Middleton  to  a 
Quaker's  wedding — possibly,  their  landlady  was  a  member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends. 

The  Baylys  did  not  seem  to  leave  home  very  often,  but  in  1761, 
Mrs.  Bayly  and  her  daughter  went  with  some  friends  to  the  Co.  Wicklow. 
They  travelled  in  a  post-chaise  to  Tinnehinch,  breakfasted,  dined,  and 
had  tea  at  Bray ;  they  also  saw  Powerscourt,  the  house,  and  the  Dargle 
glen;  which  little  "outing"  cost  £2  Os.  9d.  On  another  occasion  they 
went  to  Stacumney ;  and  when  one  of  the  daughters  of  the  house  married 
Mr.  Fish,  of  Castle  Fish,  Co.  Kildare,  they  occasionally  went  down  in  a 
post-chaise,  with  a  servant  behind,  staying  en  route  at  Naas. 


DIARV  OP  A  DUBLIN  LADY  IN  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  II.        143 

In  these  days  of  High  Schools,  Intermediate  Examinations,  and  Ladies' 
Colleges,  some  of  the  entries  concerning  the  education  of  the  Misses  Bayly 
read  ludicrously.  The  " Parents'  Weekly  Present"  was  procured  for 
"Miss  Grace  Bayly  at  a  cost  of  10$.,  and  one  Mr.  Haskins  charged 
£1  2s.  9$.  entrance  for  teaching  tlie  five  girls  to  write.  To  this  entry  is 
appended  a  memorandum:  "I  am  to  give  a  guinea  a  quarter  for  the 
three  biggest  girls,  and  what  I  please  for  the  other  two,  say — a  crown  a 
quarter  more  for  them."  In  May,  1754,  Miss  Elizabeth  Bayly  ended  a 
course  of  writing  and  ciphering  with  Mr.  Matthew  Haskins,  being  (as 
her  mother  testifies  in  the  diary)  '  *  perfect  as  far  as  ye  rule  of  subtrac- 
tion." A  little  later  on,  accomplishments  were  attended  to,  and  the 
young  ladies  had  dancing  lessons;  £1  2s.  9$.  was  paid  Mr.  Murphy  for 
teaching  Elizabeth  and  Nancy  to  sing  and  play  on  the  spinnet ;  a  spinnet 
was  purchased  for  £2  15s,  at  an  auction,  tuned  at  Mr.  Goteer's,  and 
Mr.  Murphy  supplied  a  music  book. 

While  the  young  people's  heads  were  not  burdened  with  overmuch 
study,  their  amusements  were  not  neglected,  as  the  following  entries 
show:  "For  the  children  and  servants  seeing  the  little  woman,  Mrs. 
Katherine  Herbert,  alias  Hume,  Is.  7±d."  "Mr.  Bayly,  I  and  all  the 
children,  seeing  the  show  of  the  Prospectives,  2s."  (As  to  the  nature  of 
this  show,  I  can  offer  no  suggestion.)  "For  seeing  ledgerdemain  tricks 
at  Milltown,  3s.  4$."  Possibly,  also  for  the  children  was  provided  "  a 
second-hand  pack  of  cards,  6$." 

Among  the  books  mentioned  in  this  diary  are  Young's  Night 
Thoughts,  Harvey's  Meditations,  which  cost  2s.  8$.,  and  Bisse's  Beauty 
of  Holiness,  Is.  4$.  When  her  son,  Thomas  Bayly,  married  Miss 
Katherine  Tew  in  1749,  his  mother  notes  that  she  sent  him  home  all  the 
books  she  had  belonging  to  him,  namely,  Shakspere,  female  Spectator, 
Cornelia,  and  Charlotte  Summers.  He  took  a  house  at  Raheny,  and  the 
family  frequently  dined  and  spent  days  there.  In  1747,  Mr.  George 
Faulkner  (the  proprietor  of  Faulkner's  Journal]  is  set  down  as  receiving 
from  Mrs.  Bayly  portion  of  the  subscription  money  for  a  book  called  a 
"  Short  History  of  Man,  Is.  7£$.  When  I  get  the  book,  I  am  to  give 
13$.  more."  In  1751,  three  books  were  procured  for  the  use  of  the 
servants  and  family  :  The  Pious  Country  Parishioner,  The  Great  Import- 
ance of  a  Religious  Life,  and  New  Weetfs  Preparation.  Not  until  1756 
does  another  entry  of  a  book  appear,  and  then  Mr.  Ewing  is  paid  Is.  6d. 
for  Tate  and  Brady's  Version  of  the  Psalms.  The  Ladies'  Monitor  and  the 
King  of  Prussia's  Confession  of  Faith  are  next  procured.  Miss  Bayly  paid 
Mr.  Watts,  in  Skinners'-row,  10s.  10$.  for  4  vols.  of  the  "Belle  Assem- 
blee,"  "not  entered  before,  because  I  had  thoughts  of  changing  them." 

The  lending  library  was  an  institution  of  those  days,  as  the  next 
entry  is:  "  One  week's  reading  the  Guinea,  do.  Henrietta  and  Frederick 
the  Forsaken,  and  Charlotte  Villars,  two  weeks  in  all,  Is.  Id.  After  such 
works,  it  is  refreshing  to  come  across  a  classic,  and  one  is  glad  to  find 

M  2 


144  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

13s.  6d.  spent  on  three  volumes  of  the  Rambler.  This  high  level;  was 
not  long  maintained,  however,  for  we  descend  to  Dodd  On  Death,  and  an 
Address  to  Persons  of  Quality.  Later  on,  Mrs.  Bayly  took  a  really  high 
flight  in  the  regions  of  literature.  Mr.  Ross,  of  Grafton-street,  supplied 
her  with  Tales  of  the  Genii,  and  a  sum  of  11^.  was  expended  on  eleven 
days'  reading  of  Pope's  Letters  and  Homer's  Iliad.  During  the  succeeding 
weeks,  as  an  antidote,  novel  reading  was  indulged  in,  and  13d.  was  paid 
for  perusals  of  Clarissa  and  "  Celenia  and  Adrastus."  A  distinctly 
religious  tone  is  sometimes  observable,  as  there  is  a  course  of  Ellis' 
Whole  Religion  of  a  Christian,  Fordyce's  Sermons  to  Young  Women,  the 
Bishop  of  Cloyne's  Exhortation  to  the  Romish  Clergy,  the  Bishop  of 
London's  Letter  to  the  Clergy  and  People  of  London,  and  the  Bishop 
of  Sodor  and  Man  on  the  Sacraments.  Fontenelle's  Plurality  of  Worlds, 
the  works  of  Madame  de  Sevigne,  the  Marquis  of  Rossell,  Wilkes'  Letter 
of  Advice,  and  the  Grecian  Daughter  well  nigh  complete  the  list  of  books 
mentioned.  The  newspaper  of  the  day  was  not  forgotten,  for  as  early 
as  1749,  Mrs.  Bayly  advanced  her  newswoman  2s.  2d.,  amount  for  a 
quarter's  news,  which  she  paid  off  in  papers. 

With  regard  to  the  question  of  domestic  servants,  many  entries  tend 
to  show  that  it  must  have  been  quite  as  burning  a  one  then  as  now  ;  but 
while  several  maids  were  parted  with  for  "  saucy  tongues,"  drink,  &c., 
faithful  service  was  rewarded.  The  Baylys  had  in  their  family  for  years 
a  confidential  man-servant — one  Phil.  Connolly  by  name — who  died 
suddenly  in  1756,  and  the  notices  of  the  occurrence  show  that  like  a 
true-born  Irishwoman,  his  mistress  was  anxious  that  everything  should  be 
conducted  in  proper  style  on  the  occasion.  "Mr.  O'Burn,  the  surgeon, 
for  bleeding  him  in  both  arms,  when  we  found  him  dead,  2s.  2d.  Cash 
to  his  wife  to  provide  things  for  his  wake,  besides  sending  candles,  sheets, 
and  other  necessaries,  5s.  5d.  Paid  Ben,  Mr.  Lodge's  man,  when  he 
paid  for  a  room  to  wake  poor  Phil  in,  and  for  drink  he  gave  the  men  that 
carried  the  corpse,  3s.  4rf." 

Fosterage  appears  to  have  been  still  in  vogue  in  Ireland  in  these  days, 
as  there  are  notices  of  money  presents  to  the  foster-father  of  some  of  the 
children.  Dick  Walshe,  Betty's  foster-father,  got  2s.  2d.  when  he 
brought  potatoes  and  had  a  gift  on  another  occasion  (29th  September, 
Michaelmas  Day),  when  he  appeared  with  a  goose  and  bareenbrack. 

Mrs.  Bayly  bestowed  many  sums  of  2s.  8%d.  on  nurses,  when  she  paid 
congratulatory  visits  on  the  arrival  of  "  little  strangers,"  and  the  black- 
mail levied  on  the  occasion  of  the  christening  of  her  son's  first  child,  to 
whom  she  was  godmother,  was  decidedly  heavy :  two  nurses  were  paid 
sums  of  £1  2s.  9d.  each,  and  11s.  4%d.  was  bestowed  on  Mr.  Taaffe,  the 
nurse-keeper  !J  Mr.  Ralph  Grattan,  of  the  Blue-coat  Hospital,  baptized 
the  infant. 

We  must  now  turn  to  the  amusements  and  social  life  of  the  family, 
who  seem  to  have  been  ardent  patrons  of  the  drama,  attending  the  best 


DIARY  OF  A  DUBLIN  LADS'  IN  RElON  OP  GEORGE  II.          145 

plays  produced  in  Dublin  at  a  period  wheu  the  city  was  identified  with 
all  that  was  highest  in  the  annals  of  the  stage.  At  the  rere  of  the  Blind 
Quay,  on  the  spot  where  stands  the  Roman  Catholic  church  of  St.  Michael 
and  St.  John,  the  ground  covered  by  the  pit  being  now  used  as  vaults, 
Smock-alley  Theatre  was  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  the  principal 
theatre  in  Ireland.  It  was  opened  about  1662  by  John  Ogilby,  Muster 
of  the  Revels,  and  in  1720  its  management  was  in  the  hands  of  Thomas 
Elrington,  a  famous  actor,  whose  family  are  frequently  mentioned 
by  Mrs.  Bayly  in  connexion  with  the  theatre.  Here  Thomas  Sheridan, 
son  of  Swift's  friend,  made  his  first  appearance,  in  1743,  as  Richard  the 
7'hird,  and  Spranger  Barry,  the  great  tragedian,  appeared  in  1744  as 
Othello.  Immediately  after  its  production  in  London,  in  1757,  Home's 
tragedy  of  Douglas  was  brought  out  at  Smock-alley,  and  the  popular 
comedian,  Tate  Wilkinson,  was  at  the  house  in  1757-60.  HenryMossop, 
the  tragedian,  undertook  the  management  in  1760,  and  in  1763-4,  the 
great  attraction  was  Macklin,  during  whose  engagement  was  produced 
his  True-lorn  Irishman,  which  was  an  immediate  success. 

In  1757-8,  a  new  theatre  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  Crow- 
street  Music  Hall,  the  joint  managers  of  which  were  Spranger  Barry  and 
Henry  "Woodward,  and  the  keenest  competition  sprang  up  between  the 
rival  houses.  Arthur  Murphy's  Orphan  of  China,  which  had  created  a 
great  sensation  in  London,  was  produced  almost  simultaneously  in  both, 
but  Smock-alley  had  the  start,  and  the  performances  there,  set  at 
enormous  expense,  drew  immense  audiences. 

The  Bayly  family  witnessed  the  production  of  all  these  plays,  and  there 
is  frequent  mention  in  the  Diary  of  the  names  noted  in  this  short  sketch, 
for  the  particulars  of  which  I  am  indebted  to  Sir  John  Gilbert's  fasci- 
nating chapters  on  the  Play  Houses  in  his  "History  of  Dublin."  At  this 
period,  the  theatres  were  lighted  by  tallow  candles,  stuck  in  tin  circles, 
which  hung  from  the  middle  of  the  stage ;  on  great  occasions,  or  as  a 
special  tribute  to  Shakspere,  when  his  plays  were  presented,  the  house 
was  lighted  with  wax.  The  galleries  were  generally  very  noisy,  and  the 
company  that  filled  the  boxes  went,  as  a  rule,  dressed  very  finely.  A 
box  ticket  cost  5s.  5d.,  a  lower  gallery  one  4s.  4d.,  and  admission  to 
the  pit  cost  3s.  3d. 

The  first  play  named  is  the  Busy  Body,  then  comes  Tamerlane,1  and 
though  there  are  two  or  three  famous  dramas  of  the  name,  no  doubt  this 
was  the  play  written  by  Rowe,  which  was  a  great  favourite  with  the 
Whigs,  having  been  intended  by  its  author  as  a  satire  on  Louis  XIV., 
who  is  supposed  to  be  represented  by  Bejazet.  Macbeth  was  produced  on 
bth  December,  1749,  and  Otway's  tragedy  of  the  Orphan,  or  the  Unhappy 
Marriage,  in  1750.  Mrs.  Woffington  acted  as  Hermione  in  the  Distressed 

1  This  play  was  performed  at  the  Tholsel  in  November,  1712,  on  the  occasion  of  a 
great  entertainment. 


146  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

Mother,  in  October,  1751,  and  on  this  occasion  three  members  of  the 
Bayly  family  attended  the  performance.  Henry  the  Eighth  was  acted  in 
1753,  on  which  occasion  Miss  Nancy  Bayly  was  treated  to  the  gallery  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Forster,  and  her  careful  mother  was  under  the 
necessity  of  recording  only  6%d.  for  chair  hire  to  the  play-house.  In 
1755,  a  party  (among  them  Mrs.  Smith,  "the  Bishop  of  Down's  lady") 
went  to  a  performance  of  the  Royal  Merchant,  or  Beggar's  Bush.  This 
was  the  play  in  which  Pepys  saw  female  actors  for  the  first  time. 

Occasionally  the  family  attended  the  Philharmonic  Subscription 
Concerts,  and  the  Marlboro'  Gardens  were  resorted  to  in  the  evenings  on 
special  occasions ;  while  Mosse's  Gardens  (now  known  as  the  Rotunda 
Gardens)  appear  to  have  been  a  favourite  place  of  entertainment, 
especially  on  nights  when  the  grounds  were  illuminated.  Then  there 
was  a  performance  of  the  Messiah,  at  the  Round  Church,  for  the  benefit 
of  Mercer's  Hospital,  and  a  rehearsal  of  the  same  oratorio  at  the  Music 
Hall  on  December  12th,  1753,  the  tickets  for  which  were  presented  to 
the  Misses  Bayly  by  Mr.  Kelly,  their  dancing  master.  On  13th  May, 
1755,  Romeo  and  Juliet  was  performed  for  Ellington's  benefit,  and  this 
summer  the  family  often  went  to  Mosse's  Gardens,  on  one  occasion  to  see 
the  Marquis  of  Hartmgton,  and  on  another,  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of 
Bedford. 

Mrs.  Bayly  and  her  daughters  went  the  round  of  the  fashionable 
drums  and  assemblies,  when  card  playing  in  a  mild  form  was  indulged 
in,  and  such  entries  as  the  following  are  often  met :  "Lost  at  cards  at 
Mrs.  Lodge's  drum,  2*.  2d. ;  paid  for  the  cards,  6^."  "Won  at  Mrs. 
Benson's,  after  paying  for  the  cards,  3s.  9^."  "  Lost  nt  Mrs.  Cromie's 
drum,  at  the  game  of  Pope  Joan,  Is.  4%d."  The  plays  of  Coriolanus, 
Comus,  and  Zara  were  witnessed  in  1756,  and  one  day,  all  went  for  two 
hours'  drive  in  the  Park,  to  take  the  air,  and  see  the  Camp  there. 

The  young  ladies  were  now  grown  up,  and  about  to  enter  society, 
and  Miss  Nancy  Bayly  was  to  be  presented  at  Court.  What  a  flutter  of 
feminine  excitement  there  must  have  been  when  Mr.  M'Dermott  earned 
an  honest  2s.  2d.  for  "cutting  and  dressing  her  hair  the  French  way  the 
day  Mrs.  Waite  was  to  present  her  to  the  Duchess  of  Dorset !"  Prior  to 
this,  the  startling  entry  is  met  with:  "  Curling  tongs,  8d.,  bought  by 
Nancy  in  Hell."  A  very  suggestive  entry!  but  all  acquainted  with  old 
Dublin  are  well  aware  that  this  name  had  long  been  given  to  a  narrow 
passage  near  Christ  Church,  where  there  were  some  shops.  On  another 
occasion,  a  flambeau  was  paid  for,  when  Miss  Elizabeth  Bayly  went  to  a 
ball  at  the  Castle,  and  Mrs.  Waite  took  the  young  ladies  to  the  Castle 
festivities  on  the  occasion  of  the  Birthday  Ode.  They  seem  to  have 
attended  the  Castle  frequently,  and  once  chair  hire  to  Mrs.  Waite's  (who 
acted  as  chaperone)  is  noted,  but  Mrs.  Bayly  remarks  that  her  daughter 
came  home  in  the  Attorney-General's  coach,  with  Miss  Flood.  The 
Right  lion.  Thomas  Waite  had  been  one  of  the  Secretaries  to  the  Lords 


DIARY  OF  A  DUBLIN  LADY  IN  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  II.          147 

Justices,  and  subsequently  became  Under- Secretary ;  his  wife,  Mrs.  Lucy 
AVaite,  held  the  post  of  house-keeper  and  wardrobe-keeper  in  Dublin 
Castle,  a  sinecure  office,  with  good  salary  attached,  held  by  ladies  of 
position. 

An  entry  which  excites  curiosity  is  this  :  "To  my  Lord  Lieutenant's 
servant,  when  he  brought  me  a  cross  for  St.  Patrick's  Day,  4s.  0£d. ;" 
and  again,  "2s.  8%d.  for  Bessy,  when  my  Lord  Lieutenant's  servant 
brought  her  a  St.  Andrew's  cross."  Vails  to  servants  are  of  frequent 
occurrence,  and  wherever  the  family  went,  their  amounts  are  carefully 
set  down.  In  1755,  Mrs.  Bayly  was  declared  entitled  to  a  pension,  and 
that  there  must  have  been  a  considerable  amount  of  talk  and  conjecture 
over  her  chances  of  succeeding  in  it  is  plain  from  the  following:  "A 
crown  given  Mrs.  Waite's  man,  when  he  brought  me  word  of  my  pension 
being  granted."  "To  Mrs.  Waite's  other  servant,  whom  I  promised  to 
remember,  if  I  succeeded  in  my  pension,  2s.  8^."  ;  and  6s.  6d.  was 
expended  on  the  household  servants  in  giving  them  a  treat  on  the  same 
occasion. 

The  Baylys  were  on  very  intimate  terms  with  the  family  of  James 
Grattan,  King's  Counsel  and  Kecorder  of  Dublin,  father  of  the  illustrious 
Henry  Grattan,  who  was  born  in  1746.  The  Grattans  resided  in  Stafford- 
street,  and  the  Baylys  frequently  dined  and  attended  assemblies  there. 
A  tribute  to  Grattan's  kindly  feeling  towards  them  is  thus  recorded : 
"Paid  £1  11s.  6d.  for  a  silver  shape,  a  present  to  Counsellor  Grattan's 
daughter,  as  he  never  would  take  anything,  when  applied  to,  on 
account  of  the  children's  affairs."  When  Mrs.  Bayly  dined  at  the  Lord 
Chief  Baron's  my  Lord's  servants  got  2s.  2^.,  and  when  she  and  her 
daughter  dined  at  the  Lord  Chancellor's,  they  gave  "  Mr.  Norman,  the 
butler,  2s.  2^.,  and  another  footman  of  my  Lord's  Is.  1^."  The  Chief 
Baron  and  Lord  Chancellor  named  here  were  one  and  the  same  person. 
John  Bowes  held  the  former  office  from  1741  to  1757,  and  he  became 
Lord  Bowes  of  Clonlyon  and  Lord  Chancellor  in  1757,  holding  office  till 
1767.  Once,  when  Miss  Nancy  Bayly  accompanied  Mrs.  Waite  to  a  ball 
at  the  Castle,  her  mother  and  sister  Elizabeth  went  to  the  gallery,  and 
the  matter-of-fact  old  lady  sets  down  that  she  gave  2s.  8^.  to  the  man 
that  let  them  in,  because  they  had  no  tickets — a  flagrant  instance  of 
venality  on  the  part  of  an  official  of  Dublin  Castle,  even  though  a  back- 
stairs one  !  They  also  attended  the  Lady  Mayoress'  balls,  and  sometimes 
went  to  hear  debates  in  the  Parliament  House.  Another  of  the  excite- 
ments was  breakfasting  with  Mr.  Hastings,  a  Fellow  of  Trinity,  when 
they  saw  the  "  curiosities,"  as  Mrs.  Bayly  puts  it. 

Spelling  was  not  one  of  the  good  lady's  strong  points,  for  she  records 
their  having  attended  a  concert  of  "  Asses  (Acis)  and  Galatea,"  with  a 
ball  after,  for  the  benefit  of  the  widows  of  vicars  choral  of  Christ  Church 
and  St.  Patrick's.  A  cousin  was  brought  to  see  the  Puppet  Show,-and  in 
1761,  Mrs.  Bayly  and  Miss  Bayly  dined  at  Mr.  Atfield's,  and  witnessed 


148         ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

the  fireworks  in  the  Green  on  the  occasion  of  the  coronation  of  King 
George  the  Third.  Soon  after,  the  family  went  to  see  the  Lord 
Lieutenant  go  to  Parliament.  In  August,  1759,  payment  had  been 
made  for  eighteen  tin  sockets  for  illuminating  the  windows.  Illumi- 
nations were,  no  doubt,  general  in  that  year  of  victory. 

The  Misses  Elizabeth  and  Nancy  Bayly  were  married,  the  former  to 
George  Boleyn  "Whitney  of  New  Pass,  Co.  Westmeath,  and  the  latter  to- 
Robert  Fish,  of  Castle  Fish,  county  Kildare,  High  Sheriff  for  the  county 
in  1754.  There  is  a  characteristic  entry  as  to  the  Fish  alliance,  showing 
how  careful  and  business  like  a  mother  Mrs.  Bayly  was.  "  For  fees  to 
ye  offices  of  record  for  an  enquiry  about  Mr.  Fish's  estate,  ISs.  6%d." 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitney  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fish  were  frequently  in  Dublin 
afterwards  with  their  families,  and  Mrs.  Bayly  spent  a  good  deal  of  time 
with  them ;  she  appears  to  have  had  a  very  commendable  practice  of  giv- 
ing them  "  tips,"  of  which  the  following  is  an  instance :  "  To  a  guinea, 
given  my  daughter  Fish,  towards  her  entertainment  of  Mr  Burke  and 
Lord  Milltown's  family,  when  Mr.  Jack  Burke  was  married  to  Lady  Mary 
Leeson."  In  1770,  when  Mrs.  Fish's  boys  were  growing  up,  Mrs.  Bayly 
gave  their  mother  some  money  to  adorn  her  son  John  for  acting  the  part  of 
Marcia  in  the  play  of  Cato,  and  was  then  treated  to  a  dress  rehearsal  at 
her  own  house;  she  gave  a  sum  of  £1  2s.  9d.}  to  be  laid  out  in  books,  &c., 
when  the  two  young  Fishes  came  to  see  her  in  the  dresses  they  wore  in 
the  characters  of  Marcia  and  Juba,  and  repeated  their  parts. 

On  25th  February,  1758,  Tate  Wilkinson's  benefit  play  of  Jane  Shore 
and  the  farce,  Tom  Thumb,  were  produced,  and  Mr.  T.  P.  Le  Fanu,  a 
member  who  has  contributed  to  our  Journal  some  admirable  papers,  has- 
kindly  favoured  me  with  an  extract  from  Wilkinson's  Memoirs  (i.  164), 
telling  the  story  of  this  night,  when  the  Bayly  family  were  present : — "  I 
fixed  on  Jane  Shore  and  Tom  Thumb  for  my  play  and  farce  the  night 
allotted  to  me,  Saturday,  February  25th,  1758.  .  .  Hastings  by  Mr. 
Wilkinson :  Shore,  by  Mr.  Dexter :  Jane  Shore,  by  Miss  Phillip,  and 
Alicia  by  Mrs.  Fitz  Henry.  .  .  .  From  the  exertions  of  Mr.  Chaig- 
neau,  Lord  Forbes  and  my  long  list  of  more  than  common  friends,  my 
boxes  were  rapidly  taken,  and  for  want  of  places  in  that  circle,  no  less 
than  seven  rows  of  the  pit  were  added  and  railed  in  at  box  prices,  which 
are  the  same  as  in  London  ;  indeed  more,  as  every  shilling  goes  in  Ireland 
as  thirteen  pence.  Mr.  Chaigneau  paid  me  forty  guineas  for  tickets ; 
the  whole  receipt  of  the  house  (not  then  so  large  as  it  was  made  by 
Mossop  afterwards)  was  £154,  and  an  overflow  from  every  part  of  the 
theatre  :  gold  tickets  to  a  considerable  amount  not  only  from  my  friends 
and  some  persons  of  distinction,  but  particularly  from  the  gentlemen  of 
the  army,  over  whom  Mr.  Chaigneau' s  situation  as  principal  agent  gave 
him  great  sway,  and  he  paid  visits  everywhere  for  the  purpose  of  serving 
me.  .  .  .  With  the  manager's  consent  and  Mr.  Dexter's  approbation,  I 
wore  Mr.  Dexter's  grand  suit,  which  was  blue  satin,  richly  trimmed  with 


DIARY  OF  A  DUBLIN  LADY  IN  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  II.          149 

silver,  looked  very  elegant,  and  what  was  better,  fitted  me  exactly.'*  In 
the  farce  of  Tom  Thumb,  Wilkinson  appeared  as  Queen  Lolalolla.  and 
mimicked  the  celebrated  Peg  "Woflington,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the 
audience.  The  gold  tickets  mentioned  by  him  were  presents  which  it 
was  customary  to  give  to  favourite  actors  on  their  benefit  nights. 

Next  came  Henry  the  Fifth  ;  and  the  first  plays  attended  in  the  new 
Crow-street  Theatre  in  1759  were  A  Bold  Stroke  fora  Wife,  and.  For  tuna  - 
tus;  Samlet  was  produced  on  6th  December  of  that  year.  In  1761  came 
the  Tempest,  and  Henry  the  Fourth  (with  the  coronation),  Etheredge's  Man 
of  Mode,  or  Sir  Fopling  Flutter,  with  the  farce  of  the  French  lady  never  at 
Paris.  About  this  period,  a  farce  seems  to  have  invariably  been  produced 
in  addition  to  the  play  of  the  evening,  and  some  of  them  were  essentially 
Irish,  as  Sir  Callaghan  0' Bralaghan,  the  Dargle,  and  Macklin's  True 
born  Irishman. 

The  charitable  institutions  of  Dublin  and  the  efforts  made  to  support 
them  are  frequently  mentioned  in  the  account  books.  In  1755,  Mrs. 
Bayly  paid  for  tickets  in  Dr.  Eartholomew  Mosse's  lottery  for  the  hospi- 
tal now  known  as  the  Rotunda,  which  at  its  foundation  in  1745,  by  that 
benevolent  physician,  had  been  situated  in  George's-lane  (now  South 
Great  George' s-street).  There  was  also  a  lottery  for  St.  Nicholas'  Hospi- 
tal in  Francis-street,  opened  in  1753,  and  another  on  the  plan  of  Dr. 
Swift's  for  the  relief  of  poor  industrious  tradesmen.  In  August,  1755, 
the  family  spent  £2  8s.  9d.  in  lotteries  for  the  better  support  of  the 
Charitable  Infirmary  on  the  Inns  Quay,  which  had  been  started  in  1728, 
Mercer's  Hospital  and  the  Hospital  for  Incurables.  The  first-named  was 
opened  in  1734,  and  Watson's  Almanac  a  few  years  later  in  noticing  it, 
says  that  its  chief  support  was  derived  from  a  yearly  benefit  arising  from 
a  cathedral  service  in  St.  Michan's  church.  "  The  trustees  have  built  a 
considerable  addition  on  ground  given  by  the  Archdeacon  of  Dublin, 
which  holds  forty-six  beds,  with  conveniency  for  bathing  and  sweating. 
Such  persons  as  send  old  linen  for  dressing  will  do  a  great  act  of  charity, 
and  the  steward  has  orders  to  pay  carriage," 

In  1743,  the  Charitable  Musical  Society,  Crow-street,  resolved  to 
appropriate  its  funds  to  a  Hospital  for  Incurables,  and  in  1750,  "Watson's 
Almanac  states  that  there  were  20  patients  in  the  house  (which  had  been 
taken  in  Fleet- street),  maintained,  furnished  with  clothes  and  neces- 
saries, * '  and  when  they  die  they  get  coffins,  and  are  decently  buried. 
Vagabonds,  who  will  not  be  subject  to  the  rules  of  the  house,  are  sent  to 
the  workhouse."  In  1764,  the  Baylys  attended  the  Foundling  Hospital 
chapel,  when  Mr.  Marlay  preached,  and  they  also  visited  the  Poor-house 
and  Foundling  Hospital,  which  was  situated  at  the  west  end  of  James's- 
street,  where  they  saw  the  children  at  work.  A  special  visit  also  was 
paid  to  the  Eanelagh  Gardens,  where  an  entertainment  was  given  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Asylum  for  Penitents,  and  a  guinea  was  sent  to  Lady 
Arabella  Denny,  whose  name  is  still  remembered  in  connexion  with  the 


150        ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

founding  of  the  Magdalen  Asylum.  Performances  at  the  theatre  in  aid 
of  charities  were  constantly  given  ;  and  it  was  appropriate  that  one  should 
have  been  held  at  Mossop's  house  (Smock-alley)  in  1764,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  orphans  of  one  Eaton,  a  butcher,  who  with  his  wife  was  crushed  to 
death,  on  an  alarm  of  fire  being  raised  in  Crow-street  Theatre,  when  the 
whole  audience  rushed  out  in  terror.  Gilbert  notices  this  circumstance, 
and  states  that  only  two  lives  were  sacrificed  on  the  occasion.  The  play 
produced  for  this  benefit  was  the  Orphan,  or  the  Unhappy  Marriage. 

Mrs.  Bayly  seems  to  have  had  very  sufficient  means,  and  sought  to 
invest  her  money  prudently.  In  April,  1754,  she  paid  Mr.  George 
Faulkner  £1  Is.  8d.  for  advertising  twice  a  week  in  the  Dublin  Journal, 
a  sum  of  £2500  to  be  lent  on  good  security,  the  rate  for  advertisements 
being  5s.  5d.  the  first  sixteen  appearances,  and  13d.  every  subsequent 
insertion,  Mrs.  Bayly  further  notes  that  she  paid  chair  hire  to  the 
Treasury  (the  offices  of  which  were  situated  in  Dublin  Castle)  when  she 
invested  £200  in  two  debentures  at  5  per  cent.  "  "Walked  home,  but  the 
money  was  so  heavy,  I  could  not  walk  going." 

Whenever  Mrs.  Bayly  mentioned  any  tradesman,  haberdasher,  milliner, 
&c.,  she  nearly  always  added  the  sign  of  the  shop,  and  the  street  in  which 
it  was  situated:  not  only  this,  but  she  jotted  down  the  hotels,  inns,  and 
lodgings  where  friends  from  the  country  "  set  up,"  as  she  terms  it. 
Her  jottings  for  aid  of  memory  as  to  the  residences  of  laundresses, 
chimney  sweeps,  &c.,  are  most  amusing.  Raynor  had  a  poplin  shop  at 
the  Half  Moon  and  Seven  Stars  in  Francis-street,  and  Mrs.  Beasley,  at  the 
sign  of  the  Salmon  in  the  same  street  dealt  in  similar  stuff.  The  Cod  in 
High-street  was  a  shoe  shop.  The  Churn  in  Plunket-street  sold  bacon. 
Pattison  at  the  Plough  in  Queen-street  mended  china.  Armytage  of  the 
Golden  Peruke,  in  Essex-street,  sold  shirts.  The  Cheshire  Cheese,  in 
Bride's- alley — far  from  any  connexion  with  milk  or  butter — dealt  in 
bellows.  A  milliner  had  her  warerooms  at  the  sign  of  the  Teatub,  in 
Goafs-alley,  off  Stephen-street.  Mrs.  Bayly's  chimney  sweep  soared 
aloft  from  the  Eagle  and  Child,  in  Little  Butter-lane  (now  Drury-street, 
which  runs  between  "William-street  and  George' s-street,  parallel  to  both) ; 
while  her  caterer  for  firewood  dispensed  his  chips  from  the  sign  of  the 
Merry  Shepherd,  in  Clarendon  Market.  The  Barleys  Pole,  in  St.  Nicholas' 
Gate  might  have  been  expected  to  hang  over  a  barber's  shop,  but  the 
owner  made  caps.  The  Spread  Eagle,  in  the  Coombe,  and  the  Hen  and 
Chickens,  Cole's-alley,  Castle-street,  were  places  of  business  of  staymakers. 
Mrs.  Swindle  held  the  Old  Sot's  Hole,  on  the  Bridge,1  which  in  the  early 
years  of  the  1 8th  century  was  a  famous  chop  house.  The  following  are  some 
of  the  signs  of  inns  in  the  city :  Mr.  Eiffe,  of  llaystown,  set  up  at  the  Bull's 
Head,  in  Smithfield ;  Magrane,  who  held  Rathcoole  from  Mr.  Bayly,  at  the 

1  It  stood  in  a  recess  between  Essex  Bridge  and  the  Custom  House,  and  was 
demolished  after  1762  by  the  Commissioners  for  widening  the  passage  from  the 
Bridge  to  the  Castle. 


DIARY  OF  A  DUBLIN  LADY  IN  EEIGN  OF  GEORGE  II.    151 

Three  Candlesticks,  in  King-street,  Smithfield ;  and  the  Bear  in  Smithfield, 
and  Blue  Leg,  in  High-street,  are  also  named.  The  George  and  Dragon, 
Brown-street,  the  Red  Lion,  Bachelor's- walk,  and  the  Rose  Tavern,  Castle- 
street,  were  also  houses  of  entertainment.  Miss  Forster,  a  friend  from 
Cavan,  put  up  at  the  sign  of  St.  Patrick,  in  King-street,  near  the  Green. 
Dolly  Margison,  at  the  Brethren's,  or  Swaddling  House,  in  Butter-lane 
(the  present  Bishop-street),  was  a  professional  clear  starcher.  The  Dove 
and  Pendant,  in  Castle- street  sold  aprons,  and  the  Bunch  of  Keys,  in  York- 
street,  kettles.  The  Three  Cats,  on  Aston's-quay,  dealt  in  coals,  for  3  tons  of 
which  commodity  and  carting,  £3  135.  was  paid  at  Christmas,  1745.  Bradley, 
the  King's  stationer,  lived  at  the  King's  Arms  and  Two  Bibles  in  Dame- 
street.  Coffee  and  cocoa  were  supplied  at  the  Parrot,  in  Plunket- street, 
and  it  may  be  added  that  Bohee  tea  at  this  time  fetched  5s.  6d.  per  pound. 
Stockings  were  sold  at  the  Royal  Leg,  in  Castle-street,  and  Benjamin 
Manifold  was  a  mathematical  instrument  maker  at  the  Crown  and 
Cushion,  Bachelor's-walk.  In  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  Dublin 
must  have  presented  quite  a  brilliant  appearance,  when  almost  every 
house  in  the  business  quarters  of  the  city  had  its  gaudily-painted  sign.1 

In  April,  1756,  a  sum  of  8*.  6d.  was  paid  for  St.  Bride's  parish  cess, 
part  of  which  went  towards  the  rebuilding  of  Essex  Bridge,  and  in 
1765,  Mrs.  Bayly  contributed  11$.  4%d.  to  the  fund  for  bestowing  a  gift 
on  the  parish  watch,  to  help  towards  increasing  their  number,  and  to 
"  reward  their  future  care." 

Wherever  one  turns  in  the  Dublin  of  the  last  century,  one  is 
sure  to  meet  with  some  reminder  of  the  Huguenot  colony  that  peopled 
so  many  of  its  quarters.  In  the  diary,  mention  is  made  of  Henry  Buckley, 
a  notary  public,  who  lived  in  Stephen' s-green,  "near  the  Frenchman's 
Garden."  Who,  in  this  case,  was  the  particular  Frenchman,  and  where 
exactly  did  his  garden  stand  ? 

1  Iu  London,  as  early  as  Chaucer's  time,  nearly  every  house  had  its  sign.  These 
signs  were  used  for  purposes  of  advertisement,  and  from  this  custom  of  hanging  out 
signs  came  the  remarkable  phrase  "to  hang  out."  "Where  do  you  hang  out?" 
meant  "Where  do  you  hang  out  your  sign?" — that  was  to  say,  "Where  do  you 
reside?" 


[APPENDIX — "Lisr  OF  SIGNS  OF  INNS  AND  SHOPS." 


152         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


APPENDIX. 


LIST  OF  SIGNS  OF  INNS  AND   SHOPS. 
(Mentioned  in  the  Diary,} 


SIGNS. 

LOCALITY. 

OCCUPIER. 

BUSINESS. 

Cock  and  Shuttle,    .  . 

Coombe. 

Adam  and  Eve, 

Plunket-  street. 





Royal  Peruke, 

High  -street. 

Dugan. 

Shoes. 

Black  Lion,    .  . 

Cornmarket. 



__ 

Blackmoor's  Head,  .  . 

Andrews. 

Poplin. 

Half  Moon  and  Seven 

Stars, 

Francis-street. 

Nat.  Ray  nor. 

j  ) 

Salmon, 

Mrs.  Beasley. 

Green  Tree, 

J»                 » 

Draper. 

Cock, 

High-street. 

Strong. 

Shoes. 

Churn, 

Plunket  -street. 



Bacon. 

Plough, 

Queen-street. 

Pattison. 

Mending  china. 

Golden  Peruke, 

Essex-street. 

Armytage. 

Shirts. 

Coach  and  Horses,    .  . 

Henry-street. 





Cheshire  Cheese, 

Bride's-alley. 



Bellows. 

Peacock, 

Francis-street. 



Poplin. 

Tea  Tub, 

Goafs-alley    (off    Ste- 

— 

Milliner. 

phen-street). 

Eagle  and  Child,      .  . 

Little  Butter-lane. 

— 

Chimney  Sweep. 

Merry  Shepherd, 

Clarendon  Market. 

— 

Firewood. 

Grasshopper, 
Barber's  Pole, 

Cook-street. 
St.  Nicholas'  Gate. 

Plunket. 

Cleaning  muffs. 
Capmaker. 

Spread  Eagle, 

Corner    of    Fordham's- 

M'Guire. 

Staymaker. 

alley,  Coombe. 

Ram, 

Aungier-street. 

— 

— 

Hen  and  Chickens,  .  . 

Cole's-alley,  Castle-st. 

Brazill. 

French     Stay- 

maker. 

Mermaid, 

Kevin's  Port. 

Garry. 

— 

Old  Sot's  Hole, 

On  the  Bridge. 

Mrs.  Swindle. 

— 

Sun,    

Aston  's-  quay. 

— 

Coul. 

Cock  and  Punch  Bowl, 

Bray. 





Bull's  Head, 

Smithfield. 



Inn. 

Three  Candlesticks,  .  . 

King-  street,  Smithfield. 



Blue  Leg, 

High  -street. 

— 

>  , 

Bear, 

Smithfield. 



George  and  Dragon, 

Brown  -street  (near  Wea- 

— 

» 

ver-square). 

Red  Lion, 

Bachelor's-  walk. 



Fleece, 

Cole's-alley,  Meath-st. 

Burke. 

Clothier. 

Lambeck's  Head,      .  . 

Castle-street. 

Downs. 

Glover. 

Horse  Shoe, 

Thomas-street. 

Bellows. 

Munster  King, 
Shuttle, 

Aston's-quay. 
Stephen-street. 

Fegan. 
Lartigue. 

Coal. 
Haberdasher. 

Angel, 

Aungier-street. 



Carpenter. 

St.  Patrick,      . 

King  -street  (the  Green). 

— 

Lodgings. 

Rain, 

Thomas  -street. 

— 

— 

Black  Lion, 

Island  Bridge. 

— 

Garden  mould. 

DIARY    OF  A  DUBLIN  LADY  IN  REIGN  OF  GEORGE  II.          153 

LIST  OF  SIGNS  OP  INNS  AND  SHOPS — continued. 


SIGNS. 

LOCALITY. 

OCCUPIER. 

BUSINESS. 

Three  Black  Birds,  .  . 

Francis-street. 

Cosgrave. 

House  Painter. 

Dial,  

Capel-  street. 

Knox. 

Caps. 

Dove  and  Pendant,  .  . 

Castle-street. 

— 

Aprons. 

Bunch  of  Keys, 

York-street. 

Spratt. 

Kettles. 

Cock, 

Strand-  street. 

— 

— 

Two  Grenadiers, 

Summerhill. 

— 

— 

Bee  Hive, 

Bride  -street. 

— 

Chintz. 

Ship, 

Cornmarket. 

— 

Linen. 

Red  Lion, 

Cutpurse-row. 

And.  M'Gee. 

Roofing, 

Draper's  Head, 

Chequer-  lane. 

John  Flinn. 

Wainseotting. 

Hat  and  Hand, 

Meeting-house  Yard. 

— 

— 

Three  Cats,    .. 

Aston's-qnay.     • 

— 

Coal. 

Red  Cow, 

Stonybatter. 

— 

— 

King's  Arms  and  two 

Bibles, 

Dame-street. 

Bradley. 

Stationer. 

Sun, 

Upper  Church-street. 

,    _  •     — 

Tea. 

Bear, 

Kevin-street. 

— 

— 

Red  Lion, 

James's  Gate. 

— 

— 

King's  Head, 

Sir    John    Rogerson's- 

— 

—      -.  « 

quay. 

Cross  Keys, 

Hammond-lane. 

— 

— 

Cock  and  Punch  Bowl, 

Charles-street. 

— 

— 

Parrot, 

Plunket-  street. 



Coffee  and  Cocoa. 

Mash  Give, 

Cuffe-  street. 

Bigley. 



Windmill, 

George's-lane. 

Flour. 

Cross  Keys, 

Bride-  street. 

— 

,  

Golden  Stocking, 

Castle-street. 

Anderson. 

Stockings. 

Tea  Kettle, 

Back-lane. 

— 

— 

Bull,   

Thomas  -street    (facing 

Matty  0'  Bryan 

Inn. 

the  Watch-house). 

Blue  Boar,     .  . 

Francis-street. 

— 

__ 

Crown  and  Cushion, 

Bachelor'  s  -  walk  « 

Ben.  Manifold. 

Mathematical  In- 

struments. 

Bear,  ..         ..         .. 

Bacbelor's-walk  (facing 

—, 

— 

Ferry-boat  Slip). 

Royal  Leg, 

Castle  -street. 

— 

Stockings. 

Thatched  Cabin, 

Queen  -street. 

__ 

— 

Rose, 

Castle  -street, 

-~~ 

Tavern. 

PLAYS  NOTED  AS  HAVING  BEEN  PRODUCED  IN  DUBLIN. 

1748.  Feb.  15.— The  Busy  Body. 

,,     Nov.    4. — Tamerlane,  by^Rowe. 

1749.  Feb.    6.— Love  for  Love.     (A  Comedy,  W.  Congreve,  1695.) 
,,     Dec.    8. — Macbeth. 

1750.  Apl.  25. — The  Orphan,  or  the  Unhappy  Marriage.     (A  Tragedy  by  Thomas 

Otway,  1680.) 

1751.  Oct.  16.— The  Distressed  Mother.     (Mrs.  Woffington  in  Hermione.) 

1753.  May  23.— The  Old  Bachelor.     (Comedy  by  Win.  Congreve,  1693.) 
„      Dec.    8.— Henry  the  Eighth. 

1754.  May  13. — The  Conscious  Lovers. 

1755.  Apl.     2.— Richard  the  Third.     (Mr.  Neale's  Benefit.) 


154       EOYAL   SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

1755.  Apl.  17. — The  Royal  Merchant,  or  Beggar's  Bush.   (Beggar's  Bush,  a  Comedy 

by  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  acted  in  1622.     In  this  Pepys  for  the 
first  time  saw  female  actors.) 
,,     May  13. — Romeo  and  Juliet.     (R.  Elrington's  Benefit.) 

1756.  Jan.  23. — Coriolanus. 
„        „     28.— Comus. 

„     Apl.    8.— Zara. 

,,     May  28. — Love  makes  a  Man,  or  the  Fop's  Fortune.     (Woodward  in  Clodio.) 

1757.  Jan.  19.— Othello. 

„  Feb.    2.— The  Beggar's  Opera. 

„  Dec.    7.— The  Recruiting  Officer.     '(Geo.  Farquhar,  1705.) 

1758.  Feb.  25.— Jane  Shore.     Farce,  Tom  Thumb.     (Wilkinson's  Benefit.) 
,,  Mar.      . — Douglas. 

1759.  ,,        3.— Henry  the  Fifth.     (Mr.  Clements.) 

5   (  A  Bold  Stroke  for  a  Wife'.     (At  Crow-street.) 

*  (  Fortunatus. 

„      Oct.   17.— The  Beaux'  Stratagem.     (Geo.  Farquhar,  1707.) 
„      Dec.    6.— Hamlet. 

1760.  Jan.  21.— Alexander  the  Great. 

„     Mar.  28.— The  Brothers.     (Comedy  by  J.  Shirley.) 

,,  May  3. — The  Wrangling  Lovers,  or  the  Invisible  Mistress.  (Comedy  by  Ed. 
Ravenscroft,  1677.)  Farce  :  High  Life  below  Stairs. 

1761.  Jan.     6. — The  Orphan  of  China.     (Arthur  Murphy.) 
,,      Feb.  25.— Tempest  (in  the  old  house). 

„  Mar.  31.— The  Man  of  Mode,  or  Sir  Fopling  Flutter.  (A  Comedy  by  Sir 
Geo.  Etheredge,  1676.)  Farce:  The  French'Lady  never  at 
Paris. 

,,     Apl.    1.— The  Earl  of  Essex. 

,,        ,,       2. — Henry  the  Fourth  (with  the  coronation). 

,,      May  29. — Don  Sebastian,  King  of  Portugal.     (Tragedy  by  J.  Drydenj  1690.) 

1762.  Jan.  15.— The  Roman  Father. 

,,  Feb.  3. — The  Lady's  Last  Stake,  or  Wife's  Resentment.  Farce:  Sir 
Callaghan  O'Bralaghan. 

„  Apl.  1.— Venice  Preserved.  (Tragedy  by  Thomas  Otway,  1682.)  Old  Play 
House. 

,,  ,,  13.— The  Twin  Rivals.  (Geo.  Farquhar,  1703.)  Farce :  Polly  Honey- 
comb. 

,,  ,,  15.— Venice  Preserved.  Farce:  The  Honest  Yorkshireman.  (New 
House.) 

1763.  Jan.  21.— Sir  Harry  Wildair  (Geo.  Farquhar,  L701).     Farce:  The  Dargle. 

„     Feb.    4. — The  Refusal,  or  Lady's  Philosophy.     Farce  :  True  born  Irishman, 

or  Mrs.  Dickerty. 

„        ,,      21.— King  Arthur.     (J.  Dryden,  1691.)     Crow-street. 
„     Apl.  20.— Virginia.     Farce  :  The  Cheats  of  Scapin.     (Thos.  Otway,  1677.) 

1764.  „     13.— The  Orphan.     (Mossop's  House.) 

1765.  Mar.  28. — Opera  of  Artaxerxes.     (Mossop's  House.) 
„     Aug.  16.— The  Royal  Shepherd  (Opera). 

1766.  Feb.     5. — Tancred  and  Sigismunda. 
1769.  May  15.— The  English  Merchant. 


(     155     ) 


SITE  OF  RAYMOND'S  FORT,  DUNDTJISTNOLF,  BAGINBUN. 

BY  GODDARD  H.  OEPEN,  B.A. 

[Read  MARCH  29th,  1898.] 

^HE  data  for  determining  this  position  are  as  follows: — (1)  Gerald's 
description  of  the  landing,  "  Applicantes  itaque  in  rupe  quadam 
marina,  quae  Dundunnolf  dicitur,  a  Waterfordiae  miliaribus  quasi  quat- 
uor,  a  latere  Weisefordiae  meridionali,  tenue  satis  ex  virgis  et  cespite 
castrum  erexernnt."  (Expug.  Hib.  i.  13.) 

2.  In  the  "  Song  of  Dermot,"  the  name  of  the  place  where  Raymond 
landed  and  constructed  his  fort  is  given  as  Domdonuil(l.  1406),  Dondonuil 
(1.  1417)  and  Dundounil  (1.  1494):  from  which  we  may  probably  conclude 
that  the  Irish  name  was  Dun  Domhnaill  (Dundonnell),  a  name  found  in 
various  parts  of  Ireland  (Joyce,  "  Names,"  i.  278),  but  not  in  the  vicinity 
of  Waterford. 

3.  Gerald  tells  us  that  the  citizens  of  Waterford  and  O'Faelain  of  the 
Decies  crossed  the  river  Suir  to  attack  Raymond's  entrenchments. 

4.  That  numbers  of  the  vanquished  were  hurled  ab  altis  in  mare  rupi- 
lus  :  aphaleises  ("  Song  of  D.").     On  these  data  the  Rev.  Mr.  Graves  is 
said  to  have  identified  the  place  with  a  precipitous  rock  now  called 
Drumdowny,  "  about  five  or  six  miles  north  from  Waterford  (recte,  four 
miles  north-east),  by  a  ford  (recte,  ferry)  over  the  Barrow,  and  beetling 
over  (recte,  one  mile  above)  the  junction  of  the  three  rivers,  the  united 
Nore  and  Barrow,  and  the  Suir."     (Mr.   Dimock's  Glossary  to  "  Giral- 
dus,"  R.  S.,  v.,  p.  421.)     "With  this  identification  I  was  at  one  time 
inclined  to  agree  ("  Song  of  Dermot,"  p.  276),  but  further  consideration 
has  led  me    to  reject   it  in  favour   of  Baginbun  promontory,    for   the 
following  reasons:  (1)  The  name  Drumdowney  is  an  old  Irish  name, 
Drum  Domhnaigh,  compounded  of  druim  (dorsum)  a  back  or  hill-ridge  and 
domhnach  (dominica)  a  church,  and  is  quite  distinct  from  Dun  Domhnaill. 
(2)  Though  the  tide  flows  above  this  point,  it  is  eight  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  the  harbour  at  Creadan  head,  and  it  is  decidedly  a  stretch  of  langu- 
age to  call  it  a  rupes  marina,  and  to  say  of  it  ab  altis  in  mare  rupibus 
praecipitati  sunt  infiniti.     These  words  point  to  a  sea-cliff  and  the  open  sea, 
not  to  a  rock  overhanging  a  tidal  river  ;  (3)  Drumdowney  is  not  a  latere 
Weisefordiae  meridionali;  (4)  Drumdowney  is  not  in  Dermot's  territory,  but 
in  Ossory,  the  territory  of  Dermot's  foe,  Mac  Gillapatrick,  and  therefore 
an  unlikely  place  for  Raymond  to  select  for  his  fortress.     The  "  Song  of 
Dermot "  says  that  Raymond  constructed  his  fort  by  Dermot's  permission 
(par  le  otrei  li  riche  rets  Dermod],  using  the  same  phrase  as  had  just  been 


156          ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF.  IRELAND. 

used  with  regard  to  Fitz  Stephen's  fortress  at  Carrick,  and  clearly  imply- 
ing that  Dundonnell  as  well  as  Carrick  was  in  Dermot's  territory. 

Turning  now  to  Baginbun,  we  note  in  the  first  place  that  the  Irish 
name  has  been  lost,  but  an  inspection  of  the  promontory  shows  the  re- 
mains of  what  appear  to  have  been  a  Celtic  dun  of  the  type  known,  in 
south  "Wales  at  any  rate,  as  a  cliff -castle. 

The  whole  headland  is  in  shape  a  rough  oblong  with  indented  out- 
line, presenting  precipitous  cliffs  towards  the  sea,  and  joined  to  the  main- 
land by  a  relatively  narrow  neck.  From  the  south-eastern  corner  of  this 
oblong  a  narrow  arm,  called  Baginbun  Point,  stretches  out  towards  the 
east.  On  this  arm  are  traces  of  earthworks,  and  it  is  cut  off  from  the 
rest  of  the  headland  by  a  trench  quite  in  the  manner  of  a  Celtic  dun,  when 
constructed  on  a  sea  cliff.  Across  the  neck  leading  from  the  mainland  is 
a  much  more  formidable  double  trench  and  rampart  of  apparently  later 
construction,  which  may  well  be,  as  is  traditionally  believed,  Norman 
work,  but,  as  we  may  suppose,  Raymond's,  and  not  either  Fitz  Stephen's 
or  Strongbow's. 

Now  as  regards  the  above  points — (1)  though  the  name  Dun  Domh- 
naill  has  been  forgotten,  Baginbun  was  in  all  probability  a  Celtic  dun,  and 
at  any  rate  we  are  not  hampered  by  an  inconsistent  Gaelic  name.  (2)  It 
is  obviously  a  rupes  marina,  a  sea  cliff,  from  which  prisoners  could  be 
thrown  into  the  sea,  and  it  is  the  only  rocky  cliff  along  the  whole  coast 
to  Carnsore  Point.  (3)  It  is  on  the  southern  side  of  Wexford.  (4)  It  is 
in  Dermot's  territory.  It  is  not  far  from  Bannow  Island,  where  Fitz- 
Stephen  landed,  and  it  contains  a  little  sandy  bay,  affording  good  harbour- 
age where  the  ships  might  have  been  drawn  up.  It  is  therefore  a  likely 
place  for  Raymond  to  choose.  Furthermore,  it  is  in  the  territory  granted 
to  Hervey,  who,  we  are  told,  joined  Raymond  immediately  on  his  arrival. 
There  is  ample  room  within  the  outer  entrenchment  for  the  cows  which, 
according  to  the  "  Song  of  Dermot,"  were  driven  into  the  fort  (1.  1428). 
(5)  To  reach  Baginbun  from  "Waterford,  it  would  be  necessary  to  cross 
the  Suir.  This  would  probably  be  at  Passage,  below  the  confluence,  but 
Gerald  appears  in  another  place  ("  Topog.  Hib.,"  i.  c.  vii.)  to  regard  the 
Suir  as  the  principal  river,  to  which  the  united  Barrow  and  Nore  is  a 
tributary,  as  indeed  is,  I  think,  done  by  the  people  of  Waterford  to  this 
day. 

On  the  other  hand,  we  have  to  face  the  fact  that  Gerald  says 
Dundunnolf  was  about  four  miliaria  from  "Waterford.  The  Roman  mile 
was  equal  to  1618  English  yards,  and  Baginbun  is  about  thirteen 
English  miles  from  "Waterford.  The  following  considerations,  however, 
will  go  far  to  remove  the  force  of  this  objection.  Nothing  is  more  easily 
corrupted  in  the  course  of  transcribing  Latin  manuscripts  than  Roman 
numerals.  Leave  out  the  X.  and  XIV.  becomes  IV.  In  the  present 
case  it  is  certain  either  that  some  corruption  of  the  kind  has  occurred  or 
that  Gerald  was  very  inaccurate  in  his  statement,  for  no  place  within  a 


SITE  OF  RAYMOND'S  FORT.  157 

radius  of  four  miles  from  Waterf  ord  could  be  described  as  on  the  southern 
side  of  Wexford.  In  fact  Baginbun  is  about  the  nearest  place  to  Water- 
ford  that  could  be  so  described  with  any  approach  to  accuracy.  We  have 
proof  of  Gerald's  inaccuracy  as  regards  distances  in  other  places.  He 
says  that  the  town  of  Wexford  was  distant  from  Bannow,  milia  passuum 
quasi  duodecim,  whereas  it  is  upwards  of  sixteen  statute  miles  as  the 
crow  flies. 

So  far  then  the  identification  of  Gerald's  Dundunnolf  with  Baginbun 
has  been  shown  to  have  much  to  support  it,  and  practically  nothing  that 
cannot  be  easily  explained  away  against  it.  Moreover  an  hypothesis 
may  receive  support  in  another  way,  if  namely,  it  accounts  for  facts 
which  cannot  easily  be  otherwise  accounted  for.  Now  two  such  facts 
have  occurred  to  me.  First  and  most  important,  there  is  the  persis- 
tent tradition  connecting  Baginbun  head  with  the  landing  of  the 
English  under  Fitz  Stephen,  or  under  Strongbow,  and  with  a  great  and 
decisive  battle  there. 

The  earliest  statement  in  print  of  the  tradition  known  to  me,  is  con- 
tained in  Stanihurst's  description  of  Ireland,  published  with  Holinshed's 
" Chronicles"  in  1577.  He  there  (p.  2)  mentions  "the  olde  ancient 
rithme  "  : 

"  At  the  creeke  of  Baginbunne 
Ireland  was  lost  and  wonne," 

and  he  gives  Bagganbunne  as  an  alternative  name  for  "  the  Banne 
when  the  Britons  upon  the  conquest  first  arrived."  Hooker,  in  a  note 
to  his  translation  (Edition,  1587),  of  the  "Expugnatio  Hibernica," 
describes  "  the  Banne,"  where  Fitz  Stephen  landed,  as  "  a  little  creeke 
being  in  the  countie  of  Wexford,  neere  to  Fither,  a  fisher  towne,"  and 
says  that  "the  same  being  the  place  of  the  first  receipt  of  Englishmen, 
there  were  certeine  monuments  made  in  memorie  thereof,  and  were 
named  the  Banna  and  the  Boenne,  which  were  the  names  (as  the  common 
fame  is),  of  the  two  greatest  ships  in  which  the  Englishmen  there 
arrived."  Hanmer,  whose  chronicle  was  published  by  Sir  James  Ware 
in  1633,  but  is  said  to  have  been  collected  in  1571,  states  that  Fitz- 
Stephen  landed  "  at  the  Bann  not  farre  from  Wexford,"  and  then  repeats 
the  rhyme  quoted  by  Stanihurst.  Here  we  seem  to  have  an  ill  cemented 
combination  of  authority  and  tradition.  Keating,  who  wrote  about  the 
year  1630,  appears  to  have  folio  wed  these  writers,  while  more  completely 
amalgamating  the  two  sources.  He  states  that  Fitz  Stephen  landed  at 
Cuan  an  Bhainbh  (Bannow  Bay)  at  a  place  called  Beag-an-Bun  (see 
Journal  Kilk.  Arch.  Soc.,  1849-51,  p.  191,  and  O'Mahony's  Keating, 
p.  618).  The  "  Book  of  Howth,"  a  compilation  of  various  dates,  but,  as 
far  as  this  period  is  concerned,  transcribed  after  1551  (see  Transcript 
in  "  Carew  Calendar,"  p.  117),  departs  from  authority  and  gives  only  the 
tradition  that  Fitz  Stephen  arrived  at  '  Bang-and-Bonne.'  Bowling's 
"  Annals,"  brought  up  to  the  year  1600,  mentions  only  Bagganbun  and 

JOUE.  K.S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  II.,  5'IH  8ER.  N 


158  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

quotes  the  verse.  In  the  chorographic  account  of  Wexford,  written  in 
1684,  by  Leigh  of  Rosegarland  (Journal,  Kilk.  Arch.  Soc.,  1858-9, 
p.  461),  the  tradition  has  grown  into  a  legend,  and  we  have  the  Ard  Ri, 
0' Conor,  losing  his  crown  at  Bagg  and  Bunn,  and  Strongbow,  assisted 
by  M'Morrough,  winning  it  for  the  English.  Here  too  we  find  the  name 
of  the  place  derived  from  the  Bagg  and  the  Bunn,  the  two  ships  in  which 
the  English  landed,  and — so  forgotten .  was  the  Irish  language  in  this 
barony — Fethard  treated  as  a  corruption  of  '  Fight-hard.'  This  last  deri- 
vation, absurd  as  it  is,  is  not  without  importance.  Taken  in  conjunction 
with  the  name  Battlestown,  about  two  miles  further  on  the  way  to" 
Ballyhack,  it  seems  to  indicate  the  place,  as  fixed  by  popular  memory, 
where  Raymond  and  his  men  first  met  the  attacking  party  and  were 
driven  back  upon  the  camp. 

The  recent  existence  of  the  legend  is  attested  by  the  Ordnance  Survey, 
where  the  site  of  Strongbow's  tent,  and  Strongbow's  entrenchments  are 
carefully  marked ;  and  further  additions  to  the  folklore  of  the  subject, 
including  Fitz  Stephen's  Marvellous  Stride,  will  be  found  in  a  note  to 
Hall's  "  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.  p.  148. 

Now  these  traditions,  linking  Baginbun  headland  and  its  earthworks 
with  Fitz  Stephen,  or  Strongbow,  and  with  a  decisive  battle,  are  facts 
which  have  to  be  accounted  for.     They  cannot  be  accounted  for,   as 
accurately  embodying  what  actually  occurred.     We  have  the  incontes- 
table contemporary  evidence  of  Gerald,  and  of  the  writer  of  the  "  Song 
of  Dermot,"  that  Fitz  Stephen  and  his  followers  landed  at  Bannow  Island 
(imula  JSanuensis),  and  in  a  day  or  two  set  out  to  attack   Wexford,  and 
that  after  taking  "Wexford,  they  made  Ferns  their  head-quarters.     They 
had  neither  time  nor  occasion  to  fortify  a  camp  anywhere  in  the  vicinity, 
and  certainly  not  at  Baginbun,  which  would  have  been  altogether  out  of 
the  way.     We  have  still  better  evidence  that  Strongbow  landed  at  or 
near  Waterford,  took  the  town  by  storm  on  the  next  day,  and  soon 
afterwards  marched  on  Dublin.     It  is  impossible  that  he  could  have 
formed  a  camp  at  Baginbun.    But  assuming  that  this  was  where  Raymond 
landed  about  the  1st  of  May,  1170,  and  where  he  repelled  the  attack  of 
the  Danes  of  Waterford  and  of  their  allies  from  the  Decies,  Ossory.  and 
Idrone,   with  fearful  slaughter,   and  threw  seventy  prisoners  over  the 
cliffs  into  the  sea,  and  where  he  lay  entrenched  until  Strongbow's  arrival 
on  the  23rd  of  August,  what  more  natural  than  that  tradition,  retaining 
a  memory  of  these  events,  should,  in  the  lapse  of  time,  have  linked  them 
with  the  greater  name  of  Strongbow,  or  failing  him,  with  that  of  the 
first  invader,  Fitz  Stephen  ?     Again  we  have  no  evidence,  nor  is  there 
any  probability,  that  any  battle,  decisive  of  Ireland's  fate  or  otherwise, 
was  fought  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Baginbun,   unless  it  be  Raymond's 
battle,  which  might  not  unjustly  be  singled  out  as  a  real  turning-point 
in  history.     It  proved  the  hopelessness  of  opposition  in  the  open,  even 
with  vastly  superior  numbers,  and,  in  fact,  no  further  effort  was  made 


SITE  OF  RAYMOND'S  FORT.  1 59 

until,  on  Dermot's  death,  all  Ui  Ceinnsealaigh  rose  in  opposition  to  the 
succession  of  Strongbow.  With  good  reason  did  Gerald,  as  rendered  by 
an  early  translator,  say  of  it,  "  herof  come  to  the  Englysshe  hope  and 
comfort ;  and  to  the  Iresshe  dred  and  wanhope ;  ffor  hyt  was  never  ther- 
to-for  I-herd  that  of  so  fewe  men  so  grett  a  slaght  was  done." 

There  is  one  other  fact  which  I  will  not  say  is  accounted  for,  but 
upon  which  some  light  is,  perhaps,  thrown  by  the  supposition  that  the 
earthworks  at  Baginbun  represent  Raymond's  fortress.  There  has  been 
a  great  deal  lately  written  about  the  inscriptions  on  the  Carew  Cross,  on 
the  stone  now  built  into  the  wall  of  an  outhouse  at  Fethard  Castle,  and 
on  the  Baginbun  boulder.  I  am  not  going  to  add  another  guess  to  the 
numerous  guesses,  some  of  them  wild  enough,  that  have  been  made  as  to 
the  interpretation  of  these  inscriptions.1  Indeed,  for  my  part,  I  am 
quite  satisfied  that  Professor  Rhys's  reading,  as  far  at  least  as  the  name 
is  concerned,  is  correct,  and  it  is  tame  and  disappointing  enough.  I  am 
satisfied  also  that  the  Irish  examples  are  rude  copies  of  the  Pembroke- 
shire one.  There  remains,  however,  the  interesting  question,  How  came 
these  copies  to  be  made  in  such  a  place  ?  Now  it  seems  to  me  that  their 
presence  may  have  some  connexion  with  the  fact,  if  fact  it  be,  that 
Raymond,  who  must  have  been  familiar  with  the  cross  at  his  father'^ 
Castle  of  Carew,2  spent  nearly  four  months  in  his  camp  on  this  headland. 
He,  or  some  of  his  companions  from  the  same  district,  may  have  beguiled 
the  tedium  of  camp-life  while  waiting  for  Strongbow,  by  punching  out 
these  rude  copies.  Why  the  idle  warrior  chose  to  copy  an  inscription 
recording  some  one  else's  name  instead  of  carving  his  own,  I  cannot 
pretend  to  say.  It  would  be  much  more  satisfactory  for  us  if  we  could 
spell  out  '  Reymund  fiz  Willame,'  or  'Herui  de  Mumoreci,'  or  even 
'  Water  Bluet,'  on  the  stones,  but,  unfortunately,  as  a  rule,  the  only 
people  who  carve  their  names  are  those  whose  names  are  not  worth 
preserving.  Still  the  hypothesis,  for  which  I  have  given  grounds  above, 
that  this  was  the  site  of  Raymond's  camp,  supplies  a  direct  connexion 
between  Baginbun  and  Carew  that  has  hitherto  not  been  apparent. 
In  the  September  Part  of  our  Journal,  which  has  just  reached  me, 
Mr.  Macalister  says  of  these  inscriptions:  "The  decipherment  is, 
however,  only  half  the  enigma.  When,  by  whom,  and,  above  all,  for 
what  purpose,  the  Irish  copies  were  made  are  problems  which  still 
confront  us."  I  trust,  he  may  think,  that  I  have  thrown  some  light 
on  these  problems — agup  mipe  'Gipeannac. 

So  far  as  I  know,  no  reasoned  attempt  has  been  made  to  identify  the 
site  of  Raymond's  fort.  In  general  the  recorded  name,  more  or  less 
corrupted,  is  set  down  as  if  it  were  a  well-known  place — a  most 

1  See  our  Journal,  5th  Series,  vol.  vii.,  p.   150,  and  Arch&ologia  Cambrensis,  5th 
Series,  vol.  xii.,  p.  236. 

2  Within  two  years,   on  Strongbow's  refusal  to  give  him  his  sister  Basilea  in 
marriage,  Raymond  went  off  to   Carew  in  high   dudgeon:  a  Karreu  ala  sojorner. — 
Song  of  Dermot,  1.  2860. 

N2 


160          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

reprehensible  practice.  Some,  however,  have  suggested  Baginbun,  but 
without  giving  reasons  for  the  suggestion.  Charles  Smith  in  his 
" History  of  Waterford"  mentions  three  places:  (1)  Dundrone,  four 
miles  from  Waterford,"  which  may  possibly  be  a  slip  for  Drumdowney ; 

(2)  in  a  note,  "Don-isle"  in  Waterford,  a  place  now  called  Dunhill; 

(3)  in  another  note,  he  says,  "Some  say  the  place  where  this  [Raymond's] 
first  battle  was  fought  was  at  Bagg  and  Bunn  in  the  county  "Wexford  "  ; 
and  then  he  quotes  the  famous  couplet.     This  is,  so  far  as  I  know,  the 
first  time  that  Baginbun  was  connected  with  Raymond. 

Professor  G.  T.  Stokes,  with  unaccountable  hesitancy,  says  that 
Fitz  Stephen  landed  either  at  Bag  and  Bunn  or  at  Bannow"  (Anglo- 
Norman  Church,"  p.  74);  but  when  he  comes  to  Raymond,  with  his 
usual  sagacity  as  to  local  details,  he  fixes  upon  the  fortifications  at 
Baginbun  as  the  remains  of  Raymond's  fort  (ib.,  p.  99).  He  does  not, 
however,  give  his  reasons,  or  discuss  the  question.  His  omission  must 
be  my  excuse  for  stating  the  reasons,  as  they  occur  to  me,  at  some 
length :  and  I  am  the  more  impelled  to  do  this  as  the  conclusion  arrived 
at  seems  to  explain  the  persistent  traditions  with  regard  to  Baginbun, 
and,  incidentally,  to  throw  light  on  the  questions,  when  and  why  was  the 
Carew  inscription  copied  in  this  place. 


NOTE  ADDED  IN  THE  PRESS. 

As  supplying  a  motive  for  Raymond's  inscribing  Meredydd's  name  at 
Baginbun  rather  than  his  own,  Dr.  Donald  Macalister,  of  Cambridge,  on 
reading  the  above,  made  a  suggestion  to  me  to  the  following  effect : — 

The  writing  on  the  Carew  Cross  was  probably  as  obscure  to  Ray- 
mond as,  let  us  say,  to  most  of  the  contributors  to  the  discussion  in  the 
Academy.  (Indeed,  from  Expug.  Hil.  n.,  14,  it  would  appear  that 
Raymond  could  not  read.)  Nevertheless,  living  as  he  did  in  an  age  of 
Faith,  he  may  well  have  regarded  the  symbols  on  the  familiar  sacred 
stone  at  his  Welsh  home  as  possessing  some  special  virtue  of  a  talismanic 
nature.  With  this  idea  in  his  mind,  he  may  have  carried  a  copy  of  those 
symbols  written  on  a  strip  of  parchment  as  a  talisman  or  amulet  round 
his  neck — the  very  obscurity  of  the  symbols  would  make  them  the  more 
appropriate  for  this  purpose — and  during  his  long  stay  at  Baginbun  he 
may  have  imparted  their  protective  virtue  to  some  of  the  stones  within 
or  near  his  entrenchment. 

All  this,  of  course,   is  only  conjecture,  but  it  seems  consistent  with 
what  we  know  of  the  mental  atmosphere  of  the  times. 


(     161     ) 


THE  GALLANS  NEAR  DINGLE. 

BY   R.   A.    STEWART   MACALISTER,    M.  A. 

[Read  MARCH  29th,  1898.] 

T)r  the  whimsical  title,  "  Gates  of  Glory" — 5eacai^e  Tla 

the  older  generation  of  inhabitants  of  Corkaguiney  describe  two 
stones,  standing  in  a  field  west  of  Milltown,  on  the  right-hand  side  of 
the  road  leading  from  Dingle  to  Yentry. 

They  stand  in  a  line  almost  W.S.W.  and  E.N.E.,  the  westward  stone 
being  the  smaller.     This  stone  measures  5  feet  high,  3  feet  broad  at  the 


The  "Gates  of  Glory,"  near  Dingle. 

bottom.  It  is  triangular  in  section,  and  tapers  to  a  point  at  the  top. 
The  companion  stone  is  7  feet  7  inches  high,  5  feet  broad  at  the  base ; 
and  in  section  is  a  rather  flat  ellipse.  It,  too,  tapers  to  a  point  at  the 
top.  The  distance  between  the  two  is  5  feet  3  inches. 

The  meaning  of  the  name  I  have  been  unable  to  discover.  It  seems 
to  be  known  to  comparatively  few.  It  is  most  probably  a  fanciful  name 
given  on  account  of  the  resemblance  of  the  stones  to  a  pair  of  gateposts. 
Neither  stone  bears  any  marking  or  trace  of  artificial  working. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  group  is  sepulchral ;  the  marking 
of  a  grave  by  two  large  stones  is  common  throughout  the  country. 
Another  example  at  Donard  in  Wicklow  occurs  to  the  mind  at  the 
moment  of  writing ;  in  this  example  one  of  the  two  stones  is  inscribed. 
There  seems  to  have  been  an  extensive  cemetery  here  in  prehistoric 


162 


ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


times,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  number  of  great  stones  which  remain  in 
the  neighbourhood. 

To  the  south  of  the  "  Gates  "  in  the  same  field  at  a  distance  from 
them  of  88  paces — about  160  feet — is  a  low  grass-grown  cairn  of  small 
loose  stones.  On  this  is  lying  a  great  limestone  block,  13  feet  5  inches 


Stone  near  the  "  Gates  of  Glory":  from  the  East. 

long,  engraved  with  an  elaborate  design  of  cups  and  circles,  among 
which  some  peculiar  forms  make  their  appearance ;  they  are  shown 
in  the  accompanying  drawing  (p.  164),  which  has  been  reduced  to  scale 
from  a  rubbing.  This  is  the  only  stone  in  the  group  bearing  any  artificial 
marking.  Immediately  west  of  this  is  a  large,  flat  stone,  with  other 
stones  below  it — the  whole  looking  very  like  a  dilapidated  dolmen. 
In  the  next  field,  by  the  roadside,  is  a  fine  standing-stone,  8  feet  in 
height,  called  the  J)aM6fi  Cille  bpeice,  or  Gallan  of  Kilbrack,  though 
among  the  younger  inhabitants  it  goes  by  no  name  but  the  "  milestone," 
as  it  happens  to  be  about  a  mile  from  Dingle.  (Kilbrack  burial-ground 
is  about  100  perches  to  the  west  of  this  gallan.)  Another,  rather  larger, 
stands  in  a  field  a  little  beyond  the  gallan  of  Kilbrack,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road.  Again,  in  the  triangle  of  land  between  the  high  and 
the  low  roads  to  Ventry,  are  two  small  grave-stones. 

I  have  not  heard  of  any  object  of  antiquity  being  found  in  this  area 
of  ground.  A  gold  ring  is  said  to  have  been  found  by  a  man,  ploughing 
near  the  5°^™  Cille  bpeice.  I  was  informed  that  this  was  appro- 
priated by  the  lord  of  the  soil,  but  have  no  particulars  of  its  appearance, 
and  am  not  even  certainly  informed  that  it  was  genuinely  ancient. 

The  gallans  form  a  very  striking  feature  of  the  archaeological  land- 
scape of  Corkaguiney.  In  the  hope  that  it  may  be  useful,  the  following 
catalogue  has  been  compiled,  for  the  most  part  from  the  Ordnance  maps, 
which,  till  the  much  desired  archaeological  survey  has  been  carried  out 
by  the  Government,  must  remain  the  key  to  British  antiquities.  Till 
that  takes  place  a  list,  warranted  complete,  could  not  be  drawn  up  except 
by  the  long  observation  of  a  resident  in  the  neighbourhood. 


THE   GALLANS   NEAR    DINGLE. 


163 


PARISH  OF  ANNAGH. 

(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  28,  37). 

[None]. 

PARISH  OF  BALLINVOHER. 
Main  Portion  (0.  S.  Sheets  44,  45,  46). 
Ballyandreen. 
Ballynahunt. 
Derrygorman  (two). 
*Dromavally  (three,  also  group). 
Emalough. 
Flemingstown. 
Killeenagh. 
Rathduff. 

Western  Portion  (Ord.  Sur.  Sheet  52). 

*Fahan  (two  groups). 
fGlenfahan. 

Southern  Portion  (0.  S.  Sheets  44,  54). 
[None]. 

PARISH  OF  BALLYDUFP. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  35,  44). 
Ballyhoneen. 

PARISH  OF  BALLYNACOURTY. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  35,  44,  45,  55). 
JBallintarmon. 
Ballynacourty. 
*Coumduff  (one  single,  oue  group). 

PARISH  OF  CLOGHANE. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  34,  43,  44,  53). 

Ballingarraun. 
*Clonsharragh. 
Drom  East  (three). 

PARISH  OF  DINGLE. 

Main  Portion  (0.  S.  Sheets  34,  43,  53). 

[None]. 

rN.  W.  Portion  (0.  S.  Sheets  42,  43,  53). 
*Milltown  (see  present  Paper). 

S.  W.  Portion  (Ord.  Sur.  Sheet  53). 
[None]. 

S.E.  Portion  (Ord.  Sur.  Sheet  53). 
[None]. 

PARISH  OF  DUNQUIN. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  42,  52). 
*Ferriter's  Quarter. 
Commons  South. 
Glanmore. 


PARISH  OF  DUNURLIN. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheet  42). 
Cloonties. 
Graigue. 
Teeravane. 

PARISH  OF  GARFIXNY. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  43,  53). 
Ballineetig. 
Ballinvownig. 
Ballyrishteen. 
Flemingstown. 

PARISH  OF  KILDRUM. 
Main  Portion  (0.  S.  Sheets  42,  43,  52,  53). 
Loghane. 

North  Portion  (Ord.  Sur.  Sheets  42,  43). 
Kilfountain. 
Knockavrogeen  East. 

PARISH  OF  KILGOBBAN. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  36,  37,  45,  46). 
*Ballygarret. 
Curraduff. 
Foilatrisnig. 
Glounagalt. 
Kilteenhawn. 
Mountoven. 

-',-'...•••     J   .'...-.••)  r.   ' .    '    >    '     ~    "    ) 

PARISH  OF  KILLINEY. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  27,  35,  36). 
Aughacasla  North. 
Carrigaha. 
Duagh. 

PARISH  OF  KILMALKEDAR. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  33,  34,  42,  43). 
Caherdorgan. 
Caherscullibeen. 
Garrane. 
Lateeve  More. 
Lateeve  Managh. 
Ullagha. 

PARISH  OF  KILQUANE. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  33,  34). 
Ballinloghig. 
Ballydavid. 
Kilquane. 

PARISH  OF  KINARD. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  44,  53,  54). 
*Ardamore  (group,  and  one  single). 
Foheraghmore. 
Gowlane  Ard  (two). 
Gowlane  Beg. 
Gowlane  East. 
Kinard  West. 


*  Groups.  t  Not  marked  on  Ordnance  Survey  Map. 

J  An  Ogham  and  a  cross  have  heen  added  to  this  gallan. 


164         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


PARISH  OF  MARHIN, 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheet  42). 

*  Bally  neanig. 
Ballywiheen. 
Marhin. 

*Reask. 

PARISH  OF  MINARD. 

(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  44, 53,  54). 

*Graigue  (group  and  one  single). 


PARISH  OF  STRADBAI.LY. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  26,  27,  35). 

Farrantoleen. 
Glennahoo. 

PARISH  OF  VENTRY. 
(Ordnance  Survey  Sheets  42,  52). 

fKilvickadownig  (three). 
Raheen. 


Chart  of  the  Cup-and-Circle  Markings  on  the  Stone  near  the  "  Gates  of  Glory." 


NOTES   ADDED    IN    THE   PRESS. 

In  the  town  of  Dingle  there  is  a  large  boulder,  lying  at  the  side  of 
the  road  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  up  which  the  Main-street  runs.  This  is 
marked  with  six  or  seven  cup-markings  ;  and  tradition  asserts  that  it 
once  formed  a  member  of  the  group  above  described. 

Further  inquiries  among  the  inhabitants  elicited  particulars  showing 
that  the  gold  ring  was  of  no  great  antiquity.  It  was  inscribed  with  a 
commonplace  "posy"  in  English. 

There  is  not  much  to  see  in  Kilbrack  graveyard.  It  contains  no 
inscribed  monuments,  and  is  now  used  for  unbaptized  children  only. 

At  least  one  other  gallan  was  destroyed  in  this  district  when  the 
present  road  was  made  in  1822.  It  stood  in  the  field  on  the  south  side 
of  the  road,  which  still  contains  a  solitary  gallan,  mentioned  above. 

The  5a^^n  Cille  bpeice  was  alleged,  by  a  man  with  whom  I  held 
a  conversation  about  these  remains,  to  have  been  cast  by  Fionn  mac 
Cumhaill  from  the  top  of  Caher  Conree,  at  the  Yentry  invaders  under 
Daire  Donn.  The  stone,  however,  fell  short  (which  is  little  wonder,  as 
Caher  Conree  is  about  twenty  miles  from  this  spot),  and  stuck  into  the 
earth  in  its  present,  upright  position. 


*  Groups. 


t  Two  not  indicated  on  Ordnance  Map. 


KIL-MA-HUDDRICK,  NEAR  CLOKDALKIN,  CO.  DUBLIN. 

BY  E.  R.  McC.  DIX. 
[Read  JANUARY  11,  1898.] 

LEWIS  stated,  in  1837,  that  there  were  then  existing  some  remains  of 
this  old  church,  but  an  examination  shows  that  the  remains  are 
considerable.  The  only  part  entirely  gone  is  the  roof.  Perhaps  Lewis 
mistook  the  fragments  of  the  Castle  of  Danesrath,  which  is  near  it,  for 
the  church.  The  church  has  no  clearly-marked  path  to  it.  It  has  to  be 
reached  through  fields,  partly  along  a  track  from  the  Grand  Canal.  The 
length  of  the  west  wall  or  end  is  22  feet.  It  is  3  feet  thick,  and  in  the 
angle  at  the  north  end  are  large,  irregular  stones.  The  doorway,  which 
is  in  this  west  end,  is  3  feet  broad  and  6  feet  high.  Its  arch  is  semi- 
circular, and  formed  of  thin  pieces  of  stone.  A  narrow  window,  22  inches 
high,  is  found  about  3  feet  to  the  right  of  the  doorway,  and  about  4  feet 
from  the  ground — perhaps  used  to  see  who  was  at  the  door.  It  is  splayed 
inwards  on  the  sides,  which  are  2  feet  apart  within. 

There  is  a  window  above  the  doorway,  like  the  one  in  St.  Fintan's 
Church,  Howth.  Inside  the  doorway  on  the  left  are  two  bar-holes  ;  the 
first  is  3  feet  from  the  ground,  and  the  second  14  inches  higher.  There 
are  also  two  bar-holes  on  the  right  side  ;  the  first  is  3  feet  from  the 
ground,  as  on  the  other  side,  but  the  second  is  immediately  above  it, 
which  must  have  made  the  upper  bar  stretch  obliquely  across  the  door. 
The  doorway  has  a  flat  arch  inside,  and  splays  inwards  a  little,  but  more 
on  one  side  than  the  other,  the  breadth  being  4  feet  inside. 

The  nave  and  chancel  are  each  16  feet  wide.  The  former  is  22  feet 
long  and  the  latter  23  feet,  including  the  thickness  of  the  arch,  which  is 
2  feet.  The  total  internal  length  is  thus  45  feet. 

The  side-walls  of  the  church  are  thicker  than  the  end-walls.  The 
height  of  the  north  wall  is  9  feet.  In  the  nave  the  only  noticeable  features 
are  two  similar  windows  opposite  each  other,  tapering  to  mere  slits 
outside.  The  one  in  the  south  wall  is  broken  at  the  top ;  that  in  the 
north  wall  is  splayed,  and  has  one  broad,  flat  stone  on  the  top.  It  is 
2  feet  high  and  2  feet  broad. 

The  chancel  arch  is  similar  to  that  of  Kinsaley  ( Ceann  Saile}.  The 
arch  and  doorway  are  the  same  in  form  in  both  these  churches,  but 
the  doors  in  Kinsaley  are  in  the  north  and  south  walls,  opposite  each 
other,  while  here  the  door  is  in  the  west  end,  a  feature  noticeable  in 
the  oldest  churches  generally.  The  chancel  arch  has  projecting  jambs, 
like  those  of  Kill-o'-the-Grange  ( Cheall  na  Grainsd)  and  Palmerstown. 
Below  them  on  both  sides  are  holes  for  bars  to  be  placed  across,  and  so 


166        ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

divide  the  church  and  chancel.  The  arch  measures  10  feet  from  the  base 
of  one  jamb  to  the  other,  and  is  pitched  high  and  pointed.  The  belfry  is 
directly  over  it,  with  holes  for  two,  or  perhaps  three,  bells.  The  thic& 
ivy  renders  exact  observation  impossible.  This  middle  gable  (if  I  may 
call  it  so)  is  much  higher  than  the  two  end  ones,  and  more  perfect. 

Immediately  within  the  chancel,  opposite  each  other,  one  in  the  north 
wall  and  one  in  the  south,  are,  wide  recesses,  with  a  low  arch,  a  little 
pointed,  but  that  in  the  south  wall  is  broken  down.  The  recess  in  the 
north  wall  is  9  feet  broad  at  the  bottom,  of  which,  however,  a  part  is 
now  built  up.  The  whole  chancel  is  very  much  plastered,  which  suggests 
late  alterations  and  use.  At  the  east  end  of  the  chancel  are  two  windows 
opposite  each  other — one  in  the  north  and  the  other  in  the  south.  The 
one  in  the  south  wall  is  1  foot  broad  outside,  and  2  feet  high  to  the 
beginning  of  its  round-arched  top.  Inside,  however,  it  is  so  much  splayed 
that  it  is  6  feet  across,  and  4  feet  to  the  top.  Below  this  window  is  a 
pointed  arched  recess  like  that  in  St.  Doulough's  Vestry.  It  is  15  inches 
'deep  and  5  feet  across  the  bottom,  4  feet  high  at  the  centre,  and  then  a 
foot  to  the  window-sill  above  it.  The  window  in  the  north  wall,  not 
having  an  arch  below  it,  is  much  lower.  It  is  very  much  plastered.  It 
has  a  flat  top  inside,  but  is  round  outside.  The  sides  are  like  the  otheri 
but  measure  5  feet  across  inside  and  5  feet  high. 

The  east  window  is  round  at  the  top,  or  very  slightly  pointed,  formed 
by  two  stones  brought  together.  It  begins  5  feet  from  the  ground,  is 
very  much  splayed  at  the  sides  (7^  feet  across),  and  has  a  flat  arch  inside; 
outside  it  is  4  feet  high  and  2  feet  broad.  The  wall  is  shallower  round 
this  window  inside  for  a  space  8  feet  high  and  6  feet  across.  It 
is  thinner  than  the  rest  of  the  wall.  Between  it  and  the  north  wall 
there  is  a  tall  recess  very  much  plastered,  pointed  at  the  top,  20  inches 
deep,  6  feet  high  and  2  feet  broad.  It  is  large  enough  to  hold  a  life-size 
statue — so  large  a  recess  is,  I  think,  quite  uncommon.  To  the  right  of 
the  east  window,  on  the  ground,  is  a  recess  22  inches  broad  and  12  inches 
high.  It  seems  too  low  for  a  piscina  or  ambry,  though  no  doubt  the 
present  floor  is  higher  than  the  original  level. 

The  part  of  this  church  which  has  suffered  the  most  is  the  south  wall, 
at  each  side  of  the  chancel  arch,  the  top  of  the  window  in  the  nave  being 
gone. 

The  position  of  the  belfry  over  the  chancel  arch,  and  the  nearly  equal 
size  of  the  chancel  and  nave,  suggest  that  one  of  them  may  have  been 
the  original  church  and  the  other  a  later  addition,  but  which  seems  the 
older  I  could  not  venture  to  say.  The  nave  is  built  against  the  chancel, 
not  into  it.  The  ivy  seems  very  old  on  the  north  wall.  There  is  no 
cross  or  font  remaining,  and  the  tombstones  are  not  old ;  one  bore  the 
date  1805. 

I  was  very  materially  assisted  by  Mr.  W.  P.  Briley  in  examining  this 
old  church.  He  took  nearly  all  the  measurements  for  me. 


(     167    ) 


Bell  of  St.  Pol. 


Irish  Bells  in  Brittany. — Besides  the  Irish  type  of  bell,  at  Stival, 
named,  but  not  described,  in  Miss  Stokes'  "  Early  Christian  Art  in  Ire- 
land," there  are  three  other  ancient  bells  in  Brittany,  of  which  one,  that 
at  Locronan,  tradition  states,  was  brought 
thither  from  Ireland  by  St.  Eonan  ; 
whilst  the  remaining  two,  as  well  as  the 
Stival  bell,  bear  even  a  stronger  family 
likeness  to  those  ancient  ecclesiastical 
bells  of  which  there  is  such  an  unrivalled 
collection  in  the  National  Museum, 
Kildare-street,  Dublin. 

All  four  bells  form  the  subject  of  a 
pamphlet  by  the  Abbe  J.  M.  Abgrall 
(Quimper,  1895),  from  which  are  ex- 
tracted the  abridged  particulars  given 
in  the  present  note.  The  first  bell  de- 
scribed by  the  Abbe  Abgrall  is  the  Bell 
of  St.  Pol  Aurelian,  now  preserved  in  the  cathedral  of  St.  Pol  de 
Leon.  It  is  in  shape  that  of  the  lower  segment  of  an  oblong  pyramid, 
but  rounded  at  the  angles,  with  a  sort  of  rim  to  its  lower  edge,  a  feature 
it  possesses  in  common  with  the  kindred  bells  of  St.  Goulven,  and  St. 
Meriadec — the  form,  thickness  and  perfectly  smooth  exterior  of  all  three 
bells  showing  clearly  that  they  must  have  been  cast  into  a  mould,  and 
not  hammered  out,  as  was  the  case  with  St.  Ronan's  bell  at  Locronan. 

The  two  larger  sides  of  this  bell  measure  each 
•18  of  a  metre,  the  smaller  two  '16;  whilst 
its  height  is  -19  of  a  metre  («.  e.  about  6  in.). 
Its  weight  is  8J  pounds,  and  it  has  a  loud  but 
pleasant  sound.  The  arc-like  handle  to  this 
bell  is  made  of  iron,  and  is  fastened  to  the 
metal  by  three  rivets  at  each  end,  copper 
being:  tho  material  of  which  the  bell  itself  is 
composed. 

St.  Goulven' s  Bell,  now  in  the  church  of 
Goulien,  near  Pont  Croix  resembles  the  St. 
Pol  bell  in  shape  ;  but  approaches  more  to  a 
square  and  is  less  rounded  at  its  four  angles. 

The  handle,  however,  is  of  the  same  material,  bronze  or  copper,  as  the 
bell,  and  was  evidently  cast  at  the  same  time.     The  two  larger  sides 


St.  Goulven's  Bell. 


168          ROYAL    SOCIETY   OF    ANTIQUARIES    OP    IRELAND. 


St.  Meriadec's  Bell. 


measure  *12  of  a  metre  ;  the  lesser  ones  "11  ;  and  the  height  is  *145,  or 
including  the  upper  surface  of  the  handle  *19,  i.e.  ahout  6  inches  of  our 
measurement.  It  has  a  more  piercing  sound  than  that  of  the  St.  Pol 
bell. 

The  Bell  of  St.  Meriadec,  at  Stival, 
near  Pontivy,  Morbihan  (that  mentioned 
by  Miss  Stokes),  also  known  as  "  St. 
Meriadec's  Cap,"  shows  a  close  similarity 
in  form  and  dimensions  to  the  Bell  of 
St.  Pol,  these  latter  being  '18  of  a  metre 
by  '13  ;  height  -20,  or  including  the  semi- 
circular handle,  cast  at  the  same  time  as 
the  body  of  the  bell,  '24,  or  nearly  8  in. 
This  Stival  bell  bears  on  one  of  its  sides 
the  inscription  (running  from  top  to 
bottom),  "Pirtur  Ficisti,"  which  some 
authorities  take  to  represent  an  archaic 
Breton  phrase,  meaning  "Sweetly  may'st 
thou  sound  "  ;  whilst  others  simply  see  in  it  a  record  of  the  bellfounder's 
name,  "  Pirtur,"  expressed  in  faulty  Latin. 

St.  Eonan's  bell  at  Locronan  differs  from  the  three  bells  just  described, 
in  being  formed  of  two  semicircular  sheets  of  copper,  riveted  together  by 
a  number  of  small  nails  of  the  same  metal,  so  as  to  form  a  sort  of  flattened 
cylinder,  whose  largest  diameter  is  '15  of  a  metre.  Its  height  is  *20  (i.e. 
about  6£  inches).  Its  sound  is  far  less  harmonious  than  that  of  the 
other  three  bells,  having  no  vibration,  and  being  more  of  a  tinkling 
or  clacking  noise  than  a  true  ring. 

The  history,  both  of  these  bells  and  their  sainted  owners,  is  so  far  as 
it  is  known,  disappointingly  meagre  ;  and  mixed 
up,  as  usual,  with  marvellous  legends.  That  of 
St.  Ronan  and  his  bell,  to  us  the  most  interest- 
ing of  the  four,  is,  however,  the  least  improb- 
able in  its  story.  St.  Pol,  whose  bell  is 
now  kept  in  the  ancient  cathedral  town  both 
named  after  him,  is  believed  to  have  come  thither 
from  Great  Britain,  and  to  have  used  the  bell  for 
attracting  the  people,  whilst  on  his  missionary 
tours,  in  that  neighbourhood.  It  is  said  to  have 
been  originally  one  of  seven,  which  belonged  to 
King  Mark,  a  British  potentate,  of  whom  St.  Pol 
asked  it  as  a  parting  gift.  His  request  met 
with  a  flat  refusal :  but  sometime  after  St.  Pol 
had  settled  down  here,  the  bell  miraculously 
found  its  way  across,  having  been  discovered  in  the  mouth  of  an 
enormous  fish,  whence  it  was  taken  to  the  local  chieftain,  who  presented 


St.  Ronan' s  Bell. 


MISCELLANEA.  169 

it  to  St.  Pol.  It  is  still  held  to  be  beneficial  in  curing  headaches  and 
deafness. 

Of  St.  Goulven,  the  Abbe  Abgrall  tells  little  or  nothing,  referring 
his  readers  to  the  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Archeologique  du  Finistere  for 
1890,  p.  24.  He  appears  to  have  been  an  anchorite;  and  is  credited 
with  having  miraculously  wrought  out  of  common  clay  a  chalice,  three 
crosses,  and  three  bells,  of  which  this  is  one.  As  to  St.  Meriadec,  the 
Abbe  again  refers  his  readers  to  the  above  named  Bulletin  for  the  year 
1883,  p.  280,  instead  of  vouchsafing  them  some  little  information 
himself. 

To  "Wayfaring  in  France,"  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Barker  (London,  Bent- 
ley,  1890),  I  am  indebted  for  my  first  knowledge  of  the  existence 
of  St.  Eonan  and  his  bell  at  Locronan.  In  this  delightful  book  the 
author  describes  the  ancient  fifteenth  century  church  at  Locronan,  in 
which  the  bell  is  now  to  be  found,  whose  oak  pulpit  is  famous  through- 
out Finistere  ;  and  he  furnishes  us  with  a  most  interesting  account  of 
the  annual  pardon,  in  July,  held  in  honour  of  St.  Ronan,  the  extra- 
ordinary devotion  to  whose  memory,  still  shown  by  the  Bretons,  con- 
trasts curiously  with  the  fact  that  he  is  completely  forgotten  in  his 
native  land,  where,  however,  he  has  had  several  sainted  namesakes. 
In  this  annual  procession  figures  St.  Ronan's  bell,  which  to  Mr.  Barker 
looked  more  like  "  a  battered  old  copper  pot "  than  a  bell ;  but  was, 
he  adds,  an  object  of  peculiar  veneration  with  the  pilgrims.  St. 
Ronan's  history,  as  briefly  narrated  by  the  author  named  runs  thus : — 
*'  Bretons  learned  in  local  tradition,  will  tell  you  that  St,  Ronan  came 
from  the  Isle  of  Saints,  by  which  they  mean  England,  about  the 
sixth  century,  to  do  battle,  like  St.  Corentin,  with  heathenism  in 
Brittany.  His  mission  was  crowned  with  success,  and  his  life,  illus- 
trated by  miracles,  which  bore  witness  to  his  sanctity.  When  he  died, 
a  somewhat  fierce  dispute  arose  between  the  dioceses  of  Vannes,  Leon, 
and  Cornouailles  for  the  possession  of  his  body.  It  was  decided  to  place 
the  corpse  upon  a  cart  to  which  two  bullocks  were  harnessed,  and  to 
allow  them  to  carry  it  where  they  pleased.  The  spot  where  they  at 
length  stopped,  was  to  be  the  one  chosen  for  the  tomb  of  St.  Ronan. 
After  making  the  circuit  of  a  barren  hill  they  halted  where  the  church 
of  Locronan  now  stands."  St.  Ronan's  name  was  sufficient  to  make  me 
sceptical  as  to  his  having  been,  according  to  Mr.  Barker,  an  Englishman  ; 
and  on  referring  to  such  works  as  "  Les  Saints  de  la  Bretagne"  by  P. 
Albert  Le  Grand,  the  "  Revue  de  Bretagne,  Vendee  and  Anjou,"  Tome  xn. 
1894,  and  "  Le  Tombeau  Monumental  et  Le  Pelerinage  de  S.  Ronan," 
by  Dom.  F.  Plaine  (Arras,  1879),  procured  for  me  by  Canon  Hamard  of 
Rennes,  all  three  distinctly  affirm  that  St.  Ronan  was  an  Irishman.  The 
elaborate  tomb  and  statue  of  St.  Ronan,  in  the  Church  of  Locronan,  where 
his  bell  is  preserved,  were  erected  so  far  back  as  the  third  decade  of  the 
sixteenth  century  by  Madame  Renee  de  France,  afterwards  Duchess  of 


170         KOYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

Este  and  Ferrara.  The  church  is  described  and  the  saint's  life  referred  to 
in  Mr.  A.  J.  C.  Hare's  recently  written  guide  to  this  part  of  France ;  but 
he  seems  not  to  have  heard  of  its  exceptionally  rare  and  interesting 
possession — St.  Ronan's  ancient  bell. — J.  COLEMAN. 


Legend  of  Molaga's  Well,  Co.  Kerry  (Journal,  First  Quarter,  1898, 
p.  19). — The  legend  as  to  the  impossibility  of  making  water  from 
this  well  boil,  is  nearly  identical  with  one  connected  with  the  well  of  St. 
Fanahan  (as  it  is  called)  at  Mitchelstown,  country  Cork.  A  woman  at 
the  latter  place  told  me,  that  having  been  sent  by  her  mother  in  her 
childhood,  for  water  to  boil  for  dinner  purposes,  instead  of  going  to  an 
ordinary  well  for  that  purpose,  she  went  to  the  nearer  one  (St.  Fanahan's) 
and  brought  it  to  her  house  or  cottage.  She  said  that  her  mother  put  it 
down  to  boil,  unknowing  whence  it  had  come,  but  that  at  the  end  of  an 
hour  it  was  still  unboiled,  although  on  a  large  fire,  and  that  then  her 
mother  questioned  her,  and  she,  frightened  at  the  (supposed)  miracle, 
told  that  it  was  water  from  the  Holy  Well,  and  it  was  at  once  removed, 
and  she  was  sharply  rebuked  for  her  sin  in  bringing  it  for  cooking.  No- 
fish  is  in  this  Mitchelstown  Well,  but  at  St.  Molaga's  and  at  Maumna- 
holtora,  near  Glenfas  (or  Kilelton),  in  Kerry,  there  were  sacred  fish,, 
as  Mr.  Borlase's  magnificent  work  on  the  Dolmens  of  Ireland,  one  of  the 
most  valuable  ever  written  on  Irish  antiquities  (on  the  true  principles  of 
comparative  archseology  and  ethnology)  describes  at  length.  In  his 
"Age  of  the  Saints,"  there  are  some  equally  interesting  remarks  on 
those  Cornish  antiquities  of  historic  and  pre -historic  times,  which  he  tells 
us  Professor  Max  Muller  told  him  could  only  be  fully  understood  by 
studying  similar  antiquities  in  Ireland.  Dr.  Robertson  Smith  in  his 
"Lectures  on  the  Religion  of  the  Semites"  (Burnett  Lectures,  1888), 
describing  the  widespread  ancient  Pagan  belief  in  holy  wells  and  pools 
says: — "Fish  were  taboo,  and  sacred  fish  were  found  in  rivers  or  in 
pools  at  sanctuaries  all  over  Syria.  This  superstition  has  proved  one  of 
the  most  durable  parts  of  ancient  heathenism ;  sacred  fish  are  still  kept  in 
pools  at  the  mosques  of  Tripolis  and  Edessa.  At  the  latter  place  it  is 
believed  that  death  or  other  evil  consequences  would  befall  the  man  who 
dared  to  eat  them  "  (p.  160).  Probably  the  fish  at  Maumnaholtora,  if  it 
ever  existed,  was  really  cleared  out  and  destroyed  by  the  priest.  In  the 
sixth  century  and  much  later  on,  the  Christian  Church  councils  denounced 
the  worship  of  wells,  and  endeavoured  to  prevent  it,  but  the  old  customs 
were  too  strong,  and  they  survived  all  the  Councils'  endeavours,  and  the 
most  that  could  be  done  was  to  turn  them  to  an  (ostensibly)  Christian 
purpose.  Close  to  the  source  of  the  river  Lee  in  Kerry,  and  St.  Brendan's 
Cave,  there  is,  or  was  a  few  years  ago,  a  pool  in  which,  according  to  the 
old  peasant  who  guided  me  and  two  friends  over  the  place  in  1878,  there 
were  some  very  mysterious  fish.  No  river  or  mountain  stream  visibly 


MISCELLANEA. 


171 


fed  this  pool,  and  our  guide  said  no  one  knew  whence  the  fi,sh  came,  and 
no  one  liked  to  meddle  with  them.  We  did  not  see  the  pool  as  it  lay  toa 
far  from  the  places  we  had  come  to  examine  (Mac  Eligot's  prison  in 
Carrignafeely,  and  O'Brenan,  rede  Uaimh  Brenan,  Brendan's  Cave),  but 
we  were  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  walk  of  it.  I  intended  to  go 
there  again  to  see  the  pool,  hut  circumstances  prevented  my  doing  so. 
The  difficulty  of  boiling  the  water  in  these  old  holy  wells  was  probably 
a  real  one,  due  to  the  presence  of  salt  or  minerals  of  some  kind,  having 
a  real  health  restoring  power,  but  the  sacred  fish  are  certainly  a  survival 
of  the  worship  of  Atargatis  the  Oriental  Juno  or  Hera,  and  other  pagan 
deities. — MARY  AGNES  HICKSON. 


Inscribed  Stones. — I  send  drawings  of  two  of  these  stones  in  cairn  "W 
of  the  Slieve-na-Caillighe  series.  Both  stones  are  about  four  and  a-half 
feet  high.  These,  with  the  illustrations  of  other  inscribed  stones  in  th& 
same  cairn,  published  by  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland,1  seem 


Inscribed  Stone  in  Cairn  W  of  the  Slieve-na-Caillighe  Series. 

to  exhaust  the  inscribed  stones  it  contains,  the  devices  on  some  having 
vanished  owing  to  weathering.  The  stone  represented  in  fig.  2  (next 
page)  adjoins  that  in  fig.  1  on  the  right  of  the  latter.  This  cairn  differs 

1  Proceedings,  S.A.S.,  vol.  iii.,  3rd  Series,  p.  294. 


172 


ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


from  all  the  others  in  the  district  in  being  roughly  circular  in  the  plan  of 
its  chamber,  and  in  having  its  entrance  towards  the  south,  whereas  the 
others,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  are  cruciform  in  plan,  and  open 


Inscribed  Stone  in  Cairn  "W  of  the  Slieve-na-Caillighe  Series. 

towards  the  east  approximately.  It  contains  a  stone  basin,  and  in  d&ris 
thrown  out  of  it  I  found  among  the  burnt  remains  of  bones  the  two  objects 
illustrated  in  a  former  number  of  the  Journal.1 — E.  CEOFTON  ROTHEKAM. 


Dalkey. — I  beg  to  record  the  admirable  work,  lately  commenced, 
and  still  proceeding,  in  connexion  with  the  ancient  parish  church  of 
Dalkey.  Late  in  November  last  our  member,  Mr.  Henry  F.  Baker,  of 
Dalkey,  was  enabled  through  a  letter  addressed  by  the  Dalkey  Board  of 
Town  Commissioners,  to  the  Eathdown  Board  of  Guardians,  to  draw 
attention  to  the  neglected  and  disgraceful  state  in  which  the  old 
cemetery,  and  interesting  ancient  parish  church  of  Dalkey  were  allowed 
to  remain,  or  rather  to  moulder.  In  reply  the  Guardians  acceded  to  the 
request,  and  issued  an  order  to  the  relieving  officer  of  the  district  to  carry 
out  the  views  of  the  Dalkey  conservers,  as  far  as  might  possibly  be 

1  Vol.  vii.,  Part  4,  5th  Ser.,  p.  426. 


MISCELLANEA.  173 

accomplished.  Much  has  already  been  done.  There  has  been  no  build- 
ing up  or  pulling  down.  The  ivy  has  been  entirely  removed,  the  result 
being  the  disclosure  of  not  a  few  most  interesting  features,  hitherto 
hidden,  of  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  curiously  instructive  churches  to 
be  found  in  Ireland.  Mr.  Baker  has  caused  excellent  photographs  to  be 
taken  of  the  ruin  as  it  was,  and  as  it  now  is.  I  hope  to  read  a  Paper 
upon  the  ruin  of  this  church  which  appears  to  possess  early  Irish, 
Norman,  and  late  English  features  strangely  combined. — W.  F.  WAKEMAN, 
Hon.  Sec.  South  Dublin. 

Waterford  and  South-east  of  Ireland  Archaeological  Society. — The 

Annual  Excursion  came  off  on  Thursday,  26th  May,  starting  from  Water- 
ford,  at  10.30  a.m.,  arriving  at  Jerpoint  Abbey,  near  Thomastown,  before 
noon.  The  train,  for  the  convenience  of  the  party,  stopped  close  to  the 
Abbey.  After  inspecting  the  ruins,  cars  were  in  attendance  to  take 
members  onto  K ells  (five  miles),  where  luncheon  was  served.  The  ruins 
of  the  Priory  and  Priory  Church  were  examined,  and  the  party  went  on 
to  Aughaviller  to  inspect  the  Round  Tower  and  Castle.  Sheepstown 
was  next  visited,  and  the  interesting  primitive  Celtic  church  examined. 
Thence  to  Knocktopher  and  Ballyhale  for  Waterford. 

An  illustrated  guide,  specially  prepared  for  the  Excursion,  was 
issued.  Amongst  those  present  were — The  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Sheehan, 
President  of  the  Society  ;  Major  Cuffe ;  and  Mr.  W.  L.  Burke,  Hon. 
Secretary.  The  Society  is  to  be  congratulated  in  having  so  successfully 
carried  out  a  most  interesting  excursion. 

The  Gallan  at  Tallaght.  —  This  gallan  is  situated  in  the  loop 
formed  by  the  New  Tallaght-road  going  round  the  Tallaght  hills 
from  Kiltalown  to  Brittas,  and  the  old  steep  coach-road  between  these 
places.  It  stands  in  the  middle  of  a  small  meadow,  south  of  Cruach 
Slinn,  and  opposite  Mount  Seskin  (Seisgeanri).  This  can  be  seen  from 
Sheets  numbers  21  and  24  of  the  6-inch  Map  of  county  Dublin. 

This  pillar  stone  is  a  block  of  the  clay  slate  of  the  district,  and  stands 
7  feet  high.  It  presents  a  nearly  flat  face  towards  the  old  road  on  the 
east,  5  feet  broad.  The  sides  on  the  south  and  west  are  each  one  foot 
less,  and  that  on  the  north  3  feet. 

A  ridge  projects  out  a  foot  high  on  the  western  face,  but  gradually 
dies  away  below. 

An  important  feature,  however,  is  the  presence  of  five  cups,  or  round 
holes,  in  the  southern  face  near  the  top  of  the  eastern  corner ;  parallel 
with  its  curve  for  20  inches  downwards.  While  there  is  only  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  from  the  first  cup  to  the  second,  and  1£  inches  from  the  third 
to  the  fourth,  and  the  fourth  to  the  fifth,  a  greater  space  by  nearly 
5  inches,  occurs  between  the  second  and  third,  like  a  space  between 
words ;  thus  reducing  the  quantity  of  space  used.  It  will  be  seen  from 
this  that  compared  with  the  two  upper  cups  which  nearly  run  into  one 

JOUR.  R. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  VT.  II.,   5TH  SER.  O 


174         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF    ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

another,  the  lower  three  are  very  much  apart.  The  two  upper  are 
opposite  to  the  eyes  of  a  person  of  average  height,  and  the  three  lower 
opposite  his  chest.  The  depth  in  the  middle  of  the  most  perfect  cup  i» 
\  an  inch. 

From  the  sides  of  the  round  marks  sloping  to  the  middle,  they  seem 
to  have  heen  cut  by  revolving  against  the  gallan, 
the  pointed  end  of  such  a  stone  tool  as  is  pictured 
on  page  273  of  Mr.  Wakeman's  handbook.  The 
upper  two  at  the  height  of  the  eyes  would  be  the 
first  made. 

The  diameter  across  the  higher  one  of  the  upper 
two  is  2^  inches,  and  downwards  2£  inches ;  of  the 
lower  one  it  is  2f  inches  by  2f  inches.  The  measure- 
ments in  the  same  ways  of  the  lower  group  are — 
the  upper  one,  2£  inches  by  3  inches;  the  centre 
one,  2£  inches  by  2  inches ;  the  lowest  one,  2  inches 
by  If  inches. 

The  curious  facts  shown  by  a  comparison  of 
these  figures  are  that  although  the  upper  two  cups 
get  smaller  upwards  by  a  \  of  an  inch  from  edge  to 
edge  both  ways,  and  the  lower  three  diminish  down- 
wards, yet  at  the  same  time,  the  diameter  across  is 
greater  always  by  a  \  of  an  inch  than  that  down. 
The  only  exception  which  can  be  seen  is  that  the 
diminution  from  the  perpendicular  diameter  of  the 
highest  cup  of  the  lower  group,  to  the  diameter 
across  the  same  way  in  the  cup  below  is  fully 
1  inch. 

Although  the  cups  here  are  different  in  number, 
arrangement,  and  size  from  the  four  together  in  a 
horizontal  line  on  cromleacs  at  Lisbellaw  and  Achill, 
and  from  those  in  a  perpendicular  line  inside  the 
Bruigh,  as  described  in  Mr.  "Wakeman's  handbook, 
yet  these  at  Tallaght  also  decreasing  their  size  to  an 
Diagram  showing  relative  end,  and  taking  up  the  same  space,  seem  to  show 

"   that    the    6xamPleS    wllich    WG    have     got    are    Par*^ 

of  a  system  of  "marking." 
The  name  Tatmhleaoht  which  brings  to  the  mind  heathen  burial  places, 
still  rightly  describes  the  hills  in  an  easterly  direction  from  the  gallan, 
but  the  other  remains  now  in  the  loop  are,  a  small  earn  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  to  the  south,  a  mound  about  a  mile  north  on  the  top  of  Cruach  Slinn, 
and  another  at  the  right  side  of  the  old  road  passing  Cruach  Slinn. 
Behind  Mount  Seskin  House  on  the  other  side  of  the  old  road,  and 
therefore  outside  the  loop,  is  a  low  oblong  mound  in  a  meadow,  and  a  like 
one  outside  on  the  uncultivated  ground. — "W.  P.  BRILEY,  per  E.  E.  M'C. 
Dix. 


MISCELLANEA.  175 

King  John's  Castle,  Kilmallock. — The  following  communication 
has  been  received  from  the  Secretary,  Board  of  "Works,  in  reply  to  a  letter 
from  the  Council  of  this  Society,  dated  26th  April  last : — 

"  I  am  directed  by  the  Commissioners  of  Public  Works  to  state  that 
the  King's  Castle  at  Kilmallock  was  reported  to  them  to  be  in  a  condition 
requiring  works  of  preservation,  owing  to  the  looseness  of  the  masonry. 
In  consequence  of  this  state  of  things  works  have  been  carried  out  under 
the  advice  of  their  Inspector  of  Ancient  Monuments,  which  place  the 
ruin  in  substantial  repair,  and  remove  all  danger  in  connexion  with  the 
masonry. 

"It  has  not  been  possible  to  deal  with  the  question  of  a  passage 
through  the  archway  of  the  castle,  up  to  the  present,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  lower  storey  is  occupied  by  a  smith's  forge. 

"  The  Board  have  been  in  correspondence  with  the  owner  of  the  castle, 
on  the  subject  of  getting  clear  possession, .which  they  have  themselves  no 
power  to  obtain.  A  local  Committee  have  lately  proposed  to  provide  a 
forge  for  the  smith,  if  the  Board  would  make  two  large  arches  in  the 
tower,  so  as  to  form  a  roadway  through  it.  The  Board  are  advised  that 
this  work  would  endanger  the  stability  of  the  structure ;  and  this  consi- 
deration, apart  from  the  fact  that  the  suggested  work  would  be  clearly 
one  of  alteration,  and  not  preservation,  renders  it  impossible  to  comply 
with  the  suggestion. 

"  The  Board,  however,  have  been  advised  to  remove  the  stone 
divisions  of  the  two  existing  arches,  to  concrete  the  floor  under  them,  to 
build  a  concrete  wall  in  the  interior,  shutting  off  the  arches  from  the  rest 
of  the  castle,  so  as  to  prevent  objectionable  use  being  made  of  the  struc- 
'ture,  to  place  a  door  in  this  wall,  opening  from  the  side  of  the  arched 
passage,  to  concrete  the  upper  portion  of  the  stone  vaulting,  and  to 
provide  for  carrying  away  the  water.  They  have  written  to  the  Board 
of  Guardians,  who  have  communicated  with  them  officially,  offering  to 
execute  these  works  if,  and  as  soon  as  it  becomes  possible  to  do  so,  by 
removal  of  the  forge,  and  they  trust  they  will  receive  a  satisfactory  reply 
on  the  subject." 

Irish  Texts  Society. — The  Inaugural  Meeting  of  this  Society  was 
held  in  London  on  April  26th.  390  applications  for  membership  had 
been  received,  of  which  165  were  from  Ireland,  130  from  England  and 
Scotland,  54  from  America,  and  the  remainder  from  the  Continent  and 
other  parts  of  the  world.  The  names  of  a  large  number  of  distinguished 
Celtic  scholars  were  to  be  found  in  this  list. 

Over  £50  has  been  contributed  or  promised  to  the  Editorial  Fund. 

It  was  stated  that  Dr.  Douglas  Hyde  was  already  at  work  upon  his 
"  Collection  of  Romantic  Tales,"  which  will  form  the  first  volume  of  the 
Society's  publications,  and  it  is  hoped  that  it  may  be  ready  to  go  to  press 
before  the  close  of  the  year.  Arrangements  have  been  entered  into  with 

02 


176          ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

the  firm  of  David  Nutt,  of  270,  Strand,  London,  for  the  publication  of 
the  Society's  volumes. 

Kerry  Ogham  Finds. — In  the  last  issue  of  the  Journal  I  find  the 
following  clerical  error  appears  in  my  note  on  "Kerry  Ogham  Finds, 
1896,"  at  p.  69,  in  the  second  last  paragraph,  where  it  is  stated: — "I 
came  on  the  foundation  of  two  dry  walls  5  feet  x  13  feet,"  &c.  This 
should  be  "  5  feet  x  13  inches." — R.  J.  RICE,  Lieutenant- Colonel. 


Wooden  Bowl  found  at  The  Boon,  King's  County.— This  bowl  was 
found  in  May,  1897,  by  a  boy  cutting  turf  in  a  bog  on  The  Doon  estate, 
King's  County.  It  was  found  buried  about  9  feet  from  the  surface  of  the 
bog,  and  some  7  or  8  yards  from  the  edge  of  what  is  known  as  the 
"  Pilgrim's  Road,"  which  is  said  to  have  run  from  Tara  to  Clonmacnoise, 
and  passes  through  the  Doon,  running  towards  Clonmacnoise,  about  five 
miles  distant.  The  road  at  the  spot  where  the  bowl  was  found  is  about 
6  feet  below  the  present  surface  of  the  bog  (which  appears  to  have  grown 
over  it),  and  is  formed  of  branches  and  blocks  of  timber  laid  down 
on  the  flat. 

The  bowl  is  perfectly  round  and  well  formed,  is  about  9  inches  in 
diameter,  and  about  7  inches  high,  and  has  a  groove  cut  half  an  inch 
deep  round  the  outside  and  near  the  top.  It  seems  to  be  cut  out  of 
birch  wood,  and  was  in  very  good  condition  when  found,  though  it 
has  greatly  cracked  since.  There  is  a  small  solid  ear-shaped  handle 
on  one  side.  It  was  evidently  cut  very  near  the  bark  of  the  tree  as 
a  large  gap  appears  on  the  side  where  a  portion  of  the  bark  fell  off. 
It  is  at  present  in  my  possession. — W.  ENEAGHT  MOONEY. 


Archaeological  Mistakes. — The  collection  and  tabulation  of  these 
would  be  a  useful  work,  and  would  save  members  much  profitless 
trouble.  Some  have  become  extinct ;  but  others  are  in  active  service 
still.  May  I  be  permitted  to  make  two  contributions  to  the  list? 
Both  of  these  are  old  offenders,  but  have  been  given  a  fresh  lease  of 
life  in  recent  numbers  of  our  Journal. 

(1.)  There  is  no  such  place  at  Pahan,  near  Dingle,1  as  "  the  fort  of 
the  wolves"  or  "  Cahernamactirech."  It  is  in  Glenfahan  :  the  name 
also  is  meant  for  Cathair  na  Mairtmech,  which  simply  and  prosaically 
means  "  the  fort  of  the  Martins"  (O'Curry's  "  Lectures,"  vol.  2,  p.  72). 

(2.)  The  inscription  on  Inchaguile,  Lough  Corrib,2is  not  the  memorial 
of  St.  Patrick's  nephew  Lugnath.  It  unfortunately  records  a  nobody — 
Luguaedon  (not  Lugnaedori)  macci  Menueh.  The  I  of  Lmenueh  [!],  in  the 
old  reading,  is  really  the  concluding  i  of  macci. — R.  A^  S.  MACALISTEE. 

1  See  Journal  for  1897,  p.  300.  2  LOG.  cit.,  p.  383. 


MISCELLANEA. 


177 


Remains  of  Urn  found  in  a  Cavan  Bog. — Some  fragments  of  a  large 
urn,  said  to  have  been  dug  up  in  the  Bog  of  Enagh,  county  Cavan,  at  a 
depth  of  about  ten  feet,  have  recently  come  into  my  possession.  Their 
aggregate  area  is  about  60  square  inches,  but  they  only  represent  a  very 


Exterior  View  and  Section  of  a  Fragment  of  Urn  found  in  a  Cavan  Bog. 

small  part  of  the  whole  vessel,  which  was  a  shade  less  than  15  inches 
across  its  mouth  when  perfect.  The  fragment  of  the  rim  here  illustrated, 
measures  8  inches  along  the  curve,  and  shows  two  rows  of  indentations ; 
unfortunately  it  is  impossible  to  make  out  if  there  were  more.  The 
average  thickness  of  the  remains  I  have  examined  is  rather  more  than 
half  an  inch,  but  the  fragments  vary  a  good  deal.  Enough  pieces  have 
not  been  found  to  make  it  possible  to  ascertain  the  height  of  this  urn. — 
E.  CKOFTON  ROTHERAM. 


178         ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES   OF    IRELAND. 

Clonmacnoise.— I  visited  the  cemetery  of  Clonmacnoise  during  the 
month  of  April,  and  took  rubbings  of  all  the  sculptured  slabs  in  the 
churches,  or  the  graveyard,  to  the  number  of  about  200.  I  found  two 
(previously  undescribed  so  far  as  I  am  aware)  doing  duty  as  underground 
supports  to  a  modern  tombstone.  As  the  stone  stood  perfectly  well 
without  them,  I  removed  them,  and  deposited  them  with  the  rest,  in 
their  present  position,  among  the  slabs  in  the  old  church. 

I  would  suggest  that  the  clergy  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Clonmac- 
noise be  requested  to  keep  a  watch  for  any  slabs,  or  fragments  of  slabs, 
that  may  be  found  in  digging  graves,  as  there  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  many  of  the  important  stones  now  missing1  are  buried  beneath  the 
surface  of  the  cemetery.  It  would  also  be  desirable  if  they  would  use 
their  influence  to  prevent  (a)  the  appropriation  of  the  existing  stones 
as  gravestones,  and  (b)  the  use  of  monumental  slabs,  piled  up,  as  a 
temporary  altar.  I  trust  I  shall  not  give  offence  if  I  venture  to  point 
out  that,  to  a  large  extent,  these  monuments  hold  the  key  to  the 
chronology  of  early  Irish  Christian  art,  and  that  their  employment  for 
this  purpose  cannot  but  be  detrimental  to  their  sculpturing. 

Till  the  moment  of  writing,  my  whole  time  has  been  occupied,  since 
I  left  Clonmacnoise,  with  the  preparation  of  my  report  on  the  remains 
at  Fahan  and  Glenfahan,  near  Dingle.  I  intend,  however,  to  set  to  work 
immediately  on  the  preparation  of  the  necessary  drawings,  and  hope  to 
be  able  to  report  satisfactory  progress,  as  well  as  to  submit  a  detailed 
catalogue  of  the  slabs,  at  the  Autumn  Meeting  of  the  Society. — B.  A. 
STEWAET  MACALISTEE. 

1  Of  the  179  stones  noticed  in  the  first  volume  of  the  "  Christian  Inscriptions," 
1 3  are  not  at  Clonmacnoise,  and  15  were  lost  when  the  work  appeared;  of  the  151 
remaining,  I  failed  to  find  no  less  than  54,  and  many  others  I  found  to  have  suffered 
severe  injury.  On  the  other  hand,  I  found  2  supposed  to  be  lost,  and  ahout  100  not 
recorded  in  the  ahove  work. 


(     179     ) 


of 


[NOTE. — The  Works  marked  thus  (*)  are  by  Members  of  the  Society."} 

-4  Key  to  English  Antiquities,  with  special  reference  to  the  Sheffield 
and  Rothcrham  District.  By  Ella  S.  Armitage.  (Sheffield:  W. 
Townsend,  1897.) 

As  an  elementary  handbook  to  the  antiquities  of  England,  this  book  is 
fairly  creditable:  it  cannot  be  accepted  as  a  "key" — a  name  which 
implies  the  solution  of  problems — because  it  tells  us  little  or  nothing 
that  was  not  known  before.  The  earlier  part  (relating  to  prehistoric 
remains)  will  be  more  interesting  to  the  Irish  antiquary,  as  our  medieval 
antiquities  are  comparatively  unimportant :  but  this  is  the  most  disap- 
pointing portion  of  the  book,  and  a  perusal  of  it  gives  the  impression 
that  the  authoress  was  hurrying  on,  impatient  to  get  to  the  mediaeval 
antiquities.  The  work  is  principally  valuable  as  a  guide  to  the  antiqui- 
ties of  Sheffield  and  Rotherham ;  but  it  is  overcrowded  with  stale  and, 
occasionally,  inaccurate  general  matter.  The  chapter  on  the  churches  of 
the  district  seems  verv  well  done. 


History  of  Corn  Milling.  Vol.  i.  Handstones,  Slave,  and  Cattle  Mills. 
By  Richard  Bennett  and  John  Elton.  (London  :  Simpkin,  Marshall, 
and  Co.  ;  Liverpool:  Edward  Howell,  Church -street,  1898.) 

THE  old  school  of  history,  which  stood  on  its  dignity  and  considered  few 
subjects  less  portentous  than  battles,  kings,  and  statesmen  worthy  of  a 
place  in  its  pages,  has  long  been  out  of  repute,  but  much  remains  to  be 
done  on  the  branches  of  modern  historic  research.  Many  homely  all- 
important  factors  in  the  advance  and  improvement  of  our  race,  while  they 
have  been  treated  discursively  in,  perhaps,  hundreds  of  volumes,  have, 
however,  but  seldom  formed  the  subject  of  one  book,  or  been  put  into  a 
form  at  once  scientific  and  popular. 

The  preparation  of  our  "  daily  bread,"  next,  perhaps,  to  fire  and 
metal  working,  is  one  of  the  most  requisite  arts  in  every  stage  of  civili- 
sation, and  to  trace  its  history  down  the  ages  has  been  the  task  of  the 
authors  of  this  book. 

The  imperishable  millstones,  of  all  varieties,  and  the  strange  Egyptian 


180         EOYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

superstition  which  provided  a  dead  man  with  models  of  slaves,  imple- 
ments, and  furniture,  for  use  in  that  dim  Amenti  (in  preparation  for 
which  the  subjects  of  the  Pharoahs  devoted  a  life-long  foresight),  have 
secured  us  an  unusual  abundance  of  the  earliest  material. 

The  literature  of  every  nation  is  full  of  allusions  to  the  all  essential 
"  mill,"  while  the  feudal  monopolies,  which  confined  to  the  manorial  or 
abbatial  mill  the  corn-grinding  of  a  district,  have  resulted  in  the  pre- 
servation of  extensive  records  during  the  Middle  Ages. 

The  authors  advance  an  interesting  theory  on  basin-stones  and  the 
superstitions  surrounding  them,  that  these  puzzling  remains  were  primi- 
tive mills,  and  acquired  their  u  sanctity  "  from  their  importance  to  some 
early  settlement.1  This,  by  the  way,  is  analogous  to  the  view  that  the 
tribal  fire  (always  kept  burning  by  the  women  in  the  primitive  village, 
and  supplying  the  other  fires)  originated  the  sacred  fires  of  Yesta,  and 
started  the  rites  of  Beltane  bonfires.  An  illustration  of  a  double 
cup-stone,  found  by  Mr.  Bennett  under  a  brook  bed  in  tSefton  Park, 
Liverpool,  might  pass  in  shape,  and  the  position  of  its  basins,  for  a  view 
of  that  mysterious  stone  lying  near  the  mound  of  inauguration  at  Magh 
Adhair,  on  which  the  O'Briens  were  made  kings.  Was  this  latter, 
then,  the  "  tribal  mill  "  kept  in  the  central  spot  of  the  community  ? 

The  appearance  of  used  "  mill- stones  "2  in  primitive  graves  is  con- 
sidered as  marking  the  burials  of  women,  as  the  weapons  were  laid  beside 
the  bodies  of  men.  The  supposed  female  skeleton  at  Thymbros,  its  head 
pillowed  on  a  grinding-stone,  and  the  Mexican  cairns  are  cited  as 
evidence. 

The  basin  stones  in  churchyards  in  northern  Scotland  were  used  for 
pounding  grain ;  barley,  with  a  little  water,  being  put  into  the  basin, 
and  pounded  with  a  long-handled  hammer,  usually  by  women  (p.  23),  to 
whom,  in  all  primitive  societies,  this  work  has  been  allotted. 

The  "saddle-stone"  and  mortar  are  treated  at  some  length.  The 
first  is  the  old  "mill"  of  Egypt,  found  in  the  oldest  strata  of  Greek 
cities  and  Celtic  forts.  A  fine  example  is  given  from  Castel  Coz  at 
Finisterre — a  noble  cliff  "cathair"  with  chevaux  de  frise  and  150 
houses  of  pre-Koman  times.  The  same  form  occurs  in  later  Swiss 
crannoges  in  ancient  Mexico  and  modern  "  darkest  Africa."  It  seems  to 
have  been  the  first  step  in  milling,  after  the  corn-crusher  and  mortar. 
Both  processes  are  mentioned  in  the  Book  of  Numbers  (chap,  xi.,  ver.  8), 
as  practised  by  the  Israelites  in  the  desert. 

The  Eoman  mills  are  then  studied  elaborately,  as  the  remains  and 
literature  enable  them  to  be  so  done.  This  leads  us  to  the  familiar  quern 
which  the  writers  consider  of  Italian  origin,  and  only  some  2000  years 

1  This  theory,  however,  does  not  meet  cases  where  the  basins  are  in  steeply  sloping 
rocks,  or  in  upright  pillar-stonts. 

2  See  our  Journal,  1897,  p.  179,  for  a  recent  Irish  example. 


NOTICES  OF  BOOKS.  181 

old.  It  rapidly  spread  through  the  empire,  and,  as  we  know,  was  the 
1 '  mill "  of  the  Jews  in  New  Testament  times.  Wickcliffe's  translation 
of  our  Lord's  words  is  noteworthy:  "  Tweine  wymmen  schulen  ben 
gryndynge  in  o  querne." 

On  p.  137  a  conical  upper  mill-stone,  with  a  basin  at  the  top  and  a 
hole  for  a  handle  on  the  side,  is  illustrated  and  rightly  compared  with 
one  recently  found  in  a  bog  near  Kilkishen  in  county  Clare.  The 
decorated  examples  from  the  same  county,  and  Dromgay,  near  Ennis- 
killen.  on  p.  143,  and  that  from  Clonmacnoise,  have  already  been  noted 
in  our  Journal.  The  interesting  case  of  a  cross  on  a  "  grinding- stone  " 
(molare  lapide)  is  appositely  cited  from  Adamnan  (679,  704). 

Of  great  interest  is  the  section  on  the  Saxon  and  English  laws  relat- 
ing to  mills  as  the  law  of  Ethelbert  (circa  565) :  "If  ?my  one  molest 
.  .  .  the  maid  who  grinds  at  the  mill,  he  shall  pay  25  shillings."  In  later 
days  in  Wales  when  a  divorced  couple  divided  their  goods — "  the  riddle 
to  the  husband,  the  sieve  to  the  wife  .  .  .  the  barn  and  all  the  corn 
above  ground,  with  one  of  the  cats,  to  the  husband,  and  as  much  meal  as 
she  can  carry"  to  the  wife  .  .  .  "the  husband  to  have  the  upper  stone  of 
the  quern,  and  the  wife  the  lower  " — was  enacted,  probably  being  a 
crude  attempt  to  add  another  obstacle  to  divorce. 

It  may  be  noted  from  the  "Annals  of  Dunstable  "  in  1295,  that 
then,  as  now,  theories  in  mechanics  did  not  always  work  out  into  fact. 
"  This  year  brother  John  the  carpenter  made  a  new  mill,  constructed 
upon  principles  hitherto  unknown,  promising  that  one  horse  should  be 
able  to  turn  it ;  but  when  it  was  made,  and  should  have  ground,  four 
strong  horses  could  scarcely  move  it ;  and  so  it  was  removed,  and  the 
use  of  the  old  mill  resumed." 

The  first  volume  closes  with  a  very  gruesome  account  of  the  Eoman 
mill-slaves,  and  some  interesting  charters  suppressing  the  use  of  querns  in 
favour  of  privileged  mills.  One  of  circa  A.D.  1150  from  Cecilia  de  Rumelia 
to  the  monks  of  Embsay,  Yorkshire,  is  given,  in  facsimile,  as  the  frontis- 
piece of  this  interesting  instalment  of  a  work,  rich  in  illustration, 
reference,  and  general  information. 

T.  J.  W. 


182  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF    IRELAND. 


THE  SECOND  QUARTERLY  MEETING  of  the  Society  was  held  (by  per- 
mission) in  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  Honse,  Dawson- street,  Dublin, 
on  "Wednesday,  the  15th  of  June,  1898,  at  2  o'clock,  p.m. 

THE   RIGHT  HON.  O'CoNOR  DON,  LL.D.,  M.R.I.A.,  President, 
in  the  Chair. 

The  following  took  part  in  the  Proceedings : — 

Fellows. — Colonel  Philip  Doyne  Vigors,  Vice -President ;  Seaton  F.  Milligan, 
M.R.I.A.,  Vice '- President ;  William  Frazer,  F.R.C.S.I.,  M.K.I. A.,  HON.  F.S.A.  (Scot.), 
Vice -President;  Thomas  Drew,  R.H.A.,  F.R.I.B.A.,  P.R.I.A.I.,  Vice -President;  Rev.  J. 
F.  M.  ffrench,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice-President ;  Edward  Perceval  Wright,  M.A.,  M.D., 
M.R.I.A.,  Vice-President;  Eobert  M.  Young,  B.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice  -  President ;  J.  J. 
Digges  LaTouche,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  M.R.I.A.,  Vice- President ;  Eobert  Cochrane,  F.S.A., 
M.R.I.A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  the  Eev.  Edmond  Barry,  P.P., 
M.R.I. A.  ;  G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.;  John  Cooke,  M.A.  ;  Thomas  Costley  ;  the 
Eight  Eev.  J.  B.  Crozier,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Ossory,  Ferns,  and  Leighlin;  H.  C. 
Cullinan,  LL.B.  ;  E.  S.  Longworth-Dames,  B.A.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  John  Eibton  Garstin,  M.A., 
B.D.,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A.;  George  A.  P.  Kelly,  M.A.  ;  Eichard  Langrishe,  F.R.I.A.I.  ; 
P.  J.  Lynch,  M.R. I.A.I.  ;  the  Eight  Hon.  Joseph  M.  Meade,  LL.D.,  Hon.  Fellow,  W. 

E.  J.  Molloy,  M.R.I.A.  ;  M.  M.  Murphy,  M.R.I.A.  ;  James  G.  Eobertson,  Hon.  Fellow  ; 
the  Eev.   Stanford  F.   H.  Eobinson,   M.A.  ;  Thomas  J.  Westropp,  M.A.,  M.K.I. A. ; 
William  W.  Wilson,  M.K.I. A.,  P.INST.  C.E.I.  ;  Eobert  Lloyd  Woollcombe, M.A.,  LL.D., 
M.R.I.A. 

Members. — The  Eev.  Arthur  W.  Ardagh,  M.A.  ;  P.  T.  Bermingham ;  Lieut.- 
Colonel  M.  W.  Biddulph  ;  J.  B.  Cassin  Bray  ;  the  Eev.  E.A.Burnett,  M.A.  ;  Sir  Charles 
A.  Cameron,  M.D.,  HON.  R.H.A.  ;  Sir  E.  Newman  Chambers  ;  Miss  Clark;  the  Eev. 
Ambrose  Coleman,  O.P.  ;  S.  A.  D'Arcy,  L.R.C.P.  &  B.I.  ;  Valentine  J.  Dunn ;  Captain 
Joshua  Fielding;  Frederick  Franklin,  F.R.I.A.I.  ;  Edward  Glover,  M.I.C.E.  ;  Surgeon 
Lieut. -Colon el  J.  J.  Greene,  M.B.  ;  the  Ven.  Archdeacon  Jameson,  M.A.  ;  the  Eev. 
Danby  Jeffares,  M.A.  ;  Thomas  Kiernan  ;  T.  H.  Longfield,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  the  Eev. 

F.  J.  Lucas,  D.D.  ;  Brian  Mac  Sheehy,  LL.D.  ;  William  M'Cormick,  M.A.  ;  John  P. 
M 'Knight;  the  Eev.  Canon  M'Larney,  B.A.  ;  Bernard  S.  Mara;  the  Eev.  John  E. 
Moffatt,  M.D.  ;    H.  G.  Molony,  M.D.  ;    Joseph  H.  Moore,  M.A.,  M.I.C.E.  ;  Charles 
Mullin;  John   0' Duffy,   Dental  Surgeon;    S.  A.  Quan- Smith ;  T.  W.  Eolleston, 
B.A.  ;  Sir  Eobert  Sexton,  D.L.  ;  the  Eev.  Bedell  Stanford,  B.A.  ;  William  C.  Stubbs, 
B.A.  ;  H.  P.  Truell,  M.D.,  D.L.  ;  the  Eev.  G.  Otway  Woodward,  B.A. 

The  Minutes  of  the  Annual  General  Meeting  were  read  and  signed 


PROCEEDINGS.  183 

The    following    Candidates,    recommended   by   the    Council,   were 
declared  duly  elected : — 

FELLOWS. 

Berry,  Captain,  R.  G.,  Army  Service  Corps  (Member,  1896),  Shorncliffe  Camp, Kent: 
proposed  by  F.  J.  Bigger,  M.R.I.A.,  Fellow. 

Chestnutt,  John,  B.A.,  L.K.C.P.  &  L.R.C.S.  (Edin.),  (Member,  1891),  Derwent  How- 
den,  East  Yorks :  proposed  by  G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A.,  Fellow. 

Frederic,  Harold,  Homefield,  Kenley,  Surrey :  proposed  by  Mrs.  Rice. 

MEMBERS. 

Adams,  Rev.  William  Alexander,  B.A.,  The  Manse,  Antrim  :  proposed  by  the  Rev. 

G.  R.  Buick,  LL.D.,  Fellow. 

,  Samuel  William,  M.A.,  M.D.,  The  Manor  House,  Antrim-road,  Belfast: 

proposed  by  Edward  Allworthy. 
Beamish-Crooke,  E.,  J.P.,   Old  Town,  Coachford,  Co,  Cork:  proposed  by  H.  W. 

Gillman,  B.A.,  Fellow. 
Bell,  Thomas  William,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law,  2,  Herbert -street,  Dublin  :  proposed 

by  the  Rev.  W.  Falkiner,  M.A. 
Butler,  William  F.,  M.A.,  F. R.U.I.,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages,  Queen's  College, 

Cork  :  proposed  by  J.  Grene  Barry. 
CLadwick,  John,   jun.,    18,    Patrick- street,    Kilkenny:   proposed  by  P.  M.  Egan, 

Fellow. 

Concannon,  Thomas,  Mexico:  proposed  by  S.  F.  Milligan,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice-President. 
Conway,  Rev.  David,  Mount  Joy,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  U.  S.  A. :  proposed  by  Robert 

M.  Young,  Vice-President. 
Cunyngham,  O'M.,  29,  Rutland -square,  West,  Dublin :  proposed  by  S.  F.  Milligan, 

M.R.I. A.,  Vice-President. 
Cooper,  Mark  Bloxam,  Barrister-at-Law,  95,  Haddington-road,  Dublin  :  proposed  by 

W.  C.  Stubbs,  M.A. 
D'Alton,  John  J.,   10,  Wellington-place,  Dundalk :  proposed  by  G.  D.  Burtchaell, 

M.A.,  Fellow. 

Daly,  Rev.  Patrick,  c.c.,  The  Palace,  Mullingar  :  proposed  by  James  Tuite,  M.P. 
de  Ferrieres,  Frank  Rethore,  B.A.,    11,   Willoughby -place,  Enniskillen  :  proposed  by 

Thomas  1'lunkett,  M.K.I. A. 

Doyne,  James,  j.i-.,  Earl-street,  Mullingar:  proposed  by  James  Tuite,  M.P. 
Dreaper,  Richard  H.,  Physician  and  Surgeon,  Mossley,  near  Manchester:  proposed 

by  G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A.,  Fellow. 
Fenton,  Rev.   Charles  E.  O'Connor,  M.A.,  Edmund-street,  Bradford  :  proposed  by 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
Fenton,  Rev.  Cornelius  O'Connor,  M.A.,   105,  Botanic-road,  Liverpool:  proposed  by 

Mrs.  Fenton. 
Fenton,  Rev.  S.  L.  O'Connor,  M.A.,  Sricar  of  St.  George's,  Newcastle,  Staffordshire: 

proposed  by  Mrs.  Fenton. 
Fry,  Matthew  W.  J.,  M.A.,  F.T.C.D.,  Trinity  College,  Dublin :  proposed  by  W.  Grove 

White,  LL.B. 

Hayes,  John,  Jail-street,  Ennis :  proposed  by  T.  J.  Westropp,  M.A.,  Fellow. 
Hillyard,  Rev.  H.  J.,  Charleville,  Co.  Cork:  proposed  by  the  Rev.  T.  Olden,  D.D., 

M.R.I.A. 

Hogg,  Miss,  Craigmore,  Blackrock,  Co.  Dublin :  proposed  by  Mrs.  J.  F.  Shackleton. 
Hutchings,  the  Rev.  H.,  Fairy  Villa,  Sandy  mount,  Dublin:   proposed  by  the  Rev. 

William  Falkiner,  M.R.I.A. 


184         ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

Irvine,  Captain  William,  Henry  (late  The  Buffs),  Vallombrosa,  Bray,  Co.  Wicklow  : 

proposed  by  Captain  J.  Fielding. 
Keelan,  Patrick,  13,  Greville- street,  Mullingar:  proposed  by  S.  F.  Milligan,  M.R.I.A., 

Vice -President. 

Laverty,  Charles,  Solicitor,  Castleblayney  :  proposed  by  D.  C.  Rushe,  B.A.,  Fellow. 
Longfield,  Robert  0.,  Solicitor.  19,  Har  court- street,  Dublin:  proposed  by  W.  Grove 

White,  LL.B. 

M'Crum,  Miss  Harriette,  Milford,  Armagh  :  proposed  by  J.  J.  Phillips. 
M'Kee,  Robert,  M.A.,  Harlesden  College,  Willesden,  London,  N.W.:  proposed  by 

Newton  B.  Ashby. 

M'  Walters,  Morgan  J.,  Bank  of  Ireland,  Omagh  :  proposed  by  Charles  Mullin. 
M'William,  William,  Corlatt  House,   Monaghan  :  proposed  by  D.  C.  Rushe,  B.A., 

Fellow. 
Moloney,    M.    T.,   Ottawa,  Illinois,    U.S.A.  :  proposed  by   James   Frost,    M.R.I.A., 

Vice -President. 

Nagle,  Joachim,  North  Earl-street,  Dublin  :  proposed  by  P.  Kenny. 
Nooney,  Patrick  J.,  Solicitor,  Mullingar:  proposed  by  James  Tuite,  M.P. 
Nooney,  Thomas  F.,  J.P.,  Earl-street,  Mullingar  :  proposed  by  James  Tuite,  M.P. 
O'Brien,  Daniel,  West  Park,  Glasnevin:  proposed  by  D.  J.  O'Donoghue. 
O'Keeffe,  John  G.,  War  Office,  Pall  Mall,  London,   S.W.  :  proposed  by  R.  A.  S. 

Macalister,  B.A. 
O'Reilly,  Rev.  Edward,  Adm.,  The  Palace,  Mullingar  :  proposed  by  James  Tuite, 

M.P. 
O'Toole,  Arthur,  5,  Foster-place,   Dublin  :  proposed  by  M.  M.  Murphy,   M.R.I. A., 

Fellow. 
Pirn,  E.  W.,  27  and  29,  High-street,  Belfast:  proposed  by  S.  F.  Milligan,  M.R.I.A., 

Vice-President. 
Puxley,  Rev.  Herbert  Lavallin,   Catton  Rectory,  Stamford  Bridge,  York :  proposed 

by  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Wright,  M.A. 
Rawlence,  Mrs.,  12,  Ovington-square,  London,   S.W.  :  proposed  by  Lieut. -Colonel 

Biddulph. 

Read,  Miss,  3,  Lower  Merrion- street,  Dublin  :  proposed  by  Miss  Field. 
Reid,   John   Gambell,    Solicitor,    Castleblayney:  proposed  by  D.   C.   Rushe,   B.A., 

Fellow. 

Richey,  Henry  A.,  B.A.,  Barrister- at -Law,  13,  Lower  Pembroke-street,  Dublin:  pro- 
posed by  J.  J.  Digges  La  Touch e,  LL.D.,  Vice- President. 
Sloan,  Rev.  Isaac,  M.A.,  The  Manse,  Ballyreagh,  Ballygawley  :  proposed  by  the  Rev. 

W.  T.  Latimer,  B.A.,  Fellow. 
Stewart,  Rev.  Joseph  Atkinson,   Killowen,  Lisburn :  proposed  by  the  Rev.  H.  W. 

Lett,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A. 

Walsh,  Captain  Walter  P.  Hussey-,  4,  Curzon-street,  Mayfair,  London,  W. :  pro- 
posed by  the  Rev.  H.  W.  Davidson,  M.A. 

THE  AUDITORS'  KEPORT. 

The  Auditors'  Report  and  Statement  of  Accounts  for  the  year  1897 
was  read  by  the  Hon.  Treasurer,  showing  a  balance  to  Credit  for  the 
year  ended  31st  December,  1897,  of  £112  3*.  8d.,  as  against  £38  11*.  6d. 
in  the  previous  Account.  The  Account  was  unanimously  passed  (see 
opposite  page). 


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186  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

The  following  Papers  were  read,  and  referred  to  the  Council  :  — 

**  Prehistoric  Eemains  at    Carran   and   Kilcorney,  in  the  Burren,    Co.    Clare,"    by 
Thomas  J.  Westropp,  M.A.,  M.K.I.A.,  Fellow. 

"The  'Bambino'  of  New  Ross,"  by  M.  J.  C.  Buckley.      (Read  by  Mr.  G.  D. 
Burtchaell.) 

Mr.  James  G.  Robertson  described  a  silver  chalice  of  the  date  1606, 
which  is  at  present  in  the  hands  of  a  private  owner.  Nothing  is  known 
of  its  history  save  that,  in  the  course  of  last  year,  it  was  exhibited  in  the 
shop  window  of  Messrs.  Richards  &  "Walsh,  watch  and  clockmakers, 
South  Anne-street.  It  was  in  good  preservation.  It  had  the  appear- 
ance of  having  been  originally  gilt.  It  was  7f  inches  high  by  5£  inches 
in  breadth,  and  had  on  panels  the  following  subjects  engraved  :  —  The 
Crucifixion,  St.  Patrick,  St.  Franciscus,  represented  as  a  priest  in  a 
monk's  dress  and  cowl,  St.  Bernardus,  and  St.  Gualterius.  Two  Latin 
inscriptions,  in  Roman  letters,  were  upon  the  chalice,  viz.  :  —  "  ORATE 

PBO  ANIA  WALTEEI    AECHER,    FILII   RICARDI,     1606";    and"  IDEM    WALTERTJS 
HUNC     CALICEM    DONAVIT,    CAPELIA,    B.    MARNA,     IN    MON.    S.    FRANCISCI,     EZL- 


Mr.  ffrench,  in  moving  that  the  communication  be  referred  to  Council 
for  publication,  said  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  had  been  asked  to  purchase 
this  chalice,  but  had  declined  to  do  so  on  the  ground  that  they  had  not 
funds  for  the  purpose.  It  was  a  great  pity  that  that  was  so,  because 
the  Academy's  collection  of  chalices  was  a  remarkably  poor  one.  They 
had  only  one  chalice  worthy  of  the  name,  viz.  that  of  Ardagh. 

The  motion  was  agreed  to. 

The  remaining  Papers  were  taken  as  read,  and  referred  to  the 
Council,  viz.  :  — 

"  The  Rathcroghan  and  Breastagh  Ogam-stones,"  by  Principal  Rhys,  LL.D.,  F.S.A., 
Hon.  Fellow. 

"  Some  further  Notes  on  Otter  and  Beaver  Traps,"  by  Robert  Munro,  M.A.,  M.D., 
Hon.  Fellow. 

"  Flint  Scrapers,"  by  W.  J.  Knowles,  M.R.I.  A.,  Vice-  President. 

"  On  Early  Crosses  (with  Illustrations)  shown  on  Irish  and  Scottish  Antiquities," 
by  Dr.  Frazer,  Vice-  President. 

"  List  of  the  Post-Cromwellian  Inhabitants  of  Tipperary,"  by  Dr.  T.  Laffan. 
The  Society  then  adjourned. 


PROCEEDINGS.  187 


THE  JCBILEE  BANQUET. 

The  banquet  in  celebration  of  the  Jubilee  year  of  the  Society  was 
held  in  the  large  Hall  of  the  Ancient  Concert  Eooms. 

The  President  of  the  Society,  THE  RIGHT  HON.  0' CONOR  DON, 
occupied  the  Chair. 

To  his  right  there  sat — 

The  Right  Hon.  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Dublin  ;  the  Earl  of  Rosse,  President,,  Royal 
Irish  Academy ;  Mr.  W.  W.  "Wilson,  President,  Institute  Civil  Engineers,  Ireland ; 
Sir  Rohert  Sexton,  D.L.  ;  Dr.  Frazer ;  Mr.  R.  M.  Young ;  Mr.  J.  R.  Garstin,  D.L.  ; 
Mr.  J.  Joly,  LL.D.  ;  Mr.  J.  J.  Digges  LaTouche,  LL.D.  ;  Mr.  S.  F.  Milligan,  M.R.I.A. 

To  his  left  sat— 

The  Lord  Mayor  of  Belfast ;  Rev.  E.  J.  Dunne ;  Mr.  Thomas  Drew,  President, 
Royal  Institute  of  Architects,  Ireland  ;  the  Right  Hon.  Alderman  Meade  ;  Sir  Charles 
Cameron ;  Sir  Newman  Chambers ;  R.  Atkinson,  LL.D.  ;  The  Rev.  J.  F.  M.  ffrench, 
M.R.I.A.  ;  Mr.  Richard  Langrishe,  F.R.I. A.I.  ;  Mr.  Robert  Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A., 
Hon.  Secretary. 

There  were  also  present — 

Rev.  Edmond  Barry,  M.R.I.A.;  Lieut. -Colonel  M.  W.  Biddulph;  J.  B.  Casin 
Bray;  G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.;  Rev.  Canon  Carmichael,  LL.D.;  Thomas 
Costley ;  John  Cooke,  M,A.  ;  H.  C.  Cullinan,  LL.B.  ;  Rep.  of  Daily  Express  ;  Rep. 
of.  Daily  Independent ;  R.  S.  Long  worth- Dames,  B.A.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  Dr.  S.  A.  D'Arcy ; 
Valentine  J.  Dunn  ;  Frederick  Franklin,  F.R.I.A.I.  ;  Rep.  of  Freeman's  Journal ; 
Edward  Glover,  C.E.,  M.A.  ;  Surgeon  Lieut. -Colonel  J.  J.  Greene,  M.B.  ;  Henry 
Hunt  (Belfast  News-Letter};  Rep.  of  Irish  Times;  Rev.  Danby  Jeffares,  M.A.  ; 
George  A.  P.  Kelly,  M.A.  ;  Thomas  Kennedy  (Secretary  to  the  Lord  Mayor)  ;  Thomas 
Kiernan  ;  Rev.  Thomas  Long,  M.A.  ;  T.  H.  Longfield,  F.S.A.  ;  R.  0.  Longfield; 
Rev.  F.  J.  Lucas,  D.D.  ;  P.  J.  Lynch,  M.R.I.A.  (Hon.  Secretary  for  Munster) ;  Robert 
Macalister,  LL.B.  ;  Brian  Mac  Sheehy,  LL.D.  ;  William  M'Cormick,  M.A.  ;  J.  P. 
M 'Knight;  Rev.  Canon  M'Larney,  B.A.;  B.  S.  Mara;  Rev.  J.  E.  Moffatt,  M.D.  ; 
"W.  R.  J.  Molloy,  M.R.I.A.  ;  H.  G.  Molony,  M.D.  ;  J.  H.  Moore,  M.A.,  M.  INST.  C.E.  ; 
R.  J.  Moss  (Registrar,  Royal  Dublin  Society)  ;  Charles  Mullin  ;  M.  M.  Murphy ; 
John  O'Duffy,  Dental  Surgeon  ;  S.  A.  Quan-Smith  ;  Rev.  S.  F.  H.  Robinson, 
M.A.  ;  T.  W.  Rolleston,  B.A.  ;  J.  A.  Scott,  J.P.  ;  S.  Catterson  Smith  (Secretary 
R.  H.  A.) ;  W.  C.  Stubbs,  M.A.  ;  William  Tempest,  J.P.  ;  T.  J.  Westropp,  M.A., 
M.R.I.A.  (Hon.  Secretary  for  Leinster}. 


188 


ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUAKIES    OF   IRELAND. 


Invitations  were  sent  to  the  following,   amongst  others,  who  wrote 
regretting  their  inability  to  be  present : — 


His  Excellency  the  Lord  Lieutenant,  K.G. 
The  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Walsh,   Archbishop 

of  Dublin. 
The  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Peacocke,  Archbishop 

of  Dublin. 

The  Earl  of  Drogheda. 
The  Provost  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin. 
The  Chairman  of  the    Irish    Board    of 

Works. 

The  Presidents  and  Secretaries  of  the — 
Society  of  Antiquaries  of  London. 
Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland. 


The  Presidents  and  Secretaries  of  the — 

Royal    Archaeological     Institute    of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

British  Archaeological  Association. 

Cambrian  Archaeological  Association. 

Royal  Institution  of  Cornwall. 

Glasgow  Archaeological  Society. 

Chester  and  North  Wales  Archaeolo- 
gical and  Historical  Society. 

Sussex  Archaeological  Society. 

Archaeological  Congress. 

Kent  Archaeological  Society. 
The  Editor  of  The  Reliquary. 
The  Editor  of  The  Architect. 


The  following  Fellows  and  Members  of  the  Society  wrote  expressing 
regret  at  their  inability  to  be  present : — 


The  Lord  Chancellor  of  Ireland. 

The  Duke  of  Devonshire,  K.G. 

The  Duke  of  Abercorn,  K.G. 

The  Marquis  of  Ormonde,  K.P. 

The  Earl  of  Courtown. 

The  Earl  of  Mayo. 

The  Earl  of  Castlestuart. 

Lord  Frederick  Fitz  Gerald. 

Lord  Walter  Fitz  Gerald. 

Viscount  Clifden. 

The  Right  Hon.  Lord  Arthur  Hill,  M.P. 

The  Most  Rev.  Dr.   Keene,    Bishop   of 

Meath. 
The   Right  Rev.   Dr.  Graves,   Bishop  of 

Limerick. 
The  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Donnelly,  Bishop  of 

Canea. 
The  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Browne,  Bishop  of 

Ferns. 

The  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Sheehan,  Bishop  of 

Waterford,    President,   Waterford  and 

South-east   of    Ireland    Archaeological 

Association 

The  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Meade,  Bishop  of 

Cork. 
The  Most  Rev.    Dr.   Hoare,   Bishop  of 

Ardagh. 
The  Most   Rev.    Dr.  Healy,  Bishop   of 

Clonfert. 
The  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Crozier,  Bishop  of 

Ossory. 

The  Lord  Ardilaun. 
The  Lord  Clonbrock. 


The  Lord  Castletown. 

The  Hon.  Dudley  F.  Fortescue. 

The  Right  Hon.  Sir  John  Lubbock,  Bart., 

M.P. 

The  Right  Hon.  A.  H.  Smith-Barry,  M.P. 

The  Hon.  E.  A.  de  Moleyns. 

The  Hon.  R.  T.  O'Neill,  M.P. 

Sir  Robert  Foster,  Bart. 

Sir  Henry  Bellingham,  Bart. 

Sir  Frederick  W.  Shaw,  Barl. 

Sir  James  Musgrave,  Bart. 

Lieut. -General  Sir  Richard  H.  Sankey, 
K.C.B. 

Sir  John  Evans,  K.C.B. 

Sir  Daniel  Dixon. 

His  Honor  Judge  Kane. 

William  Field,  M.P. 

The  Very  Rev.  Dean  Humphreys. 

The  Very  Rev.  Dean  Dawson. 

The  Very  Rev.  Dean  Hare. 

The  Very  Rev.  Dean  Isaac. 

The  Very  Rev.  Dean  White,  P.P.,  Nenagh. 

The  Ven.  Archdeacon  Jameson. 

The  Ven.  Archdeacon  O'Neill,  P.P. 

0' Donovan  of  Liss  Ard. 

Principal  Rhys,  LL.D.,  Professor  of  Celtic, 
Oxford. 

Lavens  M.  Ewart,  M.R.I.A. 

Robert  Day,  F.S.A.,  President,  Cork  His- 
torical and  Archaeological  Association. 

E.  Perceval  Wright,  M.D. 
W.  J.  Knowles,  M.R.I.A. 

F.  Elrington  Ball,  M.A. 


PROCEEDINGS.  189 

After  the  banquet  the  Chairman  gave  first  the  toast  of  Her  Majesty  the 
Queen.  He  said : — The  first  toast  which  I  have  to  give  you  is  one  usually 
given  without  any  prefatory  remarks  or  words  of  commendation,  as  it 
requires  none  amongst  her  Majesty's  loyal  subjects.  It  is  the  toast  of  the 
Queen.  From  the  general  rule  to  which  I  have  referred  I  do  not  intend  to 
depart,  except  to  say  that  this  Society  has  received  on  several  occasions 
distinctive  recognition  from  her  Majesty.  We  bear  the  title  Royal 
through  her  permission — a  permission  given  as  soon  as  the  labours  of 
the  Society  were  extended  to  all  Ireland.  We  celebrate  this  evening 
our  jubilee,  yet  at  the  time  our  Society  was  formed  her  Majesty  had 
been  on  the  throne  for  more  than  ten  years.  We  have  been  born  and 
have  grown  up  to  jubilee  "age  under  her  beneficent  sway.  We  have 
never  known  any  other  ruler,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  join  with  me  in 
wishing  her  a  lengthened  prolongation  of  her  days,  and  as  she  lias  already 
surpassed  all  her  predecessors  in  the  length  of  her  reign,  she  may  do  so 
also  in  the  length  and  greatness  of  that  life  with  which  it  has  pleased 
God  to  bless  her. 

The  Chairman  then  gave  the  toast  of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and  the 
rest  of  the  Royal  Family.  Both  toasts  were  enthusiastically  honoured.  ' 

The  Chairman  next  gave  the  toast  of  the  Lord  Mayor  and  City  of 
Dublin.  He  need  hardly  say  that  that  was  one  of  the  most  ancient 
cities  of  the  United  Kingdom.  It  could  point 'back  to  a  reference  in 
history  as  far  as  history  went.  Dublin  was  mentioned  in  history 
centuries  before  St.  Patrick  planted  Christianity  in  this  island.  So  far 
as  antiquity  was  concerned,  there  could  be  no  comparison  instituted 
between  Dublin  and  any  other  city  in  Ireland.  It  possessed  also  charters 
of  great  antiquity.  Immediately  after  the  Anglo-Norman  rule  was 
established  in  this  country  a  charter  was  given  to  the  City  of  Dublin. 
Not  only  in  the  city,  but  all  the  surrounding  districts,  there  was  very 
much  to  occupy  the  attention  of  antiquaries.  The  gentleman  who  now 
so  worthily  occupied  the  position  of  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  City  of 
Dublin  had  constantly  associated  himself  with  every  movement  that  he 
considered  to  be  for  the  benefit  of  Ireland  and  its  capital  city.  N?pj 

The  Lord  Mayor,  in  reply,  thanked  The  0' Conor  Don  for  the  kind 
references  that  he  had  made  to  him.  He  desired  to  mention  the  interest- 
ing fact  that  the  Mansion  House  Fund  for  the  relief  of  distress  in  the  West 
of  Ireland,  which  had  been  referred  to  by  The  O'Conor  Don,  had  now 
amounted  to  £1000.  But  for  the  liberal  sums  contributed  by  Manchester 
and  Liverpool,  and  other  English  cities,  numerous  deaths  from  starvation 
mast  have  already  taken  place  in  Ireland. 

The  Lord  Mayor,  again  rising,  said  he  had  been  honoured  with  the 
duty  of  proposing  the  toast  of  "  The  President  of  the  Royal  Society  of 
Antiquaries,"  a  sentiment  which  it  would  require  both  an  orator  and  an 
historian  to  do  justice  to.  Neither  of  these  qualities  did  lie  possess,  and 
.therefore  he  could  not  suitably  picture  to  them  the  many  notable  deeds  in 

JOUR.  U.S.A. I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  II.,  5TH  SER.  P 


190  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

the  history  of  this  land  which  the  family  of  The  0' Conor  Don,  from  the- 
fifth  century  to  the  present  time,  had  performed.  The  0' Conors  had 
always  been  foremost  in  every  good  work,  and  no  member  of  the  race 
had  taken  a  more  prominent  part  in  all  movements  which  had  for  their 
object  the  promotion  of  the  best  interests  of  Ireland  than  the  present 
representative  of  the  noble  house,  the  President  of  this  Society. 

The  0' Conor  Don  said — My  Lord  Mayor,  my  lords,  and  gentlemen,  I 
do  not  know  what  other  speakers  may  experience  when  called  upon  to 
return  thanks  to  a  toast  with  which  .their  names  are  coupled,  but  for 
myself,  I  may  say  that  no  duty  in  the  line  of  public  speaking  is  to  me 
more  difficult.  This  difficulty,  it  is  true,  is  on  the  present  occasion  greatly 
lessened  by  the  fact  that  the  toast  with  which  my  name  is  associated  is 
so  wide  in  its  application  that  the  personal  element  connected  with  it  is 
almost  obliterated.  At  the  same  time,  I  cannot  but  express  my  regret 
that  someone  more  capable  of  adequately  dealing  with  this  toast  than  I 
am  should  not  now  occupy  the  position  which  I  hold.  The  toast  that 
has  been  given  is  the  toast  of  the  Association  whose  jubilee  we  celebrate 
this  evening,  and  in  responding  to  it  I  cannot  forget  that  in  the  main  I 
have  to  reply  on  behalf  of  those  who  have  preceded  us  and  those  to  whose- 
labours  and  exertions  we  are  indebted  for  being  able  to  meet  here  to-day. 
This  Association,  as  you  are  all  aware,  was  founded  fifty  years  ago.  It 
had,  like  many  other  kindred  societies,  a  very  small  beginning.  &  few 
gentlemen  met  in  a  private  room  in  Kilkenny,  and  there  decided  to  form 
a  Society  of  an  antiquarian  character,  having  for  its  object  the  examina- 
tion and  preservation  of  the  many  ancient  remains  which  still  existed  in 
their  country.  The  sphere  of  their  labours  was  originally  very  limited. 
They  proposed  to  deal  merely  with  Kilkenny  and  the  surrounding 
counties,  and  for  many  years  membership  of  the  Society  was  mainly 
participated  in  by  residents  in  those  districts.  The  Society  once  formed, 
its  aspirations  rapidly  grew,  other  districts  were  included  within  its- 
operations,  and  it  was  soon  felt  that  even  its  title,  "The  Kilkenny 
Archaeological  Association/'  did  not  aptly  describe  what  it  had  under- 
taken. Extending  to  Waterford,  Wexford,  Caiiow,  and  Cork,  it  became 
the  South-east  of  Ireland  Archaeological  Association,  and  a  little  later,  in 
1869,  it  embraced  the  whole  country,  and  with  her  Majesty's  gracious 
permission,  took  the  title  of  "The  Royal  Historical  and  Archaeological 
Association  of  Ireland,"  a  name  subsequently  altered  for  sake  of  brevity 
into  that  now  borne,  namely,  "  The  Eoyal  Society  of  Antiquaries  of 
Ireland." 

It  would  be  out  of  place  in  an  after-dinner  speech  to  enter  into  a 
detailed  account  of  the  progress  and  proceedings  of  the  Society  since  its 
formation,  but  in  responding  to  the  toast  which  has  been  so  kindly  and 
sympathetically  proposed,  it  is  impossible,  as  I  have  said,  to  forget,  and 
it  would  be  a  crime  to  slur  over  over  the  services  of  its  founders.  Fifty 
years  lu»ve  gone  by  rince  its  formation,  and  not  one  of  the  original 


^bcEEMMs;^  191 


founders  have  survived  to  take"  part  in  this  jubilee.  They  have  all  passed 
away,  but  their  memories  remain,  and  it  would  be  the  deepest  ingratitude 
not  to  recognise  that,  to  the  untiring  exertions  and  indefatigable  labours 
of  the  late  Rev.  James  Graves,  Mr.  Prim,  and  their  early  co-operators, 
the  Society  owed  it's  origin,  and  for  many  years  its  continued  existence. 
We  must  also  remember  that,  although  the  name  lias  since  dropped  out 
of  our  title,  to  the  city  of  Kilkenny  is1  due  the  credit  of  having  started 
this  association,  and  supported  it  during  the  perilous  days  of  its  early 
and  weak  infancy. 

In  responding  to  this  toast,  I  am  then  really  responding  in  the  name 
of  those  who  made  the  Society  what  it  is,  and  it  is  to  them  and  not  to 
us  that  any  praise  or  thanks  is  due.  We  are  the  Society  of  Antiquaries 
of  Ireland.  But  what  is  an  antiquary?  I  will  riot  attempt  to  give  an 
accurate  definition.  An  antiquary  is  sometimes  represented  as  a  well- 
intentioned,  harmless,  but  foolish  old  gentleman,  ready  to  swallow  any 
ridiculous  tale  that  may  be  told  to  him,  and  ready  also  to  place  the  most 
far-fetched  interpretations  upon  any  marks  or  inscriptions  that  may  be 
founcl  upon  any  remnants  of  antiquity.  The  credulity  of  the  antiquary, 
and  the  mistakes  into  wliich  a  false  zeal  has  led  so  many  followers  of 
antiquarian  lore,  has  been  made  the  subject  of  the  keen  wit  and  satire,  of 
many  of  our  best  writers  of  fiction.  No  doubt  there  has  often  been 
some  justification  for  this.  It  is  hard  to  take  up  the  study  of  the  past 
"without  forming  some  fixed  ideas  with  regard  to  it.  Once  .formed  those 
ideas  dominate  all  investigations,  and  illegible  inscriptions,  detached 
letters,  unintelligible  marts  or  symbols,  are  all  forced  into  the  service 
of  the  theory  implanted  in  the  mind  of  the  investigator,  and  they  are  all 
twisted  and  turned,  and  added  to  in  order  to  show  that  they  really  are 
what  he  thinks  they  ought  to  be,  rather  than  what  an  unbiassed  exami- 
nation might  prove  them  to  be.  Hence  ludicrous  mistakes  are  sometimes 
made,  and  the  science  of  archeology,  if  I  may  call  it  a  science,  is  dis- 
credited. These  blunders,  and  the  discredit  connected  with  them,  are 
not,  however,  peculiar  to  archaeology,  they  are  common  almost  to  every 
human  investigation,  but  the  whole  study  is  not  on  this  account  to  be 
condemned,  or  its  votaries  to  be  regarded  as  visionaries,  running  after  fads 
and  theories  utterly  useless  to  mankind.  A  nation  that  treads  insolently 
upon  the  past  is  not  likely  to  create  much  for  the  future.  "We  have  a 
great  deal  to  learn  from  an  investigation  of  the  past.  We  have  a  country 
rich  in  ancient  remains,  until  lately  little  explored.  We  have  a  country 
in  which  ancient  monuments  abound,  notwithstanding  the  destruction 
which  civil  wars,  want  of  knowledge,  and  the  ever  mouldering  hand  of 
time  have  accomplished  ;  and  the  objects  of  our  association  are  to  spread 
knowledge  in  regard  to  these  monuments,  to  excite  interest  in  them,  and 
thereby  to  stay  their  destruction.  During  our  fifty  years  of  existence 
have  we  done  anything  worth  recording  towards  the  accomplishment  of 
these  objects  ?  This  is  a  question  which  may  be  very  fairly  asked  on  an 

P2 


192  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

occasion  like  the  present.  The  journals  published  by  the  Society  might 
he  considered  a  sufficient  answer  to  this  inquiry.  In  these  journals  an 
immense  amount  of  information,  collected  with  great  care,  will  he  found 
on  all  those  topics  with  which  antiquarians  deal.  These  volumes,  now 
numbering  twenty-eight,  contain  not  only  minute  descriptions  arid 
histories  of  the  various  monuments  found  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
but  also  striking  illustrations  of  the  most  important  amongst  them. 
Our  members  then  have  not  been  idle,  and  in  examining  and  illustrating 
what  they  have  found  they  have  done  a  great  deal  towards  their  preser- 
vation. To  ignorance  and  to  ignorance  alone  we  must  attribute  much 
of  the  havoc  and  destruction  of  former  days,  and  by  spreading  a  know- 
ledge of  these  ancient  monuments,  and  by  creating  an  interest  in  them 
we  go  a  long  way  towards  securing  their  preservation,  and  even  should 
they  perish,  as  everything  human  perishes,  their  loss,  as  was  once  said  by 
an  eminent  authority,  will  not  be  so  great  when  they  have  been  accurately 
described  in  a  record  which  remains. 

But  the  exertions  of  this  Society  have  not  been  confined  to  this 
indirect  though  extensive  method  of  preservation.  To  enumerate  all 
that  it  has  done  in  the  way  of  direct  preservation  would  take  too  long, 
but  I  may  nevertheless  mention  a  few  examples.  Before  the  public 
mind  became  alive  to  the  importance  of  preserving  our  ancient  monu- 
ments, and  before  Parliament  had  voted  any  money  for  this  purpose,  our 
Society  was  actively  in  the  field,  and  important  works  at  Jerpoint  Abbey, 
at  the  Franciscan  monastery  in  Kilkenny,  at  Monasterboice,  Glendalough, 
and  Clonmacnoise,  were  undertaken.  Upon  these  restorations  and  pre- 
servations the  labours  and  funds  of  the  Society  were  freely  expended, 
and  I  may  be  permitted  to  mention  that  in  carrying  them  out  we  had- the 
valuable  professional  assistance  of  my  predecessor  in  this  chair,  Mr. 
Drew,  who  in  this  labour  of  love,  I  need  scarcely  say,  acted  gratuitously. 

The  example  thus  set  had  also  other  far-reaching  effects,  and 
influenced  a  number  of  proprietors  who  had  monuments  on  their  estates 
to  take  an  interest  in  their  preservation. 

But  the  work  of  the  Society  did  not  end  here.  Public  attention  was 
directed  by  it  to  what  was  done  in  other  countries,  and  Parliament  at 
length  recognised  that  the  State  has  duties  in  connexion  with  this 
subject  and  the  Ancient  Monuments  Protection  Act  became  law. 

Such  has  been  some  of  the  work  of  the  Society  during  the  last  half 
century.  Starting  in  its  first  year  with  150  members  mainly  drawn 
from  the  district  round  Kilkenny,  it  now  numbers  1400  members  from 
all  parts  of  Ireland.  Every  county  is  represented  in  its  body,  meetings 
have  been  held  in  every  province,  and  Papers  and  addresses  have  been 
read  illustrative  of  the  antiquities  scattered  everywhere  throughout 
Ireland.  Further,  a  system  of  excursions  to  different  localities  possess- 
ing objects  of  antiquarian  interest  has  of  late  years  been  successfully 
organised  with  the  most  happy  results.  Through  means  of  these  visits 


PROCEEDINGS.  193 

to  the  different  localities,  members  have  been  able  to  see  for  themselves 
the  various  objects  of  interest,  to  examine  them  personally,  and  thereby 
to  acquire  a  knowledge  which  no  amount  of  book -reading  could  impart. 
I  think  I  may  also  claim  for  these  excursions  even  wider  and  higher 
advantages.  In  these  investigations  into  the  past  history  of  our  country 
all  can  join.  These  excursions  are  participated  in  by  persons  of  all 
classes  and  creeds,  and  belonging  to  the  different  races  which  constitute 
modern  Ireland.  We  are  all  proud  of  belonging  to  the  one  country  ;  we 
are  proud  of  discovering  how  ancient  and  progressive  the  civilisation  of 
that  country  was,  and  we  can  all,  Avithout  feelings  of  hostility,  help  in 
elucidating  its  history.  We  start  when  investigating  that  history,  at 
periods  anterior  to  all  the  rivalries  and  differences  of  race  and  religion 
which  in  modern  days  have  separated  us  so  long.  We  can  all,  whether 
Catholic  or  Protestant,  and  no  matter  what  our  descent,  approach  the 
examination  of  the  ancient  remains  which  testify  to  the  early  civilisation 
of  our  country  with  one  common  interest,  with  one  common  desire  to 
preserve  them  from  destruction,  to  illustrate  their  history,  to  discover 
their  true  origin,  and  to  tind,  if  possible,  their  ancient  uses.  In  this 
investigation  persons  of  all  classes  and  creeds  and  races  can  cordially 
join,  and  joining  in  it  a  fellow-feeling  grows  up  amongst  them.  They 
recognise  that  they  have  a  common  bond  of  union ;  that,  however 
separated  by  political  or  religious  differences,  they  are  all  inhabitants  of 
the  one  country,  and  that  whatever  redounds  to  the  credit  or  advantage 
of  that  country  must  be  to  them  a  matter  for  mutual  congratulations. 
This,  to  my  mind,  is  one  of  the  most  important  results  of  our  association. 
I  am  happy  in  thinking  that,  notwithstanding  temporary  ebullitions 
which  unfortunately  still  occur,  the  bitter  feuds  and  animosities  of  past 
ages  are  surely  dying  out.  We  have  but  to  look  round  this  table  to 
obtain  conclusive  proof  of  this.  Here  we  find  men  of  the  most  different 
politics,  different  races,  and  different  creeds  sitting  together  at  ono 
festive  board  utterly  oblivious  of  those  differences.  The  majority  o  the 
members  of  this  association  belong,  I  believe,  to  a  different  creed,  and 
are  descended  from  a  different  race  from  that  to  which  I  belong,  yet  1 
have  been  unanimously  elected  as  their  President,  whilst  you,  my  Lord 
Mayor,  representing,  if  I  may  venture  to  say  so,  the  extreme  of  different 
politics  from  those  of  the  majority  of  our  members,  are  our  principal, 
most  honoured,  and  most  welcome  guest  this  evening.  Here,  in  truth, 
we  know  no  politics,  no  differences  of  race  or  religion.  In  our  investi- 
gations and  our  excursions  we  have  the  same  ends  and  objects,  we  are 
brought  together  in  one  common  brotherhood,  and  who  will  have  the 
hardihood  to  say  that  this  unison  of  feeling  and  of  purpose  is  not  deserv- 
ing of  the  highest  commendation  ?  Apart,  then,  from  all  our  antiquarian 
ends  and  aims  and  discoveries,  this  association  is,  I  say,  deserving  of  the 
most  general  support  from  the  fact  that  it  brings  Irishmen  together  on  a 
common  platform,  that  it  makes  us  know  each  other,  and  knowing  each 


194        ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

other  respect  each  other,-  that  it  gives  us  something  to  work  at  in  which 
we  take  a  common  interest,  and  it  teaches  us  that  having  united  in  this 
we  might  perhaps  profitably  unite  in  many  other  enterprises.  I  thank 
you  then,  my  lords  and  gentlemen,  for  the  manner  in  which  you  have 
received  this  toast.  I  thank  yon  on  my  own  behalf,  and  I  thank  you  on 
behalf  of  the  Society  for  which  I  have  the  honour  to  be  President.  I 
may  be  permitted  to  conclude  with  the  words  of  one  "  who  loved  his 
land  with  love  far  brought  out  irom  the  storied  past,"  .;  ; 

""  "What 'matter  though  at  different  shrines 

We  pray  unto  one  God, 
What  matter  that  at  different  times 
Our  fathers  won  this  sod. 

•  •/.  •       .,  it1.. ..';  :•','•'.:  ::.'  :"  •'":' '-.? 

In  fortune  and  in  name  we're  bound 

By  stronger  links  than  steel, 
And  neither  can  be  safe  or  sound 
But  in  the  other's  weal. 

',  .......         .,,*'.!,  -  '  .  <  ."'"    ' -'.'!(;•' 

And,  oh,  it  were  a  gallant  deed 

To  show  unto  mankind 
How  every  race  and  every  creed 

Can  he  by  love  combined . 

Can  he  combined  yet  not  forget 

The  fountains  whence  they  rose, 
As  filled  by  many  a  rivulet 

The  stately  Shannon  flows. 

Then  start  not  Irish-horn  man 

If  you're  to  Ireland  true, 
We  heed  not  race,  nor  creed,  nor  clan, 

We've  hearts  and  hands  for  you." 

The  President  then  gave  the  toast  of  "Our  Guests,"  coupling  with 
it  the  name  of  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Belfast,  as  representing  a  city  of 
remarkable  progress ;  if  it  did  not  boast  of  ancient  monuments,  and 
though  feelings  there  were  accentuated  through  ancient  prejudices,  he 
hoped  that  prejudice  would  soon  pass  away. 

The  Lord  Mayor  of  Belfast  responded,  and  complimented  The 
0' Conor  Don  on  the  taste  and  eloquence  which  he  had  displayed  in  his 
speech.  It  was  fitting  that  Ireland  should  have  an  ancient  and  a 
modern  city,  and  as  representing  the  modern  city,  he  regretted  the 
animosities  which  existed  owing  to  religion,  which,  he  hoped,  would 
soon  pass  away.  At  any  rate,  he  was  anxious  and  ready  to  do  all  in  his 
power  to  bring  creeds  and  classes  together,  and  to  sink  prejudices,  and 
unite  for  the  benefit  of  their  common  country.  Belfast  was  an  elysiuni 
for  the  working  classes,  boasting  as  it  does  the  largest  shipbuilding 
yard  in  the  world,  giving  employment  to  7000  men ;  not  to  speak  of  the 
staple  industry  of  Ulster,  the  linen  trade,  and  also  the  largest  rope 


PROCEEDINGS.  195 

manufactory  in  the  world.  There  was,  therefore,  plenty  of  employ- 
ment, and  every  working-man  had  a  house  of  his  own.  Belfast  had 
also  extended  its  borders,  and  now  had  an  area  of  16,000  acres,  and  a 
population  of  350,000  inhabitants.  Dublin  ought  to  follow  suit,  and  he 
believed  that  the  extension  of  its  boundaries >  resulting  in  a  greater 
Dublin,  would  be  highly  advantageous.  He  for  his  own  part  would 
always  ieel  pleasure  in  doing  what  he  could  to  promote  the  best  interests 
of  the  country,  arid  from  the  speech  of  The  6 'Con or  Don,  he  would 
henceforth  take  particular  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  Royal  Society 
•of  Antiquaries,  which  was  doing  useful  and  patriotic  work. 

Mr.  J.  R.  Garstin,  v.p. B.I. A.,  in  proposing  "Sister  Societies," 
said  : — 

Since  this  toast  was  committed  to  my  charge,  just  before  dinner,  I 
have  been  endeavouring  to  resolve  three  problems  connected  with  it,  and 
during  the  moments  I  could  snatch  from  enjoying  the  converse  of 
pleasant  company,  and  admiration  at  the  beautifully-designed  menu,  I 
excogitated  solutions  which  I  venture  to  submit.  My  first  difficulty 
was  to  divine  why  I  was  selected  to  propose  this  toast.  I  have  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  it  was  because  I  am  probably  the  most  unsuitable 
person  at  this  banquet,  being  the  only  one  who  is  a  Fellow  of  both  the 
other  Societies  of  Antiquaries,  great  although  not  "Royal,"  which,  in 
the  island  adjacent  to  that  we  live  in,  hold  the  same  place  for  England 
and  Scotland  which  ours  here  occupies.  It  may  have  been  supposed 
that  for  that  very  reason  I  might  be  expected  to  perform  the  function 
allotted  to  me  with  all  the  keener  zest  that  arises  from  being  an 
interested  party.  I  cordially  acquiesce,  but  this  being  a  personal 
matter,  it  must  be  pursued  no  farther. 

The  next  problem  which  perplexed  me  arose  from  the  wording  of  the 
toast.  Why  should  "  sister  "  supplant  "brother"  as  applied  to  Societies 
composed  mainly,  if  not  wholly,  of  gentle-men  ?  I  prefix  the  qualifying- 
adjective,  for  now  that  women  no  longer  exist,  even  when  "new,"  and 
"ladies"  take  their  place  everywhere,  it  is  time  for  the  stronger,  or 
sterner  sex,  to  claim  at  least  that  gentleness  which  might  else  be 
appropriated  by  the  ladies.  I  had  noticed  with  concern,  in  the  pro- 
gramme which  accompanied  our  magnificent  dinner-card,  that  ladies 
were  to  be  admitted  to  the  gallery  two  hours  after  the  beginning  of  the 
banquet;  they  were  presumably  not  to  be  tantalized  by  watching  the 
lions  feeding  (while  themselves  restricted  to  the  extremes  of  hot  tea  or 
cold  ice),  but  were  to  be  allowed  to  hear  the  lions  roaring,  after  their 
food,  being  protected  by  an  intervening  iron  grille.  Such  was  the 
theory,  but  practice,  as  in  many  matters  feminine,  proved  that  though 
man  may  propose,  it  is  woman  who  disposes.  I  watched  the  goodly 
galaxy  of  ladies,  not  to  say  "goddesses,"  who  surveyed  our  arrival,  but 
as  time  and  dinner  went  on,  I  noticed  a  flank  movement,  which  indicated 


196          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

that  speaking  "to  the  gallery"  would  be  illusory.  Its  occupants  have- 
descended  in  force.  We  have  witnessed  a  veritable  Invasion  of  the 
Dames.  They  occupy  a  commanding  position,  which  we  should  be 
afraid  to  face  if  not  fortified  by  some  such  concession,  or  flag  of  truce, 
as  evidently  prompted  our  prescient  dinner  committee  in  placing  in  the 
forefront  of  this  toast  a  recognition  of  ladies'  rights,  avoiding  the  terms 
"kindred"  and  "  brother" — now  monopolised  by  Americans — and 
adopting  the  softer  and  assonant  adjective  ''sister." 

My  third  cause  for  cogitation  was  the  consideration  of  the  reason 
why  we  are  now  assembled  here.  What  magic  is  there  in  multiples  of 
ten  which,  applied  to  anniversaries,  leads  us  to  celebrate  jubilees  and 
centenaries  ?  I  had  observed,  with  sympathy,  only  yesterday,  that  an 
eminent  ecclesiastic  in  England  demurred  to  the  proposed  celebration  of 
the  five  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  death  of  Chaucer.  This  very  day 
I  noticed  that  other  prominent  ecclesiastics  were  assembled  in  Dawson- 
street  in  honour  of  the  two  hundredth  anniversity  of  an  English  Society 
(which  has  a  little  Irish  sister).  Pondering  on  the  cause  of  such,  I 
concluded  that — paradoxical  as  it  may  appear — it  was  to  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  mankind  in  general  were  formed  with  ten  fingers.  Thus 
originated  the  decimality  of  our  numeration,  and  thence  the  popularity 
of  our  centenaries  and  jubilees.  If  our  ancestors  possessed  twelve 
fingers,  our  numeration  would  be  duo-decimal,  and  we  should  not  be 
here  to-night !  True  the  law,  in  fixing  21  as  the  age  when  "infancy" 
ceases,  seems  to  favour  a  multiple  of  seven,  and  there  is  probably 
support  for  it  from  physiological  considerations,  for  it  has  been  alleged 
that,  in  every  seven  years,  every  particle  of  the  body  is  renewed.  At 
all  events,  the  periods  termed  childhood,  boyhood,  and  manhood,  seem 
to  end  at  the  ages  of  7,  14,  and  21.  This  topic  of  age  is  one  which  it  is 
better  not  to  pursue  further  before  such  an  audience,  so  I  shall  only 
express  the  belief  that,  though  the  age  of  fifty  probably  coincides  with  the 
average  "  prime  "  of  life,  yet  in  the  case  of  our  Society  of  Antiquaries, 
its  own  growing  antiquity  may  only  result  in  increasing  wisdom,, 
usefulness,  and  activity. 

And  now  to  come  to  the  toast  which  it  is  my  function  to  commend 
to  you.  I  know  not  what  is  the  greatest  number  of  sisters  allotted  to 
any  human  being,  but  I  am  conscious  that  our  sister  societies  are  quite 
too  numerous  to  mention.  So  I  conclude  that  we  contemplate  only  in  a 
general  way,  those  in  foreign  lands,  or  the  colonies  of  our  own  Empire,  and 
I  propose  to  refer  now  only  to  the  chief  of  those  within  the  limits  of  the 
United  Kingdom.  And,  firstly,  as  to  these  two  great  Societies  to  which 
I  have  already  adverted — those  having  a  name  similar  to  our  own.  I 
regret  that  we  have  not  some  official  spokesman  from  each  present.  The 
Society  of  Antiquaries  of  London  has  evinced  its  interest  in  the  antiqui- 
ties in  this  country  by  frequently  publishing  Papers  relating  thereto,  and 
recently  they  published  and  splendidly  illustrated  the  description  of  the- 


.PROCEEDINGS.   ,  197 

gold  objects  found  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  which  have  attracted  much 
public  concern  on  this  side  of  the  channel.  I  had  the  honour  of  inter- 
viewing the  Secretary  of  the  Antiquaries  about  them,  and  I,  will  only 
venture  to  say  that,  though  his  Jiigh  appreciation  of  such  objects  may 
be  complimentary  to  Ireland,  the  National  Museum  in  Dublin  is  a 
more  legitimate  resting-place  for  them,  and  having  reason  to  believe 
that  the  Government  shares  this  view,  we  hope  to  welcome  their  return 
ere  long. 

The  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland  (now  aged  ,about  120)  almost 
rivals  the  London  Society  and  our  own  Academy,  in  the  excellence  of 
its  publications.  It  is  not  officially  represented  here  to-night,  but  we 
have  present  a  distinguished  Honorary  Fellow,  Dr.  Frazer,  and  we  have 
also  a  very  welcome  letter  from  its  well-known  Secretary,  Dr.  Robert 
Munro,  to  our  own  Secretary,  which  J  am  proud  to  have  the  privilege 
of  quoting  for  you  : — 

11  Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on  the  continued  activity  and  success  of  your 
Society.  Ireland  is  exceptionally  rich  in  all  departments  of  Anthropology — 
linguistic,  ethnological,  and  antiquarian — and  however  great  your  progressive 
strides  may  be,  it  will  take  many  years  to  overhaul  the  materials  «t  your  disposal. 
While  the  Jubilee  Meeting  is  a  fitting  opportunity  for  taking  stock  of  the 
;  .principles  and  methods  of  your  Society,  as  a  going  concern,  I  hope  it  will  be  the 
means  of  giving  it  a  fresh  stimulus  to  its  leaders  and  workers,  and  of  consider- 
ably adding,  in  the  near  future,  to  the  splendid  results  already  achieved. 
Without  undue  flattery,  I  consider  your  Society,  both  in  organization  and 
Archaeological  efficiency,  second  to  none  in  Europe." 

Coming  now  to  our  own  country,  it  will  be  proper  to  refer  briefly, 
but  somewhat  more  particularly,  to  the  Societies  which  are  at  work 
under  greater  difficulties  perhaps,  but  with  at  least  equal  zeal.  And 
first  to  notice  two,  which  may  be  termed  country  societies — the  Kildare 
and  the  Waterford.  Both  have  availed  themselves  of  the  Press  to  diffuse 
a  knowledge  of  their  local  researches,  and  the  Journal  of  the  Kildare 
Archceological  Society  has  kept  up  to  so  high  a  standard,  that  it  will  be 
hard  to  surpass,  and  not  easy  to  sustain  it. 

Belfast  and  Cork,  the  capitals  of  north  and  south,  each  works  in  its 
own  way.  The  latter  has  its  own  Society,  which  continues  to  produce 
(though  now  as  a  quarterly  instead  of  a  monthly)  a  Journal  which,  in 
point  of  cheapness  and  excellence  alike,  could  scarcely  be  surpassed. 
Many  of  the  members  are  old  friends  of  our  Society,  and  its  President, 
Mr.  Robert  Day,  has  written  to  express  his  congratulations  on  our  jubilee 
in  terras  so  interesting,  that  if  it  were  not  for  the  presence  of  our 
Secretary,  Mr.  Cochrane,  whose  laudation  is  his  chief  topic,  I  would 
gladly  read  it. 

Though  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  Cork  is  not  otherwise  specially 
represented  here  to-night,  we  rejoice  to  have  amongst  us  a  goodly 
muster  from  Belfast,  headed  by  Mr.  Henderson,  its  worthy  Lord  Mayor, 


198  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

who,  perhaps,  relishes  the  cooler  atmosphere  of  the  capital  presided  over 
by  his  brother  Lord  Mayor  of  Dublin,  whose  splendid  collar  and  medal- 
lion of  William  III.  (which  this  year  claimed  its  bi-centenary)  he 
probably  regards  with  complacent  envy.  His  Lordship  of  Belfast  may 
pride  himself  in  presiding  over  a  municipal  museum,  and  there  is  also  a 
museum  belonging  to  a  Society  which,  though  friendly  to  antiquarian 
studies,  is  mainly  given  to  those  which  claim  the  exclusive  designation 
of  scientific.  Local  enterprise  has  revived  that  admirable  serial,  the 
Ulster  Journal  of  Archaology,  and  for  awhile  the  same  enterprise  supplied 
the  craving  for  antiquities  by  manufacturing  them  de  novo. 
.  Last,  but  the  reverse  of  least,  of  the  more  strictly  kindred  Societies 
of  Ireland,  is  our  venerable  Royal  Irish  Academy,  of  which  I  fear  to 
speak,  lest  I  might  say  too  much  or  too  little.  Its  Royal  Charter 
included  Science  in  its  domain,  yet  it  has  not  only  ever  zealously 
cultivated  Antiquities  itself,  but  it  opened  its  portals  this  day  to 
welcome  our  Society,  and  provide  it  with  a  suitable  place  of  meeting. 
Its  ndble  President  honours  our  banquet  with  his  presence.  Lorft  Rosse, 
as  Chancellor  of  Dublin  University,  is  also  welcome  in  every  assembly  of 
men  of  culture — and  he  holds  the  position  which  his  father  established  in 
the  field  of  science.  He  is  here  to  respond  for  the  Academy. 

Other  Societies  there  are  which,  if  not  quite  so  sisterly  in  their 
pursuits,  must  not  be  forgotten.  The  Royal  Dublin  Society  would 
command  the  interest  of  uny  Society  of  Antiquaries  on  account  oi  its 
having  attained  a  venerable  antiquity,  though  combined  with  rejuven- 
escence. Its  aspirations,  however,  are  more  in  the  direction  of  Science 
than  of  Antiquities,  and  we  dare  only  to  respectfully  recognise  it  aS'the 
pioneer  of  almost  every  useful  labour  for  the  material  benefit  of  this 
country,  particularly  in  the  department  of  Agriculture  and  Industry, 
Many  of  its  members  are  with  us  to-night,  but  its  Honorary  Secretary, 
Dr.  Joly,  is  here  to  respond  for  it. 

The  Royal  Hibernian  Academy  deserves  our  special  sympathy, 
Favoured,  like  our  own,  with  the  appellation  "Royal,"  but  scarcely 
more  favoured  by  fortune  than  we  have  been,  it  has  ever  creditably 
upheld  its  position.  Amongst  its  professors  it  includes  one  who,  from 
his  very  office,  must  almost  certainly  be  one  of  "ours."  Its  President 
and  its  Secretary  both  honour  us  with  their  presence. 

Architecture,  the  grandest  of  all  arts,  is  represented  by  the  President 
of  the  Royal  Institute  of  Architects  of  Ireland,  and  when  I  remind  you 
that  that  functionary  is  our  own  familiar  friend  and  chief,  "Tom" 
Drew,  and  that  he  is,  on  this  occasion,  also  our  poet>  you  will  await 
with  interest  his  familiar  voice  in  response. 

The  Institution  of  Civil  Engineers  of  Ireland  is  concerned  in  the 
construction  of  works  which  will  supply  problems  to  the  antiquaries  of 
coming  generations,  and  to  its  President,  Mr.  Wilson,  M.E.I. A.,  I  com- 
mend the  pleasing  task  of  answering  for  it. 


PROCEEDINGS.  199 

Considering  the  "  decimality "  of  the  hour,  and  the  number  of 
respondents  associated  with  this  toast,  I  am  warned  to  conclude,  as  I 
hasten  to  do  so.  I  cannot  resist,  however,  adding  a  postscript,  or  after- 
word, for  the  Society,  partly  in  deference  to  our  sisters  who  are  wont  to 
indulge  in  such.  You,  Mr.  President,  recalled  to  mind  the  fact  that 
our  Society,  including  the  Aniiquariesses,  numbered  some  1400.  Let 
me  remind  you  that,  at  this  Jubilee  Meeting  of  our  50th  year,  50 — 
appropriate  number— were  added  to  the  roll.  And  let  me  point  out 
that  of  that  number,  all  who  revel  in  the  higher  dignity  of  being 
"Pellows,"  hail  from  across  the  water.  This  fact  speaks  volumes  for 
the  character  of  our  volumes,  as  attracting  support  for  our  Society  in 
regions  which  are  supposed  to  be  the  exclusive  domain  of  the  Saxon. 
May  this  prove  a  happy  omen  for  pur  next  jubilee,  centenary,  or 
millennium  ! 

The  Eight  Hon.  The  Earl  of  Rosse,  P.K.I.A.,  responded  on  behalf  of 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy. 

Dr.  Joiy,  F.H.S.,  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Roy al  Dublin  Society,  in 
responding  for  that  Institution  said : — 

Mr.  President,  my  Lords,  Ladies,  and  Gentlemen — I  have  great 
pleasure  in  returning  to  you  the  thanks  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society 
for  the  toast  proposed  by  Mr.  Garstin.  I  am  sensible  of  the  honour  of 
representing  that  old  Society.  ,  The  Royal  Dublin  Society  is  indeed  now 
so  old  that  it  is  hardly  polite  any  longer  to  mention  her  age.  She  is  in 
her  16.8th  year. 

I  am  not  sufficient  of  an  antiquary  to  dwell  on  the  subject  of  her 
origin,  and  were  I  able  to  do  so,  I  would  only  be  imparting  to  the  learned 
antiquaries  present  what  they  already  know.  But  as  Trinity  College 
has  been  mentioned  by  Mr,  Garstin  (in  a  very  kind  allusion  to  my  own 
career),  I  may  mention,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  are  not  antiquaries, 
that  the  Royal  Dublin  Society  originated  within  the  walls  of  Trinity 
College. 

So  various  are  the  functions  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society,  that  one 
man  must  feel  embarrassed  in  attempting  to  speak  for  her.  I  will  not 
-attempt  to  do  so,  except  to  mention  that  her  business  is  not  with  the  past, 
-as  in  the  case  of  this  learned  Society,  but  with  the  future  and  the  present. 
We  flatter  ourselves  that  her  encouragement  of  pure  science  will  make 
itself  more  especially  felt  in  the  future :  her  work  in  agriculture  and 
applied  science  in  the  present  and  immediate  future.  Her  duties  in  the 
present  include  the  agreeable  one  of  living  in  all  friendliness  with  her 
sister  Societies. 

In  short,  gentlemen,  while  your  functions  have  led  you  to  investigate 
with  distinguished  success  the  antiquities  of  the  past,  it  is  the  part  of 
the  Royal  Dublin  Society  to  make  the  antiquities  of  the  future,  No 


200          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

higher  hope  can  be  expressed  for  lier  than  that  her  name  will  he  found 
written  on  the  monuments  of  future  years. 

I  am  confident  I  speak  the  feelings  of  her  many  members  when  I 
present  to  you  her  congratulations  on  your  success  and  on  the  attainment 
of  your  fiftieth  year,  and  her  wishes  that  you  may  celebrate  many  jubilees 
equally  auspicious. 

,Mr.  Thomas  Drewt  R.H.A.,  in  responding  for  the  Royal  Institute  of 
Architects  of  Ireland,  of  which  he  is  President,  said: —  .;  ; 

*  Mr.  President,  my  Lord  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Dublin,  of  which  I  am  a 
freeman,  my  Lord  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Belfast,  in  which  I  was  born,  and 
gentlemen — I  respond  to  this  toast  as  President  of  the  Royal  Institute 
of  the  Architects  of  Ireland  with  greater  ease  than  I  have  done  in  many 
speeches  addressed  to  the  Royal  Society  of  the  Antiquaries  of  Ireland  in 
some  years  lately  past.  It  is  true  that  for  some  three  years  I  have  had 
the  privilege,  which  I  shall  never  cease  to  regard  as  the  greatest  honour 
of  my  life,  to  fill  the  President's  chair  by  some  kind  indulgence  of  this 
great  and  honoured  Society.  If  I  have  felt  throughout  my  term  of 
office  how  little  I  was  qualified  as  a  genuine  and  thorough  antiquary  for 
such  pre-eminence,  I  have  consoled  myself  with  the  thought  that 
perhaps  at  a  certain  time  in  the  affairs  of  the  Society,  I  might  have  a 
calling  as  an  assiduous  and  practical  chairman. 

It  is  with  a  sense  of  freedom  from  the  dignity  then  borne,  that  I  can 
now  confess  how  successfully  I  may  have  concealed  in  that  chair  that  I 
was  not  quite  genuine  as  an  Jill  round  antiquary,  and  that  my  interest 
might  be  a  trifle  perfunctory  in,  say,  flint  arrow-heads,  rude  stone 
monuments,  crannoge  finds,  ogham  inscriptions,  and  cup-marked  boulders. 
I  will  say,  however,  that  where  the  paths  of  antiquarianism,  and  those 
of  my  own  proper  pursuit  of  architecture  approached  and  crossed,  no 
more  enthusiastic  antiquary  might  be  found— especially,  my  Lord  Mayor 
of  Dublin,  I  could  not  yield  to  you  in  affection  for,  and  interest  in,  the 
antiquities  of  this  ancient  city  of  Dublin,  in  which  I  have  lived  and 
studied  for  forty  years,  always  fresh  and  delightful  to  me  in  its  history, 
and  its  architecture,  which  illustrates  and  confirms  its  records.  As  an 
architect,  and  representing  the  architects  of  Ireland  simply,  I  heartily 
thank  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  for  its  recognition  on  an  historic  occasion 
of  a  Society  which  I  feel  is,  of  all  others,  intimately  connected  with  it  a& 
of  very  close  kindred. 

Mr.  W.  "W.  Wilson,  M.K.I. A.,  Fellow,  responded  on  behalf  of  the 
Institution  of  Civil  Engineers  of  Ireland,  as  President  of  that  body  : — 

0' Conor  Don,  my  Lords,  Ladies,  and  Gentlemen,  as  President  of  the 
Institution  of  Civil  Engineers  of  Ireland,  I  feel  much  pleasure  in  thank- 
ing you  for  the  cordial  reception  you  have  just  accorded  the  toast  of 
our  Institution. 


PROCEEDINGS  201 

At  this  late  hour  I  do  not  purpose  detaining:  you,  and  will  only  say 
that  I  feel  I  may  venture  to  thank  you  also  on  the  part  of  our  predeces- 
sors, I  mean  the  Engineers,  who  designed  and  huilt  those  wonderful 
fortifications,  such  as  Dun  ^Engus,  Dun  Conor,  and  Staigue  Fort,  and  for 
those  of  more  recent  times,  who  have  left  such  grand  examples  of  the 
fortified  residences  which  stud  our  country,  such  as  that  royal  one  at 
Ballintubber,  still  owned  by  the  descendant  of  a  race  of  kings,  your 
honoured  President,  who  not  long  ago  entertained  your  Society  within 
its  walls.  I  say  I  think  I  am  justified  on  the  part  of  those  Engineers  of 
old,  whose  works  are  looked  after  and  affectionately  cared  for,  chiefly 
owing  to  the  interest  such  a  Society  as  yours,  awakens  and  keeps  alive 
in  the  public  mind. 

Mr.  S.  Catterson  Smith  (Secretary,  R.  H.  A.)  responded  on  behalf  of 
the  Royal  Hibernian  Academy. 

Sir  Charles  Cnmeron  proposed  "The  Railway  Companies  of  Ireland,'* 
which  was  responded  to  by  Sir  Robert  Sexton. 
i- 

Dr.  La  louche  proposed  "The  Press,"  which  was  responded  to  by 
Mr.  J.  A.  Scott,  J.P.,  after  which  the  proceedings  terminated. 


THE  EXCURSION. 
THURSDAY,   IGth  June,   1898. 

An  Excursion,  in  connexion  with  the  Shannon  Lake  steamers,  started 
from  the  Broadstone  Terminus  of  the  Midland  Great  Western  Railway 
fit  9.15  a.m.,  for  Athlone,  arriving  there  at  12  o'clock  noon  ;  thence 
by  steamer  at  12.30  p.m.,  for  a  cruise  of  five  hours  on  Lough  Ree, 
returning  to  Athlone  at  5.30  p.m.,  for  the  6.20  p.m.  train  to  Broadstone, 
arriving  in  Dublin  at  9.30  p.m. 

About  fifty  Members  of  the  Society  embarked  at  Athlone  in  the 
steamboat  "  Countess  of  Cadogan,"  with  many  of  the  local  residents,  for 
an  excursion  on  Lough  Ree.1  The  day  was  beautifully  fine,  and,  with 
the  fresh  foliage  of  the  shores  and  wooded  islets  and  delicately  coloured 
hills  to  the  north-east  of  the  lake,  the  scene  formed  an  exquisite 
picture.  For  lack  of  time  the  party  were  unable  to  land  at  St.  John's 
Point,  so  steamed  slowly  past  the  castle,  and  other  ruins,  as  near  as  the 
shallows  allowed,  and  landed  at  Iniscleraun. 

1  The  name  bis  been  translated  "Lake  of  the  Kings";  but  in  the  "Bind 
Senchas"  (Dr.  W.  Stokes'  translation  "Revue  Celtique,"  vol.  15,  1894,  p.  481)  it 
is  there  derived  from  Kib,  son  of  Mairid,  and  a  curious  legend  of  its  origin  is  given. 
Mr.  Goddurd  Orpen  identifies  it  with  the  Eaiba  of  Ptolemy  (R.S.A.L  Journal,  1894-). 


202        ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

This  pretty  island,  'the  ancient  Inisclothrain',  and  now  known  test  as 
Quaker  Island,  contains  cbnsiderable  remains  of  at  least  five  churches. 
On  the  highest  ground,  near  the  dilapidated  fort,  or  "  Grianan,"  of 
Queen  Maeve,  is  the  interesting  church  known  as  the  "Clogas,"  from 
its  remarkable  square  tower.  The  other  structures  lie  together  sur- 
rounded by  ancient  earthworks.  They  are— "The  Church  of  the  Dead," 
a  small  oratory,  of  which  only  the  east  gable,  with  its  round-headed 
window,  is  standing.  Templemurry,  a  small  and  later  church,  in  fair 
preservation.  Templemore,  a  church  which  has  evidently  been  rebuilt ; 
the  two  lights  of  the  east  window  do  not  correspond ;  they  are  of  well- 
moulded,  late  twelfth-century  work,  and  the  south  window,  though 
possessing  inclined  jambs,  has  for  a  sill  a  stone  from  another  window. 
North  of  the  church  a  vaulted  sacristy  adjoins,  called  the  "  Duirtheach," 
a  long  range  of  residential  buildings,  and  a  cloister.  The  north  gable^ 
has  a  pretty  window  of  decorated  Gothic, 'all  but  overgrown  with  the  far 
too  luxuriant  ivy.  In  the  sacristy  lie  some  blocks,  of  a  large  chancel- 
arch  of  the  eleventh,  or  early  twelfth,  century,  with  human  heads  and 
beaded  mouldings.  Templedermot,  the  last  of  the  churches,  is  a  small 
oratory;  its  west  gable,  with  anta3  and  inclined  door,  remains.  It  is 
built  of  singularly  small  and  thin  stones.  Near  it  is  an  early  -tomb- 
stone with  Celtic  crosses  on  both  sides. 

The  steamer  then  went  down  the  eastern  side  of  the  lake,  and  passed 
Inisbofin,  with  its  venerable  church  and  interesting  later  abbey,  visited 
by  the  Society  in  1890.  From  the"  lake  All  Saints'  "Abbey"  was 
seen,  a  long  church  with  lancet  windows  in  the  south  wall,  and  a  much 
later  east  window ;  portion  of  the  conventual  buildings  are  still  stand- 
ing. Coasting  southward,  and  passing  the  picturesque  shores  of  West- 
meath,  Athlone  was  reached,  with  a  pleasant  breeze,  and  beautiful 
evening  light,  in  sufficiently  good  time  to  enable  the  party  to  examine 
the  castle  and  the  curious  gate  and  "  sheelah"  of  "Peter's  Port," 

The  arrangements  on  the  voyage,  despite  limitations  of  time  and 
space,  were  all  very  good,  and  general  satisfaction  and  enjoyment 
seemed  to  prevail.  The  Members,  of,  the  Society  were  accompanied  by 
the  President,  0' Conor  Don. 


THE   JOURNAL 


OF 


THE  EOYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUAKIES 

OF  IRELAND, 
FOR   THE  YEAR  1898. 

PAPERS  AND  PROCEEDINGS-PART  III.    THIRD  QUARTER,  1898. 


ON  NOTARIAL  SIGNS-MANUAL. 
BY  COLONEL  P.  D.  VIGORS,  A  VICE-PRESIDENT. 
[Read  JANUARY  12,  1897.] 

subject  of  Notarial  Signs-Manual  is  not  devoid  of  antiquarian 
interest,  although,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  I  helieve  I  am  correct 
in  saying  that  no  work  has  hitherto  been  published  in  Great  Britain  of 
the  nature  of  the  following  Paper,  or  in  any  way  describing  the  curious 
signs-manual  of  the  class  now  known  as  "  Notaries  Public." 

Some  twenty  years  since,  Mr.  Richard  Brooke,  F.S.A.,  published  a 
book  entitled  "Treatise  on  the  Office  of  a  Notary  of  England,"  which 
I  shall  hereafter  quote  from,  but  it  is  not  illustrated  with  any  of  the 
signs,  nor  does  he,  in  any  way,  describe  them. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Hirst,  in  the  March  number  of  the  Antiquary  for 
1893,  gives  a  brief  account  of  some  notarial  signs,  chiefly,  if  not  all, 
Roman,  of  the  13th,  14th,  and  15th  centuries,  with  six  small  examples 
(see  postea)  ;  and  within  -the  last  few  days  I  noticed  that  a  Paper  on 
"  Notarial  Marks,  in  the  Registers  of  the  Scriveners'  Company,"  has 
been  published  in  the  54th  volume  of  the  Archceologia,  by  Edwin  Presh- 
field,  LL.D.,  but  I  have  not  yet  seen  it. 

In  1475,  Notaries  were  obliged  to  accompany  the  English  army  for 
the  invasion  of  France. 

JOUR.  R.  S.A.I.  ,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  III.,  5TH  SER.  Q 


204  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

The  very  name  is  derived  from  the  Latin  word  "  notarius,"  or  one 
who  took  notes  in  writing  from  words  spoken,  and  they  appear  to  have 
nsed  symbols,  as  our  modern  shorthand  writers  do. 

They  had,  from  an  early  date,  been  attached  to  bishops  and  abbots, 
as  well  as  to  Royal  personages ;  judges  also  used  them  for  important 
documents. 

They  took  notes  in  judicial  proceedings  ;  and  I  find  it  recorded  that 
the  signature  of  one  notary  was  considered  worth  that  of  two  unskilled 
persons ;  it  is  also  stated  that  in  most  European  countries  the  notary  still 
holds  something  of  his  old  and  important  position  under  the  Canon  Law,, 
but  not  so  in  England.  Mr.  Hirst  says: — "In  the  thirteenth  century 
the  signatures  of  notaries  became  a  recognised  institution,  and  stood 
instead  of  all  other  proof"  [of  the  document  to  which  they  were 
attached]. 

They  are  said  to  correspond  to  the  "Tabellio,"  or  Tabularius,  of 
Roman  Law,  and  it  is  curious  to  find  in  a  notarial  document,  or  instru- 
ment, as  they  are  more  generally  called,  which  I  exhibit,  one  dated  "  City 
of  Dublin,  10th  June,  1768,"  and  signed  "Christ  Deey,"  Not".  Publc., 
and  bearing  his  seal  and  arms  [viz.  a  wolfs  head  erased  as  crest,  and  a 
chevron  azure  between  three  stags'  heads  erased  for  arms,  with  the  date 
(probably  that  of  his  appointment),  1754,  on  top,  and  his  name  in  full, 
and  office,  round  the  edge].  He  calls  himself  "  Notary  "  and  "  Tabellia 
Public"  by  Royal  authority,  admitted  and  sworn,  and  dwelling  in  the 
said  city  of  Dublin.  Here  we  find  the  old  Roman  word  brought  down 
to  nearly  our  own  time. 

At  one  period,  notaries  "made  all  kinds  of  legal  instruments," 
including  wills,  but  I  believe  their  present  business  is  chiefly  confined 
to  the  attesting  of  deeds  and  other  documents,  &c.,  connected  with 
"Bills  of  Exchange,"  and  affidavits  of  shipping  masters  and  sailors,  &c. 

I  find  it  mentioned  that  the  Church  of  Rome  employed  the  term 
"  chartularius "  and  notary  indifferently,  by  which  it  would  appear 
that  both  these  offices  were  formerly  synonymous. 

It  is  recorded  that  the  sermons  of  St.  Chrysostom  were  preserved  by 
shorthand  writers,  a  term,  as  I  have  already  said,  that  has  been  applied 
to  notaries,  and  we  find  them  connected  with  the  Council  of  Toledo, 
A.D.  633,  and  that  of  Hereford  in  670. 

Brooke  says  that  no  precise  date  can  be  given  to  the  first  establish- 
ment, but  that  they  were  "very  ancient."  When  writing  was  known 
only  by  a  few,  those  who  could  write  were  naturally  in  request, 
especially  in  the  preparation  of  conventions,  contracts,  and  agreements. 
In  England,  he  states,  they  were  known  before  the  Norman  Conquest; 
and  a  case  is  named  that  occurred  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Confessor. 

Previous  to  the  year  1533,  when  the  "Court  of  Faculty"  was 
established  in  England,  faculties  for  the  appointment  of  notaries  appear 
to  have  been  made  by  the  Popes. 


ON   NOTARIAL   SIGNS-MANUAL.  205 

Their  appointment  in  England,  subsequent  to  1533,  was  vested  in 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  through  the  "  Master  of  the  Faculties,'1 
now  the  Judge  of  the  Provincial  Courts  of  Canterbury  and  York,  under 
an  Act  of  King  Henry  VIII.  Subsequently  other  acts  were  passed  by 
Parliament  regulating  their  appointment  and  practice  even  as  recently 
as  in  the  early  years  of  our  present  Sovereign's  reign.  I  believe  they 
are  now  appointed,  at  least  in  this  country,  by  the  Lord  Chancellor. 

Mr.  Brooke  says  that  there  were  not  many  made  during  the  reign  of 
Queen  Mary,  but  that,  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time,  250  appear. 

In  Scotland,  previous  to  the  year  1584,  the  duties  of  notaries  were 
performed  by  the  clergy,  but  after  that  date  I  find  it  stated  that  none 
but  laymen  were  allowed  to  hold  the  office. 

Passing  to  the  Continent,  we  find  that  in  Italy,  the  city  of  Milan, 
in  1288,  had  no  less  than  600  notaries!  but  it  is  thought  that  public 
scribes  may  have  been  included  in  this  number.  It  is  stated  by 
Hallam  and  others  that,  amongst  the  notaries  of  Florence,  was  the  father 
of  the  famous  Italian  poet,  Francesco  Petrarca.  This  notary  was 
banished  from  Florence  in  1302,  at  the  same  time  as  Dante  and 
others. 

In  France  they  were  directed  to  keep  a  seal,  with  the  Royal  arms  on 
it,  and  were  divided  into  three  classes,  viz. : — 

1.  Royal  Notaries.     Acting  under  Royal  authority. 

2.  Seignorial  Notaries.     Appointed  by  the  lords  who  were  justices. 

And 

3.  Apostolic  Notaries. 

In  1791  these  three  classes  were  all  united  under  the  one  head  of 
"  Public  Notaries."  There  were  very  stringent  rules  for  their  conduct ; 
and  both  in  England  and  elsewhere  they  had  districts  assigned  to  them, 
outside  of  which  they  could  not  act. 

Most  of  the  Continental  nations  had  notaries,  and  heavy  penalties 
were  inflicted  for  using  the  office  of  a  notary  without  authority.  In 
1563,  in  Scotland,  it  was  by  law  directed  that  no  person^should  take  on 
him  the  office,  "  under  pain  of  death,"  unless  created  by  the  Sovereign's 
special  letters,  and  afterwards  examined  and  admitted  by  the  Lords  of 
Sessions. 

A  French  writer,  M.  Giry,  in  his  "  Manuel  de  Diplomatique," 
published  in  1894,  describes  notaries  as  filling  the  places,  and  perform- 
ing the  duties,  of  private  secretaries  to  kings,  princes,  and  high 
functionaries,  and  to  popes  and  bishops  from  "  almost  barbarous 
times." 

The  popes  appear  to  have  given  the  authority  to  monarchs  and  others 
to  appoint  notaries. 

In  England,  in  later  years,  they  were  obliged  to  serve  "  the  art  and 

Q2 


206  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

mystery  of  a  scrivener  "  for  seven  years  before  they  could  practise  ;  and 
those  who  acted  within  three  miles  of  London  must  be  members  of  the 
41  Company  of  Scriveners,"  or,  as  they  were  called  in  olden  times,  "  The 
Writers  of  the  Court  Letter"  of  the  city  of  London,  "  a  society  dating, 
by  prescription,  from  time  immemorial."  They  were  further  required 
to  take  out  their  freedom  of  the  city. 

I  have  experienced  some  difficulty  as  to  the  arrangement  and  classi- 
fication of  these  signs-manual,  so  varied  are  they  in  every  way — design, 
country,  and  date.  I  have  finally  arranged  them  chronologically,  that 
method  appearing  to  me  to  be  the  most  desirable  and  convenient. 

Before  entering  on  the  particular  types,  I  would  wish  to  draw 
attention  to  some  of  the  general  distinguishing  points  that  appear  to  be 
connected  with  the  divisions  of  time  under  which  I  have  placed  them. 
They  are  arranged  by  centuries,  and  commence  with  the  early  part  of 
the  twelfth  century.  I  regret  I  have  but  one  specimen  of  this  period. 

Fig.  1,  p.  207. — Its  size  is  about  seven-eighths  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 
The  date  is  1116.  It  consists  of  three  concentric  circles,  the  two  inner 
ones  having  lines,  at  right  angles,  passing  through  their  common  centre, 
with  four  "scores"  (Ogham-like  in  character)  in  the  outer  circle,  as 
shown,  opposite  the  termination  of  the  cross-lines,  and  with  a  large  dot 
in  each  segment  of  the  middle  circle. 

Of  the  thirteenth  century  I  have  fifteen  examples  (figs.  2  to  14,  p.  207  ; 
figs.  15,  16,  p.  208).  It  will  be  found  that  the  signs  of  this  century  are 
generally  much  smaller  than  those  of  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth 
centuries.  Many  of  them  are  ill-drawn,  of  very  simple  design,  and 
seldom  or  ever  have  the  name  of  the  notary  ;  some  few  bear  initials. 

The  Cross,  of  many  forms,  will  be  found  ;  also,  Triangles  of  many 
shapes ;  Flowers ;  and,  late  in  this  century,  I  find  two  instances  of 
Animals — one  being  a  dog's  head,  in  1244,  and  a  bird  in  1295,  both  from 
France.  An  eight-pointed  star,  within  a  wheel,  appears  in  1263  (fig.  5, 
p.  207).  The  date  of  fig.  4,  p.  207,  is  1233,  and  it  appears  to  be  intended 
for  a  fruit-bearing  tree. 

Another  of  this  age  (fig.  12,  p.  207),  and  far  superior  in  every  respect, 
is  that  of  John  Eeginald  de  Stamford,  Clericus,  dated  1290  (from  the 
Public  Record  Office,  London).  It  is  partly  filled  in  with  black,  and  is 
considerably  larger  than  any  other  I  have  seen  of  this  age. 

The  notaries,  in  adopting  their  signs-manual,  introduced  architec- 
ture, geometry,  botany,  heraldry,  and  fancy  designs  of  all  kinds,  some 
of  each  of  which  will  be  found  represented  in  the  illustrations  accom- 
panying this  Paper. 

I  found  the  following  detailed  description  of  the  seal  of  a  notary  of 
this  epoch,  under  date  1284.  It  is  oval,  having  a  cross  before  the 
name  thus : — 

+    S.    PETEI   DOKINIGI,    NOTAKII. 


r      0       -          , 


o 

AD     1291 


A  D    V  1291 


A  D     (290 


[      207 


X        SLIGHTLY  REDUCED 


[     208     J 


AD  I3201 
29 


[     209    ] 


AD     I36O 
ALL    THESE    ARE    SLIGHTLY    REDUCED 


[      210      ] 


AO    1380 

ALL  THESE  ARE  SLIGHTLY  REDUCED 


[     211     ] 


212  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF   IRELAND. 

The  notary  is  represented  kneeling,  his  hands  joined  together ;  he  is 
dressed  in  a  long  robe,  his  head  bare  and  upturned,  looking  at  a  star. 
Behind  him  is  a  crucifix ;  above,  a  hand  blessing.  On  the  field,  to  the 
right,  a  fleur-de-lis  ;  to  the  left,  a  rose. 

Fig.  99,  p.  227,  represents  a  sign  of  the  year  1290.  Two  links 
of  chains  (?)  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles,  having  a  square  in  the 
centre,  the  corners  filled  with  small  black  squares,  the  whole  forming 
a  cross  with  rounded  ends. 

Another  sign  of  the  same  character  (fig.  100,  page  227)  occurs 
under  date  1304.  The  two  chain-like  links  are  intertwined,  and  long 
spikes,  with  knobs  at  their  extremities,  are  introduced  at  their  inter- 
section. 

The  manner  in  which  notaries  entered  their  names  on  their  signs  is 
curious — often  only  the  initials  are  used,  and  sometimes  those  only  of  the 
Christian  name  ;  often  the  names  are  abbreviated  or  dispersed  in  dif- 
ferent portions  in  or  about  the  sign  (see  figs.  23,  28,  p.  209  ;  figs.  36,  37, 
p.  210;  fig.  43,  p.  211).  Monograms  came  into  use  in  1282;  and 
the  first  instance  I  find  recorded  of  a  notary  giving  his  profession  is  in 
1305,  but  further  search  may  alter  this  date. 

In  describing  the  notarial  signs  of  the  thirteenth  century  in 
Dauphine,  a  French  writer  speaks  of  the  general  adoption  of  the  square, 
and  of  a  star  of  six  rays,  but  very  badly  designed  ;  and  he  adds,  it  is 
evident  that  in  this  age  the  marks  are  simple,  and  very  little  orna- 
mented. 

"We  find  notarial  signs,  like  some  of  the  book-plates  one  sees,  a  play 
on  a  name  (as  in  fig.  93,  p.  226),  where  Mr.  Kidd  employs  a  goat  as  the 
chief  feature  in  his  sign.  M.  Giry  mentions  a  fowl  being  represented 
where  the  man's  name  was  Poulet ;  and  one  Pierre  Delorme  used  a  tree  (no 
doubt  the  elm,  "Forme,"  was  intended) ;  a  notary  named  "  Clocheron" 
used  four  clocks  over  his  mark  ;  another,  named  Guigaes  d'Ecclesia,  has 
a  church  with  three  bells  ;  Fra^ois  de  Bonne  used  a  bonnet  (A.D.  1362), 
and  so  on. 

M.  Giry  says  the  signs  became  more  elaborate  from  the  end  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  and  denoted  "  une  grande  habitude  de  plume." 
He  also  remarks  on  certain  writers  endeavouring  to  prove  that  these 
signs  were  made  from  stamps,  but  to  compare  the  different  signs  of 
the  same  notary,  one  with  the  other,  is  sufficient  to  find  variations 
in  them,  showing  they  were  not  the  result  of  a  stamp,  but  drawn  by 
hand. 

The  wording  of  these  notarial  documents  in  connexion  with  the 
signatures  varies,  some  used  the  letters  S.  S.  to  represent  *  subscripti ' ; 
others  uses  the  words  '  signavi,'  '  signum  inanus,'  &c. 

I  have  given  some  of  these  more  fully  in  the  extracts  from  the  docu- 
ments relating  to  the  dispute  between  Pope  Boniface  VIII.  and  King 
Philip  "lebel"  of  France,  at  the  commencement  of  the  fourteenth 


ON  NOTARIAL   SIGNS-MANUAL.  213 

century,  which  it  is  unnecessary  to   quote  here.     (See  pages  225  and 
228.) 

A  large  number  of  the  examples  I  refer  to  are  from  an  interesting 
collection  of  notarial  instruments  I  was  permitted  to  examine  and  copy 
in  the  Public  Record  Office  in  London.  Many  of  them  are  connected 
with  church  matters  in  the  different  dioceses  in  England,  but  also 
include  much  other  matter.1 

FOURTEENTH  CENTTTBY. 

The  fourteenth-century  signs  are  among  the  most  numerous  of 
those  I  have  seen.  I  have  copied  over  forty  examples.  During  this 
period,  the  size  of  notarial  signs  increased  considerably.  Again  we  find 
the  cross  of  many  forms  to  predominate,  often  surrounded  by  ornaments 
and  appendages.  Flowers,  framed  embroidery  (Iroderie  tfencadrement], 
heraldic  emblems,  parts  of  the  human  figure,  interlaced  patterns  (like 
figs.  19,  20,  p.  208;  fig.  23,  p.  209;  figs.  35,  38,  p.  210;  fig.  41, 
p.  211;  fig.  51,  p.  214),  Paraphe's,  with  flourishes  to  the  signatures, 
signs  with  squares  and  triangles,  accompanied  with  balls  and  dots,  or 
pellets,  and  large  initial  letters  (see  figs.  48,  52,  &c.,  p.  214),  appear 
to  mark  this  century. 

Steps,  varying  in  number  from  one  to  four,  will  be  seen  forming  a 
base  to  many  of  these  signs,  and  some  few  are  done  in  red  as  well  as  in 
black  ink  (fig.  22,  p.  208  ;  fig.  31,  p.  210). 

Long  lines,  stretching  out  like  the  antennae,  or  feelers  of  insects,  are 
very  numerous  (fig.  28,  p.  209;  fig.  39,  p.  211  ;  figs.  47,  49,  51,  &c., 
p.  214). 

We  have  one  example  of  the  introduction  of  the  swastica  (fig.  46, 
p.  214).  On  the  whole  I  think  it  may  be  considered  that  this  period 
produced  the  greatest  variety,  and  the  most  artistic  forms  of  notarial 
signs. 

FIFTEENTH  CENTTJHY. 

Coming  to  the  fifteenth  century,  we  find  a  beautiful  collection  of 
signs  equal,  as  regards  size,  to  those  of  the  previous  century,  and  with 
the  steps,  keys  (fig.  36,  p.  210;  fig.  41,  p.  211;  fig.  77,  p.  217), 
interlaced  work,  Ogham-like  scores,2  large  initials  (figs.  60,  61,  p.  215  ; 
figs.  65,  67,  p.  216  ;  fig.  70,  p.  217),  feelers,  balls,  and  pellets,  together 
with  the  trefoil  (figs.  62,  64,  p.  216  ;  fig.  75,  p.  217)  and  quatrefoil 
(fig.  69,  p.  216;  fig.  75,  p.  217). 

1  One  of  these  documents  is  dated  A.D.  1281,  20th  January,  and  is  described  as 
"  Instrumentum  publicum  de  sententia  definitiva  pro  terminatione  litus  inter  personam 
ecclesiee  de  Westmely  (?)  et  Canonicos  Set6  Trin8  London  de  Capella  decimus  .  .  de 
Galesln"(F). 

2  I  do  not  for  a  moment  mean  to  imply  that  there  is  any  connexion  between  these 
scores  and  those  of  the  true  Ogham  inscriptions.     I  merely  use  the  term  as  explana- 
tory. 


gB?  — 


AD   1394- 


A  D    1393 
ALL  THESE  ARE  SLIGHTLY   REDUCED 


[     214     ] 


AD   13--? 

(SLIGHTLY  REDUCED) 


AD    I4-O5 


C     215    ] 


ALL  THESE    ARE 
SLICHTLV  REDUCED 


[    216     ] 


A.O    1445 
ALL  THESE  ARE  SLIGHTLY  REDUCED 


[    217    ] 


218  ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

A  French  writer,  in  speaking  of  the  signs  of  this  century,  says  : — 
"  The  regularity  of  the  lines  made  the  signs  of  this  period  more  curious 
by'interlacings  of  all  sorts,  with  rich  and  grotesque  ornamentation  in 
abundance"  (des  arabesques  multipliers  avec profusion). 

The  same  writer  says : — "  Prom  the  end  of  the  thirteenth,  and  more 
-especially  in  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  centuries,  notaries'  signs- 
manual  were  larger  than  previously,  and  are  to  be  found  in  combination 
with  flowers,  &c.,  and  ornamentation,  showing  the  decorative  art  of  the 
age." 

The  addition  of  the  notaries'  name  in  full  to  his  sign  proper  will  be 
noticed  as  very  general.  It  is  true  it  occurs  in  some  of  the  signs  of  the 
previous  era,  as  "  John  William  de  Welfeld,  1354  (fig.  36,  p.  210);  and 
another  of  1380  (fig.  41,  p.  211) ;  and  others  towards  the  close  of  that 
century. 

Heraldic  Devices  are  said  to  have  become  less  frequent.  Many  signs 
are  partly  filled  in,  in  black,  and  what  I  have  called  the  Ogham-like 
scores,  become  rare. 

SIXTEENTH  CENTUKY. 

The  sixteenth  century  saw  large  signatures  introduced,  in  many  cases 
taking  the  places  of  the  signs,  which  latter  are  described  as  far  less 
elegant  than  those  of  the  previous  century ;  but  from  what  have  come 
under  my  own  notice — there  were  exceptions — we  still  find  nice  inter- 
laced-work  used  (fig.  90,  p.  223  ;  figs.  94,  98,  p.  226),  and  keys  and 
crosses  (fig.  95,  p.  226). 

SEVENTEENTH,  EIGHTEENTH,  AND  NINETEENTH  CENTURIES. 

Of  the  subsequent  period,  down  to  our  own  time,  I  have  not  found 
any  signs  like  those  already  spoken  of;  I  fancy  they  gradually  died  out. 
The  notaries  found  time  was  more  valuable  than  to  be  spent  in  etching 
these  marks,  which  must,  in  many  cases,  have  occupied  a  considerable 
time  to  make. 

I  have  a  number  of  their  signatures  from  Lambeth  Palace  Library, 
between  the  years  1673  and  1723,  but  they  are  devoid  of  interest. 
The  signatures  are  followed  by  the  letters  "  N.  P.,"  or  the  words 
Not8  Pub8." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hirst,  to  whom  I  have  already  alluded,  says: — "  In 
the  most  ancient  signs  no  name  appears,  but,  later  on,  an  open  space 
was  left  first,  and  the  name  was  added  with  the  pen." 

He  then  gives  the  signs  on  five  deeds.  The  first  is  dated  1487,  "die 
Sabato  duodecimo  Maii,"  and  says  the  sign  (fig.  101,  p.  227)  was 
written  first,  as  it  occupies  the  middle  of  the  right  lines  of  attestation, 
beginning,  "EtegoFormastus  .  .  .  Imperial.  .  . .  auctorit.  notarius  ..." 

The  second  deed  is  dated  1390,  and  begins,  "In  nomine  Dm  Anno 
Dni  mllmo.  ccclxxxx.  (1390)  Pope  Boniface  .  .  .  ." 


ON    NOTARIAL    SIGNS-MANUAL.  219 

This  attestation  begins,  "  Et  ego  Nicholas  X°  (Christopher?)  de 
mandate  pot.  .  .  .  publicum  signum  meum  apposui  .  .  ."  (fig.  102, 
p.  227). 

The  next  deed  bears  the  sign  (fig.  103,  p.  227),  "  Ego  Hierony- 
mus  notarius  S.  Matris  Ecclesiae,"  &c.,  and  ends,  "  publicumque  ad 
fidem  meo  signo  signari." 

A  deed,  "  apparently  of  1380,"  commencing,  "  Et  ego  Johannes  .  .  . 
de  mandate  Imperial  .  .  .  publico  meo  signo  signari,"  bears  the  sign  on 
fig.  104,  p.  227. 

The  last  deed  is  signed,  "  Et  Ego  Guido  vice  D.  .  .  .  pub.  Imperialis 
auct.  notarius  officialis  prsefata3  D.  .  .  .  potestatis  .  .  .  publicumque  sig- 
num meum  apposui  "  ;  and  has  as  sign,  fig.  105,  p.  227. 

"  It  will  be  observed  that,  of  the  above,  some  sign  themselves  notaries 
by  Imperial  authority,  one  by  Papal,  and  one  by  Episcopal.  In  fact 
Emperors,  Popes,  and  Bishops,  instituted  notaries." 

Mr.  Hirst  further  says,  that — "  In  the  thirteenth  century  there  were 
in  Rome,  and  in  the  Italy  of  the  Church,  a  great  number  of  notaries 
created  by  Apostolic  authority,  and  these  were  enabled  to  execute  deeds 
in  France,  England,  Spain,  &c."  An  oath  appears  to  have  been  adminis- 
tered to  the  notary  by  the  Pope,  the  words  of  which  are  given  by 
Mr.  Hirst. 

He  adds — "  In  ancient  times  kings,  nobles,  bishops,  and  abbots,  all 
had  one  or  more  notaries  in  their  service  "  ;  and  he  quotes  a  diploma  of 
two  kings  of  Italy  in  A.D.  942,  granting  to  the  Bishop  of  Reggio  the 
faculty  of  having  notaries. 

Fig.  106,  p.  227,  represents  the  sign  on  a  deed,  dated  "  Anno  Drii 
mill°ccxxxiiii,  and  now  in  Radcliffe  College  ;  underneath  is  written, 
"  Ego  Johannes  notarius  prodictus  interfui,  et  quod  est  supra  legitur 
de  mandate  dicto  pot.  et  dictorum  omcialum  subscripsi  et  publicavi." 

This  is  the  last  example  given  by  Mr.  Hirst. 

FOREIGN  NOTARIAL  SIGNS  (1300-1569). 

The  following  list  of  over  fifty  Notarial  Acts  is  taken  from  the 
"  Stowe  Charters"  in  the  British  Museum  (Eos.  515  to  569),  and  will 
give  an  idea  of  the  varied  matters  which  they  embrace  : — 

No. 

516.  Dated  1300.     Is  from  Mantua  ;  an  acquittance  by  Ymelda,  daughter 

of  John  of  Ungarumbas.     Concerning  Dower. 

517.  Dated  1308.     Relates  to  Bonds,  attested  by  Pietrobonis  de  Soinga. 

The  notarial  sign  is  not  worth  copying,  it  is  so  small  and  poor. 

518.  Dated  1311.     Is  with  reference  to  a  piece  of  cloth.     The  sign  is 

also  poor.     The  entire  document  is  about  6  inches  square. 

519.  Dated   1314.      Is    an    acquittance    about  Dowry  and    Marriage 

Articles.     Not  worth  copying.     (The  document  is  only  6  inches 
square.)  ,  , 

JOUR.  K. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  III.,  OTH  SEK.  U, 


220         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

No. 

520.  Dated  1330.     Prom  Brescia.     Is  an  acquittance  for  12  gold  florins 

from  a  shoemaker.     Size,  6  in.  by  3  in. 

521.  Dated  1332.     Is  also  acquittance  for  £12   dowry,  and  a  like  sum 

on  marriage. 

522.  Dated  1335.     Is  an  acquittance  for  payment  for  a  bull  and  cart 

with  four  iron-bound  wheels.  The  notarial  signs  of  the  above 
are  not  worth  copying,  and  the  same  remark  applies  to  all  the 
rest  except  where  otherwise  specially  mentioned. 

523.  Dated  1337.     From  Brescia.     An  acquittance  for  13/-  rent. 

Size  of  the  document  only  6  in.  by  4  in.  Poor. 

524.  Dated  1343.     Is  an  acquittance  for  £16.  ,, 

525.  ,,      1345.     Is  a  will  in  Latin.  ,, 

526.  ,,      1347.     Is  an  acquittance  for  £28.  ,, 

527.  „      1347.  „  „         10/-rent. 

528.  ,,      1348.     Brescia.     £10  dowry,  &c.,  ,       ,, 

529.  ,,      1348.     Acquittance  for  £4  for  land.     6  in.  by  2  in.  (fig.  108, 
p.  227). 

530.  ,,      1351.  ,,          from  an  abbess  in  Brescia. 

531.  ,,      1360.     Is,  perhaps,  the  most  interesting  of  the  entire  lot. 
It  is  the  emancipation,  by  a  Notary  Public  of  Brescia,  of  his  son 
Peter,  from  paternal  power,  Peter  being  admitted  to  the  condition 
of  a  "  pater  familias."    This  was  attested  before  a  judge  (fig.  109, 
p.  227). 

532.  Dated  1364.     Is  an  acquittance  by  two  nuns  for   14  florins  be- 

queathed to  them  by  their  married  sister. 

533.  Dated  1365.     Is  an  acquittance  for  66  golden   florins   deposited 

with  a  merchant  of  Brescia.  Attested  in  the  drapery  shop  of 
the  said  merchant. 

534.  Dated  1366.     Is  an  acquittance,  by  a  priest   of  Mantua,  for  40 

"  plate,"  due  yearly  to  the  chaplain. 

535.  Dated  1368.     Is  an  acquittance,  by  a  draper  of  Milan,  for  sums 

due  for  foreign  cloth. 

536.  Dated  1371.     Is  an  acquittance  given  in  the  great  garden  (virida- 

rium  magnum]  of  the  convent  at  Brescia. 

537.  Dated  1373.     Is  about  the  rent  of  a  house  in  Brescia. 

538.  ,,       1375.     Is  an  acquittance  by  Honorata,  daughter  of  Giraldus 
Batalia,  for  rent  of  a  house  in  Brescia  (fig.  110,  p.  227). 

539.  Dated  1376.     Is  another  of  the  same  character. 

540.  ,,      1377.  ,,  ,,  ,,     by  the  same  notary  as 
the  last  two. 

541.  Dated  1377.     Is  an  acquittance  for  £200. 

542.  ,,      1379.     Acquittance  for  rent  of  a  house  in  Brescia. 
544 


ON    NOTARIAL    SIGNS-MANUAL.  221 

No. 

545.  Dated  1385.  Acquittance  for  rent  of  two  houses  in  Brescia. 
Signed  by  Franciscus,  son  of  Benevenutus  de  Cortesius,  Notary 
of  Brescia.  His  sign  is  a  square,  sub-divided  into  four  lesser 
squares,  on  a  diamond,  with  the  first  four  letters  of  his  Christian 
name  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  square  (fig.  107,  p.  227). 

546  and  547  are  by  the  same  notary.     Of  no  interest. 

548.  Dated  1391.     Is  an  acquittance  by  an  abbot  to  Johannes  de  Tri- 

vixio,  shoemaker,  Syndic  of  the  White  Discipline  of  Laics  of 
St.  Faustinus  of  Brescia. 

549.  Dated  1392.     Is  an  acquittance  for  rent  of  two  houses. 

550.  ,,       1393.     An  acquittance  to  a  draper  of  Brescia,  Syndic  of  the 
White  Discipline  of  the  Convent  of  St.  Faustinus. 

551.  Dated  1394.     Is  a  very  curious  signature. 

552.  ,,       1395,  December  1st.     Is  an  acquittance  by  Dom  Ambrosius 
de  Crinellis,  of  Milan,  Abbot  of  St.  Faustinus,  &c.,  to  a  draper 
of   Brescia,    Syndic   of   the   White   Discipline   of  the   Laics  of 
St.  Faustinus,  for  rent  of  houses  in  Brescia,  attested  by  Torn8  de 
Zeno,  and  Jacobinus  Boyle  de  Mabiliis,  of  Aquosigno,  notaries 
of  Brescia  (in  Latin). 

This  name  of  James  Boyle  sounds  very  English.     May  he  not 
have  been  one  of  the  family  from  Hereford  or  Kent  ? 

553.  Dated    1396.      Is   an   acquittance  by   James   Boyle,   notary  (see 

fig.  54,  p.  215). 

554  and  555.  Dated  respectively  1397  and  1398,  are  signed  by  this 
man. 

556.  Dated  1399.     Is    an    acquittance    by  the  Lady  Bona  femina  de 

Torintis,  de  Brescia,  Abbess. 

557.  Dated  1400.     Is  an  acquittance  for  rent  in  Brescia,  discharge  of 

a  legacy. 

558.  Dated  1401.     Is  attested  by   two  notaries,  and  also  relates  to  a 

legacy. 

560.  Dated  1405 ;  and  a  number  of  others  are  attested  by  Thomasinus 

de  Zeno,  of  Brescia,  notary. 

561.  Dated  1405.     Is  an  acquittance  ;  and 

562.  of  the  following  year,  both  bear  the  sign  of  Tom.  de  Zeno.     The 

latter  document  is  a  discharge  of  the  Abbot  of  the  Monastery  of 
St.  Faustinus  at  Brescia,  for  a  "  white-rent,"  payable  by  the 
laity.  Query,  if  not  a  composition  in  lieu  of  punishment? 

Two  other  documents,  dated  1407,  are  of  no  interest. 
565.  Dated  1409.     Is  an  acquittance  by  a  Lady  Abbess  for  "white- 
rent." 

567.  Dated  1415.  An  acquittance  by  the  Lady  Thomasina  de  Damis, 
Abbess,  to  a  dyer  for  rent. 

K2 


AD     14-75 


[     222     ] 


AD 


ALL  THESE.  ARE  SLIGHTLY  REDUCED 


[     223     ] 


224          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

No. 

568.  Dated  1430.      Is  a  lease  for  a  year  to  a  weaver,  of  a  house  in 

Brescia.  The  name  of  the  notary,  as  in  No.  531,  is  within  the 
sign  (fig.  72,  p.  217). 

569.  Dated  1431.     Is  a  surrender,  by  a  miller,  of  his  house,  done  before 

the  altar  of  St.  Mary  Magdalene,  in  the  Church  of  St.  Faustinus 
the  Greater,  with  great  solemnity.  The  sign  on  this  is  not 
worth  copying. 

570.  Dated    1569.      Is  a  notification    of    Robert    Bonnell,    Mayor  of 

Drogheda,  with  the  seal  of  the  Mayor  and  commonalty,  and 
of  the  staple,  attached. 

The  only  other  sign  amongst  all  this  number  that  is  of  any  interest 
is  that  of  "Petrus  Clerche,"  dated  28th  September,  1412  (No.  578  of 
the  Stowe  Charters).  It  is  on  a  Latin  notarial  instrument  made  in 
London,  and  reciting  two  Bulls  of  Pope  John  XXIII.,  licensing  the 
Mother  and  Sisters  of  the  Hospital  of  the  Holy  Trinity  to  choose  a 
confessor,  &c.  I  regret  I  was  unable  to  copy  it. 

LONDON. 

A..D.  1299. — A  notarial  instrument,  dated  3rd  August,  1299,  A.  27 
Ed.  I.  Tractatus  pacis  conclusus  inter  oratores  Regum  Angliae  et  Francise. 
Treaty  of  June  19th. 

(Printed  in  the  new  edition  of  Rymer's  "Fcedera,"  vol.  i.,  Part  2, 
page  911.) 

1299. — Another  is  an  instrument  drawn  up  by  order  of  the  Bishop 
of  Yicenza,  reciting  the  Treaty  of  Montreuel  on  the  19th  June,  1299, 
between  the  Kings  of  France  and  England,  by  the  mediation  of  Raynold, 
Bishop  of  Vicenza. 

PUBLIC  RECORD  OFFICE,  LONDON. 

The  following  matters  are  mentioned  in  connexion  with  the  signs 
named : — 

1280.— This  one  is  dated  July  15th,  1280,  reciting  that  Cardinal 
Simon  witnessed  at  Lyons,  15th  April,  1275,  the  appointment,  by 
Master  Angelus,  Rector  of  the  Church  of  Haversham,  diocese  of  Lincoln, 
of  prevenators  to  receive  money  due  to  him,  and  a  pension,  &c.  London, 
8th  Ed.  I. 

1291. — This  instrument,  dated  20  Ed.  I.,  A.D.  September,  1291, 
recites  a  letter  of  Philip,  King  of  France,  dated  7th  March,  1291, 
regulating  proceedings  in  appeals,  &c.,  between  his  subjects  and  those 
of  the  King  of  England,  in  their  respective  courts. 

1299. — The  next  (fig.  16,  page  208)  is  extracted  from  Rymer's 
"Fcedera,"  1816,  vol.  i.,  Part  II.,  p.  111.  (The  signs  are  not  given  in 
this  edition,  nor  in  the  earlier  one  of  1739.) 


ON    NOTARIAL    SIGNS-MANUAL.  225 

NERIUS  APRON KLLI.— "  Compositio  per  nuncios  Anglise  et  Francise  apud  Mustroill 
de  pace  facienda  inter  ipsos  Reges  secundum  form  am  pronunciationes  domini  Papse 
coram  Episcopo  Vicentino  et  sub  sigillo  ejusdem  episcopi." 

"  Cera  albida,  litia  in  contra  sigillo,  vincul'  membran." 

"Et  ego  Nerius  Apronelli  de  Podio  Bonici,  apostolica  et  imperial!  auctoritate 
notarius  publicus  et  Scriba  dicti  domini  ejus  Vincentini  predicti  prsesens  interfui, 
una  cum  testibus  infra  scriptis  et  supra  scriptas  litteras,  scriptus  in  Gallico,  ex  authen- 
ticis  de  verbo  ad  verbum  his  fideliter  exemplar!  et  inserui,  ac  omnia  et  singula  supra- 
scripta,  et  auctoritate  et  mandate  dicti  domini  episcopi  Vincentini,  scripsi  et  publicavi 
rogatus,  meoque  signo  consueto  signavi." 

A.D.  1304. — Another  given  in  the  same  book. 

"  Instrumentum  publicum  de  recognitione  superioris  status  dom.  Reg.  Ang1.  per 
praelatos  et  nobiles  terrse  Scotise  et  redditione  castri  de  Stryvelin." 

"Etego  Johannes,  dictus  Bouhs  de  Londoniis  domini  Papse  auctoritate  Not8. 
pub8.,  actis  omnibus  interfui  suprascriptis  et  de  mandate  excellentissimi  principis 
Dom.  E.  Dei  gratia  Regis  Anglise  illustris  scripsi  omnia  prsenotata,  ac  etiam  publicavi 
meoque  signo  consueto  signavi  rogatus." 

1298. 

"Histoire  particuliere  du  grand  differend  (sic)  d'entre  la  Pape  Boniface  VIII.,  et 
Phillppes  (sic)  le  Bel,  Roy  de  France"  (1296-1311).  Paris,  Cramoisy,  1655. 

"  Le  Pape  Boniface  promet  au  Roy,  qu'il  ne  injera  point  le  different  d'entre  luy  et 
le  Roy  d'Angleterre  dont  il  est  arbitre,  sans  1'expres  consentement  de  la  Maieste, 
porte  par  ses  lettres  patentes,  et  par  un  envoy e  expres,"  &c. 

1313. 

(Fig.  26,  p.  209). — "  Et  ego  Gaufridus  de  Plexiaco  Apostolica  publicus  auctoritate 
Notarius  sumptum  seu  trascriptum  hujusmodi  de  prsedicta  originali  littera  fideliter 
propria  manu  trascripsi,  &  facta  diligenti  collatione  ad  litteram  ipsam  una  cum  reue- 
rendo  patre  domino  P.  Autisiodorensi  Episcopo,"  &c. 

1303. — Another  entry  is  an  Act  of  the  Friar  Preachers  of  Paris 
placing  themselves  and  their  confraternity  under  the  protection  of  the 
Holy  Council,  and  of  the  future  lawful  Pope,  without  departing  from 
their  vows  : — 

(Fig.  18,  p.  208).—"  Ego  JOANNES  DK  PRUNING  auctoritate  sacrosanctae  Romanae 
Ecclesiae  Notarius  publicus,  una  cum  supra  scriptis  testibus,  praemissis  omnibus,  et 
singulis  praesens  interfui,  et  ea  ut  supra  leguntur,  fideliter  in  publicam  f ormam  redegi, 
meoque  signo  consueto  signavi  requisitus  et  rogatus." 

1303. — Act  by  which  it  appears  that  an  envoy  sent  by  the  king  to 
Bourges,  represented  to  the  Chapter  of  the  Cathedral  what  had  been 
done  concerning  the  deed  of  Boniface,  which  the  said  Chapter  uphold  : — 

(Fig.  21,  p.  208). — "Ego  GUILLELMUS  DE  HOTOT,  Clericus  Constantiensis  diocesis, 
publicus  sacrosanctae  Romanae  Ecclesiae,  ac  sacri  Imperii  auctoritate  Notarius,  qui 
una  cum  Notario  infra  scripto  publico,  et  testibus  supra  scriptis,  omnibus  et  singulis 
praemissis,  praesens  interfui,  exinde  hoc  praesens  instrumentum  publicum  scripsi  fidi- 
liter,  et  confeci,  meque  subscripsi,  meumque  consuetum  signum  in  praesenti  publico 
instrument©  ad  petitionem  et  requisitionem  dicti  Cantoris,  una  cum  signo  dicti  Notarii 
public!  infra  scripti  apposui  rogatus."* 


92 


AD  I5S3 


ALL   THESE    ARE 
SLIGHTLY   REDUCED 


1487     /  (?) P>Xa g) 


M 


108 


AD 


A.D.   1348 


[     227     ] 


228         ROYAL    SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

(Fig.  20,  p.  208). — "Ego  AYMEHICTJS  ARNAUDI,  de  Castro  Lemouicen,  Clericus 
publicus  auctoritate  sanctae  Romanae  Urbis  Praefecti  Notarius  Bituricensis,"  &c. 

A.D.  1311. 

(Fig.  23,  p.  209). — "  Ego  JACOBUS  DE  VIRTUTO,  Clericus  Cathalaunens,  diocesis, 
publicus  Apostolica  auctoritate  Notarius  predictas  litteras  Apostolicas  cum  vera  bulla 
et  filo  serico  bullatas,  ut  prima  facie  apparabat,  vidi  et  tenui,  et  in  huius  visionis 
testimonium  huic  transcripto  me  subscribi  et  signo  meo  consueto  signavi  rogatus." 

1303. 

(Fig.  19,  p.  208). — "Ego  PETRUS  PHILIPPI  DE  PIPERNO  Clericus  sacrosanctae 
Romanse  Ecclesise  Imperiali  auctoritate  Notarius  publicus,  preemissis  omnibus  una 
cum  dictis  militibus  praesens  interfui,  manu  propria  in  publicam  foimam  redigi, 
meoque  solido  signo  signavi  rogatus." 

1313.— One,  dated  10th  December,  1313,  on  Letters  Patent,  by  the 
Master,  &c.,  of  the  Order  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  appointing  Albert 
de  Castro  Mgro  and  others  visitors  of  all  the  houses  and  possessions  of 
the  Order  beyond  the  seas. 

1304. — Another,  dated  15th  September,  1304,  witnesses  the  grant 
by  John  de  Pontisera,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  to  Hugh  de  Despensier,  of 
all  his  lands,  &c.,  in  the  kingdom  of  France. 

1376.— One,  bearing  the  date  of  6th  September,  1376,  is  a  bond  of 
Sir  Raymund  de  Moun  chant,  Lord  of  Mussenden,  in  Aquitane,  and 
Bernard  de  la  Spare,  Lord  of  Lebond,  to  the  King,  for  £200  lent 
them. 

1379. — Then  we  have  an  indenture  dated  17th  July,  1379,  between 
the  King  and  Walrand  de  Luxemburgh,  Count  of  St.  Paul,  a  prisoner  of 
the  said  king,  for  the  ransom  of  the  said  Count. 

1394. — A  notarial  instrument,  dated  1394,  recites  the  covenants 
made  between  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St.  Andrew,  Northampton,  and 
the  Abbess  and  Convent  of  St.  Clare  Without  Aid  gate,  London,  as  to 
the  tithe,  glebe,  and  advowson  of  the  Church  of  Poldon,  in  the  diocese 
of  Lincoln. 

1389. — Another  witnesses  the  receipt,  by  the  captain  and  clerk  of 
the  five  Portuguese  galleys  in  the  service  of  the  King  of  England,  for 
wages  due,  &c.,  from  one  of  the  Barons  of  the  Exchequer,  the  Mayor  of 
Southampton,  and  others. 

This  notary  signs  himself  as  appointed  by  Apostolic  and  Imperial 
authority. 

1476.— We  find  under  date  22nd  June,  15  Ed,  IV.,  A.D.  1476,  a 
decision  of  the  Commission  appointed  by  Anne,  Countess  of  Pembroke, 
widow  of  the  Admiral  of  that  county,  in  a  case  where  the  master,  &c., 
of  a  vessel  from  Gildon,  in  Brittany,  had  attacked  and  spoiled  a  ship  of 
Pembroke,  and  made  a  riot  in  the  county. 


ON    NOTARIAL    SIGNS-MANUAL.  229 

A.D.  1526. — 17th  May,  1526.  Declaration  of  Margaret  Fitzwilliam, 
of  St.  Saviour's- street,  York,  as  to  the  state  of  her  accounts  with 
John  Duffield,  mercer,  of  London,  who  appears  to  have  overcharged  her. 

This  notary's  sign  is  one  of  the  interwoven  patterns,  with  his  name 
on  the  pedestal,  and  under  it  is  written,  "  Testimonium  due  fidela." 

1552. — 3rd  March,  1552.  "Kecognitio  per  Mercatores  Antwerpii 
de  receptione  381,440  florins  de  Edwardo  YITH  Eege  Anglie."  A 
notarial  instrument. 

1566.— 20th  January,  1556,  is  the  date  on  a  subsidy  with  a  hand- 
some interlaced  mark.  The  subsidy  is  of  the  province  of  York  (clergy). 

I  trust  I  have  shown  that  these  curious  signs,  dating  back  for  nearly 
800  years,  are  not  devoid  of  interest  in  an  archaeological,  as  well  as  in 
an  historical,  point  of  view. 

To  those  who  wish  to  pursue  the  matter  further,  I  must  refer, 
amongst  others,  to  the  following  writers  and  works: — 

Roschach,  E. — "  Signets  authentique  des  Notaires  de  Toulouse,"  13  to  16  siecle. 
E.  Fassin.— "  Recherches  sur  les  anciens  Notaires  d'Arles,  Tours,"  1877. 
Maignen,  Ed. — "  Les  Marques  de  Notaires  en  Dauphine  xiii.  et  xiv.  centi,  dans  le 
Bulletin  de  1' Academic  Delphinale,"  3rd  series,  Grenoble. 

Piressy. — "  Fac-similes  de  Not.  du  depart  Tarn,  et  Garonne,"  1890. 

"  L'Archivio  Paleogr.  ItaK" 

M.  Giry's  "  Manuel  de  Diplomatique." 

I  tender  my  hearty  thanks  to  Dr.  J.  J.  Digges  La  Touche,  Deputy 
Keeper  of  the  Public  Eecords  of  Ireland  ;  to  R.  Scargill  Bird,  Esq.,  of 
the  Public  Kecord  Office,  London  ;  to  J.  C.  Wootton,  Esq.,  Secretary  of 
the  "  Scrivener's  Company,"  London ;  to  S.  "W.  Kershaw,  Esq.,  Lambeth 
Palace  Library  ;  and  to  the  other  gentlemen  who  have  so  kindly  assisted 
me  in  my  endeavours  to  work  out  and  illustrate  this  Paper. 


230  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF  IRELAND. 


SOME  OGAM-STONES  IN  COJOAUGHT. 

BY  PRINCIPAL  RHYS,  LL.D.,  F.S.A. 
[Read  JUNE  15,   1898.] 

THE  RATHCROGHAN  OGAM-STONES,  COUNTY  OF  ROSCOMMON. 

S\N  August  llth,  1897,  I  left  Mr.  Cochrane's  hospitable  home  in 
Dublin,  and  went  to  Castlerea,  where  I  was  met  by  O'Conoi  Don 
and  several  of  his  friends.  We  drove  to  Rathcroghan,  where  I  saw  for 
the  first  time  Relig  na  Righ,  the  Stone  of  Dathi,  and  miles  of  fertile 
country  all  dotted  with  mounds,  raths,  and  other  indications  of  ancient 
occupation.  But  our  destination  was  the  celebrated  cave,  and  we  soon 
found  it  :  it  is  a  great  chasm  worn  out  in  the  limestone  rock,  but  the 
entrance  to  it  is  artificially  formed  with  roofing  stones,  some  of  which 
have  doubtless  come  from  Relig  na  Righ.  Among  these  is  one  which 
we  at  once  recognized  as  that  described  in  Brash's  book  (p.  30-Q)  as 
reading 


on  one  angle,  and 


M   A        QI          I        M      E        Ng      F 


on  the  other.      Here  we  found,  however,  a  slight  inaccuracy  which  made 
the  last  vocable  impossible,  and  we  may  represent  the  whole  thus  :  — 


MAQU  IMEDVV          I 

I  went  away  that  day  with  some  doubts  as  to  the  first  v,  and  after 
having  had  a  glimpse  of  the  ether  inscribed  stone,  which  I  could  not  reach. 
The  next  day  some  of  us  returned  and  we  met,  by  O'Connor  Don's  appoint- 
ment, Mr.  George  A.  P.  Kelly,  of  the  Connaught  Bar,  and  local  secretary 
for  county  Roscommon,  who  came  with  his  friend  Dr.  White  of  Elphin, 
and  workmen.  The  latter  soon  succeeded  in  exposing  the  second 
stone,  while  Mr.  Kelly  and  I  scrutinized  the  stone  over  the  entrance 
again.  I  came  this  time  to  the  conclusion  that  the  v  of  Vraicci  is  partly 
there,  and  partly  gone,  in  consequence  of  the  edge  having  been  damaged, 
probably  when  the  stone  was  brought  from  Relig  na  Righ.  We  have  little 
more  than  the  ends  of  the  three  scores  of  the  v,  and  they  seemed  to  slant 


1.  View  of  Southern  face. 
8.  South-eastern  angle. 


2.  View  showing  S.E.  angle. 
4.  S.W.  angle  of  Stone. 


BREASTAGH  OGAM-STONE  (8  feet  7  inches  high). 

Jour.  R.S.  A.  I.,  vol.  viii.,  pt.  3,  p.  272. 


SOME   OGAM-STONES   IN    CONN  AUGHT.  231 

like  those  of  the  r,  which  made  me  search  for  another  r,  as  if  the  spelling 
had  been  Vrraicci,  hut  the  space  before  them  for  a  short  distance  made 
this  impossible,  as  it  showed  no  traces  of  any  more  scores.  Immediately 
beyond  the  space  I  have  referred  to  a  great  spawl  is  gone  from  the  stone  ; 
and  we  searched  for  it  in  vain — it  may  have  been  broken  off  in  Kelig  na 
Eigh  and  never  brought  to  the  cave  at  all.  I  should  not  be  in  the  least 
surprised  to  find  that  it  was  inscribed,  and  that  the  whole  name  was 
Niotta-  Vraicci.  In  modern  Irish  the  shorter  name  is  Fraoch,  genitive 
Fraoich,  which  occurs  near  Eathcroghan  in  the  Free  of  Cam  Free. 
There  is  a  peculiarity  about  the  other  line,  and  it  is  that  the  inscriber 
brought  the  last  score  of  his  d  nearly  opposite  the  first  of  his  second 
v;  but  they  by  no  means  touch,  though  he  seems  to  have  forgotten 
to  look  where  his  scores  on  the  two  sides  would  fall  if  produced. 
We  co  aid  not  feel  the  end  of  the  stone,  but  we  could  see  and  feel 
a  good  deal  of  the  space  beyond  the  lettering  Medvvi:  there  is  no 
writing  there,  as  the  edge  is  quite  smooth  and  intact.  The  inscription, 
except  perhaps  at  the  beginning  (as  already  suggested),  is  complete, 
and  means  "  (the  stone  or  grave)  of  Fraech,  son  of  Medb."  I  may 
remark  that  if  I  did  not  know  the  name  of  Queen  Medb  or  Meave  of 
Cruachan,  I  should  have  taken  the  genitive  Medvvi  to  be  a  masculine,  but 
I  prefer  admitting  my  ignorance  as  to  the  early,  declension  of  her  name 
to  supposing  that  there  was  also  a  masculine  Medb.  The  spelling  with 
dw  is  very  instructive,  but  cannot  be  entered  on  here.  It  is  very  remark- 
able that  this  name  should  be  found  on  one  of  the  two  inscriptions  dis- 
covered on  the  site  of  Queen  Meave's  headquarters.-  I  have  no  doubt 
that  an  intelligent  use  of  the  spade,  say  at  Eelig  na  Eigh,  would  bring- 
more  inscriptions  to  light,  and  a  careful  examination  of  all  the  stones  in 
the  roof  of  the  cave  here  in  question  would  also  probably  repay  the 
trouble  and  expense. 

The  other  stone  when  exposed  by  Mr.  Kelly,  and  turned  on  its  side, 
was  found  to  have  had  its  inscribed  angle  much  weathered,  so  that  the 
only  vowel  notch  left  distinct  is  the  one  of  ma[qui],  and  that  all  the  long 
scores  that  cross  have  a  gap  at  the  angle,  where  the  writing  has  been 
effaced.  I  gather  accordingly  that  the  stone  must  have  been  for  ages 
long  ago  in  Eelig  na  Eigh,  and  that  it  was  at  any  rate  long  enough 
exposed  to  account  for  the  weathering  which  it  has  undergone.  The 
top  has  been  broken  off,  in  order  probably  to  make  it  fit  its  present  posi- 
tion. What  there  is  of  it  reads  thus  : 


QU        H,          EGAS     M.    A 
1 


The  breakage  occurs  immediately  after  the  a  of  maqui,  so  the  patrony- 
mic is  all  gone  ;  and  as  to  the  other  letters,  the  r  is  partly  weathered  to 
the  left ;  the  vowel  e  is  doubtful,  but  on  the  right  of  the  arris  there  are  four 


232  ROYAL    SOCIUTT    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

little  marks  as  if  they  were  dots.  I  do  not  think  they  are  any  part  of 
the  original  writing  :  they  are  possibly  natural  or  perhaps  the  work  of 
some  antiquary  who  may  have  tried  to  make  sense  out  of  this  stone. 
The  name  is  possibly  that  which  is  now  made  into  Creagh,  but  query. 
A  part  of  the  stone  should  be  in  Belig  na  High,  where  others  ought 
also  probably  to  be  found. 

My  special  thanks  are  due  to  the  proprietor,  Major  Chichester 
Constable,  for  his  kind  permission  to  get  at  the  stones  ;  to  Mr.  Kelly, 
for  the  readiness  with  which  he,  at  considerable  inconvenience,  met  my 
wish  to  inspect  the  stones  at  ease  ;  and,  above  all,  to  O'Conor  Don  and 
Madam  O'Conor  Don,  for  their  hospitality  and  for  making  my  stay 
at  Clonalis  a  most  pleasant  one. 

DOOGHMAKEOKE    STONE,    COUNTY   OF   MAYO. 

On  Friday,  August  13,  I  left  Clonalis,  and  was  met  at  Westport  by 
Mr.  W.  E.  Kelly,  of  St.  Helen's,  who  drove  me  past  Croagh  Patrick  to 
Louisburgh,  and  thence  to  the  sandhills  on  the  coast  in  the  townland  of 
Dooghmakeone,  where  we  saw  the  Ogam-stone  described  by  him  in 
the  Journal,  1897,  p.  186.  The  spot  is  not  far  from  the  shore,  and,  as 
the  wind  was  blowing  from  the  west,  we  had  a  view  of  one  of  the  finest 
seas  I  have  ever  seen.  The  stone  has  on  it  a  cross  and  an  Ogam 
inscription  ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  latter  is  so  weathered,  that  I  have 
not  succeeded  in  making  out  a  name.  The  following  is  what  I  make  of 
it:— 


/  __  - 


/  /  i 

M  K.        B  G  S  G  S 

At  the  top  there  seems  to  be  an  m,  and  I  should  say  one  was  to  read 
round  the  top,  but  a  spawl  is  gone  with  the  intervening  writing,  if  there 
was  any.  After  the  spawl  I  guessed  I  saw  the  five  ends  of  the  scores  of 
an  r  on  the  face  of  the  stone  :  no  continuations  across  could  be  traced,  all 
that  being  generally  too  worn,  and,  standing  also  in  the  shade,  while 
the  sun  was  shining  on  the  face  of  the  stone.  After  the  r  I  seemed  to 
find  the  one  score  of  a  3,  and  I  began  guessing  a  name,  Corli  QIC  Corlagni. 
The  latter  was  very  tempting,  as  the  next  consonant  was  a^,  and  its  two 
slanting  scores  were  the  only  ones  I  could  trace  across  the  arris  ;  but  the 
next  letter  seemed  to  yield  only  four  scores  (making  «)  instead  of  the 
five  I  wanted  (to  make  n).  After  the  doubtful  consonant  came  a  space, 
large  enough  for  the  notches  of  an  «,  and  then  followed  the  two  ends  of 
a  g  Ogam  on  the  face  of  the  stone,  but  the  rest  of  it  that  should  have 
crossed  the  angle  was  gone.  After  the  g  came  a  space  which  would  be 
large  enough  for  three  or  four  notches;  then,  immediately  before  the 
spawl  at  the  bottom  comes  an  s.  This  suggested  to  me  some  such  a 
syllable  as  glas,  but  I  could  find  no  trace  of  the  I  ;  and  I  had  to  give  up 
guessing,  as  I  felt  that  it  was  rather  hopeless.  So  far  as  I  had  gone, 


SOME   OGAM-STONES    IN    CONNAUGHT.  233 

however,  I  seemed  to  be  eluded  by  some  such  a  formula  as  M\aqui  mucoi] 
Corlagni  Glasiconas,  with  or  without  mucoi,  for  which  probably  room 
could  be  found  before  the  large  spawl  near  the  top  of  the  stone  had  gone. 
The  reading  depends  a  good  deal  on  the  presence  of  sunshine  and  the 
time  of  day,  as  Mr.  Kelly  noticed,  for  he  had  some  difficulty  in  identify- 
ing two  of  the  scores  which  had  challenged  his  attention  on  the  previous 
visit.  This  time  he  had  to  make  a  search  for  them,  while  I  had 
completely  missed  them;  but  when  he  found  them  and  called  my 
attention  to  them,  we  could  make  no  mistake  about  them  :  they  were,  if 
I  remember  rightly,  what  remains  of  the  second  g.  Lastly,  I  ought  to 
say  that  I  tried  to  read  the  Ogam  in  the  contrary  direction,  but  with 
even  less  prospect  of  making  any  sense  out  of  it  than  I  have  just 
indicated. 

Not  far  off  is  a  small  lake  in  which  there  seems  to  have  been  a 
crannog,  for  we  were  told  that  men  had  sometimes  found  their  way  to 
it.  The  lake  is  called  Lough  Case,  that  is,  if  I  understood  rightly,  Loch 
Cathasaigh,  and  near  it  lies  a  small  pile  of  stones  round  which  stations 
are  made  desiul,  except  in  the  case  of  maliciously  disposed  persons,  who 
occasionally  come  on  the  sly  in  the  dead  of  night,  and  go  round  widder- 
shins  in  order  to  raise  storms  to  destroy  crops  and  kill  cattle.  The  two 
bronze  swords,  clavi  loch  Ca'as,  as  they  were  called  by  our  informant, 
seem  to  have  been  always  on  the  ground  formerly  near  the  pile  of  stones. 
The  raising  of  destructive  storms  appears  to  be  still  believed  in,  and 
I  feel  sure  that  there  is  a  great  deal  more  folklore  which  could  be 
elicited  here  by  anyone  who  can  converse  more  freely  in  Irish  than  I, 
such  as  Mr.  O'Grady,  or  Dr.  Douglas  Hyde. 

THE  BREASTAGH  STONE,  COUNTY  OF  MAYO. 

Bidding  a  reluctant  adieu  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelly's  charming  Westport 
home,  I  went  to  Ballina,  and  with  the  help  of  a  letter  from  Monsignor 
O'Hara,  who  knows  the  district  well,  I  found  the  stone  with  ease.  On 
my  way  I  passed  through  Killala,  where  there  is  one  of  the  finest  round 
towers  I  have  ever  seen  ;  and  further  on  I  crossed  a  bridge  near  the 
gate  opening  to  Castlereagh  House.  As  we  proceeded  up  a  slight  hill- 
side towards  some  cottages  called  Mullagh  na  Crysha,  we  drove  past 
several  small  circles  of  somewhat  large  stones ;  and  at  Mullagh  na 
Crysha  the  road  seemed  to  cut  through  a  large  circle,  or  perhaps  a  rath 
of  some  kind.  As  we  went  a  few  yards  further  down  the  other  side  we 
saw  some  more  stone  circles,  which  are  here. all  called  Clocha  mora,  or  big 
stones ;  and  on  our  left  I  could  see  the  tall  stone  which  I  was  in  quest  of. 
The  first  thing  was  to  procure  a  small  ladder,  as  I  found  myself  too  short 
to  examine  the  top  of  the  stone ;  but  Mr.  Macalister  is,  as  I  gather,  not 
handicapped  by  nature  in  that  respect ;  for  I  learnt  from  the  old  woman, 
Mary  Kelly,  that  the  stone  had  been  not  long  ago  examined  by  "  such  a 


234          ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

nice,  tall  gentleman,"  who  gave  her  "  a  power  of  money."  Her  memory, 
however,  is  getting  worse,  and  her  king  Garlry  has  now  degenerated 
into  king  Gavry  or  Govry.  I  ought  to  have  said  that  I  am  referring  to 
Mr.  Macalister's  newly  published  part  i.  of  his  "  Studies  in  Irish 
Epigraphy,"  pp.  73-5.  His  reading  of  the  inscription  is  a  decided 
advance  on  that  given  as  Sir  Samuel  Ferguson's  in  Mr.  Brash's  hook 
(p.  318),  and  it  has  been  of  great  help  to  me,  though  I  do  not  follow  it 
altogether.  The  former  was  as  follows  :  — 

SD     .    .    .    (I)LENGUSC 
MAQ  CORRBRI  MAQ  KGI^UNTRAD. 

But  Mr.  Macalister  reads  thus  :  — 

L|e(a  ?)G[O  .  .  .  .  o]  s  AD  i  TILE  NG  e  SQ  (a  ?)-  -    -  a 

MAQ,    CORRBRI    MAQ    AMMLLORATTA. 

I  cannot  find  the  j  a,  which  he  reads  on  the  top  :  there  I  could  see 
nothing  but  the  weathering  of  the  stone.  In  fact  I  was  not  successful  in 
reading  anything  after  Mr.  Macalister's  Q  on  the  left  arris.  Otherwise 
our  readings  proceed  pari  passu,  mine  being  the  following  :  — 

-11—  ^--^- 


L        I        G  SD  ULENgESQU 

E  O  C 

On  this  I  have  to  remark,  that  I  think  the  inscriber  began  with  wide 
spaces  between  the  notches  of  the  first  vowel,  but  that,  as  he  went  on, 
he  found  he  must  be  more  economical  ;  in  that  case  the  vowel  I  take  to 
have  been  i  occupied  the  whole  of  the  arris  between  the  I  and  Mr. 
Macalister's  second  g  ;  but  the  third  and  fourth  notches  are  deep  slanting 
cuts  or  holes,  which  he  has  taken  to  be  parts  of  his  first  g.  I  am  inclined 
to  think  that,  as  they  stand,  they  are  no  part  of  the  writing,  and  that  lig 
is  the  first  part  of  the  early  Goidelic  word  which  in  mediaeval  Irish  makes 
lige  "  a  grave."  Another  word  suggests  itself,  however,  as  possible,  and 
that  is  leacht,  "  a  grave  or  sepulchre."  For,  according  to  analogy,  else- 
where the  spelling  of  the  stem  of  that  word  in  Ogam  should  be  legt,  and 
in  case  the  inscriber  doubled  his  g,  we  should  arrive  at  something  which 
would  approach  Mr.  Macalister's  i4$^,  for  his  (a  ?)  is  best  forgotten, 
I  think  —  this  legt  or  leggt,  is  an  afterthought  which  did  not  occur  to  me 
when  looking  at  the  stone.  After  the  g  follows  a  portion  of  the  arris 
where  one  can  read  nothing,  though  there  may  have  been  originally  there 
some  15  or  more  notches  and  scores.  Then  comes  an  s  and  a  <?,  but  I 
could  not  persuade  myself  that  there  had  been  an  a  between  them  ;  I  wish 
however,  to  leave  that  an  open  question.  Then  comes  another  lacuna  into 
which  I  thought  -+H--J-  (ul\  or  -H  —  jj-p-  fyw),  would  fit  nicely,  as  I  had  a 
notion  that  we  had  here  some  compound  like  Evo-leng-i,  or  Corba-leng-iy 
found  in  "Wales.  Dululeng,  or  Dovuleng,  would  mean  "  black  leng"  what- 
ever leng  meant.  In  that  case  the  s  preceding  the  d  would  probably 
have  to  be  regarded  as  the  ending  of  a  genitive,  such  as  m'ottas,  'nephew's.' 


SOME    OGAM-STONES    IN    CONNAUGHT.  235 

But  to  return  to  the  writing,  Mr.  Macalister  reckons  that  the  lacuna 
supplied  room  enough  for  five  notches,  and  this  space  is  followed  by  three 
undoubted  vowel  notches  which,  as  they  stand,  make  u,  but  it  is  possible 
that  they  were  not  grouped  five  and  three,  but  three  and  five  for  instance. 
Taking  the  extant  ones  first  as  they  are,  we  seem  to  have  a  genitive 
ending  in  sdiu,  which  might  be  completed  into  a  name  Usdiu,  or  Osdiu, 
reminding  one  of  Ptolemy's  Ossorians  called  by  him  Usdiai  ;  but  as  we 
are  not  compelled  to  assume  the  original  number  of  notches  to  have  been 
8,  we  might,  perhaps  preferably,  read  Usd-io.  or  Osdio  with  a  genitive  in 
o,  for  an  earlier  os.  All  this  implies  giving  up  Dubuleng,  and  reading  the 
latter  part  as  a  second  name  or  surname,  Lengesqui,  for  some  such  an 
earlier  form  as  Lengesqiiw. 

To  come  back  to  the  lettering  again,  the  leng  is  perfect,  and  is  to  me 
the  second  instance  of  finding  the  character  for  the  guttural  nasal.  The 
other  instance  occurs  in  the  genitive  Sangti  on  a  stone  at  Kinnard  East, 
near  Dingle,  in  Kerry.1  The  e  is  imperfect,  the  first  and  fourth  notches 
being  clean  gone,  as  I  understand  it,  and  the  first  score  of  the*  is  also 
imperfect.  I  am  not  sure  about  the  qu,  it  may  be  a  c,  and  I  cannot  tell 
what  vowel  or  vowels  followed  ;  one  or  two  notches  may  be  guessed,  but 
there  were  probably  more.  What  one  is  to  make  of  a  name  Lengesqu-,  or 
Lengesc-,  I  do  not  know,  but  if  this  vocable  underwent  the  usual  con- 
traction it  would  become  Lengsc,  which  might  be  expected  to  make  in 
Irish  Lesc  :  we  have  it  possibly  in  the  name  of  Lisci,  the  successful  foe 
of  Boia  in  the  life  of  St.  David. 

The  right  angle  is  nearly  perfect  till  we  reach  near  the  top.  I  read 
as  follows,  in  continuation  of  the  sense  of  the  words  on  the  left  angle  :  — 


MAQU         C        O         R  R         B         R  IMAQUAMMLLONgATT.. 

A        G 

Both  times  I  take  ^-t-UlU-  ^0  ^e  an  abbreviation  of  the  genitive 
^«,_  J1RL  +fM+_  (maqui\  rather  than  a  faulty  form,  but  instead  of 
Corrbri  I  should  have  rather  expected  Corbbri  or  Corpri  ;  the  name  is 
the  well  known  one  of  Corpri^  anglicized  Carbery  in  county  Cork, 
(  C)arbory,  in  Kirk  Arbory,  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  Corbri  in  North 
Wales.  After  the  second  Maqu  our  difficulties  begin,  but  the  Ogams 
for  Ammll  seem  to  me  fairly  certain,  the  only  room  for  doubt  is  as  to  the 
mm  ;  but  the  scores  are  considerably  wider  apart  than  the  scores  forming 
#,  which  is  the  only  other  possible  reading.  Why  the  m  and  I  were 
doubled  I  cannot  exactly  say,  and  I  pass  on  to  the  next  vowel,  whicli 

1  I  read  the  whole  inscription  as  Sangti  Llotuti  avi  Srma  "  (the  grave)  of  S.  LI. 
descendant  of  Sru"  ;  hut  Mr.  Macalister  (pp.  64-66)  inserts  an  a,  and  reads  in  the 
other  direction,  as  did  also  Mr.  Brash.  The  fact  is,  the  Ogam  begins  in  a  very 
unexpected  place,  and  the  explanation  is,  as  I  thought  when  1  saw  the  stone  years 
ago,  that  the  inscriber  was  probably  ignorant  what  he  was  writing  from  a  copy  on  a 
stick,  and  that  consequently  he  chanced  to  begin  the  Ogam  at  the  end. 

N.B.  —  I  have  examined  the  stone  again  :  the  a  is  impossible. 

JOHN..   U.S.A.  I.,  VOL.  VIII.,   PT.  III.,  OTH  8ER.  S 


236  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

now  consists  of  one  notch,  but  there  may  have  been  another  originally 
there  ;  then  comes  what  I  have  read  nga,  and  Mr.  Macalister  ra.  The 
difference  between  us  will  be  easily  comprehended  when  I  say,  that  here 
occurs  a  roughness  which  develops  into  a  sort  of  gap  in  the  edge.  I  take 
the  gap  to  have  been  skipped  over  by  the  inscriber,  and  I  could  not  find 
any  more  than  three  or  two  scores  extending  to  the  beginning  of  the 
hollow — I  think  I  could  trace  three — while  immediately  after  the  steep 
ending  of  the  gap  comes  a  well-marked  notch  for  a.  After  this  vowel 
come  tt  with  the  first  score  of  the  first  t  somewhat  imperfect,  but  what 
vowels  followed  I  am  unable  to  say,  though  I  fancied  sometimes  I  could 
count  five  or  six ;  had  I  not  formed  a  guess  as  to  the  name  in  question,  I 
should  have  said  that  the  vowel  notches  may  have  ranged  from  -*-  (a)  to 
,M^  _*.  jam  I  could,  however,  not  avoid  coming  to  the  conclusion  that 
we  have  here  the  genitive  which  occurs  in  mediaeval  Irish  as  Amalgada 
(nominative  Amalgaid,  with  a  variant  Amolngaid),  in  modern  Irish 
spelling  Amhalghadha,  anglicised  Awley  in  Tir-Awley,  the  name  of  the 
district  in  which  the  stone  stands.  In  Irish  the  pronunciation  is  Awlai, 
with  the  diphthong  aw,  or  au  strongly  nasalized.  Should  these  surmises 
prove  well  founded  the  genitive  may  be  expected  to  have  been  Ammllo- 
ngattia,  with  the  final  s  etymologically  belonging  to  it  omitted.  The  tt 
as  usual  represents  what  in  manuscript  Irish  would  be  written  th  or  d, 
and  sounded  th  as  in  thatch,  or  as  in  that,  respectively. 

Perhaps  tho  abbreviation  y£-i-llllL  for  -f--*-  I1IIJ  nut  ,  and  the  b  of 
CorrM  may  be  said  to  conspire  to  show  that  this  inscription  does  not 
belong  to  the  earliest  class  of  Ogams.  In  any  case  the  man  commemorated 
by  the  stone  would  seem  to  have  been  a  grandson  of  somebody  called 
Amolngaid,  which  occurs  first,  so  far  as  I  can  remember,  as  the  name  of 
the  father  of  some  distinguished  converts  made  by  St.  Patrick.  I  am. 
referring  to  the  saint's  vision  associated  with  Fochill  or  Fochlaid,  a  place 
which  is  only  about  a  mile  from  the  stone,  as  Monsignor  O'Hara  informs 
me.  This,  however,  does  not  help  us  much,  as  the  name  Amolngaid 
was  probably  borne  by  men  of  a  later  date.  Mr.  Macalister  refers  us 
to  O'Dono  van's  edition  of  the  Hy  Fiachrach,  pp.  8,  9.1 

1  Since  the  foregoing  portion  of  my  notes  were  printed,  Mr.  Macalister  has  kindly 
called  my  attention  to  Sir  S.  Ferguson's  account  of  the  stone  in  the  Proceedings  of  the 
R.I. A.,  Series  n.,  vol.  i.,  p.  201,  which  I  had  overlooked.  It  shows  that  Sir  Samuel's 
reading  and  mine  come  much  nearer  than  would  have  appeared  from  the  version  given 
in  Mr.  Brash's  hook  ;  for  the  former,  according  to  Mr.  Macalister,  runs  thus — 

LERC SD[U]LENGESCAD 

MAQ    COltRBRI    MAQ,   AMMLLO[NGIT]T 

He  adds  that  Sir  Samuel  had  also  identified  the  last  name  with  that  of  the  eponym  of 
Tirawley.  Lastly,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  heing  one  of  the  party  who  visited  the  stone 
during  the  Ballina  Meeting,  but  I  cannot  say  that  I  got  much  "forwarder,"  except 
that  I  now  thought  squ  should  he  read  sc  in  the  first  line  of  the  inscription.  But 
some  of  the  party  thought  this  was  followed  by  the  Ogam  for  d :  it  struck  me,  how- 
ever, that  it  was  only  two  longish  notches,  making  the  whole,  or  the  first  part,  of  a 
vowel,  and  as  to  Sir  S.  Ferguson's  ad,  there  is  no  a  there.  At  the  end  of  the  other 
line,  two  notches  of  the  same  kind  occur,  hut  there  were  originally  more,  I  should  think. 
I  should  have  added,  by  way  of  identification,  that  O'Donovan's  "  Hy-Fiachrach  " 
gives  Coirpre  as  the  name  of  the  eldest  son  of  Amolngaid,  by  Muirenn. 


(     237 


ON  THE  ANTIQUITY  OF  IRON  AS  USED  IN  THE  MANU- 
FACTURE OF  CERTAIN  WEAPONS,  IMPLEMENTS,  AND 
ORNAMENTS,  FOUND  IN  IRELAND. 

BY  W.  F.  W  AXEMAN,  HON.  FELLOW. 
[Read  JANUARY  11,   1898.] 

ETOFORE,  down  at  least  to  the  year  1839,  it  was  generally  assumed 
by  writers  upon  archaeological  subjects  that  in  Ireland,  previous  to 
the  establishment  of  Christianity,  the  use  of  iron  was  unknown,  and 
that  for  an  indefinite  period  anterior  to  the  advent  of  St  Patrick,  flint, 
stone,  bone,  or  bronze  were  the  only  materials  employed  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  weapons  and  implements,  domestic  or  otherwise,  by  the  artificers 
of  Erin.  Our  collectors  of  antiquities,  with  one  notable  exception, 
spurned  every  object  composed  of  iron  as  unworthy  of  a  place  in  their 
cabinets.  They,  as  a  rule,  considered  that  any  waif  of  that  metal  could 
not  for  very  many  years  remain  undissolved  in  the  moisture  of  a  bog, 
submerged  in  a  river-course,  or  even  embedded  in  comparatively  dry  clay 
or  gravel. 

Amongst  the  treasures  of  the  Petrie  collection,  now  deposited  together 
with  the  antiquarian  glories  belonging  to  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  in 
care  of  the  Science  and  Art  Department,  Kildare-street,  may  be  seen  a 
sword  which,  according  to  Petrie,  was  at  one  time  the  only  Celtic  object 
of  iron  known  to  be  preserved  in  any  museum  in  Ireland,  he  himself 
being  its  fortunate  owner.  (See  Proceedings,  JR. I.  A.,  vol.  v.,  p.  244.) 

But  a  time  arrived  when  the  archaBological  mind  was  destined  to  be 
startled  by  a  discovery,  or  rather  revelation,  which  ultimately  resulted 
in  the  complete  overthrow  of  previously  existing  ideas  on  the  question 
of  the  durability  of  iron  when  long  exposed  to  the  influence  of  damp,  or 
other  possible  sources  of  disintegration. 

And  now  a  word  in  reference  to  this  new  experience,  and  the  story 
of  its  development.  It  happened  that  in  the  summer  of  1839  some 
labourers  engaged  in  deepening  the  bed  of  a  little  stream  which  flowed 
through  the  bog  of  Lagore,  near  Dunshaughlin,  county  Meath,  came 
upon  the  remains  of  a  crannog,  or  lacustrine  stronghold,  the  first  ever 
noticed  in  Europe,  at  least  in  modern  times.  As  is  now  well  known, 
around  the  mouldering  ruins  of  this  then  mysterious  island  lay  scattered 
tons  upon  tons  of  bones,  including  those  of  the  bos  longifrons,  bos  fron- 
tosis,  red  deer,  wild  boars,  four-horned  sheep,  foxes,  wolf-dogs,  &c. 
That  the  bovine  animals,  remains  of  which  were  strikingly  numerous, 
had  been  slaughtered  for  food  purposes  is  sufficiently  clear,  the  front  of 

S2 


238    ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

each  skull  appearing  broken  in  as  if  by  the  blow  of  an  axe,  and  saw- 
markings  being  distinctly  traceable  on  not  a  few  of  the  joint  and  minor 
bones.  Fragments  of  humanity,  which  most  certainly  had  belonged  to 
assailants  or  defenders  of  the  island,  during  some  long-forgotten  struggle, 
also  occurred. 

Intermixed  with  the  osseous  remains  and  timber-work,  which  have 
already  been  well  and  fully  described  by  Sir  "William  Wilde  and  other 
writers,  were  found  an  extraordinary  collection  of  antiquities,  composed 
chiefly  of  iron.  Besides  these  were  many  articles  of  bronze,  horn,  bone, 
stone,  glass,  and  otber  materials.  It  is,  however,  to  a  consideration 
of  the  iron  remains  only,  and  a  comparison  of  them  with  kindred  objects 
formed  of  bronze,  that  at  present  I  shall  venture  to  call  attention.  It 
may,  nevertheless,  be  stated,  in  passing,  that  for  a  considerable  time  a 
brisk  trade  was  carried  on  in  the  bones,  of  which  many  cart-loads  were 
conveyed  to  Dublin,  and  there  disposed  of  for  manufacturing  or  agricul- 
tural purposes.  Presently  a  few  antiquities  from  the  hoard  found  their 
way  to  this  city,  and  were  disposed  of  at  good  prices  to  the  curious  in 
such  matters.  At  first  only  articles  of  bronze,  brooches,  fibulae,  pins, 
and  soforth,  were  presented ;  but,  after  a  time,  swords,  spear-heads, 
daggers,  knives,  axe-heads,  and  other  waifs  composed  of  iron,  warranted 
to  have  been  found  in  the  great  "  bone-heap,"  along  with  the  bronze 
trinkets,  were  secured  by  pedlars  or  ragmen,  and  offered  for  sale  to 
well-known  collectors — amongst  the  rest  to  Mr.,  afterwards  Doctor, 
Petrie,  Dean  Dawson,  and  the  late  Lord  Talbot  de  Malahide.  Their 
value  was  for  some  time  utterly  unappreciated.  Not  a  few  were  the 
theories  promulgated  concerning  them.  The  general  idea  was,  that  the 
spear-heads  were  simply  remains  of  pikes  which,  for  obvious  reasons, 
had  been  committed  to  the  bog  during  the  troublous  year  '98.  The 
swords,  daggers,  and  scians  were  assigned  to  the  same  period.  Others 
believed  that  these  weapons  might  be,  possibly,  somewhat  older,  in  fact, 
relics  of  1641.  Some  speculators  imagined  that  they  should  be  referred 
to  Tories,  or  Uapparees,  who  during  the  unsettled  times  which  prevailed 
after  the  defeat  of  King  James  at  Oldbridge,  are  known  to  have  sought 
refuge  in  the  intricacies  of  woods  and  morasses.  There  were  other 
fanciful  theories,  which  need  not  be  here  recorded. 

It  was,  no  doubt,  owing  to  the  almost  complete  state  of  preservation 
in  which  the  great  majority  of  these,  sometime,  antiquarian  puzzles 
appeared  that  even  judicious  archaeologists  of  the  day  were  slow  to 
detect  their  true  character.  Here,  as  in  similar  "  finds,"  the  absence  of 
oxidation  must  be  attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  the  metal  having 
been  in  contact  with,  and,  as  it  were,  enveloped  in  animal  matter,  the 
decomposition  of  which,  by  forming  a  phosphate  of  lime,  admitted  of 
but  a  partial  corrosion  of  the  surface,  amounting  in  many  instances  to- 
little  more  than  discolouration,  the  gray  assuming  a  dark  brown,  or 
sometimes,  in  parts  at  least,  a  cobalt  blue  appearance. 


ANTIQUITY  OF  IRON  IN  WEAPONS,   ETC.,  IN  IRELAND.         239 

Petrie  was  the  first  to  appreciate  the  importance  of  the  Lagore 
discovery.  Long  self-training  had  endowed  him  with  a  degree  of  excep- 
tional judgment  in  subjects  archaeological,  and  his  artistic  eye  at  once 
detected  forms  and  characteristics  in  these  irons  which  separated  them 
widely  from  anything  modern  or  even  mediaeval.  He  eagerly  secured 
such  specimens  as  were  offered  by  dealers,  and  the  example  thus  set  was 
soon  followed  by  others,  including  Dean  Dawson,  who  already  possessed 
a  most  valuable  museum  of  miscellaneous  Irish  antiquities. 

As  years  advanced,  many  lake-dwellings,  or  crannogs,  perfectly 
analogous  to  that  of  Lagore,  were  discovered  in  various  parts  of  the 
country.  From  each  were  recovered  implements  and  ornaments  of 
bronze,  accompanied  by  innumerable  articles  of  iron ;  the  latter,  as  in 
the  premier  find,  being  generally  well  preserved,  owing  no  doubt,  as  at 
Lagore,  to  the  ossiferous  character  of  the  soil  or  bog-stuff  in  which  they 
had  been  embedded. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  my  present  purpose  to  give  a  list  of  the  cran- 
nogs; but  I  may  say,  roundly,  that  up  to  this  date  at  least  160  have 
been  noted,  and  more  or  less  explored.  Every  summer  adds  to  the 
number. 

I  would  now  select  for  illustration,  from  objects  found  within  or 
around  them,  some  typical  examples  of  iron  remains,  the  character  of 
which  would  seem  to  more  than  suggest  an  idea  that  in  Ireland,  for  a 
period  as  yet,  with  our  present  knowledge,  unmeasurable,  bronze  and  iron 
were  simultaneously  used  in  the  manufacture  not  only  of  weapons  but 
also  in  the  production  of  ornaments  for  the  person,  culinary  implements, 
and  so  forth.  "Why  should  not  this  be  so  ?  That  the  people  of  Erin, 
during  centuries  anterior  to  the  birth  of  Christ,  were  acquainted  with 
bronze  as  a  metal  in  everyday  use  is  a  fact  universally  admitted  by 
antiquaries.  Little,  however,  is  to  be  found  in  our  annals  or  ancient 
MSS.  touching  the  use  of  iron  amongst  the  people  of  Ireland  in  ante- 
Christian  days ;  yet  that  they  possessed  it  is  certain.  It  is  a  fact 
well-known  to  geologists  that  in  not  a  few  districts  of  the  country  an 
abundance  of  iron  ore  of  the  richest  quality  may  be  procured  with  but 
little  trouble  or  expense  in  quarrying.  More  than  half  a  century  before 
the  Christian  era,  Caesar  describes  our  neighbours,  the  Britons,  as  being 
plentifully  supplied  with  iron.  The  metal  seems  to  have  been  common 
enough  in  Western  Europe  about  his  time,  as,  when  he  warred  against  the 
Veneti  in  the  Morbihan,  he  found  them  in  possession  of  vessels  larger 
and  stronger  than  the  Roman  galleys,  with  massive  oaken  timbers  fastened 
by  iron  nails  and  furnished  with  cables  of  the  same  material. 

Now  there  is  nothing  more  certain  than  that  a  lively  cross-channel 
trade  had  long  existed  between  maritime  Gaul  and  the  British  Islands. 
In  this  there  is  reason  to  believe  Erin  largely  participated.  Her  ceards 
and  artificers  could  not  have  been  unacquainted  with  the  practice  of 
smelting  iron  ore,  and  of  fashioning  the  metal  into  arms  and  objects  of 


240  ROYAL    SOCIETY   OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

everyday  use.  That  she  possessed  ships  capable  of  carrying  heavy  freights, 
and  of  traversing  angry  waters  there  can  be  no  question.  It  was  in  no 
"dug-out,"  or  curach,  formed  of  wickerwork  and  skins,  that  the 
monarch  Criomthan,  who  died  A.D.  9,  after  returning  from  a  famous 
foreign  expedition  laden  with  spoils,  amongst  which  (according  to  the 
"  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters  ")  were  wonderful  arms  "  and  many  other 
precious  articles,"  had  braved  the  dangers  of  wind  and  tide.  Not  a  few 
other  illustrations  of  the  filibustering  enterprise  of  our  people  in  pagan 
times  might  readily  be  referred  to,  but,  for  the  present,  let  the  one 
suffice.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Irish  were  well  acquainted  with 
such  phases  of  civilization,  or,  at  least,  semi-culture,  as  existed  in  por- 
tions of  Britain,  and  in  western  districts  of  the  European  Continent,  even 
in  days  long  anterior  to  the  Gallic  campaigns  of  Caesar.  They  were  ever 
a  quick-witted  race  and  likely  to  put  their  experience  to  account.  As  to 
an  exclusively  "  Bronze  Age  "  having  existed  in  the  country  now  called 
Ireland,  there  must,  I  apprehend,  when  the  question  shall  have  been 
sufficiently  considered,  be  but  little  diversity  of  opinion.  In  his  address  to 
the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  delivered  February  9th,  1857  (see  Proceedings, 
vol.  vi.,  p.  469),  Mr.  J.  M.  Kemble,  perhaps  the  highest  authority  on 
subjects  relating  to  the  antiquities  of  these  islands,  spoke  as  follows  : — 
"  There  is,  as  far  as  I  can  tell,  no  evidence  whatever  of  bronze  having 
been  used  on  account  of  the  absence  of  iron,  and  not  much  reason  to  doubt 
that  the  two  metals  were  used  contemporaneously." 

That  they  were  so  used,  and,  probably,  for  many  consecutive  centuries, 
will,  I  think,  be  sufficiently  evident  to  all  who  may  be  willing  to  give 
the  subject  a  little  attention.  More — we  are  not  without  evidence  that 
flint  and  stone  were  largely  in  request  as  materials  from  which  certain 
weapons  of  war  were  manufactured  all  through  the  presumed,  and  so- 
called  "  Ages  of  Bronze  "  and  "  Iron,"  even  down  to  a  comparatively 
recent  period.  It  is  not  my  intention  at  present  to  enter  upon  the  latter 
question.  I  hope,  however,  to  make  it  the  subject  of  a  future  paper,  in 
the  meantime  confining  my  observation  (as  promised)  to  certain  early 
iron  remains,  and  a  comparison  of  them  with  relics  of  an  admittedly 
vastly  remote  epoch  usually  but  vaguely  styled  the  "  Age  of  Bronze." 

In  almost  every  collection  of  antiquities  found  in  Ireland,  may  be 
seen  small  plates  of  copper  formed  like  wedges,  with  a  broad  cutting  edge, 
more  or  less  lunette-shaped.  They  are  rarely  more  than  6  inches  in 
length,  by  about  half  an  inch  in  thickness.  Some  specimens  are  scarcely 
more  than  an  inch  and  a-half  in  length,  and  are  thin  in  proportion ;  they 
appear  to  have  been  rudely  cast,  and  are  invariably  devoid  of  any  attempt 
at  ornamentation.  Though  commonly  classed  with  a  variety  of  chisel- 
like  implements  of  bronze,  usually  and  severally  styled  celts,  or  paalstaves, 
they,  from  the  metal  of  which  they  are  formed,  as  well  as  from  their 
singular  and  exceptional  plainness,  would  seem  to  constitute  an  order  in 
themselves.  Sir  William  Wilde,  in  his  "  Catalogue  "  of  the  R.I.A. 


ANTIQUITY  OF  IRON  IN  WEAPONS,  ETC.,  IN  IRELAND.         241 


Museum,  suggests  that  they  probably  formed  a  link  between  the  primitive 
stone  hatchets  so  frequently  found  in  Ireland,  and  certain  bronze  imple- 
ments of  somewhat  similar  form  ;  he  styles  them  as  the  rudest,  and, 
"apparently  the  oldest  celts,"  meaning,  of  courpe,  the  earliest  metallic 
implements  so-called. 

Whether  they  are  more  ancient  than  their  analogues  in  bronze  is  a 
question  which,  with  our  present  knowledge,  it  is  impossible  to  decide  ; 
but,  at  any  rate,  they  must  be  assigned  to  an  extremely  early  and,  with 
us,  perhaps,  pre-historic  period. 

It  may  surprise  many 
to  learn  that  objects  com- 
posed of  iron,  in  form  and 
general  design  precisely 
similar  to  the  copper 
celts,  just  described,  have 
been  at  least  occasionally 
found  in  Ireland.  It 
would  be  useless  to  specu- 
late on  the  frequency  of 
such  discoveries  as,  even 
to  this  day,  articles  of  iron 
are  not  usually  preserved 
by  country  diggers  who 
may  happen  to  unearth 
them. 

Fig.  1,  group  i.,  re- 
presents, with  perfect  ac- 
curacy, an  iron  celt  which 
was  found  in  one  of  the 
Antrim  crannogs.  It  forms 
part  of  the  collection  of 
the  late  Canon  Grainger, 
now  preserved  in  Belfast, 
and  was  looked  upon  by 
that  enthusiastic  archaso- 
logist  as  an  object  of  ex- 
treme interest.  GROUP  I. 

Fig.  2,  same  group,  is 

carefully  etched  from  an  example  discovered  in  the  great  crannog  of 
Lagore,  already  referred  to.  It  is  now  in  the  "  Petrie  Collection," 
Museum  of  Science  and  Art,  Dublin.  These,  if  formed  of  copper,  or 
even  of  bronze,  would  not  attract  any  extreme  attention ;  they  would 
be  considered  simply  as  celts  of  mere  ordinary  type. 

A  fine  socketed  celt  of  iron,  with,  as  usual,  a  loop  on  one  side  (see 
fig.  3,  group  i.),  was  found  a  few  years  ago  in  one  of  the  crannogs  situate 


242    KOYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

in  Lough  Mourne,  Co.  Antrim,  not  far  from  Carrickfergus.  "Where 
this  most  interesting  example  is  now  preserved  I  cannot  say.  It  had  been 
seen  by  Canon  Grainger,  who,  with  his  usual  liberality,  bid  largely  for  it, 
but  in  vain.  Perhaps  he  appeared  suspiciously  anxious  to  conclude  a 
bargain.  He,  however,  succeeded  in  procuring  a  sketch  which  he  kindly 
forwarded  for  my  inspection.  From  that  outline  the  preceding  etching 
(fig.  3,  gronp  i.)  has  been  carefully  copied.  It  is  not  likely  that  the 
object  itself,  which  has  been  figured  by  Dr.  Munro  in  his  work  on  "  Lake 
Dwellings,"  can  disappear. 

Lough  Mourne,  upon  being  partially  drained  in  1883,  was  found  to 
contain  a  number  of  crannogs,  four  of  which  in  one  group,  were  connected 
with  the  mainland  by  a  piled  causeway.  Amongst  the  debris  of  the 
islands  were  discovered  a  variety  of  antiques,  including  the  iron  celt  just 
described,  flint  flakes,  a  "  dug-out "  oaken  canoe,  crucibles,  &c.  (See 
Journal  for  July,  1883,  p.  177.) 

Amongst  objects  composed  of  bronze  preserved  by  our  collectors  of 
antiquities,  the  paalstave,  a  chisel-like  instrument,  is,  usually,  more  or 
less  common.  It  may  be  generally  described  as  a  cuniform  tool  with 
four  wings  or  flanges,  two  on  either  side,  boldly  rising  from  the  angles  of 
its  narrower  portion,  and  very  frequently  converging  over  the  greater 
surfaces  so  as  it  were  to  grasp  a  handle,  which,  straight  or  curved,  was 
doubtless  of  wood.  A  transverse  ridge  usually  stopped  the  latter  from 
unduly  slipping  downwards  when  struck  or  pressed  from  above.  In 
many  instances,  however,  this  feature  is  not  observable.  Implements 
strikingly  similar  to  these  paalstaves,  but  formed  of  iron,  have  occurred 
in  several  of  our  crannogs.  It  is  only  reasonable  to  suppose  that  not  a 
few  "  finds  "of  the  kind  have  been  left  unrecorded,  little  or  no  interest, 
as  already  pointed  out,  having,  until  somewhat  lately,  been  taken  in  the 
preservation  of  iron  remains.  A  very  characteristic  specimen  of  what,  I 
venture  to  say,  must  be  styled  an  iron  paalstave  is  represented  in  fig.  4, 
group  i.  It  is  from  the  crannog  of  Lagore,  and  is  now  in  the  "  Petrie 
Collection,"  Museum,  R.I. A.,  but  unfortunately  locked  up  in  a  drawer, 
together  with  a  chisel,  or  iron  celt,  from  same  place  (fig.  2,  group  i.). 

The  Rev.  G.  R.  Buick,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  M.E.I.A.,  a  Vice-President  of  this 
Society,  in  his  most  valuable  Paper  on  the  Crannog  of  Moylarg,  county 
Antrim,  describes  a  perfectly  similar  implement  found  by  him  during 
researches  in  that  structure.  He  states  that  during  the  operation,  of 
laying  bare  the  woodwork  of  that  quondam  island,  several  important 
finds  were  made  : — l '  Amongst  the  rest  a  flint  scraper,  a  badly-formed 
'  slug,'  of  the  same  material,  nearly  2  inches  long,  a  good  many  chips  of 
flint,"  and  other  miscellaneous  remains.  He  proceeds: — "Two  feet 
underneath  where  the  scraper  was  met  with,  a  small  implement  of  iron 
was  found.  (See  p.  321,  fig.  4,  Journal  for  December,  1894.)  It  is 
2^  inches  in  length,  and  seven-eighths  of  an  inch  broad  on  the  face ;  it 
is  socketed  by  having  the  upper  part  beaten  out  and  turned  round  at 


ANTIQUITY  OF  IRON  IN  WEAPONS,  ETC.,  IN  IRELAND.         243 


both  edges,  and  has  been  either  a  chisel  or  a  small  axe."  The^circum- 
stance  of  this  celt-like  chisel,  or  axe-head  of  iron,  having  been  found  at 
the  depth  of  2  feet  below  the  worked  flints  is  highly  significant.  For- 
tunately there  can  be  no  doubt  on  the  subject.  Mr.  Buick  does  not  speak 
or  write  from  hearsay.  He  was  on  the  spot,  anxiously  examining  every 
shovelful  of  bog-stuff  thrown  up  by  the  labourers,  and  was  able,  there 
and  then,  to  note  and  book  all  particulars  of  the  discovery.  It  would 
appear  that  this  crannog,  which  yielded  to  the  spade  in  all  some  sixty- 
three  pieces  of  flint,  amongst  which  the  scraper  just  noticed,  and  ten 
other  worked  flakes  are  to  be  ,. 

reckoned,  was  otherwise  remark- 
ably prolific.  There  were  also  no 
fewer  than  ten  "  tracked  stones," 
stone  axes,  and  other  remains  of 
that  material ;  a  most  interesting- 
bronze  strainer  with  an  iron 
handle,  several  bronze  pins,  a 
knife -blade,  an  awl  or  borer,  a 
spear  "  butt,"  and  not  a  few 
fragmentary  objects  of  iron. 

Fig.  1,  group  ii.,  is  etched 
from  an  iron  two-flanged  paal- 
stave,  found  with  an  adze,  ham- 
mer-head, and  some  other  instru- 
ments of  the  same  metal,  in  the 
bottom  of  an  oaken  "  dug-out" 
which  lay  embedded  in  the  mud 
on  the  edge  of  a  crannog  situate 
in  a  small  lake  at  Cor-na-Gall, 
near  Kilmore,  Co.  Cavan.  One 
half  of  the  canoe  had  anciently 
been  destroyed  by  fire.  The  ham- 
mer-head is  in  form  very  like 
some  composed  of  stone  preserved 
in  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy.  What  other  relics  the 

crannog  contained,  or  contains,  has  not  been  ascertained,  as,  owing  to  the 
depth  of  sludge  round  its  margin,  and  the  pulpy  character  of  the  interior, 
it  has  been  considered  that  any  attempt  at  exploration  would  certainly 
end  in  failure. 

I  should  not  omit  to  mention  that  along  with  the  iron  remains  two 
very  perfect  and  beautifully -fashioned  whetstones  appeared.  They  are 
about  6  inches  in  length,  quite  square  in  section,  and  gradually  tapering 
from  the  centre  to  the  ends.  "With  the  exception  of  one  of  these,  the 
canoe  remains  and  the  whole  of  this  discovery  are  now  in  our  Museum 
in  Kilkenny. 


GUOUP  II. 


244          ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

Gouges  formed  of  bronze  have  often  been  found  in  Ireland.  They 
are  generally  regarded  as  belonging  to  an  extremely  early,  even  pre- 
historic, age,  and  to  have  been  used  contemporaneously  with  the  socketed 
celt,  paalstave,  and  numerous  implements  of  like  material.  Examples 
in  iron,  differing  in  no  other  respect  from  their  bronze  fellows,  have 
occurred  in  some  of  our  lake-dwellings.  I  am  enabled  here  to  illustrate 
a  most  interesting  specimen  which  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  procure 
during  a  visit  to  Lagore  crannog,  in  1848.  (See  fig.  2,  group  n.)  Both 
this  and  a  socketed  chisel  (fig.  3,  group  n.)  from  the  same  place  are 
now  preserved  in  the  Science  and  Art  Museum,  Royal  Irish  Academy 
(Petrie)  Collection. 

On  the  same  group,  fig.  4,  is  an  etching  of  a  small  hammer,  or  pick 
of  iron,  which  was  secured,  together  with  numerous  articles  composed 
respectively  of  flint,  stone,  bronze,  iron,  clay,  &c.,  by  myself,  during  the 
exploration  of  a  crannog,  situate  in  a  small  lough  at  Drumdarragh,  near 
Letterbreen — a  small  hamlet  distant  about  four  miles  from  Enniskillen. 
In  immediate  connexion  with  it  occurred  a  number  of  flint  cores 
and  flakes,  as  also  a  well -formed  knife  of  trap.  It  would  seem  quite 
certain  that  this  spot  had  been  the  scene  of  a  manufacture  of  flint  and 
stone  objects ;  and  it  is  almost  impossible  to  imagine  that  the  light, 
slender  pick  or  hammer  of  iron  under  notice  was  used  for  any  other  pur- 
pose than  to  strike  flakes  from  the  cores.  The  instrument,  cores  and 
flakes,  iron,  scraps  of  bronze,  pottery,  &c. — in  a  word,  all  the  relics  dis- 
covered on  the  occasion  referred  to,  are  individually  described  in  our 
Journal,  vol.  viii.,  p.  378.  The  originals  may  be  seen  in  the  Grainger 
Collection,  Belfast. 

In  recent  discoveries  made  at  Moylarg,  Mourne,  Drumdarragh,  Lis- 
nacroghera,  and  indeed  in  several  other  Irish  crannogs,  of  chipped  flints 
associated  with  iron  remains,  it  is  sufficiently  evident  that  in  Ireland,  at 
least,  the  two  materials  were  worked,  and  used,  contemporaneously. 

This  Paper  having  extended  to  an  unusual  length,  will  for  the  pre- 
sent be  brought  to  a  close,  but  I  hope  to  be  permitted  to  resume  my 
subject  on  the  antiquity  of  the  use  of  iron  with  us  in  a  further  address 
to  be  delivered  in  the  near  future. 


(     245 


SOME  FURTHER  NOTES  ON  OTTER-  AND  BEAVER-TRAPS. 

BY  ROBERT  MUNRO,  M.A.,  M.D.,  HON.  FELLOW. 
[Submitted  JUNE  15,   1898.] 

I  first  drew  attention  to  the  similarity  between  the  "  antique 
wooden  implement"  from  Coolnaman,  and  certain  objects  found 
in  several  localities  throughout  the  Continent  of  Europe,  and  variously 
described  as  otter-  and  beaver-traps,  models  of  prehistoric  boats,  &c.,  I 
had  only  the  records  of  nine  specimens  before  me.  Almost  immediately 
after  the  publication  of  the  "  Lake-Dwellings  of  Europe,"  in  which 
these  objects  were  described  and  figured  (pages  179-184),  two  other 
specimens  came  to  light,  viz.  one  in  Wales  (now  in  the  Library  of 
St.  David's  College,  Lampeter),  and  the  other  in  Ireland  (now  in  the 
Belfast  Museum).  The  former  was  identified  by  Mr.  J.  Romilly  Allen 
from  a  drawing  which  appeared,  many  years  ago,  in  the  Archceologia 
Camlrensisy  vol.  x.,  4th  Series,  and  the  latter  by  the  late  Canon 
Grainger,  in  whose  collection  it  had  lain  for  some  seven  or  eight  years 
as  a  nondescript  object.  Since  then  many  other  examples  have  been 
discovered  from  time  to  time,  till,  in  my  last  review  of  the  subject 
•("  Prehistoric  Problems,"  chap,  vi.),  their  number  amounted  to  thirty- 
jive.  Through  the  courtesy  of  Dr.  Conwentz,  I  am  now  enabled  to 
announce  the  discovery  of  another  specimen,  the  details  of  which  are 
here  subjoined,  from  the  report  of  a  meeting  of  the  "West-Prussian 
Fisheries  Society,  in  the  "  Danziger  Zeitung  "  for  July  13,  1897  : — 

"  Before  proceeding  to  the  order  of  the  day,  Professor  Conwentz, 
Director  of  the  Provincial  Museum,  exhibited  a  prehistoric  otter-trap 
which  had  recently  been  found  in  the  peat -bog  of  Adamshof,  near 
Sypniewo,  Kreis  Flatow,  at  a  depth  of  25£  inches  below  the  surface,  and 
presented  by  the  proprietor,  Mr.  Fritz  Wilchens- Sypniewo,  to  the 
above-named  Museum.  This  interesting  object  consists  of  a  flat  piece 
of  oak,  25^-  inches  long,  and  8  inches  broad,  which,  in  consequence 
of  long  deposition  in  the  peat,  had  assumed  a  blackish  colour,  and, 
notwithstanding  its  great  antiquity,  is  still  very  well  preserved.  In 
the  middle  there  is  a  large,  long,  rectangular  aperture,  into  which 
two  valves,  opening  upwards,  are  fitted.  When  open  it  is  probable  that 
the  valves  were  kept  apart  by  a  piece  of  stick,  which  remained  till 
removed  by  some  outward  agency,  when  closure  followed.  Finds  of 
objects  of  this  description  are  rare  in  this  district,  and,  till  now,  the 


246  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

Provincial  Museum  contained  only  one  small,  univalvular  example, 
which,  twenty  years  ago,  had  been  found  at  Lubochin,  Kreis  Schwetz, 
at  a  depth  of  one  metre.  According  to  R.  Munro  ('  Prehistoric 
Problems,'  Edinburgh,  1897),  who  has  fully  described  and  figured 
these  prehistoric  traps,  their  distribution  extends  from  Italy  northwards 
to  Wales  and  Ireland.  It  is,  however,  still  uncertain  whether  these 
ingenious  machines  are  to  be  regarded  as  otter-  or  beaver-traps,  since, 
from  numerous  other  discoveries,  it  is  proved  that  the  beaver  was 
formerly  not  a  rare  inhabitant  of  West -Prussian  waters."  (The  ac- 
companying figure  of  this  newly-discovered  otterfalle  has  also  been  sent 
to  the  writer  by  Dr.  Conwentz.) 

The  only  remark  I  have  to  make  on  the  above  statement  is  that  the 
Adamshof  discovery  finally  disposes  of  the  idea  that  the  classification 
into  univalvular  and  bi valvular  has  any  significance,  since  it  proves  that 
both  kinds  were  used  in  the  province  of  West-Prussia.  It  still,  how- 
ever, remains  a  notable  fact,  that  all  the  specimens  found  within  the 
British  Isles  belong  to  the  former  category. 


Bivalvular  Trap  of  Oak  found  at  Adamshof,  Prussia.     (Length,  25^  inches.) 

But  the  mystery  which  surrounds  these  machines  does  not  depend 
on  their  structure,  which,  whether  univalvular  or  bivalvular,  is  readily 
seen  to  have  the  same  mechanism — the  latter  being  merely  u  duplication 
of  the  parts  of  the  former.  It  is  their  function  which,  all  along,  has 
been  the  stumbling-block  to  antiquaries.  2for  have  recent  criticisms,  so 
far  as  I  have  seen,  done  much  to  elucidate  the  matter.  Thus,  a  reviewer 
in  this  Journal  (vol.  vii.,  p.  195)  suggests  that  they  were  mere  floats  for 
catching  pike.  "  We  are  disposed,"  he  writes,  u  to  the  simpler  conclu- 
sion of  their  being  intended  to  catch  pike,  of  large  size,  by  night-lines. 
If  we  are  informed  aright,  somewhat  similar  arrangements  of  baited- 
hooks,  attached  to  a  board,  were  used  in  the  English  lakes,  and  in  some 
parts  of  Ireland,  not  many  years  since,  by  poachers  ;  if  so,  the  name 
'  otter '  would  signify  something  equally  destructive  to  fish  at  night  as 
that  quadruped,  or  the  poacher  himself."  I  wonder  if  these  remarks 
are  intended  to  apply  to  the  well-known  apparatus  which  goes  under 


NOTES  ON  OTTER-  AND  BEAVER-TRAPS.        247 

the  name  of  "  otter,"  and  which  was  formerly  used  by  anglers  to  carry, 
far  out  into  a  lake,  one  end  of  a  line,  to  which,  at  regular  intervals, 
some  dozen  or  more  fly-hooks,  on  short  gut-lines,  were  attached,  while 
the  other  was  held  in  the  hands  of  the  sportsman  on  shore  and  let  out, 
or  drawn  in,  at  his  pleasure.  This  "  otter  "  consisted  of  a  flat  board, 
with  a  thin,  sharp  prow,  and  weighted  at  one  edge  with  lead,  so  as  to 
keep  it  edgeways  in  the  water.  The  line  was  attached  to  the  perpen- 
dicular surface  of  the  board  in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  a  boy's  kite, 
and  when  pulled,  the  machine  moved  slantingly  in  the  water  in  propor- 
tion as  the  operator  advanced  on  the  shore.  Before  this  method  of 
fishing  for  lake-trout  became  illegal,  I  often  used  the  "otter"  with 
deadly  effect  on  some  of  our  Highland  lochs.  I  have  also  fished  for 
pike  with  a  baited-hook  and  a  float,  the  apparatus  being  merely  two  or 
three  large  pieces  of  cork  penetrated  by  a  slender  rod,  one  end  of  which 
projected  upwards,  and  carried  a  small  red  flag,  so  as  to  be  seen  at  a 
distance.  To  the  other,  or  lower  end,  a  short  line,  with  a  baited-hook, 
was  attached.  Several  of  these  floats  were  set  in  the  lake,  and  watched 
from  a  boat,  and  when  one  was  seen  to  move  along,  bobbing  up  and 
down  in  the  water,  it  was  the  signal  that  a  fish  had  been  hooked.  Some- 
times they  were  left  overnight,  and  I  remember,  on  one  occasion,  after 
a  strong  wind,  to  find  both  float  and  pike  stranded  on  the  shore.  But 
none  of  these  apparatuses  offer  any  explanation  of  the  complicated 
mechanism  of  the  machines  now  in  question — the  spring-rods,  valves, 
bevelling,  &c.,  being  entirely  unaccounted  for. 

Another  reviewer  (Antiquary,  vol.  xxxiii.,  p.  256)  evades  the  diffi- 
culty by  the  following  remarks : — "  Whether  this  [trap  theory]  is  the 
true  explanation  of  these  puzzling  objects  must  be  left  for  further 
investigation.  It  does  not  also  seem  conclusive  to  us  that  they  are 
necessarily  of  what  is  generally  understood  by  prehistoric  date.  Their 
real  age  seems  almost  as  doubtful  as  their  use,  and  as  ten  years  have 
only  elapsed  since  attention  was  first  drawn  to  them,  more  conclusive 
evidence  as  to  their  character  and  age  may  be  looked  for  in  the 
future." 

But  if  not  prehistoric,  they  certainly  cannot  be  regarded  as  historic, 
since  both  history  and  tradition  are  as  silent  about  them  as  if  they  were 
true  remains  of  the  Stone  Age  people.  Professor  Alfons  Milliner, 
Curator  of  the  Laibach  Museum,  has  already  expressed  a  doubt  that  any 
of  those  found  in  Laibach  Moor  reach  back  to  the  horizon  of  the  lake- 
dwellings  which  flourished  in  that  locality  up  to  the  early  Bronze  Age. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  depth  of  peat  in  which  most  of  them  were 
embedded,  in  some  instances  as  much  as  six  or  eight  feet,  clearly  points 
to  a  considerable  antiquity. 

A  transatlantic  correspondent  has  just  communicated  to  me  an  ad- 
ditional suggestion  as  to  their  use,  which,  at  least,  has  the  merit  of 


248          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

introducing  a  new  element  into  the  controversy.  I  give  it  in  his  own 
words  : — 

173,  ROWLAND-AVENUE, 

TORONTO,  CANADA, 

January  29th,  1898. 
SIR, 

~"'~  A  a  an  interested  reader  of  your  "  Prehistoric  Problems,"  will  you  allow  me  to 
make  a  suggestion  with  the  object  of  dispelling  the  mystery  which  still  hangs  over 
the  so-called  "  otter-  and  beaver-traps  "  ? 

From  the  nature  of  the  locality  in  Avhich  all,  or  nearly  all,  these  contrivances 
have  been  found,  viz.  on  the  sites  of  ancient  lakes,  or  in  peat-bogs,  or  near  rivers,  it 
appears  to  me  that  instead  of  being  intended  for  the  purpose  of  trapping  animals, 
their  use  has  been  in  some  way  connected  with  the  artificial  distribution  of  water. 
In  a  word,  my  suggestion  is  that  they  are  sluice-boxes.  My  theory  is  that  the  con- 
trivance was  embedded  in  a  dam,  at  or  below  the  water-level,  in  a  horizontal  position, 
on  edge,  with  the  valves,  or  valve  opening,  on  the  lake  side  of  the  dam — the  pressure 
of  water  being  against  the  valves,  and  the  springs,  acting  in  the  same  direction,  would 
keep  them  closed,  and  practically  water-tight.  The  bevelled  aperture  on  the  other 
side  of  the  "sluice-box  "  is  evidently  intended  for  the  insertion  of  a  trough,  with  a 
corresponding  level  to  fit  the  aperture.  With  this  arrangement  the  flow  of  water 
could  be  regulated  at  will,  either  by  removing  one  or  both  of  the  plugs,  or  by  keeping 
the  valves  open  by  inserting  a  gag.  The  trough  could,  of  course,  be  continued  in  any 
desired  dii-ection,  or  connected  with  a  channel  to  carry  away  the  water.  As  an 
instance,  one  can  imagine  these  "ancient  men"  desiring  to  cut  their  fuel  from  a 
peat-bog  into  which  a  stream  of  water  flowed.  What  could  be  simpler  than  to  con- 
struct a  dam  across  the  bed  of  the  inflowing  stream,  embed  the  "sluice-box"  in  the 
dam  wall,  and  convey  the  water  by  means  of  the  trough  into  an  artificial  channel 
provided  for  it.  The  contrivance  is  so  admirably  adapted  for  this  and  other  purposes 
(irrigation  for  instance),  that  it  seems  quite  unnecessary  to  seek  for  any  further 
explanation.  The  univalvular  and  bivalvular  contrivances  are  alike  in  principle  and 
application. 

I  am  sending  you  a  small  model  of  the  contrivance,  which  I  have  made  from  the 
illustrations  in  your  book,  and  also  a  trough  to  fit,  which  I  venture  to  hope  will  make 
my  suggestion  quite  clear.  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  whether  you  consider  the  mystery 
is  now  solved. 

I  am,  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

WILLIAM  ADDENBROOKE. 

ROBERT  MUNRO,  Esq. 

Mr.  Addenbrooke's  sanguine  hope  of  clearing  up  the  mystery  may 
be  held  in  abeyance  till  his  theory  has  passed  through  the  ordeal  of 
public  criticism.  Meantime  I  see  no  grounds  in  any  of  these  later 
speculations  for  amending  the  general  conclusions  already  formulated 
on  the  subject.  In  maintaining  this  position,  I  feel  rather  strengthened 
by  some  valuable  remarks  in  support  of  the  trap  theory  recentlv  con- 
tributed to  this  Journal  (vol.  vii.,  p.  184)  by  Mr.  G.  H.  Kioahan,  which, 
ooming  from  such  a  veteran  expert  in  all  manner  of  field  researches, 
ought  to  have  some  weight  with  antiquaries.  In  his  opinion  these 
machines  were  "  snares  to  catch  a  water-animal  that  consistently  travels 
in  one  direction."  "While  not  actually  excluding  salmon  and  sea-trout, 
Mr.  Kinahan  thinks  this  kind  of  trap  "  to  be  well  adapted  for  catching 


NOTES  ON  OTTER-  AND  BEAVER-TRAPS.        249 

the  otter" — a  conclusion  which  he  bases  on  a  careful  study  and  analysis 
of  the  habits  of  the  animal.  According  to  him  the  trap  should  be  laid 
on  its  side  when  in  use,  with  the  valves  opening  against  the  stream, 
Its  modus  operandi  is  thus  described  : — "  To  set  the  trap  the  door  was 
forced  open,  and  kept  open  by  a  trigger,  which  was  probably  a  short 
bit  of  stick ;  when  the  otter  saw  the  opening  he  tried  to  push  through, 
but  the  moment  his  shoulders  pressed  against  the  door  the  trigger  was 
let  loose,  and  the  springs  jammed  down  the  door  on  his  back  and  held 
him  fast."  This  is  a  decided  advance  on  all  previous  explanations  of 
its  mode  of  action,  as  it  dispenses  with  the  necessity  of  having  a  bait  to 
allure  the  animal  to  insert  its  head  into  the  trap ;  besides,  on  the  same 
principles,  it  would  be  equally  effective  in  trapping  the  beaver.  Indeed, 
I  fancy  any  animal  that  could  be  induced  to  pass  through  the  valvular 
aperture  might  be  captured  by  this  apparatus  by  the  mere  adjustment 
of  some  slender  wooden  contrivances,  which,  when  disturbed  by  the 
movements  of  the  animal,  after  having  passed  the  opening,  would  shut 
the  valve,  and  so  lock  it  in.  Such  an  apparatus,  fixed  in  the  lower  end 
of  a  large  creel,  and  placed  in  a  stream,  might  be  used  to  catch  salmon 
and  sea-trout  when  running  upwards. 

The  Rev.  John  Batchelor,  in  his  book  on  "  The  Ainu  of  Japan," 
figures  and  describes  a  spring-bow  trap  of  ingenious  construction,  which 
the  Ainu  use  for  catching  river  otters,  foxes,  hares,  &e.  "  This  trap," 
he  writes,  "is  usually  set  in  the  trails  of  these  animals,  so  that  when 
they  step  upon  a  small  piece  of  string  they  let  the  spring  of  the  trap 
loose,  and  so  catch  themselves  by  the  leg." 

The  prehistoric  peoples  of  Europe  were,  from  the  earliest  times, 
acquainted  with  the  use  of  the  bow,  which  readily  supplied  an  avail- 
able motive-power  to  be  utilized  on  emergencies,  and  it  is  probable  that 
it  was  used  for  other  purposes  than  the  throwing  of  arrows.  But  springs, 
made  of  hazel  saplings,  or  other  elastic  kinds  of  wood,  are  very  liable 
to  decay,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  flint  tips  of  the  arrows,  so  profusely 
scattered  over  the  land,  it  would  be  now  difficult  to  prove  the  fact  that 
the  bow  had  been  a  common  weapon  among  the  early  inhabitants  of  our 
country. 

NOTE   ADDED    IN    THE    PRESS. 

Since  these  notes  were  written,  Dr.  Conwentz  has  published  illus- 
trations of  the  two  traps  now  in  the  Provincial  Museum  under  his 
charge  ("  Amtlicher  Eericht  iiber  die  Verwaltung  der  naturhistorischen, 
archseologischen  und  ethnologischen  Samrnlungen  des  Westpreussischen 
Provinzial-Museums  fur  das  Jahr  1897,"  pp.  44-45)  :  one  being  that 
above  described,  and  the  other  the  univalvular  specimen  from  Lubochin, 
also  referred  to  in  these  notes,  but  already  described  in  "  Prehistoric 
Problems,"  p.  248. 


250 


ROYAL  SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 


THE  "BAMBINO"  OF  KEW  ROSS. 

BY  MICHAEL  J.  C.  BUCKLEY. 
[Read  JUNE  15,  1898.] 

the  visit  of  the  members  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries 
of  Ireland  to  the  parish  church  and  cemetery  of  New  Ross  in  the 
month  of  April,  1896,  a  most  interesting  and  unique  sculptured  effigy 
of  the  "Bambino,"  or  the  Infant  Christ,  was  discovered  there  by  the 
writer.  This  effigy  is  well  worthy  the  attention  of  antiquaries,  and 


* 


The  "Bambino"  of  New  Ross. 

especially  of  ecclesiologists,  as  it  seems  to  be  the  only  antique 'example 
of  this  subject  remaining  in  Ireland.  Its  discovery  occurred  in  this 
manner.  Whilst  traversing  the  graveyard,  within  about  twenty  feet 
from  the  western  angle  of  the  south  transept  of  the  ancient  and  quaint 


THE  "  BAMBINO"  OF  NUW  ROSS.  251 

church  of  New  Ross  (which  is  partly  over-restored  and  partly  ruined), 
the  writer  remarked  the  top  of  a  broad  chamfered  slab  of  limestone 
projecting  a  few  inches  above  the  grass,  bearing  on  its  surface  what  he 
took  to  be,  at  the  time,  three  large  bosses,  somewhat  like  the  "ball- 
flower"  ornament  on  a  frieze.  Attracted  by  its  unusual  appearance, 
and  supposing  that  it  formed  a  portion  of  a  cornice,  or  water-table,  of  an 
earlier  edifice,  permission  having  been  duly  obtained,  he  proceeded,  with 
the  assistance  of  some  bystanders,  to  draw,  by  means  of  ropes,  the  large 
fragment.  It  proved  to  be  a  slab  upwards  of  6  feet  in  length,  by 
about  3  feet  in  width,  and  nearly  12  inches  in  thickness,  gradually 
tapering  towards  the  bottom.  On  the  upper  part  of  this  slab  the  follow- 
ing subjects  were  carved  in  high  relief,  namely : — In  the  centre  the 
figure  of  an  infant,  about  3  feet  in  length,  wrapped  in  "swaddling-clothes," 
the  arms,  as  well  as  the  feet,  being  covered  by  "bandelettes,"  or  ligatures, 
just  as  we  see  the  children  wrapped  up  and  swathed,  even  to  the  present 
day,  in  many  Southern  countries.  The  face  of  the  infant  was  rotund 
and  chubby,  with  a  smiling  expression ;  the  hair,  which  seemed  to  be 
bossed  up,  with  a  slight  curl  all  round  the  head,  was  cut  round  in  the 
peculiar  "basin-cut"  style  of  coiffure,  so  popular  during  the  eleventh 
and  twelfth  centuries.  On  either  side  of  this  infantine  figure,  and  on 
a  level  with  its  face,  were  carved  two  other  youthful  heads,  without 
any  bodies,  somewhat  resembling  the  heads  which  so  often  terminate 
the  drip  mouldings  of  arches.  These  two  heads,  which  bore  the  same 
joyous  expression  as  that  of  the  Infant,  had  their  hair  falling  in  thick 
tresses  on  each  side  of  the  face,  whilst  a  "  corona,"  or  diadem,  raised  in 
the  centre,  encircled  their  foreheads,  exactly  in  the  same  manner  as  we 
see  coronets  on  the  figures  of  Cherubim  in  medieval  sculptures  and 
paintings. 

The  chamfered  border  of  the  slab  was  stopped,  or  rather  "nicked," 
just  on  a  line  with  the  chins  of  the  two  outer  angelic  heads,  so  as  to 
afford  a  sort  of  cushioned  resting-place  for  them.  Prom  the  feet  of  the 
central  figure  to  the  end  of  the  slab — nearly  3  feet — was  entirely  flat, 
thus  leaving  a  large  vacant  space  at  the  foot  of  this  curious  monument. 

It  was  quite  evident  that  this  sculptured  stone  was  not  in  its  original 
position,  and,  on  inquiry,  it  was  discovered  that,  some  years  ago,  it  had 
been  taken  possession  of  by  an  inhabitant  of  the  town,  who  had  used  it 
as  a  headstone  to  mark  the  bury  ing-place  of  his  family,  without  the 
slightest  permission  from  any  authority.  Such  misappropriation  of 
ancient  tombstones  and  portions  of  ecclesiastical  buildings  is,  sad  to  say, 
an  ordinary  occurrence  in  a  vast  number  of  Irish  cemeteries,  where  no 
care  whatever  is  exercised  as  to  the  preservation  of  the  venerable 
remains  of  antiquity  so  often  existing  therein. 

This  remarkable  slab  has,  since  the  departure  of  the  antiquaries, 
been  again  sunk  into  its  present  degraded  position,  instead  of  being 
carefully  removed,  and  placed  within  the  walls  of  the  roofless  and 

JOUK.  R. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  III.,   OTH  SER.  T 


252          ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

riiinous  chancel  of  New  Ross  church.  There  is  no  trace  whatever  of 
any  inscription  on  the  chamfers  or  other  parts  of  this  slab,  which  is 
perfectly  finished  on  its  four  sides,  thus  proving  that  it  did  not  lie  next 
the  wall,  but  stood  apart  on  a  base,  or  pedestal,  separate  from  the 
building  itself. 

Now  in  order  to  fully  appreciate  the  artistic  importance  of  this 
sculpture,  and  its  bearing  on  the  representations  of  the  Infant  Saviour 
both  in  ancient  and  in  modern  days,  we  must  compare  it  with  existing 
types  of  various  periods.  In  looking  at  the  most  ancient  and  venerable 
of  the  effigies  of  the  Madonna  in  the  old  Greek  pictures  from  the  sixth 
to  the  twelfth  centuries,  and  which  are  all  of  Oriental  origin  (such  as 
the  paintings  in  the  churches  of  Ara-Cceli,  Santa  Maria-in-Cosmedino, 
Perugia,  and  Padua),  we  find  that  the  Divine  Infant  is  often  repre- 
sented as  swathed  in  bands  exactly  like  the  New  Ross  example.  The 
famous  statues  of  the  Bambinos  of  Ara-Coeli,  in  Rome,  and  of  Civitanova, 
are  also  in  similar  "  swaddling  clothes."  That  this  custom  was  gener- 
ally adopted  in  infantine  representations  is  shown  in  a  painting  of  the 
Greco-Italian  school,  eirca  1300,  in  the  style  of  Taddeo  Gaddi,  in 
Florence,  where,  in  the  scene  of  the  birth  of  the  Virgin,  the  infant  is 
depicted  as  banded  up  in  this  peculiar  manner.  The  Divine  Infant,  in 
"  swaddling  clothes,"  is  likewise  seen  in  a  painting  of  the  Nativity  by 
Lorenzo  di  Credi,  in  Bologna.  In  this  painting,  as  in  many  others,  the 
figures  of  two  angels  are  seen  hovering  over  the  stable,  or  "  crib,"  at 
Bethlehem,  the  birthplace  of  the  Saviour.  These  angels  are  almost 
invariably  represented  as  singing  the  Canticle  of  the  "Gloria  in 
Excelsis." 

Taking  all  these  details  into  account,  it  seems  most  probable  that 
the  slab  which  was  unearthed  at  New  Ross,  represented  the  Nativity  of 
Christ,  treated  in  the  manner  of  the  thirteenth  century,  to  which  epoch 
this  carving  belongs,  the  figure  of  the  Divine  Child  being  flanked  on 
each  side  by  the  heads  of  the  two  archangels,  Gabriel  and  Raphael 
(their  diadems  show  that  they  belong  to  the  Celestial  Hierarchy),  who 
were  popularly  supposed,  in  the  Middle  Ages,  to  have  been  the  leaders 
of  the  heavenly  choir.  In  this  sculptured  slab  we  see  a  specimen  of  the 
early  "  cribs"  which  were  generally  displayed  in  the  mediaeval  churches 
during  the  Christmastide,  and  which  representation  is  commonly  shown 
in  Catholic  churches  on  the  Festival  of  the  Nativity.  Such  "cribs" 
were  always  surrounded  and  embellished  by  lights,  draperies,  and 
branches  of  trees,  such  as  the  pine,  holly,  and  box,  which  were  then  in 
season.  Carols,  or  Christmas  hymns,  were  sung  before  these  represenT 
tations  of  this  sacred  event.  The  long  vacant  space  below  the  feet  of 
the  little  figure  of  Christ  in  the  New  Ross  sculpture  would  afford  ample 
room  both  for  lights  and  flowers.  That  it  stood  on  a  separate  pedestal, 
raised  above  the  floor,  there  can  be  little  doubt ;  it  does  not  seem  likely 
ever  to  have  been  the  monument  of  a  chrysom,  i.e.  a  child  who  died 


THE  " BAMBINO"  OF  NEW  ROSS.  253 

before  attaining  the  age  of  one  month,  as  in  the  curious  brass  (date  1580) 
of  an  infant  in  Pinner  Church,  Middlesex.  It  was  far  more  probable 
that  in  this  carved  slab  we  see  one  of  the  only  extant  representations  of 
the  Nativity,  of  an  early  date  in  Ireland  ;  it  has  got  all  the  firmness  and 
dignity  of  Norman  carving  of  the  best  period,  and  although  the  faces 
are  mutilated  and  degraded  by  time  and  exposure,  they  still  retain 
traces  of  their  pristine  beauty.  They  may  have  been  coloured  and  gilt 
in  parts,  but  of  such  decoration  no  signs  remain. 

I  trust  that  these  remarks  on  this  most  interesting  relic  may  attract 
some  intelligent  attention  to  its  present  neglected  condition,  and  that  it 
may  soon  be  saved  from  farther  vandalism  by  being  deposited  in  a  secure 
place  in  the  chancel  of  the  church  of  New  Ross,  such  as  is  presented  by 
the  vacant  arch  on  the  north  side  of  the  sanctuary,  which,  in  former 
ages  (as  in  numberless  other  churches),  served  as  the  "  Altar  of 
Repose  "  during  Holy  Week. 

The  deeply-recessed  arch  on  the  north  side  of  the  unroofed  and 
ruinous  chancel  of  New  Ross  parish  church  is  similar  in  style  to  a  finely 
moulded  and  cusped  arch  in  the  ancient  church  of  St.  Mary,  in  Youghal. 
This  arch,  which  contains  the  tomb  of  Thomas  Fleming,  7th  Lord  Slane, 
was  made  for  a  shrine,  which  served,  during  the  latter  part  of  Holy 
"Week,  for  the  "reposoir,"  or  resting-place,  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 
This  arch  is  also  on  the  "Gospel,"  or  north  side,  of  the  choir,  just 
opposite  the  triple  sedilia.  It  appears  to  have  been  originally  decorated 
in  coldur  and  gilding,  with  figures  of  "watchers"  and  angels,  in  the 
arched  panels  of  its  back  and  base.  Curiously  enough  a  "  Staffordshire 
knot"  is  cut  in  the  "  intrados  "  of  its  ogee  arch. 

The  author  is  indebted  to  the  skill  of  Mrs.  Shackleton,  of  Lucan, 
for  the  excellent  photograph  of  the  carved  stone,  an  illustration  of 
which  accompanies  this  article. 

[In  the  discussion  which  followed  the  reading  of  the  Paper,  doubt 
was  expressed  by  Mr.  Garstin,  Mr.  R.  M.  Young,  and  others,  as  to 
whether  the  figure  on  this  stone  could  be  regarded  as  representing 
the  Holy  Infant,  and  it  was  pointed  out  that,  in  monumental  efiigies 
of  infants,  as  on  the  great  Chichester  monument  in  Carrickfergus 
Church,  they  were  represented  as  swathed  similarly  to  the  figure  under 
.consideration.] 


T2 


254  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


THE  CLANDEBOY  O'NEILLS'  STONE  INAUGURATION  CHAIR, 
NOW  PRESERVED  IN  THE  BELFAST  MUSEUM. 

BY  DR.  FRAZER,  Hox.  LIB.  R.I.A.,  VICE-PKESIDKNT. 
[Submitted  MARCH  29,  1898.] 

/~\WING  to  the  exertions  of  Mr.  Seaton  F.  Milligan  and  some  of  his 
Belfast  friends,  this  ancient  stone  chair  has  obtained  an  appro- 
priate resting-place,  after  many  vicissitudes,  not  far  removed  from 
its  original  site,  where  it  stood  for  at  least  some  centuries  on  the 
Hill  of  Castlereagh,  about  two  miles  from  Belfast,  where  the  O'Neills 
of  Clandeboy  had  their  principal  abode  and  stronghold,  and  where 
successive  chieftains  were  duly  installed  by  their  clan  in  full  view  of 
the  assembled  and  assenting  people. 

The  Castlereagh  branch  of  the  Northern  O'Neills  sank  before  the 
rising  power  of  the  English  at  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  Stone  Chair  of  Inauguration,  no  longer  a  centre  of 
attraction  and  clanship,  was  thrown  down  from  its  original  elevation  : 
more  fortunate  only  in  this,  that  unlike  similar  stones,  it  escaped  being 
broken  into  pieces  and  destroyed,  and  was  merely  "  neglected."  Such 
demolition  was  the  fate  experienced  by  that  other  historic  stone  upon 
which  the  senior  Northern  branch  of  the  O'Neills  used  to  inaugurate 
their  chieftains ;  this  was  placed  within  a  rath — the  usual  site  for  similar 
tribal  thrones,  near  the  village  of  Tullahogue,  parish  of  Disertcreat, 
county  Tyrone,  between  the  more  modern  English  settlements  of  Stewarts- 
town  and  Cookstown.  Amongst  early  references  made  to  the  stone,  we 
find  in  the  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  A.D.  1432,  that  when  Donal 
Bocc,  the  O'Neill,  was  slain  by  the  O'Kanes,  "  Owen,  son  of  Isiall  oge 
O'Neill,  was  inaugurated  his  successor  on  Leac  na  riogh,  the  stone  of 
the  kings  at  Tullaghoge";  and  when  the  Great  Earl  of  Tyrone,  Hugh 
O'Neill,  succeeded  as  O'Neill,  Sir  Henry  Bagenal  in  a  letter,  dated  9th 
September,  1595,  referred  to  his  inauguration,  "  Old  O'Neyle  is  dead, 
and  the  traitour  (the  Earl  of  Tyrone)  gone  to  the  stone  to  receive  that 
name." 

This  sacred  Coronation  Stone,  considered  of  equal  importance  in  the 
ceremonies  attending  on  Irish  chieftains'  investiture,  as  our  own  throne, 
sceptre  and  crown  of  regality,  was  subsequently  destroyed  by  the  Lord 
Deputy  Mount  joy,  and  broken  into  pieces.  It  is  stated  that  some  of  the 
broken  fragments  were  preserved  up  to  the  year  1768,  in  the  garden  of 
Rev.  James  Lowry,  rector  of  Disertcreat.  Mount  joy's  doings  are  thus 
described  :  "  On  the  20th  August,  1602,  the  Lord  Deputy  took  the  field, 


CLANDEBOY  O?NKILLS'  STONE  INAUGURATION  CHAIR.         255 

and  encamped  between  Newry  and  Armagh,  and  understanding  that 
Tyrone  was  in  Fermanagh,  he  marched  over  the  bridge  neare  Fort 
Mount  joy,  and  placed  a  ward  neare  Dungannon,  and  staid  five  days  at 
Tullahogue,  and  broke  the  Chair  of  Stone  on  which  the  O'Nealls  used  to 
be  inaugurated." 

The  main  branch  of   Cinel  Eoghain,   named  from  Eoghan,   son  of 
Mall  of  the  Mne  Hostages,  A.D.  379-406,  which  subsequently  became 


Front  View.  Side  View. 

Clandeboy  O'Neills'  Stone  Inauguration  Chair.    (From  measurements  by  Dr.  Frazer.) 

divided  into  two  great  tribes,  the  Northern  and  Southern  Ui  Mall — gave 
from  its  northern  tribe  an  offshoot  in  the  fourteenth  century,  when  Hugh 
Buidhe  crossed  the  Bann  river,  and  seized  possession  of  the  northern  part 
of  Dalaradia,  extending  from  Carrickfergus  Bay  and  the  river  Lagan 
westward  to  Lough  Neagh,  a  portion  of  which  was  previously  known  as 
Bryan  Carragh's  country,  a  chief  of  the  McDonnells,  who  was  its  owner 
when  the  O'Neills  took  it. 

After  being  overthrown,  the  Clandeboy  stone  appears  to  have  remained 
uncared  for  until  about  the  year  1750,  when  the  "  Sovereign  "  of  Belfast, 
Stewart  Banks,  removed  it  to  that  town,  where  it  was  built  into'the  wall 


256         ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF, IRELAND. 

of  the  butter  market,  and  was  used  for  a  seat  until  the  market  boun- 
daries were  taken  down  some  time  before  1832,  according  to  the  state- 
ment contained  in  the  Dublin  Penny  Journal  for  that  year.  A  second 
time  it  was  rescued  from  a  heap  of  rubbish  and  stones  when  Thomas 
Fitzmaurice  obtained  possession  of  it,  and  had  it  removed  to  a  small 
garden  in  front  of  his  house,  where  it  remained  until  purchased  by  the 
late  Koger  Walker,  Q.C.,  of  Granby-row,  Dublin,  and  Eathcarrick,  county 
Sligo,  who  removed  it  to  his  residence  in  Sligo,  where  it  was  preserved 
with  suitable  care,  due  to  such  an  interesting  monument  of  Irish  clan 
history.  Such  is  an  abstract  of  Mr.  Petrie's  Paper,  and  it  is,  I  believe, 
an  authentic  account  of  the  stone  and  its  vicissitudes.  Petrie  was  an 
intimate  friend  and  constant  visitor  of  Mr.  Walker,  and  the  best  portrait 
I  have  seen  of  him  is  at  Eathcarrick,  painted  whilst  he  was  engaged  in 
exploring  the  great  group  of  cromlechs  and  stone  circles  of  Carrowmore  ; 
there  are  also  two  fine  water-colour  paintings  by  the  late  Mr.  Burton,  who 
was  another  friend  and  constant  visitor  at  Mr.  Walker's.  Thomas  Carlyle 
also  paid  a  visit  in  the  year  1826  when  making  a  tour  of  Ireland ;  and  at 
a  much  earlier  date,  towards  the  end  of  last  century,  Beranger  was  there, 
and  has  the  credit  of  being  the  first  to  recognise  and  direct  attention  to 
these  remarkable  megalithic  remains  of  Carrowmore.  The  entire  of  the 
surrounding  district  abounds  in  special  attractions  for  Irish  archaeologists  ; 
the  house  itself,  situated  on  the  north-western  slope  of  Knocknarea, 
a  mountain  rising  1200  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  has  a  far-reaching 
view  of  Sligo  and  its  bay,  opening  into  the  Atlantic.  It  is  crowned 
by  the  great  cairn  of  Queen  Maeve,  one  of  our  remarkable  prehistoric 
monuments,  composed  of  enormous  quantities  of  stones,  piled  together  to 
form  a  vast  mound,  representing  an  amount  of  patient  toil  difficult 
to  appreciate,  and  fairly  comparable  with  the  pyramids  of  Egypt.  The 
tomb  of  this  traditional  fairy  queen  occupies  a  site  worthy  of  an  empress, 
and  the  widespread  panorama  of  land  and  sea  around  is  noteworthy  for 
its  beauty  and  extent.  The  more  modern  rath  whence  the  house  is 
named,  is  of  large  size,  and  fairly  preserved ;  its  enclosure  is  utilized  for 
a  croquet  ground,  and  underneath  are  the  usual  subterranean  chambers. 
The  property  extends  westward  to  the  Atlantic ;  and,  on  the  southern 
extremity  of  Sligo  Bay,  close  to  the  ocean,  partially  buried  in  shifting 
sands,  is  the  very  ancient  site  of  Kilaspugbrone,  founded  by  St.  Patrick 
himself,  where  was  long  preserved  that  "  Shrine  of  St.  Patrick's  tooth," 
now  a  treasured  possession  of  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy. 
Farther  out  at  sea  are  barriers  of  treacherous  reefs  and  submerged  rocks 
with  jagged  summits  extending  northward,  fringing  the  coast-line  up  to 
the  Bundrowse  river,  on  which  the  Armada  ships  were  wrecked,  one 
thousand  or  more  drowned  Spaniards  strewing  the  shore,  whilst  the  few 
who  escaped  shipwreck  were,  with  rare  exceptions,  cruelly  slain  and 
plundered,  as  they  landed,  by  the  natives.  Of  those  who  did  manage 
to  survive  shipwreck,  massacre,  and  subsequent  ill-treatment,  we  have  a 


CLANDEBOY  o'jNEILLg'  STONE  INAUGURATION  CHAIR.         257 

graphic  account  in  Captain  Cuellar's  narrative.  (See  his  "Adventures 
in  Connacht  and  Ulster  in  1588,"  lately  published  by  Messrs.  Allingham 
and  Crawford,  of  which  a  notice  was  published  in  our  Journal.'} 

When  visiting  in  Rathcarrick,  some  years  since,  I  was  enabled  to 
examine  the  Clandeboy  Chair,  and  take  sketches  and  careful  measure- 
ments ;  these,  and  a  recent  photograph  which  Mr.  Milligan  has  kindly 
sent,  enable  me  to  state  that  the  wood-cut  shown  in  the  Dublin  Penny 
Journal  is  not  so  correct  as  might  be  desired.  The  chair  is  made  from  a 
solid  block  of  pale  brown-coloured  grit,  which  is  33  inches  high  at 
its  back  part;  the  seat  is  elevated  about  15  inches  from  the  ground, 
and  forms  the  top  of  a  solid  block,  approximating  to  a  square  shape, 
and  gradually  widening  from  the  seat  downwards ;  the  seat  itself 
measures  16  inches  across  where  it  joins  the  back,  15  inches  in  front  and 
14  inches  in  depth;  whilst  at  the  base  it  widens  to  18  inches  in  front, 
and  is  18^  inches  from  front  to  back  at  the  sides.  It  resembles  an  old- 
fashioned  wooden  chair  with  straight  back  ;  and  from  its  shape  would 
not  seem  of  any  remote  age ;  the  back  rises,  widening  upwards  to  a 
breadth  of  19^  inches  near  its  top,  and,  where  it  meets  the  seat,  narrows 
to  13£  inches ;  at  this  point,  the  slab  of  stone  is  4^  inches  in  thickness ; 
towards  the  upper  part,  it  decreases  to  about  3^-  inches  thick. 

It  is  most  desirable  that  such  an  example  of  an  Irish  chieftain's  chair 
for  inauguration,  having  a  known  authentic  history,  should  find  its 
permanent  abode  in  the  Belfast  Museum,  where,  perhaps,  it  will  be  far 
safer  than  if  erected  on  its  ancient  site,  exposed  to  the  destructive  energy 
of  ignorant  persons.  With  this  desire  of  mine,  Mr.  J.  Walker  coincided, 
and  he  assented  to  its  future  disposal  being  placed  in  my  hands.  Some 
time  after,  Mr.  S.  Milligan  undertook  to  interest  his  friends  residing  in 
our  Northern  Capital,  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  requesting  Mr.  Walker  to 
accede  to  their  proposals,  for  I  could  not  ask  him  to  give  away  what 
Mr.  Roger  Walker  had  paid  for  liberally,  and  removed  at  his  own  expense 
and  trouble,  from  Belfast  to  Sligo.  Its  homeward  journey  was  an  easier 
undertaking,  facilitated  by  modern  railways.  I  congratulate  its  present 
possessors  on  its  acquisition,  and  hope  it  will  be  long  preserved  in  their 
museum.  To  Mr.  Milligan  I  feel  personally  indebted  for  so  energetically 
promoting  my  wishes  respecting  its  restoration  to  Belfast,  nearer  its 
original  site  on  the  Hill  of  Castlereagh. 


258        ROYAL    SOCIETY   OF    ANTIQUAItlKS   OF  IKItLAND. 


ROSSERK  AND  MOYNE,  CO.  MAYO. 

BY  THE  VERY  REV.  MONSIGNOR  O'HARA,  V.F. 
[Read  AUGUST  2,  1898.] 

ROSSERK. 

TN  Father  Meehan's  "  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Irish  Franciscan  Monas- 
teries "  we  learn  that  those  of  the  "West  of  Ireland,  particularly 
Moyne,  Rosserk,  and  Kilconnell,  ranked  amongst  the  most  famous  houses 
of  the  Order.  The  native  princes  of  the  North  and  South,  the  Anglo- 
Norman  nobles  of  the  Pale,  may  have  built  many  a  fair  and  spacious 
monastery  for  them,  but  assuredly  those  built  by  the  Connaught  chief- 
tains— the  De  Burgos,  the  O'Kellys,  and  the  Joyces — were  in  no  way 
inferior. 

Rosserk,  the  wooded  promontory  of  Searc,  was  built  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  river  Moy,  some  three  or  four  miles  north  of  Ballina.  It  is  said 
to  have  been  built  on  the  site  of  a  primitive  Irish  oratory,  no  trace  of 
which  can  at  present  be  found.1  The  site  of  the  monastery  is  low-lying 
and  surrounded  by  rich  and  undulating  land.  It  was  founded  in  the 
year  1400  by  a  chieftain  of  the  Joyces,  a  family  of  Welsh  extraction 
who  settled  down  in  that  part  of  "West  Connaught  now  known  as  Joyce 
Country.  Joyce  possessed  no  land  here ;  probably  he  married  into  the 
family  of  Barrett,  who  was  the  owner  at  the  time.  It  was  built  for  the 
Tertiaries  of  St.  Francis,  whose  mission  it  was  to  educate  the  youth,  and 
to  discharge  pastoral  duties,  such  as  celebrating  Mass  and  conferring 
sacraments  on  the  people  of  the  surrounding  district.  This  monastery, 
in  addition  to  the  church,  which  is  90  feet  long  by  20  feet  broad,  had, 
in  connection  with  it,  the  usual  accommodation  of  cloisters,  library, 
dormitories,  schools,  &c.  Its  architecture  and  workmanship  are  much 
admired,  particularly  the  windows  and  four  high  arches,  supported  by 
beautifully  moulded  piers,  upon  which  the  tower  rests.  The  grand 
altar  of  stone  is  still  remaining,  and  is  almost  perfect.  To  the  right  of 
it  is  a  double  piscina,  divided  by  a  handsome  column  extending  to 
the  ground.  Inside  each  is  a  small  round  window,  and  over  one  of 
the  piscinae  are  two  carved  figures.  Under  the  tower  on  this  side  a  door 
leads  into  the  side  chapel,  which  is  seen  from  the  nave  through  beautiful 
arches  almost  side  wall  high.  Recessed  in  the  eastern  side  wall  of  this 
chapel  are  two  altars,  now  almost  demolished,  each  having  on  the  right  a 

1  It  is  said  that  a  bee-hive  cell,  on  the  banks  of  the  Moy,  near  Belleek  Castle, 
might  have  been  the  cell  of  Searc,  but  the  style  of  building  of  this  cell  is  so  modern 
that  it  makes  this  theory  untenable. 


DOL'BLE    ?JSCI>A,    ROSSKKK    FlUAKY. 


Jour.  R.  S.  A.  I.,  vol.  viii.,  pt.  3,  p.  260. 


ROSSERK  AND  MOYNE,  CO.  MAYO.          259 

piscina,  and  in  the  space  between  them  a  recess  in  the  thick  wall,  three 
feet  by  six,  and  entered  by  an  arched  door,  five  feet  high.  It  has  a 
narrow  window  and  a  small  opening,  about  a  foot  square,  in  the  direction 
of  the  altar  to  the  right.  Some  suppose  this  was  a  confessional,  but  I 
do  not  see  how  it  could  have  served  that  purpose,  as  its  proximity  to  the 
altar  would  almost  make  it  impossible  for  the  penitent  to  kneel  at  the 
little  opening,  and  the  space  enclosed  seems  certainly  unfit  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  confessor  and  penitent.  I  rather  think  that,  as 
these  altars  were  at  a  distance  from  the  vestry,  it  served  as  a  convenient 
repository  for  the  altar  requisites  and  the  sacred  utensils.  Through  the 
northern  arch  of  the  tower,  a  door  leads  into  the  open  square  formed  by 
the  church  and  the  monastic  buildings.  Here  at  present  there  is  no 
arcade,  though  Father  Mooney,  Provincial,  who  saw  the  place  in  1606, 
refers  to  the  fine  tracery  of  the  coupleted  cloister.  "From  this  open  square 
doors  lead  into  the  halls  or  cells  on  the  ground  floor.  Staircases  at  both 
ends,  four  in  all,  lead  to  the  dormitories  and  library  overhead  ;  and  at 
the  northern  end,  one  at  each  side,  a  covered  recess  leads  into  a  small 
open  space  extending  to  the  ground  below,  which  would  seem  to  have 
served  the  purposes  of  modern  sanitary  arrangements.  .No  ancient 
monuments  are  to  be  met  with  here,  and  but  comparatively  few  graves. 
This  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  Rosserk  did  not  continue 
very  long  to  fulfil  the  object  of  its  foundation,  for  we  learn  that  anterior 
to  1460,  owing  to  the  disobedience  of  the  community  in  refusing  to 
accept  the  reform  of  strict  observance,  the  monastery  was  placed  under 
interdict  and  subsequently  deserted  by  the  Friars.  This  might  easily 
account  for  that  comparative  want  of  veneration  on  the  part  of  the 
people  in  which  otherwise  similar  institutions  are  held.1 

Across  the  hill,  a  little  to  the  south-east,  is  a  well,  enclosed  by  a  stone 
structure,  and  roofed  in  the  shape  of  a  small  chapel.  In  the  front  gable  there 
are  two  slabs  bearing  the  following  inscriptions — the  upper  slab,  which 
has  on  top  a  handsomely  carved  raised  cross,  7  inches  high,  has  : — "  This 
chapel  was  built  in  honour  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  1798,  by  John  Lynott,  of  Eosserk."  Immediately  beneath  this 
inscription  is  a  large  figure  of  a  dove,  and  before  it  the  words  "  Pax,"  &c., 
and  after  it  "Amor."  Lower  down  still,  and  in  Latin: — "Discite 
justitiam  moniti  et  non  temnere  divis  mortem  non  timeo  mors  est  in 
limine  nostro  Decessem  a  mundo  velut  umbra  sol  ]  801 ."  On  the  lower 
slab,  and  in  better  Latin,  is  : — "  Inhonorem  Dei  Omnipotentis  Beatissimae 

1  After  the  suppression  of  the  monasteries,  we  find  Eosserk,  in  1578,  leased  to 
James  Garvey,  gent.,  for  twenty-one  years.  In  1588  it  was  leased  to  Sir  Patrick 
Barnewall,  Gratia  Dei,  Dublin,  for  forty  years.  In  1595  the  tithe  of  corn  and  hay 
belonging  to  this  ahbey  was  granted  to  Edmond  Barrett.  In  1604  the  friary  of 
Rosserk,  containing  1  acre,  in  which  there  was  a  church  and  cemetery  and  other 
ruinous  buildings,  was  granted  to  the  Earl  of  Thomond  (Donatus),  and  demised  to  Sir 
Patrick  Barnewall.  In  1641  this  abbey,  as  well  as  Belleek,  Moyne,  and  Rathfran, 
are  found  in  the  possession  of  Richard  Boyle,  1st  Earl  of  Cork. 


ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES'  OF     IRELAND. 

Virginia  sine  labe  concepts  &  omnium  Sanctorum  Ceelestis  Curiae  me 
fierrfecit  Pr  Moriartus  CEEHN  [M]  Augf  30,.1684."  Between  "  Aug" 
and  "  30  "  there  is  a  neat  little  raised  cross.  This  well  is  an  object  of  great 
veneration  with  the  people  around,  and  is  visited  specially  on  each  15th 
of  August,  the  feast  of  the  Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  It 
is  difficult  to  understand  the  meaning  of  the  last  word  in  this  Latin 
inscription  "  CEEHN."  It  would  seem  as  if  some  one,  in  the  endeavour 
to  Decipher  it,  interfered  with  the  letters.  The  two  last  letters  are  so 
united  as  that  the  second  downward  stroke  of  the  "  H  "  forms  the  first  of 
the  "  N."  It  might  mean  a  man's  name,  as  people  of  the  name  of  Crean 
live  in  the  neighbourhood. 

"  MOYNE. 

In  view  of  the  condition  of  things  at  Rosserk,  to  which  I  have  just 
referred,  it  became  necessary  for  the  Provincial  of  the  day,  Nehemias 
O'Donohoe,  to  look  out  for  a  site  for  a  new  monastery  in  which  the  rules 
of  the  strict  observance  might  be  adopted  and  carried  out.  At  this  period 
the  powerful  family  of  Bourkes  had  got  into  possession  of  the  country 
around  there,  of  which  the  Barretts,  the  original  owners,  had  been  just 
deprived.  The  Provincial  waited  on  their  chief,  Mac  William,  who,  on 
being  asked  for  the  site,  readily  assented  to  the  request.  A  curious  tra- 
dition, which  reminds  one  of  the  selection  of  the  site  of  the  church  of 
"  Sancta  Maria  ad  Nives "  at  Borne,  is  handed  down  amongst  the 
peasantry  to  the  present  day  in  connexion  with  this  event.  It  is  stated 
that  at  this  time  Mac  "William  resided  at  Rappa,  not  very  far  distant  from 
Moyne,  and  that  there  the  new  monastery  was  about  to  be  built ;  how- 
ever, as  people  were  engaged  in  deciding  the  exact  spot,  the  movements 
of  a;  dove  flying  over  them  attracted  their  attention ;  presently  it  flew 
onwards,  continuing  its  peculiar  movements,  and  was  followed  by  the 
interested  observers,  till  it  alighted  over  Moyne — a  place  already  ren- 
dered famous  many  years  before  by  the  great  battle  in  which  William- 
More  Barrett  encountered  the  assailants  .of  his  protege — and  there  it 
delineated  with  its  wings  on  the  dew-moistened  grass  the  foundations  of 
tjie  future  monastery.  Here  Mac  William,  in  the  presence  of  his  nobles 
and  numerous  adherents,  laid  the  foundation  stone,  and  apparently  no 
time  was  wasted  in  bringing  the  building  to  completion,  for  we  find  that, 
in  two  years  after,  in  1462,  Donatus  O'Connor,  Bishop  of  Killala,  was 
enabled  to  consecrate  the  new  church  under  the  invocation  of  St.  Francis, 
and  in  1464  a  Provincial  Chapter  of  the  order  was  held  within  its  walls. 
There  are  some  doubts  as  to  the  exact  date  of  the  foundation  of  Moyne, 
as  well  as  of  the  name  of  its  founder  ;  but  Father  Moon ey,  who  tells  us 
tfcat  he  had  carefully  examined  the  various  ancient  records  bearing  on 
the  subject,  gives  the  facts  as  I  have  stated  them. 

The  site  of  this  monastery,  like  that  of  Rosserk,  from  which  it  is 
distant  over  a  mile  ^  towards  the  sea,  is  somewhat  low-lying.  Still  from 


ROSSERK   AND    MOYNE,    CO.    MAYO.  261 

its  tower,  which  is  over  100  feet  high,  magnificent  views  may  be 
obtained,  such  as  the  beautiful  Bay  of  Killala  to  the  north ;  the  entire 
country  along  the  Ox  Mountains  to  Sligo  on  the  east,  and  from  JSTephin 
to  the  sea  on  the  south  and  west. 

The  buildings  at  Moyne  are  much  more  extensive  than  those  at  Rosserk. 
It  served  as  a  college  or  novitiate  for  those  who  aspired  to  the  habit  of 
the  order,  and  we  are  told  that  at  no  time  did  the  community — consisting 
of  priests,  professors,  and  lay  brothers — number  less  than  fifty.  The 
church,  as  you  look  from  the  western  door  through  the  arch  of  the  tower, 
which  separates  the  nave  from  the  choir,  is  135  feet  long,  and,  as  far  as 
the  choir  is  concerned,  20  feet  broad.  To  the  right  of  the  grand  altar, 
which  has  entirely  disappeared,  a  large  and  beautiful  arch  leads  into  a 
spacious  apartment,  which  might  have  served  as  the  choir  where  the 
friars  recited  the  Divine  office.  About  four  feet  from  the  ground,  and 
opposite  each  other,  are  inserted  in  the  side  walls  of  this  apartment 
t^wo  finely  chiselled  stones,  each  about  eight  inches  square,  and  on  one 
is  inserted  the  raised  letter  B,  and  on  the  other  the  letter  D.  It  is  sug- 
gested that  those  mean  the  'initial  letters  of  the  names  of  the  great 
families  of  Bourkes  and  Dowdas,  and  that  these  stones  point  out  their 
resting  places.  Father  Mooney  tells  us  that  in  the  crypts  of  Moyne  are 
interred  many  of  the  great  families  of  Tireragh  and  Tyrawley  whose 
gorgeous  monuments  he  himself  had  seen  in  the  church.  At  present  none 
of  these  monuments  can  be  discovered,  except  at  the  left  of  the  grand 
altar  there  is  a  flag  5  feet  by  3  feet,  with  large  raised  carving,  but  no  in- 
scription that  can  be  discerned.1  A  little  below  this  arch,  just  referred 
to,  there  is  in  the  side  wall  of  the  choir  an  arched  recess  which  might  be 
supposed  to  have  been  the  space  for  sedilia,  but  it  seems  rather  short  for 
this  purpose,  being  scarcely  five  feet  long.  On  the  south  side  of  the  open 
space,  under  the  tower,  is  a  door  leading  to  the  staircase  which  is  com- 
posed of  101  steps  of  dressed  stone ;  a  little  further  on  is  the  door 
leading  into  the  side  chapel ;  this  door  is  at  present  closed  by  an  upright 
slab  bearing  an  inscription  indicating  the  burial  place  of  Matthew  Bellew, 
A.D.  1797.  The  side  chapel  contained  two  altars  recessed  in  the  eastern 
side  wall,  and  between  them  a  small  compartment,  exactly  similar  to 
that  in  Rosserk,  which  I  have  described,  already.  The  opposite  or 
western  wall  of  this  side  transept  is  completely  opened  up  by  large  arches, 
which  open  into  a  space  corresponding  exactly  with  the  nave  of  the 
church  proper,  and  is  seen,  from  it  by  a  series  of  noble  arches,  similar 
to  those  in  front  of  the  altars.  This  side  nave,  as  I  may  here  call 
it,  seems  to  have  been  built  at  a  subsequent  period,  as  the  external 

1  Thi 
Richard 
owner 
daughter  of  Oliver  "Bourke  of  Iniscoe,  and  died  about  1626. 

It  is  said  that  a  prince  of  Spain,  a  member  of  the  Order,  and  who  had  attended 
one  of  the  Chapters  held  in  Moyne,  is  buried., near  the  eastern  window. 


262          ROVAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

appearance  of  the  masonry  is  quite  different  from  that  of  the  adjacent 
building.  To  the  left  of  the  grand  altar  are  two  doors  leading  into  the 
vestry,  and  between  them  is  fixed  a  handsome  holy  water  stoup.  Oppo- 
site the  entrance  to  the  belfry  a  door  leads  out  through  the  tower  to  a 
large  and  beautiful  square  formed  by  the  church  and  the  other  buildings; 
along  its  four  sides  is  a  handsome  ambulatory,  the  roof  of  which  is  supported 
by  carved  pillars  terminating  in  arches  and  supported  on  a  wall  over 
three  feet  high.  Proceeding  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  cloister  you 
enter  the  spacious  refectory,  inside  the  door  of  which  you  notice  the 
oven  to  the  back  of  the  kitchen  fireplace.  At  the  end  of  the  refectory  in 
the  north-eastern  corner  is  the  usual  recess  which  the  reader  occupied  at 
the  time  of  meals.  On  the  ground  floor  all  around  the  cloister  a  series 
of  doors  open  into  halls,  cells,  and  other  various  compartments.  Over- 
head are  the  dormitories,  library,  and  some  large  rooms  over  the  kitchen. 
Four  stone  staircases,  just  as  in  Rosserk,  lead  up  to  these.  To  the  north 
of  these  buildings  appear  evident  traces  of  others  that  no  longer  exist. 
To  the  east,  and  abutting  on  the  walls  of  the  monastery,  is  a  two- 
storied  residence  which  was  built  by  James  Knox,  one  of  the  successors 
of  the  friars  after  the  suppression.  It  is  curious  that  the  buildings  at 
the  rear  of  the  church  are  built  over  a  stream  which  is  exposed  to  view 
within  a  small  yard  inside  the  precincts.  It  is  supposed  that  it  was  here 
the  friars  kept  their  supply  of  fish  caught  in  the  bay  outside — ever  ready 
for  use.  Further  down  this  stream  may  be  seen  the  traces  of  the  mill, 
and  further  still  stands  the  infirmary,  now  known  as  the  kennel,  as  it 
seems  it  was  used  as  such  by  the  subsequent  owner  of  the  place.  Within 
the  enclosure  connected  with  the  infirmary  is  the  well  which  was  once 
held  in  considerable  veneration  by  the  people,  but  which  at  present 
seems  to  have  lost  its  sacred  character  owing,  it  may  be  presumed,  to  its 
unworthy  connexion  with  the  kennel  and  the  hounds.  It  is  a  pity  that 
the  Board  of  Public  "Works,  when  renovating  this  ruin,  omitted  looking 
after  so  venerable  a  relic  of  the  monastery  as  its  infirmary.  Two  hand- 
some gate  pillars,  quite  on  the  shore,  mark  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
monastic  holding,  which  we  are  told  consisted  of  an  orchard  and  four 
acres  of  land,  all  surrounded  by  a  strong  wall,  the  remains  of  which  may 
be  traced  to  the  present  day. 

In  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  evil  times  overtook  the  monastic 
establishments  of  this  country,  and  Moyne  did  not  escape  the  disaster. 
In  1595,  after  the  friars  had  suffered  years  of  persecution,  a  grant  was 
made  of  the  monastery  and  its  appurtenances  to  one  Edmund  Barrett  for 
ever,  at  an  annual  rent  of  5s.  Barrett  does  not  seem  to  have  enjoyed  his 
grant  very  long,1  for  Mr.  Mooney  tells  us  that  when  he  visited  the 
place  in  1606  it  was  in  the  possession  of  an  English  widow,  whose  name 
he  does  not  give ;  that  she  had  let  the  church  and  a  few  cells  to  six  of 

1  In  1605  it  was  again  granted  to  Richard  Barrett,  gent. 


ROSSERK   AND    MOYNE,    CO.    MAYO.  263 

the  friars,  and  that  they  were  maintained,  and  their  rent  paid,  by 
Thomas  de  Burgh,  a  descendant  of  the  original  grantor.1  It  is  to  a 
family  named  Lindsay,  who  occupied  the  place,  belongs  the  obloquy 
of  having  dismantled  the  buildings.  It  is  said  they  blew  up  the  roof 
with  gunpowder,  and  sold  the  bell — a  gift  of  the  Queen  of  Spain — 
for  the  large  sum  of  £700.  The  next  in  succession  whom  we  find  in 
occupation  of  Moyne  was  a  family  of  Scotch  origin  named  Knox.  It 
was  James  Knox  that  built  the  residence  to  the  east  of  the  monastery, 
and  it  may  well  be  supposed  that  the  stones  used  in  its  construction 
were  those  taken  from  the  buildings  to  the  rear,  to  which  I  have  already 
alluded.  A  gentleman  named  O'Reilly,  a  native  of  Meath,  who  was 
married  to  a  daughter  of  Knox,  was  the  last  successor  of  that  family 
in  Moyne.  It  is  said  he  was  buried  in  the  centre  of  the  square.  In 
consequence  of  litigation  which  ensued  after  his  death,  the  property 
was  sold  and  purchased  by  Charles  Kirkwood,  of  Eartra,  and  the  lands 
remain  in  that  family  to  the  present  day. 

It  is  a  curious  coincidence  that  the  relatives  of  Knox,  of  Moyne 
Abbey,  reside  at  present  at  Rappagh,  the  seat  of  the  founder  of  the 
monastery,  Me  William  Burke,  and  that  the  old  clock  of  Moyne  tells 
the  time  there  up  to  the  present  day.  There  is  also  preserved  in 
Rappagh  Castle  a  very  ancient  relic,  called  "Mias  Tiernan,"  or  offer- 
tory dish  of  St.  Tiernan,  patron  of  the  Abbey  of  Errew,  on  Lough 
Conn,  who  flourished  in  the  latter  end  of  the  fifth  century.2  This 
relic  was  preserved  for  generations  in  the  family  of  O'Flynn,  who 
held  considerable  possessions  in  the  district,  and  who  were  hereditary 
wardens  of  the  church  of  Errew.  After  the  loss  of  their  estate, 
and  in  a  bad  summer,  when  provisions  were  dear,  they  sold  it  to 
Mr.  Knox  of  Rappagh,  whose  family  hold  it  in  much  esteem.  It  seems  it 
was  customary  with  the  peasantry  to  borrow  it  from  him  for  purposes  by 
no  means  edifying,  and  particularly  for  that  of  swearing  by  it.  On  one 
of  those  occasions  it  was  seized  on  by  the  late  Dean  Lyons,  P.P.,  Kilmore 
Ems,  and  restored  to  Mr.  Knox  with  the  understanding  that  it  was  not 
to  be  lent  out  in  future  for  any  such  purpose,  and  the  undertaking, 
I  believe,  has  been  honourably  kept.  I  regret  that  this  curious  relic 
could  not  be  secured  for  the  purpose  of  exhibition  at  our  Meeting.  I 
hear  that  it  is  now  in  the  custody  of  Mr.  Richard  Knox. 

1  In  1630  it  was  granted  to  Sir  William  Fenton,  who  transferred  it  to  his  brother- 
in-law,  Richard  Boyle,   1st  Earl  of  Cork,  who,  according  to  the  "Down  Survey," 
was  in  possession  in  1641. 

2  It  is  said  to  have  been  found  over  the  breast  of  the  saint  when  his  grave  was 
opened. 


264         ROYAL  SOCIETY   OE    ANTIQUARIES   OF    IRELAND. 


The  Great  Cross  at  Monasterboice.— I  send  you  a  short,  account 
of  the  late  occurrences  at  Monasterboice,  in  connexion  with  the 
taking  of  a  cast  of  the  great  cross.  On  the  8th  of  July, ,  a  party 
left  my  house  to  visit  Monasterboice  (consisting  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Adam,  Miss  Jellett,  and  Mrs.  Pentland).  Mr.  Adam,  who  i.s  a  Scotch 
artist,  had  a  commission  to  paint  some  specimens  of  ancient  Irish 
architecture,  and  was  anxious  to  see  if  the  crosses,  &c.,  at  Monasterboice, 
would  answer  his  purpose.  He  had  already  visited  Clonmacnoise  and 
other  celebrated  ruins  with  the  same  object.  When  the  party  arrived  at 
the  gate  of  Monasterboice  graveyard,  they  heard  the  ringing  sound  of 
metal  on  stone,  and  found  the  great  cross  in  the  hands  of  two  workmen 
who  were  employed  in  making  a  cast  of  it.  The  base  and  part  of  the 
shaft  were  already  covered  with  the  plaster,  and  the  next  panels  of  the 
shaft  were  being  prepared  for  it.  The  lichen  had  been  removed,  and 
whitish  patches  showed  on  the  stone  as  if  it  had  been  scraped.  The  cross 
was  quite  disfigured  from  an  artistic  point  of  view  by  these  patches,  and 
Mr.  Adam  expostulated  with  the  workmen,  and  pointed  out  the  mischief 
they  were  doing.  Oil  his  return  to,  Black  Hall  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
Irish  Times  on  the  subject ;  and  I  wrote  to  the  Board  of  Works,  to  Colonel 
Plunkett,  and  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Ire- 
land. On  July  12th  I  had  a  letter  from  Colonel  Plunkett  saying  that  the 
moulder  had  orders  not  to  scrape  or  scratch  the  cross,  that  he  was  only 
to  remove  dirt  and  vegetation,  and  that  he  said  he  was  doing  nothing 
more  than  this.  On  the  14th  July  I  had  a  letter  from  the  Board  of 
Works  to  say  that  Colonel  Plunkett  assured  the  Commissioners  that  no 
iron  tool  had  been  used  on  the  cross,  that  one  of  his  skilled  assistants 
had  carefully  examined  it,  that  it  bore  no  trace  of  having  been  scratched 
by  any  instrument,  and  that  the  artist  had  been  very  careful  even  to  pre- 
serve the  lichen  thereon.  On  receipt  of  this  letter  I  went  to  Monaster- 
boice at  once.  I  found  that  the  cross  was  then  coated  with  plaster  up  to 
the  arms,  so  that  it  was  impossible  to  tell  what  had  been  done  to  the 
shaft  and  base.  A  great  deal  of  lichen  had  been  removed  from  the  upper 
part  of  the  cross  (it  was  lying  in  little  heaps  on  the  arms),  but  there  were 
no  white  patches,  and  no  abrasion  of  the  stone  on  the  part  of  the  cross  then 
visible.  I  had  a  long  conversation  with  the  moulder,  a  very  intelligent 
Italian,  who  unfortunately  spoke  only  Italian  and  French ;  and  as  my 
Italian  is  limited,  we  used  French.  He  told  me  in  the  most  positive 


CELTIC  CKOSS,  MONASTEKBOICE,  LOTJTH. 
(Reproduced  from  "The  Irish  Tourist"  for  May,  1898.) 


Jour.  R  rS.  A.  I.,  vol.  viii.,  pt,  3,  p.  264. 


MISCELLANEA. 

terms  that  he  had  not  scratched  the  cross  with  any  iron  tool  ("  qrfil  rfavait 
gratte  la  croix  avec  aucun  outil  defer  "),  and  then  proceeded  to  show  me 
how  he  had  cleaned  it  by  producing  a  small  steel  tool  something  like  a 
palette  knife,  and  scraping  the  lichen  off  the  cross  with  it.  At  this  point 
I  began  to  suspect  that  Irish  French  and  Italian  French  were  producing 
some  confusion  ;  but  I  believe  the  solution  of  the  apparent  contradiction 
to  be  that  he  meant  he  had  not  scratched  the  stone,  but  had  only  scraped 
off  the  lichen.  I  then  questioned  the  woman  who  has  charge  of  the 
graveyard.  She  told  me  that  the  lower  part  of  the  cross  had  been 
scraped,  and  whitish  patches  made  on  the  stone,  but  that  nothing  of  the 
sort  had  been  done  since  Mr.,  Adam's  visit.  When  the  cast  was  com- 
pleted and  the  plaster  removed,  I  visited  the  cross  again  (August  8th), 
and  made  a  careful  examination  of  it.  The  lower  shaft  and  base  show 
very  evident  traces  of  the  scraping  and  cleaning  of  Colonel  Plunkett's 
artist,  as  the  stone  is  in  many  places  as  bare  and  clean  as  if  it  had  just 
come  out  of  a  stonecutter's  yard,  and  the  whitish  patches  noticed  by 
Mr.  Adam  are  very  visible.  The  upper  part  is  not  nearly  so  much  dis- 
figured; but  the  entire  cross  is  spotted  and  marked  with  bits  of  plaster, 
which  adhere  to  it  very  tenaciously,  and  will,  I  fear,  disfigure  it  for 
many  months  and  perhaps  years.  The  whole  affair  seems  to  me  to  show 
that  there  are  at  least  two  strong  arguments  against  making  casts  of 
such  crosses  at  all.  In  the  first  place,  it  is  impossible  to  make  them 
without  removing  the  mosses  and  lichens,  which  are  often  an  inch  or 
more  long,  and,  to  make  a  good  cast,  even  the  small  lichens,  which 
clothe  the  stone  like  a  skin  and  form  its  natural  coat  and  protection 
against  the  weather,  should  be  removed.  This,  however  carefully  it 
may  be  done,  certainly  disfigures,  and  probably  injures,  the  stone. 
Secondly,  in  spite  of  all  the  precautions  of  the  moulder,  many  of  the 
crevices  and  cracks  in  these  elaborate  pieces  of  sculpture  remain  filled 
with  plaster,  which  is  nearly  as  hard  and  as  lasting  as  the  stone  itself. 
Now,  if  the  lichens  and  mosses  are  removed  to  make  a  good  cast,  and  if 
all  the  traces  of  the  cast  are  removed  in  their  turn  (as  they  certainly 
should  be),  the  result  will  be  a  nice  new  clean  cross,  but  not  the 
venerable  and  beautiful  object  which  has  commanded  the  admiration  of 
so  many  generations. 

It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  peasantry  of  the  vicinity  believe  that  moss 
or  lichen  from  the  crosses,  boiled  and  administered  internally,  is  a  sure 
remedy  for  whooping  cough,  and  to  this  day  emigrants  in  America  send 
home  for  it  for  this  purpose. 

There  is  a  very  fine  souterrain  at  Iktonasterboice,  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  graveyard,  which  would  be  very  interesting  to  visitors,  if  acces- 
sible, but  it  is  closed  at  present.  It  is  in  a  field  belonging  to  Mr. 
Donegan,  p.  L.  G.,  and  I  believe  that  he  would  allow  tourists  to  visit  it  if 
it  were  properly  fenced,  so  as  to  protect  his  cattle. — G.  H.  PENTLAND. 


266          ROYAL    SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

Monasterboice  Cross. — The  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Works  was 
communicated  with  on  10th  August,  1898,  in  the  following  terms  :  — 

"  The  attention  of  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Anti- 
quaries having  been  drawn  to  the  statement  that  authority  has  been 
accorded,  by  the  Board  of  Works,  to  the  Science  and  Art  Depart- 
ment, to  make  casts  of  the  great  Cross  at  Monasterboice,  and  as  it 
has  been  reported  to  the  Council  that  the  carvings  were  being  scraped 
with  an  iron  tool — a  process  which  is  calculated  to  seriously  injure 
them,  and  which  was  discontinued  through  the  intervention  of  a 
member  of  the  Society — the  Council  trust  that,  in  future,  such  permis- 
sion will  not  be  granted  except  under  carefully-defined  conditions, 
which  the  Board,  it  is  hoped,  will  see  carried  out,  so  as  to  secure  the 
safety  and  protection  of  the  monuments." 

To  the  foregoing,  a  communication,  dated  27th  August,  1898,  was 
received  from  the  Secretary,  Board  of  Works,  in  the  following  terms  : — 

"  I  am  directed  to  refer  to  your  letter  of  the  10th  inst.,  relative  to 
the  taking  of  castings  of  Ancient  Monuments  in  the  custody  of  this 
Board,  and  to  state  such  cases  have  been  rare,  and  the  Board  have 
given  permission,  relying  on  the  special  skill  of  the  formatori  employed 
by  the  Science  and  Art  Department,  and  the  careful  instructions  given 
by  them.  I  am  to  point  out  that  no  suggestion  of  the  occurrence  of  any 
injury  to  the  monuments  has  arisen  before  the  late  case  of  the  cross  at 
Monasterboice,  and  in  view  of  what  has  occurred  in  this  case,  the  Board 
has  determined  to  enter  into  special  arrangements  with  the  Science  and 
Art  Department  with  reference  to  any  future  work  of  the  kind,  and  they 
are  assured  of  the  concurrence  of  the  Director  of  that  Department  in 
any  arrangement  which  may  be  desirable  with  a  view  to  the  safe 
execution  of  the  work." 


Preliminary  Programme  of  the  Excursion  to  the  Western  and 
Northern  Islands  and  Coast  Highlands  of  Scotland,  June  or  July, 
1899. — The  steamer  will  leave  Liverpool  for  Belfast,  where  the  members 
of  the  Society  will  embark.  The  places  of  interest  in  Scotland  to  be 
visited  are — 

1.  St.  Kieran's  Cave,  four  miles  south-west  of  Campbelton,  in  Kintyre. 

2.  Sanda  Island — Cross  and  St.  Mnian's  Church  (see  Captain  White's 

"Archaeological  Sketches  in  Kintyre  and  Knapdale." 

3.  Kildalton  Crosses  and  Church,  Island  of  Islay,  seven  miles  from  Port 

Ellen  (see  E.  C.  Graham's  "  Sculptured  Stones  of  Islay.") 

4.  Gigha  Island,  on  the  west  coast  of  Kintyre,  .and  a  reputed  Ogam- 

stone,  the  only  one  ever  heard  of  in  the  west  of  Scotland. 


MISCELLANEA.  267 

5.  Passing  up  the  Sound  of  Jura,  Kilmartin  shall  be  visited,  to  inspect 

the  interesting  Prehistoric  remains — Cup-marked  Stones,  Cham- 
bered Cairns,  Cist  with  Axehead  Sculptures,  Standing-stones,  &c. 
(These  remains  are  far  apart,  and  may  not  all  be  visited  unless 
arrangements  can  be  made  for  vehicles  or  ponies.) 

6.  Oronsay,  to  see  the  Priory,  Monuments,  and  Cross ;  and  Colonsay, 

where  there  is  one  of  the  finest  crosses  in  Scotland.  (See 
Mac  Gibbon  and  Ross,  "  Ecclesiastical  Architecture  of  Scotland  "). 

7.  Crossing  the  Firth  of  Lorn,  the  well-known  Crosses  and  Ecclesi- 

astical remains  at  lona,  west  of  the  Island  of  Mull,  shall  be  visited 
and  a  good  view  of  Staff  a  shall  be  obtained. 

8.  Sailing  north,  the  unique  ecclesiastical  remains  of  Tiree  and  Coll 

shall  be  visited,  and  passing  Ardnamurchan  Point,  and  up  Sleat 
Sound,  Glenelg  and  its  Pictish  Towers  shall  be  examined  (see 
J.  Anderson's  "Scotland  in  Pagan  Times"). 

9.  Passing  north  of  Rum  Island,  the  Island  of  Canna  shall  be  visited,  to 

see  the  Ancient  Cross  (depicted  in  Stuart's  "  Sculptured  Stones 
of  Scotland"). 

10.  Sailing  up  Little  Minch  to  the  Hebrides,  Rodil  in  Harris  shall  be 

seen  (Church  with  curious  Sculptures). 

11.  Passing  through  the  Sound  of  Harris,  and  sailing  north,  the  next 

call  ^hall  be  at  Callernish,  on  the  Island  of  Lewis — Stone  Circles. 

12.  Dun  Carloway  Pictish  Tower,  on  the  north-west  of  Lewis  Island, 

five  miles  north  of  Callernish.  Flannan  Isles — Ancient  Bee-hive 
Oratory. 

13.  North  Rona  and  Sula  Sgeir,  early  Christian  Oratories  (see  Anderson's 

"Scotland  in  Early  Christian  Times";  Muir's  "Ecclesiastical 
Architecture  "  ;  and  Mac  Gibbon  and  Ross,  "  Ecclesiastical  Archi- 
tecture of  Scotland"). 

14.  The    Stone  Circles  of  Stennis,   Maeshowe,   and  Kirkwall,  Orkney 

(see  J.  R.  Tudor's  "Orkney  and  Shetland";  Sir  H.  Dryden's 
"Kirkwall  Cathedral";  and  Parrer's  "Maeshowe)." 

The  Sea  Excursion  shall,  it  is  contemplated,  occupy  not  more  than 
ten  days.  The  steamer  will  return  to  the  ports  of  embarkation. 

It  may  be  found  practicable  to  call  at  some  places  on  the  return 
journey  ;  also  to  visit  some  of  the  Brocks,  now  being  investigated  by 
Mr.  Tress  Barry,  M.P.,  near  Wick,  by  calling  at  Thurso,  and  taking- 
train  there  ;  or  the  boat  might  land  the  party  at  Wick,  and  go  round 
to  Thurso. 

The  foregoing  arrangements  may  be  modified.  The  length  of  time 
at  each  stopping-place  may  be  taken  approximately  as  averaging  three 
hours,  but  for  lona,  Kilmartin,  Stennis,  Maeshowe,  at  least  six  hours 

JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  III.,  5TH  SER.  U 


268         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

will  be  required.     An  illustrated  guide-book  and  map  of  the  route  are 
in  course  of  preparation. 

These  arrangements  have  been  approved  of  by  the  Council  of  the 
Society,  subject  to  such  modifications  as  the  Hon.  Gen.  Sec.  may  find 
desirable. 


Local  Government  (Ireland)  Act,  1898  (61  &  62  Viet.  chap.  37, 
sec.  19)  :  Powers  of  County  Council  as  to  Ancient  Monuments  (45  Sf  46 
Viet.  c.  73;  55  $  56  Viet.  c.  46). — (1.)  Where  any  ancient  monuments 
or  remains  within  the  meaning  of  this  section  are  being  dilapidated, 
injured,  or  endangered,  the  county  surveyor  of  any  county  shall  report 
the  same  to  the  county  council,  and  a  county  council  may  prosecute  for 
any  penalty  under  section  six  of  the  Ancient  Monuments  Protection 
Act,  1882. 

(2.)  The  provisions  of  section  eleven  of  the  said  Act  (defining 
" ancient  monuments  to  which  this  Act  applies"),  and  section  one  of 
the  Ancient  Monuments  Protection  (Ireland)  Act,  1892,  shall  have 
effect  as  if  they  were  herein  re-enacted,  with  the  substitution  of  "  county 
council"  for  "  Commissioners  of  Works"  ;  but  this  enactment  shall  be 
in  addition  to  and  not  in  derogation  of  the  existing  provisions  of  the 
said  sections  as  respects  the  Commissioners  of  "Works. 


Congress  of  Archaeological  Societies. — The  tenth  Annual  Con- 
gress of  Archaeological  Societies  was  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Society 
of  Antiquaries,  Burlington  House,  on  July  6th.  There  was  a  good 
attendance  of  delegates,  representing  the  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries 
of  Ireland,  the  Royal  Archaeological  Institute,  the  British  Archaeological 
Association,  the  Folk-Lore  Society,  the  British  Record  Society,  and 
twenty-one  Provincial  Societies. 

The  Report  dealt  with  " National  Catalogue  of  Portraits";  Mr. 
Gomme's  "  General  Index,"  for  which  the  names  of  300  subscribers 
have  been  received,  and  of  which  at  least  one  volume  will  be  issued 
before  the  end  of  the  year;  the  "  Model  Rules  for  Indexing"  ;  "  Cata- 
logue of  Effigies  "  ;  "  Photographic  Record  Society  "  ;  and  the  "Index 
of  Papers  for  1897,"  now  passing  through  the  press. 

The  special  committee  for  dealing  with  the  question  of  a  "  National 
Catalogue  of  Portraits  "  has  issued  a  circular  wherein  the  advantages 
of  forming  such  a  catalogue  are  shown,  in  which  it  is  stated — 

"  Nearly  every  family  of  more  than  one  or  two  generations  possess  some  family 
portraits,  but  neglect,  the  enforced  dispersal  of  possessions  after  death,  and  other 
circumstances,  have  cast  a  large  proportion  of  these  portraits  into  anonymous 
oblivion. 

"  Many  puhlic  hodies,  such  as  colleges,  municipal  corporations,  and  other  endowed 
institutions,  own  collections  of  portraits  of  which  they  are  trustees  for  the  time  being, 


MISCELLANEA.  269 

and  which  they  will  be  anxious  to  hand  down  to  posterity  properly  named  and  in 
good  order. 

"  In  these  collections,  both  private  and  public,  apart  from  the  National  Galleries 
of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  there  are  numerous  portraits  of  the  greatest 
historical  interest,  and  it  is  considered  very  desirable  that  some  attempt  should  be 
made  to  obtain  a  register  of  them  in  order  that  their  identity  may  not  be  lost. 

"  Of  other  and  more  modern  portraits  it  may  be  said  .that  it  is  impossible  to  tell 
that  great  interest  may  not  some  day  attach  to  them  as  portraits  of  ancestors  of  the 
great  men  of  the  future,  or  as  specimens  of  the  work  of  great  artists." 

The  schedules  for  the  full  description  of  portraits,  with  instructions, 
have  been  printed,  and  are  on  sale  at  Messrs.  Eyre  and  Spottiswoode's. 

The  question  of  the  recently-issued  report  of  the  Foreign  Office  on 
the  statutory  provisions  made  hy  other  countries  for  the  preservation  of 
historic  buildings  was  discussed,  and  it  was  moved  that  the  attention  of 
the  societies  in  union  be  called  to  this  important  return,  which  showed 
that  England  shared  with  Russia  the  discredit  of  having  no  higher 
authority  for  the  preservation  of  such  buildings  than  the  transitory 
owners. 

The  Committee  on  the  Indexing  of  Archaeological  Transactions  (Messrs. 
Hope,  Gomme,  and  Round)  brought  forward  the  following  rules,  mainly 
derived  from  those  adopted  by  the  Public  Record  Office,  England,  which 
were  unanimously  approved  by  the  congress  : — 

"The  committee  is  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  of  the  greatest 
advantage  to  research  work  of  all  kinds  if  a  perfectly  identical  plan  of 
indexing  were  adopted  by  every  archaBological  society,  so  that  each 
separate  index  would  read  into  every  other  index  and  act  correlatively. 

11  The  conclusions  of  the  committee  are  as  follows : — 

"1.  That  there  be  only  one  index  of  persons,  places,  and  subjects, 
under  one  alphabet. 

"  2.  That  the  name  of  every  person  occurring,  both  in  text  and  foot- 
notes (except  the  authors  of  books  and  articles  cited),  be  indexed. 

"3.  That  the  name  of  every  place  occurring,  both  in  text  and  foot- 
notes, be  indexed. 

"4.  That  surnames  with  the  Norman  prefix  'de,'  e.g.  l  d'Amori,' 
<de  Bohun,'  '  d'Eyncourt,'  '  de  Lisle,'  '  de  la  Tour'  (which  have  often 
become  anglicized  by  coalescing,  as  '  Deincourt,  "  Darell,'  'Delamotte,' 
etc.),  be  indexed  under  D,  with  cross-references  to  the  eventual  sur- 
name, under  which  the  references  will  be  given,  as  'de  Braose,  see 
Braose,'  '  de  Yere,  see  Vere.' 

"5.  That  surnames  with  the  prefix  'atte,'  e.g.  'atte  Field,'  'atte 
Tree,'  *  atte  Teye,'  etc.,  be  indexed  under  those  forms,  but  that  a  cross- 
reference  be  appended  in  each  case  to  the  form  without  the  prefix,  as 
*  atte  Green,  see  also  Green,'  and  '  Green,  see  also  atte  Green.' 

"  This  rule  will  apply  also  in  cases  of  such  prefixes  as  V  the,'  '  in 
the,'  etc. 

U2 


270          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

"  6.  That  surnames  with  the  .prefix  '  Fitz,'  e.g.  '  Fitz  Hugh,'  <  Fitz- 
alan,'  and  '  Fil  Johannis,'  be  indexed  only  under  'Fitz';  except  that 
such  a  case  as  « John  Fitz  llichard  of  Loughton '  be  indexed  under  '  Fitz 
Richard'  and  'Loughton/ 

11  It  should  be  clearly  understood  that  this  is  only  a  convention  for 
index  purposes,  and  does  not  determine  the  actual  form  of  the  sur- 
name. 

"  Names  prefixed  by  '  Ap,'  '  Mac,'  '  0','  '  Van,'  or  '  Yon,'  should  be 
indexed  under  those  prefixes. 

"  7.  That  surnames  like  l  Le  Strange,'  ' PEstrange,' '  le  Tyler,'  etc., 
be  indexed  under  L,  with  cross-references  to  the  true  surname,  under 
which  the  references  will  be  given,  as  '  le  Tyler,  see  Tyler.' 

"8.  That  the  names  of  sovereigns  be  indexed  under  the  personal 
name,  with  the  numerical  title  when  it  occurs,  followed  by  (emperor), 
(king),  etc.,  e.g.  l  Henry  VIII.  (king),'  '  Elizabeth  (queen),'  '  Maud 
(empress).' 

"  9.  That  names  of  bishops  be  indexed  under  their  sees,  abbots,  etc., 
under  their  abbeys,  princes  and  peers  under  their  titles,  and  so  forth, 
with  cross-references  from  their  proper  names  (as  'Laud,  "William, 
Bishop  of  London,  see  London,  bishops  of). 

"  10.  That  names  of  saints  be  indexed  under  their  personal  names, 
e.g.  '  Agatha  (saint) '  ;  but  surnames  and  place-names  derived  from 
saints  should  be  indexed  under  the  full  name,  as  'St.  Ives,'  'St. 
Pancras.' 

"11.  That  Latin  names  of  persons  (both  Christian  and  surnames), 
places,  and  offices  or  callings,  be  translated  into  English  equivalents, 
e.g.  Egidius  (Giles),  Wydo  (Guy),  JExtranem  (Strange),  de  Bello  Monte 
(Beaumont),  de  Mortuo  Mari  (Mortimer),  Bellus  Vims  (Belvoir),  Cestria 
(Chester),  capellanus  (chaplain),  miles  (knight),  dominus  (lord  or  dan). 
But  in  the  case  of  persons  and  places,  a  cross-reference  must  be  given 
under  the  Latin  form,  as  l  Novum  Locum,  see  Newstead,'  'Bellus  Visus, 
see  Belvoir.' 

"12.  That  bearers  of  the  same  surname  be  arranged  alphabetically 
under  that  surname,  according  to  the  first  Christian  name. 

"The  Christian  names  should  not  run  on  in  block,  but  each  should 
have  a  fresh  line,  with  a  '  rule '  to  indicate  the  surname,  e.g. — 

Smith,  Arthur,  46,  92,  101. 
James,  220,  332. 

"  13.  That  in  case  of  a  change  of  surname  or  style,  all  entries  be 
indexed  under  the  more  recent  name,  with  cross-references  from  the 
previous  name. 

"  14.  That  place-names  (including  names  of  manors),  such  as  '  "West 
Langdon,'  'Long  Marston,'  'North  Curry,'  etc.,  be  indexed  under 


MISCELLANEA.  271 

,'  'Long,'  'North,'  etc.,  with  cross-references  to  the  true  place- 
name,  under  which  the  references  will  be  given,  as  '  Long  Marston,  see 
Marston,  Long.' 

"  Field-names  need  not  he  indexed  separately. 

"  15.  That  contractions  such  as  St.  for  *  saint,'  Me  for  '  Mac,'  etc., 
be  indexed  in  the  order  of  the  full  word  '  saint,'  '  Mac,'  etc.,  and  not  in 
the  order  of  the  contraction  'St.,'  '  Me.' 

''16.  That  all  place-names  be  grouped  together,  as  cross-references, 
under  the  counties,  provinces,  districts,  or  countries,  in  which  they  are 
situated,  e.g.  l  Kent,  see  Canterbmy,  Dover,  Maidstone,  Reculver.' 

"  17.  That  variations  of  spelling  and  Latinized  formations  of  personal 
and  place-names  be  all  grouped  together  under  the  entry  of  the  modern 
name  (e.g.  Eeynolde,  Kaynold,  Eeynold,  Reignolde,  Renold,  Ranoulde), 
with  cross-references  from  the  variants,  as  '  Ranoulde,  see  Reynolde.' 

"18.  That  every  entry  be  qualified  as  far  as  possible  by  a  descriptive 
reference  to  its  subject,  e.g.  '  window  in,'  'barrow  at,'  'excavation  of,' 
'  at  Dorchester,'  etc. 

"19.  That  names  of  ships,  etc.,  be  entered  as  a  separate  heading 
under  '  Ships,'  etc. 

"20.  That  books  and  articles  quoted  be  not  indexed. 

"  21.  That  the  papers  in  the  transactions  of  the  society  be  indexed 
under  the  author's  name  by  a  separate  entry,  giving  the  title  of  the 
paper,  e.g.— 

Way,  Albert,  on  'Palimpsest  Brasses,'  121. 

"  The  title  of  the  paper  may,  if  preferred,  be  given  in  a  special  type. 

"  22.  That  the  election  or  decease  of  members  of  a  society  be  indexed 
under  the  member's  name,  with  the  necessary  explanatory  clause 
'  election  of '  or  '  decease  of.' 

"23.  That  in  the  cases  of  indexes  to  series  of  volumes,  group- 
headings  be  given,  such  as  'Castles,'  'Field-Names,'  'Pedigrees,' 
'  Heraldry,'  '  Roman  Antiquities,'  etc.,  with  cross-references  to  the 
papers  treating  of  these  subjects,  in  accordance  with  the  system  adopted 
in  the  annual  Index  of  Archasological  Papers  published  by  the  congress. 

"24.  That  every  index  be  edited  by  some  person  qualified  by  local 
knowledge. 

"  25.  That  for  general  guidance  in  matters  not  fully  dealt  with  in 
these  conclusions,  the  rules  adopted  by  the  Public  Record  Office,  and 
set  forth  in  the  preface  to  the  'Calendar  of  Close  Rolls,'  1307-13137 
should  be  followed." 

Ballywiheen  Church,  Co.  Kerry. — In  the  description  of  this  church 
published  in  the  Journal  for  31st  March  last  (Part  1,  vol.  viii.,  5th  Ser.) 
there  are  a  few  inaccuracies,  which  I  think  it  better  should  be  corrected. 
In  the  first  place  the  writer,  in  my  opinion,  has  given  a  great  deal  more 


272          ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

attention  to  this  church  than  it  deserved  from  an  archaeological  point  of 
view.  The  general  character  of  the  masonry,  the  details  of  construc- 
tion and  the  plan,  all  point  to  its  being  one  of  a  class  of  structure  to  he 
met  with  very  frequently  in  the  old  graveyards  of  Ireland,  and  its  age 
may  date  from  any  time  within  the  last  two  centuries.  It  comprised 
a  church  and  priest's  residence  under  one  roof.  The  residence  was  at 
the  western  end — one  apartment,  on  ground  floor,  and  one  over,  separated 
from  the  church,  doubtless,  by  some  light  partition.  The  ground-floor 
had  a  fireplace,  which  is  shown  on  the  printed  plan,  and  is  mistaken  for 
a  window,  closed  up.  The  ope  has  been  covered  over  by  a  stone  lintel, 
to  permit  of  an  adjoining  grave  being  banked  against  the  wall.  Two 
beams  ran  across  between  the  side  walls  to  support  the  joists  of  the  upper 
floor — one  alongside  the  west  wall,  and  one  about  9  feet  6  inches  out 
from  same.  The  holes  for  the  ends  of  beams  appear  in  the  side  walls ; 
the  author  describes  them  as  "  locker-like  recesses."  The  beam  by  the 
west  wall  was  supported  in  the  centre  by  a  flat  flag  corbel.  This  is 
what  is  supposed  to  be  "a  support  for  a  light,  in  the  absence  of  any 
object  of  ritual  with  which  it  could  be  connected."  The  small  window 
•in  the  west  gable  gave  light  to  the  upper  floor.  The  builder  was 
economical,  and  reduced  the  thickness  of  the  gable,  over  the  upper  floor, 
by  forming  a  2-inch  offset  on  the  wall  inside.  The  combined  church 
and  residence  was  not  uncommon  in  the  district.  Up  to  about  forty 
years  ago  the  priest  at  Dunquin,  in  this  parish,  lived  at  the  end  of  his 
church  in  the  same  way. — P.  J.  LYNCH,  M.R.I. A. i.,  Hon.  Provincial 
Secretary  for  Munster. 


Note  in  reference  to  the  Breastagh  Ogam-stone. — With  reference 
to  the  rendering  that  the  stone  is  a  memorial  of  a  son  of  Cairbre,  son  of 
Amalgaid,  there  are  two  Amalgaids  who  are  recorded  to  have  had  a  son 
Cairbre,  and  one  Amalgaid,  regarding  whom  no  such  son  is  mentioned : 

FlACHRA   FOLTSNATHACH. 
I 


Amalgaid,  died  449  :  King  of  Connaught.         Dathi,  died  428  :  King  of  Ireland. 


Cairbre.  Amalgaid.  Fiachra  Ealgach. 

Ninnid.  Amalgaid. 

Tigernan  of  Errew.  Cairbre. 

If  Amalgaid,  son  of  Dathi,  had  a  son  Cairbre,  that  son's  son  is  not 
likely  to  have  been  commemorated  at  Breastagh,  because  his  descendants 
were  settled  in  East  Meath.  Rathfran  was  one  of  the  forts  of  the 
kings  of  the  Hy  Fiachrach  of  the  Moy,  descended  from  Fiachra 
Ealgach,  and  is  therefore  a  place  where  a  memorial  of  a  man  of  rank 


MISCELLANEA.  273 

descended  from  either  Amalgaid,  King  of  Connaught,  or  Amalgaid,  son 
of  Fiaehra  Ealgach,  might  be  found.  Taking  the  usual  period  of  thirty 
years  for  a  generation,  a  son  of  Cairbre  would  die  about  the  year  509  or 
548.  If  the  stone  is  a  memorial  of  a  son  of  either  of  these  Cairbres,  the 
date  must  be  the  first  half  of  the  sixth  century. 

Searc,  who  gave  her  name  to  Rosserk,  was  a  daughter  of  Cairbre, 
who  was  probably  the  Cairbre,  grandson  of  Fiachra  Ealgach.  But  as 
Mac  Firbis  is  not  explicit  on  this  point,  she  may  have  been  St.  Tigernan's 
aunt. 

The  above  notes  are  from  O'Donovan's  "  Hy  Fiachraeh." — H.  T. 
KNOX. 


Downpatrick  Head. — About  ten  miles  north  of  Killala  lies  an 
ancient  fortress,  which  may  almost  claim  the  name  oi  prehistoric.  It 
lies  upon  a  neck  of  land  projecting  into  the  sea.  Towards  the  land  it  is 
guarded  by  a  strong  grouted  wall,  sixty  yards  long  from  sea  to  sea,  with 
one  narrow  and  strong  gateway.  About  300  feet  distant  in  the  sea,  a 
tall  rock  stands  crowned  with  ruins.  From  a  comparison  of  the  forma- 
tion of  the  strata  and  outline  of  this  rock  and  the  rock  forming  the  face 
of  the  corresponding  cliff  it  is  thought  by  many  that  this  rock  at  the 
time  of  the  construction  of  this  fortress  formed  part  of  the  mainland. 
It  is  called  Dun-briste,  or  "the  broken  fortress"  in  Irish.  Its  name 
Downpatrick,  and  the  stone  crosses  near  it  at  which  penances  are 
performed,  point  to  an  antiquity  coeval  with  the  establishment  of 
Christianity. — GEORGE  A.  P.  KELLY,  Hon.  -Local  Secretary  for  Co.  £os- 
common. 


"Wexford  and  other  Chalices."— Permit  me  to  make  a  few  obser- 
vations on  the  admirable  Paper  by  Rev.  Mr.  ffrench  in  last  quarter's 
Journal. 

1.  The  "Kilmore  Chalice  "  is  a  combination  of  fifteenth  and  seven- 
teenth century  work,  and,  it  would  seem,  is  of  Irish  manufacture.     The 
very  peculiar  knob  is  identical  with  that  in  the  De  Burgo  and  O'Malley 
chalice,  dated  1494,  while  the  base  and  cup  belong  to  the  seventeenth 
century.     Here  we  have  the  u  renovatio  "  mentioned  in  the  inscription. 

2.  The  u  Adare  Chalice"  is  Spanish  Renaissance,  and  is  representa- 
tive of  a  good  few  still  happily  to  be  found  in  Ireland.     It  may  be 
remarked  that  here  in  Waterford  is  probably  the  finest  collection  of 
Spanish  Renaissance  silver  work  to  be  found  in  the  kingdom  :  it  would 
make  South  Kensington  turn  green  with  envy.     It  is  believed,  however, 
to  be  pewter — so  I  judge  from  the  care  taken  of  it. 

The  church  plate  of  "Waterfcrd  and  Lismore  that  may  be  considered 
of  antiquarian  interest  consists  of  one  chalice  of  sixteenth  century,  some 


274          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

fourteen  chalices  and  one  ciborium  of  the  seventeenth,  and  a  large  number 
of  chalices,  ciboria,  ostensoria,  &c.,  of  last  century,  besides  the  above- 
mentioned  Spanish  altar  ornaments.  In  a  future  issue  I  hope  to  give  a 
careful  study  of  the  whole. — W.  P.  BURKE. 


Downpatrick  Head. — Dr.  O'Donovan  identifies  "  Eos  of  the  sons  of 
Caitni,"  with  the  Ross  which  is  the  north-east  point  of  Rathfran  Bay,  but 
does  not  give  reasons  for  that  identification  beyond  reading  the  note  of 
Tirechan  as  a  statement  that  St.  Patrick  passed  from  Forrach  mac 
n-Amhalgaidh  to  Ros  filiorum  Caitni,  where  he  built  a  church,  and  cross- 
ing the  Moy  at  Bartragh  put  up  a  cross  there. — ("Hy  Fiachrach," 
page  470,  and  map.) 

Tirechan' s  note  does  not  seem  to  me  to  indicate  more  than  the  fact 
that  Patrick  built  a  church  at  a  certain  place.  There  is  no  old  church 
at  Ross  Point.  But  Downpatrick  is  associated  in  name  with  St.  Patrick, 
and  there  are  ancient  ecclesiastical  ruins  on  it — the  existing  ruin  on 
the  mainland;  and  the  church  on  the  pillar  rock,  of  which  but  small  traces 
remain  now,  where  Ca3sar  Otway  saw  a  building  with  inclined  jambs 
and  a  smaller  building  west  of  it.  The  situation  where  the  pillar  was 
attached  to  the  mainland  would  answer  to  Ros  of  the  sons  of  Caitni. 

Dr.  O'Donovan,  in  the  "Annals  of  Four  Masters,"  under  the  year 
1393,  gives  the  following  quotation  from  Mac  Firbis.  "  Isthmo  angusto 
inter  Dunrus  (in  Tiramalgadia)  et  continentem  marinis  fluctibus  obruta, 
homines  inde  nauticorum  ope  rudentium  .i.  caolaige  cnaibe  extracti 
sunt."  This  is  some  evidence  that  a  dun  on  a  point  was  occupied  as  a 
fortress  or  otherwise  in  1393. 

Downpatrick  seems  to  answer  the  conditions  for  both  events,  and  is 
in  name  associated  with  St.  Patrick. — H.  T.  KNOX. 


Dunmoe  Castle. — The  following  communication  has  been  received 
from  Mr.  John  Hanley : — 

"I  wish  through  you  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Antiquarian 
Society  to  the  dilapidated  and  dangerous  state  of  one  of  the  most 
picturesque  and  interesting  remains  in  this  county  (Meath),  viz.  Dunmoe 
Castle.  The  eastern  tower  is  on  the  point  of  falling.  I  am  sure  it  will 
not  stand  another  winter's  storm  and  frost.  It  could  be  preserved  at  a 
very  small  outlay.  Dunmoe  Castle  is  situated  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Boyne,  about  two  miles  east  of  the  town  of  Navan." 

Mr.  J.  H.  Moore,  C.E.,  Hon.  Local  Secretary,  North  Meath,  reports 
that  it  is  an  extremely  picturesque  ruin  just  opposite  Ardmulchan. 
There  is  a  mill  and  weir,  on  the  Boyne,  and  it  is  one  of  the  nicest 
bits  on  the  river.  There  are  two  circular  towers,  with  a  wall  joining 
them,  facing  the  river.  I  think  Sir  William  Wilde  said  it  was  used  as 
a  hay -barn,  and  burned,  a  good  many  years  ago,  and  has  since  been 


MISCELLANEA.  275 

crumbling  to  ruin.  Cromwell  is  said  to  have  peppered  it  as  he  passed 
from  Drogheda  to  Athboy.  Lewis'  "Topographical  Dictionary"  says 
it  was  originally  built  by  De  Lacy,  and  rebuilt  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  It  is  certainly  a  pity  such  an  addition  to  the  landscape  should 
disappear.  [This  and  similar  objects  of  antiquarian  interest  throughout 
the  country,  will  come  within  the  scope  of  the  new  County  Councils,  now 
empowered  to  take  steps  to  preserve  such  buildings.  See  copy  of  section 
19  of  the  Local  Government  (Ireland)  Act),  1898,  on  page  268.— ED.  J 

Oratory  of  St.  Columkille  at  Gartan. — The  east  gable  and  window 
of  the  ancient  little  church,  or  oratory,  of  St.  Columkille,  at  Gartan, 
has  suffered  from  a  storm,  and  the  upper  part  of  the  window  is  broken 
and  thrown  to  the  ground.  The  graveyard  near  it  was,  some  years 
ago,  enclosed  with  a  wall,  but  the  little  church  was  left  outside  the 
enclosure.  I  should  be  glad  to  see  it  put  right  before  the  winter,  as 
it  would  be  a  great  pity  such  a  relic  should  be  allowed  to  perish. — 
KICHAKD  E.  BAILLIE,  Archdeacon  of  Raphoe. 

[This  also  is  a  class  of  ruin  which  should  receive  the  attention  of  the 
County  Council,  under  the  provision  of  the  new  Local  Government  Act.] 


Ancient  Wooden  Vessel. — A  very  curious  old  wooden  vessel  has  been 
found  in  a  bog  about  two  miles  north  of  Ballinalee,  near  Edge  worth  stown. 
The  wood  is,  I  think,  "  sally."  The  length  is  24  inches  ;  breadth,  16 
inches  ;  depth,  8£  inches.  In  shape  it  is  a  wide  oval,  and  has  a  knob  at 
each  end  with  a  hole,  evidently  for  putting  a  round  pole  through,  that 
two  people  might  carry  it,  or  that  it  might  be  secured  to  a  wall  for  safety. 
1  think  the  interior  was  excavated  by  fire.  The  vessel  is  far  from 
perfect,  as  it  was  a  good  deal  broken  by  the  slade  in  cutting  the  turf. 
I  never  saw  such  a  vessel  in  any  museum,  so  think  it  is  a  very  rare 
specimen.  It  must  be  very  old,  as  it  was  found  eight  feet  below  the 
surface  of  the  bog,  from  six  to  eight  feet  from  the  edge  of  the  pas- 
ture.— MAXWELL  Fox  (Captain  R.N.}. 


White  Lough  Crannoge,  Co.  Westmeath. — I  visited  this  crannoge 
soon  after  its  discovery,  and  found  that  a  local  farmer  had  systematically 
ploughed  up  the  surface  to  a  depth  of  twelve  or  fourteen  inches  for  the 
sake  of  the  " treasures"  which  such  artificial  islands  are  supposed 
to  contain.  I  was  credibly  informed  that  he  sold  the  antiquities  which 
he  picked  up — and  it  appears  they  were  valuable  ones — "  to  a  museum." 
The  crannoge  is  situated  in  a  marsh  at  the  western  side  of  White 
Lough,  townland  of  Clonekilvant,  and  parish  of  Killucan.  It  is  oval 
in  shape,  and  about  200  feet  in  circumference.  The  tops  of  perpen- 
dicular oak-piles  were  visible  at  irregular  intervals  around  the 
margin  of  the  crannoge,  and  a  quantity  of  ashes  indicated  the  site  of  the 


276  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRKLAND. 

fireplace  near  the  centre.  Bones  of  various  animals  protruded  from  the 
upturned  soil  in  every  direction,  and  the  probing  of  a  stick  in  the  loose 
surface-mould  brought  to  light  a  perfectly  preserved  bronze  pin  of  the 
ring  pattern,  a  large  bead  of  blue  glass,  and  an  iron  nail  or  spike.  The 
remains  of  a  timber  causeway  were  discovered  in  the  adjacent  bog  about 
half  a  century  ago. — P.  BAEDAN. 


Lough-a-trim  Crannoge,  Co.  Westmeath.— This  small,  though,  until 
lately,  well-preserved  crannoge,  is  situated  in  the  dry  bed  of  a  lake,  in 
the  townland  of  Knock-a-ville,  and  parish  of  Killucan.  It  was  dis- 
covered in  the  spring  of  the  present  year,  and  acting  upon  "  information 
received,"  I  proceeded  to  the  spot,  but,  alas !  the  vandal  had  already 
commenced  operations,  and  as  the  proprietor  is  as  much  interested  in 
earthen  crannoges  as  he  is  in  "  yellow  primroses,"  its  destruction 
appears  inevitable.  It  is  circular  in  outline,  and  about  22  feet  in 
diameter.  The  stockades,  which  were  sound  and  perfect,  consisted  of 
rough-hewn  planks,  about  9  feet  long  by  10  inches  wide,  and  3  inches 
in  thickness,  standing  close  together,  and  sloping  inward  at  the  top. 
Several  square  holes  were  visible  in  the  planks,  probably  intended  for 
foot-holds.  "While  the  lake  was  being  drained  in  1876,  a  canoe,  22  feet 
long,  with  carved  ends,  was  dug  out  of  the  mud,  but  as  no  one  cared  to 
preserve  it  from  decay,  it  soon  fell  to  pieces.  Up  to  the  time  of  writing, 
no  "  finds  "  have  come  to  light. — P.  BARDAN. 

Discovery  of  Coins  in  Dungannon. — A  few  weeks  ago,  when  work- 
men were  pulling  down  a  house  in  Dungannon,  they  discovered  a 
number  of  old  copper  coins  and  one  silver  tenpenny.  The  copper  coins 
are  generally  halfpence,  and  are  dated  from  1722  until  the  beginning  of 
this  century.  Besides  these  coins,  some  other  articles  were  found,  of 
which  the  most  interesting  are  leaden  casts  of  several  bronze  medals 
which  were  issued  to  commemorate  the  victories  of  Nelson  and  Howe. 
I  sent  these  casts  to  Mr.  Day  for  examination,  and  he  informs  me  that 
three  of  them  were  taken  oif  medals  belonging  to  the  Mudie  National 
Series,  and  one  from  a  design  by  Jean  P.  Dyoz. — W.  T.  LATIMEK, 
Hon.  Local  Secretary,  East  Tyrone. 


(     277     ) 


of 


[NOTE. — The  works  martced  thus  (*)  are  by  Members  of  the  Society.'] 

*  Devenish  (Lough  Erne} :  its  History,  Antiquities,  and  Traditions.  By 
the  Rev.  James  E.  M'Kenna,  c.c.  (M.  H.  Gill  &  Son,  Dublin.) 
Price  Is.  net. 


AMONG  the  most  interesting  homes  of  early  and  medieval  religious  life  in 
Ireland  are  the  island  monasteries  of  our  lakes  and  coasts.  Protected  by 
nature  from  much  of  the  wanton 


H 


mischief,  or  utilitarian  attacks, 
to  which  the  mainland  remains 
are  ever  exposed,  they  generally 
retain  their  ruins  in  a  condition 
more  complete  and  instructive. 
The  island  remains  form  in- 
teresting objects  for  the  anti- 
quarian tourist,  and  offer  an 
important  field  for  the  student 
of  the  past,  which  has  as  yet 
been  little  worked. 

Pew  of  the  island  monasteries 
can  claim  a  more  important  place 
than  Devenish.  Its  early  oratory, 
or  house,  belonging  to  almost  the 
first  period  of  Irish  Christianity  ; 
its  round  tower,  with  the  rare 
feature  of  a  sculptured  cornice  ; 
and  its  later  conventual  churches, 
containing  architectural  features, 
indicating  continued  use  down  to 
the  fifteenth  or  sixteenth  cen- 
tury, form  subjects  for  study  of 
the  life  of  an  ecclesiastical  com- 
munity extending  over  a  very 
lengthened  period.  Devenish  East  Window,  now  in  Monea  Church. 

The   present  little   work   is 

very  well  done.  The  existing  remains  of  the  island  are  carefully 
studied  ;  illustrations  from  other  sources  are  well  chosen  and  thought- 
fully applied.  There  are  numerous  pictures,  generally  good,  and  really 


Devenish  High  Cross  (West  side). 


NOTICES    OF    BOOKS.  279 

illustrative.  Two  of  these  are  reproduced.  The  high  cross  is  of  much 
interest  as  it  is  of  a  form  very  unusual  in  Ireland :  and  while  preserving 
the  general  characteristics  of  a  late  date,  indicates  by  the  large  amount 
of  interlacing  in  its  ornament  the  late  survival  of  the  early  ecclesiastical 
school  of  ornament  in  this  country.  The  window  is  preserved  in  the 
still  used  church  of  Monea,  to  which  it  was  removed  many  years  ago 
from  the  abbey  of  Devenish. 

The  only  omission  to  notice  in  the  book  is  the  want  of  a  map  of  the 
island.  A  few  typographical  errors,  sometimes  in  the  printing  of  names 
in  the  Irish  character,  might  have  been  avoided.  The  little  book,  how- 
ever, forms  an  exceptionally  good  monograph  of  a  very  interesting  site. 


The  History  of  the  Church  and  Parish  of  St.  Mary -on-the- Hill,  Chester, 
with  an  account  of  the  Church  of  St.  Mary-without-the- "Walls. 
By  J.  P.  Earwaker,  M.A.,  F.S.A.  300  pages,  4to.  Extensively  illus- 
trated. Price  21s. 

THE  illustrations  are  a  feature  of  this  work,  a  large  number  of  which 
are  from  drawings  specially  prepared  for  the  purpose,  including  a  plan 
of  the  church,  and  drawings  of  the  monuments,  with  shields  of  arms  of 
the  numerous  old  families  connected  with  the  church. 

The  history  of  this  church  from  the  twelfth  century  is  treated  of,  and 
an  account  of  the  altars  and  description  of  the  communion  plate  and 
bells  is  given,  together  with  a  list  of  the  rectors  from  the  year  1200, 
with  biographical  particulars. 

A  very  full  series  of  extracts  from  the  parish  registers,  and  copies  of 
the  remarkable  churchwardens'  accounts,  with  a  list  of  the  church- 
wardens from  1536  to  the  present  time,  form  very  interesting  chapters. 
Many  of  the  entries  are  of  importance  to  students  of  ritual. 

There  is  a  full  index  of  persons,  places,  and  subjects,  and  the  whole 
is  handled  in  a  very  masterly  manner  by  the  late  able  editor  ;  the  work 
is  published  by  subscription,  and  no  expense  seems  to  have  been  spared 
in  bringing  out  the  volume  properly.  In  the  absence  of  a  publisher, 
Mr.  Henry  Taylor,  F.S.A.,  Chester,  has  interested  himself  in  promoting 
its  publication,  and  will  receive  subscriptions  for  the  volume. 


*  The  Ancient  Franciscan  Friary  of  Bun-na-margie,  Itattycastle,  Co. 
Antrim.  By  Francis  Joseph  Bigger  and  William  J.  Fennell.  4to, 
45  pp.  "With  illustrations  ;  paper  cover.  (Belfast :  Marcus  Ward 
&  Co.)  Price  2s.  6d. 

THIS  is  a  descriptive  and  historical  notice  of  the   above  friary,  so  inti- 
mately associated  with  the  Mac  DonneDs  of  Antrim,   of  which  familv 


280  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

several  generations  were  buried  in  the  vault  attached  to  the  church. 
There  are  many  interesting  historical  notes  of  the  different  members  of 
this  family  recorded,  and  a  curious  list  is  given  of  the  inscriptions  on 
six  coffins  dating  from  early  in  the  seventeenth  century ;  the  earliest 
has  an  inscription  in  Irish. 

The  topography  of  the  neighbourhood  is  given,  and  also  an  account 
of  the  Franciscan  foundation.  The  church  consists  of  a  nave  in  the 
form  of  a  parallelogram,  99  feet  in  length,  and  24  feet  6  inches  in 
width.  The  conventual  buildings  are  to  the  north,  as  is  very  generally 
the  case  in  Franciscan  edifices,  but  very  little  now  remains  in  addition 
to  the  church,  only  a  small  chamber,  18  feet  3  inches  by  10  feet  9  inches, 
separated  from  the  church  by  a  narrow  passage  ;  and  north  of  the 
chamber  before  mentioned,  is  an  apartment  said  to  have  been  the 
refectory,  measuring  35  feet  long  by  17  feet  4  inches  wide.  Judicious 
excavation  would  probably  reveal  the  existence  of  the  foundation  of 
buildings  on  the  north  and  west  side  of  the  cloister  garth. 

This  interesting  little  work  appears  under  the  cover  of  the  Ulster 
Journal  of  Arcliceology,  of  which  publication  it  is  described  as  forming  a 
special  part.  The  text  is  by  Mr.  F.  J.  Bigger,  one  of  the  editors  of  that 
Journal,  and  the  illustrations  are  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Fennell. 


*  Catalogue  of  early  Dublin-printed,  Books,  1601  to  1722.  Part  I.,  1601 
to  1625,  compiled  by  E.  R.  M'C.  Dix.  With  an  historical  intro- 
duction and  bibliographical  notes,  by  C.  Winston  Dugau.  4to. 
Price  2s.  6d.  (Dublin:  1898.  T.  G.  O'Donoughue,  3,  Bedford- 
row.) 

THIS  is  the  second  issue,  with  additions,  of  the  first  part  of  a  catalogue, 
covering  the  period  1601-1700,  and  it  includes  in  all  forty-three  separate 
entries  taking  into  account  the  proclamations  and  broadsides. 

The  list  is  arranged  in  tabular  form,  containing  in  order  the  date  of 
publication,  authors,  short  title,  size,  printer,  and  owner  or  reference ; 
there  are  also  a  number  of  blank  columns  wherein  the  collector  may,  if 
so  disposed,  enter  the  particulars  of  any  work  not  comprised  in  the  list, 
should  he  be  fortunate  enough  to  possess,  or  know  of,  a  work  not  already 
there. 

Mr.  Dix  deserves  the  greatest  credit  for  attempting  to  do  for  Dublin 
what  has  been  successfully  done  for  other  centres,  where  literary  activity 
was  not  so  great ;  and  the  progress  he  has  made  during  the  two  years  of 
his  courageous  effort,  promises  well  for  the  satisfactory  completion  of 
his  task. 

The  introductory  pages  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Dugan  are  of  much  interest,  and 
the  period  covered  is  treated  of  in  an  able  and  scholarly  manner ;  his 
bibliographical  and  historical  notes  are  also  a  valuable  addition  to 
Mr,  Dix's  compilation. 


(     281     ) 


THE  THIRD  QUARTERLY  MEETING  of  the  Society  for  1898 -was  held  in  the 
Assembly  Room,  Moy  Hotel,  Ballina ,  on  Tuesday,  the  2nd  of  August, 
1898,  at  8  o'clock,  p.m.  ; 

JOHN  J.  DIGGES  LA.  TOUCHE,  M.A.,  LL.D.,   M.E.I. A.,  Vice-President, 
in  the  Chair. 

The  following  Fellows  and  Members  (22  in  number)  took  part  in 
the  Proceedings  : —  . 

Fellows. — The  Eev.  J.  F.  M.  ffrench,  M.K.I.A.  ,  Vice- President ;  Edward  Martyn, 
D.L.,  Vice -President  ;  Principal  Rhys,  LL.D.  (Oxford),  Hon.  Fellow  ;  Robert  Cochrane, 
F.S.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  Son.  General  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A., 
M.R.I.A.;  George  A.  P.  Kelly,  M. A.  ;  James  Mills,  M.K.I.A.;  Thomas  J.  Westropp, 

M.A.,  M.R.I. A. 

Members. — The  Very  Rev.  Monsignor  O'Hara,  P.P.,  V.F.,  Hon.  Local  Secretary  for 
North  Mayo  ;  Major  J.  R.  Baillie,  J.P.  ;  John  Burgess,  J.P.  ;  John  Carolan,  J.P.  ; 
the  Rev.  Wilfrid  Dallow,  P.P.  ;  Edward  H.  Ennis,  B.L.  ;  Anthony  T.  Gilfoyle,  M.A., 
J.P.  ;  Charles  M'Neill ;  Joseph  H.  Moore,  M.A.,  M.  INST.  C.E.  ;  P.  Newell,  B.A.  ;  the 
Rev.  James  P.  Sherwin  :  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Somerville-Large,  M.A.  ;  "William  Stirling, 
F.R.I.A.I.  ;  W.  J.  Grove  White,  LL.B.  . 

The  Minutes  of  the  Second  Quarterly  Meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed- 

The  following  Candidates,  recommended  by  the  Council,  were 
declared  duly  elected  : — 

FELLOWS. 

Brooke,  Rev.  Stopford  A.,  M.A.,  1,  Manchester-square,  London :  proposed  by  Robert 

Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary. 
Brownell,  Edward  Darlington,  Royal  Marine-road,  Kingstown  :  proposed  by  Robert 

Lloyd  Woollcombe,  LL.D.,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow. 
Fogerty,  William,   M.A.,  M.D.  (Member) :  proposed  by  P.  J.  Lynch,  Fellow,  Hon. 

Provincial  Secretary. 

Higgins,  Patrick  (Member,  1897),  Assistant  Town  Clerk,  The  Glen,  Waterford :  pro- 
posed by  the  Most  Rev.  Dr.  Sheehan,  Lord  Bishop  of  Waterford  and  Lismore, 

Vice- President. 
Tallon,  Right  Hon.  Daniel,  Lord  Mayor  of  Dublin,  the  Mansion  House,   Dublin : 

proposed  by  Robert  Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary. 
Westropp,    Ralph    Hugh,    B.A.   (Member,    1890),   Springfort,   Patrick's  Well,    Co. 

Limerick:  proposed  by  T.  J.  Westropp,  M.A.,  Fellow,  Hon.  Provincial  Secretary 

for  Levnster. 


282          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


MEMBERS. 

Allen,  Henry  J.,  14,  Ailesbury-road,  Dublin  :  proposed  by  M.  Dorey. 

Beater,  George  Palmer,  Minore,  St.  Kevin's  Park,  Upper  Rathmines  :  proposed  by 

"William  Frazer,  F.R.C.S.I.,  M.R.I.A.,  Vice -President. 
Fetherstonhaugh,  Albany,   Solicitor,  17,  Eccles-street,   Dublin :  proposed  by  H.  A. 

Cosgrave,  M.A. 
Flood,  "William  H.  Grattan,  Enniscorthy  :  proposed  by  Dr.  G.  E.  J.  Greene,  M.A., 

Fellow. 
Gilligan,  Very  Rev.  Michael,  Canon,   P.P.,  Carrick- on -Shannon:    proposed   by  B. 

Mac  Sheehy,  LL.D. 

Lugton,  A.  J.,  Ballinderry,  Multifarnham :  proposed  by  James  Tuite,  M.P. 
M' Garth  y,   Charles,   1,   Eldred -terrace,  Douglas-road,    Cork:  proposed  by  Cecil  C. 

Woods,  Fellow. 
M'Kean,    Rev.  William,  Ballymacarrett,   Belfast:    proposed  by  the  Rev.   W.    T. 

Latimer,  B.A.,  Fellow. 
Mahony,   Rev.   Henry,    55,   Belgrave- square,   Rathmines  :    proposed   by  the   Rev. 

Professor  Murphy,  M.A. 
Scott,  W.  A.,  24,  Rathdown-road,  Dublin :  proposed  by  J.  Ribton  Garstin,  M.A.,  F.S.A., 

M.R.I. A.,  Fellow. 
Smith,   John,   B.E.,    M.  INST.  C.E.,    County  Surveyor,  Ballinasloe  :  proposed  by  the 

Rev.  Canon  M'Larney,  B.A. 
Stokes,   Henry  J.,   Barrister-at-Law,    Ballynariagh,    Howth  :  proposed  by   H.   A. 

Cosgrave,  M.A. 

The  following  Papers  were  read,  and  referred  to  the  Council  : — 

"  The  Mace  of  Athenry,  Co.  Gal  way,"  by  W.  F.  Wakeman,  Hon.  Fellow.     (Read  by 
Mr.  Cochrane.) 

"Rosserk  and  Moyne,"  by  the  Very  Rev.  Monsignor  O'Hara,  Hon.  Local  Secretary 
for  North  Mayo. 

"  The  Rathcroghan  and  Breastagh  Ogam-stones,"  by  Principal  Rhys,  LL.D.,  F.S. A., 
Professor  of  Celtic,  Oxford  University,  Hon.  Fellow. 

The  remaining  Paper  on  the  list  was  taken  as  read,  and  referred  to 
the  Council,  viz.  : — 

"  The  Antiquity  of  Iron  as  used  in  the  manufacture  of  certain  Weapons,  Implements, 
and  Ornaments  found  in  Ireland"  (Part  II.),  by  W.  F.  Wakeman,  Hon.  Fellow. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  the  President,  regretting  his 
inability  to  attend  ;  also  a  letter  from  The  Right  Hon.  The  Earl  of  Arran, 
inviting  the  Members  to  afternoon  tea  at  Castle  Gore,  on  the  Thursday 
following. 

The  Society  then  adjourned. 


PROCEEDINGS.  283 

THE  EXCURSIONS. 

On  Tuesday,  2nd  August,  the  Members  visited  the  ruins  of  Rosserk 
and  Moyne,  also  Killala  Round  Tower,  and  the  Cathedral  Church  of 
Killala,  returning  to  Ballina  at  6  o'clock,  p.m.  An  opportunity  wa& 
taken  on  the  previous  evening  to  visit  Cloghogle  Cromlech,  near  Ballina, 
Ardnaree,  and  Kilmore  Moy. 

On  Wednesday,  3rd  August,  the  Members  drove  to  Killala,  thence  to 
the  Palmerstown  Cromlechs,  Rathfran  Priory,1  Breastagh  Stone  Circle, 
Breastagh  Ogam-stone,  after  which  the  drive  was  continued  to  Kil- 
cummin  Head,  from  which  fine  views  of  Killala  Bay  and  the  adjoining 
scenery  were  obtained.  The  ancient  church  of  Kilcummin  was  examined. 

On  Thursday,  4th  August,  a  drive  was  arranged  to  the  ruins  of 
Errew  Monastery,  on  the  shores  of  Lough  Conn,  by  way  of  Pontoon, 
taking  Knock farnaght,  near  Laherdane,  on  the  way. 

As  shown  on  the  6-inch  map,  Co.  Mayo,  the  "  stone-circles  and  crom- 
lech" of  Knockfarnaght  form  a  very  interesting  object  of  most  unusual 
design.  Unfortunately  a  careful  examination  of  the  site  revealed  that 
the  two  stone  forts  represented  were  merely  ^the  remains  of  late  sheep - 
pens,  and  the  circles  and  earthworks  were  only  the  small  blocks  and 
heaps  of  stone  and  earth  of  some  late  enclosures  of  irregular  shape.  The 
cromlech  alone  is  genuine,  and  it  is  merely  a  small  and  fallen  cist  of 
which  the  top  slab  lies  on  the  two  side  blocks,  all  three  being  only 
5  feet  3  inches  to  5  feet  6  inches  long  and  about  4  feet  wide.  From 
this  point  is  a  noble  view  of  Mount  Nephin,  presenting  its  steepest  sides 
to  the  spectator,  with  the  bare  and  rocky  channel  of  the  "  White  River." 

West  from  the  cromlech  the  interesting  fort  of  Lisnagorp  (Eort  of  the 
Corpse)  occupies  an  abrupt  green  knoll,  round  which  winds  an  ancient 
road. 

The  fort  is  a  circular  earthwork,  about  10  feet  high,  with  a  foss  on 
the  less  defended  side.  The  ramparts  were  faced  with  stonework,  of 
which  patches  of  large  blocks  remain.  The  top  measures  96  feet  across, 
and  has  in  the  centre  the  remains  of  an  oval  stone  chamber. 

1  The  Very  Rev.  Monsignor  O'Hara,  P.P.,  Hon.  Local  Secretary  for  North  Mayo, 
says  of  this  locality  : — "  On  the  way  to  Kilcummin — the  site  of  the  French  landing 
in  1798 — you  have  immediately  north  of  Palmerstown  Bridge,  on  the  roadside,  the 
finest  '  Giants'  Graves  '  I  have  ever  seen  ;  and  hard  by  you  have  the  old  Dominican 
Monastery  of  Temple  Mary — «  Rathfran  of  the  Sweet  Bells,'  as  Mac  Firbis  calls  it ; 
and  just  at  the  mouth  of  the  Palmerstown  river  you  have,  on  the  beach,  two  stones, 
pointing  out  where  Tressi,  wife  of  Awley,  was  drowned  whilst  bathing.  A  little 
farther,  on  the  roadside,  there  is  the  finest  pillar-stone,  perhaps,  in  Ireland,  with 
Ogham  inscriptions,  indicating  the  burial-place  of  the  son  '  of  Carbry,  the  son  of 
Awley.'  This  stone  was  put  standing,  some  thirty-five  years  ago,  by  the  late  Sir 
Samuel  Ferguson.  A  little  further  on  still  you  have  the  site  of  the  '  Wood  of 
Fochuill,'  represented  by  the  modern  townland  of  Foghill,  connected  with  the  vision 
of  St.  Patrick ' — and  all  of  these  interesting  objects  and  places  are  within  a  radius 
of  a  mile." 

JOUR.  R.8.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  III.,  5TH  8ER.  X 


284  ROYAL  SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF    IRELAND. 

At  Errew  the  walls  of  the  church  are  standing,  but  the  conventual 
buildings  have  almost  disappeared.  Tradition  has  it  that,  at  one  time, 
there  were  over  a  thousand  students  in  residence  here,  and  the  round 
and  square  mounds  about  easily  suggest  the  sites  of  their  habitations. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  founded  by  St.  Tiernan  in  the  seventh  century. 
There  is  an  interesting  relic  preserved  at  Rappa  Castle,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, called  "Mias  Tiernan,"  supposed  to  be  the  offertory- dish 
used  by  the  saint. 

After  lunch  at  the  Errew  Hotel,  the  return  journey  was  made  by 
way  of  Crossmolina,  where  the  Right  Rev.  Monsignor  O'Hara,  Hon. 
Local  Secretary,  who  had  acted  as  "  guide,  philosopher,  and  friend"  to 
the  members,  left  the  party.  The  success  of  the  various  expeditions 
were  due  to  him,  and  the  reading  of  his  interesting  notes  at  each  place 
of  interest  during  the  Excursions  was  much  appreciated.  The  only 
regret  felt  was  that  so  few  members  of  the  Society  took  advantage  of 
the  thoughtful  and  satisfactory  arrangements  made  for  their  enjoyment 
and  comfort  in  connexion  with  these  Excursions. 

By  invitation  of  the  Earl  and  Countess  of  Arran,  the  members 
visited  Deel  Castle,  a  finely  preserved  feudal  residence  of  about  the 
sixteenth  century,  which  was  examined  with  much  interest.  Lord 
Arran  showed  the  secret  passages  and  chambers  curiously  contrived  in 
the  thickness  of  the  floors  and  walls  of  the  castle. 

Afterwards  the  party  were  entertained  by  Lady  Arran  at  Castle 
Gore,  where  the  fine  collection  of  family  and  other  portraits,  and  pictures 
by  eminent  masters,  were  shown  and  described.  Nothing  could  exceed 
the  gracious  hospitality  of  Lord  and  Lady  Arran  on  the  occasion,  and, 
before  leaving,  the  thanks  of  the  Society  were  conveyed  to  the  Earl  and 
Countess  by  Mr.  Edward  Martyn,  D.L.,  Vice- President,  Principal  Rhys, 
LL.D.,  and  the  Honorary  Secretary. 


MEGALITHIC  MONUMENTS  VISITED. l 

ClogJiogle  Cromlech,  properly  Cloc  a  Cogbaile,  situate  half  a  mile 
S.W.  from  Ballina,  just  at  back  of  the  Railway  Station,  supposed  to  be 
the  grave  of  the  four  "maols,"  who  were  executed  on  the  hill  opposite, 
across  the  river,  for  the  murder  of  Caileach,2  Bishop  of  Kilmore  Moy, 
has  a  nearly  hexagonal  roofing  stone,  supported  by  three  other  stones. 


1  Borlase   mentions  ("Dolmens  of  Ireland,"  vol.   i.,   pages  113-117)  Rathfran, 


formed  of  large  stones ;  the  west  side  has  been  removed,  and  the  interior  filled  up 
with  stones  and  rubbish. 

8  Mr.  Knox,  in  the  Journal  of  the  Society  for  1897,  p.  430,  gives  some  facts  which 
throw  considerable  doubt  on  the  events  in  the  "Life  of  Sr.  Cellach"  supposed  to 
relate  to  this  cromlech. 


PROCEEDINGS. 


285 


The  top  is  nearly  horizontal,  and  measures  9  feet  by  7  feet.  Close  to 
this  monument  is  a  fragment  of  rock  which  has  evidently  been  blasted 
with  gunpowder.  An  illustration  will  be  found  in  the  Journal  of  the 
Society  for  1887,  p.  296,  here  reproduced. 


View  of  Cloghogle  Cromlech. 

About  three  miles  northward  from  Killala,  near  Rathfran  Priory,  are 
two  forts.  West  of  the  road,  near  Stoney batter,  is  a  "  giant's  grave" 
of  two  chambers  or  rings,  and  two  other  cromlechs.  To  the  east  of  the 
road,  in  Rathfranpark,  two  circles  or  cromlechs  stand  behind  Summer- 
hill  House,  and  a  large  one  in  the  adjoining  townland  of  Breastagh,  near 
the  Ogam  pillar.  (See  Professor  Rhys' s  Paper  on  "  Ogam- stones  in 
Connaught,"  page  233.) 

The  Rev.  Caesar  Otway,  in  "  Sketches  of  Erris  and  Tirawley," 
•describes  these  monuments  ;  he  notices  a  giant's  grave  at  the  four  cross- 
roads of  Mullacross  : — "  In  the  fine  fertile  pasture  fields  to  the  left  of  the 
road,  as  you  descend  the  hill  towards  Killala,  there  are  two  or  three 
circles.  On  the  right  hand  of  the  road  there  are  still  more.  On  the 
hill  beyond  Mr.  Palmer's  house  there  are  two.  .  .  .  Altogether  I 
reckoned  ten  on  an  area  of  ground  of  not  more  than  100  acres. 

"  One  of  them,  as  you  proceed  southwards  from  the  cross-roads,  and 
to  the  left  of  the  road,  is  remarkable,  not  only  for  the  great  size  of  the 
stones,  but  for  its  oval  form.  .  .  .  The  stones  '  are  larger  in  the  western 
«nd  of  the  oval  nearest  the  cromlech,  and  generally  diminish  in  size, 
until  at  the  eastern  end  they  are  so  small  as  almost  to  be  buried  in  the 
sand.' " 

^,  "  The  Ordnance  Survey  Letters  "  (MSS.  14,  E.  18.  R.I.A.,  p.  1830), 
after  describing  the  two  raths!'jat  Rathfran,  mention  "a  monument  of 
huge  stones — four  on  either  sides — forming,  as  it  were,  two  walls  .  .  . 

X2 


286  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

enclosed  by  which  there  is  a  rectangular  hole  sunk  in  the  ground  with- 
large  stones  fixed  inside  enclosing  it,  some  of  which  rise  only  a  little- 
higher  than  the  surface  of  the  ground. 

"Between  these  two  walls,  on  the  S.W.  side,  an  opening  is  left  as  if 
for  an  entrance.  As  a  continuation  of  these  walls  towards  the  N.E.  side 
there  are  isolated  stones." 


ARDNAREE  AUGTJSTINIAN  MONASTERY. 

The  Abbey  of  Ardnaree  stands  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river 
at  Ballina,  between  the  upper  bridge  and  the  Eoman  Catholic  cathedral, 
the  grounds  of  which  it  adjoins.  It  was  founded,  in  1427,  by  the 
O'Dowdas,  Princes  of  Hy  Fiachrach,  for  Eremites  of  St.  Augustine. 

The  church  and  buildings  are  comparatively  large,  and,  though 
neglected  for  generations,  are  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation.  The  western 
door  is  remarkably  handsome.  It  is  in  the  pointed  style,  forming  am 
arch  of  very  pretty  design.  Two  human  heads,  exquisitely  carved,  are 
represented  on  it.  Some  twenty  years  ago  a  spirited  Ballina  man,  Luke 
M 'Guinness,  with  the  aid  of  some  subscriptions,  collected  by  himself, 
enclosed  the  abbey  with  a  handsome  railings  and  gate.  For  some  years 
past,  burials  are  practically  prevented  in  it.  It  evidently  was  possessed 
of  some  lands,  as  the  place  immediately  surrounding  is  called,  on  the 
Ordnance  map,  "  Abbey  Half  Quarter."  It  also  enjoyed  a  considerable 
interest  in  the  salmon  fishing  in  the  river. 

On  the  hill  a  little  to  the  south — the  hill  of  the  executions — from 
which  Ardnaree  derives  its  name,  there  stood  a  castle  of  the  O'Dowdas, 
around  which  many  and  fierce  struggles  took  place  between  the  owners 
and  the  aggressive  Burkes,  who  finally  succeeded  in  wresting  it  from, 
them.  Here  again  the  same  Burkes,  in  1586,  made  a  stand  against  the 
"  English  invaders "  of  the  time  who,  under  Sir  Richard  Bingham, 
Governor  of  Connaught,  were  devastating  the  entire  province.  Joined 
by  some  two  thousand  Scotch  auxiliaries,  who  had  previously  landed  in 
"Ulster,  Burke  awaited  the  approach  of  the  dreaded  governor.  But  he, 
coming  on  them  by  surprise,  slaughtered  almost  the  entire  force,  and 
those  who  escaped  only  found  relief  by  jumping  into  the  muddy  waters- 
of  the  Moy. 

KILMORE  MOY. 

The  ancient  church  of  "  Kill-mor-Moy  "  gives  its  name  to  the  parish 
in  which  Ballina  is  situated.  It  is  distant  from  that  town  by  less  than 
half-a-mile  on  the  road  to  Killala.  It  is  comparatively  large,  and  the 
masonry  is  of  the  Cyclopean  style.  Some  say  it  was  built  by  St.  Patrick 
for  his  disciple  Olcan,  but  more  probably  it  is  of  more  recent  date.  The 
present  door  is  on  the  south  side  wall.  The  western  one  was  closed  up 
on  the  occasion  of  building  the  adjunct  to  the  west,  which  was  done  by 


PROCEEDINGS.  287 

the  Lyndseys,  of  Moyne  Abbey  and  Belleek,  for  the  purpose  of  a 
mausoleum,  a  purpose,  however,  which  it  was  destined  never  to  fulfil. 
It  is  recorded  in  the  Life  of  St.  Patrick  that,  whilst  sojourning  in  this 
place,  he  commanded  Olcan,  already  worn  out  by  his  labours  in  preach- 
ing the  Gospel,  to  build  himself  a  cell,  wherein  he  might  spend  the 
remainder  of  his  life  in  pious  contemplation,  and  that  as  he  proceeded 
forth  to  accomplish  this  object,  he  was  to  construct  his  cell  just  in  the 
place  where  his  axe  should  first  fall  from  his  shoulder.  And  the  narra- 
tive informs  us  that,  when  he  came  to  the  place,  called  afterwards  "  Cill 
Mor  UachtairMhuaidhe,"  the  axe  suddenly  fell,  and  there  he  commenced 
to  build,  and,  with  much  sweat,  succeeded  in  constructing  a  monastery, 
Ubi  factus  est  in  gentem  magnam."  There  is  no  trace  at  present  of 
this  monastery,  and  as  the  axe  is  more  suggestive  of  his  having  built  a 
wooden  structure  rather  than  one  of  stone,  we  may  fairly  infer  that  the 
monastery  of  Olcan  is  not  to  be  identified  with  the  Kill  Mor.  Further- 
more we  are  told  in  the  same  place,  that  "  St.  Patrick,  returning 
towards  the  east,  came  to  a  place  called  "Leac  Fionn  Baile,"  which  is 


ftc^^ppfeft 


Lia  na  Manach. 

above  the  church  of  Kill  Mor,  on  the  upper  bank  of  the  river  Moy 
(Cill  Mor  Uachtair  Mhuaidhe),  and  there  he  erected  a  cross,  the 
triumphal  emblem  of  our  religion.  But  this  place  began  to  be  called 
afterwards,  by  the  monks  who  resided  there,  "  Lia  na  manach,"  i.e.  "  the 
rock  of  the  monks."  Now,  at  the  upper  end  of  the  cemetery,  a  little 
south  of  Kill  Moy,  there  is  a  large,  grey,  granite  rock,  on  a  mound  or 
small  rath,  and  on  the  face  of  it  is  deeply  inscribed  a  cross  within  a 
circle.  This,  I  believe,  was  "  Lia  na  manach,"  and  I  have  no  doubt 
but  it  was  the  site  of  Olcan's  monastery.  I  believe  also  that  it  was 
from  "  Cluan  Olchain"  ("the  retreat  of  Olcan"),  which  is  close  to 
Fochuil  of  the  Vision,  that  St.  Patrick  ordered  his  disciple  to  go  forth  to 
build  his  cell. 

As  one  approaches  "  Kill  Mor"  from  the  town,  St.  Patrick's  well 
may  be  seen  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  road.  Here  the  saint  bap- 
tised a  prince  of  the  Hy-Fiachra,  and  restored  to  life  his  wife  Echtra. 
Her  grave,  Feart  Echtra,  is  on  the  bank  of  the  stream  adjacent  to  the 
well,  but  unfortunately  the  green  mound,  which  indicated  it,  was 
removed  lately  by  an  improving  tenant,  who  should  have  known  better. 


2SS     ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

St.  Ceallagh,  son  of  Owen  Bel,  King  of  Connaught,  was  Bishop  of 
Kill-mor-Moy.  It  was  he  who  was  murdered  by  the  four  "Maols," 
who  afterwards  expiated  their  crime  on  the  height  of  Ardnaree. 

EOSSERK  FRIARY  (Eos-sEiucE).1 

This  edifice  was  erected  about  A.D.  1400  by  a  member  of  the  family 
of  Joyce  for  a  Community  of  the  Third  Order  of  St.  Francis,  which 
devoted  itself  to  the  education  of  youth  in  that  district. 

The  church  measures  99  feet  by  20,  and  is  crowned  by  a  belfry  about 
60  feet  high.  There  is  a  sketch  of  it  in  Grose's  "Antiquities."  The 
only  internal  feature  to  which  he  refers  is  the  structure  which  he  calls  a 
"  confessional." 

The  district  in  which  this  monastery  is  situate  is  closely  identified 
with  the  early  history  of  Christianity  in  Ireland,  and  that  of  the  ancient 
families  which,  from  time  to  time,  claimed  lordship  there. 

Amhalgaidh,  from  whom  the  barony  of  Tirawley  is  called,  a  remote 
ancestor  of  the  sept  of  the  O'Dowdas,  and  of  the  Mac-Firbis  clan,  "  the 
poets  of  the  Hy- Amhalgaidh  of  Eos-Seirce,"  had  a  son  Cairbre,  whose 
daughter  Scarce  was  a  miracle-working  female  saint,  and  from  her  thia 
locality  and  the  parish  of  Ballysakeery  are  said  to  take  their  names. 

Dudley  MacFirbis,  writing  in  1650,  says,  that  it  was  for  her  that  a 
church  and  cell,  which  he  mentions  as  then  existing  at  Eosserk,  were 
built. 

Doubtless,  these  ancient  edifices  were  respected  by  the  Franciscans, 
as  they  continued  to  exist  so  long  after  the  erection  of  their  monastery 
there.  O'Donovan,  whose  "  Tribes  and  Customs  of  the  Hy-Fiachrach  " 
was  published  in  1844,  states  that  no  traces  of  them  then  remained. 

Possibly  he  did  not  look  for  them  in  the  right  place  ;  and  it  may  be  that 
near  the  old  parish  church  of  Ballysakeery,  or  in  the  graveyard  adjoin- 
ing it,  we  may  find  traces  of  the  cell  in  which  the  benevolent  "  Circe  " 
of  the  Moy  prayed,  as  historians  tell  us,  for  "  a  blessing  on  the  village 
and  the  wood  which  was  at  the  mouth  of  Moy." 

THE  MONASTERY  OF  MOYNE. 

The  magnificent  ruins  here  are  those  of  a  friary  for  Franciscans  of 
the  Strict  Observance,  which  was  founded  upon  the  reformation  of  that 
Order  in  1460  by  a  son  of  the  M'William  Bourkeof  that  period,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  Nehemiah  O'Donchada,  its  Provincial  Yicar  in 
Connaught.  It  is  alleged  by  others  that  the  founder  was  one  Thomas- 
Oge  Bourke  of  Moyne-Culeagh,  who  died  M'William  Oughter,  and 
that  Nehemiah  the  Provincial  only  took  possession  of  the  house  by  licence 
of  Pope  Nicholas  V.  It  was  finished  in  1462,  and  consecrated  by  Donatus- 

1  The  notes  on  Rosserk,  Moyne,  and  Killala  Round  Tower  are  by  Mr.  George 
A.  P.  Kelly,  M.A.  Those  on  Killala  Cathedral,  Rathfran  Abbey,  and  Kilcummin 
Church  are  by  the  Very  Rev.  Monsignor  O'Hara  and  Mr.  T.  J.  Westropp,  M.A. 


PROCEEDINGS.  289 

O'Connor-Sligo,  a  Dominican  monk,  and  member  of  a  noble  family  which 
gave  more  than  one  bishop  to  the  See  of  Killala.  Chapters  of  the  Order 
were  frequently  held  here  during  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries, 
and  it  was  the  resort  during  this  period  of  students  of  the  higher  physical 
and  moral  sciences. 

The  church  measures  about  135  feet  by  20  feet,  but  is  not  of  uniform 
width.  It  possessed  a  most  beautiful  eastern  window,  and  upon  high 
and  broad  arches  a  graceful  tower  rises  to  90  feet.  This  tower  stands 
upon  the  two  gables  between  the  choir  and  the  body  of  the  church,  the 
arches  being  turned  on  consoles  from  east  to  west.  There  is  some  much 
admired  stone-work  about  the  church,  convent,  and  cloister.  The  latter 
is  built  on  plain  pillars  placed  in  couplets  as  at  Sligo. 

The  name  of  Moyne1  has  not  so  poetic  an  origin  as  that  of  Rosserk. 
St.  Mucna,  Bishop  of  Killala,  was  its  patron  saint,  and  it  seems  to  have 
borrowed  his  appellation  in  a  softened  form.  The  Monastery  stands 
upon  an  ancient  battlefield  where  the  lordship  of  this  territory  was  suc- 
cessfully defended  by  the  race  of  Fiachra  under  William  Mor,  of  Moyne, 
in  1281.  It  was  also  called  Moyne  of  Kilroe,  from  a  small  ancient 
church  of  the  latter  name  lying  to  the  N.~W.,  which,  dating  from 
St.  Patrick's  time,  stands  on  a  rocky  hillock  about  a  mile  east  of  Killala, 
and  was  described  by  O'Donovan  as  possessing  a  small  round-headed 
eastern  window. 

The  well  at  Moyne  was  long  venerated,  and  by  its  flow  supplied 
water  to  a  mill  which  was  attached  to  the  Monastery,  and  the  ruins  of 
which  may  still  be  seen. 

KILLALA.  ROUND  TOWEE. 

The  Round  Tower  at  Killala2  is  about  84  feet  high,  and  17  feet  in 
diameter  at  the  base.  It  stands  upon  a  plinth  about  3  feet  high,  and 
2  feet  8  inches  broad.  Its  doorway  is  11  feet  from  the  ground,  it  is 
5  feet  6  inches  high,  2  feet  3  inches  wide  at  the  base,  and  2  feet  at  the 
springing  of  the  arch  of  three  stones  which  forms  its  top. 

The  masonry  is  unusually  good,  and  seems  to  indicate  that  it  is  one 
of  our  later  round  towers.  The  stones  of  which  it  is  composed  are  large, 
and  truly  cut  to  round  and  batter.  One  stone  is  7  feet  6  inches  long. 

The  tower  was  struck  by  lightning  early  in  this  century,  which 
knocked  off  part  of  the  roof,  and  cracked  the  wall  for  about  one-half  its 
height.  The  top  was  restored,  and  some  repairs  done  by  Bishop 
Verschoyle  about  sixty  years  ago. 

Such  accidents  were  not  infrequent;  the  bell  tower  of  the  Dominican 
Abbey  of  Roscommon  was  split  from  top  to  bottom  by  lightning  in  the 
fifteenth  century. 

1  It  is  also  said  to  be  derived  from  maigfn,  a  small  plain.     TTIafo"  itself  is  a  plain. 

2  Mullach  a  Cairn  (Mullach  an  Chairn)  is  the  hill  west  of  Killala,  where  the  chiefs 
of  the  O'Dowdas  were  inaugurated. 


290  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

ST.  PATRICK'S  CATHEDRAL,  KILL  ALA. 

The  medieval  cathedral  of  Killala  was  so  much  injured  in  the  troubles 
of  the  Cromwellian  wars  that,  after  the  restoration,  Dr.  Thomas  Otway, 
the  Bishop  of  the  See,  munificently  undertook  the  rebuilding  of  the  ruin 
about  1670.  His  strong  but  plain  and  clumsy  church  remains  with  few 
additions,  preserving  in  its  south-wall  a  richly  moulded  pointed  door  as 
the  only  relic  of  its  predecessor.  Of  the  Celtic  churches  which  stood  on 
the  site,  from  about  440,  when  St.  Patrick  founded  the  "bishoprick,"  not 
a  visible  trace  remains. 

The  present  building  is  a  plain  oblong  room  with  four  round  headed 
windows  to  the  south,  and  a  modern  gothic  one,  surmounted  by  a  wheel- 
window,  to  the  east. 

A  large  plain  tower,  with  a  stone  steeple,  also  does  duty  for  a  west 
porch,  and  a  vestry  projects  from  the  north-wall.  The  doors  of  the 
church  and  vestry  are  of  several  recessed  plain  orders  with  semicircular 
heads,  the  former  is  of  disproportionate  height,  a  bank  of  earth  having 
been  removed,  and  the  sill  lowered.  The  only  monuments  of  note 
are : — 

1.  "H(ic)    R(equiescit)    I(n)   P(ace)  |   R(equiescat)   P(ace)      Hen- 
ricus   Hall  |  SS.T.D.    et  |  hujus    olim    necnon    Achad.  |  diocesis   epis- 
copus  insignis,   qui  |  obiit  Julii  19°  Anno  Dni  1663  |  Henricus  Aulaeus 
|  Hinc  vere  salus  |  sum  cinis  hie  qua  sum  sed  et  hie  |  cinis  emptio  Christi 
est  |  Csetera  quae  mea  pars,  pars  |  mea  Christus  habet." 

2.  "Hie  Positse,  |  Eeducem  sperant   .   .   .  Dominum  |  et  Animam, 
exuviae  |  Patris  admodum  in  Domino  |  venerabilis  Johannis  Smith  |  .  .  .  . 
ecclesiarum  Alladensis  |  et  Achadensis  nuper,  proh  dolor  |  (re)  episcopi. 
Pastoris  |  vigilantis,  concionatoris  |  facundissimi,  hominis  in  |  ...  primi 
obiit  2°  Martij  |  astatis  sua3  46  |  Anno  Dni  1680,     S.  P." 

3.  "  Here  lyeth  ye  body  of  John  Gardiner  |  of  Clochan  near  Killala 
who  dyed  23   day  |  of  October  1696  in  ye  58  year  of  his  Age.  |    Here 
also  lyeth  ye  Body  of  Mary  |  Kempster  his  wife  who  was  born  in  Abing- 
don  in  England  and  had  by  her  |  Four  sons  and  five  daughters.    She  dyed 
ye  17  day  of  December  1724  in  |  ye  90  year  of  her  age." 

4.  A  rather  fine  monument  of  grey  and  white  marble  with  a  large 
urn,  is  set  in  the  north  wall. 

"  Near  this  place  lyeth  interred  ye  body  |  of  Sir  Arthur  Gore  of  New- 
town  Gore  in  |  ye  county  of  Mayo  (**e),  Bart,  second  son  of  |  Sir  Paul  Gore 
of  Magherabegg  in  the  |  county  of  Donegal  Bartt.  who  married  |  Elinor 
one  of  ye  daughters  of  Sir  George  |  St.  George  late  of  Carrick  in  the 
county  of  |  Leytrim  knt.  By  whom  he  had  issue  |  Four  sons  viz.  Paul, 
Arthur,  William  &  |  George  and  eight  daughters  vizt.  Katherine,  |  Isa- 
bella, Mary,  Lettice,  Ann,  Elinor,  Sarah,  and  |  Elizabeth.  He  departed 
this  life  the  |  20th  day  of  December  Anno  Dom.  1697." 

"  Near  this  place  lye  also  ye  bodys  of  |  ye  above  named  Isabella  who 


PROCEEDINGS .  291 

departed  |  this  life  ye  third  day  of  March  Anno  Dom  1679  |  and  of 
Elinor,  who  was  ye  wife  of  Edward  |  "Wingfeild  of  Scurmore  in  ye  county 
of  Sligoe  Esqre.  and  Departed  this  life  ye  |  Seuenth  Day  of  Aprill  Anno 
Dom  1703."  Below  are  the  Gore  arms  :  "  (rules,  a  fess  between  3  crosses 
crosslet  or,  impaling  per  fess  az.  and  arg.  a  lion  ramp,  gules  ducally 
crowned  or."1 

5.  On  the  south  side  is  another  large  monument  with  white  marble 
Corinthian  pillars.  The  epitaph  records  Francis  Palmer  of  Farrow,  county 
Mayo,  Esq.,  who  died  June  4th,  1721  (aged  about  66  ;  he  married  Charity 
Annesley,  and  died  *.  p.} ;  his  father,  Koger  (died  October  15th,  1724), 
and  the  latter' s  second  wife,  Anne  Breasey,  mother  of  Roger  Palmer,  who 
succeeded  to  Farrow.  Arms :  "  Or,  three  palmers  scrips  around  a  chevron 
sa."  The  scrips  are  represented  like  three-legged  pots  with  handles. 

THE    SOTJTERBAIN    AT    KlLLAJA. 

In  the  graveyard,  in  a  position  south-east  of  the  cathedral,  there  is 
an  opening  in  the  ground,  popularly  believed  in  the  neighbourhood,  to  be 
the  entrance  to  a  subterrannean  passage,  which  had  been  formed  for  secret 
communication  between  the  cathedral  and  the  round  tower.  It  was 
explored  by  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  Cochrane,  and  Mr.  M'Neill,  who 
entered  and  took  the  measurements  for  the  diagram  on  page  292, 
while  the  party  waited  outside  for  a  report  of  the  investigation. 

The  opening  referred  to  was  made  some  years  ago  in  digging  for  a 
grave.  It  forms  a  hole  in  the  roof  of  the  circular  chamber  of  a  souterrain 
of  the  type  found  in  raths,  or  forts,  throughout  the  country.  This 
chamber  measures  6  feet  in  diameter,  and  the  roof  is  of  the  bee-hive 
form.  Two  passages  lead  out  of  the  chamber :  one  to  the  west  2  feet 
wide,  and  2  feet  in  height,  starts  at  a  level  of  2  feet  above  the  floor,  and 
appears  to  have  become  filled  up  a  few  yards  from  the  chamber,  On  the 
eastern  side  another  passage  runs  for  a  total  length  of  24  ft.  9  in.,  where 
it  ends  with  an  upward  slope,  and  this  was  probably  the  original  entrance, 
as  there  is  the  usual  obstruction,  or  barrier,  at  a  distance  of  4  feet  9 
inches  from  the  end  of  this  passage,  always  found  near  the  entrance  as  a 
means  of  defence.  The  county  road  is  now  formed  over  it.  At  a 
distance  of  13  feet  9  inches  from  the  circular  chambar  another  passage 
branches  off  due  south  ;  it  has  an  upward  direction,  and  is  also  filled  in 
with  earth. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  passage,  and  at  9  feet  from  the  circular 
chamber,  there  is  an  opening  2  feet  2  inches  in  width,  4  feet  long,  and 
about  3  feet  in  height ;  it  leads  into  a  series  of  chambers  approximately 
rectangular  in  plan,  and,  judging  from  the  appearance  of  the  stones, 
forming  the  walls,  this  portion  may  be  of  later  date  than  that  just 
described.  The  stones  in  the  former  have  the  appearance  of  having 

1  The  colours  are  modern,  and,  in  some  cases,  possibly  incorrect. 


292  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

been  quarried,  -while  the  latter  are  apparently   surface    stones.      The 


Plan  of  Souterrain  at  Killala. 


size  and  position  of  these  chambers  are  shown  on  the  diagram ;  and  they 
would  appear  to  be  additions  to  the  original  souterrain. 


PROCEEDINGS.  293 

The  rectangular  chambers  are  at  a  lower  level  than  the  long  passage, 
and  the  floors  were  under  water  to  the  depth  of  1  foot ;  the  roof  is  about 
three  feet  above  water  level,  formed  of  large  flags  corbelled  out  from  the 
side  Avails.  The  last  chamber  was  not  fully  explored,  as  time  was 
passing  and  the  party  outside  were  getting  impatient.  The  measurements 
made  under  these  circumstances  (in  less  than  twenty  minutes)  may  be 
regarded  as  fairly  approximate. 

It  is  most  interesting  to  find  such  an  elaborate  souterrain  here,  as  it 
is  evidence  of  the  existence,  at  some  period,  of  a  large  rath  or  fort 
surrounding  it,  inside  of  which  the  original  church  was  placed,  and  the 
site  was  probably  given  by  some  chieftain  for  this  purpose. 

The  large  bank  of  earth  which  was  removed  from  the  front  of  the 
church  was  no  doubt  the  last  remnant  of  the  original  fort.  The  parish 
church  of  Glen  Columkill,  Co.  Donegal,  has  a  souterrain  adjoining  it, 
which  was  also  within  the  rath,  the  boundary  of  which  marks  the  extent 
of  the  present  graveyard. 

RATHFRAN  AND  ITS  MONASTERY. l 

"The  rath  or  earthen  fort  of  'Brandubh,'  "  a  man's  name  formerly 
common  in  Ireland,  was  a  Dominican  Abbey,  some  two  miles  north  of 
Killala,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Avonmore  river,  near  its  mouth  as  it 
flows  into  Killala  Bay.  It  was  founded  in  1274,  by  William  de  Burgh, 
surnamed  the  "  Grey."  It  does  not  seem  to  have  had  many  buildings 
attached,  as  we  find  at  the  time  of  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries  it  is 
said  to  have  had  one  small  house  and  a  mill.  It  owned,  however,  a  large 
quantity  of  land — no  less  than  two  quarters — extending  to  the  west,  and 
embracing  the  modern  townlands  of  Cloonboy  and  Carrickanassa.  Few 
incidents  in  connexion  with  this  Abbey  have  come  down  to  us.  It  is 

1  In  1577  this  abbey,  with  its  lands,  was  leased  to  Thomas  Dexter.  Afterwards, 
in  1605,  we  find  the  same  leased  to  Donat,  Earl  of  Thomond,  and  again  to  a  William 
Knight.  Alter  him  they  seem  to  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Knoxes  of  Castle- 
rea  (hard  by),  and  at  present  they  are  owned  by  Sir  lloger  Palmer,  Bart.  De  Burgho, 
the  historian  of  the  Irish  Dominicans,  tells  us  that,  after  the  expulsion  of  the  com- 
munity from  Kathfran,  some  of  the  friars  settled  down  in  the  neighbourhood,  keep- 
ing an  eye  on  the  ancient  home.  He  tells  us  that  he  visited  the  place  in  1756,  and 
that  he  found  five  of  them  living  in  a  thatched  cottage  at  Mullaghnacroishe,  within 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  abbey,  and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  site  of  this  cottage,  now 
known  as  "  Faul  an  t-Sagairt,"  is  still  in  possession  of  the  Knoxes,  though  they  have 
long  since  parted  with  the  remaining  possessions  of  the  abbey.  I  have  heard  it 
stated  that  at  Carrowkeel,  at  the  foot  of  Nephin,  the  seat  of  the  late  Walter  Burke, 
Q.C.,  a  chalice  belonging  to  this  abbey  was  kept.  Mac  Firbis,  in  the  "Book  of 
Lecan,"  speaks  of  the  abbey  as  "Rathfran  of  the  Sweet  Bells,"  and  describing  the 
locality,  says,  "  no  fairer  was  the  plain  of  Cruac-han,"  meaning  Rathcroghan,  in 
lloscommon,  one  of  the  most  fertile  districts  in  all  Ireland. 

A  hundred  yards  or  so  to  the  north-east  is  Temple-Mary,  now  a  burial-place  ; 
and  certainly  it  is  not  much  to  the  credit  of  the  Killala  Poor-Law  Guardians  that  they 
still  permit  the  bullocks  of  the  grazier  to  roam  freely  over  its  graves.  It  is  supposed 
that  a  Dominican  nunnery  once  existed  here,  but  there  is  nothing  to  be  seen  of  it 
but  the  foundations.  Between  the  abbey  and  Temple- Mary  there  is  a  well  dedicated 
to  St.  Brendan. 


294 


ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


recorded  that  Edmund  Burke,  of  Castlebar,  was  murdered  here  in  1513 
by  Ms  own  nephews,  and  Hugh  M'Goill,  master  of  novices  in  the  com- 
munity, was  put  to  death  by  the  Puritans  at  "Waterford,  whither  he  had 
gone  to  resist  by  his  preaching  the  aggressions  on  the  ancient  faith  of  his 
countrymen.  "Walter  Fleming,  another  member  of  this  community,  is 
said  to  have  met  with  a  similar  end. 

The  monastery  occupies  a  pleasant  and  picturesque  position,  being 
sheltered  towards  the  north  and  west  by  low  grassy  hills,  and  standing 
above  a  tidal  creek,  occupying  a  place  which,  in  early  times,  must  have 
been  an  important  settlement,  judging  from  the  earthen  forts  and  great 
stone  "  giants  graves"  lying  around  the  friary. 


Rathfran  Monastery,  from  South-west. 

The  remains,  which  are  very  picturesque,  are  in  a  frightful  condition 
of  decay  and  neglect,  and  are  rapidly  perishing.  They  are  heaped  with 
fallen  stones,  overgrown  with  deep  and  foul  weeds,  and  invaded  by 
cattle,  while  the  usual  horror  of  shallow  burials  and  exhumed  remains, 
bones,  skulls,  and  coffin  planks  are  everywhere  apparent. 

The  ruins  consist  of  a  church,  with  a  lateral  chapel  to  the  south, 
and  two  small  ranges  of  domestic  buildings  lying  to  the  north.  These 
last  consist  of  a  vaulted  room,  attached  to  the  wall  of  the  church  and 
greatly  defaced,  and  a  building  two  stories  high,  of  late  date  (probably 


PROCEEDINGS.  295 

from  1480  to  1520),  having  a  range  of  small  lights,  two  double,  with 
ogee  heads,  the  third  a  mere  slit,  in  the  eastern  wall. 

Most  of  the  interest  centres  in  the  church.  It  had  a  very  large  and 
lofty  east  window,  the  gable-head  and  shafts  of  which  have  fallen,  only 
the  side  piers  remain,  with  well  moulded  angle  shafts,  whose  bases  and 
capitals  seem  to  date  from  the  period  of  Edward  I.  Three  large  and 
picturesque  buttresses  support  the  corners  of  this  gable,  and  a  fourth 
similar  buttress  occurs  farther  down  the  south  wall. 

The  south  windows  originally  had  double  lights  with  plain  pointed 
heads,  and  were  of  considerable  height.  In  the  first  has  been  inserted  a 
lower  two-light  window  with  circular  heads.  The  second  is  built  up. 
In  the  third  the  original  heads  were  removed  and  utilized  for  the  lower 
light,  the  upper  part  being  closed.  Three  others  appear  in  the  wall, 
but  are  built  up,  and  the  last  defaced,  probably  when  the  side  chapel 
was  added.  The  other  features  of  this  wall  are  a  trefoil-headed  piscina 
with  two  shelves  and  two  basins  ;  its  arch  is  boldly  and  well  moulded. 
Near  it  is  a  semicircular  sedile,  or  perhaps  tomb  recess,  with  similar 
mouldings  ;  these  are  under  a  projecting  cornice,  which  drops  along  the 
jamb,  and  projects  under  the  sill  of  the  second  window.  A  curious  little 
piscina,  consisting  merely  of  a  sill  and  cinquefoil  head  plainly  chamfered, 
and  with  one  shelf,  is  set  near  the  plain  door  leading  to  the  side  chapel. 

The  north  wall  going  eastward  has  two  plain  doors  to  the  northern 
buildings,  and  two  fine  trefoil-headed  recesses  near  the  altar.  These  are 
of  the  same  period  as  the  piscina  and  recess  in  the  south  wall.  One  con- 
tains a  slab,  carved  with  a  fine  cross  and  a  defaced  inscription  in  raised 
letters.  In  the  centre  of  the  church  is  another  handsomely  decorated 
tombstone  with  six  lions  passant.1 

The  west  window  is  of  late  date,  with  two  round-headed  lights,  and 
a  cross  bar  rudely  propped  by  loose  stones.  The  door  beneath  it  is 
defaced  ;  a  carving  of  the  crucifixion  of  our  Lord  in  a  long  garment,  in 
addition  to  another  carving,  appears  in  the  wall  above  the  window. 

The  side  chapel  calls  for  little  notice,  save  for  a  rather  pleasing  east 
window  of  decorated  G  jthic,  in  the  lights  of  which  a  wall  with  oblong 
recesses  has  been  constructed.  There  are  three  closed  windows  apparent, 
high  up  the  wall  between  this  building  and  the  church. 

KlLCUMMIN    ANL    ITS   ANCIENT    CHURCH. 

Leaving  Breastagh  we  come  in  sight  of  a  bay,  ending  in  a  low  boggy 
tract,  over  which  the  tide  ebbs  and  flows.  We  pass  the  village  of  Foghill, 
preserving  in  this  scarcely  recognizable  form  the  name  Pochuill,  or 
Foclud.  All  will  remember  the  pathetic  tale  told  by  St.  Patrick  himself: 

1  The  theory  that  these  are  the  arms  of  O'Brien,  because  Rathfran  was  granted  to 
the  Earl  of  Thomond,  is  in  the  highest  degree  improbable;  the  age  of  the  stone 
evidently  preceding  the  grant,  and  the  O'Briens  never  seeming  to  have  resided  in 
Mayo  during  the  short  time  they  held  Rathfran. 


296  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

"  I  thought  at  that  very  moment  I  heard  the  voice  of  those  who  were 
near  the  wood  of  Poclud,  which  is  by  the  western  sea,  and  they  cried  out 
thus,  .  .  .  *  We  entreat  thee  holy  youth  to  come.'  .  .  .  And  I  was  very 
much  pricked  to  the  heart.  .  .  .  Thanks  be  to  God  that  after  very  many 
years  the  Lord  has  granted  to  them  according  to  their  cry !  m  It  forms 
the  basis  of  a  beautiful  section  of  Sir  Aubrey  de  Vere's  "  Legends  of  St. 
Patrick"— 

"  '  It  was  the  cry  of  children  that  I  heard 
Borne  from  the  black  wood  o'er  the  midnight  seas — 
On  Fochlut  wood.'     Thus  speaking,  he  arose 
And,  journeying  with  the  brethren  towards  the  west, 
Fronted  the  confine  of  that  forest  old. 

The  oldest  wood  that  ever  grew  in  Eire 
Was  Fochlut  wood — and  gloomiest." 

Now  it  is  open  fields  and  bogs  ending  eastward  in  the  low  cliffs  of  Killala 
Bay. 

In  &  sheltered  hollow,  among  cultivated  fields,  a  few  minutes'  walk 
from  the  seashore,  where  the  French  under  General  Humbert  landed  in 
1798,  stands  the  very  interesting  and  well-built  church  of  Kilcummin, 
probably  dating  from  the  tenth  or  eleventh  century. 

It  is  an  oblong  oratory,  measuring  internally  29  feet  8  inches  by  1 8 
feet  to  17  feet  10  inches  of  large  well-fitted  blocks,  the  walls  being  about 
3  feet  thick.2  It  is  entered  by  a  door  tapering  from  2  feet  9£  inches  to 

2  feet  7  inches.     The  head  is  formed  of  three  blocks  the  thickness  of  the 
wall,  and  is  semicircular.     There  are  two  windows,  one  in  the  middle  of 
the  east  gable.     Both  its  light  and  splay  are  semicircular,  the  head  of 
the  former  being  scooped  out  of  a  single  block,  that  of  the  latter  out  of 
two  blocks.     The  light  is  from  12  inches  to  10  inches  wide,  and  2  feet 

3  inches  extreme  height ;  splay,  2  feet  9  inches  to  2  feet  6  inches,  and 
6  feet  3'  inches  high.     The  south  window  is  5  feet  7  inches  from  the 
east  wall,  and  has  an  angular  head  of  two  pitched  blocks,  measuring  9£ 
inches  wide,  12  feet  high  from  the  ground,  the  splay  sloping  from  2  feet 
3  inches  to  1  foot  8  inches  wide,  and  5  feet  5  inches  high.     The  lights 
in  both  cases  are  high  above  the  outer  ground  ;  there  is  no  provision 
made  for  glass.     The  church  was  valued  at  two  marks  in  the  Papal 
Taxation  of  1302-6. 

North  of  the  church  is  the  saint's  grave,  marked  on  the  west  by  two 
tall  stones,  7  feet  and  5£  feet  high,  and  a  low  flag,  about  13  inches 
square,  scribed  with  a  cross  with  knobbed  ends,  round  which  are  three 
circular  "  Patrick's  crosses." 

1  "Confessio,"  sect.  10. 

2T.  O'Conor,  in  "Ordnance  Survey  Letters,"  Mayo,  1838  (MSS.  14.  E.  18, 
R.I.  A.),  pp.  186-192,  gives  the  dimensions  as  37Jby  22 £  feet,  but,  so  far  as  we  checked, 
O' Conor's  measurements  are  only  approximate  (differing,  in  this  respect,  from 
0' Donovan  and  Eugene  0' Curry)  ;  his  sketches,  especially  of  the  cross-scribed 
slab,  are  very  incorrect. 


ANCIENT  CHURCH  OP  KILCUMMIN,  FROM  SOUTH-EAST. 


KILCUMMIN — INTERIOR,  LOOKING  EASTWARD. 
Jour.|R.  S.  A.  I.f>ol.  viii.,\pt.  3,  p.  896. 


PROCEEDINGS. 


297 


As  there  have  been  several  saints  of  the  name,  it  is  hard  to  identify 
this  Cuimin.  They  were  all  of  the  race  of  Hy  Fiachra.  But  it  was 
Cuimin  Fada  that  first  blessed  the  church,  and  after  him  the  church  is 
named ;  and  it  is  Cuimin  son  of  Dioma  that  was  interred  in  the  altar 
tomb.  The  tra  lition  locally  has  been  that  the  grave  of  Cuimin  is  mid- 
way between  the  gate  and  the  church.  There  you  see  two  pillar-stones 
separated  exactly  by  the  length  of  a  grave  ;  and  we  are  told  by  McFirbis, 
in  the  Book  of  Lecan,  that  he  was  buried  at  the  feet  of  "  O'Sunaigh." 
Stations  are  performed  there,  and  a  small  stone  is  left  on  the  grave  after 
the  station.  They  refer  to  some  outrage  on  this  grave  in  times  gone  by, 
and  this  may  account  for  the  disappearance  of  the  "  uluidth  mor."  At 
the  grave  was  preserved,  up  to  some  sixty  years  ago,  a  flat  stone,  called 


Ground  Plan — Kilcummin  Church. 


"  Leac  Cuimin,"  which  the  peasantry,  0' Donovan  tells  us,  used  for  many 
superstitious  purposes ;  but  it  was  principally  used  for  the  purpose  of 
invoking  maledictions  on  wrongdoers,  particularly  such  as  were  guilty 
of  grave  slander.  It  was  to  families  named  Mochan  the  privilege 
belonged  of  manipulating  this  stone,  and  the  ceremony  used  in  invoking 
the  malediction  by  it  consisted  in  turning  it  over.  The  descendants 
of  the  ancestor  of  this  Cuimin  were  wardens  of  this  church,  and  hence 
we  may  assume  that  the  O'Machans  were  lineal  descendants  of  his. 
This  stone,  O'Donovan  tells  us,  was  removed  by  the  late  Dean  Lyons, 
p.p.,  Kilmore-Erris,  and  caused  to  be  built  into  the  wall  of  the  new 
cathedral  at  Ballina,  for  "  certain  weighty  reasons."  The  "  Leac 
Cuimin"  would  appear  to  have  reference  to  Cuimin  Fada.  We  know 
that  he  was  recognized  by  the  people  as  judge  and  arbitrator  in  all 


298 


ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


their  disputes,  and  it  would  be  no  wonder  if,  after  his  death,  they  would 
take  up  this  relic  of  his  as  symbolic  of  his  righteousness.  It  might  indeed 
have  been  his  altar-stone.  I  recollect  having  heard  it  described  as  being 
about  2  feet  by  18  inches.  It  is  also  said  that  only  a  portion  of  it  is 
inserted  in  the  Ballina  cathedral,  and  that  the  remainder  is  hidden  away 
in  the  place  which  is  only  known  to  the  few  who  are  entitled  to  possess 
the  secret. 


Kilcummin— "West  Doorway  (outer  face). 

There  is  a  "Blessed  Well,"  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  church,  to 
which  persons  come  from  long  distances  to  perform  "stations"  on  the 
three  last  Sundays  of  July  each  year,  and  on  "Garland  Sunday"  a 
"  pattern  "  is  held  here — a  custom  very  much  fallen  into* disuse  of  late. 
In  the  absence  of  bushes,  the  rag  offerings  are  held  down  by  sea 
pebbles  ;  sprays  of  wild  flowers  had  also  been  deposited — a  more 
appropriate  votive  offering  than  rags  and  rusty  nails. 


THE   JOURNAL 


OF 


THE  EOYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES 

OF  IRELAND, 
FOR  THE  YEAR  1898. 

PAPERS  AND  PROCEEDINGS-PART  IY.    FOURTH  QUARTER,  1898. 


WALTER  REAGH  FITZ  GERALD,  A  NOTED  OUTLAW  OF  THE 
SIXTEENTH  CENTURY. 

BY  LORD  WALTER  FITZ  GERALD,  M.R.I.A.,  FELLOW. 
[Read  JANUARY  11,  1898.] 

TTNDER  the  year  1595  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters"  record  the 
capture  and  death  of  a  noted  outlaw  named  Walter  "Reagh" 
(i.e.  the  Swarthy)  Fitz  Gerald,  who  they  describe  as  "  "Walter  Reagh, 
the  son  of  Gerald,  the  son  of  Thomas,  one  of  the  Geraldines  of  Kildare." 
This  short  pedigree  of  him  is  wrong,  as  will  he  proved  from  quotations 
taken  from  contemporary  documents  given  further  on. 

Walter  Reagh  was  one  of  the  eight  sons  of  Maurice  fitz  "Walter 
Fitz  Gerald,  of  Glassealy,  which  lies  hetween  Athy  and  Narragh- 
more,  in  the  county  Kildare.  Maurice's  father,  Walter,  was  one  of  the 
five  uncles  hanged  with  their  nephew,  the  "Silken  Thomns"  (10th 
Earl  of  Kildare),  at  Tyburn,  in  the  month  of  February,  1537. 

Walter  Reagh's  mother  was  Honora  O'Toole,  of  a  family  then  seated 
at  Powerscourt,  in  the  county  Wicklow.  Her  will l  is  dated  the  6th  of 
October,  1615,  and  was  proved  in  the  following  year;  she  was  buried  by 
the  side  of  her  husband,  Maurice,  in  the  cathedral  church  of  Kildare. 

In  the  Inquisitions,  Walter  Reagh  is  described  as  of  "  Cronehorne,"2 

1  Vide  the  Dublin  Diocesan  Wills,  Record  Office,  Dublin. 

2  "County  Dublin  Chancery  Inquisition,"  No.  8,  of  James  I. 

JOUR.  R.8.A.I.,  VOL.  Till.,  FT.  IV.,  5TH  8ER.  Y 


300  ROYAL    SOCIETY  OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

and  in  the  Carew  MSS.  as  of  "  Ballenehorne,"  or  "Ballenchorne."  1 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the  famous  rebel,  Fiagh  mac  Hugh  0' Byrne, 
of  Ballinacor,  in  Glemnalure,  county  Wicklow,  by  his  wife  Eose,  or 
Eisse  O'Toole. 

As  early  as  the  year  1583  Walter  Eeagh  was  making  himself  un- 
pleasantly notorious;  in  that  year  he  was  "  wanted"  by  the  Castle 
authorities,  as  well  as  two  or  three  of  his  brothers  ;  consequently  his 
father,  ''Maurice  fitz  Walter,  of  Glasseley,  and  Thomas  fitz  Maurice 
(Fitz  Gerald),  of  Lackagh,"  went  bail  in  £200,  on  the  3rd  August,  1583, 
for  the  personal  appearance  of  "  Walter  Eeagh  fitz  Maurice,  and  Gerald 
fitz  Maurice,  sons  of  the  said  Maurice,"  before  the  Lord  Justices  and 
Council,  on  the  1st  of  September  following.2 

In  1586,  Walter  Eeagh  is  mentioned  as  doing  great  hurts  to  the 
adherents  and  tenants  of  Thomas,  the  10th  Earl  of  Ormond,  and  of  his 
brother,  Sir  Edmund  Butler,  of  Cloghrennan,  in  the  county  Carlo w  ;  he 
is,  at  this  time,  described  as  abiding  in  the  forests  of  "  Lever oke  and 
Shielella,  in  Leinster."3 

On  the  21st  of  March,  1587,  he  laid  an  ambush  for  Dudley  Bagenall, 
Constable  of  Leighlin  (county  Carlow),  son  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bagenall,  in 
which  Dudley,  and  sixteen  of  his  men,  lost  their  lives.4 

The  "  Annals  of  Lough  Ce  "  thus  describe  this  encounter  : — 

"  1587.  Walter  Eiabhach,  the  son  of  Maurice,  the  son  Walter,  the 
son  of  the  Earl  (of  Kildare),  and  the  sons  of  Brian,  son  of  Cathair,  son 
of  Art,  son  of  Diarmaid  Laimhderg  (i.  e.  Dermot,  the  Eed-handed 
MacMurrough,  King  of  Leinster,  who  died  in  1417),  went  on  a  pre- 
datory expedition  on  the  borders  of  Leithglinn-an-droichid  (i.e.  the 
Glen-side  of  the  Bridge,  now  Leighlin  Bridge),  and  committed  a  depre- 
dation ;  a  pursuing  band  overtook  them,  viz.  the  son  of  the  Marshal  of 
the  Ibhar  (i.e.  Sir  Dudley,  the  son  of  Sir  Nicholas  Bagenal,  of  Newry), 
accompanied  by  an  armament.  Walter  Eiabhach  and  his  people  turned 
upon  them  ;  and  the  Marshal's  son,  and  twenty-four  of  his  people,  were 
slain  on  that  field  ;  and  great  was  the  woe  on  account  of  that  son  of  the 
Marshal." 

Leagued  with  Walter  Eeagh  were  several  of  the  disaffected  members 
of  the  Kavanaghs,  and  one  Connell  mac  Kedagh  O'More.  On  one 
occasion  they  determined  to  commit  a  spoil  on  a  certain  Edmund 
Archdeacon,  alias  Galdie,  a  tenant  of  the  Earl  of  Ormond.  Archdeacon 
got  information  of  the  intended  visit,  and  so  fortified  his  place 
with  a  company  of  chief  kerne  ;  a  fight  ensued,  but  Archdeacon  was 

1  "  Calendar  of  Carew  MSS.,"  p.  227  (1589-1600). 

2  A   MS.  called  "Calendar  of  the  Council  Book,   1581-1586,"   Record  Office. 
Dublin. 

3  Hamilton's  "  Calendar  of  State  Papers,"  p.  139  (1586-1588). 

4  Ib.t  p.  287. 


WALTEK   REAGH    FITZGERALD.  301 

captured,  and  his  goods  and  cattle  carried  off.  He  remained  a  prisoner 
in  Walter  Reagh's  hands  until  ransomed  by  Ismaile  Browne,  his 
wife. 

In  consequence  of  this  and  other  raids,  the  Lord  Deputy  apprehended 
Walter  Reagh's  father,  mother,  and  two  of  his  brothers,  under  the 
statute  which  compels  the  father  to  be  responsible  for  his  son,  or  an 
elder  brother  for  the  younger,  and  imprisoned  them  in  Dublin  Castle, 
where  another  of  Walter  Reagh's  brothers  had  been  kept  as  a  pledge  for 
his  good  behaviour,  but  had  recently  been  executed.1 

Towards  the  end  of  this  year  (1587)  a  Captain  Thomas  Lee,  a  soldier 
of  the  Crown,  parted  with  his  wife,  who  was  one  of  "the  mere  Irish," 
for  the  following  reason  : — Captain  Lee  was  most  anxious  to  distinguish 
himself  by  effecting  the  capture  of  Walter  Reagh  by  foul,  as  he  could 
not  by  fair,  means  ;  so  he  bribed  one  of  the  latter' s  followers  to  betray 
him.  Not  understanding  the  Celtic  tongue,  Captain  Lee  employed  his 
wife  as  an  interpreter,  and  they  alone  knew  of  the  means  taken  to 
capture  Walter  Reagh.  Unfortunately  for  Captain  Lee,  his  wife  was  a 
sympathiser  with  the  outlaw,  and  managed  to  warn  him  in  time  of  his 
danger.  As  a  result,  the  plot  fell  through,  and  the  would-be  betrayer 
was  put  to  death  by  Walter  Reagh.2 

In  the  month  of  December,  Sir  John  Perrot,  the  Lord  Deputy,  wrote 
to  the  Secretary  of  State  that  Walter  Reagh  and  the  Kavanaghs  had 
humbly  submitted  themselves  to  Her  Majesty's  mercy,  and  were  anxious 
to  make  amends  for  their  past  offences ;  and  as  the  long  winter  nights 
were  now  on,  he  had  thought  it  advisable  to  pardon  them  ;  he  adds 
that  when  Walter  Reagh  had  entered  the  city  of  Dublin  on  protection, 
he  was  nigh  being  slain  by  Ralph  Bagenall,  one  of  Sir  Nicholas's  sons, 
in  revenge  for  the  death  of  his  brother  Dudley  nine  months  before  ;  that 
with  difficulty  he  was  rescued,  and  that  Ralph  had  been  committed  to 
the  Castle  for  contempt  of  the  protection  granted  to  Walter  Reagh.3 

Two  years  later  (1589),  in  a  list  of  men  of  doubtful  loyalty  in 
Leinster,  appear  the  names  of  "Morys  mac  Walter,  and  his  son,  Walter 
Reagh,  two  dangerous  men  of  the  Geraldines."  And  again,  in  1591,  it 
was  suspected  that  Walter  Reagh,  who  had  disappeared  from  his  country, 
had  gone  into  the  north  with  three  O'Neill  pledges,  who  had  escaped 
from  Dublin  Castle ;  hence  it  was  thought  advisable  that  Maurice  fitz 
Walter,  his  father,  should  be  apprehended,  in  order  to  deter  Walter 
Reagh  from  getting  into  further  mischief  against  the  Crown.4  Two 
years  before  this,  on  the  night  of  the  25th  of  February,  1589,  no  less 
than  twenty-two  pledges  and  prisoners,  detained  in  Dublin  Castle, 
managed  to  effect  their  escape  ;  of  this  number,  eleven  were  recaptured. 

1  Hamilton's  "  Calendar  of  State  Papers,"  p.  326  (1586-1588). 

2  Ib.,  p.  428.  3  Ibfi  p.  447> 
4  Ib.,  pp.  278  and  457  (1588-1592). 

Y2 


302         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

The  latter  were,  almost  to  a  man,  natives  of  Ulster.  The  names  of  the- 
Leinster  prisoners  and  pledges  were  : — 

Kedagh  O'Toole,  pledge  for  Walter  Eeagh. 

Griffin  Kavanagh,  pledge  for  Donnell  Spaniagh  Kavanagh. 

Hugh  O'Toole,  brother  of  Eisse,  Fiagh\ 

mac  Hugh  O'Eyrne's  wife,  Pledges  for   Fiagh  mac 

Eedmond  O'Byrne,  I  sons  of  Fiagh  mac  [  Hugh  O'Byrne. 

Brian  O'Byrne,        )     Hugh  O'Byrne.    J 

Garrett  Fitz  Gerald.      \          ,     ,,          *  -m-  u.     T»      i-    -u 

-r,-  -,      -,  -n.-.L    />,      n      r          brothers  of  Walter  Eeagh,  but  not 

Eichard  Fitz  Gerald,     > 

James  Fitz  Gerald,        ) 

These  men  were  prisoners  previous  to  the  month  of  August,  1588 ;  they 
all  made  good  their  escape  from  Dublin  Castle.1 

For  the  next  two  or  three  years  Walter  Eeagh  seems  to  have  kept 
quiet,  but,  in  1593,  we  find  him  revenging  himself  on  one  of  his  own 
name.  At  this  period  there  was  living  at  Ballyshannon,  which  lies  about 
five  miles  to  the  south-east  of  Kildare,  a  Sir  Pierce  Fitz  Gerald,  Knt., 
son  of  James  Fitz  Gerald,  of  Ballyshannon.  Sir  Pierce  had  become  a 
Protestant,  and  was  in  the  Government  employ ;  he  was  a  bitter  enemy 
of  Walter  Eeagh's,  and,  through  his  exertions,  had  caused  the  latter  to 
be  banished  from  his  native  county  of  Kildare.  In  consequence  of  this 
treatment,  Walter  Eeagh  took  every  opportunity  of  harassing  Sir  Pierce, 
and  the  crisis  came  on  St.  Patrick's  Day,  1593,  when  Walter  Eeagh, 
accompanied  by  Felim  and  Eedmond  O'Byrne,  his  brothers-in-law,  and 
their  followers,  proceeded  "to  a  place  in  the  county  of  Kildare  called 
Ardrie,  and  finding  Sir  Piers  Fitz  Gerald  in  a  little  castle  that  was  but 
thatched  with  straw,  or  sedge,  set  fire  to  the  same,  and  burned  him,  his 
wife,  and  two  of  his  daughters  there."2  Sir  Pierce* s  wife  was  Ellis, 
daughter  of  Sir  Maurice  Fitz  Gerald  (ob.  26th  December,  1575),  Knt,, 
of  Lackagh  ;  and  his  daughters  were  Ann  and  Catherine. 

Two  years  later,  in  January,  1595,  Walter  Eeagh's  father-in-law, 
Fiagh  mac  Hugh  O'Byrne,  "  the  firebrand  of  the  mountains,"  and 
Donnell  Spaniagh  (i.e.  of  Spain)  Kavanagh,  of  Clonmullen,  were  in  open 
revolt  against  the  English  Government.  Undeterred  by  his  grandfather' a 
fate  fifty  years  before,  Walter  Eeagh  joined  heart  and  soul  in  the 
rebellion.  On  the  16th  of  the  month  O'Byrne's  castle,  of  Ballinacor, 
was  taken  by  surprise,  but  its  owner  and  garrison  made  their  escape. 
On  the  following  day  the  Lord  Deputy,  Sir  William  Russell,  publicly 
proclaimed  Fiagh  mac  Hugh  O'Byrne,  his  wife,  Eisse  O'Toole,  Walter 
Eeagh,  and  their  adherents  traitors,  after  which  he  returned  to  Dublin.3 

On  the  30th  of  January,  Walter  Eeagh,  his  brother  Gerald,   and 

1  Hamilton's  "  Calendar  of  State  Papers,"  pp.  11,  126,  and  195  (1588-1592). 

2  Gilbert's  "History  of  the  Confederation  and  War  in  Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  p.  205. 

3  "Calendar  of  Carew  MSS.,"  p.  225  (1589-1600). 


WALTER   REAGH   FITZ  GERALD.  303 

eighty  followers,  made  a  night  attack  on  the  town  of  Crumlin,  which 
then  lay  only  two  miles  from  St.  James's  Gate,  the  then  outermost  of 
the  Dublin  Gates.  "  They  burned  and  totally  plundered  that  town,  and 
took  away  as  much  as  they  were  able  to  carry  of  the  leaden  roof  of  the 
church  of  the  town ;  and  though  the  blaze  and  flames  of  the  burning 
town  were  plainly  visible  in  the  streets  of  Dublin,  Walter  Reagh 
escaped  without  wound  or  bloodshed,"  l  in  spite,  too,  of  cavalry  being 
sent  from  Dublin,  by  the  Lord  Deputy,  to  capture  the  raiders  as  soon  as 
the  attack  was  noticed. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  Walter  Reagh's  brother,  James,  was  captured 
by  Dermott  mac  Maurice  Kavanagh ;  on  the  15th  he  was  brought  in  a 
prisoner  to  the  Lord  Deputy's  camp  at  Ballinacor,  by  Sir  William 
•Clarke,  and,  seven  weeks  later  (7th  April),  he  was  executed  in  Dublin.2 

On  the  21st  of  February  news  reached  the  Lord  Deputy  that 
Captains  Streete  and  Wyllis,  with  their  companies,  assisted  by  some 
of  the  Earl  of  Ormond's  forces,  had  driven  Walter  Reagh  from  his 
house  at  Ballenehorne  (or  Ballenchorne),  and  that  his  brother  Gerald, 
Daniel  Reerton,  one  of  his  chief  shot  (musquetiers),  and  another,  had 
been  slain.  Their  heads  were  cut  off,  and  forwarded  to  the  camp  at 
Ballinacor.  This  was  the  usual  fate  of  any  rebel  that  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  of  daily  occurrence.  After  this  the  Lord  Deputy  returned 
to  Dublin.3 

During  the  month  of  March  "Walter  Reagh  made  an  attack  on  a  neighbouring 
•castle  belonging  to  a  gentleman  of  his  enemies  ;  hut  the  gentleman  was  wary  and 
vigilant,  and  in  readiness  against  any  attack  of  his  enemies.  When  Walter  Reagh 
and  his  people  attacked  the  castle,  the  gentleman  came  to  a  hold  and  fierce  comhat 
with  Walter,  and  they  struck  at  each  other  furiously  and  inimically,  and  Walter  was 
wounded  in  the  leg.  His  people  carried  him  off  to  the  nearest  mountain,  and  they 
placed  him  under  cure  in  a  subterranean  cave,  with  the  situation  of  which  no  three 
persons  \vere  acquainted.  They  left  with  him  only  one  young  physician  of  his  own 
faithful  people,  who  was  wont  to  go  every  second  day  to  the  nearest  woods  to  gather 
herbs.  A  conversation  privately  occurred  hetween  this  man  and  a  party  of  Walter's 
enemies ;  and  he  having  leagued  with  them,  betrayed  Walter,  and  led  a  party  to 
where  he  was,  who  bound  him."  4 

The  capture  mentioned  above  took  place  on  the  7th  of  April.  The 
information  as  to  Walter  Reagh's  hiding-place  was  revealed  to  Sir 
Henry  Harrington  by  Dermott,  Art,  Roan,  Tibbott,  and  Garrett,  sons 
of  Felini  O'Toole,  probably  to  save  their  own  lives,  as  it  was  a  common 
practice,  even  in  those  days,  to  offer  a  free  pardon  to  an  informer  on 
condition  of  his  betraying  his  comrades ;  but  the  sons  of  Felim  O'Toole 
bouglit  their  freedom  dearly,  as  in  August,  in  the  following  year,  Sir 
Henry  wrote  to  Sir  Robert  Cecil,  the  Queen's  principal  Secretary, 
urgently  begging  him  to  at  once  obtain  their  pardons,  because  in 

1  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  anno  1595. 

"  Calendar  of  Carew  MSS.  "  (1589-1600).  3  Ib. 

4  "Annals' of  the  Four  Masters." 


304  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

betraying  Walter  Reagh,  they  had  incurred  the  hatred  of  all  the  Irish,, 
and  would  now  have  to  rely  entirely  on  aid  from  the  State.1 

On  the  8th  of  April  Walter  Reagh  was  lodged  in  Dublin  Castle  ;  on 
the  following  day  he  was  examined  before  the  Lord  Deputy  and  Council, 
convicted,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged  in  chains;  and  on  the  10th  this 
sentence  was  carried  out.2 

Walter  Reagh's  father-in-law  and  mother-in-law  both  met  with 
tragic  ends  ;  the  latter  (Risse  O'Toole)  was  captured  on  the  27th  of  May,, 
and  was  sentenced  to  be  burned ;  the  former  fell,  fighting  bravely,  in 
Glenmalure,  on  Sunday  the  8th  of  May,  1597.  His  body  was  quartered, 
and  his  head  spiked  on  Dublin  Castle.3 

NOTE. — The  " Funeral  Entry"  from  a  MS.  volume  in  Ulster's  Officer 
which  is  given  below,  refers  to  a  brother  of  Walter  Reagh.  It  is 
curious,  but  not  very  unusual,  to  find  one  brother  named  Garrett, 
and  another  Gerald,  in  the  same  family  of  the  county  Kildare  Fitz 
Geralds,  who  were  numerous  250  years  ago,  but  are  now  no  more,  as 
most  of  them  joined  the  Confederate  Catholics  in  1641,  were  outlawed, 
and  had  to  flee  the  country.  Dr.  Gilbert,  in  the  Appendix  to  his 
"History  of  the  Confederation  and  War  in  Ireland,"  gives  a  list  of 
persons  outlawed  at  this  time  for  high  treason.  Among  them  appear 
the  names,  in  the  county  Kildare  alone,  of  the  Fitz  Geralds  of  Allen, 
Ballyshannon,  Blackball,  Brownstown,  Castleroe,  Dunore,  Glassealy, 
Kilrush,  Lackagh,  Mullaghmoyne,  Timahoe,  and  Osberstown. 

The  "  Funeral  Entry,"  dealing  with  Walter  Reagh's  brother,  is  as 
follows  : — 

Garrett  Fitz  Gerald,  of  Glassealy,  in  the  County  of  Kildare,  Esqr.,  sometyme 
Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Wicklow,  8th  sonne  of  Maurice  Fitz  Gerald,  but  by  the 
death  of  some  elder  brethren,  3rd  sonne  of  the  said  Maurice,  which  Maurice  was 
the  eldest  sonne  of  Walter  Fitz  Gerald,  2nd  sonne  of  Garrett  Fitz  Gerald,  Earl  of 
Kildare.  The  first-mentioned  Garrett  tooke  to  his  first  wife  Anne,  daughter  of 
Dudley  Kavanagh,  of  Tyncurry,  in  the  County  of  Wickloe,  Esq/.,  by  whom  he 
had  issue  one  son  and  one  daughter,  viz.  : — 

Dudley,  who  died  an  infant,  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father. 

Onora,  married  to  Robert  O'Farrell,  of  Bawne,  County  of  Longford,  Esqr. 

Garrett  tooke  to  his  second  wife  Dame  Ellinor  Gest,  daughter  of  Patrick 
Lynch,  of  the  Knock,  in  the  County  of  Meath,  Esqr.,  and  had  noe  issue. 

Garrett  tooke  to  his  third  wife  Ellice,  daughter  of  Henry  Davells,  of  Kil- 
leshin,  in  the  Queen's  County,  Esqr.  ;  she  was  the  relict  of  Walter  Fitz  Gerald, 
of  Walterstowne,  in  the  County  of  Kildare,  Esqr.,  but  by  her  had  noe  issue. 

He  died  at  Glassealy  aforesaid  about  the  10th  of  September,  1637,  and  was 
interred  in  the  cathedral  church  of  Kildare  within  three  days  next  following. 

The  truth  of  which  premisses  is  testified  by  the  subscription  of  Edward  Fitz 
Gerald,4  gent.,  nephew  and  next  heire  of  the  male  line  of  the  defunct. 

10th  November,  1637. 

1  "  Calendar  of  State  Papers." 

2  "  Calendar  of  Carew  MSS.,"  p.  228.  3  73.,  pp.  231  and  259. 
4  Son  of  William,  brother  of  the  above-named  Garrett. 


WALTER   REAGH    F1TZ  GERALD.  305 

Of  the  seven  elder  brethren  of  Garrett  Fitz  Gerald,  mentioned  as 
being  dead  before  1637,  in  the  above  "  Funeral  Entry,"  Walter  Eeagh 
may  have  been  one  ;  his  brother  Gerald,  executed  on  the  21st  of 
February,  1595,  another;  James,  executed  on  the  7th  of  April,  1595, 
another  ;  the  brother  executed  in  1586  another  ;  probably  Richard, 
too  ;  also  a  brother  named  William  (married  to  Elenor,  daughter  of 
Gerald  Fitz  Gerald,  of  Duneany,  county  Kildare),  who  died  on  the  loth 
of  May,  1620  ;  and  the  seventh  may  have  been  the  brother  who  had  a 
son,  John  Fitz  Gerald,  of  Eathcoole,  in  the  county  of  Dublin. 

NOTE  ADDED  IN  THE  PRESS. — Since  the  above  Paper  was  written,  T 
have  discovered  the  Christian  name  of  Walter  Eeagh  Fitz  Gerald's  wife. 
It  is  given  in  the  Elizabeth  Fiant,  No.  5111,  as  follows  : — 

"  A.D.  1587.  Pardon  to  Walter  reagh  fitz  Morice,  of  Glasshelie, 
Co.  Kildare,  gent. ;  Margery  O'Eirne,  his  wife ;  Grane  O'Eirne, 
of  Coultowre,  in  Shilealoghe,"  etc.,  etc. 

Another  Elizabeth  Fiant,  No.  6664,  mentions  the  pardon  of  another 
brother  of  Walter  Eeagh' s,  viz.  Christopher  fitz  Morish  Fitz  Gerald,  of 
Glasshealy,  gent.,  in  the  county  Kildare,  in  1602. 


306         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


KILELTON  IN  GLENFAS. 

BY  MARY  AGNES  HICKSON,  HON.  LOCAL  SECRETARY  FOR 
SOUTH-WEST  KERRY. 

[Submitted  NOVEMBER  29,  1898.] 

"  The  vale  where  the  lovely  Fas  fell 
From  her,  as  ancient  records  tell,  obtained  the  name  Glenfas." 

— (Old  Irish  Poem  quoted  by  Keating.) 

A  EICCENT  article  on  an  antiquarian  work  int'h.e^EdinburffhJReview,  says, 
"^^  with  much  truth,  that  many  old  place  names  have  been  ' '  altered  out 
of  all  recognition  by  carelessness,  or  for  the  sake  of  ease  in  diction,  and 
still  oftener  through  some  freak  of  the  popular  etymology."  (E.  72.,  April, 
1898.)  One  of  the  most  remarkable  cases  of  the  alteration  of  a  place 
name  of  almost  prehistoric  antiquity,  apparently  through  one  of  those 
freaks,  within  the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  has  occurred  in  the  district 
around  the  ancient  ruined  primitive  church  and  beehive  houses  at  the 
place  now  called  Kilelton,  near  Kilgobbin  and  Annagh,  in  West  Kerry. 
Although  Windele  in  his  account  of  his  ascent  of  Cahirconree  more  than 
fifty  years  ago,  published  in  the  Ulster  Journal  of  Archceology,  noticed  in 
half  a  dozen  lines  the  existence  of  not  the  beehive  huts  but  the  church, 
which  he  said  dated  probably  from  the  fifth  or  sixth  century,  strange  to 
say,  it  was  never  again  noticed  by  any  antiquary.  Lord  Dunraven  and 
Archdeacon  Rowan,  who  resided  near  it,  and  was  passionately  attached, 
as  we  shall  see,  to  the  district  of  Glenfas,  in  which  it  stands,  never  seem 
to  have  known  that  it  existed,  or  that  there  ever  had  been  a  primitive 
missionary  settlement  there.  Its  discovery,  or  more  strictly  speaking  its 
rediscovery  and  rescue  from  absolute  oblivion,  was  due  to  my  having  read 
in  1879  Windele's  article  on  Cahirconree  in  the  Ulster  Journal  of  Archce- 
ology  for  1860.  I  at  once  drove  to  the  spot,  and  had  a  photograph 
taken  of  the  ruined  church,  which  was  reproduced  with  my  description 
of  the  glen  in  the  Journal  R.S.A.I.  for  April-July,  1889.  Then  Mr.  P. 
J.  Lynch,  F.R.S.A.I.,  was  employed  by  the  Society  to  make  a  plan  of 
the  ruin,  and  his  valuable  services  greatly  assisted  my  description.  But 
the  strange  neglect  of  these  very  interesting  ruins  ( Windele  never  saw  or 
noticed  the  beehive  huts)  has  not  been  stranger  than  the  neglect  and 
forgetfulness  of  the  old  historic  name  of  the  district  in  which  they  stand, 
and  the  absence  of  that  name  on  the  modern  Ordnance  sheets.  The 
people  of  the  district  told  "Windele  in  or  about  1842,  that  the  old  ruined 
fifth  or  sixth  century  church  stood  over  the  grave  of  Fas,  the  pagan 
princess,  wife  of  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Celtic  invaders  of  West  Kerry, 


KILELTON    IN    GLENFAS.  307 

circa  B.C.  2000.  It  is  certain  that  the  whole  district  westward,  including 
the  places  now  called  Kilteenbane,  Glandine,  Curraghduff,  and  Camp, 
was  then  and  down  to  1858  or  1860  known  as  Glenfas,  sometimes 
written  Glenaish.  Yet  when  I  came  to  inquire  for  Glenfas  or  Glen- 
aish  in  1896-7,  I  found  that  those  names  had  been  utterly  forgotten  in 
the  district  between  Kilgobbin  and  Berry  more.  Persons  of  all  ranks, 
long  resident  in  the  district,  said  that  they  had  never  heard  of  a  place 
called  Glenaish  or  Glenfas  within  its  limits.  Even  Colonel  Rowan, 
whose  father  the  late  Ven.  Arthur  Blennerhassett  Rowan,  D.D.,  Arch- 
deacon of  Ardfert,  attracted  by  the  beauty  of  Glenaish  and  its  anti- 
quities, had  in  or  about  1850  built  a  small  residence  there,  wrote  to 
me  last  year  as  follows  : — 

"I  never  heard  of  such  a  place  as  Glenaish  ;  there  is  no  townland  of  that 
name  in  the  barony  of  Corcaguiny,  or,  as  far  as  I  know,  anywhere  near  it.  My 
place,  near  Kilgobbin,  is  called  Kilteenbane ;  it  is  on  Ordnance  Sheets  36,  37, 
45,  46,  and  contains  1186  acres.  I  believe  the  glen  running  north  and  south 
across  the  end  of  Cahirconree  is  called  Glounglass.  This  may  be  the  place  you 
want.  There  is,  I  know,  one  Ogham-stone  there,  and  there  may  be  more ;  also 
gallauns,  10  or  12  feet  high.  There  is  also  a  tradition  of  a  great  battle  there  in 
old  times ;  and  there  were  some  cists  or  graves  exposed  in  cutting  a  road  there 
many  years  ago." 

On  receiving  this  letter  from  Colonel  Rowan,  I  referred  him  to  a 
graceful  little  poem  written  bj*  his  father,  the  Archdeacon,  and  entitled 
"  Lines  on  revisiting  Glenaish."  It  will  be  found  at  page  9  of  the  first 
volume  of  the  Kerry  Magazine,  published  in  1854,  a  local  periodical,  of 
which  Archdeacon  Kowan  was  the  editor,  and  which  he  enriched  with 
many  very  valuable  contributions  to  Kerry  history  and  archaeology,  full 
of  extracts  from  the  original  State  Papers  in  the  London  and  Dublin 
Public  Record  Offices.  Colonel  Rowan  on  reading  the  lines,  a  copy  of 
which  I  sent  him,  said  in  reply : — "  It  is  clear  that  my  father  at  all  events 
thought  the  glen  in  which  his  cottage  at  Kilteenbane  is  situated  was 
Glenaish  ;  though  I  do  not  remember  hearing  the  name  from  him."  It 
is  indeed  quite  clear  to  all  who  have  read  Archdeacon  Rowan's  writings 
that  he  never  called  the  site  of  his  favourite  residence  and  the  district 
around  it  Kilteenbane  or  anything  but  Glenaish.  I  believe  that  the 
name  Kilteenbane,  which  seems  to  be  a  corruption  of  the  Irish  words  for 
the  little  white  corner,  or  the  little  white  church,  dates  either  from  the 
time  when  the  Archdeacon  first  built  and  planted  there,  or  at  all  events, 
from  quite  modern  times,  while  Glenfas,  or  its  corrupt  rendering  Gleii- 
aish,  is  between  twenty  and  thirty  centuries  old,  and  comprehended  until 
1860  the  half  a  dozen  or  more  townlands,  now  marked  on  four  Ordnance 
sheets  of  Kilgobbin  parish.  As  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  the  names  of  those 
townlands  have  quite  effaced  all  memory  of  the  Glenaish  of  1860,  of 
which  they  are  merely  portions.  On  the  28th  of  June,  1858,  Archdeacon 
Rowan  read  at  a  meeting  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy  a  long  paper  on 


308  ROYAL,    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

the  antiquities  of  Glenaish,  which  will  be  found  in  the  seventh  volume 
of  the  Proceedings  of  that  learned  body,  page  100,  A.D.  1857-1861.  In 
this  paper,  after  quoting  Keating's  more  or  less  legendary  account  of  the 
arrival  of  the  Milesians  under  Heber  and  Scota  and  Fas  in  West  Kerry, 
and  the  burial  of  the  two  last  mentioned  pagan  princesses  of  the  invaders 
at  Glenfas  and  Glenschoheen,  the  Archdeacon  says  :  — 

"  Thus  far  Keating,  in  confirmation  of  whom  I  can  say,  that  Glenfas  and 
Glenscoheen  are  localities  as  well  known  at  this  day  by  *  these  designations,  as  any 
in  the  country.  They  hoth  run  south  and  north  into  the  Sliahh  Mis  range,  with 
an  interval  of  about  eight  miles  hetween ;  and  in  Glenfas,  much  the  more  con- 
siderable of  the  two,  are  found  the  following  memorials : — The  Ogham-pillar, 
now  prostrate  ;  a  companion  gallaun,  or  pillar-stone,  standing  ahout  11  feet 
high  above  the  earth ;  and  on  the  side  of  the  valley  hetween  them  are  an  un- 
ascertained number  of  rows  of  cists  or  graves." — (Proc.  ll.I.A.,  vol.  viii.,  1857- 
1861.) 

I  must  refer  my  readers  to  the  above-mentioned  volume  for  tbe  des- 
cription of  the  graves,  gallaTms,  and  Ogham,  of  which  a  woodcut  is  given: 
my  purpose  being  mainly  first,  to  show  that  Glenfas  was  a  name  well  and 
widely  known  forty  years  ago,  although  it  is  now  virtually  obsolete ; 
secondly,  to  show  that  the  Glen  originally  extended  from  Camp  or 
Maumnaholtora  cromlech  on  the  west  to  Kilelton,  on  the  east  where,  as  we 
have  seen,  Windele,  in  1840,  was  told  that  Fas  was  buried  under  a  tumulus 
on  which  the  primitive  Christian  church  of  A.D.  500  was  erected.  Arch- 
deacon Rowan  in  his  paper  of  1858  says  he  had  "  lately  purchased  a  small 
estate  in  the  valley "  of  Glenfas  or  Glenaish.  This  was  the  present 
townland  of  Kilteenbane,  still  in  the  possession  of  his  son,  who,  as  we 
have  seen,  never  heard  of  the  name  of  the  valley  in  which  it  lies,  though 
he  had  heard  a  faint  confused  account  of  a  Glounglass 2  to  the  west  of  it. 
This  latter  name  was  evidently  a  corruption  of  the  Glenfas  which  Arch- 
deacon Rowan  wrote  of  in  1858  as  a  valley  including  the  townland  of 
Kilteenbane  on  which  his  cottage  residence  stood.  He  called  that  cot- 
tage Glenaish  or  Glenfas.  The  Ogham-stone  which  he  discovered,  and 
some  of  the  cists  and  gallauns,  really  lie  on  the  present  townland  of 
Camp.  On  the  9th  November,  1868,  the  late  Mr.  Brash,  the  well-known 
antiquary,  read  a  paper  on  the  Glenaish  Ogham  discovered  ten  years 
before  by  Archdeacon  Rowan.  Mr.  Brash's  valuable  paper  will  be  found 
at  page  384  of  the  tenth  volume  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  R.I.A.,  pub- 
lished in  1870.  He  there  says  that  he  found  the  Ogham  "  lying  prostrate 
in  a  grass  field  in  the  townland  of  Camp,  a  portion  of  Glenfas,  or  as  it  is 

1  The  italics  are  mine. 

2  Glounglass,  if  any  such  name  exists  now  in  the  district,  must  be  either  a  corrupt 
rendering  of  the  Irish  for  the  glen  of  the  clear  river  (Finglas?),  or  else,  as  is  most 
likely,  of  the  old  Glenfas,  surviving  only  in  the  far  western  pait  of  the  glen,  while 
the  old  name  was  gradually  eclipsed  at  Kilelton,  Kilteenbane,  Glandine,  and  Camp, 
by  the  improvements  on  those  townlands,  and  the  partial  extirpation  of  old  Irish  names. 
When  I  first  remember  tbe  west,  from  Kilgobbin  to  Brandon,  circa  1838,  the  people 
thereabouts,  many  of  them  at  least,  could  only  speak  Irish. 


KILBLTON   IN    GLENFAS.  309 

locally  pronounced  Glenaish,  under  the  west  face  of  Cahirconree  moun- 
tain" (Proc.  R.I.A.,  vol.  x.,  p.  384,  1870).  Strictly  speaking,  Camp 
townland  lies  under  the  north-west  face  of  the  mountain.  Glenfas,  in 
truth,  was  the  valley  which  ran  round  the  west  corner  of  Cahirconree  and 
along  its  north-west  face  to  the  boundary  between  Derrymore  and  Kilelton. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  valley  or  glen  are  the  ogham,  gallauns,  and  cists,  in 
which  there  can  be  little  or  no  doubt  the  followers  of  the  Milesian  or 
Scotic  invaders  who  fell  in  the  battle  there  were  interred,  while  on  the 
east  side  of  this  glen  the  princess  Fas  was  buried  under  a  low  tumulus. 
Archdeacon  Rowan  gives  more  credit  to  Keating' s  account  of  the  battle 
than  does  Mr.  Brash,  but  both  agree  that  Fas  and  her  chief  relatives  and 
followers  were  real  historical  personages,  and  that  the  valley  took  its 
name  from  her  death  and  burial  there.  Neither  of  those  antiquaries, 
however,  strange  to  say,  seems  to  have  heard,  as  Windele  did  in  1 840,  that 
her  grave  was  under  the  old  ruined  church  at  Kilelton,  and  therefore  all 
their  attention  and  explorations  were  confined  to  the  west  end  of  the 
long  valley  named  after  her  Glenfas,1  where  her  companions  were  buried. 
However,  it  is  clear,  putting  Windele's,  Archdeacon  Rowan's,  and 
Brash's  accounts,  between  1840  and  1868  together,  that  the  ancient  glen 
or  valley  known  as  Glenfas  for  several  thousand  years  down  to  1861, 
comprised  the  modern  townlands  of  Camp,  Kilteenbane,  and  Kileltou, 
and  others.  I  feel  assured  myself  that  it  comprised  Maumnaholtora  and 
its  cromlech  (where  one  of  the  Scotic  chiefs  was  probably  buried),  the 
next  townland  to  Kilteenbane  and  Curraghduff,  Glandine,  and  the  glens 
south  of  the  little  hillocks  of  Knockglass,  which  all  lie  immediately  west 
of  Kilelton  between  it  and  Kilteenbane.  Ancient  Glenfas  in  fact  ran 
from  the  cromlech  on  Maumnaholtora  at  the  west  end  of  Cahirconree  to 
Kilelton  towards  the  eastern  end  of  the  mountain.  In  his  notice  of 
Maumnaholtora,  Mr.  W.  C.  Borlase,  in  his  "  Dolmens  of  Ireland,"  says 
there  was  no  church  near  it,  but  this  is  a  great  mistake.  There  was  an 
ancient  church  on  the  land,  now  and  for  a  long  time  past  called  Glandine, 
a  portion  of  Glenfas,  very  near  Maumnaholtora  cromlech  ;  and  a  little  to 
the  north  of  this  church,  of  which  the  site  is  clearly  marked  on  the  older 
Ordnance  sheets  of  Kilgobbin  parish,  there  are  gallauns  and  a  fort  called 
Liosparkeenreilig  (the  liss  of  the  little  field  of  the  relics  ?).  In  fact  the 
whole  district  between  Maumnaholtora  and  Kilelton  to  Derrymore  is  full  of 
pagan  and  primitive  Christian  antiquities,  some  of  them  now  well  known, 
others  as  yet  unexplored,  but  all  within  the  bounds  of  the  old  historic 
Glenfas.  The  old  church  on  Glandine  was  probably  of  later  date  than 
that  of  Kilelton,  and  as  I  have  said  in  one  of  my  papers  on  Kerry  Topo- 
graphy, it  was  probably  the  church  named  in  the  Papal  Taxation  of  A.D. 

1300  as  Glen  ( ?)  and  had  become  the  church  of  Glenfas  after  the 

primitive  church  and  beehive  huts  at  Kilelton,  in  the  eastern  portion  of 

1  The  correct  Irish  spelling  is,  I  believe,  Gleann-Faisi,  i.  e.  the  Glen  of  Fas. 


310          ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

tlie  glen,  had  fallen  into  ruins.  In  1650  Glandine  and  other  lands  in  the 
district  were  granted  by  Cromwell  to  a  Mr.  Carrique,  a  Cromwellian 
official,  and  he  or  his  sons  no  doubt  swept  away  the  fourteenth  century 
Roman  Catholic  or  Anglo-Irish  church  on  Glandine,  to  build  a  mansion 
house  there  where  they  lived  for  several  generations.  Then  the  Irish 
Roman  Catholic  peasantry  of  Glenfas  seem  to  have  fallen  back  for  a 
place  of  worship  on  the  primitive  church  at  Kilelton,  at  the  east 
side  of  the  Glen,  the  secluded  and  barren  mountainous  nature  of  the  land 
making  it  a  safer  place  in  the  penal  days.  When  these  happily  were 
past,  the  Roman  Catholic  chapels  at  Derrymore  and  Kilgobbin  rose  to 
supply  the  ecclesiastical  needs  of  the  people.  Archdeacon  Rowan  seems 
never  to  have  noticed  the  primitive  churches  at  Glandine  or  Kilelton. 
Had  he  lived  a  few  years  longer,  no  doubt  he  would  have  done  so,  and 
have  written  on  all  the  antiquities  of  his  "  own  dear  lonely  mountain 
glen,"  as  he  calls  it  in  the  lines  before  referred  to  in  the  Kerry  Magazine 
of  January,  1854.  The  commons  of  John  Carrique's  estate  of  Glandine, 
as  the  Ordnance  sheet  shows,  are  only  separated  from  Kilelton  by  a 
mountain  stream,  which  runs  into  the  sea  near  Bunavoundur,  the  end,  as 
I  believe  (see  Journal,  September,  1894,  and  July,  1896),  of  the  Dur  of 
Ptolemy.  Having  now  shown  from  the  evidence  of  ancient  records  and 
the  writings  of  Win  dele,  Archdeacon  Rowan,  and  Brash,  that  the  ancient 
Glenfas  (although  two  at  least  of  those  three  antiquaries  seem  to  have 
been  unaware  of  it)  extended  from  Maumnaholtora  cromlech  on  the 
west  to  the  grave  of  Fas  in  Kilelton  on  the  east,  it  only  remains  for  me 
to  correct  what  I  am  now  disposed  to  think  was  an  error  in  my  descrip- 
tion of  the  ruined  primitive  church  at  the  latter  place  in  my  Paper  in 
the  Journal  for  July,  1889.  I  there  wrote  of  the  raised  ground  or  little 
hillock  on  which  the  fifth-century  church  stands,  as  the  remains  of  a 
fort  or  lios.  But  I  am  now  convinced  that  it  was  never  a  fort  at  all, 
but  that  it  was,  as  the  tradition  related  to  Windele  in  1840  surely 
indicates,  a  tumulus  placed  over  the  grave  of -the  pagan  princess  Fas. 
The  shape  is  circular  or  oval,  there  is  no  trace  of  the  earthen  rampart 
and  fosse  found  in  the  old  Irish  forts  and  Hoses,  the  low  sloping  sides 
of  a  tumulus  are  clearly  discernible  through  the  brambles  and  long 
grass  and  ferns  growing  on  them,  and  so  is  the  ring  of  standing  stones 
at  the  base  of  the  tumulus.  Some  of  these  have  been  displaced,  and  lie 
flat,  but  others  stand  firmly  rooted  in  the  earth.  The  existence  of  the 
circle  is  clear.  It  is  only  reasonable  to  suppose  that  when  this  circle  of 
smallish  pillar-stones  at  the  base  of  the  tumulus  was  perfect  in  pre- 
Christian  times,  that  a  gallaun  or  cromlech  stood  on  the  summit,  over 
the  pagan  grave,  and  that  pagan  rites,  funeral  games  (the  origin  of 
wakes),  or  sacrifices  took  place  there.  Then  came  the  first  Christian 
missionaries,  who,  in  accordance  with  their  invariable  rules  in  Asia  and 
Europe,  endeavoured  to  divert  the  attachment  and  reverence  of  a  pagan 
people,  from  pagan  places  of  worship,  by  setting  up  Christian  rites  and 


KILELTON    IN    GLENFAS.  311 

oratories  or  churches  for  Christian  teaching  on  those  same  places.  In 
some  cases  they  suffered  the  pagan  temple  or  tumulus  or  rude  stone 
building  to  stand  until  it  could  be  turned  into  a  primitive  Christian 
church.  The  result  was  some  good,  not  unattended  by  serious  evils, 
which  the  Christian  Church  found  it  hard  for  ages  to  stamp  out  all  over 
Europe,  as  well  as  in  Ireland.1  Her  Councils  thundered  against  stone 
'worship,  tree  and  well  worship,  in  early  times,  with  laudable  persever- 
ance, but  the  most  she  has  ever  been  able  to  do  is  to  abolish  the  two 
first  and  to  turn  the  third  to  a  Christian  purpose. 

If  it  were  possible,  as  I  fear  it  is  not,  at  the  present  day,  to  explore 
thoroughly  the  ground  under  the  sixth-century  ruined  church  at  Kilelton, 
as  Mr.  W.  C.  Borlase  explored  the  ground  under  the  ruined  little  church 
or  oratory  at  Carn  Brea  in  Cornwall,  where  Irish  missionary  saints  of 
primitive  times  were  so  actively  carrying  on  their  holy  labours,  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  that,  as  at  Carn  Erea,  the  remains  of  a  pagan  grave 
would  be  discovered  beneath  the  old  Kilelton  church.  (See  "Age  of 
the  Saints,"  by  W.  C.  Borlase,  published  by  J.  Pollard,  Truro,  in  1893.) 
It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  spade  is  not  more  freely  used  in  Irish 
archaBological  researches.  Ancient  MSS.,  however  valuable,  are  not 
free  from  errors  and  prejudices,  the  spade,  as  Mr.  Borlase  says,  is  "the 
true  needle  to  guide  archasological  research  .  .  .the  section  of  a  tumulus 
is  to  the  antiquary  what  a  railway  cutting  through  an  aqueous  strata  is 
to  the  geologist."  ("Age  of  the  Saints,"  Preface,  p.  viii. ;  "NaBnia 
CornubiaB,"  p.  3.)  It  is  possible  that  the  recent  discoveries  of  Colonel 
Rice  in  a  district  in  North  Kerry  may  result  in  proving  the  so-called 
Lios  there  to  be  a  barrow  like  that  at  Chapel  Euny  in  Cornwall. 
("Naenia  Cornubias,"  p.  77.)  Professor  Max  Miiller  told  Mr.  Borlase 
that  if  he  wished  to  understand  Cornish  antiquities  he  must  study  those 
of  Ireland. 

Having  written  to  Mr.  Lynch  about  my  change  of  opinion  on  the 
nature  of  the  site  of  Kilelton  church,  and  given  some  of  my  reasons  for 
that  change,  he  wrote  to  me  in  August,  1897,  as  follows  : — 

"  It  is  strange  that  Mr.  "W.  C.  Borlase  did  not  note  "Windele's  very  important 
statement  about  Kilelton.  ...  I  noticed  the  standing-stones  you  refer  to  around 
the  site  of  the  old  church  there.  Your  point  is  a  very  good  one,  and  your  argu- 
ments in  its  favour  are  very  strong  ;  and  as  to  you  alone  belongs  all  the  credit 
of  having  brought  this  interesting  old  church  to  light  (I  was  well  pleased  to  be 
only  of  some  small  assistance  in  exploring  it),  you  should  certainly  call  attention 
in  the  Journal  to  your  change  of  opinion  as  to  the  nature  of  the  site,  and  its  being 
not  a  lios,  but  a  tumulus." 

Mr.  Lynch  makes  too  light  an  estimate  of  his  own  valuable  plans  and 
sketches,  etc.,  at  Kilelton,  and  too  high  a  one  of  my  rediscovery,  rather 

1  In  Brittany  Christian  churches  of  the  present  day  stand  on  the  site  of  pagan 
graves.  (See  Mrs.  Macquoid's  " Through  Brittany"  for  the  difficulty,  in  the  last 
century,  the  bishops  had  in  eradicating  stone  worship  in  that  province.) 


312          ROYAL   SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

than  discovery,  of  the  primitive  ruined  church.  Save  for  the  three  or 
four  lines  in  Windele's  account  of  his  ascent  of  Cahirconree  in  1840, 
where  he  just  noticed  the  little  ruin  at  foot  of  the  great  mountain,  I 
should  never  probably  have  been  led  to  examine  it.  Certainly  no  one  else 
ever  noted  his  few  words  on  the  subject,  which  in  1880,  forty  years  after 
he  wrote  them,  made  me  go  there  and  have  a  good  photograph  of  the 
ruin  taken  for  the  Journal.  Circumstances  over  which  I  had  no  control 
delayed  the  publication  of  my  paper  and  the  photograph  until  July,  1889, 
when  it  appeared  supplemented  by  Mr.  Lynch's  very  valuable  sketches 
and  plans.  I  understand  he  has  now  a  paper  in  preparation  on  Cahir- 
conree with  a  photograph  of  the  artificial  or  natural  (as  some  say)  cahir 
or  collection  of  huge  stones  on  its  summit.  This  is  likely  to  be  my  last 
paper  on  the  antiquities  of  Kerry  or  any  other  subject  for  the  Journal, 
age  and  failing  health  forbidding  me  to  attempt  more  ;  but  I  trust  to  live 
to  see  Mr.  Lynch's  paper  in  print,  feeling  assured  it  will  be  interesting 
and  valuable.  Although  he  is  to  me  personally  a  stranger,  I,  like  other 
members  of  the  11. S.A.I.,  am  well  acquainted  with  his  work  as  an  archaB- 
ologist.  I  trust  also  that  Mr.  W.  C.  Borlase  may  once  again  visit  Glen- 
fas  and  examine  the  old  ruin  at  Kilelton.  I  rather  think  there  is  no 
churchyard  at  the  ruin,  and  that  the  people  of  the  little  village  bury  their 
dead  at  Annagh,  so  that  it  may  not  be  impossible  to  dig  into  the  tumulus 
and  explore  the  ground  under  the  church. 

I  ought  to  mention  that  on  the  Elizabethan  map  of  lands  around 
Tralee  in  1587,  preserved  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London,  a  copy  of 
which  I  had  made  for  the  Journal  in  1879,  Kilelton  is  marked  Kilelty. 
This  may  have  been  merely  an  English  mapmaker's  misprint,  but  it  is 
possible  that  is  a  corrupt  survival  of  the  pre-Christian  name  of  the  town- 
land  Coill-Eilte  the  wood  of  the  doe  (see  Joyce's  "  Irish  Place-Names," 
1st  Series,  pp.  290  and  42  7),  which,  in  the  fifth  or  sixth  century,  became 
Kileltan,  a  Saint  Eltan's  Church.  See  an  interesting  paper  in  the  Journal 
in  1894,  by  llev.  D.  O'Donoghue,  P.P.  of  Ardfert,  and  Hon.  Local  Secre- 
tary for  Kerry.  Mr.  Borlase  writes  in  his  "Dolmens  of  Ireland"  of 
Glen  Scoheen  as  "  adjoining"  Camp  and  Kilelton,  and  close  to  the 
Finglas  river,  but  in  truth  Glen  Scoheen  is  very  distant  from  either 
townland  of  Glenfas.  And  he  seems,  like  many  others,  to  have  forgotten 
or  overlooked  the  fact  that  there  are  two  rivers  popularly  known  by  the 
name  of  Finglas  ;  one  running  through  the  west  part  of  Glenfas,  and  one 
seven  or  ten  miles  east  of  it  in  Glenschoheen.  Curry,  I  think,  doubts 
that  the  former  was  anciently  known  as  Finglas,  but  this  is  a  question  on 
which  I  cannot  venture  to  express  an  opinion.  Mr.  Lynch  may  help  to 
solve  it.  The  mythic  Fin  Mac  Cuil  has  a  table  and  a  chair,  huge  blocks 
of  stone,  above  Glenfas,  and  the  people  have  many  legends  about  him. 
The  Yen.  Archdeacon  Rowan  was  largely  assisted  in  his  explorations  of 
the  antiquities  of  Glenfas  by  the  llev.  John  Casey,  a  learned  parish  priest 
of  Kerry  in  1857. 


KILELTON  IN  GLENFAS.  313 

I  may  conclude  this  paper  by  reprinting  the  Archdeacon's  graceful 
and  patriotic  lines  on  this  old  historic  glen,  whose  associations  ought  not 
to  sink  into  oblivion.  These  lines  were  written  after  a  rather  lengthened 
tour  in  France  and  Italy. 


ON  REVISITING  GLENAISH,  January  1st,  1854, 

There's  a  deep  joy  I  cannot  speak 

Springs  up  within  me,  as  again 
Thy'fresh  breeze  strikes  upon  my  cheek, 

My  own  wild,  lonesome  mountain  glen ; 
Thy  river  sends  its  gentle  hrawl 

Like  friendly  words  upon  my  ear, 
And  from  thy  hoarse -voiced  waterfall 

Something  like  welcoming  I  hear. 

Old  rugged  mountain  range  once  more 

I  hail  your  furrowed  heath-clad  face  ! 
True,  since  our  communing  before, 

I've  looked  on  many  a  foreign  grace — 
Graces  which  men  say  they  have  found 

Their  truant  hearts  from  home -ties  stealing  ; 
Yet  trust  me,  ne'er  on  foreign  ground, 

Felt  I  one  loosened  homestead  feeling. 

I  saw  the  vine -clad  hills  of  France, 

And  climhed  the  steep  Vesuvian  mount, 
Then  laid  me  down  in  classic  trance 

By  Numa's  Roman  nymph-named  fount. 
The  southern  sunshine  brightly  fell 

On  classic  lands  and  hills  of  vine  ; 
I  loved  its  glow,  but  would  not  dwell 

Away  from  this  dear  glen  of  mine. 

"What  tie  is  this  ?  so  strong,  so  strange, 

Which  distance  strengthens,  time  can't  part — 
A  "lengthening  chain,"  where'er  we  range, 

Linking  mute  nature  and  man's  heart ; 
A  chain  which  gold  nor  makes  nor  buys, 

"Which  lives  through  want,  can  time  withstand. 
What  is  it  ?  alljthe  magic  lies 

In  three  short  words — "  OUR  NATIVE  LAND." 


314 


ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


THE  LAKE  AND  CHURCH  OF  KILMAKILLOGE,  THE  ANCIENT 
CHURCH,  HOLY  WELL,  AND  BULLlN-STONE  OP  TEMPLE 
FEAGHNA,  AND  THE  HOLY  WELL  AND  SHRINE  AT 
SAINT  FINAN'S,  COUNTY  KERRY. 

BY  FRANCIS  JOSEPH  BIGGER,  M.R.I.A.,  FELLOW. 
[Read  OCTOBER  11,   1898.] 

LAST  July,  during  the  Conference  of  the  Irish  Field  Club  Union  in 
Kenmare,  I  found  opportunities  to  visit  the  interesting  pre-Chris- 
tian and  Christian  remains  at  Kilmakilloge  and  Feaghna  in  the  ancient 
kingdom  of  Kerry.  The  former  is  situated  in  a  townland  of  the  same 
name  close  to  the  little  harbour  of  Bunaw,  on  the  Kenmare  river,  in 
the  parish  of  Tuosist,  the  latter  in  the  townland  of  Garranes  in  the 
adjacent  parish  of  Kilcaskan,  and  both  in  the  barony  of  Glanarought. 
I  visited  Kilmakilloge  on  Friday,  the  8th  July,  the  second  day  of  the 


•N&1I&.  a-y^icK 


\J      „     r_f 

<r^p g fffio7'  ri plap 


^xfalB 


illoaECfe/fete^ 


Patron  held  there,  and  was  well  rewarded  for  my  visit.  I  have  ridden 
over  many  of  the  roads  in  Ireland,  but  for  beauty  and  variety  of  scenery. 
I  have  travelled  none  to  surpass  in  grandeur  the  road  from  Kenmare  to 
Bunaw,  along  the  coast  of  the  Kenmare  river.  Not  far  from  Kenmare, 
between  the  road  and  the  sea,  I  noted  a  small  stone  circle,  then  a  little 
further,  on  a  height  above  the  shore,  the  ruins  of  Ardea  Castle,  once  a 
stronghold  of  the  O'Sullivans.  Part  of  the  extensive  keep  has  tumbled 
into  the  sea,  being  undermined  by  the  action  of  the  waves.  The 


BULLAN  STONE,  FEAGHNA,  Co.  KERRY. 

Photo  by  Mr.  J.  St.  J.  Phillips. 


SAINT  FINAN'S  HOLY  WELL,   KENMARE. 
Photo  by  Mr.  R.  Welch. 


JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  viii.,  pt.  4,  p.  314. 


CHURCH   OF   KILMAKILLOGE,    ETC.,    CO.    KERRY.         315 

numerous  islands  enhance  the  variety  of  the  scene,  and  upon  this  hot 
summer  day  the  blueness  of  the  water  rivalled  Lake  Como  in  its  inten- 
sity. The  ancient  church  of  Kilmakilloge  stands  on  a  rocky  eminence 
a  little  north  of  Bunaw,  and  at  it  I  made  my  first  considerable  halt. 
Its  architecture  leads  me  to  consider  it  a  twelfth  century  structure — its 
medium  size,  rude  masonry,  narrow  east  window,  with  a  smaller  one  in 
the  south  wall,  and  its  round-headed  south  door,  all  confirm  this  view. 
Its  interior  length  is  37  feet,  and  its  breadth  15  feet,  the  walls  being 
2  feet  7  inches  thick.  There  is  a  small  opening  high  up  in  the  western 
gable  and  a  rude  ambry  in  the  north  wall  close  to  the  east  end.  Some  faint 
mouldings  can  still  be  traced  on  the  exterior  stones  of  the  east  window, 
which  was  only  about  6  inches  wide  on  the  outside  and  55  inches 
splayed  inside  and  38£  inches  high.  The  south  window  has  lost  its  top 
stone,  but  appears  to  have  been  square-headed — it  was  6  inches  wide 
outside,  splayed  to  27  inches  inside.  The  ambry  is  27  inches  wide  and 
1 6  inches  high.  Burials  have  been  very  numerous  in  the  interior  of  the 
church,  and  many  bones  and  portions  of  coffins  are  strewn  about,  in  fact 
rude  earn  burial  seems  to  be  a  common  practice,  as  I  observed  in  many 
cases  that  a  heap  of  stones  or  a  rude  slab  were  placed  over  the  coffins, 
which  in  one  instance  had  become  displaced,  allowing  the  leg  bones 
to  protrude.  The  grave  stones  clearly  denote  the  overwhelming  pro- 
portion of  0' Sullivan  to  any  other  name,  ana  one  curious  monument  to 
the  east  of  the  church  bears  an  inscription  worth  recording.  This  monu- 
ment is  a  high  square  altar  tomb,  raised  on  steps  and  supported  on  four 
caryed  pillars,  the  intervening  spaces  being  filled  with  stone  panels. 
On  the  east  end  is  the  following  inscription : — 

i  -  H  -  s 

THIS 

MONUMENT 
CONTAINS  THE  LAST  REMAINS 

OF  THE  LATE 
Mc   FININ   DIJFFE 

HE    DEPD    THIS     LIFE     THE     1     DAY 

OF   SEPT.    1809    AGED    53    TEARS 

PATER   PATRIE. 

Now  this  McFinin  Duffe  was  a  remarkable  man  in  many  ways; 
although  the  description  Pater  Patrie  may  be  a  little  high  sounding, 
yet  his  fame  still  survives  in  the  land.  He  was  an  O'Sullivan,  the  last 
of  his  line,  although  the  epitaph  omits  the  family  name,  and  only  gives 
his  local  designation,  McFinin  Duffe.  One  of  the  old  stock,  an  O'Sullivan, 
on  his  way  to  the  Patron,  came  and  chatted  with  me  for  some  time, 
"  knowing,"  as  he  said,  "  I  was  a  stranger  in  these  parts,  and  appeared 

JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,  VOL,  VIII.,  PT,  IV.,  5TH  8F.R.  Z 


316 


ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


to  faiicy  the  place."  He  told  me  "  McFinin  Duffe  had  a  commission  in 
the  army,  and  was  a  great  gentleman,  the  head  of  all  the  people  here- 
abouts, and  had  the  power  of  getting  off  a  prisoner  from  capital  punish  - 


ment  every  Assize,"  and  my  informant  gave  two  instances,  with  names, 
of  this  "being  done.     Lord  Lansdowne  now  owns  this  O'Sullivan  land. 


CHUHCH    OF    KILMAKILLOGE,    ETC.,  CO.    KEKRY. 


317 


IPFinin  Duffe  was  found  dead  .beside  his  horse  at  llathcahill,  in  the  county 
of  Limerick,  whether  the  result  of  foul  play  or  an  accident  was  never 
known.  His  funeral  from  lluthcahill  to  Kilmakilloge  was  a  huge 
pageant,  all  the  country  taking  part  in  it.  From  the  old  church  a  short 
walk  south  to  a  hollow  swamp  beside  the  rocky  knoll  brought  me  to  the 
holy  lake  of  Saint  Mochionlane,  and  here  was  a  great  concourse  of  people, 
although  not  so  many,  I  was  informed,  as  on  the  previous  day,  the  first  of 
the  Patron.  I  had  heard  that  there  had  been  some  fun  the  first  day  and  a 
little  fighting,  but  I  was  too  late  for  this,  and  saw  none,  and  no  evidence  of 
any  save  one  lad  who  was  being  taken  to  Kenmare  on  a  cart  with  a  very 
badly  smashed  face  and  head.  The  lake  itself  is  a  poor  swampy  looking 
place  in  the  middle  of  soft  turfy  ground,  with  the  site,  now  scarcely 
noticeable,  of  an  ancient  cloghaun  or  hermitage  on  the  east  side. 


Kilmakilloge  Church  and  Lake  (N.W.  view  of  Church). 

Around  the  edges  of  the  lake  are  hummocks  of  grass,  which  it  is  said 
move  about  in  the  water  in  a  miraculous  way,  for  what  reason  I  failed 
to  discover.  I  saw  none  of  this  levity  on  their  part,  except  when  I 
incautiously  stepped  upon  one  from  the  bank,  and  then  something  did 
happen,  but  it  was  to  myself.  The  Rev.  Daniel  O'Donaghue  of  Ardfert, 
our  Hon.  Secretary  for  South  Kerry,  writes  to  me  as  follows  : — 

"  Lough  Mochionlane  seems  to  be  the  proper  form  of  the  name  of 
this  curious  lake,  and  it  is  also  commonly  called  Lough  Cuiniann. 
O' Donovan  in  his  Kerry  letters  writes  the  name  in  this  way,  and  says  it 
means  the  Lake  of  St.  Mokilloge,  or  St.  Killian,  whose  ancient  church 
.stands  in  ruins  in  the  vicinity. 

"  I  visited  this  lake  about  forty  years  ago,  when  I  was  curate  in  the 
.adjoining  parish  of  Kenmare,  having  heard  much  of  its  extraordinary 

Z2 


318          ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

phenomena,  and  the  legends  about  them.  The  then  curate  of  Tuosist 
accompanied  me  in  my  visit,  and  we  spent  some  hours  examining  the 
lake  and  its  surroundings,  especially  those  singular  clumps  or  masses  of 
luxuriant  reedy  growth  on  its  banks,  known  as  the  Tussachs.  On  the 
day  of  my  visit  I  counted  five  of  those  on  the  side  of  the  lake  adjoining 
the  ancient  hermitage,  the  ruins  of  which  remain  on  a  rising  ground 
beside  the  lake.  Those  tussachs  I  saw  were  of  various  sizes,  and  appa- 
rently of  various  ages  and  stages  of  growth,  some  clinging  closely  to  the 
border  of  the  water,  some  partly  afloat  and  detached,  but  one,  the  largest 
of  them,  about  4  feet  long  and  3  feet  wide,  was  quite  detached  from  the 
bank  and  afloat  on  the  water.  While  I  was  looking  on,  a  young  lad 
from  the  locality  came  up,  having  in  his  hand  a  long  pole,  which  he- 
brought  from  a  boat  on  the  neighbouring  sea-shore,  and  he  volunteered 
to  board  this  large  tussach  and  push  out  with  his  pole,  into  the  deep. 
He  floated  pleasantly  for  a  while,  but  he  had  pushed  too  far,  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  pole,  and  soon  found  himself  near  the  centre  of  the  deep 
pool,  becalmed  and  motionless,  without  any  means  of  working  back  the 
tussach  to  the  bank.  Here  he  had  to  remain  for  some  time  longer  than 
he  bargained  for,  and  though  he  was  full  of  courage  he  was  plainly 
uneasy  and  at  his  wits'  end  for  a  way  to  get  back.  I  told  him  to  work 
his  pole  as  a  paddle  towards  the  bank,  and  by  doing  so  he  gradually 
moved  his  singular  float  to  its  former  place,  to  which  it  seemed  to  be 
anchored  by  long  fibrous  roots  passing  into  the  depths  of  the  lake.  He 
did  not  venture  to  get  afloat  again,  and  we  had  no  further  motion  of  any 
of  the  other  tussachs.  The  growth  and  formation  of  these  is  very  strange 
and  curious.  They  spring  from  the  bank  of  the  lake,  which  is  a  mass 
of  reeds,  sedges,  and  peat,  overhanging  the  water,  and  from  which  many 
fibrous  knarled  roots  strike  into  the  mud  below.  From  the  edges  of  this 
bank  the  tussachs  have  their  birth.  They  gradually  increase  in  size, 
until  they,  by  their  weight  and  the  action  of  the  winds  on  the  reeds 
growing  upon  them,  are  detached  from  the  bank  and  get  afloat  on  the 
lake,  where  they  float  for  years,  moving  about  occasionally,  until  in  the 
course  of  gradual  decay,  they  lose  their  buoyancy  and  sink  to  the  bottom, 
which  they  are,  no  doubt,  slowly  but  surely  silting  up.  The  depth  of 
the  lake  has  not,  as  far  as  I  know,  been  properly  fathomed,  or  sounded, 
at  any  time,  but  it  is  remarkably  deep  for  a  lake  of  its  dimensions. 

"The  most  rational  explanation  I  have  seen  of  the  curious  pheno- 
mena of  the  tussachs  is  given  by  Dr.  Smith  in  his  '  City  and  County  of 
Cork 7  (vol.  i.,  p.  275)  in  a  note  on  a  lake  in  the  parish  of  Kilmaceba.  He 
quotes  from  Dr.  E.  Halley,  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  who  wrote 
about  some  lakes  of  this  kind  in  Wales.  He  says  '  that  he  was  on  board 
a  floating  island  in  one  of  them.  The  lake  being  scarce  half  a  mile  about, 
environed  with  a  boggy,  turfy  soil,  a  piece  of  which,  about  six  yards 
long  and  four  broad,  floated  on  the  water,  being  five  or  six  inches  above 
it,  but  more  than  eighteen  inches  deep  within  the  water,  having  broad,. 


CHURCH    OF   KILMAKILLOGE,  ETC.,  CO.  KERRY.  319 

•spreading,  fungous  roots  on  its  sides,  the  lightness  of  which  buoys  it 
up.' ' 

This  description  fits  in  perfectly  with  the  large  tussach  the  Tuosist 
lad  floated  on  Loch  Kinlane,  and  explains  its  buoyancy  satisfactorily. 

The  following  extract  is  from  a  MS.  history  of  Kerry,  written  in  1754 
l)y  a  priest  of  the  0' Sullivan  sept : — 

^  Loch  Macinlane,  i.e.,  the  lake  of  St.  Matalogm,  in  that  part  of 
Glanaroch,  called  Tuosist,  is  very  remarkable  for  pilgrimaging  and  devo- 
tion, especially  on  the  Patron  days,  in  the  parish  of  said  Tuosist,  and 
•several  pieces  or  parcels  of  the  banks  of  said  loch,  to  the  size  of  a  large 
sheaf  of  wheat,  and  some  larger,  separate  themselves  from  said  banks, 
generally  to  the  number  of  six,  seven,  or  nine,  which,  without  either 
storm,  flood,  or  wind,  go  in  motion,  sailing  from  one  side  to  the  other, 
where  they  close  into  the  bank  in  such  a  manner  as  that  no  distinction 
can  be  made.  They  are  called  by  the  inhabitants  of  said  place  Tussocks. 

"  I  have  seen  of  them  but  three  in  such  motion  as  aforesaid,  and  on 
such  a  still  and  calm  day  that  I  could  not  imagine  a  breeze  of  wind  strong 
enough  to  blow  a  feather  from  one  side  of  the  loch  to  the  other.  .  .  . 
One  of  the  said  Tussocks  goes  seemingly  lame  or  limping,  which  is 
called  the  '  Lame  Tussock,'  occasioned,  as  is  generally  reported,  by  a 
soldier  going  by  the  loch,  who  threw  his  pike  or  spear  thereat,  and  thus 
caused  that  limping.  'Tis  further  reported  still  in  the  neighbourhood 
that  said  soldier  was  drowned  soon  after  in  the  rivulet  flowing  from  the 
lake. 

"  It  is  certain  that  a  good  many  sick  people  own  to  having  improved 
in  their  healths  at  the  loch,  where  the  motions  of  said  tussocks  are  by 
many,  besides  the  natives  of  that  country,  taken  to  be  miraculous ;  but 
the  secret  thereof  I  can't  presume  to  define."  1 

The  approach  to  the  lake  was  lined  with  beggars  who  freely  offered 
their  prayers  for  a  small  gratuity,  and  seemed  to  understand  that  the 
visitor  would  derive  no  benefit  until  he  parted  with  some  of  the  current 
coin  of  the  realm  as  a  sort  of  offering. 

1  saw  very  few  men  at  their  devotions,  but  many  women  and  girls 
travelling  around  the  lake  and  kneeling  on  its  margins  and  bathing 
different  portions  of  their  bodies  in  its  waters.  The  adjoining  rocky 
knoll  was  much  used  for  going  round,  some  on  their  feet,  others  on  their 
knees  using  their  Rosaries.  At  one  side  they  stopped  and  knelt,  facing 
the  summit  in  front  of  them  ;  some  poor  creatures,  women,  girls,  and 

1  The  lake  is  also  mentioned  in  "Historic  Catholicse  Iberniae,"  cap.  viii.,  De 
Ibemiae  mirandis,  where  the  following  statement  is  given  from  the  pen  of  IX  Philippe 
O'Sullevano  Bearro : — 

"  In  Bearrae  principatu  tres  cespites  virides  et  juncosi  solent  nare  durante  patrum 
nostrorum  memoria,  et  saturni  diebus  praecipitante  sole,  sese  conferre  in  illam  stagni 
oram,  quae  proximo  sacello  propinquior  est,  indidemque  redire  diebus  solis  sub  ves- 
peram,  etiamsi  ventus  ad  versus  spiret." 


320  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OP   IRELAND. 

children,  were  extended,  as  if  dead  or  sleeping,  with  sores  and  diseased 
portions  of  their  bodies  displayed  to  view  in  the  glaring  sunlight,  a 
pitiable  sight  to  see.  At  this  place  Mass  was  formerly  said. 

From  the  Holy  Lake  I  turned  to  Bunaw ;  now  Bunaw  is  a  very  small 
place,  consisting  of  a  public-house  and  a  small  harbour.  The  latter  was 
the  landing-place  for  numerous  boats  crossing  the  river  from  different 
places,  affording  a  very  picturesque  sight — the  towering  mountains  and 
the  glistening  waters,  with  the  long  boats,  crowded  with  occupants  bent 
on  piety  or  pleasure,  or  a  mixture  of  both.  The  public-house,  owned  by 
an  0' Sullivan,  had  great  booths  thrown  out  on  every  hand,  and  still 
seemed  unequal  to  supply  the  pressing  demands  for  porter.  This  hostelry 
was  the  centre  of  the  Patron  ;  for  every  one  I  saw  at  the  holy  water  I 
saw  ten  drinking  porter.  Along  the  road  were  lines  of  tents  with 
oranges,  lemonade,  gingerbread  and  religious  articles,  with  hundreds  of 
people  moving  about  amongst  them  until  the  music  was  started 
and  the  dancing  commenced.  There  were  also  numerous  games  of 
chance,  thimblerigging,  roulette,  and  card  tricks.  Many  people  were 
.drunk,  and  there  was  a  good  deal  of  fooling  and  indiscriminate  courting. 

I  was  not  favourably  impressed  with  a  Kerry  Patron,  and  I  much  fear 
that  if  things  are  now  as  they  used  to  be,  the  old  romancists  only  stated 
facts  when  describing  such  scenes. 

On  a  later  day  I  visited  Temple  Feaghna1  (Cearnpull  peachna), 
where  there  was  less  life  on  the  ground,  but  more  of  genuine  interest.  On. 
this  occasion  I  was  lucky  in  falling  in  with  a  young  peasant,  John  O'Shea, 
a  youth  shy  at  first,  but  as  I  subsequently  found,  intelligent  and  full  of 
interest.  He  informed  me  of  many  things  I  could  not  otherwise  have 
known.  Yery  little  of  the  old  church  of  Feaghna  remains,  a  mere  frag- 
ment of  the  east  wall ;  but  the  churchyard  is  still  a  favourite  place  of 
burial,  particularly  by  the  O'Shea  family,  of  which  my  informant  was 

1  The  following  account  of  Feaghna  was  told  to  me  by  John  O'Shea,  of  Garranes :  — 

"Feaghna  was  founded  in  363  by  Saint  Feagbna,  who  lived  at  Ross  Carbery,  in 
Cork.  He  had  six  brothers,  all  of  whom  were  priests,  and  became  bishops,  and 
founded  several  other  churches,  including  Kilmakilloge,  in  Tuosist,  and  Killmacumoge,. 
in  Kealkill,  and  others  throughout  Munster.  The  saint  only  visited  Feaghna  every 
three  months  to  say  Mass,  arid  every  three  years  for  confirmation.  He  held  the  farm 
adjoining  Feaghna  as  a  glebe,  and  had  a  woman  there  to  mind  the  cows  and  make 
the  butter ;  but  suspecting  her  honesty,  he  came  purposely  to  watch  her,  and  found 
that  she  went  to  Dunmanway  market  to  sell  the  stolen  butter,  there  being  no  nearer 
market.  The  saint  could  not  stand  this,  and  so  he  turned  the  dishonest  women  into  a 
stone  beside  the  road  where  she  was  passing,  and  changed  the  butter-rolls  into  pebbles, 
and  placed  them  near  the  church,  where  they  can  still  be  seen.  The  churn  and  the 
other  vessels  that  were  used  in  the  butter-making  were  also  turned  into  stone,  and 
placed  beside  the  butter- rolls,  where  some  of  them  were  found  when  the  field  was 
being  tilled. 

"  The  woman  had  forgotten  to  leave  the  rope  behind  which  she  used  to  tie  cross 
cows  with,  and  the  stake  to  which  it  was  attached  grew  into  a  tree,  and  is  there  at  the 
present  day." 

This  most  remarkable  legendary  account  of  Feaghna  is  fully  believed  by  the 
peasantry,  and  has  numerous  features  which  makes  it  well  worth  recording,  as  they 
give  rise  to  much  speculation  as  to  primitive  manners  and  beliefs. 


CHUECH    OF    KILMAKILLOGE,  ETC.,  CO.  KERRY.  321 

a  very  excellent  sample.  Two  in  particular  of  the  tombstones  in  the 
churchyard  bear  remarkable  sculptures  ;  both  are  O'Shea  graves,  bearing 
the  dates  1815  and  1816.  The  mixture  of  the  secular  and  the  sacred 
elements  in  the  larger  one  is  very  remarkable.  I  consider  them  both 
excellent  examples,  although  debased,  of  the  survival  of  the  ancient 
Irish  custom  of  blending  symbolically  the  particular  characteristics  of 
deceased  or  his  family  with  the  most  sacred  symbols  of  his  religion. 
The  art  is  native,  done  by  a  local  sculptor  from  instructions,  or  of  his 
own  invention. 

A  Patron  is  held  here  on  Good  Friday,  Saturday,  and  Easter  Sunday. 
A  visitor  commences  his  devotions  at  a  low  stone  in  the  middle  of  the 
south  wall  of  the  old  church,  where  he  makes  a  cross  with  a  pebble  on 
the  slab  (which  is  quite  worn  with  such  marking),  then  he  goes  around 
the  church  three  times,  then  halts  at  a  rude  shrine  in  the  east  wall,  after 
which  he  goes  to  the  graves  of  his  relatives,  then  to  the  holy  well,  and 
finally  to  the  bullan  stone  to  the  south  of  the  church.  The  well,  Tober- 
feaghna,  almost  dry  when  I  saw  it,  lies  to  the  east  of  the  church  across 
the  road,  but  by  far  the  most  interesting  feature  of  the  place  is  the  bul- 
lan rock,  if  I  may  so  describe  it.  This  rock  appears  to  be  in  its  natural 
site  on  a  sloping  bank,  the  north  side  is  level  with  the  earth,  and  the 
south  side  about  3  feet  6  inches  high  above  the  earth.  Upon  its  surface 
are  eight  holes  or  depressions  varying  in  size,  two  or  three  of  them  being 
very  slight,  and  three  or  four  of  them  good  sized  basins.  In  each  cavity 
is  a  worn  oval  pebble  resembling  and  locally  known  as  "  butter  lumps." 
In  the  centre  is  the  upper  half  of  a  quern,  found  not  long  ago  in  a  neigh- 
bouring field,  but  having  nothing  to  do  with  other  stones.  "When  the 
devotees  arrive  at  this  rock  they  sometimes  move  these  stones  and  other- 
wise use  them,  but  do  not  take  them  away,  in  fact  it  is  firmly  believed 
that  they  could  not  be  taken  away.  Several  have  tried  to  do  so  but 
always  failed,  the  stones  being  found  in  their  places  next  morning.  One 
time  a  young  shopboy  from  Kenmare  took  one  of  them,  but  his  horse 
would  not  cross  the  bridge  out  of  the  parish,  so  he  deemed  it  wise  to 
leave  it  back  again.  As  I  only  had  a  bicycle  I  tried  no  such  tricks,  and 
had  a  smooth  passage  home.  This  rock  is  7  feet  2  inches  by  6  feet  10 
inches  on  its  surface,  and  the  larger  basins  are  about  13^  in  diameter  by 
about  5  inches  or  6  inches  deep.1  The  present  bullan  seems  to  me  to  be 
u  very  remarkable  example,  something  intermediate  between  what  one 
sees  in  Inismurry,  where  the  altars  are  covered  with  pebbles,  and  an 
ordinary  bullan  stone  which  may  have  been  first  used  for  domestic  pur- 
poses before  a  sacred  use  attached  to  it,  first  pagan  and  then  Christian. 
Temple  Feaghna  lies  east  of  the  Sheen  river,  with  Coomeelan  stream  to 


1  See  "  On  the  Bull^n  as  found  in  Ireland,"  by  "W.  F.  "Wakeman  (Proc.  R.I.A., 
3rd  Series,  vol.  i.,  p.  257) ;  also  Paper  by  Miss  Hickson,  in  Journal  £. S.A.I.,  vol.  i., 
5th  Series,  Part  i. 


322 


ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


the  south,  where  there  is  a  waterfall  close  to  Drehidoughteragh  bridge, 
Deelish  mountain,  1242  feet  high,  overtopping  the  lovely  intervening 
valley  of  Commeen  Shroule.  The  Baurearagh  river  and  the  Coomeelan 


A 


""^  4"7  - 


IN 
d 


stream  unite  at  Gearha  to  form  the  Sheen  river  the  bridge  over  which  at 
Drumagorteen,  on  the  road  between  Kenmare  and  Glengariff,  leads  to 
Temple  Feaghna. 


CHURCH   OF   KILMAKILLOGE,  ETC.,  CO.  KERRV.  323 

In  conclusion,  when  dealing  with  the  Kenmare  district,  Ijaddj|a 
word  or  two  about  Saint  Finan's  old  chnrch  and  holy  well  at  Sheen 
bridge.  The  graveyard  here  is  a  large  overcrowded  place,  with  the 
ruins  of  a  small  church  close  to  the  shore,  and  a  holy  well  on  the 
shore  itself  with  the  sea  ebbing  in  and  out  of  it,  so  that  it  can  only  be 
approached  at  low  tide.  This  well  is  much  frequented,  and  many  votive 
offerings  are  placed  around  ;  on  the  top  of  a  slab  over  the  well  crosses  are 
marked  by  the  worshippers  with  a  pebble,  the  same  as  at  Feaghna,  the 
stone  being  quite  worn  with  the  custom.  The  little  east  window  of  the 
ruined  church  has  been  made  into  a  shrine,  and  is  much  use  I  as  a  place 
for  prayer.  On  the  sill  is  a  great  variety  of  objects,  a  small  figure  of  the 
Virgin  in  delf  is  placed  in  the  centre,  and  around  that  image  are  fragments 
of  human  bones,  broken  rosaries,  and  old  scapulars,  coins,  beads,  trinkets, 
buckles,  buttons,  crucifixes,  and  a  great  number  of  small  personal  trifles, 
all  worn  and  battered  and  of  no  intrinsic  value.  The  various  reasons  for 
their  being  placed  here  are  only  known  to  the  donors,  if  even  to  them, 
and  the  custom  is  doubtless  a  survival  of  some  old-world  idea.  I  wish 
to  express  my  indebtedness  to  my  friends,  Messrs.  K.  J.  Welch  and  J. 
St.  J.  Phillips,  for  the  photographs,  and  Mr.  W.  J.  Fennell  for  the 
measured  drawings  from  which  this  Paper  is  illustrated. 


Mi\  P.  J.  Lynch,  Hon.  Provincial  Secretary,  Munster,  contributes 
the  following  interesting  note  on  Kilmakilloge  : — 

The  original  church  of  Kilmakilloge,  to  which  the  existing  east  and 
south  windows,  and  possibly  the  door,  belong,  was  much  smaller  than  the 
present  structure.  The  original  work,  which  is  of  an  archaic  character, 
remains  to  be  seen  on  the  east  and  south  walls,  and  the  church  would  appear 
to  have  measured  about  21  feet  by  13  feet  6  inches  wide.  The  roof  had  a 
very  quick  pitch — which  can  be  traced  on  the  exterior  of  the  east  gable — 
with  the  peculiar  gargoyle-like  brackets  projecting  from  the  corners  of 
gables,  which  have  been  preserved.1  This  church,  from  the  extreme  plain- 
ness of  its  Romanesque  details,  I  should  say  was  a  little  earlier  than  the 
twelfth  century,  as  this  period  may  be  considered  as  affording  the  best 
examples  of  the  Hiberno-Romanesque  style.  At  a  subsequent  period, 
this  church  was  increased  in  width  and  length  to  its  present  dimensions, 
and  roofed  to  a  lesser  pitch;  the  door,  which  was,  no  doubt,  in  the 
west  end  originally,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  had  a  square  head, 
being  then  altered  and  placed  in  its  present  position,  and  the  east 
window  moved  to  the  centre  :  this  last  alteration  may  be  seen  on  the 
inside.  This  arrangement,  by  which  a  space  is  left  to  the  west  end  of 
the  church,  together  with  the  fact  of  a  window  being  formed  high  up  in 

1  "Early  Christian  Architecture,"  by  Miss  Stokes,  p.  46. 


324  KOYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

the  west  gable,  would  suggest  provision  being  made  for  some  residential 
accommodation  at  the  west  end,  though  most  of  the  other  details  usually 
found  in  connexion  with  such  an  arrangement  cannot  now  be  traced 
here. 

Some  of  the  incidents  described  by  J.  A.  Eroude,  in  "  The  Two 
Chiefs  of  Dunboy,"  relate  to  this  locality :  amongst  others  the  funeral 
of  a  Macfinian  Dhu,  in  the  18th  century.  Macfinian  Dubh  was  a  branch 
of  the  0' Sullivan  Bear  family.  Miss  Hickson1  describes  how  Tuosist  was 
restored  to  the  O'Sullivans.  I  believe  that,  for  want  of  proper  regis- 
tration of  title,  it  reverted  to  Lord  Lansdowne,  the  representative  of 
Sir  William  Petty. 

The  ruin  of  the  oratory  of  St.  Killian  stands  on  a  grassy  knoll  about 
fifty  yards  south  of  the  lake.  The  portion  remaining  is  filled  in  nearly 
level  with  debris  and  soil,  but  the  interior  area  is  defined,  and  measures, 
where  exposed,  15  feet  6  inches  by  10  feet,  lying  east  and  west.  The 
door  cannot  be  seen. 

The  land  on  the  south  and  east  banks  of  this  lake,  for  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  yards,  is  a  floating  bog.  The  line  of  separation  can  be  seen 
on  the  surface ;  and  I  was  informed  by  the  farmer  who  holds  the  field, 
that  it  lifts  in  time  of  floods,  and  the  tussachs  move  also.  These  tussachs 
(three)  are  large ;  one  measures  about  30  feet  by  10  feet. 

1  Journal  R. S.A.I.,  vol.  i.,  5th  Series,  Part  i. 


(     325     ) 


NOTES  ON  DUNBEG  FORT,  COUNTY  KERRY,  WITH  SPECIAL 
REFERENCE  TO  THE  DRAWINGS  AND  DESCRIPTION  BY 
GEORGE  Y.  DU  NOYER.1 

BY  P.  J.  LYNCH,  M.E. I.A.I.,  FELLOW,  HON.  PROVINCIAL  SECRETARY, 

MUNSTER. 

[Submitted  NOVEMBER  29,  1898.] 

Du  Noyer  visited  this  fort  in  1856,  the  entrance  was  partly 
filled  up  with  debris,  and  did  not  admit  of  the  same  accurate 
measurement  and  examination  in  detail,  as  may  he  made  since  the 
repairs  were  executed.  His  description,  therefore,  does  not  agree,  in 
some  respects,  with  the  accompanying  drawings,  prepared  from 
measurements  recently  taken  hy  me. 

Du  Noyer's  plan  shows  the  fort  as  a  straight  line  across  the  headland. 
This  is  not  strictly  correct  as  the  line  of  the  wall  is  curved  towards  the 
eastern  end.  The  original  wall  extended,  no  doubt,  very  much  farther 
in  this  direction — presumably  a  continuation  of  the  curve — than  at  pre- 
sent, as  the  sea  is  encroaching  on  this  coast.  On  portions  of  it,  to  my 
own  knowledge,  as  much  as  from  eight  to  ten  feet  of  land  has  disappeared 
within  twenty  years.  Last  year  portion  of  the  western  end  of  the  fort 
wall  fell  away  from  the  same  cause  ;  so,  judging  by  experience,  it  is  not 
unreasonable  to  suppose  that  the  area  of  ground,  originally  enclosed  by 
the  wall,  was  very  much  larger  than  at  present. 

The  plan  in  the  Archaeological  Journal  shows  the  wall  as  joining  the 
eastern  cliff.  At  present  there  is  a  passage  between  the  fort  and  the  cliff 
at  this  end — formed,  no  doubt,  by  the  removal  of  the  stones  byroad  con- 
tractors, and  for  building  purposes.  An  old  man  whom  I  questioned  on 
this  point,  informed  me  that  he  remembered  "  hundreds  of  tons  of  stones  " 
being  taken  out  of  it.  The  return  portion  of  eastern  end,  shown  on  my 
drawing,  is  not  a  part  of  the  original  fort ;  a  similar  block  of  stonework 
was  formed  at  the  western  end,  but  has  disappeared  with  the  recent 
landslip. 

There  are  now  no  traces  of  the  walls  along  the  west  cliff,  or  end  of 
headland,  shown  on  Du  Noyer's  plan ;  but,  having  regard  to  the  sea  en- 
croachment before  referred  to,  it  is  safe  to  conjecture  that  these  formed 
no  portion  of  the  original  fort. 

The  original  entrance  was  7  feet  wide  on  ground  line,  reducing 
towards  the  lintel  in  the  usual  way.  It  was  reduced  to  3  feet  6  inches 

1  Published  in  the  Archaeological  Journal,  vol.  xv. 


C 


3    C 


fosse 


fifify*-^  ?•*•"" 
Xa~<.4-<*' 
&/»<«*,'*? 


Plan  of  Dtmbeg  Fort,  Co.  Kerry. 


[320] 


SUCTION      ON    LINE    B    B 


PL»N     ar    ENTRANCE 

Scan    of  fecr 


Sections  of  "Wall  and  Plan  of  Entrance,  Dunbeg  Fort,  Co.  Kerry. 


[327] 


328         KOYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

wide,  and  an  additional  barricade  formed,  at  the  same  time  that  the  rampart 
was  strengthened  by  an  additional  thickness,  measuring  7  feet  4  inches  at 
base.  Portions  of  this  stonework,  for  reducing  the  doorway,  have  been 
removed  from  the  inside,  the  remaining  stones  forming  what  Du  ISToyer 
mistook  for  a  seat  in  the  passage  (see  section).  The  portion  of  the  filling 
remaining  still  covers  the  original  "  squint  "  from  guard-room  to  left  of 
entrance  (standing  outside).  These  "  squints,"  at  both  sides,  8  inches 
square,  are  very  regularly  formed  in  the  stonework.  The  entrances  to  both 
"  guard-rooms  "  are  from  the  area  of  the  fort.  The  opening  into  the  passage 
from  the  guard-room  to  the  right  of  entrance,  mistaken  by  Du  Noyer  for 
a  door,  was  to  take  the  rough-hewn  log  of  timber,  which  was  fixed  across 
the  passage,  behind  the  barricade,  to  defend  the  entrance.  A  similar  open- 
ing, at  opposite  side,  is  shown  on  section  through  entrance.  This  room, 
at  the  right,  must  have  been  formed  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  wedging 
against  the  end  of  the  log  when  fixed  in  position,  across  the  passage. 
"When  the  fort  was  open,  this  barrier  lay  in  the  recess  formed  in  the  wall 
of  the  fort,  and  was  drawn  across  when  required.  The  plan  explains 
this  more  clearly. 

The  two  narrow  passages  in  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  described  by 
Du  Noyer,  and  shown  on  his  plan,  do  not  exist.  "What  he  mistook  for 
passages  were  recesses,  similar  to  those  last  described,  to  take  a  cross 
barrier  fixed  inside  the  outer  barricade.  On  the  left  hand  this  recess 
stops  at  8  feet,  while  on  the  right,  where  the  barrier  lay  when  not  in  use, 
I  traced  it  for  25  feet.  As  a  proof  of  its  purpose,  when  examining  the 
top  of  the  wall,  I  noticed  a  circular  opening,  or  well -hole,  communi- 
cating with  the  recess  underneath,  and  which  enabled  the  defenders  to 
wedge  the  end  of  the  log,  without  which  it  would,  of  course,  be  useless 
for  defence  purposes.  This  hole  was  probably  filled  up  with  stones  after 
the  barrier  was  secured  in  position. 

The  rampart  was  also  strengthened  at  the  eastern  end,  which  is  not 
shown  on  Du  foyer's  plan. 

I  have  accurately  shown  the  remains  of  the  stone  gateway  in  each 
vallum. 

The  subterranean  passage,  from  entrance  outwards,  as  indicated  by 
the  dotted  lines  on  plan,  is  not  referred  to  by  Du  Noyer.  It  was 
discovered  when  the  fort  was  being  repaired  recently. 

The  cloghaun,  inside  fort,  is  drawn  as  it  now  stands,  after  recent 
repairs.  It  differs  in  plan  from  what  Du  Noyer  supposed  it  to  be.  The 
plan — one  side  of  chamber  being  curved,  and  three  sides  straight — is 
unique.  I  have  measured  most  of  the  cloghauns  at  Fahan  now  remain- 
ing, and  hope  to  send  some  notes  and  plans  of  them  at  a  future  date. 


(     329     ) 


MOUNT   MEKBION    AND    ITS    HISTORY. 

BY  FRANCIS  ELRINGTON  BALL,  M.R.I.A. 
[Bead  OCTOBER  11,  1898.} 

"IVTouNT  MERRION,  the  Irish  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Pembroke  and  Mont- 
gomery, can  compare  with  many  of  the  great  places  of  England, 
and  has  few  rivals  in  this  country.  Entering  by  the  high  gates,  on  the 
road  from  Dublin  to  Sfcillorgan,  a  straight  drive,  with  wide  borders  of 
closely  shaved  grass  and  rows  of  lofty  elms  on  either  side,  leads  to  the 
picturesque  house,  with  its  quaint  old  fashioned  windows  peeping 
through  verdure  of  every  kind.  Across  the  gravel  sweep  stand  the 
great  stables,  which  form  three  sides  of  a  square,  and  further  south  we 
enter  the  gardens  through  gates  which  recall  the  father  of  the  present 
owner,  the  lamented  Lord  Herbert  of  Lea,  whose  monogram  they  bear. 
Beyond  a  smooth  lawn,  lies  to  the  west  a  thick  wood,  intersected  by 
winding  walks,  and  adorned  with  structures  of  various  kinds,  while 
through  the  park  stretch  away  two  drives,  'one,  now  disused  and  grass- 
grown,  leading  under  an  archway  of  noble  trees,  to  Foster's  Avenue,  and 
the  other  commanding  lovely  views  of  Dublin  and  its  bay,  leading  to 
Mount  Anville  and  Dundrum. 

The  lands  on  which  Mount  Merrion  stands  are  probably  those  which 
were  known  at  the  time  of  the  Norman  Conquest  as  Cnocro,  or  the 
red  hill,  and  which  were  then  granted  to  Walter  de  Bideleford,  Lord 
of  Bray,  one  of  the  most  valiant  of  the  invaders,1  together  with  a  large 
extent  of  the  surrounding  country.2 

Subsequently  they  appear  to  have  formed  part  of  the  townland  of 
Owenstown,3  and  in  1532  we  find  the  hill  of  Owenstown,  or  Mount 
Merrion,  selected  as  the  place  of  assembly  for  a  hosting  of  the  levies  of 
the  county  Dublin,  or  review  of  the  archers  and  horsemen,  whom 
the  proprietors,  who  held  their  land  by  military  tenure,  were  bound 
to  raise.4 

1  See  "  The  Complete  Peerage,"  vol.  i.,  p.  xiii.,  and  Mills's  "Norman  Settlement 
in  Leinster  "  in  the  Journal  for  1894,  pp.  163-65. 

2  See  a  deed  in  the  Christ  Church  collection  by  which  Walter  de  Rideleford  con- 
veys a  carucate  of  land  in  Donnybrook,  near  the  highway  from  Dublin  to  Thorncastle, 
adjoining  his  land  of  Cnockro,  "  23rd  Rep.  Deputy  Keeper  of  Public  Records,  Ireland,?' 
p.    80.     With  regard  to  the  identification  of  the  lands  on  which  Mount  Merrion 
stands  I  am  indebted,  for  much  assistance,  to  M.  J.  M'Enery,  Esq.,  of  the  Public 
Record  Office. 

3  In  the  map  of  the  parish  of  Taney  in  the  "Down  Survey,"  preserved  in  the 
Public  Record  Office,  Owenstown  appears  to  have  included  the  greater  part  of  the  lands 
of  Mount  Merrion. 

4  See  D'Alton's  "  History  of  the  County  Dublin,"  p.  701. 


330         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

In  the  fourteenth  century,  Owenstown,  together  with  the  manors  of 
Dundrum,  Thorncastle,  Merrion,  and  Bagotrath  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  Fitzwilliam  family,  from  which  Lord  Pembroke  is  descended  in 
the  female  line.  The  first  member  of  the  family  to  settle  in  Ireland 
is  said  to  have  come  over  with  King  John,  and  we  find  in  the  succeeding 
centuries  many  of  his  descendants  occupying  prominent  positions.  In 
the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  Thomas  Fitzwilliam,  who  was 
then  in  possession  of  the  estates,  and  occupying  the  great  castle  which 
his  ancestors  had  built  near  the  seashore  at  Merrion,  where  the  Asylum 
for  the  Female  Blind  now  stands,1  was  raised  by  Charles  I.  to  the 
peerage,  as  Baron  Fitzwilliam  of  Thorncastle,  and  Yiscount  Fitzwilliam 
of  Merrion,  in  consideration  of  the  nobility  and  antiquity  of  the  family 
from  which  he  was  descended  in  England,  and  of  the  services  rendered 
to  the  Crown,  both  in  peace  and  war,  by  himself  and  his  ancestors. 
During  the  rebellion  he  was  apparently  loyal  to  the  English  Govern- 
ment, and  it  was  to  his  castle  at  Merrion  that  Sir  Simon  Harcourt  was 
brought,  after  he  had  received  his  mortal  wounds  at  the  storming  of 
"Walsh's  Castle  at  Carrickmines.  With  his  two  sons  he  went  subsequently 
to  the  assistance  of  Charles  I.,  and  after  the  restoration,  his  son  Oliver, 
then  2nd  Viscount  Fitzwilliam,  was  raised  to  the  dignity  of  an  Earl, 
under  the  title  of  Tyrconnel.  On  his  death,  as  he  had  no  children,  the 
earldom  became  extinct,  and  his  brother 2  succeeded  to  his  other  titles. 
They  passed  a  few  years  later  to  his  brother's  son,  Thomas,  the  4th 
Yiscount,  who  joined  the  army  of  James  II.,  and  displayed  more  bravery 
than  did  many  of  that  monarch's  followers.3  By  his  wife  Mary,4 
daughter  of  Sir  Philip  Stapleton,  a  sturdy  and  prominent  parliamentarian,5 
he  had  a  son  Bichard,  who  succeeded,  on  his  father's  death,  in  1704,  to 
the  estates  and  titles.6 

Richard,  5th  Yiscount  Fitzwilliam,  was  probably  educated  in  Eng- 
land and  found  a  wife  there,  a  daughter  of  Sir  John  Shelley,  Bart.,7  about 
the  time  of  his  father's  death.  Some  years  later  he  was,  however,  in- 
duced to  come  to  this  country—  probably  through  a  desire  for  political  life 

1  In  his  grandfather's  time,  Sir  Henry  Sidney  made  frcm  it,  having  come  there 
from  Dalkey  where  he  had  landed,  his  entry  as  Lord  Deputy  into  Dublin.     During 
the  civil  war  the  castle  fell  into  decay,  hut  must  have  been  restored  by  Thomas 

-Fitzwilliam's  son,  the  Earl  of  Tyrconnel,  as  he  was  residing  there  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Harris's  "History  of  Dublin,"  p.  35  ;  Lodge's  "  Desiderata  Curiosa  Hibernica," 
vol.  ii.,  pp.  529-68;  Blacker's  "  Sketches  of  Booterstown,"  p.  51.  Some  portion  of 
the  old  castle  is,  I  believe,  to  be  found  in  the  present  buildings. 

2  "William,    3rd  Yiscount    Fitzwilliam.      For    a    curious    and  most  interesting 
account  of  his  funeral  expenses  see  Blacker's  "Sketches  of  Booterstown,"  p.  314. 

s  See  "  Hist.  MSS.  Com.,  10th  Rep.,"  App.,  Pt.  v.,  p.  161. 

4  There  is  a  picture  of  her,  and  also  one  of  her  husband,  in  the  Fitzwilliam  Museum 
at  Cambridge. 

5  See  notice  of  him  in  "  Dictionary  of  National  Biography." 

6  For  further  information  as  to  the*  Fitzwilliams  see  Lodge's  "  Peerage  of  Ireland," 
edited  by  Archdall,  vol.  iv.,  pp.  306-21,  and  Blacker's  "Sketches  of  Booterstown," 
pp.  108-14,  et passim. 

7  Portraits  of  her  and  of  her  husband  are  in  the  Fitzwilliam  Museum. 


MOUNT   MERRION    AND    ITS    HISTORY.  331 

—  and,  having  taken  his  seat  in  the  Irish  House  of  Lords  at  the  beginning  of 
the  session  of  1710,  he  became  one  of  the  most  constant  attendants  at  its 
proceedings.1  He  took  a  house  in  Dublin,2  and,  as  the  castle  at  Merrion 
had  become  uninhabitable,  commenced  to  build  Mount  Merrion  as  a  country 
residence.  No  part  of  his  property  afforded  a  more  beautiful  site,  and 
probably,  though  most  of  the  present  trees  date,  I  think,  from  that  time, 
it  was  not  even  then  devoid  of  timber.  The  back  portion  of  the  present 
house  is  built  in  the  same  style  of  architecture  as  the  stables,  which  bear 
the  date  171 1,3  and  was  evidently  the  whole  of  the  original  structure. 
Though  small,  it  contained  one  or  two  fine  rooms,  now  divided,  and  its 
deep  window-seats,  curious  door-frames,  and  moulded  cornices,  show  it 
to  have  been  a  handsome  dwelling. 

The  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  the  learned  and  good  "William  King,  who 
was  numbered  amongst  Lord  Fitzwilliam' s  friends,  availed  himself  on 
more  than  one  occasion4  of  the  calm  and  repose  which  Mount  Merrion 
afforded  for  literary  work.  At  the  time  of  Queen  Anne's  death  he  was 
staying  there,  and  seeking  relief  in  the  revision  of  one  of  his  books5 
from  the  annoyance  to  which  he  was  subjected  as  a  supporter  of  the 
succession  of  the  House  of  Hanover,  and  from  his  many  other  cares — the 
non-residence  of  his  episcopal  brethren  and  of  many  of  the  clergy,  the 
want  of  churches  and  of  money  to  pay  clergymen,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
neighbouring  church  of  Stillorgan,  which  he  had  rebuilt,  but  which 
was  unprovided  with  a  curate,6  and,  in  a  less  degree,  the  management 
of  the  choir,  which  then,  as  it  did  until  recently,  served  the  two 
cathedrals,  and  which  he  says  gave  him  and  the  two  Deans  great  ado  to 
keep  in  order,  so  different,  he  adds,  is  the  effect  of  music  on  the  minds 
of  men  in  modern  times,  to  what  the  ancients  observed.7  He  was  not 
long  left  undisturbed,  however,  for  soon  after  the  accession  of  George  I. 
he  was  appointed,  with  the  Earl  of  Kildare,  then  staying  close  by  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Colonel  Allen,  at  Stillorgan,  a  Lord  Justice.  And 
one  of  the  first  uses  they  made  of  their  power  was  to  obtain  the  appoint- 
ment of  their  hosts,  Lord  Fitzwilliam  and  Colonel  Allen,  to  the  Privy 
Council.8 

Lord  Fitzwilliam  continued  to  attend  assiduously  in  the  Irish  House 
of  Lords,  excepting  during  one  session,  until  1725,  when  attracted  by 

1  "  Journals  of  the  House  of  Lords,  Ireland." 

2  His  children  were  baptized  in  St.  Andrew's  parish. 

3  On  a  window  frame  directly  opposite  the  hall  door  of 'the  house. 

4  As  will  be  seen  he  was  there  in  August  and  September,  1714,  and  we  find  him 
also  dating  letters  from  Mount  Merrion  in  August  and  September,  1718.     See  Arch- 
bishop King's  Correspondence  in  Trinity  College  Library. 

5  "  The  Inventions  oi  Man  in  the  Service  of  God." 

6  Stillorgan  was  one  of  the  churches  dependent  on  Christ  Church,  and  the  Arch- 
bishop's right  to  visit  them  was  then  in  dispute.     For  information  as  to  Stillorgan 
Church  see  the  Journal  for  1898,  p.  21,  note  4. 

7  See  letter  from    King  to  Dr.   Charlett  of  Oxford,    dated    February   19,  1714, 
amongst  the  Ballard  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  Oxford,  10794-33. 

8  See  Mant's  "History  of  the  Church  of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  270-7. 

JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  IV.,   5TH  8ER.  2  A 


ROYAL 'SOCIETY; "OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

the  wider  field  for  political  life,  and  probably  influenced  by  his  wife's 
desire  to  live  in  her  own  country,1  he  went  to  reside  permanently  in 
England.  In  1726  he  was  returned  to  the  English  House  of  Commons 
as  member  for  the  borough  of  Fowey  in  Cornwall,2  and  about  the  saiue 
time  his  third  son,  who  is  depicted  playing  with  his  two  brothers  in  the 
grounds  of  Mount  Merrion  in  a  large  picture  now  hanging  in  the  drawing- 
room  there,  was  appointed  page  of  honour  to  the  Prince  of  Wales,  soon, 
to  become  George  II.,3  and  his  eldest  daughter,  who  married  the  9th  Earl 
of  Pembroke,  maid  of  honour  to  the  Princess.  She  is  mentioned  by  Lady 
Hervey  in  describing  the  ladies  of  the  Court  under  the  guise  of  books  as 
a  volume  neatly  bound,  and  well  worth  perusing,  called,  "  The  Lady's 
Guide  on  the  Whole  Art  of  Dress,"  and  is  frequently  alluded  to  by  Lord 
Chesterfield  in  his  letters  to  Lady  Suffolk.4 

After  a  time  Mount  Merrion  was  let  to  one  of  the  Barons  of  the 
Exchequer,  the  Honourable  John  Wainwright,  a  judge  who  is  remarkable 
for  having  met  his  death  while  discharging  his  official  duties.  Although 
an  Englishman,  promoted  direct  from  the  English  bar  to  the  Irish  bench,5 
through  the  influence  of  Pelham  Holies,  Duke  of  Newcastle,  and  after- 
wards Prime  Minister,  whose  schoolfellow  he  had  been  at  Westminster 
School,6  and  of  Mrs.  Clayton,  the  confidential  friend  of  Queen  Caroline, 
whom  he  styles  his  guardian  angel,7  he  soon  acquired  a  high  reputation 

1  hi  a  letter  written  from  abroad  after  her  husband's  death,  to  the  Duke  of  New- 
castle, asking  for  the  release  of  the  Earl  of  Tyrconnel,  of  the  Biownlow  (-real ion,  who" 
had  been  arrested  when  accompanying  the  army  of  the  Pretender,  she  expresses  re- 
gret tbat  her  health  does  not  permit  her  return  "  to  her  dear  country."  See  Newcastle 
Correspondence  in  British  Museum,  Add.  MS.  32707-386. 

a  He  represented  the  borough  from  January,  1726,  to  1734,  "  Parliamentary  Return 
of  Members  of  Parliament." 

3  While  acting  as  page  of  honour  to  the  King  he  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  one  day 
with    his  horse   among    the  coney   burrows  when  the  royal  family  were  hunting. 
"Letters  of  Henrietta,   Countess  of  Suffolk,''  vol.  i.,  p.  376.     In  a  letter  from  his 
brother,  the  6th  Viscount  Fitzwilliam,  to  the   Duke  of  Newcastle,  written  in   1759, 
with  regard  to  him  the  Viscount  says  that  he  had  been   an  officer  twenty-seven  years, 
during  thirteen  of  which  he  was  in  the  cavalry,  •  and  that  he  served  throughout  the 
whole  war,  he  hopes  with  credit.     Erit.    Mus.   Add.    MS.    32889-223-7.      For  an 
account   of  his   extraordinary  disposal  of  his   property  see  Blacker 's   "  Sketches  of 
Booter^town,"  p.  316. 

4  "Memoirs   of  Viscountess  Sundon "  by  Mrs.    Thompson,   vol.  i.,  p.  107,   and 
"  Letters  of  Henrietta,  Countess  of  Suffolk,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  9,  and  vols.  i.  and  ii.  passim. 

5  He  was  a  member  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  and  was  appointed  to  the  Irish  Exchequer, 
on  the  death  of  Baron  Pocklirigton,  in  June,  1732.     He  landed  in  Dublin  on  August 
31.      In    the    previous   year  he    had    tried  to  obtain  a    seat  in  the  Irish  Common 
Pleas  vacant  by  the  death  of   Mr.    Justice  Bernard,    an   ancestor  of  the  Earls   of 
Bandon.     Srnyth''s   "Law  Officers  of  Ireland,"  PUB'S  Occurrences,  Mrs.  Thompson's 
"  Memoirs  of  Viscountess  Sundon,"  p.  86. 

6  He  went,  as  a  student  from  Westminster  School,  to  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  where 
he  matriculated  in  1708,  and  took  his  B.A.  degree  in  1712,  and  his  M.A.  in  1715. 
He  was  appointed  a  trustee  of  the  Busby  trust  in  Westminster  School  in  1729.  Welsh's 
"  Scholars  of  Westminster,"  and  Foster's  "  Alumni  Oxonienses." 

7  The  Duke,  whose  friendship  he  retained  through  life,  had  previously  obtained 
for  him  some  employment  about  the  Court  where  he  probably  made  the  acquaintance 
(if  Mrs.  Clayton.     Brit.  Mus.  Add.  MS.  32692-413.     The  principal  sources  of  infor- 
mation about  him  are  his  letters,  written  in  a  fine  bold  hand,  to  the  Duke  which  are 
preserved  in  the  "Newcastle  Correspondence  "  in  the  British  Museum,  and  his  letters 


MOUNT    MERRION    AND    ITS    HISTORY.  333 

in  this  country,  being  in  character  discerning  and  discreet,  of  even  temper, 
and  attractive  manners,  and  of  a  most  charitable  disposition.1  He  was 
a  scholar  of  no  mean  attainments,  although  Mrs.  Clayton  advised  him  to 
let  his  attempts  at  English  verse  cool,  and  he  had  hoped  to  have  some 
leisure  here  for  literary  pursuits,2  but  he  found  the  Exchequer  had  more 
business  than  any  other  court,  and  that  his  spare  time  was  occupied  by 
attendance  at  the  Castle,  on  Parliament,  and  at  the  Old  Bailey,  as  he  calls 
the  City  Commission  Court,  and  by  the  circuits.  The  latter  were  to  him  a 
dreadful  employment,  and  on  the  Connaught,  which  he  went  frequently, 
he  was  often,  he  says,  for  fifteen  hours  a  day  taking  notes  of  the  lives 
and  conversations  of  robbers  and  murderers,  his  only  relief  being  the 
wild  scenery  through  which  he  passed.3 

In  Dublin  he  had  many  friends.  The  great  Bishop  Berkeley  was 
one  of  the  most  intimate.  He  had  known  him  before  his  expedition  to  the 
Bermudas,  and  had  had  some  idea  of  accompanying  the  Bishop  there  ;  and 
the  inscription  on  the  monument,  which  Wainwright  erected  in  Chester 
Cathedral  to  his  father  and  grandfather,  who  had  both  filled  the  office  of 
Chancellor  of  that  diocese,4  is  written  by  Berkeley.5  On  his  behalf,  before 

to  Mrs.  Clayton,  afterwards  Lady  Sundon  (see  notice  of  Lady  Sundon  in  "Diet,  of 
Nat.  Biog."),  published  in  her  memoirs. 

1  See  "  Verses  occasioned  by  the  death  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Baron  Waiuwright"  in 
Faulkner's  Lublin  Journal,  April  25-28,  1741. 

2  Some  verses  of  his  were  included  amongst  poems  published  by  his  school  on  the 
death  of  Queen  Anne.     His  letters  to   the  Duke  of  Newcastle   constantly  contain 
classical  quotations  and  sometimes  original  Latin  verses.     He  greatly  admired  Dr. 
Friend's  dedication  of  his  brother's  works  (see  notice  of  Robert  Friend  in  "  Diet,  of  Nat. 
Biog."),  and  wrote  verses  upon  it.     Brit.  Mus.  Add.  MS.  32688-1. 

3  In  a  letter  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  dated  from  Mayo  on  April  18,  1736,  he  says 
he  is  now  for  the  third  time  on  the  Connaught  circuit,  in  a  country  and  among  people 
not  much  removed  from  a  state  of  nature  ;  he  mentions  the  mountains  of  Croagh 
Patrick  andNephin,  Joyce's  country,  where  he  says  the  men  are  of  very  great  stature, 
though  their  common  food  is  milk  and  the  hlood  of  their  cattle,  Lough  Corrib  and  its 
fish,  particularly  the  gillaroo  trout,  and  the  subterraneous  river.  "Wainwright  delighted 
in  beautiful  scenery,  and  gives  in  one  of  his  letters  an  account  of  the  Waterfall  at 
Powerscourt,  which  he  says  looks  like  the  moving  silks  that  makes  the  sea  in  an 
opera.     In  another  letter  he  gives  an  account  of  the  North-east  circuit,  and  mentions 
that  the  country  was  well  cultivated,  but  not  improved,  the  ruined  castles  and  the 
scarcity  of  trees  making  it  appear  as  if  an  army  had  marched  through  it :  any  new 
plantations  were  of  fir,  with  a  few  ash  trees.     Brit.  Mus.  Add.    MS.    32690-121, 
32688-1,  204. 

4  His  grandfather,  John  Wainwright,  was  a  Fellow  of  All  Souls  College,  Oxford, 
1635-51  ;  admitted  an  advocate  of  Doctor's  Commons,   1650  ;  appointed  Chancellor 
of  Chester  Diocese,  April,  1661.    Fenwick,  in  his  "History  of  Chester,"  p.  311,  says 
there  is  a  monument  to  him  in  St.  Mary's  on  the  Hill,  but  I  could  not  find  it  when 
recently  in  Chester.     His  daughter  married  the  Rev.  Richard  Wright,  Curate   of 
Bidston,  and  Canon  of  Chester  Cathedral.  Baron  Wainwright' s  father,  Thomas  Wain- 
wright, became  a  Fellow  of  All  Souls  College,  Oxford,  in  1672,   and  was  appointed 
Chancellor  of  Chester  Diocese  in  1682,  on  the  resignation  of  his  father.   In  accordance 
with  a  wish  expressed  in  his  will  he  was  buried  in  Holy  Trinity  Church,  Chester,  on 
October  2,  1720,  and  left  by  his  wife  Rebecca  two  sons,  John,  the  Baron  of  the 
Exchequer,  and  Thomas,  who  died  in   1721.     See  Foster's   "  Alumni  Oxonienses,'' 
Gastrell's  "Notitia  Cestriensis,"  vol.  i.,  p.  22,   "Cheshire  Sheaf,"  3rd  ser.,  1896, 
p.  35. 

5  A  copy  of  the  inscription  is  given  in  Ormerod's  "  History  of  Chester,"  vol.  i., 
p.  244.     The  monument,  which  is  a  medallion  ornamented  with  foliage,  and  supported 

2  A2 


334  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

his  appointment  to  the  episcopacy,  Wainwright  had  earnestly  solicited 
Mrs.  Clayton's  interest,1  and  subsequently,  through  the  same  channel, 
he  tried  to  obtain  for  him  the  Vice- Chancellorship  of  Dublin  University. 
The  Lord  Lieutenant,  the  Duke  of  Dorset,  was  very  civil  and  attentive 
to  the  Baron,  and  his  secretary,  the  well-known  Bubb  Dodington,  sought 
his  advice.  The  unorthodox  Bishop  Clayton,  a  relation  of  Mrs.  Clayton's 
husband,  was  his  constant  companion,2  and  we  find  him  dining  with 
Bundle,  Bishop  of  Derry,  and  meeting  other  old  Westminster  boys, 
including  Stone,  then  Dean  of  Derry,  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Armagh, 
and  Lord  Middlesex,  the  Lord  Lieutenant's  son.3  "With  Swift's  friend, 
Mrs.  Pilkington,  he  was  also  acquainted,  andshe  relates  in  those  marvellous 
memoirs,  how,  when  visiting  the  Baron  and  his  wife,  they  praised  some 
verses  of  hers,  believing  them  to  have  been  written  by  a  girl  of  twelve 
years  old,  and  how  she  lost  no  time  in  claiming  them  as  her  own,  quite 
forgetting  that  the  age  of  the  author  might  make  a  difference  in  the 
judgment  on  their  merit.4 

After  seven  years  work  here  Wainwright  unsuccessfully  sought  removal 
to  the  English  Exchequer.5  He  had  narrowly  escaped  being  shot  by  a 
sheriff's  officer  at  his  house  in  William-street  soon  after  his  arrival  in 
this  country,6  and  was  only  spared  to  close  his  career  in  almost  as  terrible 
a  way.  The  famine,  appalling  in  its  severity,  which  devastated  the 
country  in  1740,  was  followed  by  fever  of  the  most  malignant  kind,  and 
in  Munster  its  ravages  were  especially  severe.7  This  was  the  circuit 

by  figures,  was  designed  by  William  Kent,  whose  employment  by  the  Pelham  family 
probably  led  to  his  being  consulted  by  "Wainwright.  See,  for  an  account  of  this 
fashionable  oracle,  "  Dictionary  of  National  Biography." 

1  He  combats  the  idea  of  insanity  spread  in  Ireland  by  Berkeley's  rivals,  and  says 
it  is  an  extraordinary  thing  that  a  madman  should  have  been  employed  to  write  the 
inscription  under  the  statue  of  George  I.  (now  in  the  Lord  Mayor's  garden),  and  sent  to 
wait  upon  George  II.  when  he  accepted  the  Chancellorship  of  Dublin  University.  Mrs. 
Thompson's  "  Memoirs  of  the  Viscountess  Sundon,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  177.    See  also  mention 
of  Wainwright  in  Eraser's  "Life  of  Berkeley,"  p.  215. 

2  Mrs.  Thompson's  "  Memoirs  of  the  Viscountess  Sundon,"  vol.  ii.,  p.    221.     Also 
see  Mrs.  Delany's  "  Life  and  Correspondence,"  vol.  i.,  p.  403. 

3  "When  Latin  verses  written  by  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  on  tobacco  were  read  by 
Dean  Stone.    Wainwright  subsequently  wrote  some  on  the  same  subject.     Brit.  Mus. 
Add.  MS.  32690-89,  91. 

4  "Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Letitia  Pilkington,"  vol.  i.,  p.  73. 

5  The  appointment  was  given  to  Sir  James  Reynolds,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Irish 
Common  Pleas,  an  office  which  Wainwright  says  was  a  sinecure.     In  one  of  his  letters 
he  says — "  There  is  an  upright  bench  of  judges,  and  a  learned  bar  here,"  and  though 
strongly  pressing  his  own  claims  he  does  not  depreciate  Reynolds'  merit.     Brit.  Mus. 
Add.  MS.  32692-405,  413,  and  Mrs.  Thompson's  "Memoirs  of  Viscountess  Sundon," 
vol.  ii.,  p.  179. 

6  "  On  Tuesday  last  one  Burnsides,   a  servant  to  Henry  Hart,  Esq.,  one  of  the 
present  sheriffs,  went  in  a  chair  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Baron  Wainwright  in  "William- 
street,  and  pretended  he  had  something  of  importance  to  communicate  to  the  baron  in 
private,  who  brought  him  into  the  parlour,   but  he  said  that  place  was  not  private 
enough  for  his  business,  which  gave  the  baron  cause  to  suspect  he  had  some  ill  design, 
and  he  immediately  had  him  apprehended,  and  found  a  brace  of  pistols  loaded  in  his 
pockets.      He  was  brought  before  the  Rt.  Hon.  the  Lord  Mayor  who  committed  him 
to  the  Black  Dog  Prison."  Puis  Occurrences,  May  29-June  2,  1733. 

7  See  Lecky's  "  History  of  Ireland  in  the  Eighteenth  Century,"  vol.  i.,  p.  187. 


MOUNT    MERRION    AND    ITS    HISTORY.  335 

which  felltoWainwright  in  the  spring  of  1741,  and  in  the  crowded  courts 
he  contracted  the  fatal  disease  and  was  brought  up  to  Mount  Merrion  to 
die  there  a  few  days  later,  when  only  fifty -two  years  of  age.  His  body 
was  taken  to  Chester,  where  it  was  received  with  every  mark  of  respect, 
and  was  interred  with  his  father's  in  Holy  Trinity  Church.1 

Almost  immediately  after  "Wainwright's  death,  Mount  Merrion  was 
taken  by  the  Lord  Chancellor,  Robert  Jocelyn,  then  only  two  years 
appointed  to  that  high  office.  He  was  an  Englishman2  like  Wainwright — 
a  grandson  of  Sir  Robert  Jocelyn,  Bart.,  of  Hyde  Hall,  in  Hertfordshire — 
hut  he  had,  unlike  him,  practised  at  the  Irish  bar,  to  which  hu  was 
called  in  Hilary  Term,  17 19,3  before  receiving  office.  In  the  society 
which  his  countrymen,  who  then  filled  so  many  of  the  highest  positions 
in  Church  and  State,  made  amongst  themselves — into  which  he  had  the 
entree — he  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Timothy  Goodwyn,4  Bishop  of 
Kilmore,  and  little  more  than  a  year  after  his  call  to  the  bar  he  was 
married  to  that  prelate's  sister-in-law  in  Kilmore  Cathedral.5  To  the 
bishop's  influence  he  owed,  no  doubt,  his  return  some  years  later  for  the 
borough  of  Granard,6  which,  in  conjunction  with  the  all-powerful  friend- 
ship of  Philip  Yorke,  afterwards  Lord  Hardwicke,  and  Lord  Chancellor 
of  England,  with  whom  he  had  been  in  chambers  in  London,7  led  to 

1  He  arrived  in  town  on  April  llth,  1741,  died  on  April  14th,  and  was  buried  at 
Chester  on  April  24th.     See  Registers  of  Holy  Trinity  Church,  Pile's  Occurrences 
for  April  11—14,  and  14-18,  and  Faulkner'' a  Dublin  Journal  for  April  25-28,  in  which 
it  is  stated  that,  while  the  body  lay  at  Parkgate,  the  Dublin  yacht  had  her  colours 
hoisted  half-mast  high,  and  as  soon  as  the  funeral  began  to  move  she  fired  minute 
guns,  her  example  being  followed  by  all  the  ships  in  the  harbour.     He  left  a  widow, 
but  no  children.    In  his  will  he  mentions  an  aunt  and  cousins  called  Goodwin,  a  sister 
or  sister-in-law  called  Jackson,  and  his  tried  friend  Thomas  Corbett,   to  whom  he 
leaves  his  pictures,  and  expresses  a  wish  that  he  should  leave  some  of  them  to  Christ 
Church,  Oxford.     "  Prerogative  Will  "  in  Dublin  Public  Record  Office. 

2  Bishop  Downes  writes  to  Bishop  Nicholson  on  January  15, 1719-20 — "  Yesterday 
four  foreign  [i.e.  of  English  birth]  Bishops,  my  Lord  Chief  Baron,  Mr.  Manley,  and 
Mr.  Jocelin,  dined  with  our  sister  Kildare  [the  wife  of  Welbore  Ellis,  then  Bishop  of 
Kildare]."     "  Letters  to  and  from  Bishop  Nicholson,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  502. 

3  "  Barrister's  Oath  Rolls  "  in  Dublin  Public  Record  Office.     He  signed  the  roll 
on  January  27th.     He  was  admitted  in  1709  to  Gray's  Inn. 

4  See  notice  of  him  in  "  Dictionary  of  National  Biography." 

5  In  his  valuable  collection  of  extracts  from  diocesan  and  parochial  records,  my 
friend  the  Rev.  William  Reynell,  B.D.,  has  the  following  entry  taken  from  the  Kilmore 
Grant  Book  : — "  Robert  Joslyn  of  city  of  Dublin,  arm.  and  Sharlot  Anderson,  of  par. 
of  Kilmore,  spinster,  M.L.,  4  July,  1720."    Goodwyn,  in  bis  book  plate,  has  the  arms 
of  Anderson  joined  with  his  own,  and  in  his  will  mentions  "  his  dear  brother  Robert 
Jocelyn."    Also  see  references  to  Jocelyn's marriage  in  "  Letters  to  and  from  Bishop 
Nicholson,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  525-27.     It  appears  from  them  that  Isaac  Manley,  the  post- 
master, so  frequently  mentioned  by  Swift  in  his  journal  to  Stella,  was  a  great  friend  or 
relative  of  Goodwyn,  and  the  latter  appoints  him  one  of  his  executors.     See  "Prero- 
gative Will  of  Timothy,  Archbishop  of'Cashel." 

6  He  represented  Granard  from  1725  to  1727,  and  Newtown,  in  the  county  Down, 
from  1727  to  1739. 

7  See  Harris's  "Life  of  Lord  Chancellor  Hardwicke,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  27  and  53,  et 
pasxiin.     Hardwicke  and  Jocelyn  were  about  the  same  age.     On  Hardwicke's  promo- 
tion to  the  Attorney -Generalship,  Jocelyn  writes  that  he  hopes  the  increase  of  business 
may  not  interrupt  his  good  health,  "which  every  day  grows  more  necessary  to  the 
public  and  not  less  useful  to  his  friends."     Jocelyn  certainly  benefited  much  by  Hard- 
wicke's influence,  and  especially  as  regards  the  Chancellorship,  when  he  had  for  hie 


336          EOYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

his  appointment  as  Third  Serjeant,1  and  subsequently  as  Solicitor-  and 
Attorney-General.2 

The  amiable  and  charitable  disposition  of  both  Jocelyn  and  his  wife3 
must  have  made  them  most  popular  in  the  neighbourhood,  in  which  they 
had  long  lived  in  a  house  near  Donnybrook  Green,4  and  their  continued 
residence  in  it  must  have  been  gratifying  to  their  friends.  Their  only 
child,  their  son  Robert,  probably  shared  in  their  popularity,  for  he  was 
fond  of  country  life,  and  part  owner  of  a  pack  of  hounds,  which  were 
kenneled  at  Kilgobbin.  Those  were  the  days  of  the  Kilruddery  Hunt, 
and  young  Jocelyn,  no  doubt,  often  covered  the  ground  which  is  described 
in  the  fine  old  song.5  The  Kilgobbin  pack  had  also  their  bard,  who  has 
described  in  a  wonderful  poem,  dedicated  to  young  Jocelyn,  their  sad 
fate  when  overwhelmed  by  a  mountain  torrent.6 

Four  years  after  Jocelyn' s  appointment  to  the  Chancellorship  he  was 
raised  to  the  peerage  as  Baron  Newport,  of  Newport,  in  the  county  of 
Tipperary,  a  place  in  which  we  find  one  of  his  sisters  married  and  settled.7 
In  addition  to  the  office  of  Chancellor,  he  was  invariably  one  of  the  Lords 
Justices,  who  were  then  treated  with  all  the  state  and  ceremony  of  a 
Lord  Lieutenant,  and  who,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  communication, 
were  the  real  rulers  of  Ireland  during  his  absence.  The  Lord  Lieutenant 
only  stayed  in  this  country  while  the  parliamentary  session,  which  was 
held  every  second  year,  lasted,  and  thus  Jocelyn,  for  two-thirds  of  the 

rivals  Bowes,  the  Solicitor- General  and  Sir  James  Reynolds.  This  fact  may  have 
accounted  for  Reynolds'  promotion  to  the  English  Exchequer  instead  of  Wainwright. 
See  ante,  p.  334,  note  5.  The  Duke  of  Newcastle  also  supported  Jocelyn  for  the  Chan- 
cellorship. See  Brit.  Mus.  Add.  MS.  32692-356. 

J  He  had  previously  sought  unsuccessfully  the  post  of  counsel  to  the  Revenue  Com- 
mission, Harris's"  Life  of  Lord  Chancellor  Hardwicke,"  vol.  i.,  p.  107. 

2  While  Attorney -General  he  frequently  acted  as  Judge  of  Assize,  as   was' then 
usual,  and  we  find  him   in  1730  setting  out,   in  January,  for  Cork,  to  try  Timothy 
Croneen  and  his  accomplices  for  the  murder  of  Mr.  Andrew  St.  Leger  and  his  lady,  and 
on  March  17th,  trying,  at  Sligo,  with  Baron  St.  Leger,  William  Ormsby,  Esq.,  for  the 
murder  of  Catherine  Coneghane.     Irish  Pamphlets  in  Trinity  College  Library. 

3  In  his  will  Jocelyn    desires  the  charities  she  had  given  to  he  continued  during 
the  lives  of  those  to  whom  she  had  given  weekly  and  fortnightly  allowances. 

4  See  Slacker's  "  Sketches  of  Booterstown,"  p.  162.     It  is  now  known  as  Ballin- 
guile,  and  is  the  residence  of  H.  B.  White,  Esq. 

5  It  will  be  found  in  Croker's  "Popular    Songs   of   Ireland,"  Gaskin's   "Irish 
Varieties,"  and  Peek's  "Poetry  of  Sport"  in  the  Badminton  Library. 

6  "An  Elegy  on  a  Pack  of  Hounds,  whose  kennel  was  situated  at  the  foot  of  Kilgobbin, 
written  at  the  request  of  several  gentlemen,   on  the  1st  of  January,   1748,   and  in- 
scribed to  the  Hon.  Mr.  Jocelyn,  now  Earl  of  Roden,  by  the  late  William  Chamberlaine,. 
Esq.,"  in  Sleater's  Dublin  Chronicle  for  July  10,  1787. 

7  Jocelyn  had  four  sisters,  who  all  married  South  of  Ireland  men  ;  one  married 
Samuel  Waller,  an  ancestor  of  the  Baronets  of  that  name,  who  settled  at  Newport ; 
another  William  White,  of  Ballinguile ;  a  third,   Sarah,  in  1740,  the  Rev.  Alexander 
Alcock,  Archdeacon  of  Lismore ;  and  a  fourth,  Henry  Alcock,  Clerk  of  the  House  of 
Commons.     From  this  circumstance,  I  am  inclined  to  think  Jocelyn's  parents  must, 
as  well  as  himself,  have  come  to  Ireland.    My  friend,  Dr.  Alcock,  of  Innishannon,  who 
has  kindly  given  me  much  information,  says  that  there  were  Jocelyns  living  near 
Waterford  from  about  the  year  1700.     Jocelyn,  when  at  the  bar,  went  the  Munster 
circuit. 


MOUNT    MERRION    AND    ITS    HISTORY.  337 

seventeen  years  during  which  he  held  the  Great  Seal,1  was  also  one  of 
the  chief  governors  of  Ireland.  But  I  cannot  now  stop  to  dwell  on  the 
troubled  and  peaceful  times  during  which  he  earned  the  reputation 
amongst  his  contemporaries  of  being  a  great  and  good  Chancellor.2 

To  Jocelyri's  interest  in  historical  research  and  Irish  antiqnities,  I 
must,  however,  not  here  omit  to  refer.  It  is  best  known  through  his 
having  filled  for  a  time  the  president's  chair  in  a  society  called  the 
"  Physico-Historical  Society,"  which  was  formed  in  Dublin  in  April, 
1744,  to  promote  inquiries  into  the  history  of  our  country.  The  Society 
had  undertaken  much,  but  accomplished  little,  and  when  Jocelyn  suc- 
ceeded to  the  presidency,  in  November,  1747,  it  was  rapidly  declining. 
The  meetings  became  more  and  more  irregular  during  the  next  three 
years,  and,  after  that,  there  is  only  one  other  meeting — in  March,  1752 — 
recorded  in  the  minute-book.3  The  previous  presidents  had  been  Lord 
Southwell  and  the  Earl  of  Chesterfield,  and  amongst  those  who  had  taken 
chief  interest  in  the  Society  were  Henry  Maule,  Bishop  of  Dromore,  and 
afterwards  of  Meath  ;  Bishop  Clayton,  Dr.  Samuel  Madden,  the  philan- 
thropist ;  Thomas  Prior,  the  founder  of  the  Dublin  Society ;  the  curious 
Dr.  Kutty  ;  John  Lodge,  of  genealogical  fame  ;  Charles  Smith,  the  county 
historian;  and  Walter  Harris,  the  editor  of  Ware's  works.  The  Society 
had  projected  descriptions  of  all  the  Irish  counties  :  "Fermanagh  and 
Monaghan  were  actually  assigned  to  Dr.  Madden  and  his  former  curate, 
Philip  Skelton  ;  Armagh  to  two  clergymen,  called  Burton  and  Hacket ; 
and  Dublin  to  various  persons,  of  whom  Dr.  Rutty4  alone  displayed 
any  activity.  A  survey  of  the  latter  county  was  undertaken  by  Mr. 
Gabriel  Stokes,5  but  no  map  appears  to  have  been  made,  unless  the 
survey  may  have  been  the  basis  for  the  one  published  by  Eocque. 
All  that  remains  to  record  the  existence  of  the  Society  are  Charles 
Smith's  histories  of  Waterford  and  Cork,  which  were  undertaken 
under  its  auspices.6  Jocelyn  attended  only  one  meeting  of  the  Society, 
and  on  another  occasion  sent  an  ancient  gold  plate  for  exhibition  ; 
but  a  letter  written  by  him  to  the  then  Karl  of  Clanricarde  shows  what 
deep  interest  he  took  in  the  objects  it  was  formed  to  promote,7  and  Walter 

1  H  e  was  nine  times  sworn  into  office  as  a  Lord  Justice,  and  not  ten  or  twelve  times,  as 
has  been  incorrectly  stated  elsewhere.  See  "  Liher  Munerum." 

_2  See  letter  to  Hardwicke  from  his  relative,  William  Yorke,  a  Judge,  and  afterwards 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  in  Harris's  "Life  of  Lord  Chancellor  Hard- 
wicke," vol.  iii.,  p.  107. 

3  The  Minute-book  is  preserved  in  the  Royal  Irish  Academy. 

4  Dr.  Rutty  also  exhibited  vials  of  mineral  water  on  several  occasions,  and  reported 
that  he  was  making  progress  with  his  work  on  that  subject. 

5  An  ancestor  ol  Sir  William  Stokes.     In  Archbishop  King's  letters  in  Trinity  College 
Library  there  is  an  account  of  an  eclipse  of  which  he  took  observations  in  the  Arch- 
bishop's palace  of  St.  Sepulchre.     See  vol.  v.,  p.  36. 

6  Any  financial  assistance  Smith  received  from  the  Society  was  very  small.     The 
whole  income  of  the  Society  in  1747-8  was  £46  3s.  4d.     As  well  as  the  works  which 
he  published,  Smith  had  some  idea  of  writing  a  history  of  the  county  Tipperary. 

7  "  Memoirs  and  Letters  of  Ulick,  Marquis  of  Clanricarde,"  Lond.  1757,  p.  xix. 


338         ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF    IRELAND. 

Harris  in  his  will  acknowledges  himself  infinitely  bound  to  him  for 
favours  received,  and  in  fulfilment  of  a  promise,  and  out  of  perfect  grati- 
tude, leaves  all  his  papers  to  him  for  disposal.1  Smith,  also,  in  the  pre- 
face to  his  History  of  Kerry,  speaks  of  his  noble  collection  of  manuscripts 
relative  to  Ireland,  which  he  says  is  by  far  the  largest  and  most  curious 
of  any  he  was  aware  of. 

In  1747  Jocelyn  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife.  She  was 
buried  in  Irishtown  Church,  then  a  royal  chapel,2  of  which  his  chaplain 
and  confidential  friend,  Isaac  Mann,  afterwards  Archdeacon  of  Dublin 
and  Bishop  of  Cork,3  was  the  minister.  Two  years  later,  we  find  from 
Mrs.  Delany's  letters,  he  invited  the  newly  appointed  Lord  Lieutenant, 
the  Earl  of  Harrington,  to  stay  with  him  at  Mount  Merrion ;  but  Har- 
rington did  not  come  over  at  that  time.  Perhaps  it  was  as  well,  for 
where  he  and  his  staff  were  to  be  accommodated  in  the  original  house  it 
is  difficult  to  imagine  ;  but,  as  we  shall  see,  it  was  not  the  only  time  it 
was  thought  of  as  a  viceregal  residence.  In  1754,  Jocelyn' s  son,  who 
succeeded  him,  and  became  the  first  Earl  of  Roden,  was  married  after 
banns  had  been  called,  then  a  most  unusual  proceeding,  to  a  daughter  of 
Lord  Limerick,  afterwards  Earl  of  Clanbrassil,  who  was  supposed  to  have 
no  great  fortune,  but  who  eventually  brought  to  her  children  large 
estates.4  He  had  been  returned  to  Parliament  in  1745,  as  member  for 
the  borough  of  Old  Leighlin,  and  became  secretary  to  his  father,  and 
Auditor-General.5  In  character  he  was  all  a  father  could  desire;6  and, 
in  addition,  Mrs.  Pelany  pronounces  him  to  have  been  a  very  pretty 
man.  Early  in  life  his  father  had  taken  for  him  Brockley  Park,  near 
Stradbally,  and  he  had  given  him  the  old  house  near  Donny  brook  Green, 
where  he  had  passed  his  childhood.7 

After  his  son's  marriage,  Jocelyn  took  to  himself  a  second  wife,  the 
widow  of  the  first  Earl  of  Rosse,  of  facetious  fame,  who  even  on  his 
death-bed  could  not  refrain  from  buffoonery,  and  caused  a  letter  of  good 

1  He  suggests,  however,  that  Jocelyn  should  place  them  in  the  Library  of  St.  Sepul- 
chre.    If  Dr.  Stokes   were  with  us,  what  a  strong  case  lie  would  have  made  for  their 
removal  from  the  National  Library  to  his  custody  ;  but,  alas !  no  more  shall  we  hear  the 
voice  which  so  often  resounded  at  our  meetings,  or  receive  the  kindly  encouragement  and 
help  by  which  so  many  of  us,  and  1  myself  in  an  especial  degree,  have  benefited"  so 
greatly.     Harris  read  various  chapters  of  his  History  of  Dublin  before  the  Physico- 
Historical  Society,   which  tends  to  show  that  Sir  John  Gilbert,  in  his  notice  of  him 
in  the  "  Dictionary  of  National  Biography,"  is  mistaken  in  assuming  that  what  he 
had  written  was  not  intended  for  publication. 

2  His  cousins,  Lieut. -Colonel  George  Jocelyn  and  Major  John  Jocelyn,  were  after- 
wards buried  in  the  same  vault.     See  Blacker's  "  Sketches  of  Booterstown,"  p.  75. 

3  See  Cotton's    "Fasti  Ecclesise  Hibernicae,"  and   Brady's   "  llecoids  of  Cork," 
where  it  is  stated  he  was  educated  by  Jocelyn.     Jocelyn  left  him  "  his  Louvre  edition 
of  the  Byzantine  Historians,"  and  his  second  wife  left  him  plate  and  a  portrait  of 
her  husband. 

4  Mrs.  Delany's  "  Life  and  Correspondence,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  535 ;  vol.  iii.,  p.  178. 

5  "  Life  and  Times  of  Henry  Grattan,"  by  his  son,  vol.  i.,  p.  426. 

6  His  father  in  his  will  says  he  has  entire  confidence  in  his  honour  and  prudence. 

7  See  List  of  Members  of  .Parliament  in  the  "Liber   Munerum,"  where  he   is 
described  as  of  Brockley.  Park,  and  Blacker's  "  Sketches  of  Booterstown,"  p.  168. 


MOCJNT    MERKION    AND    ITS    HISTORY.  339 

advice,  which  he  had  received  from  his  rector,  to  be  re-directed,  and  sent 
on  to  one  of  the  most  upright  noblemen  of  the  day.  She  was  a  handsome 
woman,  and  in  every  way  Mrs.  Delany  thought  the  marriage  one  calcu- 
lated to  put  the  Chancellor  in  good  humour.1  He  continued  to  reside 
much  at  Mount  Merrion;  in  1754  we  find  him  joining  in  a  fund  to  re- 
pair the  church  of  Stillorgan,  which  had  not  been  used  from  the 
time  of  Archbishop  King,  and  to  provide  a  clergyman,  and,  in  July, 
1755,  entertaining  Lord  Harrington  at  dinner  there,  who  had  come  all 
the  way  from  Castletown,  where  he  was  then  staying.2  A  few  months 
later  in  that  year  Jocelyn  was  raised  to  the  dignity  of  a  Viscount,  under 
the  title  of  Yiscount  Jocelyn.  But  he  only  lived  a  short  time  to  enjoy 
his  fresh  honours  and  felicity.  The  gout,  to  which  he  had  been  long 
subject,  assumed  a  more  acute  form,  and  having  gone  to  London  for 
medical  advice,3  he  died  there  on  December  3rd,  1756,  in  the  sixty-eighth 
year  of  his  age.4 

Mount  Merrion,  was  now  once  more  in  the  hands  of  Viscount  Pita- 
william.  The  5th  Viscount  had  never  returned  to  Ireland,  and  had  died 
in  Surrey,  in  1743.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  who  bore 
the  same  name,  Richard,  and  who  had  served  in  the  army  under 
his  brother-in-law,  Lord  Pembroke.5  His  father  mentions  him  in  his 
will  in  very  contemptuous  terms,6  but  he  was  made  a  knight  of  the 
Bath,  and  an  English  privy  councillor,  and  Lord  Chesterfield,  during  his 
viceroyalty,  in  recommending  him  for  an  Irish  privy  councillorship, 
speaks  of  him  as  an  unexceptionable  person.7  He  had  married  a  daughter 
of  Sir  Matthew  Decker,  Bart.,  who  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  having 
feasted  George  II.  on  pine  apples,  which  he  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  person  to  grow  in  England  ;  and  for  his  piety  and  benevolence  which 
were  so  great  that,  according  to  Horace  Walpole,  a  foolish  son  of  the  then 
Duke  of  Bolton  was  persuaded  by  some  wag  that  Sir  Matthew  was  the 
author  of  St.  Matthew's  Gospel,  and  left  him  a  large  legacy  on  account 
of  that  excellent  work.8  The  6th  Viscount  was  always  returned  in  the 

1  See  O'Flanagan's  "  Lives  of  the  Lord  Chancellors  of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  78-79. 

2  Seethe  Dublin  Gazette,  June  22,  1754,  and  Pue's  Occurrences,  July  26-29, 1755. 

3  See  Harris's  "  Life  of  Lord  Chancellor  Hardwicke,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  50,  and  vol.  iii., 
p.  107. 

4  He  was  buried  with  his  ancestors  at  Sawbridgeworth,  and  there  is  a  monument  to 
him  in  the  church.     See  Clutterbuck's  "History  of  Hertfordshire,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  218. 
His  will,  though  unsigned,  was  afterwards  proved.   His  town  residence  was  in  Stephen's 
Green,  between  Proud' s-lane  and  York-street,  now  divided  into  three  houses.      See 
Irish  Guilder  for  1894,  pp.   196-8.     Jocelyn's  son  refused  £300  a  year  for  it  from 
his  father's  successor,  Bowes.     See  Letter  from  Chief  Baron  Willes,  Brit.  Mus.  Add. 
MS.  29252. 

5  In  a  letter  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  he  says  he  passed  twenty-four  years  in  the 
service  without  asking  a  favour.     Brit.  Mus.  Add.  MS.  32889-223. 

6  See  "  The  Complete  Peerage,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  364. 

"  Lansdowne  Papers,"  Brit.  Mus.  Add.  MS.  24137-119. 

8  See  notice  of  him  in  "  Diet,  of  Nat.  Biog.,"  and  "  Letters  of  Henrietta,  Countess 
of  Suffolk,"  vol.  i.,  p.  293.  There  are  pictures  of  Sir  Matthew  and  his  wife  and 
daughters  in  the  Fitzwilliam  Museum. 


340          ItOYAL    SOCIETY-    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

lists  of  absentees,  as  was  his  father,  and  he  did  not  attend  to  take  the 
oaths  in  the  Irish  House  of  Lords,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  until 
1751,  an,d  his  name  does  not  again  appear  in  the  proceedings  until 
1764,  when  on  the  last  day  of  the  session  he  again  took  the  oaths  after 
the  accession  of  George  III.1  He  was  not,  however,  unmindful  that 
property  has  its  duties  as  well  as  its  rights,  and  in  the  spring  of  1758,  the 
Dublin  Gazette  held  him  up  as  a  noble  example,  worthy  of  imitation  by 
the  great  and  opulent,  for  having  given  orders  for  1000  yards  of  cloth  to 
be  bought  in  Dublin,  and  distributed  amongst  the  poor  of  both  sexes  on 
his  estate.2  In  1761,  a  friend  of  Horace  Walpole  expresses  in  a  letter 
to  him,  great  admiration  of  the  beauty  of  the  site  of  Lord  Fitzwilliam's 
villa,3  and  in  1767,  it  was  reported  that  the  house  was  being  got  ready 
for  the  Earl  of  Bristol,  who  was  appointed  Lord  Lieutenant,  but  who 
never  came  to  this  country,  and  the  next  year  it  was  said  to  be  preparing 
for  Lord  Town sh end,  his  successor,  who,  however,  went  to  Leixlip,  where 
he  found,  no  doubt,  more  accommodation.4  Towards  the  close  of  his  life 
Lord  Fitzwilliani  was  making  great  improvements  at  Mount  Merrion  as 
we  learn  from  a  letter  in  the  Freeman's  Journal?  The  front  portion  of 
the  house  was  then  probably  built,  and  the  avenue  to  Mount  Anville 
made.6  The  writer  of  the  letter  commends  Lord  Fitzwilliarn  for  employ- 
ing Irish  workmen,  who,  he  says,  can  execute  as  good  work  as  artizans  of 
any  nation  ;  but  the  front  portion  of  the  house,  if  built  by  them,  is 
anything  but  a  monument  to  their  skill.  Lord  Fitzwilliam  then  appears 
to  have  come  to  reside,  and  it  was  at  Mount  Merrion,  in  May,  1776,  that 
he  died.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Richard,  who  had  been 
educated  at  Cambridge.7  He  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Lords,  the 
year  after  his  father's  death,  and  occasionally  attended  its  proceed- 
ings. 

Mount  Merrion  was,  however,  soon  to  have  another  distinguished 
temporary  resident.  About  the  year  1784,  it  was  let  to  Mr.  Peter  la 
Touche,  M.P.  for  the  county  Leitrim,  the  ancestor  of  the  La  Touches  of 

1  "  Journals  of  the  House  of  Lords,  Ireland." 

2  Blacker' s  "  Sketches  of  Booterstown,"  p.  415. 

3  George  Montague,  who  caine  to  Ireland  as  Usher  of  the  Black  liodwith  his  rela- 
tive, Lord  Halifax,  on  his  appointment  as  Lord  Lieutenant.    See  Hist.  MSS.  Com.,  8th 
Rep.  App.,  Partii.,  p.  114.  The  editor  of  the  correspondence  had  evidently  never  heard 
of  the  Irish  Fitzwilliams,  and  marks  the  date  of  the  letter  with  a  query,  believing  it 
must  have  referred  to  some  residence  of  the  Earl  of  Fitzwilliam  in  England.     Also  see 
for  notices  of  Mount  Merrion   about  this  period  "  The  Phoanix  Park:  a  Poem,"  by 
John  Leslie,  Lond.,  1772,  and  Pococke's  "  Tour  in  Ireland  in  1752,"  edited  by  George 
T.  Stokes,  D.D.,  p.  163. 

4  Pile's  Occurrences,  1767,  January  3-6;  March  17-21;  Freeman's  Journal,  1768, 
May  10-14,  July  16-18. 

5  Of  Sept.  1-3,  1774. 

6  The  avenue  to  Mount  Anville  is  not  shown  on  Rocque's  Map  of  the  county  Dublin. 
The  old  deer  park  adjoined  the  Xilmacud-road,  and  the  present  one  was  made,  I  sup- 
pose, at  the  same  time  as  the  avenue. 

7  See  letter  from  him  while  there  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  promising  to  support 
the  second  Lord  Hardwicke  for  some  office  in  the  University.     Brit.  Mus.  Add.  MS. 
32956-402. 


MOUNT    MERRION   AND   ITS    HISTORY.  341 

Bellevue,  but  on  the  death  of  his  first  wife  in  1786,  he  gave  up  the  place,1 
and  it  was  taken  by  the  Right  "Hon.  John  Fitz gibbon,  His  Majesty's 
Attorney -General  for  Ireland,  better  known  in  history  as  Lord  Clare. 
His  coming  to  live  at  Mount  Merrion,  where  Jocelyn  had  resided,  was  a 
curious  coincidence,  for  his  father  had  inhabited  at  Donnybrook  the  very 
house  in  which  Jocelyn  had  lived,  and  which  he  rented  from  Jocelyn'fc 
son.2  Another  curious  coincidence  was  that,  soon  after  Fitzgibbon  had 
taken  Mount  Merrion,  some  sheep  "belonging  to  him  were  barbarously 
treated — when  we  find  him,  with  the  liberality  which  was  one  of  his 
characteristics,  giving  the  police  guard  who  took  the  perpetrators,  a 
reward  of  fifty  guineas — and  some  sheep  belonging  to  Jocelyn  had  also 
Jbeen  killed  soon  after  he  went  there.3 

Fitzgibbon  had  then  just  married  Miss  "Whaley,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Richard  Chapel  Whaley,  whose  method  of  writing  a  cheque  must  have 
been  slightly  confusing  to  his  banker — 

"  Mr.  La  Touche, 
Open  your  pouch, 
And  give  unto  my  darling 
Five  hundred  pounds  sterling, 
For  which  will  be  your  bailey 
Richard  Chapel  Whaley." 

His  exploits,  however,  pale  before  those  of  his  son,  Jerusalem  "Whaley,4 
who  astonished  the  inhabitants  of  the  holy  city  one  day  by  playing  ball 
on  the  walls  thereof.  But  Mrs.  Fitzgibbon  had  none  of  these  eccen- 
tricities, and  was  no  less  remarkable  for  her  qualities  of  heart  than  for 
her  beauty  of  person — 

"  See  smiling  Fitzgihbon  in  negligence  "bright, 
With  a  person  of  elegance,  eye  of  delight, 
Behold  how  she  swims  through  the  mazes  of  fashion, 
No  stranger,  though  gay,  to  the  joys  of  compassion ! 
Her  charms  are  confessed,  yet  more  bright  they  appear, 
When  refreshed  hy  the  dew  of  benignity's  tear."  5 

1  Dublin  Almanacs  for  1784-86,  under  Members  of  Parliament.     Burke' s  "Landed 
Gentry  "  edition  1847,  p.  694. 

2  See  Blacker's  "  Sketches  of  Booterstown,"  p.  170. 

3  See  Sleater's  Dublin  Chronicle,  1787,  May  8  and  19  ;    and  PUB'S   Occurrences, 
1742-3,  Jan.  11-15. 

4  O'Flanagan's  "  Lives  of  the  Lord  Chancellors  of  Ireland,"  vol.  ii.,  pp.  195-96. 

5  "  The  Mirror,"  in  vol.  572  of  the  Haliday  Pamphlets  in  Royal  Irish  Academy. 
Also  see  in  vol.  538,  "The  Promenade  or  Theatre  of  Beauty,"  where  Mrs.  Fitzgibbon  is 
thus  described : — 

"  With  loveliest  form  F-tz — bon  next  is  seen, 
Grace  rules  her  step  and  elegance  her  mien  ; 
The  sweet  impression  which  our  hearts  pursue, 
In  her  resplendent  meets  the   admiring  view, 
Strikes  the  quick  sense,  in  majesty  array'd, 
And  casts  each  nearer  beauty  into  shade ; 
Not  with  more  swiftnesss  darts  the  rapid  course 
Of  fires  electric  shot  with  fiercest  force." 


342  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

She  was  ever  foremost,  we  are  told,  in  promoting  every  charitable 
purpose  and  in  liberally  assisting  every  public  amusement  that  had 
humanity  for  its  object,  while  her  private  charities  exceeded  those  which 
example  required  should  be  made  public.1  Her  dress  was  elegant  and 
brilliant,2  but  she  did  not  seek  to  heighten  the  charms  she  possessed  by 
artificial  means,  an  example  which  we  find  the  Lord  Lieutenant,  the  Duke 
of  Rutland,  begging  his  wife  to  imitate.3  It  is  said  she  greatly  attracted 
the  Prince  of  Wales,  afterwards  George  IV.,  when  attending  the  Court 
in  London,  which  she  did  two  years  after  her  marriage,  and  on  other 
occasions,  and  it  was  whispered  that  she  had  almost  detached  him  from 
the  famous  Mrs.  Fitz  Herbert.4 

Fitzgibbon  was  himself  a  good-looking  man,  and  in  the  short-lived, 
but  gay  court,  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Rutland,  the  young  couple 
must  have  made  a  handsome  figure.  The  Duchess  is  said  to  have  been  a 
great  admirer  of  Fitzgibbon's,  and  even  after  her  husband's  death  to  have 
assisted  Fitzgibbon  in  obtaining  the  object  of  his  ambition — the  Chancel- 
lorship of  Ireland.  Lord  Lifford,  the  previous  holder  of  the  office,  whose 
country  seat  was  the  neighbouring  one  to  Mount  Merrion,  Stillorgan  Park, 
died  in  April,  1789,  and  after  a  period  of  some  doubt  Fitzgibbon,  while 
actually  pleading  in  court,  was  handed  one  day  in  June  by  an  aide-de- 
camp the  King's  letter  appointing  him  to  the  custody  of  the  Great  Seal. 
The  appointment  of  an  Irish  man  was  the  occasion  of  great  rejoicings,  and 
addresses  and  freedoms  of  cities  were  showered  upon  Fitzgibbon.  His 
position  gave  occasion  for  the  exercise  of  the  stately  magnificence  which 
was  so  congenial  to  him,  and  we  find  him,  when  sworn  into  office  as  Lord 
Justice — an  office  for  which  there  were  then  much  fewer  occasions  than  in 
Jocelyn's  time — appointing  his  nephew  his  aide-de-camp,  and  making 
preparations  in  the  most  superb  style  for  the  celebration  of  the  Prince  of 
Wales's  birth-day  at  Mount  Merrion,  and  then  setting  off  on  a  royal  pro- 
gress to  Limerick  where  he  was  received  with  a  guard  of  soldiers,  and 
with  general  illuminations,  and  where  he  offered  to  knight  the  mayor 
and  sheriffs.6  Shortly  before,  his  carriage  had  been  attacked  by  some  of 
the  footpads,  who  then  abounded  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dublin,  while 
he  was  returning  one  evening  from  town  to  Mount  Merrion,  but  his 
attendants  were  armed,  and  the  marauders  had  to  retreat  without  their 
expected  booty.6 

1  See  notice  in  Walker's  Hibernian  Magazine  for  1789,  which  is  accompanied  by  a 
charming  picture  of  Lady  Fitzgibbon  seated  before  a  spinning  wheel. 

2  See  Sleater's  Dublin  Chronicle  for  Sept.  11,  1788,  where  it  is  stated  that  her  dress 
attracted  the  eyes  of  everyone  at  a  drawingroom  at  St.  James's. 

3  In  June,  1787,  the  Duke  of  Rutland  writes  to  the  Duchess  that  he  had  seen  Mrs. 
Fitzgibbon  at  the  theatre,  and  adds,   "she  wears  but  very  little  rouge,  which,  believe 
me,    increases  her  beauty  wonderfully.     I  wish  I  may  be  able  to  make  you  believe  so ; 
I  detest  it  put  on  without  mercy."    Hist.  MSS.  Com.,  Rept.  14,  App.,  Ft.  i.,  vol.  iii., 
p.  394. 

4  "Auckland Correspondence,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  231. 
6  See  Sleater's  Dublin  Chronicle,  passim. 

6  See  Sleater's  Dublin  Chronicle,  Sept.  22,  1789.     Yet  another  coincidence  as  regards 


MOUNT    MERKION    AND    ITS    HISTORY.  343 

Afterwards  we  find  him  and  Lady  Fitzgibbon  giving  great  dinners, 
and  balls,  at  which  the  Lord  Lieutenant  was  a  constant  guest;  but  the 
thing  for  which  he  became  specially  remarkable  was  his  state  coach.  It 
was  a  vehicle  unparalleled  for  its  splendour,  and  had  been  procured  in 
London  at  a  cost  of  2000  guineas.  Crowds  flocked  to  see  it  as  it  lay  in 
Fitzgibbon's  stables,  in  Baggot-street,  at  the  back  of  his  house  in  Ely- 
place,  and  it  was  freely  shown  to  all,  his  servants  being  under  strict 
orders  to  accept  no  gratuity  for  its  exhibition.  The  body  was  superbly 
carved  with  female  figures  at  the  corners,  supporting  festoons  which 
encircled  the  roof,  and  in  which  the  arms  of  Ireland  and  of  Fitzgibbon  were 
inserted  at  intervals.  In  the  centre  of  the  roof  three  figures  of  boys  sup- 
ported a  coronet,  while  underneath  lay  a  mace  and  sword,  which  were 
all  shattered  to  the  ground  one  day  when  the  carriage  was  passing  under 
the  Castle  gateway.  The  body  was  hung  on  leather  springs,  which  issued 
from  allegorical  figures,  and  the  spokes  of  the  wheels  were  made  to 
resemble  reeds.  The  panels  of  the  coach  were  decorated  with  paintings, 
executed  by  William  Hamilton,1  a  royal  academician,  for  which  he 
received  five  hundred  guineas.  The  front  panel  bore  a  representation  of 
commerce,  the  hind  panel  one  of  agriculture ;  on  one  door  national  pros- 
perity was  pourtrayed,  on  the  other  justice,  while  on  the  footboard 
the  royal  arms  appeared.  The  whole  coach  was  richly  gilt  in  different 
shades  of  gold.  The  state  harness  was  of  red  and  blue  leather,  adorned 
with  arms  and  various  devices,  and  decorated  with  ribbons,  and  the  ser- 
vants were  attired  in  state  liveries  alike  elegant  and  splendid.2 

A.bout  the  year  1793  Lord  Fitzgibbon,  as  he  then  was,  left  Mount 
Merrion  and  went  to  reside  at  JBlackrock  House.  Mount  Merrion 
then  became  the  residence  of  Mr.  Richard  Yerschoyle,  who  had 
married  Miss  Barbara  Fagan,  agent  to  Lord  Fitzwilliam,  as  her  mother 
had  been  before  her — a  fact  which  is  worthy  the  attention  of  the  advo- 
cates of  women's  rights.  Though  professing  different  religions,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Verschoyle  were  devotedly  attached,  and  the  seat  is  still  shown  in 
Mount  Merrion  where  she  used  to  sit  and  watch  for  her  husband  coming 
up  the  straight  drive.3 

Lord  Fitzwilliam  had  been  returned  to  the  English  House  of  Commons, 
in  1790,  through  the  influence  of  his  cousin,  Lord  Pembroke,  for  the 
borough  of  Wilton,  which  he  continued  to  represent  until  1806,  and 
he  probably  seldom,  if  ever,  visited  this  country.  During  his  time  a  number 

Jocelyn  arises  here,  but  in  his  case  the  attack  was  by  the  guardians  of  law  and  order. 
See  account  in  Pue>s  Occurrences  for  September  21-25,  1742,  of  his  postilion  being 
stabbed  by  the  Poddle  guard,  when  he  was  returning  in  his  coach  from  Tallaght. 

1  See  notice  of  him  in  "  Diet,  of  Nat.  Biog." 

2  See  long  description  in  Sleater's  Dublin  Chronicle  for  July  29,   1790,  et  passim . 
The  coach  is  now  in  the  South  Kensington  Museum. 

3  See  Ball  and  Hamilton's  "Parish  of  Taney,"  p.  147;  also  Blacker' s  "  Sketches 
of  Booterstown,"  pp.30,  438.     In  Exahaw's  Magazine  for  October,  1789,  the  death, 
on  Usher's  Island,  of  Mrs.  Fagan,   "  many  years  agent  to  the  late  mid  present  Lord 
Viscount  Fitzwilliam,"  is  announced. 


344     ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

.of  paintings  and  drawings  of  views  in  Mount  Merrion  demesne  were  done 
for  him  by  William  Ashford,1  the  first  President  of  the  Royal  Hibernian 
Academy,  of  whom  he  was  a  generous  patron,  and  these  are  now  pre- 
served in  the  museum  which  he  founded  at  Cambridge,  and  which  is 
called  by  his  name.  His  life  was  spent  in  collecting  rare  books,  illumi- 
nated manuscripts,  pictures,  drawings,  and  engravings,  which  he  be- 
queathed to  the  University  of  Cambridge,  together  with  £100,000  for 
the  endowment  and  building  of  the  museum.  He  was  a  man  of  an 
enlarged  and  liberal  mind,  kind  and  compassionate,  and  being  easy  of 
access  to  all,  his  great  collections  were,  during  his  lifetime,  ever  open  to 
the  view  of  those  who  cared  to  see  them.2  On  his  death,  in  1816,  his 
estates  passed  to  his  cousin,  George  Augustus,  eleventh  Earl  of  Pembroke, 
and  eighth  Earl  of  Montgomery,  and  the  titles  to  his  two  brothers  suc- 
cessively, on  whose  death,  without  issue,  they  became  extinct.3 

In  the  Plate,  three  cf  the  views  of  Mount  Merrion,  taken  by  Ashford, 
are  reproduced.  In  No.  1  we  see  the  house  as  it  exists  to  the  present 
day.  The  front  portion,  as  I  have  said,  was  probably  built  by  the  6th 
"Viscount  Fitzwilliam.  The  more  ancient  structure — the  home  of 
Wainwright  and  of  Jocelyn — is  at  the  back.  It  is  surmounted  by  a 
small  belfry,  and  comprises  three  stories,  while  the  front,  which  is  on  a 
higher  level,  contains  only  two.  At  the  side  of  the  house  appear  some 
of  the  trees  which  border  the  drive  leading  to  Foster's  Avenue.  No.  2 
is  a  view  taken  in  the  park.  The  trees,  which  in  the  picture  are  com- 
paratively small  and  thickly  planted,  are  now  lofty  and  wide-spreading. 
In  No.  3  we  see  the  northern  wing  of  the  stables,  with  the  yard  beyond. 
This  wing  faces  the  hall-door  of  the  house,  and  is  now  concealed  from 
view  by  a  thick  plantation  of  evergreens.  In  all,  Ashford's  pictures 
of  Mount  Merrion,  preserved  in  the  Fitzwilliam  Museum,  number  thirty. 
Six  are  oil  paintings,  and  twenty -four  are  drawings,  bound  together  in 
book  form.  They  show  that,  in  whatever  else  Ashford  may  have  failed, 
he  was,  as  has  been  said,  happy  in  his  trees  and  foregrounds. 

1  See  notice  of  him  in  "  Diet,  of  Nat.  Biog.,"  and  Blacker's  "  Sketches  of  Booters- 
town,"  p.  440 

2  See  Playfair's  "British.  Family  Antiquity."  vol.  v.,  p.  44,  and  notice  of  him  in 
"Diet,  of  Nat.  Biog." 

3  See  "The  Complete  Peerage,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  364,  and  Blacker's  "Sketches  of 
Booterstown,"    to    the   pages    of   which,    full  as  they   are    of  interesting   extracts 
and  references,    I   would   refer  the   reader   for  further   information   respecting  the 
Eitzwilliams  and  the  Herberts. 


MOUNT  MERRION. 


JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,  vol.  viii.,  pt.  4,  p.  344. 


(     345     ) 


A  LIST  OF  (PRESBYTERIAN)  MARRIAGES  COPIED  FROM 
"THE  SESSION-BOOK  OF  THE  CONGREGATION  OF 
ARMAGH." 

BY  WILLIAM  FRAZER,  F.R.C.S.L,  A  VICE-PRESIDENT. 
[Submitted  March  29,   1898.] 

HPnis  MS.  volume,  if  perfect,  ought  to  contain,  according  to  a  list  of 
contents  on  its  title-page  : — "  The  records  of  all  judicial  proceed- 
ings. In  the  first  part  of  the  book  to  page  71."  I  regret  to  say  that 
this  portion,  which  would  afford  valuable  historical  information,  is 
destroyed,  having  been  cut  out  of  the  volume,  and  totally  lost.  After 
this  follows  a  list  "  of  the  Collections  and  Distributions  of  Charity  in  the 
second  part,  from  page  71  to  page  335."  It  contains  lists  of  all  church 
collections  and  expenditures,  duly  balanced  from  time  to  time.  These 
possess  no  special  features  demanding  consideration.  Perhaps  the  follow- 
ing extract  of  a  written  memorandum,  dated  July  11,  1721,  preserved  on 
the  page  preceding  that  of  the  title,  deserves  to  be  mentioned': — "There 
was  borrowed  from  ye  poors  box  for  ye  building  of  a  new  meeting-house 
£8  3s.  6d.  Also  borrowed  for  paying  arrears  of  ye  building  due  to  Mr. 
Johnston,  January  6,  1725-6,  £3.  More  borrowed  July  30,  1726,  to 
pay  Mr.  Johnston  £7.  More  borrowed  for  ye  same  use,  July  11,  1727, 
£8."  The  total  being  £36  3s.  6d.  No  doubt  this  was  duly  repaid  in 
subsequent  years  to  the  poor  box,  and  would  be  found  entered  in  the  next 
session  book  if  examined. 

The  last  portion  of  the  contents  of  this  volume  consists  of  "  A  Register 
of  Baptisms  and  Marriages  from  page  335  to  the  end."  These  records  are 
written  with  scrupulous  care,  for  many  successive  years.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  towards  the  termination  of  the  lists  of  marriages,  there  are  a  few 
remarkable  omissions,  one  of  the  contracting  parties  being  mentioned, 
instead  of  both  names.  The  cause  of  this  I  am  unable  to  state,  but  it 
was  a  time  when  civil  disabilities  pressed  heavily  on  Presbyterians,  and 
we  observe  an  unaccountable  falling  off  in  the  number  of  yearly  marriages, 
entered  especially  towards  the  latter  portion  of  the  Register, 

It  appears  most  desirable  to  publish  these  records  so  far  as  they 
relate  to  Presbyterian  marriages  contained  in  the  private  session  book  of 
such  a  well-known  and  flourishing  congregation  as  Armagh  must  have 
been.  The  list  will  interest  many  persons  in  our  own  kingdom,  and  also 
in  the  United  States,  whose  ancestors  were  formerly  connected  with 
Armagh,  especially  as  no  other  possible  evidence  of  these  marriages  exists, 
or  can  be  consulted. 


346          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

The  ''Constitutions  and  Canons  Ecclesiastical"  enacted  in  the  year 
1711,  by  the  Archbishop,  Bishops  and  Clergy  in  Dublin,  contain,  in  its 
fifth  article,  an  order  for  "Public  Penance  for  all  concerned  in  any 
marriage  solemnized  otherwise  than  by  the  Church  of  Ireland  "  and  an 
obligation  under  "pain  of  excommunication  for  refusal  to  discover  the 
persons  that  married,  or  pretended  to  marry  them "  which  appears 
sufficient  to  explain  the  omission  of  names  mentioned,  and  the  remarkable 
decrease  in  the  number  of  marriages  recorded  in  the  latter  parts  of  this 
list.  These  "Constitutions  and  Canons  "  elucidate  the  Ecclesiastical 
history  of  the  reign  of  Anne  and  George  I.  in  Ireland,  when  an  extensive 
emigration  took  place  of  the  Presbyterians  from  Ulster  to  America,  that 
subsequently  became  an  important  factor  in  the  development  of  the 
American  Colonies,  and  of  their  separation  from  Great  Britain,  and  from 
the  descendants  of  those  emigrants  many  of  the  Presidents  of  the  United 
States  have  sprung. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  list  of  persons  married  in  the  Congre- 
gation of  Armagh  from  December,  1707  : — 

"1707. Dec.  1.  Adam  Gettie  and  Isabel  Graham. 

16.  Joseph  Young  and  Mary  M'Allen. 

23.  Richard  Singleton  and  Barbara  Oats. 

25.  James  Geerie  and  Elizabeth  Cord. 

Jan.     6.  Hugh  Oliver  and  Jane  Parke. 

15.  Brian  O'Lappan  and  Margaret  Burrell. 

29.  James  Gray  and  Janet  Gordon. 

Feb.    4.  John  M'Kennall  to  Agnes  Lemon. 

5.  James  Graham  to  Elizabeth  M' William. 

6.  James  Wier  to  Elizabeth  Donaldson. 
10.  Robert  Wallace  to  Elizabeth  M'Kaile." 

(Anno  Domini   One   Thousand    Seven    Hundred   and 
Eight.) 

"  1708.  April  13.  Edward  Henderson  was  married  to  Mary  Armstrong. 

30.  Andrew  Dick  to  Isabel  Aikin. 

May      5.  Bryan  O'Kerrall  to  Erances  Eobison. 

6.  Thomas  Airdry  to  Elizabeth  M'Cullogh. 

27.  Patrick  M'Eerran  and  Rachel  Davison. 

July    27.  Andrew  Young  and  Sarah  Armstrong. 

Sept.     2.  William  M'  William  and  Agnes  Ramsay. 

Nov.  24.  James  Murray  and  Margaret  Murray." 

(Anno  1708 — Marriages  Solemnized.) 

"  1708.  Nov.  11.      John  Stewart  and  Margaret  Eerguson. 

Dec.    2.      Joseph    Patterson   and    Isabel   Eager  ;    also    George 

Eord  and  Elen  Millar. 
John  Balantine  and  Elizabeth  Eoster. 


LIST  OF  (PRESBYTERIAN)  MARRIAGES,  ETC.  347 

"  1708.  Dec.     2.     Thomas  Field  and  Isabel  M'Kinstry. 

Henry  Fitzsiraons  and  Elizabeth  Allet. 
8.     Thomas  Hamilton  and  EtiphemiaEwart. 
William  Smart  and  Agnes  Colzer. 
Robert  Morrison  and  Agnes  Duncan. 
16.     Thomas  Howart  and  Sarah  Carmichael. 

Andrew  Mathers  and  Jane  Thouburn. 
28.     John  Harvey  and  Esther  Kennedy. 
Jan.       6.     Henry  Dobbin  and  Jane  Dobbin. 
13.     Robert  Colter  and  Martha  Watt. 

William  M 'Median  and  Jane  Dickie. 
18.     William  Hamilton  and  Lily  Wier. 
Feb.      8.     John  Williamson  and  Sarah  M'Allen. 
23.     George  Wilson  and  Jane  Sloane. 
James  Draffan  and  Marg*  Legate. 
Robert  M'Mullen  and  Mary  Thompson. 
Josiah  Roberts  and  Margaret  Alcinere. 
March  1.     James  Aikin  and  Elen  Blainy." 

(Anno  Domini  1709. — Marriages  Solemnized.) 

"1709.  April  13.     Jonathan  Liddall  and  Jane  Dobbin. 

David  Patterson  and  Mary  Sloane. 
20.     David  Beggs  and  Sarah  Duchart. 

27.  Thomas  Mulligan  and  Martha  Gillespy. 
May      3.     John  M'Allen  and  Agnes  Lowry. 

5.  John  Mason  and  Mary  M'Bride. 

10.  William  Blackwood  and  Jane  Cummin. 

16.  John  Watt  and  Mary  Waugh. 

17.  William  Witherspoon  and  Margaret  Loughrigge. 
26.  Robert  Homes  and  Jane  Gordon, 

June  21.     John  Barre  and  Ellen  M'Maister. 

23.     James  Lamb  and  Margaret  Graham. 

John  Gerran  and  Jane  Waters. 

John  M'Mechan  and  Sarah  Hunter. 
July      7.     William  M'Cullagh  and  Sarah  Lucas'. 

28.  James  Bothuell  and  Margaret  Livingston. 
Aug.     8.     Walter  Trumble  and  Agnes  Armstrong. 
Sept.     8.     Thomas  M'Cracken  and  Margaret  Eagen. 
Oct.      7.     Jaraes  Gray  and  Jane  Murray. 

20.     John  Sampson  and  Margaret  Millar. 
Nov.   24.     David  Richie  and  Sarah  M'V " 

(Anno  1709  and  1710. — Marriages  Solemnized.) 

"  1709.  Dec.     1.     Francis  Bailie  and  Margaret  M'Nish. 
Jan.    12.     David  Palmer  and  Agnes  Dunlop. 

JOUR.  R. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  IV.,  OTH  8ER.  2  B 


348         ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 


1709.  Feb.     2. 
March  8. 

1710.  June  15. 

29. 
18. 
20. 
25. 
15. 
10. 
17. 
23. 
28. 
29. 
20. 
1. 


July 


Aug. 
Oct. 

Nov. 


Dec. 
Jan. 


1711 


April    3, 

11. 

12. 

19. 

May  9. 
July  3. 
Aug.  28. 
Sept.  4. 

27. 
Oct.  5. 

15. 
Nov.  13. 

14. 

22. 


Dec. 


28. 
6. 
13. 
20. 
4. 

«1  anuary. 

March  4. 

1712.  April  10. 

22. 

May      6. 

8. 

June    16. 


llobert  Waugh  and  Maiy  Hamilton. 

John  Millar  and  Elizabeth  Gillespy. 

Patrick  Taite  and  Elizabeth  Taite. 

Samuel  Martin  and  Katherine  Mitchell. 

John  Coleman  and  Margery  Campbell. 

John  M'Cullogh  and  Jane  M'Cullogh. 

Henry  Pinkerton  and  Mary  Duchart. 

Alexr.  Donaldson  and  Mary  Pall. 

James  Bigham  and  Mary  M'Menniray. 

John  Blair  and  Margaret  Lawson. 

"William  Murray  and  Isabell  Hill. 

John  Huggins  and  Mary  Bailie. 

George  Hamilton  and  Elizabeth  Fairies. 

James  Cosen  and  Jane  Burrell. 

George  Middleton  and  Mary  Hunter,  by  Mr.  Mulligan. 

Wm.  Thomson  and  Mary  Burrell,  by  Mr.  Boyd. 

John  Cole  and  Jane  Shaw." 

(Anno  1711  and  1712. — Marriages  Solemnized.) 

David  Buckley  and  Sarah  Blaney. 

William  Chapman  (?)  and  Catherine  Crampton. 

James  Brown  and  Mary  Masster. 

John  Gray  and  Katherine  M'Allan. 

John  Balantyne  and  Jane  Brownlee. 

David  M'Kee  and  Sarah  M'Caldon. 

Alexr.  Caldwell  and  Mary  M'Niely. 

David  Anderson  and  Margaret  Lemmon. 

James  Houston  and  Sarah  Bull. 

Eobert  Duffe  and  Elizabeth  Prentice. 

Malcom  Anderson  and  Isabel  Hunter. 

Archibald  M'Cammond  and  Sarah  Dickie. 

Samuel  Williamson  and  Mary  Harre. 

James  Dongan  and  Grizell  M'Allen. 

Also  from  Teinan. — Hugh  Keny  and  Mary  Crawford. 

Eobert  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Oliver. 

James  Dobbin  and  Mary  Ogilvie. 

John  M'Cracken  and  Isabell  Anderson. 

John  Hackett  and  Grizell  Twiss. 

David  Kirker  and  Elizabeth  Maister. 

William  Dodds  and  Jane  Duncan. 

William  Johnston  and  Elizabeth  Forrest. 

Thomas  Morray  or  Morrough  and  Janet  Henderson. 

John  M'Kee  and  Elizabeth  Johnston. 

Patrick  Hamilton  and  Elizabeth  Thomson. 

John  Charles  and  Margaret  Charleston. 

Israel  Rickie  and  Jane  Stevenson. 


LIST  OF  (PRESBYTERIAN)  MARRIAGES,  ETC.  349 

"  1712.  June  26.  William  Clarke  and  Marjory  Clarke. 

July      3.  Roger  Grier  and  Margaret  M' Alexander. 

Nov.    13,  John  Dickson  and  Barbara  Johnston. 

Oct.    29.  John  Irwin  and  Elizabeth  Shiels." 

(Anno  1713  and  1714. — Marriages  Solemnized.) 

4t  1713.  April  23. Horn  and  Jane  Anderson. 

June   11.  John  Scot  and  Margaret  Charles. 

25.  Robert  Scot  and  Grizel  Livingston. 

Aug.  20.  Ephraim  Armstrong  and  Mary  Mosman. 

25.  Moses  Lawson  and  Margaret  Hamilton. 

Nov.   26.  Daniel  Glenny  and  Elizabeth  M'Cullogh. 

Jan.      7.  Archibald  M'Cullogh  and  Grizzel  Pettigrew. 

Feb.     2.  Samuel  Blakeley  and  Elizabeth  Dobbin. 

1714.  June.  Andrew  Lindsey  and  Margaret  M'Narry. 

Jan.       6.  James  Patterson  and  Jane  M'Glamery. 

Dec.    23.  William  Rowan  and  Anne  Hamilton. 

Mar.    31.  John  Palmer  and  Martha  Clark. 

James  Baird  and  Elizabeth  M'Clonachan." 

(Anno  1715,  1716,  and  1717. — Marriages  Solemnized.) 

"1715.  April  28.  William  Gillespy  and  Catherine  Rennison. 

May      5.  James  M' Bride  and  Mary  Dickie. 

Thomas  Mcle  Roy  and  Elizabeth  Cunningham. 

19.  David  Kennedy  and  Agnes  Little. 

June     2.  Gavin  M'Murdy  and  Elizabeth  M'Dowell  ah.  Lucas. 

June   16.  Samuel  Grier  and  Margaret  Martin. 

Sept.  27.  Samuel  Stuart  and  Mary  M'Cane. 

Oct.       6.  Quinten  Ireland  and  Mary  Moffet. 

Nov.    15.  Alexander  Prentice  and  Agnes  Headhorn. 

Dec.       1.  William  M'Dowall  and  Katherine  Glasse. 

5.  James  Trumble  and  Jane  Macl  Roy. 

15.  Robert  Pall  and  Mary  Scot. 

Jan.     26.  Andrew  Brawford  and  Margaret  Gumming. 

Feb.    13.  James  Gordon  and  Agnes  Walker. 

1716.  April  19.  William  M'Narry  and  Martha  Prentice. 
July    12.  James  Moffet  and  Janet  Ireland. 

17.  Matthew  Walker  and  Margaret  Brice. 

25.  William  Blair  and  Lettie  Neal. 

Nov.    20.  John  Johnston  and  Agnes  Eagar. 

29.  Nathaniel  M'Cullogh  and  Agnes  Man. 

Feb.      8.  Thomas  Oats  and  Anne  Murray. 

1717.  May   23.  John  Sloane  and  Mary  Waugh. 
Sept.  26.  Robert  Henry  and  Agnes  Stuart. 

Oct.     22.  Benjamin  M'Clelhan  and  Frances  Morrison. 

2B2 


350         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND, 

"1717. Oct.    31.     William  M' Call  and  Mary  Spier. 

Jan.     13.     "William  Donaldson  and  Mary  Glasse. 
Feb.    13.     Matthew  Murray  and  Elizabeth  "Wat. 


<1718.May   15. 
29. 

Aug.    5. 
7. 

Oct.  2. 
Nov.  20. 
Jan.  27. 
Feb.  19. 

1719.  April    1. 
July    30. 
Aug.     6. 
Sept.     3. 
Jan.     29. 

1720.  June   16. 
July    12. 


Nov.    25. 

1721.  Oct.      3. 

1722.  April  24. 

Aug.     7. 

Oct. 

Nov. 


Dec. 


3. 

6. 
19. 
12. 
17. 
Mar.  10. 

1723.  June   13. 
Dec.    18. 

1724.  June  11. 

29. 

Nov.    26. 
January. 

1725.  Nov.  23. 
Dec.      7. 
Jan.       6. 

19. 
Feb.    21. 


(Marriages  Solemnized.     Anno  1718,  &c.) 

William  Clark  and  Jane  Layburn. 
John  Ker  and  Maclellan. 
William  Coleman  and  Eliz.  M'Cullogh. 
John  Livingston  and  Eliz.  Geery. 
John  M'Cleery  and  Mary  M'Aleine. 
John  Stirling  and  Jane  Livingston. 
Henry  Ferguson  and  Margaret  Mills.' 
"William  Ferguson  and  Agnes  Millar. 
Robert  Aikin  and  Elizabeth  Paterson. 
Andrew  Brown  and  Martha  Oliver. 
Robert  Campbell  and  Elizabeth  Toomster. 
James  Armstrong  and  Jane  Marshall. 
Samuel  Glass  and  Anne  Ford. 

( )  and  Ruth  M'Knight. 

William  Dobbin  and  Jane  Burrell. 
John  Stirling  and  Widow  Park. 

John  Frame  and  ( ).     (No  name  inserted.) 

James  Hunter  and  Agnes  M'Canne. 
William  Waugh  and  Elizabeth  Hamilton. 
David  Humphrey  and  Sarah  Sanderson. 

( )  Galbraith  and  Anne  Glover. 

Richard  Fleukar  and  Elenor  Oliver. 
James  Watson  and  Anne  Caldwell. 
John  Barre  and  Anne  Park. 
Alexander  Henderson  and  Elizabeth  Aikin. 

( .)     (No  name  inserted)  M' Archer. 

Andrew  Rowan  and  Isabel  M'Cally. 
John  M'Clure  and  Margaret  Martin. 
George  Hamilton  and  Jane  Hamilton. 
John  Kennedy  and  Mary  Dickson. 
James  Henderson  and  Isabel  Henderson. 
James  Waring  and  Margaret  Airdry. 
John  Cadow  and  Rachel  Ireland. 
Andrew  Dick  and  Agnes  Newell. 
Robert  M'Murdy  and  Elizabeth  Hamilton. 
James  Lindsey  and  Anne  Baird. 
James  Magill  and  Mary  Moor. 
David  Wilkins  and  Martha  M'Bratney. 


LIST  OF  (PRESBYTERIAN)  MARRIAGES,  ETC.  351 

"Mar.   10.  Samuel  Graham  and  Margaret  M'Dowel. 

Mar.    29.  Alexander  Whitley  and  Martha  Henderson. 

John  Moffet  and  Agnes  Mills. 

1726.  Oct.     25.  Edward  Henderson  and  Jane  M'Narry. 

Nov.      3.  John  Graham  and  Elizabeth  Coltsman. 

Dec.    2 1 .  John  Simpson'  and  Agnes  Moor. 

Jan.       5.  Matthew  Gilmor  and  Jane  Clark. 

19.  James  Forrest  and  Agnes  Hatty. 

1728.  May      9.  John  M'Narry  and  Margaret  Wightman. 

Xov.    15.  James  M' William  and  Janet  Harvev." 


\lh!i% 

ra^*ssfMr 

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Garraclowv,  /' 


Dooayvanian,  a 


Cahernfivauohto*  Baur  * 

•>  .•  *   r. 


fBallymurphy 


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t. Cross. 

1   Castle. 

=  -Old  Road 


®,«,« -Forts. 
n.  CromlecK* 
1.   Pillar. 


DIAGRAM  OF  ANCIENT  STRUCTURES  NEAR  CAHRAN  AND  KILCORNEY. 

(Dotted  Lines  represent  Parish  Boundaries,  and  Thick  Lines  represent  Modern  Roads.) 

i.  Cahercommane.      2.  Castletown.      3.  Fanygalvan  Forts.      4.  Carran  Ridge.       5.  Cahermackirilla 
Ridge.  6.  Moheramoylan.  7.  Cahergrillaun.  8.  Cahermackirilla/  9.  Poulcaragharush. 

10.  Poulawack  cairn.       n.  Caherconnell.      12.  Caherlisaniska.       13.  Caherlisananima.       14.  Cragbally- 
conoal.  15.  Ballymihil.  16.  Cahercashlaun.  17.  Cahernamweela.          18.  Caheranardurrish. 

19.   Poulnabrone.         20.  Poulanine.         21.  Kilcorney. 


(     353     ) 


PREHISTORIC  REMAINS  IN  THE   BURREN,  COUNTY  CLARE 
(CARRAN,  AND  KILCORNEY). 

BY  THOMAS  J.  WESTKOPP,  M.A.,  M.E.I.A.,  FELLOW. 
[Read  JUNE  15,   1898.] 

BURKEN  BARONY,  a  great  upland  of  limestone  capped  in  some  places  by 
shale,  forms  the  north-western  corner  of  Clare.     On  three  sides  it 
falls  into  those  steeply  terraced  ridges  which  show  so  far  across  the  bay 
and  plains  of  Galway  ;  on  the  south  it  sinks  into  the  low  green  hills  and 
heathy  bog-land  of  Brentir  and  Corcomroe. 

It  lacks  the  towering  height  and  noble  outlines  of  the  Kerry  and 
Connaught  mountains,  but  its  weird  grey  ridges  and  valleys  are  very 
impressive  in  their  suggestiveness  of  age-long  loneliness  and  long  vanished 
tribes.  Some  of  its  glens  are  even  beautiful — hemmed  in  by  cliffs,  whose 
walls  are  varied  by  strange  domes  and  buttresses,  by  clefts  and  caves. 
Its  rocks  are  wreathed  with  ivy,  ferns,  and  exquisite  flowers,  brightened 
by  the  gauzy  sheets  of  little  runnels  and  waterfalls  :  at  their  feet  lie  here 
and  there  a  blue  pool  or  deep  thicket.  We  often  get  glimpses  of  the 
lowlands  and  the  Atlantic  from  their  summits.  Wonderfully  beautiful, 
too,  are  the  lights  and  cloud  shadows  and  the  effects  of  the  sunsets  and 
slowly  gathering  gloom  on  the  long  ridges  and  valleys. 

Over  all  these  solitary  places  of  old  Thomond  abound  an  amazing 
number  of  forts  and  cromlechs.1  Some  400  cahers  appear  on  the  maps, 
though  many  are  omitted  or  marked  as  '  sheepfolds.'  Dozens  are  levelled 
to  the  ground,  dozens  are  rebuilt  and  hopelessly  modernized.  Apart  from 
human  violence,  natural  causes  combine  to  overthrow  them  :  the  filling 
bulges  out  the  facing  till  it  bursts  the  wall  and  pours  out  like  meal  from 
a  torn  sack  ;  the  ash  and  hazel  tear  the  walls  asunder,  and  waving  in  the 
breeze  throw  down  the  masonry ;  nevertheless  numerous  examples  remain. 
Whence  came  the  population  that  built  and  needed  so  many  cahers  ? 
Even  if  their  construction  spread  over  many  centuries,  and  if  we  consider 
the  slighter  ones  to  be  mere  cattle  pens,  enough  remain  to  form  an  enigma. 
Burren  is  never  named  as  very  populous,  and  one  may  now  walk  for  several 
miles  across  the  crags  and  meet  at  most  some  solitary  herdsman,  but  we 
sometimes  find  a  caher  in  every  few  fields,  or  several  very  massive  ones 

1  The  terms  '  fort '  and  '  cromlech '  are  used  for  convenience,  not  as  implying 
the  exclusively  military  use  of  the  one  class  of  remains,  or  the  superiority  of-  the 
other  term,  to  «  dolmen,'  &c.  In  the  same  way  «  caher,'  and  other  anglicised  forms, 
are  used.  The  spelling  of  the  names  is  that  of  the  Ordnance  Survey  maps,  except 
when  (as  at  '  Tully common ')  the  ancient  name  and  modern  pronunciation  are  hoth 
violated  by  following  Petty's  "  Name  Lists." 


354          ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

lying  together.1  Why  did  not  fewer  forts  suffice  ?  Were  the  older  ones 
deserted  for  some  superstitious  reason,  and,  if  so,  did  the  *  tabu  '  extend 
even  to  their  material?  If  not,  did  each  townland  possess  several  impor- 
tant men  ?  So  many  '  strongholds  '  were  scarcely  needed,  for,  as  we 
know  that  several2  were  the  centres  of  villages,  so  they  would  evidently 
be  available  to  the  surrounding  country  as  places  of  refuge  in  cases  of 
sudden  alarm.  Indeed  we  seem  to  have  a  case  of  this  in  "  The  battle  of 
Ventry,"  where  three  duns  destroyed  by  the  King  of  Spain  were  crowded 
with  people,  horses,  and  dogs.3 

The  time  has  not  come  for  elaborate  theories,  still  less  for  positive 
statements ;  we  must  for  many  years  collect  and  arrange  facts,  a  less 
brilliant  but  more  useful  task  than  theorizing  on  insufficient  data.  The 
present  paper  is  therefore  only  a  survey  (and  not  even  a  very  complete 
one)  of  a  district  hitherto  undeseribed. 

ANCIENT  BUURKN. 

A  noteworthy  fact  is  apparent  in  all  our  records :  the  Barren  is 
practically  unaltered  from  pre-Christian  times,  the  same  families  predomi- 
nate, and  we  find  the  same  rich  pasturages  and  lonely  crags.  All  this  is 
much  in  favour  of  the  survival  of  ancient  customs  and  modes  of  building. 

The  history  and  early  legends  are  of  little  consequence.  The  name 
Burren  ("  the  great  rock")  is  apparently  of  obvious  origin,  but  the  Dind 
Senchas  finds  the  word  '  not  difficult '  to  derive  from  the  name  of  an 
ancient  hero.  "  Boirenn,  son  of  Bolcan,  son  of  Ban,  out  of  Spain,  he 
came  to  Boirenn  Corcomruad."4 

Then  we  hear  of  the  settlement  of  the  sons  of  Huamore — BeraatFinn- 
vara,  Irgus  at  Black  Head,  Daelach  in  Dael — and  of  invasions  by 
the  High-kings  Fiacha  and  Cormac  Mac  Airt,  but  beyond  the  verge  of 
written  history  the  families  which  claimed  descent  from  Kory,  son  of 
Maeve  by  the  great  Fergus  mac  Koigh,  and  which  were  named  in  later 
days  the  O'Conors  and  O'Loughlins,  held  these  hills.  The  Dalcassians 
obtained  at  the  most  a  cattle  tribute,  and  there  was  probably  a  servile  race 
of  Firbolgic  descent ;  the  rest  is  vague  and  unreliable,  or  mere  names  of 
chiefs  and  dates  of  battles. 

The  later  O'Briens  invaded  Burren  in  1267  and  1317.  John,  son 
of  Eory  MacGrath,  the  historian  of  these  wars,  gives  us  a  picture  true  to 
nature  after  six  centuries.  "  The  white-stoned  hills,"  "  the  caher  begirt 
tracks,"  "  the  close  border  paths  and  rugged  margins  of  Dubhglen,"  "  the 

1  The  1891  census  gives,  in  the  portion  of  Car-ran  here  explored,  only  13  inhabited 
houses  ;  in  Kilcorney  20  ;  portion  of  Eathborney  5.     Total  38  ;  against  this  we  have 
noted  over  100  forts.     After  the  war  (1641—52),  the  population  of  Burren  is  given  as 
823. 

2  E.g.  Cahermacnaughten  and  Cahergrillune. 

3  The  legendary  nature  of  the  poem  does  not  alter  the  value  of  this  fact,  which 
possibly  was  based  on  the  poet's  own  experience. 

4  "  Revue  Celtique,"  xvi.  (1895),  p.  135.  ' 


PREHISTORIC  RRMAINS  IN  THE  BURUEN,  CO.    CLARE. 

long  glen  and  widespread  crags,"  "  Barren's  hilly  grey  expanse  of  jagged 
points  and  slippery  grey  steeps,  nevertheless  flowing  with  milk  and  yield- 
ing luscious  grass,"  and  ''the  dorsal  ridge  of  the  rough  plain  that  showed 
its  bleached  face,  varied  with  dark  irregular  seams,"  are  all  named,  and 
we  recognize  the  (so  to  say)  photographic  accuracy  of  this  ancient 
picture. 

War,  revenge,  and  the  sea  form  the  background  of  most  of  these 
records.  "When  we  recall  the  story  of  Liamuin  'fair  robe'  and  her 
sisters  with  their  ill-starred  lovers,  or  the  weird  tale  of  Maelduin,  son 
of  Ailill,  a  native  of  these  hills,  going  out  into  the  "great  endless  deep,"1 
we  feel  how  much  the  life  in  strongholds  and  the  perpetual  presence  of 
the  mystery  of  the  unexplored  ocean  affected  the  men  of  the  Corcomroes. 
Indeed  we  probably  owe  a  great  chapter  in  the  world's  development  to 
the  attempts  of  our  western  boatmen  to  "  pluck  out  the  heart  of  the 
mystery  "  of  the  unknown  sea  ;  for  the  Sagas  of  Brendan,  Bran,  and 
Maelduin  went  out  into  the  world,  and  fostered  a  belief  which  no  theo- 
logical prejudice  could  destroy,  that  glorious  islands  lay  beyond  the 
untracked  sea.  These  legends  from  Clare  and  Kerry  never  rested  till 
they  sent  Columbus  and  his  successors  across  the  outer  ocean  to  find  islands 
-and  wonders  such  as  the  mind  of  monk  or  bard  had  never  conceived.2 

It  is  therefore  far  from  improbable  that  this  feeling  and  the  kindred 
love  of  nature  so  deeply  rooted  in  the  Irish,  led  to  the  selection  of  sites, 
sacrificing  commanding  neighbouring  positions  for  those  with  a  distant 
glimpse  of  the  sea  or  of  some  notable  mountain.3 

Whether  the  Clan  Rory  or  the  Eoghanachts  or  some  earlier  race  built 
the  forts  of  Burren  is  now  impossible  to  decide.  The  finds  are  most 
equivocal,  flint  weapons,  bronze  ornaments,  moulds  for  a  bronze  spear, 
iron  coins  of  the  Plantagenets  and  Tudors.  The  absence  of  kitchen 
middens  and  entire  clochauns  deprive  us  of  other  possible  sources  of 
knowledge. 

Querns,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  have  not  been  found  in  these  forts  j 
bullauns  occur,  and  some  consider  these  an  older  form  of  *  mill,'  but,  as 
these  basins  appear  on  upright  or  steeply  slanting  stones,  we  cannot  be 
too  sure  of  their  use.  In  most  cases  the  cahers  rest  on  nearly  bare  crag, 
and  in  the  case  of  the  alleged  finds  of  deer  bones,  nothing  is  proved. 
Venison  must  have  been  a  staple  food  from  the  earliest  times,  and  the 
Burren  abounded  in  deer  from  the  time  when  the  "  Colloquy  of  the 
Ancients  "4  told  how,  in  the  bitter  winter,  "  the  stag  of  Slieve  Carn  lays 
not  his  side  to  the  ground,  and  no  less  than  he — the  stag  of  frigid  Echtge's 
summit — catches  the  chorus  of  the  wolves."  It  is  evident  that  these 

1  "Revue  Celtique"  (1894),  p.  321,   and  (1888)  p.  451.     "Voyage  of  Bran," 
vol.  i.,  p.   14.     "Thrice  Fifty  Islands."     The  islands  of  Brazil  and  St.  Brendan 
figure  on  most  early  maps. 

2  Columbus  had  at  least  one  Irish  sailor  in  his  crew,  a  Gal  way  man. 

3  As  at  Cragballyconoal,  to  command  the  one  striking  vie\v  of  Slieve  Carn. 
*  "  Silva  Gadelica,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  192. 


356         ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

forts  have  been  built  and  patched  and  rebuilt  at  very  various  dates.1 
The  nature  of  materials,  not  the  race  or  age  of  the  builders,  determined 
the  style,  while  the  names,  though  in  many  cases  at  least  mediaeval,  give 
us  no  reliable  aid  to  the  actual  builders  or  earliest  owners  of  these  note- 
worthy structures.2 

THE  DISTRICT  OF  CAKRAN  AND  KILCORNEY. 

In  our  examination  of  the  Clare  cahers,3  we  passed  from  the  huge 
forts  round  Quin  to  the  district  round  Inchiquin  Lake,  and  then  along 
the  southern  border  of  Burren.  We  now  turn  to  the  largest  (if  not  the 
most  interesting)  group  extending  from  Bally ganner  and  Tullycommane 
northward.  We  may  define  it  as  lying  in  the  parishes  of  Carran  and 
Kilcorney,  west  of  the  road  from  Castletown  to  Turlough,  with  some 
remains  in  the  adjoining  townlands  on  the  northern  and  southern 
borders. 

The  district  contains  several  shallow  valleys  in  which  lie  the  most 
massive  and  interesting  of  the  forts,  those  upon  the  ridges  being  usually 
small,  with  slight  and  coarse  walls,  now  nearly  levelled.  The  cromlechs 
(with  two  exceptions)  lie  on  the  plateaux,  and  have  not  yet  been  de- 
scribed. In  Mr.  Borlase's  valuable  work  a  curious  misapprehension 
appears  with  regard  to  this  district.  He  writes,  "  Blocks  of  the  size  and 
symmetry  of  those  used  by  the  dolmen  builders  would  nowadays  be  far 
to  seek."  On  the  contrary,  blocks  as  regular,  and  of  the  size  usually 
found  in  the  cromlechs,  occur  over  many  acres  of  crag.  Some  of  those 
employed  in  the  existing  structures  are  dressed  to  a  straight  edge.  In 
Parknabinnia,  in  the  field  adjoining  that  in  which  four  cromlechs  stand, 
we  find  what  was  very  probably  a  "  cromlech  factory."  Two  slabs  have 
been  raised  from  the  rock  bed,  propped  at  one  edge  on  rounded  blocks, 
but  otherwise  in  situ.  They  are  practically  rectangular,  owing  to  the 
natural  cleavage  of  the  slabs,  and  measure  12  and  13  ft.  long  by  8£  ft. 

1  See  our  Journal,  1896,  p.  148.     "We  find  records  of  forts  built  and  repaired  in 
later  times,  e.  g.  Grianan  Aileach,   674,   973,  and  1101.      Dun  Onlaig  "  construitur," 
714.     Forts  built  or  repaired  by  Brian  Born,  c.    1000.     Grianan  Lachtna,  c.  840. 
Cah er  built  by  Conor    na    Catbrach   O'Brien,    c.    1120.      Caisteal  mac  Tuathal,  in 
Scotland,   built  by  Tuathal,  a  chief,   who  died  865.     Stone  fort  of  Kincora,   built 
c.  1000,  demolished    and  rebuilt  in  1062  and  1098.    While  Cahermore-Ballyallaban, 
Caherahoagh,  and  Cahermacnaughten,  in  county  Clare,  Cahercugeola,  near  Eilmac- 
duach,  &c.,  Lave  late  gateways;  and  Ballyganner  and  Cahercloggaun  have  mediaeval 
castles. 

2  To  give  a  few  examples  earlier  than  1400  :— Catbyrnachyne  (Caherkine).     1287. 
Inquisition.     Cahercrallaha    (near   Crughwill).     1317.    Wars   of   Tur lough.     Cathair 
in    daire    (Caherderry),    Cathair    medain  (Cahermaan),    Cathair    polla    (Lismoran), 
Cathair  mec   ui    ruil    (Cahermackirilla),    Cathair    an   lapain    (Caherlappane,    alias 
Cahermackerrila  in   Killeany  Parish),  Cathair  seircin    (Cahersherkin),    Cathair  mec 
oilille  sella  (unknown),  Cathair   da  con  (Cahercon),  'Caitir'  Urthaile  (Caherhurley), 
Trans.  R.I.A.,  vol.  xv.,  pp.  37,  38,  all  in  rentals  of  1380.     Cahercottine,  1397,  Tulla 
Inquisition.     In  Clare  we  nowhere  find  the  tendency,  so  apparent  in  county  Kerry, 
to  call  the  forts  after  modern  owners ;  even  such  names  as  Cahermurphy  and  Caher- 
shaughnessy  and  these  are  at  least  pre-Elizabethan. 

a  Our  Journal,  1893,  pp.  281,  432 ;   1896,  pp.  142,  363  ;  and  1897,  p.  116. 


PREHISTORIC  REMAINS  IN  THK  BURREN,  CO.  CLARE.         357 

broad.      Similar  raised  slabs  occur  at  Ballykinvarga,   Noughaval,  and 
Ballymihil,  all  near  cahers  and  cromlechs. 

PARKNABINNIA  (Sheet  xvii.,  No.  2,  Ordnance  Survey  25-inch  map). — 
These  curious  remains,  lying  on  the  very  border  of  Carran,  have  not  hitherto 
been  described,  and  are  not  marked  on  the  maps  of  1 839.  The  four  northern 
cromlechs  lie  in  a  field  sloping  northward.  A  long  and  very  narrow  old 
bohereen  leads  from  the  direction  of  Roughan  fort  through  Caherfadda, 
while  a  huge  boulder,  some  16  feet  high,  marks  their  position  from  a 
distance.  The  N.E.  cromlech  must  have  been  a  very  fine  example.  The 
south  side  is  5  ft.  9  in.  (at  the  west)  to  2  ft.  3  in.  high,  15  ft.  10  in.  long, 
and  9  in.  thick;  a  long  "  plank  "  of  the  top  slab  leans  against  it,  and  the 
fallen  north  side  has  strangely  regular  natural  channels  across  it.  West 
from  it  is  a  small  wrecked  cist  6  ft.  square;  due  south  from  it  is  a  fine 
cromlech  17  ft.  10  in.  long>  tapering  eastward  from  6  ft.  4  in.  to  5  ft.  6  in., 
with  a  curious  angular  gap  in  the  west  slab,  as  at  Tobergrania,  near 
Feakle.  Here  for  many  nights  sheltered  a  well  known  escaped  prisoner, 
whose  subsequent  surrender  occasioned  no  little  interest  at  a  recent 
assize.  South-west  from  it  is  a  small  cist  12  ft.  by  8  ft.  nearly  embedded 
in  a  mound,  and  surrounded  by  seven  slabs  3  ft.  high.  Its  west  block 
has  another  example  of  a  straight  natural  fluting  set  on  end.  Lastly, 
on  the  summit  of  Roughan  Hill,  the  older  Reabacain,  still  in  Parkna- 
binnia,  near  a  large  low  cairn,  is  a  fine  cist  13  by  7  ft.,  with  parallel 
annexes  to  the  sides  and  end  embedded  in  a  mound.  The  sixth  "labba," 
recently  disentombed  from  a  cairn,  is  fully  described  in  "  Dolmens  of 
Ireland,"  vol.  i.,  p.  77.  "  Parknabinnia  "  is  said  to  have  been  the 
"  cattle  park  "  of  Lemeneagh,  as  its  neighbouring  townland  was  the 
"  Deer  park."1 

CEEEVAGH  (Sheet  x.,  No.  9). — Two  nearly  levelled  ring  walls  lie 
near  the  Castletown  road,  between  Glencurraun  and  the  prettily 
wooded  slopes  and  abrupt  cliffs  of  the  pass  of  Clooncoose,  leading  down 
to  Kilnaboy.  The  southern  ring  contains  a  perfect  and  noteworthy 
cromlech,  a  chamber  14  ft.  long,  tapering  eastward  from  4  ft.  5  in.  to 
3  ft.  10  in.  It  has  a  smaller  cist  at  the  east  end,  small  triangular  ones- 
to  each  side,  and  an  irregular  enclosure,  about  7  feet  across,  fenced  with 
pillar  slabs  5  to  7  ft.  high  to  the  west.  We  have  already  described  the 
cahers  of  Mohernacartan,  and  Cahersavaun  on  the  borders  of  Carran 
Parish,  while  the  cromlechs  of  Cappaghkennedy  and  Deerpark  will  be 
found  as  fully  noticed  in  "  Dolmens  of  Ireland,"2  so  we  may  pass  over 
the^rest  of  south-western  Carran  by  merely  recording  that  it  possesses 

1  These  are  probably  the  Rebechan  cromlechs  described  in  the  "  Ordnance  Survey 
Letters,"  MSS.  R.I.A.,  14.  B.  23,  p.  66.     Despite  discrepancies  in  measurements, 
the  description  seems  to  fit,  and  one  is  certainly  the  sixth  Parknabinnia  cromlech.     The 
older  name  of  Deerpark  was  '  Poulquillica.' 

2  Jour.  R.S.A.I.,  1896,  pp.  364,  365.     "  Dolmens,"  pp.  70,  72. 


Fi 


Parknabinnia — Plan  of  Cremlech  No.  4. 


Plan  of  Cromlech  No.  3. 


Parknabinnia — Plan  of  Cromlech  No.  5. 


Creevagh — Plan  of  Cromlech. 


[358] 


PREHISTORIC  REMAINS  IN  THE  BURREN,  CO.   CLARE.        3.59 

very  few  caters,    and  those  few  nearly  levelled,  the    only  mediaeval 
ruin  heing  the  featureless  roughly-built  church  of  Templeline. 


Creevagh  Cromlech,  from  the  North-west. 


SOUTH  "RIDGE  OF  CARRAN1  (Sheet  ix.,  No.  12).  —  The  country  being 
greatly  broken,  the  groups  of  ruins  must  be  treated  as  they  lie,  rather  than 
by  townlands.  Passing  along  the  grassy  though  craggy  ridges,  famous 
"  winterages"  for  cattle,  along  the  edge  of  Poulacarran  valley,  we  find 
the  following  remains  :  —  (1)  A  coarsely  built,  much  dilapidated,  irregular 
caher,  close  to  the  Carran  road.  It  commands  a  grassy  pass  leading  to 
the  valley,  and  the  well  of  Tobermacreagh  ;  (2)  A  curious  little  cliff  fort 
on  a  peak.  It  is  just  40  feet  across,  all  the  eastern  side  gone,  the  wall 
clings  to  the  west  crags,  one  break  being  bridged  with  long  slabs,  and 
looking  like  a  gateway  as  seen  from  the  road  ;  (3)  A  coarse  thin  ring- 
wall  in  a  wilderness  of  low  hazels,  it  is  about  60  feet  in  diameter  ;. 
(4)  Another  caher  or  ring-wall  even  more  dilapidated  than  the  last. 
These  two  are  in  Cahermackirilla  townland,  on  the  southern  edge  of  which 
stand  three  gallauns  ;  these  lie  in  line  towards  N.N.E.  (compass),  the 
central  one  is  over  7  feet  high,  the  others  about  4  feet.2  Eastward  is  a 
large  though  low  green  mound,  and  less  than  80  feet  away  ;  three  crom- 
lechs lie  in  the  townland  of  Fanygalvan  —  the  panaOgealbam  of  the 
1380  rental.3  As  shown  in  the  1839  map,  there  are  three  cists  lying  in 

1  The  report  on  Noughaval  and  'Carrune,'   in   Mason's   "Parochial    Survey," 
vol.  iii.,  pp.  282-287  (1819),  is  disappointing.     It  states  that  there  are  three  "  of 
what  are  called  Danish  forts  "  in  Noughaval,  and  five  in  Carrune.     "  There  are  no 
traditions  with  respect  to  any  of  these."     Under  the  head  of  "Natural  curiosities," 
&c.,  a  list  of  the  clergy  is  given.     The  translations  of  the  townland  names  are  curious, 
e.g.  Fannygallavan,  Ring  of  promise;  Clouncouse,  perhaps  cause  of  deceit;  Glen- 
cullenkilla   (Glencolumbcill),  Glen  of  Hollywood;  Cahergvillane,  Dutch  chair;  and 
Mohermilan  (Mohermoylan),  Louse  Park.     The  Ordnance  Survey  Letters  dismiss  these 
interesting  ruins  as  "  the  broken  cahers  and  ruined  church  in  Poulacarran." 

2  They   probably  formed  a  mearing  :  see  Cormac's  "  Glossary,"  under   '  Gall,* 
"  Boundaries  of  Pillar-  stones,"  and  the  "  Book  of  Leinster,"  f.  78  :—  "There  went 
westward  from  the  lake  a  great  mearing  .  .  .  and  he  (Cuchullin)  fared  to  a  pillar- 
stone,  and  put  his  waist-belt  round  it,  that  he  might  die  standing." 

3  Trans.  fi.I.A.,  vol.  xv.,  p.  38.     Similar  groups  of  forts,  cists,  cairns,  and  mounds 
also  occur  at  Tullycommane  and  Ballyganner,  in  this  district  ;  also  in  Bosnia,  and 


360 


ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


line  en  the  grassy  hill  which  falls  abruptly  at  their  west  end.  JSTow 
there  remain  of  the  western  only  two  small  blocks  6  feet  long.  The  central 
cist  faces  E.N.E.,  the  fallen  sides  covered  by  the  top  stone,  and  about 
10  ft.  long.  The  eastern  is  a  noble  cromlech  with  two  chambers.  It  is 
23  ft.  long,  and  from  6  ft.  3  in.  to  2  ft.  8  in.  wide ;  the  north  side  has  fallen. 
It  is  a  conspicuous  object,  and  its  bleached  stones  shine  like  a  red  light  at 
sunset,  when  seen  from  the  road. 


Fanygalvan — Plan  of  Cromlech. 

Down  the  slope  stands  a  fantastic  rock,  somewhat  resembling  a  human 
iigure,  and  called  Farbrega  j1  while,  half  a  mile  from  the  cromlech,  along 
the  road  between  Castletown  and  Carran,  lie  three  very  defaced  stone 
forts.  They  are,  respectively,  in  Sheshy,  Moheraroon,  and  Fanygalvan, 
close  together  along  the  edge  of  a  low  depression,  in  which  on  an  abrupt 
knoll  are  apparent  the  foundations  and  scattered  stones  of  a  fourth  small 
caher. 

CAHEEMA.CKIRILLA  RIDGE  (Sheet  x.,  No.  5.)— Starting  from  the  crom- 
lech of  Fanygalvan,  along  the  ridge,  we  find  ourselves  among  many 

in  Scotland.  Sir  J,  Simpson  ("Archaic  Sculpturings,"  1867,  p.  47)  sums  up  :  "The 
strongholds  were  on  elevated  spots,  the  huts  were  lower  down  in  shelter ;  along 
with  these,  circles,  monoliths,  barrows,  and  cairns  occur.  The  cairns  of  the  ancient 
dead  interspersed  among  the  hut-dwellings  of  the  ancient  living." 

1  Farbrega  rocks  are  common  in  Clare,  especially  on  the  hills  near  Broadford.  A 
line  of  pillars  at  Carrahan,  north  of  Quin,  is  locally  said  to  represent  the  petrified 
robbers,  who  were  thus  punished  for  robbing  the  blessed  bull  of  St.  Mochulla  as  he 
carried  provisions  to  that  saint,  who  was  building  Tulla  Church. 

The  notion  of  these  ' '  false  men ' '  is  old  in  Irish  literature :  see  ' '  Battle  of 
Moylena,"  p.  31,  for  men  petrified  by  fairies.  In  the  Book  of  Feenagh,  St.  Caillin 
turns  into  pillars  the  Druids  who  "  did  corrguinecht"  against  him  (p.  123).  See  also 
Dr.  Joyce's  "Irish  Names  of  Places,"  2nd  Series,  pages  411,  412;  and  "Revue 
Celtique,"  vol.  i.,  p.  196  :  "Fiorm's  Enchantment." 


PREHISTORIC  REMAINS  IN  THE  BURREN,  CO.  CLARE.         361 

evidences  of  a  once  teeming  population.  Along  this  bluff,  some  550  feet 
above  tlie  sea,  lie  three  more  cahers,  which  we  may  generally  state  to  be 
from  70  to  100  feet  in  diameter  and  of  fairly  good  masonry,  though  nearly 
demolished.  Between  the  second  and  third,  which  are  only  about  350  ft. 
apart,  are  some  singular  slab  huts  of  late  date  and  a  souterrain,1  with 
built  sides  and  four  roof-slabs.  The  highest  caher  is  of  thin  slabs,  and 
contains  the  ruins  of  several  late  cabins  and  some  lofty  " look-out"  piers 
for  herdsmen.  It  commands  a  view  of  the  district  from  Tullycommane 
to  Kilfenora  and  Moher,  with  a  pretty  glimpse  of  the  sea  and  a  bird's-eye 
view  over  Poulacarran.  The  last  of  these  cahers,  on  the  edge  of  Com- 
mons townlaiid,  is  a  circular  ring,  about  50  feet  across.  It  has  a  large 
and  curious  straight  walled  enclosure  about  150  feet  out  from  the  caher; 
the  walls  8  and  10  feet  high  to  the  N.  E.  and  S.  E.,  in  the  intervening 
space  is  a  small  closed  souterraiu. 

THE  PLATEAU  OF  COMMONS,  &c.  (Sheet  ix.,  No.  8). — The  commonage  is 
devoid  of  antiquities,  save  for  a  small  circular  fort  on  a  cliff  above  the 
O'Loughlin's  house,  near  Mougouhy,  with  a  fine  view  of  Cahercommane 
and  Castletown  Lough,  but  nearly  levelled, 

In  Sladoo,  "  A  Handbook  to  Lisdoonvarna  "  states  that  two  uninjured 
cahers  stand  near  the  curious  late  church.2  These,  however,  are  not  marked 
on  the  1839  map  ;  neither  could  Dr.  George  MacNamara  and  I  find  any 
trace  or  tradition  of  their  existence.  The  only  early  remain  seems  to  be 
a  low  mound  of  earth  and  stones,  36  feet  across,  its  centre  deeply  exca- 
vated. 

RANNAGH  (Sheet  ix.,  No.  1). — West  of  Sladoo  and  on  the  edge  of  a 
cliff,  nearly  as  straight  and  regularly  coursed  as  an  ashlar  wall,  stands  a 
rectangular  caher ;  its  northern  wall  is  7  feet  high,  11  feet  wide  ;  the 
gateway  faces  the  south,  and  is  4  feet  4  inches  wide  ;  it  had  stone  gate 
posts  on  the  inner  face  of  a  passage,  5  feet  long  and  5  feet  4  inches  wide ; 
the  outer  piers  were  built  of  large  blocks,  and  6  feet  deep ;  the  outer  lintel 
was  7  feet  3  inches  long.  A  steep  old  road  leads  from  near  it  down  to 
Poulacarran. 

POULCAHAGHARUSH  (Sheet  ix.,  No.  8). — This  townland  projects  in  a 
bold  spur  into  the  valley  to  the  north  of  Carran  Church,  and  east  of  the 
large  and  conspicuous  cairn  on  Poulawack.  Crossing  a  grass-grown  old 

1  The  typical  souterrain  in  N.W.  Clare  is  a  passage  3  or  4  feet  wide,  and  4  or  5  feet 
high,  straight,  curved,  or  S -shaped  in  plan,  with  dry  stone  walls,  or  utilizing  a  rock 
cleft ;  the  roof  of  stone  slabs,  level  with  the  field.      Domed  chambers  are  practically 
absent,  though  a  not  uncommon  feature  in  the  S.W.  district. 

"We  may  note  that  these  structures  hold  a  place  in  Irish  literature.  Two  instances 
will  suffice.  1.  Oormac's  "Glossary"  (ed.  Whitley  Stokes),  p.  xxxix :  "  Caer  flies 
to  the  flagstone  behind  the  fort,  under  which  he  is  found  by  Nede's  dogs."  2.  The 
demon-chariot  of  Chuchullain  (our  Journal,  vol.  i.,  4th  Series,  p.  385) :  "  A  pit  in  the 
dun  belonging  to  the  king,"  which  last  was  "  a  seven- walled  caher." 

2  The  description  of  the  chapel,  though  elaborate,  is  most  misleading,  even  to 
the  statement  of  the  existence  of  a  stone  roof ;  the  account  is  probably  given  from 
hearsay. 


362          ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF    ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 


Gateway,  Poulcaragharush  Caher. 


road,  we  find  the  following  ancient  enclosures: — 1.  A  finely-built  but 
dilapidated  ring  wall,  not  far  from  the  church.  2.  A  large  irregular  garth 
with  straight  reaches  of  wall,  poorly  built  and  levelled  within  a  foot  or 

two  of  the  ground.  Sand  4.  Two 
small  forts  which,  by  a  strange- 
effect  of  their  position,  look  like 
a  huge  and  lofty  caher  when  seen 
against  the  sky.  They  lie  north- 
east of  the  curious  cup-like  hollow 
of  Poulcaragharush.  The  more 
northern  is  in  parts  nearly  level- 
led, the  eastern  is  on  a  knoll,  and 
is  in  fair  preservation.  It  is  about 
70  feet  from  the  other  fort,  and 
nearly  the  same  size,  being  69  ft. 
over  all.  The  gateway  faces  east 

and  is  in  good  preservation  on  the  outer  face,  being  filled  up  with  stones. 
The  jambs  do  not  incline,  the  southern  has  a  short  corner  post,  the  doorway 
faces  the  east,  and  is  exactly  4  feet  square  ;  the  lintel  6  feet  3  inches  by 
1  foot  9  inches  by  1  foot  1  inch ;  the  wall  is  7  feet  high  to  the  west, 
and  is  8  feet  thick,  built  of  rather  good  masonry,  of  most  archaic- 
looking  weather-beaten  and  channelled  blocks.  5.  A  strangely  small 
fort,  scarcely  30  feet  across,  lies  far  down  the  slope,  near  the  edge  of 
Cahermackirilla  ;  only  portions  of  the  wall  are  standing. 

POTTLACARRAN  (Sheet  ix.,  No.  8). — This  is  a  sort  of  "bay,"  running 
southward  out  of  the  large  depression  of  Eanty.  It  falls  abruptly  almost, 
from  the  east  gable  of  the  plain  old  Church  of  Carran,  near  which  we  may 
note  a  cairn  (not  cist,  as  in  map),  round  which  coffins  are  carried  for 
burial  in  the  graveyard. 
The  valley  is  very  diversi- 
fied :  it  has  tracts  of  culti- 
vated ground  and  rich  grass 
land,  "water  splashes,"  or 
shallow  lakes,  lesser  glens 
overgrown  with  hazel  and 
hawthorn.  In  the  spring  it 
blossoms  with  such  masses 
of  primroses,  anemones, 
ferns,  violets,  and  deep 
blue  gentians  which  make 
it  a  lovely  garden. 

South  of  the  swampy  "bleach  pool,"  named  Toorleerahan  (phonetically), 
is  a  ridge  occupied  by  the  caher  of  Poulacarran,  a  neat  little  oval  fort  58  ft. 
north  and  south,  and  70  ft.  east  and  west.  Like  nearly  all  the  forts  of 
this  district,  it  contains  no  remains  of  dwellings.  Its  gate  faces  N.E., 


Gateway  of  Poulacarran  Caher. 


PREHISTORIC  REMAINS  IN  THtt  BURREN,  CO.  CLARE.         363 

and  has  jambs  of  single  stones  4  feet  deep  and  high.  The  lintel,  as  usual, 
has  been  thrown  down ;  it  measures  5  feet  8  inches  by  3  feet  by  1  foot 
6  inches ;  the  jambs  have  been  pressed  in  from  3  feet  below  to  2  feet 
above  ;  the  wall  is  4  feet  thick,  and  5  or  6  feet  high, nor  do  many  fallen 
stones  lie  round  it.  A  second  enclosure  surrounds  it,  irregular  in  plan 
and  faced  with  large  and  fantastic  slabs.  It  is  apparently  of  no  great 
age,  and  contains  a  "  souterrain,"  formed  by  roofing  a  natural  cleft, 
10  feet  by  4  feet  8  inches  with  lintels  over  7  feet  long. 

The  south  caher  lies  opposite  the  last,  across  the  actual  "Poulacarran," 
a  boggy  hollow  and  pretty  little  glen,  overgrown  with  hawthorns.  It  is  a 
little  oval  fort,  of  good  masonry,  and  measures  about  90  feet  by  63  feet 
wide.  It  stands  on  the  edge  of  a  cliff  and  encloses  green  sward.  A  second 
enclosure,  meeting  the  first  at  the  cliff,  and  of  inferior  masonry,  only 
some  4  feet  high,  lies  on  the  crags.  A  "  pass  "  leads  upward  to  the  second 
fort  on  Cahermakerilla  ridge. 

The  lower  *  faugher'  is  irregularly  continued  along  the  east  side  of  the 
valley  ;  it  has  a  row  of  small  and  nearly  levelled  cahers  along  its  shelf. 
Two  in  Poulacarran,  one  of  two  concentric  rings  round  a  rock  dome  in 
Meggagh  West,  and  one  in  Cahermakerrilla,  while  another,  of  only  a  few 
courses  of  masonry,  lies  on  the  slope  under  Poulcaraghamsh. 


Valley. 


A, Gates.  B, Steps. 
CjSouterrams.D, Terraces  '• 


PLANS  OF  FORTS  NEAR  CARRAN. 


1.  Cahergrillaun. 

2.  Cahermatkerilla. 


3.  North  Caher,  Poulacarran. 

4.  Cliff  Fort,  Poulacarran. 


CAHEHMACKEBILLA  (Sheet  ix.,  No.  8).— This  fort  is  so  called  by  Petty, 
but  is  pronounced  '  Carmaekerrla,'  and  by  the  natives  Cahermacrole. 
The  name  has  been  translated  'the  fort  of  Irial's  son,'  possibly  an 


JOUR.  R.S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  FT.  IV.,  5lH  SER. 


20 


364:  ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

O'Loughlin,  with  whom  the  name  Trial  was  not  uncommon.  Strange  to 
say,  we  find  the  name  '  Macirilla,'  the  name  of  a  Gaulish  potter,1  of  one 
of  the  earlier  centuries  of  our  era.  However,  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, some  documents  give  the  form  Caher  macConnella  (1624),  and 
even  in  1819  it  was  called  Caher  mac  Connello.2 

This  caher  is  prohahly  that  called  '  Cathair  mec  iguil '  (or  'iruil') 
in  the  1380  rental.  It  and  the  lands  round  it  were  held  by  the  O'Lough- 
lens,  O'Briens,  and  O'Davorens,  down  to  1642,  and  by  Brian  O'Loughlin 
in  1659.  It  was  occupied  till  about  1862  by  a  family  named  Kilmartin,3 
a  member  of  whom  lives  just  outside  its  ambit,  and  states  that  it  has 
changed  very  little  in  his  time.  From  having  been  so  long  inhabited 
the  original  internal  arrangements  are  defaced. 

It  is  a  fine  fort,  a  practically  true  circle  of  140  feet  external  diameter; 
its  masonry  is  large  and  very  good,  with  a  most  regular  straight  batter, 
about  1  in  6,  not  the  usual  curve.  The  wall  is  5  to  8  feet  high  and  15 
feet  thick,  with  small  filling,  the  inner  face  being  also  battered  and  of 
smaller  but  good  masonry.  The  gate  faced  E.S.E.,  its  narrow  passage 
running  down  a  sloping  rock.  The  large  side  stones  remain  parallel  and 
8  feet  apart  all  their  length,  implying  from  their  unusual  width  the  use 
of  wooden  lintels. 

The  remains  of  modern  houses  and  of  cultivated  garden  plots  occupy 
the  garth  ;  in  these  plots  were  often  found  *'  sharp  flints  that  you  could 
strike  fire  out  of,"  and  base  metal  coins  "  about  as  big  as  sixpences,  with 
a  cross  and  a  head,"  but  none  were  preserved. 

A  long  narrow  drain  or  "  souterrain  "  formed  by  roofing  a  rock  cleft 
ran  westward  under  nearly  half  the  garth  to  the  Avail  and  into  an  outer 
enclosure.  Though  the  ends  are  now  stopped  it  is  open  all  the  way,  for 
dogs  have  been  sent  through  it. 

The  western  enclosure  is  of  equally  good  masonry,  its  wall  is  only 
5  feet  thick,  but  it  is  nearly  8  feet  high.  A  low  green  valley  runs  east 
and  west  along  the  north  of  the  fort. 

CAHERGRILLAUN  (Sheet  ix.,  No.  4  and  8). — The  name  is  rendered 
"  Dutch  Chair"  in  Mason's  Survey.4  This  is  an  oval  caher,  120  feet 
north  and  south  by  154  east  and  west,  on  a  grassy  hill  north  of  the  last. 
It  is  much  overgrown  by  hazels,  and  encloses  smooth  green  sward ;  the 
foundations  of  many  late  houses  and  enclosures  adjoin  it  to  the  north  and 
south.  The  rampart  is  15  feet  high  to  the  north,  and  9  feet  to  the  east 
and  west.  It  is  of  fine  uncoursed  masonry  for  8  feet  of  its  height,  above 
which  much  smaller  stones  appear ;  perhaps  many  other  cahers  (we 

1  "  Eevue  Celtique,"  vol.  xiii.,  1892,  p.  317. 

2  Inquisitions  of  Donat,  Earl  of  Thomond,   1624,  and  Morogh  O'Cashie,  1623  : 
Mason's  "Parochial  Survey,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  287. 

3  This  family  has  evidently  been  long  settled  in  the  Burren.     "We  find  a  Eallykil- 
martin  in  Killeany,  in  Petty's  Survey,  1652.^ 

4  Vol.  iii.,  p.  287. 


CLIFF  Four,  CAIUIAN. 


FOKT  or  CAHERGKILLAUN. 


Jour.  R,  S.  A.  I.,  vol.  viii.,  pt.  4,  p.  364. 


PREHISTORIC  REMAINS  IN  THE  BURREN,  CO.  CLARE.         365 

shall  note  another  not  many  miles  away)  had  inferior  upper  walls  which 
have  entirely  fallen.  The  stonework  to  the  west  is  of  very  large  blocks 
and  Cyclopean  in  style.  It  is  noteworthy  that  the  somewhat  ruder 
and  longer  masonry  (supposed  by  some  to  be  of  earlier  age  than  the 
larger  and  better-fitted  blocks)  occurs  above  the  "  Cyclopean  "  masonry, 
as  shown  in  the  illustration.  Nay  more,  the  masonry  without  spawls 
occurs  above  that  with  them.  This  is  not  a  solitary  case,  nor  confined  to 
Ireland,  for  Dr.  Christison  notices  it  in  the  forts  of  Lome.1  We  have 
this  further  proof  of  the  doubtfulness  of  all  attempts  to  date  or  group 
forts  by  their  stonework.  The  rampart  is  9  feet  6  inches  to  10  feet  at 
base,  and  6  feet  7  inches  to  7  feet  at  the  top.  It  has  the  usual  curved  out- 
line which  was  probably  a  regular  batter  which  got  bulged  out  by  the 
settlement  of  the  filling,  which,  like  the  facing,  is  large  for  some  8  feet 
high  and  small  above. 

The  only  internal  features  are  a  plinth  or  very  narrow  terrace,  12 
inches  to  18  inches  wide  (as  at  Cahercottine),  and  a  flight  of  five  steps 
to  the  west  leading  from  the  "  plinth  "  to  a  platform  from  left  to  right, 
and  they  measure  (ascending)  12,  12,  15,  10,  and  10  inches  high,  23, 
16,  13,  and  12  inches  tread,  and  18  inches  in  depth.  There  are  traces 
of  a  similar  flight  leading  from  right  to  left  up  to  the  same  platform. 
This  feature,  though  not  unknown  in  the  Kerry  forts,  seems  unique  in 
Clare.  The  gate  faced  S.S.E.,  its  sides  are  parallel  and  of  massive 
"  stretchers."  The  passage  is  8  feet  5  inches  wide  and  10  feet  long,  and 
if  roofed,  must,  like  Cahermackirilla,  have  required  beams  of  wood. 

MOHEEAMOYLAN  (Sheet  ix.,  No.  4). — An  oval  caher  about  120  feet 
across,  and  so  nearly  levelled  that  it  is  only  distinguishable  on  the  new 
maps  by  the  modern  enclosures ;  lies  on  a  craggy  hill  to  the  N.E.  of 


Gateway  of  Moheramoylan. 

Cahergrillaun  and  is  circular  in  plan.  Its  gate  faces  south,  and  seems 
on  the  point  of  falling,  as  the  east  pier  was  distorted,  the  back  stones 
having  been  removed.  It  is  6  feet  high,  4  feet  4  inches  wide  (the  exact 

1  "Early 'Fortifications  in  Scotland,"  pp.  146  and  147. 

202  * 


366          ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

width  of  the  gates  of  Rannagh  and  Caherahoagh).  It  has  two  lintels, 
the  outer  and  larger  being  6  feet  by  2  feet  by  10  inches,  the  passage 
behind  it  was  5  feet  3  inches  wide,  the  wall  9  feet  thick.  The  masonry 
seems  to  have  been  of  very  thin  slabs,  5  inches  to  8  inches  thick,  which 
accounts  for  its  thorough  dilapidation. 

In  the  garth  there  are  some  late  enclosures  and  a  straight  souterrain 
lying  N.N.W.  and  S.S.E. ;  it  is  of  the  usual  type,  parallel  walls  of  small 
stones  4  feet  apart,  roofed  at  the  ground  level  with  slabs,  5  feet  6  inches 
long.  The  term  '  Moher '  is  used  by  the  peasantry  in  the  sense  of 
enclosure  rather  than  fort.  This  was  the  case  even  early  in  the  last 
century,  for  we  find  leases  of  "  the  mohers  of  Ballymahony  in  Burren" 
granted  by  the  O'Briens  to  the  England  family.1 

A  cromlech  stands  on  a  green  hillock  2000  feet  westward  from  the 
fort.  It  has  fallen  towards  the  north,  the  sides  were  only  about  3  feet 
high,  including  the  part  set  in  the  ground ;  the  massive  top  slab  is  14 
feet  5  inches  east  and  west,  and  9  feet  7  inches  north  and  south  by  8  or 
10  inches  thick. 

1  ''Dublin  Registry  of  Deeds,"  B.  51,  p.  378,  and  B.  94,  p.  445  (1725-1726). 


(     367     ) 


IRISH  FLINT  SCRAPERS. 

BY  W.  J.  KNOWLES,  M.EJ.A.,  VICE-PRESIDENT. 

[Read  JANUARY  11,  1898.] 

seems  to  be  an  impression  among  antiquaries  that  the  flint 
implements,  known  by  the  name  of  scrapers,  are  scarce  in  Ireland. 
Tli is  is  an  erroneous  idea,  as  they  are  certainly  far  more  numerous  than 
any  other  species  of  stone  implement.  In  the  southern  parts  of  Ireland, 
scrapers  of  flint  maybe  scarce,  because  that  material  is  not  found  there 4 
but  corresponding  objects  must  have  been  made  of  other  hard  rocks, 
though  these  may  not  now  be  known  or  distinguishable  as  implements. 
Even  if  such  objects  were  recognizable,  their  coarse  and  unattractive 
appearance  would  cause  them  to  be  neglected,  In  the  north  of  Ireland 
many  flint  scrapers  are  beautiful  objects,  yet  even  they  have  been 
considered  too  common  and  uninteresting  to  be  worth  collecting,  and, 
therefore,  our  knowledge  of  them  is  more  limited  than  it  should  be. 
Collectors  wanted  only  well-formed  arrow-heads,  or  perfect  polished 
axes,  but  nothing  of  a  broken  kind  or  so  poor  as  a  scraper.  Con- 
sequently the  poorer  implements  that  came  in  the  way  of  the  farmer, 
were  thrown  aside,  and  only  those  of  a  better  class  picked  up.  If 
any  collector  had  a  desire  to  have  a  fair  representation  of  all  the 
varieties  of  tools  and  implements  in  use  during  the  Stone  Age,  he 
had  no  chance  of  obtaining  them  from  dealers ;  he  must  go  to 
districts  where  sites  of  ancient  dwellings  and  manufactories  existed,  and 
collect  for  himself.  I  knew  an  enthusiastic  collector  who  went  round 
the  country  encouraging  the  children  to  collect  every  piece  of  flint  which 
they  found.  In  this  way  he  soon  accumulated  a  large  quantity  of 
implements  of  every  description.  His  object,  however,  was  merely  not 
to  miss  any  of  the  better  class  of  implements.  These  he  added  to  his 
collection ;  but  scrapers  and  such  poor  things  were  used  to  gravel  the 
walks  round  his  dwelling-house.  This  is  not  an  isolated  instance,  as 
many  collectors  have  acted  in  a  somewhat  similar  manner.  Even  farmers 
have  frequently  said  to  me  when  they  saw  scrapers  in  my  collection : 
"  I  would  not  lift  the  like  of  these."  Considering  the  feeling  of  con- 
tempt for  scrapers  among  all  parties  engaged  in  collecting  flint  imple- 
ments, it  is  not  surprising  that  the  parcels  of  Irish  antiquities  which 
were  formerly  despatched  by  dealers  in  Bally mena  to  various  parts  of 
the  United  Kingdom  contained  few  scrapers,  and  that  English  and 
other  antiquaries  should  describe  them  as  scarce. 

-In  Wilde's  Catalogue  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy's  Collection,  such 


368          EOYAL    SOCIETY    OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 


objects  are  not  mentioned,1  but <{  eight  articles  of  very  unusual  shape  and 
numbered  from  449  to  456,  presenting  the  appearance  of  a  circular  disc, 
with  a  prolonged  handle,  notunlike  a  short  spoon, "2were  probably  scrapers. 
Sir  John  Evans  in  the  first  edition  of  his  "  Stone  Implements,"  after 
describing  English  scrapers,  says  they  are  found  of  nearly  similar  forms 
in  Ireland,  but  are  there  comparatively  much  rarer  than  in  England.  In 
his  second  -edition  of  the  same  woi*k,  published  in  1897,  he  still  says  that 
they  are  rarer  than  in  England  ;  but  referring  to  Papers  in  the  "  Journal 
of  the  Anthropological  Institute,"  which  I  find  by  reference  to  the  parts 
cited  were  contributed  by  myself,  adds,  "though  fairly  numerous  in 
Antrim."3  The  scarcity  of  scrapers  and  other  objects  of  the  poorer 
kinds  is  not  confined  to  private  collections.  Even  in  the  British 
Museum  you  will  find  abundance  of  the  higher  class  of  implements,  but 
few  or  none  of  the  poorer  kinds.  This  is  not  a  desirable  state  of  things. 
If  we  only  see  the  best  articles  we  must  have  a  very  imperfect  and 
biassed  knowledge  of  the  culture  of  the  Stone  Age. 


FIG.  1  (Half  natural  size). 


Bcrapers  were  abundant  in  the  Palaeolithic  Age.  In  "Reliquiae 
Aquitanica3,"  p.  14,  two  scrapers — one  from  a  cave  in  Perigord,  and 
another  from  the  gravels  of  the  valley  of  the  Somme,  are  compared  with 
an  implement  of  the  same  class  then  in  use  among  the  Eskimos. 
The  latter  implement  was  neatly  mounted  in  an  ivory  handle.  I  show 
two  views,  half -size,  of  a  similar  implement  (see  fig.  1),  one  of  several 
in  the  collection  of  Edward  Lovett,  Esq.,  of  Croydon,  who  has  kindly 
supplied  me  with  the  drawings.  The  handle  is  skilfully  made  from 

1  The  word  "scraper"  is  used,  but  he  does  not  apply  the  term  to  the  objects 
under  consideration. 

2  Page  16,  op.  cit.  3  Evans'  "  Stone  Implements,"  2nd  ed.,  page  310. 


IRISH   FLINT   SCRAPERS.  369 

walrus  ivory,  and  is  ornamented.  It  has  been  used  by  the  Eskimos 
in  the  preparation  of  skins,  as  was  the  example  figured  in  "  Reliquiae 
Aquitanicae."  There  are  many  references  to  scrapers  in  this  important 
work,  and  plates  of  examples  are  given  (see  A.  Plates  VII.,  X.,  XIX., 
and  XXIV.).  Scrapers  of  the  older  Stone  Age  have  been  found  in 
Kent's  cavern  in  Devonshire  (see  Evans'  "  Stone  Implements"  for, 
figures  of  some  of  these,  p.  501).  Mr.  Worthington  Smith  has  also 
found  examples  of  scrapers  in  the  old  Paleolithic  floors  which  he 
discovered  in  Bedfordshire,  and  near  the  Lea  in  Middlesex  and  Essex ; 
and  illustrations  are  given  (see  figs.  66,  67,  73, 129)  in  his  work,  "Man, 
the  Primeval  Savage."  In  "  MuseePrehistorique"  figures  of  Palaeolithic 
scrapers  are  shown  (see  Plates  XIII.  and  XIX).  All  these  implements 
of  the  older  age  have  a  likeness  to  scrapers  of  the  Neolithic  Age.  "  As 
far  as  form  is  concerned  there  is  little  or  nothing  to  distinguish  them 
from  the  analogous  instruments  of  the  Neolithic  Period."1  In  addition, 
to  the  likeness  among  scrapers  of  different  ages  there  is  also  a  resem- 
blance among  implements  of  this  class  found  in  countries  widely 
separated,  as,  for  example,  Ireland  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  I 
have  also  scrapers  from  kitchen  middens  near  Hobart's  Town  in  Tas- 
mania, which  in  shape  and  style  of  manufacture  I  could  match  with 
implements  of  the  same  class  from  "Whitepark  Bay,  county  Antrim. 
Some  authors  endeavour  to  explain  the  likeness  in  implements  found  in 
widely  separated  regions  by  stating  their  belief  that  similar  wants  may 
have  caused  different  peoples  to  invent  the  same  type  of  implement,  but 
I  believe  the  likeness  among  scrapers,  as  in  other  tools  of  stone,  has 
rather  been  caused  by  the  wide  dispersion  at  some  time  of  the  early 
makers  of  these  articles.  That  they  are  found  in  many  countries  of 
Europe  and  parts  of  Africa  and  America  may,  I  think,  be  attributed  to 
this  cause. 

In  Ireland  where  the  scrapers  are  of  Neolithic  Age,  they  have  been, 
found  in  greatest  abundance  in  Antrim.  A  considerable  quantity  has 
been  found  in  Donegal,  especially  along  the  sheltered  bays  where  Stone 
Age  dwelling-places  and  sites  of  manufactories  have  been  covered  up 
and  preserved  by  the  sand.  I  have  found  them  at  Horn  Head  and  at 
Bundoran.  At  the  latter  place  I  obtained  over  300  made  of  the  black 
chert  from  the  Carboniferous  limestone,  besides  a  considerable  number 
made  of  flint.  At  Maghery,  near  Ardara,  Dr.  D'Evelyn,  of  Ballymena, 
obtained  several  scrapers  in  association  with  other  stone  implements  in  the 
sandhills  there ;  and  I  have  had  some  sent  me  by  correspondents  from 
Gweedore  in  the  same  county.  At  Dundrum,  in  county  Down,  I  found 
over  2000  scrapers  of  flint  round  the  old  hut  sites,  which  had  been 
preserved  and  protected  by  a  covering  of  sand.  Here  also  the 
Marchioness  of  Downshire,  Mr.  W.  H.  Patterson,  and  other  contributors. 
to  the  Journal,  have  found  scrapers  in  abundance. 

1  Evuns'  "  Stone  Implements,"  2nd  ed.,  p.  501. 


370         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

At  Portstewart,  and  other  parts  of  county  Deny,  I  have  found 
a  great  quantity  of  flint  scrapers,  and  notices  of  these  finds  will 
be  found  in  various  Journals.  That  the  chert  of  the  Carboniferous 
limestone  was  used  at  Biindoran  for  the  manufacture  of  scrapers  shows 
us  that  more  implements  of  that  material  may  yet  be  recorded  after  atten- 
tion has  been  directed  to  the  matter.  A  short  time  ago  Mr.  George  Coffey, 
M.R.I.A.,  Curator  of  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  showed 
me  some  chert  scrapers,  which  were  found  in  county  Meath ;  and  in  the 
number  of  the  Journal  for  December,  1897,  Mr.  E.  Oof  ton  Rotheram 
has  drawn  attention  to  the  discovery  of  over  fifty  scrapers  of  chert  near 
Slieve  na  Caillighe.  In  addition  to  flint  and  chert,  quartzite  and  other 
hard  rocks  were  likely  employed.  I  have  specimens  both  in  quartzite 
and  basalt,  and  .there  is  no  doubt  that  when  the  hut-sites,  buried  up  in 
sand  along  the  shores  of  the  south  and  west  of  Ireland  are  explored, 
more  implements  of  this  nature  will  be  discovered. 

Sir  John  Evans  has  given  the  localities  where  scrapers  are  found  in 
England.  He  says :  "  They  seem  to  occur  in  greater  or  less  abundance 
over  the  whole  of  England."1  I  have  many  typical  examples  from  both 
England  and  Scotland,  mostly  of  flint,  but  some  of  quartzite.  I  have 
myself  collected  a  good  many  scrapers  and  other  implements  from  the 
sandhills  of  Glenluce  in  Scotland.  They  are  found  in  France,  Belgium, 
Denmark,  Sweden,  Russia,  Italy,  Switzerland,  and  other  places  I  have 
mentioned.  It  is  likely  that  wherever  stone  implements  occur,  scrapers 
may  be  found,  though,  I  fear,  the  same  feeling  of  contempt  for  them  in 
other  countries,  as  in  Ireland,  may  have  prevented  their  numbers  and 
distribution  from  being  as  fully  known  as  they  should  be. 

A  typical  scraper,  as  defined  by  Sir  John  Evans,  is  "a  broad  flake, 
the  end  of  which  has  been  chipped  to  a  semicircular  bevelled  edge,  round 
the  margin  of  the  inner  face,  similar  in  character  to  that  of  a  round- 
nosed  turning  chisel."2  Sir  John  Lubbock  describes  scrapers  as  "  oblong 
stones  rounded  at  one  end,  which  is  brought  to  a  bevelled  edge  by  a 
series  of  small  blows."3  The  bevelled  edge  is  in  reality  the  distinguishing 
feature  of  a  scraper,  and  considering  the  number  of  side-scrapers  to  be 
found  in  any  extensive  series,  I  think  these  definitions  might  be 
simplified,  and  at  the  same  time  improved,  by  applying  the  term'  'scraper' 
to  any  flake  having  a  side  or  end  chipped  to  a  bevelled  edge. 

Sir  John  Evans,  in  classifying  scrapers,  takes  into  account  the  general 
contour  of  the  implement  as  well  as  the  portion  which  has  been  chipped 
into  form,  consequently  he  has  horseshoe- shaped,  kite-shaped,  duck's- 
bill-shaped,  oystershell-shaped,  ear-shaped,  &c. ;  but  as  the  unworked 
outline  of  the  flake  is  largely  accidental,  I  think  it  should  be  left  out  of 
account  in  any  system  of  classification,  and  the  worked  edges  only  dealt 

1  Op.  cit.,  p.  3 JO.  2  Op.  tit.,  p.  '298. 

3  "  Prehistoric  Times,"  4th  ed.,  page  98. 


IRISH    FLINT    SCRAPERS.  371 

with.  I  recently  "brought  all  the  scrapers  in  my  collection  together, 
and,  when  counted,  .they  were  found  to  number  nearly  10,000.  I  tried 
Sir  John  Evans'  method  of  classification,  but  found  that  even  with  a" 
liberal  use  of  the  qualifying  terms  (long,  short,  broad,  and  narrow),  only 
a  small  number  of  the  entire  series  could  be  classed.  I  then  examined 
the  worked  edges,  and  tried  to  find  if  the  ancient  flint-workers  had  any 
•definite  ideas  as  to  shapes  or  patterns  in  making  their  scrapers.  The 
bevelling  of  the  edge  varied  from  being  sharp,  almost  like  a  knife-edge, 
till  it  formed  a  right-angle  with  the  flat  face,  and,  in  some  cases,  the 
chipped  edge  inclined  inward  towards  the  flat  face  of  the  implement. 
This  variation  in  the  bevelling  was  not  satisfactory  as  a  method  of 
classification,  as  the  different  degrees  of  bevel  were  to  be  found  in  all 
shapes  and  sizes.  The  general  outline  of  the  dressed  surface  worked 
better.  I  found  the  dressed  scraper  edge  to  be  formed  in  several  definite 
curves,  some  circular,  others  elliptical,  oblique,  and  soforth,  and  though 
these  forms  may  originally  have  been  derived  from  the  shape  of  the 
flake  struck  from  waterworn  pebbles  of  flint,  the  same  curves  were  after- 
wards made  by  careful  workmanship.  I  have  accordingly  been  guided 
by  the  breadth  and  curve  of  the  dressed  edge  in  classifying  the  scrapers 
in  my  collection,  and  I  was  able  at  once  to  make  a  division  into  side- 
and  end-scrapers.  I  give  the  side-scrapers  the  first  place,  as  they  are 
the  representatives  of  the  Mousterien  "  racloirs,"  and,  in  many  cases, 
identical  with  them.  They  could  be  sub-divided  into  two  or  more  divi- 
sions, but,  for  the  present,  they  are  all  enumerated  together.  The  end- 
scrapers  may,  as  already  stated,  be  sub-divided,  according  to  curve  of  the 
worked  edge,  into  circular,  elliptical,  oblique,  square,  and  narrow  ended. 
Combinations  of  these  terms  could  also  be  applied,  in  order  to  make  the 
classification  more  exact.  There  are,  besides  these,  scrapers  having 
double  ends,  with  which  may  be  included  those  dressed  all  round,  as 
the  latter  are  only  short,  double-ended  scrapers.  There  is  another  kind, 
which  has  chiefly  been  obtained  from  the  various  sandhills,  with  promi- 
nent teeth-like  projections  from  the  scraping  edge,  which  I  have  called 
toothed  scrapers  ;  and  lastly,  there  are  the  so-called  hollow  scrapers, 
which  may  have  been  used  in  scraping  or  sawing  or,  perhaps,  both 
combined.  I  shall  not  deal  with  the  latter  at  present,  but  afterwards 
treat  of  their  several  varieties  in  a  separate  Paper. 

The  end-scrapers  were  found  to  be  sometimes  dressed  on  the  end 
only,  sometimes  on  the  end  and  one  side,  and  frequently  on  the  end 
and  two  sides.  It  is  therefore  necessary  to  make  further  sub-divisions 
in  all  the  end-scrapers  according  as  they  are  dressed  in  these  different 
ways.  In  some  cases  where  sides  and  ends  are  both  dressed,  it  is  not 
easy  to  decide  whether  some  examples  should  be  classed  as  end-  or  side- 
scrapers.  They  are,  perhaps,  both  combined,  as  in  fig.  2,  p-.  372.  Ey 
adopting  the  above  classification,  almost  every  scraper  can  be  placed.  My 
daughter  assisted  me  in  going  over  the  entire  series  a  second  time,  and 


372 


ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


we  had  no  difficulty  in  placing  the  large  number  I  have  mentioned  in 
their  fespective  classes,  divisions,  and  sub- divisions.  Examples  might 
be  met  with  which  appeared  to  be  a  sort  of  connecting-link  between 
two  kinds,  or  there  was,  perhaps,  an  accidental  variation  from  the  type 
intended  ;  but  it  was  quite  apparent  that  the  makers  of  the  scrapers  had 
definite  ideas  as  to  the  shapes  of  the  scraping  edges. 


FIG.  2   (natural  size). 

It  will  be  found  that  in  my  classification  I  am  not  entirely  at  vari- 
ance with  early  nomenclature,  as  semicircular  curve,  elliptical  curve, 
oblique,  and  square-ended  are  all  terms  employed  in  "  ReliquiaB 
Aquitanicse  "  in  much  the  same  sense  as  I  have  used  them. 

SIDE- SCRAPERS. 
Side-scrapers  are  those  having  one  or  both  sides  of  the  flake  dressed 


FIG.  3  and  3«  (natural  size;. 

or  bevelled.  Short  end-scrapers,  with  considerable  length  of  scraping 
edge,  have  been  called  side-scrapers  by  various  authorities,  and  therefore 
I  shall  include  them  in  this  division,  as  I  believe  both  kinds  fulfilled  the 


IRISH    FLINT   SCRAPERS. 


373 


same  purpose.  I  give  two  views  of  one  of  these  short  scrapers  in  fig.  3,. 
full  size.  It  was  found  at  Clough,  county  Antrim.  The  term  side- 
scraper  will  appear  misleading  when  we  include  these  broad-ended 
scrapers,  and  the  French  term  "  racloir,"  was  more  appropriate,  but 
with  the  explanation  I  have  given,  our  own  term  will  be  sufficiently 
understood. 

In  France  the  Palaeolithic  side-scrapers,  or  "  racloirs,"  had  a 
relationship  with  the  Mousterien  point.  Both  these  implements  have 
survived  into  Neolithic  times  in  Ireland,  and  we  can  easily  trace  the 
relationship  between  them.  The  flint-implement  makers  were,  I 
believe,  able  to  produce  flakes  of  various  patterns,  and  though  there 
were  many  failures,  and  much  waste,  large  quantities  of  the  kind 
required  were  always  produced.  This  is  evident,  from  the  large  numbers 
of  beautifully -pointed  flakes,  suitable  at  once,  or  with  very  little  dress- 
ing, for  spear-points,  which  are  found  at  various  sites  along  the  river 


FIGS.  4  and  4a  (natural  size). 

Bann,  whilst  in  the  sandhills,  and  several  inland  districts,  short  flakes, 
rounded  and  stout  at  the  end  opposite  the  bulb,  suitable  for  making  into 
scrapers,  are  in  greatest  abundance.  There  is  another  kind  of  flake 
which,  though  not  numerous,  is  comparatively  common,  of  which  a 
specimen,  from  "Whitepark  Bay,  is  shown  in  figs.  4  and  4a,  but  whether 
these  were  produced  by  accident  or  design,  I  am  not  at  present  prepared 
to  say.  There  is  a  wing  at  one  side  running  into  a  point,  as  shown  in 
the  figures,  and  if  placed  with  the  pointed- spur  upwards,  and  slightly 
dressed  along  the  margins  of  the  outer  face,  we  have  a  good  example  of 
the  Mousterien  point,  as  will  be  seen  in  figs.  5  and  5a  (p.  374)  of  a  specimen 
from  Culbane,  county  Deny.  One  would  think,  at  first  sight,  that  the 
implement,  which  is  a  kind  of  "racloir,"  shown  in  fig.  6  (one  of  sixty- 
four  found  together  at  Tullynahinion,  county  Antrim),  was  derived  from 
fig.  4,  by  the  rounding  off  of  the  point,  but  the  one  implement  is  not 
derived  from  the  other,  though  there  is  a  kind  of  relationship  between 
them,  as  numerous  flakes  like  fig.  4,  but  with  the  spur,  short  and 


374         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF  IRELAND. 


unpointed,  are  produced,  and  can  be  dressed  into  scrapers,  like  that 
shown  by  fig.  6.  Stout  flakes  have  often  one  or  both  sides  dressed  for 
scraping.  An  example  is  shown  from  Clough,  county  Antrim,  in  fig.  7(1), 


FIG.  5  and  5#  (natural  size). 

p.  375,  of  which  two  views  are  given.  Both  sides  are  bevelled,  but 
only  one  is  dressed  for  scraping.  The  other  still  retains  the  crust  of  the 
core  from  which  it  was  dislodged.  Another  side-scraper  from  Skerry,  in 
the  Braid,  is  shown  in  fig.  7  (3).  It  has  one  side  dressed  to  a  boldly 


FIG.  6  and  60  (natural  size). 

bevelled  edge,  which  is  carried  round  the  point  at  one  end.  The  other 
side  is  very  irregular,  but  has  not  been  touched  since  it  was  struck 
from  the  core.  It  can  be  easily  and  firmly  held  between  the  fingers 


IRISH    FLINT    SCRAPERS. 


375 


and  thumb,  though  it  is  possible  the  irregular  side  may  have  been 
inserted  in  a  handle.  Two*  views  are  also  given  of  this  implement. 
In  fig.  7  (2)  we  have  a  side-scraper  from  Whitepark  Bay,  county 
Antrim,  which  has  been  most  used  towards  the  narrow  end,  to  the  right 
of  the  figure.  The  handle-like  portion  is  rather  the  result  of  an  accident, 
as  the  bulb  is  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  wider  end  of  the  figure.  In 
stations  far  removed  from  the  chalk-rocks,  where  material  is  scarce,  and 
flakes  made  from  very  small  pebbles,  the  majority  of  these  implements 
are  of  the  side-scraper  kind.  In  some  of  the  larger  scrapers  there  is  a. 


FIGS.  7  (1-3).— Side-scrapers.    (Scale,  half  linear.; 

narrow  portion  at  one  or  both  ends  dressed  for  scraping,  which  often 
shows  evidence  of  having  been  more  used  than  the  broader  portion.  One 
would  imagine,  that  while  the  broader  scraping  edge  may  have  been 
employed  in  general  work,  the  narrow  end,  or  ends,  may  have  been 
required  for  special  use,  like  dipping  into  hollow  parts,  or  for  finishing 
some  portion  that  had  not  been  properly  scraped.  Side-scrapers  vary  in 
eize,  from  about  3£  inches  in  the  widest  part,  by  2f  inches,  and  over 
6  inches  round  the  scraping  edge,  to  the  very  minute  specimens  of  chert 
from  Bundoran,  scarcely  fths  of  an  incli  round  the  dressed  part. 


376        ROYAL   SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

END-SCRAPERS. 

Circular  Curve. — Scrapers  having  a  semicircular  curve  at  the  'dressed 
end  are  the  most  numerous.  Specimens  with  a  great  regularity  of  curve, 
like  those  figured,  are  plentiful.  In  some  the  curve  may  vary  slightly 
from  the  semicircular  outline,  but,  at  the  same  time,  the  purpose  of  the 
maker  can  be  easily  seen.  Some  may  have  slight  defects,  or  indentures, 
from  use,  but  in  that  case  also  it  will  be  apparent  that  the  original  con- 
dition of  the  edge  was  a  circular  curve.  Pig.  8  (4)  is  of  beautiful 
reddish  flint  from  Clough,  county  Antrim.  It  has  a  deep  bevel  nearly 
at  right  angles  to  the  face  of  the  flake,  and  it  is  slightly  dressed  on  both 


FIGS.  8  (4-8). — Scrapers  with  "Circular  Curve,     (Scale,  half  linear.) 

sides  round  to  the  bulb  end.  It  can  be  firmly  grasped  between  the 
finger  and  thumb,  and  could  be  used  in  that  way  for  scraping  without  any 
handle.  Fig.  8  (5)  is  a  long  flake,  having  a  dressed  edge  in  the  form  of 
a  semicircle.  In  classifying,  I  do  not  separate  a  long  implement  like 
this  from  the  shorter  ones,  as  the  scraping  edges  are  not  different.  There 
are  no  signs  of  use  on  the  side  edges  of  fig.  7  (2),  p.  375,  but  in  many 
specimens  those  edges  have  evidently  been  used  for  cutting  purposes. 
Fig.  8  (6)  is  dressed  on  both  sides  as  well  as  at  the  end.  Fig.  8  (7)  is 
•one  of  the  small  scrapers  from  Dundrum,  county  Down,  almost  circular, 


IRISH   FLINT   SCRAPERS. 


377 


but  not  dressed  entirely  round  the  circumference.  Fig.  8  (8),  p.  376,  is 
thick  at  the  dressed  end,  and  has  a  beautiful  curve ;  the  rest  of  the 
implement  is  thinner,  owing  to  the  flakes,  which  had  been  removed  from 
the  back,  dipping  deeply.  The  side  edges  show  evidence  of  having 
been  used  in  cutting.  Figs.  8  (5,  6,  and  8),  like  fig.  7  (1),  are  from 
Clough,  county  Antrim.  The  specimens  shown  in  illustration  of  this 
division  were  selected,  as  indeed  they  were  in  all  the  divisions,  so  as 
to  be  of  convenient  size.  I  have  many  much  larger,  and  some  a  good 
deal  smaller,  than  those  figured. 


FIGS.  9  (9-13). — Scrapers  with  Elliptical  Curve.     (Scale,  half  linear.) 

Elliptical  Curve. — From  the  circular  curve  it  is  easy  to  pass  to  those 
having  the  curve  in  the  form  of  an  ellipse.  Fig.  9  (9)  is  dressed  round 
the  sides  nearly  to  the  bulb,  but  the  greatest  thickness  is  at  the  apex.  The 
sides  could  have  been  used,  and  probably  were  used,  for  scraping.  This 
implement  was  found  in  Lismurnaghan,  near  Ballymena,  county  Antrim. 
Fig.  9  (10),  in  like  manner,  is  thick  at  the  apex,  and  finely  arched,  form- 
ing a  spoon-shaped  implement.  It  is  of  brownish-red  flint,  and  is  one  of 
seventeen  found  in  a  lump  during  agricultural  work  at  Beggarstown, 
about  midway  between  Ballymena  and  Ballymoney.  The  bulb  end  is 
thinner  than  the  rest  of  the  scraper.  The  side  edges,  towards  the  bulb, 
are  dressed,  and  may  have  been  used  for  scraping  or  cutting.  The 


378 


ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 


contracted  portion  may  even  have  formed  a  sort  of  handle  in  itself,  or 
may  have  been  prepared  for  insertion  in  a  piece  of  wood  or  horn. 
Pig.  9  (11),  page  377,  found  in  Culbane,  county  Deny,  resembles 
fig.  9  (10),  and  is  somewhat  similar  in  side  view.  The  upper  portion, 
to  the  left  side  of  the  figure,  has  been  used,  and  it  is  dressed  on  one 
side  almost  to  the  bulb.  Fig.  9  (12)  is  a  smaller  specimen,  but  still 
typical  of  this  kind  of  implement.  It  was  found  in  Glen  wherry,  near 
Moorfields.  Fig.  9  (13)  has  a  deep  and  strcmg  scraping  edge  at  the 
apex,  and  has  slight  marks  of  dressing  on  both  sides.  It  was  found 
near  Skerry,  in  the  Braid. 

OUique-Ended. — The  oblique-ended  form  a  very  distinct  class  ;  they 
are  made  right  and  left,  and  I  show  a  fair  proportion  of  each  kind  in 


FIGS.  10  (14-18).— Oblique-ended  Scrapers.     (Scale,  half  linear.) 

the  group  (figs.  10).  I  do  not  mean  to  infer,  however,  that  an  equal 
number  of  the  persons  who  used  the  implements  were  right-  and  left- 
handed.  A  right-handed  person  might  easily  use  them  all  by  scraping 
from  him  with  the  one  kind,  and  towards  himself  with  the  other. 
Figs.  10  (14  and  15)  are  right  and  left,  and  are  both  from  the  Braid.  I 
show  both  faces  of  fig.  10  (16),  which  comes  from  Clough.  Fig.  10  (17) 
is  from  Glenleslie,  in  Clough  district.  A  side  view  is  given  of  this- 


IRISH   FLINT   SCRAPERS. 


379 


implement  in  addition  to  the  dressed  face.  The  side  view  would  fairly 
represent  similar  positions  of  all  the  figures  in  the  group.  Pig.  10  (18), 
p.  378,  is  from  Lismurnaghan,  and  is  made  from  an  external  flake. 
Some  oblique  implements  appear  to  be  closely  allied  to  side- scrapers 
or  "  racloirs." 

Broad-  or  Square-Ended. — These  may  be  looked  on  as  the  opposite  of 
those  with  elliptical  curve,  being  flattened  in  the  one  case,  and  drawn 
out  towards  a  point  in  the  other.  Some  of  those  with  long  flattened 
curves  may  have  been  intended,  by  the  makers,  to  be  semicircular,. and 
the  others,  from  doing  hard  work,  may  have  lost  material  at  the  apex, 


FIGS.  11  (19-23). — Square-ended  Scrapers.     (Scale,  half  linear.) 

and  the  curve,  in  consequence,  have  become  flattened ;  but  in  addition  to 
such  objects,  whose  flattened  ends  may  be  the  result  of  secondary  causes, 
we  have  many  of  this  kind,  which  were  designedly  manufactured. 
Fig.  11  (19)  shows  a  thick  implement  from  Whitepark  Bay,  and  I  give 
both  back  and  side  views.  Pig.  11  (20)  is  also  a  strong  flake,  with  a 
deep  scraping  edge,  almost  at  right  angles  to  the  face  of  the  flake.  It 
was  found  near  Clough,  county  Antrim.  Pig.  11  (21),  from  Whitepark 
Bay,  hardly  comes  under  the  definition  of  broader  than  long,  otherwise  it 
might  be  included  with  the  side-scrapers.  It  would  certainly  do  similar 
work  to  that  of  the  latter  kind.  The  scraper  shown  in  fig.  11  (22)  is 

JOUK.  R.S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  IV.,  5TH  SBR.  2  D 


380         ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

also  from  Clough,  and  has  a  deeply -bevelled  edge.  That  shown  by  fig.  1 1 
(23),  p.  379,  is  formed  from  a  rather  thin  flake,  but  the  bevelled  edge  is 
neatly  made.  It  was  found  by  myself  in  the  sandhills  of  Portstewart. 
"Whilst  those  figured  would  probably  come  under  the  sub-class  of  dressed 
at  ends  only,  there  is  a  fair  proportion  of  scrapers  having  squarish  ends, 
which  are  likewise  dressed  on  one  or  both  sides. 

Small-Ended  Scrapers  are  a  class  that  are  found  more  abundantly  at 
"Whitepark  Bay  than  elsewhere,  and  consequently  all  those  depicted  on 
figs.  12  (24-29)  are  from  that  place.  Figs.  12  (24,  25,  and  28)  are 
dressed  at  the  tips  only.  Fig.  12  (29)  is  dressed  on  the  sides,  but  the 


FIGS.  12  (24-29).— Narrow- ended  Scrapers.     (Scale,  half  linear.) 

narrow  end  is  greatly  arched,  and  has  the  usual  dressing  of  a  scraper 
at  that  part,  which,  besides,  shows  greater  strength  for  scraping  pur- 
poses, than  any  other  part  of  the  implement.  Both  sides  of  fig.  12  (26) 
are  dressed,  and  one  side  of  fig.  12  (27).  These  two  examples  might  be 
included  with  the  elliptical  curves,  so  nearly  does  one  class  sometimes 
approach  another.  Examples  like  figs.  12  (25  and  28)  certainly  repre- 
sent a  definite  type  of  implement,  and  cannot  be  considered  as  par- 
tially made,  or  in  a  state  of  temporary  transition  into  an  implement  with 
broader  scraping  edges.  Even  such  implements  as  figs.  12  (26  and  27), 


IRISH   FLINT   SCRAPERS. 


381 


which  are  dressed  along  one  or  both  sides  show  the  greatest  depth  and 
strength  for  scraping  purposes  at  their  narrow  ends.  As  I  have  pointed 
out,  narrow  scraping  ends  are  sometimes  combined  with  side- scrapers.  - 

DOUBLE-ENDED. 

We  have  scrapers,  as  will  be  seen  by  figs.  13  (30-35),which  are  dressed 
for  scraping  on  both  ends,  as  figs.  13  (31  and  33).  Their  dressed  ends  may 
be  circular  cur  re,  elliptical,  or  oblique,  and  they  could,  therefore,  be 
classed  in  the  divisions  already  described,  but  as  the  two  ends  in  one 
implement  might  be  different,  and  as  implements  of  this  kind  are  not 


FIGS.  13  (30-35).— Double-ended  Scrapers.     (Scale,  half  linear.) 

numerous,  they  may  conveniently  be  classed  separately.  With  these 
may  be  grouped  such  as  are  dressed  all  round,  as  they  are  only  short 
double-ended  scrapers.  Fig.  13  (30)  is  of  the  latter  kind,  and  shows 
a  portion  of  the  mid  rib  of  the  flake  from  which  it  was  formed.  It  is 
dressed  equally  well  all  round,  and  is  concave  on  the  undressed  side,. 
Fig.  13  (31)  is  dressed  on  both  ends,  and  has  not  been  trimmed  for  scrap- 
ing on  the  side  edges,  but  some  slight  chips  have  been  removed,  probably 
whilst  being  employed  as  a  cutting-tool.  The  .implement  shown  in 
fig.  13  (32)  is  also  dressed  all  round,  and  has  a  triangular  appearance.  The 
top  portion  in  the  figure  has  the  deepest  scraping  edge,  the  bevel  being 

2D2 


382 


KOYAL   SOCIETY    OP   ANTIQUAKIES    OF   IKELAND. 


nearly  at  right  angles  to  the  face  of  the  object.  The  longish  scraper  shown 
in  fig.  13  (33),  p.  381,  is  dressed  on  the  sides  as  well  as  the  ends.  The 
greatest  strength  for  scraping  purposes  appears  in  the  broad  end  of,  the 
figure.  Pig.  13  (34)  shows  another  object  which  is  circular.  It  has  equal 
scraping  strength  all  round  the  circumference.  I  show,  in  fig.  13  (35), 
an  implement  dressed  at  the  ends  and  all  round, 'but  with  an  indenture  on 
each  side.  I  have  only  about  half  a-dozen  implements  fashioned  in  this 
way.  Altogether,  scrapers  of  .the  double-ended  and  all-round  kinds!, 
though  not  so  numerous  as  other  varieties,  are  not  rare. 

TOOTHED- SCUAPERS. 

Toothed-sciapers,  like  those  of  the  last  division,  might  be  included 
with  the  circular  curves,  oblique-ended,  and  so  on,  but  on  account  of  the 


FIGS.  14  (36-39).— Toothed-scrapers.     (Scale,  half  linear.) 


tooth-like  projections,  which  suggest  their  name,  and  being,  at  the  same 
time,  not  numerous,  as  compared  with  other  kinds,  they  may  con- 
veniently be  kept  apart.  The  teeth-like  prominences  are  peculiar,  and, 
no  doubt,  purposely  designed.  I  show  in  fig.  14  (36),  an  implement 
which,  except  for  the  teeth,  would  be  classed  as  a  side-scraper,  the  bulb 
being  at  the  left-hand  side  of  the  figure.  The  object  shown  in  fig.  14  (37) 
is  rather  an  oblique-ended  implement.  I  show  two  views  of  fig.  14  (38). 


IRISH   FLINT    SCRAPERS. 


383 


The  dressing  is  bold,  and  the  projections  at  fairly  regular  intervals. 
The  two  faces  of  fig.  14  (39),  p.  382,  are  shown,  and  altogether  the  figures 
give  a  fair  sample  of  this  class  of  implement.  Some  might,  perhaps, 
regard  them  as  scrapers  only  partially  manufactured,  but  they  are 
generally  so  worked  in  the  spaces  between  the  teeth,  and  also  .along 
the  sides  of  the  teeth  themselves,  that  I  am  inclined  to  regard  them  as 
finished  implements  of  their  kind,  and  that  the  tooth-like  prominences 
were  necessary  in  some  kinds  of  scraping.  In  "Woods'  "  Natural  History 
of  Man"  he  figures,  in  the  portion  dealing  with  the  Eskimos,  p.  699? 
one  of  the  hafted  flint  scrapers,  and  a  toothed  object  also  hafted,  which 
he  classes  together  as  scrapers  ;  and  in  the  text  he  says,  "  the  fat,  blood, 
and  oil  are  first  sucked  from  the  skins,  and  the  women  then  scrape  the 
inner  surface  with  an  ingenious  implement,  sometimes  furnished  with 
teeth,  and  at  other  times  plain,  like  blunt  knives  "  (p.  698). 

USED  SCRAPERS. 
In  figs.  15  (40-42)  I  show  a  few  scrapers  with  the  edge  worn  by 


FIGS.  15  (40-42).— Used  Scrapers.     (Scale,  half  linear.) 

use.     The  edge  in  these  cases  must  have  been  dragged  along  with  great 
pressure  on  some  hard  substance,  so  that  flakes  have  been  repeatedly 


384  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF   IRELAND. 

detached  from  the  dressed  end  of  the  scraper  parallel  to  the  original 
dressing.  Sometimes  the  flakes  have  broken  short  about  midway  in  the 
thickness  of  the  scraper,  and  by  continued  use  a  ledge  has  formed,  as 
shown  in  figs.  15  (40  and  42),  p.  383.  I  give  three  views  of  each  of  these 
figures.  The  side  views  of  the  figures  show  the  ledges  referred  to,  and  I 
indicate  by  dotted  lines  the  original  outline  of  these  implements  before 
they  were  used.  Even  in  working,  the  owners  endeavoured  to  keep  the 
circular  shape,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  right-hand  or  bulb  faces  of  the  two 
figures  showing  the  used  edges.  It  is  alleged  that  some  implements  may 
have  been  pushed  along  on  their  flat  faces  as  planes.  If  they  were  so- 
used,  the  chips  would  all  be  detached  from  the  undressed  face,  but  very 
few  scrapers  show  injury  or  marks  of  use  on  that  face.  I  have  found 
some  with  the  marks  referred  to,  but  the  number  is  so  small  compared 
with  the  entire  collection,  that  I  am  convinced  the  Irish  scrapers  have 
not  been  used  as  planes.  If  the  injury  was  not  the  result  of  accident,  it 
was  more  likely  caused  by  using  the  implement  as  an  axe  or  chopper.  I 
show  a  scraper  injured  in  the  way  indicated  in  fig.  15  (41).  Scrapers 
were  probably  employed  for  many  purposes.  From  their  numbers  they 
were,  no  doubt,  in  daily  use,  and  would  serve,  perhaps,  as  knife,  spoon,  or 
axe.  That  they  were  sometimes  subject  to  rough  usage  is  plain  from  the 
damaged  edges  we  see  on  so  many  examples.  Among  other  work,  they 
were  probably  used  in  scraping  hematite  and  chalk,  to  procure  paint 
with  which  to  decorate  the  persons  of  the  Prehistoric  people.  In 
vol.  vii.,  4th  Series  of  the  Journal,  p.  115,  I  show,  in  a  Paper  contributed 
by  me  on  the  finds  from  Whitepark  Bay  (figs.  61  and  62),  examples  of 
chalk  and  hematite  which  have  been  scraped,  as  is  evidenced  by  the 
grooves  and  strias  appearing  on  the  objects  referred  to.  In  the  piece  of 
chalk  are  two  grooves  of  considerable  depth  which  a  scraper  with 
circularly  curved  edge  would  make.  The  pebble  of  hematite,  fig.  62,  is 
one  out  of  several  which  have  been  found  at  Whitepark  Bay,  showing 
coarse  stria?,  crossing  each  other  in  different  directions,  evidently  caused 
by  scraping  the  stones,  to  procure  red  powder  for  paint.  The  chalk  was, 
no  doubt,  scraped  in  like  manner,  either  for  white  paint  or,  perhaps,  to 
mix  with  grease,  to  make  putty  or  cement,  for  fixing  tools  or  implements 
in  handles.  "We  find  some  scrapers  which  have  had  their  sharp  scraping 
edges  smoothed,  as  if  ground  on  some  hard  substance,  but  these  are  not 
nearly  so  numerous  as  those  which  show  marks  of  use,  such  as  are 
exhibited  in  the  several  figures  in  p.  383. 

Besides  the  different  varieties  of  scrapers  I  have  described,  I  find 
some  which  are  dressed  at  the  bulb  end  instead  of  the  end  opposite.  In 
the  greater  number  of  scrapers  the  dressing  is  towards  the  ridge  face  of 
the  flake,  but  in  a  few  cases  we  find  the  dressing  towards  the  plain 
or  bulb  face.  In  some  scrapers  the  dressing  is  partly  towards  the  one 
face  and  partly  towards  the  other,  whilst  again  we  have  some  with  two 
or  three  projections  dressed  for  scraping.  I  have  one  object  in  the  form  of 


IRISH   FLINT    SCRAPERS.  885 

an  equilateral  triangle,  with  the  three  angles  dressed  as  scrapers  and  the 
sides  undressed.  This  implement  could  be  classed  with  the  narrow-ended 
scrapers  as  the  three  angles  are  three  such  scrapers.  In  Whitepark  Bay 
and  other  sites,  where  we  find  everything  connected  with  the  manu- 
facture of  flint  implements,  there  are  many  minor  scraping  implements 
besides  those  classed  under  the  name  of  scrapers.  You  may  take  up 
many  flakes  which  will  show  minute  dressing  on  one  side  of  a  sharp 
edge,  as  if  it  had  been  used  to  scrape  some  such  substance  as  bone. 
I  have  observed  similar  dressing  on  flakes  from  French  and  English 
caves  of  the  Paleolithic  Age. 

The  appended  table  (p.  391)  will  show  the  different  classes  and  sub- 
classes, and  the  numbers  and  localities  of  each.  The  localities  given  are 
only  the  best  known  places  in  a  wide  district.  Some  of  them,  as  Clough 
and  the  Braid,  may  include  many  townlands,  the  former  being  a  hilly 
district  or  sort  of  plateau,  and  the  latter  a  valley  ten  or  twelve  miles 
long. 

SCRAPERS  IN  RELATION  TO  SKIN-CURING. 

The  annual  Report  of  the  Bureau  of  Ethnology,  Washington,  for  1887- 
88,  is  taken  up  with  an  exhaustive  account  by  John  Murdock,  Naturalist 
and  Observer,  Polar  Expedition  to  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,  1881-83.  He 
says,  speaking  of  the  Eskimos,  at  p.  287  : — "  These  people  still  retain  the 
art  of  making  flint  arrow-heads  and  spear-heads  and  other  implements, 
such  as  the  blades  for  skin-scrapers  to  be  hereafter  described."  At  p.  294, 
he  adds  : — "  For  removing  bits  of  flesh,  fat,  etc.,  from  a  green  skin,  and  for 
breaking  the  grain  and  removing  the  subcutaneous  tissue  from  a  dried 
skin,  the  women  who  appear  to  do  the  most,  if  not  all,  of  this  work  use 
a  tool,  consisting  of  a  blunt  stone  blade  mounted  in  a  short  thick,  haft  of 
wood  or  ivory,  fitting  exactly  to  the  inside  of  the  hand,  and  having  holes 
or  hollows  to  receive  the  tips  of  the  fingers  and  thumb.  The  skin  is 
laid  on  the  thigh,  and  thoroughly  scraped  with  this  tool,  which  is 
grasped  firmly  in  the  right  hand,  and  pushed  from  the  worker."  This 
tool  is  used  for  "  softening  skins  which  have  become  stiffened  from 
being  wet  and  then  dried.  .  .  .  "We  obtained  eighteen  such  scrapers  and 
two  unmounted  handles.  Every  woman  owns  one  of  these  tools."  He 
describes  these  implements,  and  figures  several  of  them  in  their  handles. 
One  handled  scraper,  instead  of  flint,  "had  a  blade  of  sandstone  flat  and 
rather  thin,  with  a  smooth,  rounded  edge,"p.  297.  "Deerskins  are  always 
dressed  as  furs  with  the  hair  on.  The  skin  is  rough  dried  in  the  open 
air,  with  considerable  subcutaneous  tissue  adhering  to  it,  and  laid  aside 
until  needed.  "When  wanted  for  use,  a  woman  takes  the  skin,  and 
works  it  over  carefully  with  a  stone  scraper  on  the  flesh  side,  removing 
every  scrap  of  subcutaneous  tissue,  and  breaking  the  grain  of  the  skin 
which  leaves  a  surface  resembling  white  chamois  leather,  and  very 
soft.  .  .  .  All  furs  are  prepared  in  the  same  way.  Small  seal  skins,  to- 
be  worn  with  the  hair  on,  are  scraped  very  clean,  and,  I  think,  soaked 


386         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

in  urine  before  they  are  spread  out  to  dry,"  p.  300.  Nansen,  in 
"  Eskimo  Life,"  pp.  126  to  132,  gives  a  very  full  account  of 
skin-curing  among  the  Greenland  Eskimos.  Different  kinds  of  skins 
are  prepared  in  different  ways.  Black  skins,  so-called  because  the 
grain  or  outer  membrane  of  the  skin  of  the  seal  is  either  black 
or  dark  brown,  are  obtained  by  scraping  the  blubber  or  underside. 
To  obtain  white  skins,  they  are  taken  while  quite  fresh,  and  after  the 
blubber  has  been  roughly  removed,  rolled  up,  and  laid  in  a  tolerably 
warm  place.  There  they  lie  until  the  hairs  and  outer  membrane  can 
easily  be  scraped  away  by  a  mussel  shell.  If  seal  skins  are  to  be  used 
for  shoes,  the  blubber  and  inner  layer  of  the  skin  itself  are  scraped  away 
by  a  crooked  knife.  Bird-skins  are  turned  inside  out,  and  the  layer  of 
fat  is  scraped  away  as  thoroughly  as  possible,  with  a  mussel  shell  or 
spoon,  and  is  eaten.  Chewing  the  fleshy  side  of  the  skin  until  all  the 
fat  is  extracted  is  a  very  regular  part  in  the  curing  of  skins. 

Nordenskiold,  in  the  "  Yoyage  of  the  Vega,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  122,  describes 
a  hide-scraper  used  by  the  Chukches,  which  he  figures  at  p.  117  of  same 
volume.  It  is  an  implement  of  stone  or  iron,  with  semicircular  edge, 
fastened  to  a  wooden  handle. 

* '  With  this  tool  the  moistened  skin  is  cleaned  very  particularly,  and  is  then  rubbed, 
stretched,  and  kneaded  so  carefully,  that  several  days  go  to  the  preparation  of  a  single 
reindeer-skin.  That  this  is  hard  work  is  also  shown  by  the  woman  who  is  employed 
at  it  in  the  tent  dripping  with  perspiration.  .  .  .  When  the  skin  has  been  sufficiently 
worked,  she  fills  a  vessel  with  her  own  urine,  mixes  this  with  comminuted  willow  - 
bark,  which  has  been  dried  over  the  lamp,  and  rubs  the  blood-warm  liquid  into  the 
reindeer-skin.  .  .  .  The  skins  are  made  very  soft  by  this  process,  and  on  the  inner 
side  almost  resemble  chamois-leather." 

In  the  Stone  Age  in  Ireland,  when  skins  would  be  used  for  clothing 
and  covering  of  tents,  we  can  conceive  the  process  of  skin-curing  being 
carried  on  in  some  such  manner  as  has  been  described,  and  how  the 
flint-scrapers  would  be  usefully  employed  in  removing  subcutaneous 
tissue  and  in  softening  skins  in  the  way  similar  implements  are  used,  or 
were  used  until  lately,  among  the  Eskimos  and  other  northern  tribes 
in  Asia  and  America. 

PIKE  PBODTJCTNG. 

Sir  John  Evans  is  of  opinion  that  many  of  the  flint-scrapers  were 
used  in  producing  fire.  He  comes  "  to  the  conclusion  that  a  certain 
proportion  of  these  instruments  were  in  use,  not  for  scraping  hides  like 
the  others,  but  for  scraping  iron  pyrites,  and  not  improbably,  in  later 
days,  even  iron  or  steel,  for  procuring  fire.  Were  ihey  used  for  such 
a  purpose,  we  can  readily  understand  why  they  should  so  often  present 
a  bruising  of  the  edge  and  an  irregularity  of  form.  "We  can  also  find 
a  means  of  accounting  for  their  great  abundance."  He  adds  :— "  We 
may  in  any  case  assume  that  flints  have  been  in  use  as  fire-producing 


IRISH   FLINT    SCRAPERS.  387 

agents  for  something  like  2000  years,  and  that,  consequently,  the  number 
of  them  that  have  thus  served  must  be  enormous.  What  has  become  of 
them  all  ?  ...  Many,  no  doubt,  were  mere  irregular  lumps  of  flint, 
broken  from  time  to  time  to  produce  such  an  edge  as  would  scrape  steel ; 
but  is  it  not  in  the  highest  degree  probable  that  many  were  of  the  same 
class  as  those  sold  for  the  same  purpose  at  the  present  day — flakes 
chipped  into  a  more  or  less  scraper-like  form  at  one  end?"1  He  de- 
scribes the  finding  by  Canon  Greenwell,  F.R.S.,  in  English  barrows  of 
pieces  of  iron  pyrites  in  company  with  flakes  of  flint,  and  says  : — "  It  is 
hard  to  imagine  any  other  purpose  for  which  pyrites  could  be  scraped 
by  flint,  except  that  of  producing  fire."2 

I  have  given  this  matter  considerable  attention,  and  I  do  not  believe 
that  Irish  scrapers  were  used  in  conjunction  with  pyrites  or  steel  to 
produce  fire.  At  Whitepark  Bay,  county  Antrim,  I  have  found  over 
2500  scrapers  around  the  hut- sites  where  they  were  manufactured, 
large  and  small  and  of  all  patterns,  and  for  every  scraper  there  were 
at  least  twenty  to  thirty  flakes  and  broken  pieces  of  flint,  any  one  of 
which  would  have  been  as  suitable  for  producing  fire  as  the  best  made 
scraper.  We  have  heard  of  the  patience  of  savages,  but  to  trim  a  flake 
into  the  form  of  a  scraper  before  using  it  to  produce  fire,  when  it  would 
be  no  better  for  the  purpose  than  an  untrimmed  flake,  is  not  a  reasonable 
supposition.  At  Portstewart  and  the  Grangemore  sites  on  opposite  side 
of  the  Bann,  I  obtained  over  800  scrapers.  At  Dundrum,  county 
Down,  over  2000,  and  at  Bundoran,  county  Donegal,  over  400 ;  the 
majority  of  the  latter  being  very  small,  and  made  of  chert  from  the 
Carboniferous  limestone  ;  but  in  none  of  these  sites  did  I  ever  find  a 
particle  of  pyrites,  though  I  was  always  on  the  look-out  for  it.  In 
other  sites  round  the  Irish  Coast,  as  at  Horn  Head,  Ballyness,  Achill 
Island,  Killala,  etc.,  where  we  find  hearths  and  charred  remains,  showing 
that  the  people  used  fire,  there  was  little  flint  and  no  pyrites.  The 
implements  were  mostly  made  of  granitic  gneiss,  Carboniferous  slate,  or 
whatever  hard  rock  the  particular  neighbourhood  produced. 

I  think  it  is  generally  acknowledged  that  there  was  an  earlier 
method  of  producing  fire  than  that  by  percussion  of  pyrites  and  flint. 
The  friction  caused  by  rubbing  a  pointed  stick  in  a  groove  in  another 
piece  of  wood,  or  causing  a  pointed  piece  of  wood  to  rotate  quickly  in  a 
hole  in  another  piece,  is  said  to  produce  fire  easily  and  quickly.  There 
are  the  traditions  of  many  tribes  that  this  was  an  earlier  method,  and,  I 
think,  the  sacred  character  and  superstitious  notions  attached  to  fire, 
produced  in  this  way,  as  compared  with  that  produced  by  percussion 
of  flint  and  steel  is  fair  presumptive  evidence  that  it  is  earlier.  I 
believe  it  is  probable  that  the  people  of  the  Stone  Age  produced  fire 
when  they  required  it  by  friction  of  pieces  of  wood  instead  of  using 
scrapers  for  the  purpose. 

1  "  Stone  Implements  of  Great  Britain,"  2nd  ed.,  p.  315.  2  Ibid.,  p.  317. 


388  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

In  the  Report  of  the  Bureau  of  Ethnology  already  quoted  (p.  289), 
it  says  : — 

"  In  former  times  fire  was  obtained  in  the  method  common  to  so  many  savages, 
from  the  heat  developed  by  the  friction  of  the  end  of  a  stick  worked  like  a  drill 
against  a  piece  of  soft  wood.  .  .  .  Fire  is  usually  obtained  nowadays  by  striking  a 
spark  in  the  ordinary  method  from,  a  bit  of  flint  with  a  steel "  (p.  291). 

In  the  "  Ghost  Dance  Religion,"  by  James  Mooney,  Report,  Bureau 
of  Ethnology,  for  1892-93,  Part  II.,  p.  668,  he  gives  quotations  showing 
the  teaching  of  the  Delaware  prophet,  and,  among  other  things,  the 
people  were  "to  give  up  the  use  of  firearms,  and  live  entirely  in  the 
state  they  were  in  before  the  white  people  found  out  their  country  .  .  . 
that  fire  was  not  pure  that  was  made  by  steel  and  flint,  but  that  they 
should  make  it  by  rubbing  two  sticks  together." 

Mr.  E.  B.  Tylor,  in  "Early  History  of  Mankind,"  says:— "Though 
some  of  the  higher  methods  date  far  back  in  the  history  of  the  old  world, 
the  employment  of  the  wooden  friction  apparatus  in  Europe,  even  for 
the  practical  purposes  of  ordinary  life,  has  come  up  through  the  classical 
and  mediaeval  times  into  the  last  century,  and  for  all  we  know  it  may  still 
exist "  (p.  255).  The  old  fire-making,  by  friction  of  two  pieces  of  wood, 
"  has  held  its  own  even  in  Germany  and  England  into  quite  late  times,  in 
spite  of  all  the  efforts  of  the  Church  to  put  it  down  "  (p.  258).  Hedescribes 
a  need-fire  in  Germany  in  the  seventeenth  century.  A  murrain  had  broken 
out  among  the  cattle,  and  on  an  appointed  day  all  the  tires  in  every  house 
were  put  out,  and  a  fire  was  produced  by  friction  of  pieces  of  wood  with 
which  they  kindled  straw  and  brushwood  previously  collected  together. 
Then  .the  cattle  were  made  to  pass  through  the  fire.  A  similar  ceremony 
at  Perth  in  1826  is  described  (p.  259)  ;  and  the  production  of  a  need-fire 
in  Ireland  by  the  friction  of  pieces  of  wood,  and  for  the  purpose  of  curing 
cattle,  .is  described  in  the  Journal  of  this  Society,  vol.  vi.,  4th  Series, 
p.  64.  This  is  said  to  have  occurred  in  the  year  1817.  Mr.  Tylor  says 
further,  in  reference  to  the  production  of  fire,  that  the  common  notion 
that  the  friction  of  two  pieces  of  wood  was  the  original  method  used  has 
strong  and  wide-lying  evidence  in  its  favour,  and  very  little  that  can  be 
said  against  it.  He  adds  : — "  Perhaps  the  most  notable  fact  bearing  on 
this  question,  is  the  use  of  pyrites  by  the  miserable  inhabitants  of  Terra 
del  Fuego.  I  do  not  know  that  fire-sticks  have  ever  been  seen  among 
them,  but  it  seems  more  reasonable  to  suppose  that  they  were  used  till 
they  were  supplanted  by  the  discoviry  of  the  fire-making  properties  of 
pyrites  than  to  make  so  insignificant  a  people  an  exception  to  a  world- 
wide rule"  (p.  262). 

Plint  and  steel  were  not,  however,  in  very  general  use  in  Ireland. 
They  were  occasionally  used  by  labourers  when  working  in  the  fields  to 
produce  a  light  for  their  pipes.  I  have  often  seen  them  used,  and  have 
several  specimens  of  the  steels  and  flints  used  with  them,  which  I 


IRISH    FLINT    SCRAPERS.  389 

collected  when  they  were  being  supplanted  by  the  lucifer  match.  The 
flint  and  steel  were  not  used  to  light  the  fire  in  the  mornings  as  the 
lucifer  match  is  now  employed  to  do  in  many  houses.  It  was  a  general 
custom  for  the  fires  at  bed-time  to  have  two  or  three  peats  put  over  the 
live  coals,  and  all  covered  over  with  the  ashes  on  the  hearth.  This  was 
called  "raking  the  fire,"  and  it  smouldered  all  night,  and  was  still 
burning  in  the  morning,  and  gave  sufficient  live  coals  to  kindle  the 
njorning  fire.  In  fact,  the  fire  was  continuous  from  day  to  day  and  from 
year  to  year ;  but  if,  by  chance,  a  fire  did  go  out,  a  light  was  obtained 
from  a  neighbouring  house.  In  the  Stone  Age  something  like  this  would, 
no  doubt,  be  the  common  usage,  and  new  fires  would  seldom  have  to  be 
produced.  Sir  John  Lubbock  says  that  the  Australians  would  go  long 
distances  to  get  a  light  from  some  other  tribe  rather  than  take  the 
trouble  of  producing  fire  for  themselves.1 

The  pieces  of  flint  used  with  the  steel  in  the  north  of  Ireland  were, 
as  far  as  I  ever  saw,  irregular  lumps.  If  a  labourer  wanted  to  light  his 
pipe  he  had  seldom  any  difliculty  in  finding  a  piece  of  flint  by  looking 
around,  and  if  it  was  too  large  he  broke  it  to  get  a  piece  which  suited 
his  purpose.  Sometimes  a  suitable  piece  was  carried  in  a  box  with  the 
tinder,  but  there  was  no  trade  in  either  the  steels  or  the  flints  that  I 
ever  heard  of.  The  country  smiths  made  the  steels  when  they  were 
commissioned  to  do  so,  and  the  flints  were  procured  in  the  fields  in  the 
way  described. 

I  believe,  therefore,  that  as  regards  the  north  of  Ireland,  the  flints 
used  in  the  production  of  fire  with  steel  were  not  exceedingly  numerous, 
but  even  if  they  were  so,  we  must  look  for  them  among  the  irregular  and 
untrimmed  pieces  that  are  scattered  plentifully  over  the  cultivated  land. 
But  iron  pyrites  and  flint  have  been  found  together  in  graves.  Were 
they  placed  there  with  the  idea  of  producing. fire  ?  If  the  pyrites  were 
in  the  bright  and  unoxidised  condition,  there  might  be  some  grounds  for 
believing  that  such  was  the  intention  of  those  who  placed  them  in  the 
graves,  but  if  in  the  oxidised  state,  as  the  examples  described  by  Canon 
Greenwell  are,  and  capable  of  yielding  a  reddish  brown  powder  when 
scraped,  I  think  it  more  likely  that  the  pyrites  and  flint  were  put  along- 
side the  departed  with  the  idea  of  enabling  him  to  obtain  paint  with 
which  to  decorate  himself. 

SUMMARY. 

We  have  seen  that  scrapers  are  a  class  of  implement  which  is  much 
more  abundant  than  was  generally  suspected.  That  the  parts  dressed  for 
scraping  were  made,  in  general  terms,  long,  rounded,  and  narrow.  Prom 
finding  the  Eskimos  using  similar  implements  in  the  dressing  of  skins, 
it  is  probable  that  the  majority  of  our  scrapers  were  similarly  employed ; 
that  other  stones  besides  flint  were  probably  used  for  scrapers  in  parts  of 

*  "  Origin,  of  Civilization,"  p.  312. 


390  ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF   IRELAND. 

Ireland  where  flint  is  not  found.  The  nature  of  the  injury  to  the  edges  of 
some  which  show  signs  of  use  would  lead  us  to  infer  that  in  some  instances 
they  had  been  employed  in  scraping  hard  substances  like  stone,  probably 
haematite  and  chalk,  for  paint.  Stones  of  this  material,  with  coarse  stria3, 
being  found  around  the  hut  sites  at  Whitepark  Bay  in  association  with 
flakes  and  scrapers,  makes  this  idea  very  probable.  That  scrapers  were 
ever  used  with  pyrites  or  steel  for  the  production  of  fire  is  certainly  not 
proven.  It  is  more  likely  that  the  method  of  producing  fire  by  the 
friction  of  two  pieces  of  wood  was  in  use  in  the  Stone  Age,  and  that 
a  scraper  would  not  be  neatly  dressed  in  order  to  be  used  to  produce  fire 
when  an  undressed  flake  would  answer  the  purpose  fully  as  well.  The 
pyrites  found  in  association  with  scrapers  in  graves,  as  now  exhibited  in 
the  British  Museum,  is  oxidised,  and,  instead  of  being  used  for  the  pro- 
duction of  fire  by  percussion,  was  more  probably  intended  as  a  means  of 
producing  paint,  that  the  deceased  person  migh  t  appear  properly  adorned 
in  the  Spirit  world. 


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[391] 


392  ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF   IRELAND. 


THE  RECENT  DISCOVERY  OF  OGAMS  IN  THE  COUNTY 
OF  ANTRIM. 

BY  THE  REV.  GEORGE  R.  BUICK,  M.A.,  LL.D. 
[Submitted  NOVEMBER  29,  1898.] 

the  course  of  the  past  summer,  the  Rev.  "W.  P.  Carmody,  B.A., 
one  of  our  members,  and  Rector  of  Connor,  had  the  good  fortune  to 
come  across  two  Ogam  inscriptions  hitherto  unknown  to  the  Archaeolo- 
gical world.  Hearing  from  his  man-servant  that  there  was  "  a  cove  "  in 
a  field  belonging  to  Mr.  "Win.  Hyndman,  of  Carncomb,  about  half  a  mile 
south-east!  of  the  village  of  Connor,  he  determined  to  pay  it  a  visit  of  in- 
spection. It  had  many  years  ago  been  open,  but  afterwards  closed  for  a 
long  time,  and  he  had  some  difficulty  in  finding  it.  Fortunately  he 
succeeded  in  doing  so,  and  soon  effected  an  entrance.  Immediately,  he 
noticed  two  stones  in  the  roof  with  Ogam  scores.  Being  familiar  with 
similar  inscriptions  in  the  county  of  Waterford,  and  elsewhere  in  the 
south  of  Ireland,  he  recognised  at  once  the  nature  of  the  find.  Some- 
time after,  on  his  invitation,  I  had  an  opportunity  along  with  Mr.  F.  J. 
Bigger,  M.E.I.A.,  Fellow,  of  examining  the  place,  and  doing  my  best  to 
transcribe  the  legends.  I  found  the  souterrain  on  the  ridge  of  a  hill 
which  slopes  in  a  northerly  direction  downwards  to  the  "  Hollow,"  with 
its  Carn,  from  which  the  townland  takes  its  name.  It  consists  of  a  single 
chamber  lying  almost  due  north  and  south,  but  it  is  just  possible  there  may 
be  other  apartments  alongside,  as  there  is  an  entrance  near  the  south-east 
end  which  has  not  yet  been  explored.  A  common  tradition,  too,  in 
the  neighbourhood  affirms  that  there  are  several  "coves"  in  the  same 
field. 

The  souterrain  itself  is  26^  feet  in  length  and  about  5  feet  in  average 
breadth.  It  is  slightly  dumb-bell  shaped,  i.e.,  the  chamber  expands 
somewhat  at  the  two  ends.  In  appearance  it  is  neat  and  compact.  It 
is  built  in  the  usual  way  of  unhewn,  rounded  land-stones.  A  good  deal 
of  soil  has  been  filled  in,  from  time  to  time,  about  the  centre,  where  the 
opening  into  it  was  (and  indeed  is) ;  but,  in  places,  the  height  is  still  from  5 
to  6^- feet.  Evidently,  when  it  was  built,  large  roofing  stones  were  scarce, 
eight  only  being  available.  These  are  disposed  along  the  roof  in  such  a 
way  as  to  leave  a  space  of  about  2  feet,  in  some  instances  a  little  more, 
between  the  stones.  Each  of  the  spaces  so  formed  is  filled  with  three 
or  four  shorter  stones  laid  in  the  opposite  direction,  and  these  again 


RECENT    DISCOVERY    OF    OGAMS    IN   CO.    ANTRIM.  393 

carry  smaller  stones  laid  parallel  with  the  eight   largest  ones  under- 
neath. 

The  Ogam  inscriptions  are  on  two  of  the  eight  large  stonea,  which 
cross  the  structure  and  support  the  other  stones  of  the  roof.  One  is  near 
the  north  end  ;  the  other  is  near  the  south  end.  There  are  three  of  the 
large  stones  between  them.  Both  are  of  basalt  orwhinstone — the  local 
stone — and  in  each  case  the  arris,  which  bears  the  inscription,  is  the  one 
facing  the  end  of  the  chamber,  nearest  the  stone,  and  on  its  lower  or 
exposed  side.  The  stones  themselves,  as  far  as  I  could  judge,  are  each 
over  5  feet  in  length.  The  one  at  the  south  end  is  20  inches  broad  where  the 
the  scores  begin,  and  13  inches  where  they  cease.  It  is  10  inches  thick  on 
the  side  where  the  inscription  is,  and  about  1 8  inches  on  the  other  side.  The 
legend  begins  at  a  distance  of  a  foot  and  a  half  from  the  end  of  the  ston<; 
as  exposed  towards  the  left,  and  covers  a  space  of  2  feet  in  length.  The 
stone  at  the  north  end  of  the  chamber  is  the  shorter  of  the  two,  and  is 
about  10  inches  thick  and  9  inches  broad  at  the  centre  of  the  legend. 
This  begins  17  inches  from  the  end  of  the  stone  as  exposed  to  the  left, 
and  occupies  a  space  of  14  inches  in  length.  A  good  part  of  the  arris 
at  the  beginning  is  badly  rubbed,  so  that  it  is  not  possible  to  make  out 
the  letters  with  anything  like  certainty.  Some  of  them  are  gone  beyond 
all  hope  of  recovery. 

In  both  instances  the  letters  are  unusually  small  for  Ogams  on  stone. 
The  average  length  of  many  of  them  is  not  more  than  three-fourths  of  an 
inch.  Few  exceed  an  inch.  The  lines  are  faintly  drawn,  and  those  which 
are  most  distinct  are  barely  one-sixteenth  of  an  inch  in  breadth,  so  that  it 
is  no  easy  matter  to  transcribe  them,  more  especially  as  the  examination 
has  to  be  made  by  candlelight.  Mr.  Bigger  and  myself  both  tried  to  take 
rubbings  of  them — the  former  also  made  squeezes — but  neither  rubbings 
nor  squeezes  were  at  all  satisfactory.  The  stones  are  naturally  so  rough, 
and  the  scores  so  faint  and  fine,  it  is  impossible  in  the  case  of  either  rub- 
bings or  squeezes  to  distinguish  the  bulk  of  the  letters  from  other  markings. 
I  found  the  eye  was  after  all  the  best  guide  ;  and  by  holding  the  candle 
in  different  positions  so  as  to  vary  the  light  and  shade,  and  using  at  the 
same  time  a  larger  magnifying  glass,  I  was  able  to  make  certain  of  at 
least  three-fourths  of  the  several  groups.  One  of  the  labourers,  too,  who 
happened  to  be  with  me  when  I  paid  my  second  visit  to  the  place  was  a 
very  intelligent  man,  who  took  a  great  interest  in  what  was  being  done, 
and,  as  I  went  along,  I  made  him  tell  me  what  he  saw,  and  in  this  way  I 
farther  checked  my  own  observations.  Afterwards,  Mr.  Bigger  kindly 
sent  me  his  rubbings  and  transcripts,  and  as  these  confirmed  in  the  main 
my  own  readings,  I  am  confident  that  the  inscriptions,  as  now  given,  are 
not  likely  to  be  materially  altered  by  farther  examination.  Of  course, 
there  are  several  letters,  more  especially  among  the  double  vowels,  about 
which  I  have  considerable  doubt.  In  all  such  cases  I  give  the  par- 
ticular letter,  or  letters,  I  prefer,  and  underneath  the  alternative  or 


394:         ROYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

alternatives  as  the  case  may  be.     My  readings  of  the  legends  are  as 
follows  : — 

Taking  the  stone  at  the  south  end — No.  1,  as  Mr.  Carmody  and  I  have 
agreed  to  call  it — we  have  : 


Here  the  first  thing  requiring  notice  is  that  the  primary  stroke  of 
the  second  consonant  is  about  half  the  length  of  the  other  four.  I  take 
it  to  be  part,  however,  of  the  letter  E.  The  fourth  group,  that  between 
K  and  s,  has  five  distinct  vowel  notches,  but  the  first  one  is  slightly 
larger  than  its  neighbours,  and  very  decidedly  stands  by  itself.  I  there- 
fore translate  the  group  by  A  E,  but  give  i  as  an  alternative.  The  next 
group  of  vowels — the  seventh  in  order — consists  of  seven  notches,  which 
can  be  read  as  E  u  or  o  i.  I  give  the  preference  to  the  E  u.  The  A 
between  the  two  ss  is  very  plain.  The  MAQTJI  is  unquestionable.  After  this 
the  arris  takes  a  turn  downwards,  the  angle  of  the  stone  had  had  a  small 
fragment  broken  off  it  before  being  selected  for  the  inscription,  and  the 
letters  follow  the  lower  edge  of  the  break.  The  patronymic  begins  with 
the  change  in  the  direction  of  the  arris.  Its  first  letter  is  a  bold  and  unmis- 
takable A.  Then  comes  a  c,  after  which  we  have  seven  notches.  There 
is  a  slight  break  or  crack  in  the  stone  between  the  fifth  of  these  and  the 
sixth,  so  that  the  last  two  stand  by  themselves.  I  take  the  combination, 
however,  to  be  o  i,  not  i  o.  The  M  which  follows  is  fairly  distinct,  though 
when  I  first  transcribed  it  I  made  it  out  a  a.  Between  the  M  and  the  next 
consonant  there  comes  a  group  of  notches,  some  of  which  are  very  faint. 
I  find  in  my  note-book  the  observation  regarding  them,  "  very  indefinite, 
might  be  seven  or  eight."  Between  the  fifth  and  the  sixth  there  is  a 
faint  line  which,  after  careful  examination,  I  take  to  be  a  slight  fissure 
in  the  stone.  The  T  and  the  i,  which  come  next,  call  for  no  special 
comment.  As  to  the  last  letter  but  one,  which  I  regard  as  an  N,  there 
is  room  for  doubt.  I  read  it  s  the  first  time  I  saw  it,  but  afterwards, 
having  blackened  the  scores  with  the  candle,  and  taken  an  impression  on 
soft  paper,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there  were  five  strokes.  Mr. 
Bigger's  readings  also  gave  five.  The  legend  closes  with  three  distinct 
notches  followed,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  by  two  others,  which  are  very  faint. 
I  think  there  can  be  no  doubt  it  is  the  letter  i. 

Taking  now  the  stone  at  the  north  end  of  the  souterrain,  we  find  the 
inscription  to  be  : — 

-Ui—- tt— rrnr— /-im— -TTr-T^-111 

T          E  G  NAIMAQUIAVAKAT          I 


C 


RECENT    DISCOVERY    OF    OGAMS    IN    CO.    ANTRIM.  395 

Here  much  of  the  first  name  is  illegible.  The  arris  has  been  greatly 
rubbed  at  this  part,  and  I  have  only  been  able  to  make  out  some  six 
letters,  and  even  in  regard  to  three  of  these  I  have  my  doubts.  The  T 
at  the  beginning  might  be  a  c,  though  in  rubbings  and  transcripts,  the 
evidence  is  in  favour  of  the  former.  The  E  is  questionable  ;  two  out  of 
three  attempts  at  reading  give  it.  Then  comes  a  rather  longish  blank, 
after  which  I  make  out  two  faint  scores  crossing  the  arris — the  part  of 
the  second  one  on  the  upper  surface  is  specially  faint,  but,  as  it  is  plainer 
below,  I  give  the  G  the  benefit  of  the  doubt.  I  thought  I  saw  traces  of 
other  scores  now  obliterated  in  its  immediate  neighbourhood,  so  I  give 
E  as  an  alternative  as  well  as  IE.  Between  what  I  take  as  G  and  the 
succeeding  consonant  there  is  a  second  blank  space,  but  not  quite  so  long 
as  the  first  blank,  and  then  a  number  of  scores  which  I  read  as  N,  with 
s,  however,  as  an  alternative.  The  last  stroke  of  this  letter  is  very  dis- 
tinct on  the  lower  surface,  but  it  runs  up  seemingly  upon  the  upper 
surface.  I  take  this  part  also  to.  be  a  slight  fissure  in  the  stone.  Unless 
carefully  considered  it  is  likely  to  mislead.  The  MAQTII  is  faint,  but  I 
have  no  doubt  whatever  as  to  its  existence.  The  patronymic  which  fol- 
lows is  all  plain  with  the  exception  of  the  penultimate  which  might  be 

C.       AVAHATI  Or  AVAEACT. 

Of  the  above  four  names  I  can  make  nothing,  save  that  the  ACOIMETT- 
TINI  looks  exceedingly  like  the  AXOI/X^TCU,  or  watchers  of  the  Greek 
Church,  referred  to  by  Dr.  Reeves  in  his  "  Ecclesiastical  Antiquities  of 

Down,  Connor,  andDromore,"  page  94,  and  that  TE G — NAI  might  be 

some  such  name  as  one  I  find  in  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  vol. 
i.,  page  561,  viz.  Techtegan. 

I  may  be  permitted  to  add  that  we  all  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to 
Mr.  Carmody  for  this  valuable  discovery  of  his,  one  of  the  most  remark- 
able in  the  recent  history  of  Irish  Archeology,  and  to  express  the  hope 
that  he  will  see  to  the  safe  preservation  of  these  Antrim  Ogam-stones. 


JOUlt.  R. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  IV.,   OTH  SER.  2  E 


396         ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


NEWLY-DISCOVERED  OGAMS  IN  MAYO  AND  ANTRIM,  WITH 
READINGS  OF  SOME  HITHERTO  UNDESCRIBED  IN  CORK 
AND  WATERFORD. 

BY  PRINCIPAL  RHYS,  LL.D.,  F.S.A. 
[Submitted  NOVEMBER  29,  1898.] 

BRACKLAGHBOY  OGAM. 

0  OON  after  my  return  from  Ireland  this  summer  an  Oxford  friend  of 

mine,  Mr.  G.  W.  Norton,  who  visits  the  county  of  Mayo  from  time  to 
time,  and  always  keeps  a  sharp  look-out  for  antiquities,  brought  me  a 
photograph  of  the  Bracklaghboy  Stone.  It  had  been  taken  by  Sergeant 
Lyons  of  the  Royal  Irish  Constabulary  Force,  and  the  latter,  together 
with  Mr.  Augustine  Crean,  son  of  Dr.  Crean,  Windsor  Villa,  Ballyhaunis, 
afterwards  visited  the  stone  for  me,  and  I  have  had  a  report  of  it 
made  by  the  sergeant,  and  several  letters  containing  valuable  details 
from  Mr.  Crean,  who  is  an  enthusiastic  student  of  archeology.  However, 

1  was  not  able  to  satisfy  myself  altogether  as  to  the  right  reading  till 
Mr.  Cochrane  examined  the  stone,  and  sent  me  some  admirable  rubbings  of 
it.    From  these,  and  his  letters  about  the  Ogam,  I  feel  there  can  hardly  be 
any  mistake  in  reading  the  whole  as   Cunalegiav  .  .  .  qunacanos,  which 
analyses  itself  into  Cunalegi  av^  Qunacanos,  meaning  Conlig,  descendant 
of  Conchan.     Now  we  have  at  Drumloghan  a  stone  reading    Cunalegea 
maqui,  &c.,    where  we  have  the  genitive   Cunalegea  for   Cunalegeas  or 
Cunalegias  :  so  our  Cunalegi  must  be  the  nominative  for  an  earlier  Cuna- 
legis.     On  account  of  the  breakage  at  the  top  we  have  to  guess  the 
nominative  corresponding  to  avi  or  avvi,  and  I  suppose  it  to  have  been  ave 
for  a  longer  aves  contracted  from  avias,  and  Mr.  Cochrane  informs  me  that 
this  reading  fits  the  space  on  the  stone.     There  is  one  point  worth  notice 
further,  and  it  is  this  :  the  q  of  Qunacanos  is  probably  a  blunder  of  the 
inscriber  for  <?,  as  analogy  postulates  Cunacanos :  this  suggests  that  the 
inscription  is  not  one  of  the  earliest  known.     As  to  the  names,  I  do  not 
know  what  to  make  of  Qunacanos,  unless  it  is  to  be  regarded  as  the 
genitive  of  the  name  which  occurs  in  the  Isle  of  Man  as  Conchan  in  Kirk 
Conchan,  now  made  into  Kirk  Onchan,  and  simply  Onchan.     Cunalegi(s), 
genitive  Cunalegea(s)  is  probably  the  name  of  which  the  Four  Masters 
give  the  genitive,  A.D.  1387,  in  "  Matha  mac  Conlegha" 


NEWLY-DISCOVERED    OGAMS    IN    MAYO   AND  ANTRIM.       397 

THE  ANTRIM  OGAMS. 

Mr.  Cochrane  and  the  Rev.  G.  R.  Buick,  LL.D.,  Cullybackey  Manse,  Co. 
Antrim,  have  informed  me  of  two  inscribed  stones  found  near  Connor, 
and  Dr.  Buick  has  been  good  enough  to  copy  the  Ogams  as  follows  : — 

1.  TOB.AESCEUSAS     MAQTJI     ACOIMEUTINI 

I          01  ETT     01 

2.  TEGNAI    MAQTTI    AVARATI 
C?MS  C 

There  appears  to  be  a  difficulty  in  getting  at  the  stones,  and  the 
lettering  is  hard  to  make  out,  so  these  readings  must,  for  the  present, 
be  regarded  as  provisional.  But  even  if  they  are  only  approximately 
correct,  we  have  here  names  utterly  unlike  anything  known  to  be  Celtic : 
perhaps  Avarati  might  be  said  to  remind  one  of  "Dal  n- Amide"  and 
"  Regio  ^4ra^-tire."  Otherwise  I  can  only  put  together  the  fact  of 
the  obscurity  of  these  names  and  that  of  their  being  found  in  the  heart 
of  the  country  of  the  Cruithni,  or  Picts  of  Ireland.  No  light  on  the 
Pictish  question  has  ever  been  expected  from  that  quarter,  so  the  find- 
ing of  these  inscriptions  is  at  once  a  surprise  and  an  event  of  capital 
importance,  possibly,  for  the  ethnology  of  the  British  Isles. 

THE  AULTAGH  STONES,  Co.  CORK. 

1 .  The  other  day,  my  friend  Mr.  Ed.  Laws,  of  Tenby,  sent  me  rub- 
bings which  he  had  had  from  his  relative,  Mr.  Ch.  Mathias,  of  Lamphey 
Court :  they  are  of  a  stone  on  the  farm  of  Aultagh,  three  and  a-half 
miles  from  the  station  of  Dunmanway,  on  the  Cork  and  Bandon  Railway. 
I  have  since  communicated  with  the  proprietor,  Mr.  H.  D.  Conner,  of 
16,  Fitzwilliam-place,  Dublin,  and  of  Mauch,  near  Ballyneen,  county 
Cork  :  he  has  kindly  given  me  a  brief  description  of  the  stone,  in  which 
lie  says  that  the  inscriptions — for  there  are  two  lines  of  Ogam — are  on 
rather  a  flat  side  of  the  stone.  Neither  inscription  is  on  the  edge, 
though  the  shorter  one  runs  rather  close  up  to  the  edge  at  one  end. 
So  far  as  I  can  judge  from  the  rubbings,  they  look  somewhat  as 
follows  : — 


Now,  though  the  first  digit  of  each  group  in  the  first  line  is  larger 
than  the  rest,  I  fancy  it  is  to  be  taken  with  them ;  and,  in  that  case,  the 
reading  would  possibly  be  eluai.  The  greater  length  of  the  first 
digit  of  a  group  can  be  paralleled  in  Scotland.  As  I  have  no  facsimile 
of  the  second  line,  I  will  not  risk  a  reading.  I  should  have  stated 
that  the  first  asterisk  has  eight  spokes  or  rays,  but  I  am  unable  to  make 
the  other  out  so  well.  (See  infra,  p.  406.) 

2E2 


398        ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF    ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

2.  Mr.  Conner  adds  the  following  words  :  —  "  There  was  also  another 
stone,  which  was  broken  in  two,  and  used  in  building  a  house  a  few 
yards  from  the  stone  still  perfect.  A  portion  of  the  inscription  was  to 
be  seen  on  half  of  the  stone  in  the  wall  of  the  house,  but  the  other  half 
is,  I  believe,  faced  towards  the  interior  wall  of  the  house,  and  plastered 
over  :  at  any  rate  I  could  not  see  it."  Mr.  Conner  thinks  that  the 
Rev.  P.  Hurley,  P.P.,  Inchigeela,  county  Cork,  has  taken  a  careful  cast 
of  the  inscription,  by  which  I  understand  him  to  mean  the  stone  still 
perfect. 

THE  KNOCKALAFALLA  OGAM,  Co.  WATEBFORD. 

Late  in  August  last,  Mrs.  Rhys  was  told  by  Mr.  Ussher,  of  Cappagh, 
of  an  inscribed  stone  at  Comeragh  Lodge,  and  we  set  out  from  Kilmac- 
thomas  Station  in  company  with  Mr.  Goddard  Orpen  to  see  it.  We  soon 
found  the  stone  lying  in  the  grass  near  the  house  at  Comeragh  Lodge  ; 
and  Mr.  Hunt,  who  lives  close  by,  and  knows  all  about  the  stone,  told 
us  that  it  had  been  brought  there  by  Mrs.  Fairholme,  to  whom  Comeragh 
Lodge  belongs,  from  Knockalafalla,  in  the  parish  of  Rathgormuck,  in 
the  barony  of  Upper  Third,  county  Waterford.  There  she  found  it  used 
as  a  gate-post,  which  is  corroborated  by  the  fact  that  it  has  a  hole  in  it 
for  the  iron  serving  to  hang  a  gate.  The  inscription  reads  up  the  left 
edge,  round  the  top,  and  down  the  right  edge  continuously  ;  but  the 
edge  is  imperfect  at  the  top,  and  broken  towards  the  end  of  the  legend. 
So  far  as  we  could  make  it  out,  the  following  was  the  reading  :  — 


UGUDIMAQIT          I          LI          D       TJ    M      A     QU     M      O       C       O    [l] 


M    A  [QU    l] 

That  is,  Lugudi  Maqui  Lidu  Maq.  Mocoi  Cunamaqui.  Lugudi  is  certain, 
but  Lidu  maqu  is  a  mere  guess,  and  I  was  rather  tempted  to  read 
Lugadequ,  as  the  m  of  maqu  is  not  certain,  any  more  than  the  abbrevia- 
tion maqu  is  to  be  expected  for  maqui,  though  it  occurs  in  two  or  three 
other  instances.  As  to  the  scoring,  my  notes  give  the  g  as  perpendicular, 
while  the  m  of  maqui  slopes  decidedly  the  wrong  way.  As  to  the  names, 
Cunamaqqui  occurs  on  one  of  the  Ballintaggart  stones,  and  Lugudi  is  the 
same  as  Lugutti  on  the  Currans  stone,  which  I  read  Velitas  Lugutti, 
"  (the  stone)  of  the  Fill  (or  Poet)  L."  So,  in  these  vocables,  we 
have  three  ways  of  representing  th  or  dh  or  both,  namely,  as  d,  t,  and  tt. 


(     399     ) 


OGAM  INSCRIPTIONS  DISCOVERED  IK  IRELAND  IN  THE 

YEAR  1898. 

Br  ROBERT  COCHRANE,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A. 
[Submitted  NOVEMBER  29,  1898.] 

TN  a  former  Paper  (page  53,  ante)  I  ventured  to  suggest  that  it  was 
premature  to  attempt  any  deductions  based  on  the  geographical 
distribution  of  ogam  monuments  in  Ireland,  as  the  record  of  their 
location  was  still  very  incomplete,  and  new  discoveries  were  frequently 
made,  almost  every  year  adding  to  the  numher.  I  did  not,  however, 
anticipate  that  my  surmise  as  to  the  probable  expansions  of  the  list, 
and  extension  of  the  ogam  area,  would  be  verified  so  soon. 

Remarkable  as  was  the  discovery  of  the  Meath  ogams,  it  is  quite 
eclipsed  by  the  county  Antrim  finds  in  the  extreme  north-east  of  Ireland, 
in  a  district  hitherto  unsuspected  of  having  had  such  monuments.  Pos- 
sibly the  same  causes  which,  in  later  times,  led  to  the  disappearance  of 
the  stone  crosses  in  the  northern  counties,  may  have  operated  against  the 
preservation  of  ogam-stones.  The  Antrim  monuments  have  been  found 
in  the  roof  of  a  souterrain,  a  position  of  security  which  thoroughly  pro- 
tected them.  Much  may  be  hoped  for  from  a  thorough  investiga- 
tion of  the  numerous  souterrains  in  this  county ;  the  number  of  such 
structures  actually  known  to  exist,  and  which  have  not  been  explored, 
or  opened  up,  is  amazing.  Large  districts  in  Antrim,  in  which  these 
souterrains  abound,  are  deficient  in  good  building  stone,  especially  of  the 
size  suitable  for  forming  the  roof,  and  a  block  of  the  size  on  which 
ogams  are  usually  inscribed  would  certainly  be  availed  of  for  the 
purpose,  and  if  a  primitive  cemetery  had  been  at  hand,  the  stones 
would,  no  doubt,  be  availed  of.  It  is  not  an  over- sanguine  speculation 
to  imagine  that  similar  discoveries  may  be  made  in  Antrim,  or  the 
adjoining  counties,  where,  up  to  the  present,  no  ogams  have  been  found  ; 
and  this  probability,  even  if  remote,  should  give  an  impetus  to  the 
systematic  examination  of  these  unexplored  structures. 

There  are  still  several  counties  in  which  no  ogams  have  been  re- 
corded. These  are — Donegal,  Down,  Galway,  Louth,  Leitrim,  Longford, 
Queen's  County,  Sligo,  Tipperary,  Westmeath ;  and  now  that  there  is 
such  a  revival  in  the  study,  and  an  increasing  number  of  the  members 
of  this  Society  interested  in  the  subject,  many  hitherto  unrecorded 
monuments  should  soon  be  noted. 

I  do  not  include  the  Kilnasaggart  stone,  in  county  Louth,  as  an 
ogam,  or  the  Rosshill  stone  in  county  Galway,  and  the  reputed  ogam 


400  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

nave,  in  county  Donegal,  has  not  "been  authenticated.  The  latter 
county  would  appear  to  be  a  most  promising  field  for  an  ogam  hunt ; 
early  tribal  occupation,  contour,  and  other  circumstances,  point  to  a 
suitable  locale  for  these  monuments  ;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  county 
Sligo — indeed,  from  this  county,  there  is  already  a  rumour  of  such  a 
discovery.  Dublin,  Monaghan,  Londonderry,  and  Clare,  may  also  be 
included  in  the  non-ogam  counties,  as  next  to  nothing  has  been  found  in 
any  of  them. 

The  Antrim  discovery — the  most  important  for  many  years — is  very 
fully  described  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Buick,  and  it  is  not  necessary  to  further 
refer  to  it,  except  to  express  the  hope  that  steps  will  be  taken  to  have 
the  earth  removed,  and  the  stones  taken  up  and  exposed  to  daylight  for 
the  most  careful  reading;  and  this  is  the  more  desirable,  owing  to  the 
fuintness  of  the  scores,  which,  even  under  the  most  favourable  circum- 
stances of  a  daylight  inspection,  will  be  very  difficult  to  read  and  inter- 
pret. Moreover,  there  may  be  markings  on  the  other  stones,  but  out  of 
reach  of  one's  eyes  or  fingers.  The  Dunloe  ogam  cave  has  been  unroofed 
and  uncovered  three  times,  to  facilitate  the  reading;  the  Drumloghan 
cave  twice ;  and  arrangements  have  been  made  for  the  removal  of  the 
superincumbent  earth  for  another  examination  of  the  stones  in  the  latter 
cave,  by  experts  early  next  summer. 

The  Antrim  find  makes  the  seventeenth  instance  in  which  ogams 
have  been  discovered  in  a  cave.  In  nearly  every  case  these  souter- 
rains  have  been  clearly  identified  as  rath  caves.  Sometimes,  however, 
it  is  difficult  to  trace  the  line  of  rath,  and  this  is  generally  so  in  county 
Antrim,  where  the  improving  propensities  of  the  thrifty  tenant  has 
induced  him  to  level  the  mound,  and  fill  up  the  fosse,  in  many  cases 
leaving  no  trace  of  the  earthwork  visible,  save  such  as  may  be  seen  in 
some  seasons  when  the  greater  luxuriance  of  the  crop  over  the  levelled 
ground  marks  out  the  "fairy  ring"  of  the  "good  people,"  for  whom, 
however,  the  northern  farmer  of  the  present  day  has  very  little  respect. 

THE  ISLAND  OGAM,  OK  BRACKLAGHBOY  STONE,  COUNTY  MAYO. 

This  is  the  next  in  importance  to  the  two  Antrim  finds.  It  was 
brought  to  notice  by  Sergeant  Lyons,  of  the  Royal  Irish  Constabulary, 
now  stationed  at  Ballyhaunis.  an  unusually  intelligent  and  well-informed 
man,  who  in  the  most  praiseworthy  manner  has,  during  his  limited  spare 
moments,  turned  his  attention  to  the  objects  of  archaeological  interest  in 
his  neighbourhood.  I  am  indebted  to  him  for  the  photographs  of  the 
stone  from  which  the  accompanying  illustration  has  been  prepared. 

The  position  is  about  2  miles  W.N.W.  from  Ballyhaunis,  in  the  town- 
land  of  Island,  and  parish  of  Bekan.  The  adjoining  townlands  are 
Bonogerawer  to  the  south,  and  Bracklaghboy  to  the  east,  and  the  monu- 
ment, though  not  actually  in  the  latter  townland,  is  called  by  that  name, 
which  seems  to  be  better  known  in  the  locality  than  the  proper  name  of 


OGAM  INSCRIPTIONS  DISCOVERED  IN  IRELAND,   1898.        401 

the  townland  which,  as  before  stated,  is  Island.  The  configuration  of 
the  surrounding  country  is  an  elevated  plain,  with  a  number  of  hills  of 
gentle  elevation,  on  one  of  which  the  stone  is  situated.  It  is  somewhat 
higher  than  the  other  hills  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  is  marked  on  the 
Ordnance  Survey  map  as  at  an  elevation  of  431  feet.  There  is  a  very 
good  view  from  the  summit,  taking  in  nearly  all  the  province  of 
Connaught,  save  the  remote  lowlands;  the  view  westward  is  par- 
ticularly fine,  where  Croagh  Patrick,  40  miles  away,  rises  above  the 
horizon  in  regular  conical  form.  The  ground  slopes  away  in  all  directions 
except  to  the  east,  and  the  water-shed  line  of  Connaught  is  at  hand, 
where  the  boundaries  of  the  large  catchment  areas  join. 


BRACK.LAGHBOY  BOG  OGAM-STONE.     (From  a  Photograph  by  Sergeant  Lyons,  it.i.c.) 

The  stone  stands  about  6  feet  4  inches  above  the  ground,  is  2  feet 
across  the  widest  portion  of  the  eastern  face,  and  about  16  inches  in 
thickness.  It  slopes  at.  an  angle  of  75  degrees,  and  the  apex  is  5  feet 
from  the  ground  level. 

The  hill  on  which  it  stands  forms  part  of  a  farm  of  35  acres,  in  occu- 
pation of  Mr.  James  Freely :  the  landlord  is  Mr.  Ross  Knox,  of  Ballina 
(a  minor) ;  the  spot  is  called  Kaigen's  rock,  sometimes  Keadu's  rock.  It 
has  also  been  known  as  Coshleige-na-Keishu,  and  another  name  for  it 
locally  is  Leigaun. 


402         ROYAL  SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 

Assisted  by  Mr.  Augustine  Crean,  of  Ballyhaunis,  who,  with  his  father, 
Dr.  Crean,  takes  the  greatest  interest  in  the  antiquities  of  the  district, 
I  made  a  rubbing  of  the  outlines  of  the  east  face  of  the  stone,  showing  the 
markings  on  the  edges  of  it,  which  is  here  reproduced.  The  rubbing 
was  made  on  a  very  wet  and  stormy  afternoon,  and  the  linen  shrunk  a 
little  unequally ;  the  outline  of  the  stone  is  therefore  a  little  twisted, 
but  the  scores  on  the  edges  are  facsimile.  The  scores  commence  near  the 
bottom  of  the  south  angle  of  the  east  face,  and,  running  over  the  top, 
terminate  near  the  bottom  of  the  north  angle. 

The  inscription  reads  as  follows  : — 

~^::+:irrn' ^TT*^;7~~MW  ^^ 

C          UNALEGI          AVI          Q         UNACANOS 
E  C 

At  the  commencement  and  end,  near  the  base  of  the  stone,  a  good  deal  of 
weathering  or  chipping  off  has  occurred,  but  I  do  not  think  any  ogam 
scores  have  been  defaced  here.  The  notch  at  the  very  beginning  I  do  not 
take  as  part  of  the  reading ;  the  first  letter,  c,  is  quite  distinct,  but  after 
it  there  is  a  large  chip  out  of  the  edge  of  the  stone,  leaving  space  for  vowel 
dots  which,  with  one  remaining,  make  up  the  letters  u  or  E,  the  space  is 
rather  wide  for  o ;  a  portion  of  the  two  first  scores  of  the  next  letter,  N,  are 
broken  off.  All  the  other  characters  are  perfect  until  we  come  to  the  top 
of  the  stone  where  there  are  large  pieces  broken  off.  Commencing  with 
the  letter  v,  a  portion  of  which  is  missing,  and  between  the  v  and  the 
<i  there  is  space  enough  for  the  letter  i  to  fit,  but  there  is  no  trace  what- 
ever now  left  on  the  stone  of  any  portion  of  this  letter.  It  is  not  quite  clear 
whether  the  letter  which  follows  is  o,  or  c,  as  what  appears  to  be  the 
first  score  is  partly  broken,  and  it  is  just  possible  that  it  may  not  be  a 
score  but  only  the  end  of  the  fracture,  in  which  case  the  letter  should  be 
read  as  c.  The  other  characters  are  quite  clear,  until  the  end  of  the 
final  s.  After  this  the  angle  is  a  good  deal  abraded,  but  it  is  not  likely 
any  characters  have  been  removed,  as  the  termination  does  not  suggest  any 
missing  letter,  so  that,  on  the  whole,  the  inscription  must  be  considered 
as  almost  perfect.  It  is  fortunate  the  two  defective  letters  are  vowels, 
about  the  correct  reading  of  which  there  is  little  room  for  doubt. 

This  ogam  monument  is,  I  think,  more  than  usually  interesting  on 
account  of  its  position,  as  it  appears  to  be  in  situ,  and  I  believe  it  stands 
over  the  actual  grave  of  the  person  whose  memory  it  is  intended  to  perpe- 
tuate. The  stone  is  surrounded  by  a  small  mound  about  21  feet  in 
diameter,  of  a  height  of  about  3  feet  or  4  feet  above  the  original  surface 
of  the  summit  of  the  hill  on  which  it  stands.  The  sectional  view  (see 
p.  404)  will  illustrate  this,  and  it  will  be  observed  there  is  a  depression 
around  the  stone  in  the  centre  of  this  mound.  This  depression  is  possibly 
caused  by  cattle  having  used  the  stone  as  a  rubbing  post,  and  a  similar 


BttACKLAGHBOY    OGAM-STONE. 
East  Face  of  Stone,  showing  the  Markings  on  the  edges.    (Reduced  from  a  rubbing.) 


404  EOYAL    SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

sinking  will  be  found  at  the  bases  of  stones  used  as  rubbing  posts.  The 
mound  had  not  this  depression  originally,  and  if  the  hollow  were  filled 
up,  it  would  not  cover  any  portion  of  the  ogam  inscription.1  If  my 
surmise  is  correct,  the  interment  is  unique  ;  firstly,  as  regards  the  archaic 
form  of  burial  on  the  surface  with  a  mound  of  earth  raised  over  the  body, 
of  which  only  a  very  few  instances  have  been  recorded,  and,  secondly,  as 
having  the  original  monument  marking  the  place  of  interment.  From, 
the  short  description  of  the  commanding  position  of  the  site  already  given 
it  will  be  seen  that  it  was  such  an  eminence  as  in  very  early  times  was 
usually  selected  as  the  burial  place  of  persons  of  importance. 


WEST 


2\    FEET 

BllACKLAGHBOY    OGAM-STONE. 

Sectional  View  of  the  Mound,  in  the  centre  of  which  the  Stone  is  placed. 

I  hope  to  make  arrangements  for  the  scientific  exploration  of  the 
mound  and  a  description  of  the  "  finds  "  ;  the  methods  adopted  will  be 
such  as  will  not  in  the  least  interfere  with  its  permanent  appearance. 
Unfortunately  similar  operations  elsewhere  have  too  often  resulted  in  the 
destruction  of  the  object  investigated. 

Mr.  Augustine  Crean  has  sent  me  a  list  of  places  of  antiquarian 
interest  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ballyhaunis,  which  should  be  of  use  to 
anyone  visiting  the  locality,  and  is  here  appended  :  — 

1.  Friary  of  St.  Augustine,  Ballyhaunis.  Founded  end  of  twelfth  century  by 
Costellos,  or  Mac  Costellos.  A  wing  roofed,  in  1827,  by  Very  Rev.  Robert  Dore, 
Prior  (afterwards  Provincial)  .  Old  house  taken  down  and  new  one  built  out  of  its 
stones,  1888.  Two  friars  attend  the  Friary  chapel  (open  for  public  worship),  and  still 
holds  10  acres  of  land,  rent  free. 

1  The  depression  in  the  centre  of  the  mound  before  referred  to  may  have  been  caused 
by  persons  digging  for  treasure,  so  very  generally  believed  in  as  being  buried  in  such 
places,  but  this  is  in  a  measure  negatived  by  the  statement  that  the  people  in  the 
locality  are  afraid  to  dig  up  the  place,  lest  something  evil  should  befall  them.  I 
observe  that  it  is  shown  on  the  Ordnance  map  as  a  trigonometrical  station  of  the 
survey  ;  such  spots  being  selected  on  account  of  their  eminence.  The  stone  and  the 
mound  would  necessarily  get  some  rough  usage  during  this  operation,  but  I  have  failed 
to  get  any  statement  that  the  mound  had  been  examined  by  digging. 


OGAM  INSCRIPTIONS  DISCOVERED  IN  IRELAND,  1898.        405 

2.  At  Church  Park  a  wall,  almost  lost  sight  of  in  a  mearing  fence,  is  all  that 
remains  of  a  very  ancient  church,  supposed,  hy  tradition,  to  have  been  founded  by 
St.  Patrick  himself  for   one   of  his   disciples,  or  by  that  disciple,  thought  to  be 
St.  Mullen.     Hence  the  village  is  called  Churchpark. 

3.  The  present  Roman  Catholic  chapel  of  the  Bekan  parish,  about  fifty  years 
built,  adjoins  the  site  of  the  chapel  (a  thatched  one)  in  use  before  the  present  one  at 
Bekan.    About  500  yards  behind  the  chapel  is  a  mound,  or  rather  rampart,  built  with 
stones,  with  a  cross  on  top,  in  which  St.  Buchanus,  or  Beckanus,  or  Bekan,  is  said  to  be 
buried.     After  him  is  called  the  parish  (Bekan).     Here  also  is  a  cemetery,  in  which 
is  an  old  church  gable,  all  that  remains  of  the  old  abbey  and  noteworthy  school, 
founded  by  St.  Bechanus,  and  which  nourished  for  long  ages  after.     A  pattern  is  held 
here  on  the  feast  of  St.  Bechanus,  8th  July. 

4.  The  old  cemetery  at  Knock  (still  used),  in  which  is  the  front  and  doorway  of  an 
ancient  church.     The  Knock  chapel,  on  the  gable  of  which,  in  1879,  apparitions  were 
said  to  have  appeared. 

5.  The  ancient  cemetery  of  Kilkelly  (still  used),  in  which  is  the  ruin  of  an  old 
abbey,  said  to  have  been  founded  by  St.  Coelsus. 

6.  In  the  ancient  cemetery  of  Aughamore  (stilTused  for  burials)  is  the  ruin  of  what 
appears,  from  its  appearance,  to  have  been  a  very  antique  church.     It  is  said  to  have 
been  founded  by  St.  Patrick  for  his  disciple,  St.  Loirn.     In  the  adjoining  field,  in. 
what  seems  an  old  cemetery,  is  a  very  ancient  and  rudely -sculptured  cross  of  very 
crude  design. 

7.  In  Holywell,  in  what  seems  to  be  a  disused  cemetery  (save  for  children), 
stands  portion  of  a  gable,  all  that  remains  of  what  is  said  to  be  a  Franciscan  friary,  in 
which,  it  is  believed,  Lord  Mac  "William  Oughter  was  interred  in  1440. 

8.  An  ancient  cross  over  a  blessed  well,  dedicated  to  St.  Patrick,  round  which  a 
pattern  is  held  on  Holywell  estate. 

9.  Ruins  of  Ballinasmala  friary,  a  former  Discalced  Carmelite  house,  founded  in 
the  thirteenth  century  by  the  Prendergast  family.     The  last  friars  left  here  about 
1853. 

10.  Ruins  of  Kiltullagh  abbey  in  a  cemetery,  formerly  of  Franciscans  of  Observ- 
ance Poenitentia. 

11.  Seven  subterranean  chambers,  in  one  of  which  were  found  recently  some  rusty 
weapons,  which  broke  on  being  touched.     One  seems  to  be  of  natural  formation,  the 
others  are  built  of  stone. 

12.  A  small  cromlech,  known  as  the  "  Giant's  Grave,"  behind  which  are  two 
stones  said  to  be  tombstones  over  Druids.     Behind  this  a  fort  in  which  Mass  was 
said  to  have  been  celebrated  in  the  penal  days.     Both  are  in  Greenwood  Park,  the 
property  of  Mr.  Fitzroy  Knox. 

13.  Ruins  of  Urlare  abbey,   a  Dominican  friary,  six  miles  from  Ballyhaunis, 
between  Ballyhaunis,  Kilkelly,   Kilmovee,  and  Charlestown,  on  a  fine  lake.     In  the 
lake  were  found  bog-oak  canoes.      A  pattern  is  held  at  Urlare  on  the  4th  of  August, 
the  feast  of  St.  Dominick. 

THE  BALLYANDREEN  STONE,  COUNTY  KERRY. 

The  discovery  of  this  stone  in  the  townland  of  Ballinvoher  was 
reported  to  the  Rev.  P.  Sweeney,  of  Ballinacourty  rectory,  county 
Kerry,  on  10th  September  last,  and  was  first  visited  by  him  on  the 
12th  of  same  month.  He  found  that  it  had  been  used  as  a  lintel  over  an 
out-house  door  for  several  years ;  about  15  inches  of  the  inscribed  head 
had  been  broken  off  and  worked  into  a  building  before  his  visit.  The 


406         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

illustration  herewith  is  from  a  sketch  made  by  him.     The  arris  on  the 
right-hand  side  of  the  stone  had  been  dressed  off  by  the  mason  for  a  new 

lintel  before  his  visit;  the  arris  at  the 
lower  part  of  the  left-hand  side  had  been 
fractured  also.  There  is  room  at  the  bottom 
for  the  letter  i,  and  there  are  portions  of 
two  long  scores  to  be  seen. 

Mr.  Sweeney  reads  this  stone  from  the 
top  downwards,  which  gives  MO-  GORL,  and 
he  considers  it  unique  as  giving  the  word 
MOC,  not  as  usual  in  the  genitive,  but  in 
the  nominative  case. 

Professor  Rhys  interprets  this  inscrip- 
tion as  follows: — "The  reading  down- 
ward MOQ  GORL..  on  the  Ballyandreen  stone 
does  not  seem  very  probable  somehow, 
and  looking  at  the  sketch  of  it  by  the  Rev. 
P.  Sweeney,  I  should  be  more  inclined  to 
suppose  that  the  inscription  was  to  be 
read  upwards,  and  in  that  case  the  letters 
would  make  drognom,  possibly  ..drogno 
Maqui.  If  Drogno  is  a  complete  name,  it 
would  be  exactly  the  Drdna  of  Hui  Dr6nat 
now  Idrone,  in  county  Carlow." 


Ballyandreen  Ogam-stone,  from 
a  sketch  by  Rev.  P.  Sweeney. 


THE  AULTAGH  OGAMS,  COUNTY  CORK. 

These  inscriptions  may  be  classed  as  new  discoveries,  as  though  their 
existence  has  been  known  for  some  time,  they  have  not,  as  far  as  I  am 
aware,  been  recorded  before  until  noticed  at  p.  397,  ante,  by  Prof.  Rhys. 
They  do  not  look  very  promising,  but  much  has  been  made  out  of 
more  forbidding  material.  The  star-like  formations  are  peculiar,  as  is 
also  the  arrow-head  form  of  character,  both  of  which  are  shown  in  the 
following  transcripts  from  a  rubbing : — 


OGAM  INSCRIPTIONS  DISCOVERED  IN  IRELAND,   1898.       407 

The  scores  are  undoubtedly  intended  for  ogam  markings,  but  they 
are  more  like  the  rude  attempts  of  a  beginner  than  a  monumental  inscrip- 
tion. The  asterisk  with  eight  points  is  singular,  but  the  arrow-head  < 
scores  are  not  unusual ;  at  Kilbonane  there  is  a  group  of  four  <  scores 
which  have  been  read  together  as  E,  and  in  manuscripts  that  figure  heads 
the  stem  line.  Prof.  Rhys,  though  always  very  cautious,  has  courage- 
ously attempted  a  reading  which  will  be  scanned  with  interest. 

BALLYNAVENOORAGH,  COUNTY  KERRY,  OGAM. 

This  monument  was  found  in  clearing  a  stone  fort,  situated  about 
800  feet  N.E.  of  the  village  of  Ballynavenooragh,  in  which  there  is  *a 
double-chambered  clochaun.  The  fort  is  about  90  feet  in  internal 
diameter. 

It  has  not,  I  believe,  been  seen  by  Professor  Rhys  during  his  visit  to 
Dingle  this  year,  and  has  not,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  been  hitherto 


Ballynavenooragh  Inscribed  Stone,  Co.  Kerry,  from  a  sketch  by  Mr.  P.  J.  Lynch. 

described.  The  edge  has  been  chipped  off,  so  that  it  is  quite  impossible 
to  make  out  this  inscription,  and  it  is  noted  here  for  the  first  time  for 
the  purpose  of  recording  the  site  on  which  still  another  ogam-stone  has 
been  found  in  county  Kerry. 

This  stone  was  found  when  the  floor  of  the  clochaun  was  cleared ; 
there  is  a  souterrain  under  the  floor,  and  ogam  markings  are  said  to 


408         ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

be  on  one  of  the  covering  stones.     I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  P.  J.  Lynch 
for  the  sketch  of  the  stone  here  reproduced. 

THE  KNOCZALAFALLA,  or  COMERAGH,  OGAM,  COUNTY  WATEEFOBD. 

This  stone,  though  not  hitherto  described  in  our  Journal,  has  been 
recorded  by  the  Rev.  Edmund  Barry,  P.P.,  M.B.I.A.,  at  p.  233,  in  the 
"Journal  of  the  "Waterford  and  South-east  of  Ireland  ArchaBological 
Association"  for  the  year  1896,  where  a  reading  is  given  by  him.  He 
has  sent  me  what  he  considers  to  be  an  improvement  on  the  description 
of  the  characters  as  given  in  the  Paper  referred  to.  Its  corrected  reading 
is  as  follows  :  — 


UGUDIMAQ  ILIDI  C     HA 


MO        C        O(l)        TO         NA 

Professor  Rhys'  s  more  recent  reading  is  given  in  his  note  on  this 
inscription,  at  page  398,  ante.  There  is  a  considerable  difference  in  the 
readings  given  by  these  recognised  authorities,  and  the  best  thing  to  be 
done  under  the  circumstances  is  to  place  both  on  record. 

In  concluding  this  resume  of  the  Ogam  finds  for  the  year,  I  would 
again  press  on  the  attention  of  those  members  residing  in  the  neighbour- 
hood the  necessity  for  having  the  Antrim  stones  carefully  examined  in 
full  daylight.  There  are  several  points  which  still  require  elucidation, 
of  which  I  will  mention  one.  As  there  is  a  defect  in  the  stone  after 
the  word  MAQUI,  and  possibly  some  letters  are  omitted,  the  next  word 
is,  no  doubt,  MUCOI,  leaving  the  patronymic  to  be  MEUTINI,  instead  of 
AcoiMEUTiNi.  The  missing  scores  to  make  this  amended  reading  complete, 
would  be  •/-•**-  for  which  there  is  space,  and  this  latter  part  of  the 
inscription  should,  therefore,  be  as  follows  :  — 


M   A    QTJ         X       [M       U]     C       O          IMEUT 

This  gives  us  a  distinct  historical  name,  as  MEUTINI  can  be  traced  to 
Meuihini)  sometimes  used  in  the  form  Meuthi,  the  name  of  an  ecclesiastic 
who  baptised  and  educated  St.  Cadoc. 


409     ) 


The  Rathcroghan  Ogams. — Professor  Rhys  writes : — 

In  my  notice  of  the  genitive  Medvvi  on  one  of  the  Rathcroghan 
stones  (p.  231),  I  was  inexcusably  careless  in  not  having  looked  for  a 
masculine  Medb.  I  have  received  several  communications  on  the  subject, 
and  I  have  the  permission  of  Mr.  Charles  M'Neill,  of  Malahide,  the 
writer  of  the  following  notes,  to  publish  them  ;  but  observe  that  Medbu 
is  inexplicable  except  as  a  partial  transliteration  of  the  Ogmic  spelling 
Medvv : — 

u  I  think  you  will  find  the  following  passages  from  the  Book  of 
Armagh  sufficient  to  justify  you  in  taking  it  to  be  so.  I  quote  them  from 
Documenta  de  S.  Patricia  .  .  .  ex  Libra  Armachano  edidit  E.  Hogan,  S.J. , 
Bruxellis,  1884:— 

"  'Et  fuit  quidam  Spiritu  sancto  plenus  ab  australi,  Medbu  nomine. 
P[er]v[e]nit  cum  [P]atricio  ab  IrlocJiir  ct  legi[t]  in  Ardd[m]achae,  et 
ordinatus  est  in  eodem  loco  [et  diacon]us  fuit  Patricio  de  genere  Machi, 
episcopus  bonus.' — HOGAN,  p.  78. 

"  This  is  from  Tirechan's  Collectanea  :  the  next  is  from  the  Addita- 
menta  attributed  to  Perdomnach  : — 

"  '5.  Colmanus  episcopus  aeclessiam  suam,  id  est  Cluain  cdin  inAchud 
Patricio  episcopo  devotiva  immolatione  in  sempitemum  obtulit,  et  ipse 
earn  commendavit  sanctis  viris,  id  est,  prespitero  Medb  et  prespitero  Sadb. 
Item  campum  aquilonis  inter  Gleoir  et  Ferni  ....  filii  Piechrach  ( = 
Ui  Piachrach)  Patricio  in  sempitemum  ymmolaverunt,  .... 

"'6.  Sanctus  Patricius f amiliam  suam  in  regione  Ciarricki,  per  Spiri- 
tum  sanctum  praevidens  earn  esse  undique  cassatam  id  est,  episcopum 
Sachellum  et  Brocidium  et  Loarnum  et  prespiterum  Medb  et  Ernascum 
in  unitatem  pacis  aeternae  cum  uno  fidei  ritu  sub  potestate  unius  heredis 
suae  apostolicae  cathedrae  Alti  Machae  sub  benedictione  sua  unanimiter 
conjunxit.' — HOGAN,  pp.  94,  95. 

"  TheCiarrichi  here  mentioned,  Dr.  Hogan  states  to  have  occupied  a 
territory  now  represented  by  the  baronies  of  Clanmorris  and  Costello,  on 
the  Roscommon  border  of  the  county  Mayo.  He  refers  to  Hy  Piachrach, 
p.  484,  but  I  have  not  access  to  that  work  at  present." 

Forts  near  Loop  Head,  Co.  Clare. — The  peninsula  of  "Irrus," 
ending  in  the  ancient  "Leap  of  Cuchullin,"  must  at  one  time  have  pos- 
sessed a  group  of  forts  of  no  little  interest. 

CLIFF  POETS. — Going  down  the  coast  from  Kilkee,  we  meet  with 
several  examples  of  the  "  cliff  forts,"  or  "  cliff  castles,"  so  common  in 
Celtic  districts,  on  the  spurs  of  the  Alps  andtheVosges,  and  the  coasts  of 


410 


ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF   IRELAND. 


Trance  and  our  islands.  They  are  usually  formed  by  taking  advantage 
of  a  precipitous  headland,  or  even  spur,  across  the  neck  of  which  a  trench 
is  dug,  the  earth  being  formed  into  a  rampart  on  the  inner  side.  "We 
notice  the  much  defaced  straight  earthwork  and  shallow  fosse  of  Doon- 
aunroe  on  Foohagh  Head;  a  similar  work,  partly  concealed  by  the 
medieval  castle  of  Durilecky,  and,  finest  of  all,  the  great  curved  fosse 
and  mounds  of  Dundoillroe,  which,  standing  on  the  edge  of  the  beautiful 
cliffs  of  Tullig,  is  seen  for  many  miles  inland.  A  monograph  on  these 
cliff  forts  round  our  coasts  is  a  desideratum  in  Archaeology.  Their 
occurrence  on  harbourless  cliffs  and  resemblance  to  forts  far  from  the 
sea  suggest  rather  that  they  were  the  strongholds  of  land  folk  than  of 


sea  rovers. 


Group  of  Forts  at  Loop  Head. 

DOONMOEE. — About  a  mile  up  the  estuary  of  the  Shannon  is  the  note- 
worthy fort  of  Doonmore  or  Horse  Island.  The  natural  features  are 
very  remarkable,  and  enabled  a  stronghold  of  most  unusual  strength  to 
be  constructed  with  little  human  labour.  The  rock  strata  form  a  hollow 
curve  at  this  point,  and  across  this  regular  basin  a  high  bank  of  drift  runs 
to  the  outer  edge,  leaving  a  long  bay  to  each  side.  The  result  is  T-shaped 
in  plan,  each  wing  of  the  T-head  being  pierced  by  a  natural  "  arch,"  the 
eastern  having  fallen  in  since  the  fort  was  made. 

The  old  builders  cut  down  the  sides  of  the  drift  so  as  to  give  it  a  nearly 
conical  section,  only  leaving  a  narrow  path  along  the  top.  They  then  built 
a  dry-stone  facing  on  the  upturned  edge  of  the  strata ;  this  only  remains 


MISCELLANEA.  411 

(10  to  16  feet  high),  near  the  causeway,  but  probably  continued  along  the 
landward  side  of  the  peninsula.  An  earthen  rampart  evidently  extended 
all  along  the  same  side,  but  is  now  much  gapped  and  levelled ;  it  is  even 
apparent  on  the  now  detached  eastern  island.  To  each  side  of  the  en- 
trance at  the  causeway  low  "  middens  "  remain.  So  far  as  we  examined 
them  they  only  consisted  of  limpet  shells  and  a  few  small  rounded 
pebbles,  one  a  pretty  fossil  coral.  Inside  the  fort  are  apparent  traces  of 
what  may  have  been  stone  huts,  but  as  the  place  is  a  centre  for  kelp 
burners,  I  dare  not  assert  any  theory. 

A  few  fields  from  the  shore  end  of  the  causeway  is  a  group  of  three 
or  four  "  beehive  huts  "  embedded  in  heaps  of  shells.  In  looking  for  these 
structures,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Marcus  Keane  (member),  we  came 
upon  the  cliff  fort  which  seems  to  have  been  hitherto  undescribed. 

CAHERS  ON  LOOPHEAD. — About  half  a  mile  westward  the  Ordnance 
maps  mark  an  imposing  line  of  cahers,  running  southward  from  CaJier- 
crochaun.  The  latter  occupies  the  summit  of  a  hill  some  274  feet  above 
the  sea.  Its  walls  were  demolished  to  build  a  telegraph  tower  a  hun- 
dred years  since.  Even  its  successor  is  now  levelled  to  the  ground,  and 
we  can  trace  only  the  oval  ring  of  small  stones,  about  180  feet  across. 
The  view  from  it  is  of  unusual  extent  and  beauty ;  the  mountain  mass 
of  Brandon,  the  Blasquets,  the  Shannon,  winding  far  beyond  the  scarcely 
visible  Round  Tower  of  Scattery,  while  northward  and  westward  extend 
the  beautiful  line  of  cliffs,  the  Head  with  its  detached  pinnacle,  the  great 
smooth  Hull  Rock,  Tullig,  Dunlecky,  Kilkee,  Mutton  Island,  Moher,  and 
Arran,  hull- down  on  the  horizon. 

Descending  towards  the  S.W.,  we  find  on  a  heathy  knoll  a  few  pits 
and  mounds  marking  Caheracoolia.  Eeyond  the  road  a  nearly  vanished 
ring,  scarcely  rising  a  foot  above  the  field,  represents  Cahersaul.  It  was 
only  60  feet  in  diameter,  and  was  levelled  to  build  the  adjoining  house 
and  enclosures.  Where  the  1839  maps  mark  Lisdundalhen  and  Caherna- 
heanmna  we  only  found  a  level  field  sheeted  at  the  first  with  exquisite 
flowers,  and  at  the  other  with  coarse  grass  and  heather.  Indeed,  the  latter 
fort  had  vanished  before  the  date  of  the  map.  The  high  earthworks  of 
Dundalhen  fort,  on  the  cliff  over  the  estuary,  are  not  marked  in  the 
Ordnance  maps. 

If  we  can  trust  Michael  Comyn  (reputed  maker  of  the  Callan  ogam) 
the  legend  of  these  forts  about  1750  ran  as  follows : — Cathba,  the  druid 
of  Conor  Mac  Nessa,  had  foretold  that  a  certain  damsel  living  at  this 
place  would  cause  the  death  of  her  three  brothers  should  she  ever  desert 
the  single  life.  Three  young  warriors,  Crochan,  Sal,  and  Daithlionn, 
suspecting  that  the  prophecy  referred  to  their  sister,  immured  her  in 
Caher  na  heanmna  (Port  of  the  one  woman),  and  built  each  a  fort  upon 
the  promontory  to  keep  off  any  strangers.  The  invariable  failure  took 
place.  Dermot  O'Duine  heard  of  the  lady,  fell  in  love  with  her  descrip- 
tion, and  awaited  the  absence  of  the  brothers.  Three  chiefs  from  Hag's 

JOUR.  R.8.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.  IV.,  5TH  SER.  2  F 


412  ROYAL   SOCIETY   OF   ANTIQUARIES   OF  IRELAND. 

Head  plundered  the  herds  of  the  three,  who  pursued  them  to  Creach 
Oilean,  near  Lehinch,  slew  the  rohhers  and  returned  to  find  their  sister 
gone.  Dermot,  by  a  magic  ring  and  '  currach,'  knew  and  took  advan- 
tage of  their  absence.  Slaying  a  hideous  monster  in  Poll  na  Peiste,  under 
Aile  an  triur,  near  Dundalhen,  he  found  and  won  the  lady.  The  horrified 
brothers  traced  her  steps  from  the  caher  to  the  cliff,  whence  they  saw 
the  boat  far  beyond  their  reach.  In  despair  they  determined  to  forestall 
a  worse  fate,  and  taking  each  others  hands  sprang  into  Poll  na  Peiste.1 

Sceptics  may  question  whether  Comyn  invented  or  handed  on  the 
the  tale  ;  we  find  Crochaun  one  of  the  Tuatha  De  Danaan  in  the  legends 
of  Slieve  Aughty,  and  '  Saul '  is  only  the  brine  which  blows  across  tho 
storm-swept  fields.  Possibly  even  if  it  was  a  genuine  local  legend,  it  grew 
up  out  of  the  name  of  the  "  fort  of  the  lonely  woman,"  of  whom  even 
her  personal  name  had  been  long  forgotten. — T.  J.  WESTROPP. 

Kilmakilloge,  Co.  Kerry  (see  page  314  ante).—  That  Mokilloge, 
Mochionlane,  and  Killian  are  different  forms  of  the  same  name,  as 
stated  by  0' Donovan  in  his  "Kerry  Letters,"  appears  to  be  generally 
accepted,  but  the  St.  Killian  of  Tuosist,  does  not  appear  to  be  the  same 
as  the  St.  Mocheallog,  or  St.  Mochaemhog,  of  the  Irish  annals.  Miss 
Hickson,  in  "Notes  on  Kerry  Topography,"2  states  that,  in  the  six- 
teenth century,  Kilmakilloge  was  known  as  Kilmalochuista,  and  also 
Kilmacollok  O'Ceista.  The  parish  is  called  Tuosist,  meaning  Ui  Siosta, 
or  Tuath  Siosta,  the  territory  of  O'Siosta.3  Miss  Hickson  supposes  the 
old  name,  to  have  been  Cill-Mochaemog-Ui- Siosta,  or  Cill-Mochaellog- 
Ui- Siosta,  abbreviated  and  corrupted  to  the  form  in  which  it  appeared  in 
the  records  of  the  sixteenth  century  ;  she  connects  it  with  St.  Mochaem- 
hog, who  was  a  nephew  to  St.  Ita,  the  foster-mother  to  St.  Brendan, 
and,  in  this  way,  identified  with  Kerry.  The  neighbouring  parish  in 
the  barony  of  Bantry  is  Kilmocomoge,4  with  a  ruined  church  bearing 
the  name,  at  Carriganass.  This  would  explain  the  reason  for  the  dis- 
tinctive termination  Ui  Siosta  to  the  church  in  Tuosist,  which  most 
probably  bore  the  same  name,  as  suggested  by  Miss  Hickson,  Cill 
Mochaemog.  u  St.  Mochaemhog,6  of  the  Irish  annals,  was  Abbot  of 
Leath  Mor,  and  his  principal  church  is  now  called  Leath  Mochaemog 
(anglice,  Leamokivoge),  in  Two-mile-Borris,  barony  of  Eliogarty,  county 
Tipperary  ;  he  died  A.D.  655.  Colgan  publishes  his  life  at  13th  March." 
This  is  not  the  St.  Killian  of  Tuosist,  whose  festival  is  held  on  the  8th 
of  July,  neither  is  he  to  be  identified  with  St.  Mochaellog  of  Kilmallock, 
whose  festival  is  held  on  the  26th  of  March.6 

1  "  Ordnance  Survey  Letters,"  MSS.  R.I. A.,  Co.  Clare,  Kilballyone  Parish. 

2  Journal  R.S.A.L,  5th  Ser.,  vol.  i.,  p,  47. 

3  Joyce's  "  Names  of  Places,"  p.  123. 

4  Lewis's  "  Topographical  Dictionary." 

5  "Annals  of  the  Four  Masters"  (O'Donovan),  A.D.  655. 

6  Joyce's  "Names  of  Places,"  p.  153. 


MISCELLANEA.  413 

The  name  of  St.  Killian  of  Tuosist,  appears  in  the  Roman  Breviary 
on  the  8th  of  July,  "  Kilianm  natione  Hibernm"  &c.  ;  and  [in  Butler's 
"Lives  of  the  Saints"  for  the  same  date  is  published,  "  SS.  Kilian, 
bishop;  Colman,  priest;  Totnan,  deacon,  martyrs.  Kilian,  or  Kuln, 
was  a  holy  Irish  monk  of  noble  Scottish  extraction.  With  two  zealous 
companions  he  travelled  to  Rome  in  686,  and  obtained  of  Pope  Conon  a 
commission  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  German  idolaters  of  Franconia, 
upon  which  occasion  Kilian  was  invested  with  episcopal  authority." 
After  which  he  describes  the  murder  of  the  three  missionaries  at  the 
instigation  of  Geliana,  wife  of  Duke  Gosbert,  at  Wurtzburg,  in  688, 
where  this  festival  is  still  celebrated. 

In  O'Donovan's  Notes  to  the  "  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  on 
St.  Mochaemhog  (see  ante],  he  states  the  saint's  original  name  was 
Coemglin,  but  St.  Ita  changed  it  to  Mochaemhog,  which  Colgan  inter- 
preted Meus  pulcher  juvenis.  In  Miss  Cusack's  "History  of  Kerry" 
there  is  an  interesting  note  in  connexion  with  Kilmakilloge,  p.  412, 
quoting  authorities,  in  reference  to  the  diminutives  mo  and  oge,  and 
their  equivalents,  joined  to  saints'  names,  as  expressive  of  affection,  or 
endearment;  one  instance  is  given,  amongst  others,  of  "  Mocholmog, 
which  is  Colman."  Now  St.  Colman  was  the  companion  of  St.  Kilian 
at  Wurtzburg,  and  without  seeking  to  equate  the  names,  it  may  bo 
that  St.  Kilian  or  Chionlane  and  Mocholmog  (corruption  Mocholog)  or 
Colman  were,  in  some  way,  associated  with  this  district.  An  investi- 
gation of  the  various  German  authorities  for  the  lives  of  these  saints,  as 
quoted  by  Butler,  would  probably  throw  more  light  on  the  question, 
and  perhaps  explain  their  connexion  with  Kerry. — P.  J.  LYNCH,  Hon. 
Provincial  Secretary,  Munster. 


Attacotti  and  Aithechtuatha. — The  known  increase  of  aspiration  in 
Irish  justifies  a  belief  that  sounds  resembling  t  and  c  occurred  in  the 
Gaelic  words  represented  by  the  Roman  letters  Aitectuata.  In  that  case 
Attacotti  is  not  farther  from  Aitectuata  than  some  English  forms  of 
foreign  names  from  their  originals. 

O'Curry  translates  the  words  as  "Rent-paying  Tribes."  Tribute 
seems  a  better  rendering  than  rent  in  cases  of  tribes  which  in  later  times 
paid  rent  or  tribute,  though  they  were  by  birth  free  tribes.  The  plun- 
derers of  the  Roman  Empire  would  be  the  Scots  and  the  Picts  and  the 
tributary  tribes. 

The  last  term  would  accurately  mark  the  difference  between  the 
Celtic  tribes  to  the  south  of  the  northern  wall  who  became  subjects  of 
the  Roman  Empire,  and  the  free  tribes  to  the  north,  who  are  identified 
with  the  Picts. 

Aithechtuatha  appear  in  Irish  history  and  legend  about  the  time  of 
the  Roman  conquest  of  Britain. — H.  T.  KNOX,  Fellow. 

2F2 


414  ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  IRELAND. 

Notes  on  the  Marriages  and  Successions  of  the  de  Burgo  Lords  of 
Connaught,  and  the  Acquisition  of  the  Earldom  of  Ulster. — Sweetman's 
"  Calendar  of  Documents"  relating  to  Ireland  shows  that  Richard 
de  Burgo,  first  Lord,  did  not  marry  Una,  daughter  of  Aedh,  King  of 
Connaught,  son  of  Cathal  Crovderg,  and  that  Walter  de  Burgo,  third 
Lord,  did  not  acquire  the  Earldom  of  Ulster  by  marriage  with  Matilda, 
daughter  of  Hugh  de  Lacy.  These  seem  to  be  traditions.  I  have  found 
no  reference  to  a  contemporary  authority.  The  former  seems  to  have  as 
its  foundation  the  capture  of  Aedh's  wife,  and  her  surrender  to  Richard 
de  Burgo  in  1227. 

"William  Fitz  Aldelm  had  "  sons"  in  1203.  One  must  have  been 
father  of  Richard  na  Coille,  killed  at  Athanchip  in  1270,  called  the 
Earl's  kinsman  in  the  Annals  of  Ulster. 

Richard,  the  eldest  and  first  Lord  of  Connaught,  had,  in  or  before 
1225,  married  Egidia,  daughter  of  Walter  de  Lacy,  with  whom  he 
received  the  cantred  of  Eoghanacht  of  Cashel  (Sweetman,  vol.  i.,  p.  192). 
When  he  died  in  1243  he  left  a  widow,  Egidia,  who  married  Richard  of 
Rochester  (vol.  i.,  p.  388),  and  daughters  and  three  sons,  who  were  under 
age.  There  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  this  Egidia  was  a  third  wife. 

Richard,  second  Lord,  came  of  age,  and  was  given  possession  of  his 
estates  in  February,  1246  (vol.  i.,  p.  428). 

In  November,  1248,  Richard  was  dead,  leaving  a  widow,  Alice,  for 
whom  dower  was  provided. 

His  brother,  Walter,  third  Lord,  came  of  age,  and  was  given  posses- 
sion in  1250. 

William,  killed  at  Athanchip  in  1270,  was  the  third  son. 
Walter  died  in  1271,  leaving  a  widow,  Emelina,  a  daughter  of  John, 
son  of  John  Fitz  Geoffrey,  Justiciary  of  Ireland.  John  Fitz  Geoffrey  was 
a  younger  son  of  Geoffrey  Fitz  Piers,  Earl  of  Essex,  in  right  of  his  wife. 
This  Emelina  was  mother  of  Richard  the  Red  Earl  of  Ulster,  who 
inherited  through  her  as  coheiress  of  her  brother,  Richard  Fitz  John,  a 
share  in  the  cantred  of  the  Isles  in  Thomond. 

The  Calendar  is  silent  as  to  any  previous  marriage  of  Walter  and  as 
to  any  heir  of  Hugh  de  Lacy.  The  positive  statements  are  inconsistent 
with  succession  of  Walter  to  the  earldom  in  right  of  his  wife. 

Hugh  de  Lacy  held  the  earldom  as  it  was  held  by  John  de  Courcy.  He 
had  a  first  wife,  Leceline,  daughter  of  Nicholas  de  Yerdon.  He  left  a 
widow,  Emelina,  daughter  of  Walter  de  Ridelesforcl.  When  Hugh  died 
in  1243  the  King  ordered  the  Justiciary  to  take  possession  of  Hugh's 
lands,  giving  his  widow  possession  of  her  lands,  inherited  from  her 
father  and  dower  out  of  Hugh's  lands,  excepting  the  Earldom  of  Ulster, 
which  the  Justiciary  is  to  keep  in  the  King's  hand.  In  1253  the  King 
assigned  all  Ulster  and  other  lands  as  dower  of  the  Queen.  In  1254  the 
King  granted  all  Ireland,  save  certain  reservations,  to  his  eldest  son. 
Edward  managed  Ulster  by  a  seneschal. 


MISCELLANEA.  415 

Up  to  1265,  Walter  is  called  Walter  de  Burgo  only.  In  1269,  lie 
appears  as  Earl  of  Ulster.  Thomas,  Bishop  of  Down,  complained  that 
Walter  made  the  ecclesiastics  of  Ulster  appear  in  his  courts.  Thomas 
lliddell,  bishop  from  1266  to  1276,  is  the  only  Thomas  who  was  bishop  at 
this  period.  Henry  III.  apparently  thereupon,  in  1269,  points  out  to 
Walter  that  he  had  reserved  abbatial  and  episcopal  investitures  when  he 
granted  the  land  of  Ireland  to  his  son.  Therefore  Edward's  enfeoffment 
of  the  county  of  Ulster,  to  Walter,  did  not  make  abbots  and  bishops  his 
subjects. 

Upon  Walter's  death,  his  son  being  a  minor,  the  King  took  possession 
of  the  earldom,  giving  dower  to  his  widow  Emelina. 

An  enquiry  in  the  7th  year  of  Edward  I.  shows  that  Walter  de  Burgo 
gave  the  manor  of  Kilsilan  and  other  lands  to  Edward  in  exchange  for  the 
land  of  Ulster. 

It  is  evident  that  Walter  took  by  grant.  Though  Walter  did  not 
marry  her,  Hugh,  Earl  of  Ulster,  had  a  daughter  Matilda.  She  married 
David,  son  of  William  Pitz  Gerald,  Baron  of  Naas,  and  had  a  daughter 
who  inherited  Carlingf ord  which  her  father  had  given  her.  As  she  was  not 
Hugh's  heiress  she  must  have  been  illegitimate.  (Hist.  MSS.  Commission, 
4th  Eeport — Gorrnanston  Register.) — H.  T.  KNOX,  Fellow. 


Ruins  on  Inishrobe,  Co.  Mayo. — Until  the  drainage  works  of  fifty 
years  ago,  Inishrobe  was  an  island  off  the  mouth  of  the  river  Robe,  and 
is  one  still  in  winter.  It  is  a  low  grassy  hill,  running  north  and  south. 
At  the  S.E.  end  is  a  small  ruined  church.  About  twenty  years  ago,  the 
fallen  parts  of  the  wall  were  rebuilt  to  protect  modern  graves  inside.  Of 
original  work  parts  of  the  north  and  south  walls  and  a  very  little  of  the 
west  wall  remain,  but  no  trace  of  door  or  window. 

The  original  wall  is  of  large  stones  irregularly  coursed,  having  smooth 
faces,  split  not  cut.  The  upper  part  of  the  south  face  is  more  polygonal 
in  character.  It  is  now  not  more  than  about  6  feet  high.  It  has  two 
good  faces  with  small  stones  in  mortar  between,  not  bonded.  The 
dimensions  are  33  feet  6  inches  by  15  feet  outside;  and  28  feet  6  inches 
by  10  feet  2  inches  inside. 

At  time  of  repair  some  cut  sandstones  were  lying  about,  I  am  told,  and 
were  taken  away  for  sharpening  tools.  One  as  described  to  me  was  the 
top  of  a  small  round  headed  window.  The  wall  is  of  limestone. 

Close  to  it  are  what  look  like  foundations  of  small  buildings,  and 
round  it  seems  to  have  been  a  small  circular  enclosure.  Among  trees  and 
brambles  on  the  edge  of  the  good  land  along  what  was  the  lake  shore  are 
remains  of  a  wall.  It  ran  from  a  point  some  10  yards  north  of  the  church 
on  the  east  shore  round  the  south  to  a  point  on  the  west  shore  opposite 
the  first  mentioned  point.  A  wall  across  the  grass  would  make  a  large 
irregularly  circular  outer  enclosure. 

Outside  this  wall,  at  the  north-west  point,  where  it  curves  a  little 


416     ROYAL  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES  OF  ICELAND. 

inland,  is  a  curious  ruined  building  like  a  basin  with  a  trace  of  an 
entrance.  It  is  but  6  or  8  feet  across.  It  would  not  do  for  a  limekiln. 
It  might  have  been  a  "sweat-house,"  if  this  was  an  island  monastery. 
Outside  the  wall  on  the  south,  where  there  is  some  grassy  ground,  are 
traces  of  a  building,  but  only  a  mound,  so  that  it  is  impossible  to  make 
anything  out. 

The  church  has  no  particular  name.  I  am  toltl  that  old  people  say  it 
was  St.  Colum's  Monastery.  It  looks  to  me  like  a  church  in  a  cashel, 
but  I  have  never  seen  the  ruins  of  a  cashel  monastery. 

In  the  Ecclesiastical  Taxation  of  1306  Inisredba  is  a  separate  parish, 
valued  27s.  yearly.  The  parish  church  of  that  period  must  have  been 
Templenaleckagh,  on  the  mainland  nearly  opposite  Inishrobe.  (See 
one  inch  Ordnance  map,  No.  85.)  The  walls  are  perfect.  The  dimen- 
sions are  almost  exactly  those  of  Teampuill  Muire,  at  Kilmacduagh,  and 
it  seems  to  be  identical  in  style,  save  that  it  has  a  pointed  doorway. 
(Fahey,  "  History  and  Antiquities  of  Kilmacduagh,"  p.  82.)  It  is  a 
graveyard. 

In  a  list  of  churches  and  monasteries  founded  in  honour  of  Colum- 
cille  appears  Ulan  Columbkille,  an  island  in  the  parish  of  Ballyovey. 
(Reeves's  "  Adamnan's  Life  of  St.  Columba.") 

Ulan  Columbkille  contains  ruins  of  a  small  monastery  of  much  the 
same  extent  as  that  of  Inishrobe,  so  far  as  the  growth  of  grass  ferns  and 
brambles  allowed  me  to  form  an  opinion  in  the  month  of  June.  I  found 
a  sandstone  block,  having  an  arch  scooped  out  of  it,  evidently  the  head 
of  a  small  window. 

Inishrobe  was,  therefore,  probably  another  monastery  of  Columba, 
if  the  local  belief  is  of  value. — H.  T.  KNOX. 


Stone  Chalice. — Having  just  read  in  the  June  issue  of  the  Journal 
the  account  of  ancient  chalices  in  Ireland,  it  may  be  of  interest  if  I 
describe,  as  nearly  as  possible,  a  stone  chalice  I  saw  in  county  Donegal. 
It  is  in  the  possession  of  Rev.  J.  M'Fadden,  p.p.,  Glena,  Gortahork, 
county  Donegal,  and  is  hollowed  out  of  a  small  iron-stone  about  3  inches 
in  length  by  2  J  inches  in  diameter.  There  are  five  finger-holes  in  the 
sides  and  base,  in  which,  as  Father  M'Fadden  explained  to  me,  the  priest 
inserted  his  fingers  when  presenting  the  chalice.  The  tradition  about  it 
is  that  it  was  the  chalice  of  St.  Columbkille,  and  it  has  been  handed 
down  for  generations  in  one  family  on  Tory  Island,  who  kept  it  carefully 
wrapt  up  in  a  silk  bag.  But  as  Father  M'Fadden  found  it  was  being  put 
to  superstitious  uses,  he  took  it  into  his  own  possession. — J.  R.  BAILLIE, 

M.B.I.A. 


Altar  Tombs. — Mr.  M.  J.  C.  Buckley  directs  attention  to  the  follow- 
ing notice  respecting  the  "Altar"  Tombs  which  are  so  often  found  in 


MISCELLANEA.  417 

the  north  walls  of  so  many  Irish  churches  (as  well  as  in  England  also), 
and  is  of  interest,  as  it  relates  to  such  arched  and  richly  decorated  tombs 
as  are  to  he  seen  in  the  cathedrals  of  Limerick  and  Kilkenny,  and  in 
the  churches  of  New  Ross,  Kilrosanty,  Youghal,  and  many  others  : — 

The  recent  operations  in  Canterbury  Cathedral  have,  it  is  expected,  brought  to 
light  the  site  of  the  depository  of  the  Easter  sepulchre,  which  was  set  up  in  a  niche 
in  the  north  choir  aisle  as  near  to  the  high  altar  as  possible.  A  correspondent  of 
the  Guardian  writes  : — "  The  site  has  recently  been  localised  by  Mr.  "W.  Pugh,  the 
worthy  hon.  vesturer,  as  being  that  in  which  the  chained  Bible  is  at  present  placed. 
This  stands  within  a  large  arch  now  blocked  up  with  masonry,  which  could  not  have 
been  either  a  door  or  a  window,  since  the  projecting  apse  of  St.  Stephen's  chapel,  in 
the  north  transept,  would  block  it  up.  It  is  now  recognised  as  fairly  certain  that  this 
arch  was  the  original  position  of  the  Easter  sepulchre,  in  which  the  Host,  consecrated 
on  Maunday  Thursday,  was  solemnly  placed  on  Good  Friday.  When  Cranmer  adapted 
this  niche  as  a  recess  and  shelf  for  the  chained  Bible,  he  closed  the  upper  portion  under 
the  arch  with  a  thin  curtain  of  stone,  resting  on  two  flat  arches.  In  1887,  when  the 
workmen  were  putting  up  the  tablet  to  Archdeacon  Harrison,  they  found  a  hollow 
space  behind  the  curtain,  which  had  to  be  filled  in  with  liquid  grout  before  the  tablet 
could  be  secured,  and  it  is  but  recently  that  the  original  use  of  the  niche  was 
realised." 


An  Ancient  Footway  of  Wooden  Planks  across  the  Monavullagh 
Bog. — The  Monavullagh  Bog  is  a  large  isolated  one  lying  near,  and  on 
the  east  side  of,  the  railway  between  Kildare  and  Athy,  in  the  county 
Kildare.  When  shooting  on  the  Clogorrah  portion  of  it  on  the  12th  of 
August  this  year,  the  bog-ranger  informed  me  that  a  man  named  John 
Hyland,  while  cutting  turf  in  the  neighbouring  Killart  part  of  the  bog  (of 
which  Major  Borrowes,  of  Gilltown,  is  the  proprietor),  was  coming  across 
planks  of  oak  deep  down  in  the  bog.  After  inspecting  the  place,  I  got 
permission  from  Major  Borrowes  to  excavate  a  plank  in  full  length. 
John  Hyland,  and  a  couple  of  hands,  then  set  to  work  to  cut  a  deep 
trench  some  four  perches  into  the  bog,  and  uncovered  the  foot-track, 
which,  according  to  my  directions,  was  left  in  situ  till  my  arrival. 

On  examining  the  timber,  I  found  it  to  consist  of  white  oak  planks 
laid  singly  in  a  line,  eight  feet  below  the  present  level  of  the  bog,  and 
having  five  more  feet  of  black  peat  below  them,  before  reaching  the 
clay. 

The  plank  measured  21  £  feet  in  length,  2  feet  in  breadth,  and  was 
from  4  to  6  inches  thick.  When  a  piece  was  cut  off  with  a  knife,  the 
wood  was  whitish  in  colour.  One  end  of  the  plank  rested  on  the  stem 
of  u  small  yew-tree,  and  the  other  on  a  stout  oak  bough,  both  of  which 
projected  far  beyond  the  sides  of  the  plank. 

On  either  side  of  the  plank  stout  stakes,  gradually  brought  to  a  point 
with  some  sharp  instrument,  were  driven  into  the  bog  about  6  feet 
apart,  some  2  feet  being  left  above  the  level  of  the  plank ;  and  to 
further  tighten  the  latter  to  them,  long  sticks,  or  straight  branches, 


418  ROYAL   SOCIETY    OF   ANTIQUARIES    OF    IRELAND. 

were  wedged  between  them  lengthways.  These  stakes  were  of  yew  and 
of  oak,  and  were  as  sound  as  the  day  they  were  placed  in  position ;  the 
marks  of  the  cuts,  too,  where  the  stakes  had  been  brought  to  a  point, 
appearing  quite  fresh. 

The  planks  had  not  been  sawn  at  the  ends,  but  were  hacked  away, 
the  naturally  rounded  external  side  rested  on  the  peat.  One  strange 
feature  in  connexion  with  them  was  that  on  either  side,  close  to  the 
edge,  and  from  6  to  8  feet  apart,  there  were  holes  about  4  inches  square. 
As  there  were  no  pegs  of  any  description  in  them,  it  is  puzzling  to  know 
what  they  were  intended  for ;  they  give  one  the  idea  that  they  were 
intended  for  the  uprights  of  a  hand-rail,  but  this  luxury  would  not  be 
required  except  on  a  dark  night.  Can  they  have  been  made  use  of  in 
some  way  when  carrying  or  drawing  the  timber  into  position  ? 

John  Hyland  informed  me  that  for  years  he  and  others  cutting  turf 
here  before  him  had  been  uncovering  these  planks  which,  as  soon  as  a  few 
feet  projected  from  the  turf -bank,  they  cut  through,  and  carried  off  to 
repair  the  pig-sty  with.  The  planks,  he  said,  were  all  on  the  one  level, 
and  laid  on  the  same  principle — all,  too,  were  of  oak  ;  they  were  laid  as 
if  leading  from  the  Kilberry  direction,  and  appeared  to  lead  straight  to 
"the  Deny"  (or  Derryvullagh,  to  give  it  its  full  name),  which  is  an 
island  in  the  middle  of  the  bog,  containing  a  farmhouse  and  some 
12  acres  of  good  tillage  land  ;  a  tocher,  or  car- track,  connects  the  Derry 
with  Killart  on  the  edge  of  the  bog  (a  distance  of  just  an  English  mile), 
and  it  is  near  this  that  the  ancient  foot-track  is  situated. 

Derryvullagh,  which  slopes  to  a  height  of  15  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  bog,  means  "  the  oak-wood  height";  from  it  the  bog  is  called 
Monavnllagh,  or  "the  bog  of  the  height." 

Kilberry  (i.e.  St.  Berach's  or  Barry's  Church)  lies  a  mile  and  a-half 
to  the  west  of  Killart,  and  contains  the  ruins  of  a  church,  a  castle,  and 
a  nunnery. 

Can  any  of  our  readers  calculate  the  age  of  this  ancient  foot-track  ? — 
WALTEB  FITZ  GEKALD,  Hon.  Local  Secretary  for  South  Kildare. 

NOTE. — Lying  in  the  Gallery  of  the  Science  and  Art  Museum,  and 
just  outside  the  doorway  into  the  room  containing  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy's  collection  of  Antiquities,  is  a  large  oaken  plank  closely 
resembling,  in  appearance,  the  Monavullagh  plank,  except  that  it  is 
much  broader  and  longer,  and  that  it  also  has  a  double  row  of  holes 
down  the  middle  in  addition  to  those  at  the  sides.  It  is  thought  that 
this  latter  huge  plank  may  have  served  for  a  bridge,  whose  uprights 
were  fixed  in  the  rows  of  holes. — W.  EITZ  G. 


(     419     ) 


roccctmujs 


THE  FOURTH  GENERAL  MEETING  or  THE  SOCIETY  for  the  year  1898  was 
held  (by  permission)  in  the  ROYAL  IRISH  ACADEMY  HOUSE,  Dawson- 
street,  Dublin,  on  Tuesday,  October  llth,  1898,  at  8  o'clock,  p.m. 

THOMAS  DREW,  B.H.A.,   Vice-President,  in  the  Chair. 

The  following  Fellows  and  Members  were  present  (and  a  large 
attendance  of  the  general  public  filled  the  large  room  of  the 
Academy) : — 

Fellows.—  Lord  Walter  Fitz  Gerald,  M.R.I. A.  ;  Colonel  Philip  D.  Vigors,  Vice- 
President;  Seaton  F.  Milligan,  M.R.I.A.,  Vice- President',  William  Frazer,  F.R.C.S.I., 
M.R.I.A.,  HON.  F.S. A.  (Scot.),  Vice- President ;  Rev.  J.  F.  M.  ffrench,  M.R.I.A.,  Vice- 
President;  Edward  Perceval  Wright,  M.A.,  M.D.,  M.R.I.A.,  Vice- President;  J.  J. 
Digges  La  Touche,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  M.R.I.A.,  Vice- President ;  Robert  Cochrane,  F.S.A., 
M.R.I. A.,  Hon.  General  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  Francis  Joseph  Bigger,  M.R.I. A.  ; 
Rev.  George  R.  Buick,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A.,  LL.B., 
M.R.I.A.  ;  George  Coffey,  B.A.I.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  John  Cooke,M.A. ;  R.  S.  Longworth  Dames, 
B.A.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  Charles  Geoghegan,  ASSOC.  INST.  C.B.  ;  George  A.  P.  Kelly,  M.A.  ; 
G.  Henry  Kinahan,  M.R.I.A.  ;  James  Mills,  M.R.I.A.  ;  William  R.  J.  Molloy, 
M.R.I.A.  ;  P.  J.  O'Reilly  ;  J.  J.  Perceval ;  Count  Plunkett,  M.R.I.A.  ;  Countess 
Plunkett ;  J.  P.  Swan ;  Rev.  J.  Wallace  Taylor,  LL.D.  ;  T.  J.  Westropp,  M.A., 

M.R.I.A. 

Members.— J.  Poe  Alton :  Rev.  Arthur  W.  Ardagh,  M.A.  ;  F.  Elrington  Ball, 
M.R.I.A.  ;  Samuel  Baker  ;  P.  T.  Bermingham  ;  H.  F.  Berry,  M.A.  ;  Robert  Bestick  ; 
Frederic  C.  Bigger;  J.  B.  C.  Bray;  Miss  Brown;  William  Carey;  Wellesley  P. 
Chapman  ;  Rev.  A.  Coleman,  O.P.  ;  James  Coleman ;  Nathaniel  Colgan  ;  E.  Tenison 
Collins,  B.L.  ;  H.  A.  Cosgrave,  M.A.  ;  R.  R.  G.  Crookshank ;  Rev.  P.  Daly ; 
E.  R.  M'C.  Dix  ;  M.  Dorey ;  George  Duncan ;  Valentine  J.  Dunn ;  Rev.  William 
Falkiner,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  Samuel  A.  0.  Fitz  Patrick  ;  Frederick  Franklin,  F.R.I.A.I.  ; 
Joseph  Gough ;  Lieut. -Col.  J.  J.  Greene,  M.B.  ;  Francis  Guilbride ;  Mrs.  Alfred 
Hamilton ;  C.  W.  Harrison ;  H.  Hitchins ;  J.  F.  S.  Jackson ;  P.  Weston  Joyce, 
LL.D.,  M.R.I.A.  ;  Richard  J.  Kelly,  B.L.  ;  P.  Kenny;  Rev.  F.  J.  Lucas,  D.D.  ;  Francis 
M'Bride,  J.P.  ;  James  M'Connell;  Mrs.  M'Donnell ;  Redmond  Magrath;  Miss 
Manders ;  Morgan  Mooney ;  J.  H.  Moore,  M.A.  ;  Rev.  H.  Kingsmill  Moore,  M.A.  ; 
Lieut.-Col.  O'Callaghan- Westropp  ;  J.  E.  Palmer  ;  Rev.  A.  D.  Purefoy,  M.A.  ;  S.  A. 
Quan  -  Smith ;  Abraham  Shackleton ;  George  Shackleton;  Mrs.  J.  F.  Shackleton  ; 
Mrs.  Sheridan  ;  E.  W.  Smyth,  J.P.,  T.C.  ;  Mrs.  Smyth  ;  Rev.  Bedell  Stanford,  B.A.  ; 
William  C.  Stubbs,  M.A.,  B.L.  ;  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Stewart;  H.  P.  Truell,  M.D.,  D.L.  ; 
Walter  S.  Wall,  J.P.  ;  Captain  W.  Hussey  Walsh;  R.  Blair  White;  W.  Grove 
White,  LL.B. 

The  Minutes  of  the  Third  General  Meeting  was  read  and  confirmed. 


420  ROYAL    SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUARIES    OF  IRELAND. 

The    following    Candidates,    recommended  by    the   Council,   were 
declared  duly  elected: — 

FELLOWS. 

Balfour,  Blayney  Reynell  Townley,  M.A.  (Cantab.),  M.R.I.A.,  J.P.,  D.L.  (Member, 

1885),  Townley  Hall,  Drogheda :  proposed  by  G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A., 

Fellow. 
O'Connell,  the  Rev.  Daniel,  B.D.  (Member,  1897),  81,  Quay,  "Waterford  :  proposed  by 

G.  D.  Burtchaell,  M.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow. 
Saunderson,    Robert  de  Bedick,    M.A.    (Dubl.),    New   Ross  :    proposed  by  Gr.   D. 

Burtchaell,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  Fellow. 

MEMBERS. 

Ball,  H.  Houston,   23,  Richmond-road,   South  Kensington :  proposed  by  the  Rev. 

W.  Ball  Wright,  M.A. 
Garden,  Lady,  Templemore  Abbey,  Templemore  :  proposed  by  the  Very  Rev.  Canon 

Meagher,  p.p. 
Collis,  the  Rev.  Maurice  H.  Fitz  Gerald,  B.D.,  The  Vicarage,  Antrim:  proposed  by 

"William  Frazer,  F.R.C.S.I.,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice -President. 

Cranny,  John  J.,  M.D.,  17,  Merrion-square,  Dublin  :  proposed  by  John  Panton. 
Holmes,  John,  38,  Haddington-road,  Dublin :  proposed  by  the  Rev.  Danby  Jeffares, 

M.A. 
Holmes,  Mrs.,  38,  Haddington-road,  Dublin :    proposed  by  the  Rev.  Danby  Jeffares, 

M.A. 
Hurst,   Rev.  John,  c.c.,  Ballaghadereen  :  proposed  by  the  Rev.  J.  E.  M'Kenna, 

M.K.I.A. 

M'Laughlin,  Edward  C.,  Cart  Hall,  Coleraine:  proposed  by  John  Kennedy. 
Ryan,  Very  Rev.  Francis,  P.P.,   St.  Joseph's,  Berkeley-street,  Dublin  :  proposed  by 

W.  R.  J.  Molloy,  M.R.I.A.,  Fellow. 
Tarleton,   Thomas,   30,    Ormond-road,    Rathmines  :  proposed  by  William  Frazer, 

F.R.C.S.I.,  M.R.I.A.,  Vice -President. 

The  following  Papers  were  read  (illustrated  by  maps,  plans,  and 
lantern  slides),  and  referred  to  the  Council : — 

"  Mount  Merrion  and  its  History,"  by  F.  Elrington  Ball,  M.R.I. A. 

"  A  Note  of  the  whole  Circuit  of  Dublin,  10th  February,  1584,"  with  Early  Maps  of 
Dublin,  by  Dr.  Frazer,  M.R.I. A.,  Vice- President. 

"  Some  old  Deeds  connected  with  Christchurch,  Dublin,"  by  J.  J.  Digges  La  Touche, 
M.A.,  LL.D.,  Vice-President. 

44  The  Ancient  Church  and  Holy  Lake  at  Kilmakilloge,  Co.  Kerry,"  by  Francis 
Joseph  Bigger,  M.R.I.A.,  Fellow. 

Some   Ancient   Irish  Bells  were   exhibited  by  Dr.  Frazer,    Vice- 
President. 


The  Meeting  then  adjourned  to  Tuesday,  29th  November,  1898. 


PROCEEDINGS.  421 

An  Evening  Meeting  of  the  Society  was  held  in  the  ROZAL  IRISH 
ACADEMY  HOUSE,  Dawson-street,  Dublin,  on  Tuesday,  29th  November, 
1898,  at  8  o'clock,  p.m. ; 

THOMAS  DREW,  R.H.A.,  Vice-President,  in  the  Chair. 

The  following  Papers  were  read,  and  referred  to  the  Council : — 

"  Some  Residents  of  Monkstown  in  the  Eighteenth  Century,"  by  F.  Elrington  Ball, 
M.R.I. A. 

"  The  Irish  Channel  and  Dublin  in  1733"  :  being  Extracts  from  the  Diary  of  William 
Bulkley,  of  Bryndda,  near  Amlwch,  Anglesea,  by  H.  A.  Cosgrave,  M.A. 

"  The  Island  Monasteries  of  Lough  Ree,"  by  P.  J.  O'Reilly,  Fellow. 

The  following  Papers  were  taken  as  read,  and  referred  to  the 
Council : — 

'*  Kilelton,  in  Glenfas,"  by  Mary  Agnes  Hickson,  Hon.  Local  Secretary  for  South 
Kerry. 

"  Cahirconree  and  Doonbeg,  Co.  Kerry,"  by  P.  J.  Lynch,  Hon.  Provincial  Secretary 
for  Munster,  Fellow. 

"  The  Newly  Discovered  Ogam-stones  in  the  Co.  Antrim,"  by  the  Rev.  G.  R.  Buick,, 

LL.D.,  M.R.I. A.,  Fellow. 

"The  Bracklaghhoy   Ogam-stone,  with  readings  of  other  Ogam  Monuments,"  by 
Principal  Rhys,  LL.D.,  Hon.  Fellow. 

"The  Ogam  Discoveries  for  the  year  1898,"  by  R.  Cochrane,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  Hon* 

Secretary. 

The  Meeting  then  adjourned. 


INDEX. 


Abbeys.     See  Monasteries. 

Abbott  family,  Dublin,  71. 

Acoimeutini,  word  on  ogam  stone,  395. 

Adams,  Bernard  (Bishop,  1619),  46,  47. 

Adamstown  Co.,  iirn,  70. 

Adare,  Co.  Limerick,  legacy  to  friars,  43, 
123;  chalice  (1726),  135,  273. 

Aine,  a  mythical  heroine,  110. 

Allen,  Mr.  Joshua  (1680),  15-27;  Vis- 
counts, 29. 

Romilly,  theory  as  to  ogam  in- 
scriptions and  high  crosses,  53. 

Altar  tombs,  44,  416. 

Amalgaid,  name  on  ogam  inscription, 
236,  272. 

Antiquities  of  iron,  237,  244. 

Antrim  Co.,  Bun-na-margie,  279;  recent 
discovery  of  ogam  stones  in,  392-395, 
396,  398,  420. 

Archaeological  Societies  Congress,  268. 

Ardnaree,  Co.  Sligo,  monastery,  286. 

Argotin,  Co.  Dublin,  21. 

Armagh  Co.,  Dorsey  fort  in,  1 ;  survey 
of  Co.,  9;  photographs,  64;  Presby- 
terian marriages,  345. 

Arms.     See  Heraldry. 

weapons— flint,  bronze,  iron,  237- 

244. 

Arran,  Earl  and  Countess  entertain 
Society,  284. 

Arthur  family,  Limerick,  37,  115  ;  tomb, 
117;  John,  119. 

Ashford,  William,  painter,  344. 

Atlantic,  legendary  islands  in,  355. 

Attacotti  and  Aithechtuatha,  413. 

Auditor's  Report,  184. 

Aughamore,  Co.  Mayo,  church  and  cross, 
405. 

Augustinians'  legacies,  43,  123. 

Aultagh,  Co.  Cork,  ogam  stone,  397,  406. 


Baillie,  Ven.  Archdeacon,  49,  275.  • 

J.R.,  416. 

Bagenal,  Sir  D.  (1587),  300. 
Baginbun,  site  of  Raymond's  fort,  155. 
Baine,   mother  of   Felimy  Reachtmhar, 

93. 
Baker  family,  Co.  Tipperary,  72. 


Balbeyne,  Thomas,  Limerick  (1369),  38; 

will,  115. 

Balfour,  Blayney,  elected  Fellow,  420. 
Ball,  Francis  Elrington,  Paper  by,  21,  34, 

329,  420,  421. 

Ballenyloor  (Leopardstown),  Dublin,  23. 
Ballina,  Co.  Mayo,  meeting  of  R.  S.  A.  I., 

281. 

Ballinasmala,  Co.  Mayo,  friary,  404. 
Ballinastragh,  Wexford,  chalice,  34. 
Ballineanig.     See  Bally  wihen. 
Ballyandreen,    Co.    Kerry,    ogam-stone, 

405,  406. 
Ballyhaunis,  Co.  Mayo,  antiquities,  404, 

405. 

Ballynavenooragh  ogam,  Co.  Kerry,  407. 
Ballywiheen,  Co.  Kerry,  271. 
"  Bambino  of  New  Ross,"  186,  250. 
Barden,  P.,  275,  276. 
Barrett,  family  of,  Mayo,  260,  262. 
Barry,  J.,  Grene,  64,  72. 
Basin  stones,  "mill"  theory,  180. 
Bayly,  diary  of  Mrs.  (1721-74),  141. 
Beaver  traps.     See  Otter  traps. 
Bekan,  St.,  405. 
Bell  of  Limerick,  38  ;  Irish  in  Brittany, 

167;  ancient  Irish  exhibited,  420. 
Bellingham,  Sir  H.,  elected  Fellow,  83. 
Berkeley,  George  (Bishop),  333. 
Bernard,  St.,  figure  of,  138. 
Berry,  Henry  F.,  Paper  by,  92,  141. 

Capt.  R.  G.,  elected  Fellow,  183. 

Bigger,  F.  J.,  279,  314,  392,  393,  420. 
Bishops,  35-37,  41,  112,  122,  260,  290, 

&c. 

" Black  Book"  of  Limerick,  41,  46,  47. 
Books,  reviews  of,  74,  179 ;  received  by 

Society,  90 ;  of  the  last  century,  143, 

144. 

Borlase,  W.  C.,  311,  356. 
Boyle,  Sir  George,  his  tomb,  261. 
Bracklaghboy,    Co.    Mayo,    ogam-stone, 

396,  400-404,  420. 
Breastagh,    Co.    Mayo,    cromlech,   ogam 

inscription,  186,  233,  272. 
Briley,  W.  P.,  174. 
Brittany,  Irish  bells  in,  92. 
Bronze  cancroid,  61 ;  chalices,  126,  127 ; 

age — designs,  106-111. 


424 


INDEX. 


Brooke,  Rev.  Stopford  A.,  elected  Fellow, 

281. 
Brownell,    Edward    Darlington,    elected 

Fellow,  281. 
Buckley,  M.  J.  C.,  Paper  by,  180,  250, 

417. 

Budston,  John,  Limerick  (1400),  38. 
Buick,  Rev.  George,  392,  397. 
Bullaun,  314. 
Bultingford,    Richard,   Limerick   (1370- 

1406),    40 ;     will,    121  ;     arms,    42 ; 

monument,  43. 
Bunaw,  Co.  Kerry,  320. 
Bun-na- Margie  Monastery,  Co.  Antrim, 

279. 

Bunratty  Castle,  Co.  Clare,  repaired,  47. 
Burgh.     See  Burgo. 
Burgo,  de,  John,  37 ;  marriages  of  Lords, 

414. 
Burke  and  Bourke,  founders  of  Moyne 

Friary,    260  ;     resist    English,     286  ; 

founders  of   Rathfran,    293:    W.  P., 

273,  274. 

Burning  to  death,  304. 
Burren,    Co.  Clare,   prehistoric  remains, 

352-362  ;  description  of,  in  1317,  354. 
Butler  family,  300  ;  legends,  320. 
Byrne.     See  0 'Byrne. 


Cahers,  in  old  records,  359  ;  built  and  re- 
built in  historic  period,  356 ;  flint 
weapons  found  in,  364.  See  Carran, 
Fab  an,  Fanygalvan,  Moheramoylan, 
Moheraroon,  Poulacarran,  Poulcaragh- 
arush,  Rannagh.  Caheracoolia,  Clare, 
411  ;  Caherconree,  Kerry,  306-312, 
421;  Cahercrocaun,  Clare,  411 ;  Caher- 
grfllaun,  Clare,  360,  363-365 ;  Caher- 
mackirilla,  Clare,  lesser  forts,  360,  361 ; 
great  fort,  363,  364 ;  Cahermactirech, 
Kerry,  a  mistake  for  Caher  na  mairti- 
nech,  176 ;  Cahernaheanmna,  Clare, 
legend  of,  411  ;  Cahersaul,  Clare, 
411. 

Cairans,  St.     See  St.  Cairans. 

Cairitan  name  on  ogam,  57» 

Cairns,  362. 

Calliagh  Beri,  6,  7. 

Canoes  found  near  Urlare,  405. 

Carew  Castle,  inscription,  160. 

Carran,  Co.  Clare,  Prehistoric  remains  at, 
186,  352  ;  forts  on  its  ridge,  359. 

Carmody,  Rev.  "W.  P.,  finds  ogam  stone, 
392. 

Carrique,  John  (1650),  310. 

Cartulary,  Sexton  in  British  Museum, 
119,  120. 

Carysford,  John,  Baron,  32,  38. 

Carysford  House,  Dublin,  34. 

Castelcoz,  stone  fort,  France,  180. 

Castles— Dunmoe,  Meath,  274  :  Mayo, 
284. 

Catalogue  of  early  Dublin  books,  280. 


Cathedrals,    St.   Mary's,    Limerick,    35; 

Killala,  290 ;   Christ  Church,  Dublin, 

420. 

Caudebec,  David,  Cork  (1390),  41,  121. 
Cellach,  St.,  murder  of,  284,  288. 
Celtic  Art,  lectures  on,  73. 
Chalices,  notice  of  some,  Co.  "Wexford, 

11,  126,  131  ;  Mayler,  132  ;  Fethard, 

132,135;  Kilkenny,  133;  Fitzgerald, 

133;  Esmonde,  134,  186,273;  Kilmore, 

273;  stone,  416. 
Chester,  279. 

Chestnutt,  John,  Fellow,  183. 
Churches,    Ballyneanig,    15 ;    Stillorgan, 

22 ;  Kilkee,  137,  173,  271 ;  Kilroe,  289 ; 

Kilcummin,    283,    296;    Kilmakilloge, 

314;  Temple   Feaghna,    214;    Sladoo, 

360  ;     near    Ballyhaunis,    404,    405  ; 

Inishrobe,  415,  416.     See  also  Cathe- 
drals and  Monasteries. 
Circle  of  stone,  310,  314. 
Cists,  21,  49,  99. 
Clandeboy  O'Neills,  254-257. 
Clare  Co.,  photographs,  64,  65 ;  prehistoric 

remains,    186,   352-362;    Loop   Head, 

409-412. 

Cliff  forts  near  Kilkee,  409. 
Clochogle  cromlech,  Co.  Mayo,  284. 
Clonmacnoise  slabs,  178. 
Cochrane,  Robert,  Hon.  Sec.,  Papers  by, 

53,  396,  399-408,  421. 
Coffey,  George,  Paper  by,  93. 
Coffin,  leaden,  stolen,  31. 
Coleman,  J.,  Paper  by,  92,  167,  170. 
Colpoys,  family,  Clare,  71. 

Admiral  Sir  John,  72. 

Comyn,  Michael,  legend  given  by,  411. 
Conlig,  name  on  ogam  stone,  396. 
Conn,  name  on  an  ogham,  59. 
Connaught,  De  Burgo,  Lords  of,  414. 
Cork  city,  drawing  of  Mayor  of,    123; 

ogam  stones  in  county,  396,  397. 
Cormac  Connloingeas,  14. 
"  Corn  Milling,  History  of,"  179. 
Corrbri,  name  in  ogam  inscription,  235. 
Costume,  in  Munster  (1380),  123-125. 
Crannoges,  Lagore,   Meath,  237 ;  Lough 

Mourne,  Antrim,  242  ;  Westmeath,  275, 

276. 

Creevagh  cromlech,  Co.  Clare,  357,  358. 
Crehn,  Father  Donat  (1684),  260. 
Cromlechs,  slabs  raised  to  make,  356  ;  and 
hammer-dressed,  356.     See  Breastagh, 

Clochogle,  Creevagh,  Fanygalvan,  Mo- 
heramoylan,   Co.    Clare.      Greenwood 
Park,  405  ;  Rathfran,  Co.  Mayo. 
Crumlin,  Co.  Dublin,  burned,  303. 
Crosiers,  41. 

Crosses,   18;  ornaments,   186;  Monaster- 
boice,   264 ;  on  rock,  287  ;   Devenish, 
278  ;  near  Ballyhaunis,  405. 
Cruise,  John  (Justice  of  Ireland),  22. 
Cuchulain,  8-14  ;  his  leap  at  Loop  Head, 
409. 


INDEX. 


425 


Cuillenn,  a  smith  of  Slieve  Gullion,  7. 
Cuimin,  saints  of  the  name,  297. 
Cup  markings,  164,  173,  174. 
Curragh,  Co.  Limerick,   held  by  Bishop 

Peter  de  Curragh,  40. 
''Cursing  stone,"  Kilcummin,  297. 


Dalkey,  Co.  Dublin,  172. 

Danes,  tomb,  21 ;  of  Limerick,  35,  63, 
66. 

Deane,  Sir  T.  N.,  elected  Fellow,  83. 

De  Burgo.     See  Burgo. 

Deer,  29,  355. 

Derpatrick,  John  (1410),  22. 

Derryvullagh,  Kildare,  418. 

Devenish  Island,  History,  277. 

Dexter,  Thomas,  293. 

"  Diary  of  a  Dublin  Lady,"  92,  141. 

Dix,  E.  R.  M'Clintock,  Paper  by,  91, 
165  ;  on  early  printed  books,  280. 

Dog,  remains  of  in  Moat,  63 ;  pack  of 
hounds  drowned,  336  ;  kept  in  forts, 
324. 

Dolmens.     See  Cromlechs. 

Dominicans  of  Limerick,  43,  123  ;  of 
Rathfran  (in  1750),  293. 

Donegal,  stone  chalice,  417. 

Donnybrook,  lands  at,  329. 

Dooghrnakeone  ogam  inscription,  Mayo, 
232. 

Doonaunroe,  Doondoillroe,  and  Doonmore 
cliff  forts,  Clare,  410. 

Dorsey  Fort,  Co.  Armagh,  14. 

Dowda,  family,  Co.  Mayo,  261. 

Downpatrick  Head,  Co.  Mayo,  273, 
274. 

Drew,  Thomas,  Vice-President,  200. 

Drogno,  name  on  ogam  inscription,  406. 

Dublin  :  castle,  threatened  demolition  of 
tower,  69  ;  city — meetings  of  U.S. A.I. 
in,  83,  182,  419;  Christchurch  deeds, 
420  :  diary  of  a  lady,  141 ;  circuit  of, 
419  ;  Mayor  of,  123  ;  St.  Nicholas  Hos- 
pital, 149;  signs  on  shops,  150-153; 
inns,  152,  153  ;  Royal  Dublin  Society, 
337  ;  county — Stillorgan,  21 ;  photo- 
graphs, 64 ;  Kilmahuddrick,  165 ; 
Dalkey,  173;  pillar  stone,  173;  early 
books,  280 ;  Mount  Merrion,  329. 

Duns,  lisses,  and  raths,  1. 

Dunbeg,  Co.  Kerry,  325. 

Dundalhen,  cliff  fort,  Clare,  411. 

Dundonolf,  Raymond's  fort,  156. 

Dnndrum,  Co.  Dublin,  380. 

Dunfanaghy,  Co.  Donegal,  cist,  49—52. 

Dungannon,  Westmeath,  276. 

Dunmoe  Castle  (Meath),  274. 

Du  Noyer,  Geo.  V.,  325. 

Dunshaughlin,  237. 

Dunstable  mill,  181. 

"  Durrow,  Termon  of,"  92. 

Duvagin  ogam.     See  0. 

Dyneley,  Thomas  (1680),  42. 


Echtra,  her  grave,  Co.  Mayo,  284,  287. 
Edgeworthstown,  wooden  vessel,  273. 
Education  of  ladies  (1754),  143. 
"  English  antiquities,  a  Key  to,"  179. 
"Epigraphy  Studies  in  Irish,"  74. 
Epitaphs,  43,  290,  315,  416.      See  also 

Ogam. 

Errew  monastery,  Mayo,  283. 
Esmonde  chalice  (1636),  ?  134. 

"Fairy  bushes,"  6,  7. 
Fannygalvan,  Co.  Clare,  359,  360. 
Farbreega  rocks,  360. 
Fermanagh,  Co.  of  Devenish,  277. 
Fert  Echtra,  Co.  Mayo,  284,  287. 
Fethard,    Co.  Wexford,    chalice  (1637), 

132,  135. 
Finan,  St.,  314. 
Fion  macCumhail's  Chair,  312. 
Fionn  charn  on  Sliabh  Fuaid,  13. 
Firbolgs  in  Clare,  354. 
Fish  in  wells,  20,  170. 
Fish  family,  Kildare,  148. 
Fitz  Gerald,  family  of,  Castlekeale,   71; 

Walter    Reagh,    92,     299-304  ;     Sir 

Pierce,  302. 
Lord  Walter,  Papers  by,  92,  299, 

417. 

Fitzgibbon,  Lord  and  Lady,  342,  343. 
Fitz  Geoff rey,  family,  415. 
Fitz  Maurice,  tomb,  68. 
Fitz  Stephens,  scene  of  his  landing,   157, 

158. 
Fitzwilliam  family,    Co.    Dublin,    330 ; 

Viscount,  339,  340. 
Flint  scrapers,    186,    367  ;     weapons  in 

forts,  354. 

Flemings  in  Kilkenny,  139. 
Fochuill.     See  Foghill,  Mayo. 
Fogerty,  Dr.  Geo.,  64. 
Fogerty,  William,  elected  Fellow,  281. 
Foghill  (Foclut)  wood,  Co.  Mayo,  295. 
Font,  18. 

Fore,  Westmeath,  photographs,  65. 
Forts.     See  Caher,  Dun,  Rath,  and  Lis. 
Fox,  Captain  Maxwell,  275. 
Fraic,  name  on  Ogham,  230,  231. 
Franciscans,  135. 
Frazer,  Dr.  W.  (Vice-Pres.),  Papers  by, 

49,  61,  92,  186,  254,  257,  420. 
ffrench,  Rev.  F.  M.,  Papers  by,  70,  126. 
French  land  at  Kilcummin  (1798),  296. 
Funeral  entry,  304. 
Fur  trade  at  Limerick  (1450),  43,  45. 


Gallans  near  Dingle,  Kerry,  8,  92,  161, 
164;  atTallaght,  173;  near  Kilelton, 
307,  308  ;  Fanygalvan,  &c.,  Co.  Clare, 
361. 

Gal  way  Co.,  photographs,  64. 

Galwey  family,  Limerick,  37,  115  ;  will, 
122  ;  of  Rathfarnham,  37  ;  monument 
at  Limerick,  43. 


426 


INDEX. 


Gardens  of  Stillorgan,  28,  29. 

Gardiner,  John,  Bishop  of  Killala,  290. 

Garstin,  J.  R.,  195. 

Gartan  Oratory,  275. 

"  Gates  of  Glory  "  near  Dingle,  Kerry, 

92,  161. 

Gateways  of  Cahers,  326,  362,  365. 
Geashill,  King's  Co.,  68. 
Gervais,  F.  P.,  investigates  Knockmaney, 

100. 

Glass  chalices,  126,  127. 
Glassealy,  Co.  Kildare,  299-305. 
Glenfas,  Co.  Kerry,  306-313. 
Gold  crown  found  in  bog  (1731),  129  ; 

chalices,   129. 

Gore  family  of  Newtown,  Leitrim,  290. 
Grattan,  James,  and  his  son  Henry,  147. 
Gregg,  H.  G.,  elected  Fellow,  83. 
Guinness  family,  not  Magennis,  79. 


Hackett  family,  22. 

Hall,   Henry,   Bishop  of  Killala,    290  ; 

anagram  on  his  tomh,  416. 
Harold,  Frederic,  elected  Fellow,  183. 
Harris,  Author  of  "  History  of  Dublin," 

337,  338. 

"  Hell  "  in  Dublin,  147. 
Heraldry,  37,  42,  112,  291. 
Hewson,  George  J.,  66,  67. 
Hickman  family,  Clare,  71. 
Hickson,  MissM.,  Papers  by,  65,  66,  170, 

171 ;  on  Glenfas,  306-313,  421. 
Higgins,  Patrick,  281. 
Human  remains,  49. 


Inauguration  Chair  of  O'Neills,  92,  254- 
257. 

Inchiquin,  Murrogh,  Earl  of  (1670),  115. 

Indexing,  Rules  for,  269. 

Inequaglas,  name  in  ogam  inscription,  57. 

Inhabitants  of  Limerick,  46 ;  of  Tipperary, 
186. 

Iniscleraun  (Quaker's  Island),  Lough 
Ree,  202. 

Inishrobe,  Co.  Mayo,  415,  416. 

Inns,  signs  of,  in  Dublin,  152,  155. 

Ireland— "  Child's  History,"  78 ;  "  Beau- 
ties and  Antiquities  of,"  81. 

" Irish  Bells  in  Brittany,"  92;  "Irish 
Epigraphy,  Studies  in,"  74  ;  Irish 
Texts  Society,  175  ;  Irish  channel, 
&c.,  in  1733,  421. 

Iron,  63;  "  antiquity  of,  in  weapons," 
91 ;  in  a  crannoge,  237,  244. 

Iveagh,  Viscounts  in  Spain,  79. 


Jocelyn,  R.  (Lord  Chancellor),  335,  336. 
Joyce,  Dr.  P.  W.,  78. 

family,  Mayo,  258. 

Jubilee  of  Royal  Society  of  Antiquaries, 
187. 


Kavanagh  family,  300,  302. 

Keane  family,  Co.  Clare,  72,  411. 

Keating,  Miss  G.,  elected  Fellow,  83. 

Kelly,  George  A.  P.,  288. 

Kerry,     Co.,    photographs,     64  ;     ogam 

inscriptions,    69,    176,    407  ;    gallans, 

161,    163;    well  of  S.    Molaga,    170; 

forts,     176,     271  ;     Kilmakilloge    and 

Temple  Feaghna,   3*1 4,   412  ;    Dunbeg 

and  Cahirconree,  325,  420. 
"Key  to  English  Antiquities,"  176. 
Kildare,  Monavullagh  "foot-track,"  417, 

418. 

Kilcorney,  Co.  Clare,  186,  353. 
Kilcummin,  Mayo,  283,  296. 
Kilelton  in  Glenfais,  306,  421. 
Kilkee  cliffs,  forts  near,  Co.  Clare,  409. 
Kilkenny  Museum,  correspondence,    86  ; 

chalice  (1621),  133. 
Killala,    Mayo,  visit  of  Society,  Round 

Tower;  Souterrain,  289. 
Killian,    St.,    317;  or    Matalogus,    319, 

324. 

Kilmahuddrick,  Dublin,  SI,  165. 
Kilmakilloge  Church,   Co.    Kerry,    314, 

412,  420. 

Kilmallock  Castle,  Limerick,  175. 
Kilmartin  family,  Clare,  364. 
Kilmore,  chalice,  130,  273. 
Kilmoremoy,  Mayo,  286. 
Kilroe  Church,  Co.  Mayo,  289. 
Kilteenbane,  Co.  Kerry,  307. 
King,   Dr.   Henry,    Fellow,   his    death, 

84. 

"William,  Archbishop  of  Dublin, 


331. 

King's  Co.,  bowl  from,  176. 
Kinsale,  37. 

Knockalafalla,  Co.  Waterford,  398,  408. 
Knock  farnacht,     Mayo,     alleged    stone 

circles,  283  ;  fort,  -283. 
Knockmany,  Co.  Tyrone,  cist  at,  93. 
Knowles,  W.  J.,  Paper  by,  186,  367. 
Knox  family,  Mayo,  263. 
H.  T.,  274,  413,  416. 


Lacy,  Walter  de,  414. 

Laffan,  Dr.  T.,  Paper  by,  195. 

Lagore  crannoge,  Dunshaughlin,  237. 

Latimer,  W.  F.,  276. 

Latouche,  Peter  (1784),  of  Mount  Merrion, 

340,  341. 

Lea,  Captain  T.  (1587),  301. 
"Leccadaniel,"   pavement    in   Limerick 

Cathedral,  46. 
Legends,  10,  13,  19;  sham,  65;  of  piast, 

71  ;    of  well,   170  ;    of  Moyne,   260  ; 

of  Bunaw,  320  ;  Loop  Head,  411. 
Leighlin  Bridge,  300. 
Lett,  Rev.  H.  W.,  1-14. 
Lifford,  Lord,  at  Stillorgan,  33,  342. 
Limerick  Cathedral,  its  plan  and  growth, 

35,  48. 


INDEX. 


427 


Limerick  city,  captured  by  Irish,  37  ; 
burned  by  one  woman,  41  ;  drawing  of 
Mayor,  123. 

county,  photographs  of,  64  ;  Kil- 

mallock,  175. 

Bishops  of,  35,  36,  37. 

— families  settling  in  city   (1190- 

1690),  46  ;  ancient  wills,  121. 
Lisnacreavh,  Co.  Kerry,  69. 
Lisnagorp,  near  Labardane,    Co.  Mayo, 

283. 

Lisparkeenreilig,  309. 
Local   Government  Act :    provisions  for 

conservation  of  Antiquities,  268. 
Loftus,  Nicholas  (chalice  of),  132. 
Loirn,  St.,  disciple  of  Patrick,  405. 
London,  Notarial  signs,  224. 
Loop  Head,  Co.  Clare,  411. 
Lotteries  in  Dublin,  149. 
Lough-a-trim  crannoge,  276. 
Lough  Case,  Co.  Mayo,  233. 

—  Ree  excursion,  201,  421. 
Lugud,  name  on  Ogam  stone,  398. 
Lugun,  name  on  Ogam  stone,  60. 
Lynch,  P.  J.,  Paper  by,  272,  323,  325, 

412,  413,  421. 
Lynott,  John  (restores  Well  of  Rosserk), 

259. 
Lyons,    Sergeant,    reports   Ogam  stone, 

396,  400. 


Macalister,  Robert  A.  S.,  Papers  by,  71, 

74,  92,  161,  176,  178,  416. 
Mac  Cairitain,  name  in  ogam  inscription, 

57. 

Mac  Domhnaill,  James  (1596),  130. 
MacFinnin  Duffe,  315,  317. 
Mac  Grath,  John,  the  historian,  354. 
MacNeill,  Charles,  291,  409. 
Maelduin,  his  voyage,  355. 
"Magennis  family,"  its  connexion  with 

Guinness,  79. 
Magh  Breag,  12. 
Maghery,  near  Ardaragh,  flint  scrapers 

at,  309. 
Mainchin,     Bishop     of     "  Luimneach," 

35. 
Malay  weapon,  supposed  to  be  Danish, 

66. 

Manning,  Percy,  elected  Fellow,  83. 
Manorhamilton    (Co.    Leitrim),    chalice, 

130. 

Maps — Carran,  352  ;  Loop  Head,  410. 
Marriages,  Presbyterian,  345  to  351. 
Mary  Magdalen,  St.,  as  patroness  of  barber 

surgeons,  38. 

Maumamanorig,  ogham  inscription,  75. 
Maumnaholtora,  Co.  Kerry,  305,  309. 
Maylor,  family  (chalice  of),  132. 
Mayo    Co. :    photographs,    65  ;    friaries, 

268,  273-274;  ogams,  232,  396-400; 

antiquities  near  Ballyhaunis,  404,  415. 
Mayors,  costumes  of,  in  1380,  123,  124. 


Meath,  Co.,  53  ;  moat,  63  ;  photographs, 
65;  Dunmoe,  274;  ogam  stones,  53, 
399. 

Meave,  or  Medbh,  name  on  ogam,  231, 409. 

Meddvi.     See  Meave. 

Megalithic  monuments,  284,  285,  361. 
See  also  gallans,  ogams,  and  cromlechs, 

Meggagh  forts,  Clare,  363. 

Merchants  marks,  39. 

Meriadec,  St.,  his  bell  in  Morbihan,  168. 

"MiasTiernan,"  offertory  dish,  263,  284. 

"  Mills  and  Milling,"  179. 

Meutini,  an  ogam  name,  421. 

Milucra  (of  the  Tuatha  De  Danaan),  7. 

Mochianlane,  St.,  and  his  lake,  317. 

Mochulla,  St.,  of  Tulla,  Co.  Clare,  360. 

"  Mohers  of  Ballymahony,"  360. 

Moheramoylan  fort,  Clare,  365. 

Mokilloge  (Killian),  St.,  412. 

Molaga,  St.,  well  of,  170. 

Monnghan,  H.  J.,  21. 

Monasterboice  cross,  Louth,  264-266. 

Monasteries  dissolved,  294.  See  also- 
Adare,  Limerick,  Moyne,  Rathfran, 
Rosserk,  &c. 

Monavullagh,  Kildare,  417,  418. 

Monkstown,  Co.  Dublin,  421. 

Montague,  George  (1750),  340. 

Monuments,  prehistoric  period.  See  crom- 
lechs, gallans,  ogam,  megalithic,  pil- 
lars. 

Historic  period,  39,  43,  44,  112, 

113,  117,  137,  261,  290,  315,  416. 

Moate,  Patrickstown,  Meath,  63. 

Mount  Merrion,  Co.  Dublin,  329,  420. 

Moyne  Monastery,  Mayo,  260,  282,  283, 
288,  289. 

Neolithic  Age  in  Ireland,  369. 

Newport,  Baron,  330. 

New  Ross,  Franciscans,  chalice,  135  ;. 
"Bambino"  at,  250,  253. 

Notarial  Signs-manual,  204  ;  in  four- 
teenth century,  213. 

Obelisk  (1727),  Stillorgan,  30. 
O'Brien  family,  35,  47,  354. 
0' Byrne  family,  302. 
O'Callaghan  family,  Co.  Clare,  71. 
O'Carryd,  Thomas,  goldsmith  (1405),  41. 
O'Connell,  Rev.  Daniel,  elected  Fellow, 

420. 

O'Conor  Don,  president,  189,  195. 
0' Conor  family,  354. 
0' Daffy,  Lawrence  (1406),  40. 
O'Davoren  family,  Clare,  364. 
O'Dea,  Cornelius  (Bishop),  41,  112,  122. 
O'Donovan,  Dr.  J.,  9. 
Ogam,  discoveries  of,  inscriptions  (1898), 

399-403,  421. 
Ogam  inscriptions,    53-60,  67,  74,  230, 

308,  392,  395,  396,  408,  409. 
O'Hara,  Very  Rev.  Monsignor,  258,  283, 

288. 


JOUH.  11. S.A.I.,  VOL.  VIII.,  PT.   IV.,  OTH  SER. 


2G 


428 


INDEX. 


Olcan,  St.,  of  Kilmoremoy,  287. 

O'Loughlin  family,  354,  364. 

O'Neill,  of  Claneboys,  25 ;  inauguration 
chair,  92,  254-256. 

O'Reilly,  P.  J.,  elected  Fellow,  83. 

Orpen,  Goddard  H.,  Paper  by,  92,  155. 

0' Sullivan  family,  315. 

O'Toole  family,  302. 

Otter  and  beaver  traps,  180,  245-249. 

Owenstown  (Mount  Merrion),  Co.  Dub- 
lin, 329. 


Paalstaves,  242,  243. 

Painestown,  Co.  Meath,  ogam  inscription, 

54. 

Palmer  family,  Mayo,  290. 
Parknabinnia  cromlechs,  Co.  Clare,  356  - 

359. 
Passion,  carvings  of  the  instruments  of 

the,  92,  137. 

Patrick,  St.,  in  Co.  Mayo,  287,  295. 
Patrick's  crosses,  147. 
Pedigree  of  the  chiefs  of  Tirawley,  272. 
Pembroke,  Earl  of,  329. 
Pentland,  G.  H.,  264,  265. 
Perdue  (bellfounder),  112. 
Pery  family,  Limerick,  115;  origin,  120. 
Photographic  "Survey"  report,  64,  65. 
« Physico-Historical  Society"  of  Dublin, 

337. 

Piast,  legends,  71,  412. 
Piling,  earthworks  resting  on,  5,  7. 
Pillars— Bracklaghboy,    400  ;  Breastagh, 

186;  white  stone  of  Calliagh  Beri,  8; 

Clare,  359,  360  ;  Kerry,    15  ;  Meath, 

55 ;  Tallaght,  173. 
Piscina,  double  at  Rosserk,  258,  295. 
Plans,  Dorsey,  4 ;  Knockmaney,  98,  99 ; 

Limerick  Cathedral,  116;  Kilcummin, 

297,  314  ;  cabers,  363,  410. 
Plunkett  family,  22. 
Population  of  Burren,  354. 
Poulacarran,  Co.  Clare,  362,  363. 
Poulcaragharush  forts,  Co.  Clare,  362. 
Prehistoric  carvings,  101,  104,  107,  108; 

remains  at  Carran  of,   186.     See  also 

gallans,  ogams,  bronze,  flint,  forts,  &c. 
Presbyterian  marriages,  Armagh,  92,  345- 

351. 
Prendergast  founds  Ballinasmala  Friary, 

405. 

Proceedings,  83,  182,  281,  419-421. 
Prussia,  otter  traps  from,  246. 


Quakers'  Island.     See  Iniscleraun. 
Querns,  17,  180-181,  355. 


Raleigh,   Sir   Walter,    did  not   massacre 

Spaniards  at  Smerwick,  65. 
Rath croghan  ogam,  Co.  Roscommon,  186, 

230,  409. 


Rathfran,  Co.  Mayo,  283,  285,  293. 

Rathmore,  at  Clogher,  94,  97. 

"  Raymond's  fort,  site  of,"  92,  155,  156. 

Raymond  Le  Gros,  155,  160. 

Rebellion  of  1641,  24. 

Rhys,  PrincipalJohn,  Paper  by,  186,  230, 

396,  409,  421. 

Rice,  Lieut.-Col.  R.  J.,  69,  176. 
Rideleford,  Walter,  Lord  of  Bray  (1190), 

329. 

Robertson,  J.  G.,  180. 
Roche  family,  Limerick,  120,  121. 
Ronan,  St.,  of  Locronan,  Brittany,  168. 
Roscommon  Co.,  230. 
Rosse,  Earl  of  (1740),  338. 
Rosserk  Friary,  Mayo,  258,  282,  283. 
Rotheram,  E.  Crofton,  63,  172,  177. 
Round  Towers.     See  Killala. 
Rowan,  Col.,  307. 
Royal  Dublin  Society,  199. 
Royal  Irish  Academy,  199,  418,  420. 
Russell,  Philip  (1442),  will,  122. 

St.  Cairan,  Co.  Meath,  ogam  inscription, 

56. 
Saunderson,  Robert  de  B.,  elected  Fellow, 

420. 

Scotland,  proposed  excursion  to,  266. 
Scrapers  of  flint,  367-391. 
Searc,  St.,  of  Rosserk,  273. 
Sedilia,  39. 

Sexten  family,  119,  120. 
Sidney,  Sir  H.,  333, 
Signs  of  shops,  150,  153. 
Silver  brooch,  63. 
Singleton,  Henry,  Justice  Common  Pleas, 

33,  72. 

Skin  curing,  385. 
Skulls,  49. 

Sladoo,  Co.  Clare,  360. 
Sliabh  Fuaid,  10-13. 
Slieve  Gullion,  7. 
Slieve  na  Callighe,  171,  172. 
Smerwick,  slaying  of  Spaniards  at,  65. 
Smith,  John,  Bishop  of  Killala,  290. 
Souterrain,  292,  361,  363,  366. 
Stac pole  family,  64,  115,  120. 
Stillorgan  Park,  Co.  Dublin,  21,  34,  331. 
Stokes,  Miss  M.,  Paper  by,  92,  137. 
Stone  chalice,  416. 
Stretch  family,  Limerick,  40  ;  \vills,  113, 

115. 
Sweeney,  Rev.  P.,  finds  ogam  stone,  405. 


Tallaght,  Co.  Dublin,  pillar  stone,  173. 
Tallon,  Rt.  Hon.  D.,  elected  Fellow,  281. 
Temple  Feaghna,  Kerry,  314. 
Theatres  in  Dublin  (1743-65),   145,  148, 

154. 

Thomond,  Earls  of,  47,  293,  414. 
Tigernaci  Dobagni,  ogam  inscription,  67. 
Timoleague,  Co.  Cork,  legacy  to  friars  of, 

43,  123. 


INDEX, 


429 


Tipperary,  Co.,  pre-Cromwellian  inhabi- 
tants, 186. 

Tisdal,  Philip,  Attorney- General,  32,  33. 

Towers,  of  Limerick,  of  Moyne,  of  Ros- 
serk,  which  see  also  Round  Towers. 

Tuatha  De  Danaan,  7,  412. 

Tuissachs,  318,  319. 

Tullaghoge  rath,  254. 

Tuosist,  Co.  Kerry,  314,  412,  413. 

Tyrone,  Co.,  rath,  254. 


Ulster,  Earl  of,  414,  415. 
Uluidth  more  Kilcummin,  297. 
Urlare  Friary,  Mayo,  405. 
Urn,  21,  70  ;  from  a  bog,  177. 
Ussher,  Ric.,  finds  ogam  stone,  398. 

Verschoyle,  Ric.,  343. 

Vigors,  Col.  P.  D.,  Paper  by,  203. 

"  Voyage  of  Bran,"  76. 


Wainwright,  Hon.  John,  332,  333. 
Wakeman,  W.  F.,  Papers  by,  91,  173, 

237,  244. 
Wales,  ancient  law  of  divorce,  181. 


Walker,   Roger,    preserves    inauguration 

chair,  254,  257. 

Waterford  city,  mayor  of,  123  ;  Archaeo- 
logical Society,  173;  ogams,  396,  398. 
Wells,  Rosserk,  259;  fish  in,   20,    170, 

314. 
Westmeath  Co.,  photographs,  65  ;  cran- 

noge,  215. 
Westropp  family,  Limerick,  46,  119. 

Ralph,  elected  Fellow,  281. 

Thomas  J.,  Papers  by,  35-65, 112, 

112,  186,  281,  288,  353,412. 
Wexford,  chalices  in  Co.,  126,  273;  New 

Ross,  250. 

Whaley,  R.  Chapel,  341. 
White-Lough,  crannoge,  Westmeath,  275. 
Whitney  family,  Co.  Kildare,  148. 
Williams,  Rev.  S.  de  Courcy,  68,  92. 
Wills,  23,  24,  40,  43,  115,  121. 
Wingfield,  J.  (1587),  23. 
Wolverston  family,  of  Stillorgan,  23. 
Wooden  bowl,    King's   Co.,    176 ;    Ed- 

worthstown,  275 ;  foot-track,  417. 


Yorke,    William   (Mayor  of    Limerick), 

114. 
Youghal,  legacies  to  its  convents,  123. 


END    OF    VOL.    VII 1.,    FIFTH 


Printed  at  THE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS,  Dublin. 


LIST  OF  FELLOWS  AND  MEMBEES 

FOR   THE    YEAR  1898, 


WITH 


LIST     OF    OFFICERS; 


ALSO, 


SOCIETIES  AND  INSTITUTIONS  IN  CONNEXION, 


AND 


GENERAL  RULES  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


THE 

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(     6     ) 


EGBERT  COCHRANE,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A. 

17,    HlGHFIELD-ROAD,    DUBLIN. 


r  1898* 

JOHN  COOKE,  M.A. 
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GEORGE  A.  P.  KELLY,  M.A. 
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6,  ST.  STEPHEN'S  GREEN,  DUBLIN. 

tfuu  (toalxrr  twir  Js 


THOMAS  J.  WESTROPP,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A,, 
6,  ST.  STEPHEN'S  GREEN,  DUBLIN. 


[RICHARD  LANGRISHE,  F.R.I.A.L 

^ttbit0f«. 

JAMES  G.  ROBERTSON.  \  JOHN  COOKE,  M.A. 

8#ngi#8. 

ROBERT  COCHRANE,  F.S.A.  |       ED.  PERCEVAL  WRIGHT,  M.D. 

iawte. 

THE  PROVINCIAL  BANK  OF  IRELAND,  LIMITED,  COLLEGE-STREET,  DUBLIN. 


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ConnaugJit. 

REV.  C.  LAWRENCE,  M.A.,  Lawrencetown,  Co.  Galway. 
EDWARD  MARTYN,  D.L.,  Tillyra  Castle,  Ardrahan. 


Antrim,  Middle, 
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,,      North,    .. 
p   „       City,       .. 
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,,        Town,   . . 
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„       North,  .. 
Kilkenny, 

City,  .. 

King's  County,    . . 
Leitrim, 

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„       West,   .. 

i,        City,    .. 
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„  South, 

City, 

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Louth, 
Mayo,  South, 

„      North,      .. 
]\[eath,  South, 

„      North,      . . 
Monaghan, 
Queen's  Co., 
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Sligo, 

Tipper ary,  South, 

„         North, 
Tyrone,  West,     .. 
„      East,      . . 
Waterford,  East, 

„  West, 

City,.. 
Westmeath,  North, 

,,  South, 

Wexford,  North, 

„       South, 
Wicklow,  South, . . 

„       North,.. 


W.  A.  TRAILL,  M.A. 

THE  REV.  S.  A.  BRENAN,  M.A. 

W.  J.  KNOWLES,  M.R.I.A. 

ROBERT  GRAY,  F.R.C.P.I.,  J.P. 

JOHN  BURGESS,  J.P. 

R.  M.  YOUNG,  J.P.,  B.A.,  M.R.I.A. 

COLONEL  P.  D.  VIGORS,  J.P. 

JAMES  FROST,  J.P.,  M.R.I.A. 

DR.  GEORGE  U.  MACNAMARA. 

THE  O'DoNovAN,  M.A.,  J.P. 

THE  REV.  THOMAS  OLDEN,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A. 

THE  REV.  EDMOND  BARRY,  P.P.,  M.R.I.A. 

THE  REV.  PATRICK  HURLEY,  P.P. 

W.  H.  HILL,  F.R.I.B.A. 

THE  VEN.  ARCHDEACON  BAILLIE,  M.A. 

W.  H.  PATTERSON,  M.R.I.A. 

SAMUEL  KEUR  KIRKER,  C.E. 

W.  F.  WAKEMAN  (Hon.  fellow). 

WILLIAM  C.  STUBBS,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law. 

JOHN  COOKE,  M.A. 

THOMAS  PLUNKETT,  M.R.I.A. 

RICHARD  J.  KELLY,  Barrister-at-Law,  J.P. 

VERY  REV.  J.  FAHEY,  P.P.,  V.G. 

JAMES  PERRY,  C.E. 

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MlSS  HlCKSON. 

LORD  WALTER  FITZ GERALD,  M.R.I.A.,  3. P. 

THE  REV.  EDWARD  O-'LEARY,  P.P. 

M.  M.  MURPHY,  M.R.I.A.,  Solicitor. 

P.  M.  EGAN,  J.P. 

MRS.  TARLETON. 

H.  J.  B.  CLEMENTS,  J.P.,  D.L. 

THE  REV.  JAMES  DOWD,  M.A. 

G.  J.  HEWSON,  M.A. 

J.  GRENE  BARRY,  J.P. 

WILLIAM  J.  BROWNE,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A. 

THE  REV.  ALBERT  H.  MATURIN,  M.A. 

THE  REV.  JOSEPH  M'KEEFRY,  M.R.I.A.,  C.C. 

J.  M.  WILSON,  M.A.,  J.P. 

J.  R.  GAKSTIN,  M.A.,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A. 

W.  E.  KELLY,  C.E.,  J.P. 

THE  RIGHT  REV.  MONSIGNOR  O'HARA,  P.P.  V.F. 

J.  H.  MOORE,  M.A.,  M.!NST.  C.E.I. 

THE  REV.  CANON  HEALY,  LL.D. 

D.  CAROLAN  RUSHE,  B.A.,  Solicitor. 
B.  P.  J.  MAHONY,  M.R.C.V.S. 

GEORGE  A.  P.  KELLY,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law. 
THE  VERY  REV.  ARCHDEACON  O'RoRKE,  D.D., 

M.R.I.A. 

THE  REV.  DENIS  HANAN,  D.D. 
HENRY  C.  BRETT,  B.A.I. 
CHARLES  MULLIN,   Solicitor. 
THE  REV.  WILLIAM  T.  LATIMER,  B.A. 

E.  WALSH  KELLY. 
RICHARD  J.  USSHER,  J.P. 
M.  J.  HURLEY. 

THE  REV.  HILL  WILSON  WHITE,  D.D.,  M.R.I.A. 

Miss  REYNELL. 

DR.  G.  E.  J.  GREENE,  M.R.I.A.,  F.L.S.,  J.P. 

J.  ENNIS  MAYLER. 

THE  REV.  J.  F.  M.  FFRENCH,  M.R.I.A. 

THE  REV.  JAMES  MANNING.  P.P. 


FELLOWS    OF    THE    SOCIETY. 

(Revised  December,  1898.) 


The  Names  of  those  who  have  paid  the  Life  Composition,  and  are  Life  Fellows,  are 
printed  in  heavy-faced  type.     (See  Kules  3  and  7,  page  41.) 


DATE  OP  ELECTION. 


1886 

1872 
1876 


1892 
1885 

1882 
1880 

1896 
1888 
1884 
1876 

1885 
1882 
1882 

1864 
1891 

1889 


FELLOW. 

1888 

1888 
1889 

1889 


1893 
1898 
1879 
1888 

1893 
1898 

1898 

1896 
1898 
1888 

1877 
1887 

1898 
1888 

1887 
1890 


1889 
1871 

1898 

1892 
1897 


Abercorn,  His  Grace  the  Duke  of,  M.A.  (Oxon.),  K.G.,  C.B. 

Baronscourt,  Newtownstewart.  (Honorary  President,  1896.) 
Agnew,  Hon.  Sir  James  Wilson,  K.C.M.G.  Hobart,  Tasmania. 
Allen,  J.  Romilly,  F.S.A.  28,  Great  Ormond-street,  London, 

W.C. 
ARMSTRONG,  Robert  Bruce,  F.S.A.  (Scot.),  6,  Eandolph  Cliff, 

Edinburgh. 


Bagnall-Oakeley,  Rev.  William,  M.A.  (Oxon.).    Newland,  Cole- 
ford,  Gloucestershire. 
Balfour,  Blayney  Reynell  Townley,  M.A.  (Cantab.),  M.R.I.A., 

J.P.,  D.L.     Townley  Hall,  Drogheda. 
BARTER,    Rev.   John   Berkeley,    M.R.I.  A.,    F.R.G.  S.  I., 

F.R.Z.S.I.     23,  Corso  Oporto,  Turin,  Italy. 
Barry,     Rev.    Edmond,    P.P.,    M.R.I.A.       Rathcormac,    Co. 

Cork. 

Beattie,  Rev.  A.  Hamilton.     Portglenone,  Co.  Antrim. 
Bellingham,    Sir  Henry,    Bart.,    M.A.    (Oxon.),    J.P.,   D.L., 

Bellingham  Castle,  Castlebellingham. 
Berry,  Captain  Robert  G.  J.  J.     Army  Service  Corps,  Shorncliffe 

Camp,  Kent. 

Bigger,  Francis  Joseph,  M.R.I.A.     Ardrie,  Belfast. 
Brooke,  Rev.  Stopf  ord  A.,  M.A.    1 ,  Manchester-square,  London,  W. 
Browne,  Most  Rev.  James,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Ferns.    St.  Peter's 

College,  Wexford. 

Browne,  John  Blair.     Brownstown  House,  Kilkenny. 
Browne,  William  James,  M.A.  (Lond.),  M.R.I.A.,  Inspector  of 

Schools.     5,  Crawford -square,  Londonderry. 
Brownell,  Edward  Darlington.    Royal  Marine-road,  Kingstown. 
Brownrigg,   Most    Rev.   Abraham,    D.D.,    Bishop  of   Ossory. 

St.  Kieran's,  Kilkenny.     (Vice- President,  1896.) 
Buiek,   Rev.    Geo.   Raphael,   M.A.,    LL.D.,   M.R.I.A.       The 

Manse,  Cullybackey.     (Vice  President,  1892-98.) 
BURTCHAELL,  Geo.  Dames,  M.A.,  LL.B.  (Dubl.),  M.R.I.A., 

Barrister-at-Law.     7,  St.  Stephen' s-green,  Dublin. 


Cane,  Major  R.  Claude,  J.P.    St.  Wolstan's,  Celbridge. 
Castletown,  Right  Hon.  Lord,  J.P.,  D.L.     Grantston  Manor, 

Abbeyleix.     (Vice-President,  1885-89.) 
Chestnutt,  John,  B.A.,  L.R.C.P.  &  L.R.C.S.  (Edin.).    Derwent 

House,  Howden,  East  Yorks. 
Clark,  Stewart,  J.P.     Kilnside,  Paisley. 
Clarke,  William  Usher,  Bridge  House,  Teddington,  Middlesex. 


FELLOWS    OF    THE   SOCIETY. 


9 


DATE  OF  ELECTION. 


MEMBER 

1869 

FELLOW. 

1871 

1864 

1891 
1882 

1891 

1894 

1896 
1896 
1891 

1888 
1862 

1894 
1871 

1889 

1890 

1853 

1897 
1870 

1893 

1894 

1897 

1891 

1893 

1892 
1866 

1895 
1870 

1863 

1888 

1898 

1891 

1872 

1892 

1891 

1894 

1894 
1890 
1888 

1895 
1895 
1889 

1891 

1893 

1864 

1888 

1882 

1888 
1872 

CLOSE,  Rev.  Maxwell  H.,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  F.G.S.     38,  Lower 

Baggot-street,  Dublin. 

Cochrane,  Sir  Henry,  J.P.,  D.L.     Nassau -place,  Dublin. 
COCHRANE,  Robert,  F.S.A.,   F.R.I.B.A.,   M.R.I.A.,  Fellow 

Societe  Boyale  des  Antiquaires  du  Nord.     17,  Highfield- 

road,  Dublin.     (Hon.  Gen.  Secretary,  1888.) 
Coffey,  George,  B.A.I.,  M.R.I.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     5,  Har- 

court-terrace,  Dublin. 

Colles,  Ramsay,  M.R.I.A.,  J.P.     1,  Wilton-terrace,  Dublin. 
COLLES,  Richard,  B.A.,  J.P.     Millmount,  Kilkenny. 
Colvill,  Robert  Frederick  Stewart,  B.A.  (Cantab.),  J.P.    Coolock 

House,  Coolock. 

Cooke,  John,  M.A.     66,  Morehampton-road,  Dublin. 
Cooper,    Lieut.-Colonel   Edward   Henry,    M.R.I.A.,  H.M.L., 

Co.  Sligo.     Markree  Castle,  Co.  Sligo ;   and  42,  Portman- 

square,  London.     (Vice-President,  1896.) 
Copinger,     Walter    Arthur,     LL.D.,     F.S.A.       The    Priory, 

Manchester. 

Costly,  Thomas.     300,  Lower  Broughton,  Manchester. 
Corn-town,    Right    Hon.  the  Earl   of,    J.P.,    D.L.      Courtown 

House,  Gorey.     (Vice -President,  1886-87.) 
COWAN,  Samuel  Wm.  Percy,  M.A.,  M.R.I. A.      Craigavad, 

Co.  Down. 
Crawley,  W.  J.  Chetwode,  LL.D.,  D.C.L.,  F.R.G.S.,  F.G.S. , 

F.R.  Hist.  S.     3,  Ely-place,  Dublin. 
Crozier,  Right  Rev.  John  Baptist,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Ossory,  Ferns, 

and  Leighlin.     The  Palace,  Kilkenny. 
Cullinan,    Henry    Cooke,    LL.B.,    Barrister-at-Law.      7,    St. 

Stephen's-green,  Dublin. 


Dagg,  Geo.  A.  de  M.  E.,  M.A.,  LL.B.,  D.I.R.I.C.     Raphoe. 
Dames,  Robert  Staples  Longworth,  B.A.  (Dubl.),  M.R.I.A.,  J.P., 

Barrister-at-Law.     21,  Herbert-street,  Dublin. 
Day,  Robert,  F.S.A. ,  M.R.I. A.,  J.P.     Myrtle  Hill  House,  Cork. 

(Vice- President,   1887-97.) 
Deane,     Sir    Thomas    Newenham,     R.H.A.,    Dorset    Lodge, 

Killiney. 
Dease,  Edmund,  M.A.,  J.P.,  D.L.    Rath,  Ballybrittas,  Queen's 

County. 
Devonshire,  His  Grace  the  Duke  of,  M.A.  (Cantab.),  D.C.L., 

K.G.     Devonshire  House,  Piccadilly,  London,  W.    (Hon. 

President,  1897). 
Dixon,  Sir  Daniel,  J.P.,  D.L.     Ballymenoch  House,  Holywood, 

Co.  Down. 
Donnelly,   Most    Rev.  Nicholas,   D.D.,   M.R.I.A.,   Bishop  of 

Canea.     St.  Cronans,  Bray. 
DONNELLY,  Patrick  J.     136,  Capel-street. 
Doyle,  Charles  F.,  M.A.,  F.R.U.I.     19,  Kildare- street. 
Drew,  Thomas,  R.H.A.,  F.R.I.B.A.,  P.R.I. A.I.     Gortnadrew, 

Alma-road,    Monkstown,    Co.    Dublin.       (Vice-President, 

1889-94,  1897  ;    President,  1894-97.) 
Duignan,  William  Henry.     Gorway,  Walsall. 

Eden,    Rev.   Arthur,    M.A.   (Oxon.)       Ticehurst,   Hawkhurst, 

Sussex. 

Egan,  Patrick  M.,  J.P.     High-street,  Kilkenny. 
EVANS,  Sir  John,  K.C.B.,  D.C.L.  (Oxon.),  LL.D.  (Dublin), 

D.Sc.,  F.R.S.,  F.S.A.,  Hon.  M.R.I.A.    Nash  Mills,  Hemel 

Hempsted. 


10 

DATB  or  ELECTION. 


1889 


1876 


1890 
1887 


1871 

1866 
1891 

1851 

1867 
1889 


1893 

1885 
1887 


1868 
1894 


1897 
1886 


1892 

1882 
1890 


1889 

1889 
1894 

1889 
1888 

1898 
1892 

1877 

1875 

1894 

1895 
1891 
1888 

1888 
1895 
1895 
1898 

1896 

1887 
1890 


1893 
1897 


1898 
1888 


1892 
1890 

1892 
1888 

1895 


FELLOWS    OP    THE    SOCIETY. 


EWART,  Sir  William  Quartus,  Bart.,  M.A.,  J.P.    Schomberg, 
Strandtown,  Belfast. 


FFRENCH,  Rev.  James  F.  M.,  M.R.I.  A.    Ballyredmond  House, 

Clonegal.     (Vice -President,  1897). 
Finlay,   Ven.   George,    D.D.,   Archdeacon  of    Clogher.       The 

Rectory,  Clones. 

FITZGERALD,  Lord  Frederick.     Carton,  Maynooth. 
FITZGERALD,  Lord  Walter,  M.R.I.A.,  J.P.     Kilkea  Castle, 

Mageney.     (Vice- President.  1895-1898.) 

Fogerty,  William  A.,  M.  A.,  M.D.     61,  George-street,  Limerick. 
Frazer,  William,  F.R.C.S.I.,  M.R.I.A.,  Hon.  F.S.A.  (Scot.), 

F.R.G.S.I.     20,  Harcourt-street,  Dublin.     (Vice-President, 

1895-1899.) 
Frost,   James,    M.R.I. A.,    J.P.      54,  George -street,   Limerick 

(Vice-President,  1898). 


GARSTIN,  John  Ribton,  LL.B.,  M.A.,  B.D.,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A., 

F.R.H.S.,  J.P.,  D.L.      Bragganstown,  Castlebellingham. 

(Vice-President,  1885-95.) 
Geoghegan,  Charles,  Assoc.  INST.  C.E.I.     89,  Pembroke-road, 

Dublin. 

Goff,  William  G.  D.,  J.P.     Glenville,  Waterford. 
Gordon,  John  W.     Mullingar. 
Graves,  Right  Rev.  Charles,  D.D.,  D.C.L.,  F.R.S.,  M.R.I. A., 

Lord  Bishop   of   Limerick,    Ardfert,   and   Aghadoe.      The 

Palace,  Limerick.     (Vice-President,  1894-98.) 
Gray,  William,  M.R.I.  A.    Auburn  Villa,  Glenburn  Park,  Belfast, 

(Vice-President,  1889-96.) 
Greene,  George  E.  J.,  M.A.,  D.Sc.,  M.R.I.A.,  F.L.S.,   J.P. 

Ferns. 
Greer,  Thomas,  M.R.I.A.,  F.R.G.S.,  J.P.     Sea  Park,  Belfast, 

and  Grove  House,  Regent's  Park,  London,  N.W. 
GREGG,  Huband  George,  J.P.,  Oldtown,  Edgeworthstown. 


Handcock,  Gustavus  F.     Public  Record  Office,  Chancery-lane, 

London,  W.C. 

Hasse,  Rev.  Leonard.     Fairfield  College,  Manchester. 
Healy,  Most  Rev.  John,  D.D.,  LL.D.,   M.R.I.A.,  Coadjutor 

Bishop  of  Clonfert.     Mount   St.    Bernard,    Ballymacward, 

Ballinasloe.     (Vice-President,  1890-98.) 
HEWSON,  George  James,  M.A.     Hollywood,  Adare. 
Hickey,  Rev.  Michael  P.,  D.D.,  M.R.I.A.,  Professor  of  Gaelic 

and  Lecturer  on  Irish  Archaeology.     St.  Patrick's  College, 

Maynooth. 

Higgins,  Patrick.     Town  Clerk's  Office,  Waterford. 
Hill,  Right  Hon.  Lord  Arthur  Wm.,  M.P.      74,  Eaton-place, 

London,  S.W. ;  and  Bigshotte,  Rayles,  Wokingham,  Berks. 

(Vice- President,  1888-95.) 

Holmes,  Emra,  F.R.H.S.     H.  M.  Customs,  Harwich. 
Houston,   Thomas   G.,    M.A.      Academical    Institution,    Cole- 

raine. 

HOWDEN,  Charles.     Invermore,  Larne. 
Humphreys,  Very  Rev.  Robert,  M.A.,  Dean  of  Killaloe.     The 

Glebe,  Ballinaclough,  Nenagh. 
Hurley,  M.  J.     Abbeylands,  Waterford. 


FELLOWS   OF   THE   SOCIETY. 


II 


DATE  OF  ELECTION. 


MHMBER.       FELLOW. 

1891 


1890 


1893 
1890 


1880 
18fi7 
1887 
1872 


1872 
1892 


1891 

1864 
1883 

1889 

1891 
1864 

1891 
1863 

1890 
1893 

1884 

1889 
1870 

1869 


1893 

1898 
1894 
1894 

1888 
1890 
1888 
1888 
1886 

1896 


1879 
1896 
1889 
1888 
1892 

1895 
1896 
1889 

1889 

1893 

1893 
1870 
1898 
1897 
1896 

1871 
1893 
1897 
1896 
1896 

1897 
1897 
1888 

1892 
1871 

1888 


Johnson,  Edmond,  M.R.I.A.,  J.P. 
Dublin. 


Nullamore,  Milltown,  Co. 


KANE,  His  Honor  Robert  Romney,  LL.D.,  M.R.I.A.,  County 
Court  Judge.  4,  Fitzwilliam-place,  Dublin. 

Keating,  Miss  Geraldine,  Cannon  Mills  Cottage,  Chesham,  Bucks. 

KELLY,  Edward  Festus.     15,  Palace-court,  London,  "W. 

Kelly,  George  A.  P.,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.  129,  Lower 
Baggot-street,  Dublin ;  and  Cloonglasnymore,  Strokestown. 

Kelly,  William  Edward,  C.E.,  J.P.     St.  Helen's,  Westport. 

Kelly,  William  P.,  Solicitor.     Shannonview  Park,  Athlone. 

Kinahan,  George  Henry,  M.R.I. A.     Woodlands,  Fairview. 

Kirker,  Samuel  Kerr,  C.E.    Board  of  Works,  Belfast. 

Knowles,  William  James,  M.R.I. A.  Flixton-place,  Ballymena. 
( Vice-  Presiden  t,  1897.) 

Knox,  Hubert  Thomas,  M.R.I. A.     Beechen,  Lyndhurst,  Hants. 


Langrishe,  Richard,  P.R.I. A. I.,  J.P.     Noremount,   Kilkenny. 

(Vice-President,  1879-95.) 
Latimer,   Rev.  William  Thomas,    B.A.      The  Manse,   Eglish, 

Dungannon. 
La  Touche,   J.    J.   Digges,   M.A.,   LL.D.,   M.R.I.A.     Public 

Record  Office,  Dublin.     (Vice- President,  1898.) 
Lawrence,  Rev.  Charles,  M.A.    Lisreaghan,  Lawrencetown,  Co. 

Gal  way. 
LEWIS  CROSBY,  Rev.  Ernest  H.  C.,  B.D.     36,  Rutland- square, 

Dublin. 

Lillis,  T.  Barry.     Janeville,  Ballintemple,  Cork. 
Linn,  Richard.     229,  Hereford- st.,  Chrislchurch,  New  Zealand. 
LOWRY,  Robert  William,  B.A.  (Oxon.),  M.R.I.A.,  J.P.,  D.L. 

Pomeroy  House,  Pomeroy,  Co.  Tyrone. 
Lynch,  Patrick  J.,  C.E.,  M.R.I. A.I.     8,  Mallow-st.,  Limerick. 


Mac  Ritchie,  David,  F.S.A.  (Scot.)  4,  Archibald-place,  Edin- 
burgh. 

Mains,  Jobn,  J.P.     Eastbourne,  Coleraine. 

Malone,  Very  Rev.  Sylvester,  P.P.,  V.G.,  M.R.I.A.     Kilrush. 

Manning,  Percy,  M.A.,  F.S.A.     6,  St.  Aldates,  Oxford. 

Marsh,  Frank  S.,  LL.B.     35,  Holies-street,  Dublin. 

MARTYN,  Edward,  J.P.,  D.L.  Tillyra  Castle,  Ardrahan. 
( Vice- Presiden  t,  1897). 

Mayler,  James  Ennis.     Harristown,  Ballymitty,  Co.  Wexford. 

M'Cahan,  Robert.     Ballycastle,  Co.  Antrim. 

McCbesney,  Joseph,  Annsville,  Holywood,  Co.  Down. 

McCREA,  Rev.  Daniel  F.,  M.R.I.A.     Rome. 

M'DONNELL,  Daniel,  M.A.,  M.D.  17,  Cherrymount,  Crumlin- 
road,  Belfast. 

McGeeney,  Very  Rev.  Patrick,  Canon,  P.P.,  V.F.    Crossmaglen. 

Mellon,  Thomas  J.    Rydal  Mount,  Mill  town,  Co.  Dublin. 

Milligan,  Seaton  Forrest,  M.R.I.A.  1,  Malone-road,  Belfast. 
(Vice- President,  1895-99.) 

Mills,  James,  M.R.I.A.     Public  Record  Office,  Dublin. 

MOLLOY,  William  Robert,  M.R.I.A.,  J.P.  78,  Kenilworth- 
square,  Dublin. 

Moran,  His  Eminence  Cardinal,  D.D.,  M.R.I.A.  Archbishop- 
of  Sydney,  New  South  Wales.  ( Vice- President,  1 888-96. ) 


12 

DATE  OP  ELECTION. 


MEMBER. 

1888 
1892 


1889 


1888 


1877 
1897 
1892 

1877 
1869 


1887 
1869 

1862 


1894 
1885 


1867 


1889 
1889 


FELLOW. 

1895 
1894 

1897 
1889 


1890 


1889 
1898 
1893 

1888 
1888 


1897 
1890 

1895 
1891 
1872 
1890 
1890 
1895 

1898 
1888 

1889 
1894 

1889 


1875 
1888 
1892 

1873 
1888 

1896 
1890 
1893 
1872 


FELLOWS   OF   THE   SOCIETY. 


Moran,  John,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  M.R.I.A.     Imperial  Hotel,  Belfast. 
Mullen,   Ben.  H.,  M.A.  (Dub.),  F.A.I.,   Curator,  &c.,   Royal 

Museum.     Peel  Park,  Salford. 
Murphy,  J.  II.  Burke.     The  Agency,    Cultra,   Holywood,  Co. 

Down. 
MURPHY,  Michael  M.,  M.R.I.A.     Troyes  Wood,  Kilkenny., 


Norman,  George,  M.D.,  F.R.M.S.     12,  Brock-street.  Bath. 


O'Brien,  William,  M.A.,  LL.D.     4,  Kildare-street,  Dublin. 
O'Connell,  Rev.  Daniel,  B.D.     81,  Quay,  Waterford. 
O'Connell,  John  Robert,  M.A.,  LL.D.    10,  Mountjoy-square, 

Dublin. 

O'Connor,  Very  Rev.  Daniel,  P.P.,  Canon.     Newtown  Butler. 
O'Conor   Don,   The   Right  Hon.    LL.D.,   M.R.I.A.,  H.M.L. 

Clonulis,  Castlerea.      (Vice- President,  1886-97;  President, 

1897-99.) 

O'Donoghue,  Charles,  J.P.     Ballynahown  Court,  Athlone. 
0' Donovan,  The,  M.A.  (Oxon.),  J.P.     Liss  Ard,  Skibbereen. 

(Vice -President,  1890-94.) 
O'Laverty,  Rev.  James,  P.P.,  M.R.I. A.    Holywood,  Co.  Down. 

(Vice -President,  1896.) 
O'Loughlin,    Rev.    Robert    Stuart,    M.A.,    D.D.       Rectory, 

Lurgan. 
O'Meagher,  Joseph  Casimir,   M.R.I. A.      23,  Wellington-road, 

Dublin. 
O'Neill,  Jorge  (Grand  Officier  de  la  maison  du  Roi).     Pair  du 

Royaume,  Lisbon. 
O'NEILL,   Hon.   Robert  Torrens,  M.A.  (Oxon.),   J.P.,  D.L. 

M.P.      Tullymore  Lodge,  Ballj'mena,  Co.  Antrim. 
O'REILLY,  Rev.  Hugh,    M.R.I. A.     St.   Column's   Seminary, 

Newry. 

O'Reilly,  Patrick  J.     7,  North  Earl-street,  Dublin. 
O'Rorke,  Very  Rev.   Terence,   D.D.,  M.R.I.A.,    P.P.,  Arch- 
deacon of  Achonry.     Church  of  the  Assumption,  Collooney. 
ORMSBY,    Charles  C.,   A.I.C.E.I.     Ballinamore   House,   Kil- 

timagh,  Co.  Mayo. 
0' Shaughnessy,  Richard,  B.A.,  Barrister- at- Law,  Commissioner 

of  Public  Works.     3,  Wilton-place,  Dublin. 
OWEN,  Edward.     India  Office,  Whitehall,  London,  S.W. 


Palmer,  Charles  Colley,  J.P.,  D.L.     Rahan,  Edenderry. 
Perceval,  John  James.     Slaney  View,  Wexford. 
Perceval-Maxwell,  Robert,  J.P.,  D.L.     Finnebrogue,  Down- 

patrick. 
Phene,  John  S.,  LL.D.,  F.S.A.,   F.G.S.     5,    Carlton -terrace, 

Oakley-street,  London,  S.W. 
Plunkett,    George  Noble,  Count,  M.R.I. A.,  Barrister-at-Law. 

26,  Upper  Fitzwilliam-street,  Dublin. 

Plunkett,  the  Countess.     26,  Upper  Fitzwilliam-street,  Dublin. 
Poison,  Thomas  R.  J.,  M.R.I. A.   Wellington-place,  Enniskillen. 
Pope,  Peter  A.     New  Ross. 
Prichard,  Rev.  Hugh,  M.A.,  F.S.A.  (Scot.)     Dinam,  Gaenven, 

Anglesey. 


FELLOWS  OF   THE  SOCIETY. 


DATE  OF  ELECTION. 


MEMBER.    ,    FELLOW. 

1894 

1894 

Robinson,  Andrew,  C.E.,  Board  of  "Works.     116,  St.  Laurence- 

road,  Clontarf. 

1894 

Robinson,  Rev.  Stanford  F.  H.,  M.A.      2,  Trevelyan-terrace. 

Rathgar. 

1880 

1888         Rushe,     ~Denis      Carolan,      B.A.,      Solicitor.        Far-Meehul, 

Monaghan. 

1879 

1890 

RYLANDS,   Thomas   Glazebrook,   F.S.A.,  F.R.A.S.,  F.C.S., 

M.R.I.  A.     Highfields,  Thelwall,  Wanington. 

1898 

SAUNDERSON,  Robert  de  Bedick,  M.A.  (Dubl.).     Avonmore, 

Goldhawk-road,  Chiswick,  London,  W. 

1891 

Scott,    William   Robert,  M.A.    (Dubl.).     4,  Murray-place,  St. 

Andrew's  N.B.,  and  Lisnamallard,  Omagh. 

1896 

Shaw,    Sir  Frederick   W.,    Bart.,    J.P.,    D.L.     Bushy    Park, 

Terenure. 

1892 

Sheehan,  Most  Rev.  Richard  Alphonsus,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Water- 

ford  and  Lismore.     Bishop's  House,  John's  Hill,  Waterford. 

(Vice-  President,  1896-99.) 

1892 

Smiley,  Hugh  Houston,  J.P.     Drumalis,  Larne. 

1889 

SMITH-BARRY,  The  Right  Hon.  Arthur  H.,  J.P.,  D.L.,  M.P. 

Fota   Island,    Cork,   and    Carlton   Club,    London.      (  Vice- 

•      President,  1897.) 

1875 

1875 

Smith,  Joseph,  M.R.I.  A.     Rose  Villa,   Latchford,  near  War- 

rington. 

1873 

Smith,    Worthington  G.,   F.L.S.,    M.A.  I.      121,    High-street, 

Dunstable,  Beds. 

1894 

Stevenson,  George  A.,  Commissioner  of  Public  Works,  Dublin. 

1890 

1890 

Stoney,  Rev.  Robert  Baker,  M.  A.,  D.D.,  Canon.    St.  Matthew's, 

Irishtown. 

1885 

1888 

Stubbs,    Major-General   Francis  William,   J.P.      2,   Clarence- 

terrace,   St.  Luke's,  Cork. 

1892 

1893 

Swan,  Joseph  Percival.     22,  Charleville-road,  N.C.R.,  Dublin. 

1898 

Tallon,  The  Right  Hon.  Daniel,  Lord  Mayor  of  Dublin. 

1892 

1892 

Taylor,  Rev.  John  Wallace,  LL.D.     Errigal  Glebe,  Emyvale. 

1893 

Tenison,    Charles   Mac  Carthy,    M.R.I.  A.      Barrister-at-Law, 

J.P.     Hobart,  Tasmania. 

1892 

Tighe,    Edward    Kenrick   Bunbury,    J.P.,    D.L.      Woodstock, 

Inistioge. 

1865 

1888 

Trench,  Thomas  F.  Cooke,   M.R.I.  A.,  J.P.,  D.L.     Millicent, 

Sallins. 

1894 

Thynne,   Sir  Henry,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  C.B.,    Deputy   Inspector- 

General  R.I.C.,  Dublin. 

1893 

Cniacke,  R.  G.  Fitz  Gerald,  B.A.  (Oxon.).     Chelsham  Lodge, 

Whyteleafe,  Surrey. 

1885 

1888 

Vigors,  Colonel  Philip  Doyne,  J.P.     Holloden,  Bagenalstown. 

1884 

1890 

(Vice-  President,  1895-99.) 
Vinycomb,  John,  M.R.I.  A.     Riverside,  Holywood,  Co.  Down. 

1864 

1870 

WALES,   H.  R.  H.   the  Prince  of,    K.G.,  K.P.,  &c.       Sand- 

ringbam. 

1874 

1888 

WARD,  Francis  Davis,  M.R.I.  A.,  J.P.     11,  Chlorine  Gardens, 

Malone-road,  Belfast. 

1891 

Ward,  John,  F.S.A.,  J.P.     Lenox  Vale,  Belfast. 

14 

DATE  or  ELECTION. 


MEMBER, 

1890 

1871 
1890 

1886 


1879 
1889 


1887 


1891 


FELLOW. 

1897 

1871 
1898 

1893 
1892 
1894 
1896 

1890 
1890 

1887 


1891 


FELLOWS    OF   THE    SOCIETY. 


Warren,  the  Rev.  Thomas.     Belmont,  29,  Gipsey  Hill,  London, 

S.E. 

Watson,  Thomas.     Ship  Quay  Gate,  Londonderry. 
Westropp,    Ralph   Hugh,    B.A.      Springfort,    Patrick's    Well, 

Co.  Limerick. 
WESTROPP,  Thomas  Johnson,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.      77,  Lower 

Leeson-street.  Dublin. 

Wigham,   John   R.,  M.R.I.A.,  J.P.     Albany  House,   Monks- 
town. 
WILSON,  William  W.,  M.R.I.A.,  M.  INST.  C.E.     St.  James's- 

gate,  Dublin. 
Windle,  Bertram  C.  A.,  M.A.,  M.D.,  D.Sc.  (Dubl.).      Dean  of 

the  Medical  Faculty,  Mason  College,  Birmingham. 
Woods,  Cecil  Crawford.     21,  Dyke-parade,  Cork. 
WOOLLCOMBE,  Eobert  Lloyd,  M.A.,  LL.D.  (Dubl.)  ;  LL.D. 

(Royal  Univ.);    F.I.Inst.,  F.S.S.,  M.R.I.A.,  Barrister- 

at-Law.     14,  Waterloo-road,   Dublin. 
WEIGHT,    Edward    Perceval,    M.D.,    M.A.    (Dubl.)  ;    M.A. 

(Oxon.);   M.R.I.A.,  F.L.S.,  F.R.C.S.I.,  J.P.,  Professor  of 

Botany.    5,  Trinity  College,  Dublin.    ( Vice- President,  1898.) 


Young,  Robert  Magill,  B.A.,  C.E.,  M.R.I.A.,  J.P.     Rathvarna, 
Belfast.     (Vice-president,  1898.) 


FELLOWS    OF    THE    SOCIETY. 


15 


DATE  OF  ELECTION. 


1890 


1891 


1889 
1850 


1868 


FKLLOW. 

1891 
1891 
1891 
1893 
1891 

1891 
1891 

1891 
1870 
1891 

1891 
1876 


HONORARY    FELLOWS, 


D'Arbois  de  Jubainville,    H.,  Editor  of  Revue   Celtique. 
Boulevard  Mont  Parnasse,  Paris. 


84, 


Hoffman,  William  J.,  M.D.,  Consulate  of  the  United  States, 
Mannheim,  Germany. 

Lubbock,  Right  Hon.  Sir  John,  Bart.,  D.C.L.,  LL.D., 
F.R.S.,  M.P.  High  Elms,  Farnborough,  Kent. 

Meade,  Right  Hon.  Joseph  M.,  LL.D.,  J.P.  St.  Michael's, 
Attesbury-road,  Dublin. 

Munro,  Robert,  M.A.,  M.D.  (Hon.  M.R.I.A.),  Secretary  of 
the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland.  48,  Manor-place, 
Edinburgh. 

Pigorini,  Professor  Luigi,  Director  of  the  Museo  Preistorico- 
Etnografico  Kircheriano,  Rome. 

Rhys,  John,  M.A.,  Professor  of  Celtic,  Principal  of  Jesus 
College,  Oxford. 

Roberts,  S.  Ussher,  C.B.     6,  Clyde-road,  Dublin. 

Robertson,  James  George,  Architect.    36,  Sandford-road,  Dublin. 

Soderberg,  Professor  Sven,  Ph.  D.,  Director  of  the  Museum  of 
Antiquities,  University  of  Lund,  Sweden. 


Stokes,  Miss  Margaret,  Hon.  M.R.I. A. 
Co.  Dublin. 


Carrigbreac,  Howth, 
Wakeman,  William  Frederick.    Knightsville,  Blackrock,  Dublin. 


Total  number  of  Fellows  :  — 
Life,  ......      ..,..,. 

Honorary  (under  old  Rules,  3  ;  new  Rules,  9), 


39 


12 


Annual,       .  .          .  .          .  .          .  .          .  .          .  .          .  .       154 


205 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    SOCIETY. 

(Revised  December,  1898.) 


The  Names  of  those  who  have  paid  the  Life  Composition,  and  are  Life  Member?,  are 
printed  in  heavy-faced  type.     (See  Rules  4,  8,  and  9,  page  41.) 


Elected 

1893 

1896 

1898 

1895 

1890 

1892 

1887 

1898 

1890 

1894 

1898 

1891 
1890 
1894 
1894 
1891 

1896 
1897 

1891 

1890 
1894 
1868 
1863 
1896 
1880 
1890 
1858 


1894 
1895 
1878 
1890 
1893 
1894 
1890 

1897 


Ahbott,  Rev.  Canon,  M.A.     The  Rectory,  Tullow,  Co.  Carlow. 

Acheson,  John,  J.P.     Dunavon,  Portadown. 

Adams,  Rev.  William  Alexander,  B.A.     The  Manse,  Antrim. 

Agnew,  Alexander.     Queen's  Bridge  Saw  Mills,  Belfast. 

Agnew,  Rev.  J.  Tweedie.     The  Manse,  Portadown. 

Alcorn,  James  Gunning,  Barrister-at-Law,  J.P.     2,  Kildare -place,  Dublin. 

Alexander,  Thomas  John,  M.A.     1,  Belle vue  Park,  Military- road,  Cork. 

Allen,  Henry  J.     14,  Ailesbury-road,  Dublin. 

Allingham,  Hugh,  M.R.I. A.     The  Mall,  Ballyshannon. 

Allworthy,  Edward.     Ardgv»nan,  Cavehill-road,  Belfast. 

Allworthy,  Samuel  William,  M.A.,  M.D.     The  Manor  House,  Antrim-roarl, 

Belfast. 

Alrnent,  Rev.  William  F.,  B.D.     Castletown  Rectory,  Navan. 
Alton,  J.  Poe  (Felloiv,  Inst.  of  Bankers).     Elim,  Grosvenor-road,  Dublin. 
Anderson,  Robert  Hall,  J.P.     Sixmile- Cross,  Co.  Tyrone. 
Anderson,  William,  J.P.     Glenarvon,  Merrion,  Co.  Dublin. 
Andrews,  James  Thomas,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     36,  St.  Stephen's- green, 

Dublin. 

Annaly,  The  Lady.     Sion,  Navan. 
Archdall,  Right  Rev.  Mervyn,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Killaloe,  &o.     Claresford, 

Killaloe. 
Archer,  Rev.  James  Edward,  B.D.     2,  Gyrene  Villas,  Clifton  Park-avenue, 

Belfast. 

Archer,  Mrs.     St.  Mary's  Rectory,  Drogheda. 
Ardagh,  Rev.  Arthur  W.,  M.A.     The  Vicarage,  Finglas. 
Ardilaun,  Rt.  Hon.  Lord,  M.A.,  M.R.I. A.    St.  Anne's,  Clontarf. 
Ashbourne,  Right  Hon.  Lord,  LL.D.     12,  Merrion-square,  Dublin. 
Ashby,  Newton  B.,  United  States  Consul.     6,  Sandycove,  Kingstown. 
Atkins,    W.    Ringrose.      39  South  Mall,  Cork. 

Atkinson,  Rev.  E.  Dupre,  LL.B.  (Cantab.)     Donaghcloney,  Waringstown. 
Atkinson,    George    Mounsey,    M.R.I.A.       28,    St.    Oswald's-road,    West 

Brompton,  London,  S.W. 


Babington,  Rev.  Richard,  M.A.     Omagh,  Co.  Tyrone. 

Badham,  Miss.     St.  Margaret's  Hall,  Mespil-road,  Dublin. 

Bagwell,  Richard,  M.A.  (Oxon.),  J.P.,  D.L.     Marlfield,  Clonmel. 

Baile,  Robert,  M.A.     Ranelagh  School,  Athlone. 

Bailey,  William  F.,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     62,  Harcourt-street,  Dublin, 

Baillie,  Captain  John  R.,  J.P.     Ballina. 

Baillie,    Ven.,   Richard  J£.,    M.A.,    Archdeacon  of    Raphoe.     Glendooen, 

Letterkenny. 
Bain,  Andrew,  D.I.,  R.I.C.     Newcastle  West,  Co.  Limerick. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY.  17 

Elected 

1885     !  Baker,  Henry  F.     Hillview,  Dalkey. 

1897  Baker,  Samuel.     The  Knowle,  Howth. 

1896     i  BALL,  Francis  Elrington,  M.R.I.A.,  J.P.     Mopoon,  Dundrum. 

1898  I  Ball,  H.  Houston.     23,  Richmond- road,  South  Kensington,  London,  S.W. 
1885     i  Ballard,  Rev.  John  Woods.     Kilbrogan  Hill,  Bandon. 

1888     |  Ballintine,  Joseph,  J.P.     Strand,  Londonderry. 


1890 
1896 
1890 
1896 
1893 
1889 

1889 
1868 

1890 
1877 
1894 
1891 
1898 
1894 
1883 
1888 

1892 
1891 
1893 
1898 
1891 
1890 
1889 
1884 

1895 
1895 

1897 

1888 
1889 
1897 
1897 
1890 
1897 
1896 
1896 
1891 
1893 
1893 
1894 
18S9 
1894 
1889 
1858 
1895 
1894 
1897 
1889 
1889 
1891 
1889 


Baniui,  Miss  Mary.     Greenfield,  Dalkey. 

Bannan,    E.  T.,   B.A.,    District  Inspector  of   Schools.     Letterkenny. 

Bardan,  Patrick.     Coralstown,  Killucan. 

Barr,  John,  Tyrone  Constitution.     Omagh. 

Barrett,  John,  B.A.     Mount  Massey  House,  Macroom. 

Barrington,  Sir  Charles  Burton,  Bart.,  M.A.  (Duhl.),  J.P.,  D.L.     Glenstal 

Castle,  Co.  Limerick. 

Barrington,  William,  C.E.     Riverside,  Limerick. 
Barrington- Ward,  Mark  James,   M.A.,  S.C.L.  (Oxon.),  F.R.G.S.,  F.L.S. 

Thorneloe  Lodge,  Worcester. 

Barry,  Rev.  Michael,  P.P.     Ballylanders,  Knocklong,  Co.  Limerick. 
Barry,  James  Grene,  J.P.     Sandville  House,  Grange,  Co.  Limerick. 
Battley,  Colonel  D'Oyly,  J.P.     Belvedere  Hall,  Bray,  Co.  Wicklow. 
Beardwood,  Right  Rev.  J.  Camillus,  Abbot  of  Mount  St.  Joseph,  Roscrea. 
Beater,  George  Palmer.     Minore,  St.  Kevin's  Park,  Upper  Rathmines. 
Beattie,  Rev.  Michael.     6,  Bel  voir- terrace,  University -street,  Belfast. 
BEATTY,  Samuel,  M.A.,  M.B.,  M.Ch.    Craigatin,  Pitlochrie,  N.B 
Beaumont,  Thos.,  M.D.,  Dep.  Surg.-Gen.      Palmerston  House,  Palmerston 

Park,  Upper  Rathmines. 

Beazley,  Rev.  James,  P.P.     Tuosist,  Kenmare. 
Beere,  D.  M.,  M.  INST.  C.E.     Auckland,  New  Zealand. 

jley,  Rev.  John,  C.C.     Tournafulla,  Newcastle  West,  Co.  Limerick. 


Bell,  Thomas  William,  M.A.  Barrister-at-Law.     2,  Herbert- street,  Dublin. 

Bence-Jones,  Reginald,  J.P.     Liselan,  Clonakilty. 

Bennett,  Joseph  Henry.     Blair  Castle,  Cork. 

Beresford,  Denis  R.  Pack,  J.P.,  D.L.     Fenagh  House,  Bagenalstown. 

Beresford,  George  De  La  Poer,  J.P.,  D.L.  Ovenden,  Sundridge,  Seven- 
oaks. 

Beresford,  Rev.  Canon,  M.A.     Inistioge  Rectory,  Co.  Kilkenny. 

Bergin,  William,  M.A.,  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy.  Queen's  College, 
Cork. 

Bermingham,  Patrick  Thomas.  Glengariff  House,  Adelaide-road, 
Glenageary, 

Bernard,  Walter,  F.R.C.P.     14,  Queen-street,  Derry. 

Berry,  Henry  F.,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     Public  Record  Office,  Dublin. 

Berry,  Rev.  Hugh  F.,  B.D.     Fermoy. 

Bestick,  Robert.     5,  Frankfort-avenue,  Rathgar. 

Bewley,  Joseph.     8,  Anglesea-street,  Dublin. 

Biddulph,  Colonel  Middleton  W.,  J.P.     Aimaghmore,  Tullamore. 

Bigger,  Frederic  Charles.     Ardrie,  Antrim-road,  Belfast. 

Blake,  Mrs.     Temple  Hill,  Blackrock,  Co.  Dublin. 

Boland,  Charles  James.     6,  Ely-place,  Dublin. 

Bollingcr,  Jacob,  M.A.,  LL.D.     Wexford  School,  Wexford. 

Bolton,  Charles  Perceval,  J.P.     Brook  Lodge,  Halfway  House,  Waterford. 

Bourcbier,  Henry  James,  C.I.,  R.I.C.     Eversleigh,  Bandon. 

Bourke,  Rev.  John  Hamilton,  M.A.    Elm  Ville,  Kilkenny. 

Bowen,  Miss  A.  M.  Cole.     The  Vicarage,  Northwood,  Middlesex. 

Bowen,  Henry  Cole,  M.A.,  J.P.,  Barrister-at-Law.  Bowen's  Court,  Mallow. 

Bowers,  Thomas.     Cloncunny  House,  Piltown. 

Bowman,  Davys.     10,  Chichester-street,  Belfast. 

Boyd,  J.  St.  Glair,  M.D.     27,  Victoria-place,  Belfast. 

Boyle,  Rev.  Joseph,  C.C.     Rossnakill,  Letterkenny. 

Braddell,  Octavius  II .     Sarnia,  Eglinton-road,  Donnybrook. 

Brady,  Rev.  John  Westropp,  M.A.     Rectory,  Slane,  Co.  Meath. 

Bray,  John  B.  Cassin.     72,  Eccles-street,  Dublin. 

Brenan,  James,  R.H.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  School  of  Art.  Leinster  Hous-5,  Kildare- 
street,  Dublin. 


18  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Elected 

1883  Brenan,  Rev.  Samuel  Arthur,  B.A.     Knocknacarry,  Co.  Antrim. 

1892  Brereton,  Fleet- Surgeon  It.  W.     St.  Nicholas'  Rectory,  Carricki'ergus. 
1888  Brett,  Henry  Charles,  B.E.     Rosemary-square,  Roscrea. 

1893  Brew,  Thomas  Foley,  F.R.C.S.I.     The  Cottage,  Ennistyrnon. 

1891  Bridge,  William,  M.A.     Solicitor,  Roscrea. 

1892  Brien,  Mrs.  C.  H.     4,  Palnierston  Park,  Upper  Rathmines. 

1895  Briscoe,  Algernon  Fetherstonhaugh,  J.P.     Curristown,  Killucan. 

1891  BRODIGAN,  Mrs.     Piltown  House,  Drogheda. 

1893  Brophy,  Michael  M.     48,  Gordon-square,  London,  W.C. 
Brophy,  Nicholas  A.     6,  Alphonsus-terrace,  Limerick. 

1892  Bros,  W.  Law.     Camera  Club,  Charing  Cross-road,  London,  W.C. 

1891  Brougham,  Very  Rev.  Henry,  D.D.,  Dean  of  Lismore.     Lismore. 
1866  Brown,  Charles,  J.P.     The  Folly,  Chester. 

1894  Brown,  Miss.     5,  Connaught- place,  Kingstown. 

1894  Browne,    Daniel   F.,    B.A.,   Barrister-at-Law.      28,    Upper   Mount-street, 
Dublin. 

1892  Browne,  Geo.  Burrowes.     Beechville,  Knockbreda  Park,  Belfast. 

1884  Browne,  James  J.  F.,  C.E.,  Architect.     23,  Glent  worth -street,  Limerick. 

1890  Browne,  Very  Rev.  R.  L.,  O.S.F.      Franciscan  Convent,  Liberty-street, 

Cork. 

1891  Brownlow,  Rev.  Duncan  John,  M.A.     Donoghpatrick  Rectory,  Navan. 

1894  Brunskill,  Rev.  K.  C.,  M.A.     Carrickmore,  Co.  Tyrone. 

1866  Brunskill,  Rev.  North  Richardson,  M.A.     Kenure  Vicarage,  Rush. 

1896  Buckley,  James.     Primrose  Club,  St.  James',  London,  S.W. 
1888  Buckley,  Michael  J.  C.     Montmorenci,  Youghal,  Co.  Cork. 

1890  Budds,  William  Frederick,  J.P.     Courtstown,  Tullaroan,  Freshford. 

1884  Buggy,  Michael,  Solicitor.     Parliament-street,  Kilkenny. 

1895  Burden,  Alexander  Mitchell,  C.E.,  County  Surveyor.     Kilkenny. 

1890  Burgess,   Rev.    Henry    W.,    M.A.,   LL.D.      20,   Alma-road,  Monkstown, 
Co.  Dublin. 

1890  Burgess,  John,  J.P.     Oldcourt,  Athlone. 

1895  Burke,  John,  J.P.,  Consul  for  Mexico  and  Uruguay.     Corporation -street, 

Belfast. 

1893  Burke,  Very  Rev.  Monsignor  Edward  W.,  P.P.,  V.F.     Bagenalstown. 

1894  Burke,  E.  W.     Millbrook,  Abbeyleix. 

1897  Burke,  Rev.  Thomas,  P.P.     Baflindereen,  Kilcolgan,  Co.  Galway. 

1897  Burke,  Rev.  W.  P.     Catherine -street,  Waterford. 

1892  Burnell,  William.     Dean's  Grange,  Monkstown. 

1891  Burnett,  Rev.  Richard  A.,  M.A.     Rectory,  Graignamanagh,  Co.  Kilkenny. 
1891  Butler,  Cecil,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     Milestown,  Castle  Bellingham. 

1898  Butler,  William   F.,   M.A.,   F.R.U.I.,   Professor  of  Modern  Languages. 

Queen's  College,  Cork. 

1857  Byrne,  Edmund  Alen,  J.P.     Rosemount,  New  Ross. 

1896  Byrne,  Edward  A.     21,  Lower  Water-street,  Newry. 

1891  Byrne,  James.     Wallstown  Castle,  Castletownroche,  Co.  Cork. 

1897  Byrne,  Miss.     19,  Main-street,  Blackrock. 


1891  Cadic  de  la  Champignonnerie,  M.  Edward,  F.R.U.I.     765,  Upper  Leeson- 
street,  Dublin. 

1894  Caffrey,  James.     3,  Brighton-terrace,  Brighton-road,  Rathgar,  Dublin. 
1896  Caldwell,  Charles  Sproule,  Solicitor.     Castle-street,  Londonderry. 

1896  Callary,  Very  Rev.  Philip,  P.P.,  V.F.     Trim,  Co.  Meath. 

1891  Cameron,  Sir  Charles  A.,  M.D.,  Hon.  R.H.A.    51,  Pembroke-road,  Dublin. 

1897  Campbell,  A.  Albert,  Solicitor.     6,  Lawrence -street,  Belfast. 

1895  Campbell,  Frederick  Ogle.     Main-street,  Bangor,  Co.  Down. 

1891  Campbell,  Rev.  Joseph  W.  R.,  M.A.     2,  Newgrove-avenue,  Sandymount. 

1890  Campbell,  Rev.  Richard  S.  D.,  M.A.,  D.D.     The  Rectory,  Athlone. 

1890  Campbell,  Rev.  William  W.,  M.A.,  R.N.     Maplebury,  Monkstown. 

1895  Campbell,  William  Marshall.      12,  Bedford- street,  Belfast. 

1898  Garden,  Lady.     Templemore  Abbey,  Templemore. 

1893  Carey,  William,  Solicitor.     47,  Grosvenor-square,  Dublin. 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    SOCIETY.  19 

Elected! 

Carlisle,  David.     Home  Avenue,  Passaie,  New  Jersey,  U.S.A. 

1893  Carmody,  Rev.  William  P.,  B.A.     Connor  Rectory,  Ballymena. 
1895          Carney,  Thomas.     Hibernian  Bank,  Cork. 

1894  Carolan,  John,  J.P.     77,  North  King-street,  Dublin. 
1893          Carre,  Fenwick,  F.R.C.S.I.     Letterkenny. 

1888  Carrigan,  Rev.  William,  C.C.     Burrow,  Queen's  County. 
1893  Carrigan,  William,  Solicitor.     Thurles. 

1889  Carroll,  Anthony  R.,  Solicitor.     47,  North  Great  George' s-street,  Dublin. 
1893  Carroll,  Rev.  James.  C.C.     Howth. 

1890  Carroll,  William,  C.E.,  M.R.I.A.I.     Orchardleigh,  West  Wickham,  Kent. 

1897  Caruth,  Norman  C.,  Solicitor.     Flixton- place,  Ballymena. 

1895  Casson,  George  W.,  J.P.     25,  Clyde-road,  Dublin. 

1893          Castle  Stuart,  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of,  J.P.,  D.L.     Drum  Manor,  Cookstown. 

1898  Chad  wick,  John,  jun.     18,  Patrick -street,  Kilkenny. 
Chambers,  Sir  R.  Newman.     15,  Queen-street,  Londonderry. 

1890          Chapman,  Wellesley  Pole.     7,  Mount  joy -square,  Dublin. 

1890  Charles,  James,  MJ.J.     42,  Dawson-street,  Dublin. 

1891  Chatterton,  Abraham  T.     10,  Clyde-road,  Dublin. 

1890          Chaytor,  Joshua  David,  B.A.     30,  Anglesea-street,  Dublin. 

1893  Chearnley,  Miss  Mary.     Cappoquin,  Co.  Wateiford. 

1895  Christie,  Robert  William,  F.I.B.     21,  Elgin-road,  Dublin. 

1894  Clark,  George  W.  O'Flaherty-,  L.R.C.S.E.     Down  Asylum,  Downpatrick. 

1896  Clark,  Miss  Jane.     The  Villas,  Kilrea,  Co.  Londonderry. 

1889  Clarke,  Mrs.     Athgoe  Park,  Hazelhatch. 

1896  Cleary,  Rev.  Robert,  M.A.     Galbally  Rectory,  Tipperary. 

1890  Clements.  Henry  John  Beresford,  J.P.,  D.L.     Lough  Rynn,  Leitriin. 

1892  Clements,  William  T.,  Asst.  D.I.N.S.    1,  Agincourt-terrace,  Rugby-road, 

Belfast. 

1859          Clifden,  Right  Hon.  Viscount,  J.P.,  D.L.     19,  Wilton- street,  London,  S.W. 
1874          Clonbrock,  Right  Hon.  Lord,. B.A.  (Oxon.),  H.M.L.     (Vice -President,  1885- 

1896.)     Clonbrock,  Aghascragh. 

1892  Coates,  William  Trelford,  J.P.     7,  Fountain- street,  Belfast. 

1893  Coddington,  Lieut.-Colonel  John  N.,  J.P.,  D.L.     Oldbridge,  Drogheda. 

1892  Coffey,  Denis  J.,  B.A.,  M.B.,  M.Ch.  (R.U.I.),  Assistant  Professor  of  Physi- 

ology, School  of  Medicine,  Cecilia-street,  Dublin. 

1885         Coffey,  Most  Rev.  John,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Kerry.     The  Palace,  Killarney. 
1898          Coleman,  Rev.  Ambrose,  O.P.     St.  Catherine's,  Newry. 
1888          Coleman,  James.     Custom-house,  Southampton. 

1893  Colgan,  Nathaniel,  M.R.I. A.     1,  Belgrave-road,  Rathmines. 

1895  Colgan,  Rev.  P.,  P.P.     Menlogh,  Ballinasloe. 

1888  Colhoun,  Joseph.     62,  Strand-road,  Londonderry. 

1894  Colles,  Alexander.     3,  Elgin-road,  Dublin. 

1891  Collins,  E.  Tenison,  Barrister-at-Law.     St.  Edmunds,  The  Burrow,  Howth. 
1898  Collis,  Rev.  Maurice  H.  Fitzgerald,  B.D.     The  Vicarage,  Antrim. 

1897  Commins,  John.     Desart  N.  S.,  Cuffe's  Grange,  Kilkenny. 

1897  CONAN,  Alexander.     Mount  Alverno,  Dalkey. 

1898  Concannon,  Thomas.     Livermore,  Alameda  Co.,  California,  U.S.A. 
1876          Condon,  Very  Rev.  C.  H.,  Provincial,  O.P.     St.  Saviour's,  Dublin. 

1893  Condon,  Frederick  William,  L.R. C.P.I.,  &c.     Ballyshannon. 

1894  Condon,  James  E.  S.,  LL.D.,  Barrister-at-Law.      16,  Warrington-place, 

Dublin. 

1896  Condon,  Very  Rev.  John,  O.S.A.     New  Ross. 

Conlan,  Very  Rev.  Robert  F.,  P.P.,  Canon.     St.  Michan's,  Dublin. 
1893          Connell,  Rev.  John,  M.A.     3,  Palace-terrace,  Drumcondra. 

1889  Connellan,  Major  James  H.,  J.P.,  D.L.     Coolmore,  Thomastown 
1896         Connolly,  Rev.  Richard,  O.S.A.     New  Ross. 

Con  way,  Rev.  David.     Mount  joy,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.,  U.S.A. 
1898          Conyngham.  O'Meara.     29,  Rutland -square,  Dublin. 

Cookman,  William,  M.D.,  J.P.     Kiltrea  House,  Enniscorthy. 

1893  Cooper,  Anderson,  J.P.     Weston,  Queenstown. 

1890  Cooper,  Austin  Darner,  J.P.     Drumnigh,  Baldoyle,  Co.  Dublin. 

1898         Cooper,  Mark  Bloxham,  Barrister-at-Law.     95,  Haddington-road,  Dublin. 

1894  Coote,  Rev.  Maxwell  H.,  M.A.     Ross,  Tullamore. 

B2 


20  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Elected 

1894  CORBALLIS,  Richard  J.,  M.A.,  J.P.     Rosemount,  Roebuck,  Clonskeagh. 
1896  Corcoran,  P.     Abbey  Gate-street,  Galway. 

1896  Corish,  Rev.  John,  C.C.     Kilmy shall,  Newtownbarry. 

1895  Corker,  William  Henning,  Solicitor.     52.  Grand-parade,  Cork. 

1894  Cosgrave,  E.  Mac  Dowel,  M.D.     5,  Gardiner's -row,  Dublin. 
1890  Cosgrave,  Henry  Alexander,  M.A.     67,  Pembroke-road,  Dublin. 
1892  Costigan,  William.     Great  Victoria-street,  Belfast. 

1895  Coulter,  Mrs.  G.  B.     21,  University -square,  Belfast. 

1890  Coulter,  Rev.  George  "W.  S.,  M.A.      9,  Upper  Garville-avenue,  Rathgar. 

1895  Courtenay,  Henry.     Hughenden,  Grosvenor-road,  Ratbgar. 

1897  Courtney,  Charles  Marshall.     Mount  Minnitt,  Bally  brood,  Pallasgrean. 
1892  COWAN,  P.  Chalmers,  B.Sc.,  M.INST.  C.E.     Downpatrick. 

1891  Cowell,  Very  Rev.  George  Young,  M.A.,  Dean  of  Kildare.     Kildare. 

1889  Cox,  Michael  Francis,  M.D.,  F.R.C.P.I.,  M.R.I.A.     45,  Stephen's-green, 

Dublin. 

1896  Coyne,  James  Aloysius,  B.  A.,  District  Inspector  of  National  Schools.    Tralee. 

1894  Craig,  Ven.  Graham,  M.  A.,  Archdeacon  of  Meath.     St.  Catherine's,  Tullamore. 

1898  Cranny,  John  J.,  M.D.     17,  Merrion-square,  Dublin. 
1896  Crawford,  Robert  T.     Estate  Office,  Ballinrobe. 

1892  Creagh,  Arthur  Gethin,  J.P.     Carrabane,  Quin,  Co.  Clare. 

1890  Creaghe,  Philip  Crampton,  M.R.I.A.     Hugomont,  Ballymena. 

1895  Cromie,  Edward  Stuart,  District  Inspector  of  Schools.     12,  St.  John's  Mall,. 

Parsonstown. 

1893  Crone,  John  S.,  L.R.C.P.I.     Kensal  Lodge,  Kensal  Rise,  London,  N.W. 
1898  Crooke,  T.  Evans  Beamish,  J.P.     Oldtown,  Coachford,  Co.  Cork. 

1898  Crookshank,  Richard  R.  G.     8,  Tivoli-terrace,  South,  Kingstown. 

1891  Crossley,  Frederick  W.     24,  Nassau-street,  Dublin. 

1892  Crosthwait,  Thomas  P.  Sherard,  B.A.,  M.INST.  C.E.     38,  Pembroke  -road , 

Dublin. 

1882  Cuffe,  Major  Otway  Wheeler.     Woodlands,  Waterford. 

1896  Cullen,  T.  W.,  Manager,  National  Bank.     Dingle. 
1860  Cullin,  John.      Templeshannon,  Enniscorthy. 

1894  Culverwell,  Edward  Parnall,  M.A.,  F.T.C.D.     The  Hut,  Howth. 

1895  Cummins,  Rev.  Martin,  P.P.     Clare  Galway. 

1895  Cunningham,  Miss  Mary  E.     Glencairn,  Belfast. 

1897  Cunningham,  Miss  S.  C.     Glencairn,  Belfast. 

1890  Cunningham,  Rev.  Robert,  B.A.     Ballyrashane,  Coleraine. 

1891  Cunningham,  Samuel.     Fernhill,  Belfast. 

1896  Curran,  James  P.,  Manager,  Munster  and  Leinster  Bank.     Maryborough. 

1892  Cussen,  J.  S.,  B.A.,  D.I.N.S.     Killamey. 


1889          Dallow,  Rev.  Wilfrid.     Upton  Hall,  Upton,  Birkenhead. 
1898          D'Alton,  James  Joseph.     10,  Wellington-place,  Dundalk. 

1891  Dalton,  John  P.,  M.A.,  D.I.N.S.     4,  Roseberry  Villas,  Chichester  Park, 

Belfast. 

1898         DALY,  Rev.  Patrick,  C.C.     The  Palace,  Mullingar. 
1897          Daniell,  Robert  G.,  J.P.     Newforest,  Co.  Westmeath. 
1895         D'Arcy,  S.  A.,  L.R.C.P.I.,  L.R.C.S.I.     Rosslea,  Co.  Fermanagh. 

1892  Dargan,  Thomas.     9,  Clifton  Park-avenue,  Belfast. 

1891         DAVIDSON,  Rev.  Henry  W.,  B.A.     Templemicbael  Glebe,  Youghal. 

1894  Davidson -Houston,  Rev.  B.  C.,  M.A.     St.  John's  Vicarage,  Sydney-parade. 

1889  Davis,  Thomas.     St.  Margaret's,  Foxrock,  Co.  Dublin. 

1890  Davy,  Rev.  Humphry,  M.A.     Kimmage  Lodge,  Terenure. 

1895  Dawkins,  Professor  W.  Boyd-,  F.S.A.,  F.K.S.,  F.G.S.,  &c.     Woodhurst, 

Fallowfield,  Manchester. 

1895  Dawson,  Joseph  Francis,  Inspector.  Munster  and  Leinster  Bank,  Dame- 
street,  Dublin. 

1883  Dawson,  Very  Rev.  Abraham,  M.A.,  Dean  of  Dromore.  Seagoe  Rectory, 
Portadown. 

1868          Deady,  James  P.     Hibernian  Bank,  Navan. 

1893  Deane,  Mrs.  J.  William.     Longraigue,  Foulksmill,  Co.  Wexford. 


MEMBERS   OF   THE   SOCIETY.  21 

Elected 


1898 
1894 

1864 
1895 
1889 
1884 
1890 
1895 

1896 
1893 
1891 
1892 
1890 
1897 
1889 
1896 
1890 
1887 
1898 
1889 
1891 
1887 
1889 
1897 
1894 
1896 
1897 
1870 
1898 
1898 
1894 
1893 
1890 
1885 
1891 
1893 
1892 
1894 
1893 
1892 

1872 
1890 


1889 
1887 
1897 
1890 
1892 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1884 

1890 
1891 
1891 
1896 
1894 
1893 


de  Ferrieres,  Frank  Eethore,  B.A.     11,  Willoughby-place,  Ennisldllen. 
Delany,    Right  Rev.   John   Carthage,    Lord  Abbot  of  Mount  Melleray, 

Cappoquin. 

DE  LA  POER,  Edmond,  J.P.,  D.L.     Gurteen,  Glensheelan,  Clonrael. 
De  Moleyns,  The  Hon.  Edward  A.,  J.P.     Dingle,  Co.  Kerry. 
Denny,  Francis  Mac  Gillycuddy.     Denny-street,  Tralee. 
Denvir,  Patrick  J.     National  Bank,  Limerick. 
D'Evelyn,  Alexander,  M.D.  (Dubl.).     Ballymena. 
Devenish-Meares,    Major-General    W.   L.,    J.P.,    D.L.       Meares   Court, 

Ballinacargy,  Co.  Westmeath. 

Diamond,  Rev.  Patrick  J.     Port  Stanley,  Falkland  Islands. 
Dickinson,  James  A.     8,  Crosthwaite  Park,  Kingstown. 
Dickson,  Rev.  William  A.     Fahan  Rectory,  Londonderry. 
Dillon,  Sir  John  Fox,  Bart.,  J.P.,  D.L.     Lismullen,  Navan. 
Dix,  E.  Reginald  M'Clintock,  Solicitor.     61,  Upper  Sackville-street,  Dublin. 
Dixon,  Henry,  Jun.    5,  Cabra-terrace,  Dublin. 

Dodge,  Mrs.     Saddle  Rock,  Great  Neck,  Long  Island,  New  York,  TT.S-. 
Doherty,  George,  J.P.     Dromore,  Co.  Tyrone. 

Donegan,  Lieutenant- Colonel  James  H.,  J.P.     Alexandra-place,  Cork. 
Donovan,  St.  John  Henry,  J.P.     Seafield,  The  Spa,  Tralee. 
Doran,  George  Augustus,  J.P.,  University-road,  Belfast. 
Dorey,  Matthew.     8,  St.  Anne's-terrace,  Berkeley-road,  Dublin. 
Dougherty,  James  B.,  M.A.,  Assistant  Under- Secretary,  Dublin  Castle. 
Douglas,  M.  C.     Burren-street,  Carlow. 
Dowd,  Rev.  James,  M.A.     7,  Swansea-terrace,  Limerick. 
Dowling,  Jeremiah,  Sen.,  M.D.     Nelson-street,  Tipperary. 
Downes,  Thomas.     Norton,  Skibbereen. 
Doyle,  Rev.  Luke,  P.P.     St.  Mary's,  Tagoat,  Wexford. 
Doyle,  M.  J.     N.  S.,  Windgap,  Co.  Kilkenny. 
Doyne,  Charles  Mervyn,  M.A.  (Cantab.),  J.P.,  D.L.     Wells,  Gorey. 
Doyne,  James,  J.P.     Earl-street,  Mullingar. 

Dreaper,  Richard  H.,  Physician  and  Surgeon.     Mossley,  near  Manchester. 
Drew,  Mrs.     Gortnadrew,  Alma-road,  Monkstown,  Co.  Dublin. 
Drought,  Rev.  Anthony,  M.A.     Kilmessan  Rectory,  Navan. 
Dugan,  Charles  Winston,  M.A.     Florence-ville,  Lurgan. 
Duke,  Robert  Alexander,  J.P.,  D.L.     Newpark,  Ballymote. 
Duncan,  George.     1,  Cope-street,  Dublin. 

Dunn,  Michael  J.,  B.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     42,  Upper  Mount-st.,  Dublin. 
Dunn,  Valentine.     30,  Clarinda  Park,  E.,  Kingstown. 
Dunne,  Francis  Plunkett,  J.P.     Balivor,  Banagher. 
Dunne,  Robert  H.  Plunkett,  J.P.     Brittas,  Clonaslie,  Queen's  Co. 
Dunsany,  Right  Hon.  Lord,  M.A.  (Cantab.),  J.P.,  D.L.     Dunsany  Castle, 

Navan. 

Durham,  Dean  and  Chapter  of,  per  C.  Rowlandson.    The  College,  Durham, 
Dwan,  Rev.  John  J.,  Adm.     The  Presbytery,  Thurles. 


Egan,  Michael.     3,  Pery-square,  Limerick. 

Elcock,  Charles.     Curator,  Museum,  Royal-avenue,  Belfast. 

Elliott,  Rev.  Andrew.     The  Bar,  Trillick. 

Elliott,  Rev.  Anthony  L.,  M.A.     Killiney  Glebe,  Co.  Dublin. 

Elliott,  Charles.     223,  Amhurst-road,  Stoke-Newington,  London,  N.  E. 

Ennis,  Edward  H.,  Barrister-at-Law.     42,  Rutland-square,  Dublin. 

Ennis,  Michael  Andrew,  J.P.     Ardruadh,  Wexford. 

Entwistle,  Peter.     Free  Public  Museums,  Liverpool. 

Erne,  Right  Hon.  the  Countess  of,  care  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Steele,  Crom,  Newtown. 

Butler. 

Esmonde,  Sir  Thomas  Henry  Grattan,  Bart.,  M.P.     Bally nastragh,  Gorey. 
Eustace,  Captain  Henry  Montague,  Sampford  Grange,  Braintree,  Essex. 
Evans,  Rev.  Henry,  D.D.,  M.R.I. A.     Howth,  Co.  Dublin. 
Evatt,  George  Foster,  J.P.     Mount  Louise,  Smithborougb,  Co.  Monaghan. 
Everard,  Rev.  John,  C.C.     SS.  Peter  and  Paul,  Clonmel. 
Everard,  Major  Nugent  Talbot,  J.P.,  D.L.     Randlestown,  Navan. 


22  MEMBERS    OF   THE   SOCIETY. 

Elected 

1890  Fahey,  Very  Rev.  Jerome,  P.P.,  V.G.     St.  Colman's,  Gort. 
1889  Fairy,  Rev. "John  G.     Rectory,  Waterville,  Co.  Kerry. 

1895  Fair,  Richard  B.     Rosetta  House,  Rosetta  Park,  Belfast. 

1889  Fan-holme,  Mrs.     Comragh,  Kilmacthomas. 

1896  Falkiner,  C.  Litton,  M.A.,  M.R.I. A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     9,  Upper  Merrion- 

street,  Dublin. 

1891  Falkiner,  Hon.  Sir  Frederick  R.,  M. A.,  Recorder  of  Duhlin.     4,  Earlsfort- 

terrace,  Dublin. 

1890  Falkiner,  Rev.  T.  Doran.     4,  Marine -terrace,  Bray. 

1888  Falkiner,  Rev.  William  F.  T.,   M.A.,  M.R.I. A.      Killucan  Rectory,  Co, 

"Westmeath. 

1893  Fallon,  Owen,  D.I.R.I.C.     Ardara,  Co.  Donegal. 

1897  Faren,  William.     Mount  Charles,  Belfast. 

1891  Fawcett,  George.     Montevideo,  Roscrea. 

1894  Feeney,  P.  J.  C.     Hibernian  Bank,  Kilkenny. 

1892  Fegan,  William  John,  Solicitor.     Market  Square,  Cavan. 

1893  Fennell,  William  J.,  M.R.I.A.I.     11,  Chichester-street,  Belfast. 

1887  Fennessy,  Edward.     Ardscradawn  House,  Kilkenny. 

1896  Fenton,  Mrs.     St.  Peter's  Vicarage,  90,  Westbourne-road,  Birkenhead. 

1898  Fenton,  Rev.  Charles  E.  O'Connor,  M.A.     Edmund-street,  Bradford. 
1898  Fenton,  Rev.  Cornelius  O'Connor,  M.A.     105,  Botanic-road,  Liverpool. 
1898  Fenton,  Rev.  S.  L.  O'Connor,  M.A.,  Vicar  of  St.  George's.     Newcastle,. 

Staffordshire. 

1898  Fetherstonhaugh,  Albany,  B.A.,  Solicitor.     17,  Eccles-street,  Dublin. 

1897  Field,  William,  M.P.     Blackrock,  Co.  Dublin. 

1897  Field,  Miss.     Blackrock,  Co.  Dublin. 

1898  Fielding,  Captain  Joshua,  J.P.,  late  4th  (R.I.)  Dragoon  Guards,  Adjutant. 

Royal  Hospital,  Kilmainham. 

1891  Fielding,  Patrick  J.  D.,  F.C.S.     8,  St.  Joseph's- place,  Cork. 

1894  Fisher,  Rev.  John  Whyte,  M.A.,  Canon.     The  Rectory,  Mountrath. 

1890  F itz Gibbon,  Gerald,  M.lNST.C.E.    The  White  House,  Heysham,  Lancaster. 

1892  Fitz  Patrick,  P.,  D.I.N.S.     Rathkeale. 
1898  Fitz  Patrick,  S.  A.  0.     Glenpool,  Terenure. 

1868  Fitzsimons,  John  Bingham,  M.D.     14,  St.  Owen-street,  Hereford. 

1896  Flanagan,  James.     Central  Model  Schools,  Marlborough-street,  Dublin. 

1891  Fleming,  Hervey  de  Montmorency,  J.P.     Barraghcore,  Goresbridge. 

1895  Fleming,  James,  Jun.     Kilmory,  Skelmorlie,  Scotland. 

1889  Fleming,  Very  Rev.  Horace  Townsend,  M.A.     The  Deanery,  Cloyne. 

1897  Fletcher,  Rev.  Victor  J.,  M.A.     Malahide. 

1893  Flood,  Rev.  James.     52,  Stirling-place,  Brooklyn,  New  York,  U.S.A. 

1894  Flynn,  Very  Rev.  Patrick  F.,  P.P.     St.  Anne's  Presbytery.  Waterford. 
1884  Fogerty,  Robert,  C.E.,  Architect.     Limerick. 

1897  Foley,  John  E.,  M.D.     Frances-street,  Kilrush. 

1896  Foley,  J.  M.  Galwey,  C.I.,  R.I.C.     Ennis. 

1877  Forster,  Sir  Robert,'  Bart.,  D.L.     63,  Fitzwilliam-square,  Dublin. 

1893  Fortescue,   Hon.    Dudley   F.,    J.P.,    D.L.     Summerville,    Dunmore   East,. 

Waterford. 

1891  Foster,  Rev.  Frederick,  M.A.     Ballymacelligott  Glebe,  Tralee. 

1891  Fox,  Captain  Maxwell,  R.N.,  J.P.,  D  L.     14,  Brock-street,  Bath. 

1888  Franklin,  Frederick,  F.R.I. A. I.     Westbourne  House,  Terenure. 

1897  Frazer,  Henry.     Lambeg  N.  S.,  Lisburn. 

1897  Frewen,  William,  Solicitor.     Nelson-street,  Tipperary. 

1889  Frizelle,  Joseph.     Sligo. 

1898  Fry,  Matthew  W.  J.,  M.A.,  F.T.C.     Trinity  College,  Dublin. 

1891  Furlong,  Nicholas,  L.R.C.P.I.,  L.R.C.S.I.,  M.R.I. A.     Lymington,  Ennis- 
corthy. 

1890  Gallagher,  Edward,  J.P.     Strabane. 

1891  Gallagher,  William,  Solicitor.     English-street,  Armagh. 

1894  Gamble,  Major  G.  F.     Mount  Jerome,  Harold's-cross 

1895  Garvey,  TolerR.,  J.P.     Thornvale,  Moneygall. 

1896  Gait-Gamble,  T.  E.,  D.I. ,  R.I.C.     Adare,  Co.  Limerick. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY.  23 

Elected 

1890  Geoghegan,  Michael.     P.  W.  Hotel,  Athlone. 

1891  Geoghegan,  Thomas  F.     2,  Essex-quay,  Dublin. 

1894  Geoghegan,  William  P.     Rockfield,  Blackrock. 

1890  George,  William  E.     Downside,  Stoke  Bishop,  Clifton. 

1895  Gerish,  W.  Blythe.     Ivy  Lodge,  Hoddesdon,  Herts. 

1893  Gerrard,  Rev.  William  J.     The  Rectory,  Rathangan,  Co.  Kildare. 

1897  Gibson,  Rev.  Thomas  B.,  M.A.     The  Rectory,  Ferns. 

1892  Gilfoyle,  Anthony  Thomas,  M.A.,  J.P.     Carrowcullen  House,  Skreen,  Co. 

Sligo. 

1895  Gill,  Michael  J.,  B.A.     Roebuck  House,  Clonskeagh. 

1887  Gillespie,  James,  Surgeon.     The  Diamond,  Clones. 

1890  GILLESPIE,  William,  M.R.I.A.     Racefield  House,  Kingstown. 

1898  Gilligan,  Very  Rev.  Michael,  Canon,  P.P.     Carrick- on- Shannon. 
Gleeson,  Gerald  W.  M.     Abbey  House,  Athlone. 

1894  Gleeson,  Paul.     Kilcolman,  Glenageary,  Co.  Dublin. 

1897  Gleeson,  Michael,  Crown  Solicitor.     Nenagh. 

1885  Glenny,  James  Swanzy,  J.P.     Glenville,  Ardaragh,  Newry. 

1898  Glover,  Edward,  M.  Inst.  C.E.     19,  Prince  Patrick-terrace,  N.  Circular-road, 

Dublin. 

1892  Glynn,  Patrick  J.  O'Connor.     10,  Ulverton-place,  Dalkey. 

1891  Glynn,  Thomas.     Meelick  Villa,  87,  Aden  Grove,  Clissold  Park,  London,  N. 
1897  Glynn,  William,  J.P.     Kilrush. 

1897  Godden,  George.     Phoenix  Park,  Dublin. 

1890  Goff,  Rev.  Edward,  B.A.     Kentstown  Rectory,  Navan. 

1897  Goldsmith,  Rev.  E.  J.,  M.A.     1,  De  Vesci-place,  Monkstown. 

1897  Goodman,  Peter.     44,  Rutland-square,  Dublin. 

1894  Goodwin,  Singleton,  B. A.,  M. INST. C.E.     Tralee. 

1895  Goold,  Graham  Augustus,  Solicitor.     42,  Grand  Parade,  Cork. 
1897  Gore,  John,  52,  Rutland-square,  Dublin. 

1852  Gorman,  Venerable  VVm.  Chas.,  M.A.,  Archdeacon  of  Ossory.      Rectory, 
Thomastown,  Co.  Kilkenny. 

1891  Gosselin,  Rev.  J.  H.  Prescott,  B.A.     Muff  Parsonage,  Londonderry. 

1891  Gough,  Joseph.     88,  Grosvenor- square,  Rathmines. 

1890  Grant,  Colonel  George  Fox,  J.P.     Hilton,  Mullinahone. 

1894  Gray,  Robert,  F.R. C.P.I.,  J.P.     4,  Charlemont-place,  Armagh. 

1896  GRAYDON,   Thomas  W.,  M.D.     La  Fayette  Circle,  Clifton,  Cincinnati, 

Ohio,  U.S.A. 

1897  Greaves,  Miss.     12,  Rath  gar-road,  Dublin. 

1896  Greene,  Herbert  Wilson,  M.A.     Magdalen  College,  Oxford. 

1895  Greene,  Mrs.  J.     Monte  Vista,  Ferns. 

1896  Greene,  Mrs.  T.     Millbrook,  Mageney. 

1892  Greene,  Lieut. -Col.  John  J.,  M.B.     23,  Herbert-place,  Dublin. 
1892  Greene,  Thomas,  LL.B.,  J.P.     Millbrook,  Mageney. 

1897  Greer,  Thomas  MacGregor,  Solicitor.     Ballymoney. 

1891  Grierson,  Rev.  Frederick  J.,  B.A.     St.  Bride's,  Oldcastle,  Co.  Meath. 
1885  Grubb,  J.  Ernest.     Carrick-on-Suir. 

1890  Guilbride,  Francis,  J.P.     Newtownbarry. 
1895  Guinness,  Howard  R.     Chesterfield,  Blackrock. 

1891  HADDON,  Alfred  Cort,  M.A.,  F.Z.S.     Inisfail,  Hill's-road,  Cambridge. 

1892  Hade,  Arthur,  C.E.     Carlow. 

1895  Hales,  Mrs.  A.     Belvedere,  Crystal  Palace  Park,  Sydenham,  S.E. 

1897  Hall,  Rev.  Alexander,  B.A.     Drogheda. 

1893  Hall,  Thomas.     Derrynure  House,  Baillieborough. 

1895  Hallinan,  Rev.  Denis,  D.D.,  P.P.     St.  Mary's,  Limerick. 

1896  Hamill,  Robert  H.     Bessbrooke  House,  Analore,  Clones. 

1894  Hamilton,  Mrs.  Alfred.     14,  Leeson-park,  Dublin. 

1889  Hamilton,  Everard,  B.A.    30,  South  Frederick- street,  Dublin. 

1896  Hamilton,  Rev.  John  G.,  B.A.     Dromore,  Co.  Tyrone. 

1896  Hamilton  S.,  M.B.     4,  Rhondda-road,  Ferndale,* Glamorgan. 

1889  Hanan,  Rev.  Denis,  D.D.     The  Rectory,  Tipperary. 

1891  Handy,  Rev.  Leslie  Alexander,  M.A.     Skryne  Rectory,  Tara,  Co.  Meath. 


24  MEMBEKS   OF  THE   SOCIETY. 

Elected 


1896 
1893 
1876 
1890 
1891 
1889 
1892 
1890 

1897 
1895 
1891 
1893 
1891 
1898 
1889 
1895 
1891 

1891 
1888 
1869 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1897 
1897 
1894 
1892 
1894 
1889 
1887 

1892 
1896 
1879 
1890 
1889 
1878 
1898 
1871 
1892 
1893 

1896 
1863 

1896 
1890 
1891 

1890 
1898 
1896 
1894 
1895 
1895 
1896 
1898 
1898 
1890 
1889 


Hannon,  P.  J.     Clifton  House,  Loughrea. 

Hardy,  William  J.,  LL.B.,  Barrister-at-Law,  D.I. R.I.C.     Dunfanaghy. 
Hare,  Very  Rev.  Thomas,  D.D.,  Dean  of  Ossory.     Deanery,  Kilkenny. 
Harman,  Miss  Marion.     Barrowmount,  Goresbridge. 
Harrington,  Edward.     46,  Nelson-street,  Tralee. 
Harris,  Henry  B.,  J.P.     Mill  view,  Ennis. 

Harrison,  Charles  William.     178,  Great  Brunswick-street,  Dublin. 
Hart,  Henry  Chichester,  B.A.,  M.R.I.A..  F.L.S.,  J.P.    Carrabeagh,  Port- 
salon,  Letterkenny. 

Hartigan,  P.     Castleconnell,  Limerick. 

Hartley,  Rev.  Frederic  J.,  B.A.,  B.A.I.     2,  Wellington-square,  Kilkenny. 
Harty,  Spencer,  M.  INST.  C.E.I.     City  Hall,  Dublin. 
Hastings,  Samuel.     Church- street,  Downpatrick. 
Hayes,  Rev.  Francis  Carlile,  M.A.     Rectory,  Raheny. 
Hayes,  James,  Church -street,  Ennis. 

Hayes,  Rev.  William  A.,  M.A.     2,  Carlisle-terrace,  Omagh. 
Hayes,  Thomas,  C.I.,  R.I.C.     2,  Eden-terrace,  Limerick. 
Headen,    W.    P.,    B.A.    (Lend.),    D.I.N.S.      32,    Cabra-parade,    Phibs- 

borough. 

Healy,  George,  J.P.     Glaslyn,  Clontarf. 

Healy,  Rev.  John,  LL.D.,  Canon.    St.  Columba's,  Kells,  Co.  Meath. 
Healy,  Rev.  William,  P.P.     Johnstown,  Co.  Kilkenny. 
Healy,  William,  J.P.     Donard  View,  Downpatrick. 
Hearne,  J.  B.     Chilcomb,  New  Ross. 

HEMPHILI,  Rev.  Samuel,  D.D.,  M.R.I. A.     Birr  Rectory,  Parsonstown. 
Henderson,  William  A.     Belclare,  Leinster-road,  West,  Dublin. 
Hennessy,  Bryan.     21,  South-street,  New  Ross. 
Henry,  James,  M.D.     Swanpark,  Monaghan. 

Heron,  James,  B.E.,  J.P.     Tullyvery  House,  Killyleagh,  Co.  Down. 
Heron,  James  Mathers,  M.D.     Downpatrick. 

Hewat,  S.  M.  F.,  M.A.  (Cantab).     Abbeylands,  Ballybrack,  Co.  Dubim. 
Hewson,   Rev.  Edward   F.,    B.A.,    Canon.      Rectory,  Gowran,    Co.  Kil- 
kenny. 

Hibbert,  Robert  Fiennes,  J.P.     Woodpark,  Scariff. 
Hickey,  Garrett  A.,  M.D.     Priory-place,  New  Ross. 
Hickson,  Miss.     Mitchelstown. 
Higgins,  Rev.  Michael,  Adm.     (iueenstown. 
Higinbotham,  Granby.     46,  Wellington  Park,  Belfast. 
Hill,  William  II.,  B.E.,  F.R.I.B.A.     Audley  House,  Cork. 
Hillyard,  Rev.  Henry  J.,  B.A.     Charleville,  Co.  Cork. 
Hinch,  William  A.    *77,  Long  Acre,  London,  W.C. 
Hitchins,  Henry.     2,  Crosthwaite  Park,  S.,  Kingsto\vn. 
Hoare,  Most  Rev.  Joseph,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Ardagh  and  Clonmacnois.     St. 

Mel's,  Longford. 

Hobson,  C.  J.     139,  141,  West  125th-street,  New  York,  U.S.A. 
Hodges,    Professor    John  F.,  M.D.,  F.C.S.,  F.I.C.,  J.P.     Sandringham, 

Malone-road,  Belfast. 

Hodges,  Rev.  John  G.     Tesaran  Rectory,  Banagher. 
Hodgson,  Rev.  William,  M.A.     32,  Holford-square,  London,  W.C. 
Hogan,    Rev.  Henry,  B.D.,  Canon.     All  Saints'  Vicarage,  Phibsborough- 

road,  Dublin. 

Hogg,  Jonathan,  D.L.     12,  Cope-street,  Dublin. 
Hogg,  Miss.     Craigmore,  Blackrock,  Co.  Dublin. 
Hogg,  Thomas  P.     Craigmore,  Blackrock,  Co.  Dublin. 
Hoguet,  Mrs.  Henry  L.     48,  West  28th  Street,  New  York,  U.S.A. 
Holding,  T.  H.     7,  Maddox-street,  London,  W. 
Holland,  Joseph.     Holland  House,  Knock,  Co.  Down. 
Holmes,  George,  C.I.,  R.I.C.     Cromwell's  Fort,  Wexford. 
Holmes,  John.     38,  Haddington-road,  Dublin. 
Holmes,  Mrs.     38,  Haddington-road,  Dublin. 
Hopkins,  Rev.  John  W.,  B.A.     Agherin  Vicarage,  Gonna. 
Horan,  John,  M.E.,  M.  INST.  C.E.,  County  Surveyor.     8,  Victoria-terrace, 
Limerick. 


MEMBERS    Of   THE   SOCIETY. 


25 


Elected 

1893  Hore,  Philip  Herbert,  M.R.I. A.     Imperial  Institute,  London,  S.W. 

1896  Houston,  Rev.  J.  D.  Craig,  B.D.     Hydepark  Manse,  Belfast. 

1895  Huband,  Rev.  Hugo  R.,  M.A.  (Cantab.).     Killiskey  Rectory,  Asbford,  Co. 
Wicklow. 

1888  Hudson,  Robert,  M.D.     Bridge  House,  Dingle. 
1887  Huggard,  Stephen.     Clonmore,  Tralee. 

1895  Hughes,  Benjamin.     Independent  Office,  Wexford. 

1895  Hughes,  Miss  Helen.     185,  Rathgar-roa.l,  Dublin. 

1893  Hughes,  Rev.  John.     St.  Augustine's,  Coatbridge,  N.B. 

1895  Humphreys,  Rev.  John,  B.A.     The  Manse,  Tullamore. 

1889  Hunt,  Edmund  Langley.     67,  Pembroke-road,  Dublin  ;  and  64,  George-st., 

Limerick. 

1890  Hunter,  Thomas.     Post  Office,  Glenarm. 

1890  Hurley,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.     Inchigeela,  Co.  Cork. 

1898  Hurst,  Rev.  John,  C.C.     Ballaghadereen. 

1898  Hutchings,  Rev.  Henry,  M.A.     Fairy  Villa,  Sandymount-avenue. 

1858  Hyde,  Henry  Barry,  F.S.S.     5,  Eaton  Rise,  Baling,  London,  W. 


1896          Ireland,  William.     44,  Arthur-street,  Belfast. 

1893          Irvine,  Charles  E.  R.  A.     Lisgoole  Abbey,  Enniskillen. 

Irvine,  Captain  William  Henry  (late  The  Buffs),  Vallombrosa,  Bray. 
1893          Irwin,  Rev.  Alexander,  M.A.     6,  Cathedral -terrace,  Armagh. 
1891          Isaac,  Very  Rev.  Abraham,  B.A.,  Dean  of  Ardfert.     Kilgobbin  Rectory 
Camp,  R.S.O.,  Co.  Kerry. 


1890          Jackman,  Richard  H.     Alverno,  Thurles. 
1896          Jackson,  J.  F.  S.     1,  Royal -terrace,  Fairview. 
1874         James,  Charles  Edward,  M.B.     Butler  House,  Kilkenny. 
1893          Jameson,  Yen.  Archdeacon,  M.A.     Killeshin  Parsonage,  Carlow. 
1890         Jeffares,  Rev.  Danby,  M.A.     Lusk,  Co.  Dublin. 

1893         Jellett,  Very  Rev.  Henry,  D.D.,  Dean  of  St.  Patrick's.      The   Deanery, 
St.  Patrick's,  Dublin. 

1893  Jellie,  Rev.  William,  B.A.     44,  Burlington-road,  Ipswich. 
1889          Jennings,  Ignatius  R.  B.,  C.I.R.I.C.     Ballytruckle,  Waterford. 
1895          Jephson-Norreys,  Mrs.  Atherton.     The  Castle,  Mallow. 

1889          Johnston,  James  W.,  J.P.     Newtownbutler. 

1892          Johnston,  John  W.     Rossmore  Agency  Office,  Monaghan. 

1894  Jones,  Bryan  John.     1st  Leinster  Regiment,  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia. 

1895  Jones,   Rev.    David,     M.A.,    Canon    of    Bangor    Cathedral.       Llandegai, 

N.   Wales. 
1892         Jordan,    Rev.   William,    M.A.       St.    Augustine's    Moreland,  Melbourne, 

Australia. 
1865         Joyce,  Patrick  Weston,  LL.D.,  M.R.I. A.     Lyre-na-Grena,  Leinster-roa»J, 

Rathmines. 


1896  Kavanagh,  Very  Rev.  Michael,  D.D.,  P.P.,  V.F.     New  Ross. 
1891  Keane,  Lady.     Cappoquin  House,  Cappoquin. 

1891  Keane,  Miss  Frances.     Glenshelane,  Cappoquin. 

1893  Keane,  Marcus,  J.P.     Beech  Park,  Ennis. 

1895  Keatinge,  Rev.  P.  A.,  O.S.F.     Franciscan  Convent,  Waterford. 

1898  Keelan,  Patrick.     13,  Greville-street,  Mullingar. 

1889  Keene,  Charles  Haines,  M.A.     19,  Stephen's -green,  and  University  Club, 

Dublin. 

1889  Keene,  Most  Rev.  James  Bennett,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Meath.     Navan. 

1897  Keith,  James,  Inspector  of  Schools.     The  Mall,  Westport. 
1888  Kelly,  Edmund  Walshe.     Summerhill,  Tramore. 

1891  Kelly,  Francis  James,  J.P.     Weston,  Duleek. 


26  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Elected 


1885 
1890 
1896 
1898 
1891 

1891 
1893 
1891 
1898 
1891 
1895 
1893 

1896 
1894 
1891 
1889 
1898 

1897 
1897 
1895 
1865 

1890 

1890 
1895 
1885 
1896 
1895 


1895 
1890 
1889 
1890 

1897 
1895 
1891 

1891 
1890 
1893 
1895 
1889 
1891 

1894 
1892 

1890 
1892 
1891 
1897 
1895 


Kelly,  Ignatius  S.     Provincial  Bank  House,  Cork. 

Kelly,  Very  Rev.  James  J.,  P.P.,  V.F.     St.  Peter's,  Athlone. 

Kelly,  Rev.  John,  C.C.     Dalkey. 

Kelly,  Dr.  Joseph  Dillon,  J.P.     31,  Earl- street,  Mullingar. 

Kelly,  Richard  J.,  Barrister-at-Law,  J.P.  21,  Great  Charles- street, 
Dublin. 

Kelly,  Thomas  Aliaga.     64,  Upper  Leeson-street,  Dublin. 

Kennan,  Williams  R.     Villa  Fragonard,  Arcachon,  France. 

Kennedy,  John.     Ardbana  House,  Coleraine. 

Kennedy,  Rev.  Thomas  Waring.     Ardamine  Glebe,  Gorey. 

Kenny,  Patrick.     Grace  Dieu,  Clontarf . 

Kenny,  Thomas  Hugh.     55,  George-street,  Limerick. 

Kenny,  William  F.,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.  69,  Fitzwilliam- square, 
Dublin. 

Kermode,  P.  M.  C.,  F.S.A.  (Scot.).     Hillside,  Ramsey,  Isle  of  Man. 

Kernan,  George.     Hamilton,  Ailesbury-road,  Dublin. 

Kernan,  Rev.  Richard  Arthurs,  B.D.,  Canon.     The  Rectory,  Hillsborough. 

Kerr,  Rev.  Wm.  John  B.    70,  Wharf-road,  Grantham,  Lincolnshire. 

Kerrigan,  Dr.  Owen  P.  35,  Greville- street,  Mullingar ;  and  Castletown 
Geoghegan,  Co.  Westmeath. 

Kiernan,  Mrs.     Leitrim  Lodge,  Dalkey. 

Kiernan,  Thomas.     Leitrim  Lodge,  Dalkey. 

Killeen,  John  W.,  Solicitor.     32,  Waterloo-road,  Dublin. 

KIMBERLEY,  Rt.  Hon.  the  Earl  of,  K.G.  Kimberley  House,  Wymond- 
ham,  Norfolk. 

King,  Lucas  White,  LL.D.,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  C.S.I.  7,  Cambridge- 
terrace,  Leeson-park,  Dublin. 

King-Edwards,  William,  J.P.     Dartans  House,  Castlederg. 

Kinnear,  Ernest  A.     Ballyheigue  Castle,  Co.  Kerry. 

Kirkpatrick,  Robert.     1,  Queen' s-square,  Strathbungo,  Glasgow. 

Kirker,  Gilbert,  M.D.,  c/o  S.  K.  Kirker.     Board  of  Works,  Belfast. 

Knox,  Miss  K.     Ennis,  Co.  Clare. 


Laffan,  P.  M.,  L.R.C.P.I.     Belper  Hill,  Tara,  Co.  Meath. 

Laffan,  Thomas,  M.D.     Cashel. 

Lalor,  M.  W.     Kilkenny. 

Langan,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.D.     St.  Mary's,  Athlone. 

Langrishe,  Mrs.      Knocktopher  Abbey,  Co.  Kilkenny. 

Latimer,  John.     11,  Denny-street,  Tralee. 

Lawlor,  Rev.  Hugh  Jackson,  M.A.,  D.D.  50,  Palmerston-place,  Edin- 
burgh. 

Lawson,  Thomas  Dillon.     Bank  of  Ireland,  Galway. 

Lecky,  Rev.  Alexander  Gourley,  B.A.     Feddyglass,  Rapboe. 

Ledger,  Rev.  William  Cripps,  M.A.     The  Rectory,  Lisnaskea. 

Ledger,  Z.  J.     27,  George -street,  Limerick. 

Lee,  Rev.  Timothy,  C.C.     St.  John's,  Limerick. 

Leech,  Henry  Brougham,  LL.D.,  Regius  Professor  of  Laws,  Dublin.  Yew 
Park,  Castle- avenue,  Clontarf. 

Leeson-Marshall,  M.  R.,  Barrister-at-Law.  6,  King's  Bench  Walk,  Temple, 
London,  E.G. 

LeFanu,  Thomas  Philip,  B.A.  (Cantab.).  Chief  Secretary's  Office,  Dublin 
Castle. 

Leonard,  John.     Lisahally,  Londonderry. 

Leonard,  Mrs.  T.     Warrenstown,  Dunsany,  Co.  Meath. 

Lepper,  Francis  Robert,  Director,  Ulster  Banking  Co.,  Belfast. 

L'Estrange,  Rev.  A.  G.     Conna,  Co.  Cork. 

Lett,  B.  A.  W.,  J.P.     Ballyvergan,  Adamstown,  Co.  Wexford. 


1880     I     Lett.    Rev.    Henry   Wm.,  "M.A.,    M.R.I. A.       Aghaderg   Glebe,    Lough- 
brickland. 

1883  I     Lewis,  Professor  Bunnell,  M.A.,  F.S.A.     Queen's  College,  Cork. 

1884  !     Lewis,  Thomas  White,  M.D.     Kingscliffe,  Wansford,  Northamptonshire. 


MEMBERS    OF   THE    SOCIETY. 


27 


Elected 

1868 

1869 

1891 

1891 

1890 

1890 

1890 

1868 
1888 
1897 
1894 

1882 

1874 

1869 
1890 

1892 

1892 
1891 
1896 
1892 
1896 
1891 

1896 
1889 
1885 
1894 
1891 
1898 
1888 

1893 
1893 
1887 
1863 
1891 
1896 

1896 
1889 
1898 
1896 
1897 
1868 

1894 
1896 
1893 
1893 
1888 
1891 
1894 


Librarian.     Public  Library,  Armagh. 

Librarian.     Belfast  Library,  Linen  Hall,  Belfast. 

Librarian.     Belfast  Free  Public  Library,  Belfast. 

Librarian.     Free  Public  Library,  Liverpool. 

Librarian.     Public  Library,  Boston,  U.  S. 

Librarian.       Detroit  Public  Library,  Michigan,  U.  S.,  per'B.  F.  Stevens,. 

4,  Trafalgar-square,  London. 
Librarian.    Astor  Library,  New  York,  U.S.,  per  B.  F.  Stevens,  4,  Trafalgar- 

square,  London. 

Librarian.     King's  Inns  Library,  Henrietta-street,  Dublin. 
Librarian.     Library  of  Advocates,  Edinburgh. 
Librarian,  Limerick  Institution.     99,  George-street,  Limerick. 
Librarian,  Limerick  Protestant  Young  Men's  Association.    97,  George-street, 

Limerick. 
Librarian.     Public   Library,   Melbourne,  per  Agent-General   for   Victoria. 

15,  Victoria-street,  Westminster,  S.W. 
Librarian.     Queen's  College,  Belfast. 
Librarian.     Queen's  College,  Cork. 
Librarian.     Queen's  College,  Galway. 
Librarian.     Berlin  Royal  Library,  per  Messrs.  Asher  &  Co.,  13,  Bedford-st.,. 

Covent  Garden,  London. 

Librarian.     Science  and  Art  Department,  London,  S.W. 
Lindesay,  Rev.  William  O'Neill,  M.A.     Baronscourt  Rectory,  Newtown- 

stewart. 
Lindsay,  Dr.  David  Moore,  L.R.  C.P.I.,  &c.     373,  Main-street,  Salt  Lake 

City,  Utah,  U.S.A. 

Lindsay,  James  A.,  M.D.,  M.Ch.     37,  Victoria-place,  Belfast. 
Lindsay,  Rev.  John  Woodley,  D.D.     Athnowen  Rectory,  Ovens,  Co.  Cork. 
Lindsay,  Rev.  Samuel,  B.A.     Prospect  House,  Dungatmon. 
Lipscomb,  W.  H.     Church-road,  Malahide. 

Little,  Philip  Francis.      6,  New  Brighton,  Monkstown,  Co.  Dublin. 
Livingstone,  Rev.  Robert  George,  M.A.     Brinkworth  Rectory,  Chippenhamr 

Wilts. 

Lloyd,  Mrs.     Bloomfield,  Mullingar. 
Lloyd,  William.     1,  Pery-square,  Limerick. 
Lockwood,  F.  W.,  C.E.,  Architect.     16,  Waring-  street,  Belfast. 
Long,  Mrs.     16,  Appian-way,  Dublin. 
Longfield,  Mrs.  R.     Curraglass  Rectory,  Tallow,  Co.  Cork. 
Longfield,  Robert  0.     19,  Harcourt-street,  Dublin. 
Longfield,  Thomas  H.,  F.S.A.,  M.R.I.  A.    Science  and  Art  Museum,  Leinster 

House,  Dublin. 

Longford,  Right  Hon.  the  Countess  of.     Pakenham  Hall,  Castlepollard. 
Lopdell,  John.     Stamer  Park,  Ennis. 
Lough,  Thomas,  M.P.     29,  Hyde  Park  Gate,  London,  W. 
Loughnan,  Henry  James,  Barrister-at-Law.     39,  Belvidere-place,  Dublin. 
Love,  Hugh  Thomas.     Charleville-square,  Tullamore. 
Lovegrove,  E.  W.,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.     Trent  College,  Long  Eaton,  Derby- 

shire. 

Lowe,  William  Ross  Lewin.     Middlewych,  St.  Alban's,  Herts. 
Lowndes,  Thomas  F.,  D.I.R.I.C.     Woodford,  Co.  Galway. 
Lowry,  Henry.     71,  Great  George's-  street,  Belfast. 
Lowry,  S.  C.  W.,  Manager,  Ulster  Bank,  Downpatrick. 
Lucas,  Rev.  Frederick  John,  D.D.     5,  Breffni-terrace,  Kingstown. 
Lunham,   Colonel    Thomas    Ainslie,   M.A.,   M.R.I.A.,   J.P.      Ardfallen, 

Douglas,  Cork. 

Lyle,  Rev.  Thomas,  M.A.     89,  St.  Laurence-road,  Clontarf. 
Lynam,  F.  J.,  County  Surveyor.     Omagh. 
LYNCH,  J.  J.     Towanda,  Pa.,  U.S.A. 
Lynch,  Patrick.     Inland  Revenue  Office,  Athy. 
Lynch,  Rev.  Patrick.     St.  Wilfrid's,  Hulme,  Manchester. 
Lyster,  Rev.  H.  Cameron,  B.D.     Rectory,  Enniscorthy. 
Lyster,  Thomas  W.,  M.A.     10,  Harcourt-terrace,  Dublin. 


#0  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Elected 
1895 
1868 
1890 


1892 
1894 
1893 
1891 
1891 
1891 
1892 
1896 
1892 
1894 
1890 
1894 
1892 

1894 
1852 
1891 
1891 
1895 
1892 
1887 
1894 
1892 
1894 
1893 
1897 
1897 
1888 
1893 
1898 
1892 
1891 
1891 
1890 

1895 
1895 
1897 
1897 
1891 
1892 
1898 
1884 
1896 
1887 
1897 
1893 
1895 
1892 
1890 
1893 

1890 

1890 
1892 

1891 
1896 


Macalister,  R.  Alexander  Stewart,  M.A.     Torrisdale,  Cambridge, 

Macaulay,  John,  J.P.,  D.L.     Red  Hall,  Ballycary,  Belfast. 

Macauley,    Joseph,   J.P.,    Solicitor,      Donegall   Chambers,    Royal-avenue, 

Belfast. 

Mac  Cartan,  Very  Rev.  Owen,  P.P.,  V.G.     Lame. 
Mac  Dermott,  Miss  Margaret,  B.A.     College  Buildings,  Dungannon. 
Mac  Donnell,  Charles  R.  A.,  J.P.,  D.L.     New  Hall,  Ennis. 
Mac  Gillycuddy,  Daniel  de  Courcy,  Solicitor.     Day-place,  Tralee. 
Mac  Gillycuddy,  John,  J.P.     Aghadoe  House,  Killarney. 
Mack,  Rev.  A.  William  Bradshaw,  B.A.     St.  Finian's,  Swords. 
Mackenzie,  John,  C.E.     7,  Donegall-square,  E.,  Belfast. 
MacLaughlin,  Daniel,  Solicitor.     Coleraine. 
MacMahon-Creagh,  Mrs.     Dangan,  Kilkishen,  Co.  Clare. 
Macmillan,  Rev.  John,  M.A.     76,  South  Parade,  Belfast. 
Mac  Mullan,  Very  Rev.  Alexander,  P.P.,  V.G.     Ballymena. 
Macnamara,  George  Unthank,  L.R. C.S.I.     Bankyle  House,  Corofin. 
MacNeill,  John  Gordon  Swift,  M.A.  (Oxon.),  Q.C.,  M.P.     14,  Blackhall- 

street,  Dublin. 

Maconachie,  Rev.  James  H.,  B.A.     Erindale,  Clif ton ville- avenue,  Belfast. 
Macray,  Rev.  Wm.  Dunn,  M.A.,  F.S.A.     Ducklington,  "Witney,  Oxon. 
Mac  Sheehy,  Brian,  LL.D.     35,  Gardiner 's-place,  Dublin. 
Mac  William,  Rev.  John  W.  A.     Glenavy  via.  Lurgan. 
M'Aleer,  H.  K.     Annalong,  Co.  Down. 

M'Alister,  James,  B.A.,  D.I.N.S.     Scoby  House,  Enniscorthy. 
M' Arthur,  Alexander,  J.P.     Knox's- street,  Sligo. 
M'Bride,  Francis,  J.P.     39,  Grovesnor-square,  Rathmines. 
M'Bride,  John.     Granville  House,  Belfast. 
M'Bride,  Joseph  M.'    Harbour  Office,  Westport. 
M'Burney,  James.     Loughconnolly,  N.S.,  Broughshane. 
M'Call,  Patrick  J.,  T.C.     25,  Patrick -street,  Dublin. 
M'Cann,  David.     National  Bank,  Kilkenny. 

M'Carte,  James.     51,  St.  George's  Hill,  Everton,  Liverpool. 

M'Carthy,  Alexander,  Solicitor.     Town  Clerk,  Cork. 

M'Carthy,  Charles.     41,  Paul-street,  Cork. 

M'Carthy,  Samuel  Trant,  J.P.     Srugrena,  Cahirciveen. 

M'Carthy,  William  P.  Trant,  Solicitor.     Inch  House,  Killarney. 

M'Clelland,  William  John,  M.A.     Santry  School,  Portarlington. 

M'Clintock,    Rev.   Francis  G.  Le  Poer,   M.A.  (Cantab.),  Canon.     Drurncar 
Rectory,  Dunleer. 

M'Comiskey,  Arthur  W.  S.,  M.B.     Killough,  Co.  Down. 

M'Connell,  James.     Annadale  Hall,  Belfast. 

M'Connell,  James.     48,  Lower  Sackville-street,  Dublin. 

M'Cormick,  William,  M.A.     Ardnaree,  Monkstown,  Co.  Dublin. 

M'Cormick,  H.  M'Neile.     Oranmore,  Craigavad,  Belfast. 

M'Creery,  Alexander  John.     Jonn-street,  Kilkenny. 

M'Crum,  Miss  Harriette.     Milford,  Armagh. 

M'Crum,  Robert  G.,  J.P.     Milford,  Armagh. 

M'Cully,  Rev.  William  J.,  B.A.     The  Manse,  Carlingford. 

M'Cutchan,  Rev.  George,  M.A.     Rectory,  Kenmare. 

M'Donnell,  Mrs.     68,  Rathgar-road,  Dublin. 

M'Donnell,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.     Graignainanagh,  Co.  Kilkenny. 

M'Elhaiton,  Rev.  John,  C.C.     Strabane. 

M'Enery,  D.  T.,  M.A.,  D.I.N.S.     The  Terrace,  Ennis. 

M'Enery,  M.  J.,  B.A.     Public  Record  Office,  Dublin. 

M'Entire,  Alexander  Knox,  Barrister-at-Law.,  J.P.     75,  Merrion- square, 
Dublin. 

M'Fadden,   Right  Rev.  Monsignor  Hugh,  P.P.,  V.G.      Parochial   House, 
Donegal. 

M'Farlane,  James,  J.P.     Strabane. 

M'Gee,    Rev.    Samuel    Russell,     M.A.      The    Rectory,    Dunlavin,    Co. 
Wicklow. 

M'Gee,  William,  J.P.     18,  Nassau-street,  Dublin. 

M'Glone,  Rev.  Michael,  P.P.     Rosslea,  Clones. 


Elected 

1893 

1891 

1894 

1898 

1892 

1893 

1895 

1882 
1890 
1894 
1898 
1890 
1897 
1890 
1890 
1891 
1891 

1895 

1898 
1898 
1894 

1891 
1898 
1896 
1892 
1890 

1890 
1890 

1891 


1898 
1887 
1895 
1862 
1895 
1891 
1889 
1889 

1891 
1895 
1898 

1894 
1887 
1879 
1898 
1892 
1889 

1891 
1893 
1893 

1891 
1865 
1893 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    SOCIETY.  20 

M'llwaine,  Eobert.     Grand  Jury  Secretary's  Office,  Downpatrick. 

M'Inerney,  Rev.  John,  P.P.     Shinrone,  King's  Co. 

M'Intosh,  Robert.     Drogheda  Brewery,  Drogheda. 

M'Kean,  Rev.  "William.     The  Manse,  Strandtown,  Belfast. 

M'Kee,  Robert,  M.A.     Harlesden  College,  Willesden,  London,  N.W. 

M'Keefry,  Rev.  Joseph,  C.C.,  M.R.I. A.     Waterside,  Deny. 

M'Kenna,    Rev.   James   E.,    C.C.,   M.R.I.A.      St.  Michael's  Presbytery, 

Enniskillen. 

M'Kenna,  Very  Rev.  James,  P.P.,  Canon.    Osier  Hill,  Brookeborough. 
M 'Knight,  John  P.     Nevara,  Chichester  Park,  Belfast. 
M'Larney,  Rev.  Robert,  B.A.,  Canon.     Banagher,  King's  Co. 
M'Laughlin,  Edward  C.     Cart  Hall,  Coleraine. 

M'Manus,  Very  Rev.  Canon,  P.P.     St.  Catherine's,  Meath -street,  Dublin 
M'Nally,  Charles  F.,  J.P.     Grange,  Tullow,  Co.  Carlow. 
M'Neill,  Charles.     Hazelbrook,  Malahide. 
M'Neill,  Jobn.     Chancery  Accounting  Office,  Dublin. 
M'Nulty,  Robert.     Raphoe. 
M'Quaid,  Lieut-Colonel  P.  J.,  M.D.,  M.Ch.     41,  Granada-road,  Southsear 

Hants. 
M'Redmond,  Most  Rev.  Thomas  J.,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Killaloe.     Bishop's- 

House,  Ashline,  Ennis. 

M'Watters,  Morgan  J.  Bank  of  Ireland,  Omagh. 
M< William,  William.  Corlatt  House,  Monaghan. 
Madden,  Right  Rev.  James,  P.P.,  V.G.  St.  Lawrence,  Tynagh,  Co. 

Galway. 

Maffett,  William  Hamilton,  Barrister-at-Law.     St.  Helena,  Finglas. 
Magill,  Charles.     15A,  Donegall-place,  Belfast. 
Magrath,  Redmond.     53,  Clanbrassil- street,  Dundalk. 
Mahon,  George  Arthur,  LL.B.     Local  Government  Board,  Dublin. 
Mahon,    Thomas   George  Stacpoole,  B.A.  (Oxon.),  J.P.,    D.L.     Corbally,. 

Quin,  Co.  Clare. 

Mahony,  Bernard  P.  J.,  M.R.C.V.S.     Annefield,  Maryborough. 
Mahony,    Daniel,    M.A.,    Barrister-at-Law.      8,    Mount-street,    Crescent 

Dublin. 
Mahony,    Denis  M'Carthy,    B.A.,    Barrister-at-Law.      1,   Herbert -street. 

Dublin. 

Mahony,  Rev.  Henry.     55,  Belgrave-square,  Dublin. 
Mahony,  J.  J.     Fort  Villas,  Queenstown. 
Mahony,  Thomas  Henry.     Clonard,  Blackrock-road,  Cork. 
Malcomson,  John.     47,  Pembroke-road,  Dublin. 
Manders,  Miss  H.  G.     17,  Waterloo-road,  Dublin. 
Mangan,  Richard.     5,  Brighton  Villas,  Western-road,  Cork. 
Manning,  Rev.  James,  P.P.     Roundwood,  Co.  Wicklow. 
Mannion,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.,  Canon.     The  Presbytery,  Elphin,  Co.    Ros- 

common. 

Mara,  Bernard  S.     Tullamore,  King's  County. 

March,  Henry  Colley,  M.D.  (Lond).,  F.S.A.     Portesham,  Dorchester. 
Martin,  Rev.  Richard  D'Olier,  M.A.      All  Saints  Vicarage,  via   Water- 

ford. 

Martin,  R.  T.     Rosemount,  Artane. 
Mason,  Thomas.     5,  Dame-street,  Dublin. 

Matthews,  George.      Hollymount,  Maguire's-bridge,  Co.  Fermanagh. 
Matthews,  George  E.     49,  Upper  Sackville- street,  Dublin. 
Maturin,  Rev.  Albert  Henry,  M.A.     The  Rectory,  Maghera,  Co.  Deny. 
Maunsell,   William  Pryce,    B.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     5,   Martello- terrace, 

Kingstown. 

Mayne,  Thomas,  F.R.G.S.I.     9,  Lord  Edward-street,  Dublin. 
Mayo,  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of,  J.P.,  D.L.     Palmerstown  House,  Straffan. 
Meade,  Right  Rev.  William  Edward,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Cork,  Cloyne,  and 

Ross.     The  Palace,  Cork. 

Meagher,  Jeremiah  J.  116,  Lower  Baggot-street,  Dublin. 
Meagher,  Very  Rev.  William,  P.P.,  Canon.  Templemore. 
Meegan,  Right  Rev.  Monsignor  Peter,  P.P.  Lisnaskea. 


30  MEMBERS   OF    THE   SOCIETY. 

Elected 


1897 
1892 
1885 
1889 
1890 
1891 

1891 
1891 
1898 
1891 
1897 
1896 
1897 
1893 
1892 
1895 
1892 
1894 
1897 
1887 
1889 

1893 
1892 
1885 
1889 
1889 
1889 
1884 
1889 
1889 
1872 
1889 

1891 
1889 
1889 
1897 
1890 
1890 
1892 

1889 
1894 
1890 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1889 
1897 
1895 
1895 
1897 
1889 


1889 
1895 
1897 
1896 
1892 


Meehan,  Rev.  Joseph,  C.C.     Belhavel,  Dromahuire. 

Meehan,  Patrick  A.     Maryborough. 

Melville,  Alexander  G-.,  M.D.     Knockane  House,  Portlaw. 

Middleton,  Shireff.     11,  Lower  Doininick-street,  Dublin. 

Micks,  William  L.,  M.A.     Local  Government  Board,  Dublin. 

MILLNEE,   Capt.    Joshua    Kearney.      4,    Cross-avenue,    Blackrock,    Go. 

Dublin. 

Mitchell,  William  M.,  R.H.A.,  F.R.I.A.I.     5,  Lemster- street,  Dublin. 
Moffatt,  Rev.  John  E.,  M.D.     1,  Palmerston  Villas,  Rathmines. 
Moloney,  M.  T.     Ottawa,  Illinois,  U.S.A. 
Molony,  Alfred.     24,  Grey  Coat  Gardens,  Westminster,  S.W. 
Molony,  Henry  G.,  M.D.     Odelville,  Ballingarry,  Limerick. 
Molony,  James  Barry.     Bindon- street,  Ennis. 
Monahan,  Rev.  Daniel,  P.P.     Tubber,  Moate,  Co.  Westmeath. 
Monks,  Thomas  F.,  LL.D.,  Solicitor.     16,  Bachelor's- walk,  Dublin. 
Montgomery,  Archibald  Y.,  Solicitor.     12,  Molesworth-street,  Dublin. 
Montgomery,  James.     5,  Carlisle-road,  Londonderry. 
Montgomery,  John  Wilson,  Downpatrick. 
Mooney,  Morgan.     118,  Pembroke -road,  Dublin. 
Moony,  George  M.  S.  Enraght,  J.P.     The  Doon,  Athlone. 
Moore,  Rev.  Courtenay,  M.A.,  Canon.     Rectory,  Mitchelstown. 
Moore,  Rev.   H.   Kingsmill,   M.A.,  Principal,   Training  College,   Kildare- 

street,  Dublin. 

Moore,  Hugh  Stuart,  M.A.     7,  Fitzwilliam- square,  Dublin. 
Moore,  John  Gibson,  J.P.     Llandaff  Hall,  Merrion. 
Moore,  Joseph  H.,  M.A.,  M.  INST.  C.E.I.      63,  Eccles-street,  Dublin. 
Moore,  William,  Castle  Mahon,  Blackrock,  Co.  Cork. 
Morgan,  Arthur  P.,  B.A.  (Dubl.),  D.I.N.S.     Trevennen,  Tipperary. 
Morgan,  Very  Rev.  John,  D.D.,    The  Deanery,  Waterford. 
Morris,  Rev.  Wm.  Bullen.      The  Oratory,  South  Kensington,  London,  S.W. 
Morrison,  Alexander  Kerr.     Maghera,  Co.  Derry. 
Morton,  John.     Manager,  Provincial  Bank,  Limerick. 
Mulholland,  Miss  M.F.     Eglantine,  Hillsborough. 
Mullan,  Rev.  David,  M.A.    Christian  Union  Buildings,  Lower  Abbey-street, 

Dublin. 

Mullan,  Robert  A.,  B.A.     Cairn-hill,  Newry. 

Mullen,  Frank.     44  Room,  Custom  House,  Thames-street,  London. 
Mullin,  Charles,  Solicitor.    Omagh. 

Mulqueen,  John  T.,  Inspector  of  Inland  Revenue.     Nairn,  N.B. 
Murdock,  James,  Belfast. 

Murphy,  Rev.  Arthur  William,  P.P.     Kilemlagh,  Cahirciveen. 
Murphy,  Rev.  James  E.  H.,  M.A.,  M.R.I.A.,  Professor  of  Irish,  Dublin 

University,  Rathcore  Rectory,  Enfield,  Co.  Meath. 
Murphy,  Very  Rev.  Jeremiah,  D.D.,  P.P.     Macroom. 
Murphy,  Henry.     Diamond,  Clones. 
Murphy,  John  J.     Belvedere,  Tramore,  Co.  Waterford. 
Murphy,  John  J.,  H.M.  Customs.     Culgreine,  Ballintemple,  Cork. 
Murphy,  M.  L.     Ballyboy,  Ferns. 
Murphy,  Miss.     77,  Ulverton-road,  Dalkey. 
Murray,  Archibald.     Portland,  Limerick. 

Murray,  J.  W.  Brady,  LL.B.,  J.P.     Northampton  House,  Kinvara. 
Murtagh,  Mrs.     9,  Raglan-road,  Dublin. 
Murtagh,  Miss.     9,  Raglan-road,  Dublin. 

Musgrave,  Sir  James,  Bart.,  J.P.,  D.L.     Druin^lass  House,  Belfast. 
Myles,  Rev.  Edward  A.,  M.A.     Tullylish  Rectory,  Gilford,  Co.  Down. 


Nash,  Lieut. -Colonel  Edward,  J.P.     56,  Sloane-street,  London,  S.W. 
Nash,  Richard  G.,  J.P.     Finnstown  House,  Lucan. 
Nason,  William  H.,  M.A.     42,  D a wson- street,  Dublin. 
Neeson,  Rev.  Arthur  J.,  C.C.     Killyleagh,  Co.  Down. 
Neill,  Shannan  D.     12,  Donegall-place,  Belfast. 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    SOCIETY.  31 

Elected) 

1891  Neligan,  Major  William  John,  J.P.     Churchill,  Tralee. 

1890  Nelis,  John.     Londonderry. 

1891  Newell,  P.,  B.A.,  D.I.N.S.     Swinford. 

1896         Nicolls,  Rev.  George  A.,  B.A.     The  Rectory,  Ballycumber,  King's  Co. 

1893  Nixon,  James  H.  P.,  F.R.G.S.,  J.P.     Mount  Brandon,  Graignamanagh. 

1889  Nolan,  Michael  J.,  M.D.    Down  District  Asylum,  Downpatrick. 

1890  Nolan,    Pierce    L.,    B.A.,    Barrister-at-Law.      6,    St.    Stephen's-green, 

Dublin. 

1896         Nolan,  "William  R.,  B.A.     Brookville,  Simmonscourt- avenue,  Donnybrook. 
1898          Nooney,  Patrick  J.,  Solicitor.     Mullingar. 
1898          Nooney,  Thomas  F.,  J.P.     Earl-street,  Mullingar. 

1894  Norman,  Alfred,  LL.D.,  Solicitor.     68,  Dame-street,  Dublin. 

1891  Norman,  Conolly,  F.R.C.P.I.     Richmond  Asylum,  Dublin. 

1896         Nowlan,  Rev.  J.  A.,  O.S.A.     St.  John's  Augustinian  Priory,   St.  John- 
street,  West,  Dublin. 


1898  O'Brien,  Daniel.     West  Park,  Glasnevin. 

1893  O'Brien,  James  J.     1,  Charlemont-terrace,  Cork. 

1889  O'Brien,  Rev.  Lucius  H.,  M.A.    The  Rectory,  Adare,  Co.  Limerick. 
1871  O'Brien,  Robert  Vere,  B.A.  (Oxon.),  J.P.     Ballyalla,  Ennis. 

1896  O'Byrne,  Count  Edward  A.     Corville,  Roscrea. 

1890  O'Callaghan,  Mrs.     Maryfort,  O'Callaghan's  Mills,  Limerick. 

1894  O'CaUaghan,  Rev.  Joseph.     59,  Eccles-street,  Dublin. 

1890  O'Callaghan-Westropp,  Lieut. -Col.  George,  J.P.     Coolreagh,  Bodyke. 

1898  O'Connell,  Michael,  Alta  Villa,  Listowel. 

1893  O'Connor,   Charles  A.,   M.A.,  Q.C.     50,  Upper  Mount-street,  Dublin. 

1897  O'Connor,  M.  J.,  Solicitor.     2,  George-street,  Wexford. 

1895  O'Connor- Morris,  Miss  L.     Gartnamona,  Tullamore. 

1890  O'Connor,  Rev.  T.  C.,  M.A.,  Canon.     Donaghmore,  Baltinglass. 

1892  O'Connor,  Thomas  P.,  B.A.,  D.I.N.S.     Longford. 

1896  O'Dea,  Rev.  Denis,  C.C.     Kilkee. 

1890  O'Doherty,  Rev.  Philip,  C.C.,  M.R.I.A.     St.  Columb's  Presbytery,  Derry. 

1890  O'Donnell,  Rev.  Patrick,  P.P.     Doon,  Pallasgrean. 

1892  O'Donoghue,  David  J.     3,  Bedford-row,  Dublin. 

1874  O'Donoghue,  Rev.  Denis,  P.P.,  M.R.I.A.     Ardfert,  Tralee. 

1894  O'Donoghue,  The.     10,  Gardiner' s-place,  Dublin. 

1897  O'Duffy,  John,  L.D.S.,  R.C.S.I.     54,  Rutland-square,  Dublin. 

1895  O'Halloran,  Patrick  M.     Corofin,  Co.  Clare. 

1856  O'Hanlon,  Very  Rev.  John,  P.P.,  M.R.I.A.,  Canon.      3,  Leahy-terrace, 
Irishtown,  Dublin. 

1889  O'Hanrahan,  Timothy  Wm.,  J.P.     Parliament-street,  Kilkenny. 

1890  O'Hara,  Right  Rev.  John  M.,  Monsignor,  P.P.,  V.F.     Crossmolina. 

1896  O'Hennessy,  Bartholomew.     Kilkee. 

1889  O'Keefe,  Stephen  M.,  B.A.,  Barrister-at-Law,  J.P.     Delville,  Glasnevin. 

1898  O'Keeffe,  John  G.     War  Office,  Pall  Mall,  London,  S.W. 

1889  Olden,  Rev.  Thomas,  M.A.,  D.D.,  M.R.I.A.     Ballyclough,  Mallow. 

1895  Oldham,  Miss  Edith.     33,  Upper  Leeson-street,  Dublin. 

1891  O'LEAEY,  Eev.  Edward,  P.P.     Balyna,  MoyvaUey. 
1888  O'Leary,  John.     17,  Temple-street,  Dublin. 

1892  O'LEAEY,  Eev.  John,  P.P.     Kilmalchedor,  Ballyferriter,  Dingle. 
1884  O'LEAEY,  Patrick.     Main-street,  Graig-na-Managh,  Co.  Kilkenny. 
1870  O'Loghlen,  John.     188,  Burdett-road,  London,  E. 

1896  O'Mahony,  Florence  M'Carthy.     Munster  and  Leinster  Bank,  Cork. 

1897  O'Malley,  Joseph,  B.E.     10,  Glentworth-street,  Limerick. 
1894  O'Malley,  Middleton  Moore,  J.P.     Ross,  Westpoft. 

1891  O'Malley,  Thomas,  Secretary,  Waterford,  Dungarvan,  and  Lismore  Railway 

Company.     Tramore,  Waterford. 

1897  O'Meara,  Rev.  Eugene  H.,  M.A.     The  Vicarage,  Tallaght. 

1891  O'Meara,  John  J.,  Solicitor,  T.C.     211,  Great  Brunswick-street,  Dublin. 

1894  O'Morchoe,  The.     Kerrymount,  Foxrock. 

1891  O'Morchoe,  Rev.  Thomas  A.,  M.A.     Kilternan  Rectory,  Golden  Ball. 


32  MEMBERS    OF   THE    SOCIETY. 

Elected  * 

1890  O'Mulrenin,  Richard  J.,  M.A.     6,  Carlisle-street,  S.  C.  Eoad,  Dublin. 

1896  O'Neill,  Charles.     37,  Great  James's-street,  Londonderry. 

1892  O'Neill,  Rev.  James,  M.A.     5,  College-square,  E.,  Belfast. 

1889  O'Neill,  Michael.     Imperial  Hotel,  Kilkenny. 

1863  O'Neill,  Yery  Rev.  Archdeacon,  P.P.,  V.F.     Clontarf,  Dublin. 

1898  O'Reilly,  Rev.  Edward,  Adm.     The  Palace,  Mullingar. 

1896  O'Reilly,  James.     Dromore,  Co.  Tyrone. 

1896  O'Riordan,  Rev.  John,  C.C.     Cloyne. 

1854  OKMONDE,  Most  Hon.  the  Marquis  of,  K.P.     The  Castle,  Kilkenny. 

1890  Orpen,  Ven.  Raymond  d' A.,  M.A.,  Archdeacon  of  Ardfert.    Rectory,  Tralee. 

1887  Orpen,  Goddard  H.,  B.A.,  Barrister-at-Law.     Monksgrange,  Enniscorthy. 
1894  Orpin,  John.     47,  St.  Stephen's -green,  Dublin. 

1891  Orr,  Jacob,  J.P.     Cranagill,  Loughgall. 

1860  O'Shee,  N.  Power,  J.P.,  D.L.     Garden  Morris,  Kilmacthomas. 

1889  0' Sullivan,  Right  Rev.  Monsignor,  Archdeacon,  P.P.,  V.G.     Holy  Cross, 

Kenmare. 

1898  0' Sullivan,  Michael.     56,  Josephine-avenue,  Brixton  Hill,  London,  S.W. 

1898  O'Toole,  Arthur.     5,  Foster-place,  Dublin. 

1890  Oulton,  Rev.  Richard  C.,  M.A.,  D.D.,  Glynn  Rectory,  Glynn,  Belfast. 
1894  Overend,  Trevor  T.  L.,  LL.B.     12,  Ely-place,  Dublin. 

1894  Palmer,  J.  E.     Roselawn,  Ballybrack. 

1879  Palmer,  Mrs.     Carrig  House,  Lower  Road,  Cork. 

1888  Panton,  John.     45,  St.  Andrew-street,  Dublin. 
1890  Parke,  Robert  H.,  LL.B.,  Solicitor.     Monaghan. 

1895  Parker,  J.  A.     Post  Office,  Wexford. 

1896  Parkinson,  Miss.     Westbourne,  Ennis. 

1892  Patterson,  Mervyn  S.     Tullyard,  Dungannon. 

1868  Patterson,  "William  Hugh,  M.R.I. A.     Garranard,  Strandtown,  Belfast. 

1889  Patton,  Alexander,  M.D.     Farnham  House,  Finglas,  Co.  Dublin. 

1897  Penny,  Rev.  James  A.,  M.A.  (Cantab).     Wispington  Vicarage,  Horncastle, 

Lincolnshire. 

1890  Pentland,  Augustus  Tichborne,  M.A.     54,  Wellington -road,  Dublin. 
1890  Pentland,  George  Henry,  B.A.,  J.P.     Black  Hall,  Drogheda. 

1895  Perry,    James,    M.E.,   M.   INST.   C.E.,    County   Surveyor.       Well    Park, 
Gal  way. 

1895  Persse,  Mrs.,  A.  T.     Ormonde  View,  Ballycrissane,  Ballinasloe. 

1893  Peter,  Miss.     Cron  Bryn,  The  Hill,  Monkstown,  Co.  Dublin. 

1898  Peyton,  Henry  Reynolds,  M.D.     Monaghan. 
1890  Phelps,  Ernest  James.     Water  Park,  Castleconnell. 

1887  Phibbs,  Owen,  J.P.,  D.L.    Seafield,  Sligo. 

1888  Phillips,  James  J.,  C.E.,  Archt.     61,  Royal-avenue,  Belfast. 

1896  Piatt,  Arthur  Donn,  Vice-Consul,  U.S.A.      204,   Great  Brunswick-street, 

Dublin. 

1898  Pirn,  Edward  W.,  J.P.     27  &  29,  High-street,  Belfast. 

1894  Pirn,  Miss  Mary  E.     Greenbank,  Monkstown,  Co.  Dublin. 

1894  Pirn,  Miss  Miriam.     2,  Belgrave-square,  S.,  Monkstown,  Co.  Dublin. 

1873  Pitt-Rivers,   General  A.   H.   Lane-Fox,    D.C.L.,    F.R.S.,   F.S.A.,    Hon. 
M.R.I.A.    4,  Grosvenor  Gardens, -London,  S.W..  and  Rushmore,  Salisbury. 

1890  Plummer,  Rev.  Richard,  D.D.     Ashfield  Glebe,  Cootehill. 

1891  Plunkett,  Ambrose,  B.A.,  Solicitor.     29,  Lower  Leeson- street,  Dublin. 
1887  Plunkett,  Thomas,  M.R.I.A.    Enniskillen. 

1891  Poe,  Lieut.-Col.  Wm.  Hutcheson,  C.B.,  J.P.,  D.L.    Heywood,  Ballinakill. 

1893  Pounder,  Festus  Kelly,  B.A.     St.  John's-terrace,  Enniscorthy. 

1894  Powell,  Frederick  York,  M.A.     Professor,  Christ  Church,  Oxford. 

1892  Powell,  Rev.  William  H.,  D.D.     Rathclarin  Rectory,  Kilbrittain. 

1897  Power,  Ambrose  William  Bushe.     Glencairn  Abbey,  Lismore. 
1884  Power,  Rev.  George  Beresford,  B.A.     Kilfane  Glebe,  Thomastown. 
1876  Power,  Rev.  John,  P.P.      Kilteely,  Pallasgrean,  Co.  Limerick. 
1868  Power,  Laurence  John,  J.P.     Parade,  Kilkenny. 

1884  Power,  Rev.  Patrick.     St.  John's  College,  Waterford. 

1889  Pratt,  Rev.  John,  M.A.  (Dubl.).     Rectory,  Durrus,  Co.  Cork. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY.  '~>O 

1894*  Pratt,  Rev.  Philip,  C.,  R.N.     Woodview  Cottage,  St.  Anne's  Hill,  Co.  Cork. 

1890  Preston,  Captain  John,  R.M.     The  Moorings,  Athlone. 

1894  Price,  J.  Spencer,  F.R.G.S.     Waterhead  House,  Ambleside,  Westmoreland. 

1890  Purdon,  Henry  Samuel,  M.D.     60,  Pakenham-place,  Belfast. 

1894  Purefoy,  Rev.  Amyrald  D.,  M.A.     3,  Park-place,  Island  Bridge. 

1898  Puxley,  Rev.  Herbert  LavaUin,  M.A.  (Oxon.)    Catton  Rectory,  Stamford- 
bridge,  York. 


1891  Quail,  Rowland,  J.     Downpatrick. 

Quan-Smith,  Samuel  A.     Bullick  Castle,  Dalkey,  Co.  Dublin. 

1889  Quin,  James,  J.P.     70,  George  -street,  Limerick. 
1896  Quinn,  John  A.,  Solicitor.     Dungannon. 

1891  Quinn,  J.  Monsarrat.     4,  Kildare-place,  Dublin. 

1893  Quinn,  Rev.  Bartholomew,  Adm.     Tourlistrane,  Tubbercurry. 

1890  Quinn,  Very  Rev.  Edward  T.,  Canon,  P.P.     Ballybrack. 


1896  Rankin,  Rev.  R.  B.,  B.A.     All  Saints,  Newtown-Cunningham. 

1880  Raphael,  George.     Galgorm  House,  Ballymena. 

1891  Rapmund,  Rev.  Joseph,  C.C.     Lakeland  House,  Anyalla,  Co.  Monaghan. 

Rawlence,  Mrs.     12,  Ovington- square,  London,  S.W. 

1898  Read,  Miss.     3,  Lower  Merrion- street,  Dublin. 

1898  Redington,  Miss  Matilda.     Kilcornan,  Oranmore. 

1898  Reid,  John  Gambell,  Solicitor.     Castleblaney. 

1891  Revelle,  Samuel  J.     37,  Chelmsford-road,  Dublin. 

1891  Reynell,  Miss.     22,  Eccles-street,  Dublin. 

1893  Riall,  Commander  Arthur  G.,  R.N.     Chantilly,  Shankill. 
1890  Rice,  Mrs.     Grange  Erin,  Douglas,  Cork. 

1881  Rice,  Lieut. -Colonel  Richard  Justice,  J.P.     Bushmount,  Lixnaw. 

1897  Rice,  Thomas.     5,  Carlisle -street,  Dublin. 

1895  Richardson,  Miss  Anna  H.     Craigentemple,  Portrush. 

1898  Richey,  Henry  A.,  B.A.,  Barrister-at-Law,     13,  Lower  Pembroke-street, 

Dublin. 

1892  Ridgeway,  William,  M.A.     Fen  Ditton,  Cambridge. 

1897  Roberts,   Edward,   M.A.,    H.M.    Inspector  of  Schools.     Plas  Maesincla, 
Carnarvon. 

1890  Roberts,  George  C.,  J.P.     Summer  Hill,  Enniscorthy. 

1896  Robertson,  John.     1,  Rostrevor-terrace,  Rathgar. 

1894  Robinson,   John   0' Carroll.     United   States  Hotel,   Beach-street,    Boston, 

Mass.,  U.S.A. 

1891  Robinson,  Thomas.     Drogheda. 

1897  Roche,  H.  J.     The  Maltings,  Enniscorthy. 
1871  Roche,  Patrick  J.     The  Maltings,  New  Ross. 

1892  Rock,  Thomas  Dennis.     62,  Leadenhall-street,  London,  E.G. 
1890  Roe,  Rev.  John,  C.C.     Thomastown,  Co.  Kilkenny. 

1892  Rogers,  William  E.     Belfast  Banking  Company,  Portaferry. 

1896  Roice,  Bernard  Herron.     Churchtown  House,  Tagoat. 

1892  Rolleston,  Thomas  William,  B.A.     104,  Pembroke -road,  Dublin. 

1889  Rooke,  Rev.  George  W.,  M.A.     Precentor,  St.  Canice's  Library,  Kilkenny. 
1896  Rooney,  Rev.  Thomas  J.,  C.C.     Banbridge. 

1894  ROTHERAM,  Edward  Crofton.     Belview,  Crossakiel,  Co.  Meath. 

1896  Russell,  John,  C.E.     16,  Waring-street,  Belfast. 

1890  Ryan,  Very  Rev.  Arthur,  President,  St.  Patrick's  College,  Thurles. 

1898  RYAN,  Very  Rev.  Francis  M.,  P.P.     39,  Eccles-street,  Dublin. 

1889  Ryan,  Rev.  James  J.,  V.-P.     St.  Patrick's  College,  Thurles. 

1890  Ryan,  Rev.  Martin,  C.C.     Cullen,  Tipperary. 

1897  Ryan,  Thomas  V.,  Solicitor.     46,  St.  Stephen's-green,  Dublin. 

1893  Ryder,  Arthur  Gore,  M.  INST.  C.E.     2,  St.  John's-terrace,  Dolphin's  Barn. 

1891  Ryland,  Richard  H.,  B.A.     26,  Herbert-place,  Dublin. 


34  MEMBERS   OF   THE   SOCIETY. 

Elect 


1895 

1891 
1897 
1889 

1894 
1894 
1879 
1892 
1891 
1892 
1894 
1898 
1891 

1891 
1892 
1891 
1897 
1896 
1892 
1891 
1897 
1895 
1898 
1896 
1896 
1895 
1898 
1896 

1896 

1894 

1890 

1895 

1892 

1887 

1893 

1898 

1888 

1893 

1895 

1892 

1894 

1898 

1887 

1890 

1895 

1893 

1889 

1893 

1895 

1894 

1896 

1894 

1895 

1897 

1894 

1892 

1891 

1897 

1892 


Salazar,  The  Cavaliere  Lorenzo.   Director  of  the  Bibliotheca  S.  Martino, 

Naples. 

Salmon,  John.     122,  Ellenborough-terraoe,  Belfast. 
Sandford,  Eev.  Herbert  JE.,  M.A.     St.  Peter's  liectory,  Drogheda. 
Sankey,  Lieut. -General  Sir  Richard  H.,  K.C.B.,  M.U.I. A.     6,  Lowndes- 

square,  London,  S.W. 
Sayers,  Rev.  George,  Canon.     The  Glebe,  Upper  Ballinderry,  Co.  Antrim. 

Scott,  Anthony,  Archt.     16,  William- street,  Drogheda. 

Scott,  Rev.  Charles,  M.A.      St.  Paul's  Parsonage,  Belfast. 

Scott,  Conway,  C.E.     15,  Wellington  Park,  Belfast. 

Scott,  John  William,  J.P.     Roslevan,  Ennis. 

Scott,  Samuel.     Inland  Revenue  Office,  Elgin,  N.B. 

Scott,  William  A.,  Archt.     16,  William- street,  Drogheda. 

Scott,  William  A.     24,  Rathdbwn-road,  Dublin. 

Scriven,  Rev.  Rowland,  M.A.  (Cantab.),  M.R.I.A.     33,    Stephen' s-green, 
Dublin. 

Scully,  Very  Rev.  Alex.  F.,  Canon,  P.P.,  V.F.     Hospital,  Co.  Limerick. 

Semple,  Rev.  R.  H.,  M.A.     26,  Barrington-street,  Limerick. 

Sexton,  Sir  Robert,  J.P.,  D.L.     70,  Harcourt-street,  Dublin. 

Shackleton,  Abraham.     23,  Garville-road,  Rathgar. 

Shackleton,  George.     Anna  Liffey  House,  Lucan. 

Shackleton,  Mrs.  J.  F.     Anna  Liffey  House,  Lucan. 

Shannon,  Patrick,  D.I.N.S.     10,  Patrick-street,  Kilkenny. 

Shaw,  Rev.  George  Bell.     Claggan  Manse,  Cookstown. 

Shaw,  His  Honor  Judge,  M.A.     69,  Pembroke -road,  Dublin. 

Shaw,  Thomas  J.,  J.P.     Mullingar. 

Sheridan,  Mrs.     26,  North  Earl-street,  Dublin. 

Sheridan,  Rev.  N.  T.,  President.     St.  Peter's  College,  Wexford. 

Sherlock,  David,  J.P.,  D.L.     Rahan  Lodge,  Tullamore. 

Sherwin,  Rev.  James  P.     St.  Michael's  Hospital,  Kingstown. 

Shore,  Colonel  the  Hon.  Frederick  J.,  R.A.     Ballyduff,  Thomastown,  Co. 
Kilkenny. 

Shore,  The  Hon.  Mrs.     Ballyduff,  Thomastown,  Co.  Kilkenny. 

Simmons,  John,  Solicitor.     Dungannon. 

Simms,  James.     Abercorn  Arms,  Strabane. 

Simpson,  Mrs.     West  Church  Manse,  Ballymena. 

Simpson,  AVilliam  J.     10,  Cornmarket,  Belfast. 

Simpson,  William  M.     15,  Hughenden-terrace,  Belfast. 

Skeffington,  Joseph  Bartholomew,  M.A.,  LL.D.,  D.I.N.S.     Waterford. 

Sloan,  Rev.  Isaac,  M.A.     The  Manse,  Ballyreagh,  Ballygawley. 

Sloane,  Mrs.     Moy  Hill,  Co.  Tyrone. 

Small,  John  F.,  Solicitor.     37,'Hill-street,  Newry. 

Small,  Miss  M.  J.     Hill-street,  Newry. 

Smith,  Christopher,  D.I.N.S.     Woolahara,  Cork. 

Smith,  Rev.  George  Nuttall,  B.A.     Abbeyleix. 

Smith,  John,  B.E.,  M.  INST.  C.  E.,  Co.  Surveyor.     Ballinasloe. 

Smith,  Owen.     Nobber,  Co.  Meath. 

Smith,  Rev.  Canon,  D.D.     St.  Bartholomew's,  Clyde-road,  Dublin. 

Smith,  Thomas  J.,  D.I.,  R.I.C.     Waterford. 

Smith,  William  Joseph,  J.P.     9,  George-street,  Waterford. 

Smithwick,  Edmund,  J.P.     Kilcrene  House,  Kilkenny. 

Smyth,  Edward  Weber,  J.P.     6,  St.  Stephen's-green,  Dublin. 

Smyth,  Mrs.  E.  Weber.     73,  St.  Stephen's-green,  Dublin. 

Smyth,  John,  B.A.     Cartron,  Sligo. 

Smyth,  Rev.  Thomas  A.     Clogherney  Manse,  Beragh,  Co.  Tyrone. 

Smyth,  Richard  O'Brien,  C.E.,  Archt.     2,  Kenilworth-square,  Dublin. 

Smyth,  Robert  Wolfe,  J.P.     Portlick  Castle,  Athlone. 

Smyth,  Thomas.     2,  Lower  Ormond-quay,  Dublin. 

Smyth,  Victor  E.     7,  Uxbridge-terrace,  Dublin. 

Somerville,  Bellingham  Arthur.     Clermont,  Rathnew. 

Somerville-Large,  Rev.  William  S.,  M.A.     Carnalway  Rectory,  Kilcullen. 

Spaight,  Colonel  William  F.     Union  Hall,  Leap,  Co.  Cork. 

Sparrow,  Robert,  D.I.R.I.C.     Gort. 


MEMBERS   OF   THE   SOCIETY.  35 

Elected 

1897  Speth,  George  William,  F.  R.  Hist.  S.      La  Tiiya,  Edward-road,  Bromley, 

Kent. 

1890         Stack,  Rev.  C.  Maurice,  M.A.      Derryvullan  Rectory,  Tamlaght,  Ennis- 
killen. 

1892  Stacpoole,  Mrs.     Edenvale,  Ennis. 
1895         Stacpoole,  Miss.    Edenvale,  Ennis. 

1889  Stanford,  Rev.  Bedell,  B.A.  (DubL).     19,  Stamer-street,  Dublin. 

1893  Stanley,    Rev.   William    Francis,    C.C.      St.   Mary's,    Latchford,    War- 

rington. 
1879         Stawell,  Jonas  W.  Alcock,  J.P.     Kilbrittain  Castle,  Co.  Cork. 

1890  Steede,  John,  LL.D.,  D.I.N.S.     Dundalk. 

1894  Steele,  Charles  W.     18,  Crosthwaite  Park,  Kingstown. 

1895  Steele,  Rev.  William  B.,  B.A.     Levally  Rectory,  Enniskillen. 

1892  Stephen,  Miss  Rosamond.     Godmanchester,  Huntingdon. 

1891  Stephens,  Pembroke  Scott,  Q.C.     18,  Parliament-street,  Westminster,  S.W. 

1894  Stephens,  Samuel.    Martello-terrace,  Holy  wood,  Co.  Down. 

1893  Stewart,  Rev.  Harvey,  M.A.     All  Saints  Rectory,  Blackrock. 

1898  Stewart,  Rev.  Joseph  Atkinson.     Killowen,  Lisburn. 

1893         Stirling,  William,  F.R.I.A.I.,  C.E.     7,  Grafton-street,  Dublin. 

1889  Stirrup,  Mark,  F.G.S.L.     High  Thorn,  Bowden,  Cheshire. 

1890  Stoker,  Mrs.     72,  Rathgar-road,  Dublin. 

1898          Stokes,  Henry  J.,  Banister-at-Law,  Ballynariagh,  Howth. 

1895  Stokes,  Miss.     Victoria-place,  Athlone. 

1893         Stoney,  Colonel  Francis  (late  R.A.),  J.P.     The  Downs,  Delgany. 

1891  Stoney,  Sadleir,  J.P.,  Barrister-at-Law.     42,  Dawson-street,  Dublin. 
1893         Stonham,  Rev.  Frank,  M.A.  (Oxon.),     Fermoy  College,  Co.  Cork. 

1892  Stoyte,  William  James,  J.P.     Green  Hill,  Kinsale. 

1895  Strangeways,  William  N.     Breffni  Villa,  Eglinton -road,  Donny brook. 

1893  Stubbs,  Henry,  M.A.,  J.P.,  D.L.     Danby,  Ballyshannon. 

1890  Stubbs,    William    Cotter,    M.A.,     Barrister-at-Law.      28,    Hatch-street, 

Dublin. 

1887  Sullivan,  Sir  Edward,  Bart.,  B.A.     2,  Harewood-place,  London,  S.W. 

1889  Swan,  Percy  S.     Manager,  Bank  of  Ireland,  Tipperary. 
1879  Swanston,  William.    4A,  Cliftonville-avenue,  Belfast. 

1891  Sweeny,    Rev.  Patrick,  M.A.    Ballinacourty  Rectory,  Annascaul  R.S.O., 

Co.  Kerry. 

I88l>  Synnott,  Nicholas  J.,  B.A.  (Lond.),  Barrister-at-Law.     Furness,  Naas. 

1897  Tallon,  Thomas,  T.C.     Drogheda. 

1890  Tarleton,  Mrs.     The  Abbey,  Killeigh,  Tullamore. 

1898  Tarleton,  Thomas.     30,  Ormond-road,  Rathmines. 

1890  Tate,  Alexander,  M.  INST.  C.E.I.     Rantalard,  Belfast. 

1891  Taylor,  Edward.     The  Factory,  Limerick. 

1897  Teague,  Bernard.     St.  Michael's  Schools,  Enniskillen. 

1894  Telford,  Rev.  William  H.     Reston  Free  Church  Manse,  Berwickshire. 
1890  Tempest,  William,  J.P.     Douglas-place,  Dundalk. 

1887  Ternan,  Obadiah,  M.D.   Enniskillen. 

1897  Thomas,  W.  J.     Mullingar. 

1895  Thunder,  Francis  P.     Municipal  Buildings,  Cork-hill,  Dublin. 

1896  Tivy,  Henry  L.     Barnstead,  Blackrock,  Cork. 

1893  Tohill,  Rev.  John,  Adm.     St.  Peter's,  Milford-street,  Belfast. 

1890  Toler-Aylward,  Hector  J.  C.,  J.P.,  D.L.      Shankill  Castle,  Whitehall,  Co. 
Kilkenny. 

1895  Toler,  Hector  R.  G.,  J.P.,  D.L.     Durrow  Abbey,  Tullamore. 

1889  Toner,  Rev.  Joseph.     St.  John's,  Monaca,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  U.S.A. 
TORRENS,  Thomas  Hughes,  J.P.     Edenmore,  Whiteabbey,  Co.  Antrim. 

1896  Townsend,  George  C.     Cordangan  Manor,  Tipperary. 

1890  Townsend,  Very  Rev.  William  C.,  D.D.     1,  Leeson  Park,  Dublin. 

1895  Townshend,  Thomas  Courtney,  B.A.  (DubL).     23,  South  Frederick-street, 

Dublin. 

1883  Traill,  William  A.,  M.A.,  C.E.     Giant's  Causeway,  Bushmills. 

1894  Trench,  John  Townsend,  J.P.     Lansdowne  Lodge,  Kenmare. 


36  MEMBERS    OF   THE   SOCIETY. 

Elected 

1891  Tresilian,  Eichard  S.     9,  Upper  Sackville-street,  Dublin. 
1894  Trouton,  Edmund.    Eversham,  Elackrock,  Co.  Dublin. 

1892  Truell,  Henry  Pomeroy,  M.B.,   J.P.,   D.L.     Clonmannon,  Rathnew,  (Jo 

"Wicklow. 

1897  Tuite,  James,  M.P.     14,  Greville-street,  Mullingar. 

1896  Turner,  Robert.     English-street,  Armagh. 

1896  Turtle,  Frederick  Locke.     The  Villa,  Aghalee,  Lurgan. 

1891  Twigg,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.D.,  Canon.     Vicarage,  Swords,  Co.  Dublin. 


1896         Upton,  Henry  A.  S.,  J.P.     Coolatore,  Moate,  Co.  "Westmeath. 

1893         Ussher,  Richard  John,  J.P.     Cappagh  House,  Cappagh  R.S.O.,  Fermoy. 


1897         Vanston,  George  T.  B.,  LL.D.,  Barrister-at-Law.     Hildon  Park,  Terenure- 
road,  Rathgar. 

1890  Vaughan,  Joseph,  J.P.     Mount  View,  Athlone. 

1891  Venables,  William  J.     Gortalowry  House,  Cookstown. 

1889         Vincent,  Rev.  Marshall  Clarke,  M.A.  (Oxon.).     South  Hill,  Nenagh. 


1896  Wakely,  John,  M.A.,  Barrister-at-Law,  43,  Lower  Leeson-street,  Dublin. 

1895  Walby,  James,  Engineer.     Post  Office  Telegraph  Department,  Belfast. 
1890  Waldron,  Laurence  A.,  M.R.I. A.     24,  Angiesea- street,  Dublin. 

1892  Walkington,  Miss,  M.A.,  LL.D.     Edenvale,  Strandtown,  Co.  Down. 

1896  Wall,  Walter  Saunders,  J.P.     Errislanan,  Clifden,  Co.  Galway. 

1896  Wallace,  Charles  John,  M.A.,  J.P.     Belfield,  Booterstown. 

1897  Wallace,  Major  Robert  H.     Downpatrick. 

1894  Walpole,  Thomas,  C.E.,  M.  INST.  N.A.     Windsor  Lodge,  Monkstown,  Co. 

Dublin. 

1896  Walsh,   John  Edward,   M.A.    (Dubl.),    Barrister-at-Law,    J.P.     Belville, 
Donny  brook. 

1895  Walsh,  John  Francis.     Wexford. 

1890  Walsh,  Rev.  James  H.,  D.D.,  Canon.     44,  Upper  Mount-street,  Dublin. 

1891  Walsh,  Rev.  Robert,  D.D.     St.  Mary's  Rectory,  Donnybrook. 
1890  Walsh,  Thomas  Arnold,  Kilmallock. 

Walsh,  Rev.  Tobias  R.,  P.P.     Freshford,  Co.  Kilkenny. 

1898  Walsh,  Captain  Walter  H.  Hussey-,  Leicestershire  Regt.,  Curragh  Camp, 

Co.  Kildare. 

1896  Ward,  Alexander.     35,  Upper  Mount-street,  Dublin. 

1894  Ward,  C.  H.,  B.A.  (Cantab.).     51,  Belgrave-square,  Dublin. 
1896  Ward,  H.  Somerset.     6,  Carlisle-terrace,  Malahide. 

1896  WardeU,  John.     Old  Abbey,  Shanagolden. 

1895  Warren,   Sir  Augustus  R.,  Bart.,  J.P.,  D.L.      Warrenscourt,  Lisardagh, 

Co.  Cork. 

1884  WEBB,  Alfred.     Shelmalier,  Orwell  Park,  Rathgar. 

1896  Webb,  Thomas  Henry.     15,  D'Olier-street,  Dublin. 

1890  Webber,  William  Downes,  J.P.     Mitchelstown  Castle,  Co.  Cork. 

1896  Webster,  Henry,  M.  INST.  C.E.,  Co.  Surveyor.     Belvidere  House,  Wexford. 

1898  Webster,  William,  Solicitor.     35A,  Church-street,  St.  Helens. 

1895  Wedgwood,  Rev.  George  R.     4,  Crosthwaite  Park,  Kingstown. 

1896  Weir,  Henry  Crichton,  LL.B.  (Dubl.),  Solicitor.     Downpatrick. 
1895  Weir,  John  S.,  J.P.     Carrickbrack,  Convoy,  Co.  Donegal. 

1888  Welch,  Robert.     49,  Lonsdale-street,  Belfast. 

1891  Weldon,  Sir  Anthony  Crosdill,  Bart.,  J.P.,  D.L.     Kilmoroney,  Athy. 

1889  Weldrick,  George.     University  Press,  Trinity  College,  Dublin. 

1895  Welply,  W.  H.,  Inspector  of  National  Schools.     1,  Devon-place,  Galway. 

1893  Westmeath,  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of,  J.P.,  D.L.     Pallas,  Loughrea. 

1895  Westropp,  Miss.     Deer  Park,  Clonlara,  Limerick. 

1896  Westropp,  Miss  F.     1,  Raglan -road,  Dublin. 


MEMBERS   OF   THE   SOCIETY.  37 

Elected 

1889         Westropp,  Lieut. -Colonel  William  Keily,  M.R.I. A.     6,  Shorncliffe-road, 
Folkestone. 

1895  Wheeler,  Francis  P.  C.     64,  Hatton  Garden,  London,  E.G. 

1891  Whelan,  Rev.  Percy  Scott,  M.A.,  Warden,  St.  Columba's  CoUege,  Rath- 

farnhain. 

1892  White,  Very  Rev.  George  Purcell,  M.A.,  B.D.,  Dean  of  Cashel.     Cashel. 

1887  White,  Rev.   Hill  Wilson,   D.D.,  LL.D.,   M.R.I. A.     Wilson's  Hospital, 

Multifarnham,  Co.  Westmeath. 

1889  White,  James,  L.R.C.P.S.E.,  J.P.     Walkin- street,  Kilkenny. 

1883         White,  Lieut. -Colonel  J.  Grove,  J.P.     Kilbyrne,  Doneraile,  Co.  Cork. 

1890  White,  John,  M.A.  (Oxon.),  Q.C.     3,  Paper  Buildings,  Temple,  London. 
1880          White,  John  Newsom,  M.R.I. A.,  J.P.     Rocklands,  Waterford. 

1894          White,  Very  Rev.  P.,  P.P.,  V.G.,  Dean  of  Killaloe.     Nenagh. 

1896  WHITE,  Rev.  Patrick  W.,  B.A.     Stonehridge  Manse,  Clones. 
1896         WHITE,  Richard  Blair.     Ashton  Park,  Monkstown. 

1889         White,  Robert.     Scotch  Rath,  Dalkey,  Co.  Dublin. 

1894         White,  Rev.  T.  S.  Joyner.     Atlantic  Lodge,  Galway. 

1889         White,  W.  Grove,  LL.B.,  Crown  Solicitor  for  Co.  Kildare.     18,  Elgin-road, 

Dublin. 
1892          Whyte,   Chas.   Cecil  Beresford,  J.P.,  D.L.     Hatley  Manor,   Carrick-on- 

Shannon. 

1892  Wigham,  Mrs.  J.  R.     Albany  House,  Monkstown. 

1889  Wilkinson,  Arthur  B.  Berkeley,  B.E.     Drombroe,  Bantry,  Co.  Cork. 

1888  WiUcocks,  Rev.  Wm.  Smyth,  M.A.,  Canon.     Dunleckney  Glebe,  Bagenals- 

town. 

1890  Williams,  Alexander,  R.H.A.     4,  Hatch-street,  Dublin. 

1868          Williams,  Edward  Wilmot,  J.P.,  D.L.     Herringston,  Dorchester. 

1894  Williams,  Rev.  Sterling  deCourcy,  M.A.     Durrow  Rectory,  Tullamore. 
1896         Williams,  W.  D.,  C.E.     4,  Belle vue -terrace,  Waterford. 

1874         Williams,  Mrs.  W.     Parkside,  Wimbledon. 

1896         Willis,  Rev.  J.  R.,  B.A.     Moyne  Rectory,  Rathdrum. 

1889  WiUoughby,  John,  High-street,  Kilkenny. 

1896         Wills,  Rev.  Percival  B.,  B.D.     Durrow,  Queen's  County. 

1889  Willson,    Frederick,    M.  INST.  C.E.I.,    County   Surveyor.    Prospect    Hill, 

Enniskillen. 

1893  Wilmot,  Henry,  C.E.     22,  Waltham -terrace,  Blackrock. 

1887         Wilson,  James  Mackay,  M.A.,  J.P.     Currygrane,  Edgeworthstown. 

1890  Wilson,  John  Killen,  J.P.     6,  Donegall-street,  Belfast. 

1895  Wilson,  R.  H.      23,  Cromwell  Crescent,  London,  S.W. 

1891  Wilson,  Walter  H.,  C.E.     Cranmore,  Malone-road,  Belfast. 

1872         Windisch,  Professor  Dr.  Ernst,  Hon.  M.R.I. A.     Universitats  Strasse,  15, 

Leipzig. 
1895         Woodburn,  Rev.  George,  M.A.,  F.R.U.I.     2,  College-avenue,  Londonderry. 

1892  Woodside,  William  J.     104,  Corporation-street,  Belfast. 

1890         Woodward,  Rev.  Alfred  Sadleir,  M.A.     St.  Mark's  Vicarage,  Ballysillan, 
Belfast. 

1890  Woodward,    Rev.    George    Otway,    B.A.      St.   John's    Vicarage,    Hills- 

borough. 

1894  Woodward,  Mrs.     St.  Mark's  Vicarage,  Ballysillan,  Belfast. 

1891  WooUright,  Capt.  Henry  H.,  1st  Battalion  Middlesex  Regiment.  Wellington, 

Madras. 
1891         Workman,  Rev.  Robert,  B.D.     Newtownbreda  Manse,  Belfast. 

1895  Wray,  Thomas.     Hanover-place,  Coleraine. 

1887  Wright,  Rev.  Wm.   Ball,  M.A.     East  Acklam,  Malton,  Yorkshire. 

1888  Wybrants,  W.  Geale,  M.A.,  J.P.     55,  Pembroke-road,  Dublin. 
1887  Wynne,  Owen,  J.P.,  D.L.     Hazelwood,  Sligo. 

1896  Wyse,  Captain  L.  W.  Bonaparte,  J.P.     Manor  of  St.  John,  Waterford. 

1890         Younge,  Miss  Katherine  E.     Upper  Oldtown,  Rathdowney. 


Total  number  of  Fellows,     .     .     .       205        (Life  and  Hon.  Fellows,  51.) 
,,  ,,  Members,   .     .     .     1165         (Life  Members,  26.) 

Total,  .     .     1370 


N.B. — The  Fellows  and  Members  of  tbe  Society  are  earnestly  requested  to 
communicate  to  tbe  Secretaries,  6,  St.  Stephen's-green,  Dublin,  changes  of  address, 
or  other  corrections  in  tbe  foregoing  lists  which  may  be  needed. 


SOCIETIES  AND  INSTITUTIONS  WHICH  RECEIVE  THE  "JOURNAL" 

OF    THE 

0f  Jwfipanefl  at 

FOR    1898. 


American  Antiquarian  Society,  Worcester,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 

American  Philosophical  Society,  104,  S.  5th  Street,  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  U.  S.  A. 

Antiquary  (Editor  of),  62,  Paternoster-row,  London. 

Architect,  The  (Editor  of),  175,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 

Belfast  Naturalists'  Field  Cluh  :  Eea's  Buildings,  Belfast. 

Bristol  and  Gloucester  Archaeological  Society:  Eev.  William  Bazeley,  M.A.,  Hon. 
General  Secretary,  The  Museum,  Gloucester. 

British  Archaeological  Association:  Hon.  Secretary,  32,  Sack ville- street,  London,  W. 
Byegones  (Editor  of) :  Care  of  E.  Woodall,  Esq.,  Wingthorpe,  Oswestry,  England. 

Cambridge  Antiquarian  Society :    T.  D.  Atkinson,  Hon.  Sec.,  St.  Mary's  Passage, 
Cambridge. 

Cambrian  Archaeological  Association:    Charles  J.  Clark,  4,  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields, 
London,  W.C. 

Chester  and  North  Wales  Archaeological  and  Historic  Society:  John  Hewitt,  Hon. 
Librarian,  Grosvenor  Museum,  Chester. 

Cork  Historical  and  Archaeological  Society  :  care  of  Messrs.  Guy  &  Co.,  70,  Patrick  - 

street,  Cork. 
Director,  Geological  Survey  Department  of  Canada:  Alfred  E.  C.  Selwyn,  Esq., 

LL.D.,  F.E.S.,  Sussex-street,  Ottawa. 

Dorset  Natural  History  and    Antiquarian  Field   Club:    Eev.    0.  P.   Cambridge, 

Bloxworth  Eectory,  Wareham. 
Folk  Lore  (Editor  of),  270,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 

Glasgow  Archaeological  Society  :  W.  G.  Black,  Secretary,  88,  West  Eegent-street, 
Glasgow. 

Historic  Society  of  Lancashire  and  Cheshire:  The  Secretary,    Eoyal    Institution, 
Liverpool. 

Her  Majesty's  Private  Library :  The  Librarian,  Windsor  Castle,  London. 

Institution  of    Civil    Engineers  of   Ireland:    Hon.  Secretary,   35,    Dawson-street, 
Dublin. 

Irish  Builder  (Editor  of),  42,  Mabbot-street,  Dublin. 

Kent    Archaeological    Society :    George    Payne,    Esq.,    F.S.A.,    Eochester,    Hon. 
Secretary,  Kent 

Kildare  Archaeological  Society :    care  of  Sir  Arthur  Vicars,  F.S.A.,  Ulster  King  of 
Arms,  Bermingham  Tower,  Dublin  Castle. 


40  SOCIETIES   AND   INSTITUTIONS. 

National  Library  of  Ireland,  Eoldare-street,  Dublin. 

Numismatic  Society  :  The  Secretaries,  22,  Albemarle-street,  London,  W. 

Numismatic  and  Antiquarian  Society  of  Philadelphia  :  S.  E.  Cor.  Twenty-first- 
street  and  Pine-street,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  U.  S.  A. 

Palestine  Exploration  Fund  (Secretary  of),  24,  Hanover-square,  London,  W. 

Reliquary  and  Illustrated  Archaeologist  (Editor  of):  J.  R.  Allen,  Esq.,  F.S.A., 
28,  Great  Ormond- street,  London,  W.C. 

Royal  Institute  of  British  Architects :  The  Librarian,  9,  Conduit- street,  Hanover- 
square,  London,  "W. 

Royal  Institute  of  The  Architects  of  Ireland :  Albert  E.  Murray,  Hon.  Secretary, 
20,  Lincoln-place,  Dublin. 

Royal  Institution  of  Cornwall:  The  Hon.  Secretary,  Museum,  Truro,  Cornwall. 

Royal  Irish  Academy  :  Ed.  Perceval  Wright,  M. A.,  M.D.,  Secretary,  19,  Dawson- 
street,  Dublin. 

Royal  Archaeological  Institute  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  :  A.  H.  Lyell,  Esq., 

F.S.A.,  Secretary,  20,  Hanover-square,  London,  W. 
Royal  Societies'  Club,  St.  James' -street,  London,  W.  C. 
Societe  d'Archeologie  de  Bruxelles  :  63,  Rue  de  Palais,  Bruxelles. 
Societe  des  Bollandistes,  14,  Rue  des  Drsulines,  Bruxelles. 

Societe    Royale    des   Antiquaires    du    Nord :    Messrs.  Williams   and  Norgate,   14, 

Henrietta-street,  Covent  Garden,  London. 
Society  of  Antiquaries  of  London  :  W.  H.  St.  John  Hope,  M.A.,  Assistant  Secretary, 

Burlington  House,  London,  W. 

Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland  :  Joseph  Anderson,  Esq.,  LL.D.,  National 
Museum  of  Antiquities,  Queen-street,  Edinburgh. 

Society  of  Biblical  Archaeology:  W.  Harry  Rylands,  F.S.A.,  Secretary,  11,  Hart- 
street,  Bloomsbury,  London,  W.C. 

Smithsonian  Institution  (Wm.  Wesley, 28,  Essex-street,  Strand,  London):  Washing- 
ton, D.C.,  U.S.A. 

Somersetshire  Archaeological  and  Natural  History  Society  :  William  Bidgood,  Taunton 
Castle,  Taunton. 

Suffolk  Institute  of  Archaeology.     The  Librarian,  Athenaeum,  Bury  St.  Edmunds. 

Surrey  Archaeological  Society:  Hon.  Secretaries,  Castle  Arch,  Guildford. 

Sussex  Archaeological  Society :  Care  of  Hon.  Librarian,  The  Castle,  Lewes,  Sussex. 

The  Copyright  Office,  British  Museum,  London. 

The  Library,  Trinity  College,  Dublin  (5  &  6  Viet.  c.  45). 

The  University  Library,  Cambridge  (5  &  6  Viet.  c.  45). 

The  Bodleian  Library,  Oxford  (5  &  6  Viet.  c.  45). 

The  Advocates'  Library,  Edinburgh. 

Waterford  and  South-East  of  Ireland  Archaeological  Society :  Honorary  Secretary, 
Waterford. 

Wiltshire  Archaeological  and  Natural  History  Society :  The  Secretary,  Devizes. 

Yorkshire  Archaeological  Society:  E.  K.  Clark,  Esq.,  Hon.  Librarian,  10,  Park- 
street,  Leeds. 


GENERAL  RULES 


OF  THE 


0f  ^tttiqrari^  0f 

(As  Revised  at   the  Annual  Meeting,   1898.) 


OBJECTS. 

1.  The  Society  is  instituted  to  preserve,  examine,  and  illustrate  all  Ancient  Monu- 
ments and  Memorials  of  the  Arts,  Manners,  and  Customs  of  the  past,  as  connected 
with  the  Antiquities,  Language,  and  Literature  of  Ireland. 

CONSTITUTION. 

2.  The  Society  shall  consist  of  FELLOWS,  MEMBERS,  ASSOCIATES,  and  HONORARY 
FELLOWS. 

3.  FELLOWS  shall  be  elected  at  a  General  Meeting  of  the  Society,  each  name  having 
been  previously  submitted  to  and  approved  of  by  the  Council,  with  the  name  of  a 
Fellow  or  Member  as  proposer.     Each  Fellow  shall  pay  an  Entrance  Fee  of  £2,  and  an 
Annual  Subscription  of  £1,  or  a  Life  Composition  of  £14,  which  includes  the  Entrance 
Fee  of  £2. 

4.  MEMBERS  shall  be  similarly  elected,  on  being  proposed  by  a  Fellow  or  Member, 
and  shall  pay  an  Entrance  Fee  of  10*.  and  an  Annual  Subscription  of  10s.,  or  a  Life 
Composition  of  £7,  which  shall  include  the  Entrance  Fee  of  10*. 

5.  ASSOCIATES  may  be  elected  by  the  Council,  on  being  proposed  by  a  Fellow  or 
Member,  for  any  single  Meeting  or  Excursion  of  the  Society  at  a  Subscription  to  be 
fixed  by  the  Council ;  but  they  shall  not  be  entitled  to  any  privileges  of  the  Society 
except  admission  to  such  Meeting  or  Excursion. 

6.  All  Fees  due  on  joining  the  Society  must  be  paid  either  before  or  within  two 
months  from  the  date  of  Election.     Fellows  and  Members  failing  to  pay  shall  be 
reported  at  the  next  General  Meeting  after  the  expiration  of  this  period. 

7.  Any  Fellow  who  has  paid  his  full  Annual  Subscription  of  £1  for  ten  consecutive 
years  may  become  a  LIFE  FELLOW  on  payment  of  a  sum  of  £8. 

8.  Any  Member  who  has  paid  his  full  Annual  Subscription  of  10s.  for  ten  conse- 
cutive years  may  become  a  LIFE  MEMBER  on  payment  of  £5. 

9.  Any  Member  who  has  paid  his  Life  Composition,  on  being  advanced  to  the  rank 
of  Fellow,  may  compound  by  paying  a  sum  of  £7,  which  sum  includes  the  Entrance 
Fee  for  Fellowship. 

D 


42  GENERAL    RULES,    ETC. 

10.  A  Member  paying  an  Annual  Subscridtion  of  10s.,  on  being  elected  to  Fellow- 
ship, shall  pay  an  admission  Fee  of  80s.,  instead  of  the  Entrance  Fee  of  £2  provided 
for  in  Rule  3. 

11.  All  Subscriptions  shall  be  payable  in  advance  on  1st  day  of  January  in  each 
year,  or  on  election.     The  Subscriptions  of  Fellows  and  Members  elected  at  the  last 
Meeting  of  any  year  may  be  placed  to  their  credit  for  the  following  year.     A  List  of  all 
Fellows  and  Members  whose  Subscriptions  are  two  years  in  arrear  shall  be  read  out 
at  the  Annual  General  Meeting,  and  published  in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Society. 

12.  Fellows  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the  Journal,  and  all  extra  publications 
of  the  Society.    Members  shall  be   entitled  to  receive  the  Journal,  and  may  obtain 
the  extra  publications  on  payment  of  the  price  fixed  by  the  Council. 

13.  Fellows  and  Members  whose  Subscriptions  for  the  year  have  not  been  paid 
are  not  entitled  to  the  Journal ;   and  any  Fellow  or  Member  whose  Subscription 
for  the   current   year   remains    unpaid,  and  who   receives  and  retains  the  Journal, 
shall  be  held  liable  for  the  payment  of  the  full  published  price  of  5s.  for  each 
quarterly  part. 

14.  Fellows  and  Members  whose  Subscriptions  for  the  current  year  have  been  paid 
shall  alone  have  the  right  of  voting  at  all  General  Meetings  of  the  Society.     Any  such 
Fellow  present  at  a  General  Meeting  can  call  for  a  vote  by  orders,  and,  in  that  case, 
no  resolution  can  be  passed  unless  by  a  majority  of  both  the  Fellows  and  of  the  Mem- 
bers present  and  voting.     Honorary  Fellows  have  not  the  right  of  voting,  and  are 
not  eligible  for  any  of  the  Offices  mentioned  in  Rules  15  and  16,  nor  can  they  be 
elected  Members  of  Council.     In  cases  where  a  ballot  is  called  for,  no  Candidate  for 
Fellowship  or  Membership  can  be  admitted  unless  by  the  votes  of  two-thirds  of  the 
Fellows  and  Members  present,  and  voting. 

OFFICE-BEARERS  AND  COUNCIL. 

15.  The   Officers  of   the   Society,   who    must  be   Fellows,   shall  consist  of  a 
Patron-in- Chief,    Patrons,    President,   four   Vice-Presidents    for   each  Province,  a 
General  Secretary,    and   a  Treasurer.     All  Lieutenants  of  Counties  to  be   ez-officio 
Patrons  on  election  as  Fellows. 

16.  The  President  and  Vice-Presidents  shall  be  elected  at  the  Annual  General 
Meeting  in  each  year.    The  nominations  for  these  offices  must  be  received  at  the  Rooms 
of  the  Society  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  December  preceding  the  Annual  General 
Meeting,  addressed  to  the  General  Secretary,  and  endorsed  "Nomination  of  Officers." 
Each  Nomination  Paper  must  be  signed  by  seven  or  more  Fellows  or  Members  as  pro- 
posers ;  and  in  the  case  of  a  Candidate  who  has  not  held  such  office  before,  his 
Nomination  Paper  must  be  accompanied  by  an  intimation  under  his  hand  that  he  will 
serve  in  that  office  if  elected.     In  case  the  number  of  persons  so  nominated  shall 
exceed  the  number  of  vacancies,  a  printed  Balloting  Paper,  containing  the  names  of 
all  such  Candidates  arranged  in  alphabetical  order,  distinguishing  those  recommended 
by  the  Council,  shall  be  sent  by  post  to  every  Fellow  and  Member  whose  name  is  on 
the  Roll  of  the  Society,  directed  to  the  address  entered  on  the  Roll,  at  least  one  week 
before  the  day  of  election.     Each  person  voting  shall  mark  with  an  asterisk  the  name 
of  each  Candidate  for  whom  he,  or  she,  votes.      The  Voter  shall  then  return  the 
Balloting  Paper  to  the  General  Secretary,  on  or  before  the  day  preceding  the  Election, 
in  an  addressed  envelope,  which  is  to  be  supplied,  sealed,  and  marked  Balloting  Paper , 
and  signed  outside  with  the  name  of  the  Voter :  the  Balloting  Paper  itself  must  not  be 
signed.     In  case  a  Voter  signs  the  Balloting  Paper,  or  votes  for  more  Candidates  than 


GENERAL  RULES,  ETC.  43 

the  number  specified  thereon,  such  vote  shall  be  void.  The  Balloting  Papers  shall  be 
scrutinized  on  the  day  of  election  by  at  least  two  Scrutineers  appointed  by  the  Council, 
who  shall  report  the  result  at  the  General  Meeting  held  on  the  evening  of  that  day. 
The  Treasurer  shall  furnish  the  Scrutineers  with  a  List  of  the  Fellows  and  Members 
whose  Subscriptions  have  been  paid  up  to  the  day  preceding  the  Election,  and  who  are 
consequently  qualified  to  vote  at  such  Election.  Those  Candidates  who  obtain  the 
greatest  number  of  votes  shall  be  declared  elected,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  Rule  17, 
provided  that,  when  there  appears  an  equality  of  votes  for  two  or  more  Candidates,  the 
Candidate  whose  name  is  longest  on  the  books  of  the  Society,  shall  be  declared  elected. 
The  President  shall  be  elected  for  a  term  of  three  years,  and  the  same  person  shall 
not  be  elected  for  two  consecutive  periods.  The  four  senior  or  longest  elected  Vice- 
Presidents  in  each  province  shall  retire  each  year  by  rotation,  and  shall  not  be  eligible 
for  re-election  at  the  General  Meeting  at  which  they  retire.  The  Council  may 
submit  to  the  Annual  General  Meeting  the  name  of  a  Fellow,  Hon.  Fellow,  or 
Member,  who  will  act  as  Hon.  President,  and  the  Meeting  may  adopt  the  name 
submitted,  or  may  elect  another  by  a  majority  of  votes,  such  Hon.  President  to  hold 
office  for  one  year,  and  shall  not  be  elected  for  two  consecutive  periods. 

17.  The  management  of  the  business  of  the  Society  shall  be  entrusted  to  a  Council 
of  Twelve,  eight  of  whom  at  least  must  be  Fellows  (exclusive  of  the  President,  Vice- 
Presidents,  Honorary  General  Secretary,  and  Treasurer,  who  shall  be  ex-qfficio  Mem- 
bers of  the  Council).  The  Council  shall  meet  on  the  last  "Wednesday  of  each  month, 
or  on  such  other  days  as  they  may  deem  necessary.  Four  Members  of  Council  shall 
form  a  quorum.  The  three  senior  or  longest  elected  Members  of  the  Council  shall 
retire  each  year  by  rotation,  and  shall  not  be  eligible  for  re-election  at  the  Annual 
General  Meeting  at  which  they  retire.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  occurring  for  a  Member 
of  Council  during  the  year,  the  Council  shall  at  its  next  Meeting  co-opt  a  Fellow  or 
Member,  to  retire  by  rotation.  A  Member  of  Council  who  has  failed  to  attend  one- 
third  of  the  ordinary  Meetings  of  the  Council  during  the  year  shall  forfeit  his  seat 
at  the  next  Annual  General  Meeting.  The  vacancies  caused  by  the  retirement  by 
rotation  of  Members  of  Council  shall  be  filled  up  in  the  manner  prescribed  for  the 
election  of  President  and  Vice -Presidents  in  Rule  16. 

18.  The  Council  may  appoint  Honorary  Provincial  Secretaries  for  each  Province, 
and  Honorary  Local  Secretaries  throughout  the  country,  whose  duties  shall  be  de- 
fined by  the  Council,  and  they  shall  report  to  the  Honorary  General  Secretary,  at  least 
once  a  year,  on  all  Antiquarian  Remains  discovered  in  their  districts,  to  investigate 
Local  History  and  Tradition,  and  to  give  notice  of  all  injury  inflicted,  or  likely 
to  be  inflicted,  on  Monuments  of  Antiquity  or  Ancient  Memorials  of  the  Dead,  in 
order  that  the  influence  of  the  Society  may  be  exerted  to  restore  or  preserve  them. 

19.  The  Council  may  appoint  Committees  to  take  charge  of  particular  departments 
of  business,  and  shall  report  to  the  Annual  General  Meeting  the  state  of  the.  Society's 
Funds,  and  other  matters  which  may  have  come  before  them  during  the  preceding  year. 
They  may  appoint  an  Hon.  Curator  of  the  Museum,  and  draw  up  such  rules  for  its 
management  as  they  may  think  fit.     The  Hon.  General  Secretary  may,  with  the 
approval  of  the  Council,  appoint  a  paid  Assistant  Secretary ;  the  salary  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  Council. 

20.  The  Treasurer's  Accounts  shall  be  audited  by  two  Auditors,  to  be  elected  at 
the  Annual    General    Meeting  in  each  year,   who  shall  present  their  Report  at  a 
subsequent  General  Meeting  of  the  Society. 

21.  All  property  of  the  Society  shall  be  vested  in  the  Council,  and  shall  be  disposed 
of  as  they  shall  direct.     The  Museum  of  Antiquities  cannot  be  disposed  of  without  the 
sanction  of  the  Society  being  first  obtained. 


44  GENERAL    RULES,    ETC. 

22.  For  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  arrangements  in  regard  to  the  Meetings  and 
Excursions  to  be  held  in  the  respective  Provinces,  the  Honorary  Provincial  Secretaries 
may  be  summoned  to  attend  the  Meetings  of  Council  ex-officio.     Honorary  Local  Secre- 
taries of  the  County  or  Counties  in  which  such  Meetings  are  held  shall  be  similarly 
summoned. 

MEETINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

23.  The  Society  shall  meet  four  times  at  least  in  each  year  on  such  days  as  the 
Council  shall  ascertain  to  be  the  most  convenient,  when  Fellows  and  Members  shall 
be  elected,  Papers  on  Historical  and  Arch  geological  Subjects  shall  be  read  and  discussed, 
and  Objects  of  Antiquarian  Interest  exhibited.     Excursions  may  be   arranged  where 
practicable. 

24.  The  Annual  General  Meeting  shall  be  held  in  Dublin  in  the  month  of  January  \. 
one  Meeting  in  the  year  shall  be  held  in  Kilkenny  ;  the  other  Meetings  to  be  held 
in  such  places  as  the  Council  may  recommend.     A  List  of  such  Meetings  shall  be 
forwarded  to  each  Fellow  and  Member.      Evening  Meetings  for  reading  and  dis- 
cussing Papers,  and  making  exhibits,  may  be  held  at  such  times  as  shall  be  arranged 
by  the  Council. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

25.  Ko  Paper  shall  be  read  to  the  Society  without  the  permission  of  the  Council 
having  previously  been  obtained.     The  Council  shall  determine  the  order  in  which 
Papers  shall  be  read,  and  the  time  to  be  allowed  for  each.     All  Papers  listed  or  Com- 
munications received  shall  be  the  property  of  the  Society.     The  Council  shall  deter- 
mine whether,  and  to  what  extent  any  Paper  or  Communication  shall  be  published. 

26.  All  matter  concerning  existing  religious  and  political  differences  shall  be  ex- 
cluded from  the  Papers  to  be  read  and  the  discussions  held  at  the  Meetings  of  the 
Society. 

27.  The  Proceedings  and  Papers  read  at  the  several  Meetings,  and  where  approved 
of  by  the  Council,  shall  be  printed  in  the  form  of  a  Journal,  and  supplied  to  all  Fellows 
and  Members  not  in  arrear.     If  the  funds  of  the  Society  permit,  extra  publications 
may  be  printed  and  supplied  to  all  Fellows  free,  and  to  such  Members  as  may  sub- 
scribe specially  for  them. 

GENEEAL. 

28.  These  Eules  shall  not  be  altered  or  amended  except  at  an  Annual  General 
Meeting  of  the  Society,  and  after  notice  given  at  the  previous  General  Meeting.     All 
By-laws  and  Regulations  dealing  with  the  General  Rules  formerly  made  are  hereby 
repealed. 

29.  The  enactment  of  any  new  Rule,  or  the  alteration  or  repeal  of  any  existing 
one,  must  be  in  the  first  instance  submitted  to  the  Council ;  the  proposal  to  be  signed  by 
seven  Fellows  or  Members,  and  forwarded  to  the  Hon.  Secretary.     Such  proposal  being 
made,  the  Council  shall  lay  same  before  a  General  Meeting,  with  its  opinion  thereon ; 
and  such  proposal  shall  not  be  ratified  unless  passed  by  a  majority  of  the  Fellows  and 
Members  present  at  such  General  Meeting   subject  to  the  provisions  of  Rule  14. 

V^  ROBERT  COCHRANE,  F.S.A., 

Hon.  Secretary. 
6,  ST.  STEPHEN'S-GKEEN,  DUBLIN. 


DA 
920 
R68 
v.28 


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