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i 

I 



TRANSACTIONS 



OF THE 



KILKEMT AKCHJIOLOGICAL SOCETY. 



VOL. 11. 



1852-53. 



DUBLIN: 

PRINTID won THB 80CIBTT, BT 

JOHN aDALT, 9, ANGLESEA-STBEET. 

1855. 



The Committee wish it to be distinctly understood, that thej do not 
hold themselves responsible for the statements and opinions contained iu 
the Papers read at the meetings of the Society, and here printed, except 
80 far as the 9th and 1 0th Amended General Bales extend* 




PREFACE. 



The Second Volume of the Transactioiis of the Kilkenny Archseo- 
logical Society, being now brought to a conclusion, is dedicated to 
the Members as the fruit of much labour, willingly undertaken for 
the sake of the noble cause of Archaeology. It is hoped that so &r 
from being found inferior to its predecessor in any respect, a marked 
improvement will be acknowledged — due to the increased expenditure 
bestowed upon it, as well as to the anxious care of the Editors. 

The aid afforded by Richard Hitchcock, Esq., in revising the 
sheets of the Part issued for 185% is gratefully acknowledged, and 
the Committee have also to thank that gentleman for contributing 
towards the illustrations of the volume, as also to express their obli- 
gations to Albert Way, Esq., on behalf of the Archsological Insti- 
tute of Great Britain and Ireland, to J. Richardson Smith, Esq., 
Thomas L. Cooke, Esq., and Richard R. Brash, Esq., Architect, for 
similar aid. 

It will be perceived that the arrangement of the present volume 
is in some degree different from that of its predecessor — a condensed 
summary of the Proceedings of the Society being supplied for the years 
1849, 1850, and 1851, whilst fuller reports of the General Meetings 



f 

iv PREFACE. 



which were held during the years 1852 and 1853 have been added 
to the more important communications which comprise the greater 
portion of the volume — thus affording a connected history of the 
Sociely's existence and progress^ which has been taken up, and con- 
tinued in its publications for the years 1854 and 1855, already issued 
to the Members. 

Kilkenny^ May^ 1855. 



CONTENTS. 



PART I 1852. 

Page. 
Andent Tapestry of Kilkenny CasUe. 

By the Rev. James Graves. ... ... ... ... 3 

An Authentic Account of the Death of Wallenstein, with a Vindication of the 
Motives of Colonel Walter Butler. 

By Francis Prendergast, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. ... ... 9 

Folk-Lore. No* I. 

By Mr. IHcholu OlCeamey. ... ... ... ... 32 

The Rock Monuments of the County of DabUn. 

By Henry O'Neill, Esq. ... ... ... ... 40 

On Ancient Irish Bells. 

By T. L. Cooke, Esq. ... ... ... ... ... 47 

On the Cross-Legged Effigies of the County of Kilkenny. 

By the Rev. James Graves. ... ... •.. ... 63 

Observations on an Ancient Irish Boat 

By T. li. Cooke, Esq. ... ... ... ••. ... 71 

The Ancient Fabric, Plate, and Furniture of the Cathedral of Christ Church, 
Waterford; illustrated by Original Documents supplied by the Very Rev. 
Edward Newenham Hoare, D.D., Dean of Waterford. 

By the Rev. James Graves, A.B. ... ... ••• ... 75 

The Local Antiquities of Buttevant. 

By Ridiard R. Brash, Esq. ... ... ... ... 83 

Folk-Lore. No. II. 

By Mr. Patrick Cody. ... ... ... ... 97 

Some Notice of the Family of Cowley of Kilkenny. 

By John G. A. Prun. ... ... ... ... 102 

Architectural Notes on Kilkenny Castle. 

Communicated by James G. Robertson, Esq., Architect, ... ... 115 

Notes on the Excavation of a Rath at Dunbel, County of Kilkenny. 

By John G. A. Prim. ... ... ... ... 119 

Gleanings from Country Church-yards. 

By Richard Hitchcock. ... ... ... ... 127 

Dingle in the Sixteenth Century, with an Introduction and Notes. 

ByRichard Hitchcock. ... ... ... ... 133 

Of Hawks and Hounds in Ireland. 

By John P. Prendergast, Esq., Barrister-at-law. ... ... 144 

Kilkenny Tradesmen's Tokens. 

By AquiUa Smith, Esq., M.D., M.R.I.A. ... ... ... 155 

An Attempt to Identii^ the Persons who issued Tradesmen's Tokens in Kil- 
kenny. By John G. A. Prim. ... ... •.* *•- 159 

I, 1b4«I ... ... ■•■ *■■ ... 1// 

„ 1850 ... .«. ••• ••• ••• low 

„ 1851 ... ... ••• ••• ••• loZ 

„ 1852 ... •.. ••• ••• *"• 184 



VI 



CONTENTS. 



PART II 1853. 

Page. 

The Market Cross of Kilkenny. 

By John G. A. Prim. ... ... ... ... 219 

On an Ancient Cemetery at Ballymacus, County of Cork. 

By John Windele, Esq. ... ... ... ... 230 

Gleanings from Country Church-yards. No. II. 

By Richard Hitchcock. ... ... ... ... 239 

Notes on the Round Towers of the County of Keny. 

By Richard Hitchcock. ... ... ... ... 242 

On Certain Obsolete Modes of Inflicting Punishment, with Some Account of the 
Ancient Court to which they belonged. 

By Mark S. O'Shaugnessy, Esq. ... ... ... 254 

An Account of Some Antiquities in the Neighbourhood of Buttevant, in the County 
of Cork. 

By Richard R. Brash, Esq., Architect. ... ... ... 265 

The Ancient Cross of Banagher, King's County. 

By Thomas L. Cooke, Esq. ... ... ... ... 277 

Notes made in the Archaeological Court of the Great Exhibition of 1 853. 

By Richard Hitchcock, Esq. ... ... ... ... 280 

* The Pagan Cemetery at Ballon-Hill, County of Carlow. 

By the Rev James Graves, A.B. ... .. ... ... 295 

Folk-Lore. No. 1. 

By WQliam Hackett, Esq. ... ... ... ... 303 

Folk-Lore. No. II. 

By William Hacket, Esq. ... ... ... ... 311 

Olden Popular Pastimes in Kilkenny. 

By John G. A. Prim. ... ... ... ... 319 

Inauguration of Cathal Crobhdhearg O'Conor, King of Connaught. 

By Mr. John O'Daly. ... ... ... ... 335 

Proceedings, 1853. ... ... ... ... ... 349 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



1. The Ancient Market Cross of Kilkenny ... 

The Rock Monuments of the County of Dublin : — 

2. Howth oni/ Shanganagh ... 

3. Brennanstown... 

4. Mount Venus ... 

5. Glencnllen «uf Kilteman ... 

6. Knockmary 

7.*Deta]la of sword belt and scabbard. Bffigy at Graigue-na-managh. 

County of Kilkenny 
8.*Bffigy of one of the de Canteville Family, at Kilfane, County of 

Kilkenny •.. ... ... ... ... 

9.*Fragment of an incised slab at Jerpoint Abbey, County of Kilkenny 

10. ButtcTant Abbey, Coonty of Cork, No. 1. 

11. Church of the Franciscan Friary, Buttevant, County of Cork, No. 2. 

12. BatteTant Abbey, County of Cork, No. 3. 

LUm „ • ,, IHO« 4. ... ... 

a4« ,, ,f PiO. w< ... ... 

15. The Court Yard of Kilkenny Castle 

16. Kilkenny Castle — Details 

17. tf Part of the Original Plan 

18. Antiquities found in the Dunbel Raths ... 
IQ.^Kilkenny Token, No. 1 . 

Xv v» «p« ••• ••• ••• 

j^U« o« ••• ••■ •■■ 

A^w* •• ••• ••• ■•• 

X^ V« v« ■•« ••• ••■ ■•• 

i^o« o« ••• ••• ••• ,,, 

X^ V* /• ••• ••• ••• ,,p 

Jk^v* D« ••• ••• ••• •»« 

^Oa «f« ••• ••• ••• ••• 

X^O* XV* ••• ■•• ••• ••■ 

*% 0« XX* *•• ••• ••« ••• 

X^ Ua Xm« ••• •»• ••• ••• 

X^O« XO« ••• ••• ••• ••• 

X^ wa X9« •«• «•• ••• «•• 

^0« AO* ••• ••• ••• ••• 

X^O« X/« ••• •«• ••• a»* 

PIO* XO« ••• ••• •■• ,., 

X^O» A«f« ••• ••• ••• a«a 

X^ O* m"m ••• ••• ••• •»• 

£% 0« «X« ••• ••• ••• ••* 

39.*Gowran Token, Frauds Barker 
40. Kerry Antiqfuities, Plate 1. ... 

4X. ,y JrUie £m >•* ... ... ... 

42.*Pl«n of Columbarium 
43.*Section of Columbarium 

44. The Ancient Cross of Banagher 

45. Fictile Vessels found at Ballon Hill, County of Carlow, No. 1. ... 

46. tf ' H tt No. 2. ... 

47. It ,f If No. 3. 



20.* 


tt 


21.* 


tt 


22.* 


ft 


23.* 


If 


24* 


ff 


25.* 


>f 


26.* 


ff 


27.* 


ff 


28.* 


ff 


29.* 


t* 


30.* 


ff 


81.* 


ft 


32.* 


ff 


33.* 


ff 


34.* 


ff 


35.* 


ft 


36.* 


ff 


37.* 


ff 


38.* 


f> 



ff 



ff 



To face Title. 


To face p. 


41 


To &ce p. 


41 


To face p. 


42 


To face p. 


43 


To face p. 


44 


• • • 


64 


• • * 


67 


■ ■ • 


69 


To face p. 


85 


To face p. 


89 


ToCMep- 


89 


To face p. 


91 


To face p. 


94 


Toftuaep. 


115 


To face p. 


116 


Tofaoep. 


119 


To face p. 


124 


• • • 


160 






161 






163 






164 






165 






ib. 






166 






167 






ib. 






168 






169 






ib. 






ib. 






ib. 






170. 






ib. 






171 






ib. 






ib. 






ib. 






176 


Toikoep. 


243 


TofiMsep. 


247 


*• • 


266 


• ee 


267 


TofkMp. 


277 


Toflwep. 


301 


>f 


t^. 


ff 




ib. 



CV* Tha Dlostrations mariied with an asterisk are in the text ; the remainder ara Plates, and the 
binder is raqoasted to plaoe tbem as abote Indioated. 



OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE 



KILKEMY AOT) SOUTH-EAST OF EEIAM) 



ARCH^OLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



PATKONS AND OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 

1854. 



fatrmts : 

The Most Honourable the Marquis of Ormonde. 
The Right Bey. the Lord Bishop of Ossort and Ferns. 
The Right Honourable William F. Tiohe. 

|ns&0t : 

The Vert Bey. the Dean of Ossory. 

The Worshipful the Mayor of Kilkenny. 
The High Sheriff of the County of Kilkenny. 
The High Sheriff of the City of Kilkenny. 

f msnrtr : 

Robert Cane, Esq., M.D. 

Rey. James Grayes, A.B. 
John 6. Augustus Prim. 

James S. Blake, Esq., J.P., Barrister-at-Law. 

Rey. John Browne, LL.D., Principal of Kilkenny College. 

Joseph Burke, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. 

Samson Carter, Jun., Esq., C.E., M.R.LA. 

Rey. Luke Fowler, A.M., Ptebendary of Aghour. 

Herbert F. Hore, Esq. 

John James, Esq., L.R.C.S*L 

Rey. Philip Moore, R.C.C. 

Matthew O'Donnell, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. 

Rey. John Quin, P.P. 

The Very Rey. the Dean of Waterfobd. 

John Windele, Esq. 



MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 

CORRECTED TO MARCH, 1854. 



Th£ Most Horourabjle the Mabqttis of Ormonde. 

The Most Honourable the Marquis of Kildare. 

The Most Honourable the Marchioness of Ormonde. 

The Bight Honourable the Earl of Bandon. 

The Bight Honourable the Earl of Bessborough. ^ 

The Right Honourable the Earl of Desart. 

The Right Honourable the Earl of Dunraven. 

The Right Honourable the Earl of Ennis&illen. 

The Bight Honourable the Earl of Portarlington* 

The Bight Honourable the Earl of Bosse. 

The Right Honourable the Countess of^sart. 

The Bight Honourable the Countess of Shannon. 

The Bight Honourable Lord Clermont. 

The Right Honourable Lord Farnham. 

The Bight Honourable Lord Londesborough. 

The Right Honourable Lord Stopford. 

The Right Honourable Lord Talbot de Malahide. 

The Bight Bev. the Lord Bishop of Ossort and Ferns. 

Lord Charles Butler. 

Lord James Butler. 

Lord Walter Butler. 

The Bight Honourable William F. Tighe. 

The Bight Honourable John Wynne. 

The Honourable and Venerable Henry S. Stopford, A. Mi, 

Archdeacon of Leighlin. 
The Honourable Frederick Ponsonby. 
Lady Harriet Kavanagh. 
Sn BoBERT Gore Booth, Bart. 
Sir Erasmus Dixon Borrowes, Bart. 
Sir Thomas Esmonde, Bart. 
Sir John Power, Bart. 
Admiral Sir Thomas Beaufort. 
Lieutenant-General Sir Jeffery PRENDEROASt. 
The Very Bev. Bichard Butler, D.D., Dean of Clonmacnoise^ 
The Very Bey. Edward N. Ho are, D.D., Dean of Waterford. 



The Very Rev. Chables ViONoiiEs, D.D^ Dean of Ossoet. 

The Veneeabi^e Heney Cotton, D.C.L., Archdeacon of Cashel. 

The Rev. Richard MacDonnell, D. D., Provost of Trinity 

College, Dublin. 

The Rev. Laurence F. O'Renehan, D.D., President, Royal College of 

St. Patrick, Maynooth. 
Major-General M*Donald, C.B. 

Kings Inns Library. 

Royal Dublin Society. 



Allen, Henry L., Esq., 13, Seville-place, Dublin. 
Allen, Sobierset, T., Esq., 13, Seville-place, Dublin. 
Armstrong, R., Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 9* Lower Dominick-st., Dublin* 
Artaria and Fontaine, Messrs., Manheim, Grermany. 
Atkins, William, Esq., Architect, Bridge-street, Cork. 
Atkinson, William, Esq., C.E., Cliff House, Thomastown. 
Aylward, J. E., Esq., D.L., J.P., Shankill Castle, Whitehall. 
Aylward, Patrick, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 



Baker, Abraham Whyte, Esq., M.R.LA., Ballaghtobin, Callan. 
Banim, Michael, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 
Barker, William, Esq., M.D., M.R.L A., Professor of Natural Philo- 
sophy to the Royal Dublin Society, 21, Hatch-street, Dublin. 
Barron, John, Esq., Dungarvan. 

Barry, J. Hugh Smith, Esq., Foata Island, Queenstown. 
Barton, William, Esq., Dungannon, County Tyrone. 
Beatty, Josias, Esq., 31, Lower Abbey-street, Dublin. 
Beaufort, Miss Louisa C, 9^ Hatch-street, Dublin. 
Bell, John Gray, Esq., 17> Bedford-street, Covent Garden, London. 
Birch, Rev. Michael, P.P., Muckalee, Castlecomer. 
Blackett, W. R., Esq., BaUyne, Piltown. 

Blake, J. S., Esq., J.P., Barrister-at-Law, Ballynemona, Thomastown. 
Blanchfield, Patrick, Esq., Clifton Castle, Kilkenny. 
Blood, Bindon, Esq., D.L., J.P., M.R.IA., Cranaher, Ennis. 
Bourns, Charles^ Esq., C.E., M.RJA., Oldtown, Leighlin-bridge. 
Bradley, Samuel, Esq., Little Castle, Castlecomer. 



BsABUET, T^ Esq., L.R.C.S.L.» Kells-Graoge, Kells, ThomastowD. 

Bradt, Patrick, Esq., Architect, BalljTaughan, Gort. 

Brash, Richard Bolt, Esq., Architect, Sunday's Well, Cork. 

Brennah, Rev. Matthew, R.C.C., Moncoin. 

Briscoe, W. Osborne, Esq., M.D., Garranlea, Carrick-on-Suir. 

Brown, Rev. Thomas R., A.M., Southwick Vicarage, near Oandle, 

Northamptonshire. 
Browne, Rev. John, LL.D., Kilkenny College, Kilkenny. 
Browne, R. Ci«atton, Esq., M.RJ.A., Browne's Hill, Carlow. 
Burks, Joseph, Esq., P.L.I., Barrister-at-Law, Elm Hall, Parsonstown. 
Burnham, Richard, Esq., Architect, Coalmarket, Kilkenny. 
BuRTCHASL, Peter, Esq., C.E., County Surveyor, Carlow. 
BcTiiBR, Mr. Edward, Innistiogue. 
BuTi^BR, James, Esq., Kilmagar, Eolkenny. 
BuTLXR, Mr. Piers, Woodstock, Innistiogue. 

BuTUES, W. Deane, Esq., Architect, 72, Stephen's-green, South, Dublin. 
Btron, Rev. John, A.M., Killingholm, near Ulceby, Lincolnshire. 



Cahhx, Michael, Esq., J.P., Ballyconra House, Ballyragget. 

Cane, Robert, Esq., M.D., William-street, Kilkenny. 

Carlton, Robert W., Esq., New Ross. 

Carrigan, Mr. Patrick, Granagh, Waterford. 

Carroll, Thomas, H., Esq., Carlow. 

Carter, S., Jun., Esq., C.E., M.R.LA., County Surveyor, Kilkenny. 

Ca^bt, Rev. John, P.P., Killamey. 

Cavahagh, Charles, Esq., Solicitor, St John's, Blackrock, Dublin. 

Chalmers, Patrick, Esq., F.S.A., Auldbar, Brechin. 

Chaplin, Thomas, Esq., Kilkenny. 

Chapman, Robert, 105, Great Brunswick-street, Dublin. 

Chapman, Taylor T., Esq., 6, Pear-mount, Rathgar, Dublin. 

Clarendon, F. Vilusrs, Esq., M.R.I.A., Assistant Architect, Board 

of Works, Dublin, 6, Margnret-place, Dublin. 
Clarke, Rev. John, R.C.C., Louth. 
Cleaver, Eusbbt, D., Esq., A.B., Christ Church, Oxford. 
Clinchs, Hugh O'Bbenan, Esq., St. James' Terrace, Dublin. 
CoATEs, Charles, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 33, Hatch-street, Dublin. 
CoDT, Mr. Patrick, MuUinavat. 
CoLLES, Alexander, Esq., Millmount, Kilkenny. 
Collier, William, Esq., Dingle. 
CoMSRFORD, James, Esq., Troy's Wood, Kilkenny. 
Conn, John L., Esq., Mount Ida, Waterford. 
CoiiNELLAN, Peter, Esq., D.L., J.P., Coolmore, Thomaatown. 



CooK£, BiCHABD, EsQ., J.F., Castlecomer. 

Gooiu:, Thomas, L., Esq., Farsonstown. 

GosGBAVE, Bev. Const antine, P.P., Keash, Ballymote. 

CosTELLo, John, Esq., Galway. 

CowEN, Bev. Edward, Dunurlin Glebe, Ventry, Dingle. 

Cbokee, T. Crofton, Esq., J.P., F.S.A., M.B.I.A., 3, Gloucester-road, 

Old BromptoD, London. 
Cdllen, Daniel, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 
Cullenan, Alexander, Esq., M.D., Kilmacow, Waterford» 
Cdllenan, James, Esq., M.D., Freshford. 
Gullet, Bichard, Esq., Manager, Bank of Ireland, Kilkenny. 
GuMMiNS, Thomas, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 
Curtis, Bobert, Esq., 6«unty Inspector, Kilkenny. 



Dain, Christopher, Esq., 169> High-street, Southampton. 

Daly, William, Esq., 82, Lower Leeson-street, Dublin. 

Dawson, Bev. Thomas, A.M., William-street, Kilkenny. 

Day, Bev. John Fitzgerald, Beaufort, Killarney. 

Delaney, Edmund, S., Esq., Durrow. 

Denroche, Abraham, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 

Denroche, Charles, Esq., C.E., Cardiff, South Wales. 

De Bythre, William Dixon, Esq., Biverstown House, Monasterevan. 

Deverell, Bev. Bichard, A.B., Durrow. 

Devereux, Francis, Esq., J.P., Bingville, Waterford. 

Dillon, Peter, Esq., Gi*eenock. 

Dixon, Frederick Beverley, Esq., Castlewood, Durrow. 

DoBBYN, Mr. James, Mullinavat. 

Donnelly, Henry W., Esq., 3, Haddington-road, Dublin. 

Donovan, W. J., Esq., 70, Waterloo-road, Dublin. 

Douglas, W. J., Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 

DowsLEY, John Ward, Esq., M.D., Clonmel. 

DoYNE, Mrs. Charles, Newtown Park, Blackrock, Dublin. 

DoYNE, Bev. Philip, W., A.M., Monart, Enniscorthy. 

DoYNE, Bobert S., Esq., D.L., J.P., Welb, Oulart. 

Drapes, Bev. J. L., A.M., Lacken Cottage, Elilkenny. 

Drew, Bev. Pierce William, A.M., Brooklodge, Youghal. 

Duncan, Bobert A., Esq., 4, Limes Grove, Lewisham, Kent. 

DuNKiN, Alfred John, Esq., Dartford, Kent. 

DuNLEVY, Francis Annesly, Esq^, Dingle. 

Dunne, Lynden, Esq., Ballinakill, Queen's County. 

DuNBfE, Major B., Brittas, Queen's County. 



Edmokds, Charles, Esq., 23, Pelham-place, Brompton, London. 
£oAN, Vert Rev. John V.G., P.P., Parsontown. 
Ellacobibe, Rev. H. T., Clyst St. Greorge, near Topsham, Devon. 
£ii<iiiOTTy John, Esq., M.D., Cathedral Square, Waterford. 



Fabeb, Rev. Gborob Stanlet, B.D., Sherbam House, Durham. 

Farmer, Rev. H. B., A.M., Kikiamanagh, Onlart 

Farreix, Francis, Esq., C.E., County Surveyor, Strandfield, Wexford. 

Frrgusoit, James F., Esq., 142, Rathmines, Dublin. 

FunJCANX, Charles, Esq., M.D., Cottage, Ennistimon. 

Fisher, Joseph, Esq., 2, Exchange-street, Waterford. 

Fitzgerald, Edward, Esq., Nelson Terrace, YoughaL 

Fitzgerald, Rev* Joseph, P.P., M.R.I.A., Rahan, Tullamore. 

FiTZPATRiCK, Patrick Vincent, Esq., 29, Eccles-street, Dublin. 

FiTzsiMONS, John, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 

Flood, Henrt, Esq., View Mount, Whitehall, Bagnalstown. 

Flood, John, Esq., View Mount, Whitehall, Bagnalstown. 

Flood, W. Llotd, Esq., DX., J.P., Farmley, Cuff's Grange, Kilkenny. 

FoRSTAL, Edmund, Esq., Bochestown, Waterford. 

Fowler, Charles, Esq., R.E. 

Fowler, Rev. Luke, A JIL, Wellbrook, Freshford. 

Frankland, Richard, Esq., Ashgrove, Queenstown. 

Franks, Augustus Wollaston, Esq., A.M., British Museum. 

FcTRNiss, James, Esq., Wexford. 

FuRNiss, Richard, Esq., Ellkenny. 



Garvey, George, £^., J.P., Parsonstown. 

Gilbert, J. T., Esq., Villa Nova, Blackrock, Dublin. 

Gill, M. H., Esq., University Press OfGice, Trinity College, Dublin. 

GiMLETTE, Rev. Thomas, A.B., Waterford. 

Glascot, J. H., Esq., Killowen, New Ross. 

Glennon, Timothy, P., Esq., Postmaster, Coventry. 

Godfrey, Mrs. George, Arney, Florence-court. 

GooDBODY, Mr. Robert, Mountmellick. 

GooDMAH, Rev. James, A.B., Skibbereen. 

GooLD, Wykdham, Esq., M.P., M.B.LA., 21, Merrion-square, North, 

Dublin. 
Gordon, Samuel, Esq., M.D., M.R.LA., 11, Hume-street, Dublin. 
Gorman, Rev. William C., A.B., St. Canioe Library, Kilkenny. 



8 

Grace, Me. J. A., Christian Schools, Bichmond-street, North, Dablin* 

Qraham, Bichabb, Esq., Clonmel. 

Gbavbs, Anthont E., Esq., Bosberoon Castle, New Boss. 

Gbaves, Bev. CHABiiES, D.D., M.BJ.A., Fellow, and Professor of 

Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin. 
Graves, Bev. James, A.B., Kilkenny. 
Graves, James Fai<m£R, Esq., Waterford. 
Graves, S. Bobbrt, Esq., The Grange, Wavertree, Liverpool. 
Graves, William, Esq., J.P., The Block House, New Boss. 
Greene, Godfrey, Esq., Bock View, Innistiogue. 
Greene, Hugh, Esq., Bock View, Innistiogue. 
Greene, John, Esq., M.P. for the County of Kilkenny, Greeneville, 

Waterford ; and Beform Club, London. 
Greene, John, Esq., Bock View, Innistiogue. 
Greene, John Newport, Esq., Lake View, Kilkenny* 
Greene, Joseph, Jun., Esq., Lake View, Kilkenny. 



Hackett, William, Esq., Midleton, County Cork. 

Hackett, William Louis, Esq., A.B., Barrister-at-Law, Clonmel. 

Haines, Charles Yelverton, Esq., MJD., 25, Warren's-place, Cork. 

Halidat, C, Esq., M.B.LA., Monkstown Castle, Monkstown, Dublin. 

Hamilton, Alexander, Esq., Innistiogue. 

Hamilton, Captain, St. Kieran's, Bathcabbin, Parsonstown. 

Hamilton, Frederick, Esq., Sharragh Lodge, Parsonstown. 

Hamilton, James, Esq., Western Bank, Glasgow. 

Hanlon, George A., Esq., Bedford House, Bathgar, Dublin. 

Hanna, J. W., Esq., Downpatrick. 

Harpur, Bev. S. C, A.M., Aghavoe Glebe, Borris-in-Ossory. 

Hart, Thomas, Esq., J.P., Windgap Cottage, Kilkenny. 

Harte, Bev. Charles, AJ&i., Whitechurch Glebe, Carrick-on-Suir. 

Hartford, John, Esq., Solicitor, Coalmarket, Kilkenny. 

Harvet, William H., Esq., MJ>., M.BJ.A., Professor of Botany to 

the Boyal Dublin Society, Trinity College, Dublia 
Hatden, Bev. Thomas, Sraduff, Parsonstown. 
Hayes, Edward, Esq., Leeds. 

Hatman, Bev. Samitel, A.M., South Abbey, Youghal. 
Hebcphill, C. H., Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 62, Lr. Fitzwilliam-st.,Dublin. 
Herbert, Bev. H., A.M., Johnstown Glebe, Bathdowney. 
Herbert, Henry, Esq., C.E., Grantstown Castle, Ballacolla. 
Hewetson, Thomas, Esq., T.C, Bose-Inn-street, Kilkenny. 
Hewitt, Thomas, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Cork. 



9 

HicBJET, Mb. DANiBiiy Growran. 

Hitchcock, Gsobgs, Esq., St, Paul's Church-jard, LoDdon. 

Hitchcock, Bichabd, Esq., 2, Trinity College, Dublin. 

HoABS, Edwabd, Esq., A.B., Honorary Local Secretary to the Archfls- 

ological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 5, Waterloo-place, 

Cork. 
HoBX, Hbbbebt F., Esq., Pole Hore, Wexford. 
HoBHiDOB, Thomas, Esq., Parsonstown. 
HuicPHBETs, Henbt T., Esq., Kilmacow, WaterfonL 
HcTCHiNsoN, John, Esq., Kiltorcan, Stoneyford. 
Htdb, Johb, Esq., D.L., J.P., Castle Hyde, Fermoy. 
Hti«akd, Michaxl, Esq., Patrick-street, Kilkenny. 



Ibvirx, Rbv. Aikbh, A.B., Maplebury, Monkstown, Dublin. 
iBwnr, Bbv. John L., A.M., Bectory, Thomastown. 



Jambs, J., Esq., L.B.C.S.I., John-street, Kilkenny. 
JoHKSOir,' Z., Esq., M.D., F.B.C.S.I., Patrick-street, Kilkenny. 
Johnston, B., Esq., Architect, 93, Leinster-road, Bathmines, Dublin. 
JoNBS, John, Esq., Architect, ClonmeL 



Kavanaqh, Michaxi^, Esq., Maynooth. 

Kban, Mxchaei., Esq., Woodbine Cottage, Ennistimon. 

Keabnxt, Michaei., Esq., Gas Works, Limerick. 

Keating, Patbick, Esq., MJD., Callan. 

Kbixt, Denis H., Esq., D.L., JJP., MJB.LA., Castle Kelly, Mount 

Talbot. 
Ebult, Stephen, Esq., Galway. 
KEUiT, WnjLiAM, Esq., The Mall, Armagh. 
Kennedy, Captain A. G., Governor-General of Sierra Leone. 
Kennt, James C, Esq., A.B., JJ?., M.B.I.A., Kilclogher^ Monavea, 

Galway ; and 2, Merrion-square, South, Dublin. 
Kebb, David, Esq., John-street, Kilkenny. 
Kebsulke, Thomas, Esq., 3, Park-street, Bristol. 
Kettubwbix, Joshua, Esq., Clogheen. 
KiunuDE, Bet. James, Ballylinan Cottage, Ballylinan, Athy. 
KiNCHELA, Geobgc, Esq., Grcenvalc, Kilkenny. 



10 

EiNCHELA, Lewis, Esq., M.D., John-street, Kilkennj. 

EIiNSELLA, John, Esq,, Newrath, Waterford. 

KiRWAN, John Staatfobb, Esq., 15, Merrion-square, East, Dublin ; 

and Cooladangan, Coanty Galway. 
Knox, Bbv. James Spencer, A.M., Maghera. 



Lalob, Joseph, Esq., M.D., District Lunatic Asylum, Kilkenny. 

Lai^ob, Thomas, Esq., D.L., J.P., Cregg, Carrick-on-Snir. 

Lam9, Rev. Patbick, P.P., Newtownhamilton. 

Lane, Dennt, Esq., Sydney-place, Cork. 

Lane, Edwabd, Esq., John-street, Kilkenny. 

Lane, Jabies Sandifobd, Esq., J.P., Shipton, Callan. 

Langton, Henrt M. F., Esq., 6, Southwick-place, Hyde Park, London. 

Lanyon, Chablss, Esq., C.K, County Surveyor of Antrim, Belfast. 

Labcom, Majob T. a., B.E., M.B J. A., Under Secretary, Dublin Castle. 

Lawson, Bev. Jabies, A.B., Waterford. 

Lawson, John, Esq., Patrick-street, Kilkenny. 

Lecket, John J., Esq., D.L., J.P., Ballykealy, Ballon, County Carlow. 

Leech, John H., Esq., Carrick-on-Suir. 

Lindsay, John, Esq., MaryviUe, Cork. 

LouoHNAN, H. J., Esq., Patrick-street, Kilkenny. 

LouGHNAN, J. M., Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 101, Lower Gardiner-street, 

Dublin. 
LouGHNAN, N., Esq., Parade, Kilkenny ; and 7, Talbot-street, Dublin. 
LovEB, Henby, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 42, Bathmines, Dublin. 
Ltnch, David, Esq., Q.C., 60, Lower Dominick-street, Dublin. 
Ltsteb, Wulliam, Esq., J.P., Cloghmantagh, Freshford. 



Mac Adam, Bobebt, Esq., 18, College-square, East, Belfast 

Mac Cabtht, D., Esq., Kilkenny College, Kilkenny. 

Mackabness, Bev. Geobob B., A.M., Barnwell Bectory, Oundle, 

Northamptonshire. 
Mackenzie, J. W., Esq., of Lochwards, W.S., F.S.A., 16, Boyal Circus, 

Edinburgh. 
Macbat, Bev. W. D., M.A., New College, Oxford. 
Madden, B. B., Esq., M.B.LA., Loan Fund Office, Dublin Castle. 
Magbath, Miss Mabt C, Bawn*James House, Bosbercon, New Boss. 
Maheb, John, Esq., Patrick-street, Kilkenny. 
Mahon, Boss, Esq., Ladywell, Athlone. 



II 

Mahont, Daniel, Esq., J.P., Dunloe CasUe, Killamey* 

Mahony, Mbs., Cullina, Beaufort, Killamey. 

Malcomson, Henbt, Esq., C.E., 15, Union-square, Islington, London. 

Malcomsoit, Bobbbt, Esq., Carlow. 

Mason, John, Esq., Dingle. 

M^CifiiUkND, John, Esq., Dungannon, County Tyrone. 

M'Creert, Henbt, Esq., Newpark, Kilkenny. 

M'CsEEBY, Henrt, Esq., Bathboume, Kilkenny. 

M'Cbeebt, John, Esq., St. John's Place, Kilkenny. 

M'Creebt, Thomas B., Esq., Newpark, Kilkenny. 

M*Cui«laoh, John B., Esq., B.M., Kilrush, County Clare. 

Meaohee, Bey. Michaei., B.C.C., Tullagher, New Boss. 

Meaea, Henet, Esq., Parthenon Club, London. 

Mease, Bev. James, A.M., Freshford. 

Meekins, T. C. Mossom, Esq., A.B., Inner Temple, London. 

M^Evor, DanisIi, Esq., Urlingford. 

M'GiUiicuDDT, Thomas, Esq., Bauncluan, Beaufort. 

M'Geaoh, Patrick, Esq., Millstreet, County Cork. 

MniiEE, John Gibbons, Esq., Carlow. 

M^Llwaine, Bev. Wiixiam, A.M., Belfast. 

MoiiONT, Michael, Esq., St* John's-place, Kilkenny. 

MoLYNEUX, BoBEET, EsQ., Y.S., St. Johu's Bridge, Kilkenny. 

MoNTOOMEET AND SoN, Messbs., Houso Painters, Kilkenny. 

Moon, Keert, Esq., Newcastle, County Limerick. 

Moore, Bev. Joseph, B.C.C., Castletown, Queen's County. 

Moore, Bev. Philip, B.C.C., Bosbercon, New Boss. 

Morgan, Bev. James Blackeb, 117, Lower Gardiner^street, Dublin. 

MoRiARTT, Bev. Thomas, A.M., Yentry, Dingle. 

MossE, BoBERT, EsQ., Bcnnetts-bridge, Kilkenny. 

M'SwEENY, CoNNOB, EsQ., Pssssge Wcst, Monkstown, Cork. 

MuoGEBiDGE, BiCHAED M., EsQ., Gowrau Castle, Growran. 

MuiiLiN, Peter, Esq., L.B.C.S.I., New Boss. 

MuRPHT, Edward, Esq., Coalmarket, Kilkenny. 

Murphy, Mr. Jeremiah, Thomastown. 

MuEPHY, J. B.> Esq., Barrister-at«Law, 5, Lower Gardiner-street, Dublin. 

MuRPHT, T. E., Esq., Patrick-street, Kilkenny. 

MuRRAT, P. J., Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 1, Upper Pembroke-st., Dublin. 



Nagle, Mr. John D., Dingle. 

Nash, Wiixiam D., Esq., F.L.S., Barrister-at-Law, 9, Vy vyan Terrace, 
Clifton Park, Bristol. 



12 

Nesbitt, Aubxahdeb, Esq^ 9> Oxford-square, London. . 
Newfobt, Chables, Esq., 16, WiUiam-street, Waterford. 
Newton, James, Esq., M.D., Growran. 
Nugent, J^ Esq., M.B., LJft.C.SJ., 17, Rutland-square, East, Dublin* 



O'Bbennan, Mabtin A., Esq., LLJ)., 57, Bolton-street, Dublin. 
O'Bbeen, Rev. Cobnelius, P.P., Lorrha, Borris-o-Kane. 
O'Bbien, Rev. David, D.D., Clarendon-street, Dublin. 
O'Callaghan, Peteb, Esq., Coalmarket, Kilkenny. 
(yCAiiLAGHAN, Rev. Robebt, D.D., Rectorj, Castlecomer, 
O'CoNNELL, Rev. Chables, P.P., Balrothery, Balbriggan. 
O'DAiiY, Mb. John, 9, Anglesea-street, Dublin, Agent to the Society. 
Odeui, Edwabd, Esq., A.M., F.S.A., M.R.LA., Carriglea, Dungarvan. 
(yDoNNEiiL, Matthew, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Kilkenny; and 19, 

Upper Rutland-street, Dublin. 
(^Donovan, The, Montpelier, Douglas, Cork. 
OTmnn, Rev. J. L., O.S.F., Kilkenny. 

CGoBBiAN, NiCHOiiAs PuBCEUL, EsQ., Assistant Barrister, Kilkenny. 
CGbadt, Standish Hayes, Esq., Monkstown, County Cork* 
OiiDHAM, Samuel B., Esq., 8, Suffolk-street, Dublin. 
O'Leabt, Mb. Jebemiah, Ballydavid Coast Guard Station, Dingle. 
O'Neill, H., Esq., Artist, 64, Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square, London. 
0*Shaughne8ST, Edwabd, Esq., ClonmeL 

O'Shaughnesst, Mabk S., Esq., 7, South-square, Gray's Inn, London. 
O'SuLLivAN, Rev. John, P.P., Kenmare. 
O'TooLE, Patbick, Esq., William-street, Kilkenny. 
Owen, Willlim, Esq., J.P., Blessington. 



Paget, Edwabd H., Esq., St. Leonards-on-Sea. 

Patton, Alex., Esq., M.B., L.R.C.S.L, Tandragee, County Armagh. 

Peabson, Rev. J. Moleswobth, Dunmore, Kilkenny. 

Pembboke, Mb. Thomas, Rose-Inn-street, Kilkenny. 

Pethebam, John, Esq., 94, High Holborn, Londcm. 

Phateb, J. R., Esq., Kilkenny Dispensary, Kilkenny. 

PiGOT, John Edwabd, Esq., M.R.I.A., Barrister-at-Law, 96, Lo¥rer 

Leeson-street, Dublin. 
PoE, Jabces, Esq., Parade, Kilkenny. 
PoBTEB, C, Esq., LL.D., Cork. 
PoBTLOCK, LnsuTENANT-CoLONEL, R.E., M.R.I.A., Woolwich. 



13 

PoTTEBy Hkhbt, Esq., J.P., Ormonde Boad, Kilkenny. 
PoTTBB, John, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 
PoTTXB, John, Jun., Esq., Ormonde Boad, Kilkenny. 
Pbenberoast, J. P., Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 3, Tower Terrace, Sandy- 
mount, Dublin. 
Prendebgast, Thomas, Esq., Wexford. 
Phbnbebgast, WEI.LESLET, EsQ., Listerlin, New Boss. 
Prim, John 6. A., Esq., Elilkenny. 

PuBCELL, J. F., Esq., M.D., M.B., F.B.G.S.I., Carrick-on-Suir. 
PuBDON, Chables D., Esq., M.D., 17, College-square, East, Belfast. 



QuiN, James, Esq., Solicitor, King-street, Kilkenny. 
QuiN, Bev. John, P.P., Lisdowney, Ballyragget 
QuiNN, Bev. John, P.P., Magherafelt 



Bam, Stephen, Esq., Bamsfort, Grorey. 

Beade, Geoboe, Esq., Sion House, Kilkenny. 

Beabe, Bev. Geobge H., Inniskeen Bectory, Dandalk. 

Bedmond, S.y Esq., 19) Penrhyn-street, Scotland-road, Liverpool. 

Beeves, Bev. Wiixiam, D.D., M.B.IA., Ballymena. 

BicKABBs, J. L., Esq., C.E., M.B.I.A. 

BiOBDAN, Mb. M. p., Christian Schools, Bichmond-street, Dublin. 

BoBEBTsoN, James 6., Esq., Bose Hill, Kilkenny. 

BooEBS, Bev. Joseph, Parsonstown. 

BoNATNE, Joseph P., Esq., C.E., Cork. 

Boss, Chabuss E., Esq., M.D., Castlecomer. 

BowAN, Bev. Abthub B., D.D., M.BJ.A., Belmont, Tralee. 

BussEiiL, Bet. Chables W., D.D., Dundalk. 

Btan, Andbew, Esq., Gortkelly Castle, Borris-o-Leigh, Thurles. 

Byan, Edwabd, Esq., Kilfera, Kilkenny. 

Btan, Bet. James F., P.P., Hugginstown, Knocktopher. 

Btan, Bev. James, B.C.C., Galmoy, Johnstown. 

Byan, Patbick, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny. 



ScANNEix, Bev. Wiixiam, BlennerviUe, Tralee. 
Scott, B., Jun., Esq., Solicitor, Archers-field, Kilkenny. 
Scott, Bev. J. H., AJ^, Seirkieran, Parsonstown. 



14 

Scully, Thomas, Esq., M.D., Clonmel. 

Semfle, HuBfFHBEY, EsQ., DuDiDore Cottage, Kilkenny. 

Semple, Humphret, Jun., Esq., Registrar of Ossory, Kilkenny. 

SHAimoN, Rev. Gsoboe L., A.M., St. John's-quay, Kilkenny. 

Shaw, Thomas, Esq., Kilree, Kells, Kilkenny. 

Shearman, John F., Esq., Kilkenny. 

Shee, William, Esq., Sergeant-at-Law, M.P. for the County of Kil- 
kenny, Thomastown; and 5, Sossez-place, Hyde Park Gardens, 
London. 

Sheilds, Francis H., Esq., Camberland-square, Parsonstown. 

Shirley, Evelyn P., Esq., A.M., IKI.P., Houndshill, Stratford-on-Avon. 

Sim, W., Esq., Elgin Crescent, Kensington Park, Nottinghill, London. 

SsaTH, Aquilla, Esq., M.D., M.RJ.A., 121, Lower Baggot-st., Dublin. 

Smith, George, Esq., 104, Grafton-street, Dublin. 

Smith, J. Richardson, Esq., Glenbum Cottage, Lochgilphead, Argyle- 
shire. 

Smith, John Russell, Esq., 3€i, Soho-square, London. 

Smithwick, Daniel, Esq., Drakeland House, Kilkenny. 

Sbqthwick, Edmund, Esq., J.P., Kilcreene, Kilkenny. 

Smithwick, John William, Esq., Kilcreene, Kilkenny. 

Smithwick, Richard, Esq., J.P., Birchfield, Kilkenny. 

Stanley, Charles, Esq., Roohan House, Dungannon.' 

Stanley, Captain Edward, 57th Regiment. 

Stattnton, Edmund, Esq., Seskin House, Ballyragget. 

Stephenson, George, Esq., Solicitor, Lisbum, County Antrim. 

Sterling, Miles, Esq., L.R.C.S.L, Thomastown. 

Stevenson, Rev. C. B., A.M., West-Court, Callan. 

Stewart, F. R., Esq., Assistant Secretary, Kmga Inns, Dublin. 

St. John, James, Esq., LL.D., Nore View House, Kilkenny. 

Stoney, Thomas Butler, Esq., Portland, Borris-o-Kane. 

Stopford, Rev. Arthur F., Hamerton, Huntingdon. 

Strange, Peter, Esq., Aylwardstown House, Waterfbrd. 

Stubber, R. Hamilton, Esq., D.L., J.P., Moyn, Dorrow. 

Sullivan, John J., Esq., Coalmarket, Kilkenny. 

Sullivan, Richard, Esq., J.P., Coalmarket, Kilkenny. 

Sullivan, Robert, Esq., LL.D., National Education Office, Marl- 
borough-street, Dublin. 

SuTCLiFFE, Edward, Esq., Coalmarket, Kilkenny. 

SwEETMAN, Walter, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, M.R.LA., Annaghs, New 
Ross ; and 4, Mountjoy-square, North, Dublin. 

Swithenbank, John, Esq., Solicitor, 8, Park-row, Leeds. 



15 

Thackeb, Rev. Joseph, A.M., St. Mary's Glebe, Kilkenny. 

Thorpe, Bichakd, £s<2., Trinity College, Dublin. 

TiDHABSH, James M., Esq., Sion Villa, and High-street^ Kilkenny. 

TiDMARSH, Richard, Esq., Sion Villa, Kilkenny. 

ToBiN, Thomas, Esq., J.P., F.S.A., BaUincoUig, Cork. 

Todd, Bet. James Henthorn, D.D., F.S.A., M.BJA., Senior Fellow, 

Trinity College, Dublin. 
Townsend, Charles Uniacke, Esq., Carrickmacross. 
Trew, Whxiam, Esq., Dunkit, Waterford. 

TuomuL, R., Esq., M.D., F.B.C.S.I., 6, Merrion-square^ West, Dublin. 
TuRNBCi.14, W. B. D., Esq., F.S.A. of Scotland. 



ViGNOLEs, Rev. C. A., A.M., Clonmacnoise Glebe, Shannon-bridge. 



Wade, Mrs., St. Canice Cottage, Kilkenny. 

Walker, Charles Arthur, Esq., Tykillen House, Kyle, Enniscorthy. 

Wall, N., Esq., Architect, Lismore. 

Wallace, Rev. John B., Ardmore. 

Walsh, John, Esq., J.P., Fanningstown, Piltown. 

Walsh, Rev. Michael, P.P., Rosbercon, New Ross. 

Walshe, John, Jun., Esq., Patrick-street, Kilkenny. 

Wandesforde, J. B. C. S., Esq., J.P., Castlecomer House, Castlecomer. 

Ward, Rev. John, A.M., Wath Rectory, Ripon. 

Watters, Patrick, Esq., A.M., Patrick-street, Kilkenny. 

Wat, Albert, Esq., F.S.A., Wonham Manor, Reigate, Surrey. 

Welsh, Alexander Colville, Esq., Dromore, County Down. 

Welsh, Patrick R., Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Newtown Welsh, County 

Kilkenny ; and Yaxley Hall, Eye, Suffolk. 
Wetherelt, Rev. F. W., A.B., Loughcrew Glebe, Oldcastle, County 

Meath. 
Wetherelt, Rev. John Parsons, A.B., Parsonstown. 
Wheeler, Richard, Esq., J.P., Douglas, Isle of Man. 
Whitcroft, John W., Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Kilree, Bennett's-bridge. 
White, John Davis, Esq., Cashel. 
White, Joseph, Esq., Clonmel. 
White, Rev. Newport B., A.B., Cashel. 
Whitfield, Rev. Francis, Annstown, Bonmahon. 
Wilde, William R., Esq., M.D., F.R.C.S.I., M.R.I.A., 21, Westland- 

row, Dublin. 



16 

WnjjAMs, Colonel, D.A.6., Kilkenny. 

Wills, Rev. James, A.M., M.B.LA., Kilmacow, Waterford. 

Wilson, Josefh, Esq., Lurgan. 

Windele, John, Esq., Blair's Castle, Cork. 

WoGAN, John, Esq., Garrick-on-Suir. 

Woodward, Benjamin E., Esq., Architect, 14, Clare-street, DabHn. 

Weight, Rev. W., D.D., Vicarage, Medmenham, Great Marlow, Bucks. 



Corh^^OBix Windele, Esq. 
Wexford. — Hebbebt F. Hobe, Esq. 



Blackett, W. R., Esq., Piltown District. 
Btbne, Mb. Daniel, Timahoe District. 
DowsLEY, John W., Esq., M.D., Clonmel District. 
Dunne, Mb. John, Garryricken District. 
Febouson, James F., Esq., Dublin. 
Habpub, Rev. S. C, Borris-in-Ossory District. 
Leech, John H., Esq., Carrick-on-Suir District. 
Mease, Rev. James, Freshford District. 
MooBE, Rev. Philip, R.C.C., Rosbercon District. 
Peabson, Rev. J. M., Dnnmore District. 
White, John Davis, Esq., Cashel District. 



M. Boucher de Pebthbs, President de la Soci^t^ Royal d'Emulation 
d'Abbeville, France. 



N.B. — ^The Members of the Society are particularly revested to commnnicate to the 
Honorary Secretaries any corrections in this List whidi they may consider necessary. 



Printed by Johv MutLAKT, 47. Fket-tlreet, Dublin. 



TRANSACTIONS 



OF THE 



KILKENNY MCMOLOGICAl SOCIETY, 



FOB THE YEAR 



1852. 



** If any tliere be whidi are dMiroiu to be strangers in thcAr owne soUe, and forrainers in their owne 

dtie, they may so continue, and therein flatter themselTes. For sach like I have not written these 

lines, nor taken these palnes." 

Camdbji. 



VOL. IL— PART I. 



DUBLIN : 

PRINTED FOR THR SOCIBTY, BT 

JOHN O'DALY, 9, ANGLESE A- STREET, 

1863. 



The Committee 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 so far as the 9th and 10th Amended General Rules extend. 



TRANSACTIONS 



or THE 



KILKENNY ARCHiEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 



FOR THE YEAR 1852. 



ANCIENT TAPESTRY OF KILKENNY CASTLE. 

BT THE REV. JAMES GRAVES. 

Amongst the minor paths of history^ few lead to more inviting fields 
of research than those which introduce us to the vie privet of the 
people who lived in by-gone ages. When we can form to ourselves 
clear notions of how they dressed, and what they eat, of the mansions 
they lived in, and the furniture which formed the necessaries or 
luxuries of high and low, history ceases to present us with mere 
abstractions of man and woman, we feel that we know the actors on 
the then stage of life, and take a proportionate interest in their doings 
and ultimate fates. It may by some be thought beneath the dignity 
of the Historic Muse to stoop to such apparent trifles — though I am 
far from being persuaded ot the cogency of the arguments used in 
support of what is called the philosophic school of history : none, 
however, can deny that the leritimate province of such a Society as 
ours, embraces everything which can tnrow light on the past, or aid 
the historian in dashing off a true and vigorous picture of the age he 
may have selected as the subject of his pen. 

It is very much to be feared that comfort^ in the modem accep- 
tation of the term, had no place in the vocabulary of the people who 
lived in what are called ''the good old times." Carpettea floors, 
and papered walls, air-tight vrindow-sashes, and close-fitting doors 
they Knew and recked not of. The chamber of the prince and the 
hut of the peasant were alike strewn with rushes ; but, whilst the 
latter was obliged to brook the mud-built walls of his cabin, the 
former hid the rugged masonry of his castle hall with temporary 
hangings, which were, in general, carried from place to place in his 
train ; the expensive nature of the material preventing those — except. 



perhaps. Royalty itself — who boasted of more than one house* from 
providing each residence with furniture of this nature* A letter, 
which will be quoted in the course of this short memoir, proves that 
in the families of the first nobles of the realm this custom prevailed 
even so late as the termination of the 17th century; whuet many 
an old mansion exhibits, even at the present day, the storied tapestry 
which had adorned the more ancient residences of the family, in times 
long gone by. Many persons can well remember the " Tapestry 
Chamber" wnich existed in the Castle of Kilkenny, previously to the 
late remodelling of that building. Some of the present generation, 
however, have never seen the hangings of this room, which were 
taken down about twenty-eight years ago on the dismantling of the old 
edifice, and since that period have not been accessible to the public. 
The entire suit consists of six pieces, thirteen feet deep, and varying 
from fourteen to twenty-two feet in length. The " action" oi the 
pictorial drama is, in some instances, rather obscure ; but it is evident 
that it was meant to represent what the ancient Inventories still ex- 
tant in the Ormonde Evidence Chamber, term " the story of Decius." 
The sequence of the pieces is probably as follow^ : — 

It will be recollected that P. Decius Mus, and T. Manlius 
Torquatus were consuls in the year before Christ 340, when the 

f'eat Latin war called forth all the energies of the*Roman Republic, 
he conBuls, who conjointly led the Roman army against the Latins^ 
are represented in the first of the large pieces as receiving firom the 
pontifex maximus, or high priest, a statue of Mars holding in his 
hand a winged Victory, prophetic and emblematic of the event of the 
war. In tne meantime it was revealed to Decius, in a night vision, 
that the army of one nation, and the general of the other, were 
devoted to the infernal deities, and to mother earth. He then held 
a conference with his brother consul, and it was agreed between them, 
that, if in the approaching battle either of them perceived his division 
wavering, he should devote himself to death for the safety of the 
army, and to secure victory to the side of the Romans : this forms 
the second sulyect. Decius, perceiving his wing yielding before the 
fierce onset ox the Latin forces, immediately proceeded to devote 
himself, and, accordingly, in another piece he is represented as per- 
forming that ceremony before his brother consul ; a fourth department 
represents him in the custody of the lictors, apparently about to suffer 
the flagellation usual before the sacrificial act. Next comes the battle 
scene, an admirable composition, in which Decius is represented as 
combating single-handed against crowds of opponents. This compo- 
sition is a most admirable example of bold fore-shortening and spirited 
action. One must admire the grey horse rearing under his slain rider, 
and the rigid muscles of the dead warrior stretched in the fore-ground. 
The devoted Latins (for Decius by bis act devoted them along with 
himselO ^^ represented in the back ground as routed and flying. A 
sixth piece of tapestry represents the funeral pile of the dead nero, 



with the trophy, and chained Latin captives indicative of victory.' 
I do not hesitate to say that the entire series exhibits talent of the 
highest order, both in the original design, and subsequent execution 
by the difficult process of the loom ; and I am persuaded that the 
artist who designed the subjects must have been eminent in his time. 
It is worthy of remark that the pillars which divide the compartments 
are similar to those which occur in Raphael's cartoon of the ^^ Healing 
of the lame man at the BeautiAil Gate of the Temple," which it may 
be remembered was also intended to be worked in tapestry. 

As it is desirable that whatever is known of the history of these 
fine examples of ancient art should be placed on record, I have briefly 
thrown together a few notes from unpublished sources, derived by the 
noble owner's permission from the Ormonde Manuscripts, and which 
I beg to submit to the members of the Society. 

We are informed by Sir James Ware, in his ^'Annals of Ireland," 
and by Carte, in his Introduction to the ^^ Life of James, Duke of 
Ormond," that Piers, earl of Ormonde, and his lady, Margaj-et 
Fitzgerald, established at Kilkenny the manufacture of tapestry, Tur- 
key carpets, diapers, &c., for which purpose he introduced workmen 
from Flanders. The manuscript Inventories still remaining in Kil- 
keimy Castle, show that Thomas, the tenth earl, Peter's successor, 
was possessed of many suits of tapestry hangings, and richly wrought 
canpets, which probably may have come from the Kilkenny looms. 
It IS well known that on the death of earl Thomas, James I. unjustly 
aided his favourite, Preston, af^rwards created viscount Dingwall 
and earl of Desmond-^to whom he gave in marris^e Elizabeth, only 
daughter, and heir*general of earl Thomas—- in seizing the property 
of earl Walter, the heir-male, and decreed to the former Kilkenny 
Castle, and the greater part of the Ormonde property. There is pre- 
served in the Evidence Chamber an Inventory of the goods of the 
earl of Desmond, which had originally, no doubt, been the property 
of earl Thomas. From this Inventory, dated 20th December, 1630, 
I have made the following extracts : — 

Id the Castle of Kilkenny, In my Lo : of TuUye's chamber, 5 peece of tapestry, 
praised at ^' str. Sold to Mr. Dayid Roth. 

In the staire head chamber, 5 peeces of Tapestry praised 1(K*> 10«- Sold to Philipp 
Pieroevall, Esquire, for 16^'- 

In the white tower chamber, 4 peeces of Tapestry praised at S&'- str. Sold to Mr. 
Henry Masterson for 8& 

In the chamber neere the gallery 18 peeces of Tapestry praised att 5(K*- Sold to 
the Earl of Corke for lOS'^- 

In ^* A Note of such stufie, as are to be bought for the earl of 
Ormond and Ossory" occurs " Item three pieces of Tapestry, suitable 

I Many persons suppose that this suit self-devoted Decius, really represents the 

of tapeatry comprises the events of the two order for the execution of the disobedient ^ 

Latin Wars, and that what is supposed but brave son of Torquatus. This coigec- 

above to represent the scourging of the ture is not improbable. 



to the Tapestry in Carrick." This ^* note" has reference to the goods 
above alluded to as having belonged to the earl of Desmond. 

We next meet with a nodce of the following pieces of tapestry 
hangings as being in the marquis (afterward duke) of Ormondes 
possession at Caen, after his withdrawal from Ireland; the date of 
the Inventory is May 12th9 1652. 

Five peeoei of Tapestrie, forest work. Five peeces of Tobias. 

Five peeces of the Ta^trie of Cyrus. Five peeces more of Tobias. 

Five peeces of Abasuerus. Five peeces of Palamon. 

Five peeces of Paal. Ftve peeces of Ilias. 

These hangings appear to have been brought over to France, and 
afterwards to nave come back to Ireland with the family when they 
returned at the Restoration, as we find them all specifically mentioned 
in an Inventory of the ^oods and furniture belonging to the duke, in 
his several houses in Ireland, dated 1684. And ^om another Inven- 
tory, of 1689, we are informed that the '^five peeces of Paul" con- 
tained ** y* story of y* sacrifice of y* unknown gods." A suit of 
*^ Sampson" is also mentioned, whereof a good specimen still remains, 
namely, the closing scene of Sampsop's life, the pulling down of the 
Philistine temple. 

The earliest date at which I have met any notice of the magni- 
ficent suit of tapestry hangings, which forms the more immediate sub- 
ject of this memoir, is in an ** Inventory of the duke and dutchess 
of Ormonde's goods at Kilkenny, Dunmore, and Clonmell, the 25th 
of August, 1675," where it heaos the following curious list, which I 
have been tempted to transcribe at length from the intrinsic interest 
which it possesses. I may observe that the suit still in existence 
answers exactly to the dimensions given, namely, thirteen feet deep ; 
and of the identity of the design, " the story of Dietius" — Decius, 
who devoted himself to death for the good of ms country in the Latin 
war — there can be no question. The other suit, which is described 
as "of several horses," is in another Inventory alluded to as exhibiting 
" men on horseback :" — 

surrs OF hangings. 

1. One suite of Antwerp hangings, containing Seaven peeces of the Story of Dietius, 
thirteene foote deepe. 

2. One suite of Brussells hangings, containing eight peeces of the story of Achilles, 
elleven foote deepe. Fouer peeces of these in my'Ladye's drawing roome. 

3. One suite of Antwerp hangings, containing eight peeces of the story of Octayius 
Cesar, eleaven foote deepe. Six peeces of these in the north chamber of the gallery. 

4. One suite of L4unbeth hangings, containing six peeces onely of sevenll horses, 
elleaven foote deepe. 

5. One suite of fine Antwerp hangings, containing eight peeces, all Land Skipp, 
eleaven foote deepe. Fouer peeces of these in ye south end chamber of the Gallery. 

6. One suite of Antwerp hangings, containing seaven peeces of the story of Palipheme 
[Pholypheme], tenn foote deepe. Hve pieces of these in my Lady Dutchesses chamber. 

7. One suite of Antwerp hangings, containing six peeces, (forest work, tenn foote 
deepe. Foure peeces of these in my Lady Arran's chamber. 



8. One rait of Antwerp hangings, containing five peeces, the story of Aswerus 
and Hester, nine foote deepe. Foore peeces of these in the roome over my Lord's closet 
in the Tower. 

9. One suite of Antwerp hangings, containing five peeces of Land Skippe, tenne 
foote deepe. 

10. One suite of Antwerp hangings, containing foure peeces of the story of Cyrus, 
deaven foote deepe. 

11. One suite of oidd Brussells hangings, conteining five peeces of very small figure, 
eleren foote deepe. 

12. One suite of Antwerp hangings, containing five peeces of the story of Diana and 
her Nymphs, nine foote deepe. 

13. One suite of Ordinary Dutch hangings, conteining five peeces of Land Skipp 
worke, nine foote deepe, whereof one peece without silk. 

14. Two peeoel of Dutch Landsldpp hangings, nine foote deepe. These in my Ld. 
Arran's Dressing Roome. 

1 5. Seaven peeces of ould scoured imagery hangings, eleaven foote deepe. Six peeces 
of these in my Lord John's chamber. 

16. Power peeces of ould scoured imagery hangings, eleaven foote deepe, and one 
other peece of the same sort, tenne foote deepe. All these in Mr. Lowe's chamber. 

17. Five peeces of ould scoured Landskipp hangings, nine foote deepe. All these 
for Clonmell Dineing Roome. 

18. Five peeces of ould scoured imagery hangings, nine foote deepe. All these for 
the Drawing Roome at Clonmell. 

19.a One ould peece of Imagery hangings, five ells, ten foote deepe. 
19.6 One suite of ordinary Dutch hangings, conteineing five peeces, the story of 
the Cobler, eight foote deepe. These are in Mr. fferris' chamber. 

20. Three Tapestry Sumpture Cloths. 

21. One suite of New Tapestry hangings, eight foote deepe, conteineing five peeces. 
The story of Don Quixott. 

22. Three peeces of new Tapestry hangings, about eight foote deepe, made for my 
Lord Duke's new Dressing Roome. 

Belonging to Dunmore. 

23. Five fine peeces of English hangings, the story of Palidore, nine foote deepe. 
For y« Drawing Roome. 

24. Three fine pieces of English hangings, Baiorells, nine foote deepe. For my 
Lady's chamber. 

25. Three peeces of flBlne Antwerpe hangings, Landskipp, small imagery, eight foote 
deepe. The upper alcove chamber. 

No. 1 1 in this curious list, ^^ the ould Brussells hangings, of very 
small fiqure^^ is probably that mentioned in an ^^ Inventory of the 
goods 01 Richard, earl of Desmond, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter 
and heir-general to Thomas, earl of Ormonde, in their mansion 
house of jDonnin^on, Parish of Shaine, County Berks, March 6, 
1628,*' and valued very highly. " Item sixteene peeces of little^ in 
hangings which were in pawne to Mr. William Pearse, w^ Mr. 
Patrick Weemes redeemed from him for the some of 48'*- 10'- 0*" 

The " peeces of Don Quixott," no longer in existence, exhibit, I 
believe, an early instance of the popularity of Cervantes' immortal 
work in England : the Dutch series of " the story of the Cobler" 
would no doubt be curious did we possess it ; of most of the re- 
mainder are extant several fragments in a very decayed state, but 
still curious. I have been informed by the last occupant of Carrick 
Castle, Mr. Wogan of Carrick, that wnen his tenancy ceased one of 
the rooms was hung with tapestry representii^ the story of Sampson, 
which he states was taken down and removed to Kilkenny. 



8 

The tapestry hangings containing the histonr of Decius were 
subsequently placed in the room still called " the Tjipestry Chamber," 
situate in the north-eastern tOTver of Kilkenny Castle, overhanging 
the river, where they remained till taken down in the year 1824, pre- 
paratory to the remodelling of the structure, and were stored away 
until removed from their concealment last autumn by the marquis of 
Ormonde. The six remaining pieces of "the stoiy of Decius" have 
been repaired and re-lined, and bid fair to last for many years to 
come. Besides this series there are five other pieces in a state of pre- 
servation, more or less perfect, making, with one very much injured, 
twelve in all. The six last alluded to comprise some landscapes, 
into which many birds and beasts are introduced, Vulcan for&rinfir the 
arms of AchiU^ with modem fire-irons, guns, pistols, and omnon 
lying about the god's forge, and the scene from Sampson's History 
already mentioned. 

I diall conclude this hurried sketch, which might be considerably 
extended without exhausting the materials, by subjoining a transcript 
of an original letter, also preserved in the Evidence Chamber, which 
both proves the high value set on these adornments in the days of the 
Second Charles, and shows that in consequence of their expensive 
nature they were carried about from house to house by even the 
noble and wealthy families of the day : — 

Sir — Tou will pardon this troble which is to acqnaiiit you by my ladi'a order that 
my Lord having bought the House he lives in till the 25th of March with some furniture 
that must then be returned, which must agen be supplyed by you for theyr Orases use, 
the byeing or hireing of tapestry hangings being expensive : my lady beleeves it much 
better to send for som of those hangings that lye by unused at Kilkenny and has ordered 
Hoskins to send 3 suits of tapestry hangings which are the whole suet of Decius, the suet 
of Akiles, the suet of hors hangings ; aUso all the silver sconses, which ar all redy packt 
up and set up in the waiting room, if they are not well and secure for caridg Hoskins is 
desired to pack them beter, and to convey aU that is sent for to Dublin, where Captain 
Backstar has orders to receav them, and send them to London. My lady desires you 
will take notis what is sent, that so there may be no mistake in the Inventory. By all 
this you will judg there are no resolutions of a sodden return, but tis but erly days for 
that ; but tis thought if ther Grases stay but to the end of the somer tis worth the 
sending for the hangings. 

Sir I should be very glad if during our stay hear I could be capable of any manner 
of servis for you, if so let me receaiv your comands which shall be most faithfully per- 
formed by her who is 

Sr. your friend and servant 

Eliea Lows. 

My servis to Mrs. Smith and your son and daughter. I thank God my Lord and 
Lady and all their children hear are well. I beg you will convey this to Mrs. Blnndle, for 
I know not where she is. 

Address—" These for Mr. Valentine Smith at his House at Kilkenny." 
Endorsed — *' My Lady Dutchess and Mrs. Lowe for things to be sent to England 
and answer, 28 Feb. 1682." 

Since the above lines were written, the following communication 
has been received from John Ward Dowsley, Esq., M.D., Clonmel, 
in answer to inquiry as to the fate of the ancient tapestry of Carrick 
Castle : — 



Clonmel. 5th July, 18A3. 

Mt Dba& Ste — I received yours of the 29th alt., tnd am sorry to say that I 
have not the tq>e8try you allude to. I think about twelve years since, I saw it in 
Carrick Castle. There were two large pieces, one was ** Sampson killing the Lion," the 
subject of the other I do not now recollect. It was very much faded, as it was lying 
there I suppose for a couple of centuries, and going fast to decay. I got a friend of 
mine to enquire of Lord Ormonde's agent (I do not remember his name) if it would be 
sold : he would not sell it, and a short time after I heard it was sent to Kilkenny Castle. 
I have four pieces of Tapestry — 1st " Hercules and Omphale;" this is 10 feet by 12, 
coloaring very brilliant. 2nd, ** Rebecca at the Well," 9 feet by 18, rather faded. The 
two othttv are sporting subjects, very old and much faded. I had two other pieces, one 
a " Meny-making," after Teniers, 10 feet by 18, containing fifty-two figures, colours very 
good. The other, " Jupiter and Leda," 10 feet by 12 ; these I parted with to a gentleman 
in Carrick — Mr. Wogan. 

I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, 

Bev. •Atmer Gravtt. John W. Dowslst. 

The second piece of tapestry which was originally at Carrick 
Castle, and the subject oi which Dr. Dowsley was not able to 
remember, is probably Sampson pulling down the Philistine temple, 
already alluded to as being at present at Kilkenny Castle. 



AN AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT 
or 

THE DEATH OP WALLENSTEIN, 

I 
WITH A VINDICATION OF THE MOTIVES OF COLONEL WALTER BUTLER. 

BT FRANCIS PRENDEROAST, ESQ.. BARRISTER-AT-LAW. 

The death of Wallenstein, the principal figure in the Thirty Tears' 
War, has always been enveloped in a mystery never entirely ex- 
plained^ even to the present dav. Schiller's tragedy, his masterpiece, 
" The Death of Wallenstein, has given the subject a world-wide 
renown, and invested the character of the hero of the drama with a 
grandeur which has not only caused posterity to deal leniently with 
his errors or his crimes, but to pass even a harsher judgment than 
usual, on those who are supposed to have betrayed him to his death. 
Our object here, however, is to show that the most recent researches 
have placed the whole transaction in a very different light from that 
in which it has been hitherto viewed, and to prove that Butler, the 
author of Wallenstein's death, does not deserve the obloquy that has 
been heaped upon his name by the great poet and historian, as well 
as by writers oi later d^te. JEfutler was one of the family of Paul&- 
town, a cadet branch of the great house of Ormonde, and it ou^ht 
not to be a matter of indifference to the county of Kilkenny, or, in- 

2 



10 

deed, to Irelandy whether the name of one of her sons, which must 
remain on the page of history, should stand there in its proper charac- 
ter as that of a soldier of fortune, who had won his way to honours 
and estates by fidelity and valour, or, as it has hitherto appeared, as 
that of a base and hired assassin, incited by sordid motives to execute 
the behests of an ungrateful sovereign. 

The usual story of the close of Wallenstein's career runs to the 
effect that he had grown too powerful with the army under his com- 
mand, and that the emperor Ferdinand, fearing to attempt to remove 
him from it or deprive him of the extraordinary powers with which 
he had been invested, meditated his ruin, and even his assassination. 
That Wallenstein, apprised of the intrigues of his enemies at the 
Imperial court, and aware of his danger, entered into treasonable 
communications with the Swedes and Saxons, and tampered with the 
loyalty of the army — endeavouring to secure its fidelity to himself by 
means of a written bond or pact, which the principal officers, and 
among them Walter Butler, the commander of an Irish dragoon regi- 
ment, voluntarily subscribed their names to, and thereby entered into 
a traitorous conspiracy against the emperor. That a proclamation 
was i^ued against Wallenstein, offering rewards for his arrest alive or 
dead, and that he retired, accompanied by some of his troops, and 
among them Butler's regiment, to the fortified place of Eger, and 
was there, with his principal officers, treacherously assassins^t^d by 
Butler, aided by Lesley, Gordon, Devereux, and other Scotch and 
Irish officers. That Butler was the instigator of this assassination, and 
as such received honours and rewards from the emperor. 

Such are the outlines of the account given by Schiller in his 
tragedy, and in his " History of the Thirty Years' War," by Forster, 
by colonel Mitchell, and other authors, who, however their opinions 
may vaiy as to Wsdlenstein's innocence or ^uilt, are unanimous in 
considering the deed of Butler as base and unworthy of a man of 
honour. *' We must strive," says Mitchell^ p. 106, alluding to the 
officers from these kingdoms in the Imperial service, *'to find in their 
military glory some compensatioa for toe foul blot which we shall see 
British hands inflicting on the name and fame of our country/' 

But the position of Butler and his conduct towards Wallenstein 
appear very differently in the excellent History of the Austrian 
Empire, lately published by John cotmt MailJLth.^ He has had 
access to and examined very carefully the public archives at Vienna 
and Pra^e ; it is not necessary here to bnng forward the evidence 
by which Wallenstein's treasonable intrigues with France are made 
manifest, it is sufficient to state that it is difficult to doubt that he 
engaged in such, and that the emperor^ who had long harboured 
suspicions, was suddenly informed of Wallenstein's dealings with 
Prance through the channel of the duke of Savoy. 

I Geickicktt det d»treiekiiehe% Kmitirtt^&ttei^ eon Jtfhann Grtfen if«ftt/A. Ham- 
burgh, 1850. 



u 

Mftitiith States that the eflfi>rtB of Wallensteui's enemies at the 
ImperuJ court suddenly acquired great feree by an entirely unex- 
pected communication &om the court of Savoy, by which the em- 
peror was fully and completely informed of Wallenstein's negotiations 
with the French court. At the same time, intelligence was received 
from various quarters of the written agreement subscribed by the 
colonels of the Imperial army at Pilsen. This was ^e last drop in 
the cup, and determined the Imperial court to take decided steps 
i^ainst Wallenstein. The emperor signed a proclamation by which 
he wi^drew the chief command from Wallenstein and conferred it 
upon GaUas, but apprehensive of Wallenstein's influence over the 
army they did not venture tojpublish the proclamation till its fidelity 
eookl be ascertained. When Wallenstein called the officers to a second 
meeting at Pilsen, Gallas thought it time to come forward, and issued 
a public notice to the army not to obey in ftiture any orders from 
Wallenstein or his officers, out only from himself and other ^nerals 
named in the proclamation. It is necessary here to observe that this 
proclamation is stated by most authors to have been a proclamation 
of outiawry, offering rewards to whomsoever should take Wallenstein 
alive or dead. But this is not true, it was only to remove him from 
the command of the army, and went no further. It appears quite 
dearly, from the correspondence between the Imperial generals who 
superseded Wallenstein, that their object was to drive him out of 
Bohemia, and that his death, in the manner in ^fhich it took place, 
was quite unexpected by them. When Widlenstein, who was at 
Pilsen, was informed that a proclamation deponng him from the com- 
mand had been posted publicly in Prague, ne endeavoured to collect 
his army and retire to form a junction with the Swedes. But the 
greater part of the troops abandoned him, and he entered Eger with 
only ten companies of two regiments and 200 dragoons of Butler's 
regiment. MaiUlth says, ^ immediately about him were his brother- 
in-law Kinsky, Bio, T^rzka, and Butler. This last, Wallenstein had, 
to his own destruction, compelled to accompany him to Eger. He 
was a Catholic Irishman, a colonel in the Imperial army, commanding 
a r^ment of dragoons, consisting chiefly of Irishmen." Hitherto 
little more has been known about Butler during the last days of Wal- 
leoetdui, tiian what is stated by Forster, and in the *' Austrian Military 
JoamaL^' It is to thb eflfect : Gallas informs the emperor, *^ colonel 
Butler has let me know that he will remain true, and endeavour to 
do his dnty to your majesty, which will be no elight impediment to 
pcevent the traaitors from executing their designs/* Gallas writes 
nuther, on the 27th of Feb. 16M, to Maradas : *' Butler sends word 
to me that, if Arnim comes within two miles of £ger, he will arrest, 
or alay, the traitor (Wallenstein)." But Diodati wrote to Gallas: 
*^ that the poor cavalier ^Butler) had only gone to Eger upon com- 
pulrion, and t^at he had already written to him (Diodati) tiiat he 
would withdraw himseU/' Up to this time we have had no other 



12 

clue to Butler's sentiments ; but a document hitherto unknown throws 
much light upon the conduct and feelings of Butler in the last days 
of Wallenstein. This is an account of what occurred, written by his 
regimental chaplain, father Patrick Taaffe, which has been round 
among the legal papers of a suit between the relations of Butler, con* 
ceming the property he had left. TaafTe's account is dated Prague, 
12th February, 1653, and it would appear that he had been requested 
by another priest to relate to him tne course of the events at Eger, 
and Taafie m his answer gives a circumstandal account of what oc- 
curred. He states that Butler was in winter quarters at Klatrub, and 
his regiment was dispersed in detachments to guard the passes from 
the upper Palatinate into Bohemia, when suddenly at midnight a 
courier arrived from the duke of Friedland, with express orders that 
the colonel should at once, without loss of time, assemble his regiment 
and march to the White Mountain, near Prague. ^^ The colonel aston- 
ished, had me awakened and called to him. He assured me that this 
unexoected order of the generalissimo confirmed him in the suspicions 
which he had entertained, of his disloyalty, on several previous occa- 
sions. For what else is it, said he, to call away me and my soldiers 
from the defence of the passes against the enemy so near to us, but to 
open the door to the enemy and invite him into Bohemia ? But go 
we must, said he, for so peremptory an order cannot be disobeyed. 
He added to this : I thinx that I shall die on the White Mountain, 
but if, as I hope, I find many honourably-minded, and of approved 
fidelity, I shall not die unrevenged ; and I think that the White 
Mountain will be stained with more blood than in the battle against 
the Palatine Frederick." Taaffe then relates that the detachments 
of the regiment were immediately called in and that they marched 
towards rilsen. About half way, they met some, cavalry and infantry 
with baggage from which lUo or Terzka (Taaffe does not remember 
which) geJlopped forward, and, in the name of the generalissimo, or- 
dered Butler to join them and march towards Mies. On the 22nd of 
Feb., continues Taaffe, we arrived at Mies. By order of the duke of 
Friedland, and contrary to military usage, the colonel was obliged to 
pass the night with the colours, in the town, while the soldiers re- 
mained witnout in the field. This still further increased his suspicions 
of Wallenstein, as he concluded firom it that they feared he would 
make his escape. He consulted with father Taaffe, who advised him 
to fly, but Butler maintained that flight was unworthy of a courageous 
man, and that it would be of no advantage to the emperor, unless he 
could bring off the soldiers and the colours with him. On the next 
day, Butler and his regiment were so placed on the march among the 
other troops, that he could not remain behind, and go off with them 
as he intended to do if he could. Butler was again, on this ni^ht, 
separated, with the colours, firom the regiment. He sent for fauier 
Taaffe, and after a nrivate conversation with him, sent him with a 
written message, in the English language, to Gallas, or Piccolomini, 



13 

to the effect, that he would die a hundred deaths rather than draw 
his sword traitorously against the interests of the emperor ; and also 
told Taaffe to assure whichever of them he should meet first, that he 
might be considered in all respects, a faithful and honourable officer of 
his majesty. He even added, continues Taaffe, that perhaps by the 
special providence of God, he had been compelled to this march, that 
he mi^ht perform some especially heroic act. Taaffe then relates that 
he dehvered the message to Piccolomini, at Pilsen, and that the latter 
said he had never doubted Butler's loysJty to the emperor, but that, 
as he was placed among the disaffected, in order that others who were 
not so well acquainted with his character, might know it also, Taaffe 
should, as secretly as possible, apprise him in writing to return, and 
bring Wallenstein witn him alive or dead, if he wished to be advanced 
by the emperor. '* Of all this," says Taaffe, ** I was an eye-witness." 

** I here," proceeds Mail4th, " interrupt father Patrick Taaffe's 
narrative, to make some observations. When Butler was at Klatrub, 
the emperor's proclamation against Wallenstein was unknown to him, 
for otherwise he would not have obeyed Wallenstein's order to march 
to the White Mountain ; and nevertheless, he already suspected 
Wallenstein's disaffection. He believed that tliere was a great faction 
for Wallenstein in the army, and expected a great battle at the 
White Mountain, between the emperor s troops and the adherents of 
Wallenstein; the latter must therefore have already given many 
tokens of treason, and his proceedings have met with approbation in 
the arm^. — Further, the decision which Butler came to, and ex- 
ecuted m regard to Wallenstein, was his own and not from any 
superior authority ; for the letter of Taaffe, containing Piccolomini's 
charge, to bring in Wallenstein living or dead, did not reach Butler 
befove the deed. If this had happened, Taaffe would relate it, and 
Butler would have made its contents of effect with Gordon and Leslie, 
which he did not do, as the continuation of Taaffe's story proves. 
Lastly, Taaffe's account is quite worthy of credit, for he separates 
accurately what he communicated as an eye-witness from that which 
^e only heard ; and even in that which he ^ves as from an eye- 
witness, he distinguishes accurately what he knew with certainty, 
from that which he does not remember well." 

The continuation of Taaffe's narrative is as follows : — 

That which follows I relate firom Butler's own account, whom I ever found not less 
true in words than brave in deeds. On the way from Plana to Eger, Friedland had 
Butler summoned to his carriage and held, contrary to his custom, the following friendly 
and confidential conversation with him. He said — Herr Butler, I regret that I have 
hitherto been so strange, and even ungrateful, to so brave and meritorious a commander 
of a regiment ; but the blame rests not so much upon rae as on the emperor, who pro* 
mised me mndi with which I could have rewarded meritorious officers and brave soldiers ; 
but as he did not keep his promise, it has not only been out of my power to recompense 
the military according to my wishes, but I am also even compelled, not so much on my 
own account as for the sake of my officers, to take another course by which I can oblige 
the emperor to fulfil his promise, so that I may be able to recompense the deserving. 
Among these I am aware that few come before Herr Butler. But that he may see how 



14 

hig^y I esteem him, and how maeh I shall benefit him, I will giTe hin two regimtentS"^ 
one of horse and one of infantry of Terzka's, and besides this appoint in Hamburg 
200,000 (as well as 1 remember) dollars, for the raising of fresh soldiers through my 
envoys in England, Seotiand, and Ireland, and quarters, or a mustering place, at the 
same town. Butler answered to this with great but feigned expression of thanks, ior 
the offer of so many and such high marks of favour — ^that he owed no duty or allegiance 
to the emperor ezeept as a soldier ; and that he might therefore preserve his honour, 
which was dearer to him than his life, without spot, he would first write to request his 
discharge from the emperor, which he had no doubt of obtaining, as he could not compel 
a freeman and a foreigner into his service ; he would then prefer to serve his highnesst 
whose great science in the conduct of armies, and good fortune in battles above all men 
he had learned by experience. I do not^remember that any thing else, except this con- 
versation happened upon the way. After the arrival at Eger, Butler and the colours, «a 
had been done the whole way, were assigned quarters in the town, while his soldiers 
remained without in the field. On the first night of his arrival at Egeft Butler invited 
lieutenant-colonel Gordon and watchmaster Leslie, ofllcers of the infantry regiment of 
Terzka, at that time forming the garrison of Eger, to his qnartere. After they, according 
to military custom, had drunk somewhat, whether from design or from ihe wine, he 
began to speak more unreservedly ; he endeavoured to make out their sentimenta, and 
thus addressed them. — I came unexpectedly here, brother officers, I did not dream of 
this unexpected expedition. I should be very glad to know what you think of it, for it 
appears to me very strange that our generalissimo, who formerly never approaehed Ihe 
enemy unless with some 50,000 men, now advances towards him with only some five or 
six thousand ? When they answered that this novelty looked very like treachery ; 
Butler said : This has long been my opinion ; we must therefore, take counsel together 
how we may keep unstained our honour and the aUegianee which we owe to hia 
Imperial majesty. We are foreigners, and have no other inheritance except fidelity and 
honour, which are to be preferred to everything else. After he had said a good deal 
more to bring their minds to the determination which he had already taken, but which 
he did not yet disclose to them (for as they were then of a different religion, and also 
officers of count Teizka, he did not trust them), lieutenant-colonel Gordon counselled 
fiight, which was easy, as he bad the keys of the town. Butler answered that it would 
be disgracefcd to fiy and leave behind the emperor*s soldiers and colours which he had 
entrusted to them, so that tbey might be led against the emperor. Moreover their flight 
would be of little use to the emperor, for he knew well that in his regiment there were 
hardly any three who could not perform as good services as they three without soldiers ; 
they must therefore think of some other method more glorious to them and more advan- 
tageous to the emperor. At last, watchmaster Leslie, with mudi courage and openness, 
burst out with the words as mui^ longed for as suggested by Butler, Let ns slay the 
traitors ! Upon this, Butler much cheered, said. Stand by me, brothers, only pledge 
yourselves to keep the secret, and admit privately into the town some of my faithful 
officers and soldiers. I take the dangerous execution upon myself, for the support of the 
Almighty has never failed those who undertake what is difficult for Uie sake of God, 
justice, and loyalty. In desperate situations God helps in an unexpected manner. 
Lieutenant- colonel Gordon refused for a time to join in this determination, whether it 
was from fickleness or on account of the greatness of the danger, but at last, encouraged 
by Butler, he agreed. 

So far the account of Patrick Taaffe. The narrative of the 
murder of Wallenstein and his adherents is nearly the same as that 
which has hitherto been known. I wiQ indicate in their proper 
places any new matter supplied by Taaffe. I now return to the 
account of the last moments of the ufe of Wallenstein. 

In the morning of the 25th of Februa^, Gordon and Leslie ad- 
mitted unremarked into the town several officers of Butler's regiment, 
namely Devereux, Geraldine, De Burgo, MacDonald, and a few more 
officers, about 100 privates of ButWs regiment, and almost as many 
German soldiers. Gordon invited Einsky, Bio, Terzka, and captain 



15 

Neumann* to dinner. They were to have been murdered therey but 
the invited desired inatead, an evening feast. Gordon agreed to this, 
and the deed was thus put off till the night. In the meanwhile the 
report spread that the Swedes were advancing; that thev would 
enter Eger next day — HIo himself told this ezultinelv. This was a 
firesh ground for Butler to slay Wallenstein and bis confederates. 
Night came on. When the guests appeared at the feast, De Burgo 
joined himself with 100 men to the patrol ; he said it was done by 
command of the generalissimo on account of the nearness of the 
enemy, but the resd reason was that any movement that might take 
place might be immediately suppressed. Twenty men beset the gate 
m Gordon's residence : they nad orders to let no one in or out 
without Butler's order. When the servants went to their supper 
their doors were also guarded ; a curious servant who wished to ^t 
out of the chamber was cut down. The officers were still sitting 
drinking when Butler^s dragoons entered the apartment from two 
sides. Geraldine, who commanded them, cried out, " who is for the 
emperor ?" Gordon and Leslie sprung up, drew their swords, took 
eacn a light from the table in his hand, and cried, " long live the 
House of Austria !" Kinsky and lUo were cut down as they were 
hastening to get their weapons. Terska, by good luck, laid hold of 
his sword, placed himself m a comer, and defended himself manfully. 
His doublet of elk-skin protected him from many thrusts, so that the 
dragoons thought he bore a charmed life, but at last he fell to the 
ground pierced through the body. Neumann had escaped out of the 
room, but as he did not know the watchword the guard cut him 
down upon the stairs. Geraldine went immediately with twelve 
dragoons to the castle. He was admitted, as he ^ve out that he 
brought intelligence to the duke. As he hastened to the duke's 
chamber, female shrieks from the other wine of the castle penetrated 
into Wallenstein's sleeping room. It was tne cry of lamentation of 
the countesses Kinsky and Terska, who had just learned the murder 
of their husbands. Wallenstein had arisen and gone to the windows, 
and had asked of the watch what the noise was. Then Geraldine, 
witii his fi)ot thrusting open the door of the sleeping apartment, called 
out, ^* art thou the traitor who would deprive tne emperor of his 
crown and kingdom ?" Wallenstein stretched out his arms in silence ; 
Geraldine's partizan pierced through his unflinching breast, and he 
SBiik upon the grouna without a groan. 

What Butler did the next day best appears again from Taaffe's 
narrative. It is stated there, that on the next morning he simimoned 
the town council, told them of the deed, and the reasons for it, and 
administered to them the oath of allegiance to the emperor. He 
then proceeded, accompanied by a few, to the regiments in camp 
outside of the town, and of whose lovalty he had strong doubts. He 
demanded from them a similar oatn, which they took, without a 
single refusal. 



16 

After Butler had ascertained, by looking through some letters 
found with Friedland, that the duke of Saxe» Francis Albert, would 
soon appear in person (as his letter promised), and that troops would 
follow him for the purpose of opening the closed passes that the con« 
federated regiments might imite with Friedland, and carry out their 
chief design ; he (Butler) sent out several squadrons of horse and 
dragoons upon the roads, which lead to the Piuatinate, with orders to 
take the aibresaid duke wherever they might find him, and bring 
him in the emperor s name to Eger, which was also done.^ 

To Grallas, Butler reported briefly the slaying of Wallenstein, and 
in conjunction with Gordon, issued a proclamation to the army. In 
this it is stated that Wallenstein intngued with the two electois of 
Saxony and Brandenburg, and would have plunged not only the 
army, but also the emperor's hereditary kingdoms and states into 
the most extreme danger and ruin* Wherefore, they, as the emperor's 
loyal subjects, had taken the most energetic means at hand to pre* 
serve the emperor's hereditary kingdom and states, and thereby 
inform them tnat, by the singular direction and providence of the 
Almighty and his assistance to the military execution, on the day 
before, the rebels and conspirators against his Imperial majesty had 
been brought to nought, and from lue to death. In conclusion, aU 
were called upon to have a particularly watchful eye upon the 
fortified places, and to obey no orders except those coming expressly 
from his Imperial majesty ; and in fine, to have at heart the impor- 
tance of preserving uie general weal as the emperor's service and 
their allegiance required. The troops remained quiet. In one place 
only, in Silesia, some regiments revolted, but were soon qmckly 
brought to order. 

Having thus set forth the facts which relate to the murder of 
Wallenstein, it now remains tc^inquire who caused it. 

It has hitherto been believed that the emperor caused the assas- 
sination, inasmuch as he had given the order to take Wallenstein 
alive or dead, ahd had thereby proscribed him. This assertion and 
view is founded principally upon "The Complete and Authentic 
Account of the Horrible Treason of the late Fnedland and his Ad- 
herents, published by the Special Command of his Imperial Majesty."^ 
This exculpatory document has naturally and excusably misled 
even the contemporary Imperialist writers, Khevenhiiller and Gualdo 
Priorato. But as the proscribing clause in question was not contained 
in either the first or second proclamation, it has been sought to re- 

1 Here ends all that is worth extracting elusion, that Butler met with so gracious 

from Taaffe's letter. The remainder is only a reception from the Imperial court, that 

in praise of the modesty of Butler, who he never could do enough to evince his 

ever afterwards when the subject was men- sense of it. 

tioned, ascribed the whole to the providence * Vienna, 1634, pp. 38. This was the 

of God, which had always, in such a re- official apology published by the Irope- 

markable manner, protected the family of rial court, which will be discussed further 

Ferdinand. It is also mentioned, in con- on. 



17 

concile the contradiction between the silence of these two proclama- 
tions and the above-mentioned complete and authentic account, by 
supposing that a secret special order, with the words '* alive or dead," 
had been issued by the emperor to the generals. This opinion has 
been generally acceded to by almost all writers ; but it is entirely un- 
founded. Tne emperor never issued any order of the tenor that 
Wallenstein should be taken alive or dead. The emperor had not 
any even the most remote share, directly or indirectly, in the slaying 
of Wallenstein. We must be permitted first to aaduce a negative 
proo£ No such order has ever been found in the archives of any 
state or country, or in the repositories of any private person, nor has 
even an allusion to any such order ever been discovered. This 
negative proof would oi itself be most satisfactory, but receives great 
force from the following circumstances: If such an order had 
ever been eiven, it must at least have been known to the emperor's 
most confidential ministers and generals, namely, Gbillas, Altringer, 
Hccolomini, Maradas, marchese di Caretto, and Pucher of the 
council of war; but that no such secret order was known to any 
of these is evident from their accounts which have come down to us. 

The endeavours and preparations of all the generals were di- 
rected, as appears from their mutual correspondence with one another, 
only to the expulsion of Wallenstein from Bohemia (which is 
directly contradictory to any secret Imperial order to bring him in 
alive or dead« and proves the non-existence of any such), and it was 
only when they had heard that he had fortified himself in E^r, that 
they thought of enclosing him there and preventing his jimction with 
the enemy. 

The orders of Gallas only signified that Wallenstein, lUo, and 
Terzka were not to be obeyed ; this is acknowledged by Butler 
himself, after the so-called execution, ^ his report of it to Grallas» 
despatched on the 25th of February, 1634, and it inay also be per- 
ceived from GralW own letter to the emperor, dated from Pilsen, 
the 27th February, in which he accuses Gordon and Leslie of dis- 
obedience to his orders and therefore of disloyalty, making this impu- 
tation against them, solely because they had admitted Wallenstein 
into Eger. It may also be perceived from this despatch that the 
plan of Galltt was to drive Wallenstein out of Bohemia ; even the 
emperor, as appears from a letter to the marchese di Caretto of the 
26tn of February, 1634, at a time when he was already aware that 
Wallenstein had left Pilsen with a small escort, only commanded that 
he should be followed and pursued. 

Piccolomini in his despatch to Ghillas of the 2 1st of February, 
1634, was then of opinion that to drive Wallenstein out of Bohemia 
was the best method — a method which he UjBver would haveproposed, 
if he had been aware of a secret Imperial order to secure Wallenstein 
in any way, whether alive or dead. It must further be adduced, in 
confirmation of the opinion above set forth, that in a second despatch, 

3 



18 

Tindei date of Horasdiowicz^ the 25th of February, 1634, Piccolomini 
still repeated to Gallas, '* che V.B. venga qui con ogni prestezza, con 
la gente che habiamo, insieme andar persequitando il Waldstain e 
cacciarlo di Boemia"— •^^ that his excellency should come to him 
there with all speed, that with the troops which they had they might 
go in pursuit ot Wallenstein and drive him out of* Bohemia, ' and is 
altogether silent about Butler's having sent his confessor Patrick 
Tawe to him on the 23rd of February, for new instructions with 
regard to Wallenstein, and of his (Piccolomini's) having expressed to 
Taaffe ^^ that he had never doubted Butler's loyalty, but tnat others 
might not be able to doubt it, and that he might acquire the special 
favour of the emperor, that he should bring back Wallenstein alive 
or dead." It is clear, from the turn and manner of the expression, 
that it was founded on no secret order of the emperor, but arose 
from Piccolomini's personal hatred to Wallenstein, and that he in this 
respect went beyona the orders of his sovereign. 

That Piccolomini hated and pursued Widlenstein with the vin- 
dictiveness of a southern, appears mcontestably from the continuance 
of this hatred even after Wallenstein's death. He alone called what 
had occurred at Eger ^^ a glorious deed," and he would even have 
had the bodies of ^* the executed," as they were called, exposed in the 
vilest places.^ The marchese di Caretto also, in his despatch dated 
Pilsen, the 27th of February, charges Gordon with having opened 
the gates of Eger to Wallenstein. He proposes on every occasion 
that a formal process should be proceeded with against Wallenstein, 
and could not therefore have been in any way implicated in the oc- 
currences at Eger ; neither could any secret special order of the kind 
have been known to him. 

Pucher of the council of war, to whom such a secret special 
order could have been no secret, says, in his narrative of the 13th 
March, 1634, in clear language, concerning the occurrences at Eger, 
*' that Butler, Gordon, and Leslie, after due consultation and delibera- 
tion, came to a decided resolution of their own, without having any 
order in that respeot, and exterminated these manifest patricB pro^ 
ditares**^ 

With this narrative agree entirely, first, Butler's report to count 
Gallas of the 25th ; secondly, Butler and Gordon's joint p'roclama- 
tion, of the 26th, to the troops, and lastly^ Butler's report to the 
emperor, of the 27th February, 1634 ; and from all three one may 
perceive that they effected the deed after careful deliberation and con- 
sequently without any order. A frurther confirmation of the cor- 
rectness of these statements is found in the account, composed nineteen 
years later, by Butler's chaplain, Patrick Taaffe. This bears upon it 

I Piccolomini to Caretto, Mies* 27th Feb. of Wallenstein's murder for all Europe, all 

16S4. the secret circurostancea connected with 

' Pucher'a narrative will be mentioned that transaction must hare been communi- 

again. As he had to compose an account cated to him. 



19 

unmistakeably the stamp of veracity and of a cool view of the cir- 
cumstances. He informs us that Butler was without decided in- 
structions with regard to Wallenstein, that to obtain such, he des- 
patched his confessor Taaffe, that Taaffe found Piccolomini, who, 
although his general, gave Butler rather advice tha^ a command, 
which, however, Taaffe was unable to deliver to him. But Taaffe's 
inartificial relation of the whole details, discloses to us Butler's inmost 
feelings upon the occasion. His recall from the frontiers, thronged 
with tne enemy, without the substitution of any relieving troops, and 
the order to march to the White Mountain in the centre of a peaceful 
kingdom, in the vicinitv of the capital town, confirmed him in his 
mistrust of Wallenstein s loyalty to the emperor. In all this, he 
never swerved from his resolution, not to desert his colours, to which 
he had sworn fidelity till death, to remain unshaken in his loyalty to 
the emperor, and even though surrounded by rebels to fight for the 
good cause to his last breath. The White Mountain should be stained 
with more blood than in the time of the Palatine Frederick. These 
were Butler's sentiments on the 23rd of February, therefore he had 
neither concerted nor previously determined upon that, which after- 
wards occurred at Eger. 

Wallenstein's march out of Pilsen, not as was usual at the head of a 
numerous army, but with a small body of troops, appeared to Butler 
not as a march against the enemy, but to the enemy« and his sus- 
picions became thereby very much increased. But when Wallenstein 
ordered Butler to join him with his dragoons, assigned him night 
quarters near to himself and always at a distance from his soldiers, 
expressed to him his regret that he had not yet been able to reward 
him for his brave and faithfiil services, but laid the blame upon the 
emperors not having fulfilled his promises ; when he promised him 
two regiments and money to raise them, then his suspicion became 
certainty. Wallenstein appeared to him as an undoubted traitor, and 
the danger (by the generally believed approach of the enemy, magni- 
fied by the boasting of Wallenstein's adherents) imminent. And 
thus, from a borough conviction of the treason, and of the urgent 
necessity for the deed, Butler determined to execute it. 

But all these facts and proofs in writing here adduced, however 
they may contradict any previous order of the emperor to take 
Wallenstein alive or dead, are yet not sufficient to prove directly 
ialse the clear expressions in the complete account published by 
order of the emperor, or to make us ta&e them, as suggested in the 
*' Austrian Military Journal," as words of course, escaped from the pen 
of a legal official accustomed to this form. But that this proclamation 
of outlawry against Wallenstein, contained in the complete report, 
was really first published six months after his death (the reporl^ ap- 
peared in the course of October), is proved by the yet extant letter of 
Ferdinand lU., king of the Romans, to his father Ferdinand II.| dated 
Nordlingen, 5th of September, 1634, in which he says: **with 



20 

regard to the manifesto upon the treason of Friedland, sent here 
for our consideration, we, with the general officers and counciilors 
there present, are most humbly of opmion, that perhaps it would be 
more advisable to publish likewise against the executed traitors 
sententiam post mortem.** Now, however, in the complete report re- 
ferred to, if considered very attentively word by word, no other 
passage, except this proclamation of outlawry in the usual form 
<* alive or dead," occurs, to which this ^^ sententia post mortem" would 
apply. This letter alone is able to remove the obstacle on which con« 
temporaries and posterity have alike foundered, this alone can explain 
the insertion of the form *^ to arrest alive or dead" in the complete re- 
port, and give it its true signification. 

In this report the second proclamation of the 18th of February 
was also first publicly acknowledged; but it could not have been 
issued at the time of its date by the emperor, as he, in a despatch of 
the 1st of March, still refers exclusively to the proclamation of the 
24th of January, and commands that the pardon promised therein 
should be strictly observed ; and to count Altringer, also, this pro- 
clamation was imknown on the 14th of March. 

This subsequent pronouncing of sentence must appear a psycKo- 
logical enigma, which can only be solved by those, who are able 
to comprehend* accurately Ferdinand's personal character. The tho- 
roughly religious character of Ferdinand regarded the unhappy end 
of Wallenstein as the undoubted punishment of God, which had 
overtaken a perjurer and traitor; those who executed the deed must 
have appeared to him as instruments chosen by God for his preserva^ 
tion. How should he call them to an account ? They must be 
secured firom every summons before any tribunal of human justice ; 
this could only be attained by alleging a previous proclamation of 
outlawry. The entirely erroneous supposition, that the emperor had 
on the 24th of January, already signed a proclamation of outlawry 
against Wallenstein, has also brought upon the emperor the reproach 
ot having, with hypocritical friendship, for fiiUy three weeks made 
the most confidential communications to him.^ But how completely 
different Ferdinand appears, when one considers that he, on that day, 
fflgned his removal from the command-in-chief, and that he required 
to be assured that it should only be made use of in the most pressing 
necessity* The justice of this last assertion is confirmed by the cir- 
cumstance, that (^dlas did not make public this order for WaUenstein's 
removal from the command, and dated 24th January, 1634, before 
the 13th February, after he had learned that Wallenstein had sum- 
moned the officers at Pilsen to a second meeting. 

I cannot conclude this examination without observing on two 
points : The emperor had 3000 masses said for the souls of Wal- 
lenstein and his accomplices. Forster infers from this that the empe- 

> Berthold, Gcnnan War, p. 131 ; Forater's Letters, 3 toU. p. 180; tnd WalleiiBteiii's 
Life, p. 261. 



21 

lor felt lemone fi>r the murder of WaUeniiein. But it proves directly 
the contrary^ namely* that the emperor coxuddered Wallenstein to l>e 
a traitor : for if he had felt remorse for the assassination of Wallenstein 
he would have had masses said, not for Wallenstein, but for himself; 
but because he thought that Wallenstein was guilty, he had masses 
sud, according to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, to 
intercede for his souL^ The second point to be observed upon is the 
assertion* that the emperor was embarrassed as to how the assassination 
of Wallenstein shoula be called, and therefore in the first despatch 
addressed to Grallas, after he* was aware of Wallenstein's death, the 
word ** slaying^' was struck out of the draught, and ^* put to the 
sword*' insertea instead. This would be very unimportant, even if it 
were true, but it is not. Mail^th says^ ** I, the author of this 
work, have seen the eiliperor Ferdinand's handwriting many hundred 
times in his signatures, m marginal observations, and m long letters in 
his own handwriting, and know that writing far too well to mistake 
it. The words * put to the sword' are not in the emperor's hand, but 
in that of SohUck, president of the council of war. In the draught 
alluded to, there are several alterations inserted, all by the same hand. 
The emperor, moreover, could not have inserted the words ^put to the 
sword' in the document in question, for he never could have seen it 
according to the course then followed in the ministerial offices. Ac- 
cording to the course of business at that time, the documents were 
first signed by the secretary of the departmeiit, then by the pre- 
sident or vice-president, and lastly by the emperor. The paper 
in question is only signed by the secretary, alterations and corrections 
having been made by the president when it was laid before him for 
signature. As many corrections were necessary, the president did 
not sign it ; it required to be copied out afresh, and this fresh copy 
could not be laid before the emperor for signature till it had been 
signed by the secretary and president. Ijie circumstance is* as I 
have already said, in itself quite unimportant. I only mention 
it here that the reader may again see how lightly calumnies are sent 
into the world, when authors, who lay claim to the title of critical 
historians, allow themselves to be carried away by passion and party 
spirit." 

From what has been said it clearly appears that the emperor did 
not give orders for the death of Wallenstem, neither was it tne design 
of the Imperial generals to have him assassinated, but that Butler* 
without any order, and of his own motion, executed the deed. 

But now that Wallenstein was dead, the question arose at the 
Imperial court, how should this be announced to the world ? Pucher, 
of the council of war, sketched a manifesto in which truth was mixed 

> Fonter, in the ui^omait here made Roman Catholic doctrines ; they generally 

use of, is in the position of many Protes* £ul altogether, becaose they discoarse of a 

tant anthofs when they endeavonr to snp- subject which, for the most part, they are 

port their news by argnments drawn from completely ignorant of. 



22 



with falsehood, because he did not dare to avow the real reason of Wal- 
lenstein's deposition, namely, his connexion unth France, The most 
important allegation in it is, that Butler executed the deed of his own 
motion. Ferdinand, at that time with the army, to whom the 
emperor forwarded Pucher's account for his opinion, was of another 
view with regard to the statement of the event ; he answered the 
emperor that he and the general officers and councillors there present 
were of opinion that it would be more advisable to publish against 
the executed traitors — sententiam post mortem — sentence after death. 

This opinion prevailed, and the emperor took the deed upon 
himself, although he had given no order tor it. In doing this he did 
not think that he thereby assumed the responsibility of any unjust 
action or such as he might not lawfully have committed, but that he 
was only adopting such a deed as according to the political and legal 
maxims of that time, he might have commanded.' 

Another manifesto was therefore composed. But here occurred 
a grand difficulty against which even Fucher's manifesto was not 
available. Wallenstein's chief crime lay in his connexion with France ; 
if the emperor announced this, the dake of Savoy, through whom he 
had obtained this information, would be compromised, and war with 
France inevitable ; but the emperor wished to avoid this at any price. 
Therefore it was necessary to write a manifesto which should prove 
Wallenstein's guilt without alleging the true reasons, and that the 
emperor might assume the deed to himself a new document must be 
composed. This new document is the second Imperial proclamation 
asainst Wallenstein, which is dated the 18th of February, and in 
which the emperor orders that Wallenstein should be arrested ^* alive 
or dead." Forster has already, before me, made the remark that this 
proclamation appeared first after Wallenstein's death : in this he is 
perfectly right, but in the reason he gives for its having been com- 
posed after nis death he is altogether wrong. He is of opinion that 
the proclamation was fabricated in order that more accomplices of 
Wallenstein might be discovered, sentence passed on them and their 
estates confiscated ; but this is an error : the reason is, that the em- 
peror wished to take upon himself the slaying of Wallenstein.a After 
this falsely dated proclamation of the 18th of February was composed, 
a larger pamphlet upon Wallenstein's guilt and assassination appeared. 



* Chateaubriand, in his *' Analysis of the 
History of France," justly remarks that 
Henry UL, in putting to death the two 
Guises only acted according to the prin- 
ciples of monarchy at that time : all justice 
emanated from the king: he was the 
supreme judge, he was also the constituent 
power as well as the executive, he made 
the law and applied it : he had the right to 
pronounce the sentence and to execute it : 
a murder on his part might be iniquitous, 
but it was legaL 



* That the procUmation of the iSth of 
February was not issued on that day, but 
at some later period, is evident from the 
emperor's still referring, in his despatch 
of the 1st of March, ezclusively to the 
proclamation of the 24th of January, and 
issuiug his command that the pardon which 
he had promised therein should be strictly 
observed. — Altringer also, on the 14th of 
March, had no knowledege of this ex pott 
facto proclamation, dated the 18th of Feb- 
ruary. 



23 

It is verbose, but contains few facts, and rests almost altogether upon 
&lse allegations, because, as we have already said, the emperor would 
not allow the truth to be told, and, therefore, it has been easy in our 
time for an eloquent defender of Wallenstein to refute the apology of 
the Imperial court, and, apparently, to re-establish Wallenstein s in- 
nocence. Another instance is here furnished in confirmation of the 
maxim that the truth and the whole truth is always the strongest 
weapon. If the Imperial court 200 years ago had published without 
reserve Wallenstein's treasonable negotiations with France, if it had 
not subsequently assumed the responsibility of the deed committed by 
Butler, a hundred calumnies would not have obtained circulation, 
and the writers of the present time would have been spared the dif- 
ficult task of substituting truth in the place of long and deeply-rooted 
erroneous opinions. 

What has been stated above may be resumed in the following 
heads : 

Firstly — Wallenstein was by his transaction with France guilty of 
treachery and disloyalty. 

Secondly — His deposition was justly decreed. 

Thirdly — The emperor neither commanded nor indirectly caused 
the assassination of Wallenstein. 

Fourthly — The generals in the emperor's interest did not wish 
to have Wsdlenstein assassinated, but to drive him out of Bohemia. 

Fifthlv — Piccolomini alone uttered an exhortation to Butler to 
take Wallenstein, alive or dead. 

Sixthlv — This exhortation did not reach Butler before the assas- 
sination of Wallenstein. 

Seventhly — Butler slew Wallenstein of his own fi:ee determination, 
without the mstigation of any other person. 

Eighthly — The emperor took the deed, when done, upon himself. 

Ninthly — The proclamation against Wallenstein, dated the 18th 
of February, was not drawn up uli after Wallenstein's death. 

Tenthly — The einperor did not choose to publish the chief reason 
for the deposition of Wallenstein, namely, his alliance with France. 

Eleventhly — For this reason the emperor's declaration about 
Wallenstein's crime and deposition is full of false and easily refuted 
allegations. 

Twelflhly — The Imperial court has prejudiced itself infinitely by 
concealing the truth, and has itself thereby contributed to numerous 
calumnies and lies which have been circulated and believed. 

The historical moral that flows from this is, that truth is the best 
policy. 

Wallenstein's body was given up to his widow, interred by her at 
Gitschin, and in more recent times deposited in the family vault at 
Miinchengratz. 

Colonel Walter Butler was made a count and Imperial chamber- 
lain, and received a golden chain and several of TerzKa's estates. He 



24 

married a countess Phondana and died without issue at Swarrendorp 
in Wirtembergy shortly after the battle of Nordlingen gained by the 
Imperialists in September, 1634, and in which Butler also greatly 
distinguished himself. His countess interred him with great pomp 
at Prague. 

In the ** Grotha Genealogical Almanac," the counts Butler-Clone- 
bough, called Haimhausen, are stated to descend from count Walter 
Butler, ** who in the time of the Thirty Years' War entered the Austrian 
military service, and died there of the plague in the rank of colonel. 
He received a grant of the lordship of Eirchberg, in Bohemia, from 
the emperor Ferdinand H. As he died without children, he sub- 
stituted the son of his nephew, Thomas Butler of Clonebough, named 
Richard, who was in the Spanish service, to be his heir. But he 
resigned his inheritance to his brother Edmund of Paulstown, who had 
come to Germany from Ireland since 1666, and from whom the pre- 
sent count (1838) descends in the eighth generation. On the 10th 
September, 1681, the emperor Lieopoid granted to Edmund Theobald 
the incolat of Bohemia, and an acknowledgment confirming his rank 
of count. In 1772, Theobald married into the fiunily of we counts 
of Haimhausen in Bavaria ; and, on its extinction, succeeded to the 
estates and assumed the name and title ; hence, the additional name of 
Hsdmhausen." 

It may be inferred from the genealogical account, given by Lodge 
in his ** Peerage of Ireland," that count Walter Butler was the 
grandson of Edmund Butler of Paulstown. His brothers having died 
without issue he had, properly speaking, no nephews. 

The Thomas of Clonebough, mentioned in the German almanac, 
may have been the Thomas of Clonmore, whose issue are not there 
given by Lodge. 

By an extract from the register of the diocese of Leighlin»' of the 
will of Sir Richard Butler of Paulstown, bart, dated 1678, probate 
1680, it appears that Sir Richard, ** then going to Germany, made 
his last will and testament." He left portions to his three daughters, 
£400 each, ^* and in case I doe recover my estate in Germany, that 
then my said daughters shall have more portions proportionate to 
what I shall recover." 

From Lodge's " Peerage of Ireland" it appears that Peter Butler 
of Roscrea (second son of Edmund Butler of Paulstown), by Catharine 
De Burgo, had three sons who all died without issue : first, Edmund ; 
second, Walter, ** who, being a commander under the emperor, had. 
given him the lordship of Hesberg {query Eirchberg) in Germany* 
which descended to the house of Paulstown ;" third, Theobald, who 
died in Poland, in 1634. 

Walter Fit3&-Edmund of Paulstown, the eldest brother of the 
above-named Peter, had issue Sir Richard Butler of Paulstown, his 

* Marked vciL ii. ; farnithed to me by the Rev. Jamet OntTes. 



25 

heir, who died in IGIQ* and Thomas of Clonmore. Sir Richard left 
Edmund, who died in 1636, Richard, Peter, and Walter his heir; 
Edmund's son and heir, Walter, was created a baronet in 1643 ; his 
son. Sir Richard Butler, died in 1686. — Lodge ; title, Mountgarrett. 
In Harte's ** Life of Gustavus Adolphus," 2nd edition, 1 767, we 
find the following statements : — 

The yellow and blue SwediBh brigades entered and attacked the quarter [of Frank- 
fort on the Oder] where colonel Bntler lay with hii Irish r^ment, who gave the Impe- 
lialista an example of resolution which might haye saved the town had it been followed. 
He stood his ground till he had scarcely a soldier left, and did not submit till he was 
shot through the arm with a musquet ball and pierced through the thigh with a halbert. 
About sixty officers were taken prisonertf among the latter Butler, not the elder brother 
who had a hand in WaUenstein's death. The Butler who made such heroical resistance 
was named Walter. He was of the Ormond £smily, and nearly related to James, then 
earl oi Ormond. The Imperial generals, to exculpate themselves, laid the blame upon 
Bntler, but Gustavus having that night all the cluef officers at supper with him protested 
that he could not eat a morsel tiU he saw the brave Irishman — and yet (added the king) 
I have something to say to him, which he may not chuse to hear. When he came in 
Gustavus asked, Are you, Sir, the elder or the younger Butler ? He answered that he 
was the younger. God be praised, said Gustavus, thou brave soldier, had you been 
the elder I had reason to have passed my sword through your body. Gustavus drew up 
a certificate of Walter Butler's personal behaviour and signed it, as did all his generals. 
All we know of Walter Butler after this period is, that when he Idt the Swedish anuy, 
his first business was to send a challenge to colonel Behem, who had commanded a re- 
giment at Frankfwt, and whom his enemies had pitched upon to be his accuser. But the 
Swedish testimonial had terrified Behem, and he signed a lull retractation. Butler then 
went into Poland and raised a very fine troop of cavalry at his own expense. On his 
return he took Prague, which made him more and more a fivourite with WaUenstein, 
and afterwards married the countess of Phondona. He decided the victory in favour of 
the Imperialists at the famous battle of Nordlingen, where he stood firm without losing 
an inch of ground for three and twenty hours during a continual fire, and though 16,000 
addiera were killed in that engagement. Soon after he died. — ^VoL L p. 245. 

Haite adds in a note : — 

4 

What ifsaldieria» wftilasm. of the elder Butler is here alluded to, is not known from 
history. It nuial Iwfe been notoiiooa or the king would not have tbreatened to kiU hin» 
with his own hand. Time showed thait the king knew mm and their character very well, 
for tktM Butler [whose Christian name vras James] had a principal hand in the assassi- 
nation of WaUenstein* Our Bntler was at Prague when WaUenstein was assassinated. 
The Court of Vienna strongly suspected him to be in the genmlissimo's interests, but 
in truth he was neither /or him nor ogakut him. He saw WaUenstein's £snlts, but knew 
how to preserve his own personal gratitude at the same time. Not that he had any ob- 
jection to his being removed (if the emperor so pleased), or tried in a judicial manner. 
Had Butler not been a vtry kinett man he might have made a grmt fortune just before 
WalknstciB fell: for that general, who always gave the prefin:ence to foreign troops, 
besought him to go to Irdand and raise a great body of infantry, adding that he had biUs 
of exdiange at Hamburgh and ready money at his palace of Sagan to make good the sum 
he intenddl for that purpose^ namdy, JE32,000, and upwards. But Butler declined the 
employment, and turned it off very politely by saying "that poor Ireland had been 
drain»l too much of her men already." This aneodi^ I learned at Vienna, but the 
memorandum was mislaid. I insert it now because Carve confirms it ; with this dif- 
ference that he labours to make Walter Butler a weU-wisher to his brother James's 
'* glorious conspiracy,'' as he calls it. But to thai matter one confotation may be given, 
even at this distance of time, namely, that Walter Butler never rose in the army after 
WaUenstein's death, nor obtained any place at Court : though his nMt family gave him 
pretensions that have great weight in Germany.— VoL L pp. 245-50. 

Harte states that the account of Gustavus Adolphus and Walter 
Butler at the storming of Frankfort on the Oder, as well as of the 



26 

assassination of Wallenstein, was new-written for his second edition, 
and chiefly upon the authority of the Rev. Thomas Carve, chaplun 
to colonel James Butler, one of the assassins. 

The narrative of the assassination does not differ from the usual 
account, but Harte says concerning the Butler engaged in it : — 

We have spoken of this officer, and his brother in the storming of Frankfort on the 
Oder, and have observed there that the king of Sweden (probably for just reasons) had 
a personal hatred to him. He enjoyed his countship, and the large confiscations made 
over to him, not above one year after Wallenstein's death: for Carve left Ireland in 
August, 1634 (as appeals by the Apostolic Vicar's testimonial), and having wandered over 
Poland, Bohemia, and great part of Germany, found our James Butler dnd in the duchy 
of Wirtemberg. Carve, by the way, was sent for from Ireland to be made chaplain to 
Butler's regiment. Butler bequeathed his riches as follows : — Those piotu riches, says 
Carve, gtuu mgmttimo Marie ma$cu{d md manu aeguisierot. He left a memorial of £20 
value to Lamormain, the emperor's confessor ; X3,300 to the Irish and Scottish College 
at Prague ; JS500 to be distributed to Irish students then resident there ; £1,000 to his 
sister ; and JS150 to Walter Devereux who killed Wallenstein. His widow whom he left 
very rich, carried his body into Bohemia, being guarded by a troop of dragoons, and 
buried him there with great pomp. 

Of Devereux it appears from history that he afterwards became colonel of Butler's 
regiment that he had also the gold key of the bed-chamber given to him. When he vras 
created a colonel he appointed Carve chaplain to his regiment, and hence it is supposed 
that Carve knew more of Wallenstein*s death than any other vmter. I find Devereux 
alive in 1638, by the testimonial he gave this chaplain when he returned to Ireland, and 
whom he had raised at last to be chaplain-general to the English, Scottish and Irish 
forces in the Imperial service.— £(/« of Chuttnms AdoipkMt, vol. i. p. 191. 

Harte states *^ that he thought the archives of Vienna or Prague 
might contain some official account of Wallenstein's assassination, 
but such a paper," says he, *^ after all my inquiries, I never could 
hear of. M. de Firmian put Carve's book into my hands as the only 
real asistance that could be given me. His account is supposed to 
be the most authentic in many respects." It is very strange that 
Harte, relying upon Carve as his authority, and referring so specially 
to the *' Itineranum"' to support his statements, should nevertheless 
have so much misapprehended him. The extracts from Carve ap- 
pended, will be amply sufficient to show that Walter Butler, who 
behaved so gallantly at Frankfort on the Oder, who contributed to 
the victory at Nordlingen and died soon after, leaving the countess 
Phondana his widow, was the same who was the chief actor at the 
death of Wallenstein, and who bequeathed his fortune as above men* 
tioned ; and that Harte's allegations as to James Butler are unfounded. 
It does not even appear from Carve, that James was the brother of 
Walter Butler. 

This Itinerary through Germany, Bohemia, Poland, by the Rev. 
Thomas Carve, chaplain-general to the English, Scottish and Irish 
in the service of the emperor, was first printed at Mayence, in 1639, 
and is dedicated to James Butler, earl of Ormonde. Carve seems to 

' Itinerarium R. D. ThomaB Carve, stipendia merentis; com Histori& facti 

Tipperariensis Sacellani Majoris in fortis- Butleri, Gordon, Lesly et aliorum. Editio 

sima juxta et Nobilissima Legione Walteri tertia auctior et correctior. Moguntiao, 

Ueveroux, sub Sacra Cssarea Majestati 1640. 



27 

have been in some sort a dependant of the house of Ormonde, and to 
have regarded the earl as nis feudal superior. The following pas- 
sage from the Dedication to the earl ^ot Ormonde will sufficiently 
show Carve's disposition towards the house of Ormonde and his 
desire to extol the name of Butler : — 

It has not oocnrred by chance, that my pen has preferred to address you rather 
. than any one else ; for it relates the heroic actions of those of your name« which add 
glory to your illustrious fsnuly. It tells of those Butlers, your most noble cousins, who, 
as they were ever chiefest in name in their own country, so among foreign nations were 
always of the first consideration on account of their eminent valour. Deign to follow 
them with me to the farthest bounds of Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Bohemia, 
and hear the fame of the Butlers of your most noble house, celebrated everywhere for its 
fidelity to the emperor and other kings. Would that (I say this with all the sincerity 
of my heart), would that the spiiit of thy Walter, to whom I was for many years the in- 
separable companion, could return to life and appear in arms before you ; then, indeed, you 
would see a man, in war, rather a friend to peace than eager for hostile strife, you would 
behold a man, potent in arms and in all his warlike dispositions, regarding nothing so 
much as, by his most strenuous endeavours, to restore to the Holy Roman Empire its 
pristine tranquillity.^ 

"In the Preface to the reader, Carve thus explains his motives for 
writing his journal : — 

While affected by the grief of others, I was also myself very much touched by the 
domestic funeral of my most esteemed Butler, with whom I had lived a most delightful 
time, the greatest part of it in the most confidential intercourse ; having been idways 
treated by him as a brother, having always respected him as a Either. To make some 
return for his very great kindness, and show before I died, that I was not ungrateful, it 
occurred to my mind that I might compose a book relating his illustrious deeds, and 
publish it to the world. I had seen with what envy he had frequently undertaken many 
expeditions under the best auspices. I had seen his name unjustly traduced during his 
life, and first covered with glory after his death ; but I had idso seen and learned from 
the example of others, how brief is the remembrance after their decease, especially of 
military commanders. That I might prevent such happening to my Butler, the most 
dear to me of all men, I undertook to write this little History, or rather Itinerary, that 
whilst writing concerning many memorable things which happened to myself, I might 
record also the deeds of my Butler, and leave a token of my affection by publishing this 
little work, in a manner, as a monument of it. I had desired indeed to have comprised 
in one and the same work, .all his actions and those of the other Butlers, but when I 
found that I could hardly do that amid the tumult of war, and that leisure and quiet 
would be required for it, I laid aside the idea till a more convenient time.' 

* This passage occurs in the Dedication Butleromm tuorum fama Imperatori Ro- 
to James Butler, earl of Ormonde, the ori- mano, aliisque regibus seque fida, quam 
ginal is as follows : — nobiliiMimaB prosapise tuse gloriosse ubique 

« Quod vero ad te potius quam ad quem- celebretur ? Utinam (cum intimo id affec* 

vis alium suo impetu feratur calamus, non tus mei sensu ingenue proloquor), utinam, 

id quidem temere evenit. Complexus est inquam, manes Waltheri Tui, cui annos 

enim ipse heroica Tuorum facta ; quse ad plnsculos individuus fui comes, in vitale 

tuam quoqoe totiusque Perillustris Stem- corpus remigrare possent, et se tibi in 

matts laudem spectant, portat Nobilissimos armis praesentare, videres utique virum 

Majorca et Consanguineos tuos Butleros, inter anna potius ad amicam pacem quam 

qui nt in Patria semper fuerunt summi hostilia bella propensum, spectares virum 

nominis, ita apud exteros, ob egregiam vir- in armis fortem, omni bellico apparatu 

tntem, praedpuse anctoritatis. Age, vade, nil potius spectantem, quam ut Imperio 

si Inbety in extremam usque Germaniam, Romano pristinam restitueret pro vinli suft 

Poloniam, Lithuaniam, Hungariam, Bohe- tranquillitatem." 

miam, penetra, si vacat, et audi si non '"AdLectorem.— Mejametiamaliorum 



28 

Carve devotes a chapter to the heroic actions {heroica facta) of 
Walter Butler previous to his decease : — 

After [the taking of Frankfort on the Oder], he remained a prisoner for six montha 
and was ransomed for 1000 imperial crowns. He directed his course to our army, which 
then, after the battle of Leipsig, was marching through Lusatia into Silesia, and meeting 
with marshal Tieffenbach was received by him with the greatest honour and favour. He 
here, by the authority of Tieffenbach, compelled colonel Behem, who had been the prin- 
cipal calumniator of Butler at the emperor's court, to deny in writing the calumnies he 
had uttered against him, and to assert that, on the contrary, Walter Butler had done all 
that became a braTc soldier. Haring duly vindicated hii reputation, Walter, with the 
leave of the generals, proceeded to Warsaw, in Poland, and at his own expense raised a 
regiment of dragoons of chosen soldiers, which it was Ids intention to lead back into 
Silesia. Our Walter haid scarcely arranged for winter quarters when he received orders 
from WaUenstein to march to Sagan in Lusatia, a tovm of Wallenstein's, which being 
likely to be captured by the enemy, he thought its defence could not be entrusted to one 
more faithful than Walter, where he arrived unexpectedly and dispersed the enemy. 
After three months in Bohemia he departed for Lymburg, firom thence to WaUenstein 
at Pilsen, who led him away to the siege of Prague.^ 

These matters being thus settled, Walter Butler was ordered to Eger, and making 
sudden irruption upon the enemy made a great slaughter of them and took twelve stan- 
dards, and thereby obtained the good graces of WaUenstein, so much so that he received 
as a reward the county of Jegemdorff and its appurtenances for his winter quarters. 
While making a stay of some duration at this place he united himself in matrimony with 
the very noble countess of Phondana. But the many actions performed by our Walter 



dolore tristem, domdsticnm quoque funus 
optimi Butleri md tangebat plurimum, 
quocum duldssiraos dies, eosqne plusculos 
in omni confidentift exegeram, & quo suavis- 
sime semper tanquam ^ter habitus, cultus 
ut Pater Aieram : cigus tantse benevolentisB 
cum par esse non possem, noUem tamen 
ittgratus mori, hoc tandem succurrit animo, 
ut pneclara ejus facta mnndo vulgata, inter 
homines Libello, aperirem. Viderem quantft 
cum invidia multas saepe expeditiones op- 
timis auspiciis susceperat, videbam ejus 
nomen ipso adhuc vivente inique traductam, 
post mortem efltdgere clarius : videbam 
vero etiam, aliorum doctus exemplo, quam 
brevis, maxime inter miUtes, mortuorum 
sit recordatio. Hsec omnia ut in Butlero 
meo virorum omnium amantissimo caverem, 
Historiolam vel Itinerarium potius hoc 
icribendnm suscepi, ut dnm de multis que 
mihi memoranda oontigenmt, scriberem, 
etiam Butleri mei recordarer, ac amorem 
meum quantnloennque hoc opusculo saltern 
publico affeetns monumento testatum re- 
linquerem. Voluissem qnidem omnia ejus 
et BntlerDrum aUomm fscta, nno eolo ad id 
suscepto LibeUo complexns esse, sed cum 
inter bellioos tumultus id fieri diiBculter 
possit, et id tranquiUins otium requirat, 
eogiti^onem illam in commodiora tempora 
dcpofoi." 

* '* Post sex mensinm captivitatem Wal- 
therus tandem vincula miUe Imperialium 
Utto redemit Movebat turn fort^ post 



Lipsiacam stragem exerdtus noster per 
Lusatiam in SUesiam, ad quern Butlerus 
noster cursum direxit, ac MarescaUum 
Tieffenbach conveniens summo cum honore 
ac raro favore ab eo est receptus. Hie 
coloneUum Behem, qui potissimus fuerat 
Butleri apud Csesarem difiamator, anctori- 
tate Tieffenbachu adegit scripto revocare, 
quae contra Waltherum in aula Imperatoris 
temere efl^derat, in quo Waltherum egisse 
quod masculum miUtem addecet, asseverat. 
Fkmft rite assert&, Waltherus obtentft a 
Generalibus venift, in Poloniam Varsariam 
profectus est, suisque impensis centum equo 
pedestrium selectorum miUtnm collegit ut 
in SUesiam e&dem qu& venerat vift reduceret. 
Vix Waltherus noster pactus erat cum in- 
colis lod pecuniam pro hybemis miUtum 
80lvendis,cum aWaUensteinio sine mor& diu 
(sic) noctuque properandi Saganum advenit 
imperium. Est Saganum urbs in Lusatis 
conflniis sita speetuis ad ipsum WaUen- 
steinium quam cum hostes impetituri vide- 
bntur, WaUensteinins fideUori quam Wal- 
thero committi baud posse putavit, ideo- 
que nU cunctatus Waltherus WaUensteinii 
deeretis obsecundare, ppinione hostium 
citius adfuit, eosque ex insperato ad ortus 
fbdit fugavitque, ac immanem pnedae vim 
obtinnit, cumque illie trimestri substitisset 
in Bohemiam postea ac Lymburgum pro- 
fectus est, inde PUsnam ad WaUensteinium 
abiit, qui eum ad obsidendum Pragam ab- 
duxit." 



29 



Butler in the lervice of his Imperial mijetty npon vaiioiu most dangerous occaiions can 
learoely be related. I shall only add this one, worthy to be remembered in all ages to 
come, that at the battle of Nordlingen, in the presence of the king of Hungary and 
Bohemia and the cardinal Infant, he ibii^ht most bravely for twenty-four hours without 

intermission and lost his lieutenant-colonel and watchmaster He was then 

sent to besiege the city of Aurach, close to which was a very strong fortress of the 
duke of Wertemberg's, which he took, but not without considerable loss of men, and 
after taking it by storm gave it up to be pillaged by the troops. At length after having 
recovered various towns and forts, this eminent man* worthy of being held in perpetual 
remembrance, most loyal to the emperor, closed his life most pladdly, at Swarrendorp, 
having received all the rites of the Catholic Church.* 

In a subsequent chimter Carve relates the rise and general events 
of the career of Albert Wallenstein till its close in the catastrophe of 
Eger: — 

Wallenstein hoping by means of his wealth [hisce gradibus argenteis] to ascend 
the throne of Bohemia, had selected a fitting place called the White Mountain (at which 
Frederic, the count Palatine was formerly defeated and driven from his own lands, as 
weU as from those which he had usurped, contrary to all right and justice), but so 
treacherous a machination could not long be concealed from the emperor, who, as soon 
as the rumour had reached his ears, prohibited the generals who were loyal to him from 
receiving any further commands from Wallenstein ; and this prohibition was first pub- 
lished at Prague. But it happened when Wallenstein wished to assemble the army on 
the White Mountain, that count Terzky, his relation, having ascertained that the treason 
was discovered, returned to Wallenstein, informed him of the disclosure of his design, 
and explained the hazardous nature of the step he was about to take. He thereby 
induced Wallenstein to order all the cannon to be spiked, and to appoint to the com- 
mand of Risen a man devoted to himself, whom no promises or solicitations should 
induce to give it up to any one but himself. Wallenstein himself turned towards Eger 
vrith a thousand soldiers, partly foot, and partly of horse. In this escort was com- 
prised the regiment of Walter Butler, which rumour represented to the Imperialists 
everywhere, as being of Wallenstein's foction, but how falsely, the event shows. This 
indeed is clear, that Wallenstein had fiiequently endeavoured to induce Butler to share in 
bis designs, had promised him large estates and high rank, and that he had ofiTered him 
large foinds in biUs, partly on Hamburg and partly on Sagan, to ruse Irish soldiers for his 
service. Butler was always suspicious of tlus favour, so tardily shown towards him by 



1 His ita compositis Egram cum octo 
eehortibus equitnm destinatur Walthema, 
qui irmens in hostem magnam ilHc stragem 
edidit, cni duodedm vediUa militaria forti 
pugn& eripuit— ideoque mirum quantam 
gratiam a Wallensteinio inierit, ita ut in 
compensam comitatem Jegemdorff unft cum 
peitanentibus pro hyber^ soia acoeperit. 
Hie dum commoratur dintius matrimonio 
dbi aasodat perUlnstrem Dominam Comi* 
tissam de Phondana. Quanta porro Wal^ 
thems ttoster Ccsari obsequia pnestiterit 
in variis iisque periculosiBsimis occasionibut, 
did vix potest, ezeqnentur coeteras militis 
egregii landes alii qui ex instituto Bntlemm 
commendandnm suscepdre: hoc unum 
addo omnibas post nos sssculis memeran* 
dum, quod ad Nortlingam coram serinis- 
simo HungarisB et Bohemise Rege et Cardi- 
nati Infante vigintiquatuor horis oontinen* 
tur sine intermtssione fortissimo praeliatua 
est, adeo ut vice tribunum suum cum pne« 



fecto vigiliis amiserit. Nee tamen hosti 
pedem unum cesserit, quoad Hispani (qui 
se vera viros et magnos milites eo in con- 
flictu prvstiterunt) cum Croatis in suoour- 
sum venirent. Quanta his sanguinis ntro* 
bique profluvies, fodle est prudenti cogitare, 
dum audit eodlem pnelio sedecem millia 
eodem die que foit dedmft sexta August! 
anni millesimi sexcentesimi trigesimi 
quarti, in loco conflictus occubuisse. Ab 
hoc conffictn missus est Waltherus cum 
octo legionibus ad obsidendam civitatem 
Auraeensem cni fbrtissima acQacebat arx 
dud Wirtembergensi parens quam f eUdter 
non tamen sine suorum miUtum jacturft 
aliquft tandem obtinuit et prcd» militum 
cum vi oepiaset idiquit^ Tandem post 
varia oppida et castolla reeuperata, yir 
sempiteni& memorid dignissimus Caesari 
fidittimus, ad Swarrendorp vitam pladdis- 
sime, omnibus prhis sacris ritu Catholico 
munitus, flnivit.— pp. 71-2, vol. i. 



30 

'Wallensteiii. But when he imdentood distinctly what an evil design WM intended, he 
would never consent to he released from his oath to the emperor. From that out, his 
whole endeavoors were directed towards arresting this traitor, who had been raised to so 
great a height by the emperor, and delivering him up to be ponished according to his 
deserts. When he found, that unassisted he was not equal to this undertaking, he took 
into his counsels a soldier of staunch loyalty to the emperor, and of great bravery, Walter 
Devereox, at that time commander or captain of a troop, who most faithfully gave his 
assistance to Walter Butler. Sure of his aid, Butler without hesitation joined his regi- 
ment to the forces of Wallenstein, then on the march to Sger.' 

The rest is told as in Mailath. It is not easy to divine how 
Harte, in a second edition of his ** Life of Grustavus Adolphus," for 
which» as he states, the account of Wallenstein s death was new 
written, chiefly on the authority of Thomas Carve's work, could have 
fallen into the error of attributing the death of Wallenstein to James, 
and not, as the fact was, to Walter Butler, the same who behaved so 
gallantly at Frankfort on the Oder. 

Carve's second volume is dedicated to Isabella [recte Elizabeth] 
countess of Ormonde, and in the prefatory letter, extolling the Butlers 
generally, he says,^ ^* I need not mention James and Walter Butler ; 
Germany knows, and Poland, how illustrious are their names and 
what men they were ever found to be." Carve mentions that James 
Butler was colonel of the regiment of which Walter Butler was lieu- 
tenant-colonel at Frankfort on the Oder, and that he was also at the 
siege of Lymburg, and that he afterwards served in Poland against 

^ [Wallenstein] sperans argenteis hisce declaravit eventus. Hoc quidem evidens 

gradihus ad Bohemia regni solium con- est Wallensteinium saepius conatum esse 

scendere, ad id delegerat etiam locum com- Butlerum in consilii sui societatem tradu- 

modum (montem album appellant, in quo cere, ipsique pollidtum esse amplissimas 

ohm Palatinus Comes Fredericus et alieno terras et opimas dignitates, ducentaque 

honore sibi contra jus fissque arrogato et Imperialium millia per cambium partim 

propriis terris exutus est), sed non potuit Hamburg! partim Segani destlnasse ad col- 

diu latere Csesarem tam iniqua machinatio, ligendos milites Ibemos in sua servitia fidos, 

ad cujus aures cum venisset rumor, scripto Butlerum tamen semper suspectum habu- 

quamprimum inhibuit fidelioribus belli du- isse tam prolixe propensum sibi Wallen- 

dbus ne pott hac a Wallensteinio imperia steinii favorem. Quando yero darius in- 

capesserent : Hocque scriptum Pragse pri- tellexit quo res pessum veirgeret nunquam 

m^ innotuit. Acddit ver6, cum Wallen- consentire voluisse ut Sacramento Csesari 

stein totum ezerdtum convocare propos- facto solveretur : Dehinc omnibus viribus 

uisset in dictum montem, ut Comes de annexus est, ut Proditorem hunc a Caesare 

Tersky, affinis Wallensteinii tie propalato adeo devatum comprehenderet, ac Imper- 

proditorio propositocertior factus, ad Wal- atori pro merito plectendum traderet : cum 

lensteinium rediret, ipsique proditum nego- verb ipse solus suffidens baud esset tam 

tium instituti sui nundaret, explicaret etiam ard'uo negotio expediendo, in consilium pro- 

quam periculose plenum opus alese agita- positi sui adhibuit militem inter paucos 

retur, eo Wallenstdnium adduxit ut omnia fidum Csesari, et plenum masculo animo 

tormenta beUiea davis obdurari prssdperet, Waltherum Deveroux, tunc temporis turmae 

Pilsnseqne hominem sibi fidum pneficeret, uni prsefectum sen Capitaneum qui suam 

qui nulUs pactis pollidtationibus aut ration- , Walthero operam fidelissimam addixit. Hoc 

ibus, locum iUum alteri quam Wallenstdnio adjutore secunis Butler, libenter suam legi- 

traderet: Ipse veroseEgram versus conver- onem Wallenstdnids oopiis Egram com- 

teret cum millibus aliquot partim equitum migrantibus adjunxit. 

partim peditum. In hoc oomitatu compre- * De Jacobo et Walthero Butleris nil 

hendebatur legio Waltheri Butleri, quae fama moveo« novit Germania, novit Polonia quam 

CaesareanispassimWallensteinianaefiustionis chara capita quam rara nomina quantos 

esse iniqu^ arguebatur, quam verb id falso, vivos semper experta sit 



31 

the Muscovites. At the conclusion of Carve's work is a chapter en- 
titled '* Series Butlerianie Prosapise," an account of the lineage of the 
Butlers. Of the ** Butlerianum Stemma" he enumerates fourteen 
families in order : l.Dunboyne; 2. Cahir; 3. Mountgarret ; 4. ''De 
Tullia Equitis Aurati ;" 5. Ikerrin ; 6. *' Jechia olim celeberrima ;" 
7. " De oppido Pauli (Paulstown) ex hac familii Perillustris Dominus 
Waltherus Butlerus, Comes, et Sacrae CaBsarese Majestatis Colonetlus, 
ac ejusdem Cubicularius, et Theobaldus Butlerus, Richardus item 
Butlerus cum Edmundo, omnes Gapitanei, ortum et originem suam 
sumpserunt;" 8. Elilcash ; 9. Moyally ; 10. ** Cilvolicio ;*' 11. Enock- 
grafibn, of which was Thomas, sumamed the Lame, fiimous in the 
wars in France ; 12. Grange; 13. Bansagh; 14. Clocnova. 

Carve then descends to particular famihes — ** nunc ad particulares 
familias descendo" — and gives the names of many cadet oranches of 
the above fourteen principal families. Among the ** Illustres Familise 
ex Vice-Comiti Monte Garrets exortse," he states the second to be 
that ** de Daginsalano ex qui lUustrissimus Dominus mens Jacobus 
Butlerus, Generalis, excubiarum Praefectus in exercitu Hispanico, No- 
bilitate inter Polonos clarus, Sacrse Csesareas Majestatis necnon Regni 
Poloniae Colonellus, descendit." 

Coleridge's translation shows the lago or Zanga-like character 
that Butler is made to play in Schiller's famous tragedy ;' and a 
despatch from secretary Windebank to lord Strafforde,* at Dublin 
Castle, upon the event, affords proof of the great importance attached 
to it at the period : and, in conclusion, it may be observed, that na- 
tural repugnance to such a deed as *^ the taking off" of Wallenstein, 
as well as its manner, secret and treacherous, will probably ever 
form a bar to a fair consideration of the conduct of Walter Butler. 
If Taaffe's evidence can be relied upon, and circumstances concur to 
render it unimpeachable^ then Butler was assuredly not the double 
traitor of the tragedy, nor a sort of executioner for the mere love of 
gain. Ue was compelled to be cognizant of, and his life was in peril, 
if he did not seem to aid and abet a treason, in the failure or success of 
which the fate of the empire and the emperor was involved. After his 
death, it would appear that Wallenstein had miscalculated his strength 
and that his great designs would probably have miscarried ; but so 
great was his power and his potency of character that Butler by 
cutting him off in his treason was reasonably, at the time, consi- 
dered to have saved the empire. 

And who shall say that he did not ? This deed of Walter Butler 
may have prevented a train of consequences the most momentous, 
and if the manner of executing it forbids us to call the act» with 
Carve, ** heroic" the circumstances as now stated will, I trust, go 
lar to relieve Butler's character from the infamy which has hitherto 

' Piecdommi, act i., scene 5. Death of 5 ; act iii., scene 6 ; act it , scene 2. 
H'sUetuiein, act i., scene 4 ; act ii., scene * Strafforde^t Lett.f vol. i. pp. 2 \b, 216. 



32 



rested upon it, and to exhibit him in the light of an officer impelled 
by a stem sense of duty in a critical hoiu: to use the best ana only 
means remaining to him to protect his sovereign's crown. 



FOLK-LORE. 
No.L 



BY MR, NICHOLAS o'kEABITET. 



AiNB, or Aighne, as the name is sometimes written, was a being of 
great note in the olden times, as may be seen from the evidences 
which I shall adduce, and generally supposed to have been possessed 
of extraordinary or supernatural powers, having an affinity to the at- 
tributes of a Pagan deity. This Aine was the sister of Milucradh of 
Sliabh GKiillean, better xnown among the peasantry as the Cailleach 
Biorar (i.e. the old woman who frequents the water) of Loch Dag- 
ruadh, on that mountain, and daughter of Cuillean, or Guillean, from 
whom the mountain is supposed to have derived its name.' . But 
before any further notice is mven of Aine* it is necessary to give a 
short sketch of GKiillean himsdf, in order to show his connexion with 
the ancient mythology of Lrebmd, and lead to the inference that his 
daughter, too, was connected with the Pagan worship) of our ancestors. 
Cuillean, or Guillean, himself was a very famous bein^ that once re- 
sided in the Isle of Man, and of so long-lived or mythic a nature, as 
to be found living in all ages of Pagan nistory ; at all events he is re- 
presented to have lived at the time when Conchubar Mac Nessa, after- 
wards king of Ulster, was a young man, who possessed little pros- 
pects of aggrandisement, except what he might win by his sword. 
Conchubar, being of an ambi^ous and enterprising nature, consulted 
the oracle of Clochor, and was informed that he should proceed to the 
Isle of Man, and get Cuillean, or Guillean, a noted ceardj or worker 
in iron, to make a sword, spear» and shield for him ; and that the 
buadha (supernatural power) possessed by them would be instrumental 
in gaining for him the sovereignty of Ulster. Conchubar, accordingly, 
repaired to the Isle of Man and prevailed on Cuillean to commence 
the work. But while awaiting its completion, he sauntered one morn- 
ing along the shore, and, in course othis walk, met with a mermsdd 
fast asleep on the beach. Conchubar bound the syren ; but she having 
awoke, and perceived she was bound, besought him to liberate her ; 
and, to induce him to yield to her petition, she told him that she was 
Tiobal, princess of the ocean, and promised, in case he caused Cuillean 

1 Vid. MS. Fetff Tight Cofurtn Chm'tUibht, aniKranced for publicttion by the Onnanie 
Society, 



prii 

thai 



33 

to fcrm her representation on the shield surrounded with this inscripo 
tion in laiTO letleiB'-^*' T!^]obAl beAihf U]t pa fDA]tA,'' i.e. ** Tiobal, 
rinoesB of the ocean,*' it would possess such extraordinary buadha, 
tiat whenever he was about engaging his enemy in battle, and looked 
upon her figure on the shield, read the legend, and invoked her name, 
his enemies would diminish in strength while he and his people would 
acquire a proportionate increase to weirs. Conchubar had the shield 
made according to the advice of Tiobal ; and, on his return to Ireland, 
such extraordinary success attended his arms that he won the king- 
dom of Ulster. Tae king was not ungrateful ; for he invited Cuillean 
to settle in Ulster, and bestowed on him the tract of land along the 
eastern coast, extending from Gleann Righe, or the vale of the Newry, 
op the north, to Glas Neasa, or the river of Annagasson, near Dunany, 
en the south ; which were the boundaries of the ancient Ouailgne.^ 
The same Cuillean flourishes in the Tain Bo Cuailgne* In that piece 
he is introduced offering an invitation to the king of Ulster : ** Cn]l- 
leAt) CeA^tb A A]i)|ii>, Ac«f bo ^|i)i)e8 fleAb lA]f boCboi7cobA]t, Acuf 
bo cuTtAfb bo cocA]tA6 30 b-ft AtnA^i) ; Acof AbubA]]tc; le Coi)cubA^ 5AI) 
bo b|ie]C lei]f Acb uaca6 f^ofwUecl), a]ji tji] 7iA]b c|i)cbe ijo fejixijlb 
A]cce Acb co|tA6 A 6]Ytb, Acnf A]i>i)eoi>A, Acuf a tAtKA]jie" i.e. *< Cuil- 
lean Ceard {artifex) was his name ; and, having prepared a banquet for 
Conchubar, he went to Eamhain to invite him. He requested Conchu- 
bar to fetch none with him, except a few warlike men ; because he had 
neither patrimony nor lands to support him, and solely relied on the 
produce of his hammer, anvil, ana vice.** It was on the occasion of 
this feast that the mythic beinff, Seaan Mac Subhaltaich, then called 
Mac Beag, in consequence of his diminutive stature, killed Ouillean*s 
mythic watch-dog, and was obliged to discharge the duties of the 
hound for Cuillean. Hence he was called Cu-CuiUean, or Cuchulainn, 
i. e* Cuillean's hound.' This same Cuillean, or Ghiillean, as he is 
usually styled in popular tradition* resided in a cave on Sliabh Gkiillean, 
and is stiu remembered with horror in the traditions of the peasantry, 
which traditions must have been derived from the notions concerning 
Gmllean, or the form of religion with which he had been connecteo. 
inculcated by the first preachers of Christianity. There is an Irish 
phrase in common use m some localities, namely, ** 5]oIIa 3^1^M^/* 
1. e. ** the servant of Guillean,'* synonymous witn an imp of the devil, 
which strongly warrants the inference. Mihicradh, or the CaiBeach 
Bierar, QuSlean's daughter, is supposed to reode still in the cave or 
ardficial vault inhabited by her fatner on the mountain ; and, in ac- 
cordance with the nature of the name she bears, to be in the constant 
ice of firea uenting Loch Dagruadh, which she caused the Tuatha 
edanan druios to form for her accommodation, and to bestow many 
strange buadka upon it. 

It may be necessary, in order to render what I have already stated 
more clear to such as happen to be unacquainted with this branch of 



TOacti< 
I)edai 



1 Vid. MS. AcU of Muimdhach. • Fid. Tain Bo CaaUgiie, MS. 

5 



/ 



34 



Irish literature, to give part of a gloBs, or rather an interlineal note found 
in an old copy of the MS. entitled 2li) c-occa|i ^4^aIj or Achieve^ 
ments of seven celebrated Irishmen in the East, under the command 
of the royal champion Conall Keamach : the note vrill tell for itself 
at least, it will show that some person saw and studied certain Irish 
MSS. not known to us of the present day, or invented a form of reli- 
gious belief for our Pagan ancestors long before our ^ndfathers were 
bom, and very possibly at a much earlier period, smce the writer of 
the copy, from which this transcript is made, was manifestly ignorant 
of Latm, and therefore could not have been the author of the note in 
question. The interlineation occurs in that part of the MS. where 
Mananan Mac Lir is introduced instructing Cuchulainn to use the 
Gaih-bolg^ or sting, which he extracted from a serpent that infested 
Loch-na-Niath^ near Mananan's house, in Armenia : — ^'Gullinus qui- 
dem no<ret5a>2/ fUit, nam l]|% Ibemicum aut Phosnicum nomen Neptuni, 
et idem quod mare ;^ ideo Gruillinus fuit alterum nomen pro l]]t, dec 
maris, ut Tiobal maris dea fuit. Nam ilia Concubaro Mac Nessa, 
postea regi Ulthonise, apparuit sub specie mulieris pulcherissimse, cum 
m Manniam jussu oracmi cui nomen Clocb-d^|i — i. e. saxum solis— > 
quod isto tempore celeberissimum fuit his partibus, adebat ad Gullinum 
quendam uti daret buadha druidica clypeo et armis ejus. Gkdlinus 
imaginem T^]obAl in clypeum finxit, et buadha multa invincibiliaque 
habebat, secundum auctnores vetheres Ibemicos." Well then, i^ ac- 
cording to this curious note, Gxdllean, or Cuillean, was the same as 
the Poseidon of the Greeks, the Neptune of the Latins, the l]|i of the 
Irish, and the ocean, or deity of the ocean, of all these ; if the Guillean 
of Man was the Lir of the Irish' the assertion made in a former paper 
of mine, printed in the Society's IVansactions^ vol.i. pp. 145-8, and 
to which exception was taken by some critics, namely, that Aine, the 
daughter of the Ghiillean (possibly the Tiobal, Aoibheal of the Irish, 
characteristic of another attribute), was the moon, which in all ages, 
and amon^ all civilized nations was, and still is, considered to possess 
so much mfluence over the waters of the ocean, was fuUjr justified. 
Why should any person unacquainted with this branch of Irish archae- 
ology rashly assert that the picture I had drawn, after^a long and 
punM study, was a bugbear coloured into existence by dint of my 
morbid imagination ? 

I have not, however, wholly done with the mythic being, Aine ; 
but fear to be prolix. I must, however, in self-defence, follow the 
inquiry a little iurther. 



^ It may be worth remarking here that 
the Romans, like the Irish, imagined that 
Neptune was the ocean as well as its deity : 
'* Mare etiam (Deus) quern Neptunum esse 
dicebas." — Cic., De Not. Dtor,^ lib. iL cap. 
20. 

' The writers of the " History and Anti- 
quities of Man" assert that the island was 



first peopled by fairies, or supernatural 
beings, who enveloped it in a dense mist, 
in order that it might not be manifest to 
human eyes, lest an invasion should be the 
consequence. This agrees, in a remarkable 
manner, with the Irish traditions concern- 
ing Mananan Mac Lir, after whom the 
island was named. 



35 

Aine, or Aighne, as the name is sometibies written, signifies a 
small ring or circle, according to Irish lexicographers, ana is the 
diminutive of t^rji) : it may have had this denomination in opposition 
to ^|i>, or t^mt the greater circle, or b6l-^]i), year, '' the great circle 
of Belus, i.e. the sun, or the annual course of that planet through the 
ecliptic,"^ or it may have been so called, because it is an inferior globe. 
To show that popular tradition supports the opinion that Aine was the 
moon, it is necessary to remark tnat a great stone called ** CACA]|t 
9|i)e," or ** cAtA]ji va thbAO^e bAec," i.e. ** the chair of Aine, or the 
chair of the lunatics," was located, possibly still is, near Dunany ; and 
the people generally believed that lunatics, actuated by some insupe- 
rable impulse, if at liber^, usually made their way to this stone, and 
seated themselves thrice upon it ; and it was as generally believed that 
afler having performed that ceremony they became incurable. It was 
also consi^red a very dangerous act for persons of sane minds to sit 
u|x>n this stone, lest they too might become subject to the power of 
Aine, that is, become affected with lunacy. The human race were 
not the only beings supposed to have been affected by the mischievous 
Aine, since rabid dogs even were said to have come firom many parts 
of the country and flocked around this stone, to the great danger of the 
neighbours and their cattle : when they remained around the lunatics' 
chair for some time, they then retired into the sea, as if compelled 
by some potent invisible power, and the people supposed that they 
were forced to visit the submarine dominions of Aine, since they 
were entirely under her subjection. 

Aine was much dreaded by the old people on the Friday, Saturday 
and Sunday immediately following La Lugimasa (Lammas Day), 
for these three days were supposed to have been sacred to her in con- 
junction with Crom Dubh, or Crom Cruach, and were called Aovne^ 
Satham, agus Damhnach Aine agtu Chroim Duibhy which circum- 
stance, independent of any other evidence, warrants the opinion that 
Aine was the name or tide of an ancient Irish deity, since she had 
certain days dedicated to her in conjunction with Crom, an universally 
acknowledged deity of the Pagan Irish. Though this Crom is gene- 
rally supposed to have been a deity, there are reasons for supposing 
it was omy fte name . of a certain festival of the sun and moon hela 
by the Buicnechta (peasantry) to return grateful thanks for the fruits 
of the earth having reached maturity through the joint influence of 
both planets, or deities, the king and queen of heaven. The Romans 
seem to have conceded like functions to these planets, especially to 
Diana, who WM the moon :_ 

Rostiea agriooUe bonii 

TecU frugibus replei. — Caiuil. Hymn to Ditma, 9, 515. 



« 



Ipse sol mimdum omnem sua luce compleat, ab eoque Lunaillu- 

1 See OfBrien^t Diet.j sub. voc. i^|i>Q. 



36 

minata graviditates et partu8» maturitatosque gignendi*"^ But the 
three days dedicated to Aiiie were considered to be unlucky^ and few 
persons in the neighbourhood of Dunaine would, in the olden time, 
venture to bathe on those days, nor would the fishermen follow their 
avocations but with great reluctance^ because it was remarked that 
one or more persons should forfeit their lives by drowning, as a sacri- 
fice to the relentless Aine. These notions* which» like all ancient 
customs, are now nearly forgotten^ would seem to be a remnant of 
some tradition relative to cruel rites practised on those days, and may, 
perhaps, have some afi^ity with the Lacedemonian custom of ofier- 
m|[ human sacrifices to Diana. Some Irish writers assert that the 
Milesian colony, in course of its transit hither, sojourned for some 
time in Lacedemon, and afterwards proceeded farther west, accom- 
panied by a large body of Ghreeks. u this be true^ the superstitious 
observances alluded to might easily have crept into Irelana with the 
colony. N0W9 I would again asK such as object to that doctrine, 
is there anything paradoxical in the supposition that this Irish Aine, 
who was supposed to have possessed so great an influence over lunatics, 
rabid animals, and even the sea, may have been a name of the being 
made to represent the moon— -the lesser circle ; because the year of 
the ancients was lunar ; and to have imagined an affinity with the 
Anec of the Carthagenians ! But this is not all : there was a sister 
of Dido and daughter of Belus— *a very important name in the plane- 
tary theogony^-who followed ^neas into Italy, which in plain terms 
would seem that he introduced her worship into his adopted coimtxy, 
since this Anna became a Roman goddess by the very simple process 
of diving under the waters of the river Numicus, and assertmg she 
would abide there for ever: hence she was called Anna Perenna, 
exactly like our Aine, who is supposed to be still living in the sub- 
marine dominions off Dunany pomt. This same Anna was supposed 
to have been the moon ;-»<< quia mensibus impleat annum," like our 
Aine or lesser circle :-^ 

Sunt quibiu hasc Luna ett, quia meniibiis impleat annum : 
Pan lliemiB, Inadiiam, pan potat etae boTem.' 

The truth is, Luna, or Aine> or Anna, or Anec, was all xhese, for the 
Egyptians made the cow to represent Isis, or the moon, as the ox 
represented Osiris, or the son, because of their great utility to man ; 
and the ancient Egyptians never deified any animal except such 
as were found of great utility to mankind, as Cicero remarks: — 
** ^gyptii, nullam belluam, nisi ob aliquam utilitatem, quam ex ea 
caperent Ita concludamus tamen belluas a barbaris prop- 
ter beneficium consecratas."' This same Anna of the Romans, or 
Latins, as being the moon, was also Diana ; for Diana was the moon, 

' Cic., De Nat, Deor,t lib. ii. cap. 46. ' De Nai, Dear,, lib. i. cap. 36. 

> Ovid, Fati., lib. iiL ▼. 657. 



37 

because she measured the year by her monthly phases, as Catullus 
in his Hymn to Diana, asserts: — 

Dicta lumine lana 

Tn cimiif defty menitnio 

Ifetimi iter anaomm.' 

Cicero, too, asserts that Diana and the moon were the same : — *^ Dia- 
nam autem et Lunam eamdem esse putant,"^ and the sun was a god 
called ApoUo, and the moon was a goddess called Diana by the 
Greeks, according to the same authority :*-^* Solem deum esse, 
Lunamque, quorum alterum Apollinem Grraeci, alterum Dianam 
putant.' ' AjOLAf or Anec, was a Carthagenian goddess ; and Juno 
was spedally wonhipped at Carthage ; but Diana, or the moon, was 
Juno, according to Catullus : — 

Tn ladna dolentibiii, 
Jotto dicta paerpuii.* 

and the same poet makes his Diana — a singular coincidence with the 
fimctions attiibuted to our Aine, and her sister Milucradh, or the 
Cailleach Biorar — mistress of rivers, or waters : — 



Montinm domma ut fines, 

Silyaramqua Tirentium, 
Saltmimque leoonditorum, 
dmniump ie tonantnm.' 

But, after all, if I be accused of inventing a system of worship for 
our ancestors on the slightest possible pretence, I find I am not 
singular in this respect, as the JEtev. Dr. Carew, in his " Irish Ef> 
clesiasdcal History, has been busy at the work of invention too, if 
invention it be. Speaking on the Pagan theology of the ancient Irish, 
he says : ^* The profound veneration which Paganism inculcated for 
every object* influenced, in the ima^ation of its votaries, the con- 
cerns in which they were interested. Did they, for example, derive 
from the bounteousness of the soil their principal means of subsistence ; 
or, was the care of their flocks that which chiefly engaged their at- 
tention; the^Bun and the moon, with the whole host of heaven, were 
for them so many deities, whose fiivour they were anxious to pro- 
pitiate."^ In Cormac's Glossary^ 2Li)A is stated to have been the 
mother of the ^ods, apparently, because the sun and moon were the 
two great deities of the primitive Pagans ; but the fancies, passions, 
and prejudices of men, not ^ded by true revelation, soon invented 
many attributes to those deities; and as there were two, why should 
not there be many more gods and goddesses ? Consequently, all the 



I V. 512. 

* De Nat, Dear., Hb. il cap. 27. 

s Id., lib. iiL cap. W. 

^ V. 509. 



* V. 505. 

* See p. 25. 

' See (yReiUf*i Diet., sub. voo. aqa. 



38 

attributes of the deity were subdivided, and a special divinity ap-^ 

pointed to preside over each. Hence we have various names clashing ; m 

in elucidation, I may instance Diana, the one in question, which, 

when accurately analysed, will be foimd to have been but the one 

and same after all the mystification of mythologists : — ^* Pars (enim) 

Themin, pars Inachiam, pars putat esse bovem." 

I am sorry to be forced to extend this subject to so great a length ; 
but after all, I must stop in the middle, and before I have said naif 
my say. I was just proceeding to show, as well as I am able, how 
Ame was AOrivrfy and how she was frequently invoked by our bards 
as the Leanan-siphe^ or the spirit of inspiradon which bestowed upon 
them the gifts of poetry and music. I was also about to show how 
she was the Rae, possibly, the Rhea of the Latins — how herb-doctors 
and charm-mongers beheved she had unlimited influence over the 
human frame, and looked upon her as something equivalent to the 
vital spark which, they said, traversed the human frame once in the 
twenty-four hours ; and experienced blood-letters were always very 
cautious what vein th^ opened, and at what time, lest the efflux 
might carry away the Rae^ or vital spark, and in such a case life 
should be extinct. Now, it is very plain that this was nothing else 
except the accurate knowledge they entertained of the circulation of 
the blood, which many, I may say almost all old Irish women, well 
knew, even long before Harvey was bom. I may instance one; 
Maire Ruadh-ni-Hararan, when I was a child, was at least ninety 
years of age ; she used to fre<]^uent my aunt's house where I was brea, 
she was attached to the &mily, ana was consulted on all occasions 
when sickness or indisposition occurred. I state this for the credit 
of the Irish people, to show that they understood the nature of the 
circulation of the blood long, I should say always did, before the 
knowledge was recovered in Europe. Maire never knew, as they 
used to say, ^* B from a Bull's foot." I well remember that on one 
occasion, but cannot recollect what was my complaint, possibly none 
at all, the learned Dr. Woods (the family doctor) attended. He was a 
first rate Irish scholar, and a bard of no mean talent, with an extract 
from whose works I shall presently conclude this rambling paper. 
The upshot of the visit was that blood-letting, a favourite remedy 
with the old people for all complaints, especially for fevers, colds, and 
pleurisies, was resolved on. Maire did not exactly approve of the 
remedy, perhaps the gentleman himself did not, but in case it did no 
harm, b^g too general a remedy to be overlooked, it should be 
resorted to. The operation was about commencing, when the cautious 
Maire, having observed the vein which the doctor was going to 
open, screamed, and caught hold of his arm, exclaiming, ** Uh, mille 
murdher I this is Wednesday, two o'clock, an' the |iAe is in that very 
pulse — it is the very place it should be in just now, an' you shan't 
cut it, sir." A short conversation ensued, which resulted in the 
gentleman's declining the operation, through force of Maire's argu- 



39 

ments. I ever after felt grateful to the poor old woman for saving me 
fit>m so very disagreeable an operation, and though very youn^ then 
the incident made so deep an impression on my mind that it can 
hardly be ever effiu^ed. I made much inquiry since then concerning 
the ftAe, and the result is, that I feel satisfied that the general 
opinion was, that the jtAe, or moon, had such influence upon the 
human frame, as to cause the blood to circulate through the vessels 
in the space of twen^-four hours. 

I should not omit stating that Maire learned all she knew firom 
her mother and other old folks, who learned it from others, still 
older than themselves, many of whom were said to have been eminent 
leeches long before any regular practitioners were known in the 
locality. 

I said that Aine in Ireland was the same as AOrjvrj of the Greeks ; 
the learned Lindon of the Fews of Armagh, who died in 1733, in- 
troduces her lamenting the demise of a son of genius : — 

7Za tt|iii)0|t be ti)a]|ti>-ti)i)^ i)a b-e^sfe 

'Cyte 5|iuA]Tt>-ctt]|if e a^ji f uA]b]teA6 50 beA|iAcb ; 

IZ^p 2lo]beAll ]X il^ve A5 fSA^jieAS a 5-cfe]be. 

The greater number of the inspiring geniuses of the learned 
Shed tears in abundance through excessive grief ; 
Aoibheal and Ama are tearing their tresses. 

That our BeaU'Siffhes, or spirits of inspiration, held a high place 
in our Pagan theology there can be no doubt ; the learned Dr. James 
Woods, of whom mention is made above, singing the lamentation of 
a brother bard, speaks much plainer ; — 

CbuA]6 ffe le h'^}Ve cyie'i) 'plj^^Ucn^ocb Aoibe^^cby 
4)o 5AC lAihlpf i)A l1^bU^c rtyhAT) |^5e ; 

50 i)'ibeA6 A f^]t he'x) 4i]tt>-f|tut b]u>]6e 
2lr cd|ti)Ayb ^Ia]i>i) ft)^i8-5eAl aoI6a, 

51 5tt]0f a8, a cA]l, A'f b*f ^y5|reA8 l^orbcA 
SI c^Ab^AS ^|tbA bo can) 5|iS^A n))V]n'5^> 

He accompanied Ame throughout the pleasant districts of Fail, 

And risited all the full residences of the blooming Bean-iighe ; 

To quaff copious draughts of the supreme fountain of druidism 

From chaste, brightly-polished goblets, 

With the yiew of whetting his genius, and firing his spirit 

For the arduous task of tracing out the pedigree of each class of people. 



40 



THE ROCK MONUMENTS OP THE COUNTY OP 

DUBLIN. 

BT BSSBY 0*NfiIIX, ESQ. 

Ik the summer of 1851, 1 availed myself of some spare time to study 
the antiquities of the county of Dublin, and among other vestiges of 
by-gone times, I have examined those extraoidinarv remains called 
cromleacs, or druids' altars; I have taken their aimensions, and 
compass bearings, and made sketches of them. The facts I have 
collected have led to my concluding, that these monuments are se- 
pulchral, an opinion which is supported by J. J. A. Worsaae, respecting 
similar remains in Scandinavia. That author's work I had not seen 
till after my views were formed, a fact which I mention, because to 
me it seems to be an additional probability that the idea of those 
monuments being sepulchral is correct. 

These remains are known in the county of Dublin, by the name of 
druids' altars ; sometimes, but rarely, hj that of cromleac' In examin- 
ing this or any similar topic, the investigation must be conducted irre- 
spective of any name, which is often but the expression of some olden 
tneoiy, lost to literature, but preserved orally. Any one who has at- 
tended to the way in which the peasantry catch up the stray opinions 
of learned disqmsitionists, wiU see the truth of this observation, and 
estimate its value. Literary antiquaries have devoted much time 
to the question of the purpose for which these gigantic works were 
raised, and, nusled by names, have followed an ignusfatutUy with, of 
course, the usual consequences, being lost in a literary quagmire. 
How Uttle regard is to be paid to mere names, may be Imown from 
the &ct that, besides the two very opposite ones of cromleacs and 
druids' altars* by which they are known in the county of Dublin, 
similar monuments have various other names in other localities— for 
instance, in the county of Kilkenny, one is called the stone of the 
champion* another the goat's stone, another the ass's manger, another 
the grey stone ; names purely local and so far differing from those used 
for such monuments in the county of Dublin, that they indicate no 
opinion as to any common object which their founders may have had 
in erecting them. We must tiierefore look beyond mere names, and, 
by a carenil examination of the remains themselves, endeavour to 
ascertain the purpose for which they were constructed. 



> The appellation, eromUaCt it never 
applied to the primitiye rock monnments 
of this country by the unsophisticated 
amongst the Irish peasantry. By them 
they are almost nniformly termed Im^o, 
beds, or graves, or Imic, stones [of memo- 
rial]. The word emmkme was introduced 
from Wales by Vallancey and his school, 



and, when merely used as a conventional 
term,isanobjectionable. The name, ifmut'* 
«//ar, is foonded on the baseless theory 
entertained by some writers that these 
structures served as altars for the human 
sacrifices said to have been offered by the 
druids to the Pagan deities of Ireland, and 
should be studiously avoided. — Eds. 



42 

high. The direction is E. and W., the floor clay, and considerably 
lower than the surface of the field. There are several large stones 
lying about, and tolerably decided indications of some of them having 
been arranged to form two parallel lines of approach to the lower end 
of the monument. It is of granite. 

KiLTERNAN. — This is a still more gigantic monument than the one 
immediately preceding. It is situated on the slope of a coarse, rocky, 
and furzy hill, about eight miles south of Dublin, and about three 
miles inland. The roof rock, in its extreme, measures twenty-two 
feet long, twelve and a-half feet wide, and nearly six feet thick ; 
probable weight, eighty tons ; the greatest length lies E. and W. The 
supporting stones have given way on the soutn side, so that the roof 
rock leans in that direction. At the north side the chamber is five 
feet high ; it is about eighteen or twenty feet long, by half that in 
width. The supporting stones are a good deal disarranged, which 
renders it difficult to decide these points with certainty. The direction 
of the chamber appears to be E. and W. The floor of the chamber 
is of clay, and below the surrounding surface. At one side of this 
rock monument, the hill seems to have been cut away, and roughly 
faced with stones, so as to keep it clear of the monument, which is of 
granite. 

Mount Vknus. — On the side of the counties of Dublin and 
Wicklow range of mountains, and about seven miles inland, in a very 
sheltered situation on Mount Venus, is a very remarkable rock monu- 
ment. The extreme measures of the roof rock are twenty feet long, 
ten feet eight inches wide, and four feet five inches thick. The 
average thickness is four feet. The chamber lies N.W., it is rect- 
angular, and about eighteen feet long, by six feet wide, and four feet 
five inches thick ; the floor is of clay, and a foot below the surface 
level, to which height its sides are faced with small stones without 
mortar. The roof rock rests at an angle of forty-five degrees against 
the upright one, seen on the left hand m the sketch. This supporting 
rock IS eight feet high from the surface to its apex, and must have 
been higher, as it is evidently broken at the top. Measured at the 
surface level, this rock is five feet six inches wide on. its inside face, 
its thickness is three feet eight inches. As all the pressure of the 
roof rock comes against this, the only supporting stone, it must be 
firmly embedded in the ground to resist the immense weight lying 
against it. The roof rock probably weighs above seventy tons. There 
are the stumps and fragments of other large masses of rock lying 
about the chamber ; one great mass, which was probably a supporting 
rocky is Ijring on the ground ; its measures are — length, fourteen feet ; 
average breadth, four feet ; average thickness, two feet. If we suppose 
this to have been set upright, and sunk in the ground four feet, it 
would be still ten feet above the ground. Add to this the thickness 
of the roof rock, and the result is that this rock monument had pro- 
bably a height exceeding fourteen feet This monument, besides its 



43 

gigantic proportions, is remarkable for the sharpness of the angles of 
eveiy part of it. There is no appearance of weathering. In other 
similar remains the angles are rounded as if they had been exposed 
for ages to the influence of the elements ; here, on the contrary, the 
stone is as sharp as if but recently quarried ; there are, nevertheless, 
no marks of the hammer, chisel, wedge, or jumper. The sharpness 
of the angles may be partly owing to the monument being in a very 
sheltered situation, possibly to the stone being of a very good quality, 
and also, that, till a comparatively recent period, the monument may 
have been covered up under a mound or barrow, a suggestion which 
the monument on Enockmary will elucidate. In the accompanying 
illustration I have ventured on representing the Mount Venus rock 
chamber, as I conceive it appeared when undisturbed, in order to 
give an idea of its gigantic character. This monument is of granite. 

Glencullen. — On the hill at the. Dublin side of Glencullen I dis- 
covered a rock monument. The roof rock is ten feet long, eight feet 
broad, and four feet thick, extreme measures ; the longest direction 
of the roof rock is W.S.W., or nearly E. and W. The chamber is 
greatly disarranged. 

Kjtockmart. — The monuments heretofore described have been 
possibly for ages lying exposed, and subject to casualties and violence. 
In describing them I have ventured to offer conjectures as to what 
they may have been when in their pristine state. However plausible 
these conjectures may appear, they want that convincing force which 
the examination of a rock chamber, to all appearance imdisturbed, 
will have. Fortunately, such an examination has taken place lately, 
and the evidence it has afforded I now furnish. The Phoenix Park, 
Dublin, consists of a gently-sloping plain, which, on the south side, 
dips rather suddenly towards the nver Liffey. In the course ,of some 
improvements which were making in this park, the workmen were 
removing a mound on the brow of the slope ; the mound was called 
Ci)oc-TPA]tA]8e (the hill of the mariners) ; and was about fifteen feet 
high, and one hundred and twenty feet in diameter : four small urns 
of burnt clay were found; they contained ashes and fragments of 
burnt bones ; one of them has been preserved, and is now in the 
Museum of the Royal Irish Academy ; they were enclosed in small 
stone chambers or cists. In the centre of the mound was a rock 
chamber ; the top rock, six feet six inches long, three feet three 
inches wide, and one foot thick. The longest direction was N.N.B., 
or nearly N. and S. It was supported on several stones, enclosing a 
chamber of an irregularly oval shape, and about four feet long, by 
scarcely two feet deep, the floor of clay, and below the surface level. 
In this chamber were found two perfect male skeletons, and a human 
thigh bone; the individuals, of whom the remains were here discovered, 
had passed the meridian of life. The skeletons were doubled up, and 
lay with their heads towards the north ; there were also found a bone, 
supposed fo be of a dog, a quantity of small sea shells, the Nerita 



44 

• 

littoralis^ prepared so, that they might be strung, and some of which 
had a string of sea-weed passed through them ; a small bone fibula, 
and a flint Knife or arrow head. The roof rock is of calp, and looks 
water-worn, as if it had been taken from the bed of the adjacent river. 
Here, then, is a rock chamber to all appearance undisturbed, and it 
furnishes clear proof that the purpose of its erection was sepulchral. 
I give a drawing of two of the shells, the fibula, and the urn ; the 
two latter are drawn one-fourth the size of the originals ; the shells 
are full size. 

For a detailed account of the discovery of this rock chamber see 
the Proceedings of the Rotfdl Irish Academy ^ vol. i. pp. 186-90. 
While writing this paper I met, in the Dublin Evening Herald^ 
dated February 26th, 1852, with an account of the discovery of a 
rock chamber in a mound in the county of Tyrone. The pnncipal 

Earticulars are as follow : — Tullydruid, anglici Druidshill, is dis^nt 
-om Dungannon a mile and a-half— a small barren spherical hill, 
the summit of which forms a circular plane of thirty feet diameter. 
The materials were in process of removal to repair the adjacent road 
when the workmen discovered the cist-vaen on the south-east slope 
of the hill ; by the assistance of four men the immense slab which 
covered the vault was removed and the skeleton exposed to view. It 
was in a sitting posture, the head towards the east, and at the knees 
a moulded and gracefully swelling sepulchral urn. It was empty, no 
charcoal nor anything to indicate fire was found. The vault was four 
and a-half feet m length, two and a-half feet in breadth, and two feet 
in depth, the bottom paved, the sides composed of several stones, and 
their interstices so carefully filled that the vault was quite firee from 
any foreign substance. The skull is described as being a fine spe- 
cimen of the Celtic type. The author of the article assumes tnis 
barrow to be of Celtic origin. The teeth were remarkable for pos- 
sessing a fine vitreous glaze ; the bones large — ^the thigh bone mne- 
teen inches in length. Such are the principal facts contained in the 
account, and the close coincidence between tnem and those relative to 
the Knockmary rock chamber is quite evident. 

On looking at the Knockmary chamber as it now stands, de- 
nuded of its enclosing barrow, it will be seen how much its general 
features resemble those of the other rock monuments I have de- 
scribed. The probability appears to be, that all these rock chambers 
were sepulchral, the larger ones being intended to hold several bodies, 
as, the various members of a distinguished family, or several chiefs 
who may have fallen in conflict; that originally these chambers were 
covered over with a quantity of earth, or whatever other suitable 
material was at hand ; that these barrows have, as in the case of the 
Knockmary and Dungannon rock chambers, been removed, leaving 
the monuments exposed, and that the roof rock originally had its 
under surface horizontal, though now in most cases these rocks lie off 
a part of their supporters, and inclined to the horizon. It is unne- 



m 



@ 



45 

oessary for me to add that the fiicts I have indicated are at variance 
with the supposition of these rock chambers having been druids' 
altars, a notion which their great height and magnitude seem suffi- 
cient to negative, and their having been concealed in enclosing bar- 
rows completely destroys. 

Rock chambers are very extensively distributed over Europe and 
Asia, they abound particularly in the north of these re^ons, but they 
have been found as far south as Bombay ; in no case is it known by 
what people they have been raised — ^they belong to an age antecedent 
to all histoiT* Some antiquaries divide them mto three classes, dis- 
tinguished by the remains found in them into the stone, the bronze, 
ana the iron : from the ffint arrow head found in the Knockmaiy 
barrow, it would doubtless be classed as of the age of stone, the most 
ancient of these monuments. The Dungannon rock chamber is de- 
scribed as being near the summit of the barrow. All those I have 
seen, are on what seemed to be the natural level of the soil, and the 
floors of the chambers, with one exception, below that level — in the 
Brennanstown one, perhaps three feet. 

The remote time at which these monuments are supposed to have 
been erected, the very inadequate means which their founders are 
thought to have possessed for the execution of such gigantic under- 
takings, added to the deep veil of mystery which hangs over the 
race or races by whom they were constructed, are circumstances 
which must render rock chambers deeply interesting to the antiquary, 
the philosopher, and all who study the history of our species. One 
fact is clear, that they were not erected by the giants of old. The 
remains found in even the most ancient of them are of beings not 
above the average standard height of the present day. 

Those who have read the accounts of similar monuments situated 
in other parts of this island, cannot have fidled to observe how often 
it is mentioned that there is a tradition of human bones having been 
found under them — a circumstance which further corroborates the 
conclu^on I have deduced from the rock chambers of the county of 
Dublin. 

From the preceding accounts the following general characteristics 
are deducible : — That the county of Dublin rock chambers are formed 
of upright masses of stone, covered over with a single rock, having 
had its under side horizontal and level, or nearly so ; that the inner 
surfaces of the supporting stones were also level and placed in line 
with the sides of tne chamber ; that the rocks, more particularly the 
roof rocks, are rough and massive, constituting a monument, generally 
speaking, of gigantic dimensions, that the chambers are of a corres- 
ponding size, have plain clay floors, sunk below the ordinary level of 
the surrounding soil. The longer direction of the chambers is, in 
most cases, £. and W., or nearly so.^ That these remains are found 

' In a piper on the Primeval Antiquities eal Journal, vol. L p. 222), it is stated of 
of the Channel Islands (see Arch<Mloyi- the cromleacs to he found there — " It has 



46 

singly, without any apparent connexion, as regards each other, or 
any religious or other monument of ancient times ; and that each 
rock monument is constructed of the kind of stone found in the 
locality. 

I have read accounts of similar monuments situated in other 
counties, but do not recollect any one of them equalling in mag- 
nitude the largest rock chambers m the county of Dublin. 

I have described every rock monument I know of in the county 
of Dublin. There may be more — ^but I have taken the best means in 
my power to ascertain their existence.^ The best way I know of is 
an examination of the Ordnance Survey map, and marking on an 
index pocket map, with vermilion^ the locahty of each monument. 
My reason for limiting this essay to the county of Dublin is, that it is 
better to complete one county than ^ve even more examples without 
having the collective character which is attained by limiting the 
locality. 

To our antiquarian societies I would respectfully suggest, that the 
study of our antiquities would be greatly accelerated it the principle 
of the division of labour were made use of — ^if one member were 
especially appointed, and devoted himself to the subject of raths, 
another to rock monuments, a third to ancient crosses, a fourth to 
pillar towers, a fifth, or perhaps several, to old castles, others to 
ecclesiastical buildings ; again, each labourer might take a limited 
district, a county where specimens of the class of antiquities allotted 
to the individual were rare, a barony or other division, when more 
numerous. Again, in the examination of monuments, method should 
be carefully observed — the general nature of the locality, the peculiar 
local position, compass bearmgs, measurements, general appearances, 
details of interest, presumed changes from its original condition} 
careful drawings — all these are necessary in order to convey a correct 
idea of an ancient monument. 

In this paper but a very small part of Ireland — old Ireland-— 
as these rock monuments clearly show, is embraced. I hope other 
investigators will come forward, and that ere long, the remaining 
counties will be examined and detailed. 



been remtrked that several of them are 
placed nearly east and west ; this is often the 
case in these islands as well as in FrancCi 
but whether from accident or design, it is 
difficult to decide : many in Brittany are 
due north and south ; two out of three at 
L'ancresse in this island [Guernsey], are 
also in that position ; and in the plain in 
the island of Herm, one due east and west 



is only 30 feet distant from another north- 
west and south-east; with this exceptiont 
all the large cromlechs, in Guernsey at 
least, are placed east and west.'' 

* In Cromweirs Exeurtioru ihrough 
Ireland^ Yol. iii. p. 159, is a representation, 
by Dr. Petrie, of a cromleac at Shankill ; 
I could not find it, and heard that it had 
been taken away a few years ago ! 



47 



ON ANCIENT IRISH BELLS. 

BT T. L. COOKE, ESQ. 

With this paper were sent to the May meeting of the Kilkenny Areh- 
eological Society, for inspection of the members, the remains of seven 
bells of Irish Christian saints ; also, some spherical and pear-shaped 
crotals of Pagan times, some sheep bells of the sixteenth century, and 
some others. As some account of these bells may prove acceptable, 
I request the forbearance of the learned while I proceed, in the first 
instance, with a detail of whatever particulars have come within 
my reach respecting the Bell of St. Molua, of Clonfert-Molua, 
alias Kyle, in the Queen's County. This bell, if we deem it to be 
really of the same era with the saint whose name it bears (and there 
does not appear to be any reason for doubting that it is so), has now 
existed 1245 years — a long space of time indeed. Nothing but the 
most profound spirit of veneration, heightened by a feeling of religious 
awe, could have preserved this remnant of an intrinsically valueless 
piece of metal for such a length of time in a land such as Ireland 
has been, where the feuds of its children vied with foreign influences 
in accomplishing the prostration of the country. 

This venerable remain is composed of iron ; and, like many other 
ancient bells, is in shape, at the base, a parallelogram.^ Its sides were 
rivetted together, and the joinings were also brazed, so as by a better 
union of its parts to increase tne capability for sonorousness. The 
circumstance of this and many other ancient bells having been brazed, 
shows how early the practice of brazing iron was in use in Ireland. 
The portion still remaining of this antique probably does not exceed 
two-tnirds of the ori^nal height. It now measures seven and a^half 
inches from top to bottom. It is six and four-tenth inches long by 
four inches broad at the moufti. The front and sides remain to the 
present time studded over with bronze nails, which evidently were 
inserted for the purpose of fastening to the bell plates of bronze or of 
some more valuable material. Those plates were, doubtless, highly 
ornamented and inlaid with crystals and variously coloured stones. 

The saint, whom tradition names as having been the owner of this 
bell, was the celebrated Lua, known also as Molua — a term of endear- 
ment, and compounded of the Irish word tik>, YTiy, and Lua, a proper 
name. He is also known imder the appellations Lugeus, Lugidus, 
and Luanus. Both Ware and Ussher write of Molua and Lugidus 
as of one and the same person. He is called Lugidus in the Paschal 
Epistle of Cuimin-fada, which reckons him one of the fathers of the 
Irish church. The bell of St. Cuimin-fada is amongst the collec- 
tion now sent for exhibition, and a more full notice of it will be 
found in the sequel of these pages. 

* Ai a solid it resembles • prisnoid. 



48 

St. Molua's parenta^ is given by Fleming, thus : — <' Fuit vir 
vitas venerabilis de provincid. Momoniae, de regione Huar-Fidhgenti, 
de plebe Corcoiche, nomine Molua, cujus pater vocabatur Cartibachy 
sed vulgo Coche dicitur ; mater vero ejus Sochla, id est, larga^^ voca- 
batur ; quas erat de occidentali Lageniensium plaga, id est, Osraigi, 
oriunda. ' Ware, in his " Writers of Ireland' (as quoted by Lani- 

Sn, in his Ecclesiastical History^ vol. ii. p. 207, n. 85), says of St. 
olua — " Beatissimus abbas Lugidus, generosis ortus parentibus, pa- 
trem habuit Cartharium, genere Mumeniensem ; mater autem dicta 
est Sochla natione Osrigensis." Dr. Lani^an, in his '' Ecclesiastical 
History," informs us that he had not met with any account of the time 
of St. Molua's birth. Ussher (p. 919) mentions that he was a dis- 
ciple of Comgall of Bangor, imder whom it is believed he embraced 
the monastic state. After sojourning some time in the present county 
of Limerick the saint repaired to Sliabh-Bladhma,' and founded a 
monastery on the east side of that mountain at a place since known 
as Clonfert-Molua. This place was situated in tne ancient district 
of Ossory, the principality of Mac-Gilla^Patrick, and near to the 
boundary between Ossory and ancient Munster, where Ely-O'CarroU 
meets the modem Queen's County. Dr. Lanigan erroneously places 
Clonfert-Molua in the King's County, but the Ogygja correctly has 
it in the Queen's County. This error of Dr. Lanigan may have 
arisen from his confounding Clonfert-Molua with Lettir-Lua, another 
house founded by the same saint, and situate in the King's County 
on the northern side of the Sliabh-Bloom range of mountains. Clon- 
fert-Molua is also denominated Kyle, which seems to have been a 
more ancient name of this place. The family of which St. Molua's 
mother was a member was located in this neighbourhood. 

Molua is said to have founded many religious houses besides that 
at Kyle. Some writers report that he established no fewer than one 
huncued. Thus, St. Bernard (Life of Si. Malachy^ c. 5) writes — 
** Locus vere sanctus faecundusque sanctorum, copiosissime fructi- 
ficans Deo ; ita ut unus ex filiis sanctae illius congregationis, nomine 
Luanus, centum solus monasteriorum fundator rectissime fertur." St. 
Molua compiled, for the government of the religious over whom he 
presided, certain rules, amongst which was one for the exclusion of 
all women from his monastery at Kyle — namely, ** ut nulla mulier ibi 
semper intraret." He died early in the seventh century, and is com- 
memorated on the 4th of Aurast. The Four Masters fix A.D. 605 
for the year of his decease, and the same date is adopted by Colgan in 
the Acta Sanctorum. Ware (Writers^ b. i. c. 13) places his death in 
A.D. 609, while Butler (Lives of the Saints^ vol. vi. p. 53) says 
** he passed to immortal glory on the 4th of August, 622." 

1 Sochlft, instead of being equivalent to gifted with much good sense. SocUx sig* 

latya seems to mean tentidle. It appears nifies fame, renown, reputation, 
more likely to be derived from the word ' Supposed to be from bXiit, a flower — 

focU6, sensible. The lady probably was bUiiQAC, blooming. 



49 

The bell of St. Moloa was presented to me by the Rev. John 
Egan, now parish priest of DunKerrin in the King's County. It has 
been known by the appellation ** n)]or) 3t)olaA/' that is, relic or hell 
of Molua. From very early times it was handed down in the &mily 
of which Mr. Egan's mother was a member. This lady was de- 
scended from the Duigans, once proprietors of the castle of Clone- 
conse and the lands surrounding it, in the parish of Kyle and Queen s 
County. I glean, in substanee, the following particulars &om a letter 
addressed to me in June, 1851, by the Kev. gentleman to whose 
kindness I am indebted for the possession of this antique instrument 
of sound. 

According to the tradition of the Duigan family, this bell is not 
supposed to be itself the reliquary of St. Molua, but it sustained the 
reuquary, which was formed of plates of gold and silver, richly oman 
mented with precious stones and inlaid with a blueish-coloured 
metal-like substance. If we suppose the bell itself to be the relic, 
and its ornamented covering to have been the reliquary, the descrip- 
tion just given of the latter is quite consistent with what we know of 
other bells of saints. These, having in course of time become useless 
for the production of sound, and having been succeeded by bells 
better in construction and composed of a more sonorous metal, were 
incased in richly adorned metallic coverings, and were afterwards 
careiully preserved in honour of the memory of the venerated saint 
to whom they respectively once belonged. Such was the fate of the 
Baman Coulawn, or bell of St. Culanus of Glenkeen, in the county 
of Tipperaiy. He was brother of Cormac Mac CuUenan,^ the well- 
known king and bishop of Cashel. The Baman Coulawn is amongst 
the bells sent with this paper. It belongs to my collection, having 
come into niy possession about forty years ago.' There are yet 
remaining, fastened to it with rivets, various bronze ornaments, 
curiously and artistically inlaid with gold, silver, copper, coloured 
stones, and a blueish metal-like substance,' such as that said to have 
been used in the reliquary of St. Molua. The bronze rivets, still pro- 
jecting from the surface of this last mentioned bell, strongly bear 
testimony to the accuracy of the tradition, which says that some 
other ornaments once adorned it. 

The manner in which the Rev. Mr. Egan accoimts for the loss of 
the ornamental covering of St. Molua's bell is thus : — He says, the 
same family tradition reports the Duigans, who were keepers of this 
relic, to have once been the owners of the castle of ClonecousO) near 



' Connie Mac CuUenaii was long, but 
incorrectly, reputed to htye been the 
founder of Cormac's chapel, on the Rock 
of CaaheL Howeyer, in a paper of mine, 
pabliahed in the 24th nomb^ of the Iriah 
Penny Magasine, the 15th of June, 1833, 
under the signature B^ I proved it to be 
the work of Cormac Mae Carthy ; and, in 



the words of that learned antiquary, John 
D'Alton, Esq. (34th No. of same Magazine), 
** wholly refuted" the pre-existing opinion. 

s The Rey. Michael Bohun, P.P. of 
Glenkeen, who presented the Baman Cou- 
lawn to me, died on Christmas day, 1815. 

> Probably niello, which is a composition 
of silyer, copper, and sulphur. 

7 



50 

the church of Kjle. This castle passed into their family by inter- 
marriage with a member of the house of Fitzpatrick of Ossory. Mr. 
Egan adds, that Glonecouse was subsequently granted to Sir Charles 
Coote, whose conduct during the revolutionary war has given a re- 
markable notoriety to his name on the pages of Irish history. My 
reverend friend has further informed me of a tradition, that, while the 
bell of St. Molua was deposited at Glonecouse, some marauding free- 
booters attacked that castle. They carried c^ the bell, with a vast 
auantity of other plunder. In their retreat it became necessary for 
lem to cross a river not very far distant from the castle ; but strange 
to say, as the legend relates, neither man nor horse could pass it ! 
After remaining some time, as if spell-bound, on the river's banks, it 
occurred to the marauders that their retreat was supematurally arrested 
by the mystic virtue of the bell they were about to carry away. 
That idea no sooner struck them, than they threw the bell into tne 
river, and they then immediately effected a passage without further 
interruption or difficulty. After the lapse oi many years the relic 
was recovered from the watery bed, in which it had uiin concealed, 
by some labourers in the employment of a Mr. Walpole, who then 
kept Coolndne mills in the Queen's County. That gentleman with 
becoming propriety soon placed it in the custody of the descendant 
of its pristme guardians, the Duigans of Clonecouse castle. 

Let me here examine how &r the foregoing family tradition 
accords with written records, of the existence of which the Rev. Mr. 
Egan is^ I believe, wholly unconscious. I find by an inquisition 
post-mortem^ taken at Maryborough, the 24 th of September, 1631, 
that Philip Duigan died tne 24th of December, 1629, seized in fee 
of the lanos of Ballydufie, Kilclonecoise and Rahyn, containing four 
messuages, 630 acres of arable and pasture land, and 1340 acres of 
wood and moor ; and that he left a widow, whose name was EUioe, 
and a son and heir, John, then 24 years of age and married. Kil- 
clonecoise seems to have been the name of the lands on which the 
ruins of the monastery and also those of the castle stand. In fact the 
site of the monastery is between Clonecouse castle and Ballydufie, 
another of the denominations mentioned in the inquisition I have 
referred to. How or when the Duigan family was divested of the 
lands specified in the foregoing inquisition I have not found recorded : 
but it is probable the head of that race was, in common with many 
of his countrymen, slain during the war of 1641, and the usual 
laconic entry — " in rebellion' interfect' " — placed opposite his name. 
However this may be, we at all events fina his broad lands in the 
Queen's County, to the extent of JQTO acres, granted by the crown, 
the 26th of October, in the 18th year of the reign of king Charles 
the Second, to Charles Coote, earl of Mountrath, at an annual quit 
rent of only £31 13#. 8^^/., afterwards reduced to £20 13«. 2<f. So 
far the tradition of the Duigan family, as communicated by the Rev. 
Mr. Egan, is corroborated by historical proof. It is very likely that 



51 

the asportaton of MoIua*s bell from Clonecoufle castle were some of 
Sir Cbarlea Coote's celebrated cavalry — the same, by whose daring 
and intiepidiW that actiye officer reliered Birr castle and several 
other ibrts in me Parliamentary interest in those days. This suppo- 
litkm assumes the appearance of greater probability from the cir- 
dUDflUace of the bell having, in after times, been found in the 
waters supplying Ooolraine milk, sitoate on the old mountain road, 
which formerly led from Clonecouse to Mountrath, the then usual 
hioad quarters and rendezvous of Sir Charles' followers. Leaving the 
miraculous detention of the freebooters on the river's banks, and the 
supernatural influence said to have been exercised by the bell, to be 
discussed by those who delight in legendary lore, I may here observe 
that, if the weight of plunder caused any inconvenience to the 
Cromwellian troopers on their march, the bell of an Irish saint was 
not an object for preservation by diem; but, on the contrary, it 
would be the very nrst portion of the booty to be consigned to the 
stream. The bell of St. Molua is not the only relic of the xind which 
has been the subject of asportation in former times. Accordingly, 
the Four Masters, at the year 1261, relate that Donal O'Hara 
plundered the sons of Bermingham, in revenge for the killing of 
Gathal O'Hara and violation of the church of St. Fechin, at Bally- 
sadare, in the county of Sligo ; and the annalists add, that he slew 
Sefin, son of Bermingham, the weapon with which he killed him being 
the bell which Bermingham had carried away from the church of 
BaUysadare I This, truly, was a murderous and sacrilegious use to 
be made of the relic of St. Fechin ! ! I 

The Rev. Mr. Egan states that the bell of St. Molua had been 
stripped of its ornaments before it reached ite hands of his grand- 
mother, from whom it descended to him. He impressively adds, 
^ &om her I had it — &om me you have it." 

This bell, like many others of the same kind, was used for the 
purpose of adjuration. On this subject the Bev. Mr. Egan writes-^- 
*' I need hardly inform you that down to times almost within my own 
recollection, it was customary with the people, especially of Kyle, to 
swear on or before it (the bell). The manner of swearing was, as I 
hove heard, to place the right hand on the reliquary, and to call God 
and St. Molua to witness the truth of whatever was asserted. The 
fidse swearer of such an oath would, according to popular belief, be 
immediately, visibly, and terribly punished; and cases have been 
cited in proof of this belief." 

The use of bells, in the administration of oaths, is almost as ancient 
as Christianity in Ireland. They were, with that view» consigned to 
the custody of particular families and persons. This practice made 
it not uncommon to designate an individual by the title, " keeper of 
an adjuration bell." Accordingly, the Four Masters, ad ami. 1356, 
write, '* Solomon O'Meallan, keeper of an adjuration bell, died. He 
was the moeX illustrious of the clergy of Ireland." Bells used for 



62 

adjuration were generally carried about in leathern cases called 
** minister," that is, Ti>e^i)]]x^m from V7]V^^ ^If^lTH travelling relics 
(see Dr. Petrie on the Round Towers^ pp. 331 to 334). 8l)foo and 
n)]W^ are Irish for a relic. Camden {Britannia^ p. 788), following 
Cambrensis, has, in his account of the Irish, the following obserration 
regarding their modes of swearing on bells and other relics of saints : — 
^' oecundo, ut adhibeat sibi testem sanctum aliquem, cujus baculum 
recurvum, vel campanam tangat et osculetur." Nor was this mode 
of testifying to the truth unknown to Pagans. Thu9» Pliny, lib. zix. 
c. 6, informs us, that, ^^ allium, porrum, cepasque inter Decs jure- 
jurando habuit ^gyptus." 

If Christians swore by the bells and crosiers of saints, and the 
Egyptian by his onion, in like manner we find that the Jews swore 
by the temple, the altar^ &c. Accordingly, we read in the learned 
work entitled, Moses et Aaroriy p. 926, ** Judei autem prsBprimis 
jurabant per Hierosolymam, per templum, per templi aurum, per 
altare, et donum super altari." It is worthy of observation how great 
an analogy is thus to be found between many of the religious rites 
and ceremonials used by Pagans, Jews, ana Christians m former 
times. 

It is proper to notice here, that Eilclonecouse, the modem name 
of the place where St. Molua erected the religious establishment 
known as Clonfert-Molua, has the first syllable (Kil) pronounced 
short, while Kyle, by which monosyllable the site of the monastery, 
as well the parish surrounding it, are also designated, is long, as the 
word is at present spoken by the inhabitants of that neighbourhood. 
Cu|l properly signines a couch^ closet^ or cell ; and hence it is used 
to express a grave* It appears to me that the site of the monastery 
of Clonfert-Molua was used as a place for worship and for buried 
before St. Molua established his house there, for we find within its 
precincts, as well as close to and outside of them, some ancient remains 
which bear strong marks of Paganism. Prominent amongst such is 
what is now known as the grave of St, Molua* It is near the south- 
western comer of the enclosure which surrounds the mins of the 
church. In writing of it I shall call it simply, the grave (cu^l). 

I do not believe that St. Molua was ever interred in it. We know 
that this saint came to Kyle firom the neighbourhood of Sliabh- 
Luachra, in the county of Limerick ; and we also know that he after- 
wards left Kyle and returned to the former place, where he erected 
several other religious establishments in the ancient district of Hy- 
Finginte, a territory which extended over the barony of Iraghticonnor, 
in the county of Kerry, and that of Conillo in the county of Limerick. 
I have not met with any account of where St. Molua died, or of where 
he was interred. The grave at Clonfert-Molua speaks plainly that 
it never contained his bones. Had the saint been interred at Kyle, 
alias Clonfert-Molua, it is far more probable that his resting-place 
would be found within the church of his own foundation, and near to. 



53 



or beneath, the principal or only altar thereof, than in the open 
ground outside. But, wherever he might have been interred, his 
corpse would, at all events, have been placed lying east and west, 
with his feet towards the congregation, according to the manner of 
sepulture of Christians and of clergymen. 

Let us now inquire what is really the appearance of the grave in 
question? It is most remarkable, being twelve feet in length by 
three feet in breadth. A large, rude, and iminscribed stone marks 
one end ; and a nearly similar stone points out the other end. The 
limits of the sides are defined by rough lime-stone fia^ standing on 
an end. The upper edges of these nags are barely visible above the 
surface of the ground. From what I have already written it seems 
evident that the grave resembles a Pagan cist more closely than it 
does the place of tepose of a Christian father of the church. That it 
really is a Pagan remain is indisputably proved by the fact of its bearing 
north and south, and at right angles with every acknowledged Christian 
grave at Kyle, all of which lie east and west. While I reckon the 
grave to be a Pagan monument, I am in no-wise surprised to find the 
simple and credmous peasantry of the district believe that an object 
so remarkable must be the bunal-place of their revered and celebrated 
patron saint.^ But the Pagan aspect of this place does not end with 
what I have already written respecting it. About one himdred yards 
south-west of the grave is a large rock in its rough and natural state. 
Its upper surface contains two hemispherical or bowl-shaped cavities, 
each of which is somewhat more than a foot in diameter. This is 
called cloc SQoIua, i. e. Molua's stone. In my opinion it was either 
an emblem of God, or an altar, and served for the purpose of religious 
worship in Pagan times. It closely resembles several rocks imdoubt- 
edly used in Pagan rites in various parts of the country. One of these 
is in the King's County, and still bears the name of 21i) TiK>|tA, the 



* We are informed by Mr. Hitchcock 
that he has seen sereral similar graves in 
the endosnres belonging to the small pri- 
mitiTe churches in the west of the county 
of Kerry, and even in enclosures where no 
remains of a church are now to be found. 
Two, in particular, he mentions, as much 
resembling the 'grave above described by 
Mr. Cooke. One is situated at the west or 
door end of Temple-Managhan — a ruined, 
but beautiful oratory, about three miles to 
the north-west of Dingle — and is fourteen 
feet long, four feet broad, and three feet 
high. At the west end of this grave stands 
a fine pillar-stone bearing a long Ogham 
inscription, an engraving of which may be 
seen in Dr. Petrie's work on the Round 
Towert, p. 135. This is said to be St. 
Managhan's grave ; but it is doubtful if the 
saint ever had such a pile of earth and 
stones raised over him. The reading of 



the Ogham inscription would probably 
decide this question. There are several 
smaller and more unpretending graves in 
the same enclosure, and the whole of them 
seem to be of remote antiquity. The other 
grave alluded fo is situated further to the 
west, in the townland of Vicarstown (of 
course, a modem name), and looks, indeed, 
very like a Pagan monument. It measures 
ten feet long, six feet broad, and about 
two feet high ; it is covered with flags laid 
cross-wise, and has a stone standing at 
each end, the largest, or that at which Mr. 
Hitchcock takes to be the head of the 
grave, exhibiting some strange markings, 
possibly the remains of a cross, and several 
smaller ones, within a drde. There are no 
vestiges of any ancient building in the im- 
mediate vicinity of this grave ; but several 
undoubted remains of Paganism are to be 
seen in the neighbourhood. — Eds. 



54 

great Ana. This deity was the earth, the Pagan Irish magna Mater, 
or Mater deonim. 9it) also signifies a ring or circle, or cm), a bowl 
or round vessel. The hemispherical hollows in the rock at Kyle were, 
therefore, probably emblems of Ana. Until about sixty years affo a 
meeting used to be annually held at this so-called stone ca St. Mdna. 
This meeting was celebrated for dancing, merriment, and match- 
making. It was distinguished &om the day dedicated to St. Molua 
by its having been held on the Jirsi of August, the dsy of the Lug- 
i)Af A, or B]tAf cATi^^e (tournament), instituted W Louis, called lAii>- 
ITA^A, or long-handed. The anniversary of St. Mohia was Hie fourth 
of August. 

There is a townland called Kyleb^, near the village of Aglish- 
cloghan, in the barony of Lower Ormonde county of Tipperary. At 
this place is an enclosure containing about an acre and a-nal^ or two 
acres, in the centre of which is a stone with two bowl-ehaped cavities, 
and another stone which is convex and in the form of a half globe. 
It is to be remarked that these stones are of a coarse-grained granite, 
while the country for miles around Kylebeg presents no other rock 
than lime-stone. These stones must therefore have been brought 
thither a long distance. InnumeraUe human bones are found within 
the enclosure, which seems to have been once resorted to for religious 
worship and for sepulture. That it was originally Pagan is proved 
by the circumstance that the people of the country round, are, to the 
present day, in the habit of interring there those children which die 
without baptism, and whose corpses are, therefore, thought fit com- 
panions for those of Pagans only. Around the stones described as 
being at Kylebeg there are several white-thorn bushes. There is in 
my small collection of Irish antiquities, a small bronze pin with a 
pendent ornament in the shape of a crescent or new moon. It was 
found at Kylebeg. About a hundred yards from the Kylebeg en- 
closure, ana in the same townland, is a spring well rudely environed 
with a wall, one side of which is shaped like an altar : it has upon it 
a lime-stone slab bearing the following inscription — '^ This is erected 
at this well in memory of St. Passawn, being a place of pilgrimage. 
Dtd. e Febry. 9t. 1772.*' It is said that a person named Simon 
Grady caused the inscription just copied to be set up, and that hence 
the fountain is called ^^ Simon's well." I am not aware that there 
was any Christian saint named Passawn. The peasantry pronounce 
the word Pishsattm. Now }>]f9 in Irish, signifies mystery or sorcery ; 
p]f, a tree, a trunk of a tree ; and p|0f a cup ; while ax) signifies both 
water and the Irish Mater deorum. Passawn, therefore, may mean 
either mystery at the well, tree at the well, cup at the well, or Ana's 
mysteries. There is a very large and now dead white-thorn standing 
over this well. The pilgrimage to which the inscription refers, was 
some sort of religious performance, which was partly gone through 
at the granite stones within the before-described enclosure or burial- 
ground, and partly at Simon's well. I have not learned on what day 



55 

euch religious rounds used to take place ; but I think there can be 
little, if anj, doubt, that they had their origin antecedent to Christi- 
anity. The identity of names, i.e. Kyle and Kylebeg, furnishes 
some additional reason for believing that Kyle, or Clonfert-Molua, 
was originally a Pagan fane^ when we can scarcely doubt that Kylebeg 
was one. It may be added, that no remains of a Christian church 
exist at Kylebeg. 

At the eastern boundary of the church*yard at Clonfert-Molua 
there is a curious stone vessel, now called ^*the trough of St. Molua." 
This last mentioned api)ellation seems to have originated ia popular 
credulity and mistake similar to those which connected St. Molua's 
name with the grace. The trough probably was a Pagan sepulchral 
chest used for containing bones or ashes, the remains of cremation, or 
possibly both. It is too small to have contained the body of an adult. 
It is made of sand-stone, and measures on the interior three feet in 
length, by fourteen inches in width, and as many in depth. It is 
somewhat narrower at one end than at the other, and it is wider at 
bottom than at top. A groove or cell runs around its innde at the 
top, and seems to nave served for the reception of a lid or cover.^ At 
the eastern end of the trough is a thorn bush, amply dficorated with 
many coloured rags. This thorn bush and its parti-coloured drapery 
is another mark inseparable from the memory of relj^ous rites 
practised anterior to the introduction of Christianity into Iceland. 

With regard to the names by which Clonfert-molua has been, or 
jet is, known, I have already shown that Kyle meant a burial-place 
m connexion with the ceremonies of religion. Clonfert is an appel- 
lation bestowed on several places in Ireland. These were distin- 
guished from one another by additional epithets. The two most 
remarkable places denominated Clonfert, are Clonfert-Brendan in the 
oounty of Grnlway, and Clcmfert-Molua, the subject of these lines. It 
is very probable indeed that the last named place was called Clonfert 
when St Molua first went there. From the saint's connexion with 
this locality it has been described as ^^latibulum mirabile Sancti 
Moluae." it is generally admitted that the early ministers of Christi- 
anity in Ireland, selected as sites for their religious establishments 
such places as they found previously venerated for having been dedi- 
cated to the worship of Baal, of Ana, or of some other Pagan deity. 
Indeed, the well-known fact that the ruins of Christian churches are 
so frequently accompanied by round towers, pillar-«tones, hole-stones, 
and cromleacs, ought to convince the most sceptical that some such 
motive must have caused the otherwise not to oe accounted for com- 
panionship. The name Clonfert is, I believe, compounded of cIua]i>, 
a remote situation, or cldt), a pillar^ and f eAjtc, a grave. I have 
already shown that cu^l, from which is derived Kyle (another name 

* Mty not tliia *' troagh" hAve been the church-yards, where there we no indict- 
nade haptatnuU font of the early church of tiona of Pagan reoMuns. The tuiken groove 
St Molua ? We haye seen many snch in for the cover is common in fonts.— Boa. 



56 

of Clonfert-Molua), also signifies a grave. The most ancient deno- 
mination by which Clonfert-Molua was known is Ross-Bulead, which 
also has rererence to a depository for the dead, as well as to the culture 
of religion. Rof signifies a plain, a promontory ; so ]t5f is a grove, 
science, knowledge ; and uIa6 means a charnel-house, a monument, 
while uIIa is either a burial-place< or place of devotion. Thus each 
of the three names by which this place has been known, viz., Ross- 
Bulead, Kyle, and Clonfert, has reference both to sepultiu^ and to 
religion. It is very probable that the stone chest already described 
was formerly deposited in the now so-called grave of St. Molua, and 
that the grave itself was, as I have already suggested, a Pagan fane. 
In taking my farewell of St. Molua, it may prove acceptable that 
I should notice a sepulchral slab lately discovered within a few miles 
of Clonfert-Molua, and which was inscribed to the memory of a de- 
scendant of one of the followers of this saint. The discovery took 
place at Monaincha (near Roscrea), once a house of the Culdees, 
who are called Tt)e]c beAcbA]6, or sons of life, by the Four Masters. 
Monaincha itself was known by the appellation " insula viventium." 
The slab is sand-stone, and measures forty-nine inches in length, 
twenty-two ahd a-half inches in breadth, and two inches in thickness. 
It is inscribed in Irish characters : — 

e. a. 
OR aR 2t)aeNaci) 
ua aoaftttusi^act). 

The stone, unfortunately, was broken across ; nevertheless, the in- 
scription is sufficiently legible. The letters &.a. apparently represent 
words, of which they are the initials. They probably stand for e]fc 
ACA^]t. Thus, the inscription would literally be in English, *^ Hear, 
Father, a prayer for Maenach O'Mael-Lugdach." Thfe inscription 
is remarkable m having the monosyllable, A]t, instead of the usual one, 
bo (for), generally met with on tomb-stones. I find the same mono- 
syllable in an inscription copied in the second volume of Mottes' 
abridgment of the ^* Philosophical Transactions," bom 1700 to 1720. 
That inscription runs, "o]i A|t j^lU Sl^^T^lV i-e. "a prayer for 
him devoted to Eieran."^ It probably was the sepulchral slab of 
O'Heyne, king of Siol Muireadhy and Connausht, who was interred 
at Clonmacnoise, A.D. II 00. It remains at Clonmacnoise yet. 

We find several religious persons named Maenach. Thus, there 
was a Maenach, abbot of Aghaboe, who died in the year 914; 
Maenach, abbot of Clonard, who died in 954 ; Maenach, abbot 
of Duleek, who died in 895 ; Maenach of Bangor (county of Down), 
who died in 919 ; and Maenach of Eells, who died in 1001. There 
was also Maenach, abbot of Clonfert-Molua. See Colgan, Acta SS. 
p. 58, where Maenach is Latinized Maenachus. As Mael-Lugdach 

1 The word Aft is also to be found at Mael-Kieran, on that of Tuathal, and on 
Clonmacnoise on the stone of the abbot that of Findan. 



6T 

(the term used on the Monainchft slab^ means a person devoted to St.. 
Molua, it is most likely that the inmvidual to whose memory this 
stone was engraved, was of the family of Maenach, abbot of Clonfert- 
Molua. Archdall informs us that Maenach was interred at Clonfert- 
Molua* The characters on the Monaincha slab indicate its belonging 
to the ninth or tenth centuries, and, accordingly, that it is of an 
antiquity of nine himdred or a thousand years. 

I will now pass to the Bell of St. Cummin of Eilcommon, in 
the King's County. This bell is made of iron, and, at the base, is in 
the form of a parallelogram, the ends of which are &stened with rivets, 
and also united by a soldering of brass. This relic is much corroded 
and damaged by ozydation. Nevertheless, it is far more perfect 
than the bell of St. Molua, just written of; and, notwithstandmg the 
injury which time has inflicted on it, it at present measures ten 
inches in height, and seven inches by five at the base« This bell, as 
well as that of St. Molua, belongs to my little collection. It was pre- 
sented to me in the year 1848, by Patrick Quinlisk, a farmer occu- 
pying part of the lands of Eilcommon, in ^e King's County, near 
to the ruins of the church, to the founder of which, this bell once 
belonged. The relic was given to Quinlisk, as a death-bed donation, 
in 1842, by Patrick Heenan, a relative of his, who was then quitting 
this world, after having seen upwards of ninety annual suns pass over 
him. 

According to the better opinion, St. Cummin, to whom this bell 
belonged, was known as Cuimin-fada, or ** the tall" Cuimin. There 
were several saints named Cuimin. The only competitors, however, 
for the reputation of having established the monastery at Kilcommon 
are Cuimm-&da and Cummineus albus, or *' white" Cuimin. There 
is little, if any, doubt that the former was the founder of it. 

Kilcommoh formerly was known by the name of Disert-Cuimin 
(Acta SS. p. 409), and it is situate a few miles west of Roscrea* 
4y]fejic is the Irish for a lonesome unpopulated place, and of that 
character Kilcommon appears to have been at the time St. Cuimin 
resided there, for he himself writes of it thus : — '^ hsec dizi, non ut 
voB impugnarem, sed ut me ut nycticoracem in domicilio latitantem 
defenderem" (Colgan, Acta SS. pp. 408, 411). A remarkable proof 
of the identity of Disert of old with the modem Kilcommon is the 
following: — ^ate {Natural History of Ireland^ Dublin edition, 
1726, p. 71), treating of mines of iron, has the fourth section of his 
book occupied with tnat particular description of the mineral, which 
he designates ^'the second sort of iron-mine, called rock-mine," and 
he says, '* of this kind hitherto there hath but two mines been dis- 
covered in Ireland, the one in Munster, near the town of Tallow, 
by the earl of Cork's iron-works ; the other in Leinster, in King's- 
county, in a place called Desart land, belonging to one serjeant 
major Piagot^ which rock is of so great a compass, that before this 
rebellion it famished divers great iron-works, and could have furnished 

8 



58 

many more, without any notable diminution ; seeing the deepest pits 
that had been yet made in it, were not above two yards deep." 
About a year ago (I write in 1852), some persons, employed under 
the Boara of Public Works in Ireland, in tne drainage department, 
struck, not very far from Kilcommon church, and in the parish of 
that name, upon an extensive bed of rock-ore, consisting of iron, 
sulphur, and some arsenic. They found it within six or seven feet 
of the surface. It is scarcely necessary to observe that the mine thus 
recently opened is that described by Boate so longi^o. Gerard Boate 
prefixes to the edition of his book, published in 1652, two hundred 
years ago, a letter &om his brother Arnold, from which we learn that 
the nominal author had not been at all in Ireland up to that date, 
but that he had his information from his brother Arnold, who was 
himself instructed by others, amongst whom was Sir William Parsons^ 
then of Birr castle, an ancestor of the present earl of Rosse, a noble* 
man so highly celebrated for his scientific attainments. When the 
*^ employes" of the Board of Works unwittingly struck upon the 
iron mine, mentioned by Boate, and saw its shinmg, yellow, metallic 
lustre, they concluded tnat it was pure gold ; but their fond dreams 
were soon dispelled by a merciless chemist, who made known the 
true nature of the mineral. 

Archdall {Manasticon) erroneously attributes the religious estab- 
lishment at Kilcommon to Cuimin *^ the white." The better opi- 
nion, however, is that Guimin--fada was its founder. He was educated 
at Durrow, and is reported to have delivered himself most learnedly in 
the famous synod of Leighlin, on the subject of the proper time for 
celebration of Easter. He subsequently wrote a very learned epistle 
on the same subject, and therein ably defended the Roman time for 
keeping the paschal festival. In that epistle he calls by the name 
Lugidus, St. Molua) whose bell has been written of in the preceding 
pages of this paper. It has been judiciously remarked that the epistle 
just mentioned, proves Cuimin to have possessed an extraordmary 
degree of learning in its various branches, and that it also demon- 
strates the Irish monastic libraries to have been well supplied with 
books at that early age. 

This saint was son to Fiachna, king of West Munster. Cuimin* 
fada was bom A.D. 592, and died the 2nd of November, A.D. 662, 
aged seventy years, according to the Four Masters. Ware {Bishops^ at 
Clonfert) assigns his death to the 12th of November in the same year. 
A considerable difference of opinion exists amongst the learned as to 
whether he was a bishop, and, particularly, as to whether he was 
bishop of Clonfert. Both Colgan and Ware suppose him to have 
been a bishop, the latter, on the authority of the Four Masters, placing 
him in the see of Clonfert. On the other hand, the late Dr. Lianigan 
argues, from Ussher not having styled him bishop or camarban^ Uiat 
he never was one. This saint, at all events, was mterred at Clonfert; 
and his memory must have been highly revered there, for we find that, 



69 

• 

preciBely five handled ^ears subsequent to his decease, his relics were 
ezhmned and placed in a shrine by the clergy of Clonfert-Brendan. 
The following passa^ firom the Four Masters (ad ann. 1162) is a 
proof of this : — " T^A^tl ^?r<^? 9t)AO\t)et]it) t Cwtm^]Ve ^ohA bo 
CAbA]7tc A ZAXn)4^]V l^ fAn)A6 Bft^P^l^Oy 1 T^ cu||teA8 fcji^ry 
cmpbAfjce lonrpA,"— <i. e. *' the relics of bishop Maeinenn and of 
Cummaine Foda were removed from the earth by the clergy of 
Brenainn [Glonfert], and they were enclosed in a protecting shrine." 
I cannot think that, because the Four Masters have, in the passage 
just quoted, given to Maeinenn the style of bishop and withheld it 
firom Cuimin, we should conclude that St. Cuimin was not of that 
order. The title of bishop was necessarily used to distinguish 
Maeinenn from others of the same name ; but Cuimin was sufficiently 
particularized by his beiDg called " Foda," as none of the Cuimins, 
except himself, were known by that epithet. It must also be re- 
membered that, in the early ages of Christianity in Ireland, very 
many of the parochial clergy were of the order of bishops. 

The present dilapidatea state of the ruins of Eilcommon church 
does not offer anythmg worth dwelling on here. 

The next remain, to which I shall call attention, is the Bell of 
St. Camin, of Elilcamin, King's County. The only fragment of this 
antique now remaining is that sent herewith. It is part of the top 
and handle, with a small portion of one side and of one end. It 
measures about six inches in length by three inches in breadth. This 
bell has probably been, since the days of St. Camin until about a 

a ago, exposed to the worst of usage. It, undoubtedly, has been 
y treatea of late years. Up to a comparatively short time slso it 
was left open to the vicissitudes of the weather, in the fork of a white- 
thorn bushy within the precincts of the burial-ground at Kilcamin, near 
the town of Cloghan, King's County. We cannot be surprised that 
we find so small a remnant of this bell now forthcoming, when we 
reflect that it was, for a long series of years, acted on by tne cold and 
rains and fi'osts of the winter, and by tiie scorching heats of summer. 
Notwithstanding the bad treatment it has experienced, enough, how- 
ever, of the rehc survives, to show that the bell of St. Camin was 
made of iron, and in the parallelogram shape. 

If the patron saint of Kilcamin oe the same with him who founded 
a monastery at Iniscealtra, or, as it is now called, Holj Island, situate 
in that part of Loughdearg known as the bay of Scanfie, he died the 
24th or 2dih of March, A.D. 653. Camin was son of Dima and 
hal£*brother of Guaire, king of Connaught, universally renowned for 
his hospitality. In connexion with the name of king Guaire, I send 
for inspection a bottie, which was presented to me some years ago by 
James Mahon, Esq., of Northampton, in the county of Galway. It 
was found in a cellar of the long dilapidated castie of king Gruaire, at 
Kinvarra, in that coimty. This cellar has been for ages submerged 
beneath ^e waters of Ualway bay. Could we but believe that this 



60 

bottle might haye served at the hospitable board of the prince of H j 
Fiachrar Aidne, eleven hundred years ago, what a moral lesson would 
it teach us, when we see the fragile glass vessel sdll jperfect and unin- 
jured, whilst its owner, the generous and powerful Cruaire, has many 
centuries ago crumbled into dust I 

The name of St. Camin's mother was Gumania. St. Camin wrote 
a Commentary on the Psalms, which was accompanied by the Hebrew 
text. The manuscript in his handwriting was in existence in the 
days of Colgan and Ware. 

The next object I request attention to is a small bronze Bell &om 
ScATTBBT Island, near die mouth of the Shannon. I obtained what 
remains of this bell from Mr. Underwood, who informed me that it 
was found at Scattery. This island was called Iniscathy, and also 
Cathaigh-inis, names probably derived from ]p]f, an island, and 
CACA, worship, which in the genitive case is caca]. Inis-cathaigh, or 
Cathai^h-inis, may thus mean ** island of worship," or '* worship 
island. It was also called Inis-cathiana. This last appellation 
appears to mean ^' island of worship of Ana." Ana was the Pagan 
Irish ** Mater deorum," or thjs Earth, of whose worship we find 
traces connected with the names of numerous places in Ireland, 
which have been subsequently rendered conspicuous by religious 
foundations under the Christian dispensation. 

This Scattery bell is composed of bronze, having a crimson- 
coloured fracture, as if some antimony had entered into its compo* 
sition. This specimen is, by fiir, the smallest I have met with of 
rectangular-shaped bells, its dimensions at the mouth not being more 
than two inches by an inch and a-half. It measures two inches three 
quarters in height, exclusive of the handle, which is of one casting 
with the body of the bell. Traces are yet visible of a staple having 
depended from the interior of its top, as if for suspension of a clapper. 
This staple, or rather remains of one, is evidence that tongues were 
sometimes used in small square bells, although I am inclined to look 
upon the clapper at present attached to the rectangular bell of St. 
Ruadhan of Lorrha (now also sent for inspection) as not at all so 
ancient as that bell itself. 

St. Senan was founder of the Christian reli^ous establishment at 
Inis-cathaiffh, in the territory of Corcabaisgin, and present county of 
Clare. This island is situate in the river Shannon, within a snort 
distance of, and opposite to, the town of Eilrush. There are many 
vestiges of days gone by yet existing here — or there were such in 
October, 1839» wnen I visited the island. To particularize them is 
beyond the scope of this paper. I may, nevertheless, observe that 
Archdall and various other writers assert that the fine round tower 
here is 120 feet in height. But this is not the fact. I measured its 
elevation with a Hadley's sextant in 1839, and it does not exceed 
eighty-seven feet. The door-way, by which this tower is entered, is 
on a level with the ground. It has a semicircular arch, while the four 



fil 

ftpextates at the top of the tower are flat-headed* The tower is built 
upon a rock, whose surfacei at the time when I visited the place, was 
perfectly firee from debris, or other accidental accumulation. The 
met of tne easily accessible position of the door of this round tower, as 
well as the existence elsewhere of doors similarly circumstanced, such 
as the door of the tower on .Ram Island, and of some others, is an 
argument bearing against the theory that such structures were erected 
as places of security. An idea seems to have been adopted (without 
sumcient inquiry) that the entrance door of every one of the Irish 
round towers was elevated considerably above the level of the ground. 
St. Senan is said by some to have established his monastery at 
Iniscathy before the arrival of St. Patrick on his mission for the con- 
version of the Irish. He was a native of Corcabaisgin, and was born 
at Magh-lacha, in that district, about A.D. 488. His death took 

5 lace Uie 1st of March, A.D. 544, and he was interred at Iniscath]^. 
['he name of this saint's father was Ergind or Ercan, and that of his 
mother was Coemgella. Both father and mother were of noble ex- 
traction. 

O'Halloran {Hist, of Ireland^ vol. iii. p. 188) says that the bell 
of St. Senan, or some other bell taken to be it, was still (when he 
wrote) religiously preserved in the west of the county of Clare ; and 
that to swear by it fiJsely was then agreed by the common people to 
be followed immediately by convulsions and death. Could the little 
broken bell now being written of be the remains of that once re- 
vered and dreaded relic of the patron saint of Scattery Island ? Who 
can now determine ? It, however, is more likely that the bell written 
of by O'Halloran is that yet preserved in a &mily of the county of 
Clare, and which is known by the name Clogoira, i,e. clo;, bell, and 
0]]ibA, precious. 

I also send for inspection three other bells of saints, namely, the 
Baknan Coulawn, the Bell of Eillshannt, in the west of the 
county of Clare, and that of St. Ruadhan of Lorrha, in the barony 
of Lower Ormond, and county of Tipperary. I lent these three 
bells to the Royal Irish Academy a few years ago, when my esteemed 
and respected friend, Dr. Petrie, read a communication of his own 
on the subject of them. The Academy went, at that time, to very 
considerable expense for drawings and engravings of these three 
bells. I am not aware whether the observations of Dr. Petrie re-^ 
garding these bells are yet in print. I feel, however, tliat I may be 
well excused from expatiating on such a topic as^thev furnish, when 
it has been already handled by one so capable of domg justice to it 
as Dr. Petrie is. I shall, therefore, confine myself here to noting 
the eras of these saints, and offering a few observations I deem to be 
requisite in justification of myself for suggestions made over thirty 
years ago.^ On the occasion to which I aUude I was wholly astray as 

' See TrwuaetUmt fifth9 Royal Iriih Academy ^ toI. xW. (\%2h)tAntiqmtie9t pp. 31-45. 



62 

to the nature of the Banian Goulawn. I had not pYeviously seen any 
other anci^it belL It is now quite clear to me that the iron portion 
of this relic was the veritable bell of St. Culanus. It will be easy 
to induce the observer, who looks at the little semicircular aperture 
in the base of the bronze curbing environing this bell, to agree with 
me in thinking that the appellation» B^rnan Coulawn, means, simply, 
** little gap of Culanus." Dr. Petrie, if I mistake not, thinks it means 
^^ the gapped bell of Culanus." Notwithstanding my great respect 
for the opmion of this excellent antiquary, I much regret that I cannot 
at all agree with him on this point. BAYti^Ai) is the Irish for a little 
gap^ and this little gap, evidently, was that left in the protecting 
curbing for the person swearing upon the bell to introduce his thumb 
or finger by. It was from this gap, rather than from any fortuitous 
injury to the original bell, that the term ** Baman" was used in refer* 
ence to it. No matter how gapped or injured the ancient bells of 
Irish saints may have been, I believe that the term '^ Baman" was not 
applied to them except when they were oniamented and preserved as 
rehcs to be sworn on. The bell of St. Evin, who was brother to St. 
Culanus, was called Baman Evin. It waa deposited in the care of the 
MacEgans, hereditary justices of Munster, for them to administer oaths 
on. Colgan, writing of St. Evin, says of his bell : — *^ Fertur et ibi 
post ejus mortem ezutisse cymbalum, sive nola hujus Sancti Bemanr 
Emhin appellata» et in tanta veneradone habita, ut per eam tanquam 
inviolabilis sacramenti genus, posteri prsesertim ex semine Eugenii 
patris ejus oriundi, consueverint jurare, et motas controversias jura- 
menti Sacramento concludere." The Baman Coulawn and Baman 
Evin are the only two bells to which I can at this moment recollect 
that the term ^^ Baman" has been applied. 

St. Culanus died about the beginning of the tenth century, as I 
suppose, for his brother Cormac, the celebrated scholar, king, and 
bishop of Cashel, was killed in the year 908. The bell of Uulanus 
was given to me more than forty years ago by the Rev. Michael 
Bohun, then parish priest of Glenkeen, county of Tipperary. He 
died on Christmas day, A.D. 1815. 

St. Cuana x)f Eill-chuana, alias Elillshanny, in the west of the 
county of Clare, is supposed to have died about A.D. 650. The bell 
of this saint was given to me by tlie late Rev. Mr. Nowlan> then 
parish priest of New Quay, coun^ of Clare. * 

St. Ruadhan of Lorrha, or Lothra, was of noble extraction. Dr. 
Lanigan assigns his death to A.D. 584, and his festival to the 15th 
of April. The bell of St. Ruadhan was presented to me, some years 
ago, by the Rev. Mr. O'Brien, Roman Catholic incumbent of Lorrha, 
in which parish this relic was preserved. 

In addition to the seven Christian beUa already dwelt on, I send 
also for inspection a few specimens of Pi^n crotals. On this 
subject I content myself by referring to two papers in the fourth 
volume of the ^< Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy." At p. 239 



63 

will be found the obeervaliioiis of the reverend, learned, and respected 
president of that society ; and at pp» 428, 430-433, are aome humble 
opinions of mine on the same subject. 

In order that this *'bell" subject should be complete in every 
variety for the members of the Kilkenny ArchsBological Society, I fur- 
ther send for inspection some sheep bells of the sixteenth century, and 
also some other bells. One of these latter is a curious little bell, pre- 
sented to me by a late lamented and excellent friend, the Rev. raul 
Holmes, then rector of Gallen, in the King's County. It was found 
on his land at Corbeg, in the same county. A modem sheep bell 
accompanies the others. A comparison of it with one of the ancient 
crotals, is decisive in &vour of the art of bell-casting in our own day. 



ON THE CROSS-LEGGED EFFIGIES OF THE COUNTY 

OF KILKENNY. 



BT THB REV. JAMES OAAVES. 



NoTHm o is, perhaps, so interesting to the student of antiquity as the 
investigation of customs connectea with the dead* and the universal 
desire evinced by all races, at every period of the history of man, to 
keep the departed in honourable remembrance after they had passed 
away from the busy scenes of life. In this universal custom there is 
shown an instinctive feeling of the great truth of a future existence 
for the body, even amongst the most debased tribes of mankind. 
The rough pillar-stone, the rude mound of earth, the piled up cam, 
the ponderous pjrramid, the rugged cromleac, and the richly-sculp- 
tured Christian monument, though widely different in age and exe- 
cution, all have the same end in view, the commemoration of the 
dead. If we take any of the classes of sepulchral monuments here 
enumerated, we shall find that, although the purpose may be the 
same, certain peculiarities distinguish the class into subordmate sec- 
tions ; for example, amongst the Christian monuments of Ireland, 
how diverse will be found their distinguishing features ; the monu- 
mental cross, the cross-inscribed slab, the effigial tomb, all have their 
varieties, and would amply repay investigation. It is, however, but 
to one variety of the latter subdivision, as confined to one locality, 
that I mean at present to call attention. I allude to the cross-legged 
effigies jsxisting in the county of Kilkenny. Most persons are fami- 
liar with the numerous examples of this class of monument in England, 
and those who have visited the Temple Church in London, cannot 
fiul to remember the mail-clad knightly figures of this kind, which 
form one of the greatest attractions of tnat oeautiful building. Per- 



64 

lups, indeed, from the existence of this clsss of monument in the famed 
church of the TempUrs, the opinion may have become prevalent, that 
hj the croBsing of^the legs was indicated the fact of the individual 
commemorated having taken upon himself the cross, and joined in 
the crusades, or at least being under vow to do so at the time of his 
death. The discovery, at Cashel, on the site of the Franciscan abbey, 
of three ftmoie e£Egies of the thirteenth century, sculptured in the 
cross-legged portion, as described and figured in the interesting 
memoir by Mr. Du Noyer {Archaologieal Jour/ial, vol. ii. p. L2I), 
appears to show the unsoundness of this assimiption ; and the o[HnioQ 
which seems least open to objection is, that the position of the limbs 
was a conventaonal mode of sculpture jirevuling at the period, perhaps 
designed to be symbolical of the Christian futn of the deceased. 
I have observed that such Bgures are common in England. In 



Irehmd they are very uncommon ; in a note to the paper already al- 
luded to, Mr. Du Noyer states that, in addition to four monumental 
figures at Cashel, " one otlier effigy only has been described as existing 
in Ireland," namely, that on the south ade of the nave in Christ 
Church, Dublin, supposed to represent Kchard de Clare, earl of 
Pembroke and Strigul, sumamed Strongbow. This statement is, I 
believe, correct. No others had up to that period been deteribed; 
but some exist, like too many of Ireland's antiquities, unknown and 
undescribed. In the county of Kilkenny two examples are found, a 
notice of which cannot fail to be acceptable to the student of monu- 
mental antiquities. 

The first of these interesdng monuments, hitherto unnoticed, is a 
cross-legged effigy, sculptured in high relief, on a slab which has 
been inserted in one of the walls of the 
ancient abbey of Gnugue-na-managh, now 
used as the Roman Catholic place ofworship 
of that parish. The figure, whioh is very 
rudely executed, is larger than life, and re- 
presents a knight clad in a complete suit of 
: mail, over which a surcoat fitting closely 
round the throat is worn ; the right hand 
grasps the iword-hilt, while the scabbard is 
held by the led ; the \eh leg is thrown over 
the right, and the entire attitude ^ves the 
idea of one starting forward prompt for 
action, and in the act of drawing the sword. 
A broad belt, attached by curiously con- 
trived straps to the scabbard, and buckled 
in front over the hipe, sustains the sword. 
' A fracture extends across the waist of the 
^uitaof .word bdt ud k^ figure, and from the deficiency of the lower 
wataj of u^toBir. portion ot the slab towards the leet, the spurs 

are not vimble to asnst in fixing the date. The effigy has not been 



67 

represented with a shield in this instance, so that heraldry does not» 
any more than tradition, serve to indicate the family to which this 
monument belonged ; bnt, firom the character of the armour, it may 
be assigned to the early part or middle of the thirteenth century. It 
should be observed that the hood or chaperon of mail conforms to the 
globular shape of the head. 

The wood engraving, which accompanies this paper, gives a 
&ithful representation of another example of this class of monumental 
sculpture, afforded by the county of Kilkenny. The old church of 
Kilmne, in the barony of Gowran, appears from its existing sculptured 
details to have been built at the close of the thirteenth century, or 
commencement of the fourteenth. On the erection of the present 
parish church, the older structure became disused as a place of worship, 
and served as a school-house ; and I have been informed by several 
individuals, who some thirty years since attended as children at this 
school, that this sculpture lay on the floor, and that the pimishment 
for idle or refractory urchins was a compulsory kiss bestowed on the 
stony lips of the <^ Cantwell fadha," the << tall Cantwell," as the effigy 
was traditionally named in the Irish language. Subsec^uently, the 
figure was buried beneath the surface to save it from injury, and so 
it remained for many years. In September, 1840, I well remember 
working hard with spade and shovel to disinter ihe knight for the 

furpose of obtaining a drawing. When the rubbish was cleared away 
saw at once that this was no common monument, and the necessity 
of doing something for its preservation strongly presented itself; ac- 
cordingly, a subscription was entered into, and an attempt was made 
to remove the slab to the aisles of the cathedral of St. Canice at Kil- 
kenny ; fix>m several causes, however, the project fortunately was not 
put in execution. I say fortunately, for, from the mode of transit 
contemplated, and the immense weight of the slab, it is extremely 
probable that some injury would have resulted to this valuable monu- 
ment From the period alluded to, down to the summer of 1 852, 
matters remained as before, and the knight lay safely beneath the 
protecting rubbish. Several circumstances, however, combined to 
force on the committee of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society the 
importance of saving the sculpture from possible destruction. It was 
accordingly determined to obtain a mould from the effigy itself, as 
the most effectual way of perpetuating its peculiar features ; this has 
been, by the kind permission of the archdeacon of Ossory, effected ; 
and four casts have been made therefrom, one of which was exhibited 
at the National Exhibition at Cork, and rests finally in the Museum 
of the Royal Cork Institution ; a second has been transmitted to the 
Museum of the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, and has there elicited 
much interest ; a third has been executed for the Court of Irish Art, 
in the Great Irish Industrial Exhibition of 1853; and the fourth 
has been reserved for the Museum of the Kilkenny Archseological 
Society. 



68 

These measures have been undertaken by the committee of the 
Kilkenny Society as calculated not only to multiply copies of a curious, 
and, in Ireland, almost unique relic, out also as tending to make the 
Society favourably known to the Iri^ public, as being aUve to the im- 
portance of saving the monuments of tne past from demolition.' 

The Cantwell or de Canteville family was amongst the early 
Norman settlers in the counties of Kilkenny and Tipperary. Thomas 
de Kentewall is one of the witnesses to a charter granted by Theobald 
Walter, first chief butler of Ireland, to his town of Gowran, in the 
reign of Henry II. The Cantwells early possessed large property in 
the county of Kilkenny, on which stood the castles of CSimtwell's 
Court near Kilkenny, and of Stroan and Cloghscreg in the immediate 
neighbourhood of iGlfane. That this monument represents a Cantwell 
is proved by the evidence of heraldry. The shield is charged with 
& bearing, which, without the tinctures, may be described as — four 
annulets, a canton ermine— the bearing seen on the seal of John 
Cantwell, attached to a deed of Walter Fitz Peter de Cantwell, and 
Peter Fitz Peter de Cantwell, dated 46th Edw. III., and on the seal of 
another John Cantwell, affixed to a deed dated 15th Henry VII.^ 
Probably this effigy was sculptured in memory of Thomas de Cantwell, 
who, by a writ dated at Thomastown, in the coimty of Kilkenny, in 
the year 1319, was exempted from attending at assizes, on the plea 
of being worn out with age {RoL Pat. 13 Edw. II., No. 33). Tombs, 
it is well known, were occasionally erected by persons before their 
decease ; perhaps such was the case in this instance. A suit of mail, 
without any portion of plate, defends the body, and the head and 
throat are protected by a chaperon of mail which falls over the hau- 
berk ; the chaperon is nattenea at top, presenting the appearance of a 
slightly elevated cone. A long triangular shield, very much curved, 
and chared in relief with the arms ^fore described, is supported on 
the left side by the shield-strap, passing over the right shoulder, and 
some acorns with oak leaves are carved in the stone as a support for 
its point. A surcoat is worn over the hauberk, confined by the 
sword belt at the waist, and the sword lies under the body, the end 
.appearing between the legs ; the right arm (the hand being bare, 
and the mailed gauntlet hanging by) is extended by the side ; and 
the right leg crossed over the leit. The feet are supported by well- 
carved clusters of oak leaves with acorns, and the spurs are broadly 
rowelled. The effigy is well sculptured, apparently in Kilkenny 
marble ; the contour of the head and neck is fine, the legs aiid feet 
are well formed, and the folds of the surcoat are disposed withncon- 
siderable elegance ; but the shoulders are narrow, the chest flat, and 

* A tpecial subscription has been com- Record Room, Kilkenny Castle, amongsttbe 
menced to defray the cost incurred, which Ormonde MSS. Burke gives — gules, five 
the ordinary funds of the Society are in- annulets, and a canton ermine (another, 
adequate to meet. six annulets or), as the coat of Cantwell, in 

* These documents are preserved in the Ireland.— (?«nera^ Armory, &c. 



69 

the right aim badly designed. The enure absence of plate i 

pievents us from assigning this elSvv to the Buccessor of Thomas de 
Cantwell, as the latter was not dead in 1319 ; but as he was an old 
man at that period, ^e broad rowelled spur forbids us to assign it to 
his predeceeaor, who must have died earlj in the thirteenth century, 
and the character of the oak leaf foliage would also point to about 
1319| it being carved with the marked vigour and truth to nature, 
characteriatic of the Decoratvd Style of architecture which then came 
into vogue. It seeins also probable, tram the style of the building, 
that this Thomas de Cantwell was the founder, or at least rebuilder, 
of the ancient church of Kilfane. 

In addition to the two remarkable relics of monumental sculp- 
ture which have been deeciibed, I am desirous to bring under the 
notice of the Society a fragment of a very singular example of early 
Irish art, likewise to be seen in the oounty of Kilkenny. It is a 
portioD of an engraved slab, about two feet square, possibly sepul- 
chral, leeembling the incised stone memorials of fre<^nent occur- 
lenoe in England: it oocura at Jerpoint Abbey, where it at present 
serves as a head-stone to the gnve of some peasant, there interred 
in recent times. This curious specimen of incised work exhibits, 
as will be aeen by the accompanying repreaentadon, the lower por- 



FnK<naBt of **■ tnelMd alib U Jvpeint Abbajr, Co. KUkom)'. 

tions of two figures, of dimensions rather below life size. They 
are armed in mail, represented by parallel rows of rings, according 



70 

to a conventional mode of indicating that kind of armour, as seen on 
effigies from the thirteenth to the early part of the sixteenth centuries. 
In Siis instance the chausses, or hose of mail, are fastened below the 
knee by straps of a very peculiar kind, formed with a broad piece in 
front, and narrow double thongs passing round the limb behmd. I 
am not aware that any representation of such an appliance of military 
costume, resembling a garter, at this period, has been noticed, either 
in works of monumental art, or illuminated MSS. An able writer 
on costume, indeed, in his curious remarks on the origin of the 
carter, and its choice as a knightly symbol by Edward III., affirms 
tnat he had doubted whether any garters were worn by men in those 
da^^s, no indication of such an article occurring upon any monument 
or in any illimiination.^ The feet of the figures, on the curious slab 
at Jerpoint Abbey, are unfortunately deficient, and the upper part of 
the slab has likewise been broken avray. In its mutilated condition 
it is difficult to ascertain the precise intention of the design, and 

Eosture of the figures ; but I may mention that some persons, who 
ave examined it with care, have entertained the notion that one of 
the figures is represented in the cross-legged attitude, and that this 
slab may be added to the Ust of examples of that peculiar conven- 
tionality in the earlier sepulchral memorials of Ireland.' 

And now, perhaps, in conclusion, it may be permitted me to atone 
for all this dry detail by subjoining some lines — not without beauty — 
which the discovery of the knighUy effigy of de CanteviUe suggested, 
in years gone by, to a friend now no more : — 

SONNET. 

A-wandering once in boyhood's blithesome hour. 

When every thing that earth contains was faify 
And seeking what was beautiful and rare, 

I spied, amidst a grove, an andent tower, 
Farrowed by angry blast and beating shower. 

Yea, time, whose hand is little wont to spare. 
Was busy with it — ^I, with heart aware 

That things of Old possess a holy power. 
Drew near to that grey pile, and lo I I found 

'Neath it the tomb of a Crusader bold. 
Half hidden in the ruin-cumber'd ground. 

Ah me ! said I, men's hearts are hard and cold. 
Else would they move the rubbish gather'd round, 

And cherish this, the Piety of old ! 

* Planche, Hktory of Briiiih Coatume^ ' Since this paper was read, the slab in 

p. 146. In the later edition of 1847, the question has been removed from the grave- 

author observes that he had found men- yard, and built into the face of the wall, in 

tion of garters (cintoUni) in Boccacdo's the nave of Jerpoint Abbey, for better pre- 

Deeanurtm, written femp. Bdward III. servation. 



71 



OBSERVATIONS ON AN ANCIENT IRISH BOAT. 

BT T. I*. COOKE, ESQ. 

Along with this paper I forwarded a drawing, with measured plans 
and sections, of an ancient Irish boat, at present in my possession. 

I believe that this boat is in a much more perfect state than the 
generality of such relics are found to be in. Its principal defect 
consists in a split, which runs from the lower part of the starboard 
side, quite through the solid stem. The greatest length from stem to 
stem, is twenty-two feet seven inches. The greatest breadth of beam, 
thirty-one inches. It is all one piece of timber, formed in the solid out 
of a single oak tree ; and, although it looks, on a superficial view, as if 
the tree had been hollowed by means of fire, neveitheless, a close in- 
spection proves, by the sharpness of the internal angles and the thin- 
ness, as well as smoothness, of the bottom and sides, that some sort of 
edged tools were used in its formation. The bottom, which is per- 
fectly flat and without a keel, is two inches thick. The sides, which 
also present plain surfaces, incline outward firom the point where they 
rise nrom the bottom. This splay of the sides causes the boat to he 
much wider at what may be called the gunwale than it is at the 
flooring. The sides are an inch and a-hfuf thick where they meet 
the bottom, but they gradually become more thin from thence 
upwards, their topmost edges not beine more than half an inch in 
thickness. The larboard side is several inches lower than the star- 
board one ; but this manifestly is the eflect of accident since the boat 
was made. The sides are prevented firom collapsing by two stout 
ridges of solid timber, one ot which was left standing near either end 
of the vessel, thus serving the office of what ship-builders term 
beams. These ridges are about thirty-one inches from the extreme 
ends of the boat ; and between them and such ends, cavities have 
been scooped out of the timber, apparently for the purpose of render- 
ing the cnft more buoyant. A horizontal hole, about an inch and Br- 
half in diameter, is visible in the most forward and highest part of the 
stem. It seems to have been for securing a painter or footp-rope to. 
There is no trace of thwarts or benches : and as the sides had neither 
row-locks nor thole-pins for the application of oars, the boat must 
have been propelled oy means of paddles or by sculling. 

Major Richard Dunne, the gallant and worthy gentleman to whose 
kindness I am indebted for the possession of this interesting relic, has 
obligingly informed me that when he was in Ghreece, he used to fowl 
in boats cut out of the solid tree and nearly similar to the one I have 
described. The Greek boat (he says) was then called ikvo^Kov^ 
probably fi*om oxos currus^ vehiculum. My worthy firiend had this 
ancient boat sent to me fi^m Brittas, the seat of his brother, lieu- 
tenant-colonel Dunne, M.P., situate near Clonaslea, in the Queen's 



72 

Cou&tj. It was found with three or four other boats some two or 
three yeais ago* on colonel Dunne's estate, in the. progress of some 
drainage or other operations, at Lough Annagh, a natural piece of 
water which separates the King's from the Queen's County. The 
boat sent to me was the only one of those then found which had pre- 
tensions to be reckoned at all perfect. Loush Annagh is about three 
quarters of a mile long, by half a mile broadl It is about a mile and 
a-half N.N. W. of Clonaslea village. All the boats, which were then 
discovered there, lay in the same part of the lough. Each of them 
had the same dip in the sand or mud, and lay with its bow in a north- 
westerly direction. Hence we may concluae that they all were con- 
temporaneously wrecked in some common catastrophe. It is at the 
present day almost hopeless to inquire of the time or nature of the 
visitation which submerged the little fleet. 

The ancient Irish haid various kinds of boats, known by the ap- 
pellations c|tA$05, c]tAi)-fDATi), ]tuf3^i), b^, coc, co]t]tAC, f c]pf ^, or 
f cAf*f A, f c]b, and b^]tc. Of these the b^ and b^]tc seem to have 
been general terms by which to express any sort of boat. The coc 
was a small boat, which Ware {Antiquities) mforms us was made of a 
hollow tree ; and the f CAppA and f C]b were properly what we would 
call a skiff, small light boat, or cock-boat. The |iuf5^i> was a vessel 
made of bark after the fashion of some foreign canoes of more modem 
times. The qtAi)05 and the c]tAi>-fi)Aii) were made of timber. 
C|iAoo3 probably comes &om c]tAi>, a tree, and 05, young, little, or 
05, entire, whole, in consequence of its having been made of small 
boughs, or being formed solid out of a single tree like the boat which 
is the subject of this paper. The term c]tAi)-fi)Aii) was even more 
expressive. It comes from c|tAi), a tree, and ft>ATi), or fi)^Ti)A6, swim- 
ming. The co|i|tAC was a boat made of wicker-work and covered 
with hides. Ware {Antiquities, c. xviii.) gives an account of the 
co^ftAC, and Mac Geoghegan {Hist, (Tlrlandey tom. i. fol. 89) says, 
<Hi the authority of Gratianus Lucius, *^ dans les plus anciens terns ils 
se servoient de petits bateaux de bois l&ger, ou d'ozier, converts de 
peaux de bcsuf, de cheval, ou de quelque bSte sauvage, et qu'ib nom- 
moient eurroffhs** 

Much information as to these curraghs is collected in the 34th 
chapter of the 3rd part of O'Flaherty's Ogygia^ which, amongst other 
interesting particulars, mentions the fact that Caesar conveyed his 
troops across the rivers in Spain by means of curraghs, after he had 
witnessed the use of them in Britain. We know that it was in 
curraghs O' Sullivan Beare and his followers crossed the river Shan- 
non, near Porturana, in the reign of Elizabeth, when retreating 
towards Brefney. The late Rev. Caesar Otwaj {Sketches of Ireland) 
has dressed up the circumstance in his usual racy style. He caUs the 
curragh by the name nevoge^ which seems to be compoanded of i)0|, 
a ship, and 05, little or young. I have myself had some experience 
of the security with which these curraghs bear their freight over even 



73 

the angry surges of the troubled deep. It is now some fifteen or 
sixteen years since I was conveyed to land in one of these boats from 
on board a yacht, which sought refuge firom a storm imder the great 
western island of Arran. The fury of the gale had lashed up such 
tremendous waves, that a second cable had to be spliced and let out 
to ease the yacht and prevent her from straining while riding at 
anchor. After two days she was driven before the tempest and cast 
ashore some forty miles from her moorings. On another occasion I 
wished to visit Mutton Island, which lies off the western coast of the 
county of Clare, and in that part of the Atlantic ocean which is with 
great propriety denominated the Malbay. I embarked in a curragh 
lor the purpose of my voyage. The day was fine and the breeze 
moderate; neverthel4, a heavy and broken sea was running upon 
the only beach, and that a very limited one, where a landing on the 
island was at all practicable. As we approached the shore a succes- 
sion of huge seas, which were momentarily increased by a ground 
swell, were seen to follow us. Although I was then a practical sea- 
man, and by no means a timid one, I apprehended that our little 
vessel woidd be swamped as soon as one of these angry seas shoidd 
overtake us, and I expressed myself to that effect to the experienced 
fishermen who were rowing the curragh. They assured me that the 
slightest risk was not to be apprehended, but they added that it was 
necessary I should hold on nrmly and be on my guard, so as not 
to be jerked over board by any sudden evolution of the vessel. I 
obeyed their orders. iThe precipitous leader of the huge waves was 
now foaming and towering over us within a dozen yards of oiir stem. 
I thought it must assuredly overwhelm us — but in an instant the well- 
trained boatmen, by a judicious use of their oars, the one backing 
water while the other pulled with all his strength, brought the head 
of the curragh round to the sea, and she gallantly breasted and rode 
easily over a surge that would have broken upon a less buoyant craft 
or a less firm or less experienced crew. In a similar manner we 
bounded over two other enormous seas which, as is usual on that coast, 
came consecutively with white crests afler their leader. A fourth 
and smaller wave succeeded. As soon as the curragh had mounted 
upon this last-mentioned billow, her able pilots put her head once 
more towards the shore, pulled rapidly upon their oars, and in a few 
seconds the noble little crafl was lef); high and dry upon the strand, 
while the broken water on which she had ridden receded as hastily 
as it had previously advanced. 

The few notices I can now call to mind respecting boats formerly 
in use in Ireland, render futile any attempt to nx a certain era for the 
cran-snav, by wluch name I shall designate the valuable gift of major 
Dunne to me. The cran-snav must have been used by a people of 
very remote time indeed. There is a very worn and imperfect spe- 
cimen of this sort of boat in the British Museum. A descriptive cata- 
logue of the contents of that depository, entitled, ^* A Visit to the 

10 



74 

Britbh Museum," says, in reference to that boat, ^* the barbarians 
who constructed this canoe, as you call them, were most probably 
countrymen of ours ; and its great age and consequent decay render 
it curious and interesting. This boat may have been used by the 
Britons toko lived before the Roman invasion** According to such 
hypothesis the specimen at the British Museum may be now more 
than 1900 years old, for Julius Caesar invaded Britain fifty-five years 
before the Christian era. In the first volume of Old England^ wood- 
cut No. 57 represents a boat somewhat resembUng the Annagh Lough 
one, and the letterpress of the same volume, page 22, informs us that 
it was found in 1834, in a creek of the river Arun^ in the village 
of North Stoke, Sussex. 

Ware {^Antiquities^ Lond. 1705) concludes the 18th chapter, which 
treats of the ships or boats of the ancient Irish that were covered 
with skins, in the words following : — ^^ It is not beside the purpose to 
observe here also, that the antient Irish had in use another sort of 
Boat made of a Hollow Tree, which they used only upon Loughs or 
Rivers, and is still in use^ called by the Irish Cotti^ by the English a 
CottJ' Sir James Ware is an accurate writer ; and, if he be correct in 
the passage just extracted, the cran-snav construction of boat was in 
use so late as A.D. 1654, the year when his book, De Hibemia^ et 
Antiquitatibus ejus Disquisitiones^ was first published. In reference 
to this point I may here notice a tradition which Lewis ( I'opograph, 
Dict.j title Kilmanman) relates to have been handed down in the 
parish of Clonaslea, wherein our cran-snav was found. It runs to the 
effect that, ^^ in the middle of Lough Annagh, where it is most shal- 
low, certain oak framing is yet (1837 ) visible, and there is a traditional 
report that in the war of 1641 a party of insurgents had a wooden 
house erected on this platform, whence they went out at night in a 
boat and plundered the surrounding country." 

In a folio book, now before me, printed (1643) in the Latin lan- 
guage, and entitled *^ Orbis Maritimi^ sive Rerum in Mart et Litto- 
ribus Gestarum Generalis Historia : auctore Claudia BarthoL: Mori- 
sotoy p. 4," I read on the subject of early boats, '* Nilus olim ex 
papiro, scirpo, et arundine naves habuit." Such boats of the Nile 
were, therefore, somewhat like the Irish rusgane or curragh ; and we 
readily recognise the similitude of the cran-snav, if not its prototype, 
in the following words extracted from the same page of the last quoted 
authority, viz., *^ Eusebius, Usonem» ait, arboribus amputatis ambua- 
tisque primum mare ingressum." Thus the boats of Uson were 
formed by hollowing the trunk of a tree by means of fire. 

Small boats were in use with the Irish at a very early age indeed. 
Accordingly, we find that Eochaidh (the son of Luighdhioch Jard- 
honn, and an ancestor of the 0*Carrolls of Ely), who ascended the 
throne A.M. 3394, was known as Eochaidh Fuarceas, or UaireeaSi 
in consequence of his having invented skiffs, or small boats, ua]|i- 
pe^y being the Irish for a cock-boat. The meaning of the name Eo- 



75 

chaidh {Anfflice Achy) is explained by that learned Irish scholar, John 
O'Donovan, Esq., LL.D., wno has written, in a note to the Leabhar- 
na-^^Ceartf "this name is Irish, and denotes eques^ horseman.'' 
Hence, we see that the expression horse-marine was not in its incep- 
tion, as it is now supposed to be, a modem Irish bull. It was nearly 
the English for Eoc/iaidh^uairceast the very appropriate name of an 
Irish king, about 2462 years ago. 



THE ANCIENT FABRIC, PLATE, AND FURNITURE 

OF THB 

CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST CHURCH, WATERFORD; 

ILLUSTEATED BY ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS SUPPLIED BY THE VERY REV. EDWARD 

NEWENHAM HOARE, D.D., DEAN OF WATERFORD. 

BY THE REV. JAMES GRAVES, A.B. 

A OLANCB at the plan and elevations of the cathedral of Waterford, 
as we find them given in Harris' edition of Ware's " Bishops," and an 
inspection of the ancient and highly curious oil bainting of the interior 
of the same structure, still preserved as an heir-loom of the see, in the 
episcopal palace of Waterford, prove incontestably that the ^' urbs in- 
tacta" possessed a cathedral surpassing in size, picturesqueness of out- 
line, and richness of style any structure of the kind in Ireland. 

The plan of this noble Gothic church was irregular, and it had 
received m the course of time many additions. The original structure 
seems to have consisted of an Early English nave and choir (with side- 
aisles to both) and a lofty tower built about mid- way on the northern 
side, and spanning the north aisle ; the nave was forty-five, the choir 
sixty-six feet in length, with clere-stories to both. Eastward of the 
choir projected the parish church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, ex- 
hibiting a fine Decorated window at its eastern end. Two Decorated 
chapels, St. Saviour's and another, adjoined the west end of the nave« 
running parallel beside, and opening into the side-ables by a series of 
arches, thus giving the nave at its western extremity a width of sixty- 
six feet, and afibrding a noble perspective of columns and arcades. 
Two small chapels to the south of the Trinity or parish church ap- 
pear to have been Early English in character ; whilst Rice's chapel 
and the chapter-house to the north were in the Perpendicular style. 

The corporation of Waterford seem, from an early age, to have 
been mixed up in a very curious way with the property of the chap- 
ter.' They were bound to contribute towards the sustentation of the 

> Ryland's Hittory of Waterford, pp. 131-4. 



76 

structure, and whilst the civic body Was accountable to the dean and 
chapter for certain rents, they seem also to have had some control 
over the property of the cathedral, as we find them, in the year 1535, 
giving permission to the dean and chapter to grant leases for a term 
of sixty years. Shortly after this period the connexion between the 
two bodies corporate was still further complicated : the chapter find- 
ing the rich store of crosses, chalices, monstrances, and other plate, 
which their church had possessed firom olden time, to be superfluous 
after the time of the Reformation, made them over to the corpora- 
tion, under certain conditions, which not having been fulfilled by the 
latter, a law suit was the consequence. In the following document, 
transcribed firom the original in the dean of Waterford's nossession, 
the case is fully stated, and a curious list of the cathedral plate is also 
given. This mteresting record runs as follows : — 



By the Lord Deputie and CoanceU. 



25 May, 1637. 

Richard Jones, late Deane 
of Waterford, 

Pit. / 

The Mayor, SHBRiFrss and 
CiTizKKB of Waterford, 

Defendt*' 

WSNTWORTH. 

Upon full hearing of this cause, in the p'sence of the oonnoell of hoth eides; 
there was produced to this Board a coppie of a writeing, dated the lOth of Jane, 1577, by 
wh'*> writeing the Deane and Chapter of the Cathednll Chnrch of the Holy Trinity, <rf 
the Cittie of Waterford, did, among other things, give, grant, bargaine, sell and confirme 
to the Mayor, Sheriffes and Citizens of the County of the Cittie of Waterford, and to 
theare successors, the parcells following, ynz\ : — ^Two candlesticks of silver guilt, weighing 
foure score ounces ; more, two candlesticks of silver parcel guilt, weighing one hundred 
and five ounces ; more, a standing cupp of silver double guilt, weighing twenty-eight 
ounces ; more, a crosse of silver double guilt, weighing one hundred and twenty-six 
ounces ; more, five cencers of silver, whereof two are parcel guilt, weighing two hundred 
and eleaven ounces ; more, a monstrant with two angells of silver giult, weighing forty* 
nine ounces ; more, a portoraU of silver guilt, weighing sixteene ounces ; more, seaven 
chalices of silver guilt, weighing one hundred and eight ounces ; more, two crewetts of 
silver, weighing twelve ounces, the whole sume amounting to seaven hundred foure-score 
and foure ounces, after the rate of five shillings the ounce. Which coppie was attested by 
John Lee and Peter Strange, towne clerkes of Waterford, and afildavit made at this board 
that it was a true coppie of the originall remaineing w**^ the defend^, and it further 
appeared by an obligation sealed vdth the common seale of the said Cittie, and bearing 
date the twelfth of June, 1577, that the Mayor, Sheriifes and Citizens of Waterford, and 
theire successors, were bound vnto the said Deane and Chapter, and theire successors, in 
the sume of foure hundred pounds ster. The condicion of wh^>> obligation was, that 
if the said Mayor, Sheriffes and Citizens of Waterford, and theire successors, when soever 
the said Deane and Chapter, or theire successors, should bee impleaded for the Churches 
right, or lands, should, notwithstanding, give them from tyme to tyme soe much of the 
value of the said Jewells as should maintaine theire pleas by Law in defence of theire 
said right, just title and interest, and also if the said Deane and Chapter should afterwards 
labour or purchase any Liveings for the vse and maintenance of the said church, that 
then the said Mayor, Sheriffes and Citizens should give them of the value of the said 
Jewells soe remaineing in theire hands vndisbursed for the uses aforesaid, when they 
should bee by them required, soe much as they must lay out and disburse for the said 
purchase, and also (if it should so come to passe) that ever afterwards either the Queenes 



77 

If ft'lie that then was, or h«r highness' most noble hein or successors should it any tyme 
afterward allow of any the like Jewells to bee vsed and occupied in the Church, if then 
the said Mayor, Sheriffes and Citizens, and theire successors, should buy for y* vse of the 
said church see many and such Jewells and ornaments as the said Deane and Chapter and 
theire successors should requite them to the Talue remaindng in theire custodie, Tudis- 
bursed and layd out as before, of the said Jewells, that then the obligacion to bee Yoyd and 
of none effect, otherwise to stand in fuU force and vigour in Ijaw. The Jewells afore- 
said, weighed, did amount to seaven hundred foure score and foure ounces, and alsoe 
the price agreed vpon, at five shillings sterling le ounce, amounted to the sume of one 
hundred foure score and eighteene pounds ster. And for that it appears not that y* 
Defend** have disbursed any parte of the value of the said plate and Jewells according 
to y* oondicions of the said bond or obligacion ; It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged, and 
deoeed that the Defend** shall forthwith, at theire owne proper costs and charges, 
provide for the vse of the said Church and God's Service therein, seaven hundred foure 
score and foure ounces of silver plate, London touch, of such forme and fashion as by the 
Reverend Cither in God, the Lord Bpp. of Wateiford and Lismore, and the Deane and 
Chapter of the said Church (whom wee pray and require to take spedall care thereof) 
shall bee thought fitt and the same soe provided to deliver to the Deane and Chapter of the 
said Chnrdi for the vse aforesaid. And for as much as the Pit. hath to his great cost and 
charges for almost duieing a yeare of his Incumbency there, for more than three yeares 
fince bee left to bee Deane of the said church, prosecuted this Suite, only for y' common 
good of the said church without havdog any contribution from any of the said church ; 
It is, therefore, ordered that hee shall recover against the Defend** the sume of fifty 
pounds, which the Defend** are to pay to y* Pit. or his assignees vpon sight of this our 
order. Lastly, whereas it was alleadged that Richard Butler, Esq., now Mayor of the said 
Cittae, hath in his custoddie certain Copes and Vestments belonging to the said Church, 
It is ordered that hee shall forth*^ deliver the same vnto the said Lord Bpp., Deane and 
Chapter, or some of them, or els vpon sight or notice hereof to appeare before vs to shew 
cause to the contrary. 

Ja. AnHACHANuai R. Co»kk; 
R. Dillon ; GsmaABD Lowt|ikb ; 

A «««« ^.s^ M ^ ^ r^ Gao. Raooliffe. 

A ime coppie. 

Ma. Bakkt. 

The restoration by the mayor of the copes and vestments enjoined 
by the peremptory Strafibrde, and no doubt carried into effect, is an 
interesting fact. Of the seven himdred and eighty*four ounces of 
plate which the corporation was compelled to purchase for the cathe- 
dral on this occasion, the chapter was subsequently allowed to sell 
i>art for the purpose of purchasmg thirty pounds per annum in tithes 
or the repair of the choir ; and m the November of the same year 
(1637) the corporation bound themselves to repair the cathedral in 
consideration of free burial being secured to the citizens within the 
walls of the building.' 

During this period, and, indeed, we may sav, to the day when 
Wateribrd fell before one officer, a sergeant, and thirty men of Ire- 
ton's forces,' the cathedral had retained all its ancient ecclesiastical 
furniture, tombs, sepulchral brasses, organs and bells. The docu- 
ments which I am now able to lay before the Society give ample 

> Ryland's Hittory of Waterford^ p. 136. panic produced amongst the townsmen by 

' The name of the officer and sergeant the volumes of smoke rolled into the city 

is preserved in Orrery's '* Memoirs.'' It was by a south-west wind, scaled the walls and 

Croker. They were brothersi and having seized the main gusrd. In this daring 

been sent, with thirty musketeers, to bum action the officer in command was slain, but 

the snburbsi they took advantage of the his brother, the sergeant, kept his men toge* 



78 

proof of this, and at the same time afford \is a glimpse of the splen- 
dour of this fine old pile ere it was desecrated and despoiled by fana- 
tical cupidity. Who but must regret the loss of its ^* great eagle of 
massy brasse ;" of its brazen *^ great standing pelican to support the 
Bibles ;*' of its *' two great standing candlesticks of about a man's 
height of massy brasse/' besides its ** branched" ones of the same 
costly metal; of its '^fonte" supported on a ** pedestal and pillors," 
and ^^ to be ascended vnto by three degrees or staires," together with 
its ** cover of massy brasse ;' of the numerous *^ brasses, eschocheons, 
and atchements" torn from *< the ancient tombes, many of which were 
almost covered with brasse ;" of its '* brazen grate" for charcoal, sculp- 
tured with the " Lumbardes armes," altogether amountinj^ to tne 
enormous weight of sixty tons, not to speak of ** y® greate paire of or- 
gans," whose broken pipes Andrew Rickards saw amount the plunder 
at the custom house. Shame on the Kilkenny man, Nicholas Phary, 
of Carrickganarrake, by name, who with his wife betrayed the secret 
" vault under ground m Christ's Church*' where they were hidden ! 
The ** steeple house" itself, too, had a narrow escape from the calcu- 
lating rapacity of one Samuel Wade, who told the commissioners that 
*' they might have seven hundred pounds for its materials." 

After uie Restoration an endeavour was made to compel the Crom- 
wellians to disgorge their ill-gotten plunder ; the nature of these pro- 
ceedings will be understood from the subjoined petition of the dean 
and chapter, and from the depositions taken by a commission issued 
thereupon by the Irish house of lords. The documents are transcribed 
from a contemporary copjr of the petition and &om the original parch- 
ment roll of tne depositions, both in the keeping of the dean of 
Waterford : — 

To the most Hon**** the Lords Spirituall and Temporall now assembled by his Maties 
Comand in the High Court of Parliament of Ireland. 

The most humble Petidon of the Deane and Chapter of Waterford, 

Sheweth that the Cathedrall Church of Waterford had beyond the memory of man 
left in it one great Eagle of Massy Brasse, one Pellican of Massy Brasse to support the 
Bibles in the said Church, two great standing Candlesticks, about man's height, of Massy 
•Brasse ; one fonte to be ascended vnto by three degrees or staires of Massy Brasse, the 
pedestall and pillo" vpon w**^ the fbnte did stand of Massy Brasse ; the cover to the said 
ffonte being of Massy Brasse, being the goodly monuments of the devotion of our pious 
ancesto'*. 

That when the Citty of Waterford vras taken by Vsurped Pow" in the yeare 1651, 
the said vtenails were sacralegiously seized vpon by CoUonell Thomas Sadler and pub- 
lickly sold and shipped away beyond the seas, with all the Eschocheons and Atchements 
of the ancient Tombes, many of which were almost covered with brass. 

You' petition'* humbly pray that the said CoUonell Thomas Sadler may be called 
to answere to the sd. sacralegious actes, and vpon due profe of the sd. acdons be com- 
pelled by this most bond*'** Court to make restitucion of the said Church vtensills and 

ther, and opening the west gate, marched The citadel held out for some dajrs longer, 

out, brandished his sword about his head, but was surrendered to Ireton on the 

and called for the whole army to march lOth of August, 1650. — Smith's Hittorji 

in ; *' for," said he, ** the town is our own." of Waterfordf second edition, p. 147. 



79 

ornamente icoording to his Majesty's wdl and pleasure in his late gratious declaration, 
and be farther ord'^ according as this most hono^^* court shall thinke conyenient to the 
present state and condition of aflUres. 

And yoor Pet" shall alwayes pray, &c. 

Jo. KSATINO, 

Dep. Qer. Pari. 

Depositions* taken at Dublin the twenty-fifth day of J [ ] sixty and 

one, before Standish Hartstonge and Jo[ ] to ys and others directed, 

retomeable into the [ ] and Temporall in this p'sent Parliament assem- 
bled [....]. 

Minard Christian, of Waterford, gent, aged fifty-five years or [ ] 

depoaeth as followeth. That at the surrender of the Citty of Waterford to [ . . . ] 
store of Brass was put into the Store by ColL Sadler's ord", whoe was then Govemor 
[....] which Brass was taken out of the church from of the Tombes, GraTcs- 
stooes and [••••] best remembrance the two brazen Candlesticks were there. 

And further deposeth [ ] tyme of his, this deponents being there, there 

was the great standing Pellican and the brazen [ ] and the great Brass 

7ont w**> its Cover and the pedestal thereof found in a vault under g [round . . . ] 
And was sold by Mi^or Andrew Rickards (whoe was the towne Major vnd' Coll. Sadler) 
to M' Lap, and Ffrands Sampson ; he further sayeth that in the tyme of this deponent's 
being in Waterford there were seveiall Priests taken in their Mass houses, and in Irish- 
men's houses [ ] thereabout, was with great store of plate, viz' Chalices, 

Sawcers, and Bitch Coaps, as rich as ever he saw in Spain, vt^ silver Lamps, and silver 
Chaines, vrith gold Rings and other Plate to the valine of one hundred and fifty pounds 
ster. or more, idl sold and disposed of by Coll. Sadler, Coll. Lawrence, Coll. Lee, Capt". 
1¥ade, and in the tymes of their being Govemc* and [Deputy] Governor there, and 

that in Coll. Lee's tyme of government there were great store [ ] taken 

out of the churches, and layed vpon the key to mend it therwith, and some to p[ . . . ]. 

Minard Christian. 
Capt. coram nobis die et loco p'dict. 

Standisb Hartstongk. L.8. 

J. Etbr. L.8. 

Depositions taken at the Citty of Waterford the first day of August, one thousand 
six hundred and sixty and one, before William Bolton, Robert Taylor, and Standish 
Hartstonge, Esqrs., by virtue of his Miyesty's commission retumeahle vnto the most 
hono^>« house of Lords in Parliam* assembled, to vs and others directed as followeth : — 

William Powell, aged two and thirty yeares, or thereabouts, duly swome and ex- 
amined, deposeth as fbUoweth : — 

Inqnrimii, — ^This Deponent sayth that in October following the surrender of this Citty 

[ ] Thomas Goose of this Citty asked this Deponent whether he would 

buy any Brass [ ] answered vnto him that he would if it were for his tume, 

wherevpon the said Goose [brought] this Deponent vnto a celler neare the key of the 
Citty, and there shewed this dep[onent and] profered to him to sale a cover of a ifont 

of Massy Brass about three foot in diameter [ ] which this Deponent he 

knew it to be the cover of the font of Christ's Church, and alsoe [ ] other 

peecea of Brass, which he this Deponent p'ceived to be taken of the Tombstones by the 

[ ] on the back side thereof, which this Deponent sayd were not for his 

tome, and refused [ . . . . ] them and further deposeth not. 

Will. [Powbll]. 

t 

' These depositions are copied from the skins of parchment. The upper part of 
roll under seal, written on three this roll is much eaten away by mice. 



80 

John Lapp of the Citty of Waterfoid, Bsqr., aged forty-two yeare, or th^reabonta, 
[ ] examined, deposeth as foUoweth :— 

That aboat nine yeares since he this Deponent hareing a ship fraighted [as well as] 
this Deponent remembereth to Marseilles there was a Pabliqae canting of [ . . • . ] 
Brass, to which this Deponent repaired, where were pnt to sale these p'cella following. 
Two Eagles of Massy Brass, a fFont of Copper or Brass, one branched candeUsticke of 
Brass, w'>>, as this Deponent remembereth, at nine pence farthing f- pound, came vnto the 
same of betweene fifty and sixty pounds ster. which was bought by the oid^. of this De- 
ponent, for that he was vnwilling they should be broke in pieces and sold by the then 
p'tended Commiss'*, whose names this Deponent as he remembereth to be, were ColL 
Richard Laurence, Edward Roberts, late Audito'* ; Capt". Samuell Wade, Mr. Robert 
Ffawcett, and Capt". William Holsy, and further deposeth not. 

John Lapp. 

William Summers of Passage, aged fifty-scTen yean, or thereabouts, swome and ex- 
amined, deposeth as followeth : — 

That there was a p'cell of Brass, wherein there was an Eagle and other things brought 
unto the Store when ColL Laurence was goTemor, and that the said Brass was in weight, 
as this Deponent remembereth, one thousand two hundred weight, he, this Depoaent, 
being clerke und' John Bryant keeper of the Store, and sayth it was put to sale at a 
pubUque canting, and bought by Ffirancis Sampson, and Mr. John Lapp at nine pence 
farthing Y- pound. 

Will.' Summkas. 

Nicholas Phary, Wheelright, of Carrickganarrake, in the county of Kilkenny, aged 
[ . • . ] six years or thereabouts, swome and examined, deposeth as followeth : — 

That this Deponent about nine yeares since, found out by the information of an Irish 
Woeman that great quantity of Brass were hid up in a vault under ground in Christ's 
Church which this Deponent informed Coll. Laurence, then Governor, whoe beleeved not 
this Deponent, but Mr. Roberts, Mr. Robert Ffawcet, and Capt". William Holsy being 
commiss" then did seize of it and caused it to be delivered into the Store, and then ex- 
posed it to sale at nine pence farthing ^ pound, and this Deponent remembereth that 
there was one thousand and two hundred weight thereof, he, this Deponent, being then 
messenger to the said commiss'*. The severall p'cells as this Deponent remembereth were 
three holy water pots of Brass, an Eagle, a Pdican, severall Standing Candlesticks, one 
Branched Candlesticke, a Censer and other things, the names he cannot now remember, 
there were also severall Bells and the Brass ifont and Cover in the said Store under the 
keeping of John Bryant and William Summers, being then Store-keepers to the said com- 
missi, and Mr. John Houghton was then clerke to the said commiss'*, and forther de- 
poseth not, only Mr. John Houghton found out some store of plate belonging to Christ's 
Church, at Kiimaden, within fower miles of Waterford, but what beoune of it this 
Deponent knoweth not. 

Nico. Phaat. 

Anne Phary, the wife of Nicholas Phary, of Canickeganarragh, aged forty-fonr yeares, 
or thereabouts, saith : — 

That y* great paire of Organs in Christ's Church in Waterford, were pulled downe in 
the tyme while Coll. Sadler was Governor, and she have heard by his ord^", but never did 
see it, and that Migor Andrew Rickards was Towne Major : at that tyme he tooke the 
whole account of all the goods, both Church goods and others, that were to be disposed 
of in the T[ . . . . ]. And she heard that the said Major Rickards tooke p'ticular account 
of the Organs. For the tyme she remembreth it to be about eleaven yeares since. 

An. Pba»y, her A m'^* 
Capt. coram nobis die et loco p'dict. 

Wu. Bolton. l.s. 

Stanoish Habtbtonok. L.8. 

Robert Tatlob. L.a. 



81 

l>epotitions taken at the City of Waterford, the tenth day of August, one thoniand 
six hundred sixty and one, before William Bolton and Robert Taylor, Esq'*., by vertue of 
her Maties commission retoumable unto the moste honOT>l>l« House of Lords in Parlia* 
ment assembled, to us and others directed as foUoweth : — 

Andrew Rickards, of the Citty of Waterford, Esq*., aged thirty-nine yeares, or theie« 
aboute, being dnely swome and examined, saith :— 

That abont the year 'fifty, he, thii deponent being Towne Mijor of this Citty, did see 
two Eagles of Brass, two Candle-stikes of Brass, sould by the authority of Collonell 
Saddler, Capt. Wade, Capt. Halsey, and some others who were then commissi, and further 
smtb, that aboute the same time hee saw amonge some other Brass sould at the Custom 
House, or at the House where the Brass Eagl^ were sould, some broken pieces of the 
Organ pipes which weare ahoe sould by the authority aforesaid, and &rther saith not. 

Andrbw Rxckabob. 

John Houghton, of the Citty of Waterford, Esq'., aged thirty-nine yean, or there- 
abomte, being duly swome and examined, saitii :— 

That about the years 'fifty-one or 'fifty-two, hee saw in the custody of one William 
Summers, in the publique Store House, several peeces of Twoome Brass, an Eagle of 
Brass, and some small brass bells belonging to the Churches and Hospitals of this Citty, 
which were sould by the then p'sent power, and ftir^er saith not. 

John Houohtoit. 

Richard Meyler, of the Gtty of Waterford, Apothecary, aged sixty-fbur yean, or there- 
abouts, being duly swome and examined, saith : — 

That the Citty of Waterford was deUvered to Henry Ireton, the tenth of August, 
one thousand six hundred and fifty, and that Collonell Saddler was by him appointed 
GoTeraor of the same, and that att that time the Cathedrall Church was in very good 
lepaire, haYcing in it severall rich Omaments and Utenselles, viz^ an Eagle of massy 
Brass, a Pelican of Massy Brass, two greate standing candle-stikes, a larc^ Tessell of 
If assy Brass, with the Lumberts armes on it, wherein charcole usually was kept, a ffontt of 
Massy Brass and the coven of many monuments of Massy Brass, and two setts of Organs, 
all w«l> were sacraligious taken away and sould by the then Authority. And further saith 
that he, this Deponent, was afterwards present in the tyme of Coll. Leigh's being Governor 
of this Citty, when a Commission was read in the Commissionn chamber for the leavying 
or laying out of the sum of four hundred pounds for the repaire of the Cathedrall Church, 
when Samuel Wade, one of the Commission«>, uad that it was better for them to pull down 
the said Cathedrall, for that they might have seaven hundred pounds for the matterialls of 
it, rather then to goe to repaire such a steeple house, and that the Blackffryen was suffi- 
tiently bigg enough to receave theire congregation, and that one Bir. Watts, another of 
the said com", declared that though theire congregation was then but small, yet it might 
hereafter be larger and require a bigger meeting-place ; whereupon that motion of Wade's 
ceased. And further saith that he hath seen some of the Church omaments in Collonell 
Sadler's house; and further saith not. 

Richard Mbtuuu 

Ffradcham Loud of the Citty of Waterford, Water BayUife, aged sixty-one yeares, or 
thereabouts, being duly swome and examined, saith : — 

That that yeare in wch the Citty was taken there was tenn or eleven hundred weight 
of the Toome Brass, beelonging to the Cathedrall Church, brought into this Deponents 
custody, he being then store-keeper, by order of the then commiisn, who were Coll. 
Saddler, Capt, Wade, Lieut. Collonell Wheeler, and some othen whose names he does 
not well remember. And saith that the said Brass was taken away from this Deponent 
by the said commissi, order, and accordingly disposed of. And farther saith that the 
Organs of the said Cathedrall were also disposed of by ye said oommissn. And further 
saith not. 

Ffkaocbam Lond. 

Thomas Goose, of the Citty of Waterford, Broker, aged sixty yeares, or thereabouts, 
being duly swome and examined, saith : — 

11 



82 

That he cannot dedare anythinge of bis owne knowledge concerning the ncnligioiis 
takeing away of the VteaieUa and Omamentt of Ihe Caihedrall Church of this Citty. And 
farther Mith not. 

Thomas Gooan. 
CtapL coram nobia die et loco p'dict. 

William Bolton. i-a. 

RoBBftT Taylor. l.8. 

That a portion of the £400, proposed to be levied for repairing 
the cathedraly during CoL Leigh's governorship, was duly expended 
thereon, appears from the ori^al account existing amongst the chap- 
ter records, and headed as follows : — 

A note of what moneyes hath been disbunt by Thomu Watts, Esq^, Ibr y« repairing of 
y« Public Meeting place in Wateifard. By vertue of a commission from y« oom"* of 
state to WlUiam Leigh, Capt. William Halne, SamoeU Wade, and Francis Veghan, 
Ssqra., as foUoweth. 

The account is too long to insert at full length, but I have ex- 
tracted some of the items as under : — 
Paid to Henry Outlaw for twenty thousand of slats att 9s. per thousand 

y« 10th of May ....... 

Paid John German for mending the gutters, May y« 30th, '56 . 

Paid Walter Cranfield and labourer to deane ye meeting-place, y« 30th 

of May, '56 ...••• • 

Paid to Henry Outlaw for ten thousand of slatts, y« 25th of June, '56 . 
Paid to Richard Fairewether for two thousand of slats, ye 25th of 

June, '56 ....••• 

Paid to William Price and Derorix Poell, slatters, 24th of July, '56 . 
Paid Johu German for mending ye gutters of y* Church Battlements, 

ye 2Dd of August, '56 ..... . 

Paid to William Price for whiting the Church ye 29th of May, '56 
Paid Mr. William Cooper for four dozen and a-half of Ridge tiles • 

The ** summa totalief' of the account, bom which the above extracts 
are taken, amounts to £214 Is. Od» The carpentry comes to £50, 
William Holes was thirty-six days overseeing the work, and the wages 
of masons and labourers forms a large sum. 

Although thus stripped of its ancient monuments and furniture, 
the fabric of the cathedral of Christ Church appears to have remained 
intact, except so far as the course of time laid its heavy hand thereon, 
undl the year 1773, when it suffered the fate which Samuel Wade 
had designed for it more than an himdred years before, there being 
then no one, as honest Mr. Watts did on the former occasion, to plead 
for a reprieve* It is said, indeed, on the authority of local traaition 
that the bishop of the diocess long refused to si^ the death warrant 
of the noble old pile, paying little attention to tne firequent hints he 
received of the insecurity of tne fabric. At laat, however, the demoli- 
tionists hit on a lucky thought. As the bishop was coming out of the 
cathedral one Sunday morning, a person, mounted on Sie roof for 
that purpose, let fall a shower of rubbish close to his lordship, whilst 
others of the conspirators, accidentally present, took care so to tm- 
prone on this text, that the bishop's fears got the better of his good 
taste, and accordingly, '* at a meeting of a committee appointed by 



£ 


a. 


d. 


09 


00 


00 


00 


09 


o:^ 


01 


19 


11 


04 


10 


00 


00 


18 


00 


24 


00 


00 


00 


08 


06 


03 


00 


00 


02 


04 


09 



83 

the council of the corporation, held on the 14th of July, 1773, and 
asaiflted by the Bishop of Waterford, and the Dean and Chapter, it 
was resolyed, that the old Cathedral Church should be taken down 
and a new one built in its place/'^ 

'^ It is a matter of sincere regret to many who recollect the an- 
cient edifice," continues the writer already quoted, *^ that the profane 
hands of the last generation should have violated this beautiful rem- 
nant of antiquity. It was stated, as a plea for destroying the old build- 
ing, that it was become so much decayed, as to be judged unsafe for 
the purposes of public worship ; but there is some reason to doubt the 
correctness of tms opinion, not only from the acknowledged strength 
of all the ancient churches, but also firom the extreme difficulty which 
the workmen experienced in effecting its demolition."^ No one 
can concur more heartily in the laudable sentiments of the Rev. Mr. , 
Ryland than the present dean, whose anxious care is exercised to 

E reserve every rehc of antiquity connected with the cathedral which 
as escaped the ruthless hands of the destroyer. To his kindness the 
Society is indebted for the use of the ancient manuscripts which give 
to this brief memoir any interest it may possess ; and it may not be 
amiss to state, that in his keeping the cathedral records are preserved 
with that intelligent care and soucitude which such invaluable docu- 
ments always deserve, but, I grieve to say, seldom receive. 



THE LOCAL ANTIQUITIES OF BUTTEVANT, 

BY BICHABD B. BBA8H, BSQ. 

Ih the following paper I propose calling attention to the local an- 
tiquities of the town and neighbourhood of Buttevant, which contain 
many objects of archaeological interest. I have endeavoured to 
collect the historical notices connected with these localities, and to 
arrange them in connexion with the objects I propose to describe. 
These notices I confess are scant and meagre for a place of so much 
historical and antiquarian importance, but I trust the effect of this and 
all similar papers will be, to stimulate the zealous inquiry of those 
who have access to manuscripts and rare documents, uiat they may 
effectively follow up those investigations which others may have but 
commenced^ 

Buttevanty a post and market town in the barony of Orrery and 
Eilmore, and county of Cork, is situated in a beautiAil and fertile 
country at the foot of the Ballyhowra mountains, and on the banks 
of the Awbeg (little river). These mountains are celebrated by the 

1 Ryland's Hiitiny of ffatnfwrd, p. 149. > Jd, Ibid. 



84 

quaint and inimitable Spencer as ** the mountsdns of Mole," and the 
river under the name of ** MuUa," a poeticising of ^* MuUagh," one of 
the higher elevations of the chain, Mullagh signifying the height or 
summit. 

The ancient name of Buttevant was Kilnamullagh, the derivation 
of which is obvious, being the kUl or church near the height ; it is so 
styled in the Annals of the Four Masters, A.D. 1251, and Spencer 
thus alludes to it : — 

Mnlla, the daughter of old Mole so hight, 
The Nimph, which of thtt water coarse has charge, 

That, springing out of Mole, doth run downe right 
To Buttevant, where, spreading forth at Uurge, 

It giveth name unto that anndent Cittie, 
Which Kilnemullah deped is of old. 

In many ancient documents it is called ** Bothon,'' from whence some 
derive Buttevant. An ancient black letter inscription in the Fran* 
ciscan abbey, styles it " Bothonia.*' 

That fanciful and enthusiastic antiquary, Vallancey, deduces the 
etymology of Buttevant from the Indo-Scythian.* He derives it from 
Buite-fane, the fane or temple of Buite or Budh ; but the more pro- 
bable derivation of the name is given by Smith, in his *^ History of 
Cork,*' from the exclamation Boutez en evant^ said to have been used 
by David de Barry, in an encounter with the McCarthys, and which 
was adopted by tne Barrymore fiunily, as their motto, who derived 
a title from this place.^ 

On the 26th September, 1234, a grant was made by Henry HI. 
to David de Barry, of a market on Sunday, and a fair on the vigil 
and day of St. Luke the Evangelist, and six following days, at But- 
tevant. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, A.D. 1251, 
** a monastery was erected at Kilnamullagh, in the diocese of Cork, 
by the Barry ; and it was afterwards selected as the burying-place of 
the Barrys." 

In the 11th of Edward II., 13179 a grant of release of £105, re- 
quired of the commonalty and town of Buttevant by the exchequer, 
to be applied to enclosing it with walls, was made at the request of 
John fitz David de Barry, to whom the town belonged ; and he was 
required to see that the money was duly employed in the same. 

In the 49th of Edward IIL, another ^nt was made, dated August 
6th, to the provost and commonalty ratifying a former grant of part 
of the waste of the town, with the north gate and customs there. 

32nd of Edward lU., the king grants to Robert Tanner, of Bota- 
vaunt, the custody of one messuage, 103 acres of land and 4 acres of 
meadow, in Rathclare (which were of Elie, son of Matthew, deceased, 
which were held by Edmund of Hereford, and Elie de David Fitas 
David Barry, lately under a^, and in the custody of the king, by 
military service), in the hands of the king "rone min etat." 

1 Cotteet,, ToL yi. p. 156. > Smith's Hist. (/ Cork, vol i. p. 314. Ed. 1815. 



■i=r 






85 

In 1461, Murrough O'Brien rebelled and overran Munster, ruin- 
ing many castles and walled towns, among which Buttevant suffered 
severely ; during the sanguinary wars of the Roses the town was fear- 
fully devastated, and, in 1568, the castle was taken and occupied by 
the lord deputy Sidney. 

In 1641, the army of the Confederation was assembled at Buttevant 
under lord Mountgarret; and in the spring of the year 1643, lord 
Inchiquin collected his forces here, consisting of 4000 foot and 400 
horse. 

The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocess of Cloyne, epis- 
copally united, at a penod prior to any existing record, to the vicar- 
ages of Bregogue and Kilbroney, and to the perpetual curacy of Ga- 
hirduggan, together forming the union of Buttevant and Cahirdug- 
gan, formerly called the umon of Bregogue, in the patronage of the 
bishop. The rectory is impropriate in Charles S. Oliver, Esq. ; the 
tithes amounted to £926 10^.; the tithes of the benefice amounted 
to £139 4*, 

Buttevant, though now almost dwindled to a village, was, as we 
have seen, formerly a walled and corporate town ; and, from its present 
remains, must have been of considerable importance ; it was a manor 
of the Barry s, and one of their most &vourea seats. They ruled here 
in almost regal splendour, and certainly with royal power. Here 
they founded religious houses, and here was the last resting place of 
many a chief of that once powerful house. Smith, in his ** History of 
Cork," says, ^^ this whole town formerly seems to have been an assem- 
blage of churches, and religious houses ;"^ Borlace, in his usual rude 
style, terms Buttevant " an old nest of abbots and friars/' clearly 
showing that even in his time it was a place of much ecclesiastical 
importance. And Spencer terms it, ** that Auncient Cittie." 

Before entering upon the details of its ancient remains, I think it 
of importance to give a few concise notices of the Barry family, whose 
name is so intimately connected not only with Buttevant, but a great 
portion of the south and east of the county of Cork. They were the 
foimders and endowers of many monastic houses, erected a vast num- 
ber of castles and strongholds, and their zeal for the English interest 
was proverbial, at a time when the Anglo-Normans became more 
Irish than the Irish themselves. 

According to Camden,^ the Barrys derive their name from an island 
belonging to Wales, called Barre, on the coast of Glamorganshire ; that 
island was so named from St» Baruch, who lived and died there in 
the odour of sanctity. Others state that the name of this family is to 
be found in the roll of Battle Abbey, amongst those who assisted 
duke William in hjfi conquest of England ; however this be, William 
de Barry was the common ancestor of the family in Ireland ; he mar- 
ried Angereth, daughter of Nesta and sister of Robert Fitzstephen, and 
had by her four sons, Robert, Philip, Walter, and Gerald, surnamed 

' Smith's Hist, of Cork, vol. i. p. 315. ^ Lodge's Peerage, vol. i. p. 285. 



86 

CambrenfiiB ; Robert Bariy acoompanied Fitzstephen into Ireland ; he 
was wounded at the siege of Wexford, and, in the year 1 185, was 
killed at the taking of Lismore ; his brother Philip came to Ireland 
the same year, to assist his uncle Robert Fitzstephen, and Raymond 
le Gros, to recover the lands of Eillede, Olethan, and Muscraighe* 
dunegan, seized upon by Ralph Fitzstephen ; Robert Fitzstephen ceded 
the lands to the above Philip BanTy upon which he built many castles; 
this donation was confirmed to Wilham, son of the above Philip, by 
a grant of king John, bearing date the 24th February, 1206. By a 
charter he increased lus possessions in Cork, and became lord of Castle 
Lyons, Buttevant, and BarrVs Court. 

A.D. 1237, Robert de Barry erected and endowed the Augusti^ 
nian monastery of Ballybeg« near Buttevant, and dedicated it to St. 
Thomas.^ 

In the same year, Philip de Barry founded a house for Domini- 
cans at a place now called Crosses-green, in the city of Cork.' 

A.D. 1251, David Oge Barry enlarged the revenues of the abbey 
of Ballybeg, and erected and endowed a house for fiiars minors at 
Buttevant« dedicated to St. Thomas. 

A.D. 1267, David de Barry took, by appointment of the king, 
the sword of justiceship, and the command of Ireland, and quelled or 
tamed Qiaith an English anonymous writer) the insolent dealing of 
Morice Fitz Morice, cousin-german to Gerald.' 

A.D. 1307, John de Barry erected and endowed a house for 
Franciscan minorites at Castle-lehane, now Castle Lyons, in the 
county of Cork,^ and gave lands to the value of £20 in Muscraighe, 
Olethan, and Ibawn, to Agnes Hereford and other women to serve 
God in the habit of nuns, in the house of St. John the Baptist, in St. 
John's-street, within the suburbs of Cork.^ These nuns were of the 
Benedictine order. 

A.D. 1359> Gerald de Barry was lord bishop of Cork. 

A.D. 1490, William de Barry was called to serve in parliament 
as baron de Barry of Barry's Court. 

In or about 1555, David de Barry was created lord viscount But- 
tevant. 

A.D. 1601, David Fitz James lord viscount Buttevant was made 
general of the provincial forces, and was active at the siege of Kinsale 
against the Spaniards, though previously engaged in Desmond's re- 
bellion. 

A.D. 1627, February 28th, this David was created earl of Barry- 
more ; he was married to the daughter of the first earl of Cork, and 
served the crown with great earnestness and fidelity against the Scots 
in 1639, and against the Confederation in 1641. • 

In 1770, earl Richard conveyed away the advowson of the parish 

* Ma£Gtof^hef;ui'$ Hittory of IrelofUl, p. ' Hanmer's Chraniele, p. 402. Dublin 
303. DubUn, 1844. edition, 1809. 

> Id. Ibid. < MonoiUcoH Hib, p. 61. ^ Id, pu 68. 



8T 

of Kilmalooda and manor of Timolea^e, having previously mort- 
gaged a large portion of his propertv ; m 1771, he conveyed away his 
alternate right of presentation to the rectories of St. Mary and St. 
Ann's Shandon, in the city of Cork, to Sir Robert Deane. In 1791, 
this nobleman raised £130,000 on his property, and died in 1793, 
leaving his estates overwhelmed with debt ; he was succeeded by his 
brother Henry, who contrived to increase embarrassments on the 
property. A stoiy is told of this earl, characteristic of his habits. 
When residing at Anngrove, a tradesman creditor called for the pay- 
ment of a large amount. The earl ordered lunch for him, and plied 
him with hospitable attention, and, to amuse him, called him to the 
parlour window to look out at a man half naked, whom some dozen 
of stalworth peasants were preparing to duck in the pond ; inquiring 
what his offence was, the earl informed him that he was a rascally 
dun, and that he had a number of the same class tied in an outhouse 
waiting their turn to be similarly treated ; the creditor took the hint, 
and disappeared without asking for his debt. 

At tne death of this earl the title became extinct, being one of 
thirty-seven extinctions of Irish titles that has occurred since the Union 
for want of male heirs. 

In addition to the before-mentioned religious houses, this £miily 
erected the following castles in the county of Cork : — Barry's Court, 
Buttevant ; Castle Lyons, Ballyclough ; Liscarrol, Shandon ; Lis- 
griflSn, Ballymacshane ; Castlefireke^ Dundaneer ; and others. They 

give name to three baronies in the coimty of Cork, viz., Barrymore, 
arrvToe, and Orriria Barria. or Orreiy. 

The manor of Buttevant was sold by earl Richard to John Ander- 
son, Esq., from whom it was purchased, in 1831, by lord Doneraile, 
the present proprietor. 

Buttevant consists of two streets which run N. and S. and nearly 
parallel with the abbey. In the centre of the principal street at the 
east side, stand the ruins of the Franciscan friary, the west front of 
which faces the street ; it is erected close to the nver, and its builders 
skilfrdly took advantage of the natural peculiarities of the site (the 
ground shelving suddenly to the river), and constructed a portion of 
we friary chur^ on crypts, a rare peculiarity in this country, which 
shall be adverted to hereafter. 

The date of the foundation of this house has been variously stated ; 
Ware places it indefinitely in the 13th century by David de Barry ; 
Smith says in the reign of Edward I. by David de Barry, which 
would be somewhere between 1272 and 1279 ; Mac Geoghegan states 
it to have been founded in 1290 by the Barrys or Prendergasts, which 
plainly evidences that he had no certain authori^ on the subject. 

Under the date A.D. 1 25 1, the Annals of the Four Masters say that 
** a monastery was erected at KilnamulWh, in the diocese of Cork, 
by the Barry ; and it was afterwards selected as the burying-place 
of the Barrys." This I take to be the true and authentic statement 



88 

of its foundation. These statements of Ware and Smith are corro- 
borated by the following notice preserved by Archdall Q^ Monasticon 
Hib.") :— " A.D. 1273, William de Barry granted the whole of the 
church of Cathirduggan to the prior of Buttevant." The date here 
ascribed perfectly agrees with the architectural features of the original 
portions of the building which at present remain, and which, indeed, 
would be a complete puzzle to the architectural antiquary, were it 
possible to establish a later date for its erection. 

It would certainly appear that a very short period of time must 
have elapsed between the erection of this house and the neighbour- 
ing abbey of Ballybeg. Indeed, I have no doubt that the same mind 
planned and directed the execution of both. They were built in the 
same style. Early English, the lancet windows are exactly of the 
same form and proportion, and the sculptured foliage of the caps and 
moulded bases of the banded shafts of the couplet window in the west 
end of Ballybeg abbey, are identical with similar details in the friaiy 
of Buttevant ; and as it is a settled point that Ballybeg abbey was 
erected A.D. 1237^ by Philip de Barry, the statement of the Four 
Masters respecting the foundation of this house in 1251, only four- 
teen years after, is ftiUy borne out by the silent but conclusive evi« 
dence which the present remains of both buildines present. 

Be it also remembered, that the above assigned date was the period 
at which one of the most potent and influential chie& of that family 
held sway ; David de Barry, who enlarged the revenues of Ballybeg, 
and who» in 1267, was made lord justice of Ireland, who, according 
to Dr. Meredith Hanmer, performed signal services to the English 
crown, and who is emphatically styled by the Four Masters, the Barry* 

The portions which now remain of this once extensive foundation 
consist 01 the fnary church, and a tower to the north, which is now 
incorporated with the new Roman Catholic chapeL 

The friary church consists of a nave and chancel, with formerly 
a central tower, a south transept, and a small chantry at the east side 
of the transept ; the cloisters and domestic buildings were on the north 
side, no traces of which are now visible, the area being used as a 
burying-ground. 

The cloisters must have been remarkably well finished, as the ac- 
companying drawing (see figure 3, plate 3) evidences. It exhibits 
one of tne cloister piers, consisting of two twisted columns connected 
together with caps and bases elaborately moulded, well finished, and 
cleanly executed. 

It is to be remarked that the same arrangements, as regards plan, 
are observable in nearly all the remains of Franciscan houses in Ire- 
land. The nave and chancel, the central tower, the south transept, 
the conventual buildings to the north, form invariably the general 
plan of these buildings, as at Kilcrea, in the county^ of Cork ; Adare, 
m the county of Limerick ; Dromahaire, in Leitrim ; Roserick, in 
Mayo; Sligo abbey, Sligo; and Kilconnell abbey, county of Galway. 



c4- 



^s : -a ■ 









1 

^ 



u 




89 

At Roserick, the transept is connected with the nave by a single 
pointed arch, as at Buttevant. At Dromahaire, they are connected 
Dy two arches resting on a central pillar ; at Kilcrea and Sligo, there 
is a small aisle at the south side of the nave having arches resting on 
piers, and opening also into the transept ; and at Kilconnell, there is 
an aisle both to nave and transept, connected with both by arches and 
clustered piers. 

I wotiid here remark that the varieties of plan and arrangement 
adopted by the various monastic orders in this country ; and the styles 
of architecture and modes of decoration, as well as the choice of sites 
peculiar to each, are interesting subjects for investigation, and which 
I hope to bring before the Society when I have completed my col- 
lection of examples. 

The walls of this edifice are built of rubble lime-stone masonry, 
the quoins, dressings of doors and windows, and the ornamental por- 
tions are generally of dressed lime-stone, with which this part of the 
country abounds ; but it would appear, that most of the dressings and 
decorative parts of the original church were executed in red sand- 
stone brought from the Ballyhowra mountains. These features will 
be alluded to in their appropriate places. 

The whole of the interior is encumbered with graves and tomb- 
stones ; until lately the ruins of the tower, which fell in 1819, blocked 
up the centre. 

The nave is 74 feet 4 inches in length, by 24 feet 7 inches in 
breadth ; the tower occupied nearly the breadth of the church, and 
was 18 feet from out to out of walls ; the other way, that is from east 
to west, the chancel is 57 feet 6 inches in length. The entire length 
of the church from west to east is 149 feet 10 inches. It will be 
seenr that the site of the tower divided the length unequally. The 
transept is 38 feet from N. to S. and 25 feet 4 inches from E. to W. 
The small chapel of the transept is 13 feet 6 inches from E. to W. 
and 1 1 feet from N. to S. The walls, as at present remaining, range 
from 20 to 24 feet in height, and portions of the exterior exhibit 
plain unomamented gurgoiles. Their general thickness is 3 feet 9 
inches. 

The entrance is by a pointed door-waj in the west gable, with 
moulded jambs and label, over which, restmg on a string now almost 
worn away, are two lancet windows of Early English character, por- 
tions of the dressings of which are of red sand-stone ; these lancets have 
been partially built up, and a plain narrow-mullioned window inserted 
in each ; the latter are of debased Tudor character. 

On the left, as you enter, is an altar-tomb inserted in the north 
wall of the nave (see plate 4), which I consider to be of the Early 
Decorated period ; it exhibits a foiled and moulded arch, having a 
iabel decorated with the tooth ornament; the jambs have clustered 
shafts, with plainly sculptured caps and moulded bases; the label was 
terminated by carved heads, very beautifully executed, one of which 

12 



90 

» 

has been abstracted by an officer of the Buttevant garrison, as I was 
informed. The slab has a plain chamfer, with the lollowing inscrip- 
tion: — 

" Hie jacet Edmondus Maghery et Joana Ny Murughue et Heredes 
Eorum, Anno Dni. 1625." 

This was not the original slab of the tomb, it having been substi- 
tuted from some other part of the church. The back of this tomb 
exhibits a portion of a rudely painted crucifixion which has no pre- 
tension to art. This, and some other traces of colour on the back 
of another tomb, led O'Halloran and others to speak so floridly of the 
remains of frescoes at Buttevant. These were in all probability exe- 
cuted by some of the brotherhood in the commencement of tne last 
century, when a few of them had possession of the place. 

To the right, near the arch of transept, is a similar tomb, which in 
form, dimensions, and mouldings is identical with the former, with 
the exception of the caps, which have no foliage ; and the bases of 
the shafts exhibit the nad-headed ornament; there are no ornamental 
terminations to the label ; the slab projects a foot from the wall, and 
has no inscription. 

At each side of the tower, and inserted in the tower piers &cing 
the entrance, were very elaborate altaivtombs, as appears by a drawing 
of Groffan s, in the possession of Dr. Denny, of Cork ; and on clearing 
away the rubbish of the tower, we found the slabs of two of these 
tombs in their original position ; they were about six inches thick, 
and had a roll and chamfer moulding on their edges ; the bases df 
the jamb-shafts were worked on the comers of the slab. 

On the right hand side, close to where stood the tower, is a small 
piscina with a cinque-foiled basin; it was originaUy ornamented with 
slender jamb-shafts and mouldings, the bases of which alone remain, 
showing their Early English character ; about two yards from the left 
of the transept arch was a small side-door leading into the transept. 

The nave was lighted by the Early English couplet before men- 
tioned, and two Early Decorated windows, each of two lights, with 
quartre-foils in the heads ; they were considerably splayed internally, 
and enriched with banded jamb-shafts, having moulded caps and bases. 
One of these windows alone remains. A stone, bearing the following 
inscription, in raised black letter character, was inserted in the bottom 
of the nave wall at the north side : — 

"Hie jacet Johes. O'Dulying carpentarius frim. mior. Bothoie. 
cu. sua progenie et Donaldus 0*Bryn cu sua semine." 

** Here lies John O'Doolan, the carpenter of the friars minors of 
Buttevant, with his progeny, and Donald O'Brien with his descend- 
ants." 

I exhibit a rubbing of this stone. Near the above was another, 
cut into very graceful tracery, and bearing also an inscription in black 
letter, but much injured ; these stones being from their former position 
difficult of access, were removed and built into a portion of the new 



Co. Cork. 
X t. 



ALTAR TOMB. 





91 

work hereafter mentioned^ where they are now accessible for the 
inspection of the curious. The east window, the form of which can 
be easily traced, Was an Early English triplet, lofty and of graceful 
proportions; the jambs and piers of whicn were of red sand-stone. 
These lancets have also been partially built up and windows of a late 
date inserted ; the centre one is occuipied by a two-light window of 
barbarous and nondescript tracery. Close to the east end is a double 
piscina in the south wall ; it is divided by a central shaft with mould- 
ed caps and bases ; the stoups are foiled and ribbed, and have orifices 
and drains. Double piscinas are not usual in abbey churches. 

Adjoining the piscina is a semicircular arched tomb inserted in 
the wall, and apparently an erection of the 17th century ; it evidently 
occupies the position of the more ancient sedilia, which either fell to 
ruin, or was removed to please the vanity of some opulent benefactor ; 
in many monastic churches I have remarked this to be the case, as at 
Bridgetown, where the sedilia was removed, and a tomb of late date 
inserted, which bears the arms of the Roches ; the slab of the above 
tomb bears the following inscription : — 

** Nicholas Jaco. Lombard et Eliza Barry ei' uxor me fieri fece- 
runt, 1 Marcyi, 1619/' 

" Nicholas James Lombard and Eliza Barry his wife caused me 
to be made, 1st March, 1619." 

The chancel was lit by the east window and a number of lancets 
in the south wall, which are now so altered, mingled, and built up, 
that it is difficult to discover their original arrangement; however, 
upon a minute inspection it would appear, that the south wall was 
occupied by a range of Early English lancets, eight in number, the 
dressings of which are of red sand-stone ; three of these remain per- 
fect, one is much injured, two are built up, and two cut away to in- 
sert a three-light window with flowing tracery of the latter end of the 
fourteenth century, and of rude execution. The following very curi- 
ous inscription is on a slab in the chancel near the above window : — 
^* Redmond Barry cu. Matre et conguge struxere hunc tumulum 
Patri Quern Dea Parca Tulit Redmundus J ohannis Barry de Lisgrif- 
fin et Kathlina Barry uxor ejus me fieri fecerunt, 3rd May, 1612." 

The remains of the transept show it to have been the best finished 
portion of the edifice. It was lighted by a lofty Early English triplet 
in the south gable, in the centre light of which has been inserted a 
two-light window, of similar character to those in the east and west 
gables. In the west wall were two interesting examples of Early De- 
corated windows ; they were of two lights. The muUions are gone, 
and the lower portions built up, but the remains of the tracery con- 
nected with the arch stones indicate their configuration ; externally 
they had labels with sculptured terminations, internally they were con- 
siderably splayed, the jambs had banded shafis with moulded bases, 
the caps of one of them are beautifully carved (see A, B, plate 4), 
the caps of the other were moulded without foliage. 



92 

A moulded string runs undemeatli the windows at the west side 
and south end of the transept, internally, and the east and west sides 
have a boldly chamfered cornice, from* which the roof or vaulting 
sprang ; on this cornice, on the west side, is carded a shield bearing 
a wolf courant (see plate 5). There were formerly two tombs in- 
serted in the east wall of the transept, one of which has been taken 
cut, and erected in another portion of the building, the other has 
disappeared. 

Off the east side of the chantry is a small chapel. It opens into the 
above by a high pointed arch its full width ; this arch is ornamented 
with shafts having moulded caps and bases. The east end of the 
chapel was occupied by a window nearly the full width, the muUions 
and tracery of which are gone, the jambs alone remaining, and ex- 
hibiting banded shafts with carved capitals (see C, D, plate 4) and 
moulded bases. This window has been built up, and a tomb, forcibly 
taken from its position in the transept, has been here inserted between 
the window jambs. This was similar in character to those in the 
nave, but it is patched up with details not belonging to it At the 
back of this tomb is inserted in the wall a small slab, bearing a rude 
sculpture of the crucifixion, but seemingly of considerable antiquity* 
from the character of its ornamentation, and which was evidenJy 
abstracted from some other portion of the building. 

On a slab here is the following' inscription : — 

" Hie jacet Johannes Graret Barry De Eilmihil, et uxor ei' et 
phil Johanis Barry et Ellis Lombard Hoc fecerunt. A.D. 1603." 

On a small slab inserted in the wall is : — 

** Hie jacet Eugeni' O'Doling et Kathelina Dod Hoc Fecerunt, 
1616." 

On a slab in the south gable of the transept is the following : — 

*^ Pray for the soub of Maurice Fitzgerald* Esq., of Castleishen, 
of the House of Desmond, who died the 16th day of September, in 
the year 1726, and Dame Helena Butler his wiie, of the House of 
Ormond, who died in the year 1721, whose bodies are deposited in 
this vault along with their ancestors, until the resurrection oi the dead 
with Christ our Lord." 

This family are descended from Gerald Fitzgerald, sumamed 
M'Carrell, from whom also are the extinct house of Desmond. 

Sir Edmond Fitzgerald, knight, of Clonglish, was created a baro- 
net of Ireland, February 8th, 1644. Sir Edmond, during the revolu- 
tionary war of the Commonwealth, burnt his castle of Clonglish, to 
Erevent its falling into the hands of the rebels : after the Restoration 
e presented a petition to Charles II., praying to be reinstated in 
the property of which Cromwell had deprived nim ; but the Act of 
Settlement having passed, his petition was disregarded. 

In consequence of the destruction of Clonglish, the baronet estab- 
lished himself at Castleishen, within three miles of Buttevant, which 
with considerable estates in that county, as well as Kerry and Tip- 



93 

perary, are b^U in the poeseasion of the present baronet. Sir Maurice, 
who succeeded him in the fourth generation, and who, as well as his 
predecessors, refused to assume the title, married Helen, daughter 
of Walter, son of Richard Butler, of Kilcash, who are the parties 
referred to in the above inscription. Sir Richard resumed the family 
dignity and had his right acknowled^d and confirmed by the col- 
lege of arms in Ireland, November 18tn, 1780. The present baronet 
is Sir James G. Fitzgerald, who succeeded his father. Sir James, who 
died September 25th, 1839. 

Arms-^ermine, a saltier, gules. Crest — a boari passant, gules, 
bristled and armed, or. Motto — Shannet a boo.' 

In the chancel is the tomb of Mr. Richard Morgan, who died 
October 15th, 1748, in the 107th year of his age. Of him. Smith 
states, that he lived for seventy years at Castlepooky, near Doneraile, 
that he had been clerk of the crown and peace for the county of Cork, 
in king James' time, that he never eat salt with his meat, and died 
without any other complaint than the mere effect of old age.^ 

There are now no ancient tombs to the Magnd^ Prendergasts, 
O'Callaghans, Donegans, Meads, and Healys, or to the Nagles and 
Supples, as mentioned by Smith : if they existed in his time they 
have disappeared.' Neiuier are there any traces of the Irish and 
Hebrew inscriptions mentioned by O'Halloran. 

The crypts, imder a portion of the chancel, seem to have been 
erected more from necessity than choice, on account of the shelving 
nature of the ground towards the river. The principal crypt is en- 
tered from a cellar which was under a part of the conventual build- 
ing ; it is 24 feet 6 inches by 25 feet ; the walls are 4 feet 9 inches 
thick, the ceiling is vaulted in two compartments. 

A low, massive clustered pier, stanoing on a plinth of masonry, 
having columns with sculptured caps of £arly English character, 
supports the springing of two arches, from whence again spring the 
vault arches (see figure 2, plate 3). The crypt is lighteu by two 
trefoil-headed lancet windows, with large inward splays ; the height 
to the top of the vaulting is 10 feet. Here is an immense collec- 
tion of bones and skulls, which were formerly in heaps at the west 
entrance until removed to the crypt by the present parish priest, the 
Rev. C. Bucklej. Smith states that these bones were the remains of 
those who fell m the sanguinary battle fought at Knockninoss, near 
Liscarrol, on the 13th of November, 1647, between the parliament 
forces under lord Inchiquin, and the Irish under lord Taafe;^ it is, 
however, improbable that so many tons of the relics of mortality 
were conveyed from the battle field to this place, a distance of about 
six miles, where several ancient burying-grounds were in the im- 
mediate neighbourhood. I have reason to believe that these bones 

< Burke's Petrage and B^roneiage, p. * Smith's Hisiory of Cork, vol. i. p. 313. 

386. Ed. 1837. ' Id, Ibid. « Id, p. 314. 



94 

were deposited here in the beginning of the last century, and that they 
were brought from the ancient abbey of Ballybeg, a mstance of about 
half a mile, by a farmer who took the ground upon which the abbey 
is situated, and who collected them in the course of his agricultural 
operations, and who thus removed them to consecrated ground : it 
was thus stated to me at Ballybeg, where at present there is no trace 
of interments. There is a second or sub-crypt underxthe above ; it is 
of smaller dimensions, and is entered by a rectangular opening in the 
floor of the upper crypt ; it is lighted by two very narrow lancets in 
the east gable, and presents no Mature worthy of remark. 

The east gable has a very handsome and imposing appearance 
from the river side ; it has four massive buttresses against the &ce of 
the wall, which run up, and are tabled off \mder the sill of the chancel 
window. 

I give a representation of some of the sculptured stones which 
were scattered about the church in great profusion, and which appeared 
to me to have belonged to some richly decorated tombs which existed 
here, and were very likely crushed in the fall of the tower ; Wadding 
and Smith speak of the existence of a splendid tomb of the founder, 
which was placed opposite the choir (by which they meant the chan- 
cel). Some of these fragments have portions of black letter inscrip- 
tions, now much defaced; on the same sheet are also some incised 
sepulchral slabs. 

While on this subject, I will give the following extract from Wad- 
din? : — ** Buttcfania or Buttevania, by Pisanus it is called (corruptly) 
Bacnonia, and by Rodulphus, Bathonia. The town was formerly 
large and frequented, now it is reduced and poor. Two illustrious 
families, the Barrys and Lombards, had their residence there. Some 
say that the convent was founded by the Barrys, others by the Pren- 
dergasts; but I think by the Barrys, whose magnificent tomb was 
erected in the middle of the choir, and whose whole family always 
evinced their piety towards the brotherhood (fraternity). In the 
church are many sepulchres of nobles. It is wonderful with what care 
the friars have repaired some of the ruins of this house." 

In addition, I have collected from Archdall's " Monasticon Hiber- 
nicum" the following notices in connexion with this abbey : — 
A.U. 1306, David was prior. 

— 1311, John Fitz Richard was prior. 

— 1318, Thomas was prior. 

— 1330, William Ketche was warden. 

— 1342, John IPitz Richard the prior was indicted, with some of 
his brethren, for assaulting John Reynolds in the city of Dublin, and 
imprisoning the said Reynolds. The sheriff was ordered to take Fita 
Richard into custody, to answer the said offence. In the same term, 
Reynolds sued the said prior for a debt of 1 00 shillings, for which he 
was also attached. 

The first wife of the great earl of Cork was buried here, in 1699, 






Ci.Cark. 
MS. 




96 

having died in travail of her first child ; as ia stated by the earl in his 
own account of his life. — Lodge's Peerage of Ireland^ vol. i. p. 152. 

A. D. 1604, according to Cox, this house was repaired oy the 
fraternity. Their work is quite visible in various portions of the edi- 
fice, which they inhabited nearly to the middle of the last century. 

To the north-west of the firiary, and about thirty yards firom it, 
stands a square tower ; it is described by Smith as being called Cullin, 
and as having been built by an earl of Desmond who retired there. 
By the peasantry it is called Caislane Caoimhin, but it appears to 
me to have been a portion of the conventual buildings. Its position 
shows it to have occupied the external angle of the square plan on 
which all the Franciscan houses are constnicted ; one or more towers 
are generally found connected with monastic edifices in this country, 
as at Ballybeg and at Bridgetown, both in this neighbourhood ; at 
O'Domey, in Kerry, where the entrance to the conventual buildings 
was through a gate tower ; in fact, many of our ecclesiastical buildings 
were strongly fortified, of which Cashel is an illustration — a precau- 
tion rendered necessary by the troubled state of the country, during 
the middle ages. This tower is now built into and connected with 
a new Roman Catholic chapel, lately erected from the designs of 
Charles Cotterel, Esq., of Cork ; it is Gothic, of the Perpendicular 
period ; and, when fiilly completed, will become one of the handsomest 
places of worship in the south of Ireland. 

Before I conclude this portion of my subject, I would wish to 
make a short statement relative to a late attempt made to arrest the 
destruction of the firiaiy. In 1851, Mr. Windele, of Cork, and I 
visited Buttevant ; we lound the remains of this ancient building in 
a very dangerous and ruinous state. A large portion of the north 
wall of the nave had fallen, there was a fearful breach in the north 
wall of the chancel, which hourly threatened a fall, and which in all 
likelihood would have broken through the arching of the crypt, 
destroying that interesting feature, and have left the east gable m a 
very precarious condition ; the walls were full of breaches, and the 
tombs and windows in a state of dilapidation, added to which the 
rubbish of the fallen tower and walls encumbered the nave and chancel 
to the height of several feet, and the whole place was open to every 
sort of outrage and desecration. Mr. Windele immediately suggested 
the raising pf a small fund by subscription, to be expended in such 
repairs as would arrest the hand of destruction, and at least perpe- 
tuate a little longer so interesting a monument. He immediately set 
to work with his usual zeal and energy, and, by the liberality of a few 
individuals, some of whom are, I believe, connected with this Society, 
we were enabled to command a &um which, economically applied, 
efiS^ted the following objects : — 

The clearing out several hundred tons of loose stone and rubbish, 
and levelling the interior ; the rebuilding the fallen portion of the 
nave to a sufficient height to prevent trespassers ; the building up 



96 

the breach in the north wall of the chancel ; the filling up a number 
of breaches internally and externally in various parts of the building; 
the pinning and securing several of the window arches ; the securing 

Sermanently the arching of a portion of the crypt, and the placing 
oors on the crypt and nave to prevent indiscriminate intrusion. 

A great number of fragments of broken columns, sculptured stones, 
capitals, bases, pieces of mouldings, &c., having been collected during 
the repairs, for their future preservation and for the convenience of 
examination, I had them built into portions of the new work, where 
they form a sort of medieval museum for the curious. 

I mention these matters, not only for the satisfaction of those who 
have contributed to the work, but also to stimulate the zeal of others 
in entering on works of similar character, it being a melancholy fact, 
that most of our national monuments are falling to ruin, and in a few 
years little will remain to us of the past, unless this and similar so- 
cieties stimulate and excite national feeling for their preservation. 

We were materially assisted in these repairs by the exertion and 
liberality of the Bev. G. Buckley, parish priest of Buttevant, who 
contributed the necessary materials ; the subscriptions being expended 
in paying for labour alone. 

NuNNBRT OF St. John. — Smith states that a short distance from 
the friary are the remains of another ruin, supposed to be a portion of 
a nunnery dedicated to St. John, or Owen, but of which we have no 
particulars.^ The only corroboration I can find of this statement, is 
m a portion of an ancient wall opposite the entrance gate to Buttevant 
castle, which exhibits a small trefoil-headed two-light window, and 
built into the wall is a long stone, apparently the upper portion of the 
jamb of a deeply recessed door-way, which must have been enriched 
with shaAs, as the moulded caps are worked on the stone, being very 
clearly and sharply cut; this wall is over three feet in thickness. 

Lombard's Castle. — The building described as Lombard's castle, 
by Smith and various tourists and writers, is situated at the west side 
of the main street, near the market place : it appears to me to have 
been more the substantial mansion of some wealthy burgher than a 
purely defensive structure. Its principal remaining features are a 
square tower of small dimensions and inconsiderable height that juts 
into the street, and a portion of the front wall containing remains of 
square-headed muUioned windows and pointed doors. The masoniy 
of the remaining portions of the building is of excellent character; it 
is said to have been built by a Gralway man who found a treasure in it. 

The Lombard family were formerly of considerable importance 
in this part of the country ; the tomb of Nicholas Lombara I have 
shown as being in the chancel. Lodge states that Gregory Lombard, 
gent.t had the wardship of David, viscount Buttevant, who was 
created first earl of Barrymore.^ 

' Sinith't Hiitory of Cork, vol. i. p. • Lodge's Peerage ef Ireland^ vol. L p. 

314. 295. 



9.7: 



FOLK-LGRE. 
No. II. 

BT MR. PATRICK GODT. 

As the mountain, the well, the river, and the lake are alike hallowed 
by the association of some popular legend bearing on the superstitions 
or the early inhabitants of this country ; and as these legends tend in 
some degree to elucidate ancient beliefs and customs,' I venture to 
submit to the Society some traditional relations connected with the 
baronies of Ida and Iverk, in the county of 'Eilkenny. The first 
Wend which I shall give is one connected with the traditional history 
otHolly Lake, called in Irish, Loch Cuillinn, in the parish' of Gauls- 
kill, and barony of Ida.^ It is an article of popular belief that Tory 
hill, which rises over Loch Cuillinn, was formerly, the theatre of 
Pagan worship for the people of the surrounding, country. On one 
of these solemn occasions, the worship being ended, athletic games 
and feats of activity were commenced, the people being all assembled 
on the fA]cce, or plain, now the townland of Fahee, so called in. con- 
trapdistinction to the part intermediate to that and Tory hill, which 
was then embosomed m the shade of a thick and lofty w6od,\ and 
called in the language of the people of that day Co]lUTbd|t, but now 
known by the name of Big-wood, though not a shrub remains. The 
game of CAtD^i?, or hurling, being a favourite amuseinent'with the 
people, it formed on this occasion the leading feature^ in their sports. 
The opposing parties were distinguished by the peculiarity of their 
hurls or battens, composed of cuillionn^ holly, or colly hazel : c]t] if]tc\b 
CATi)&i7 ca]ll]i)i7, A5uf cAii)^i7 coll; six score of the most active youths 
were chosen and matched against each other — sixty on a side. The 
preliminaries being gone over, and a lot cast. for the wind, the ball 
was flung aloft in the air, and the eager parties rushed forward to the 
contest. The struggle for victory was long and ardent, and as one 
party neared the goal they were again repulsed by the dexterity of 
their antagonists. At length, &om excessive exercise, one 'man 
became exhausted with thirst, and directing his way to the nearest 
group of spectators, he entreated them for some drink. An old 
woman in the crowd, who was not known to any of the party, ' di7 
rected him to a tuft of rushes growing on the plain, telling him to 

J)ull up one of the rushes, and that a most refireshing water would 
bllow it, with which he might allay his thirst, giving himj at the 
same time, a positive injunction to put the rush back again in its 
place when he should have drunk sufficiently. He went as directed, 
drew forth the rush, and drank to his satisfaction of the most exqui- 
nte water, which soon restored him to his wonted vigour. It happened 

I Thit tradition has been already, but the County of Kilkenny, printed in the 
more briefly, narrated by Dr. O'DonOTan, Society's 7Vaii«Ac/io«M,Tol.Lpp.362-72. — 
in hia valuable paper on the Traditions of Bos. 

13 



98: 

at this moment that the ball was driven towards him with the velocity 
of an arrow : the opportopity was inesiatible ; forgetful of the old 
woman's command, he dropped the rush and sprang forward, seized the 
ball, and hurried with it, despite all opposition, to the eagerly sought 
for goal, and thus gained the victory. The shouts of his companions 
and of the applauding spectators were now raised in approbation, but 
scarcely had these shouts reached the neighbouring mils, when the 
whole party was overwhelmed by the waters which rushed with un- 
governable fury from the place from which the rush had been drawn. 
The astonished spectators made a speedy departure from the scene of 
such a terrific disaster, the old woman disappeared from the crowd, 
for she was ^fcdry^ or an enchantress^ and the voice q£ &me has re- 
corded the catastrophe of the party in the following Irish words, of 
y^hich. I ^ve a (iransIatiQn i — 

V^ji) f]tcp cAn)^r} ctt]ll]W, Ajuf cati)&i) coll, 
. 81 b:(^8 Ai) toe Cu]ll]TO ;ei]6ii7eAll. 

i^hl 9tA tbdr fate, six 9core young heroes hnwe 
In CuUlionn'f deptiu have found a watery graTe. 

Thus, tradition assigns the origin of the Loch Cuillinn to this 
circumstiance ; the holly tree^ from which the hurls of the winning 
or victorious party were made, being named cuUlionn in the Celtic 
language. . It is further related, that for many succeeding ages, it 
frequently happenepl, that when the full moon nad silvered over the 
caliQ bosom of^the lake, t\i^ caman players were again seen contend- 
ing on its suifaoe, and, after a protracted and violent struggle, one 
party eventually gained the goal ; unearthly shouts seemed to arise, 
which floated in wild reverberations round the distant hills; the lake 
became unusually agitated, the hurlers seemed to be again ingulfed 
in its waters, ana the last expiring echo died away in uie bottom of 
the lake. The old woman was then heard on the Faithche (Fahee) 
exulting in fiendish cachinnations over this phantom of destruction, 
and crying out in a loud voice, " Aij luACA^jt 1 ai) luACA]]t I" — " the 
rushes I the rushes 1'* 

There is another tradition connected with the name of this lake 
and hill, which forms one of the Fenian metrical romances, still orally 
preserved amongst the Irish-speaking people of the district. It relates 
that as Fionn Mac Cumhaill was one day looking out of a window in 
the royal palace of Cruaghan, he saw a hare pass by, one side of whose 
head shone with a resplendent golden hue, and the other side was of a 
dazzling silvery white. Fionn was astonished at such an appearance, 
and eagerly desired to give her chase, but his favourite hound. Bran, 
was not at nand. The next morning the Fenian general stood looking 
out of the same window. Bran lay at his feet ; the hare passed by 
again, and he instantly roused the hound to the chase. Away fly 
hare and hound over the dewy lawn. The welkin rings as Bran 



90^ 

Bftuff^ the tainted gtde, white woods and rocky caverns repeat in triple 
echo the joyfiil cries. Fionn rushes forward to the chase ; more fleet 
than the mountain roe he flies over the verdant plain ; hill atid dale, 
moonfiBin and morass are passed with the rapidity of the wind', jei 
^O' prancing courser bears forth the man of battles. For many days 
he mcessantly continued the diase,-till, at length, the hare approached 
die border of Loch Cuillinn, while the faithful Bran hung close on 
her rear, and Fionn himself advanced at no considerable distance 
behind. But, ere he reached the lake, he met Bran returning from^ 
the chase ; so changed in appearance, hoWever, that he d£d not know 
her, until the animal, jumpmg on him, Hcked his hand ; for the dog's 
hair, instead of lying in the natural ordier in which it grew, had its 
grain turned the contrary way, and seemed to hav^ grown from the 
tail towards the head, instead of from the head towards the tail. 
Fionn was much troubled at the strange alteration in the appearance 
of his dog, a transformation diflerent from anything he ever witnessed; 
he immediately concluded that some person had practised draoidheacht 
(dmidism) on her, and he determined to find out the cause, if pos- 
sible. Bran then conducted him to the edge of the lake, where he 
found a female in tears, and, apparently, overwhelmed with grief, 
seated on the bank. Fionn, urged by a spirit of gallantry-— it being, 
moreover, a characteristic quality in the Fianna Eirionn to relieve dis- 
tressed females-— inquired of the woman the cause of her sorrow, and 
whether he could afford her any assistance. She thanked him for his 
kindness, telling him at the same time that she feared his inability to 
relieve her, as sne had dropped a golden ring, of great value, into the 
lake, without which she could not be consoled. On hearing this the 
gallant f^onn immediately plunged into the lake, but,'afler a long and 
fruitless search, he came out without the ring. The woman's grief 
seemed to be increased by his disappointment, which urged him to try 
a second time. The second attempt was equally unsuccessful as the 
first ; but, resolving that no effort of his should be lefl untried, he 
made a third attempt, and succeeded in finding the ring, which, with 
indescribable joy, he presented to the woman. The woman, in taking 
the ring, caught hold of Fionn's hand, and he immediately found him- 
self metamorphosed into the shape and appearance of an old man of 
miserable mien, with long white hair and silvery beardj instead of 
that youthful and warlike appearance which he wore only a moment 
before. •* Now," said she, " you will have to sufibr for your temerity ;" 
and then, springing aloft into the air, she passed, as quick as light, to 
tiie summit of Tory hill, which rises near the lake. 

Fionn, confounded and astonished at the female's sudden and ex- 
traordinary departure, and at his own altered and miserable condition, 
remained for a long time motionless, looking, in silent and perplexed 
amazement, in the direction in which the woman took her flight. 
In this forlorn condition, he passed many weeks oii the borders of 
the lake ; sometimes he woukl shelter himself from the scorching 



100 

rajs of the sun in the dense and lofty coverts of CoilUmor; here, 
also, he frequently passed the nights. Again, he would frequently 
beguile the dull hours of his weair and irksome sojourn in exploring 
the wild and intricate . mazes of Carndg-a-chait (me cat*s roclc) ana 
listening to the heath-cock's note on his brown declivities ; but most 
delightml of all were to. him. the sunny slopes of Rath-na-smolach, 
where, in the S9ft shades of the evening, he would sit whole hours 
listening in ecstasy, to, the joyful notes of the tuneful thrush, his 
faithful Bran being all the. lime his only companion. 

At length, the principal officers of the Fenians felt greatly alarmed 
at the absence. of the general, and agreed to go in search of him ; and 
Bran returning hpme. in the meantime greatly increased their alarm 
by her strange appearance. She pointed out to them, by the most 
instinctive means, the course they should take to find Fionn. They 
at length understood her, and set out. in the search. After a toilsome 
journey they arrived in the vicinity of the lake, where they found 
their general, but so altered as not to be recognised by them. He, 
too, in his humbled condition, wished to remain unknown ; but Bran 
coming up to him, wagging, her tail, licked her master's hand, and 
discovered him to the whole party. He satisfied their curiosity by 
reciting for them in detail what had befallen him, and pointea out 
at the same time the retreat of the woman, or as it was named by 
him in his descriptive languagCj neada nae — that is, *'the asylum 
or concealment of the woman" — and by this name is ^at part of the 
hill known at this day to. the people in its vicinity. The officers 
brought Fionn to the place which be pointed out, but no sign of the 
woman could be found: for by her art she concealed herself from 
their sight. They explored every part of the hill most nunutely, 
but in vain ; and bemg exasperated at the disappointment, they 
determined to have revenge for the indignity offered their genera^ 
so they declared aloud, that if the woman would not at once come 
forth and dissolve the spells with which she had so transformed 
their general and his dog, they never would return till they had first 
thrown Tory hill, piecemeal, into Loch Cuillinn. 

They had already commenced the work of demolishine the hill, 
and would in a short time have succeeded in filling up the lake, when, 
' at length, the enchantress dispelled the shade whicn concealed her, 
and stood at a short distance from them, telling them to spare the 
hill and that she was ready to restore them their general and nis dog. 
By the talismanic power of her touch she immediately restored Fionn 
to his former appearance, and caused the hair of Bran to lie in its 
natural direction, at which the whole party were in an ecstasy of 
delight. 

They then entreated the mystic female to tell them her name, 
that they might hand down to posterity the incidents of so Strang an 
occurrence. " My name," saia she, " is Grinn, this hill is my habi- 
tation, and Loch Cuillinn is my power." " Well, then," said Fionn, 



101 



(« 



we shall always know you by the name of CuUlionn Grinni and 
this hill shall be known both by the name of Sliabh Grinn^ and of 
Sliabh Cuillmn^ to the end of days." The observation of the hero haa 
been fulfilled to this day. 

In the foregoing reuition I have adhered as closely as possible to 
the original Irish, of which this is a translation. 

The Rev. Philip Moore, in his paper on GKants' Graves, in the 
Society's Transactions^ vol. i. pp. 11-14, refers to a monument reported 
to him as existing at Lickerstown, in the barony of Iverkj not many 
miles from the scene of the traditions already given. I lately visited 
and explored the site of this ancient remain, which is situated about 
two hundred perches from the river Suir. The dimensions which I 
received from report diifer from those given by the Bev. Mr. Moore's 
informant, as the monument was described to me as consisting of a 
cist or cavity about eij^ht feet Ion?, three feet deepi and three feet 
wide. A pile of stones now occupies the " narrow oed" of the hero, 
which bears about one point north-east, and from the position of four 
upright stones still remaining, it appears to have been surrounded by 
a row of such stones disposed in circular order, and enclosing an area 
of about twelve feet in diameter. 

I also inquired for the tradition given by the Rev. Mr. Moore, 
which I was not able to obtain, but found prevailing in the locality 
a legend which states the cist to be the grave of a forei^ hero, named 
Geadach Mor (in Irish, le^bA ai? (^&AbA]C ^d]|i), wno pursued to 
the Fenian camp a lady who had refused the offer of his hand, and 
to whom Fionn promised protection. The hero arrived before the 
Fenian hosts, demanded the maiden, and, on being refused, chal- 
lenged to single combat the stoutest of their warriors. Terrified by 
his formidable appearance, each feared to accept the challenge. With 
fierce looks and menacing attitude, he walked m proud defiance round 
the borders of the camp, and seizing a stone of huge dimensions, he 
hurled it alofl in the air, and with a single fling cast it over to the 
opposite side of the river. It now stands, a pillar-stone^ on the verge 
of Mount Congreve demesne. At length, the youthful and valorous 
Oscar entered the lists, and the champions engaged in terrible and 
deadly combat. They contended a whole day, neither claiming advan- 
tage. Fionn, fearful of the event, chewed his thumbs a mode of divin- 
ing with which he was gifted, and thus discovered l^at if the stranger 
were allowed sleep he would be invincible. He, therefore, to prevent 
him from enjoying repose, entertained him at night with the relation 
of his military exploits; and, after three days hard fighting, the 
stranger was slain by the superior prowess of the redoubtable Oscar.^ 

* Mr. Cody's Yenion of this tradition is was Cori^% who» from the nnmben slain 

corroborated by a coinmunication on the by him, was named ConyiM) a ib^Attboc n<A 

traditions of Werk, forwarded to us by Mr. ceAOCA, Le. Conan the slayer of hundreds ; 

James Fogarty, of Tibroughny. According whilst Oscar's victory is not attributed so 

to the latter, the real name of the hero much to his prowess as to Fionn's policy in 



102 

Tradidoft aays they buried him on the spot, aad raised a lioff^ or fii^, 
over his haba^ or grave* It is plain that the district in which this 
monument stands got its name from liag Cheadaieh^ with the adjunct^ 
toton^ which has been corrupted into I^ickerstown, or Licketstowm 
As this story seems to be one of the many versions of the poem^ entitled 
X.A]h\) T^bA]lc ^b^c 'Cjieo]is printed, with a translation, in the Trmu^ 
actions of the Gctelic Society , pp^ 199-21 1» I forbear any further detail. 
Immediately beside this grave, and in a north-west direction, there 
stood a number of upright stones (I could not learn how many)} in 
the memory of persons still living in the nei^bourhoodw These 
stones have been all removed, but the place in which they stood is 
known by the name of the hwrying-grotrnd ; yet the people tell you 
they never discovered human bones or any ouier traces of sepulture 
than the ** kead^tones" the term by which they de^gnate the pillar- 
stones. I could not leam in what order these stones stood with respect 
to each other ; the country people are not curious with regard to these 
things, but they have no tradition of a Christian place of worship 
having ever been connected with these ** headstones ;*' which, con- 
sidered together with the absence of human remains, amounts to some 
degree of evidence that the stones were raised for some other purpose, 
probably connected with ancient Pagan rites of worship. 



SOME NOTICE OF 

THE FAMILY OF COWLEY OF KILKENNY. 



BT JOHN Q. A. PRIM. 



An attempt to trace the family history of the Cowleys of Kilkenny 
would, at any time, suitably occupy the attention of this Society, 
but owing to the circumstance that of that family the great duke of 
Wellington, so lately deceased, and for whose obsequies, whilst I 
write, the British nation makes such splendid preparation,^ was a 
lineal descendant and the most distinguished representative, perhaps 
a more general interest may be expeeted for &e subject at the 
present moment. 



keeping his opponent awake, by his powen 
of conTenation, for three nights. On the 
third night, in the midst of their merriment, 
Ceadach is said to have cijed out with his 
habitual oath, " bAji PACftUfS ca OrcAft 
i)A co6U A5ur nure Alp bCiTreAcc," i.e. 
" by [St.] Patrick, Oscar sleeps while I am 
awake." Mr. Fogaity's meaaurements m^kt 
the grave fifteen feet long by six feet wide, 



thus disagreeing with both the Rev. Mr. 
Moore and Mr. Cody in this particular. 
Fogarty states, that when he Tisited the 
place, in August, 1851, there were three 
upright stones remaining, each three and 
a-half feet high. — £ds. 

^ This paper was read at the November 
meeting of the Society, whilst the doke't 
remains were stiU lying in state. 



103 

In Ajchdall'fl edition of Lodge's << Peerage/' publiihad in 1789, 
when the duke of Wellington was twenty yean of age, the pedigree of 
his father, the earl of Momington, commences with this statement : — 

The hnuly of Cowley, Cooley, or, as it is now written, CoUey, derives its origin from 
the county of Rntland, whence they remoTed into Ireland in the Reign of King Henry 
VIII., in whose 22Bd year his Mj^esty granted to Walter and Rohert Cowley, of Kilkenny, 
genUemeii, during their respective liyes» the office of Clerk of the Crown in Chanceiy. 

This assertion is altogether incorrect ; the date of the grant of the 
clerkship of the crown, instead of the 22nd, should be given as the 
26th year of Heniy VIU.,^ and not only do we find some of the 
memliers of the government in the reign of Heniy VIIL writing of 
Walter Cowley as an Irishman, and a worthy example to the otner 
natives, but we have evidence that the family was in Ireland, and it 
would seem that the name occurs in Kilkenny also, at least a century 
before the alleged period of their removal from Rutlandshire. A 
list of the corporate officers of Kilkenny contained in a book formerly 
preserved amongst its municipal arcmves, but now in the posses- 
sion of Sir Wilham Betham» Ulster king at arms, states that Walter 
Cowley was one of the two portrieves (an office resembling that of 
the more modem sheriffs) of Kilkenny, in the year 1407. The 
record referred to was compiled from the documents in the possession 
of the corporation by alderman Richard Coxmell in the year 1693, 
and it is proper I snould state that, having consulted the " Liber 
Primus," or most early of the city books now in the custody of the 
town clerk, I find the following entry under the date of 9th Henry 
IV. (1407), from which the accuracy of Council's list may be ques- 
tioned : — ** Walterus Cawylfy fuit prepositus infra muros Kilkennie 
tempore estatis." The name, Walter, it will be found, occurs fre- 
quently amongst the Cowleys of Kilkenny, but whether ^e portrieve 
of 1407 was one of that ramily, notwithstanding the statement of 
alderman Council, who seems to have been an antiquary and herald of 
no mean abilities or research, cannot, I think, be positively asserted. 
However, as Heniy VUI. did not ascend the throne till 1509, suffi- 
cient evidence can be adduced to show that during the previous 
century the Cowleys were in this country. In 1425, John Cowle 
was appointed, by an order dated at Drogheda on the 11th May, a 
commissioner to take up provisions for the use of James Butler earl of 
Ormonde and his army {Rot. Pat. 3 Henry IV. m. 1 \A\ In 1496, 
John Cowley was granted the office of guager of Ireland, during the 
royal pleasure' {Rot. Pat. 11 Henry VII. m. 2). In 1505, Robert 
Cowley was appointed customer of the port of Dublin {Rot. Mem. 
20 Heniy VII.;; and as it appears he still filled that office in 1520 

> The *' LIher Munemin" quotes the pa- ptriod. On the 5th of July, 1331 , the king 

tent la being dated January 1 1th, 1535. granted to Thomas CoUey the office of 

* The uSo3\y seems to have been con- guager of wines in England, Ireland, and 

aeeted with the eicisa from a very early Wales.— iKo/. Pal. 20 Edward III. m. 83. 



104 



{Rot. Mem, 11, 12 Heniy VIIL m. 6) this would appear to be the 
same Robert Cowle^r, of Kilkenny, who was appointed one of the 
clerks of the crown in chancery, as referred to by Lodge, and who 
was the first member of his family that made a figure in ihe politics 
of the times, and rose to any station of importance in the state. 

From the statement of Lodge, that this family was descended 
from ^* Walter and Robert Cowley, of Kilkenny, gentlemen," the 
natural inference would be, that Walter, as being first named, was 
the elder of the two ; but such was not the case. Robert was his 
father, and he is given the prior place in the grants of the various 

Eublic offices which they held conjointly.* This Robert Cowley, 
eing a lawyer of much professional skill and ability, resident m 
Kilkenny, was selected Dy Piers earl of Ormonde as his legal 
adviser and agent, and having brought up his son Walter to the law 
also, the^ both enjoyed the confidence and profited by the weighty 
political influence of the Ormonde family, through means of whom 
they were gradually advanced from minor situations to important 
public offices. On the 11th January, 1535, they were created joint 
clerks of the crown in chancery, as already mentioned. Li 1535, 
they were also conjointly appointed customers, collectors and receivers 
of the customs of die city and port of Dublin, for their lives, at a fee 
of £10 per annum. The same year Walter was granted the same 
office for the port of Drogheda, at a like fee. In 1537, September 
7 th, Walter^ was elevatea to the dignity of principal solicitor, or, as 
it is now termed, solicitor-general, of Lreland, with a fee of £10 Lrish. 
On the 10th January, 1538, Robert was created master of the rolls; 
on the 7th M^, 1540, he was made a commissioner for selling the 
lands of the dissolved abbeys, and, on the 30th September in that 
year, one of the keepers of the peace within the coimty of Meath, 
with power to enforce the observation of the statutes of Dublin and 
Kilkenny. 

From the State Papers, containing the Irish corr^pondence du- 
ring the reign of king Henry VIIL, published by the English record 
commission, we are enabled to glean information sufficient to show 
that the legal and political abilities of Robert and Walter Cowley 
were largely employed by the Irish government and the principal 



1 Amongst the published State Papen 
of the reign of Henry VIIL (vol. iL part iii. 
p. 311) a letter is given from Walter to Ro- 
bert Cowley, which condndes as follows : — 

" Shew this letter to my said Maister, 
Maister Secretory, for the maters therein 
comprisid so requirith ; and with the moost 
humble hart that any pore man can, I be- 
seche you to have me remembrid to his 
maystership, whome Almighti God preserve 
in long honourable lif and good helthe. 
Written at Waterford, bound streight to 
Dublin, this 29 day of Aprel. Tour awne 



moost humble Son, 

(superscribed) ** Waltier Ck>wley. 

** To my good Father^ Mauter Robert 

Cowley^ with all diliyem** 

s Perhaps he was the *' Walter CoUef* 
who, in the year 1544, was charged with an 
intrusion into the rectories of St. Michael, 
near Wexford, and of St. Michael, near 
Ballybrennan (Rot. Mem. 36 Hen. VIII. 
m. 16). I am indebted for this, and many 
other valuable references to the Cowley 
family, to the excellent custodian of the 
exchequer records, James F. Ferguson, Esq. 



105 



English statesmen of the period. In 1520, we have the first notice of 
Robert being in England, on the business of the state, and the lord 
deputy Surrey^ in writing to cardinal Wolsey, on the 6th September 
in that year, to inform him that the earl of Kildare, then inliondon 
under arrest for high treason, had sent over the abbot of Monaster 
Evyn and William Delahide as emissaries to stir the O'CarroUs to 
revolt, mentions — *^ and the said abbot and Delahide came both to 
TOthers out of England, and my servaunt Cowley, in oon ship, 16 
days afore Ester."^ In 1524, we have Robert Cowley agam in 
London aiding the lord James Butler in the carrying out of some 
delicate political manoeuvres for the earl of Ormonde, wnose enemies, 
the Geraldines, the lord deputy was then inclined to favour ; and the 
earl writes to his son informing him of the various representations 
which he wishes to be made to the king and Wolsey, which ** my 
trusty servaunt, Robert Couly, shall penn and endite. ... In any 
wise, slepe not on this matier, and if ye do, the most losses and 
trouble willbe yours, in tyme commyng. Immediat upon the re- 
ceipt hereof, sende for Robert Couly, and cause hym to seche (seek) 
remedies for the same."^ The Cowleys were, as in duty bound, 
stanch adherents of their patrons the Ormonde family in all the 
vicissitudes of their feud, then at its height, with the house of 
Kildare. In a long list of charges which tne earl of Eildare pre- 
ferred through lord Leonard Grey, to the king, against the earl of 
Ormonde, in 1525, one is — ** Item, he hath used to sende over see, 
unto oon Robert Couly, by whome diverse untrothes have been 
proved, to indite complainteSi at his owne pleasure or discression, 
against the said Erie of Ealdare ; having witii' hym a signet of the 
said Erie of Ormondes, to seal the same. ' In 1528 we have Robert 
Cowley corresponding with cardinal Wolsey, giving him private in- 
formation as to the doings of the various Irish government officers ; 
he is very free in offering suggestions as to the arrangements of the 
lord deputy and his adherents, which he considers ought' to be in- 
terfered with, but his pardzandiip for the Ormonde family is evident 
throughout, and he loses no opportunity of putting in such recom- 
mendations for his patrons as the following : — *^ Pleas it Your Grace 
to be advertised, that where my Lord of Ossory, and his son, according 
to theire boimden duetis, attende your gracious pleasure and delibera- 
don concemyng the affayres of Ireland, others ryne in at the wyndow 
the next wey, making immediat pursuytis to the Kinges Highnes, 
where they obteyne aU theire desiris without any stopp or stay, by 
means of Anthony Enevet, and others ; whereof wol ensue the des- 
truccion of Irland, withoutyour gracious spedy redress."^ After the 
disgrace and downfall of Wolsey, both Robert and Walter Cowley 
kept up a constant correspondence with Cromwell, the chief minister 



1 Si»ie Papert^ toI. iL part iii. p. 44. 
> M, Tol. ii. part iii. p. 119. 



' 5/a/e Papera, vol. ii. part iii p. 123. 
* Id., Tol. it part iii. p. 140. 



14 



106 




of the orowii, and ^ Thomas Wryothesley, the king's secretary, re- 
porting upcm the condition of Ireland, and iike measures of the go- 
vemment) but aliira}r8 having a favourable word to say for the earl of 
Ormonde* We have Sequent propositions sent over under the title 
of '^ Devioes of Robert Cowley, for the furtherance of the Kin 
Majestes affayres in His Graces land of Irland." He enters with a 
crity into the views of Cromwell respecting the suppressiom of monastic 
houses, and seeks to hasten in every way the issmng of the order for 
dissolving the Irish abbeys, a matter in which he was largely inte- 
rested not alone as having been appointed a commissioner mr setting 
the lands of the religious houses to tenants under the crown, but inas- 
much as he had procured the farming of the manor of Holmpatrick for 
himself which ne held at £12 5«. 4cf. per annum.' He subscribes 
his letter — " Your Lordships moost bounden Bedisman, Robert Cow- 
ley/' The superscription is — " To my Lord Pryvee Scales Honoura- 
ble Lordship." On the 10th August, 1538, Thomas Allen writes to 
Cowley informing him of the death of " the Lord of Trymlettiston, 
late the Kingis Cnancelour," mentioning that his own brother, John 
Allen, then master of the rolls, expects to succeed to the office, ad- 
din^-^*' Master Cowley, if the Kingis plesur shalbe to assigne and 
make him Chaunoelour, I know ri^ht well ye shalbe Master of the 
Rollesi being worthiest thereof in this land. Both he and I, onfayn- 
edlie, shallbe as glad of your preferrement thereto, as any too ly ving." 
The letter is addressed — ^^ To my wurshipful &iende and good Mas- 
ter, Master Robert Cowley."^ We have seen already that Allen's 
anticipations were fulfilled ; and soon after we have Robert Oowky 
signing his name to the correspondence of the Irish government, as 
one of the privy council. 

In the mean time, Walter Cowley was pushing himself forward in 
Ireland, although his attachment to the Ormonde interest caused him 
to be no favourite with the lord deputy, Leonard Grey, who, on the 
3l8t of October, 1536, in writing to Cromwell, complains of him, 
among&t others, as sowing dissensions amongst the officers of ihe 
crown ; and, again, on the 24th of November in the same year, de- 
nounces ^* Young Cowley, Cusake, and others, which conferth to- 
getiiers, and wolde ridle and jest at their pleasures, divising how to 
put men in displeasures: and* as for me, yea, openly day ly at 

' Cowley, however, appears to have been 
a more condentioas courtier than moit of 
those who farmed the abbey lands from the 
crown ; having divided some of the spoil, he 
was willing to bear his share in the charges 
of the state. We find him writing thus to 
Cromwell, on Lady Day, 1039 : — 

'* Sir, we bee so covetous insadably to 
have so many farmes, every of us, for our 
singular profittes, that we have extirped 
and put awaye the men of warre that shuld 
defend the oountrey : and all is like to go 



wrack, except an order be takyn the rather 
as to have a survey, Whate I and every 
other have in fees and fermes, and every 
oon that have such fises and fermea to be 
taxed to ^de a cettaine nombre of hable 
men ; to serve the King, and to defend the 

oountrey, uppon great payns 

Lett every of us beare his burdan of sower^ 
nes with swetenes, and not to cast all the 
burden in the Kinges charge, to enryche onr 
sUvi8."-^5/a/e Papertt voLiiL part iii. p. 1 49. 
' Sittte A^0r«, voL iii. part iii. p. 67. 



107 

Tresorers borde, I was made tbeire geatiiig stocke/'^ However, in 
1539) three members of the privy council specially reccminend Walter 
C>owley to Cromwell's noticoi in a report which they made to him, 
upon returning from a tour on which they had proceeded through 
*^the four shires above the Barrow" for the purpose of holding ses- 
sions, collecting first-fruits, and enforcing the religious changes intro- 
duced by the king. They state that :— 

Walter Cowley, the Kingis Solicitor, attending upon us this jomay, hath for his parte, 
right weU and dilegentlie set fnrthe the Kingis canaes ; so as, e^ery of ther demeanors 
waid by iia, we have thought we could no let do, than to oommende the aame to your 
good Lordship : for ther been ao many eviU in theis partis, or at least few or non given 
to seke knowledge and civilitie, that we be gladd to see oon of the contrary sorte, and be 
no les redy to inconige and set fnrthe soche oon in his good doingis'. 

He was also, on more than one occasion, despatched to England 
to transact weighty affairs for the Irish government, and was intrusted 
with the charge of treasure to be conveyed back for the king's service 
in Ireland. In December, 1638, the treasure given into his care was 
conveyed in two hampers on horses from London to Holyhead, and 
thence shipped to Dolkey ; the expenses of the journey being £71 
15#. ; and, arnin, on the 5th of February, 1540, he left London, 
having with him a sum of £2,256 for the Irish government, and 
accomplished a journey which now takes scarcely a day in exactly 
one month, am\ine at Dublin on the 5th of March with his charge ! 
During this period frequent letters were forwarded by the earl of 
Ormonde and his son, lord James, to the Cowleys, when in Lon- 
don, directing them as to representations to be maae to the kine and 
Cromwell against the Geraldines and their abettors. The earl always 
addressed his letters — *^ To my trus^ servaunt, Robert Cowley, at 
London," or, '* To my trusty servaunt, Waltier Cowley," except in 
one instance, when in addressing an epistle to them both, on the 16th 
July, 1538, he directs it — " To my right lovyng Counsailours, Robert 
Cowley and Walter Cowley, lying at Mr. Jenynges, besid the Crossid 
Freres, at London." Lord James Butler, however, appears to have 
admitted them to greater familiarity, as he addresses his letters — *^ To 
my assurid friende» Robert Cowley, at London ;" and, after his father s 
death, when he himself became earl of Ormonde, in writing to the king's 
secretary on the 21st Oct., 1539, he speaks of '^my frende, Waltier 
Cowley." Their devotion to the interests of the Butler family, how- 
ever, was ultimately the cause of a temporary but serious reverse of 
fortune to the Cowleys. Earl James, though he wedded the daugh- 
ter of the earl of Desmond, was as implacable an enemy of the 
Geraldines as was his father, earl Pierce, who had married the sister 
of the earl of Kildare ; and Sir Anthony St. Leger, who succeeded 
to the government of Ireland B&ei the disgrace and execution of 
lord Leonard Grey, having pursued the policy of his predecessor 

> Siaie Pqpert, vol. U. part iiL p. 399. * Id., vol. iii. part iii. p. 116. 



108 

with respect to patronising the earl of Desmond, Robert Cowley so 
warmly joined the earl of Ormonde in opposing the views of the lord 
deputy and thwarting his plans, that an open rupture ensued. Cowley, 
without asking for hcence to absent himself from his official duties m 
Ireland, repaired clandestinely to London, with the view of preju- 
dicing the court against St. Leger, by his report of transactions in 
Dublm, and he wrote a letter to the iun^ in which, amongst other 
matters, he charged the lord deputy with having said that Henry 
VII., at his first entering into England, had but a very slender title 
to the crown till he married queen Elizabeth. The members of the 
Irish privy council, however, sent over a counter-report, in which the 
blame was thrown on Cowley himself, and the result was that on the 
6th October, 1542, the council of England committed him to the 
Fleet prison, having previously dismissed him from his office ; and we 
have tne king thus addressing a letter on the subject to the lord deputy 
and council of Ireland : — 

And whereas it appeareth unto Us, that Robert Cowley, laite Maister of the RoUes 
there, at his late repayr hither, departed out of that our Realm without the lycence of 
you, our Deputye, haying no cause or matyr to enforce the same, but such as he might 
have comytted to writing, and signified at leisure, for that it plainly appeareth the same 
was voyd of all malice, and of no suche importance as his malicious appetite desired; 
albeit it shalbe well doon for all men, and especially for them whiche be in auctoritie, to 
frame their communications uppon suche matyer, as ministre noon occasion to captious 
persons to judge otherwise in them then theye meane, entende, and purpose ; and also it 
appereth that the said Cowley is a man seditious, and full of contention and disobedyence, 
which is to be abhorred in any man, but chiefly in a Counsailor : We haye, therefore, dis- 
charged him of his rome and office of Maister of the Rolles there, and we conferre and 
yeye the same to you, Sir Thomas Cusake, not doubting, but you wool, both therein, and 
in all other our affisyres there, serre Us according to your dieuty, and our expectadonJ 

The answer of St. Leger to the above royal dispatch is curious, not 
only as showing the nature of the quarrel with Cowley, but as giving 
us a glimpse of the policy upon which the government of Ireland was 
conducted at the time, lieing still upon the principle of divide et tm- 
pera : — 

It may also please your Majestic, that there bathe bene to me reported that the saide 
Mr. Cowley, late Maister of your Rolles here, shoulde artide ageinste me, that I wente 
aboute to erecte a new Geraldine bande, menyng the same by the Erie of Desmonde ; the 
trouthe is, I laboured mooste eifectuallie to bring him to your parfaicte obedience, to my 
grete parill and charge ; and this, gracious Lord, was the onlie cause. I sawe that, nowe 
the Erie of Kildare was gone, ther was no subjecte of your Majesties here mete nor hable 
to way with the Erie of Ormonde ; who hathe, of Your M^esties gifte, and of his owne 
inherytance and rule, gevin him by Your M^estie, not onlie 50 or 60 myles in lengthe, 
but also meny of the chiefe holdes of the frontiers of Irishmen : so that if he, or any of 
his heires, shoulde swarve from ther dewtie of allegiance (whiche I thinke yerOie that he 
will never do), it wolde be more harde to dante him, or theim, then it was the saide Erie 
of Kildare, who had alwayes the saide Erie of Ormonde in his toppe, when he wolde or 
was like to attempte any such thinge. Therefore, 1 thought it good to baye a Rowlande 
for an Olyver ; for haying the said Erie of Desmonde your Highness assured subjecte, it 
will kepe theim both in staye . . . This, as my bounden de?rtie, which is to allure 
al men to your M^esties obedyence, was the cause, why I labored the saide Erie to the 

> State Papertt vol. iii. part iii. p. 369. 



109 

same, and no zeele that I have either to Geraldyne or Butler, otherwise than may sanre 
to the sarrice of Your Majestie, in which I ]oTe them hothe ; for assuredlie I thinke Your 
Miyestie hathe them bothe your trew and faithfuU subjectes, and I never yet harde that 
the Bntlert offended Your Majestie, or your noble progenytors, in no poynte of rebellion, 
whiche ia mnche to their prayse. And where, also, it hathe bene reported here, that such 
artidea, as I, with other your Counsell, sente oyer ageyn the said Cowley, late Maister of 
Your BoUes here should be conceived ageinste him more of mallice, then of matier of 
tronthe ; upon the faithe and alleigeance I here to your Majestie, for my parte having the 
examination thereof in presence of Your Counsell, I ezamyned the same as indifferentlie 
as I would have done if the same Cowley had bene my father; and onlie certified the 
trouthe, as the witnesses deposed upon their othes.* 

Robert Cowley was detained in the Fleet prison, on the charge of 
treasonable practices, till the 2l8t of July in the following year, when 
he was liberated on giving security not to go to Ireland without leave. 
From this period we have no mention of his name in any public do- 
cument, and as he must have been a very old man at the time, it 
may be safely presumed that he did not long outlive his imprisonment 
and disgrace. Three years later, however, we have the old quarrel 
wa^d more fiercely than ever between the earl of Ormonde and the 
lord deputy ; and we find Walter Cowley, who still remained solicitor- 
general and clerk of the crown in chancery, taking a prominent part 
in \he embroilment, as a partisan of the earl. The lord chancellor 
Allen was also at variance with St. Leger, and appears, according to 
the view of the editors of the " State Papers," to have used Cowley as 
a tool to give him annoyance.^ In February, 1546, Robert St. Leger, 
the deputy's brother, intercepted and opened certain letters written 
by the earl of Ormonde to the king, ana the earl having indignantly 
denounced this act, St. Leger required the council to investigate the 
case, and allow him to defend himself. Lord Ormonde and Walter 
Cowley appeared before the council, but refused to allege anything 
there to ot. Leger's charge, on the ground that, he being the lord de- 
puty's brother, the council was not indifferent ; and the consequence 
was that the matter was laid before the English coimcil. The Irish 
council brought strong charges against the earl of Ormonde. The 
archbishop of Dublin, in writing to the king, observes, ** so it is, 
most gracious Lorde, that here is contraversie rysyn betwene the right 
honorable my Lorde Deputy and my Lorde Ormonde, which if spedy 
remedy be not had, is like to tome to great hurte ; ye, to the totall 
distrucion of this your Majesties realme, and in especially your mere 
English subjectes." And he denoimces the earl as a dangerous per- 
son, *'more like a prince than a subject; more like a governor tnan 
an obedient servant."' Whilst the deputy himself begs of the Eng- 
lish council to firee him from the troubles of his unpleasant office, 

' Siatt Papen^ vol. iii. part iiL p. 379. hoke [book, or schedule of charges], I take 

' Allen was unscrupulous enough to at- God to recorde, I was never of counsdl wyth 

tempt to make a stalking horse of Cowley, article of it. God is my judge, I wolde be 

and escape censure by throwing all the ashamed to be named to be privy to the 

blame on him. In his defence against St. pennynge of so lewde a boke." 

Leger's charges he says — " As for Cowley's ' State Pttptrt, vol. iii. part iii. p. 557. 



no 

'discharge me," he prays, '^of this tedious paine, whernnto I have 
not bene accustomed, and I humblie beseche youe all, to be the means 
to the Kinfifes Majestie to ryd me from this hell, wherin I have re- 
raayned this 6 years ; and that some other may there serve His Ma- 
jestie, as Ion? as I have doon, and I to serve His Highnes elsewhere, 
where he shall commande me. Tho the same were in Turkay, I will 
not refuce y tt«" The various parties were ultimately called to London 
to have the case investigated ; and the intrigues of the earl of Ormcmde's 
enemies, it is generally supposed, went to the length of procuring his 
murder there. Poison was introduced into some of the dishes at an 
entertainment which he gave to thirty-five of his followers and attend- 
ants at Ely House, Holbom, and the earl and eighteen of his servants 
died. His faithful ally, Walter Cowley, had also the misfortune of 
being condemned by the council, on St. Leger* s charges, and he was 
committed to the Tower of London. His incarceration was, per- 
haps, a fortunate circumstance for him, as it probably prevented his 
being poisoned at the Ely House banquet. From his prison we have 
the poor captive writing to the council after this most humble and 
contrite fashion, " I, Waltier Cowley, with as sorrowful a hart as ever 
any pore man can have that my Soveraine Lord shold conceiv evell 
demeanuire in me, do, in most humble wise, beseche His Highness, 
according to his Majesties accustomid clemencie, that this my plain 
confession and declaration may move His Excellencies replete with 
pitie and mercy, to accept me to grace." He then proceeds to an 
explanation of the reasons which induced him to consider the lord 
deputy's policy unsound and dangerous, declaring his belief that if 
the earl of Ormonde's power to serve the king as a faithful nobleman, 
were subverted, there would be " a great daunger to all us there that 
have little land and honure, that we shold be then undone by Irish 
dissobeissants in every side ;" and he subscribes himself ** your ho- 
nourable Lordship's pore wredche in misery, Waltier Cowley."* This 
submission by no means mollified the king and council, for they soon 
after issued an order for the dismissal of Cowley from his ofiice, and 
appointed John Bath to be solicitor-general in his room. 

At this point the record commissioners' publication of the invalu- 
able documents contained in the State Paper office breaks off, and I 
have no means of ascertaining the length of Walter Cowley's incar- 
ceration in ike tower, or how his discharge was procured ; out there 
id reason to suppose that his release came with the decease of the 
tyrant, Henry VIH., in January, 1547 (old style), and that the new 
government aisapproved of the severity used towards him and wished 
to compensate him for it; for» in a few months after Edward VL 
ascended the throne, we have (according to the ^* Liber Munerum") 
Edward, duke of Somerset, lord protector of the kingdom, writing 
from Windsor, under the date 13th September, 1548, signifying to 

> State Papertf vol. iii. part iii. p. 578. 



Ill 



the lord deputy Bellynffham and the council of Ireland ^' that Walter 
Cowley is reconunended to them as a worthy and necessary o£Scer fi>r 
the surveying, appraising, and extending the king^s possessions and re- 
venues in Ireland ;" and a second letter on the 2l8t of the same month, 
specially directing that the salary attaching to the office should be 
Jt 100 per annum — a large sum in those days. Cowley had continued 
to hola the appointment of derk of the crown in chancery^ to which 
he was ori^naily appointed, but he now resigned that situation u{>on 
receiving the patent for the office of surveyor-general of Ireland, which 
he was the first to fill, and held till his death in 1551. 

Robert Cowley, beside Walter, had two sons, Robert and Nicholas.' 
The former was a justice of the peace in the King's County, under the 
title of "Robert Colley, Esq.," having, on the 3rd February, 1562, 
received a grant firom queen Elizabeth of lands in that county called 
Castletown, otherwise x oung Cowleystown ; but he was slain by the 
rebels on the 10th July, 1572,' without leaving male issue, and the 
property reverted to the crown. Nicholas appears to have been a 
merchant of ELilkenny, and he filled the office of sovereign of that 
municipalily in the years 1540 and 1551. This Nicholas was pro- 
bably the progenitor of the subsequent Cowleys of Ealkenny. Walter, 
the stirveyor-general, was, no doubt, the head of the family, and he 
(according to Lodge) had two children, Henry and Walter. The 
nrst was a captain in queen Elizabeth's army, was knighted, and re- 
ceived a grant of Castlecarbery, in the county of Meath. From him 
sprang the Momington family. Walter, the younger» was customer 
and collector of the port of Jjrogheda, but I find no further mention 
of him.* The junior branch of the family which remained in Kil- 
kenny were chiefly wealthy traders in the city, and also owned pro- 
perty in the county ;* some of them were brought up to the legal pro- 
fession, and it appears firom the exchequer order-Dook that in 1610 
" Mr. Cowlie, learned in the law," was counsel for the corporation of 
Kilkenny, in a suit in the court of exchequer. In 1611, Mr. Rothe 



> Patrick Colley was, in the year 1537, 
one of the soldiers of Dublin Castle, at a 
iee of 8d. per day during his life (Jtol. 
Mem. 29 Hen. YIII. m. 30), and towards 
the end of the same century Silyester 
Cooiey, gentleman, was, aoeording to the 
** Liber Monemm," constable of Dublin 
Castle. These were, doubtless, members of 
the Cowley family of Kilkenny. 

* This fiiet escaped Lodge and ArehdalL 
It is here given on the authority of an ex- 
chequer Inquisition, King's County, ieti^. 
Elizabeth, ^o. 12. 

* I am inclined to thiiric'that Lodge makes 
a mistake in girag a Mm Walter to Walter 
the surreyor-genaaL We have already 
seen that the latter was created customs 
collector and leoeiver of th^ port of 



Droghed^, in the year 1535, and it is pro- 
bable that Lodge oonoeived that -this was a 
secondpersonof the same name. However, 
as this is mere conjecture on my part, I 
have deemed it right to give Lodge's state- 
ment, as ebove. 

^ Amongst the disamnged pleadings of 
chancery are the records of a suit, of which 
the date is either 1544 or 1574, from which 
it appears'that James Cooiey, of Rodestown, 
county of Kilkenny, was seued of " half 
Donamann, in the Babin." This, however, 
ii denied in the deposition of James Bre- 
nagh, who says the Butlers were seized 
thereof. Cooiey, in his rsplication^deckres, 
that James Butter conveyed said lands to 
Sir Thomas Lawles and Edward Eustas, to 
the use of Wtiter Cowley. 



112 

was their counsel, and Robert Bysse their attorney, but subsequently 
in the same year ^* Mr. Gowlie, the lawyer/* appeared to represent 
the body. In 1609, ^when Kilkenny received the great charter of 
James I., raising it to the dignity of a city, Michael Cowley was spe- 
cially named in that document as one of the first aldermen. He filled 
the office of mayor in 1626, and must have been a man of wealth, if 
we may judge from the costly monument erected to him in the abbey 
of St. John, which bears the following inscription : — 

D. Michael Cowley. 

Irenarcha et JurisconsTltuii &c., et uxor ejus D. Honoria Roth hie reqniescnnt in 
aetemam, nt speramiu, hinc requiem transferendi ubi quod conruptibile eat inoorruptionem 
induet ; uterque mortis subditit legi ; uterque mortuus commune solvit debitum naturae. 
Haec vivere orbi deaiit anno [ ] die mensis [ ] codo ille cspit yiyere 

anno [ ]. 

EPITATHIUM. 

Hie Tirtute animi et generoso stemmate darus, 
Couleum tristis qus capit urna tegit. 
Fallor, coelestes melior pars incolit arces* 
Hoc tantum cineres flebile marmor habet. 
Hie potuit juris discordes solvere nodos, 
Sed nequiit durs solvere jura necis. 
O homo vive Deo coeloque operare, aepultus, 
Sola manet virtus csetera mortis erunt. 
Quod alii, lector, tibi mortuo ohsequium, 
Rependent nobis, impende aetemam 
Requiem precare et vale. 

The monument having been erected during his life time, leaves a 
blank for the date of his decease, but he was living in the year 1645, 
as his name is ^ven in a list of the gentlemen of the coimty of Kil- 
kenny, under the date 21st Charles I., preserved amongst the MSS. 
in Trinity College, Dublin (P. 3. 15). 

James Cowley was mayor of Kilkenny in 1636. In 1641, An- 
drew Cowley, of Kilkenny, appears on the roll of representatives 
who sat in the supreme council of the Confederate Catholics, and he 
was sheriff of the city in 1642. A fragment of a monument lying 
at the south side of St. John's Abbey, sculptured with the Cowlev 
arms, impaling those of Shee, and bearing in addition the initials 
A. C. and R. S., probably belonged to the tomb of this gentleman. 
At this eventful period of Irish history Luke Cowley was Roman 
Catholic archdeacon of Ossory, and prothonotary apostolic, and as 
such his name appears signed to the answers to the famous queries 

Sropoimded by the supreme council to the bishop of Ossory and other 
ivmes, as to the lawfulness of the cessation of hostilities with lord 
Inchiquin in 1648. When the all-conquering arms of Cromwell were 
found irresistible by the garrison of Kilkenny in 1650, after a gallant 
defence they sued K>r ana received honourable terms, sending out four 
gentlemen to negotiate the matter with the parliamentary general, 
and the first of these who signed the articles of capitulation was Ed- 



118 

ward Cowley. The family has Bince altogether disappeared from the 
county and city of Kilkenny, the last of the name whom I have been 
enabled to trace in the locality being James Cowley, whose will, bear- 
ing date 22nd December, 1720, is preserved in the Ossory diocesan 
registrar's office. He bequeaths, in the usual form, his soul to God, 
his body to be buried with his ancestors in the abbey of St. John^ and 
his interest in the farms of Rathardmore and Eillamory, held by him 
by lease from Demiy Cuffe, Esq., to be sold, and the proceeds equally 
divided between his wife and three children, whose names are not 
mentioned. 

In the mean time, the elder branch of the family was rising to high 
honours and distinctions in other counties. Henry CoUey, the eldest 
son of Walter, the surveyor-general, though his official appointments 
as governor of Philipstown and a commissioner for the execution of 
martial law were in the King's County, Kildare, and Meath, kept up 
his connexion with Eolkenny, as he represented the borough of Thor 
mastown in parliament. He was knighted and made a privy councillor 
by the lord deputy. Sir Henry Sidney, and for his services, military 
and civil, receivea the special commendation of several of the chief 
ministers of the day. He died in 1584, and the property of his eldest 
son. Sir Greorge CoUey of Edenderry, passed out of the family &om 
the failure of heirs male in the next generation ; but his second son, 
Sir Henry of Castlecarbery, had a numerous posterity : he was suc- 
ceeded by his son Henry, who was succeeded by his son Dudley, whose 
successor was Henry, who in his turn was succeeded by another Henry, 
the father of Richsord Colley, baron of Momington, the father of 
Garret earl of Momington, whose fifth son, bom the 1st May, 1769, 
was the duke of Wellington. Richard Colley, the first of the family 
raised to ihe peerage, succeeded to the property of the Wesley or 
Wellesley family, on the death of his cousm Garret Wesley in 1728, 
that gentleman naving made him his heir on condition of his assum- 
ing the Bumame and using the coat of arms of Wesley. The arms 
dnce borne by the family, in consequence, are — quarterly, first and 
fourth ffttleSf a cross argent^ between four saltders of plates, ior Wesley: 
the second and third or, a lion rampant gules^ gorged with a ducal 
coronet proper, for Colley. Crest, on a wreath, an armed arm in pale, 
couped below the elbow, the hand proper, the wrist encircled with a 
ducal coronet or^ holding a spear m bend, with the banner of St. 
George appendant, in allusion to the Wesleys having been anciently 
here£tary standard bearers of Ireland. The lion rampant, here 
used for Colley, was no part of the arms of the old Cowleys of 
Kilkenny; but I am informed by Sir William Betham — to whom I 
am indeoted for much valuable information on the subject of this 
paper — that this bearing was specially granted to Richard Colley, 
nrom the English herald s college, upon his assumption of the name 
and cognizance of Wesley. The arms given for Cowley, in a heraldic 
manuscript in the possession of the Rev. James Grraves, which seems ta 

15 



114 



have been compiled in the banning of the hurt centuiy by iome natiTe 
of IQlkenn^, afe*^<'^tib«, a dievron (by others a fess) argmiiy between 
Aiee esquiiea' hdmetB." The annorial bearings on the monaments 
of Michael and Andrew C!owley« in the abbey of St. John, display a 
fesB between thxee esquires' helmets, with the crest, a hand conpeaat 
the wrist, embowed to the dexter side. The fess, on both the shields, 
is charged with a crescent, as a mark of cadency, showing that the 
Cowleys of Kilkenny acknowledged the CoUeys of Castle^bery to 
be the elder branch of their house. The family motto, as ^ven on 
the monuments, was *' nil anna sine consilio.'' 

Before concluding, it may, perhaps, not be consideied out ofplace 
here to bring under the notice of the Socie^ a letter which 1 had 
the honour to receive from the late duke of Wellington a short time 
since, in consequence of having, as one of the Honoraxy Secretaries, 
forwarded to him a prospectus of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, 
at the same time taidng the liberty of suggesting the connexion of his 
ancestors with the locality as a reason for presuming he might not be 
indisposed to become a member and a supporter of the institution. 
The document, which is very characteristic of the illustrious writer, 
establishes two &cts, which may be considered interesting by the mem- 
bers-— first, that the duke was unaware of his descent firom the Cow- 
leys of Kilkenny, and secondly, that in his early militaty career he 
was quartered for some time in tiiis city : — 

Irf>ftdoa, Jvne IS, ISBO. 

P.M.theDiik«orWe1]iiiglonpreieiitilibeomp]im«ntoto]ir.Pi^ Hs hat reeeiTed 
hii letter of the 8th inst. 

The Duke resides in this Country, and his public duties require hit constant presence. 
It is not probable that he should be required to go to Ireland. 

He has no knowledge of his having any relation with the City or County of KUkenay, 
excepting that he resid<^ for a short time at Kilkenny in his yoath in the performanoe of 
his duty. 

He feels, howerer, a great respect for the gentlemen of the Cotinty of Kilkenny, and 
it is with feelingB of respect that he begs lesre to decline to become a Member of their 
Society, which he sees no prospect that he would be able to attend. 

JMn 6. A. Primy Btq. 

It is a curious circumstance that the old infantry barrack of Kil- 
kenny, in which the duke must have had his quarters, was erected 
on the site of the greater portion of the abbey of St. John, and he 
must have fi'equentiy trodden upon the graves of his ancestors without 
being aware of the mteresting associations connected with the spot.' 



> The marquis of Ormonde, who filled 
the chair at the meeting of the Society at 
which thii paper was read, stated, that from 
a conyenation which he had had with the 
duke of Wellington a short time before his 
death, he was under the impression that the 
late commander-in-chief of the forces when 
in Kilkenny had held a staff situation, in 
which case he would not haTC been quar- 
tered at the barracks ; however, his official 



duties would render his frequent irttendanoe 
there necessary. The duke had retained a 
livid recollection of KUkeany, and of the 
society of the day in the " £sire cittie ;" and 
he mentioned that it was the cnstom for the 
local gentry to assemble erery eveniiig far 
supper at a celebrated hotel or tavern then 
situated in a lane off High-street, and known 
as " the Hole in the WaU." •« But," said 
thedBke,**nodisB i |^tti on l no dissipatkMi T' 



Uff 



ARCHITECTURAL NOTES ON KILKENNY CASTLE. 

oomnancATBD bt jambs g. bcwbbtsoii, B8<^ abghitiot. 

Aht record of the plan and appearance of Kilkenny Castle, as it 
existed before the late alterations, being likely to prove of interest to 
the members of the Kilkenny Archaeological oociety, I shall make no 
apology for laying before them some notes made during the progress 
of the demolition and re-edification of the structure, by the architect, 
the late William Robertson, Esq., of Rose Hill, and which are illus- 
trated by lithographs of some of thepen-and-ink sketches accompany- 
ing my late relative's manuscript. The tinted lithograph of the court- 
yard of the castle as it appeared before the year 1825 (which accom-^ 
panics this paper) is copied from a drawing made for the late Mr. 
Aobertson, in order to illustrate his intended work on the antiquities 
of Kilkenny, and completes a series of four views of the castle taken 
for that purpose. The other three had been engraved by that gen- 
tleman, and they have been lately published by me, from the puites 
lefl by him.' Ine following are the notes above alluded to : — 

'^In March, 1825, on accidentally viewing the castle with the 
countess of Ormonde, I observed that uie massive buttress which had 
been applied to the centre of the then court front was very consider- 
aUy protruded firom the inclined line of direction which its summit 
had. The singulari^ of the circumstance attracted my attention, 
and on examination I found the wall to which it was applied in a 
loose and bad state, the buttress itaelf conssting of a mere shell of cut 
stone, the core principally of dry rubble. On applying plumb lines 
to the front wall, I tound the summit ov^hanmig about fourteen 
inelie£^ particularly adjoiningihe buttress^ diminishing as you receded 
to the right and lefl of it. The interior abo exhibited marked proo& 
of derangement. 

''Lord Ormonde^s fiiends having suggested to him the propriety 
of setting other opinions besides mine, Mr. Semple« architect, dT 
Dublin, was called in by his lordship^ and after examination he not 
only fully concurred in my opinions, but went conriderably farther. 
Shortly after this, I was directed to take measures to watch the state 
of the building, and to report if I should observe any farther tendency 
to dilapidation. The fissures were immediately fined by my orders, 
and wooden wedses inserted loosely in several of the open joints, so 
that if there should be any &rther increase of these, the wedges would 
&I1 out. In the course of about a month, it was apparent to the eye 
that the progress of dilapidation was proceedings and m another month 
it appeared to increase so rapidly, that on a representation of these cir- 
cumstances, orders were given to take down the roof, waQs, fie., of 

^ jhUifmUitumd Setmrf 0f tk0 ComUf GMige tobertaon. KUkeany, IS&I ; ob- 
I edked and pobii^ by JsmM loof foUow 



116 

the centre buildings. Amongst the many circumstances discovered 
in taking down the old works the following deserve notice :— ^ 

'* On relieving the internal firont wall m>m the weight of the roof 
and heavy slates which had accelerated the dilapidation, it was found 
that the massive buttress was only so in appearance; the casing of 
Cut stone being only filled with dry rubble, and totally incompetent 
to afford any resistance to the falling wall. 

*^ On removing the old oak stairs, we found under them a portion 
of the masonry of the original castie, of singular solidily and massive- 
ness, the mortar so indurated and attached to the stones embedded in 
it, that they were as one substance,' and could not be separated without 
breaking tne mass into pieces; and it is very remarkable that this 
mortar retained quite sharply the traces of tools employed in cutting 
it, as if it had been stone. 

''The break in which the butier's room formerly was, and in 
which the principal stairs now are, was found to be in a most dilapi- 
dated and very dangerous state, the traces of many and injudicious 
changes were very apparent, and this entire angular break was ascer- 
tained to have been but a comparatively modem addition, probably of 
tiie period of the repairs in 1682, for on taking it down, the inclined 
foundation of the straight curtain wall, which, certainly, has connected 
the west and east towers, was found on the level of the hall, and this 
break was projected beyond the line of this foundation ; it was also 
found that where this break 'headed' against the east tower, its 
masonry was not united with that of the tower, but merely built up 
against it, for the circular work of the tower returned beyond the 
junction internally, as at A (figure 1, plate of details), the dotted line 
marks the direction of the old curtain wall. At the point B there 
was an arched porch, which we took down ; it had a roof of stone 
and stone door jambs with strong iron hooks inserted in them to take 
the hinges of tiie door, which nad certainly been an external one, 
from the great strengtii of the door jambs ; and irom its height above 
the level of the groimd it must have been approached by stone steps. 
At C were the old foundations (under the stairs) of some former 
building, tiie masonry of extreme solidity, extending in length about 
twenty feet, in breadth nearly the same, and connected with the 
tower. 

" The different floors in the break (A, figure 1) were sustained bv 
very strong beams laid on corbels in the ancient manner, a mode weu 
calculated to preserve the timber (figure 2). 

" Under the old back door (marked D in figure 1 ) was found a 
wide flue or passage descending to the vaults under the castie, to the 
level of the nver. It was four feet in height by two feet in width, 
and built with stone ; it passed obliquely outward under the steps. I 
arched in the mouth of it. The inclined foundation of the curtain 
wall descends, I suppose, to the level of the back lawn, or deeper; 
under tiie terraces 1 followed it about seven feet (figure 3). 



FIG 




LKVCL OF 



ORIftiaiAI. tNTRAaiGC 




OLD DOtft 



JLJL 



DOOR 



MASS OP MASONRY 



pimruruT] 




jimruTM] 



Fl«.€. 



i 



pninirn] 



innnnnnnnnnnnf 



\ 



i 



SECTION 



ELEVATION 



FIG. ^. 



LJ 



FIG. ♦. 



FIO. 3. 



Fi6. I. 



V=? 



D 




FI^.Z. 



■3 



7 



J. ft ••■lllt»Oli, 01 LT 



KILKENNY CASTLE. DETAILS. 



117 

" Under the window of lord Ormonde's room,^ at the back lawn 
side, was found a postern entrance connected with a gallery which 
runs under the court-yard in the direction of the south tower, between 
which and the present gateway buildings, about midway, it descends 
by steps and passes out under the wall towards the stables. The steps 
were of lime-€tone and very much worn, about sixteen in number, 
forming two flights (see figure 4), with a stone door fnme both at the 
foot and at the top of the landings, with holes in the jambs for bolts 
that gave them great security ; ail the jambs both of doors and win- 
dows were of a soft brown grit, of which we have now no quarry. 
There are more of those steps imder the window of lord Ormonde's 
room, which were not disturbed ; they led to the passage, or gallery 
and ditch at the town side. The bones of a human skeleton, with two 
or three copper coins, were found in this passage. 

*^ Adjoining the gate buildings, the parapets of the old curtain 
wall were discovered, with its embrasures, spike-holes^ and platform ; 
a flight of steps ascended from the banquet or platform to the west 
tower, in which was the record room. We also found remains of 
the curtain wall in the rere front at the same level, and the old parar 
pets 6f the west tower were under. the stairs which led to the roof, so 
that it would appear that the form of this castle at a very early period 
was somewhat as shown in figure 6. 

'* In taking down the walls of the west tower, it was discovered 
that they^had contained recesses and galleries. Of the last, we found 
the broKen remains of the covering arch and steps, which led from it 
to the parapet, two feet four inches lon^ ; the north window of lady 
Ormonde's room was cut as if the gsllery had passed through it. 
One of the recesses contained a window two feet six inches wide, 
with cut stone firame, and at each side of it was a seat formed of a 
flag stone ; the space between the seats TAA, figure 5) was so narrow 
as scarcely to admit persons to sit opposite to one another with ease. 
The entire thickness of the walls was six feet six inches ; of this the 
firont wall was but two feet four inches, and well built ; the remaining 
thickness was but loosely built and filled in. 

** In preparing to erect the staircase and water closets in the east 
part of the building, adjoining the tower which overhangs the river, 
we had to regulate the surface of the wall connected with that tower, 
which, in consequence of whatever buildings had originally been con- 
nected with it having been carelessly removed, was very irregular. 
In removing the broken ofl*8et8 as tney had stood for many years, 
several circumstances came to light worthy of preserving the recol- 
lection of. 

*' At the back of the fire-place of the apartment which has latterly 
been used as a kitchen we found the remains of a stone stairs, which, 
firom being four feet six inches wide, must have been an important 

' This room was on the ground floor ad- a dining-room, nnder the window of which 
jQining the western tower ; it is now nsed as the postern above mentioned was dtnated. 



118 

Qne, and probably the Drmcipal otairs of the castle- It landed in the 
smeJl cloflet adjoining tne tapestiy fQ0m» and was only diaoovered b^ 
the removal of the floor^ pieparatoiy to the eveetion <n the new addi- 
tional It was seated on i^ solid mass of masonry twelve feet thick, 
and descended to the level of the hall or room above described as a 
kitchen; about seven steps were found perfect.and connected; they 
were of lime»stone in one piece each; uxe frame of the door i^t the 
foot of this stairs was formed of brown eiit, and consisted of many 
small stones— -the head a flat pointed aiw, rudelv formed* At the 

Springinff we found inserted a very strong iron hook on which the 
oor had been hung; the iron was two and a-half inches thick, and 
firom the working of the door the back of it was much worn ; and 
from what we know of the wearing of iron, it must have been in its 
place for many vears* Lower down we found the grooves in whidli 
the fastenings for security ran, and in one of them the wood^i bolt 
remained, but as might be expected, perfectly rotten* Another sin- 
gular circumstance respecting this door was, that although the entrance 
(0 the hall or kitchen was between the same jambs, we level of the 
modem door was four feet below the level of the ancient one, for at 
that level the brown grit ceased, and lime-stone was used in the four 
feet ; this gave the old door a most disproportioned appearanco until 
the hacking off of the old plaster explained the cause, for the entire 
mass of masonry forming the original floor appeared to have been cut 
down to the lower leve^ as represented in figure 7* 

^^Another curious circumstance we discovered, was a spike-hole (B, 
figure 7) in a wall of two feet thick, which formed part of the mass of 
Qiasonrv on which the steps were seated ; at the thickness of two feet 
the back of this wall had the old plastering on it; the arch of the spike- 
hole and its stone jambs were perfect. It is obvious that the building 
of the mass of masonry and the seating of Ae steps were subsequent 
to the building of the thin wall which contained the i^ike*hole» and 
which appear to me to have been part of a wall enclosing some small 
eourt looking down upon the river. This circumstance carries the 
mind very far back into the history of this castle ; for the stairs were 
very rude^ and the immense mass of masonry on which the step were 
seated was all grouted work, and yet the spike-hole and thin wall 
fonned parts of an earlier building. The stone used in the door case 
and frame of the spike-hole was also different fixMon that used in the 
more modem works. I am of opinion that the room at present called 
the * tapestiy room' was originally divided into two apartmeaffeBb for 
the above stairs led to one of them, which was sauar^; and another 
stairs at the other side communicated with the otner, which was cir^ 
evloTy and in the tower, which latter stairs also communicatod with 
the platform on the curtain wall. 

« The hill under the new flag tower, now in progress^ was found, 
whilst regulating the sewers, to be strengthened or fortified with walls 
of masonry, running down ^e hill at regular intervals, and at right 
angles to this fiN>nt of the building." 



AMSSBnUHS 




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119 

At an add^ndttm to the above, I glre a diagram (see plate on 
opposite page) showing the plan <^ the eattem tower, the ** break" 
alluded to in Mr. William Robertson's Report, and the ori^nal hall 
and staiiKMse of the casde, as they eicisted before the alterations were 
commenced. Several small rooms and passages in the thickness of 
the ancient wall are alto laid down cm the plan, which is copied from 
an old drawing now in the possession of the marquis of Ormonde. 



NOTES ON THB 

EXCAVATION OP A RATH AT DDNBEL, COUNTY OP 

KILKENNY. 

BT JOHN 0« A. PBIM. 

Having ascertained that a rath, or ancient Celtic fort, was being 
levelled and trenched on the lands of Dunbel, in the county of Kil- 
kenny, by Mr. Michael White, the tenant of the &nn, the Rev. 
James Graves and I considered it our duty, as Secretaries to this 
Society, to make a personal inspection of the operations there carried 
on, and ascertain wnether any, and what remains of ancient art, do- 
mestic utensils, weapons, or ornaments had been discovered in the 
course of the work. We, accordingly, lost no time in proceeding to 
the spot, and saw sufficient to interest us so far as to induce us to 
repeat our visits frequentij^, and carefully superintend the operations. 
The result of our observations on those occasions I now beg leave to 
report to the Society. 

The townland of Dunbel — which name the people of the locali^ 
translate *' the fort of Baal,'' or, acccording to some, ** of fire," takin£[ 
the emblem by which the Pagan deity was represented as expressed 
by the name of the deity himself — ^is thickly studded over with the 
intrenched habitations of the aboriginal inhabitants of this country ; 
but in the neighbourhood of the Nore, along the elevated ground 
above the eastern bank of the riv^, these remains are particularly 
numerous, every second or third field usually containing one or two 
raths, located in close contiguity, and showing that this portion of the 
country was densely populated in the primssval period. On the farm 
of Mr. White, where it is intersected by the Waterford and Kilkenny 
Railway, within half a mile of Bennetts-bridge, there is, or rather was^ 
a very remarkable group of circular raths. The principal one is con- 

I I do not mean to Tonch for the cor- perhaps was picked ap by the people from 
leetneis of this deriration, which smacks some visitor imbued with the etymological 
¥07 itcoB|^ of the Vallaaoey school, and mtmitt of the worthy seneral. 



120 

structed on so large a scale, and possesses its rampart and double fosse 
in such excellent preservation, as to be a prominent and most remark- 
able object in the landscape for miles around, and cannot hove failed 
to attract the attention of all passengers by the railway, who are in 
the slightest degree imbued with an antiquarian taste. This was .pro- 
bably the residence and fortress of the clueftain of the district, whilst 
those surrounding it were occupied by men of subordinate rank in the 
territory. At a distance of two or three fields from the great rath, 
there were three other circular earth-works, situated each about four 
hundred feet from the other, having concentric ramparts and fosses, 
but by no means planned on such a scale of mamitude, or so well 
contrived for defensive purpcfses. One of these enclosures was levelled 
and tilled, without bemg trenched, a considerable time since. A 
second was partially trenched in the month of May, 1842, for the 
purpose of spreading out on the surrounding land, as a manure, the 
material of which it was composed, a rich black clay largely impreg- 
nated with organic remains. The third rath has now been subjected 
to the same process for a similar purpose, and thus each of these three 
forts is now nearly obliterated. 

In the course of trenching the last mentioned rath many objects 
of great antiquarian interest were turned up, and the Museum of the 
Society has been much enriched by the discoveries made. It is, how- 
ever, to be regretted, that owing to the ignorance of the labourers as 
to their value, several curious articles, found before our first visit to 
the locality, were either lost or wantonly destroyed. An enormous 
quantity of bones of animals was everywhere met with. These chiefly 
consist of remains of deer, oxen, horses, swine, the calf and domestic 
fowl, the two first being the most numerous. The deer were not those 
of the extinct gigantic tribe, but consisted of the red and fallow species, 
though apparently larger than the common deer of those kinds at the 
present day. The oxen were the ancient extinct species, termed 
008 lonffifronSf and there did not appear to be any remains of black 
cattle, except those of the short-homed kind, but, &om the size of the 
bones, evidently belonging to a very small breed. Several perfect 
skulls, both of the deer and oxen, with antlers or horns attached, were 
turned up, but at the period of our first visit they had been all broken 
into fragments, and the greater proportion of them were already dis- 
posed ot to the dealers in such commodities. In fact, such a vast mine 
of animal bones was here opened, that two men contracted with Mr. 
White to perform the greater portion of the work of trenching the 
rath, having only the bones therein contained for their remuneratdon; 
and he informed us that these two labourers had been enabled, for a 
considerable period, to earn from two to three shillings a day by the 
sale of the bones at eight pence per stone. It is right to state that no 
human bones were found, but tne remains generally were evidently 
those of the cattle, which had been slaughtered, for centuries, by the 
inhabitants of the rath for their daily food. The largest quantity of 



121 

bones was found in the inner fosse, having, apparently, been cast there 
fix>m time to time, when the feast was concluded, in order readily to 
put them out of the way. However, bones were found in thick layers 
all through the central mound of the rath to the depth of a couple of 
feet from the surface. 

The cooking places, in which the flesh of these animals was 
dressed for use, were also found. They consisted of eight or ten 
small pits, circular in form, and not of greater diameter them a foot 
and arnalf, or depth than two feet. Eacn was quite full of charcoal, 
burned stones, and charred bones. Some of the deposits of ashes 
mrere as white as turf ashes, whilst there were also remains of wood 
not entirely consumed. Fragments of a substance, resembling slag 
or clinkers, were also found in some of these pits, which appeared to 
Lave been used as furnaces wherein were forged the rude iron imple- 
ments of which specimens turned up. These cooking pits and tur- 
naces were not fiiced with stones, but were simply dug in the floor of 
the rath. 

The ancient Irish mode of cooking flesh in those pits, as described 
by our annalists and historians, has often been brought under the no- 
tice of this Society,^ and it differs little from the way in which many 
barbarous people, at the present day, prepare their food. Mr. Mac- 
Gillivray, m his '^ Narrative of the V oyage of H. M. S. Rattlesnake," 
thus describes the manner in which he saw the natives of Australia 
perform the operation in the neighbourhood of Rockingham bay : — 
*' In the centre of the camp were four large ovens, for cooking their 
food. These ovens were constructed by digging a hole in the ground, 
about three feet in diameter, and two feet deep. The hole is then 
filled to within six inches of the top with smooth, hard, loose, stones, 
on which a fire is kindled, and kept burning till the stones are well 
heated. Their food, consisting prmcipally of shell and other fish, is 
then placed on the stones and baked."^ 

It was evident, however, that the ancient occupants of the Dunbei 
rath did not entirely subsist on animal food. Their granivorous pro- 
pensides were sufficiently testified by the discovery of a number of 
querns, or ancient hand-mills for grinding com, of various sizes, and 
which were generallv found in a broken state. A considerable quan- 
tity of other rude domestic utensils, calculated to be useful in pre- « 
paring, cooking, or partaking of their meals, was also brought to hght 
in the course of the excavations — but it may be well to arrange the 
various implements and ornaments discovered in separate classes, and 
T shall, therefore, enumerate them according to the material of which 
each was composed. 

Stonb articles. — 1. Portions of nine querns, of which we took 
possession of three of the upper stones for the Museum, one being se- 
lected from the circumstance of some rude attempt at ornamentation, 

> See Trmuaetiom, toI. i. p. 216. * Vol. ii. p. 139. 

16 



122 

consisting of concentric mouldings, being apparent on its sar&ce^ and 
another nrom its singular smallness, it being not more than a foot in 
diameter. The first stone, which seems of the average size,^is one 
foot eight inches in diameter, and appears to have had two handles, 
which i believe was very unusual. The smaller stone exhibits the 
mark of the miUrind, showing that there was an advance in the art 
of quern-making at the time it was made. 

2. A large quantity of hones and sharpening stones, eight of which 
are now deposited in the Museum. Thej are composed, apparently, 
of the slate of the coal measures of the neighbouring Johnswell hilk, 
and several of them have been much worn by the operation of sharp- 
ening tools or weapons. 

3. Some piles of round pebbles, evidently intended to be used as 
sling-stones ; they varied from the size of a hen's e^ to that of a 
pigeon's egg, but were more globular. Some specimens have been 
retained for the Museum. 

4. Several small, flat, rounded stones, pierced in the centre, of 
ihe claffi which are by some supposed to nave been amulets, and 
by others declared to have been weights for the distaff, but are better 
known by the term applied to them by the peasantry — ^* fidry mill- 
stones." Many of these had been taken for playthings by the neigh- 
bouring children, but we secured a few for tne Museum. 

5. A quantity of small, flat stones, varying from four inches to 
two and a-half inches in diameter, and less thim half an inch thick; 
some left in their natural state, others having a small hole drilled 
through the centre. It is diflicult to divine their use, unless it may 
be suggested that those in the pierced state were in process of b^ng 
formed into " faiiy millnstones," and that all were intended for that 
piLrpose. 

6. An oblong stone, about five inches in length, and two inches 
in width, narrowing to an inch at the upper and thiimer end, and 
rounded at bottom ; the shsLjpe partly artificial and partly m^oral. 
On one side a rudely formed indentea elliptical ornament. A hole 
drilled through the upper end, apparently, with the view of intro- 
ducing a string to suspend it round a person's neck. It was, probaUy, 
a child's toy (plate, ngure />). 

^ 7. Some migments of circlets of black slate and jet. These ex- 
actly correspond with the circlets fireouently discovered in Bngland, 
and there known as Eammeridge coal-money, and attributed to the 
Roman period. We have secured three fragments for the Society's 
Museum, which, when perfect, formed circles, respectively, three and 
a-half, three, and two and a-half inches in diameter. Two of these 
are composed of black slate and the third of jet (figure rV 

8. A stone button, round, and in the slurpe of a natted cone, 
measuring an inch and a*half in diameter, rudely ornamented with 
concentric circles of incised chevrons and wavy lines. There is 
evidence of a shank having been inserted, but it was broken away. 



123 

This button appears mnch more modem than all the other stone 
articles founcL The material is blue slate. It is placed in the 
Museum (figure k). 

BoKE ARTICLES. — 1. A vcrj l&^ge number of bone pins, of which 
seven are now in the Museum. Tnej were evidently intended for 
fastening the hair or dress, and measure from three ana a-half to two 
and a-half inches in length. All have flat heads, some of which are 

1>ierced through.^ They may have been all intended to be thus per- 
orated, but some have remained unfinished (figure c). 

2. An instrument of bone, polished and brought to a sharp point 
at one end, at the other shaped so as to be received into a handle of 
wood. It is five inches Ions, and may have been used as a kind of 
awl to make holes for stitchmg hides together. It is lodged in the 
Museum (figure o). 

3. Three or four flatted beads of bone, two of which are in the 
Museum, respectively measuring an inch, and an inch and a-half, in 
diameter, showing concentric ornaments, and evidently turned in a 
lathe.' They are pierced in the centre, as if for the purpose of being 
strung together, and bear a strong resemblance to the ''fairy mill- 
stones." The first of these which was turned up was taken by the 
finder for nothing less than a ffold watch^ and a woman present was 
so angry at being thus disappointed, that she broke it to atoms, by 
hurling a large stone upon it (figures h and /)• 

4. A comb, formed of several pieces of bone, each about an inch 
and a-half long, fastened together by being rivetted between two half 
rounded strips of the same material, rudely ornamented with cross and 
transverse incised lines. The portion of the back projecting above 
the strips was regularly scoUopped ; the teeth appeared to have been 
cut with a fine saw after the whole had been nvetted together, and 
were about the eighth of an inch asunder. The rivets were of iron. 
This interesting relic, which was quite perfect when found (and which 
bore a strong resemblance to the ancient combs belonging to Mr. W. 



1 The use of the hole in the head ap- 
pears to have been the insertion of a wire 
ring. In the ezcamtion at Barrow Furlong, 
in Northamptonshire, bone and brass pins 
of this type were fonnd, both of whieh had 
rings of brass wire Inserted in the perfo- 
rated heads. — See Arehttotogia^ ToLxzxiiL 
11.332. 

' Amongst the many interesting articles 
Ibimd in the Barrow Furlong excayation, 
before referred to, was a bone bead of the 
name size, shape, and style of ornament as 
the larger of those foimd in the Dunbel 
rath, and now in the Kilkenny Museum. 
Sir Henry Dryden, in his report to the 
Society of Antiquaries, on the Barrow 
Furlong discoTeries, says of the bead re- 
fened to, that it *' appears to have been cut 



from a large bone. It was found by the 
arm of a skeleton, about the neck of which 
there were other beads [of glass]. In the 
Chinese coUection now in London (184), 
there Ib a Chinaman with an ivory ring, 
somewhat resembling this, used to fasten 
his cloak at the left breast, by the rings 
being hooked to one part of the doak ; and 
one of two strings fiutened at the other 
comer of the cloak, being passed through 
the ring and tied to the other string. It 
appears very probable that this bone-bead 
may have been used instead of a brooch, 
no brooch having been found with this 
skeleton." Brooches of the usual Anglo- 
Saxon type were found with several other 
skeletons at the spot — See drehttologiaf 
vol. xzxiii. p. 331. 



124 



F. Wakeman, diacovered in digging in Fiahamble-street, Dublin, and 
exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1853), was unfortunately broken 
by the finders before we visited the scene of operations, but a frag- 
ment (figure/) was procured for us by Mr. White, and is now in 
the Museum. Subsequently, there were some fragments of a comb 
turned up, having a double row of teeth, like the modem small tooth 
comb (figure e). It, also, was formed of several pieces joined by con- 
necting strips, and rivetted as in the former case. A portion of one 
of the strips of bone, used in joining some of these combs (figure ^), 
was obtained for the Museum, bearing an elegantly incis^ pattern 
of that form termed by architects the " fret," and of which we have 
an example amongst the sculptures that ornament the door-way of the 
ancient church of Freshford.^ 

5. A number of knife-handles (figure ff), rudely formed from the 
tines of deers' horns. There were also several fragments of antlers 
cut up, ap^urently with the object of being manufactured into such 
handles. Two specimens are in the Museum. 

Bronze articles. — 1. A bronze pin, described to have been 
about three inches and a-half long, witn a solid knob as a head, or- 
namented with a zig-zag pattern. This pin was given, before our 
arrival, to a member of Mr. White's family, and unfortunately lost. 
That gentleman made every effort to recover it for our Museum, but 
without success. 

2. Two bronze fibulae, with moveable rings inserted in the heads. 
The pin of one of them is six inches and a quarter long, and very 
slender; the ring, one inch four-tenths in diameter, inserted in a 
square head rudely ornamented (figure a). The pin of the other is 
three inches long, and also very slender, but having a much smaller 
and more massive ring, nine-tenths pf an inch in diameter, fastened 
by the head of the pin being beaten out thin, and looped round an 
indentation made in the ring for the purpose (figure d). Both of 
these interesting articles have been secured to the Museum. 

3. A piece of bronze, which has partially undergone the process 
of being shaped into a pin. 

4. A fragment of a bronze pin, one and three-fourth inches long, 
the head shaped into a rude aodecahedron, and pierced; by some 
conjectured to have been a harp-pin (figure b). It is in the Museum. 

Iron articles. — 1. A small square bell, being a fac-simile of the 
ancient Irish religious hand-bells, of which so many exist ; but it is 



1 In the dlBCOTery of Saxon remains at 
Barrow Furlong, a doable comb of bone, 
such as that above described, composed of 
small pieces fisstened together by iron rivets 
passing through bone slips at either side, 
ornamented with small incised roundels, 
was found amongst burned human bones 
in ff baked clay urn. The teeth of this 
comb were very imperfiect, and Sir Henry 



Dryden says — " the bones were carefully 
washed and sifted, but no more teeth than 
those could be found, and therefore it is 
probable that it [the comb] was in that 
state when put into the urn. We may sup- 
pose it was the most precious article of a 
lady's toilet whose bones are contained in 
the nrn." — Report of Sir Henry Dryden, 
Archaohffia, vol. xxxiii. p. 332. 



126 

much smaller than any which I have ever seen* Its height is one 
and a^half inches ; at the mouth it measures one and a-half by one 
and a quarter inches, and it tapers upwards to the top, like the roof 
of a house, the ridge being half an inch wide, and retaining the frag- 
ments of a handle, pardally broken away before the discovery (figthre 
m). The tongue was found with the bell, but detached from it, and 
is one and a-half inches long (figure n). This extremely interesting 
relic, which was^ apparently, a small bell used for religious purposes 
by the inhabitants of the rath, has been secured for the oociety's 
Museum. 

2. An iron fibula, much resembling the smaller of those of bronze 
(figure d)j except that the ring is not so massive. It is four and a-half 
incnes long. There were also several other iron pins, or fibulss, all 
imperfect and much corroded. They are placed in the Museum. 

3. An iron javelin-head, well formed, measuring four inches in 
the length of the blade, by one and a quarter inches at the widest 
part (firare ff). 

4. A massive axe-head, measuring six inches from the edge to 
the back, and three and a-half inches broad in the blade* The naft- 
hole is two and a-half inches long, by one and a-half inches wide. 
This, when found, must have been a good specimen of the Irish battle- 
axe, o^ which, according to Giraldus, they made such destructive use ; 
but, I regret to say, before we succeeded in securing it for the Museimi, 
it had suffered somewhat by having been put to use in chopping 
timber by the finders (figure t). 

5. A number of knife-blades, measuring from three and a-half 
to two and a-half inches in length, irrespective of the spike which 
ran into the haft (Bgure q). Amongst twelve specimens which have 
been obtained for the Museum, there is one which had been in pro- 
cess of formation, showing that they were forged on the spot. These 
knife-blades, to which the bone hafts before noticed belong, fullv 
resemble those described as having been found in the curious artin- 
cial islands discovered in the drainage works in Roscommon, and at 
Lough Ghir, county of Limerick, as well as at Dunshaughlin, county 
of Meath, in papers recently read by Dr. Wilde and Mr. Kelly before 
the Royal Irish Academy. 

6. An iron goad, apparently intended to be fastened on the end 
of a staff, for the purpose of driving cattle. 

7. A chisel, six mches long, rounded, but brought to a square 
edge. 

8. A fragment of a small iron reaping-hook, of the antique shape 
and character. 

9. A light horse-shoe, which evidently had been worn for some 
time. 

1 0. Some nondescript pieces of wrought iron, of various shapes and 
sizes, of which there are eleven different specimens in the Museum. 

Besides the foregoing, there were a few fragments of a very coarse 



126 

baked and glazed pottery ware found, wliich had evidently fonned 
portions of tne household utensils of the ancient inhabitants. There 
were also turned up some rather modem matters, which must have 
been dropped on the spot at a comparatively recent period. These 
consisted of a copper half-penny of William and Mary, with the date 
1692 ; a soldier's button, of brass, apparently of the same period; a 
Kilkenny tradesman's token, being that struck by John Beavor in the 
latter end of the seventeenth century, and an ear-ring of brass, which 
had been gilded, of a pattern which does not seem to have been more 
ancient than about a century. With respect to the coin of William 
and Mary, I may mention tnat it was found about ^ foot beneath the 
surface ; but in the neighbouring rath, when it was being trenched 
in 1842, a half-penny of the reign of Charles IL, bearing date 1683, 
was turned up at a depth of seven feet, showing that either the fort 
had been previously disturbed in the seventeenth century, or that the 
coin, I^avin^ been dropped accidentally on the surface, had sunk firom 
its own weight to an extraordinary depth. 

The result of our investigation with reference to this rath-open- 
ing has thus served to supply us with a not uninteresting glimpse of 
the vie prive of the ancient inhabitants of this country, at least so 
far as their domestic economy is concerned. Barbarous enough must 
we esteem their condition, notwithstanding that the omamentol work 
of their combs, fibuke, and other articles prove them not to have been 
without a considerable acquaintance with the arts, and possessed of 
what may be termed ornamental luxuries; still iheir provision for 
domestic comfort, and their ideas as to sanitary arrangements must 
have been limited in the extreme, seeing that it was evidently their 
habit to squat round their rude hearths, upon the soft earth, which 
must have been in so slimy a state as that their personal ornaments, 
household implements, or warlike weapons, when dropped upon the 
ground, sank beneath its surface ; ana when their meals were con- 
cluded they carelessly flung away the bones of the animals from which 
they had gnawed the flesh, suffering them to lie on or sink into the 
floor in every direction, or to accumulate in heaps in the fosse, which 
surrounded the habitation, decomposing and emitting the most noxious 
effluvia. The finding here of articles of stone, bone, bronze, and iron, 
promiscuously scattered about, may, perhaps, be taken as another 
proof of the mcorrectness of the classification made by some antiqua- 
ries, who consider that the use of these different materials in their 
utensils, weapons, and ornaments must be taken as marking different 
stages of progression in civilization. But, on the other hand, it must 
be admitted as very obvious, from the difierent matters found in the 
'* dig^gs," that the rath was used as a place of habitation, not only 
in primaeval times, but also within the mediaeval period. The bone 
and bronze pins, the *^ fairy mill-stones," the bone beads, &c., clearly 
pertain to the primaeval period ; the iron knife-blades and other im- 
plements evidently are early mediaeval; and the querns may. belong 



127 

to either or both periods. The copper coins^ and the soldier's brass 
button, are of a time when the ratnisi must have long previously been 
discontuined to be used as dwelling places, and they were, no doubt, 
casually dropped there — perhaps at the time when the mat encamp- 
ments of the royal armies were held at Bennetts-bndge by king 
William III. in person, and in the reign of queen Anne, under ge- 
neral de Jean. That these raths were taken advantage of as affordmg 
good intrenched positions for out-posts on those occasions may be 
fidrly surmised, not only from the commanding podtion which they 
occupy, but also fix>m the fact that the inner rampart or bulwark of the 
great fort at Dunbel, which I have before supposed to have been the 
habitation of the aboriginal chieftain of the district, was undoubtedly 
embrasured for the use of cannon, which was, of course, no part of 
the original design or work of the fortification* 



GLEANINGS FROM COUNTRY CHURCH-YARDS. 

BY mCHABB HITCHCOCK. 

Beneath those nigged ehns, that yew-tree'i shade, 
Where heayes the turf in many a monld'ring heap, 

Each in his narrow cell for ctct laid, 
The rude forefiithers of the hamlet sleep*^ — 0ra^9 ^W» 

Dimno a tour in queat of Ogham inscriptions, in the years 1847, 
1848» and 1849» I have had opportunities of visiting many of the 
church-yards in the south of Ireland. In these sacred places I found 
numerous remarkable monumental inscriptions, a few ot which I have 
copied ; and from these examples I have selected the following, which 
I now beg leave to present to the Kilkenny Archaeological Society. 
I do this, not from any confidence in the worth of the communicalionf 
but in the hope that it may induce other and more competent mem- 
bers of the Society, who may have copies of cunoua monumental in- 
scriptions, or who may be in the way of obtaining them, to send them 
to the Secretaries, if mr no other purpose than deposit in our Library. 
I believe that many peisons possess copies of inscnptions, the originals 
of which do not now exist, or, if they do, which may soon give way to 
modem ** improvement.'' Indeed, the subject of a honumentarzum 
of even the county of Slilkenny alone, which I believe is rich enough 
in inscriptions for such a work« appears to me to be one well worth the 
attention of the Society. Independently of their ^reat historical value, 
many of the church-yard inscnptions are exceedmgly curious ; but — 
and 18 it not asad &ct? — even these hallowed remains are every year 



128 

yielding to the destroyer ! Much on the importance of a record of 
existing monuments will be found in the third volume of that most 
useful publication, ^' Notes and Queries." Number 12, amongst the 
following inscriptions, is from the county of Kilkenny ; and it will be 
seen that No. 10, although in the county of Kerry, is connected with 
the county of Tipperary, a portion of the ancient Ormond. All the 
other inscriptions relate to tne county of Kerry. 

The first inscription which I shall lay before the Society can 
scarcely be called a monumental one ; but, nevertheless, I consider it 
worthy of preservation. It occurs on one of the pillars of the ancient 
abbey of Ardfert, and is, I regret to say, much obliterated, particu- 
larly the second line : — 

Honanius ^Ustn of^tn . . . t 
tiov . . . V Ut . .1^0 . . tt • 

ora . . 9 . . : a:ll:m:((C(:lui 

Lewis, in his *' Topographical Dicdonaiy of Ireland," article Ardfert, 
mentions this inscription. He says : — *' A stone in the buttress of 
the arch nearest the tower bears a rude inscription, which, from the 
difficulty of decyphering it, has given rise to various opinions, but, 
on lately removingthe moss and dm, proves to be in Latin, and pur- 
ports tliat Donald Fitz Bohen, who sleeps here, caused this work (pro- 
oably the chapel) to be done in 1453.' This statement is incorrect 
as to the name, which appears to be Donaldus Di^n. 

No. 2 is on a loose stone in Dunkerron castle, near Kenmare, 
and» like the last, though not of the church-yard claas, is still curious, 
and very liable to be lost, as will be seen by a reference to Mr. 
Windele's valuable Historical and Descriptive Notices of the City 
of Cork and its Ficinity, new edition, p. 332, where a copy of the 
inscription is given. There is a slight difference between the spelling 
of some of the words in Mr. Windele's copy and mine, whicn is as 
follows : — I i 8 : habia dbo : qracias f* this work was madb the 

XX OF APRIBL 1596 : BT OWEN OSVUVAN HOBB & SILT BY DOKOOH 

MAC CABTT RiBOOH. I think accuracv in copjring old inscriptions 
is a great point to be attended to. We may never again see them. 
See Smith s Antient and Present State of the County of Kerry ^ pp. 
88-9 ; also, Croker's Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of 
Ireland^ vol. ii. p. 65, where another incorrect copy of the inscription 
is given. 

No. 3 occurs on a stone built into the wall inside the door-way 
of the old church of Rattoo, in the parish of the same name, the 
upper part of the inscription being turned towards the door-way : — 
X MBa. .♦ DiNioHAN e' . 1666 • vxoR • Hic . . ZAC*. An antiquarian 
friend of mine in Killamey, to whom I showed my copy of tnis in- 



129 

scription, thinks it may be read as follows: — ^^ x maroaret o'dini- 
QHEV, EJUS, 1666» YXOR, Hic JACET." He also thinks that the x, or 
croBs, before the name '^ Margaret/' may have been intended to con- 
nect it with another inscription, perhaps that of her husband ; or the 
cross may have served as a mark to draw attention to this one, when 
separated from some other. 

No. 4 is on a stone built into the wall of a house in Abbey-street, 
Tralee, and seems to have belonged to the old abbey there, though 
a learned friend of mine near Tndee, to whom I showed my copy of 
the inscription, thinks there were no interments in the abbey burial- 

Sound so late as the date mentioned : — here leyeth the body of 
Avm Roche, esq* co .ncelleb att law, who deceased the 13 

DAY OF AY0Y8T, ANVO DOMIHI 1686, AND THE BODY OF HIS DAYQHTEB 

MABY DECEASED IN THE YEAR 1685. I should mention, that I do 
not vouch for the accuracy of the last figure, it being much oblite- 
rated. The face of this stone was completely incrusted with mud 
when I went to copy the inscription. 

No. 5 is in Bailyoughteragh church-yard, in the parish of Dun- 
urlin: — ^i.h.s.— nagle. p"l" terry, 1651. a** l" ferritee, 1642. 

F" L" bice, 1722. L" M«« HAHONAH, AGED 27, 1767. — PRAY FOR US. 

I cannot easily understand this curious inscription. 

No. 6 is on a slab built into the wall of Kiltomy church, in the 
parish of the same name : — siste viator, bt si haec vagos attrax- 

RRINT OCULOS 8FLENDIDA MARMORA, NOLI TAM QUOD POSITUM EST 
MIBABI, QUAM DEPOSXTUM OBSTUPBSCEEE, HIC ENIM PABVULA CONDITUB 
UBHULAj MAGNA .... C0[NS]t[a]nCIA, OLIM LONGOBUM DELICIfi • • 
BO . • SIS TANDEM FITZMAUBICIOBUM, UTBIUS SUE TAMEN HAUD IGNO- 

B[ir.3B ORNAMENTUM. Underneath is the following : — this church 

WAS BE-BUILT AND MONUMENT EBECTED IN THE YEAB OF OUB LOBD 

GOD ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDBED AND EI ... . SEVEN. There is more 
of the inscription, but I could not make it out. Underneath again, 
on two stones, are a skull and cross-bones, and over each the words, 
MEMENTO MOBi. On the right of these, on another stone, is an hour- 
glass between two wings. Under it is a skull, and over it the words, 
VITA BBEVis. I heard of another old inscription having been found 
in this church-yard, but it was destroyed by the masons who built a 
tomb for a Mr. Gentleman, adjacent to the stones bearing the above 
inscriptions. 

No. 7 is on a slab, broken into two parts, lying in the farm-yard 
of The Grrove, Dingle, but said to have been brought from the adja- 
cent church-yard. Some of the inscription appears to be wanting: — 

IMMODICIS BBEUIS EST £TA8, ET BABA 8ENECTUS. H. S. B. — JOHANNES 
FITZOEBAID EQUES KEBBIEN8I8, EX ANTIQUA STIBPE EQUITUM KEBRI- 
BN8IUM OBIUNDUS, SUAUITATE INGENII, ET INTEGBITATE MOBUM EXI- 
MIUS. EBAT IN OBB UENUSTAS, IN PECTOBE BENEUOLENTIA, IN VEBBIS 
FIDES, CANDIDUS, FACILI8, JUCUNDUS, QUOT N0T08 TOT HABUIT AMICOS, 
INIMICUM CEBTB NEMINEM, TALIS QUUM ES8ET, FEBRI C0RREPTU8, IM- 

17 



130 

MATURE OBIIT, ANNO ^TATIS TRI0BS8IM0 QUINTO. A. D. 1741. HOC 
MONUMENTUM, CHABISSIMI MARITI MKMOBIiB SACRUM, MAROARBTA 

CONJUX, MJERKNS FOSUiT.' There is a copy of this inscription in 
Smith's Kerry y pp. 177-8, wanting, however, the words " anno statis 
trigessimo quinto," supplied above. 

No. 8 is from the church-yard of Killiney, in the parish of the 
same name: — i. h. s. cathbrin m^mahon departed this life the 

24'" DAT OF MAT, ANNO DOMINI 1756, IN THE TEAR OF HER AGE. 

THE BODTES OF TIMO^ M^MAHON OF KILLCOMMIN, CHILDREN AND GRAND- 
CHILDREN, HERE DOTH LTE. MATT^ M^MAHON BEING THE LAST, DIED 

APRIL 19, A.D. 1780. The woman's age does not appear to have 
been inserted, or else it is quite effaced* Indeed, the stone is broken 
just there. In this church-yard stands a plain but fine stone cross, 
measuring nine and a^half teet high from the ground, four feet two 
inches across the arms, and seven inches thick. 

No. 9 is from the church-yard of Ventiy, in the parish of the same 
name, and is, I believe, the only inscription visible there, so over- 
whelmed with sand is this ancient and interesting spot : — here lteth 

THE BODT OF FRED^ BROWNE, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE FEBBUART 
THE FIRST, ANNO DOMINI 1775, AGED 80 TEARS. 

No. 10 is from the church-yard of Garfinny, in the parish of the 
same name — an interesting inscription, which may hereafter prove 
useful to the local historian : — inri. deo o. f^ — max^ ejusq^ fiu^ — 

BT 8P. BANCT^. — HERE LIE MAURICE KENNEDT AND HIS WIFE JUDIT 
CURRANE, JAMBS KENNEDT AND HIS WIFE ALICE MORRARTT ACHILUON. 
— SAID MAUR<" AND JAM* KENNEDT WERE THE SONS OF JOHN, SON OF 
MAURICE, SON OF JOHN KENNED7, WHO IN THB DATS OF CROMWELL LEFT 
NBNAGH IN ORMOND, AND SETTLED IN THE PARISH OF GARFINACD. — THIS 
STONE IS CONSECRATED TO THEIR MEMORT BT JOS" KENNEDT, M. D. AND 
REV^ JAM* KENNEDT, P.P. OF DINGLE, SONS OF SAID JAMES, A. D. 1816. 

No. 1 1 occurs over the door of the new church of Cloghane» in 
the parish of the same name, and, as I was informed, commemorates 
the period of its erection: — rev° b. l. ttner, rbgtor, a.d. 1828. 
In connection with this rather uninteresting inscription I may men- 
tion, that in the wall of the adjoining old church is a projecting stone, 
formed into a representation of a human head and face. It is placed 
at the height of five feet nine inches from the ground, and is believed 
to represent the head of Crom Dubhj a celebrated personage, who 
was contemporary with St. Patrick, and of whom there are traditions 
at the highest mountains in Ireland, viz., at Sliabh Donard in the 
county of Down, at Croagh Patrick in the west of the county of 
Majo, and at Brandon Hill in the west of the county of Kerry, 
which is much higher than any of these. A "pattern' is still held 
at Cloghane, in honour of Cram Dubh and St. Brendan, on the last 
Sunday of July, which is conunonly called *^ Dounagh Crom Dubh '' 






' The lady who built this monumeDt was daashter of chief joBtice Deane. 



131 

No. 12 is &om one of several small cam-like monuments, at the 
road side, near Hugginstown, in the parish of Aghaviller, county 
of Kilkenny : — this monument was erected to the memory of 

THOMAS HEALT OF LISMOTIGUE, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE NOYEMB* 
THE I 0, 1840. EATERNAL REST GRANT UNTO HIM, OLORD, AMEN. The 

building from which I have taken this inscription is named " Kyleva 
monument," being situate in the townland of that name. These 
little monuments are remarkable, as having been raised to the memo- 
ries of persons who, I was told, had died and were buried elsewhere, 
and one or two have young trees growing on them. 

I should observe here, that the originals of many of the inscrip- 
tions above given, particularly Nos. 2, 3, and 4, are much more 
curious than can be represented by the printer ; most of the letters 
being of peculiar forms, and many of them, merely by the addition 
of a stroke, made to serve as two and three letters. 

Having sent a copy of the newspaper report of the preceding 
communication to a friend in the south, the Rev. A. B. Rowan, D.D., 
Belmont, Tralee, he has favoured me with the following additional 
particulars relative to some of the present " Gleanings," which, with 
his permission, I give just as they are in his letters to me : — *' I think 
I must go over to Kiltomy (not Kiltomy)^ chiu*ch some day, to try 
and decypher this inscription [No. 6], which I suspect to be of a 
countess of Kerry, certainly of some Fitzmaurice : you ^ve it to me 
before." ....** Are you quite sure that you can read the inscrip- 
tion on the pillar of Ardfert abbey [No. 1]? I never could be sure 
of it, and yet you certainly set it down as Donaldus Digen : I am not 
convinced." • • . • '^ I send you an inscription from Abbey-domey 
church more ancient than any you have given : — ambrosius piers* 

TIC. GEN. DI0CE8. ARDFERT. HUNG TUMULUM SIBI FIERI FECIT, ANNO 

1587. Did you give the Society the faC'Simile of the inscription in 
Rattoo church [No. 3] ? The contracted language is the chief curi- 
osity of it." My friend then gives a copy of the inscription, which 
he reads as follows: — "io[hanne8] dinighan, 1666, x Marg* ejus 
vxoB, Hic JACET." . • . *' You have not copied the inscriptions to the 
three Roman bishops, or to the friars, in the cathedral [of Ardfert]. 
The last are curious, as showing how late the order was preserved." 

Dr. Rowan has since supplied me with the foUowmg valuable 
note on the inscription on the pillar of Ardfert abbey (No. 1) : — 
" I send you on another leaf a copy of Sir Richard Colt Hoare's 
letter, written after a visit to Ardfert. His is a gi*eat name in anti- 
quarian matters, and he was one of the best antiquaries of his day ; 
still, as examination has become more accurate, I venture a sugges* 
tion on A», namely, that the last line might be made better sense, 
thus: — ^ orate pro eo — pray for him.* This may well be read out 
of the rather defaced letters, and is a likely sense for the inscription. 

* A misprint in the newspaper. 



132 

* Dormitar* might be an office in the monastery, i. e. keeper of the 
dormitory. It is a very ancient inscription certainly. 

[Copy of a letter from Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Bart]. 



Sir — I send yoa the best solution I can of your inscription ; but it is not quite 
satisfactory to me. I cannot make anything of the letters herd ; but if rttd thus, it 
would be somewhat intelligible : — 

D0NALOU8 FITZ-BOHBN HSIC DONALD FITZ-BOHEN HSRB 

DORMITORi FKCIT HOC OPUS. SLBRPRR, MADB THIS WORK. 

OBATB FRBCOf A<*' M.CCCO.LIII. PRAT, I BK8ERCB, ANNO 1453. 

Sir, yoavobedient Mrrant, 

R. C. HOARB. 

Note — ^We frequently see bad Latin in similar inscriptions. 

On the above I would suggest that * dormitor* was probably the name 
of an office in the convent, probably dormitory keeper, and that the 
letters which Sir R. 0. Hoare makes out *preco' may well have been 
*pro eo^ and so the inscription would run in the common form — 
* pr^ for him.' " 

The visit of Sir Richard Colt Hoare to Aidfert, above alluded to, 
is probably that of which an account is given in his ** Journal of a 
Tour in Ireland, A.D. 1806," in which Sir Richard mentions the 
" Latin inscription," on one of the columns in the nave, ** recording 
(as he was told) some repairs done to the building' (p. 63). The 
date of this visit, as given m the ** Journal," is 1 1th July, 1806, and if 
we suppose the letter, of which the above is a copy, to have be«i writ^ 
ten soon after Hoare's return to Stourhead (his seat in Wiltshire), it 
contains a copy of the inscription now (1863) nearly fifty years old. 
This is a point of some importance, as the inscription must nave been 
somewhat more legible half a century ago than it is now. The fol- 
lowing valuable communication, however, with which I have been 
favoured by the distinguished Cork antiquary, Richard Sainthill, Esq., 
to whom it would seem Sir Richard Colt Hoare's letter had been ad- 
dressed, throws considerable additional light on the matter, and fixes 
pretty accurately the date of the baronet's letter : — 

Cork, 6th Janoaiy, 1S54. 

Sir — In reply to your letter of the 3rd inst., I bave to say, tbat being on a visit at 
Mrs. Crosbie's, Ardfert Abbey, in the autumn of 1630, 1 attempted to decypher the in- 
scription on the wall of the abbey ; and in a communication, which I made to my friend 
John Gough Nichols, which b published in the Genileman*9 Magazine for May, 1831, 
pages 409-12 of that magazine, respecting Ardfert, I see that I gave my idea of its reading 
being:— 

DONALDSS WITZ BOHBM HOC 

DORMITOR FKCIT H . . O . U8 (hOC OPUS ?) 

ORATS PR* SO A" M.OCCC.LIII. 

Subsequently, understanding that Sir R. C. Hoare had been at Ardfert, I addressed a letter 
to him, with my reading of the inscription, and requesting his opinion as to its correctness 
and meaning, to which he favored me with a reply ; and this formed part of a very large 
collection of MSS. which I afterwards made to illustrate the history of the county of 
Kerry, to assist my friend John James Hickson, solicitor, of Tralee, who purposed re- 
printing Smith's History of Kerry, with additions and illustrations, Mr. Savage, of Cork, 
bookseller, undertaking to print Mr. Hickson's lamented death having put an end to 



133 

thii, I some yean ago gave my whole collection of MSS. to the Rev. A. B. Rowan, of 
Belmont, near Tralee, hoping that he might do something for the history of Kerry.* 
Among these MSS. is Sir R. C. Hoare's oommonication to me, of which I have no copy, 
and can only refer you to Mr. Rowan, if he is not the friend from whom you derive your 
information. I should suppose that I may have written to the baronet in 1 831 : I was in 
London that spring, and spent a good deal of my time searching the MSS. at the British 
Museum for Kerry history, and I am inclined to think it was then I applied to Sir R. C. 
Hoare for his opinion respecting it [the inscription]. When I first saw it, it was obscured 
by moss, &c., ficc, and very hard work I had to scrub off the accumulated incrustations. 
My idea is, that the inscription refers to the person who made that evident addition to 
the abbey. I have not since been at Aidfert ; and remain. Sir, your obedient servant, 

Richard Saimthill. 
Richard Hiteheoei, B»q. 

I have since received another valuable letter from Mr. Sainthill, 
fiill of curious information respecting Ardfert abbey, and other similar 
matters ; but I regret that this is not the place to introduce the letter, 
or I would willingly add it here. I regret this the more, from the 
writer's having assured me that I am *^ heartily welcome" to make 
any use I please of his letters to me. 



DINGLE IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 

WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES. 

BY SICHABD HITCHCOCBL. 

Thb town of Dingle, in the county of Kerry, was at one time a 
place of considerable importance, and, although now comparatively 
poor, it yet exhibits many remains of its former greatness. It is the 
most westerly town in Ireland, beautifrdly situate on the northern 
coast of the bay of the same name, an inlet from which forms the 
harbour, and may be called the capital of the extensive peninsula 
which comprises we entire barony oi Oorkaguiny — one of the richest 
and most interesting districts in Ireland to the antiquary and the lover 
of wild scenery. The town occupies a hilly slope, and is surroimded 
by mountains on all sides except that towards the harbour, which 
here presents the appearance of a lake, the outlet bein^ concealed by 
a projecting headland. The streets are irregularly disposed, but as 
there are more than the usual proportion of respectable slated houses, 
with gardens attached, the town has, from a short distance, a very 
pleasing appearance. 

This district is generally supposed to have been colonized by the 
Spaniards, who formerly carried on an extensive fishery off the coast, 
and traded with the inhabitants, who still retain strong indications of 
their Spanish origin. Smith, writing about a century ago, informs 
us that ^* several of the houses were built in the Spanish fashion, with 



134 

ranges of stone balcony windows, this place being formerly mucK 
•frequented by ships of that nation, who traded with the inhabitants, 
and came to fish on this coast ; most of them are of stone, with mar- 
ble door, and window frames : on one is an inscription, signifying, 
that the house was built by one RtCB, anno 1563; and on a stone 
beneath two roses, are carved these words, At the Rose is the best 
Wine. Many of them have dates on them as old as Q. Elizabeth's 
time, and some earlier." — Antient and Present State of the County 
of Kerry y pp. 176-7. Few or none of these dates and inscriptions 
are now visible, being most probably altogether destroyed, or covered 
over with plaster; but many of the quaint old houses still exist. 
Smith further informs us (pp. 192-3) that several Spanish merchants 
resided at Dingle, before queen Elizabeth's time, and that they traded 
with the natives for fish and other kinds of provision, as appears by 
a tract written by John Dee, entitled " The British Monarchy," in 
1576. Smith gives a curious account of such commodities as might 
then be purchased in Kerry, and such as were usually transported to 
Spain from the port of Dingle. A comparison of the prices of these 
with the prices of the same articles at the present day would form a 
rather curious result. 

According to Dr. O'Donovan's edition of the Annals of the Four 
Masters (A.D. 1579, vol. v. p. 1714, n. z.). Dingle was formerly 
called Daingean-Ui-Chuis, i. e. the fortress or fastness of O'Cuis, 
the ancient Irish proprietor of the place before the Englbh invasion, 
not of the Husseys, as asserted by Dr. Smith and others. It is pro- 
bably from this name that the modem term " Dingle-i-couch"* is 
derived. Subsequently, it appears that a castle was built in Dingle 
by the Hussey family, to whom one of the earls of Desmond had 
granted a considerable tract of land in the vicinity. On the re- 
bellion and consequent forfeitures of the Desmond family and its 
adherents, the castle was« with divers lands, granted to the earl of Or- 
monde, from whom it was purchased by Fitzgerald, knight of Kerry, 
who also had a castle in this town. No traces of these castles now 
exist, if we except some of the hewn stones belonging to them built 
into the modem houses about the town. Queen Elizabeth, in the 
28th year of her reign (1585), signed a warrant for the grant of a 
charter of incorporation to the inhabitants of the town, with pri- 
vileges similar to the borough of Drogheda, and with a superiority 
over the harbours of Ventry, Smerwick, and Ferriter's creek ; and 
she gave the inhabitants £300 to wall the place. The charter, how- 
ever, was not actually granted until the 4 th of James I. This 
charter, which is the only one known, was granted to the "sove- 

' I believe that the origin of the first account of Dingle, which follows thii 

part of the name *'Dingle-i-couch" may with introduction, we find the name spelled 

equal probability be found in the simple " Dingenacush" — an evident modificati- 

meaning of the English word " dingle" — on of the Irish name Daingean-Ui-Chuis, 

a hollow between two hills, which is partly above given. The present Irish name of 

the situation of the town. In the old Dingle is simply OAjnseAt}. 



135 



reign, burgesses, and commonalty," from which it would appear that 
the corporation was then in existence, probably under ^e autho- 
rity of the warrant of Elizabeth. The town, however, under the 
name of Dingle-i-couch, is found among those that sent members 
to parliament in the 27th of Elizabeth (1584). The borough sent 
two representatives to the Irish parliament until the Union, when 
it was disfranchised, and the entire compensation of £15,000 paid 
to Richard Boyle Townshend, Esq., several other claims having 
been disallowed. Traces of the town walls, which appear to have 
been very thick, may still be seen, particularly near The Grove, at 
the north side of the town. They seem to have been built with clay 
mortar, which is still visible. 

There was formerly an ancient monastery in Dingle, which was 
a cell to the abbey of Killagh,^ near Castlemaine. The old church, 
which was dedicated to St. James, is said to have been built by the 
Spaniards : it was originally a very large structure. A part of it, 
called St. Mary's chapel, was kept in repair until the erection of the 
present parish church, on the site of the ancient edifice, in 1807. In 
the church-^ard are several ancient inscriptions, amongst which is 
one to the Fitzgerald family, in Gothic characters, beanng the date 
1504. The Roman Catholic chapel of Dingle is a handsome and 
spacious modem edifice. Adjoining is a convent for nuns of the 
Presentation order, established here in 1829* 

A residence of nearly three years in Dingle and several visits 
since made to the town and surrounding country enable me to write 

S>retty accurately of both ; and I hope it will not be oonsidered a 
bible in me, if I inform my readers, that some of the happiest days 
of my life have been passed in the remote town and neighbourhood 
of Dingle. No wonder, then, that I should like to write of the place. 
The country around Dingle, as before stated, is full of deep inte- 
rest to the antiquary and the lover of the beauties of nature. To the 
former, because on this coast had the first landing been effected by 
the great Milesian expedition from Spain, some centuries before our 
era; and from this quarter had that civilized colony difiused itself 
throughout the island. The historical fact of the expedition landing 
on this western barony of Kerry is amply verified by a multiplicity 
of remains bearing uncommon marks of the remotest antiquity.^ Al- 
most at every step do we meet the Pagan cemetery, the open fire 



■ See Archdairs MoMMticon, p. 304. 

* I am awur6 that Keating and others 
after him place this landing at Iniher 
Seeime, supposed to he the present Kenmare 
riTer; hut I helieve this is now one of the 
doubtfol points in Irish history. Indeed, 
Smith, writing nearly a century ago, men- 
tions, on the authority of Ptolemy, two 
other places in Kerry, either of which is 
quite as likely to have heen the scene of the 
Milesian landing as the river of Kenmare. 



These are, the hays of Tralee and Castle- 
maine, hetween which, it is worth remark- 
ing, the peninsula of Corkaguiny shoots out 
into the Atlantic, indented by the deep 
inlets of Brandon and Smerwick on the one 
side, and by those of Dingle and Ventry 
on the other, besides several smaller ones. 
The following letter, fix>m my collection, 
just occurs to me, as bearing a little on this 
point, and I gladly introduce it here. It 
is from the pen of a gentleman and Irish 



136 



altar, the bending cromleac, and the Ogham pillar with puzzling 
inscriptions, in age and mystery perhaps emulating the undefined 
relics at Persepolis. Here, indeed, would the antiquary be tempted 
to designate this western ** tongue of land" as the Baal-bec of Ireland, 
if not of western Europe. I sometime since amused myself by making 
out, from the Ordnance Survey maps, and other sources of my own, 
a tabular list of the principal remams of antiquity in the barony of 
Corkaguiny, and I foimd them to be as follows : — eleven stone cahers ;^ 
three cams ; forty calluraghs, or obsolete burial-grounds, where un- 
baptized children only are interred; ten castles; eighteen artificial 
caves; twenty-one churches in ruins, and nine church sites; two 
himdred and eighteen cloghauns, or bee-hive-shaped stone houses; 
sixteen cromleacs; twelve large stone crosses; three hundred and 
seventy-six earthen forts, or raths; one hundred and thirteen gal- 
launs, or immense rude standing stones ; fifty-four monumental piUars, 
most of them bearing Ogham inscriptions ; fifteen oratories ; nine peni- 



■cholar, well vefsed in the history and an- 
tiquities of Kerry, the Rev. John Casey, 
of Killamey, and was written in October, 
1849 :— 

** In answer to Mr. Hitchcock's question, 
I can aver, that the ivory antique was found 
at AfbA]!) QA l^ejne, the river falling into the 
sea hard by captain Fitzgerald's, at Murira- 
gane, or Brandon Lodge, whose ancestors 
for many generations were proprietors of 
this and the surrounding district, and very 
probably a member of the same fiunily was 
the owner of the antique. 

''Very oonvenient to this spot is Tjs 
bui^f), where the leader of the Milesian 
expedition was cast ashore, who gave name 
to that [Corkaguiny] and the two next ba- 
ronies, and of course the three oldest named 
baronies in Ireland. This Tig-Dhuinn of 
antient Irish history is at present called 
Ballyduinn. Contiguous thereto a grave- 
yard was discovered a few years back, 
covered, as I was informed, by the spring 
tides; would recommend Mr. Hitchcock 
to visit the locality at his next convenient 
opportunity, as I could give him further 
information, not alone of this but of other 
places skirting along Brandon Hill all the 
way to Tralee. 

" John Casbt." 

The Ballyduinn mentioned above, or, as 
it is spelled on the Ordnance Survey map, 
Ballyguin, is the name of a townland and 
village situate at the head of Brandon bay— 
a spot well adapted for the landing of the 
Milesian expedition. Shortly after receiv- 
ing the above letter, I made inquiry con- 
cerning the grave-yard, of an intelligent 
coast-guard then stationed in the immediate 



vicinity, but since dead, and he wrote to me 

as follows : — 

*• Brandon, 2Siid Nov. 1849. 

" Dbar Sir — In reply to your £ivour of 
the 15th ultimo, relative to the discovery 
of a grave-yard near this place, I beg to 
say, that there is neh on the strand near 
Brandon-quay, between two sand-banks. 
The spring tides often cover a part of it, 
and the strong gales of wind blow the sand 
over it. There is now nothing to be seen 
but a few stones stuck up here and there. 
I often inspected the said place, but could 
find nothing remarkable or worth noticing ; 
being informed that a priest by the name of 
Harrington, some twenty-eight years ago, 
found human skulls and bones of the largest 
description, and fragments of coffins, &c. 

" I should have answered your inquiries 
before, but, being ill this some time, was 
unable to. do so. 

'* I remain, dear Sir, 

" Yours truly, 

" J. Danisll." 

I regret to state, that I have not since 
had an opportunity of visiting the grave- 
yard, so invitingly mentioned by Mr. Casey, 
and described by Mr. Daniell ; but I trust 
that I may be able sometime to examine 
the place. It is not marked on the Ord- 
nance Survey map. 

1 Cahercullaun, about four miles to the 
north of Dingle, is one of these, and tradi- 
tion says that it occupies the site originally 
intended for that town. Lady Chatterton 
gives an interesting description of Caher- 
cullaun in her Ramblet m tht SoutA rf 
Irtkmd, vol. L pp. 173-5. 



137 

tential stations; sixly-six wells, many of them bearing the name of 
some saint; and twenty-nine miscellaneous remains. This list, of 
course, only applies to such antiquities as haye had some remains of 
them existing about fiye years ago, when I compiled the list ; but I 
earnestly hope that none, or at least but yery few of them have been 
since destroyed. How many more fine remains have been lost during 
centuries of blind fanaticism and internal warfare ! Such as the list 
is, I yenture to say that no other part of Ireland, of the same size as 
Corkaguiny, can number so many and such a yariety of ancient re- 
mains, and in such a fine state of preservation, as are to be found in 
that interesting barony. Since making out the above list, I have 
found in lady Ohatterton's very interestmg Rambles in the South of 
Irelandj second edition, vol. L p. 189, an engraving of a cromleac 
on Ballyferriter hill, which may probably be added to the number 
already mentioned; but I regret to say that this cromleac, or, as lady 
Chatterton calls it, '* sun altar," does not now exist, the stones which 
composed it having been broken and carried away for building pur- 
poses, as if there were no others in the neighbourhpod ! It is, how- 
ever, fortunate that we have even a small engraving of the monument 
preserved to us. I may also take this opportunity of stating, that I 
nave made no mention, in the above list, of the ^* stone circles," so 
numerous in Corkaguiny. They are to be found in all parts of the 
baiony, and no doubt are of very remote antiquity. That this dis- 
trict was anciently remarkable for cultivation, fertility, and piety, is, 
I think, sufficiently proved by the numerous remains of churches and 
other vestiges of civilization which still remain there. Dr. Smith, 
in his ** Antient and Present State of the County of Eeny/' published 
nearly a hundred years ago, enumerates no fewer than twenty parish 
churches in Corkaguiny (p. 172) ; and it has been seen above, that 
the remains of many more than this number of churches still exist 
there. Smith seems to conclude from this fact, that the barony of 
Corkaguiny was formerly better inhabited than at present,^ each parish 
having had its respective church, most of which were very large, as 
appears by their ruins. Another proof to which he refers of the 
borony having been formerly better peopled than at present, is the 
&ct, that several of the mountains, thougn of but poor and stony soil, 
are marked by old enclosures and other signs of former culture on 
their sides even to the very tops. 

By the lover of wild and romantic scenery, as well as by the in- 
valid, Dingle and the country around will be found equal to, if not 
surpassiiig any other place in Lreland, in peculiar attractions and salu- 
brity. To be sure (i suppose because of its remoteness and the pri- 
mitive simplicity of its innabitants). Dingle has not yet been honoured 

1 There is no doabt of this fact. The (the fertile btrony, as its name signifies it 

histories of the Desmond wars in the end of to have been) at the commencement of 

the sixteenth centnry, from 1578 to 1580, these wars, and its desolate condition when 

attest the flourishing state of the district they were ended. 

18 



138 

with visits from many oF those tourists, who might write laadatory 
books on it, such as have been written on Killamey, Wicklow, and 
some other places in Ireland ; but let persons of delicate constitution^ 
or with mind and heart alive to all that is lovely in nature, reside but ' 
one short summer or autumn in Dingle, and I am bold to say, that 
they will leave the place with both mind and body in healthier and 
happier condition than when the party first arrived in Dingle, and 
with a feeling towards the people of that town and district which can 
never be efiaced from the memory. To use the words of a distin- 
guished geologist who visited this part of Kerry some years ago, after 
speaking of ** the variety and beauty of the wild flowers" which adorn 
the sides of the mountains there, he proceeds : — *^ But if the lovers of 
the picturesque beauties of nature knew but half the glorious scenery 
that is to be found among them [the mountains], this extreme point 
of western Europe would be more frequently visited and acknow- 
ledged as equal to any of the favourite haunts of tourists. If we 
walk along the shores we see mural precipices of eight hundred feet 
in height, opposed as barriers to the vast Atlantic, whose waters, in 
their calmest mood, break against the rocks with a violence which 
conveys an idea of the power and strength of the ocean, hardly appre- 
ciable by those who are acquainted only with the channel seas. If 
we ascend the mountains we are charmed with the wildness of their 
rocky defiles, the richness of their flowery vegetation, exceeding 
anything I have elsewhere seen, and the depth at which the lakes are 
embosomed in the midst of them. The precipices over Connor lake 
rise to about fifteen hundred feet above its surrace ; from the summit' 
a panorama is exhibited, of which I know no equal. To the north, 
the broad mouth of the Shannon, flanked by Kerry and Loop heads, 
and the distant peaks of the Bunabola or Cunnemara mountains ; to 
the west, the spacious Atlantic with the Blasket islands, thrown out as 
it were a breaKwater against the violence of its surges ; to the south, 
the tumultuous mass of the Iverash mountains from the serrated Reeks 
to the island of Valentia, and m the far distance Hungry-hill, and 
the southern headlands of Cork and Kerry."* Another writer says : — 
** From Connor Hill, to the north-east of Dingle, on the road to Castle- 
Gregory, a splendid view, embracing both sides of the peninsula, is 
obtained. On one side is seen the bay of Dingle, as far as the island 
of Valentia, with the great Skellig rock in the distance, and the town 
and harbour of Dingle lying immediately beneath ; and on the other 
side, Brandon bay and several bold headlands. On each side are 
mountains, with wide and deep valleys intervening, and numerous 
tarns or small lakes lying in the hollows of the hills. ' 

But, in my zeal lor the antiquities and natural scenery of Cork- 
aguiny, as they now present themselves, I must not depart too &i 

' I suppose of Brandon Htll. tint Tolume of the Journal of the G^ohfi' 

* Chtflet WUliun Hamilton, Esq., in the col Society of Dublin^ p. 277. 



139 

ffx>in the headiDg which introduces this article. I could willingly 
linger amid these subjects, but time and space forbid me. 

I feel, however, that, after the hurried and I fear imperfect sketch 
of ancient and modem Dingle which I have attempted to give, it is 
now time to introduce what I consider to be a very curious account 
of the town, its inhabitants, and customs, as they existed three cen- 
turies ago, and which I trust will not be without its interest for many 
of the readers of our Transactions. The account is taken from ** the 
▼oiage of the right honorable George Erie of Cumberland to the 
Azores j^ Sfc. Written by the excellent Mathematician and Enginier 
master Edward Wright* — as given in " the Second Volvme of the 
Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoueries of the 
JEfiffluk Nation^ made by Sea or ouer-land, to the South and South- 
east parts of the World, at any time within the compasse of these 
1600. jreres. By Richard Hacklvyt, Preacher, and sometime Student 
of Christ-Church in Oxford." Part ii. pp. 165-6; folio: London, 
1599* Hakluyt's collections for the history of British voyages and 
discoveries are now much valued, both for their antiquity, scientific 
accuracy, and rarity ; and we even have a ** Hakluyt Society," insti- 
tuted on the 15th of December, 1846, for the purpose of printing the 
most rare and valuable of these collections.' With the view of ren« 
dering the following extract the more acceptable, I have here and 
there added a brief illustrative note. 

'* The first of December at night we spake with another English 
ship, and had some beere out of her, but not sufficient to carry vs 
into England, so that wee were constrained to put into Ireland, the 
winde so seruing. 

^* The next day we came to an anker, not far firom the S. Kelmes 
vnder the land & winde, where we were somewhat more quiet, but 
(that being no safe harbour to ride in) the next morning wee went 
about to weigh anker, but hauing some of our men hurt at the Cap* 
sten, wee were faine to giue ouer and leaue it behinde, holding on our 
course to Ventre hauen,' where wee safely arriued the same oay, that 



* TIm AioKS, or Western Islands, are a 
gnwp of islands in the Atlantic, between 
250 and W W. long, and Zl"* and 40<> 
N. lat, 900 miles west of Portugal. They 
are nine in nomber, and are seen at a great 
distance, one of them having a very high 
moontain, called the Pico, or the Peak of 
the Azores. 

* The account of the earl of Cumber- 
land's voyage, taken from Hakluyt, is also 
given in the first volume of Pinkerton's 
Oentrai CbiUcium of VoyttgeB and Traoek 
m mU Parts of tka World, pp. 804-19 (4to. 
Lond. 1 808) ; but, not to speak of one or 
two verbal differences, I prefer Hakluyt's 
old spelling and black-letter text. This is 
here printed in Roman type, and Hakluyt's 



Roman words are here in itaUet, to distin^ 
guish them. The earl of Cumberland's 
voyage to the Azores took place in the year 
1589. 

* This harbour is exposed to the S.W. 
winds, but on all other sides it is sheltered 
by lofty mountains. The strand (in Irish 
noijQ cfUx|^), being remarkable for its fine 
white sand, has given name to the parish 
of Ventry, and is justly considered to be 
one of the finest strands in Ireland. It is 
further celebrated as being the scene of the 
romantic story, entitled Cac T\ofm Crt:&Tie, 
i.e. the Battle of Ventry, a correct version 
of the account of which, from a vellum MS. 
of the fourteenth century, in the Bodleian 
Library, Oxford, I am glad to learn, is now 



140 



place being a ve^ safe and conuenient harbor for vs, that now wee 
might sing as we had iust cause, They that goe doume to the Sea^^ ^e, 

*' So soone as we had ankered here my Lord went foorthwith to 
shoare, and brought presently fresh water and fresh victuals, as Mut- 
tons, pigSfes, hennes, &c. to refresh his company withalL Notwith- 
standing himselfe had lately bene very weake, and tasted of the same 
extremitie that his Company did : jPot in the time of our former 
want, hauing a little fresh water left him remaining in a pot, in the 
night it was broken, and the water drunke and dried vp. Soone 
after the sicke and wounded men were carried to the next principall 
Towne, called Dingeriacush^ being about three miles distant firom the 
foresaide hauen, where our shippe roade, to the Eastwards, that there 
they might be ihe better refreshed, and had the Ohirurgians dayly to 
attend ypon them. Here we wd refreshed our selues whilest the 
Irish harpe sounded sweetely in our eares,' and here we, who for the 
former extremities were in manor halfe dead, had our Hues (as it were) 
restored vnto vs againe. 

** This Dingenacuih is the chiefe Towne in al that part of Ireland, 
it cosisteth but of one maine streete, from whence some smaller doe 
proceede on either side.' It hath had gates (as it seemeth) in times 
past at either ende to open and shut as a Towne of warre, and a 
Castle also. The houses are very strongly built with thicke stone 
walles, and narrow windowes like vnto Castles : for as they confessed, 
in time of trouble, by reason of the wilde Irish or otherwise, they 
vsed their houses for their defence as Castles. The castle and au 
the houses in the Towne, saue foure» were won, burnt, and ruinated 
by the Erie of Desmond. These foure houses fortified themselues 
against him, and withstood him and all his power perforce, so as he 
could not winne them. 

*^ There remaineth yet a thicke stone wall that pasiseth ouerthwart 
the midst of the streete which was a part of their fortification.^ Not- 
withstanding whilest they thus defended themselues, as some of them 
yet aliue confessed, they were driuen to as great extremities as the 
lewes^ besie^d by Titus the Romane Emperour, insomuch that they 
were constrained to eat dead mens carcases for hunger. The Towne 
is nowe againe somewhat repaired, but in effect tnere remaine but 
the ruines of the former Towne. Commonly they haue no chim- 
neis in their houses, excepting them of the better sort, so that the 



announced for publication by the Ossianic 
Society. How beautiful to walk along thii 
strand on a fine moonlight evening, when 
all around is stillness, broken only by the 
gentle ripple of the ever active waves on 
the sand ! How sweet then to muse on 
the days gone by here ! A pier has been 
lately built at the west side of the harbour 
by the Board of Fisheries, which will prove 
of great service to the poor fishermen and 
others in the neighbourhood. 



1 Psalm cviL 23. 

* This is exceedingly interesting, as show- 
ing how late the Irish harp was in nse in 
this remote district. 

* After the lapse of nearly three hundred 
years, this is still the form <Mf the town, and 
the principal street is now literally nanned 
the " Main.street." This passage also shows 
the importance of ancient Dingle, 

« Remains of this waU are stiU (1853) (o 
be seen, as before mentioned. 



141 



nnoake was ve^ troublesom to vs, while we condnued there. Their 
fewell is turfes, which they haue very good, and whinnes or furres. 
There groweth little wood thereabouts, which maketh building charge- 
able there : as also want of lime (as they reported) which they are 
fidne to fetch from farre, when they haue neede thereof J But of 
stones there is store ynough, so that with them they commonly make 
their hedges to part ech mans ground from other ; and the ground 
seemetl^ to be nothing else within but rockes and stones :* let it is 
very fruitfuU and plentifull of grasse, and graine, as may appeare by 
the abundance of kine and cattel there :' insomuch that we had good 
muttons (though somewhat lesse then ours in England) for two shil- 
Ungs or nue groates a piece,^ good pigges and hennes for 3. pence a 
piece. 

^* The greatest want is industrious, pfunefuU, and husbandly inha- 
bitants to till and trimme the ground : for the common sort, if they 
can prouide sufficient to seme Irom hand to mouth, take no further 
care.' 

'* Of money (as it seemeth) there is very small store amongst them, 
which perhaps was the cause that made Uiem double and triple the 
prizes of many things we bought of them, more then they were before 
our comming thither. 

'* Good land was here to be had for foure pence the Acre yeerely 
rent* There are Mines of Alome» Tinne, brasse, and yron.^ Stones 



' There ib no lime-itoiie in the berony of 
Corkaigauiy. See n letter from the Rev. 
A. B. Rowan, D.D. (one of our members), 
in the fifth volume of the *' Journal of the 
Geological Society of Dublin," describing 
the eoiious geological phenomenon of im- 
mense lime-stone boulders occurring in the 
bed of a river at the eastern extremity of 
the barony. A similar geological curiosity, 
near Kenmare, is mentioned by Mr. Windele 
in his Notices of Cork ond its ViehUiy, pp. 
334-5; ed. 1848. 

' Voily, there are stones enough in Cork- 
•gniny. I believe the entire of Connor 
Hill, at least of one side of it, is composed 
ef immense layen of rock. The part where 
•one of these overhang the new road is 
awfully grand. Above the beholder are 
mountains of rock, seeming as if about to 
^I and crush him to pieces ; while beneath 
i> a broad and steep valley, the bottom of 
which is studded with the fragmenta of 
rock already fallen, and lying round some 
small lakea. Of all the mountain scenery 
tbont Dingle, I know of no place to equid 
^ and the top of Brandon Hill on a clear 
day. « 

' I have seen wheat growing in spots in 
this barony, which, to look at them at 
another season of the year,* one could 



scarcely believe that they were so fertile ; 
and yet the poor peopli aro in great want 
of the common necessaries of life. 

^ The Blasket islands aro celebrated for 
fattening sheep, and the flavour of the 
mutton they produce is excellent. 

* This is in a measun a mistake, at least 
as applied to the present inhabitants : for 
during a three years' residence in Dingle, 
when I hfve had .the bes( opportunities 
of becoming acquainted with the industrial 
habits of &t people, 1 found them to be 
hardworking and industrious. 1 have seen 
men and women in Corkaguiny do work 
which is only fit for beasts of burden 1 and 
suroly the reasonable being who can do this 
is not to be stigmatised for not being ** in- 
dustrious" and '* painefulL" In any place 
whero there is sad want of spirited and con- 
siderate landed proprietors, possessing some 
amount of capital, and where the men are, 
consequently, badly fed and badly used, 
there cannot be that natural desire for 
work and improvement of their several 
holdings, which under other drcumstanoes 
will surely follow. 

* Very different are the rents now— from 
£2 to £& being the average rent per acre. 

' There must be some exaggeration in 
the enumeration of these mines, as I have 



142 

wee sawe there as cleare as Christall^ naturally squared like Dior 

** That part of the Countrey is all ful of great mountaines and 
hills, from whence came running downe the pleasant streames of 
sweete fresh running water. The naturall hardnesse of that Nation 
appeareth in this, that their small children runne vsually in the mid- 
dest of Winter vp and downe the streetes bare-foote and bare-legged, 
with no other apparell (many times) saue onely a mantell to couer 
their nakednesse. 

" The chiefe Officer of their Towne they call their Soueraigne, 
who hath the same office and authoritie among them that our Maiors 
haue with vs in England^ and hath his Sergeants to attend vpon him, 
and beare the Mace before him as our Maiors. 

** We were first intertained at the Soueraignes house, which was 
one of those 4. that withstood the Erie of Desmond in his rebelhon. 
They haue the same forme of Common prayer word for word in Latin, 
that we haue here in EnalaruL Upon the Sunday the Soueraigne 
commeth into the Church with his Sergeant before him, and the 
Sherifie and others of the Towne accompany him, and there they 
kneele downe euery man by himselfe priuatefy to make his prayers. 
After this they rise and go out of tne Church againe to drinke, 
which being done, they retume againe into the Church, and then 
the Minister beginneth prayers. 

** Their manor of baptizing diffiareth something from ours : part of 
the seruice belonging thereto is repeated in Latin, and part in Irish. 
The Minister ftiketh the child in his hands, and first dippeth it back- 



nerer heard of such having ever existed in 
the barony of Corkagoiny. Smith, the his- 
torian of the county, makes no mention of 
them. Yet I may observe, in illustration of 
the reference to " yron/' that I have in my 
possession a Dingle tradesman's token, 
bearing the foUowing inscription : — tobt . 

CREANB . DINGLB-COYCB . IRON . WORKS . 

See Dr. Aquilla Smith's Supplement to 
his Catalogue of Tradesmen's Tokens, No. 
29y in the Proeeedin^i of ike Ro^ai Irith 
Academy, vol. v. appendix vii. 

1 These ** stones cleare as christall," or, 
as they are now called, ** Kerry stones" and 
*' Kerry diamonds," are to be found on the 
sides and tops of many of the Kerry moun- 
tains. Numerous are the joyous evenings 
which I have spent collecting them with my 
school-fellows in days now, alas! gone for 
ever ! I have collected some large and very 
beautiful " Kerry diamonds" in the autumn 
of the year 1852, a selection from which I 
have presented to a lady friend in Dublin. 
I have also forwarded to our Honorary 
Secretary, the Rev. James Graves, a few 
specimens, which 1 hope are bright enough 



to iUuiirate the statement above made u 
the text. The Kerry diamonds appear to 
have been formerly held in much repute 
as an article of dress, as we learn from 
an interesting letter in the first volume of 
that curious old publication, the jtnikotogie 
Hibermca, n. 125, where it is sUted that 
Thomas, the first earl of Kerry, had a pas- 
sion for wearing Kerry-stone buttons, of 
which he had several suits set in the bril- 
liant way. See also Croker's Rueorehet m 
tke South of Ireland, p. 323. The magni- 
ficent rock Kerry diamonds are principally 
obtained from the cliffii and caves of the 
western coast of the county and the Blasket 
islands. I have been informed that some 
of the coast-guards of the western stations 
here have sent away chests full of these 
rock diamonds to England. Several fine 
examples of the rock Kerry diamond were 
to be seen in the Great Irish Exhibition of 
1853, and on the chimney-piece of the room 
in which I now write I have a small bat not 
very good specimen of the rock diamond 
procured from the western part of the so- 
cient " kingdom of Kerry." 



143 

wards, and then forwards, ouer head and eares into the cold water in 
the midst of Winter, whereby also may appeare their natorall hard- 
nesse, (as before was specified.) They had neither Bell, drum, nor 
trumpet, to call the Parishioners together, but they expect till their 
Soueraigne come, and then they that haue any deuotion follow him. 

** They make their bread all in cakes, and, for the tenth part, the 
bakers bake for all the towne. 

'^ We had of them some 10. or 11. Tunnes of beere for the Vic^ 
toryyX but it proued like a present pur^tion to them that tooke it, so 
that we chose rather to drinke water tben it. 

^* The 20. of December we loosed fro hence, hauing well pro- 
uided our selues of fresh water, and other things necessary, being 
accompanied with sir Edw. Dennie^ his Lady, and two yong sonnes. 

** This day in the morning my Lord going ashoare to dispatch 
away speedily some fresh water that remained for the Victory^ the 
winde being yery faire for vs, brought vs newes that there were 60. 
Spanish prizes taken and brought to Enffland. For two or three 
dayes wee had a faire winde, but afterwards it scanted so, that (as I 
said before) we were faine to keepe a cold Christmas with The Bishop 
and his clearkes."^ 

The original family name of the earls of Cumberland was Ponce, 
until Walter, the second son of Richard Fitz-Ponce, having obtained 
Clifford Castle, in Herefordshire, with his wife Margaret, daughter of 
Ralph de Toney, assumed thence that surname. J^om this Walter, 
the earl who undertook the voyage to the Azores was descended, and 
of him Burke writes : — " Earl George was educated at the University 
of Cambridge, and attaching himself to the study of mathematics, im- 
bibed so decided a passion for navigation, that he became soon after- 
wards eminent as a naval commander, having undertaken at his own 
expense several voyages for the public service ; but that^ and a passion 
for tournaments, horse-racing, and similar pursuits, made such mroads 
upon his fortune, that he was said to have wasted more of his estate 
than any one of his ancestors." — Extinct and Dormant Peerages^ 3rd 
ed. 1846, p. 127. 

[In illustration of the above very curious extract, Mr. Hitchcock 
sent the following remark from the letter of the gentleman who had 
directed his attention to it : — " It is singular that to this day — or, at 
least, fourteen years ago, for I have been out of Dingle so long — the 
bakers have still the custom, which I believe is peculiar to Dingle, of 
baking for a tenth part of the bread. Then the description of the 
* Kerry stones,' the * streams of water running down the streets,' and 
the price of fowl, might nearly stand for an account of matters as they 
now are. When I first went to Dingle, thirteen eggs were readily 
had for a penny." — Eds.] 

1 The name of the earl of Cumberland's * A cluster of rocks off the coast of Pem- 
sbip. brokeshire. 



144 



OP HAWKS AND HOTINDS IN IRELAND. 

BT JOHN P. PBBKDERGAST, ESQ., BABKISTEB-AT-LAW. 

TiHB works sucli changeSf both in the habits of men and in the ap- 
pearance of a country, that to appreciate the history of former days 
one must endeavour to transport the mind from the present, and 
encompass it with the circumstances of the past. In this effort we 
have not merely to overcome the difficulty arising from ** old customs 
changed, old manners gone," but from such a change in the aspect 
of the country, that were the actors of former scenes to return, they 
could scarce recognise their former haunts. 

Ireland of old — indeed up to one hundred and fifty years ago — 
was a thinly peopled country covered (not with large forests, imless 
in the King's ana Queen's Counties, known as Leix, Offally, and Ely 
O'CarroU, but) with scattered woods and extensive plains.— -JFynei 
MorrysofCt Itinerary ^ part iii. p. 160. Although without paries of 
fallow deer — for Sir Johin Davys {DUeovery^ pp. 1 24-5) observes, that 
the earl of Ormonde's park, at Kilkenny, was the only deer-park in 
Ireland — it abounded in red deer, like those of Scotland or of Eil- 
lamey, which latter are but the relics of herds that roamed over hill 
and plain in former times. The survivors of this race have retired 
to the peninsula of Kerry and the wilds of Donegal jotting into the 
Atlantic, where a few may still be seen in those districts, the most 
remote from the cultivated haunts of men, and their last foot-hold in 
this island* so long their peculiar home. 

In the emblematic title-page to Sir James Ware's Antiquities of 
Ireland, published so late as the middle of the seventeenth century, 
Hibemia is represented as a kind of Diana, standing in the foreground 
of a woody scene, beside her a large deer-hound. In the distance are 
the deer, and in front a lar^ tree swarming with bees, to indicate 
that Ireland was celebrated for her deer, her race of gigantic dogs* 
and for her abundance of wild honey. But her woods ^so harboured 
the wol^ and were full of martins in such numbers tiiat lord Straf- 
forde could promise archbishop Laud from out of the woods of Shi- 
lelagh, whicn he had wrung from the Byms of Wicklow, enough of 
martins' skins to make a linm^ for his grace's winter gown. 

Let us then imagine ourselves at the distance of some three hun- 
dred years from the present, and from the leads of some neighbour- 
ing castie survey the scene. Looking down from the parapet, would 
be seen a men and swelling plain extending from the very walla of 
the bawn till it reached tiie neighbouring hills or wood^-crossed only 
by some bridle-paths — and between, at distant intervals, the towera 
of some neighbouring castie, or the embattled wall and steeple of 
some abbey, embosomed in trees ; or, let it be here in Kilkenny on 
some hunting mom, from the great tower of the castie. Waiting 



145 

outside the great gate woald be found the huntsmen and the dogs. 

In tke court of honour Piers earl of Ossory, with a gallant company, 

getting ready for the field. How unlike the shooting parties and 

battues of the present day ! Fowling-pieces and shot-b^ts were then 

unknown, ana gun-powaer but little used. The long bow and the 

cross bow were the soldier's arms. As in Ae old bsulad df Robin 

Hood- 
No varing gaoM were then in me. 

They draim't of no such thing; 
Our Englishmen in fight did use 

The gallant grey-goose wing. 

With these^ sending their arrows as thick as hail, they conquered at 
Cressy and Poictiers. In those days they followed the chase with 
hawk and hound, and with a magniacenoe of which we should obtain 
but a poor conception, from even the best equipped trains of the 
{nesent day. There awaited the earl of Ossory, as we suppose him 
riding out wilii all his company from ihe gate, no less than sixty deer- 
hounds with their four ana ty^enty huntsmen — ^for such was the num- 
ber both g£ men and dogs used by the earl, as we AbH see from an 
authority subsequently quoted. These deer hounds, no doubt, ran 
by sight more than scent ; and they were held, in twos and threes in 
leashes, by hunters who were posted at different points to watch and 
l^t sUp the dogs, as the deer might outrun the dogs first loosed. We 
can imagine the noise and joyousness of sach. a tram leaving Kilkenny 
castle, and may, if we like, fancy we hear the earl jesting with his 
followers in Insh, fcnr then, and long after, our Anglo-Insh nobles 
used the native tongue. Numerous, however, as was the earl's train, 
bis hunting equipage had not the magnificence <^» though it was no 
doubt more hearty than, those of m^i of like rank on the Continent 
and in England. 

And this leads one to consider the passion of the feudal nobles for 
the chase : more especially in France, Grermany , and £ngland« where 
they pursued it wiui a sumptuousness such as seems never to have 
becoi exhibited in Ireland* The extent and origin of their engroM- 
ing desire for this sport will be best appreciated by considering, in 
Monsieur Guizot's manner, in his History of Oivilization in France, 
the condition of the feudal proprietor — a condition, he says, which 
^ough general in Europe, was probably imknown to all ancient 
times. He selects his castle, as the type and essence of the feudal sys- 
tem. Those massive walls, contracted chambers, and looped turrets, 
the parapet8» battlements, and advancing barbicans ; these were not 
the whims and caprices of wealth, but the necessity of his condition. 
He and his brother-adventurers, dwelling each on the property of 
some native, whom they had deprived of his lands and liberties, dwelt 
in the midst of dangers. Isolated, and obliged to depend on his own 
resources, he had need of fosse and tower against the attempts of the 
conquered race. And what was his life, cooped within this dark and 

19 



146 

narrow castle, without books, and without society ! It was wearisome 
in the extreme — hence the absolute necessity for out-of-door life and 
enjoyment, and that overwhelming passion for the chase. 

It was to gratify this taste that William Rufus turned thirty miles 
along the southern coast of England, near his royal palace of Win- 
chester, into a hunting forest, dispeopling sixty villages, beddes 
monopolizing the right of spordng over all the kingdom. And when 
the Norman nobles won the freedom of hunting on their own estates, 
they considered this liberty as one of the liberties of England, and 
secured it by the Great Charter; for it was only on the confirmation 
of Magna Charta by king Henry IIL, that the clauses relaUn^ to the 
forest were first thrown into a separate charter, making the Cnarta de 
Foresta ^Reeve's History of the English Law^ c.v. p. 231). Some 
notion oi the strictness with which they had been previously bound, 
may be obtained from the 9 th and 12th chapters, wnereby it was first 
permitted to every freeman to agist his own woods, i. e. to feed his 
cattle there, and to liave liberty to take the eyries of hawks, eagles, 
and herons found there (Id. p. 255). But while they broke up the 
king's monopoly in favour of themselves, they contmued it as re- 
garded those beneath them, and enacted such severe laws, that in the 
matter just above mentioned they made it felony for any to steal 
hawks' nests, a statute which was only repealed within the present 
century. They forbade any under the degree of gentleman to inter- 
meddle with vert or venison ; and each Norman baron became after 
the model of their earlier kings, a little tyrant in his own fief, with 
his verderers and foresters, as they then called their game-keepers. 
From the king downwards to the pettiest baron, his hawks and his 
hounds and his equipage for the chase became the objects of the 
greatest parade. And so throughout the feudal nobility of Europe. 

The rolls of Close Writs, in the Tower of London, afford cunous 
evidence of the taste of our early kings for falconry. Thus (in the 
14th year of king John, A.D. 1213), we have the king's writ to 
the sheriff* of Dorsetshire accompanying three gire-falcons sent to be 
me^ved in that county, and directing him to find whatever may be 
required by Robin de Hauville their keeper, with his horse and man, 
and to fiimish him with young pigeons' and swine's fledi for the sire- 
falcons, and once a week fowls nesh ; the cost to be accounted to 
him at the exchequer.^ 

With another writ (21st March, 16th king John), the king sends 
to John Fitz-Hugh, by William de Merc and another, three ciie- 
falcons and ^^Gibbun the gire-falcon, than which," he adds, ** we nave 
no better ;" and one falcon-gentle, and directs that they be put in 
mew and, for their food, be provided with plump goats and occasion- 
ally good hens, and once a week with hare's flesh ; the cost of their 

> Printed Calendar of CUat Wriit, in Tower of London, p. 118. 



147 

keep and the wages of Spark, William de Merc's man, to be repaid 
at the exchequer.^ 

In the following reign, on the 21st September, A.D. 1219 (in 
the third year of Henry III.), the sheriff of Northampton is ordered 
to supply with all necessaries Walter de Hauville, during his stay at 
Northampton, to ** ensaim*' Blakeman the king's gire-falcon, and to 
make him fly three or four times a week.' 

And in the following year the same sheriff is apprised that the 
king sends Thomas de Weston with his two gire-falcons ; namely, 
Blakeman and the foolish falcon, and three grey-hounds, and Hau- 
kinus de Hauville with Le Refuse the king's gire-ialcon, and two grey- 
houndoy who are all to be furnished witn necessaries on the king's 
account.' 

It has been remarked as a trait of the manners of the age, that 
Harold of England is represented in the first scene of the Bayeux 
tapestry, which describes the events of the conquest, as embarking on 
his visit to William of Normandy, with a dog under his arm and his 
hawk on his fist. In like manner it is curious to find, that the first 
chapter in the history of the conquest of Ireland, opens with a hawking 
scene. In the contemporary account given by Giraldus Cambrensis, 
he describes king Henry II., then going on his first visit to Ireland, 
as weather-bound for some weeks at Pembroke, the scene of the fol- 
lowing incident ; and it evinces the taste of that age, that so accom- 
plishea a writer as Giraldus, and one so familiar with the best authors 
and best company of the times, should pause to narrate it : — ^^ Whilest 
the king laie there," says Giraldus, ^' he had great pleasure in 
hawking, and as he was walking abroad with a goshiawke of Norwaie 
on his fist, he had espied a falcon sitting upon a rocke ; and as he went 
about the rock to view and behold him, his goshawke hauing also 
espied the falcon, bated unto him [as they describe the hawk's moving 
of its head on getting sight of its game] and therewith the king let 
her flie. The falcon seeing hir selfe thus beset, taketh also wing; 
and albeit her flight was slow at the first, yet at length she maketh 
wing and mounteth up of a great height : and taking the aduantage 
of ue goshawke, hir adversarie, commeth down with all hir might, 
and striking hir she claue hir backe asunder, and fell downe dead 
at the king s foot : wherat the king and all they that were then pre- 
sent had great maruell. And the king hauing good liking and being 
in loue with the falcon, did yearlie at the breeding and disclosing 
time send thither for them : for in all his land there was not a better 
or more bardie hawk."^ 

Though Ireland never seems to have been cursed with forest 
or game laws, at least to the extent that England was, our gentry, 

1 Printed CaiewUr of Close Writs in > Printed Calendar of Close Writs in 

Tower of Lomdon, p. 192. Tower of London, p. 412. 

' Printed Calendar of Close Writs m * Giraldus Cambrensis, Hooker's trans> 

Tower tiflAmdon^ p. 400. Utionp apud HoUnthed, book i. cbap. xix. 



148 

both native and Anglo-Irish, were ardently attached to the chase. 
For this they had peculiar advantages in the extent of uninclosed 

Srrounds which gave scope for hunting. How extensively they fol- 
owed it may be inferred from the hunting retinue of the earl of 
Ossory in the beginning of Henry VIII/s reign. In 1525 he is ac- 
cused by the earl of Kildare (who as we shall find did the like him- 
self) of taking coigne and livery of all the king's subjects in the 
counties of Kilkenny and Tipperary, not only for his horsemen, kerne, 
and galloglass, for his masons, carpenters, and tailors being in his 
own work, but also for his sundry hunts, that is to say, twenty-four 
persons with sixty grey-hounds for deer hunting, another number oi 
men and dogs to himt the hare, and another number to hunt the 
martin, all at the charges of the king's subjects — ^meat, drink, and 
money.^ 

But this was a charge merely made of rivalry, for.it seems to have 
been the common custom of the Anglo-Irish nobles adopted no doubt 
from the practices of the native chieftains, who though they took no 
rent, for amongst them there was no such thing as tenure, yet took it 
out of them in other ways— living upon them m fact, icing them the 
honour of coshering with them, as they called visiting the in^or 
members of th^ c£an, with their wives and families, including horses 
and horse-boys, and eating them out of house and home. 

The earls of Kildare and Ossory followed the same practice of 
visiting their Irish equals, the O'Mores, the O'Connors, the O'Garrols, 
and owers, putting up at their houses with their sons and daughters, 
all of them no doubt with good appetites, *^ gens bien endentes," their 
horses and grooms being quartered the while on the O'Mores' or the 
O'Carrols' dependants. To such an extent did they carry this jovial, 
social life, that, according to the report made to Henry VIU. on the 
state of Ireland, the earls of Kildare and Ossory with meir wives and 
&milies and trains, lived half the year in the houses of the Irish gentiy 
or at monasteries, which then stood in place of inns.^ 

It was of course part of this system that the hoimds should be 
quartered on the neighbourhood, in like manner, when these nobles 
went a hunting and visited their Irish neighbours. And the earl of 
Kildare did it no less than the earl of Ossory^ for we find in the report 
of the commissioners sent to inquire into the condition of Ireland in 
1540, that when Kildare, Peer, or Ossory hunted, theb dogs weze 
supplied with bread and milk or butter.' This, be it remembered, 
was shortly after the discovery of America, and before the introduc- 
tion of the potato, and does not imply anything of waste or extrava- 
gance, as the like practice would at the present day. 

But they had dogs for other hunts oesides the deer, hare, and 
martin. Ireland from the earliest period abounded with wolves; and 

* State Papert, temp, Henry VIII., vol. ' State Papere, vol. iL part iii. p. 185. 
ii. part iii. p. 121. ' State Papere, vol ii. part iii. p.5il>«« 



149 

the country was furnished with a peculiar race of wolf-dogs, celebrated 
through the world for size and courage ; and we eball see a patent of 
Henry VIIL's granting some of these dogs yearly to some of the gran*- 
dees of Spain as a pnncely gift.^ The gentry seem to have been 
peculiarly attached to their dogs of this race^ of which there is curious 
evidence in an order of the commissioners for the afiairs of Ireland 
during the Commonwealth, when the wolves had increased so alarm-^ 
ingly, in consequence of the desolations, that they were making prey 
of dbe orphans whose parents had perished in the wars or throu^n 
fiunine. This order, which makes some provision, or rather solicits 
charity for the distressed Irish, describes " the great multitudes of 
poor swarming in all parts of llie nation, occasioned by the devasta- 
tions of the country, insomuch that frequently some are foimd starved 
in the highways, and many times poor children who lost their parents 
are found fed upon by ravening wolves."' At this sad period, the 
gentry had just laid down their arms and were embarking in great 
numbers for Spain, *^ forced from their pleasing fields and native 
home," and, as a solace in their misfortunes, seem to have resolved 
that '' their fidthful dogs should bear them company," which caused 
the issuing of the following order, made, it will be observed, in the 
castle of Kilkenny, the council being then on a tour in the provinces. 
It is headed — . 

DBCLABATION AGAINST TfiANSPORTDiO WOLF-DOGS. 

For at mueh at we are credibly informed that wolTet do much iiiereaae» and that 
aome of the enemy't party who htve laid down armt and have liberty to go beyond 8ea» 
and others, do attempt to carry away several such great dogs as are commonly called 
woH-dogt, whereby the breed of them, which it nseAil for destroying of wolves, would, 
if not pierented, speedily decay. These are therefore to prohibit aU persons from ex- 
porting any of the said dogs out of this Kingdom, and searchers and other officers of the 
Customs in the several ports and creeks of this dominion, are strictly required to seize 
and make stop of all such dogs, and deliver them either to thQ common huntsman ap- 
potaled for the prednct where they are seized upon, or to the governor of the said pre- 
GiBCt.^Dated at Kilkenny, 27th April, 1652. 

There is less evidence of the extent to which falconrv was prac* 
tised by the Irish. It may be that the Irish gentry (^ Milesian race, 
one of whose peculiar features it was to despise aU that bore the ap- 
pearance of luxury and pomp,' deemed this expensive pastime not 
worth the care and cost. But though this national trait may have 
kept the Irish from following the common custom of Europe, it is not 
to oe supposed that the greater Anglo-Irish nobles, allied to the nobi- 

1 These wonld seem to have been the see Palamtm and Areite, Dryden's version, 

dogs that supplied Chaucer with his image book iii. 

of those that accompanied the king of ' Order of I2th May, 1653, quoted from 

Thrace on fan entry into Thebes : — the Council Book of the Commonwealth, by 



T«n tiraee and mora of cnyhoonds, niowy, Ikir, Hardiman in his edition of lar- Conmnghi, 

And uU u Stags, ran looie and ooursed about p. 181. 

A JS^J^'^^. i« « 1,4 « ^ «i. # .u. ' Seanihurtt d€ RebuM Hibem. A.D. 1632, 

A mateh for pards In flight, in grappling for tb« nreface 



150 

lity of England and frequenters of the king's court, and therefore, 
familiar with the habits of the higher classes of English society, could 
have been without their hawking train. Accoi^ingly, we find a 
statute passed in the reign of king Edward II., creating the penalty 
of forfeiture on those who much aggrieved the common people and 
wasted and destroyed their lands by sending men, horses, dogs, and 
birds to sojourn in their houses.* This country, indeed, was early 
celebrated for its hawks. 

In Edward III.'s reign, we find his falconer William of Troyes 
sent over to Ireland to purchase for the king six gos-hawks and six 
tarsels ; and on the same roll is an order on the treasury of Ireland to 
pay the cost of the birds, and the expenses of the falconer and his 
varlets during his stay in Ireland on the king's business.^ The de- 
mand for them on the Continent of Europe induced such an export of 
them as rendered them scarce and dear at home to the prejudice of 
the Anglo-Irish nobles, who thereupon obtained restrictions to be put 
on the trade in them. 

Thus in the tenth year of Richard 11. ( A.D. 1386), proclamation 
was ordered to be made at Drogheda against exporting any com, 
falcons, hawks, or tarsels in ships to foreign parts {^Calendar of Pai. 
JRolh^ tenth year of Richard II., p. 136, art. 90). And in the first 
year of Henry IV. (A.D. 1400), searchers were appointed to seize 
any horses, arms, fish, com, hawks, or tarsels or falcons attempted to 
be taken out of the land (Id, p. 159, art. 10). In which is to be 
observed the curious coupling of hawks and falcons with com and 
fish, as if they had become necessaries of life I 

In spite of those prohibitions, which perhaps were only temporary, 
we have evidence by another Act of Parliament passed in 1480 
(see 20th Edwd. IV., Ir. Stat.), that the great plenty of goshawks, 
falcons, and tarsels that had formerly been within the land of Ireland, 
to the great pleasure of the king, and other lords and gentlemen of 
his realm of England and of his land of Ireland, was reduced, '^ in- 
somuch that no hawks were there to be had to pleasure the king and 
his lords ;" and a very heavy duty was thereby imposed upon the ex- 
port of these birds. And nnally, when Henry VlII. provided ordi- 
nances for the government of Ireland, on his extending nis jurisdiction 
over those parts that had not before submitted to his sway, he ordained 
^' that noe stranger of other realmes take nother horse ne hauke out 
of that lande, ne any other person convey any such horse or hawke 
from thens to any outward parties, except mto Englande, without the 
Deputie's lycence, and not thither to the intent to sell the same, upon 
peyne of forfaiture of the same horse and hawke, or the value of the 
same to the Kynges Deputie." {State Papers^ vol. ii. part iii. p. 
216). Hawks had at this time become one of tlie choicest presents 
that could be made out of Ireland. Thus, archbishop Allen, wishing 

1 Unpublished Stat., Exchequer Memor. > CaL of Patent RolU, 26th Feb., 32nd 
Rolb.—Lynch'8 l^euda/ Dignitiet, p. 120. Edw. III., A.D. 1358. 



151 

to ingratiate himself with Cromwell lord privy seal to king Henry 
VIII., promises to send him in the following year a hawk, a hobby, 
and a Limerick mantle, these three things, he adds, being all the 
commodities for a gentleman's pleasure in these parts. In pursuance 
of this promise we find Skeffington, as deputy, writing to Cromwell 
that he was then sending up by a servant of his "from the Arch- 
bishop of DubUn to the King's Highness, a leash of gendl hawks, 
and a caste to your mastership." 

In the same collection of state papers and correspondence there 
are two letters from the earl of Ossory, which strikingly exhibit how 
sreatly these hawks were prized. In one he writes, *' I doo send, at 
mis tyme, three goshawkes, oon old and twoo younge hawkes ; whereof 
I will that Maister Secretary doo chewse twoo hawkes, and that my 
Lord Chanceller have the thirde hawke, and," he adds, by way of cau- 
tion, as if he feared lest some jealous acquaintance should take offence, 
" that as fewe knowe thereof, as ye may, and specially that my Lord 
of Wilshire know not thereor* (State Papers^ vol. ii. part iii. p. 272). 
In the other the earl commissions his agents in London, ue two 
Cowleys, to explain to Cromwell that one of O'More's sons while he 
(Ossory) was in Dublin, took a nest of hawks that he had bought in 
Leix of CMore to send to Cromwell, and had given them to the lord 
deputy, lord Leonard Grey ; but at the same time directs him to state, 
that he had provided half a dozen nests to recompense his lordship for 
his own hawks that he had presented to the king in his (Ossory's) 
name last year, but that the year was so bad that they had failed and 
he had only one in mew (State Papers^ vol. iii. part iii. p. 48). In 
like manner (State Papersy vol. iii. part iii. p. 222) the countess 
dowager of Ormonde sends the king two goshawks, and St. Leger a 
like number, which were kept bade when some falcons and tarsel- 
gentles were sent, not knowing but that the king's proclamation 
a^inst exporting goshawks prohibited it (State Papers^ vol. iii. part 
iii. p. 627). 

From the following curious entry on the Memoranda Rolls of the 
Irish exchequer, it would appear that this ordinance against the ex- 
port of hawks was strictly observed, and that king Henry VIII. con- 
sidered it matter of great favour to grant a suspension of it. The entry 
is as follows : — 

To our Right Trusty, &c., Sir Anthony St. Leger, Knt. of our Order, Deputy of our 
Realm of Ireland, &c., and to our Trusty and Well-beloved Councellor, Sir Wm. Brabazon, 
Esq., Vioethesaurer of our Kingdom of Ireland, &c. We greete you well, letting you wit 
that upon instant sute made unto us by our Rt. Trustie and Rt. Entirely beloved Cosin 
the Duke of Albekirk, of Spayon, on behalf of the Marquis Desaria and bis son, that it 
might like us to graunte unto the said Marquis and his said son and to the longer liver 
of them yearly out of that our Realm of Ireland two Goshawkes and four Greyhounds. 
For as much as the seyed Duke had doon unto us, in attendance upon our person in theis 
our warres, very acceptable pleasure and service, and for that we bee informed that the 
said Marquis bereth unto us espedall good wyll and affection, tenderyng as well the 
contynnuance of the same, as the earnest request of the said Duke, whose daughter the 
said Marquis's sonne hath in marriage, We have been moved to graunt his suit in that 
behalf. 



152 

The writ proceeds to command the deputy to take order for the 
delivery of the said hawks and grey-hounds unto such persons as the 
said marquis and his son and me longer liver of them shall yearly, 
with their letter, address unto him for that purpose : — 

And that our Treuurer for the time being shall, out of such treasure as shall from .time 
to time come to your hands, content and pay the charges of buying the said hawks and 
greyhoundsi &c. Given under onr Signet att our Palais of Westminster, the 19th Dec 
the 36th year of our Raigne (A.D. 1545). 

In the council book of Edward VI. and Phillip and Mary, there 
are further applications of the marquis for his yearly demand of hawks 
and CTey-hounds out of Ireland, but war breaking out between Spain 
and England in queen Elizabe^'s reign, would, of course put a stop 
to all intercourse, and there is no notice of any further demand. 

The office of grand falconer, which in England is a high here- 
ditary office and enjoyed at this day by the duke of St. Alban's, 
seems never to have had any regular continuance in Ireland. 

In the reign of king Henry IV. Sir Hugh Shirley was created 
by writ of privy seal dated at Westminster, 27th Mwch, A.D. 1400, 
master of the falcons in Ireland for the term of his life, to be executed 
by himself or his sufficient deputy, receiving from tlie king the ac- 
customed fee.^ But from the absence of any other notice of the 
office, and from the tenor of the grant of the like office made in the 
reign of James I., it may be inferred that the office and its duties 
were almost unknown in Ireland. 

In 1605, king James I. appointed Sir Jeffirey Fenton, then prin- 
cipal secretary for Ireland, to be master of the hawks and game of all 
sorts within mat realm.^ It is stated in the patent that many honours 
and estates ore held of the king by the service of rendering of a fal- 
con, eagle, gentle, goshawk, or taisel of goshawk or other kind of 
hawk, and that lords or chiefbains of territories had paid imto the king 
or his ancestors at the receipt of their exchequer, or unto the deputy 
or other governor-general of the kingdom, sundry hawks of the kindis 
aforesaid, of which hawks the king was f(» the most part defirauded 
through the negligence of his officers who ought to receive or demand 
the same. And that abuses were daily committed by engrossing of 
hawks of all sorts, by buying and seUing of them and maxing com- 
mon merchandize of them, and at times transporting them out of the 
kin^om to the disfumishing of it, whereby the honourable personages 
in uic realm and others attending the state are utterly disappointed 
of hawks and deprived of their recreation. For reformation ^^ of these 
enormities'' Sir Jeffrey is appointed to be receiver of rent hawks due 
to the king and his successors, and master of the hawks and game. 

In illustration of this species of render for estates and honors it 
may be mentioned, that in the 8th year of Edward IV. (A.D. 1468), 

> Siemmata Shirieuma; or, the Atmah by Nicbob, Westminster, 1841, 4to. 
qf the Shirley Family : — Privately printed ' lAbtr MuHerum Hilfemue, part iL p. 9L 



153 

Robert Bold, Eeq., was by patent created baron of Batowth with 
the manor thereof, to hold to him and his heirs male, rendering 
yearly a go»-hawk for all service, &c.* And in the year 1218, Regi- 
nald Talbot was found seized of Dalkey rendering therefor a gos* 
hawk annually : and in 1369 his successor, Reginald Talbot, was 
sued in the court of exchequer for delivering therein as the rent of 
Dalkey one gos-hawk, which on inspection and examination there, 
provea unsoxmd and of no value, and for this &aud he was fined.* 

The following entry firom &e records of the court of exchequer at 
a somewhat later period shows that even in the reign of kin£ James I. 
hawks were ofimportonce enough to give rise to law-suits. The entry 
is firom Ae rule lK>oks of the equity side of the court of exchequer. 

Veneris xxi^" ApriUia, 1608. 

Limerick — In the canae dependinge betweene the Lord Bourke and Oeorge €onrtney 
pl*« and Bichard Oill, de^, for an ariere of haukes whereas by bill of complaint the 
last aaaizfls holden at limericke before the Earie of Thomond» Sir Hnmftey Winche, 
knighty Lo. Chiefe Barrone of this Excheq' and Henry Gosnell esquire and others on 
the TsV^ daie of August last past, It was ordered by the assent of both parties that the 
Gooshawke menc'oned in the said Bill of Complainte shall remaine still in the possession 
of Ae defend*, and that the Caste of Tasseils should be put in deposito into the handes 
of the light hon^« the Earie of Thomond, the said Earie having undertaken to restore 
to him to whome of right they shall be found by lawe to bdonge, and the pi** to com- 
mence thei^ suite the next Tearme in the Court of Ezcheq' against the said def* GiU 
for the title of the lands.* 

But the sport of hawking was now declining ; and the growing 
use of fowling-pieces and the rapid progress of the puritan spirit in 
this and the succeeding reign, probaoly put an end to fidconry. 

The last person who seems to have attempted the sport in Ireland 
was lord StradSbrde ; but firom the ridicule he casts on the failure of his 
efforts, it is plain that the sport had already ceased to be a common pas- 
time. In nict, the sport seems to have lieen as strange to the public, 
and not so successfiil, as the displays occasionally maoe in the Fhoenix 
Park and on the Gurra^h of Slildare, some ten or fifteen years a^. 

His correspondent, lord Cottington, seems to have detailed to mm 
some very baa sport he had had in W ilt^iire for lack of wood-pigeons ; 
and this draws forth firom lord Strafforde one of those characteristic 
sallies in the gailliard or courtly tone with which his correspondence 
abounds, indicative of his haughty and self-complacent spirit. His 
letter is fix>m Dublin, and hem date the 24th November, 1633 : — 
^ Tour Defeat of your Hawking sport in Wiltshire is nothing like to 
mine : For (as the Man you wot of said by the Pidseons) here hath 
not been a Partridge in tne Memory^ of Man, so as having a passing 
high-flying Tarsell, I am even setting him down, and To-morrow 

Jurpose with a cast or two of Spar-hawks to betake myself to fly at 
ilack-Birds, ever and anon taking them on the Pate with a Trunk. 

> Lynch's Feudal Dignitiet, p. 182. records the writer is indebted to his friend, 

* D'Alton'a HUiorp of the Onmty qf James Frederick Fergusoui Esq., the keeper 
DtcA/in, p. 888. of those important muniments of the na« 

* For these extracts from the exchequer tional history. 

20 



154 

It is excellent Sport, there being sometimes two hundred Horse in the 
Field lookingupon us, where the Lord of Fonsail drops out of Doors 
with a poor Falconer or two, and if Sir Robert Wind and Gabriel 
Epsley^ be gotten alon^^ it is a Regale."^ 

To conclude, the following doggerel lines describing the hawks 
found in Ireland, are extracts from a very curious work by John 
Derrick, a servant of Sir Henry Sidney, giving an account of Ireland 
in the year 1578 in metre of the same doggerel character extending 
to over a thousand verses. His main object is to describe the habits 
of the kerne of Ulster, whose life he had observed during Sir Henry 
Sidney's war with O'Neill. It will be found in the finit volume of 
the Somers' *^ Collection of Tracts." But first, one word about the 

f OS-hawk, for which Ireland was chiefly celebrated. Falconers divided 
awks into two classes — the long-winged and short-winged hawks. 
To the former belonged the falcon, and the falcon-gentie and others ; 
to the latter the gos-nawk, which was the largest hawk used in &1- 
conry, except the ger-falcon, peculiarly the bird of kings and princes, 
and scarcely known in these countries. The falcon and the goa-hawk 
differed in their flight ; the gos-hawk flew at the same level as its prey 
and struck at it by a side flight; the falcon mounted up above it and 
shot down perpendicularly, bringing down the prey with an extra- 
ordinary force to the ground, just as described in the scene at Pem- 
broke before Henry if. The tassel, or tarsel, was simply the male of 
any hawk, so called from the French word Hercektj derived from tierSf 
signifjring third part, because (unlike the rest of creation) the males 
among hawks are less in size than the females, to the extent of a third 
part. Juliet's application of this term to Romeo is &miliar to all — 

O for & £ilconer'8 voice, 

To lure this taasd-gentle back again 1 

The following are the lines from Derrick : — 

Of Hawkes which retain sundry names, 

The oouniTf store doth breed ; 
Whose names if patience will abide. 

In order shall proceed. 

The Goshawk, first of all the crew. 

Deserves to have the name ; 
The Faucon next, for high attempts 

In glorie and in fSsme. 

The Tarsell then ensneth on, 

Good reason 'tis that he 
For flying hawks, in Ireland, next, 

The Faucon placed should be. 

The Tarsell-gentle's' course is next, 

The fourth peer of the land ; 
Combined to tiie Faucon with 

A lover^s friendly hand. 

* Neighbours, apparently, of lord Straf- — Strafforde't Leiiert, voL i. p. 162. 
forde in Yorkshire. ' The male of the falcon-gentle, the best 

' Earl of Strafforde to )ord Cottington : and boldest kind of falcon, somewhat less. 



155 

The prettie Marlioni ii the fifth. 
To her the Sparhawke's next ; 

And then the Jacke and Musket' last, 
By whom the birds are vext 

These are the hawks which chiefly breed 

In fertile Irish ground ; 
Whose match for flight and speedie wing, 

Elsewhere be hardly found. 



KILKENNY TRADESMEN'S TOKENS. 

BY AQUILLA SMITH, ESQ., M.D., M.BJ.A. 

The subjoined list is forwarded in the hope of aiding the local archae- 
ologists in making further inquiries on me subject. The legend on 
the obverse is first given, with the bearing in the field between paren- 
theses ; then the legend and the bearing in the field of the reverse : — 

1. Edward. Roth. Mabchant. (A stag trippant in front of a 
tree, the armorial bearing of Roth). 

In. Kilkenny. 1663. (E. R. Id.). 

2. loHN. Beavob. (the fimire of a beaver). 
Of Kilkent. (I.B. Id.). 

3. Richard. Inwood. (a wind-mill). 

[. . .] KiLLKENT. (Id.). 

4. Ralph. Skanlan. (Id.). 
KiLLKENY. 1656. (a swan). 

5. Iohn. Whittle, in. (arms of the Commonwealth of England). 
KiLKENY. 1666. (Id.). Engraved in Willis* "Price Current" 

for 1853, p. 11. 

6. LvcAS. Wale. of. (a shield containing the arms of Wale). 
KiLKENY. Mebgh^nt. (L.I.W. Id.). 

7. Peteb. Goodin. of. (Id.). 
KiLKENY. Mabchant. (a fleur-de-lis). 

8. Thomas. Davis. Kilk£ny. (a lion's head). 
Excise. Offis. (Id.). 

9. William. Keovgh. (Id.). 
KiLKENY. Goldsmith, (a mermaid). 

but much better, tban the peregrine falcon, we have the proverb, " as merry as a mar. 

See Cotgrave's French and Englith Die» tin;" in French — *'joyeuz comme un es 

/tonory. A.D. 1610. merillon.— /&. 

* Or mertin ; a sroa]! sprightly hawk, ' The tarsel, or male of the sparrow- 

caHed in French " et merillon," from which hawk. — lb. 



156 

10. loHH. Lahoton. in. (a shield charged with three chevronela* 
the bearing of Langton). 

Kn^BVBY. Mab. (Id.). 

1 1. Edward. Sewell. of. (a man dipping candles). 
EiLLKEinr. Tallow. Chav. (Id.). 

12. Thomas. Adams. (G. E. 1658). 
KiTJLENNT. Pent, (the city arms). 

13. Thomas. Adams. (O.K. 1658). 
Kilkenny. Hapbnt. (the ci^ arms). 

14. Iamks. Pvbcbll. (a shield charged with three boars' heads 
couped, a crescent for difference — the buffing of Porcell). 

Ibishtownb. Killny. (LP. Id.). 

15. loHN. Bolton. 

ElLKENNT. 

This is given on the authority of a collector. I have not seen a 
specimen. 

16. Thomas. Netbll. of. (Id. 1658). 
EiLKBNT. 1 658. (a harp). 

17. Thomas. Talbot, of. (Id.). 

ElLLKBNY. ViNTNRB. (a SUn). 

18. Thomas. Toole, of. (a lion rampant). 

ElLKENT. MaBCH. (Id^. 

19. For. The. Poore. (O.K. 1669). 
ElLKENNT. Pent, (the city arms). 

20. Fob. T* Vse. & Conyeniencie. (the city aims). 

Of. The. Inhabitants. (. 16 . Eclkeny Hapenny . 77 .)• 
This is engraved in Snelling's second additional plate to Simon, 
figure 4y the date being incorrect. 

21. Adam. Dylan. 1578 (a cross, the points floree of fleurs-de- 
lis, between the arms a crown and fleur-de-lis alternately). 

Of Eilkene. (a shield, surmounted by a crown, oearing three 
fleurs-de-lis). 

The advantages which result from the publication of special catsr 
logues or lists of coins are so manifest, it is much to be regretted that 
the practice is not more generally adopted. 

The publication of such lists afi I have alluded to, stimulates col- 
lectors to direct their attention more particularly to the subject, which 
necessarily leads to classification, ana thereby mmishes the local his- 
torian with means to draw inferences firom subjects, which if not 
groiiped together might escape his attention. 

The first notice 1 find ot tradesmen's tokens having been cunent 
in Ireland, is by Walter Harris, in his edition of ** Ware's Antiquities 
of Ireland ;" he informs us that, ** when Oliver Cromwell pooessed 
himself of the Government, several Merchants in Dublin^ and other 
Towns, to supply a scarcity of small Change, coined Pence and Half- 
pence in Copper and Brass, with their Names and Places of Abode 



157 

inacribed on them, which they were obli^d to make good, and the 
same Practice prevailed in subsequent Tmies."^ The next writer in 
point of date is Simon» who, in his *^ Essay on Irish Coins," first pub- 
lished in 1749, informs us that — ''Before the restauration of King 
Charles II., and during the common-wealth and Cromwell*8 govern- 
menty no money was coined for the particular use of Ireland ; but 
diveis persons in Dublin and other places in this kingdom, in order 
to supply the great scarcity of smalt change, coined copper tokens, 
with then: names and places of abode stamped on them, whereby they 
obliged themselves to make them good. To this time may be ascribed 
those of Richard Greenwood, of High-street, Dublin ; Thomas Flood, 
of ditto, merchant ; Thomas Gould, of ditto, merchant ; John Warren, 
of ditto, chandler; Nicolas Delone of Lazy-hill, Dublin; Desminier, 
of Bridse-street, Dublin ; and of William Keough, of Kilkenny, 
goldsmiw ; besides, no doubt, many others which I have not."^ 

*' About this time [1672] small change must have been very 
scarce, since we find that private persons and towns were obliged to 
ccnn copper tokens. I have of , this year the Penny-piece struck at 
Kinsale, having on one side a port-cuuis with the figure i^. and round 
it, KINSALE. 1672, and on the other the arms of the town. I have also 
the Half-penny of Michael Wilson, having on one side the scutcheon 
of his arms, with this iDscription — Mic. wilson. of. nvBUir. reverse, 
St. Greorge, killing the Dragon, and his half-pent. 1672."' 

These very cursory notices of a class of coins which must have 
been more abundant when Simon wrote, than they are in our time, 
show clearly how little attention he had bestowed on them, and the 
significant words, ** which I have not," prove that his collection 
amounted to only nine specimens, seven of which were issued in 
Dublin, one in Kilkenny, and one in Kinsale. 

Snelling, whose valuable supplement to Simon was published in 
1769, gives us some additional ana more explicit information, together 
with engravings of a considerable number of tokens of the seventeenth 
and eighteenth centuries. He says, ** we don't remember to have seen 
any of them dated before 1654, eSter which year we have observed 
the following dates, viz., 1656, 1657, 1658, 1661, 1664, 1667, 1672, 
1674, and 1679, thus it is plain Armstrong's patent in 1660, and the 
proclamation in consequence of it, to forbia these tokens having a 
currency had no efiect. ' 

** The towns we have observed where these pieces were uttered 
are Belfast, Cashell, Charleville, Clitheroe, Cork, Dublin, Dungarvan, 
Gralway, Eildare, Kilkenny, Lisbume, L3rmerick, Londonderry, 
Montrath, PuUhely and Toughal, and no doubt but Uiere are a great 
many more. However, there were but very few cities or towns that 

■ Harris' ff^are^t Antigiuitieif vol. ii. p. p. 48 of the edition of 1810. 
219. folio, 1745. * Simon, p. 53, first edition, and p. 52 

> Simtm, p. 49» first edition, 1749, and of the edition of 1810. 



158 

struck them in their corporate capacity, being only Cork, Kinsale 
and Kilkenny."^ 

From Snelling having included Glitheroe in Lancaddie, and 
PuUhely in Caernarvonshire, among the Irish tokens, it is evident 
that he had not given much attention to this class of coins, and his 
conjecture that " there are a great many more" than those enume- 
rated by him, has been established to an extent &r greater than he 
imagined. 

In a few years after Snelling's time, we find that our local his- 
torians began to direct their attention to the tradesmen's tokens. 
Ferrar, in nis "History of Limerick," 1787, 8vo., gives a tolerably 
complete account of fourteen local tokens, with engravings. Hardi- 

man*8 "History of Galway," 1820, 4to "The ffistory of Belfast," 

1823, 8vo ^M^Skimin's " History of Carrickfergus," 1823, and the 

" Picture of Parsonstown," contnbuted to our Knowledge on this 
subject. These, together with isolated notices of particular tokens in 
the " Anthologia Eubemica," and other publications, comprise all that 
was published up to 1839, when my learned Mend, Mr. Lmdsay, conr 
ceived and earned into execution the idea of publishing " A List of 
Irish Tokens." 

It is to Mr. Lindsay that I am indebted for the suggestion which 
directed my attention to the collecting of tradesmen's tokens, with 
the purpose of extending his " List," and making a more particular 
classification than he observed ; to which pursuit I was encouraged 
by my late friend, the Very Rev. Henry Kichard Dawson, Dean of 
^. Patrick's, Dublin, the first collector who duly appreciated our 
local tokens, and owing to the diligence and zeal with which he 
sought after them, and the liberality with which his rich cabinets 
were at all times accessible to others, Mr. Lindsay was enabled to 
publish more than one hundred tokens of the seventeenth century- 

The tokens issued in Ireland may be divided into the following 
groups or classes : — 

1st. — Tradesmen's tokens of the seventeenth century firom 16S3 

to 1679. 
2nd. — Tokens or tickets of the eighteenth century from 1728 to 

1761. 
3rd. — The war tokens issued subsequent to 1789. 
4th. — The commercial farthing tokens current at present. 
5th. — Leaden tokens. 
6th. — Silver tokens. 

It now only remains to show to what an extent and how rapidly 
our knowledge of the tradesmen's tokens of the seventeenth century 
has been increased by the publication of my Catalogue and its Sup- 
plement in the " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Acwlemy." 

* Supplement to Mr. Simon's Ettay on Iriih Cohu, p. 5. 



159 

Mr. Lindsay's ^* List of Irish Tokens, commencing with the period 
of the Commonwealth, and ending with that of the reign of George 
n.," comprises 195 ; from this list we must abstract seventeen which 
will take their places in one or other of the groups which I have pro- 
posed, and after this deduction 178 of the seventeenth century remain. 

"Within ten years after Mr. Lindsay's publication I was enabled to 
extend his list by the addition of 374, and in the following six years 
I discovered 72 which are described in my supplemental catalorae, 
making a total of 624, and, as Snelling observed, ** no doubt but there 
are a ffreat many more." 

I feel much gratification in reprinting the following extract from 
the *^ Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academv," as it uiows that the 
object I had in view when I published my nrat catalogue, has been 
realized to an extent &r beyond what I expected at that time. 

<<May 28th, 1849. — Dr. A. Smith laid before the Academy a 
manuscript catalogue of the Tradesmen's Tokens current in Ireland 
in the seventeenth century, and made a few observations on their use, 
as illustrating family history and other matters of local interest. He 
stated that his object at present was, that the list should be printed 
in the Proceedings, with the view of circulating it extensively, and 
thereby inviting the collectors of coins throuffnout the country to 
communicate to him nodces of such tokens as nave not come under 
his observation, so as to enable him, at some future time, to publish a 
historical and descriptive catalogue, accompanied with engravings of 
such of the coins as are peculiar for their devices, or calculated to 
assist the local historian in his inquiries."^ 

To many persons it may appear that these tokens are not worthy 
of the attention which some collectors bestow on them^ but I hope 
at some ftiture time to enter at large on the subject to which these 
remarks are only preliminary, and to show that the history of local 
tokens, when ftdly investigated, possesses more interest than is gene- 
rally supposed to be connected with them. 



AN ATTEMPT 
TO IDBNTIFY THB PERSONS WHO ISSUED 

TRADESMEN'S TOKENS IN KILKENNY. 

BY JOHN G. A. FBIH. 

Db* Aquilla Smith having furnished the Society with a list of such 
tradesmen's tokens struck in Kilkenny, as he has ascertained to be' in 
existence, it has occurred to me that it would be interesting to illus- 

> YoL It. p. 345. 



160 

irate that liBt by an attempt to identify the pexsons by whom those 
humble examples of a circulating medium were uvued, and place on 
record any matters in connexion with them worthy of being preserved. 
It is unnecessaiy for me to enter into any defence of such an inquiry, 
for although Pinkerton has inconsiderately denounced the study of tms 
kind of coinage as tending to serve no purnoee of interest or utility, 
Mr. Akerman, in his valuable work on tne tradesmen's tokens of 
London, has iiiUy proved of what importance is such an investigieition, 
in illustrating local matters, historical and topographical, connected 
with the latter portion of the seventeenth century, and Dr. Smidi, in 
the paper which accompanies his list of Kilkenny tokens, has further 
elucidated the subject. It is, of coursd, well understood that the 
private coinage of tokens, passing for a penny or half-penny, arose out 
of the inconvenience sustamed by shop-keepers and traders, in oonse* 
quence of the scarci^ of small cnange. Tnis inconvenience was felt 
m>m a very early period, and traders in England endeavoured to meet 
it so early as the beginning of the fifteenth century, by issuing private 
tokens, made of lead, to pass in lieu of the silver half-pennies and 
farthinfis of the state> which were scarcely procurable, though mani- 
festly me most necessary kind of money to suit the occasions of the 
poorer people. The leaden tokens appear to have been in veiy 
general use, though not countenanced by the authorities, down to the 
reign of James I., when the king and privy council devised several 
schemes for the issuing of small com so as to oring profit to the crown. 
These arrangements, nowever, were only attendea with very partial 
success ; and during the Commonwealth, and the earlier portion of the 
reign of Charles 11., pence and half-pence were so scarce that the 
issuing of private tokens, both in England and Ireland, became very 

einend, and were struck by traders m almost every town and city, 
r. Smith is collecting materisJs for a fiiU, historical and illustrative 
catalogue of the Irish tokens, which wiU prove a work of great inte- 
rest, oilculated to throw valuable light on the extent and cuffiision of 
trade in this country at the period, and do much to forward and assist 
the researches of local historians. My own inquiries have merely been 
turned to the tokens issued in Kilkenny ; and the result may not be 
altogether tmworthy of a place in the Society's Transactions — -perhaps 
may even be calcuSited to give information to that distin£;uiBned nu- 
mismatist himself, on points which, firom his want of local knowledge, 
he could scarcely be expected to become acquainted with. 

The token. No. 1, in the list which Dr. Smith has communicated 





to the Society, purports to have been issued by Edward Koth, 
chant of Kilkenny, in the year 1663, and bears on the obve 



a mer- 
obverse the 



161 

armorial insigiiia of the distinguished mercantile family to which he 
belonged. The name of Roth first makes its appearance in the civic 
record of Ealkennj, amongst those of importance in the municipality, 
in the year 1403, when Thomas Roth was invested with the office of 
sovereign, or chief magistrate of the town. It is almost unnecessaiy 
to advert to the prominent place taken in the historical memorials of 
the first half of the seventeenth century by David Roth, Roman 
Catholic bishop of Ossory, the son of a Kilkenny merchant, and 
famous alike for the part which he played in the politics and the 
literature of his day. In the charter of James I., wnich raised EliU 
kenny to the dignity of a city in 1609, four of the Roth family are 
nominated as amongst the first aldermen, whilst the first recorder also 
VTBS Robert Roth. Edward Roth, who struck the token imder cour 
sideration, was sheriff of Kilkenny for the year 1651. On the 28th 
March, in the previous year, when Cromwell's besieging army was 
before the city, this gentieman was one of the four commissioners 
nominated by the gallant governor. Sir Walter Butier, to negotiate 
terms of sunender ; and for the fulfilment of the treaty, so honourable 
to the garrison which was the first to give a check to the all-conquer- 
ing arms of the parliament's general, Edward Roth remained a hosta^ 
in the camp of the besiegers. When James II., in 1688, revoked his 
grand-father's charter to Kilkenny, and granted instead, one of more 
Emited power, though ostentatiously put forward as an act of extra- 
ordinaiT royal bounty, amongst the new aldermen specially nominated, 
HSdward Roth comes third upon the list, the distinguished names of 
tlie lord Mountgarret and the baron of Courtstown only preceding 
Iris. There were no fewer than six Roths named in this charter to 
be aldermen and common-councilmen, and the honour of the mayor- 
alty was conferred by it on John Roth. The family suffered consi- 
derably by its adherence to the fortunes of king James, and has since 
died out in Kilkenny. The token of Edward Roth is by no means 
scarce, being one of tliose most firequently found throughout the county 
and city of Kilkenny. The crest of the Roth family, which is dis- 
played on the obverse of the token, is a stag trippant ffules^ beneath 
a tree vert. 

John Beavor, or Beaver, as the name is frequently spelled, who 
issued token No. 2, seems to have been a settler in Kilkenny after 





its subjugation by Cromwell, for the name is not previously to be met 
with in the municipal records ; and that he was a subscriber to the 
puritanical doctrines introduced by the parliamentary soldiers who 

21 



162 

settled in the district, there is evidence. Griffith Williams, biahop. of 
Ossory, and a determined partisan of the royal cause, in a work which 
he published in London, in 1661, entitled <* Seven Treatises Very 
Necessary to be Observed in these very Bad Days," &c., complains 
bitterly of the number of sectaries who were planted in his diocese by 
the great Anti-Christ, as he termed Cromwell ; and in a list of seven* 
teen persons, " frequenters of an unlawful conventicle," returned to 
him by the church-wardens of one of the city parishes^ he gives the 
name of John Beaver, merchant. On the 28th October, 1661, Mr. 
John Beaver is stated in the White Book of the corporation of Kil- 
kenny to have been sworn one of the wardens of the merchants' guild, 
for the ensuing year ; and on the 8th October, same year, Mr. John 
Beaver is recoraed to have been one of four selected fix>m the mer- 
chants' guild to enter the common council, and was sworn into office 
the same day. His tokens, which bear the figure of a beaver on the 
obverse as a pun on the name of the striker, were made the subject 
of a special order by the corporation, on the 2nd May, 1667 ; but to 
this I shall have to recur hereafter. 

Richard Inwood (No. 3^ was, like Beaver, a settler in Kilkenny. 
He was an inn-keeper, in those days not 'a very common calling ; m 
&ct less than half a century previously the necessity of an establish- 
ment where strangers coula procure lodging and entertainment, was 
felt so much in Kilkenny, that the corporation ofiered premiums to 
parties to induce them to open hotels. In the year 1591 an annuity 
of forty shillings was g^ranted, according to the Bed Book of Kilkenny, 
to a person ** for keeping an ordinary lor strangers ;" and on the 1 1th 
October, 1619, an allowance of £5 per annum was givem to a person 
to induce him to ^* keep an inn to entertain the Lords Justices, and 
noblemen, and gentlemen coming to the city." Bishop Williams 
gives Richard Inwood, inn-keeper, amongst the frequenters of the 
conventicle in 1661. He is mentioned as a member of the corpo- 
ration, being a common-councilman, on the 1st November, 1667, and 
it is probable he was elected to that office before the Restoration, as 
the order of Charles II. for having the oath of supremacy taken by 
all civic officials, seems to have been for some time a sad stumbling- 
block in the way of his subsequent advancement to municipal digm- 
ties. On the 29th June, 1668, Mr. Inwood and a Mr. Thomas 
Cooksey were elected sheriffs. On the 25th September following, 
the latter took the oath of supremacy, and was installed in his office, 
but the entry sets out further — *^ Time given to Mr. Richard Inwood 
to consider taking his oath of supremacy, by Friday next." At the 
meeting of Friday, 2nd October, it appeared that he had made up 
his mind to go through part only of the formulaiy, and the declaration 
is thus set out in the W hite Book : — 

I Richard Inwood doe declare in y presence of God that I doo owne and acknow- 
ledge Charles y* 2^ King of Brittaine, to he y* supreme head and Govern' of EngUnd, 
Scotland, and Ireland, and the Territoryes and Dominions thereunto bdonging ; and I 



163 



doe ntterly deny end renounce all forraigne powen and jnriadiclions in these his ma'ties 
Dominions ; and I doo promise £uth and true allegeanoe to my Sovenraigne Lord y« King 
in all and every part of his dvil and temporall government, soe help me God. 

Thus far Mr. Richard Inwood can tid^e y* oath of supremacy* bnt refdseth the oath 
in y* printed booke of Dalton Sheireffes. 

The next Deren Hundred to consider what fine shall be imposed on Mr. Inwood for 
not taking y* oath of supremacy. 

The QuestioQ was not fully decided at next meeting, which was 
on the 9th of October, as appears from the following entry : — 

That Mr. Richard Inwood be snmoned to appear next Deren Hundred to shew 
cause, if any he can, why y* fine usually imposed on p'sons refusing to act as Sherriffes 
by not taking y* oathe apointed, should not be payed by him. 

We are not ^ven any further record as to the termination of this 

J>roceeding ; we Know only that another person was appointed sheriff 
or the year 1668. Whether Inwood was converted from dissent by 
the indefatigable denunciations, oral and written, of bishop Williams, 
does not appear ; but, be this as it may, in a few years aliier, all his 
conscientious scruples about the oath of supremacy would seem to have 
vanished. At a meeting of the corporation, held 6th October, 1671, 
we have an entry in the White Book to the effect that Henry Cookson, 
having been elected sheriff, was called to be sworn, but not appearing, 
he was fined ten pounds for his defa\ilt ; " Mr. Richard Inwood was 
chosen in his place and sworn, and he took the oath of supremacy." 
On the 29th September, 1672, Inwood was sworn coroner of the city, 
and again took the previously obnoxious oath. His token, which is 
very rare — I have found it impossible to procure a perfect one to illus- 
trate this paper — is ornamented with the figure of a wind-mill on the 





obverse, which there can be little doubt was the sim of his inn, it 
being customary with traders, in many places, instead of their fiunily 
cognizances or such punning conceits as that adopted by Beaver, to set 
forth the device peculiar to their trade, or which they had adopted as 
the badge of their private establishments, upon the coin which they 
issued.' 

Ralph Skanlan, the next striker of tokens (No. 4), was also a 

tery of their griping iniquity, mixt with 
Taine-glory, vis. to suppresse these fsrthing 
tokens, that so they may advance their 
owne tokens, stamps, seals, names, signes, 
and superscriptions, if not images, as now 
appeares, though they he far inferior to 
Caesar's/' — Bum's Dnertpint Catalogue 
of the Toketii In th» BMt/oy Cakkntt^ 
Introduction, p. ziz. 



* In 1644, the oommon-coundl of 
London* having petitioned the House of 
Commons against the issue of farthing 
tokens struck hy a patentee of the crown, 
some hundreds of retailers presented a 
onmter-petition, declaring that those who 
decried the farthings acted from self-inte- 
nsted motives—** that this very point is 
the gttlph of their conceipts, and the mys- 



164 



member of the corporation of Kilkenny. In 1660, 1661, and 1662, 
he was amongst four nominated for the shrievalty, but not elected. 





In 1661 he was also a candidate for the recordership, but defeated by 
Launcelot Johnson. On the 4th October, 1661, he was sworn warden 
of the merchants' guild, conjointly with Beaver. He was elected and 
sworn sheriff at Michaelmas, 1663, but died in office, and on the 19th 
July following, the corporation was obliged to appoint John Whittle 
to serve the shrievalty for the remainder of the year. I have not been 
able to ascertain the Skanlan armorial insignia, but the swan on the 
reverse is a common device on Irish tokens of the period. 

We have already had a notice of John Whittle who put the next 
token in Dr. Smith's list (No. 5) into circulation. The &mily of 
Whittle, now sunk into obscurity, was founded in Kilkenny by a 
soldier of Cromwell's army, who lived to the extraordinary age of 
one hundred and twenty-seven years, and the whimsical inscription 
on whose tomb, at St. Canice's cathedral, has often excited attention. 
I believe it has never been printed, and I shall therefore transcribe it 
here : — 

Here lies the Body of Jobe Whittle, 
who died November the 4*** aged 127 ye"* 
Also the Body of Elinor Whittle, al. 
Harrason wife to Joseph Whittle who 
died March the 4"* 1767, aged 63 ye"- 
Likewise the body of Josejm Whittle 
Son to the above Job, and husband 
to Elinor who Departed the 3*^ of June 
1769, aged 85 years. 

Jobe a Soldier with Cromwell this land 

did invade, 
The Patience of Job made his Son 

Joseph reside, 
Edward Joseph's son saw George 

the third's jubilee. 
Resigns up his Soul, and leaves the 

third posterity. 

Aged 99 years. 

But no man may deliver his Brother nor 
make agreement unto Grod for him, 
for it cost more to redeem their souls so 
that he must let that alone for ever. 



169 

John Whittle was, no doubt, brother to the patient Joseph, and 
son to the founder of thb long-lived raoe. His partiality for the cause 
eepoQsed by hia father is very obvious from the croes of St. George 
and Irish harp on two escutcheons conjoined, the annorial cognizance 




of the Commonwealth, displayed on the obverse of hia token.' Having 
filled the office of sherin during a portion of the year 1664, after 
Skanlan's decease, he was appointed coroner for the ensuing year; 
and, on the 13th January, 1670, was admitted to the common council, 
■ having, the record ezpres^ states, "taken the oath of supremacy." 
On the 13th May, 1714, Job Whittle was elected town sergeant to 
the corporation of Irishtowo, and hi^ family was for upwards of two 
centuries hereditary pound-keepers of St. Canice'e parish, having ob- 
tained a long lease of the pound from the corporation of Irishtown ; 
however, this lease edited within the last las years, and the present 
represeotalive of the Whittles, a man in humble circumstances, but 
bearing the name of his ancestor, Job, was dispossessed of the office 
by the town council. Collectors find some difficulty in procuring 
specimens of Whittle's token. 

The family of Wale, or Wall, for they are thus indiscriminately 
designated, is of much longer standing in Kilkenny than the Whittles, 
Inwoods, or Beavers. Lucaa Wale (No. 6) being a Roman Catholic 
could not enter the corporation of his native city during the reign of 



Charles 11., as the oath of supremacy was an efiectual bar agtunst him. 
However, after the accession of James II. matters were changed. In 
the first year of that king's reign, the earl of Chu^ndon, then lord 
lieutenant of Ireland, forwmded a letter to the mayor and citizens of 
Kilkenny, directing them to dispense with the oath of supremacy, and 
elect Roman Catholic freemen and corporators. This order was, un- 
willingly enough, complied with, and we have an entry on the cor- 
porate minute book, under date 2nd July, 1686, that^" Seventeen 

a few IrUh tokcD* 



Papists were Bwome of the Second Coancil ;" and on the 6th July — 
" Luke Wall, one of the above, elected Sheriff." It appears that 
Lucas Wale died before he had completed his year of office, and in a 
manuscript list of the chief officers of the corporation of Kilkenny, in 
the poesession of Sir William Betham, is this entiy under the year 
1686- — "Isaac Mukins chose on y* decease of Luke Walle, Papist 
Sheriff." His tokens ore rare, but most collecturs have been enabled 
to supply themselves with specimens. The arms borne on the obverse 
are nearly the same as those given in a heraldic MS. in the posseamon 
of the Bev. James Graves, viz., " Wale, argent, on a cross table, five 
lions rampant or ;" the rose is a mark of cadency denoting a seventh 
son ; one of the lions has been defaced in the specimen by which this 
paper is illustrated. 

The token bearing the name of *' Peter Goodin" (No. 7) was, 
doubtless^ struck for alderman Peter Goodwin, who was sheriff of 




Kilkenny, in 1657, and mayor for two years consecatiTely, in 1664 
and 1665. The family was -very ancient in the city, and the name 
was written Godyn, Goodin, or Goodwin. John Godyn was sovereign 
of the town so eaily as 1316, and the name frequently occurs afla*. 
Goodwin's tokens are very scarce. I have never seen more than one, 
which I bought from a Connaught labourer, who add he turned it np 
in a field near Kilkenny ; it is the specimen which is now in the poe- 
sessioa of Dr. Smith. The fiunily of Goodin, or Goodwin, of Buck- 
inghamshire, bore lor arms, per pale or anAgulei, a lion rampant, 
inter three fiauis-de-lia counter-charged. The fieur-de-Us on the 
token was evidently from those of the arms of the striker. 

There is a difficulty as to the identification of the pardcular 
Thomas Davis who struck tlie token bearing that name (No. 8). 
Amongst the Haydock MSS. in the Evidence Chamber of Kilkemiy 
Castle, there is a muster-roll of captain Evans' company of the militia 
at that Ume raised in Kilkenny, from which it appears that on the 
8th April, 1667, a Thomas Davys was reported for having absented 
himself from a muster for exercise, on the Butt's Green, whilst no 
fewer than three other persons of the same name appeared on the 
ground. Of these, one particularly specified as "Tho. Davys, Taylor," 
carried a pike, the second Thomas Davis was armed with a musket, 
and the third with a pike ; but there is no addition given as to their 
trade or calling, so that it is impossible to say whether any of them 
was the excise officer who struck the token. In the years 1657 and 



167 

1658 a Thomas Davis was put in nomination for the shrievalty of 
Kilkenny, but was not elected; he wa£^ however, sworn into that 
office for the year 1660. The name also appears on the roll of free- 
men of the corporation of Irishtown for the year 1661. On the 4th 
July, 1673, Thomas Davis and William Davis were two of four persons 
appointed to represent the guild of tailors, in the common council of 
Kilkenny. On the 3rd October, 1673, Thomas Davis took the oath 
of master of the " Company of Taylours." The fiimily of Davis, 
Davys, or Davies of Kilkenny, claim to be of the stock of Sir John 
Davys, knight, marshal of Uonnaught, temp, Elizabeth, descended 
through the Shropshire branch from the ancient family of Davies of 
Gwassanan, Flintshire.^ Robert Davis, of Gwassanan, on the 20th 
April, 1581, registered as his crest, a lion's head erased quarterly, 
argent and sabhs. Thus, the lion's head erased appears as his crest 





on the token of Thomas Davis, which is amongst those but rarely 
met with. 

William Keough (No. 9), like many others of his contemporaries, 
appears to have had conscientious scruples about subscribing to the 
oath of supremacy, though whether as a Protestant dissenter or a 
Roman Catholic does not appear. In the White Book, under the 





date 24th December, 1686, is the following entry— <* Mr. Ralph 
Banks and Mr. William Keoii^h were swome Masters of y* Ham- 
mermen, having brought a dispensation from y* Lord Lieutenant 
and Councill for their not taking of y* oath of supremacy." As a 
goldsmith, Keough was a member of the guild of hammermen. The 
population and trade of Kilkenny having been seriously diminished 
by the wars and disturbances of the sixteenth and seventeenth cen- 
turies, the corporation found it necessary to reduce the number of 
guilds, and to consolidate several trades into one company. Li 

I Sir John Da^ys, attorney-general in the Tullaghpissane, in the connty of Kilkenny, 

reign of James I., and author of the ** His- to the corporation of the dty. I am glad 

torical Relations," &c., appears to have been to acknowledge myself indebted to Frauds 

connected, by property, with Kilkenny. In R. Davies, Esq., Waltbam-terraoe, Black- 

1618, according to the Bed Book, Sir John rock, Dublin, for important heraldic infor- 

DaTys, "the Attorney," sold the lands of mation made use of throughout this paper. 



carrving out this regulation the name of " Hommennen" was given 
to tae smiths, cutlere, goldsmiths, '* and all other handicraft working 
with the hammer in metaK" asBooiated in one body. Keongh's tokens 
ore rather plen^. Whether the mermaid on the reverse of this token 
belongs to the Keough family as an armorial bearing, or was used b^ 
William Keough as his own peculiar sign, I have been imable to 
ascertain. 

John Langton (No. 10) was the grand-son of Nicholas Langton, 
who was emplojed bj the corporation, in 1609. to go to London to 
obtain from king James I, the great charter creating Kilkenny a &.tj. 
Nicholas Langton has left a manuscript account of his &mily, cod* 
tinued Bubaequentlj by some of his grand-children, and forming a vei^ 
curious genealogical document, which was in the possesmon of his 
descendant, the late Mr. Michael Comerford, of King-«treet. In it he 
styles himself — " Nicholas Langton, Fitz-IUchatd, Fitz-John, of the 
House of Low, in Lancashire." — He would thus appear to have been 
descended from the same family as the famous prelate who wrought 
such trouble to king John ; and the arms of the Kilkenny Langtons, 
as they appear on the token, are precisely those of archbishop Stephen, 
viz., argent, three chevronels ffulet. Nicholas Langton built the 




great stone house, now known as the Butter-slip, and also the mansion 
of Grenan, near Durrow. His eldest son, James, is stated in the 
pedigree already alluded to, to have " had sons and daughters to y* 
number of 25 ;' of these the third was John, the issuer of the token, 
who married Rose Randon, living in L679. It may be intereetang to 
mention, as showing that at this period there were no mill-weirs im- 
peding the passage of the Nore. that his father, James Langton, havii^ 
died of the palsy at Grenan, his body was placed in a coffin which 
was brought down the river by boat to Kilkenny, for interm^it in <he 
family tomb at St. John's abbey. William Langton, oousin to John, 
was a member of the Confederate Catholics' parliament, and upon Ae 
reduction of Kilkenny by Cromwell, the Langton faurdly was driven 
out, and spent nine years, as the pedigree has it, "in banishment at 
Ballinakilt." Langton's token is very frequently met with. 

Of Edward Sewell, the tallow-chandler (No. 11), I can find no 
notice in the records of the corporation of Kilkenny ; but a Willim 
Sewell, who seems to have united the trades of shoemaker and butcher, 
makes a considerable figure in these documents. When the coiuo 
lidation of guilds was being effected, it was determined "that the 
Companie of Glovers do for the future consist of the present CompB> 



niea of Glovers, Feltmsken, nnd Chandlers" — ratlier an incongruous 
association one would imagine. This token b scarce. The device 




of a man dipping candles was a common one upon the tokens of chan- 
dlers in England and Ireland. 

Thomas Adams (Nob. 12 and 13), or aa he is sometimes termed 
in the White Book, major Adams, was major of Kilkenny for 1658, 
and died whilst in office. His tokens are to be met with in greater 




numbers than any others circulated for Kilkenny ; they are spedally 
referred to in the br-lawB of the corporation, and were struck in the 
year of hia mayoralty and death, as appears by the date which they 



bear. Both the tokens struck by Adams bear the arms of the city of 
Kilkenny, a castle triple-towered. 

I have been unable to ascertain the particular James Purcell who 
struck the token No. 14, as there were many persons of the name in 
trade in Kilkenny in the seventeenth century. The funily was one 
of great respectability, having for its head the baron of Lioughmoe, 
county of Tipperary, but also having several branches possessed of 
large property in the countv of KiJkennv, as those of Ballyfoile, 
Foulksratn, Lismain, &c. I'hey usually blazoned either a saltier or 
a chevron in their escutcheons along with the three boais' beads given 



on the token, which also bears a crescent for difference, indicating a 
junior branch of the family. 

22 



Of John Bolton (No. 15) I know nothing. No hmilj oi (be 
oune can be traced in the corporation muniments of EiU^enn^t >■" 
have 1 ever heard of such a token being lighted on, and I fear there 
must be a mistake on the part of Dr. Smith a informant. 

Mj researches for information respecting Thomas Nevell (No. 16) 
have iuso been unavuling, but there can be no mistake as to the exu- 
tence of his token, which though a tolerably rare one may be fonnd 
in most coUectoiE^ cabinets. The arms borne by one of the branckei 




of the family of Nevell, in England, were, or, on a bend gtilet, s bsT 
of the first. Hence, the harp on Thomas Nevell's token. 

As regards Thomas Talbot (No. 17), I have been more fortawie 
in my reconnoissances, although I have gained bat slender iofonnaDoD 
enough. It appears that he was enrolled in the militda company w^'''^,^ 
mustered on the Butt's Green, on the 8th April, 1667, and took his 
place amongst the contingent of [nkemen.' A Robert Talbot Wt 
the walla □!' Kilkenny in the year 1400, and the ftmily waa hig^ J i^ 
Bpectable amongst our trading community. The device on the leveite 



of the token seems to be intended for the snn in full splendour, «))'"' 
was no portion of the annoiial bearing of uiy brantm of the T^ 
lamily, Dut was probably the sign of Uie striker's taveni. Tie onl? 
specimen of this token at ttesent known to be in existence, is in tl^ 
cabinet of Mr. Martin Walsh, High-street, Kilkenny. 

Di. Smith reads the name of the striker of tiie next token (No. 18} 
as " Thomas Toole," and, I believe* conectiy, although the que*™ 
has been raised as to whether it may not be Doole (a form in wlu»' 
the name Dooly eometimes appears in docnmenta of the seventMiiui 
centmy), as the first letter of the surname is nearly effaced on the fmj 
specimen which has yet been ascertained to be extant, and wbi^ " 
the property of a zealous collector, Mr. John Francis Shearman, Hi^ 

t Betide Tilbot tnd Ditu, Hm« of the lentad themielTei. The eompuij fl'*'' 

other itiikcii of takeni ippeu in the mi- to bave been entirely compoeed tl i^ 

litia niuiler-rolL John Beaver end Richu'd keepen and traden of t«(peetabiliir< '*' 

lowood are imongtt the jnkemen pRMDt. It coniltted of a captain, a lientamA. * 

vhilit alderman Peter Goodwin and Mr. eiuign, three leq^ewita, four anip(ink.«M 

John Whittle are reported ai haring ah- '■gentatanne*,"and ninety- eight p"'*"*' 



■traet, Kilkeimy. The arma of the family of Toole, or O'Toole, were 
ffulei, ft lion pueant; and thus the lion rampant on the token might 




be intended for difference, as the jargon of heraldry has it, or it might 
be a mistake made in ezecutitigthe die. 

The token struck "for the Poore" (No. 19) was probably issued 
by the corporation &om motiTee of charity, asit beBistneletteieCK., 
perhaps for Cwitat Kilh£mtientu, and the ci^ arms. However, iif 




tlus were to be taken as a poedtave proo^ it should also be conceded 
as Buffiuest evidence that that bearing the legend, " For y* use and 
convenience of the inhahitante" (No. 20) was also executed for pub- 
lic purposes, wluch was cot the case, it being issued by a person 



named Edmond Tobin, a member of the merchants' guild, as will 
be seen by an extract from the corporation records which I mean to 
snp^ in its proper place. 

The token of Adam Dulan, bearing date 1678, (No. 21), belongs 
to a different class of coins from all the otheis which we have before 



conndered. It is much lai^r, much more ancient, and is composed 
of lead. It is evidently one of the fiirthing tokens whi<^ were in 
such vogue in England in the reign of queen Elizabeth, owing to the 



172 



scarcity of small change, and which were all compcMed of lead, whilst 
the penny tokens of we following^ century were chiefly of copper or 
brads. I believe this tok^i of Dulan's, which is in the cabinet of 
Mr. Roach Smith, of London, is the only Irish one of the date known 
to be in existence.' The most ancient of the other class of tokens 
which Dr. Smith has been able to discover bears date in the year 
1633, which that gentleman considers there is reason for supposing to 
be a mistake, and that the intention of the engraver of the me was to 
have made it 1653. The engraving of Dulan's token here given, is 
taken from a plaster cast presented by Mr. Crofton Croker to Dr. 
Smith. The original leaden ** dump* was dredged up from the bed 
of the Thames, and answers in every particular to the type of similar 
coins struck in France, which circumstance, combined with the three 
fleurs-de-lis on the shield, would serve to show that the coin was issued 
by a French settler in Kilkenny, and not by one of the Irish Doolans, 
which the municipal archives prove to have been numerous in the 
city at that period. 

Whether any other person besides Dulan struck tokens in Kilkenny 
before the seventeenth century, I cannot say, but no other save his 
has yet been ascertained to be in existence. Tokens would not ap- 
pear to have come into general u^ in that city until after the year 
1656, which is the earliest date found on any of those issued in that 
century ; and, as at that period the corporation exercised a supervision 
and control over everything appertaining to the trade of the city, we 
naturally find the council soon taking notice of the introduction of 
this new currency, and adopting measures to turn to their own account 
any benefit which might arise from it, on the, perhaps, not inadmis- 
sible plea of protecting the public from fraud. The first mention of 
tokens is to be found m a lengthy resolution, framed with all the so- 
lemnity of an act of parliament, set out in the ** White Book," under 
the date of 12th August, 1658, the mayor, Thomas Adams, who that 
year struck his own token, presiding at die meeting. It is headed 
** An Act touching Brass Coyne," and then proceeds with a full pre- 
amble,* as follows : — 

Whereas its very convenient to carry on y* trafig and trade of this Citty that there 
be brass penyes, halpenyes and fiuthings within y* same, and that y« benefitt thereof* if 
any there shall be, doe not accrea to any particular person, but to be imployed for y* dis- 
charge of y* Cittyes debts and j* revenue thereof for y* publique benefit of y* Citty, or 
some other pious use either for y* relief of y* poore or for y* education of youth after y* 
English fashion and maners. ^d alsoe thatt, whatt of those brass coyne is brought in, 



> Mr. Bum states that the leaden tokens 
of Elizabeth's reign are now of extreme 
rarity, and there are only two specimens in 
the Beaufoy cabinet. He refers to a book 
of accounts of Nicholas Bidl, market-man, of 
Chudleigh, Devonshire, for some curious 
facts as to the cost of leaden tokens at this 
period. Under the head of ** Expenses," 
January 24th, 1562, is ** Item : paid for A 



nyron with a prynt, and for lede, and for 
smytyng of my tokense, iij ■." On the 23rd 
February, 1566, <* Pd. for y pownde of Ifd 
for tokens, and for making of the same to 
tokens, xxij \ ;" and under the date 23rd 
February, 1567, *« Pd. for led and for tokeni 
for ij years paste, xvj *" — Dueriptm 
Catnlog^ o/ the TokwnM in ike Be&*fi9 
Cabmetf Introductton, p. viii. n. 



173 

there be lufBdent aeeiirity given and taken to save harmless all that takes in payment, or 
in exchange, any of y* aforesayed brass coin, and to prevent fraud and deceipt which is 
likely to hapen both to this Citty and County att large by y* frequent practiss and custome 
of late taken up by almost every body to bring in what brass coine they please, w'^'' in all 
probability will tume most of the lawfnll English coine into base coine and mettle, to y* 
greate dishonoure of y* govemm* and preiudice of this place, and to y* utter undoing of 
y* poorest and meanest of the people, and to y* spoile of all trade and comerce, both in 
Citty and County. For y* prevention whereof, and yett to keepe comerce and dealing, 
and tbatt this Citty may be better enabled to carry on y* good ends aforesayed ; Bee itt, 
and itt is hereby therefore enacted and ordained by and with y* whole and full assent 
and consent of y* Mair, Aldermen and Cittizens of y* said Citty, that y* Mair of y* same 
for y* time being, shall lett the same to some sufficient person or persons, who shall give 
saffident security to change and give again upon demand and as often as y* same shall 
be demanded, silver for y* sayed brass coine, or else' shall authorise some person or per- 
sons in y* behalf of the Citty to mannedge y* same. And itt is further enacted and 
ordained by y* authority aforesayd, that noe other person of [sic] persons whatt soever 
within this Citty or County of y« same, shall bring, invent or cause to be invented, or 
take or receive any other brass coyne then whatt is as aforesayd allowed by this Corpo- 
ration after proclamation made by the Mair to the contrary, upon y* penalty of five pounds 
for each offence, and such other punishments as shall be thought meete and to Justice 
shall appertaine, w^^ the Mair is hereby authorised to cause to be leavyed and done. And 
itt is fruther enacted by y* authority aforesayd, that security be given unto the person 
or persons thatt is or shall be apointed by the Mair for the time being to receive the 
aforesayd coyne or money, give bonds, or any wayes act aboutt y* receipt, exchange, or 
potting forth of y* sayd brass coyne, or any of them, to save them harmless for endem- 
nifying all and every of them, w«*> security att the request of y* person employed or to 
be employed as aforesayd shall be given under y* comon scale of the Towne, by order 
from the Mair, without any further order in y* case, any law usodge or custome within y* 
sayd Citty to y* contrary in any wise, notwithstanding. And y* sending for any of y* sayd 
brass coyne, receaving and paying, putting forth ana exchanging y* sayd brass coyne or 
any parte thereof, and all y* benefitt accrueing or ariseing thereby y* aforesayd person or 
persons, in receaving and paying the aforesayd brass coyne, shall observe and follow the 
instructions given by order under y* Mair's hand, m^^ order shall be to every such person 
or persons who hath the receaving or putting forth of y* sayd brass money or coyne, a 
sufficient warrant ; and they and all other persons are to obey y* order of the Mair for y* 
receaving and disposure of y* sayd brass money or coyne frx>m time to time, upon y* 
penalty of being fined att the discression of the sayd Mair, any law, usodge, or custome 
within y* sayd Citty heretofore in any waie to y* contrary, notwithstanding. 

Whether the tokens purporting to be ** for the poor," and those 
bearing the name of Thomas Adams, the mayor, may not have been 
struck at the expense, and for the use and benefit of the corporation, 
in pursuance of the views expressed in the foregoing *' act," it would 
be interesting to ascertain, but I have nothing to ofier beyond con- 
jecture. The inscription on the first, and the large quantities of 
the other which were issued, besides the appearance oi the letters, 
G. K., and the city arms on each, give countenance to the supposi- 
tion. The scarcity of small change was generally felt a great incon- 
venience at the time, and not only did the corporation take steps to 
remedy the evi]^ acting on the hint given by the mercantile men in 
issuing money for themselves, but there is even reason to think that 
the Irish executive, as the English government had frequently done 
previously, at this period took into consideration the propnety of 
legalizing this kind of currency under certain restrictions. Amongst 
the many curious and interestmg documents in the Record Chamber 
of Kilkenny Castle there is a paper containing some memoranda on 



174 

the subject of the tokenB, which look very like suggestionfl as to heads 
for an act of parliament, or order of the council of state, on the sub- 
ject The document is entitled *^ Proposals for Penny Tokens," and 
is indorsed in the handwriting of the great duke of Ormonde, then 
lord lieutenant — ** Concerning Tokens or small money, 2nd May, 
1664." The following is a transcript : — 

For making of Tokeni to be uttered for a penny a peeas, H is humbly p ro pot e d tbat 
■ome person be Empowered and anthorised to make and utter tokens w^ shall be of sadi 
intrinsick YaUew as that the mettle and worckmens labor may amount to three fointh 
p^ of a penny. 

That the person soe anthori^ be obliged to take them baek again, the persons Ast 
bring them in allowing twelve pence in every twenty shillings for tbs loss w*^ will be in 
the worekmanshipp. 

That the person that shall be soe impowred may have liberty to eaU them in as often 
as be thinks Stt, to prevent oounterfieiting, but upon such calling in, the person bringing 
them in to give noe allowanoe. 

That the tokens soe to be made shall not be enforced in payment but merdy for 
change. 

That the person that will undeitake this worit and give security for the p ei foi m i ng 
of it, may have a Lease for a certain time. 

Nothing seems to have resulted from the proposals on the subject 
of this unauthorized coinage, thus laid before the lord lieutenant ; and 
the corporation of Kilkenny, having passed its act of 1658, took no 
further notice of the tokens, at least oy any entry in their records, for 
twelve years. In the mean time, almost every trader of any impor- 
tance seems to have circulated a currency of ms own ; and doubtless 
the public were in danger of being defrauded if any chose to repudiate 
his own issue. To prevent this, securitnr was demanded and enforced 
by the civic body, and thus we have tne following not very lucidly 
framed order upon their minute book of the 1st Jmy, 1670 : — 

That Mr. Jo. Beavor be appointed to appeare next Deren himdred day and to bring 
with him good security, That in good money all such pense as he cause to goe, otherwise, 
they are to be cryed downe. 

At this period the corporations of most of the English towns were 
also enforcing rules compelling the traders to give security as to 
exchanging uieii tokens for the coin of the realm, whenever called 
on.' There can be little surprise felt that such a precaution was 
deemed necessary, as it has been recorded that a penny-worth of 
material was capable of being wrought into fifty penny tokens, so that 
their value was quite fictitious. The entixe circulating medium of the 
country seems at the time to have been in a very unsettled state. We 
have the following entry on the book of the Kilkenny corporation :•— 

Proposals made y« 12th December, 1672, for imall money to pass in this Citty :— 
1^— Impr. That Mig' Adams pence may each of them pass for a forthing. 

' In the previous year* 1669, the corpo- that none be suSTered to remain out, except 

ration of Coventry made this order—*' That those which have tiie city's stamp, and 

the tokens which have latriy been issued whatever profit there may be the Sword- 

in this city, be called in under a penalty of bearer to take it. After the 16th of Aprilf 

£5, as many persons are obliged to give the above tokens to be called in."— ffni/^ 

1 3d. of those tokens for 12d. in silver ; and meii't Mofozme/ar A^ifUMt^ 1851. 



176 

2.^-That 7* eron cmld copper penny goe for a penny. 

3. — ^The Bengidl for three half pence. 

4. — ^The copper two pence for two pence. 

6. — ^The copper fower pence for fower pence. 

6.— That anch as putt out Tokens for pence shall give in Bayle by this day aeava* 
nigbt. 

7.-^That snch persons as have any of those pence belonging to Major Adams be sent 
unto to bring them in by this day seavenight. 

8.-->That each person, vis., GolL Redrntti Aid. Goodwin and Lt Chapman, be de- 
sired to bring in the said pense npon oath. 

9 — That the said pense be counted and then putt upon salfe hand to be uttered by 
Urn accordingly changed, allowance being first made to him as Shall be thought fitt. 

Major Adams being long dead at this time^ are we to conjecture 
from ms tokens being still in circulation and countenanced by the 
corporation, that he merely struck them as mayor for the benefit of 
the citizens generally — the city armsi it will be remembered, are borne 
upon them — or should we rather conclude, that as the utterer was not 
auve to give security, his tokens were therefore depreciated in value, 
and declared only worth a farthing, whilst those wno could **give in 
bail'' might pass theirs' for a penny still ? For mj own part, I am 
inclined to believe Adam's tokens were not a pnvato coinage, but 
were struck for the corporation. But be this as it may» the rei^ of 
tokens in the local traffic, whether the utterers could nnd security or 
not, was soon aflier brouglxt to an end, for on the 10th January in the 
same year (it is almost unnecessary to remark that, according to the 
old style, January followed December, instead of commencing the 
year as now) the corporation came to this determination — ** Uon- 
eluded and agreed that y* Copper Tokens passed bv severall persons 
in this cittie shall be cryed downe when the Mayr shall appoint — one 
weekes time being first given to the persons in the towne to take them 
in. 

By a royal proclamation, dated August I6th, 1672, private tokens 
are generally supposed to have been everywhere throughout Great 
Britain and Ireland superseded by half-pence and farthines issued by 
authority of king Charles, and directed to be current in ful payments 
under tne value of six-pence. — Gentleman's Magazine for March, 
* 1850, and August, 1851. I find, however, tiiat in Kilkenny there 
was at least an attempt made to put the token, numbered 20 on Dr. 
Smith's list, into circulation five years later. In tiie White Book, 
under date 7th December, 1677, there is an entry witii this marginal 
reference — ** Mr. Tobin's pence not sufiered to pass." The entry itself 
commences rather abruptly thus : — 

The inscription of Mr. Tobin's pence (for y« use and) with y* Castell on y* side : on 
J* other tide (of y* inhabitants) and within y* sirckeU is written (Kilkenny 1677 and 6 
litteU Stan). 

Put to y* vote whether y* abo^e named pence of Mr. Edmond Tobin should pass or 
not. Then voted in y* negatiTe ; and ordered y^ they should be snpprest or not suffered 
to pass as currant. 

After this I find no further mention of tokens in the books of the 
Kilkenny corporatioui although that body still paid considerable at* 



176 

tention to matters connected with the currency, and, in 1679, sent 
specially to Dublin for a case of silver weights, ** which are to be a 
standard in this City, and are to be lodged in y* hands of thiB Citty 
Reseavor." 

It is probable that in the several ancient corporations comprised 
within the county of Kilkenny, as Callan, Thomastown, Lmistiogae, 
Knocktopher, and Gowran, individuals were found who struck tokens ; 
however, the only specimen which has as yet been discovered belongs 
to the last named town. It is that of Francis Barker, of Gowran, 
which is preserved in the cabinet of Mr. John F. Shearman. The 
obverse of this token exhibits the crest of the tanners' guild, viz., an 





angel holding with both hands a shave, or currier's knife. Barker and 
Tanner being synonymous, it is probable that the name and trade of 
the '* smiter' of this token were identical* 

Tokens were either round, square, octagon, or heart-shaped, ac- 
cording to the fancy of the striker; but those issued by the Kilkenny 
traders are all of a circular form ; the material employed was copper, 
brass, lead, tin, latten, and leather ; but in our known Kilkenny ex- 
amples the first three metals only were used. 

The Society is indebted to Dr. Aquilla Smith for the use of his 
very beautiful and accurate drawings, after which the engravings 
which illustrate this paper have been carefully executed by Messrs. 
Oldham and Hanlon of Dublin. 



Priotod by Johr MoIlast, 47, Fleet-itreet, Dabtln. 




ANTIQUITIES FOV>'r IN THE Dl'SBEL BVrHB 



PROCEEDINGS 



or 



THE KILKENNY ARCE^OLOGICAL SOCIETY, 

1849. 



PRELIMINAEY MEETING, 

Febbuabt 19th, 1849. 

THE VERY REV. THE DEAN OP OSSORY, in the Chair. 

A FBEUMiKABT Meeting was held at the residence of the Rev. James 
Grayes, AJB., and adjourned to the Deanery, Kilkenny, at which it was 
Resolved, that a Public Meeting be held in order to organize an Archsa- 
ological Society for the County and City of Kilkenny and its surround- 
ing districts. 

The original members were as follow : — The Very Rev. the Dean 
of Ossory, the Rev. Luke Fowler, the Rev. John Browne, LL.D., the 
Rev. James Graves, the Rev. Philip Moore, and Messrs. Robert Cane, 
M.D., John James, M.R.C.SJ., and John G. A. Prim. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Afbil 3rd, 1849* 

ROBERT CANE, ESQ., M.D., Mayor of Kilkenny, in the Chair. 

The adhesion of the noblemen and gentlemen following was an- 
nounced : — ^The Marquis of Ormonde, the Lord Bishop of Ossory, the 
Right Hon. W. F. Tighe, Sir John Power, Bart, Wm. Lloyd Flood, 
Esq., D.L., J J?., the I^v. Joseph Thacker, the Rev. Michael Carry, the 
Rev. James Mease, the Rev. Henry Hare, the Rev. J. M. Pearson, the 
Rev. Dr. Nowlan, the Rev. C. B. Stevenson, Messrs. Samson Carter, 
Jun., C.E., M.R. LA., Lewis Kinchela, M.D., Richard Anderson, 
M.R.C.SX^ Matthew O'Donnell, Barrister-at-Law, Daniel Smithwick, 
Richard Sullivan, J.P., Henry Potter, J.P., Zachariah Johnson, M.D., 
F.R.C.SJ*, Godfrey Greene, Richard Smithwick, J.P., Henry M'Creery, 
Newpark, G. W. Kinchela, Purefoy Poe, Jun., J.P., Thomas Hart, JJP., 
George Helsham, Alexander CoUes, Humphrey Semple, H. Semple, 

23 



178 

Jun., W. Lanigan, T. E. Mtirpby, Thomas CnmminBy A. Deoroche, 
D. McCarthy, and Thomas Jekylle. 

The formation of a Museum was decided on ; and the Meeting was 
adjourned to one o'clock next day for the purpose of farther organizing 
the Society .^ 



ADJOURNED GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Webnssdat, Afsii. 4th, 1849* 

THE VERY REV. THE DEAN OF OSSORT in the Chiir. 

General Rules were adopted. 

Pursuant thereto the Patrons, President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, 
and Honorary Secretaries of the Society were chosen. 

Corresponding Members for the several districts were named. 
A Committee was elected. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, Mat 2nd, 1849. 

HENRT POTTER, ESQ., J.P., in the Chiir. 

The following Members were elected : — ^The Rey. J. L. Irwin, the Bev. 
Bernard Scott, the Rev. T. S. Townsend, D. D., the Rev. Michael Walsh, 
the Rey. James Ryan, the Rey. Matthew Brennan, Peter Connellao, 
Esq., D.L., J.P., Messrs. John Newport Greene, JJ?., Joseph Greene, 
Jun., James Hamilton, W. P. Leech, Joseph Burke, Barrister-at-Law, 
M. (yShaughnessy, Henry Fletcher, Joseph Lalor, M.D., John Lawson, 
Solicitor, John Quin, Solicitor, T. Hewetson, Patrick CToole, and J. B. 
Phayer. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, Jult 4th, 1849- 

LEWIS KINCHELA, ESQ., M.D., in the Chur. ' 

The routine business of the Society was transacted, but no Members 
were elected. 

The first donations to the Museum were announced. 

> Ai the Proceedings of the Society are considered unnecessary to give more thss t 
embodied in the published Transactions for very brief record of the Meetings held dariDg 
the yean 1 849, 1850, and 185 1, it has been that period.— Eds. 



179 



GENERAL MEETING, 
Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wednesday, Septimbeb 5tli, 1849- 

THE REV. JOHN BROWNE, LL.D., in the Chiir. 

The following Members were elected : — The Rev. Samuel Madden, 
the Bey. Bichard Deverell, the Bey. James Wills, M.B.I.A., the Bey. 
James Byan, Johnstown, the Bey. John Salmon, the Bey. T. U. Townsend, 
the Bey. Joseph Moore, the Bey. Thomas Vigors, the Bey. John Quin, 
the Bey. S. C. Harpur, the Bey. Michael Maher, the Bey. Michael Birch, 
the Bey. J. L. OTlinn, the Bey. James Leckey, Messrs. George Beade, 
Nat. Alcock, M.D., William Shee, Sergeant-at-Law, Miles Sterling, 
M.B.C.S.I., James CuUenan, M.D., Charles E. Boss, M.D., Edmund 
Staunton, Alexander Cullenan, M.D., John Prim, Ennisnag, Francis 
Massy, Jun., and Charles Tarrant, C.E. 



GENEBAL MEETING, 
Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wednesday, NoyEMBSE 7th, 1849* 

CHARLES TARRANT, ESQ., C.E., in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — ^Lord James W. Butler, John 
B. C S. Wandesforde, Esq., the Bey. Edward Walsh, Durrow, the Bey. 
Charles Harte, the Bey. Henry Herbert, the Bey. Nicholas Kealy, Messrs. 
Bichard M. Muggeridge, Bichard Cooke, J.P., Michael Cahill, J.P., John 
Newell, M.D., Henry Herbert, William Grayes, J.P., Dr. Cronyn, and 
Anthony E. Grayes. 

On the suggestion of the Bey. James Wills, the formation of a Library 
was decided on. 



FB0CEEDIN6S 
or 



THE KILKENNY AKCBLaSOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 

1850. 



ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wednbsdat, Januabt 2nd, 1850. 

MICHAEL BANIM, ESQ., Mayor of Kilkenny, in the Chur. 

The foUowing Members were elected : — ^The Very Bev. the Dean of 
ClonmacBoise, Messrs. Henry M'CreeryyBathboume, Nicholas Loughnan, 
Solicitor, Joseph Borke, and John Burke, Biyeryiew. 

The Annual Beport and Treasurer's Account were brought up and 
adopted. 

The Committee and Officers for the ensuing year wera elected. 



GENEBAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wednesday, Mabch 6th, 1850. 

THE REV. JOHN BROWNE, LU)., in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected: — ^Lord Walter Butler, Lord 
Charles Butler, Messrs. John Walsh, JJ?., Fanningstown, Michael 
Banim, Bernard Scott, Jun., Solicitor, John Maher, Solicitor, James 
G. Bobertson, Architect, Jeremiah Murphy, and Patrick Blanchfield. 

The printing of five hundred copies of the Transactions for 1849 was 
decided on. 



GENEBAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wednesday, Mat 1st, 1850. 

THE MARQUIS OF ORMONDE, in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — ^The Earl of Desart, the Earl 
of Bandon, the Countess of Desart, Messrs. Edmund Smithwick, J J.) 
E. Forstal, John Windele, John L. Bickards, C.E., Bichard Culley» 



181 

Patrick Waiters, Denny Lane, S. Morewood, B. M. Prentice, James 
St. John, LL.D., James Comerford, Peter Strange, and Thomas Chaplin. 
On the motion of the Right Hon. W. F. Tighe, the number of copies 
of the Transactions for 1 849, to be printed, was fixed at two hundred and 
fiflfcjy instead of five hundred. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, July 3rd, 1850. 

RICHARD SMITHWICK, BSQ., J.P., High Sheriff of the City of Kilkenny, in the Chair. 

The foUowing Members were elected: — ^Major-General McDonald 
(for life), Nicholas P. 0'Gk>rman, Assistant-Barrister, Kilkenny, Rev. 
H. B. Farmer, Major Roberts, Messrs. Richard Wheeler, J.P., C. Porter, 
LlL.D., Thomas Shaw, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Flood, John Lindsay, 
Barrister-at-Law, Thomas Bradley, M.R.C.S.I., James M. Tidmarsh, N. 
H. Jones, Thomas Hewitt, W. £. Hudson, F. R. Stewart, J. E. Pigot, 
Barrister-at-Law, J. W. Hanna, T. L. Cooke, Samuel Bradley, and 
John aDaly. 

Mons. Boucher de CreyecoBur de Perthes, President de la Soci^t^ 
Boyale d'Emulation d'AbbeTille, was elected Honorary Correqtonding 
M^ber. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, September 4th, 1850. 

THE RIGHT HON. W. F. TI6HE, in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — ^Lieut-GoL Williams, Cap- 
tain A. G. Kennedy, the Rev. Patrick Lamb, the Rev. C. P. Meehan, 
Messrs. Richard Hitchcock, John M^Creery, William Owen, J. P., 
J. Murisson, and Robert Carlton. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

__ • 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wsdhxsdat, November 6th, 1850. 

THB MARQUIS OF ORMONDE, in the Chiir. 

The following Members were elected :^-The Marquis of Kildare, 
the Very Rev. L. F. CRenehan, D J)., President of the Royal College of 
St Patrick, Maynooth, Lieut.-Col. Portlock, R.E., the Rev. J. L. Drapes, 
Lieut. Charles E. Fowler, RJBL, Messrs. James Roche, JJ?., Henry J. 
Loughnan, E. S. Delaney, J. S. Blake, Barrister-at-Law, Robert Mal- 
comson, Henry Bird, Peter Ptendergast, V.S., Robert Mosse, John 
Hutchinson, and Edward Butler. 



n 



PROCEEDINGS 
or 

THE KILKENNY AECHiEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 

1851. 



ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wednesday, Januaay 8tb, 1851. 
MICHAEL HTLAND, ESQ., Mayor of Kilkenny, in the Chiir. 

The following Members were elected :— The Earl of Dunraven, Lady 
Harriet Eayanagh, Mrs. Wade, the Rev. J. H. Todd, D.D., S.F.T.C.D., 
Messrs. Edward Odell, Thomas Johnston, W. B. D. Tumbnll, F.S.A.of 
Scot, W. B. Blackett, Jun., George Smith, James F. Ferguson, Hugh 
CBrenan Clinche, John Potter, Jan., Timothy P. Glennon, JPatrick 
Cody, George B. Anderson, J. E. Aylward, George Lewis Smyth, to- 
gether with the King's Lms Library, Dublin, and the Warrington Public 
Library, through their respective Librarians. 

The Annual Beport and Account were brought up and adopted. 

It was Besolved, that the Transactions for the year 1850 should be 
printed ; the impression to be confined to three hundred copies. 

Bules for the management of the Library of the Society were adopted. 

The Committee and Officers for the ensuing year were elected. 



GENEBAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wedivxsdat, Mabch 5th, 1851. 

THE RIGHT HON. W. F. TIGHE, in the Chur. 

The foUowing Members were elected : — The Hon. and Very Be?, 
the Dean of Lismore, the Venerable the Archdeacon of Cashel, the Bev. 
Bobert O'Callaghan, D.D., the Bev. Charles Graves, D.D., F.T.C.D., 
the Bev. Newport B. White, Messrs. John Walshe, Jun., and Michael 
Desmond. 



GENEBAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wednesday, Mat 7th, 1851. 

THE REV. JOHN BROWNE, LL.D., in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — Messrs. Bobert Curtis, John 



183 

P. Pjrendergast, Barrrister-at-Law, Samuel Robert Graves, John Dayis 
White, M. Haverty, J. T. Gilbert, James C Kenny, J. P., M.B.IA., 
James QuiO) Solicitor, Peter Charlsworth, and the Boyal Dublin 
Society, through its Librarian. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wxbnesdat, July 9th, 1861. 

MAJOR-GENERAL MCDONALD, C.B., in the Chur. 

The following Members were elected :— The Very Rev. the Dean of 
Waterford, Rer. George L. Shannon, W. R* Wilde, Esq., M.D., Messrs. 
Henry Jesse Lloyd, Henry T. Humphreys, W. J. Donoyan, Edmund 
Murphy, Thomas W. Coneys, C. £., Richard B. Brash, Richard J. Sul- 
liyan, and Thomas B. M'Creery. 

On the suggestion of Mr, Richard Hitchcock^ it was Resolyed, that 
a Prospectus, setting forth the objects and acts of the Society, should be 
drawn up, printed, and circulated. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, Sbftembeb Srd, 1861. 

BflCHAEL HTLAND, ESQ., Mayor of Kilkenny, in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — The Earl of Bessborough, 
Rey. Aiken Lryine, Messrs. Abraham Whyte Baker, A. W. Bakex^ Jun., 
Charles Finucane, MJD., Samuel Haughton, James Palmer Grayes, 
Joseph Kayanagh, Edward Sutcliffe, and James M^Grady. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wediobsd at, NoyEMBEB 5th, 1851. 

ROBERT CANE, ESQ., M.D., in the Chiir. 

The following Members were elected : — ^Admiral Sir Thomas Beau- 
fort, IMQss L. Beaufort, the Rey. John Casey, the Rey. A. B. Rowan, the 
Rey. John CSuUiyan, the Rey. James Lawson, the Rey. Thomas Gim- 
lette, the Rey. J. Handcock Scott, Col. Bruen, Eyelyn Philip Shirley, 
Esq., AM^ the Rey. James Groodman, Messrs. William Collier, Richard 
Thorpe, S. B. Oldham, Charles Bourns, Henry Harris, H. W. Don- 
nelly, Francis Deyereuz, J. P., Johp F. PurceU, M.D., Thomas Scully, 
Michael Kearney, Daniel Cullen, Messrs. Artaria and Fontaine, Peter 
O'Callaghan, James G. Newton, M.D., Euseby D. Cleayer, Henry L. 
Allen, Somerset T. Allen, J. W. M'Kenzie, John H. Whitcroft, and 
Martin A. O'Brennan, LLJ). 



PROCEEDINGS 
or 



THE KILKENNY ARCELffiOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 

1852. 



ANNUAL GENERAL MEE 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wbdnesdat, J vary Tth, 1852. 
THB RIGHT HON. W. F. TIGHE, in the Cbiir. 

The following Memhers were elected : — ^Lord Talbot de Malahide, 
the Rev. James Spencer Einoz, Maghera ; Major Larcom, RJB., MLR JA^ 
J. H. Glascott, Esq., Clonatin, Gorey, and George FoUer, Esq^ Kilkenny : 
proposed by the Ilev. James Graves. 

The Rev. J. B. Wallace, Ardmore, and Benjamin Woodward, Esq., 
Architect, Cork : proposed by the Very Rev. the Dean of Vaterford. 

Arthur Leared, Esq., M.B^ Oolart, and Robert S. Doyne, Esq., 
Wells, Oalart : proposed by the Rev. H. B. Farmer. 

William H. Hajrvey, Esq., MJ)., M.RJ.A. : proposed by the Rev. 
Aiken Lrvine. 

William Osborne Briscoe, Esq., MJ)., Gurranlea, Carrick-on*Snir, 
Joshua Kettlewell, Esq., Clogheen, John BarroD, Esq., D garvan, 
Thomas Prendergast, Esq., Wexford, and Nicholas Wall, Esq., Lismore : 
proposed by Joseph Burke, Esq^ Bairister-at-Law, and Poor-Law 
Inspector. 

Robert Clayton Browne, Esq., DX., J J?., Browne's Hill, Carlow: 
proposed by Thomas H. Carroll, Esq. 

R. Tidmarsh, Esq., Kilkenny : proposed by J. M. Tidmaish, Eri. 

W. J. Douglas, Esq., Kilkenny, and D. M^Evoy, Esq., UrliAgtord: 
proposed by John G. A. Prim, Esq. 

Captain T. Stanley, 67th Regiment: proposed by Major-Greneral 
M'Donald. 

David Lynch, Esq., Q.C., 60, Lower Dominick-street, and Richard 
Tuohill, Esq., M.D., Clare-street, Dublin : proposed by M. CDonnell, 
Esq., Barrister-at-Law. 

The Treasurer's Account for 1861 was then brought up and passed.^ 

The Secretary then read the Report for the year 1861, which was 
adopted and ordered to be printed.^ 

* See Tol i. p. 281. > See toL L p. 274. 



185 

The Rev. James Graves called attention to the last paragraph of the 
Report, which was as follows : — 

** A reiDurkable feature of the proceedings daring the past year has been the large 
number of valuable original documents communicated by various individuals. Your Com- 
mittee feel that it is most desirable to encourage contributions of this nature, which are 
the only true sources of history. But as the limited fund arising from the small sub- 
scription of 5s. annually is quite inadequate to their publication, they venture earnestly 
to recommend that a proposal should be issued inviting Members and others who wish 
to promote the printing, and therefore the preservation, of original documents, to con- 
tribute 10s. per annum, as a distinct subscription for that purpose ; and that, in the event 
of 200 persons being found v^illing to co-operate for this object, the printing of an 
additional volume should be undertaken, to be issued yearly, and to consist solely of 
original documents, illustrated wherever necessary by notes. It would be for after con- 
sideration to determine whether such publications should be sold to the public at an 
advanced price, or be confined solely to subscribers. Your Committee need scarcely ob- 
•erve that rich mines of materials east in this city and elsewhere which would amply 
repay the working." 

He would observe that the Committee were induced to make the proposal 
embodied in the last paragraph of their Report from the great number 
of original documents contributed at the several meetings of the past 
jear, and likely to increase. Their value, he stated to be considerable, 
even if but preserved in the archives of the Society, but of course their 
publication would be most desirable ; however, from their number and 
^reat length, it would be impossible that they could be printed in the 
forthcoming volumes of the Transactions. He would therefore propose 
that the Secretaries should be empowered to take steps to carry out the 
plan suggested in the Report. 

It was then ordered, that a statement setting forth the nature of the 
undertaking should be drawn up and printed, and that the Secretaries 
should circulate it amongst the Members. 

The Committee and Officers for the ensuing year were then elected.^ 

The printing of the Transactions for 1 85 1 was ordered, on the mo- 
tion of Dr. Cane, seconded by the Mayor, the arrangements being left 
to the Committee, as usual. 

The day of meeting was then, on the motion of Abraham Whjte 
Baker, Esq., changed from the first Wednesday to the first Saturday of 
each alternate month. 

The following presentations were received, and thanks for them 
ordered to be returned to the donors : — 

By the Royal Irish Academy, its Proceedings^ vol. iv. part 3. 

By the Archsaological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, its 
Quarterly Journal^ No. 31. 

By the Norfolk and Norwich Archseological Society, its Transactions^ 
vol. iii. part 3. 

By the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, its Report^ May, 1851. 

By Miss Graves, WalkePs Hibernian Magazine, 1782. 

By Mr. James G. Robertson, Architect, The Scenery and Antiquities 
of Kilkenny, concluding part. 

By Mr. Michael Kavanagh, Maynooth, Apologia pro Hibemia adver- 
sua Cambri Cdtumnias : auctore Stephano Vito. Dublin, 1849; Histories 
CathoiiocB IhemuB Compendium, reprint, Dublin, 1851. 

> See vol. i. p. 271. 

24 



186 

By Mr. Henry M*Creery, Newpark, The Muster Roll of the Kilkenny 
Legion^ 1782. 

By Mr. T. H. Carroll, Carlow, lithographs of the cromleac at Browne's 
Hill, Carlow. 

By Mr. James Fogarty, Tibronghny, a skein-haft, found at Bawn- 
garran, barony of Iverk, three years since, amongst some mounds of 
earth and large stones. The blade was sixteen or eighteen inches long 
and one broad, and the handle of bog oak — the former has been since 
converted into a butcher's knife. 

By Miss Butler, Wilton, county of Kilkenny, a six-pence of William 
IIL, and a half-penny token. 

By Mr. Henry M*Creery, Hathboume, a queen Anne shilling. 

By the Rev. Aiken Irvine, impressions from several ancient jseals. 

Mr. Graves said that he conceived it would be proper for the Society 
to form a perfect series of the Kilkenny tokens for their Museum, and, 
by way of commencement, he begged leave to present to the Society ten 
specimens which had been exhibited, being those of Both, Beaver, 
Skanlan, Whittle, Davis, Keough, Adams (his penny), Purcell, Nevill, 
and the Kilkenny Penny for the Poor. 

Mr. Tighe coincided in Mr. Graves' view as to the desirability of 
having the full series of tokens formed for their Museum, and felt sore 
that where so good a beginning had been made, the object would soon 
be accomplished. 

Mr. J. H. Glascott presented an impression from a die, engraved 
with the revei'se of a Papal Bull exhibiting the heads of SS. Peter and 
Paul. The matrix, or die, was in the possession of H. Alcock, Esq., 
Wilton Castle, Enniscorthy, by a friend of whose father it had been 
found amongst the ruins of Dunbrody abbey, county of Wexford, in a 
very singular manner. Having flung a stone at a rook, perched on a 
high corbel of the old building, the bird, in rising, disturbed some loose 
stones, and this curious antique fell at his feet. The die was of brass. 

Mr. Prim exhibited a pair of high-heeled shoes, entrusted to him for 
the purpose by Mr. Joseph- Goslin, of Kilkenny. He observed that those 
who smiled at the extravagant fashions of our forefathers in the days of 
the Richards and Edwards, with their peaked boots, twisted like rams' 
horns and looped up to the knee, seemed to forget that the fashions of 
their own immediate progenitors were quite as outlandish — nothing could 
be more absurd than the specimens which he now produced of the danc- 
ing shoes worn by the mothers of many persons present. The heels 
were more than four inches high, and tapering nearly to a point ; to 
walk or stand in them must have been little short of torture, and how 
the wearers could contrive to move through the dance was altogether 
inexplicable, as the whole weight of the body was thrown upon the 
extreme point of the toes. 

The Marquis of Ormonde exhibited several pieces of the ancient 
Tapestry of Kilkenny Castle. 

The Rev. James Graves read a paper on the ancient Tapestry of Kil- 
kenny Castle, which is printed at length in the Transactions, p. 3, ante, 

George Lewis Smyth, Esq., Parliament-street, London, forwarded 
the following communication : — 



187 

*^ It is stated at page 260 of the Transactions of the Kilkenny Arch- 
seological Society, voL i., that the ' family of the Smyths of Damagh has 
ceased to exist in the county of Kilkenny, for nearly a century.' This 
statement is incorrect. It may be that none of the family have re- 
sided at Damagh for a long time, but they are to be traced as residents 
in the county down to the year 1814, and as land-owners down to the 
last year. 

*^ The more modern history of the family, which substantiates these 
particulars, may be told in a few words. The heirs of that Valentine 
Smyth so emphatically commended by the duke of Ormonde (page 263 
of the Transactions), continued to possess Damagh until a younger son, 
taking adyantage of the penal laws against the Roman Catholics, wrested 
the estate from his elder brother by becoming a Protestant. But the 
person thus dispossessed of his inheritance did not cease to be trusted 
and employed by the house of Ormonde. He took up his abode in 
Carrick-on-Suir, occupying a house which he rented from the patrons of 
his family, and enjoying more than one townland upon their adjoining 
estates, which were then considerable in that neighbourhood. As soon 
as the relaxation of the penal laws enabled Roman Catholics to acquire 
landed property, the estate of Westcourt, near Callan, was purchased 
in fee by Valentine Smyth of Carrick-on-Suir. He was, I believe, the 
grandson of the person who was deprived of Damagh, as already stated, 
and instituted a suit in chanceiy for its recovery, without avail. He 
was agent of the Ormonde estates ; an office in which he was succeeded 
by his grandson, Edmund. The mansion and demesne of Westcourt 
being let on lease when that estate was purchased by Valentine Smyth, 
he took up his residence and died at The Lodge, in Callan, which stands 
on part of the property. This Valentine had three sons, Laurence, 
Francis, and William, who all lived and acquired property at Carrick-on- 
Suir. Edmund Smyth succeeded to the agency of the Ormonde estates, 
which he held for some years. He too resided at The Lodge, in Callan, 
as well as in the house in Merrion-square, Dublin, now occupied by Dr. 
Corrigan. He withdrew to France in 1814, and died at Versailles in 
1822, leaving two sons, both born in that country. To the eldest of 
these, Edmund Smyth, the estate of Westcourt descended, as may be 
seen by the proceedings of the commissioners of incumbered estates, 
who advertised the property for sale last year." 

Mr. Patrick Cody, Mullinavat, communicated an account of the popu- 
lar belief relating to the origin of a small lake called Lough Cuillinn, 
near Tory Hill, in the barony of Ida and county of Kilkenny. The 
legend is printed at large in the TransactionSy p. 97, ante, 

Mr. W. B. Blackett, Ballyne, wrote to inform the Society of the ex- 
istence of a very curious and ancient fictile vessel, which is preserved 
by a farmer at Castletown, near Piltown, but is said to have been origi- 
nally found in a rath, in the county of Tipperary. He thus describes 
the vessel : — 

^'It is made of a hard, coarse kind of earthenware, which has a 
ringing, metallic sound when struck. In shape it is nearly a globe, but 
somewhat lengthened, and terminating with a circumference of about 
twelve inches. It is six feet ten inches in circumference at the largest 



188 

part, and three feet ten incbes about the mouth, which has a projecting 
rim of about two inches. In height it is three feet. It is as regular 
and smooth as if turned in a lathe, but has two cracks, extendiog a short 
way from the mouth. The substance is about one inch thick. It is 
in the possession of a tenant of Mr. Villiers Stuart, and is said to have 
been in the family more than two hundred years, since it was dug up. 
It is used for holding water." 

Br. Aquilla Smith of Dublin ; communicated a Hst of all the known 
tradesmen's tokens struck in Kilkenny, followed by observations on that 
peculiar class of coin, and Mr. Prim read a paper on the same subject ; 
both communications are printed at length in the Tfxmsactwnaj pp. 155, 

159, ante. 

Mr. James F. Ferguson forwarded, as a contribution to the Society's 
Library, translations of the very voluminous inquisitions preserved in 
Master Lyle's office, Four Courts, Dublin, concerning the suppression 
of the Dominican, Franciscan, and Augustinian abbeys of Kilkenny. — 
These interesting records it is to be hoped will be printed in the Society's 
Annual Volume of Original Documents. 



GENERAL MEETING. 
Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Saturday, March 7th, 1852. 

Major-general M'Donald, c.b., in the Chsir. 

The following Members were elected : — ^Lord Clermont : proposed by 
the Rev. Luke Fowler. 

The Hon. Frederick Ponsonby : proposed by Mr. W. R. Blackett 

Sir R. Gore Booth, Bart., Lissadil ; the Rev. William Reeves, D.D., 
Ballymena; Christopher Dain, Esq., 169, High-street, Southampton; 
and Thomas C. Mossom Meekins, Esq., A.B., Inner Temple, London : 
proposed by the Rev. J. Graves. 

John Elliott, Esq., M.D., Cathedral-square, Waterford: proposed 
by the Very Rev. the Dean of Waterford. 

The Rev. Samuel Hayman, A.M., Youghal : proposed by the Bev. 
Thomas Gimlette, Waterford. 

Miss Mary C. Magrath, Bawn- James House, Rosbercon ; Wdleslej 
Prendergast, Esq., Listerlin, New Ross; and Peter Mullin, Esq., 
L.R.C.S.L, New Ross: proposed by the Rev. Philip Moore, Rosbercon. 

William Daly, Esq., Poor- Law Office, Dublin ; and Richard Burke, 
Esq., Waterford : proposed by Mr. Joseph Burke, Poor- Law Inspector. 

Kerry Moone, Esq., New Castle, Co. Limerick ; Michael Kean, Esq.* 
Woodbine Cottage, Ennistimon ; and Patrick Brady, Esq., Architect, 
Ballyvaughan, Gort : proposed by Mr. Mark S. O'Shaughnessy. 

Thomas Butler Stoney, Esq., J.P., Portland, county of Tipperary ' 
proposed by Mr. T. L. Cooke, Parsonstown. 

Peter Burtchael, Esq., County Surveyor, Carlow : proposed by Mr* 
Samson Carter, Jun., County Surveyor, Kilkenny. 

Joseph Ronayne, Esq., C.E., Cork : proposed by Mr. James S. Blake, 
Ballynemona. 



189 

Thomas H. CanroU, Eiq., Proprietor of the Carhw SerUtnd ; and 
Charles Denroche, Esq., C.E., Cardiff, South Wales : proposed by Mr. 
John G. A. Prim. 

Richard Armstrong, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 9) Lower Dominick- 
street, Dublin; J. B. Murphj, Esq., Barrister' at-Law, 5, Lower Gar- 
diner-street, Dublin ; W. J. Hackett, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Clonmel ; 
Patrick J. Murray, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 1, Upper Pembroke- street, 
Dublin ; Henry Lover, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 42, Bathmines, Dublin ; 
James M. Loughnan, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 101, Lower Gardiner- 
street^ Dublin ; Charles H. Hemphil, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 6, Lower 
Fitzwilliam*8treet, Dublin ; Charles Coates, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, 3, 
Hatch-street, Dublin : proposed by Mr. Matthew O'Donnell, Barrister- 
at-Law, Kilkenny. 

The following presentations were received, and thanks for them re- 
turned to the donors : — 

By the Cambrian Archaeological Association, Archceologia Cambrensis, 

No.9. 

By the Archseological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, its 
Qtiarterly Journal^ No. 32. 

By Mr. John CDaly, the Publisher, The Tribes of Ireland, a Satire^ 
by JEngw (yDciy ; and The Munster Poete, second edition. 

By the Bey. Aiken Irvine, Engravings of Inscriptions from the Ruins 
of Persepolisy issued by the Royal Dublin Society. 

By the Bev. Singleton Colville Harpur, Aghaboe Glebe^ a bronze 
dagger, a fine Ivonze celt without stop-ridge, and a very large pocket- 
shaped bronze celt. 

By the Bev. James Graves, a bronze antique, which in shape and 
sice strongly resemUed the pipe of a modem bellows. It was found in 
the bed of the Shannon. Several antiquities of a similar kind, but not 
ornamented as this was, are in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, 
and their use has formed a subject of speculation amongst the members 
of that learned body without any very satisfactory conclusion being yet 
arrived at. 

By Mr. P. M. Delany, High-street, a silver coin of queen Anne's 
reign. 

By Mr. D. Byrne, Timahoe, a silver coin of Edward L, a silver coin 
of queen Elizabeth, and a copper ooin of pope Pius V II., all of which 
had been found in the Queen's Coanty. 

By Mr. Robert Wright^ Foulksrath Castle, a specimen of bog-butter 
which had been dug up in a turf bog at Park, near Moneygall, county 
of Tipperary, the property of R. Stannard, Esq. It was found at a 
depth of twenty-five feet from the surface in a cask of very rude con- 
struction, which the finders unfortunately had burned before the circum- 
stance of the discovery came to his knowledge. The cask was described 
as being fohned of staves, of irregular size, and very inartistically put 
together. 

By Mr. Joseph Goelin, a pair of high-heeled shoes — (see p. 1 86, ante). 

Mr. Prim, on the ground that the change made in the day of meeting 
had been found to be very inconvenient, gave notice of his intention to 



190 

move that the first Wednesday of each alternate month be the daj of 
meeting, as originally fixed. 

Mr. Prim exhibited, by permission of W. Jones, Esq., Architect, 
some objects of antiquity which had been discovered by a labourer in 
the employment of that gentleman at about a foot from the surface, 
whilst making a walk in the lawn before his cottage, near Kilkenny. 
They consisted of a very ancient silver reliquary, which exhibited signs 
of gilding, and was much worn, apparently from having been long sus- 
pended round the neck of some person ; two silver buttons, one of them 
of conical shape, the other flat, and inscribed with the letters LH.S.,the 
centre letter surmounted by a cross ; a small coil of silver wire, and six 
silver coins, five of them being of the reign of Elizabeth, and one of 
James I. 

Mr. Prim reported the discovery of an imperfect Ogham monument 
in the ancient burying-ground of TuUaherin, county of Kilkenny ; his 
attention had been called to the existence of this ancient memorial stone 
by Henry O'Neill, Esq., one of their members. 

Mr. James G. Robertson read some notes on Kilkenny Castle, illus- 
trated by drawings and plans. Mr. Robertson's paper will be found at 
full in the TransactionSy p. 115, ante. 

The Rev. James Graves contributed the following observations on 
what he supposed to be an ancient Pagan oemetry, at Rathmoyle, in the 
parish of Ballynemara, county of Kilkenny : — 

*' The names of localities, in a country which has retained its ori- 
ginal inhabitants and language, often possess much historic interest^ and 
in many instances preserve a record of events which have faded from 
the page of history, and only live in' the faint glimmering of oral tradi- 
tion. The parish and townland of Ballynemara is a case in point ; the 
peasantry understand it to mean ^ the town of the dead,' or of the corpses ; 
the adjoining townland oiBaUydoole^ they say, means the ' town of mourn- 
ing ;' and the neighbouring parish and townland of Clashacrawj or Clash' 
aglow, they understand to mean ' fretting, or grevious lamentation.' Hav- 
ing been recently in that locality, I learned from a respectable and in- 
telligent farmer, named Grace, the popular belief as to the origin of 
names which tell such a tale of death and sorrow, namely, that they 
arose from the circumstance of a battle having, in ancient times, raged 
from Clashacrow, up the valley of the Arginny river, to Ballynemara, 
where, at the rivulet to the north of the parish church, a fierce and ob- 
stinate contest took place, in which the combatants fell nearly to a man. 
, " This vague tradition is also connected with another locality in the 
parish of Ballynemara. The townland of Rathmoyle takes its name 
from a rath of the same appellation, which, when entire, crowned a small 
eminence of lime-stone gravel situate on the elevated ridge, which rises 
to the south of the parish church, and shuts in at that side one of the 
loveliest and richest pastoral vidleys in Ireland. Rathmoyle is com- 
posed, geologically speaking, of lime-stone gravel ; and overlying, as it 
does, a soil based on the clay-slate of the carboniferous group of rocks, 
is, and has been, of such value in an agricultural point of view, and af- 
fords such excellent materials for road-making and mending, that a great 
part of the rath has been removed, notwithstanding the popular pre- 



191 

jadice against disturbing such localities. The excavation thus formed 
presents a section of the rath, and proves it to be, not a remain of the 
military or defensive class, but a thickly peopled cemetery ; and the po« 
pular belief is, that the bodies of the combatants who fell at Ballyne- 
mara were here interred ; however that may be, about eighteen inches 
or two feet under the surface may be seen,' protruding from the sides of 
the sand-pit, human bones, which are found not confusedly buried, but 
belonging to perfect skeletons which had been interred without any coffin 
or cist of stones or flags. They lie for the most part with the head to 
the east, and feet to the west, and show no signs of cremation. I have 
been assured by the neighbouring peasantry that no arms or ornaments 
of any kind have ever been turned up ; while the human remains are so 
abundant, that I was informed by one man that he had often carried 
away as many as two or three skulls in one horse load of gravel. This 
irreverence towards the remains of the dead may seem strange in an 
Irish peasant, but I imagine that it may be accounted for by the avowed 
belief that this was a Pagan burial-ground. I was unsuccessful in my 
endeavours to procure a specimen of the crania^ but I shall, on some 
future occasion, make further search, as the form of the skull may help 
to indicate the peculiar race to which the combatants belonged, if those 
are indeed their remains. I however obtained and now lay before the 
meeting some other portions of several human skeletons procured on the 
spot. In addition to human remains, this ancient Pagan cemetery con- 
tains the bones of animals, amongst which the horns of the fallow deer 
frequently occur. These relics of the lower animals would seem to in- 
dicate that the obsequies of the dead were accompanied by the funeral 
feast, an idea which receives confirmation from the fact that the north 
face of the excavation exhibits a perfect section of a pit sunk into the 
gravel about five feet deep, and ten or twelve in diameter. This pit may 
be traced by a well marked line of charcoal, calcined bones, and clinkers 
or slag, exactly similar to the waste or slag of the ancient iron furnaces 
which occur along the course of the river Nore, at the base of the 
Slievebloom mountains, in the Queen's County. This pit is probably 
one of those anciently used to cook animal food, according to the well 
known method in vogue amongst the ancient Irish, as related by Jeofiry 
Keating, viz., by lining such an excavation with stones, which when 
thoroughly heated by an immense fire of wood, were placed under and 
over the raw flesh, and then the whole covered in till sufficiently cooked. 
If we suppose the stones used for this purpose to be the clay-slate of the 
locality, which is rich in nodules of iron ore, it is easy to account for 
this slag, as the limestone gravel would serve to fuse such portions of 
iron ore as were subjected with them to the action of the fire. This very 
curious Pagan cemetery seems to belong to that class, of which another 
example, discovered in the course of excavations made in forming the 
Waterford and Kilkenny Railway near Jerpoint, in this county, was 
brought under the notice of the Society by Mr. Prim, at the January 
meeting of 1860. 

** The learned Worsaae (PrimcBval Antiquities of Denmark^ translated 
by W. J. Thoms, p. 104), considers interments in natural sand-hilk to 
afford the latest examples of Pagan sepulture, and observes that the cir- 



192 

CQinstance of sereral corpses being thus found interred together ' leads 
to the conjecture that towards the close of the heathen period there were 
general places of interment, which form the transition to the custom 
which became prevalent in the Christian era of interring the dead in 
church-yards.' Pagan burial-grounds of this nature are traceable, Mr. 
Thorns observes, * in the Isle of Thanet, Northamptonshire, and other 
localities in England.' " 

General McDonald observed that Mr. Graves seemed quite correct 
in his translations of the various names of townlands, and from the pre- 
valence of such names in the locality referred to, there could be little 
doubt of a bloody battle having been fought there at some very remote 
period. 

Dr. Cane examined the bones exhibited, and stated that the greater 
portion of them belonged to human beings who appealed, from the 
teeth, to have been aged about fifty. A few of the bones seemed to 
have belonged to the skeleton of a sheep. 

Mr. B. Hitchcock contributed a paper entitled '* Gleanings from Coun- 
try Church-yards," which is printed in the TransactioMy p. 127, ante, 

Mr. Hitchcock also communicated an extract from Hackluyt's Voy- 
ages, illustrative of Dingle in the time of queen Elizabeth, which will be 
found printed at length, with an Introduction and Notes, in the TranS" 
actions, p. 133, ante. 

Mr. Patrick Cody, MuUinavat, contributed a second legend connected 
with Lough Cuillinn, which will be found printed at large in the Trana* 
actions, p. 98, ante. 

Mr. Daniel Byrne, Timahoe, sent the following communication on 
the monumental inscriptions in Timogue church. Queen's County : — 

^' The church of Timogue comprises within its walls many interest- 
ing monuments connected with the ancient proprietors of the district, 
principally the Byrnes and Fitzgeralds. The district of Lugacurren, in 
which the church is situate, was originally the property of the CMores, 
being part of Leix. In remote ages the O'Mores formed an alliance 
with the O'Kellys. In the reign of Elizabeth the O'Kelly who possessed 
Lugacurren, then known by the name of Faren O'Ceallagh, or * O'Kelly's 
land,' married the daughter of O'Byme of Glanmalur, in the county of 
Wicklow ; and in order to have a suitable habitation for his wife, he is 
said to have built, with ston^ and lime cement, in one week, a house, the 
site of which is known to this day by the name of * shanagh clough,' or, 
* old stone.' O'Kelly about this time had in his employment a servant 
named Macgloud. Tradition asserts that some di£ference arose between 
O'Kelly's wife and Macgloud, on which he went to the then earl of Kil- 
dare who resided in Kilkea castle ; and without O'Kelly's knowledge in- 
vited the earl to visit the latter. The earl accepted the invitation, and 
was kindly received by O'Kelly who made him sponsor for his child : 
but on the night of the day on which the infant was baptized, the mother 
and child were found dead in their bed, to the great grief of O'Kelly. 
The earl remained, and attended at the interment of the infant and its 
mother, after which he induced his host to accompany him to his cas- 
tle of Kilkea. The day after his arrival the earl took O'Kelly to the top 
of his castle, and under pretence of giving him a view of the surrounding 



193 

scenery, and contrary to the principles of humanity and hospitality, had 
two mflland prepared, who struck off his head. He then immediately 
wrote to queen Elizabeth letting her know that he had dispatched a prin- 
cipal rebel, named O'Eelly, who was in strong alliance with the indom- 
itable O'Moi^s ; whereon he teceived from Elizabeth a grant of O'Kelly's 
property.^ 

*^AI1 this traditional account is true, with the exception, that the 
earl of Eildare is nnjustly accused. Gerald Fitzgerald, of Morett, was 
the murderer of 0*Kelly. He was itaarried to a daughter of John Bowen, 
of Ballyadams, who endeavoured by every itaeans to destroy O'Kelly and 
tlie brave 0*Mores ; and by the aid of Fitzgerald he compassed the 
death of O'Kelly. But the O'Mores avenged O'Kelly by putting to 
death Fitzgerald and hurtling his castle of Morett. 

" Gerald Fitzgerald, the son of O'Kelly's murderer, next became pos- 
sessor of Lugacurren. He was commonly called ** Short Garret.*' This 
Gerald Was a consummate tyrant over the peasantry. A curse rested on 
him, and after some time he sold the estate of Lugacurrien to Sir Walter 
Whelan. This Gerald, together with his perfidious father, lie buried in 
the church of Timogue. 

*' Sir Walter Whelan was a Roman Catholic and resided in Timogue 
castle. He built a chapel in Timogue on the site of the ancient church 
founded by St. Mochua, and which building is now the Protestant church. 
Sir Walter Whelan, after some considerable time, is said to have sold 
the estate to Daniel Byrne for an hundred and twenty thousand pounds. 
This appears an etiormous sum ; but the estate contained fifteen large 
townlands. 

*^ Daniel Byrne was a son to Laughlin Byrne, who lived in Ballentlee 
near Bed Cross, in the county of Wicklow, and a descendant of the 
Byrnes of Glenmalur, so much celebrated in history. Laughlin Byrne 
had two sons, Denis and Daniel ; Denis possessed the estate of Bal- 
lentlee ; Daniel was a clothier, and made a contract to clothe Cromwell's 
troops, by which he amassed a large fortune. Daniel, after he had made 
his ptirchase, got married to a young lady named O'Neill, by whom he had 
a son called Qtegoty. This Gregory was created a baronet, and lived 
in Timogue castle. Sir Gregory had a son named Daniel, who mar- 
ried Anna Dorothea, eldest daughter of Edward Warren, of Pointon, in 
the county of Chester ; this lady was a Protestant. Sir Daniel's eldest 
sen Charles died at nine years of age ; consequently his second son 
John became heir to the title and estate. After the death of Sir 
Daniel, Sir John married the only danghter of Sir Peter Leyster, of 
Pointon, in England. Sir John's lady was a member of the Church of 
England, and while Sir John was in Ireland she fell sick of a fever. 
She recovered, but he unfortunately took the fever, and while he was 
iA delirium his father-in-law is said to have drawn his will, and framed 
it so that Sir John's estates in Ireland should be sold, and (iurchases of 
property made in England for his heir, Sir Peter Byrne, and that unless 

Peter conformed to the Church of England, the full aifiotint of the 



' This legend is given by Harcliiiiatf in eopied into the DkMin Pomp itumki^ VOL 
his *' Irish Minstrelsy,*' from which it is i. p. 67. — Bos. 

25 



194 

price of the estates should go to the support of the Universitj of Oxford. 
According to the terms of the will Sir Peter cx>nforined, and took the 
name of Leyster. 

'* In this paper I shall not mention the existing relations of Sir Daniel, 
but simply say that after the death of Sir John the estates were sold and 
the marquis of Lansdowne became possessor of Lugacurren. 

'* It now only remains for me to give the inscriptions of the tomb-stones 
within Timogue church. Sir Daniel Byrne's tomb is of beautiful white 
marble, on which is engraved the armorial bearings of the Byrnes, and 
the following inscription : — ' Beneath this marble stone lyeth the body of 
Sir Daniel Byrne, Bart., who dyed the 25 of September in the year 1715 
and of his age the 39* He married Anna Dorothea eldest daughter of 
Edward Warren, of Pointon, in the county of Chester and Kingdom of 
England, Esq. He was a singular instance of congugall affection, a 
kind and indulgent father to his children, and in the discharge of pro- 
mises, which in the practice of the world meets with too little regard, a 
greate example of justice. Heere also lyeth the body of Charles his 
eldest son, who was a youth of very promising expectation ; he dyed 
the first of November, 1713, and in the ninth year of his age.' 

^* At the end of Sir Daniel's tomb, towards the door, and also in the 
fioor of the church, rests a white marble tomb without any armorial or- 
nament, containing the following inscription : — 

'* ' Heere lyeth the body of Thomas Fitzgerald, of Morett, Esq., who 
departed this life the twenty-second of September, 1766, aged 20 years, 
son of Stephen Fitzgerald, of Morett, Esq. He was a most dutiful son 
and valuable youth, for which reason his mother, Catherine Fitzgerald, 
youngest daughter of Sir Daniel Byrne, Bart., lays down this stone, in 
regard to the great tenderness he had for his mother and her most pa- 
rental love for him.' 

'* On the right of the pulpit, and in the wall of the church, is a tomb 
of black marble, on which is sculptured the armorial bearings of the 
Fitzgeralds of Morett, with the following inscription : — 

*^ ' In this vault and ground lie the remains of Gerald Fitzgerald of 
Morett, Esq., and of his wife a daughter of John Bowen, of Ballyadams, 
Esq. He was murdered and his Castle burned in the reign of Eliza- 
beth. And of his only son, Gerald Fitzgerald, of Timogue, Esq. And of 
his wife, a daughter of O'Demesy, lord of Clanmalere. And of his eldest 
son, Thomas Fitzgerald, of Morett, Esqr. And of his wife a daughter of 
John Picat of Dysart, Esquire. And of his eldest son, Stephen Fitzgerald, 
of Morett, Esq. And of his wife a daughter of Henry Gilbert, of Kil- 
menchy. Esquire. And of his eldest son, Thomas Fitzgerald, of Morett, 
Esquire. And of his wife, a daughter of Sir Gregory Byrne, Bart. He 
dyed on the 18th day of April, 1754.' 

'' By the side of the white marble tomb of Thomas Fitzgerald rests a 
plain black marble slab, containing the following inscription : — ' Here lieth 
the body of Stephen Fitzgerald of Morett, Esq., who departed this life the 
second of August 1771> aged 64 years. He was a most tender husband 
and affectionate parent, and sincere friend. His widow, Catherine Fitz- 
gerald, youngest daughter Of Sir Daniel Byrne, Bart, lays down this 
stone, in regard to the high value she has for his memory.' 



195 

'* Adjoining the end of this tomb resta a green-stone slab also in the 
floor, which contains the following inscription : — ' Here lieth the body 
of Mrs. Martha Fitzgerald, wife of Stephen Fitzgerald, Esq., who died 
the 25th day of December anno domini 1713, aged 54. Here lyeth the 
body of Stephen Fitzgerald, Fsq., who died the 20th day of June ano 
dom. 1710, aged 54 years.' 

''In the church a black marble tomb-stone forms part of the floor, 
containing the following words : — ' Here lie the body of Mrs. Francess 
Fitzgerald, wife of Mr. Thomas Fitzgerald, of Morett, and one of the 
daaghters of Sir Gregory Byrne, Baronet, deed, she departed this life y* 
19th day of October, ano domi 1723 and in y^ 40th year of her age. 
By this stone lieth the body of the above named Thomas Fitzgerald, 
of Morett, Esq., he dyed the 18th day of Apl. 1754, aged 68 yrs.' 

'' I have to thank the Rev. William Mease, who came from Strad- 
bally to Tiraogue, and kindly gave me admission to the church, which is of 
much interest on account of its antiquity, and the monuments which it 
contains. The tombs in the church- yard were all generally laid down 
about 1700; near the church door is a marble tomb-stone placed over 
Joseph Purcel, son of captain Purcel, who resided in Timogue." 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Satubdat, Mat 5th, 1853. 

MAJOR-GENERAL, MCDONALD, C.B., in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — Mrs. Beauchamp Newton, 
Rathwade, Bagnalstown ; the Rev. John Warde, Wath Rectory, Ripon ; 
and Herbert F. Hore, Esq., Pole Hore, Wexford : proposed by the Rev. 
James Graves. 

Mr. Daniel Hickey, Gowran ; and Mr. Patrick Carrigan, MuUinavat : 
proposed by Mr. Patrick Cody, MuUinavat. 

John Fitzsimons, Esq., High-street, Kilkenny : proposed by Mr. John 
G. A. Prim. 

The following presentations were received and thanks for them 
ordered to be returned to the donors : — 

By the Dowager Marchioness of Ormonde, a curiously ornamented 
and inlaid ancient pistol. Her ladyship, however, was unable to state 
anything of its history. 

By the Rev. James Mease. Freshford, two curious modern brass 
medals. 

By Dr. Keating, Callan, a silver coin of Edward lY., found sometime 
since in Jerpoint Abbey, by a person who thought proper to disturb 
the tomb said to be that of Felix (yDelany, bishop of Ossory temp, 
Henry II., and first abbot of Jerpoint. 

By Mr. James Fogarty, a curious pear-shaped stone, found in a rath 
near Piltown. 

By Mrs. William Jones, Kilkenny, the curious silver reliquary, two 
antique silver buttons, six coins of Elizabeth and James I., and the coil 
of silver wire, found in making a new walk in the lawn at Mr. Jones' 
cottage, near Kilkenny, and which had been exhibited at the last meeting. 



196 

By Mr. John P. Quin, two silver coins of Elizabeth, turned mp in a 
field at (liadowney, 

Bj Mr. Williams, Lacken Cottage, a covinterfeit dollar of Charles . 
IV. of Spain, found near Kilkenny. 

By Mr. Daniel Meany, a specimen of the ancient flooring tiles of 
Graigue Abbey. 

By the Bev. James Graves, one of those very curious porcelain seals, 
consisting of a perfect cube, surmounted by a rudely shaped animal 
serving as a handle, and inscribed with Chinese characters on the under 
surface, which just now excite so much interest amongst antiquaries, 
and are as great a puzzle to them as the Round Towers themselves^ 
The specimen now presented to the Museum was found near Thomastowa 
many years ago, and is not enrolled in the Hst oi Mr. Getty, of Belfast. 
By Mr. W. R. Blackett, Ballyne, an accurate plan and measurements 
of the great cromleac of Leac-an-scail, in the county of Kilkenny. 

By the Rev. Thomas Gimlette, the Rev. Samuel Hayman's Account of 
Toughal Church. 

By Mr. Alexander Johns, Carrickfergus, M*Skimin's History of 
Carrickfergus. 

Bj the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, its 
Journal^ No. 33. 

By the Cambrian Archaeological Association, Archceologia CamhrensU^ 
No. 10. 

By the St. Alban's Architectural Society, A Description of the Roman 
Theatre of VenUam, ^c. 

By the Architectural Societies of Northampton, York, and Lincoln, 
and the Architectural and Archaeological Societies of Bedfordshire and 
St. Alban's, their united Reports and Papers. 

By Dr. James, some records of the municipal corporation of the city, 
of Kilkenny, and which he trusted might prove useful and interesting. 
They consisted of a mutilated copy of the charter of James I. ; two 
original affidavits, one in the case of ;' King against Ambrose Evans, Esq., 
Mayor of Kilkenny," A.D. 1761, the other in ** The King against Thomas 
Barnes, Mayor of Kilkenny," A.D. 1728; and a brief to Anthony 
Malone, the celebrated lawyer, from Mr. Arthur Helsham, whose elec- 
tion as coroner for the city had been petitioned against by the defeated 
candidate, Mr. Thomas Cufie, one of the Desart family. These docu« 
ments, which are not the first that Dr. James has liberally given into 
the custody of the Society, are of particular interest, as illustrating the 
state of the guilds, or incorporated trade societies, existing in the begin- 
ning of the last century in Kilkenny. It appears that there were then 
six incorporated trades, viz., the merchants' guild, the bakers', cord- 
wainers', hammermena', tailors', and carpenters' companies. In electing 
the recorder, Mr. Cufie claimed the right, of the masters and wardens 
of these guilds to be allowed to vote for him, and also that the aldermen 
had a right to two votes each. Mr. Helsham denied the right of the first 
as it had become obsolete ; and he declared the claim of the aldermen to 
two votes to have been already decided by the Lord Chancellor, Brode- 
rick, who, in a similar case, *' desired to see one of the Aldermen, and 
if he appeared to have two heads, he should have two votea; otherwise 



197 

• 

not, for it was contrary to the charter^ and repagnaot to the laws of the 
land." Mr. Helsham also alleged that the master and wardens of the 
hammermen, and other companies would have attended to vote for bim, 
in case such votes were taken, but that Mr. Reade of Rossenara, Mr. 
CoUes of Millmoant, and Mr. Carpenter of Castlecomer, friends to Mr. 
Cofie, had contrived to induce them to attend at their various residen-^ 
ces on the plea of having in one case a clock, in another a window to 
mend, and in a third a cow to kill, and that they were there made dmnk 
and kept in that state till the election was over, in order to prevent them 
from voting for Mr. Helsham. This brief summary of the contents of 
the documents will serve to show how curious and interesting they were, 
and may induce others who have similar old MSS. in their possession, 
to confide or exhibit them to the Archaeological Society. 

By Mr. James F. Ferguson, Exchequer Record Office, Dublin, an 
extract which formed in itself a considerable volume, taken from one 
of the valuable public records in his custody, the LUfer Tenurarum LagenieB^ 
being the entire portion referring to the county, and county of the city, 
of Kilkenny. 

Mr. Graves pointed out the vast importance which this document 
was of for the illustration of local history, as it contained a full list of 
the noblemen and gentlemen holding property in capite in Kilkenny in 
the beginning of the seventeenth century, together with ample state- 
ments of the denominations and value of their lands, and the nature of 
the tenures by which they held. * 

Mr. Ferguson's donation has been reserved to form a part of the 
Society's Annual Volume of Original Documents. 

Mr. Frim having given notice of a motion for returning to the first 
Wednesday of each alternate month as the day of meeting for the Society, 
instead of Saturday, the latter having been found a most inconvenient 
day for all the members, and the recent change having resulted in seriously 
reducing the attendance of members at their meetings, Mr. Graves read 
a letter from A. W. Baker, jun., Esq., Ballaghtobin, pointing out that 
though he had recommended a change, stall he had not suggested Satur- 
day, as he knew it would be most inconvenient. He now again urged his 
previous objections to Wednesday, and suggested that either Monday 
or Tuesday should be fixed upon. 

After some discussion, Dr. Cane said it was evident that no day could 
be fixed upon which some one would not find inconvenient, and that it 
seemed that Wednesday was likely to be inconvenient to the smallest 
number of the members ; he was sorry that they could not meet the views 
of a gentleman who took so great an interest in the Society as Mr. Baker 
had evinced, but under all the circumstances he would second the motion 
for returning to Wednesday. 

The question having been put from the Chair, Wednesday was fixed 
upon nemu con, 

Mr. Baker, in his letter, made several suggestions for extending the 
operations of the Society. He acknowledged that the means at its dis- 
posal were very limited, owing to the low amount at which the sub- 
scriptions had been fixed!, but he thought a reduction might be made in 
the expenditure by not posting notices of each meeting to members, but 



198 

substituting a notice in the newspapers ; the amount saved to be applied 
in repairing monuments of antiquity falling to decay, such as the Round 
Tower of TuUaherin. He also suggested that a regular chronicle of 
the antiquities still extant within the sphere of their knowledge or 
/ influence, their condition, state of preservation, &c., should be given in 
the annual report of the Society, by getting up parties and deputations of 
the members to inspect and report upon them. Also, that clay models 
of the more valuable sculptured monuments should be made; whilst 
some plan of rewards to people preserving objects of antiquity might be 
struck out, so as to give a stimulus for the prevention of wanton out- 
rages on ancient monuments ; and that the Society ought to take steps 
to connect itself with the Royal Irish Academy, and similar bodies, in 
order that by union of action, they might mutually aid the objects all 
had in view. 

Mr. Graves stated that all possible economy was already used as to the 
item of postage in their expenditure, summonses to the meetings being 
only sent to such members in the country as expressed a wish to have 
such a notification of the day of meeting, so that the expense of ad- 
vertising every meeting would be infinitely greater. One of Mr. Baker^s 
suggestions the Committee had already arranged to put in operation — 
that of taking casts of valuable monuments liable to injury from situ- 
ation in exposed places. Mr. O'Neill had been engaged to take a 
mould (and supply both the mould and a cast to the Society) of the 
beauti^l tomb of the cross-leggeif knight in the old church of Kilfane, 
but as the funds could not bear this outlay, the expense should be 
defrayed by a private subscription of the members, some of whom had 
already put down their names for 10^. each, towards the object. The 
other suggestions made by Mr. Baker were referred to the Committee to 
consider how far it might be possible to act upon them. 

Mr. Robertson exhibited a painting in water colours of the ancient 
Market Cross of Kilkenny, and the High-street from the Tholsel to the 
present Shambles, as seen by a person standing nearly opposite the 
former. The quaint old gabled fronts, unbroken lines of bay windows, 
and pent-houses, as they existed a century since in the High-street, were 
beyond doubt set down with the accuracy of a daguerreotype, for many 
of the prominent features of the view have been only removed within 
the last thirty years, and are at once recognisable. The drawing was 
found amongst those prepared by the late Mr. Robertson to illustrate his 
intended work on the history and antiquities of Kilkenny. 

Mr. Graves said it was unnecessary to draw attention to the splendid 
collection of ancient bells upon the table, for they had already attracted 
general admiration, and excited the strongest interest amongst the mem- 
bers present — and he was sorry that more were not present to enjoy so 
unusual a treat. They were indebted for the exhibition of these bells, 
as well as the curious ancient ornaments which accompanied them, to the 
kindness of Mr. Cooke, of Parsonstown, who had sent them by his son, 
Mr. William Cooke, whom he (Mr. Graves) begged leave to introduce 
to the meeting, and they were accompanied by a paper from the former 
gentleman, which he would now have the pleasure of reading to them. 



199 

Mr. Graves then read Mr. Cooke's paper on Ancient Irish Bells, which 
will be found printed in full in the TransactianSy p. 47, ante. 

Mr. Watters exhibited the '* Liber Primus Kilkennise," the most an- 
cient book of the proceedings of the corporation of Kilkenny now extant. 
It was a small quarto book of vellum, bound in oak boards ; the proceed- 
ings commenced in the jear 1230, and went down to the reign of 
Henrj YIII., carrying on the minutes of the corporation during that 
long period. Being 622 years old, the book might be deemed a curiosity 
in itself, but as a record of the ancient history of the city, it was even 
more interesting. It contained the original charter of William earl 
Marshal, son-in-law of Strongbow, incorporating the citizens as sovereign 
and burgesses ; also the grant of Richard U. confirming that charter ; 
also an account of the division of the county of Kilkenny amongst the 
daughters of Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester, whicli family obtained 
the possession through marriage with a daughter of the earl Marshal. 
With one of the daughters of Gilbert de Clare, a portion of the county 
including Kilkenny Castle, came to the Le de Spencer family, and was 
purchased from them by the third earl of Ormonde. It seemed from 
this record that it was the custom for the corporation to assemble and 
swear in their sovereign in the Black Abbey ; and he found that in the 
fourteenth century, two females had been elected and sworn burgesses of 
Kilkenny. 

Mr. Henry (XNeill read a paper on the Rock Monuments of the 
county of Dublin, which will be found printed in full in the Transactiona, 
p. 40, ante, 

A communication was read from Mr. John O'Daly, on the name, 
TuUaherin, the locality of the recently discovered ogham stone, advo- 
cating the supposition, that the name in true ortography was Tulaigh* 
Chiaran, i. e., the Tulaigh or burying place of St Kieran, the patron 
saint of Ossory ; or a burying place dedicated to that saint. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

• 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, July 5th, 1852, 
ROBERT CANE» ESQ., M.D., in the Chtir. 

Tl^e following new Members were elected : — ^Lord Famham, Farnham, 
county of Cavan ; The O'Donovan, Montpelier, Douglas, Cork ; T. Crof- 
ton Croker, Esq., F.S.A., J. P., London ; Daniel Mahony, Esq., J.F., 
Dunloe Castle, Killarney; Rev. Joseph Fitzgerald, P.P., M.R.I.A., 
Rahan, Tullamore; Mrs. Mahony, CuUenagh, Beaufort, Killarney; 
John Gray Bell, Esq., London : proposed by Mr. R. Hitchcock. 

Standish Hayes O'Grady, Esq., Monkstown, Cork ; James Sandiford 
Lane, Esq., J.P., Shipton ; Patrick Chalmers, Esq., Auldbar, Brechin, 
Scotland ; Henry O'Neill, Esq. ; Mr. Thomas Pembroke, Kilkenny ; and 
John Costelloe, Esq., Galway : proposed by the Rev. James Graves. 

Edward Lane, Esq., Kilkenny : proposed by Dr. James. 

Walter Sweetman, Esq., M.R.I.A., Annaghs, New Ross : proposed 
by the Rev. T. U. Townsend, 



200 

Mrs. Charles Doyne, Newtown Park, Blackrock, Dublin : proposed 
by Mr. James K. Aylward. 

Edward Fitzgerald, Esq., Nelson Terrace, Fonghal: proposed by 
the Rev. Thomas Gimlette. 

Mr. Graves read the following letter, which had been received from 
Herr Worsaae, the celebrated Danish antiquary : — 

19S, Bredgade, CopMhagen, 

JuiM I Sell* 185S. 

Gbntlbmbn — ^After hiving returned from a stay in France and England, I have 
had the honuor to receive the letter of Feb. 17th addressed to me from the Kilkenny 
Archaeological Society, proposing to the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, to enter 
into friendly communications with the Kilkenny Archeological Society. 

As I am not at present more than a member of the Royal Society of Northern Anti* 
qnaries, I have given up the letter to the Perpetual Secretary of the Royal Society, Coun- 
cillor Rafn, and I do not doubt but that he will do everything towards carrying out the 
wishes of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society. He was very much pleased when I told 
him of this plan. 

Finally, I have to return my most sincere thanks to the Society, not only for the 
copy of " Hints tnd Queries," which you, gentlemen, have been kind enough to forward 
to me, but also for the very flattering compliment yon have paid to my small poblioao 
tions. 

With my best wishes for the prosperity of the Kilkenny Society, 

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, 

Your most obedient, futhful servant, 

J. J. A. WoasAAE. 
The Rev. Jamei Gravet, and John 
O, A. Prim, Eeq., Hon. Seee, to the 
KUktnny Archaological Society, 

A communication was then read from the Rev. J. L. Irwin, rector 
of Thomastown, strongly urging on the Society the necessity of taking 
steps to arrest the decay of Jerpoint Abbey, and suggesting the forma- 
tion of a special fund for that and similar purposes. 

The Secretaries were requested, by a resolution passed unanimously, 
to visit and report upon the condition of the Abbey,, and Mr. J. G. 
Robertson, architect, consented to give them the benefit of his profes- 
sional assistance for that purpose. 

The following presentations were received, and thanks ordered to be 
given to the donors : — 

By Mr. Patrick Chalmers, Auldbar, the impression of a small signet 
ring, engraved with the letter I crowned, and which was said to be the 
private seal of king John ; it was found in an old castle near Tara, and is 
in the possession of Miss Daly. It did not appear on what authority the 
ring was attributed to king John. 

By Mr. R. Malcolmson, Shamrock Lodge, Bagnalstown, an impres- 
sion from the signet of the second duke of Ormonde, which had been 
attached to a fee-farm grant of the lands of Rathowe, county of Carlow, 
made by that nobleman in the year 171 1, to Thomas Jones and Anthony 
Sheppard. 

By Mr. Albert Way, an impression in gutta percha, of the seal of 
Sir William Hilton, temp. Ric. II. It was circular in shape, and bore 
the device of an ancient vessel in full sail, surrounded by the legend — 
** WiUidmus, HiUon. Miles. Admiralis.pro. loco. HybemU. usque, ad* Scocictm^ 



201 

Mr. Waj observed that the name of this admiral of the Irish channel 
was not found in any published list. The same gentleman also sent an 
impression of an oval ecclesiastical seal. 

By Mr, James Light, through Mr. Douglas, a silver-mounted crystal 
seal, of the period of Louis XIY., dug out of the ruins of the citadel of 
Old Sarumin 1846. 

By the Dean of Waterford, specimens of ancient flooring tiles from 
the Franciscan abbey, Waterford. 

By Mr. J. Windele, Cork, a specimen of modern iron ring-money 
called a *^manilla" maufactured at Birmingham for the traffic of the 
African coast, and which had formed portion of the cargo of a British 
vessel wrecked on the Cork coast. It was identical in shape with the 
ancient gold penannular ring-money so frequently found in this country. 

By Mr. Corbet, Castle Gardens, an ancient globe-shaped glass bottle, 
found a few days previously in an old wine cellar, which had been long 
dosed up and forgotten, and was lately exposed in the course of some 
excavations in the court-yard of Kilkenny Castle. 

By Archdeacon Cotton, a very large and valuable collection of 
ancient and modem Irish coins, amongst which were a half-penny of 
King John, and specimens of the base Irish coinage of Elizabeth and 
James II. ; also of the silver tokens issued by the Bank of Ireland, for 
general circulation in Ireland, in the beginning of this century. 

By Mr. B. Smithwick, J. P., Birchfield, a modem silver Danish coin. 

By Mr. J. Windele, Wood's Inquiry concerning the Primitive Inhabit 
tants of Ireland^ O'Flaherty's Glance at ancient Ireland, and Swanton's 
Irish Primer, 

By the Rev. Samuel Hayman, Toughal, a little work by Mr. Fitz- 
gerald, of Youghal, A Hand-book to the Holy City of Ardmore* 

By Mr. John O'Daly, The Kings of the Eace of Eihhear. 

By the Bury and West Suffolk Archselogical Institute^ its Pro^ 
ceedrngs part 6., together with an Archaeologiccd Guide to Ely Cathedral. 

By Mr. J. G. Robertson, two plates illustrative of local antiquities, 
the subjects being the well in Roth's old house, Coalmarket, and two of 
the tombs in the cathedral of St. Canice. 

By Mr. T. B. M*Creery, an original parchment lease of the ancient 
hostelry, caUed the Bull Inn, Irishtown, from the Bishop of Ossory to 
Mary Walsh ; this document was also curious, as supplying an autograph 
of Bishop Pococke. 

By Mr. T. H. Carroll, Carlow, an old copy of a bond of King 
Charles I., dated Oxford, 1st April 1643, binding himself "on the word 
of a King^ to the Earl of Camwath, to repay him the sum of £6239. 

By Mr* C. Fowler, Wellbrook, Notes on the Use of the Clay Tobacco 
Pipe in England^ by Andrew James Lamb, Esq. 

By Mr. John Gray Bell, three tracts, being a Glossary of the Provin- 
cial Words of Cumberland^ and reprints of two scarce antiquarian tracts, 
of which he is the publisher. 

By Mr. Hitchcock, a tract issued by Waterhouse and Co. of Dublin, 
illustrating the ornamental Irish antiquities reproduced by them, and 
containing two engravings of the Tara brooch. 

A series of very interesting rubbings from brasses in St. Peter^s 

26 



202 

* 

churchy Norfolk, was exhibited bj permission of Mrs. Hewit (yBrien, 
Deanery, Wateiford, and excited much attention. 

A chief attraction of the meeting was the cast from the ancient cross- 
legged effigy in Kilfane church, which had been executed for the Society's 
Museum. For the purpose of defraying the cost consequent on the ex- 
ecution of this cast a subscription was commenced, and the following 
members contributed 10«. each — Dr. Cane, Sampson Carter, Esq., G.E., 
Bev. James Graves, J. M. Tidmarsh, Esq., and Mr. John Gr. A. Prim. 
In connexion with this subject, Mr. Graves read a paper on the cross- 
legged effigies existing in the county of Kilkenny, which will be found 
printed at length in the Transactions^ p. 63, ante. 

Mr. Richard B. Brash, Architect, Cork, then read a paper on the 
local antiquities of Buttevant, which will also be found in full in the 
Transactions^ p. 83, ante. 

Mr. Prim read a paper on discoveries made in a rath at Dunbel, 
which will be found in full in the Transactions, p. 1 19, ante. 

The Bev. J. Graves said they Were indebted to Mr. Mosse, Bennetts- 
bridge, for forwarding the information as to the circumstance of the rath 
referred to by Mr. Prim being trenched. He hoped the other members 
of the society would be on the watch and give a similar intimation to 
the secretaries whenever they heard of any intention to level or trench 
a rath or other remain of antiquity in their respective localities. 

The Dean of Waterford forwarded some highly curious documents 
connected with the history of the cathedral of that city, which will be 
found in full in the Transactions, p. 75, ante. 

Mr. Patrick Cody sent a conmiunication respecting the ^' giant's grave" 
at Licketstown, in the barony of Ida, known as Leaba-an-Cheadaich 
Mhoir, which will be found in full in the Transactions, p. 101, ante. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, Seftembeb 1st, 1852, 
THE RIGHT HON. W. F. TIGHE, in the Chtir. 

The following Members were elected :^-John Greene, Esq., M.P., for 
the county of Kilkenny ; and Hugh Greene, Esq., Rockview : proposed by 
Mr. Joseph Greene, jun. 

John Hyde, Esq., D.L, J.P., Castle Hyde, Fermoy ; Bindon Blood, 
Esq., DJi., J.P., Ennis ; R. R. Madden, Esq., MJR.LA., Loan Fund Office, 
Dublin Castle ; M. H. Gill, Esq., University Printing Office, Dublin ; 
Rev. William Scannell, Ventry, Dingle ; Francis Annesly Dunlevy, Esq., 
Dingle; John Mason, Esq., Dingle; Rev. Edward Cowen, Danurlin 
Glebe, Ventry, Dingle : proposed by Mr. R. Hitchcock, Trinity College, 
Dublin. 

John H. Leech, Esq., Carrick-on-Suir : proposed by the Rev. J. 
Graves. 

The Rev. John Clarke, R.C.C., Louth ; and Edward Hayes, Esq., 
Leeds : proposed by Mr. John O'Daly, Dublin. 



203 

Charles Lanyon, Esq., C.E., County Surveyor, Belfast : proposed by 
Mr. S. Carter, County Surveyor, Kilkenny. 

The Ee V. Joseph Bogers, Farsonstown : proposed by Mr. T. L. Cooke, 
Parsonstown. 

The Rev. W. D. Macray, New College, Oxford ; and Thomas Bell, 
Esq., Cumberland-row, Newcastle*on-Tyne : proposed by Mr. John Gray 
Bell, London. 

The Rev. W. C. Gorman, St. Canice's Library : proposed by the Rev. 
Dr. Browne. 

The following presentations were received, and thanks ordered to be 
given to the doners : — 

By the Rev. J. L. Irwin, Rector of Thomastown, a musket found 
near Penzance, on the coast of Cornwall, affording a most curious 
example of concrete of sand and gravel cemented together by the oxyda- 
tion of the iron. The musket had been completely enveloped in this 
coating, which included many large stones ; but from a small portion of 
the stock, visible where the concretion had been removed, it did not appear 
to have been subjected to the action of the sea-water for any very long 
period, the fashion of the woodwork being very similar to the military 
firelock of the present day. 

By Mr. Michael White, Dun bell, some further objects from amongst 
tho9e found in the rath on his lands (as described at the July meeting), 
and which he had since recovered for the Society ; amongst these were 
fragments of jet rings, a small disk of bone, which had evidently been 
turned in a lathe, a brass ear-ring, and other objects. 

By Dr. Lalor, a human skull, being one of a number found, together 
with a very large quantity of other human bones, on his property, at 
Clinstown, county of Kilkenny. These remains had been turned up in 
digging for sand, and, according to the usual tradition of the peasantry 
in such cases, were the remains of persons slain in some battle in the 
olden times, but when or by what enemy his infonnants could not tell. 
The medical gentlemen present seemed to consider this skull, from its 
appearance, of considerable antiquity ; Dr. Kinchela, however, remarked 
that sandy soil, such as that of Clinstown, was not calculated to preserve 
bones as well as loam or boggy matter. 

By the Rev. James Graves, on the part of Mr. Crawley, gardener 
to the Bishop of Ossory, a signet ring, engraved with armorial bearings, 
found in the garden of the mensal lands of the see, near Kilkenny. 
The ring was of brass, but had been gilded ; the arms were much de- 
faced ; the second quarter appeared to display the bearings of Warren — 
chequee or and azure^ an a canton guUa a lion rampant argent. 

By the Cambrian Archaaological Association, Archceologia Canibren- 
siSf No. 10. 

By the Archaaological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, its 
Journal^ No. 33. 

Mr. J. F. Shearman exhibited a collection of bronze celts, found at 
Cashel, and in the Railway cuttings at Bagnalstown ; one was of a very 
uncommon type, being ornamented with parallel depressions on the sides, 
and exhibiting notches to enable it to be more firmly bound to the haft. 

Mr. P. (yCallaghan exhibited a curious bronze pin, a bronze celt, 



204 

and a silver coin of queen Elizabeth, which had been found, with some 
human bones, at CuUahill, Queen's county. 

A letter from the Rev. Mr. Cowen, of Yentrj, this daj elected a 
member, was brought under notice by the Secretary. The Bev. Gren- 
tleman expressed his regret that none were found to rescue the anti- 
quities which abounded in the rich and interesting region that formed 
Uie district surrounding him, from the ruthless contempt which daily 
threatened their destruction. He had often tried, but in vain, to impress 
their value on some of the local proprietors, but, alas ! monuments that 
a command, or even the expression of a desire for their preservation, 
would be certain to save, were fast perishing, few, indeed, seeming to ap- 
preciate their value. 

Mr. Graves stated that it was most gratifying to observe that this 
Society had attracted the attention of that learned and important body, 
the British Association for the Advancement of Science, at present holding 
its meeting at Belfast He had received a letter from the secretary 
of the sub-committee of antiquities, to the effect that it gave them par- 
ticular pleasure to find that the present occasion was likely to open a 
correspondence between the north and south of Ireland on subjects con- 
nected with archa9ology ; they had not as yet in the north a society ex- 
clusively devoted to that department, but the correspondence caused by 
the proposed exhibition, at Belfast, of Irish antiquities in connexion with 
the meeting of the Association, had shown them that a very large number 
of individuals throughout Ulster felt an interest in such pursuits. It 
therefore seemed to the committee that the occasion might be used to es- 
tablish an Archaeological Society to co-operate with similar bodies in 
Ireland ; and that a general meeting might be held once a year in some 
part of Ireland, to last for several days, during which exploring excur- 
sions might be made, papers read, and various antiquities exhibited. 
The Kilkenny Archaeological Society, it was suggested, might give this 
idea their consideration so that some suggestion from that body might be 
made during the meeting of the British Association at Belfast. 

This subject was warmly received by the members present, who ex- 
pressed their sympathy with the objects mooted, and it was resolved, on 
the motion of Dr. Browne, seconded by Mr. Robertson, that Mr. Msc 
Adam's suggestions be adopted, and that the honorary secretaries do com- 
municate with that gentleman on the subject. 

Mr. J. 6 Robertson, architect, on the part of the sub-committee 
appointed at the last meeting of the society to inspect the condition of 
Jerpoint Abbey, exhibited several drawings of the building, and brought 
up the following report : — 

'* It will be recollected that on the occasion of our last meeting, a 
sub-committee, consisting of the Rev. J. Graves, and Messrs. J. G. A. 
Prim, and J. G. Robertson, was appointed, on the suggestion of the Rev. 
J. L. Irwin, to visit and inspect the abbey of Jerpoint, one of the most 
magnificent remains of by-gone days, to be found, not only in this county, 
rich as it is in such relics, but in Ireland. 

** The sub-committee having visited the ruins, I have been deputed to 
read to the members of the society now present, a few notes descriptive 
of the state of the abbey, and to offer such suggestions, as we think, if 



205 

carried into execatioiiy would not onlj serre to repair the present di- 
lapidationSy but might also prevent future injury to the remains of a 
building, the beauty of which may be well judged of from the drawings 
now exhibited, representing the abbey not only as a pile, but in detail. 

** On examining the choir we found that the large and very handsome 
east window has been built up with a thick mass of rough masonry, with 
the exception of the central bay, over the head of which a lintel of wood, 
now in a state of rapid decay, has been placed ; and, as upon it is built 
a large part of the masonry aUuded to, on the giving way of the lintel 
this mass will fall, dragging down with it all the muUions of the window, 
which most likely could not afterwards be put together. As it is, many 
parts of the circular lights in the head of the window are wanting. It 
is therefore proposed to take down this mass of masonry and endeavour 
to secure the remaining mullions of this window by means of iron 
cramps and dowels. It is also proposed, to repair the interesting se- 
dilia in the south wall of this part of the building ; to arrange the abbots' 
and other tombs, and to repair the walls by pinning. 

*'In the nave many obstructions would require to be removed; 
amongst them a wall which at present destroys the effect of this portion 
of the structure by dividing it. This wall appears to have been built 
long after the suppression of the abbey to render that part of the church 
fit for domestic purposes. It will be also necessary to take down a mod- 
em wall, which now closes up the north-east arch of the side aisle, and 
to secure the south-east arch, the capital of one of whose piers seems to 
have been recently injured ; to pin up bases of piers, and build a wall 
twelve feet high at south side of nave. At present that side is enclosed 
by a very low and loosely built wall, easily clambered over. The five 
clerestory windows are aU more or less injured, the crowns of the arches 
having given way in some — ^in others there are several small breaches. 
These would all require to be repaired and secured, the top of wall 
being sloped, to throw off rain. This would be the most expensive 
part of the repairs, as from the height at virhich the windows are placed, 
scaffolding would be required. 

** We next proceed to the south transept, where we find that many 
breaches have been made, which require to be built up to save this part of 
the building. In a little chapel attached to this transept, a large breach 
has to be made good, the back of a window to be repaired, and a great 
quantity of rubbish to be cleared out. 

" In the north transept a general pinning of the waUs would be re- 
quired, and immediate precautions are necessary to prevent the impending 
fall of the gable. The unsightly modem wall which now closes up the 
transept arch, should be taken down, to restore the building to its ori- 
ginal symmetry. In one of the eastern chapels of this transept, a breach 
beneath the window should be built up. 

^'In the upper chambers, at east end, considerable breaches are 
found, which require to be made good, and the waUs to undergo a gen- 
eral pinning. 

*' Access to the building from the roo& of the vaults on north side, 
should be prevented; doors and windows, generally, to be rendered secure 
against mischievous intruders, by means of iron bars and gates. 



206 

" On a rough calculation of the several items already enumerated, 
the prohahle cost would amount to ahout £90 ; and when it is remem- 
bered that S3, from each member of the Society would more than maJ^e 
up that sum (our members at present exceeding 300) it does not seem 
chimerical to express a hope that the persons constituting this associ- 
ation would so far contribute to rescue from inevitable ruin this noble 
remain." 

The foregoing report was accompanied by a large number of very 
beautiful drawings, most of them executed upwards of thirty years since, 
thus demonstrating the injury which had accrued to many parts of the 
building during that period. 

Mr. G-raves observed that, besides the interest attaching to the struc- 
ture as a most valuable specimen of the Hibemo-Romanesque and early 
Norman styles of ecclesiastical architecture, Jerpoint abbey, from its 
contiguity to the Waterford and Kilkenny Railway, was now of easy 
access and constantly visited by strangers, who must feel shocked at the 
disgraceful state of neglect and ruin into which it had fallen ; scarcely a 
month elapsing without the perpetration of some new act of barbarism. 
This state of things could alone be remedied by a thorough repair, by ren* 
dering the abbey inaccessible to the mischievous and idle, and by placing 
a person in charge of it who should be r^ponsible for its safe keeping. 
All this had been accomplished at Holy Cross, by the liberality of the 
proprietor. Dr. Wall, Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, whose 
example was worthy of being more generally followed. 

The Chairman stated he had recently visited the abbey in company 
with some English friends, and he should say the condition of the build- 
ing was disgraceful to the local public, and loudly called for some such 
steps as those now proposed. 

The members present unanimously coincided with the chairman, 
and agreed that there could be no doubt but that an appeal to the 
public for aid, in such an undertaking, would be warmly responded to. 

After some conversation, on the motion of Dr. Cane, seconded by 
Mr. Douglas, it was resolved that the sub-committee, already appointed, 
should put themselves in communication with the agent of the property, 
or, if necessary, apply to the Lord Chancellor, for permission to carry 
out the steps deemed necessary in the matter. 

A paper on an ancient Irish boat discovered at Clonaslee, in the 
Queen's county, was contributed by Mr. T. L. Cooke, Farsonstown; 
which vrill be found printed in full in the TroMoctions, p* 71, ante* 

Mr. P. Cody, Mullinavatt, wrote to inform the Society of the ex- 
istence of a rath-souterrain in his district, which had not been pre- 
viously described. Mr. Cody's communication, having expressed regret 
the public did not more generally interest themselves in the preservation 
of such curious monuments, proceeded as follows : — 

^' Having been informed of the existence of a souterrain in the town- 
land of Acres, parish of Killahy, after some search I succeeded in 
discovering it. The entrance to it is by a small aperture on the top at 
one end, and through which I descended, much to the surprise of two 
persons who conducted me to the place. It consists of, at present, but a 
single chamber, twenty feet in length, seven feet wide at the fl(»or, in the 



207 

middle between both ends and at the highest point about six feet from 
the floor to the roof. The figure of the ground plan nearly resembles 
that of an ellipse, but very irregular in its dimensions. The side walls 
are built with rough stones put together without any order, and ap* 
proaching each other by irregular projections, until at the top they are 
about two feet asunder ; a roof of flags laid across completes the fabric. 

*^ This structure must have been originally much more extensive, as 
I discovered a passage at one end, of about eighteen inches square, 
which formerly led to another chamber, but which had no existence in 
the memory of any one now living in the locality. The other end 
also, though packed with rubbish, shows signs of a similar passage. 

** The only tradition preserved, connected with it, is that it was for- 
naerly covered by a large moat, and that it was named by the people in 
old times TukLch-na-coirey of which name they don't know the meaning at 
this day. 

'* There is great probability that the present name of the townland, 
AcreSy may have taken rise from the latter part of this word (na-cotre) ; 
or because TuLack-na-coire and Acha-coire both mean the same thing, 
namely, tlie mound of the cave, the latter might have been frequently 
used instead of the former, and so have given the name Acres/* 

The Rev. James G-raves then read a paper contributed by Mr. Francis 
Prendergast, Barrister-at-Law, on some circumstances connected with 
the death of WaUenstein, calculated to exonerate one of the actors in 
that tragedy, Col. Walter Butler. The paper will be found printed in 
full in the Transactions, p. 9, ante. 

The following communication was received from Mr. Daniel Byrne, 
Timahoe, Queen's county : — 

" About one mile and a-half from the village of Timahoe, Queen's 
county, is a mountain named Fossy-mountain, or ' the mountain of the 
desert-land ;' it is situate east by south of the village, and its summit is 
six hundred feet above the level of Timahoe plain. On this mountain 
is a valley which in remote ages contained a bog called the White Bog, 
which in its centre formerly was many feet deep. For ages the neigh- 
bouring inhabitants got their fuel in tlus valley, so that its turf is nearly 
expended. 

'* About twenty years ago a respectable farmer and surveyor, Mr. 
Robert Leggett, now deceased, possessed the mountain, and it happened 
that Mr. Leggett was taking turf-fuel out of the centre of this valley, 
where the bottom turf was never previously disturbed, and as his men 
cut ten feet deep and to the bottom of the bog, they discovered a square 
structure about ten feet by eight ; this structure was made by oak poles, 
resembling stakes, closely set one after the other, and all of equal height, 
about seven feet ; and so resting as to allow the person who constructed 
the work to weave strong switches between them. Mr. Leggett was of 
an antiquarian turn of mind, and took particular care in making a strict 
investigation as to the formation of this curious edifice. He caused his 
men to cut the turfy substance within and without the timber-work, 
without disturbing the stakes. By this judicious arrangement he com- 
pletely cleared away the turf ; and the wooden building remained in as 
perfect a state as the decay of ages permitted. He then made a further 



208 

examination and found that the stakes or poles were sunk abont two feet 
in a stratum of solid earth, beneath the bog, and so he came to the con- 
clusion that the wooden frame was constructed before the formation 
of the bog. Within the wooden frame-work he discovered the original 
surface, and resting on it there was found a beam of oak with a wooden 
wedge sticking in one of its ends ; whilst a mallet lay by the side of the 
beam, with apparent marks of having been made much use of. The mal- 
let was not perforated, it was originally a part of a tree, and its handle 
was a branch that grew at right angles to the stem. 

*' I shall make no comment on this curious discovery, but must ex- 
press my regret that these most interesting antiquities have been lost or 
destroyed." 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, November 3rd, 1852, 

THE MARQUIS OF ORMONDE, in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — 

Wyndham Goold, Esq., M.P., 21, Merrion-square, North, Dublin ; 
the Rev. Thomas Moriarty, Yentry Parsonage, Dingle; Miss Fuller, 
Belmont, Tralee ; Mr. Jeremiah O'Leary, Ballydavid Coast Guard Sta- 
tion, Dingle ; Charles Yelverton Haines, Esq., M.D., 26, Warren's-place, 
Cork; Robert Mac Adam, Esq., 18, College- square, Belfast; Alexander 
Colville Welsh, Esq., Dromore, county Down ; and Mr. John D. Nagle, 
Dingle : proposed by Mr. R. Hitchcock, Trinity College, Dublin. 

John Greene, Esq., Rockview, Inistioge: proposed by Mr. Joseph 
Greene, jun. 

Thomas M^Gillicuddy, Esq., Bawncluan, Beaufort ; and Rev. John F. 
Day, Beaufort : proposed by Mr. Daniel Mahony, Dunloe Castle, Kil- 
lamey. 

The Rev. Thomas Dawson, Kilkenny ; Mr. Feirs Butler, Woodstock, 
Innistioge ; Henry M. F. Langton, Esq., 6, Southwick-place, Hyde Park 
Square, London; Charles Cavanagh, Esq., St. John's, Black Rock, 
Dublin; and Charles Edmonds, Esq., 33, Felham Place, Brompton, 
Middlesex : proposed by the Rev. James Graves. 

The Rev. Francis Whitfield, Vicar of Dunhill, Annestown : proposed 
by the Rev. Thomas Gimlette, Waterford. 

The honorary secretaries laid before the meeting several sheets of the 
Transactions for the past year, already printed, and reported that every 
exertion, compatible with a careful passing through the press, was being 
made to expedite the publication. 

Mr. Graves also stated that in consequence of applications from seve- 
ral members, who had lately joined, a list of subscribers, at 5«. each, 
headed by Wyndham Groold, Esq., M.P., had been opened for the re- 
printing of the first year's Transactions of the society, tJl the copies of the 
original impression of 260, having been for some time exhausted. 

A letter was read from the secretary of the Royal Cork Institution, 
conveying the thanks of that body for the cast of the cross-legged effigy 



209 

in Eilfane church, presented by this Society ; and stating that the Insti- 
tution would take care that it should have a prominent position in the 
museum. 

Mr. Graves said he felt much pleasure in laying on the table a pro- 
spectus of " The Ulster Journal of Archaeology," which was about being 
published in Belfast, the first number to appear with the new year. This 
interesting brochure was to be published quarterly, and would be devoted 
principally (but not exclusively) to the elucidation of the antiquities 
and ancient history of Ulster. Each number, besides being a record of 
interesting and authentic facts, would be open to the discussion of all 
disputed subjects in Irish Archaeology, and would be illustrated with 
lithographs of curious ancient objects. 

The secretaries then laid before the members present the following 
appeal for the preservation of Jerpoint abbey, which was unanimously 
approved of, and ordered to be circulated :— 

"Founded before the anglo-Norman invasion, by one of the Irish 
chieftains, or Beguliy of ancient Ossory, Jerpoint abbey presents a fine ex- 
ample of the late Hibemo-Bomanesque style of ecclesiastical architecture. 
The chancel, in itself of much interest from the sedilia, aumbry, and 
portions of the original eastern windows still remaining, should alone 
perhaps in strictness be attributed to this period. The pointed arches 
of the nave, and its lofty western triplet window, combined with details 
strictly Norman, exhibit the progress of the pile after Leinster became 
the princely fief of Richard de Clare. The eastern gable affords a valu- 
able example of the insertion of a Decorated window of beautiful propor- 
tions amongst the older Hiberno-Bomanesque work ; whilst the belfry 
tower displays a still later style of architecture, namely, that of the Per- 
pendiculiur. 

" The architectural and historical interest attaching to the extensive 
remains of this abbey, the picturesque grouping of the ruins, and the 
beauty of the surrounding country, have long proved attractive to the an- 
tiquary and the tourist ; and now that railway communication deposits 
the visitor almost beneath its very walls, it has become yet more famous, 
as it is better known. 

" But with increased facility of access came no greater likelihood of 
better preservation ; on the contrary scarcely a week passed unmarked 
by the perpetration of some new act of wanton Vandalism. Time, and 
the vicissitudes of the climate too, were more slowly, but yet surely, 
working the defacement of the noble pile, and both agencies combined, 
threatened in a few years to leave but a heap of shapeless rubbish to 
mark the site of Jerpoint abbey. 

'*The danger of losing a valuable national monument, together with 
the disgrace attaching to a civilized community from this state of things, 
were felt by the Committee of the Kilkenny Archaoological Society, from 
its first formation, instituted as that association was to preserve and illus- 
trate all ancient monuments of the history, manners, customs, and arts 
of our ancestors, more especially as connected with the county and city 
of Kilkenny. The Committee, indeed, never doubted but that in making 
an effort for the preservation of Jerpoint abbey, they would enlist the 
sympathy and receive the cordial co-operation of the public. But under 

27 



210 

hitherto existing circnmstances the difficvltj presented itseli^ that, whilst 
the ruins continued exposed to the wanton attack of every mischievous 
idler, the money expended on repairs and renovations might, and most 
probably would, be completely thrown away. 

" This di£Biculty however no longer intervenes. Local arrangements 
of a satisfactory nature have been made, and the important step has been 
already taken of appointing a care-taker, resident on the spot, who is now 
responsible for the due conservation of the abbey ; and it only remains 
to make a vigorous effort to repair the injuries resulting from time, and 
the far more destructive agency of man, to obviate as far as possible the 
danger of further dilapidation, and to clear away the unsightly masses of 
rubbish which encumber the abbey precincts. 

" The annexed professional report^ presented to the September meet- 
ing of the society, by Mr. Robertson, details the repairs and other works 
which are deemed necessary, and estimates the lowest possible expense 
at which they could be effectually executed at £90 ; but the sum of £100 
will be required fully to accomplish the objects proposed by the committee. 

** The small annual subscription of the members being totally inade- 
quate to meet this demand, it is proposed to raise a special fund for that 
purpose, and whilst the committee trust that many will be found liberally 
to aid their efforts, they beg to say that the smallest contributions will 
be of use, and therefore thankfully received.'' 

The following presentations were received, and thanks ordered to be 
given to the donors : — 

By the marquis of Ormonde a most valuable and interesting collec- 
tion of Roman brasses, amounting to forty in number, and comprising 
the coinage of most of the Roman emperors. His lordship also presented 
some Kilkenny tokens, copper siege-pieces, jettons, &c. ; also specimens 
of the wood and iron which had been employed in clamping together the 
stones of the Parthenon at Athens, which in a remarkable manner served 
to exemplify the durability of those materials after the lapse of so many 
ages. 

By F. R. Stewart, Esq., assistant librarian, King's Inns, Dublin, a 
celt of a rare type, together with other contributions to the Museum. 

By Robert Mosse, Esq., a shilling of James I. 

By constable Ebbs, city of Kilkenny constabulary, three tradesmens' 
tokens, of the 17th century, being of Dublin, Wexford, and Thurles. 

By Mr. Graves, on the part of a friend, a curious iron chest, tradi- 
tionally stated to have been brought to Kilkenny, as a treasure-chest, by 
king William HE. He also exhibited an iron axe, found in excavating 
the rath near Dunbell, and which he had purchased for their Museum. 

By the Royal Society of Antiquaries of London, Archceologia, vols, 
xxxiii. and xxxiv. ; also their Proceedings^ nos. 18 to 32 inclusive. 

By Mr. R. Hitchcock, the Reports of the Cork Cuvierian Society for 
the years 1850 and 1851 ; also a pamphlet on the contemplated restora- 
tion of the cathedra] of St. Brendan, Ardfert. 

* The architect's rqxnrt hers alloded to eeeding$ of the September meeting of the 
will be found printed at Urge in the Pro^ Society, page 204, amie. 



211 

By Mr. J. B. Phayer, Finn's LtxtuUr Joumalj being the number pnb-* 
lished for April 21st, 1797» containing, amongst other carious matters, a 
proclamation for the apprehension of Byrne and Strang, whose subse- 
quent execution for the abduction of the Misses Kennedy caused such a 
sensation in Ealkenny and the neighbouring counties, and effectually 
put down the " Abduction Clubs" in those extraordinary times fully or- 
ganised through the country. 

Mr. Graves drew attention to a splendid series of drawings of the 
ancient sculptured crosses of the county of Kilkenny, which ornamented 
the walls of the meeting room that day, and which had occupied much 
of the attention of the members present. He had long been alive to the 
importance of securing Mthful representations of those noble works of 
art ; and having pointed out their localities to the able artist now sojourn- 
ing in Kilkenny, Mr Henry O'Neill, that gentleman, with a genuine anti- 
quarian zeal only equalled by his skill as a draughtsman, had devoted 
much of his time and labour to the production of the very beautiful 
and most faithful drawings now before them. He (Mr. Graves) had 
the authority of many eminent writers of the sister Island to support him 
in the assertion lie was about to make, viz., that the style of ornament 
observable in these crosses was peculiar to the Celtic race ; it prevailed 
throughout Ireland, in the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Wales, the Northern 
shires of England and Scotland — ^in short, wherever the influence of the 
early Irish preachers of Christianity extended. But not only was the 
peculiar interlaced work which distinguishes the Irish crosses to be found 
in these Islands, but it was also to be traced over Germany and Italy, 
wherever those zealous heralds of the Gospel had directed their footsteps. 
Celtic carving, says Sir Francis Palgrave in his late interesting and sug- 
gestive work '* The History of Normandy and of England," was exhi- 
bited by The Book of the GkMpels deposited by Berengarius, king of 
Italy, in the sanctuary at Monza, in Lombardy, circa a.]>., 892, along 
with the iron crown placed there after his coronation, and still exist- 
ing. "The crumbling leaves are preserved between the ivory tab- 
lets, quaintly carved and pierced, adorned by the interlacings termed 
runic knots, according to conventional archaoological phraseology ; but 
no Scandinavian sculptured their embossed and graceful foliage ; they 
were worked by a Celtic hand" {History of Normandy and of England^ 
Volume i, p. 629) ; and Mr. Daniel Wilson, the author of that valuable 
work, "The Archaeology and Prehistoric Annals of Scotland," gave 
it as his opinion that interlaced knot-work, a favourite device of the 
Celtic mind, not only occurs on the sculptures, the jewellery, the manu- 
scripts, and the decorated shrines of early Irish Christian art, but has 
been perpetuated almost to our own day on the weapons and personal 
ornaments of the Scottish Highlanders (p. 504). But apart from the 
national interest thus attaching to those crosses, he (Mr. Graves) could 
not forbear caUing attention to their importance in another point of view. 
He alluded to their value as eminently beautiful examples of a high style 
of art. In his opinion, high art was not to be confined to the represen- 
tation of the human figure, although no doubt that was its highest de- 
partment. The main end was attainable, however, in other branches. 
It had been observed by the illustrious Humbolt, in his *^ Aspects of Na- 



212 

ture,^ that the eye is ever gratified by the rythmical recurrence of cer- 
tain forms — and what could be more graceful than the endless variety of 
interlaced ribbon patterns observable on the examples before them, 
whilst the monolithic magnitude of the crosses, reared on solid and mas- 
sive bases, and in general exhibiting such a graceful combination of 
circular and rectangular lines in their design, stamped them at once with 
the impress of the highest genius, and raised feelings of admiration for 
the men who in the troublous period extending from the seventh to the 
tenth centuries, were capable of executing works of art which created such 
a profound sensation amongst their rude disciples that its reflex effect, 
thrown back faintl^ in the traditions of the peasantry, almost universally 
attributes their origin to a miraculous exercise of the divine power. 
Mr. Graves then entered into a detailed description of the various orna- 
mental designs upon the particular crosses of which the drawings were 
then exhibited, and stated it was Mr. O'Neill's intention to illustrate the 
crosses of the county Kilkenny by lithography, in which department 
of art he was a practised hand. He proposed to publish, as a com- 
mencement, six tinted lithographs, impcrifld folio, in a suitable folding 
case, of which a prospectus would immediately be issued. There were seve- 
ral most interesting crosses in the county of Kilkenny, all of which were 
known to the Secretaries of the Society, and had been investigated 
fully ; but it would be most desirable that parties knowing of the ex- 
istence of ancient stone crosses in the surrounding counties would com- 
municate with the Secretaries, stating where they were situated, and 
mentioning anything of interest as to their general characteristics. 

Mr. Prim said, that, to pass from the ancient sculptured crosses of the 
county to more modern monuments of the same character, he wished to 
report a discovery which made an interesting addition to the information 
conveyed to the society in his paper on " The Way-side Crosses of Kil- 
kenny," read at the May meeting of 1850. In that paper he had stated, 
that, although there were faint traces of armorial bearings on the Butts 
Cross, yet owing to the manner in which the sculptures had been battered 
and defaced, it was impossible to ascertain to what family they apper- 
tained. Many supposed impossibilities, however, yielded to persever- 
ance, and his continued observation of the monument had led to some suc- 
cess in making out the sculptures. By looking at the cross when the 
evening sun fell upon it, he had ascertained beyond question that the base 
bore an escutcheon parted per pale ; the arms on the dexter, or husband's 
side, were undecipherable, button the sinister or wife's side, were the 
chevron and three covered cups of the Fagan family quite clear and evi- 
dent. At the dexter base were the initials B.S., and at the sinister M.F., 
leaving little room for doubt that the cross was erected to Sir Richard Shee, 
knight, of Bonnetstown, and his second wife, Margaret Fagan. The tradi- 
tion of the people of the locality, which was rather a curious one, in some 
degree corroborated this, for they stated the cross to have been built by a 
^' great man," they did not know his name, who lived in the castle of Bonnets- 
town ; he dealt in the ^^ black art," and, in order to show his contempt for 
religion, on each sabbath and holiday when others were at their devo- 
tions, it was his wont to bring out his hounds to hunt. On a certain 
great festival day there was a procession of the citizens to the cathedral, 



213 

through the Butts, and so large was the concourse that the huilding 
could onlj contain a tithe of the people, the rest heing fain, when the 
ceremony commenced, to kneel down along the street. The knight hap- 
pened to ride up, with his hounds and every other preparation for the 
chase, and upon perceiving the kneeling people he endeavoured con- 
temptuously to spur his horse through them ; but the animal refused to 
proceed, and kneeling down with the worshippers, could not be com- 
pelled to rise till the ceremony had concluded 1 The wicked knight was 
so struck with the reproof read him by his own horse, that, according to 
the legend, he immediately reformed his life, became a penitent, and 
built the cross to mark the spot in which the extraordinary occurrence 
took place. Mr. Prim said he merely told the legend as the people 
related it. He believed the monument really to be one of several votive 
crosses raised by dame Margaret Shee, alias Fagan, after the decease of 
her husband, Sir Richard Shee, who was the founder of the O'Shee 
Hospital, and was decidedly a religious man and no necromancer. 

The Secretary read a letter from a Kerry member of the Society, 
the Rev. A. B. Rowan. Accompanying the letter was a slip from a 
Kerry local paper, containing two communications on the subject of the 
discovery of some very ancient graves in the neighbourhood of Sliabh Mis, 
on the supposed site of the decisive battle fought between the Milesian 
and Tuatha de Danaan forces, in which the invading Milesians were 
the conquerors. The Rev. John Casey, P.P., Killamey (another mem- 
ber of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society), advocated the idea of these 
interments having belonged to the Milesians, with a salvo as to the pos- 
sibility of human remains continuing for so many ages without being 
reduced to kindred earth ; his letter was as follows : — 

mOanej, October IS. 185S. 

Rbv. Sir,— I recdTed your letter to the ReT. Robert Hewson, requesting to be in- 
formed as to my opinion respecting the old graves discovered by the workmen employed 
a few years ago when making the road through the valley running by Caherconree, 
southward to Castlemain bay. 

To a certunty I know that wide and long valley to be the " Gleann Fais," or " Glen 
Aish/' where ended the first battle fought between the Milesians and Tuatha De Danaans, 
on the evening of the month of Bel, or May, in the year of the world 2736. 

The valley retains as yet the name of ** Gleann Aish" (the letter F being not ex- 
pressed in the genitive case). 

The Milesians, immediately after their landing at Bord O'Duinn, in Iveragh, marched 
across the country to Slieve Mis, where the Tuatha De Danaans were encamp^ and where 
the obstinate battle commenced. The superior valour of the Milesians prevailed ; the 
Danaans left 1000 men killed on the field ; the Milesians lost 300, two Druids, and two 
ladies, Scota, relict of Milesius, and Fais, the wife of Un Mac Vighe, with some leading 
officers. The next day the ladies were buried with all the pomp of funeral solemnities — 
Scota in the valley called " Gleann Sooheen," near Tralee, where a royal monument was 
erected to her memory, and Fais in the extensive valley before mentioned, called at the 
present day " Gleann Aish," where the battle ended, and where most probably the bodies 
of the 300 slain Milesians were buried. 

I have determined on sending what I have here written for insertion in the Keny 
Sxammer, for the purpose of collecting the combined opinions of my much better in- 
formed friends on those subjects, and as to the possibility of human bones resting so 
long in earth without being pulverised into, or identified with, their kindred grave- 
dust. Should the well grounded report of Intelligent readers of this article prove the 
affirmative, it goes much, if not m ioto, to establish the truth of what has been re- 
corded in ancient Irish history of the battle of Slieve Mis. 



214 

I can scarcely read or write for the last five years, except in the hroad day light. 
But when next I write on these sahjects, obscored by the lapse of ages, it will be on the 
earliest notices in ancient Irish history of your locality — afterwards on a few matters not 
hitherto published, connected with Corkaguiny, where I spent twenty-seven years, and 
lastly on subjects connected with this most picturesque and interesting district of Kerry, 
where I am for the rest of my life fixed. 

I have the honour to remain, Rer. Sir, your obedient and humble servant, 

John CAaar. 
To the JZnr. A, S, Rowan, 

Mr. Rowan's letter in replj ran thus :-— 

Belmont, October S7, 1 W2. 

Rbt. Sib, — I have but just seen the letter which yon were so kind as to address to 
me in the Tralee Examiner, on the subject of the ancient graves in the valley lying west- 
ward of Caherconree mountain, and which you identify as the ** Glen Pais" or ** Glen 
Aish" of ancient Irish history. 

I hasten to thank you for your attention to my inquiry, not only in the present 
instance, but in several others, in which you have favoured me with your opinion on points 
connected with the antiquities of our county. I quite adopt your idea, that discussing 
such matters through the public journals is most satisfactory, and most likely to induce 
further information and more general interest on the subject, and only regret to find that, 
with your impaired sight, it should be so painful to you to impart your information to 
me and the public in general. 

My attention was first directed to the graves in question by the Rev. George O'Sal- 
livan, with the additional information, that besides those exposed by the cutting of the 
road, they abounded in the adjacent field. As there is no trace of garve-yard, or andent 
place of worship, and as the general soil of the field covers them for sevexal feet in thick- 
ness, it appeared to me a remarkable fact to find so many burial places, constructed with 
considerable care in such a situation ; and when Mr. O'Sullivan further informed me that 
you had been examining them, I lost no time in asking the opinion as to their origin 
which you now so kindly give me. 

Tour opinion would place them, in my judgment, among the most interestiiig 
remains in Ireland, referring them as it does, to the very first settlement in this island of 
the Milesian tribes — a peri(^ carried back by the Psalter of Cashel and other authorities, 
to 1300 years before the Christian era ! Others deduct somewhat from that date, but all 
authorities give a very remote antiquity for the event. Keating (of course copying from 
older authorities), tells us that after the battle of Sliabh Mis, ** the Milesians continued 
upon the field of battle, burying their dead, and celebrating the funeral rites of the two 
Druids (Uar and Eithir) with great solemnity." This would quite agree with the care 
which seems to have been bestowed on the graves in question ; but there is some difficulty in 
reconciling the vague mention of the localities. Keating says that ** Pais, wife of Un-Mac 
Vighe (?) was slain in a valley at the foot of the mountain, and that Scota was buried in 
another valley on the north side of the nwuniain — Siiabh^Mie — at^oining to the sta— 
caliedyVom her Glean Seoithen, or the Valley of Scota." Now the valley in which these 
tombs lie is on the west side of Caherconree mountain, at least eight mUes distant from 
Glean Scoithen, and at present rather nearer to the sea. If, indeed, we take into 
account the probability, that the sea once flowed much further ixdand thsii at present, it 
will remove this objection — and the name " Glean Aish*' strongly bears out your opinion. 

But, Rev. Sir (when was ever antiquarian speculation without its " hut /")<— 4he 
strongest difficulty, as suggested by yourself, remains for consideration, namely— the 
" possibility of human bones resting so long in earth, without being pulverised into, or 
identified with their kindred grave-dust." This is in all senses a grave physical objec- 
tion to your opinion. 

Even if we accept the chronology of Giraldus Cambrensis, who brings the coming of 
the Milesians within 400 years of the birth of Christ ; it gives us an antiquity of 2050 
years for these remains — and I believe (where embalming has not been used) there is 
no recorded case of " dust unretumed to dost" for so long a period — while the general 
evidence goes to contradict its possibility. 

In the Etruscan tombs, which are continually discovered in Italy, I believe the in- 



215 

Tiriable effeet of the admiasioii of air is, thtt the remains found in tbem Uterallj vanish 
from tight in a few moments, under the eye of the beholder. I myself can testify, that 
having lately had an opportunity, through the kindness of Padre Marchi, the dis- 
tinguished custodian of the antiquities of Rome, of being present at the opening of 
a tomb in the catacombs of that city, in a very few moments after the slab was removed, 
by which the air had been excluded for at leoit fifteen centuries, the remains enclosed, 
which at first presented the Menungljf solid structure of a human skeleton, diuppfaredl 
and it was only by holding our tapers close to the floor, that we could discern an outline 
of a human form, traced out by a substance somewhat resembling cheese mould — the 
mere ^ shadow of a shade" — verifying the simple, solemn epit^ih I had occasionally 
seen on other tombs, of "/mfott €t nihil" 

Now, if the process of decomposition was thus complete in the dry air and pnzzuo- 
lano soil of Rome and in the case of bodies buried within the Christian era, when we 
weigh the probabilities of bones remaining unpulverised in our moist climate and soil for 
a much longer period, I fear the conclusion vrill be against your conjecture, and that we 
must, with regret, let go so interesting a link of evidence f<^ an historical fiust, obscured 
by lapse of ages and loss of records. 

At the same time, as one does not willingly g^ve up a probability so strong and 
interesting as yours, it occurs to me that the su^ect deserves further inquiry. The 
Bfilesians are said to have bestowed unusual care on the burial of their slain, and may 
have used some process of embalming or preserving the remains, such as their intercourse 
and alliances with Egypt, previous to their migration irestwards, may well have taught 
them. Further examination of these graves may confirm this, and thus bear out your 
ingenious and learned conjecture to its full extent. 

I have the honour to be. Rev. Sir, 

Tour obedient humble servant, 

A. B. Rowan. 

To the Rev. John Cmtejf, P,P, 

Mr. James F. Ferguson contributed the following translation of two 
very curious documents transcribed by him from the Primates Registry 
at Armagh : — 

" Memorandum — ^That on the 4th of August, 1455» Eugenius CNeill, 
captain of his nation, perceiving his bodily strength to fail so that it was 
necessary that another should succeed to his care and lordship ; his first 
bom son, Henry (being elected as captain and principal of his nation 
before our lord the primate, in the chamber or hall of his residence in 
the monastery of the Apostles Peter and Paul, at Armagh) stating that 
his election and institution as pertained to his temporal lordship belonged 
to his lord, the primate, and petitioning therefore with all dilligence to 
be instituted and confinned by the same lord, the primate, believing 
him to be a good man and useful for his church and for the people of 
Ulster, confirmed and ratified the said person so elected as The (^Neil, 
the principal and captain of his nation, and confirmed his collation be- 
fore all those there assembled, as well clerics as laics, in veiy great num- 
bers, the said former O'Neill offering no opposition." 

''Memorandum — That on the 14th November, 1465, an agreement was 
entered into, between our lord the primate, for himself and his church, 
and Henry O'NeiU, captain of his nation, for himself, his brothers, cou- 
sins and subjects, through the intervention of Charles O'Neill, dean, 
David M'Dewyn, treasurer, and James Leche, canon of the church of 
Armagh, and Arthur M'Cathmayll, O'Neill's judge, by whose media- 
tion it was agreed as follows : — That the said O'Neill, by reason of an 



216 

annual pension to be paid in shillings by our aforesaid lord the primate,* 
shall have for himself of good and noble cloth for his vesture six yards 
long, and for his wife, to make one tunic, of the same cloth three yards : 
and, foe the use of the aforesaid O'Neill, of coarse cloth one dussda (f). 
And in consideration of this pension the said O'Neill has sworn faith- 
ful service to our lord the primate, and his church, his officers, minis- 
ters, natives, tenants, servants and clerks, and to the religious and secu- 
lars, as appears by the following articles which he approved and ratified, 
and swore fully to observe." 

Then follow in the original certain covenants, to the effect that — ^im- 
primis, he will keep the Church in all its liberties ; secondly, that he will 
demand the primate's rents ; thirdly, that he will impose no slavery on 
the clergy (cleri) or the tenants. These Mr. Ferguson did not tran- 
scribe at length. 



TRANSACTIONS 



OP THB 



KILKENM AECHJIOIOGICAL SOCIETY, 



FOR THE TEAR 



1853. 



If any there be which are desirous to be strangers in their owna soUe, and forrainers in their owne 
dtie, they may so oontinae, and therein flatter themselves. For saeh like I have not written thi 
lines, nor taken these paines.'* 



Camdbit. 



VOL. II.— PART II. 



DUBLIN : 

PBINTSD FO& THB SOCinT, BY 

JOHN O'DALY, 9, ANGLE SEA- STREET. 

1854. 



The Committee wisb 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 Societj) and here printed, 
except so far as the 9th and 10th Amended General Rules extend. 



TRANSACTIONS 



OF TBI 



KILKENNY ARCHJIOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 



FOR THB TEAR 1853. 



THE MARKET CROSS OF KILKENNY, 

BT JOHN O. A. PRDL 

Amongst the many valuable ancient monuments of Ellkenny con«- 
signed by the Vandal spirit of the past century to destruction, the 
Market Gross, i^hich must have formed one of the most striking and 
imposing ornaments of the town, will ever be most deeply regretted 
by those who reverence the beautifiil in art, or are possessed of heart 
and thought for the olden times. This interesting monument, which 
was erected in 1335, stood in the High-street, between the Butter- 
slip and the Tholsel, and appeals to have been an exceedingly light 
and elegant structure in the Decorated style of architecture. Several 
old writers have left us descriptions of it which correspond most ac- 
curately with a few drawings taken from different points of view, 
that fortunately have also come down to our day, and leave no room, 
as in the case of other ancient objects of interest destroyed about the 
same period, for doubt or speculation as to its appearance and effect. 
In the seventeenth century there were several private votive crosses, 
like that a portion of which still exists at the Butts, erected in dif- 
ferent parts of Kilkenny by the wealthy inhabitants, as tributes to 
the memory of departea friends and relatives : but there were two 
crosses of a different character, of more imposing proportions, and fill- 
ing more conspicuous situations — the lesser one, known as Croker's 
Cross, having been placed as a military trophy,^ whilst the greater 

1 Croker's Cross stood nearlj in the poti- and O'Carrolls, at Callan, by Sir Stephen 

tSon of the present Parade pnmp, and was Scrope, the lord deputy, in whose army the 

erected in the year 1407, in commemora* burgesses of Kilkenny served, under the 

tion of the victory gained over the Burkes leadership of their sovereign, John Croker. 



220 

cross was founded in the midst of the High-street of the city, and 
in the centre of the market-place, as it were to mark the dedication 
of the community to the service of the Christian Deity. We are af- 
forded an interesting notice of the situation and general appearance 
of both those monuments by a manuscript preserved amongst the 
Clarendon papers in the British Museum, which appears to have 
been a fragment of a history of Kilkenny, written in the beginning 
of the seventeenth century, and never finished nor published. The 
writer — whom there is reason to believe was David Rothe, the then 
Roman Catholic bishop of Ossory, a gifted scholar and antiquary, as 
his known works, as well as the evidence voluntarily borne by arch- 
bishop Usher, sufficiently testify — states that-^ 

Towards the sonth the city is divided into four ways, and in the centre of the in- 
tersecting streets was erected a marble cross, which they call Croker's Cross, elevated 
on a four-square base of many steps, of which one side looks to the street of St. Patrick, 
the second to the Castle-street [now called the Parade], the third to St. John's [Rose- 
Inn-street], and the fourth to the High'town [High-street] ; almost in the centre of 
which latter stands prominently forth another cross of similar material, but of more 
beautiful and magnificent fashion, from whose square graduated base rises a vault sup- 
ported by marble pillars, and at its apex a graceful cross of polished marble ; above 
which, at the point where its gablets diverged, were originally sculptured the statues of 
the saints to whose guardianship and patronage the city was of old committed. These 

are St. Canice, St. Kieran, St. Patrick, and St. Brigid the Virgin At 

the time at which this cross was erected, it is recorded in the archives, that many of the 
inhabitants made pious vows for the safety, prosperity and protection of the newly- 
founded mumdpality — nay, some are even said to have burned the sign of the cross 
with glowing iron into their flesh, in order to their making the pilgrimage to Jemsalem, 
that God might condescend to prosper the undertaking of that community and town.' 

The record to which the writer refers as his authority for this 
event is, doubtless, the entry under the year 1335 in the annals of 
John Clyn, a Franciscan friar of Kilkenny, living at the period of 
the event. Clyn's statement of this occurrence, which is rather am- 
plified in the above passage, is as follows: — **The same year, on 
Thursday, the morrow of Lucia the Virgin, the great cross was put 
up in the centre of the market-place in Kilkenny, at which time 
many persons, flying to the cross, were marked on the naked flesh 
with the sign of the cross, with a red hot iron, that they might go to 
the Holy Land."* Thus the ceremony of the raising of the cross upon 
its pinnacle, would seem to have created an extraordinary religious 
excitement amongst the burgesses of Kilkenny, and perhaps also the 
more warlike and adventurous inhabitants of the surrounding district, 
who may be supposed to have gathered into the town for the occasion. 
What a pity tliat Friar Clyn, who was doubtless a spectator of the 
scene, if not an actor in the solemnity, has not left us a more detailed 
narrative of the curious proceedings of that day. But bald and mefr* 

' Translated from the original Latin, ' The Annalt of Ireland^ by Jokm Clyn, 
Clarendon MSS» torn. li. No. 479, in the printed for the Irish Arcbcological Society, 
British Museum. p. 27. 



221 



gre as is the entiy of the event in his annals, it is sufficiently graphic 
to bring most vividly before the mind's eye, and enable us to realize 
with almost life-like effect, the exciting and picturesque spectacle 
presented in the market-place of Kilkenny on that memorable De- 
cember morning, in the year 1335 1 It has already given inspiration 
to some of the local poets :^ but what a splendid subject would it 



' The following poem, suggested by the 
passage in Clyn's Annals above quoted, was 
written by Mr. Paris Anderson, and pub* 
lished in the KUkenny Moderator news- 
paper in 1851 : — 

On the morrow of St. Lucia, 

And the day of mighty Jove — 
When the blast of dark December 

Stripp'd the last leaves from the grove ; 
In the year of grace we read it, 

Thirteen hundred, thirty-five, 
All the streets of faire Kilkennie 

Seem for festival alive. 

From the high Cathedral chiming 

Comes the sweet accord of beUs, 
Mingling with the loud Te Deum, 

Many an echo, townward swells — 
Stretches forth a long procession. 

Monk, and priest, and prelate high, 
Whilst the sun of cold December 

Struggles through the wintry sky. 

Hark 1 Our Lady's bells are ringing, 

Echoing St. Canice' chime, 
Marching to the mingling music. 

How the multitude keep time ! 
Zealously their hearts are throbbing. 

Eager grows each anxious face, 
As the motley ranks are thronging 

To the crowded market-place. 

There the Black Friars assemble ; 

There the Gray Franciscans come ; 
There the mail-clad barons muster, 

At the tucket's sound, and drum ; 
And round the Bishop, white-robed children 

Incense-bearing censors toss. 
As the long procession wendeth 

To the new-built Market Cross. 

In the market-place, like statues. 

Men-at-arms stand, many score. 
Drawn around the cross's basement, 

'Neath the pennon of Le Poer.* 
In the midst, the stately structure 

Proudly rears its bulk on high ; 
But the cross, as yet, is cover's 

From the ardent gazer's eye. 



• The Lord EnttMe le Poer wm than 
dial of the Liberty of KUkenny. 



Now the music of the chiming 

Ceases, all is hushed around, 
And the uptum'd eager glances 

On the cover'd work are bound ; 
When the Bishop gives the signal— 

Quick the arras-cloth they raise, 
And the cunning of the working 

Bursts upon the people's gaze. 

Far above the pillar'd arches 

Springs a slender shaft and tall^- 
Higher yet, the Christian symbol 

Sheds its halo over all ; 
'Neath, St. Canice and St. Kieran, 

Carved from out the living stone, 
With St. Patrick and St. Brigid— 

Tutelaries of the town. 

As when through the leafless forest, 

After a mysterious lull. 
Louder comes the mighty surging 

Of the wild storm, deep and full- 
So the people's pent-up feeling 

Bursts with one exulting cry — 
Thronging through the serried soldiers. 

To the holy cross they fly. 

And the matron and the maiden, 

Burgher meek, and rider bold. 
Kneel before the Friar Preacher, 

Whilst his holy words are told— 
Words which, like a light'ning message, 

Fly amidst that pious band. 
Telling them of distant pilgrims 

Wending to the Holy Land. 

Words which sink vrithin each bosoip, 
As the red-hot iron's glow 

Bums into the flesh external- 
Marks the cross 'neath which they 

Witness of the truth that guides them 
In that weary pilgrimage, 

To the shrine of God's sepulchre. 
For that faith high war to wage 1 

Since that morrow of St. Luda, 
Twice two centuries and one 

Have passed o'er the crowded city- 
Pilgrim, soldier, cross, are gone ; 

Tet the record hath not faded- 
Fancy still the scene can trace, 

When the cross was consecrated 
In Kilkennie's market-place. 



222 

form for the historical painter I It presents, however, as I shall have 
to show, but one of a series of striking tableaux in connexion with 
the Market Cross of Kilkenny, well worthy of engaging the pencil of 
the artist 

Raised thus in the market-place, as a symbol of religion,^ in- 
tended to remind the traffickers, in the miost of their buying and 
selling, of the Deity ruling over all, and to inculcate silently but 
forcibly the lesson of honesty and integrity in the fulfilment oi their 
bargains and the regulation of their business transactions, the Cross 
naturally came to be the usual scene of public religious ceremoniak. 
The clergy found it a convenient place, from its position in the most 
frequented thoroughfare, and the elevated stand which its base af- 
forded them, for preaching to the people ; and doubtless such a scene 
1^ that which another Kilkenny poet' has imagined in the following 
lines, was often witnessed on the spot : — 

'Twas noon at the Market CroaSi 

In the quaint town, 
And the burgher so comely, 

The tall peasant brown, 
And the gaunt man-at-arms, 

And the mild maiden meek. 
With the peach-blush of beauty 

And peace on her cheek, 
Were crowding together, 

In hundreds around, 
Whilst the tall cross stood stately 

'Mid tumult and sound : 

Then the long mellow knell 
Ofthe Angelus Bell 

Upon the dense crowd 
In the market-place fell ; 

And the burgher knelt down. 
And the peasant as weU, 

And the gaunt soldier rude. 
At the peal of the bell ; 

Whilst the pure maiden Toice 
Joined the long mellow knelL 

The Market Cross was also selected, as appears by the civic records, as 
the position wherein, at the season of Corpus Cnristi, the young men 
of the town were accustomed from an early period annually to per* 
form, for the public entertainment, those curious old religious plays, 
termed ** mysteries,*' the rude but picturesque germs of our ancient 
drama. At the period of the reformation we have still the same lo- 
cality selected for similar purposes. Bishop Bale, the celebrated re- 
former, records the circumstance of his having frequently preached at 

> The Rev. Dr. Milner, in his " History piety amidst the oxdinary transactions of 

of Winchester," says — ^''The general in- life." 

tent of Market Crosses was to excite public * Mr. John Thomu Campion in his 

homage to the Christian religion, and to poem, *' The Angelus Bell ;" from which 

inspire men with a sense of morality and these two stanzas are estracted. 



223 



the Market Croes during the short space which he remained in the 
diocese of Ossory; and on the 20th of August, 1552, some of the 
inhabitants publicly performed, at the same place, two dramatical 
pieces written by him, being ** a tragedie of God's Promyses in the 
olde Lawe," and ** a comedie of Sanct Johan Baptistes Preach- 
inges,*' which were accompanied with ** organe plainges and songes, 
very aptely/'^ We have references in the municipal archives to the 
performances of the masteries (of which, however, the name of only 
one, ** The Besurrection," is mentioned), down to the year 1632, 
and they may have been continued subsequently.' But soon after, 
Kilkenny became the scene of events of national importance, and in 
the turmoil of politics and the horrors of intemecme war we lose 
ffight of the arrangements for civic improvement and peaceful popu- 
lar amusements, previously placed on record in the corporadon mu- 
niments. According to a deposition preserved in the Manuscript 
Library of Trinity C<>llege, Dublin [F. 2. C], a detachment of the 
government troops, numbering sixty, under the command of lieuten- 
ant Gilbert and ^* ancient" William Afry» in marching from Bally- 
ragget to Ballinakill, about Michaelmas 1642, encountered near tne 
latter town six or seven himdred of the Confederates' army, horse 
and foot, commanded by the eldest son of Lord Mountgarret, and 
having tiie temerity to engage in battle with them, were of course 
immediately overcome and many of them slain. The document 
states, that the heads of the two ofBcers and of five others of the 
slain, were carried to Kilkenny and hung upon the Market Cross on 
the next market day, creating a great sensation in the city whilst 
they were suffered to remain there. The heads were subsequently 
removed and buried in St James's green. 

Our next glimpse of the Market Cross, however, shows it as 
again the scene ola striking religious solemnity. Rinuccini, the 
Papal Nuncio to the confederate Catholics, arrived in Kilkenny in 
November, 1645, and thus himself relates the ceremonial which ac- 
companied his entry to the city : — 

The eveniDg before I amved in Kilkenny I stopped at n ooantryotett about three 
milea distant, to give time for the preparations that were being made for my reception. 
Here Ibnr knights, accompanied by Mr. Belling (the secretary of the Confedmtes' 



> The VocaeyoB of Johan Bsle to. the 
Bishoprick of Ossorie, printed in the Afar- 
Mmm Miaeetttmjf, London, 1745, toI. m. p. 
415. 

' The reference in the corporation re- 
cords to the mysteries in the year 1632, 
woold seire to show that the traders ex- 
posed their goods for sale in booths in the 
street, and that sach standings were termed 
" shops." The entry refemd to, which 
wu made on the 13th April in the above 
year, was a notification that *'The north 
side of the Market Crou wu granted to 



two persons for shops, during the fair times 
of C(Mpus Christi, in regard that their shops 
are stopped up by the stations and play of 
Corpus Christi day." The nuisance of a 
catde market in the middle of the dty was 
at that period permitted as well as now, 
but only a portion of the High-street seems 
to have been used for the purpose. On the 
9th of February, 1609, the corporation or- 
dered *' that the market place for cattle be 
at James's-green and Walkin's-green, and 
from the Market Cross to Crokor's Cross ; 
and no one to buy elsewhere." 



224 

council) came from the council to welcome roe anew ; one of whom, a literary person, 
addressed me in a short speech, seated as I was in my litter. I was met, abtolutely, 
hy all the nobility and youth of Kilkenny and its environs, in different groups, the head 
of each of which complimented me. The first of these consisted of a company of fifty 
scholars, all armed with pistols, who wheeling about expressed their compliments through 
one of them, who, crowned with laurel, and more remarkably dressed than the others, 
recited some verses. Outside the gate in St Patrick's church, all the clergy, both secular 
and regular, assembled, who immediately joined the procession. At the gate all the 
magistrates of the city, with the Vicar General, waited for me ; the latter presented me 
a cross to kiss. I was on horseback, wearing the Pontifical hat and cope. Some of the 
citizens carried the canopy, remaining uncovered although it rained. vThe sides of the 
street, as far as the Cathedral, about the length of the Lungara at Rome, were lined 
with infantry, armed with muskets. There is a very high Cross in the middle of the 
city, at which the people assembled, as in the square, and all stopped at it whUe a prayer 
was being recited by a young student, and then went on to the Cathedral.^ 

Again the scene shifts, and we have the market-place of Kilkenny 
the theatre of military violence and outrage, from which the Cross 
itself became a serious sufferer. In March, 1650, the gallant Sir 
Walter Butler — having bravely defended the town and castle and 
staid the all-subduing arms of Cromwell for nearly a week before the 
defences, feebly manned as they were by a garnson reduced to the 
last extremity from disease and want of provisions — surrendered on 
honourable terms, and marched away with drums beating and colours 
flying ; and the victorious soldiers of the parliament, left in full pos- 
session of the conquered city, immediately proceeded to vent tneir 
fanatical feelings against this beautiful monument. Archdeacon, a 
member of the Jesuit order, and a native of Kilkenny, who perhaps 
may have been a witness of the occurrence, in referring to the siege 
of the city, describes the outrage and asserts that a divine judgment 
was inflicted on the perpetrators. He says : — 

At which time a circumstance, vntnessed by many, occurred that I must not pass 
over in silence. There stood then, and still stands (1686) in the splendid market-place 
of Kilkenny, a magnificent structure of stone, of elegant workmanship, rising aloft after 
the manner of an obelisk. Its supports are four lofty columns, which bear the weight of 
the entire superstructure, to which you ascend, on its four sides, by flights of stone 
steps. And above all there was elevated, on the highest point, a sculptured figure of 
the Crucifixion. But after the occupation of the city by the Cromwellian soldiery, some 
of them, who were particularly remarkable for their impiety, assembled in the market- 
place, armed with their muskets, and directed many blows against the symbol of the 
Crucifixion, in order that they might fully consummate their irreligious triumph, which 
their persecuting fury at length accomplished. But behold! the punishment of an 
avenging God quickly pursued the workers of this sacrilege I for in such a manner did 
the Divine vengeance and a mysterious malady seize upon and miserably afflict them 
that none of them survived beyond a few days. No meaner sacrifice could be offered up 
to the numei of fallen Kilkenny.' 

With such stirring associations connected with it we can well 
appreciate the anxiety displayed by the corporation of Kilkenny, in 

> Translated from the Italian of Rinuc- * Translated from Theoi. Tripart Rieardi 

cini's relation of his reception at Kilkenny, Andekint Antwerp, 1 6S6 ; tom. iiL p. 200. 

for which see Numiatura tti Jrlanda di The author appears to have been one of 

Moruignor Gio. Batista Rinucemit Florence, the family of Archdeacon, of the Irishtown, 

1844, pp. 71, 72. Kilkenny. 



225 

the seventeenth century, to keep this interesting monument in repair, 
and prevent it from suffering from the effects of time and violence. 
On the 9th of February, 1609, according to the Red Book, an order 
was made by the civic council — " That the Market Cross and Croker's 
Cross be for ever repaired, and kept in repair, by the Company of 
Masons, in such manner as the Mayor shall direct." The preser- 
vation of the structure would appear to have been immediately there- 
upon undertaken, as, on the 20th of April following, an invitation 
was issued from the corporation — " That every person that have plows* 
within the city do send them to draw stones from the quarry to 
repair the Market Cross." And on the 3rd of August, in the next 
year, the following memorandum was inserted in the Red Book:-— ' 
*^ The Market Cross repaired, May, 1610, by the Company of Masons. 
The corporation paid for carriage, and lime, and sand." Again, 
under the year 1624, Oct. 15th, tiiis entry occurs: — "Part of the 
Black Quarry allowed for making up the south side of the Market 
Cross." No attempt, however, appears to have been ever made to 
repair the injury inflicted on the monument, in 1650, by the muskets 
of Cromwell s soldiers, for Monsieur Motraye, a French tourist, who 
published his travels at the Hague in 1 730, observes, in his description 
of Kilkenny* — " the market-place of the Cross, so called from a marble 
cross which is still standing in the centre of it, is a long and broad 
street, adorned with many good houses, in this street tne tholsel is 
remarkable, though small it is very neat; the cross is lofty, raised 
on a round (recte square) pedestal, with six {recte five) steps, the arms 
of it are broken off, but the shaft is adorned with good figures in re- 
lief, and well preserved." We thus learn the exact amount of injury 
which the fanatical parliamentarians had done ; they broke away the 
. arms of the Cross, allowing the shaft and the arched structure which 
supported it still to remain undamaged.' 



1 I am informed that the term plough is 
•tiU applied in portions of England to a 
team of hones. 

* Quoted by Ledwich, CoUectanem, vol. 
ii. pp. 443-45. 

> The writers of a tonr through Ireland, 
purporting to have been made by '*two 
English Gentlemen" about the year 1740, 
thus allude to the Market Cross of Kil- 
kenny — '* The Main-street is a full Eng- 
lish Mile — I mean of both towns [Kil- 
kenny and Irishtown] — in length, which is 
the chief Part of the Town. For the most 
part it is spacious ; but near the middle of 
what is called Kilkenny, stands the Mar- 
ket Phice, and Tholsel or Town-house, a 
very good Building ; and near it a hand- 
some Gothic Cross, much the worse by 
Time, which you may ascend by high 
Marble Steps ; it does not ill resemble that 



of Coventry in England, though not so 
high."— ^ TourThrtmgh Ireland, in Several 
Entertaining Lettere, Sfe, Dublin, 1748 
(second edition), p. 182. — The likeness of 
the Cross of Kilkenny Ux that of Coventry 
must have been a very general one indeed, 
as the building of the latter was only com- 
menced in 1541, and it was a solid structure 
*' consisting of a hexagonal shaft, or mass 
of masonry, raised on steps, and measuring 
about 57 feet in height by 42 in circumfe- 
rence. It was divided into four stories, 
each of which was elaborately ornamented.*' 
See a paper on Market Crosses, by John 
Britton, F.S.A., read before the annual 
meeting of the Archseological Institute of 
Great Britain and Ireland, held at Salisbury, 
July, 1849; and published in Memoire 
illustrative of the History and Antiquitiee 
of WtUshire, London, 1851. p. 3 IX 

29 



226 

But although, as we have seen, the Cross continued down to the 
middle of the seventeenth century to be looked upon as the pride and 
chiefest ornament of the city, the times soon after changed, and with 
them the feeling with which the monument had been regarded. The 
infusion of a new element into the corporation, under the Common- 
wealth, increased after the success of William III., and further ex* 
tended by the effect of the statute of the 4th George I., chap* 16, 
passed in the year 1717, was calculated to weaken the sympathies of 
the civic council for monuments of the kind ; and, doubtless, the cir- 
cumstance of the thoroughfares being somewhat impeded by the grar 
duated bases of the Market Cross and Croker's Cross, was deemed by 
the assembled wisdom of the city's representatives a sufficient reason 
for placing them under ban as public nuisances, and ultimately for 
decreeing their removal, and substituting for each a very useful but 
extremefy unpoetical erection — a public pump. The people, like 
their betters, seem to have also lost the oldfen reverence for the 
Market Cross, and, as it ceased to be the scene of religious ceremo- 
nials, it gradually became perverted to base and profane uses. The 
arched canopy of the structure afforded so inviting a shelter as to 
cause the gathering beneath it of all the idle and dissolute characters 
frequenting the market, for the purpose of gambling and concocting 
mischief. It was probably with the view of awing these mauvais 
sujets and frightening them away from their chosen haunt, that 
the corporation placed the public stocks within it, harmonizing most 
infelicitously with the design of the monument, and suggestive of a 
rather incongruous association with the original intention of its erec- 
tion. The presence of this instrument of punishment, however, had 
not sufficient influence to deter the depraved frequenters of the Cross 
from meeting there to indulge in their illegal and immoral amuse- 
ments, and so the sapient authorities came to the determination to 
remove the Cross, and thus leave them without the convenient shelter 
which they had previously found for their malpractices. Such was 
the account of the motives actuating the corporation to the destruction 
of this beautiful monument, given by the late Mr. George Buchannan, 
a worthy but eccentric schoolmaster of Kilkenny, who died about 
twenty years since at a very great age, having presided over the 
education of three generations of the citizens. Mr. Buchannan, al- 
though well remembered as a strict disciplinarian within his school, 
when the daily task was done and the birch was laid aside, was of a 
kindly and sociable disposition, and he dearly loved, in his old a^ 
to gossip of the scenes of his youth ; but no theme had greater in- 
terest for him than the official doings of a certain puritanical chief 
magistrate of the city, one alderman Anthony Blunt, jun., who ruled 
with a rod of iron the affairs of the corporation from Michaelmas, 
1770, to the recurrence of the same festival in the year 1771* This 
civic worthy, who from the revival of an obsolete mode of female 
punishment during his mayoralty is still remembered by the soubriquet 



227 

of " Whirligig Blunt,'* waged incessant war against .the knot of idlers 
who used to congregate within the Cross, and contriving occasionally 
to pounce upon them whilst engaged in card-playing, usually con- 
demned all those arrested in the act to be carted through the town, 
arrayed in a ludicrous costume, and wearing in particular a kind of 
high-peaked paper cap, which his worship had caused to be decorated 
in front with a full length and considerably magnified portrait of the 
knave of spades. This mode of punishment, mtended to bring the 
offenders into public contempt, appears to have had more the effect 
of rendering the mayor himself ridiculous in the eyes of the people, 
whose gambling propensities were not to be thereby overcome ; and, 
therefore, accordmg to Mr. Buchannan*s statement, determined to be 
revenged of these contumacious persons, his worship (in an evil hour 
for the beautiful old monument and the feelings of those of the citizens 
who valued it as it deserved) resolved on the utter demolition of their 
&vourite harbouring place. The municipal records inform us of the 
&ct of Mr. Blunt having involved himself in serious legal difficulties 
by the unwarrantable means to which he had recourse in maintaining 
*^ law and order^' in Kilkenny, and the arbitrary system he affectea 
in his discharge of the chief magistrate's functions. Several actions 
were taken against him, and heavy damages recovered. In one of 
these law suits one of our Market Cross gamblers figured as the 
plaintiff. A certain Michael Walsh, a dissolute character, but withal 
a genius, having experienced considerable annoyance from his wor- 
ship's interference with his favourite pursuits, had the temerity to 
in£te and sing amongst his associates in the market-place, some satir- 
ical doggerel reflectmg on the mayor. The consequence was that 
the offended civic dignitary caused the author of the lampoon to be 
forthwith arrested, and had summary justice inflicted by whipping 
him at the Market Cross, and through the streets of the city. But 
Walsh ascertained the illegality of this proceeding, and soon turned 
the tables on the mayor by suing him for heavy damages, which, had 
not the corporation come to his rescue with the public purse, would 
probably have made his worship acquainted with the prison discipline 
to which he had himself consigned so many evil-doers. On the 30th 
of October, 1773, the corporation came to a resolution on this sub- 
ject, which, although ratner long, may not prove uninteresting in 
connection vriith the present subject. It is as follows : — 

" Whereu Anthonx Blnnt the younger, Esqre, Late Mayor of this City, in the Exe- 
cntion of his office, Caused one Michael Walsh, a notorious Gamester and Idle Person, 
to he Whipped through the said City for Insulting and Abusing him ; And Whereu the 
said Michael Walsh forwards appUed to his Majesty's Court of King's Bench to have 
the said Anthony Blunt attached for the same, which the said Court accordingly did, and 
which attachment Lies over the said Anthony Blunt, and is Daily threatened to be Exe- 
cuted with the Utmost Rigour. Now We, the Mayor and Citizens of said City, Duly 
assembled and convened in the new Tholsel of the said City, Well knowing the Good 
Befaaviour, Activity and Justice of the said Anthony Blunt, During his Magistracy, and 
Convinced that the Punishment of the said Walsh, in the Manner in which it was Eze* 



228 

cuted, was Owing to an Error in Judgment onlj, and -having taken the same into oar 
consideration, Do (for the reasons aforesaid) order the sum of £300 to be by the Treasurer 
of this City sdvanced and paid to the said Anthony Blunt, to Enable him to free himself 
from said Attachment, and all the Costs and Expenses ; and for which Sum this order 
shall be a sufficient warrant for our said Treasurer so to do. But this order is not to be 
Drawn into Precedent for the future, on any occasion whatsoever." 

This, however, did not suffice to rescue Mr. Blunt from the legal 
embarrassments into which his over-zeal had brought him during tne 
period of his mayoraltv, and on the 23rd of ApriX 17T4, the corpo- 
ration voted him another subsidy of two hundred pounds, as they 
state in the resolution, ** to extricate him out of his present diffi- 
culties/' A local rhymster chronicled these curious doings — but not 
in ** immortal verse,' I regret to say, as I have been only enabled to 
pick up a few scattered fragments. The doggerel opened with a 
forcible picture of the dismay of the gamblers of the market-place on 
finding tnat the Cross had been taken down, observing that — 

Mlien a game they planned that was their stand*- 

Now they are at a loss 
For a sheltered •* ken," for *< five and ten," 

Like the poor old Market Cross. 

A full description of the legal proceedings against the mayor was 
entered into ; a stanza ran thus — 

One Michael Walsh, a gambling blade, 

Who gave his " clapper" bail. 
Through Kilkenny town, both up and down, 

Was flogged at the cart's taiL 
He did incense, by his impudence. 

His worship's pious wrath ; 
But the King's Bench has a knack to wrench 

His worsMp's purse for that. 

In a portion of another stanza we have allusion made to Blunt*s mode 
of punishing females by the machine called the " whirligig,'' and a 
punning allusion to the removal of the Market Cross : — 

What with flogging rogues and " spuming" jades 

Blunt spemh the Council's '* tin," 
By paying his loss they haven't a ero99, 

Without doors or within. 

The Cross was not entirely removed during Blunt's mayoralty. 
He contented himself with pulling down the upper portion of the 
structure, the arch of which had supplied shelter to the objects of his 
wrath. The late Mr. Michael Comerford, of King street, an old in- 
habitant, not long deceased, told me that he remembered, when a 
child living in the house of his mother's ancestors, the Langton 
family, opposite the Cross, to have seen the base of the structure, 
with a portion of the central pillar on which the arch had been sup- 
ported, standing in the market-place for some years before it was 
finally removed. Alderman Blunt had laid sacrilegious hands on the 



229 



superstructure at a period antecedent to Mr. Comerford's recollec- 
tion. There is no order set out in the books of the corporation for 
the removal of either the Market Cross or Croker's Cross, as is the 
case with respect to many of the city gates, towers, and other relics 
of ancient Kilkenny, which were swept away about the same period. 
When Croker's Cross disappeared, I have been imablo to ascertain ; 
but Dr. Ledwich, on the authority, it would seem, of the Rev. 
Mervyn Archdall, who had a drawing made of the monument ten 
years before its removal, states, that the Market Cross was taken down 
m 1771, so far confirming the account given by Mr. Buchannan.^ 

We have preserved to us three different views of the Market 
Cross, in all of which the monument is represented as perfect, the 
artists taking the liberty of repairing the mischief done by Cromwell's 
soldiers. Of these, the drawing which belonged to the Rev. Mervyn 
Archdall, being simply a kind of architectural elevation, unaccom- 
panied by any pictonal accessaries, was engraved in Vallancey's 
** Collectanea,'* and copied into the first volume of the "Dublin 
Penny Journal." The two others were obtained by the late William 
Robertson, Esq., for the purpose of illustrating the work which he 
intended to have published on the antiquities of Kilkenny. One of 
these, taken apparently £rom the end of Chapel-lane, represents the 



1 Since this paper was read before the 
Society, one of the oldest inhabitants of 
Kilkenny, B. Scott, Esq., sen., Solicitor, 
has informed me that, although the Market 
Cross had been removed at a period ante- 
cedent to that to which his memory reached, 
yet in his early yonth, when it may be sup- 
posed all the incidents connected with the 
destruction of the monument were fresh in 
the recoUection of the townsmen, he often 
heard his father say that the intention of 
alderman Blunt and the corporation was, 
to have re-erected the Cross on the Parade, 
and that it was solely with the view of 
improving the city, by widening the tho- 
roughfare in High-street, th^jt it was taken 
down; but the lower order of people, 
knowing Mr. Blunt's inveterate hostility 
to the habits of the idlers who used to as- 
semble at the Cross, incorrectly attributed 
its demolition to the object suted by Mr. 
Buchannan. The Minute Book of the cor- 
poration furnishes some evidence corrobo- 
rative, to a certain degree, of Mr. Scott's 
version of the story. At a meeting of the 
council, held on the 5th of November, 
1770, Anthony Blunt presiding as mayor, 
the following order was made — " Ordered, 
and it is hereby requested of the Gentlemen 
of the Board, that they will furnish in 
writing such schemes and proposals of 
works for the utility and ornament of this 
City u appear to them proper to be carried 



into execution, that this Board may deter- 
mine on them and be enabled to employ the 
surplus money in their hands for such laud- 
able purpose." Whether any such proposals 
were laid before the body accordingly, does 
not appear on the Minute Book ; but on the 
29th of June, 1772, the following entry wu 
made — " Whereas Mr. Anthony Blunt, late 
Mayor, has presented a Bill alledged by him 
to be due for several expenditures he al- 
ledges to be made for the use of said Mayor 
and Citizens, Ordered that the present 
Mayor (the Rt. Hon. Otway, Lord Desart) 
and Sir Wm. E. Morres be and are hereby 
empowered to examine and finally deter- 
mine the balance due on said Bill, and they 
are hereby empowered to give him a draft 
on sight on the Treasurer for the amount of 
the same.'' Unfortunately the bill alluded 
to is not extant : it is probable that it 
contained an item for the removal of the 
Market Cross. Mr. Scott states that within 
his own memory the cut stones which had 
formed the monument were piled in the 
yard attached to the house of Mr. Blunt, 
in Coal Market ; that it had been the in- 
tention to preserve them carefully and re- 
erect the structure on the Parade, but that 
the occurrence of Mr. Blunt's difficulties 
diverted his mind from the object, and, 
ultimately, the stones of this valuable ar- 
chitectural remain were made use of for 
common building purposes. 



230 

Tholsel and Langton's old house, now known as the Butter-slip, in 
the back ground ; but the representation of the Cross is manitestly 
incorrect as regards the base, which is depicted with a flight of up- 
wards of a dozen steps, whilst Motraye tells us there were but siz, 
and Dr. Ledwich says only five. However, the other drawing of 
Mr. Robertson's (which was copied, I understand, firom a painting 
in the possession of the late Mr. Purcell Mulhallen, of High-street) 
is by far the most beautiful and interesting of the three, being evi- 
dently faithful in the delineation, and not alone exhibiting the gene- 
ral effect of the monument itself, but also supplying a curious glimpse 
of the quaint old houses of the High-street as they appeared before the 
removal of the Cross, and some of them as they stooa within my own 
recollection, preserving in detail the surrounding high-peaked gables, 
projecting penthouses, and picturesque bay windows which charac- 
terised the ancient urban arcnitectuie of Kilkenny. This interesting 
picture has lately been lithographed and given to the public by James 
G. Robertson, Esq., to whom the Society is indebted for permission 
to use the stone from which the graphic illustration accompanying 
this paper has been printed. 



ON AN ANCIENT CEMETERY AT BALLYMACUS, 

COUNTY OP CORK. 

BT JOHN WINDELE, ESQ. 

A controversy respecting the antiquity of supposed Milesian graves 
at Glenaish, near Cahirconree, in Kerry, originating in a communica- 
tion from the Rev. John Casey to one of the Tralee papers, and brought 
before the Kilkenny Archaeological Societjr by the Rev. Dr. Rowan, 
has, by reminding me of a discovery of similar ancient interments 
made by the late Mr. A. Abell and myselfj at Ballymacus^ induced 
a wish to place the particulars on record, accompanied by such &cts 
and observations as may assist in elucidating the question at issue. 

Ballymacus lies on the sea shore, between the estuaiy of Oyster- 
haven and Kinsale harbour, and within view of the Sovereign's Islands. 
No tradition exists at present referable to the place ; but its sepulchral 
character is preserved in the name of Park na Killa, the field of the 
graves, forming part of the townland. Neither is there any vestise or 
memory of any church or Christian cemetery. The field has been 
long used under tillage, and the discovery oi the graves was merely 
accidental. We caused Jive of them to be opened ; they were all 
formed alike, and contained similar remains. They were constructed 
of flag-stones set edge-ways forming the sides and ends of oblong 



231 

kists, varying in length from 6 to 5^ feet, in breadth about 2 feet, 
and in depth between 12 and 18 inches. From these proportions we 
were induced to conjecture that thej were either the graves of females, 
or of youths not grown up to manhood, or that the persons interred 
had not been laid out at full length. Certainly they belonged not to 
any of those gigantic children of Anak, said by the romancists to 
have formed the primaeval population of our islana ; nor to those stal- 
warth Fenii of whom Ossian sung and tradition delights to tell. On 
examining them, seriatim, few remains of mortality could be found, 
the larger portions of the skeleton having perished under the operation 
of time ana moisture. Fragments of skulls and jaw-bones with teeth 
quite sound, and portions of the bones of the lower extremities, so 
brittle as to be easily reduced almost to powder where only a slight 
pressure was applied, were all that had survived the waste and injuries 
of many centuries. None of the bones appeared to have been sub- 
jected to the action of fire, or undergone cremation. We made close 
search for implements or utensils, weapons, beads of amber or glass, 
shells, trinkets, charcoal, &c., known to have been frequently interred 
with the body in ancient dmes ; but were unable to nnd anything of 
this description. The flag-stones were also examined, with a similar 
result, for any traces of inscriptions. Nothing remained to tell the 
story of the tenants of those long-forgotten graves. The whole had 
been covered over with rude flag-stones, and they lay from north-west 
to south-east. 

I have from time to time seen, in other places, remains of similar 
sepulture, which may be denominated field burial, as at Oughtehery, 
in the parish of Aghina, west of Cork, adjoining an ancient circular 
Pagan hiel or cemetery* Their upper outlines approach very near the 
sunace of the soil. These (several in number) 1 did not myself ex- 
amine ; but the tenant to the farm, who accompanied and pointed 
them out to me, stated that he had himself opened many of them 
some years before, and finding nothing but skulls and bones he closed 
them up again. In like manner at Cahirachladdig, in the same 
parish, seven or eight oblong kists were found some time since by a 
cottier tenant in his cabbage garden, but finding human remains 
he quickly covered them in, lest his family should take a dislike 
to the place. He also assured me that he saw no reUc of any kind 
in any of the graves. Again at Knockagrogeen, on the road between 
Dingle and Smerwick, in the county of Kerry, I was shown, in 1848, 
several stone graves, some of which had been cut through in construct- 
ing a new road. Here also bones were found. But graves of this 
description are not always devoid of extraneous articles. In the Pro* 
eeedings of the Royal Irish Academy^ vol. ii. p. 186, we have a re- 
cord of a cemetery near Bray, containing several similar graves ; in 
these, however, the bones crumbled away, although the teeth remained 
unaffected by the exposure. With these remains were found some 
Roman coins. In the Archmologia also (vol. ii. 632-33) a discovery 



232 

of a field of graves is described, in some of which, besides skeletons, 
urns and rings were found. These graves were situate near Mul- 
lingar, and had been opened in 1748. 

In the absence of other evidence, we can only assume, on conjec- 
ture, founded upon the nature of the sites the contents of some and 
general analogy, that this form of sepulture was purely Pagan and of 
very high antiquity, and that, generally speaking, they were the graves 
of the middle and humble classes, whilst the monolith, the cromleac, 
the canij and the barrow marked the graves of the noble and distin- 
guished. I can hardly subscribe to the opinion that such graves in- 
dicate a battle-field. They are too carefully and systematically formed, 
and too few, even where most numerous, to appertain to such sites* 
Judging from the absence of cremation in the Ballymacus graves, we 
should mcline to assign to them a more remote date than those disco- 
vered at Mullingar, inasmuch as it is the received opinion of anti- 
quaries, that simple inhumation, or burial of the body, was the original 
and earliest, as it was the most natural, form of sepulture, and pre- 
ceded the practice of burning by many ages. The latter usage was 
not known to the Hebrews, Persians, or Egyptians, nor to the Cartha- 
ginians (notwithstanding that Virgil, by an anachronism, consumes 
the body of Dido on the pyre), until the time of Darius. Although 
burning was known to the Greeks at the time of the Trojan war, 
Pliny and Cicero expressly affirm, and the same may be inferred from 
Plutarch, that it was only introduced at Rome at a later period — 
probably not until the time of Sylla ; but it went early out of fashion, 
and was superseded by inhumation burial in the 4th century. 

The use of the funereal pyre prevailed in Britain many ages pre- 
vious to the Roman invasion. The Gauls practised cremation in 
CsBsar's time. According to Olaus Wormius, inhumation and burn- 
ing, as each obtained, marked a distinct period in the history of 
Scandinavia. We have sufficient evidence, however, in Ireland, from 
the examination of our tumuli, &c., that after the latter mode of in- 
terment had been introduced here, both kinds of burial were practised 
coevally. We have a very interesting instance of this in the explora- 
tion of the cam at Cloghmanty, in September, 1851, by the Rev. 
Messrs. Mease and Graves, with Mr. Prim. The cam, the leacht, 
the dumha, or mound, continued still to mark the extemal form of 
the monument, no matter what the mode of disposal of the bodv may 
have been. Some of our historians allege, that ci^^mation haa been 
abolished in Ireland by the monarch Eochaidh, some centuries before 
the Christian era, but I suspect this requires confirmation. The opin- 
ion which has also been aav^ced, that the practice, when adopted, 
was confined to the opulent and the distinguished* may have oeen 
better founded. 

But a new test has been applied by Dr. Rowan, for the ascertain- 
ment of the age of ancient sepulchres, in the communication made by 
him to this Society at its last sitting, adopting which we should greatly 



233 

reduce the antiquity of many ancient monuments and their contents, 
hitherto regarded as belonging to very primitive periods. Unless, ac- 
cording to this gentleman s opinion, human remains, on exposure to 
the air, decompose and rapidly vanish, leaving not a wreck behind, 
they lose the character of any remote age : inasmuch as he declares 
his belief, that there is no recorded case of ^* dust unretumed to dust" 
for 2250 years; whilst the general evidence, he says, goes to con- 
tradict its possibility. Standing upon this conviction, he rejects the 
presumed age of the Glenaish graves of the Milesian invaders, and 
sustains the conclusion he has formed by the following facts and 
arguments : — 

" In the Etruscan tombs," he tells us, ^* which are continually 
discovered in Italy, I believe the invariable effect of the admission of 
air is, that the remains found in them literally vanish from si^ht in a 
few moments, under the eye of the beholder. I myself can testify, that 
. . . being present at the opening of a tomb in the catacombs of that 
city [Romej, in a very few moments after the slab was removed, by 
which the air had been excluded for at least fifteen centuries, the re- 
mains enclosed, which at first presented the seemingly solid structure of 
a human skeleton, disappeared^ and it was only by holding our tapers 
close to the floor that we could discern an outline of a human form 
traced out by a substance somewhat resembling cheese mould. . . • 
Now if the process of decomposition was thus complete in the dry air 
and puzzuolano soil of Rome, and in the case of bodies buried within 
the Christian era, when we weigh the probabilities of bones remaining 
unpulverized in our moist climate ana soil for a much longer period, 
I rcar the conclusion will be against your (i.e., the Rev. Mr. Cfasey's) 
conjecture." This rule, applied to the remains found in Irish graves, 
must at once comparatively modernize them wherever they resist 
the admission of air. We should be prepared at once to review all 
that has been delivered to us in connexion with ancient sepulture by 
British and Irish archseolo^sts, and, examining them by such a test, 
reject many conclusions, inferences and speculations which our good 
easy explorers of Celtic, Roman, Saxon, and Scandinavian barrows 
and monuments had with too unreflecting a facility enunciated. Such 
delvers and dreamers as the Bethams, the Roche Smiths, the Wrights, 
the Akermans, Lukises, Worsaaes, &c., who, we had imagined, had 
done service by the revelations which their researches had enabled 
them to make, would find that they had laboured under a species of 
hallucination, and had delved in ignorance of the true principles which 
should have guided them. Their speculations must be treated as 
myths, and as deserving of all repudiation. 

But before adopting such extreme conclusions, it is necessary that 
Dr. Rowan's reasoning should be well and carefully weighed. For 
myself, from all the consideration which I have been able to give the 
subject, I am of opinion that he has too hastily generalized upon, and 
attached an undue importance to, partial and insufficient facts, which 

30 



234 

should really be treated as merely exceptional. Had he carefullj 
read Mrs. Gray's " Sepulchres of Etruria,*' he would have found 
that what he calls, ** the invariable effect," must dwindle down, in 
Etruria at least, to a solitary instance, whilst, on the other hand, he 
would, at pages 85, 117, 304, 333, 336, find so many cases the other 
way, where no sudden decomposition had occurred, that he would see 
reason to hesitate before propounding any such canon as he has ad- 
vanced. Indeed, Mrs. Gray nas supplied him with cases of moulder- 
ing relics nearer home and of far more recent date, which, according 
to his view of the matter, would still further reduce the age at which 
bones could be preserved, if there was any validity in the test he had 
adopted. One of these was the case of a Staffordshire rector, buried 
only three centuries, whose remains, on the opening of his vault some 
years since, crumbled into dust. The other was that of a bishop, who 
died in 1400, and was buried in Dunblane cathedral. Dr. Rowan, 
for his argument, should not have gone behind these "modem in- 
stances." He might have held, that if a Scotch bishop's remains, 
buried only four hundred years, crumbled away on exposure, how 
could those of an invading Milesian, slain four hundred years B.C., 
escape a similar fate? — uiey should have been reduced to an im- 
palpable dust at, or about, the Christian era. I do not at all deny, 
that human remains will, under certain circumstances, totally de- 
compose, not only in dry but also in moist climates. Such^ Layard 
states, has occurred under his own eye at Nineveh. Rich mentions 
a like occurrence at Ardel, in Koordistan, and Wilson, in his ** Ar- 
chaeology of Scotland," speaks of several instances of the same kind in 
that country, but I do strenuously deny that it is an " invariable" rule 
in any soil or climate ; on the contrary, I am convinced that the rule 
is the very reverse ; and I am sure that when Dr. Rowan will have 
more delioerately considered the subject, his sterling good sense will 
induce him to abandon his strange paradox. I find, on rather a 
hurried examination of instances, an overwhelming predominance of 
discoveries in every latitude, in favour of the durabihty of osseous re- 
mains after exposure, and from a mass of cases shall submit a few for 
his and the Society's consideration. 

Belzoni found in the pyramid of Chephren, in the great sarco- 
phagus, the bones of a bull. A correspondent of Mrs. Gray (p. 
341) mentioned, that in an ancient tomb opened in the plain of 
Athens, was found a quantity of ashes and bones mixed. In 1806, 
M. Fauvel discovered in the tomb of a priestess of Minerva, in the 
Via Sacra, near Mount Piecile (Greece), a skeleton with several cha- 
racteristic articles accompanying. — ArchiEoL Library^ pp. 214-19* 

In the Sardinian Nuragi, whose age is supposed to be between 3000 
and 4000 years, human remains are occasionally found : also, in the 
Sepulturas, which are considered quite as ancient as the Niuragi, si- 
milar vestiges have been disinterred. — Madden's Shrines and Sepul" 
ehresj vol. i. pp. 233-41. 



235 

In Pompeii) the evidences a^nst Dr. Rowan's theory, if they do 
not extend to his full limit of 2250 years, yet may be regarded as of 
a reputable antiquity. They are very numerous, but I shall content 
myself with referring to the discovery of the soldier whose skeleton 
was found at his post, still grasping a lance ; and to another Pompeian, 
who, according to Gell, ^* apparently for the sake of sixty coins, a 
small plate, and a saucepan of silver, had remained in his, house till 
the street was already half filled with volcanic matter." His skeleton 
was found as if in the act of escaping &om his window. Two others 
were discovered in the same street. — Library of Entertaining Know^ 
ledge^ Pompeii^ p. 209. 

In the north of Europe, in the British Islands, and especially in 
Ireland, the instances of undecomposed remains of great antiquity are 
of course most numerous. Worsaae, in his ^* Primeval Antiquities of 
Denmark," tells us that in examining such cromleacs as have remain* 
ed undisturbed in that country, they are always found to contain the 
skeletons of one or more bodies, oee pp. 84, 85, 89. 

In the volumes of the Archasologia, and the Journals of the British 
Archaeological Association and Institute, ample evidence will be found 
of the discoveries of skeletons, whole or in part, which, although en- 
tombed in Celtic, Roman, and Saxon barrows, and other graves, resist 
the atmosphere on exposure. In many instances they may become 
very brittle, but never pulverize. I would particularly refer, amongst 
these notices, to the researches of Mr. Lukis in ancient sepulchres in 
the Channel Islands. 

In Ireland, the discoveries are particularly opposed to Dr. Rowan's 
views. In the kistvaen opened in the Phoenix Park some years 
since, two skeletons were lound buried in a sitting posture, also 
portions of urns, and a quantity of marine shells, all, judging by 
analogical rules, of extreme antiquity. At Tullydruid, near Dungan- 
non, a kist was found within a tumulus contaimng a skeleton also in 
a sitting posture, and at the knees an urn. 

In a rath at Drumbuoy, county of Derry, a kist was opened con- 
taining a skeleton, and with it the teeth of the fossil elk. In another 
rath, Siat of Rathmoyle, county of Kilkenny, examined in 1851, by 
the Rev. James Graves, enormous quantities of human bones were 
found, indicating a Pagan cemetery. The lie of these remains was 
from east to west. 

Another discovery, important in its bearing upon the question at is- 
sue, was made in the same year bv the same sentleman, accompanied 
by Messrs. Prim and Mease. This was in tne cam of Cloghmanty, 
county of Kilkenny* in which two adult human skeletons were found 
in the kist enclosed within this earn. I could find no evidence of 
the decomposition of these skeletons in the very interesting account of 
the opening of this monument, given at the meeting of the Kilkenny 
Archaeological Association. 

Again, in a cavern near Castlemartyr, county of Cork, a skeleton 



236 

was found in 1805, partly covered with thin plates of stamped or em- 
bossed gold, connected by bits of wire : ** The bones of the skeleton," 
says Mr. Crofton Oroker, in his Researches in the South of Ireland^ 
p. 253, ^* were eagerly sought for by the superstitious peasantry, as 
those of St. Coleman, and carried away for charms." 

In many of our ancient cromleacs, which are at once altars and 
tombs, bones have been found. See a veiy curious paper upon this 
subject, by Mr. John Bell, in the Newry Moffazinef vol. ii. p. 234. 
Mr. Bell states, in reference to one of these discoveries, that in drawing 
a tooth from an under jaw, belonging to remains found in a cam at 
Knocknanin, in the county of Monaghan, it was found red at the ex- 
tremit)r of the fang. 

Wright's " Louthiana," Rowlands' " Mona Antiqua," and Wilson's 
*^ Archaeology of Scotland," abound with information on this subject, 
veiy much at yariance with Dr. Rowan;8 "invariable" experience. 
I shall, however, close these collected instances by reminding the 
Society that in a great majority of the Round Towers, whose base- 
ments have been explored, human remains have been disinterred, 
which, in every instance, survived their exposure to the air after their 
long burial for many centuries. I have been myself at the explora- 
tion of five of these structures, and have in my possession at present, 
in as good condition as they were several years since when taken 
up, portions of several skeletons, found in the towers at Ardmore and 
Cloyne. Now, whether these buildings be Pagan or Christian in their 
origin — and I (and so, I am happy to perceive, does Dr. Rowan) be* 
Geve they were the former — the antiquity of the remains found in 
them, and still retaining their tenacity, must be regarded as, in any 
case, of a remote period, and cannot be disputed. Their condition, 
certainly, will not support Dr. Rowan's position. 

I presume that partial cremation has no preservative efiect on ani- 
mal remains, and yet nothing is more frequent than the discovery, in 
urns, of bones which had been partially burned. I have read of no 
instance in which bones of this description have crumbled away, and 
do not, therefore, think it necessary to dwell at any further length on 
this portion of the subject. Before quitting it, nowever, I would 
submit that from the facts which I have gleaned (and which I merely 
offer as an addition, perhaps not required, to a mass of most satisfac- 
tory and conclusive evidence, contributed by Mr. Cooke of Parsons- 
town, in a letter lately published by him in the Tralee Chronicle) 
I think it is indisputable, that the durability and integrity of animal 
bones do not depend on the dryness or humidity of climate ; that they 
will be preserved or perish according to laws, which depend not upon 
latitude or longitude, or on the lapse of ages ; and that their condition 
would be an unsafe test of their antiquity. What these operating 
laws or causes may be, are questions more for the physiologist than 
the antiquary. It may, however, be safely assumed that the exclusion 
of water is a principal requisite, and also that the skeletons of aged 



237 

persons, from the greater proportions of earthy matter, must be more 
calculated to resist decomposition than those of the more youthful. 

Why, in one tomb of equal antiquity with another, the climate 
being the same, the remains will pulverize or become brittle* and in 
the other be unaffected under the action of the same disturbing causes, 
I am not prepared to discuss, nor can others more competent to the 
task, without a greater amount of specific information as to particular 
circumstances, details, and peculianties, than we generally possess in 
regard to the opening of ancient tombs. Dryness, no doubt, as I have 
said, is the grand essential. We have Shakespeare's authority that 
**your water is a sore consumer." Kists overlaid with great tabular 
slabs and vast mounds of earth or stones, or humble graves protected 
by flags and stiff tenacious clay impervious to moisture, may, doubt- 
less, thus seciure the permanency of their contents. Some special sites 
abo may possess antiseptic properties, such as the vaults of St. Michan, 
Dublin, and, to a certain extent, those of the church of St. Mary 
Shandon, Cork, in which the body of the Rev. Mr. M^Daniel, after 
many years' interment, was found in perfect preservation, although 
the coffin had mouldered away. 

An interesting chapter in Irish archseology, on sepulture, has yet 
to be written. Dr. Madden, in his very curious and interesting work 
on *^ Shrines and Sepidchres," has collected together a good deal of 
information on the subject; but he has left much yet to be done. Few 
of our Pagan burial-places have hitherto been explored, and those 
that have, even imperfect as the examination of some of them has 
been, have shown how much they might reveal of the past condition, 
habits, and civilization of the primeval population of Ireland. We 
have yet to form a systematic arrangement, and, if possible, a chro- 
nological classification of our tumuli. For this purpose our ancient 
literature possesses much material in aid. The extracts ^ven by Dr. 
Petrie from the "Leabhar-na-h Uidhre," the " Dinnsenchus," "Book 
of Lecan," &c., afford evidence of the value of their contents for this 
object, and throw much light on the sepulchral usages of the Pagan 
Irish. From these we gather the names of some of the particular 
forms of burial, although certainly not the whole, as Dr. Petrie would 
have us infer, and many of those names too are, indeed, now suffici- 
ently obscure to prevent us from positively determining the exact 
character of the monument mentioned. 

The quotation from the '* Dinnsenchus" gives us the following 
denominations : — 

Lot75, translated the bed of Forann. 

Lecc, the monument (vague) of the Dagda. 

^u|t, the mound of Morrigan. This word has certainly other 
meanings, as a wall, a walled enclosure. 

Bajic, (untranslated) of Crimthann Nianar. 

7*e|tc, the grave of Fedelmidh. Several of these ferts are men- 



238 

tioned, but what the particular character of this mode of sepulture 
was, we are left in ignorance* 

Cajii) A^l, the stone cam of Conn of the Hundred Battles. 

CUT170C, translated the commensurate grave of Cairbre — a very 
undefined term indeed. 

T^uUcc, the fiilacht of Fiacha. This word means a conoealment, 
or burial ; but is quite vague, sufficientlv so to mean any sort of in- 
terment, either in a magnificent or an humble grave. In another 
passage we have jrt)bAe, translated also bed of the Dagda. 

4)a C|c, the two paps of Morrigan, (rather vague). 

1F||tc, the grave of Boinn. 

4)uii)A, the mound of Tresc. 

4>A CryoCi the two hillocks of Cirr and CuirrelL 

4!)e]tc the cave of Buailcc. 

CA]iCAm the prison (vague) of Liath-Macha. 

31ef>0f tlie glen of the Mata. 

LIA5, the pular (?) of Buidi. 

Lecc, the stone of Benn. 

CA]fel, the stone enclosure (vague) of Aengus. 

At the cemetery of Rath-Croghan we have only one kind of mo- 
nument pointed out — the buii)A, or mound. 

Here, we are informed by an old poet, were fifty of those dumas. 
Dr. Petriesays, that the graves at Croghan when examined contained 
only unbumed bones, — Round Towers, pp. 100 — 104. 

The ^* Senchas na Relec," or ^* History of the Cemeteries," mentions 
only the chief cemeteries (p]tin) |te^lce) of Ireland, eight in number. 
These were the burial-places only of the supreme monarchs and pro- 
vincial kings of Ireland, Tuatha de Danann and Milesian — ^thus at 
Cruachan were buried many of these kings. Niall was buried at 
Ochain ; Conaire at Fert-Conaire ; a certain number of the Ulster 
kings at Tailltin, some of the Leinster kings at Oenach Ailbhe, and 
the Tuatha de Danann princes at Brugh. — Id. pp. 98, 99. 

Dr. Petrie, who has a special object to attain in furtherance of his 
views in regard of the Round Towers, endeavours to show that the 
above enumeration of monuments, and of the eight places of royal in- 
terment, included all the forms and places of sepulture which had 
once prevailed and been \ised in Ireland, wherein distinguished per- 
sons had been interred, a conclusion of which a very little considera- 
tion must show the utter fiJlacy. There is not, indeed, a district in 
Ireland which does not contain a variety of sepulchral montunents, 
none of \f hich are embraced within this limited category of eight ; 
and there were other modes of sepulture, besides those enumerated 
in the catalogue (comprehensive as it certainly is) which I have 
above noted down. If we could only learn the precise signification 
of many of the terms given, they might possibly narrow the number 
of the forms of burial omitted, and pernaps even be found to in- 



239 

elude Round Tower interment, which it was Dr, Petrie's main ob- 
ject to show was excluded, because not known in heathen times. 
To sustain his position he should have proved, beyond any open 
for cavil or contradiction, that such terms, for instance, as long, 
imdae, mur, bare, fert, cumot, fiilacht, derc, carcar, caisel, could 
not possibly apply to tower burial, and that no other form of burial 
prevailed ; for this at present we have only his assertion ; also that 
no burial of distinguished individuals, priest, oUamh, king or chief- 
tain, could have occurred in any other than one of ihe eight parti- 
cular localities.^ But he has failed to do anj such thing, and he 
must excuse me for thinking, that the question has therefore been 
still left as he found it. 

It is indeed vain to attempt to exclude Round Tower sepulture 
from amongst the forms of our ancient Pagan burial. To evade it by 
the allegation, that bodies were allowed to remain, by the architects 
of these structures, under the foundation stones, has more of ingenuity 
than feasibilitv about it. And, even were it rational to admit that 
architects could thus leave the remains of the dead undisturbed be- 
neath their foundation stones, is it not presuming rather much on our 
credulity to ask us to regard such prior interments as Christian rather 
than Pagan ? Adopting the monstrous imagining that any builder 
could leave a fragile skeleton in the way of his superstructure, we 
might ask what evidence have we tendered to us tnat the site was 
certainly a Christian and not a Pagan burial-place, or that the skulls 
of the population of Ireland in the year of the Incarnation, one, or 
500, were so thick and infrangible as bravelv to withstand, for eight- 
een or nineteen centuries after, the enormously crushing pressure of the 
innumerable tons weight of pillar towers placed upon them.* 



GLEANINGS FROM COUNTRY CHDRCH-YARDS. 

No. 11. 

NOTICE OF A SCULPTURED STONE IN THE OLD CHURCH OF ANNAGH, 

COUNTY OF KERRY. 

BY BICHARD HITCHCOCK, X8Q. 

The ancient and now ruined church of Annagh is situate on the 
sea shore, in the parish of the same name, and at the foot of a lofty 
range of mountains. These circumstances, combined with the fact, 

> Since inditing the foregoing I have seen the former gentleman recedes a little from 
an answer from Dr. Rowan to Mr. Cooke's his origins] position. In his first commen- 
obserrations, referred to aboye, in which iany upon Mr. Casey's statement, he laid 



240 

that the grave-yard 18 a well-peopled one, being a very favourite 
burying-piace with the peasantry for miles around, impress it with 
a sort of melancholy sohtude, which I have frequently experienced 
when wandering amongst the tombs there. How much more solemn 
must the place appear on a slill moonlight night, when nothing is 
heard save the mountain breeze, the noise of the sea, if the tide is in, 
or the screaming of the sea-gulls — whilst the pale moonlight glances 
through the crevices of the ruin I Annagh church is also interesting 
to me from the fact of its being in the neighbourhood of my birth- 
place and the home of my youth. 

The stone which is the subject of the present' notice, and of 
which I have introduced what I believe to be a pretty accurate 
engraving (see Kerry Antiquities, plate 1), lies inside against the 
south wail of the church. It is a block of coarse red sand-stone, the 
same material of which the church is built, and which the adjacent 
mountain range furnishes; and measures, in length, eighteen inchea 
at one side, and fifteen inches at the other ; in breadth, sixteen and 
a-half inches at one end, and fifteen and a-half inches at the other ; 
and the greatest thickness is about seven inches. On the face of this 
stone is rudely sculptured, in bold relief, the figure of a man on 
horseback, holding m his right hand something like a sword or 
dagger. What the other hand holds, I cannot exactly say, as it, as 
well as the greater part of the sculpture, particularly the two heads, 
is evidently unfinished. The hand, however, seems to be extended 
at full length, and not holding the horse's bridle. I think the leading 
idea of the figure that of a warrior pointing forwards, as if to en- 
courage his followers to action ; this agrees with the posture of the 
horse, which seems to be in motion. A sort of saddle, or saddle- 
cloth, appears under the horseman, but I can see no trace of stirrups, 
though, as just mentioned, I do a little of a bridle and mouth-piece. 
The dress is of the frock shape, mitred or seamed from nearly the 
waist downwards. The resemblance between this equestrian hgure 
and that on the seal of Strongbow, engraved in our Transactions^ 
vol. i. p. 503, may be worth mentioning here» although the latter is 
turned the opposite way. 

A friend, writing to me on the old figure in Annagh church, 
says : — *' The people have a foolish legend, that if the stone were re- 



it down fts an axiom, that there is no re- 
corded case of diut unretumed to dust for 
2250 years, and that the moariable effect 
of the admission of air into ancient tombs 
is the disappearance of the remains of the 
deceased, and that, therefore, a conclasion 
against the antiquity of the Glenaish inter- 
ments is warranted. 

Dr. Rowan now, influenced by Mr. Cooke's 
evidences, relaxes so far as to admit that 
animal remains, under certain circumstan- 



ces, such as being placed in "preserring 
matter*' and " exclusion from the influence 
of climate or of the elements,'' may be pre- 
served, and I presume survive the admission 
of air, although he does not expressly say 
so. I trust that the fscts which I have 
gleaned from unquestionable ancient inter- 
ments, may induce him still further to 
modify his incredulity, and convince him 
that the position he has taken up is unten- 
able. 



241 

moved, it would be brought back again by supernatural means; but 
there is no real history attached to it, that 1 could ever learn.** This, 
to my mind, makes the stone an object of greater interest for our 
speculations, believing, as I do, that the equestrian figure on it is of 
ancient date.^ 

Of the history of Annagh church I have not been able to find 
any account, though I have made some search ; but, jud^g from 
the style of the building, which in general is plain, and in which 
there is no lime mortar, Uiough situate in the centre of a lime-stone 
district, it is evidently an ancient work. There is, however, a well 
finished Gothic south entrance doorway, of very eood proportions. 
Like most of our old churches, this one at Anna^ is Duilt nearly 
east and west.' A little to the west, on a tongue of land, is *' Tona- 
killa fort," apparently an obsolete burial-ground, in which are several 
mves and small gallauns, or pillar-etones. Traces of a causetoay 
irom the fort across the slob to tne mainland are still plainly discern- 
ible. About the same distance from the church, to the north-west, 
stands another group of gallauns ; there are also some forts in the 
neighbourhood of the church. The whole of these interesting ves- 
tiges are marked on sheet 38 of the Ordnance Survey of the county. 
Often have my eyes traced them on the beautiful map of nature, 
while sitting on a neathy hillock on the top of one of the mountaina 
overlooking the entire scene. 

The fouowing is the only mention I have been able to find of the 
sculptured stone in Annagh church : — ** About half a mile* distant 
[from BlennervUle] are the ruins of the old church, with the burial- 

S round, in which is a stone bearing a rude effigy of an armed 
orseman." — Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland^ article 
"Annagh." 

It may be interesting to ascertain, if possible, what hero of old 
the monument in Annagh church commemorates. If conjecture is 
allowable, I would say that he was probably some old chieftain of 
the district — ^it may be a king; but, at present, conjecture is all that 
I can offer. If we could glean anything of the history of the church 
it may help us. Perhaps some other member of the Society, more 
competent to discuss the subject than I can pretend to be, would 
take it up, and be able to throw some light on it. 



' I feel it bnt doe to Mr. George A. Han- 
lon, the eminent wood engraver, of Dublin, 
to state that he haa done ample joatiee to 
the aketchea which illnatrate this and the 
anoceeding paper. 

* I And the ehnrcb marked in mina on 
several old mapa of Kerry, including that 
in Dr. Smith's history of the county. Smith 
givea no account of the pariah ; but he makes 
up for this rather unaccountable deficiency 
in his description and legend (cdebntedin 



Irish story) of Cahiroonree, a circle of im^ 
mense stones on the top of the mountain 
of that name, in the neighbourhood of the 
old church (pp. 156-160). In the list of 
parishes given by Smith in hia chapter 
on the ecdeaiastical state of the county, 
which ia the cmly place where he mentiona 
the church or parish, he mentions Annagh 
church aa '^ in ruins" in his time (p. 69). 

' Annagh church ia fully a mile firom 
Blennerrille. 

31 



242 



NOTES ON 



THE ROUND TOWERS OF THE COUNTY OF KERRY. 

BT BICHABD HITCHCOCK. 

At the January meeting of this Society, two very interesting papers, 
by Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Windele, were read, containing some remark- 
able observations on the Round Towers of Ireland, particularly the 
?aper by Mr. O'Neill* which also contained a description of the IBSound 
'ower of Aghaviller — a tower which, I may passmgly observe, has 
been strangely overlooked by our writers on these monuments.^ Leav- 
ing the more serious question of the real origin and uses of the towers 
to persons better quaUfied for the task of discussing it than I can pre- 
sume to be, I wish to confine myself to what Mr. O'Neill justly terms 
the ** important work of giving a description of every pillar-tower now 
remaining (which, he says. Dr. Petrie has not yet aone), as well as of 
the locahties in which towers are known to have formerly existed." 
Having the honour to be admitted a member of the Kilkenny Arohieo- 
logical Society soon after its formation, it has often occurred to me as 
strange, that the Society did not lon^.since embrace, among its varied 
archseologiqal subjects, that most fertile one of the Round Towers. I 
am, however, glad to find that the Society is at length awakened to 
a sense of the miportance of collecting and placing on record descrip- 
tions of the various towers now existing in Ireland, or as far back as 
it can obtain faithful accounts of them. I am assured of this, from the 
commencement made at the last meeting of the Society, as already 
referred to." 

The following excellent observations as to the importance of a 
systematic record of every Round Tower in Ireland occur at the end 
of a chapter on the Roimd Towers in a recent work on Ireland : — 

** I would a]M> laggest to the antiquaries of Ireland a humbler labour, but one of 
analogous import, and which might even prove, eventually, more conservative of the £une 
of these wonders of their country, than all that the hand of architecture could effect. 
This labour is — ^to get constructed an exact and minute description of every individual 
Tower, with careful measurements and accurate plans of the general structure of each, 
and of every individual part. This would not merely be a most valuable record of the 
actual condition of the Towers, at a particular epoch, but, by permitting a minute com- 
parison to be instituted between each part of all of them, might even throw some con- 
siderable light on the great question of their origin and uses. It is surely discreditable 
to the spirit of Irish antiquarianism, that no such record as this exists ; nay, that no 
attempt even to frame such a record has been made. As £sr as I know, Mr. Petrie's 



> The fullest mention of it which I have 
seen is that in Tighe's Siaiiiiieal Survey of 
ike OnaUy ff KiVkamy, p. 632. 

* The Committee of the Society have al- 
ways felt the importance of collecting ac- 
curate descriptions of our existing Kound 
Towers (such as that no^ contributed by 



Mr. Hitchcock), and will ever gladly place 
on record any ntwfaeti calculated to throw 
light on these mysterious structures. But 
the general question of their age and uses 
is one that demands a much more volumi* 
nous treatment than the pages of the Trans- 
actions could possibly afford. — ^Eds. 



243 

•oKtaiy description ind delineation of Clondalkin Tower, im all that hat been effected in 
this way. To undertake and complete a record of the kind proposed, in a spirit and style 
worthy of the subject, would surely be a labour of glory, and ought to be a labour of 
love for any Irishinan. The author of such a work, when committing it to the immor- 
tality of print, might ahnost be justified in addressing the objects of his antiquarian loye, 
In the language of the poet, when promising to his mistress the dnthlessness of his own 
' powerful rhyme :'— 

* When wutaAil wv diall ftatosi orartnm. 

And broils root oot tiie work of maaonrr, 
Mor Mart his iword nor war^t quick fire nail bom, 

Thie liTlng record of your memory. 
'Gainst death and all-obllTiotts enmity 

Shall yon pace forth ; your praise dull stm find room 
Bven In the eyes of all posterity 

That wear this world oat to the ending doom.' "* 



It has occurred to me, that a few notes, which I happen to have 
by me,*on the Round Towers of mj native count?) accompanied by 
sketches of the two which still remain to us, maae about five years 
ago, may not be unacceptable to the Society, And here I am glad 
to be able to observe, that the county of Kerry is as rich in its quota 
of the Round Towers as it is in other primaeval remains. Truly, the 
study of antiquities is a delightful one, and none can relish or love it 
so well as those who have been for some time engaged in collecting 
information by local researches. 

I am well aware that few of oiu: Round Towers have been oftener 
described than that of Aghadoe, which, I think, may be attributed to 
the circumstance of its being situate close to the far-famed Killamey. 
More or less accurate notices of it will be found in the foUowing 
works : — Smith's " Antient and Present State of the Coimty of Kerry 
(1756); Archdall's "Monasticon Hibemicum" (1786); Vallancey's 
" Collectanea," voL vi. ( 1804) ; Weld's " Illustrations of the Scenery 
of KillameV' (1812) ; " The Traveller's New Guide through Ireland^' 
(1815) ; Plumptre's ** Narrative of a Residence in Ireland during the 
Summer of 1814, and that of 1815" (London, 1817^ ; Smith's '< Kil- 
lamej, and the Surrounding Scenery" (1822) ; Bell s ^* Essay on the 
Origm and Progress of Gothic Architecture in Ireland" (1829) ; 
the "Dublin Penny Journal," vol. iii. (1834-6); Lewis' "Topo- 
graphical Dictionary of Ireland" (1837); lady Chatterton's "Ram- 
bles in the South of Ireland during the year 1838," vol. i. (London, 
1839); Hall's "Ireland" (1841) ; the "Parliamentary Gazetteer of 
Ireland" (1844); Windele's "Historical and Descnptive Notices 
of the City of Cork and its Vicinity" (1848) ; " Annat of the Four 
Masters," by O'Donovan (1851) ; &c., &c None of these books, 
however, contain any engraving of the tower ; and my sketch (see 
Kerry Antiquities, plate 1 ) of, perhaps, one of the most dilapidated 
Round Towers in Ireland has chiefly induced me to accompany it 
with the present notes, believing that, if engraved in our Transactions, 
it may be the means of preserving to after generations the appearance 
of the Round Tower of Aghadoe in the year 1848. What remains 

* Toibei' Mtmormubmu madt m IrtUand m iht AiUwmn 9f 1852, toL U. pp. 913*14. 



244 

to us of this tower stands at a distance of about sixty feet from the 
north-west comer of the old church, and in the same cincture with 
the church. The diameter inside is seven feet, but a great part of the 
facing of the outside having been taken away for one purpose or an- 
other, I did not measure its circumference. The highest part of the 
tower now standing is about nineteen feet from the present surface of 
the ground ; but, as will be seen from an inspection of the sketch, the 

freater part of the tower is not so high. The stones of which it is 
uilt, as well as the style of masoniy, seem different from those found 
in the adjacent old church, both being much superior. A learned 
friend has favoured me with the inspection of a sketch of a portion of 
the tower, made by him in the year 1846, showing the cyclopean 
structure of the exterior facing, and the rubble work of the interior. 
My sketch of the tower is on rather too small a scale to exhibit this 
feature with any effect, but still it shows it a little. It is to be re- 
itted that the interior structure of the tower is the more visible from 
le fact of a deep bohereen (a little road) passing close by it^so close, 
indeed, that it must have been the means of undermining some of it. 
The old church, like most of our ancient ecclesiastical edmces, is built 
almost east and west, and still exhibits abundant proofs of its former 
architectural beauties, particular^ in the doorway.^ It is composed 
of different kinds of stone, some of which must have been brought from 
a distance, as none like them are to be found in the neighbourhood. 
A little to the south of the church, in a square enclosure, are the ruins 
of a round castle, named the '* pulpit," having a flight of stone stairs 
in the thickness of the wall, and inoications of there having once been 
an immensely strong floor of wood in the middle height. The whole 
of these interesting remains are marked on sheet 66 of the Ordnance 
Survey of the county. When a person lingers, even for a short time, 
to behold these monuments, particularly the remains of the pillar-tower, 
the mind is frequentl;^ carried away to by-gone times ; and then what 
thoughts crowd upon it I We seem as if'^elevated above the noise and 
bustle of the present world, and carried back, step by step, to the pa- 
triarchal aces, where we find the origin of all forms of worship. One 
of the ancient Ogham inscriptions has been found in the immediate 
vicinity of the Round Tower of Aghadoe, and seems to have verv 
early attracted the attention of antiquaries — see Vallancey's CoU 
lectanecLj vol. vi. ^. 193 ; and several succeeding writers have also 
described it. This stone is still carefully preserved, though much 
mutilated, in lady Headley's garden, at Aghadoe House, where I had 
much pleasure in examining and making a sketch of it, in February, 
1848. It will, doubtless, be eneraved and described by Dr. Graves 
in his forthcoming work on the Ogham character. It may be worthy 
of remark, that Ogham inscriptions have been found in connexion 

> There ii a good engrtYiiig of this door- work on Killamey» entitled ** Lake Lore." 
way on the title-page of an intereating little Dublin, Hodgea and Smith, 1853. 



245 

with no leas than seven of the Ronnd Towers, viz. — Aghadoe, Agha- 
viller,^ Ardmore, Cbnmacnoisef Fertagh,' Scatteiy Island (Dublin 
University Magazine^ vol. idi. p. 85), and Tullaherin; and for all I 
know there may be others. 

In order to render my communication on the Round Tower of 
Aghadoe more complete, I shall now select and bring together such 
of the notices of the tower, contained in the works above enumerated, 
as appear to me to bear most on the subject, and to be the most re- 
markable. Smith merely mentions the existence at Aghadoe of <* the 
stump of one of the roimd towers" {Kerry^ p. 147) ; but in his " Pro- 
spect of the Lake of Eillamjr, taken from the Norths" facing p. 122 of 
his work, he gives an interesting view (not a drawing) of *^ the ruin'd 
church," round tower, and round castle. The tower does not here ap« 

Sear so dilapidated as it is now. It may be worth remarking here, that 
mith, whether through mistake or not, represents numerous tomb- 
stones at the north side of the chiurch. This is remarkable, as that 
side of a church-yard is not considered a favourite one for interments. 
*— See ** Notes and Queries."' Weld has written a good deal on the 
general subject of the Bound Towers, but has very little on that of 
Aghadoe. He says — ^' the tower of Aghadoe was constructed with 
hewn stone ; but, exposed during the lapse of ages, on the summit 
of a lofty hill, to the influence of the elements, it has yielded to the 
shocks of time, and at present is in a very perishable state. Its shat- 
tered remains are not more than fifteen feet in height."->p. 65. In 
a ^*map of the Lakes of Killamey," facing p. 317 of The TraveUef^s 
New Guide through Ireland^ the Round Tower, the church, and the 
** pulpit" (round castle), are marked. The Round Tower appears as 
high as the gable of the church ; but in the accuracy of an engravinff 
of so small a size, and of the date ( 1815), we must not place too much 
confidence. The tower, however, is not now so high as the gable of 
the church. Mrs. Plumptre says— ^* very near the church stands a 
small fragment of a round-tower, scarcely twenty feet in height, and 
appearing in such a state of decay that it will probably soon be en- 
tirely mouldered away.'*— p. 298. Bell has the following short and 
inaccurate account of the tower: — *' This tower is a mere stump or 
remnant, not exceeding twelve feet in height. The bottom of the 
door-way is nearly seven feet fix>m the groimd, and excepting a part 
of one side, is the only trace of it left. The portion below the door, 



> Mr. Hitchcock evidcnfly refers to the 
Ogham momuneiit at Balljboodan, which 
is nearly two miles distant from the Round 
Tower of Aghaviller. — Eds. 

* The inscription fonnd in the licinity 
of this tower is that on the silver brooch 
now in the possession of the Roysl Dublin 
Society. It is described by Dr. Graves in 
the Proceeding of the Rojfoi hM Jeadom^f 
vol. iv. pp. 183-4. 



* At the end of an old '* Description of 
Killaney" (1776), which I have Utely got 
from that enterprising collector of books re- 
lating to Ireland, Mr. John O'Daly, of An- 
glesea-street, Dublin, there is a beautiful 
Uttle plate, containing another view of the 
remains at Aghadoe. Here, also» the Round 
Tower seems pretty perfect. The whole, 
however, seems to be a reduction of Smith's 
plate above mentioned. 



246 

was either always solid, like that of Clondalkin ; or the upper part, 
in its &11, has nlled it with the fraCTients of the stones, until it has 
acquired that appearance. It stands within about twelve feet (!) of 
Aghadoe church." — pp. 93-4. The writer of the ardcle on Aghadoe, 
in the third volume of the ** Dublin Penny Journal," gives a pretty 
detailed account of the Round Tower there. Amongst other remark^ 
he says — ** the turaghan or round tower, stands fiSv-four feet from 
the north-west angle of the church, and is called *tne pulpit' by the 
peasantry : all that remains of this ancient structure formed only a 
part of the basement, not reaching even to where once stood the door, 
rhe height is about twelve feet. It measures in its outer circum- 
ference mly-two feet ; its diameter within the walls is six feet ; and 
the thickness of the walls three feet and a half. Its masonry is greatly 
superior to that of the church ; the stones are large, regular, and well- 
dressed. The cut-stone or facing of the north-west side has been all 
taken away for the erection of tombs in the adjacent burying-ground. 
Within and without, spoliation has been at work effectuuly, aided 
by those worst of pests, the gold seekers ; fellows whose unhallowed 
dreams are most fatal to our antiquities. This tower must have fallen 
before the last century, but no notice of it in its erect state has sur- 
vived." — ^p. 222. Lewis thus mentions the tower : — ** Near them are 
the ruins of an ancient round tower, of which about twenty feet are 
yet standing." — ^article ^'Aghadoe." The ^* Parliamentary Gazetteer 
of Ireland" contains the following :— *^ The turraghan and the cathe- 
dral, at the mutual distance of mly-four feet, crown the summit, or 
dot the table-land, of the hill; and are surrounded by a thickly ten- 
anted burying-ground. All that remuns of the turraghan — called 
the Pulpit only by the peasantry — formed but part of the basement, 
and does not reach even to the aperture of the door. Its height is 
about twelve feet ; its exterior circumference is fifly-two feet ; its dia- 
meter within the walls is six feet ; and its thickness of wall is three 
and arhalf feet. The stones of which it consists are large, regular, 
and well-dressed, and exhibit a style of masonry quite superior to that 
of the cathedral; but they have been peeled from the north-west face 
for transmutation into tomb-stones ; and the whole ruin wails beneath 
the inflictions of Uhe gold-seekers,' and other prosaic spoliators of 
ancient buildings. The tower, to which this melancholy fragment be- 
longed, must have fidlen before the commencement of the eighteenth 
century, but is not noticed, in its unfallen state, in any record." — 
article " Aghadoe." Mr. Windele gives a very satisfactory account 
of what remains of the tower : — ** The Turagnan, or round tower, 
stands sixty feet from the N.W. angle of the church, and is called 
the ' Pulpit,' by the peasantry. All that now remains of this ancient 
structure is the basement, reaching from the sill of the door down- 
ward. The height is about fifteen feet. It measures in its outer cir- 
cumference fifi.y-two feet, the diameter, within the walls, is six feet 
ten inches ; the wall is four feet six inches thick, which measurement 



Roi.Dd Tp-wsr ol A^hadfi*. 



KKRKY ANTIQCrXlES, Vo. I. 



247 



diminishes on the inside, above the level of the present floor, three 
inches. Its masonry is greatly superior to that ot the church. The 
stones are large, regular, and well dressed. The greater part of the 
facing stone of the north side has been unfortunate^ taken away, for 
the erection of tombs in the adjacent burying ground. Within and 
without, the spoliator has been effectually at work, aided by those 
worst of pests — the gold seekers ; fellows whose unhallowed dreams 
are most fatal to our antiquiues. This tower must have fallen pre- 
viously to the last century ; but no notice of it, in its erect state, has 
survived. It has not hitherto, we believe, been excavated or ex- 
amined. The labour of doing so, we apprehend woidd be very con- 
siderable, as it is quite filled up with the debris of the fiJlen part, but 
the effort, it is hoped, may yet be made." — p. 382.^ In this, and two 
of the three last extracts, I believe the term ** pulpit" is incorrectly 
applied to the Round Tower. In all the old accounts, written before 
guides were so niunerous and dishonest as they now are, we find it 

E'ven to the round castle; and it is to this building that I myself 
kve heard the name applied. Dr. O'Donovan has the following : — 
'* Achadh-da-^Oy i. e. the field of the two yews, now Aghadoe, an old 
church, near which are the remains of a round tower, situated about 
two miles to the north of Killarney, in the county of Kerry." — ^vol. v. 
(at A.D. 1581), p. 1756, note c. 

I visited the Bound Tower of Rattoo in February, 1848, and made 
the accompanying sketch (see Kerry Antiquities, plate 2) and note of 
it : the dimensions are as follow — circumference outside, forty*seven 
feet; height of doorwav firom ground, seven feet; height of doorway, 
five feet three inches ; breadth at bottom, outside, two feet one inch ; 
inside, two feet and half an inch ; breadth at top, where arch turns, 
outside, one foot eight and arhalf inches ; inside, one foot eight inches ; 
diameter of tower inside, seven feet four inches ; thickness of wall at 
doorway, three feet nine inches. Bound the doorway, outside, is a 
cornice or ornament, and just over it is also some species of ornament, 
both, however, invisible firom where I took my sketch. Inside are 
three stories, or sets of stones, all around, projecting, and between 
each of these stories are one or more single stones, also projecting, as 
if for assistance in ascending. There are four windows or apertures 



> Since oommmiicatiDg this paper to the 
Society, I have learned that mj friend Mr. 
Windele, of Cork, ia the author of the pa- 
per on Ajf^adoe in the *' Dublin Penny 
Journal" from which my extract is taken, 
and that the article in the " Parliamentary 
Gazetteer" has been copied from either it 
or the same reprinted, with corrections, in 
both editions (1839 and 1848) of Mr. 
Windele's ** Notices of Cork and its Yidn- 
ity," without even mentioning the source 
from which the article was deriyed ! I trust 
that theJeztracta^wiU not loifier from their 



introduction into the Society's Transactions. 
My use of the three descriptions, almost 
consecutiTely and in nearly the same words, 
may appear to some persons absurd; but 
a careful perusal of each account will, I 
think, show that there are a few yery im- 
portant differences: indeed, one of my 
principal objects in compiling the notes on 
the Kerry Round Towers is, to endeayour 
to show how widely some of the published 
accounts of them differ, and the necessity 
which exists for a minute and aecmrate 
description of all our Round Towers. 



248 

at the top of the tower, facing the cardinal points, one of which and 
a smaller one under it appear in my sketch. The tower stands on 
a sort of platform of masonry, and m the building of the tower lime 
mortar is visible. The doorway, I think, faces the east. This tower 
is, indeed, a stately looking monument, and, with its mantle of ivy, 
is calculated to stnke the beholder with a sort of awe, which he can- 
not soon forget. The tower does not now stand in the same encloeure 
with the adjacent old church, the ruins of which, a little to the south- 
west of the tower, are enclosed by a high wall, built, as I was in- 
formed, by Mr. Gun, the proprietor. The enclosing of the church 
ruins with a wall is certainly a very praiseworthy act on the part of 
Mr. Ghin ; but we cannot but regret that he did not also include with- 
in the enclosure the noble Round Tower, and so help to preserve it 
from any wanton injury it may receive. The sketch shows that some 
of the stones from the part a little below the doorway have been abready 
taken out, probably to make steps for ascending I I say " taken,** he* 
cause I do not think they could have fallen out. Let us hope for a 
more careful conservation of this, I may say, the only remaining Round 
Tower of Kerry. The church is built east and west, and is apparently 
an ancient one. A little farther to the east by north are the ruins of 
an abbey, also built east and west. All these interesting remains are 
marked on sheet 9 of the Ordnance Survey of the county. One of 
my earliest recollections, and one which I can never blot from my 
memory, is that of my dear father helping me, when a child, to climb 
up to tne doorway of the Round Tower of Rattoo, our sitting on a 
bench or seat then inside, my looking up to the top of the interior, 
and his again helping me down from tne doorway, it is curious, how 
long and tenaciously the recollections of one's childhood scenes cUng 
to &em, and with what fondness they ever after think on them. 

As ^is tower and the fidlen one of Ardfert have not been so fre- 
quently and frilly described as that of Aghadoe, I trust that the follow- 
ing notices of them, by different writers, will not be out of place here. 
Smith, in his Antient and Present State of the County of Kerry ^ p. 
214 (1756), the author of a Tour through Ireland^ p. 288 (12mo. 
Lend. 1780), Archdall, in his Monastieon Hibermcum^ p. 306 (1786), 
and Seward, in his Topographia Hibemiea^ article *^ Rattoo'^ (1795), 
mention this toWer as standmg in the church-^ard in their day, so that 
the shutting out of it by the wall before-mentioned must have been of 
recent date. Lewis, in his *' Topographical Dictionary of Leland," 
thus mentions the Round Tower : — *^ There are no remains of the 
castle, but those of the abbey still exist, and, together with the ad- 
joining lofty round tower, wnich is still entire and clothed with vrjy 
form an interesting and picturesque group." — article " Rattoo.^ The 
<< Parliamentary G^Ectteer of Ireland*^ states, that <^ the pillar-tower 
is now partly dilapidated," — article ** Rattoo ;" but this is truer of 
many other towers m Ireland, the tower of Rattoo being almost quite 
perfect, having lost only a little of its conical cap. Dr. Petrie, in his 



249 

splendid work on the ** Ecclesiastical Architecture and Round Towers 
of Ireland'* (1845), gives a pretty detailed description of this tower, 
fix>m which I extract the following : — ^* The Tower of Rattoo, which, 
like that of Clondalkin, is still perfect, is remarkable for being placed 
on a terrace or platform connected with a causeway, which extends 
in a line opposite its doorway, as shown in the ground-plan on next 
page. The Tower is formed of roughly-squared, hammered sandstone, 
the entrance doorway alone being chiselled* It measures forty -seven 
feet nine inches in circumference at its base, and ninety-two feet in 
height, the wall being three feet ten inches in thickness at the door- 
way. The doorway is semicircular-headed, the arch bein^ formed 
of three stones, and it is ornamented with a flat band, nine inches in 
breadth. It is five feet four inches in height, one foot eight inches 
in width below the arch, and two feet one inch at the sill. The 
Tower is divided into six stories, that at the top containing, as usual, 
four large apertures fiu^ing the cardinal points. These apertures 
have sloping jambs, and are, externally, angular-headed, but are quar 
drangular internally. The intermediate stories between the upper- 
most and the second, or doorway story, are each lighted by a smgle 
aperture ; but, in consequence of the Tower being enveloped in ivy, 
their exact situations cannot be determined, with the exception of one 
in the fifth story, lately exposed by a storm, and which is angular- 
headed, and faces the east. The lowest story is filled up to the level 
of the doorway. It will be perceived from ue section above given, 
that between the floors of each of the stories, rough corbel stones 
project from the wall about the middle of its height ; and this is not 
an uncommon feature in the interior of the Towers, such corbel stones, 
in one example — that of the Tower of Ardmore, in the County of 
Waterford — being sculptured with animal and human heads, and 
other ornaments. My late ingenious friend, Mr. William Morrison, 
au^ested to me that these corbels might possible be for the purpose 
of mdng ladders to join the stories, as shown in the annexed outhne ; 
but a more probable conjecture, to my mind, is, that the^ were in- 
tended as supports for shelves, on which to place the precious things 
deposited in the Towers." — pp. 395-6. To those who would take the 
-trouble, it may be curious to note the di£ference between Dr. Petrie's 
measurements of this tower and mine ; but of course his must be the 
most correct. Mr. Wilkinson, in his work on the Practical Geology 
and Ancient Architecture of Ireland (1845), has the following tabu- 
lar remarks on this tower, which he erroneously sets down as in the 
county of *' Clare*'! — ** IJsual height, — conical top nearly perfect, — 
four large openings at top, — angle-headed outsiae, — square-headed 
inside,— door circular-headed, usual size, and usual height above 
surface of CTound." Construction — ** hard quartzoze sand-stone, — cut 
stone band round the door, 9 inches wide and | inch projection."— * 

?. 78. Mr. Wilkinson has some good general remarks on the Round 
*ower8. 

32 



250 

The Round Tower of Ardfert no longer exists, having fallen 
towards the end of the last century ; but I trust that the few noldceB 
of it in its erect state, and since it has fallen, which I have been able 
to collect, will not be wholly unworthy the attention of the Society- 
Smith gives the following account of the tower: — "Opposite to the 
W. end of the cathedral stands one of the antient round towers, near 
an hundred feet high, built mostly of a dark kind of marble ; which 
is the first I have met with, that was not composed of freestone. The 
door of this tower faces the W. entrance of the cathedral, that the 

Senitents who were formerly inclosed therein, might receive the par- 
on, and prayers of the congregation, as they went in and out of^the 
church." — Antient and Present State of the County of Kerry ^ p. 203. 
To show that the towers were built for places of penance, Smith then 
refers to his works on Cork and Watertord. The Round Towers of 
Ardfert and Rattoo are thus noticed by Mr. Peter Collinson in the 
first volume of the "Arch8Bologia"(1770): — "Jn theCk>unty of Kerry, 
still remain two ancient ecclesiastical round Towers ; one opposite the 
West end of the cathedral [of Ardfert], near an hundred feet high, 
built mostly of a dark kind of marble ; the door faces the West en- 
trance of uie church. Another round Tower is now standing near 
the ruins of the cathedral at Rattoo."--p. 306. O'Halloran, in his 
*' General History of Ireland, from the Earliest Accounts to the close 
of the Twelfth Century" (1778), has left us the following notice of the 
tower : — " St. Brenden, of the house of Ir, and the patron saint of the 
O'Connors Kerry, erected at Hi-Ferte, or the Territory of Miracles, 
commonly called Ardfert, or Ardart, a see. His successors were 
sometimes called bishops of Kerry. The remains of churches, abbies, 
and religious houses, with inscriptions, remarkable tombs, &c. at this 
day sumciently proclaim its ancient magnificence. An anchorite 
tower of 120 teet hi^h, the finest in Ireland, and standing near the 
cathedral, fell down m the year 1771 ; and as, in all human proba^ 
bility, it fell never to rise again I I leave this memorial of it : of 
this noble city, the ancient capital of Kerry, no other monuments 
but the above remain, except its being the seat of the earls of Glen- 
dor, an ancient family of this county." — ^vol. ii. p. 94. The author of 
a ^^Tour through Ireland" (1780) says — *^ opposite to the west end 
of the cathedral, are the ruins of one of the antient round towers ; it 
was 120 feet high, a or eat part of which fell down in 177 1. It was 
built mostly of a dark kind of marble, and therefore the more re- 
markable, as they are more generally of freestone." — p. 286. From this 
it would appear that only a part of the tower fell in 1 77 1 • Archdall, 
in his "Monasticon Hibernicum," says — '^a^oining was a round 
tower 120 feet in height, and esteemed the nnest in Ireland; but 
being neglected^ it unfortunately fell to the ground in the year 1771." 
—p. 300. In Gough's "Camden's Britannia" (1789) we find the 
following : — " Opposite the west end [of the cathedral] stood one of 
the antient rouna towers, about whose use antiquaries are so divided. 



251 

It was ] 20 feet higb, built mostly of a dark marble : the door faced 
the west door of the church. It was esteemed the finest in Ireland, 
but b^ififf neglected fell to the ground 1771. Mr. Smith imagines 
this tower was intended for lodging penitents. It is much more pro- 
bable that it answered the purpose of a Turkish minaret before bells' 
were introduced, or perhaps of a watch-tower." — voL iii. p. 492. 
From these two extracts it appears that the tower had been *'ne- 
|;rlected" — a matter to be the more regretted, as almost all agree that 
It was the finest in Ireland. Dr. Beaufort, in his ** Memoir of a Map 
of Ireland" (1792), says — *'the round tower, which had stood there 
[Ardfert] for ages, fell a few years ago, tumbling at one crash into 
a heap of ruins." — p. 92. Hlere it seems that the tower fell all at 
once. At p. 141 he states that the tower fell in 1770. Seward, 
in his ** Topographia Hibemica," says — ** opposite the end of the 
church are tne ruins of one of the antient rouna towers, it was 120 feet 
high; a great part of which fell down in 1770." — article "Ardfert." 
0%[alloran, in his " Introduction to and an History of Ireland," pub- 
lished in 1803, a quarter of a century after the date of his work before 
quoted, writes — " near this fine church [Ardfert] was a lofty ancho- 
rite tower, which j9ait/yyifZ/ to the ground some years since ; but from 
the known taste of Lord Brandon, it can hardly be supposed that he 
will suffer so fine a piece of antiquity, and such an ornament to his im- 
provements, to be lost, especially as all the materials lie on the spot." 
— vol. i. p. 85. Here, as well as in the anonymous Tour, and Seward, 
before quoted, we see that only a part of the tower fell in 1770, or 
1771, fo^these two dates are given; but, alas! for the credit of my 
coimty, O'Halloran's sanguine expectation from Lord Brandon has 
never been fulfilled, and even " all the materials" do not now lie on 
the spot I Sir Richard Colt Hoare, in his "Journal of a Tour in 
Ireland, A.D. 1806" (Lond. 1807), observes:— "But this venerable 
pile of monastic buildings [Ardfert cathedral] has lost much of its 

Sandeur as well as interest, by the &11 of a stately round tower [in 
e year 1771] of 120 feet in height, which stood near the west front 
of the Cathedral." — p. 63. Lewis, in his " Topographical Dictionary 
of Ireland," published in 1837, says — "an ancient round tower, 
which formerly stood near the cathemtd, fell about 60 years since." — 
article " Ardfert." If Lewis reckons &om the date of his publication, 
this would make the fall of the tower to have taken place in or about 
the year 1777. In the "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland" we 
find — " near the west firont of the cathedral stood a elated round 
tower, 120 feet high; but this fine adjunct of the edifice's grandeur 
and interest, and noble specimen of the unique class of antiquities to 
which it belonged, fell in 1771." — article "Ardfert." This extract 
is curious, as mentioning that the tower was slated. In an interesting 
article on the then apparently forthcoming, and indeed much wanted, 
new edition of Smitn s " History of Kerry," which appeared in the 
Tralee Chronicle of May 4, 1844, the Itound Tower of Ardfert is 



252 

said to have been as mucli as thirty feet higher than any of the 
measurements above given ! — ^* At Ardfert, anciently the capital of 
West Munster, there had been one [Round Tower], which is sup- 
posed to have been the loftiest in Ireland. In the time of the late 
Sir Maurice Crosbie, it was found, by Dr. Pococke, to measure 150 
feet in height I"^ These widely differing accounts of this single tower, 
particularly of its height (100, 120» and 150 feet), show us, I think, 
now important it is to have, in the first instance, correct descriptionB 
of all our Round Towers. One writer copies firom another, and so 
error is often propagated. The "site" of the Round Tower of Ardfert 
is fortunately marked on sheet 20 of the Ordnance Survey of the 
county, a little to the west of the " cathedral," which is not built 
quite east and west, as most usual. In the same enclosure, or imme- 
diate vicinity, we find " Templenahoe" and " Templenagriffin," and 
farther to the north-east, in the demesne, are the splendid ruins of 
Ardfeiii abbey. 

It affords me much pleasure to have to state here, that active 
steps are now being taken for the restoration of the cathedral of St. 
Brendan, Ardfert, adjacent to which, as we have seen, one of the 
finest Round Towers in Ireland so lately stood ; and were the men 
who have associated themselves for this laudable purpose in existence 
before the tower fell, I have no doubt we should not now have to 
deplore its loss.' 

According to the map of Ireland published by the Society for the 
Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, in 1845, which I believe contains 
the best published list of the Round Towers of Ireland, Kerry had 



' I htve been imable to find out from 
whence this statement of Dr. Pococke is 
deriyed. As he was bishop of Ossory, I 
thought that either of the Honorary Se- 
cretaries of the Kilkenny Archeological 
Society could help me ; but upon the Rey. 
James Grayes informing me that he was 
unable to supply the required information, 
1 addressed the following letter to the edi- 
tor of the Tratee Ckroniele, which, with his 
obliging reply, appeared in his paper of 
March 4, 1853:— 

** Trinity CoU«ge, Dublin, Feb. Sfi, 18&3. 
** Sir — You will much oblige, if you can 
inform me firom whence the statement of 
Dr. Pococke, bishop of Ossory, as to the 
height of Ardfert Round Tower, which ap- 
peared in the Tralee Chroniele of May 4, 
1844, has been derived. I cannot find it 
in any of his works in the College Library. 

'< I am, Sir, 
" Tour very obedient servant, 
" R. Hitchcock. 

** [We regret that we are not at present 



in a position to give the information re- 
quired by our respected correspondent, who 
has devotid so much of his attention to our 
archseological records. The article to which 
he refers was, if our memory serve us right, 
from the pen of our old and lamented firiend, 
the late John T. O'Flaherty, whose papers, 
we regret to say, have either been scattered 
to the winds, or remain in the hands of par- 
ties who think they will enhance the value 
of the manuscripts by hiding them under 
a busheL Probably, the library at Ardfert 
abbey contains some records giving at once 
the height of the Round Tower and the re- 
ference to Dr. Pococke.]" 

> Time works changes ! Whilst prepar- 
ing these notes for the Transactions, I have 
learned that the praiseworthy design set on 
foot for the restoration of the cathedral has 
been abandoned I We yet want in Keny a 
spirit similar to that which has originated 
and executed the noble design for the ju- 
dicious repairs and preservation of the fine 
old ruins of Jerpoint abbev, in the ooonty 
of Kilkenny. 



253 

formerly no leas than your of these monuments — viz. Adbiadoe, Ard- 
&rt» one on an island in Lough Ourrane, and Rattoo. The tower of 
A^hadoe is marked " s, only the stump ;" Ardfert, *^ft foundations 
omy ;" Currane, ** t, imperfect;" and Rattoo has nothing after it. I 
can find no accoimt of the Lough Currane Round Tower in any other 
"work, nor have I noticed any remains of it on any of the islands in 
that lake when on some of them myself, in April, 1848. It was 
probably one of the " Round Towers of other days^" which can only 
be seen "in the wave beneath us shining." Lewis, in his "Topo- 
graphical Dictionary of Ireland," article " Kerry," in enumerating 
the Round Towers of the county, mentions only three there. His 
words are: — "It [Kerry] had formerly three of the ancient round 
towers, of which the one that stood near the cathedral of Ardfert fell 
in 1771 ; of another, at Aghadoe, there are about 20 feet remain- 
ing ; and the third is still standing nearly entire at Rattoo." The 
accuracy of the list published by the Society for the Diffusion of Use- 
ful Ejiowledge is questioned in Hall's Ireland^ vol. iii. p. 191, where 
it is said that it is " exceedingly incorrect^" and where a " revised" 
list of the " existing Round Towers" is then given, in which only 
three in Kerry are mentioned, viz. Aghadoe, Ardfert, and Rattoo. 
The ** Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," however, seems to make 
further mention of a Celtic or pillar-tower on one of the islands in 
Lough Currane : — " Several islets variegate the bosom of Lough Cur- 
rane ; and on the largest of these, called Church Island, are some 
ecclesiastical ruins and the remains of what is termed a Celtic tower." 
— article " Currane." " One pillar-tower occurs at Rattoo ; another 
in an island of Lough Currane ; part of another at Aghadoe ; and the 
site of a fourth in the neighbourhood of the cathedrcu of Ardfert." — 
article " Kerry" {Antiquities). 

-With the exception of the Ust published by the Society for the 
Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, above mentioned, I know of no one 
good list of our Round Towers. True, indeed, Ledwich, in Vallancey*8 
CoUectaneay vol. ii. pp. 141-2 (1786)--Dr. Beaufort, in his Memoir of 
a Map of Ireland^ pp. 138-141 (1792^ — the Anthologia Hibermcoj 
vol.i. pp. 90-91 (1793) — Ledwich, in ms Antiquities of Irelandj pp. 
167-8 (1804) — Hoare, in his Journal of aTour in Ireland^ pp. 288- 
292 (1807) — Bell, in his Essay on Gothic Architecture in Ireland^ 
pp. 77-98 (1829)— Hairs Ireland, vol. iii. p. 191 (1843)— and Wil- 
xmson, in his Practiced Geology and Ancient Architecture oflreland^ 
p. 69-81 (1845) — give lists of the Towers; but they are anything 
ut complete or accurate. For instance, Hoare does not mention one 
at all of the Kerry towers in his list, and Wilkinson sets down Rattoo 
as in the county of Clare, &c. ! Some few years ago, I amused my- 
self in compilmg a list of all the Round Towers of Ireland, either 
existing or known to have formerly existed (which, according to the 
list of the Society for the Difiusion of Useful Knowledge, number no 
less than 118), adding a note of any remarkable feature belonging to 



I 



254 

the respecdve towers. On submitting this list, in its rou^h state, to 
the inspection of my friend Mr. Windele, he was so good as to ren- 
der it more valuable, by making some corrections and adding several 
interesting notes. I afterwards sent the list to Dr. Petrie, for the same 
purpose, but have never since got it back from him, he having, un- 
fortunately, mislaid it. I hope, however, that he may yet be able to 
lay his hand on the list, and return it to me. 

It only remains for me to apologize for the length to which these 
notes have extended, and to state that I have been compelled to throw 
them together in a very short time, and in the midst of other labours. 
This will, I trust, help to account for any errors they may contain, 
and it may also elicit correction, which I earnestly invite, from some 
of our Kerry members, many of whose names appear on the Society's 
list of members. At all events, if my communication, dry and unm- 
teresting as I am sure it is, shall tena to keep the importance of col- 
lecting and recording accurate descriptions of the Round Towers of 
Ireland before the Ealkenny Archaeological Association, and if it shall, 
in any degree, however small, help to produce other and better written 
papers on* the same subject, the chief end which I have had in view 
m compiling the present *^ notes" shall have been attained. 



ON CERTAIN 

OBSOLETE MODES OP INFLICTING PUNISHMENT, 



WITH 80MB ACCOUNT OF 



THE ANCIENT COURT TO WHICH THEY BELONGED. 
BT MARK S. o'8HAnOHK£88Y, ESQ. 

In a communication made some dme ago to the Society, by one of 
the Honorary Secretaries, respecting the " Ancient Corporation By- 
vs of Kilkenny,"^ mention was made of resort being had, for the 



Laws 

punishment of certain offences, to an engine therein termed the 
tumbrell," and also the "swingling stool" and "cucking stool." 



«c 



> Trantaetioiu, toI. i. p. 47. A compa- 
rison of the ancient Kilkenny corporation 
regolations with aome of those old Scottish 
laws, to be found in Skene's coUection, 
would repay the curious reader. Take, for 
example, "regulationes de panibus et pisci- 
bus vendendis — de regratazils (hucksters) 
— de brasiatore, camifidbus et pistoribus, 
&c.,'' among the Leget et Conntetudmeg 
Burgontm, editse per D. David Regem 
Sootiae ejus nominis primum apud NoTum 



Castrum super Tynam. In the Statute 
(HUUb also, many similar regulations ap- 
pear. The Iter Camerarii also contains 
regulations about fishermen, hucksten» 
cobblers, forestallers, &c., u do the Sta« 
tuta David 11. and the Stat. Bob. III. In 
the Ancient Lowe and InttUutee of Watee, 
published under the direction of the Re- 
cord Commission, the prices of cows, horses, 
and many other saleable commodities, are 
regulated. 



255 

It may not be without interest to the Society to have before it 
some information respecting this instrument and the old laws and 
customs which regulated its use. Such information may, perhaps, 
give some aid to a better understanding of old records, the exami- 
nation of which cannot fail to present to the mind clearer views of 
the periods when the means of repressing social disorders were soug^ht 
for principally in the infliction oi bodily suffering,^ even as the aroi- 
tration of every dispute was referred to physical strength ;^ and such 
inquiries will also enable us to watch how, as the spirit of early and 
fiercer times was passing away,' a growing conviction of the unfitness 
of such punishments was perceptible in their gradual disuse, and will 
teach us to rejoice that our days have fallen in these later and wiser 
times — as Homer says — 

We boast to be far better than our fathers — 

the spirit of whose penal legislation seeks more anxiously the reclar 
mation of the offender than the satisfaction of the outraged, and wisely 
perceives that such beneficent ends would be utterly fiiistrated by 
modes of punishment which a brutal spirit of vengeance alone could 
dictate, and by which there must be aroused in the sufferer a fierce 
hatred of the power which inflicted such indignities upon him. 

** Corporal punishment," says Lambard, Eirenarcha^ lib. i. cap. 
12, ^'is either capital or not capital. — Not capital is of divers sortes 
also, as of cutting off the hana or eare, burning (or marking) the 



> There is much carious information as 
to pnnishment in cases criminal in Dug- 
dale's Oriffinet Juridieiale§, cap. 31. 

* Although the practice of judgment by 
their peers, in the case of barons, is ex- 
pressly stated in the Grand Couttumier (cap. 
ix. f. 19), and though Dugdale says that 
trial by jury was undoubtedly the most 
ancient form of trial, having been ordained 
by the law of king Ethelred, made at 
Wanting, yet, notwithstanding the inhi- 
bition of the church, as for example the 
popes Nicholas I. and Celestine III., we 
have Selden remarking — " but the English 
customs ncTcr permitted themselYCS to such 
clergy-canons, always (under parliament- 
correction) retaining, as whatsoever they 
have by long use or sllowance approved, so 
this of the duel."— Ort^tno/ of Duelt, cap. 
5. Brady (Hitt. qf EngUmd, book ii. part 
1) asserts that the twelve thanes or free- 
men (mentioned in Ethelred's law as above) 
associated with the prsepositus, hundredary 
or reve, were not jurymen but judges or 
assessors. As to ** Trials by Combat in 



Cases Civil," see Dugdale, Orig. Jurid,, c. 
xxvi., &c, and in Csttf Criminal, c. xxviiL 
* The institution, by Henry II. (as 
Dugdale believes), of the '* Trial by Great 
Assize" in place of trial by combat in civil 
cases (on which see Glanmiht lib. xxviL 
cap. 7), is indicative of this ; as is also the 
abolition by special precept, of trial by fire 
and water ordeal by Henry III., in the third 
year of his reign. See Montesquieu's views, 
Etprit det Loit, livre xxriii., especially 
in the chapter (17) entitled <'Mani^ de 
penser de nos p^res," and some subsequent 
chapters in the same book. Sir Matthew 
Hale {HUtory qf tha Common Law, chap, 
vii.) says — ** in all the time of king John, 
the purgation per ignem et aquam, or the 
trial by ordeal, continued, as appears by 
frequent entries upon the Rolls; but it 
seems to have ended vrith this king, for I 
do not find it in use in any time after. Per- 
chance the barbarousneu of the trial, and 
persuasives of the Clergy, prevailed at length 
to antiquate it, for many Canons had been 
made against it." 



256 



hand or face, boaring thro' the eare, whipping, imprisoning, stocking, 
setting on the pillorie, or Cucking Stool, which in old times was 
called the Tumbrell.'^ And as to the causes of the arrangement of 
punishments, hear Hector Boetius, quoted by Skene {De Verb. Siffn.) : 
— << Et merum imperium consistit in quatuor, sicut sunt quatuor 
elementa. In acre, ut hi, qui suspenduntur. In igne, quando quis 
comburitur propter maleficium. In aqua, quando quis ponetur in 
culeo et in mare projicitur, ut parricida, vel in amnem immergitur, 
ut foeminas furti damnate. In terra, ciun quis decapitatur et in ter- 
ram prostemitur/^ 

In the 3rd Institute, imder the head " Tumbrel," the following is 
to be found : — "Furce, Pillpt et Tumbrel append, aL view de Frank- 
pledge. And every one" (remarks the learned Coke) ** that hath a 
Leet or Market, ought to have a Pillory and Tumbrell, &c., to 
punish offenders, as Brewers, Bakers, Forestallers, &c." It seems 
also that '^ for want thereof ihe Lord may be fined, or the Liberty 
seised/'^ Thus, in some cases, in the time of Edward III., of sum- 
monses for claims of view of frankpledge, we find the court inquire 
if the claimant had pillory and tumbrell, and in one case it is laid 
down that " Pillory and Tumbrel belong to the Leet, without which 
justice cannot be done to the parties in the View, for, to punish at 
all times by amercement is contrary to common law."' 

Further it appears, that, unless there were prescription to the 
contrary, the expense of the pillory and tumbrell was to be borne 
by the lord, and not by the mhabitants of the liberty, but stocks, 
"not bein^ to punish, out to hold," were to be provided at the 
charge of the town.' 

" Fossa, ane pit or sowsie, Furca, ane gallons, in Latine cabalum, 
quhilk was first institute and granted be King Malcome, quha gave 
power to the Barrens to have ane pit, quhairin women condemned 
for theft sud be drowned, and ane gallons quhair-upon men-thieves 
and trespassours suld be hanged, comorme to the doome given in the 
Barron Court there anent."^ 

" Pillory, collistrigium, as it were collum stringens, and Pillorium, 
fi'om the French * pelori,' and that may seem to be derived from the 
Grreek vbXrj, janua, a door, because one standing on the Pillory put 
his head, as it were, through a door ; and opoo), video — ^was called 



among the Saxons * healsfang ;' of * heals,' a neck, and *fanff,' to take;" 
, referring to the " Leges Burgorum Scoticorum, ' says it was 



and SKcne, 



> Fleta, lib. 2, cap. 12, $ 29.— D'i^necrt, 
ii 289. Chitty's Criminal Law^ i. 797. 

> KeOway'i Beportt, fol. 140, 149, 152. 
' D'Anyen, u Rboye, and authorities 

cited therein. 

* Skene, De Verb. Sign. : see aUo Spel- 
man, Glou ; Blount ; CoweVa Interpreter ; 
Jacob; Cunningham. As to the diatinc- 
tion made between men and women cri- 



minals, see a case in Pitcairn's Crimimai 
Triah in Seotiand (yol ui. p. 594), in 16S6, 
in which the men were hanged and the 
women drowned, except such of the latter 
u had children, and they were bnmed in 
the cheek. 

* Cowel ; see also Jacob, &c, and that 
storehouse of varied knowledge, Dncange 
{tub voce Pilorium). 



257 

ordained for the puniahment of bazteis, (i. e. bakeis) ; and he calk 
it alflo '* jogs-" SpekiMn, says, ** Est supplicii machina ad ludibiiom 
mafi[is quam poenam — inter touces duarum tabulanim ideo cayatarum 
cello spectaculum populo praebetur deridendum," but it is difficult to 
reconcile this notion of a joke, with the statement of Britton (De 
LarcynSf foL 24.) that in&my resulted from the infliction of those 
punishments, and that the oath of the delinquent could no longer be 
received on juries, inquests, or in testimony ; and so too Bracton, in 
the chapter, De yeneribus pcenarum (lib. iii. cap. 6), says, that those 
punishments were attended with in£uny. Hence, the counsel of 
Coke (3 liui. 219) that justices ** should be well-advised before thej 
give judgment of any person to the Pillory or Tumbrell ;" and his 
cautious suggestion, *' Fine and imprisonment for offences fineable 
by the justices aforesaid, is a fidr and sure way/'' 

Mr. Morgan, an editor of the fourth edition of Jacob's *^ Law 
Dictiomuy (1772), mentions that he remembers to have seen, on the 
estate of a relative of his in Warwickshire, the remains of a tumbrell, 
« consisting of a long beam or rafter, moving on a fulcrum, and ex- 
tending to the centre of a large pond, on wnich end the stool was 
to be placed;" and Brand (^^Popular Antiq/') quotes a description 
from Misson's ** Travels in England." In Baines' ^^ History of the 
County Palatine of Lancaster," it is stated that, about the close of the 
last century, a cuck-stool complete stood over a pit, near Lon^ton, 
on the road from Preston to Liverpool ; and Tomlins (*^ Law Diet.") 
states that within the memory of persons living in his time, it was used 
at Banbury, in Oxfordshire, towards women of notoriously immoral 
conduct, the pool still retaining the name of the cucking-pool.' It 
seems to have been used by the Saxons, by whom it was called 
*<scealfing stole;" and in Domesday Book it is styled ** cathedra 
stercoralis." Later,' we find it designated *^ trebuchet, turbichetum, 
tribuch, terbechetum," properly, (says Coke), a pit^fall or down- 
fidl ; and Barrington {an the Statutes^ p. 30, m notis), derives it 
from the Celtic, *^ tre," ville, and our common word, bucxet, *^ which 
is likewise probably Celtic,*' whence it will signify, the town or village 
bucket. But Ducange has it ^^ Catapulta species, seu machina gran- 
dior ad projiciendum lapides," &c. ; and so Menage, who derives it 
thus, ** De traboccare, comme qui diroit in buccam cadere, tomber 
dans un trou."^ But it appears from Ducange, that there was also 



' Thote of the rank of gentlenuD, ooold 
not, aoooiduig to the usage of the ttar- 
chamber, be whipped ; the iDlliction of this 
punishment on Titos Oates was illcgaL — 
Chitty's Crhm. Lam, toL L 796. As to 
pnoishment of witches in the pillory, see 
TomUns' Law Diet. (4th ed.) 

> Under astatoteof James VL(SeotUnd) 
A.D. 1567. cap. 18, entitled, "Anent the 
filthie fice of fornication and panishment 



of the samin," the offender shaD, for the 
third offence, pay £100 (Sooto), he thrice 
dncked in the fonlest pool of the parish* 
and be banished the town or parish for 
ever; and shall he treated in the like manner 
for every further offence^ — Home's Csm- 
*Mn/«r«ft OM the Law o/SeQtUmd mpeeim§ 
Crimett L chap. 21 (page 464, 2nd ed.). 

> CarU Joh. Reg. dat.iL. Jnnii,An« IBeg. 

* Hereon also see Trironx. 

33 



258 

a warlike machine called " tumbrellum,"' which name seems to 
have been that most commonly used for the instrument of punishment. 
By Bracton it is styled •* tymboralis," and in Fieta " tomborale." 
Coke tells us, in his day tumbrell was a word in use for a dung- 
cart; and later we have it used in this sense by Dryden,' 

*' My corps is in r tumbrU kid, among 
The filth and ordure, and indos'd with dang." 

The word took many shapes, as tumbrella, tymbrella, tynibo- 
rella, and in a case reported by Keilway (8., temp. Edw. 3), *^ one 
John was summoned to answer for that he claimed view, waiffe, 
fourcher, pillory, and tumrell;" but this may be a misprint, as it 
appears frequently elsewhere in the book •• tumbrell." 

Jamieson, in his ** Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Lan- 
guage," questions the correctness of rendering '* tumbrellum" by 
•* cockstule," which he thinks the same as " pillorie ;'* for, he says, 
*' kaak is a Dutch pillory, being an iron collar fastened either to a 
post or any other high place," although a derivation is given from the 
Teutonic "kolcken," ingurgitare, from **kolck," gurges, vorago, 
vortex ; and, he adds, that in latter times it has been used to denote 
the pillory. 

Kamsay has the following allusion to this instrument of punish- 
ment : — 

<*The tane, less like a knave than fool, 
Unbidden clam the high CockstooU 
And put his head and baith his hands 
Throw holes where the ill-doer stands." 

Brand, too,' thinks the tumbrell different from the cucking-stool, 
foimdin^ his opinion on a claim (quoted by Cowel) made in Heniy 
VIL^s time, in which a distinction is made between the offenders and 
the punishment, thus: — ^^punire...braciatore8 (i.e. brewers) per 
tumbrellum, et rixatrices per Thetoe^ hoc est ponere eas super scabel- 
lum, vocat. a Cucking otool ;" and the denvation of cucking-stool 
given by Coke (under "the Trebuchet or Castigatory") woidd ap- 
pear to fix that instrument as the punishment for scolds, but in so 
doing, carries its identity far away from the pillory on the etymolo^- 
cal proofs which Jamieson thought perceptible. " Cuck or Guck, in 
the Saxon tongue signifieth to scould or brawl (taken from the Cuck- 
haw or Giickhaw, a bird, qui odiose jurgat et rixatur) and Inge, in 
that language (Water), because she was, for her punishment, soused 
in the water ; and others fetch it from Cucquean, i.e. Pellex."^ So 
Coke. 

It was also termed " goginstole^' and " cokestool," and by some 

1 OUm. In French, tombereau, from the * Vide tm^m, for its use in the county of 

verb, tomber, see also Jonii, Bismol. Angl. Lancaster not long ago ; and its identity 

* See Johnson's Dictionary. with the custom which formerly obtained 

' Popuiar AniiquitiMt vol. iL p. 441. among the SasLons. 



259 

it IB thought corrupted from choaking-«tool, *^quia hoc modo de- 
merBS aquis fere sunocantur/'' 

The court-leet,a or view of frankpledge, said to be the most 
ancient criminal' court in the land, had tor its judge the steward 
(<« who should be a barrister of learning and ability," says Tomlins), 
and the jury was composed of twelve freeholders. Dugdale says this 
court was ori^all^ that spoken of as ** tryhing^' or *< lathe" (among 
the Saxons) in which the oarons and freeholders of these parts were 
judges.^ 

The existence in England of the court-leet, with its other appel* 
lation of ^'view of frankpledge," seems to have sprung out of the 
institution of Alfred the Great, that all the freemen of the district 
should be mutual pledges fi>r the good behaviour of each other ;^ and 



> Skinner's Et^mologieon, tub v0e§, 
"Cucking Stool." TomUns' Law Diet. 
(4th edition.) 

s " Leta, from the Saxon '<lite," i^e. ptr- 
▼Illy qntsi a little court ; or frx>m the Ger- 
man "laet/* a country judge." — Jacob. 
** In Kent/' aayi Dugdale, Aniig, of War- 
wiektMret ** thoee divisions of the country 
are called Lathes, which with us are called 
Hundreds." See also 4th Inti. cap. 54. 
D' An vers nbi mpra. Tomlins says, ''Though 
we do not meet with the word among the 
Saxons, there can be no doubt of the ezia- 
tence of the thing." — Law Diei. 

* *< The Court-Baron being of no less 
antiquity in civil." — ^Tomlins. The ancient 
court-baron of the manor of Sunderland 
was reyived by the earl of Durham, and 
opened on the 21st of July, 1840. See 
Richardson, Local Hiitoriam't Tabk Book, 
▼ol. ▼. p. 180. 

* Ofiff. Jmrid. cap. 15. As to the tryhing 
or lathe, see cap. 12, in which instances are 
given of titles to land being tried in this 
court See also "De trihingis et ledis" 
among the laws of king Edward the con- 
fessor in Lambard. 

* Blackstone, Commeniariet, book iv. c. 
19. Hawkins, Pleas of the Crown, book ii. 
c 11. Alfred reigned from 871 to 900. 
In the laws of king Edgar, who reigned 
from 959 to 975, is the following: "This 
is the Ordonnance how the Hundred shall 
be held. First, that they meet always 
within four weeks : and that every man do 
Justice to another. 2. That a thief shall 
be pursued .... If there be present 
need, let it be made known to the Hundred- 
man, and let him [make it known] to the 
tithing-men ; and let all go forth to where 
God may direct them to go : let them do 
justice on the thief, as it was formerly the 
enactment of Edmund" (the commence- 



ment of whose reign was in 940). But 
the origin of the institution would seem to 
belong to a much earlier period. The fol- 
lowing passage from the "Esprit des Lois," 
ascribes it to the sons of Clovis whose 
death occurred in 511 : — " Comme tons les 
hommes libres ^taient divis^ en centainea, 
qui f ormaient ce que. Ton appdait un boorg, 
&c. 

" Cette division par centaines est poat^ 
rieure 4 1'etabUssement des Francs dans lea 
Gaulea. 

" Elle fut fait par Clothaire et Childebert 
dana la vue d'obliger cheque district k re- 
pondre des vols qui s'y feraient. On voit 
cela dans les decrets de ces princes." — 
livre xzz. chap. 27. 

'* Nous avons remarqu^ en plus d'endroit, 
que de vieuz usages perdus ailleurs se re- 
trouvent en Angleterre, comme on retrouva 
dans rtle de Samothrace lea andena mys- 
t^rea d'Orphee."— Voltaire, Diet. Phihi. 
art. C^src, where aome remarks on benefit 
of clergy, also will be found. See also 
Guizot's J2c>prcteii/a/treCr09enNiieii/, lecture 
4, parti. Thierry {Norman Conqueet, book 
iL A. D. 878 to 885) says the custom of 
reckoning families as simple units, and then 
aggregating them in tens or hundreds to 
form districts and hundreds, is found among 
aU people of Teutonic origin ; and states 
that tythings and tything-men, hundreds 
and hundred* men existed among the Saxons 
and Angles, prior to their emigration, and 
that the system was adopted by Alfred. It 
appears that the institution exists in Russia 
now-a-days, where the great feature of the 
rural system is, that every head of a peasant 
family is a member of a commtwie, and as 
such has a right to a portion of land. At 
the head of each village is the Mtaroeia, 
who presides over a council called the ten. 
The election of coundUors is made annually 



260 

the happy results of this ordinance are described by Lambard (Pet' 
ambulation of Kentj p. 27) to have been ** that if a man had let fall 
his purse in the highway, he might at great leisure and with good 
assurance have come back and taSien it up again." In the leet all 
offences under high treason could be enquired into, its jurisdiction^ 
being as extensive as its prototype, the gothic ^^hsereda," which 
" de omnibus quidem co^oscit non tamen de omnibus judicat ;*'' and 
ranging (in the words of Blackstone^ "from common nuisances and 
other material offences against the Emg's peace, down to eaves-drop- 
ping, waifi, and irregularities in public commons ;"' or, in the more 
i general description of Coke (accounting for the sheriff^s toum and the 
eet being courts of record, and not the courts of the county, of the 
hundred, and the courts-baron), ** instituted for the Commonweal, 
as for conservation of the Song's peace, and punishment of conmion 
nuisances, &c.*'^ 

But the particular articles which were to be given in charge bv 
the steward were set forth in certain statutes, as, for instance, the 17th 
Edward II., the statute for view of frankpledge; the 51st Henry 
III.,* "The Assise of Bread and Ale;" the 2nd Edward VI., cap. 
10, for the punishment of any corruption in the making of malt for 



by the peMtnts. The apportionment of the 
obroi (a fixed tribute to the lord), the dit- 
tribotion of land escheated by the death oi 
the occupiers, the punishment of minor of- 
fences, and the arrangement of local dis- 
putes, form some of the offices of the councU. 
Sevexal villages form a district, oyer which 
is an officer called a ffarcAnui, who, with 
assessors, holds a court in which recruits 
for the army are levied. The atarehina is 
elected by deputies sent from the villages 
of the district, a number of which districts 
form a voAw/, under a functionary also 
elected, who, with assessors, forms an higher 
court of more extended jurisdiction. Here 
may be traced the tffihmg forming the 
court-leet, over which was the head- 
borough, or ty thing-man; then the Ami- 
dred-^ourt (under the bailiff), formed out 
of ten tythings ; and, finally, the eoim/y- 
eoKW, with the shire-reeve, or sheriff, pre- 
siding — {Etudea nor la Siiuaium InterUurey 
la Vie Nationale, et U§ Imtiiutioiu RuraUi 
de la Rusiie, par le Baron Auguste de 
Haxthausen, Hanovre, 1852). '' The most 
remarkable approximation to our own in- 
stitution seems to have existed at an early 
period in Russia for the trial of criminid 
cases. In the French translation of M. 
Karamsin's Hiitoire de Ruetie, we find the 
following : ' Le plus ancien code des lois 
russes porte que douze citoyens assermen- 
tes discutent suivent leur conscience les 



charges qui ptent sur un accus^, et lais- 
sent auz juges le droit de determiner la 
peine.'"— Forsyth's Hutory of Triai ky 
Jury, p. 37,iio^«; see also the samewoii 
(chap. iv. sect. 4) u to the different kinds 
of Anglo-Saxon courts. 

1 4 Inet, 265. D'Anvers, u. 290. /s- 
riedietiotu, or the lawful authority of Courte 
Leet, See., 8fe,, written by the methodically 
learned John Kitchin of Gray's Inne, Esq., 
Loudon, 1663. 

* Bl. Com., b. iv. c. 19, quoting Stiemh. 
dejwr. Goth. 

•Ibid. 

« 4 Jnet. 263. See the following, in Ak- 
dibroi, as to *' what base uses" it wab turned 
to in the seventeenth century : — 

** Be forced t'impeeeh a brokeu hedge 
And pigs unring'd et Vufrwnm pledge. 
IHscover thleree, end bawds, recuMnte, 
Prieete. witches, eeTee>droppeni, and niuance ; 
Tell who did plaj at gamee nnlawf ul. 
And who flU'd pots of ale but half-ftUl.** 

* Are the advocates of the " righta of 
women" aware that to the parliament or 
council upon this occasion (A.D. 1266) held 
at Winchester, all the wives of the nobles 
who had been killed in war, or of those 
captive, were summoned? The word in the 
statute, as Barrington points attention to, 
is braciatrix, a woman-brewer ; so the sex 
appears to have had a share, on this occasion 
at least, in legislating for itself. 



261 



public use, &c. ;' but, after the passing of the statute of Marlbrid^e, 
52nd Henry III.» eap. 10, their business gradually devolved upon tne 
courts of quarter sessions.' Nevertheless, that the court was resorted 
to, in queen Elizabeth's time,' for the punishment of frauds in 
measures, seems evident from the following : — 

*' And nil upon the hottest of the hoote 
And tay yon would pretent her at the Leet, 
fiecnuae the broaght ttone jngt and no teal'd quarts."^ 

TMHimg rf th* Shrew. 

The class of offences for the punishment of which the pillory^ and the 
tumbrell, in connexion with the court-leet, were most commonly 
used, seem to have been the corruption of provisions and all such and 
other matters which could be accounted to be common nuisances. 
Thus, Dodridge, iustice of the king's bench, says, in Trinity Term, 
16th James I., ** that such nuisances as the Leet had power to redress 



The statute intitnled AuUa PaniM et 
Ctrvmm was 51tt Henry III., stat.i. (anno 
1266); that intitnled *< Jndidnm Pillorie" 
was passed in the tame year, ttat. tL So 
much of the former as referred to the assize 
of hread was repealed by the 8th Anne, 
eap. 18. "There are also few tnmt or 
oonttitntiont relative to the law, which tho' 
possibly not Acts of Parliament, yet haTe 
obtained in use as such ; as Statutum Panis 
et CerrissB, Judicium CoUittrigii, and 
others."— Hale, Hittory rf the Commm 
Lawt chap. viL itn^. Henry III. It is per- 
haps not unworthy of mention {hpropotoi 
this doubt) 4hat the curious collection of 
customs called Rfgiam Mafe$taiem (date 
about 1154), are said by Lord Stair (/nt/t- 
tutiotu, b. i, t. 1, s. 16) to have been com- 
piled for the custom of England, and though 
mentioned in the Scottish Parliaments of 
1425 and 1487, were only to mentioned as 
what may, on rcTision become law. This 
opinion is examined in Erskine's Imiiiuiet, 
b. i, t. 1, s. 32. The following occun in 
Fabyan's CkraiUele, temp, 12th Henry III. : 
" In processe of tyme after, the sayde syr 
Hughe (Bygotte) w* other, came to Guylde 
hall, and kept his eourte and plees there 
without aU ordre of lawe, and contrary to 
the lybertyes of the Cytie, and there punys- 
shed the bakers for lacke of syze by the 
tubereU, where before tymes they were 
punysshed by the pyllery, and orderynge 
many thynges at his wyll, more thi by any 
good ordre of lawe." — ^Ellis' edition, p. 345. 
In the second year of Edward I., the fol- 
lowing is recorded : '* After the solempnytie 
of the Coronadon was ended, the king... 
ordeyned certayne newe lawes for y« welth 
of the realme, whiche are to longe here to 



reherce ; amoge the whiche one was that 
bakers inakynge brede, lackynge the weyght 
assygned after y* pryce of oome,shuld first 
be punysshed by lotte of hit brede: and 
the teconde tyme by prytonement : and y« 
thirdly by the correcdon of the pyUory. 
And myllers for stelyog of come to be 
chastysed by y« tumbrell, and this to be 
put in execudon he gare auctoytie to all 
mayres, baylyffes, and other oiiycers tho- 
rough Bnglande, and spepyally to the mayre 
of London."— Fabyan's Ckrtmiek; EUis' 
edition, p. 385. 

' As to punishment for unreasonable 
victualling charges, victuallers conspiring, 
selling corrupt victuals, &c, see Lambard, 
Eirmmreh., b. iy. c 4. As to restrictions on 
common brewing and baking in the fifteenth 
century, see Brand's Neweatile, toL iL 16. 

* Blackstone, nbi si^pre. 

* But see hereafter the case of the Qmmii 
against Posby, tried in Anne's time before 
the justices at quarter sessions and not in 
the leet. 

« ** No sealed qnarU."— *'Sub sigillo Bur- 
gi debcnt signarL"— X<ytt Jh u ryor um , cap. 
52. 

* ** Mn. BiTTLna — ^My Lord, we insist 
upon it, that the pillory is the punishment 
of the dieat. 

CouKT— We know if Mr. Hurly be not 
able to pay the fine he ought to suffer cor- 
poral punishment." "Trial of Patrick 
Hurly of Moughna, in the county of Clare, 
for perjury, and conspiring to cheat the 
Popish inhabitants of the county of Clare," 
(AD. 1701) in HowetPe SiaU TriaU xiv. ; 
see note at page 446, also page 1099, same 
volume. See also vol. iii. 401, vii. 1208, 
and ziz. 809, m noftt; also vol. zx. p. 781. 



262 



should be immediate and public nuiBances f^ and so there came under 
its cognizance, among other nuisances, that of being a common scold, 
which, in practice having long ceased to be the subject of prosd* 
cution,' may be brought forward to some little prominence. Two 
such cases, at least, can be quoted : one having been before the court 
of queen's bench as lately as in the time of Anne, and to the mention 
of them may be added, that though recent legislation has abolished 
the pillory as an ignominious punishment,' some stem necessity may 
(but not, it is to be hoped, during the reign of the gentle lady— our 
present gracious sovereign) arouse again an old demand, to wit : — 
** Reclaim the obstinately opprobrious and virulent women and make 
the Ducking Stool more useml." 

In Hilary Term, thirteenth year of James I., a question arose as 
to the justification of a constable under the following circumstances* 
It appeared that Margery, the wife of one Curteys, had been presented 
in tne leet as a common scold, and the constable went as directed by 
the seneschal to punish her according to law. It is not wonderful 
that one of her disposition should have demurred violently to the pro- 
ceeding, and an assault and battery ensued. It does not appear that 
Margery underwent the sentence, but this case decided the justification 
of the constable and his assistants in punishing common scolds upon a 
presentment in the leet.^ 

The second case was that of the Queen against Foxhy^^ who it 
appeared had been convicted by the justices of the peace at their 
quarter sessions at Maidstone, upon an indictment that she was a 
common scold, and judgment was given that she should be ducked. 
A motion was made in the queen's bench, in Trinity Term, 1703, 
in arrest of judgment, that the indictment was, that she was com* 
munis calumniatrixy which is not the Latin word for a scold but 
rixatriXi whereupon Sir John Holt, chief justice, said, •* It were better 
ducking in a Trmity (i. e. May or June) than in a Michaelmas (No- 
vember) Term." Judgment was arrested in Michaelmas Term, and 
the case came again before the court, on a writ of error, in Trinity 
Term the following year, when affidavits were produced tiiat she was 
so ill (a nervous attack in all probability, the ducking still impending) 
that without danger of her ufe she could not come up out of Kent, 
where she lived, to assign error in person, according to the course of 
the court ; and the time was enlarged *^ to see how she would behave 



1 Dewettf ▼. Sandert and Tedder, in ii. 
RoUe*$ Riporie, 31. 

* Stephens* Commentariea, iv. 336, (3rd 
edition). 

» The Act, 7th Wm. IV., and lit Vic., 
(cap. zxiii.) enacts, '* that from and after 
the passing of this Act (30th June, 1837,) 
judgment shall not he given and awarded 
against any person or persons convicted of 
any offence, that snch person or persons do 



stand in or upon the Pillory." It is then 
provided that hy this Act the punishment 
of pillory alone is affected thereby. The 
56th Geo. III., cap. 138, had limited ito oae 
to the punishment of perjury. 

< This vras Curtey*$ Caee, in Moore'e 
Report$9 p. 847. See also, for more on thii 
sobject, page 32, of *' The Office qf ike Con- 
ttable,** London, 1791. 

* Modem Reparttt vi. 11, {fc. 



263 

herself in the meantime," the court remarking that *' scolding once or 
twice is no great matter, for scolding alone is not the offence, but the 
fieauent repetition of it,' to the disturbance of the neighbourhood, 
makes it a nuisance, and as such it has always been punishable in the 
Leet, and ideo indictable." The chief justice seems to have had other 
than merely legal reasons for enlarging the time, for he added, ** duck- 
ing would rather harden than cure her; and if she were once ducked 
she would scold on all the days of her life."' Finally, the court did 
lean to the merciful side, construed the penal enactment strictly, and 
reversed the judgment (in Michaelmas Term), the indictment being, 
that she was communis rixa^ instead oirixatrix. That, about Eliza- 
beth's time* the instrument in question was of common use in such 
cases, seems very probable from the following, in Beaumont and 
Fletcher's "Woman's Prize:" 

'* MoROSO — Do yoQ hear the nimonr ? 
They sav the women are in insurrection. 
And mean to make a — 

** PsTRONius — Let 'em, let 'em ! 
We'll ship 'em ont in Cuckstools, there they'll sail 
As'braTe Colnmbns did, till they discoyer 
The happy islands of obedience." — ^Act ii. scene 1. 

And that it had not gone out of use in the time of the " merry 
monarch" we may quote the learned and witty Samuel Butler : — 

** So men decree those lesser shows 
For yictory gotten without blows, 
By dint of sharp hard words, which some 
Giye battle with, and oyercome ; 
These, mounted in a chair^cnnile, 
Which modems call a cucking-stool, 
March proudly to the dyer's side, 
And o'er the waves in trinmph ride: 
Like dukes of Venice, who are said 
The Adriatic sea to wed ; 
And have a gentler wife than those 
For whom the state decrees those shows." 

Hudibrtti, part ii. canto ii. 

A few extracts from some old laws may not be uninteresting be« 
fore concluding. 

That baking and brewing could not be carried on without per- 
mission of the authorities, is evident from a passage (in Cowel) from 

I In WUhtn y. Henley, 1 RotU^M Rep. endangers the health of the party, bat also 

241, Coke says, "The continuance of a giyes the tongue liberty 'twixt eyery dip." 

Boisanoe is a new nuisance." He quoites an old poem which would corrobo- 

* Brand {Popular Antiq,, yol. it p. 445), rate his lordship's yiew as giyen above : — 
speaks of the •* branks," another punish- ^ ^^^ ^^ d-M-, 

ment fbr scolding women, used at New- vSthX^ S!Tinl^m^ 

castle-onder-Lyme, preferable, he thinks to sbs monnta agiin uid ngM mora 

the ''cocking stoole," "which not onl> ThMi ewr VImo dW befora." 



264 

a MS. book concerning the Laws, Statutes, and Customs of the Free 
Borough of Mountgomery, from the times of Henry 11. : — ** Item 
utimer de Pandoxatricibus,^ quod nemo potest brasiare sive pandoz- 
are in villa et Burgo nostro, nisi..., si talis Pandoxatrix brasiaverit, 
...debet capi per ballivos, amerciari,...primo et secundo, et si terUa 
vice Assisam fregerit, debet capi per ^allivos, et publico duci ad 
locum ubi situatur le Gogingstole, et ibi debet eligere, unum de duo- 
dus, viz., an velit le Gogingstole ascendere, an iUud judicium redi- 
mere ad voluntatem Balhvorum." 

That the ducking stool was not reserved for the especial use of the 
fair sex, appears from the following : — " £if they trespasse thrise, 
jusdce sail be done upon them : that is, the Baxster (i.e. Baker) sail 
be put upon the Pillorie (or halsfang) and the Browster (i«e. Brewer) 
upon the Cockstule." — Burrow Lawes^ c. xxi. sec. 3. Ducange has 
the latter, thus : — ** Brasiatrix super Tumbrellum, quod dicitur casd- 
^torium." Again, take the following from the *^ Law of Preston 
m Amoundresse, which they have from the Law of the Bretons."* — 
'* If a Burgess shall be in mercy for Bread and Ale, the first, second, 
or third time, he shall be in mercy, 12d, but the fourth he shall go 
to the Cuckstool.*' And that norm of the Tweed the women were 
not safe from this seat, appears from a law of queen Mary, 1555 (cap. 
40), **The women perturbatouris for skefrie (i.e. extortion, or any 
unlawful way of getting money) sal be taken, and put upon the 
Cukstules of everie burgh or towne."' 

In conclusion, the great antiquity of the modes of punishment 
which this paper has been intended to illustrate, may be shown by 
the following, from Sir Henry Spelman: — ^^ Submersionis hie ritus 
pervetustus fiiit apud Germanos majores nostros. Sic enim Tacitus 
in eorum moribus ^ Distinctio pcenarum ex delicto. Proditores et 
transfugas arboribus suspendunt, ignaros et imbelles et corpore in- 
fames coeno et palude, injecta insuper crate, mergunt/ " (Gap. 12, 
De Mor. Grer.) 

1 Pandoxairix, an alewife that both brews * Baines' Hutory of the Ctnmty Paiaime 

and wlls ale and beer. of Laneatter^ vol. iv. p. 300. 

So Shakespear — ** Ask Marion Hackett, ' For the punishment of forestallers and 

the fat alewife of Winton." — Taming qf the regrators, see Hume's Gmw. (Scotland) i. 

Skrtw, ch. 25, p. 503. 



265 



AN ACCOUNT OF 

SOME ANTIQUITIES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF 
BUTTEVANT, IN THE COUNTY OF CORK. 

BT RICHARD R. BRASH, ESQ., ARCHITECT. 

The Auoustinian abbby of Balltbeo. — Ballybeg is about half a 
mile from Buttevant ; the remains of the Augustinian abbey stand at 
the gorge of a winding and romantic glen, through which the turnpike 
road from Mallow to Buttevant passes; its situation must have been 
remarkably picturesque, when forests clothed the lofty and abrupt 
hill sides, when the horn of the hardy hunter woke the morning 
echoes through its rocky passes, as he chased the red deer by the 
banks of the gentle MuQa. 

The present remuns show it to have been once strongly fortified. 
Its massive belfry looks more like a castle keep, and the remains of 
stem looking towers, which formerly flanked the abbey enclosures, 
speak of troublous times and treacherous onslaughts ; a portion of the 
east and west ends of the church, the cloister widls, ruins of two 
towers, and a columbarium, or dove-cot, are all that at present re- 
main of this once splendid structure, the extent and magnificence of 
which is still attested by the fragments of walls, and sculptured stones 
dug up by the peasantry on the surrounding lands. Of the east end, 
fragments of the chancel walls alone remain ; in Smith's time, the east 
window existed,^ but there is now no trace of it ; a farmer has built 
his house and offices across the centre of the church, and the west end 
is occupied as a cow-house I The west gable has a lofty Early English 
couplet of graceful proportions, with large inward splays; the lancets 
are divided internally by a very fine banded shaft having a moulded 
base, and a bold and richly carved cap of the peculiar foliage of the 
period. A strange feature exists in this portion of the building — four 
massive piers have been built at some period subsequent to the ori- 
ginal erection, two of them in the western internal angles, upon which 
vaults are turned, converting this end of the church into a fortified 
structure. You can ascend to the top by a stairs constructed in one 
of the piers. The vaulting is ornamented with some grotesque heads ; 
it crosses the couplet window, destroying its effect. There are circular 
holes in the vaulting, as if a peal of bells had been hung in the upper 
part. This tower, or belfry, was certainly erected sometime surae- 
quent to the original building, as these piers are not bonded into the 
original masonry, but merely built against the walls. The cloisters 
were on the south side of the church, and appear to have been of 
large extent. The enclosing wall still exists, and retains the corbels 

1 Smith's Hittory of Cork, 1774, vol. i. p. 324. 

34 



that carried the beams of the lean-to roof over the arcade, no portion 
of the masonry of which at present remains — neither cap, baae, or por- 
tion of ehat^ by which I could dettirmine its character. About twen^ 
yards from tne west end of the church are the remains of a lofty 
square tower, which was connected with the conventnal buildings, 
and evidently built for defence. The walls were massive and of ex- 
cellent workmanship ; the lower story of a similar tower stands about 
forty yards from the east end, close to the Doneraile road ; the finish 
of uie quoins and a handsome pointed doorway evidence the care 
bestowed on its erection. 

The CotOHBABivH. — About twenty yards from the south-east 
comer of the chancel is a low (urcular tower — of which the accom- 
pimying wood-cuts supply a plan and section — about twenty-«ight 



feet in height, the walls of which are perpendicular, having no in- 
ward inclination, or batter. Its internal diameter is fifteen feet seven 
inches ; thickness of the walls three feet nine inches ; its external cir- 
cuimference b seventy feet; it had two doors, one at the east and one 
at the west side — the west one is perfect, but the cut stone jambs of 
the east one, having tempted the cupidity of a neighbouring farmer, 
were abstracted and it is now an unsighUy breach. The interior is 
exceedingly curious, the inside face of the wall having been boUt in 
square compartmenta and in regular Uers, one over the other, to a 
height of fifteen feet, where they are terminated by a projecting string- 
course ; the first tier conunencing at eighteen inches from the ground. 
There are eleven tiers of pigeon-holes, thirty-two in a tier, whicheach 
average eight inches square, and are from ten to eleven inches in 
depth ; they are formed of small square stones, hammer-dressed, yet 
neatly fitted, and bonded well into the solid wall ; between each tier 
is a course of stone, seven inches in thickness, and the small piers 
between are ten Inches wide, the horizontal courses between the 
tiers are formed mostly of two courses of thin stone, and the diminu- 




KERRY AMTIQmTIES, 



live (jiera of two and three small cubical stones ; yet the vhole is care- 
fully bonded and well built, in fact it ie the neatest and most curious 
speoimen of hammer-dreiaed work I have ever met with, either ancient 
or modem. The height internally to the ^ring-course is fif^en feet 
six inches, from which starts the iTeehive-shaped roof of masonry, the 
upper part of which is formed of flafs overlaying one another, and 
leaving a circular opening of about three feet six inches in diameter, 
so as to give ingress and egress to its feathered inhahitant«. This roof 
does not exhibit its domical form externally, as the walla are carried 



above the top of the vaulting, a level platform being formed on the 
top, the raised wall forming a parapet round it, and having rude gur- 
goiles to carry off the rain water ; the whole height of the building 
externally is twenty-seven feet six inches. A cunous external feature 
is an apparent mode of communication with the abbey buildings. 
About fourteen feet from the ground, at the north side, is a doorway 
which leads to the platform above mentioned ; at one si de of this door- 
way is a fr^^ent of a wall projecting about tour feet, and pointing 
towards the S. W. comer of the chancel ; lower down thera does not 
appear to have been any connexion with the tower, as the masonry 
exhibits no such feature, so that it would appear to have been a 
portion of a gallery of communication carried upon arches to some 
part of the domestic buildings. The interior appears to me to have 
been subjected at some period to the action of ni«, as the lime-stone 
of which the whole is built exhibits a white and calcined appearance. 
I am at present personally aware of but one other specimen of this 
class of buildings existing in this country: it is adjoining the Cis- 
tercian abbey of Kilcooly, and presenla some different features, both 



266 

as to design and construction from that at Ballybeg ; but I have been 
infoimed of the existence of one or more of these buildings in the 
county of Kilkenny.^ In the '* Archaeological Journal" is ^ven an ac- 
coimt of one at Garway, in Hertfordshire (accompanied by an interior 
and exterior view) from which I select the following descripdon :— - 
*^ The wall is of stone, and four feet in thickness, with twenty-one 
ranges of holes for pigeons. The holes are made wider within the wall 
by cutting away tne stones which form the surface. On inserting 
the hand mto one range of holes, they would be found to open to the 
left, while the range above would oe reversed. The building is 
further strengthened by a course of solid stone between every two 
ranges. The house is covered by a vaulting of stone, presenting a 
concave surface internally and externally. A circular opening in the 
centre of the vaulting affords the means of in^ess and egress to the 
pigeons, while two doors, at the north and south, give the same facili- 
ties to unfeathered bipeds."^ The author of the paper, the Rev. William 
Dyke, of Gradley, further states that the date was on the tympanum 
of one of the doorways, as follows — ^* dni. mocg." and some de&ced 
decimals. It will be seen by the accompanying drawings and de- 
scription, that the internal construction and general features of these 
buildings are similar ; the only difference being in the construction 
of the pigeon-holes, which at Garway open &om one to the other, as 
above described, while at Ballybeg there is no communication ; the 
similar features are the general proportions, circular form, vaulted 
roof, two doors, and circular orifice m the top. The most striking 
point of difference externally is the construction of the roo^ which at 
Garway is a frustrum of a cone, surmounted by a circular blocking 
of masonry round the orifice. I find that some difference of opinion 
exists among antiquaries respecting the foundation of Ballybeg, which 
opinions I now subjoin. 

Archdall states that Phillip de Barry founded a priory here for 
regular canons following the rule of St. Augustine, and dedicated it 
to St. Thomas, the favourite saint of that age. He endowed it in 
the year 1229, in remembrance of which ms equestrian statue in 
brass was erected in the church.' 

According to Ware, Ballybeg was a priory of regular canons of St. 
Augustine, dedicated to St. Thomas, founded by William de Barry, 
and endowed by his son David in 1237.^ 

The Abbe MacGfeoghegan copies Ware to the effect that at Balli- 
beg, near Buttevant, in the county of Cork, a priory was founded 
for regular canons of St. Au^stine, by William Barry, in 1237, 
and endowed by his son David.^ 

■ There ere ancient doye-cots at Well- * Arehdtiri Monoii. Hibemieum, p. 56. 

brook, Pottlerath, and Danetfort, all in the * Ware's AniiqutUet qf irtkmd^ vol i. 

county of Kilkenny. Kilcooly borders on p. 246. 

Kilkenny. — Eos. MacGeoghegan's Hittory of Iretgnd, 

' Arehmologieal Joumai, vol. i. p. 265. p. 303. 



269 

Dr. Smith writes that at Ballybeg, on the other side of the river, 
a small walk from Buttevant, was a monastery of Augustinians, 
founded anno 1237» and dedicated to St. Thomas, by William de 
Barrv, being endowed by his son David.* 

Both of these last statements are manifestly in error, for we find 
in Lodge's ** Peerage'' that David de Barry was possessed of the 
lordship of Buttevant at that period, and that he was not the son of 
William but of Robert, whom he succeeded. It is true that William 
was the eldest son and heir of Phillip de Barry; but, being a favourite 
of king John, he resided in England, and is supposed to have as- 
signed his Irish estates to his younger brother, Robert, as is thus set 
forth by Lodge : — 

^* In 1229 he [Phillip de Barry] endowed the friary of Ballybegg, 
in the county of Cork, in memory whereof, his effigies on horseback 
was cast in brass and set up in the church there 

• • He left issue two sons, William and Robert ; to the elder of 
whom king John confirmed his uncle's said gift of lands by patent, 
dated at Woodstock, 2 1 st February, 1208; in which Eang^s reign (it 
is said) he was one of the Recognitores Magnae Assisse for the county 
of Kent, itfid lived at the Moate there, where several of his successors, 
who were Lieutenants of Dover Castle, and Conservators of the peace 
in that county, had their residence. — If this be fact, he probably 
assigned his estate in Ireland to his younger brother, Robert de 
Barry, who appears to be possessed thereof by the bequest he made 
in honour of God, the blessed Virg^ and St. Thomas, of one Mother 
Church upon his land, and one carucate near his castle of Robertstown. 

• • He had issue two sons, David, his heir, and Phillip Barry ."^ 

He further states that the above David succeeded his father 
Robert, and that anno 1235 he enlarged the revenues of BaUybeg, 
which had been endowed by his grandfather, Phillip.' 

David de Cardigan was prior in the reign of kin^ Henry HI. 

John de Barry was prior in the reign ofEdward L^ 

** On the Thursday next after the Nativity of the blessed Virc^n 
Mary, 35th king Henry VHL, the abbot was found seized of mis 
priory, with a cemetery and certain buildings on the dte, containing 
one acre, annual value, besides reprises, 6s. S^f., also sixty acres of 
arable land of the small measure and forty of pasture, being the de- 
mesne lands of the priory and situate in Ballybegg : annual value, 
besides reprises, AOs. ; one hundred and twenty acres in the said 
townland, annual value, besides reprises, 60^., and the following 
rectories appropriated to the said prior ; Ballybegg, annual value, 
bendes repnaes, 4/.; Kilkeran, Ardosoyll, and Ka^barry, annual 

1 Smith*! Hutory of Cork, vol. i. p. ' Lodge's Peeroffe, reyiied by ArchdtU, 

323. Tol. L p. 288. 

* Lodge's Peerage, revised by Archdall, * ArchdaU's Moiuutieon Hibemieumf p. 

vol. i. p. 287. 56. 



270 

value, besides reprises, lOOi. ; Ballycloghie and Ballycastell, annual 
value, besides reprises, 7/. ; Drusmallyny, in M^William's country, 
annual value, besides reprises, 6/.; Carry ketwohill, annual value, 
besides reprises, 6/. ; Gastlebeghan, annual value, besides reprises, 6/.; 
Kylcoryhin, annual value, be^des reprises, 20«. ; Kilemallaghe, an- 
nual value, besides reprises, 8/. ; and Rossaghe, Downeraghill, and 
Gahirdow^an, annual value, 6/., all sterling money. The said lands 
and rectories lie in the county of Cork."' 

An inquisition of the 5th of February, 3rd James I., finds ** that 
28th April, 16th Queen Elizabeth, a grant for a term of years was 
made to George Bouchier, Esq., of this priory and the demesne there- 
of, with certain lands in the town of Ballybeg, Ballykeran, Ardhoile, 
and Rathbarry, Ballyclogh and Ballycastell, Crustmalyny in M'Wil- 

liam's country, Carricktwohill, Gastlebechin, Kill , Killnemal- 

lagh, Rosseghe, Downeragill and Cahirdowgan, in the counties of 
Cork and Mayo. To hold the same at the annual rent of 41L \0s. 
Irish money."* 

26th of James I., January 1, a grant from the king to Elizabeth 
Norreys, Cork county.* 

Sir Thomas Norrevs, lord president of Munster, having been 
slain in the service of queen £aizabeth against the rebels in said 

Srovince, king James, on that account, and because the lands of his 
aughter and heiress, Elizabeth Norreys, were waste durii^ the time 
of me late rebellion, remitted to her all arrears of the Crown ; viz., 
in Cork county, for the abbey of Ballybeg, £81 10s. rent ; Limerick 
county, the friary of the Hor^ Triniw in Athdare, called the friaiy 
for the Redemption of Captives, ana of the friary of Saint Augus- 
tine, Athdare, the abbey of Monastir Nenagh, and the monastery of 
Saint Catherine of Ballagh, £22 17s. 8d. ; ul remitted from Michael- 
mas, 39th of Elizabeth, to Michaelmas, 1st of James I. 

14 February, 3rd of James I.» No. 25. A grant from the king to 
Sir David Norton of Tystede, Southampton county, knight,^ inter 
aHa^ of the site of the dissolved abbey of Ballybeg, in the county 
of Cork, containing about one acre arable, and seventy acres pasture 
of the demesne thereof, and 150 acres arable and pasture belonging 
to Ballybeg. 

1 3 May, 7th of James I. The king^s letter for a lease to Sir John 
Jephson, knight, of the site of the dissolved monastery of Ballybeg, 
now in the hands of him, the said Sir John Jephson, knight.^ 

The lands belonging to this abbey contained 2060 iridi acres, 
and by a valuation taken in 1622 were only worth £60 a vear; at 
the same time the glebe and tithes of it were, valued at £200 per 
annum.^ 

^ Arcbdairs Monast, Hihernicum, p. 786. * Id,, No. 25. 
« /«/., p. 787. » Id., No. 47. 

' Patent Roll. • Smith's History of Cork, p. 323. 



271 

Mr. Croflon Croker, in his valuable and interesting work« *^ Re- 
searches in the South of Ireland," in his notice of Ballybeg, has fallen 
into an error respecting the columbarium. He describes it as the 
** stump of an ancient round tower ;" to which it bears no resemblance 
(except in its circular form), having no batter, being built of com- 
mon rubble masonry, having two doorways on the ground level, and 
being of much greater diameter than our cloich«theachs« 

The field in which this dove-cot stands is called, bv the neigh- 
bouring peasantiT) " the pi^on*field," a name sufficiently corroborar 
tive of tne uses I have ascnbed to this building. Manv stories are 
here related of money-seekers and dreamers of ** crocks of gold," 
&c. One or two have been authenticated to me, and are given by 
Mr. Crofton Croker in his ** Researches." 

One of them relates to the discovery, in the pigeon-field, of a 
sepulchre, the interior of which was lined with slabs having figures 
of the apostles quaintly carved thereon, and containing a stone 
coffin. Of the remains of this tomb I could discover no traces. I 
heard that the slabs were thrown about and broken, their ultimate 
fate being to repair the road, and that the stone cist was many years 
used by a neighoouring &rmer as a pig-trouffh 1 

The other story relates to a blacksmitS, who dreamed three 
successive nights ot ^'a crock of sold under a big flag in the abbev»'' 
and who accordingly commenced excavating among the mouldermg 
remains of the ancient fathers until he exhumed a stone coffin, con- 
taining a skeleton, a cross, a bead of the precious metal, and a plate 
of the same, on which was incised a representation of the cruci- 
fixion. These valuable relics met the &te of most of our native 
antiquities, having been disposed of by the finder to a goldsmith in 
Cork, who remorselessly melted them down. 

We find that the aove-cot or pigeon-house was a very general 
appendage to ancient religious houses* In the surrender of &e abbey 
ox St. J^n, Kilkenny, in the reign of Henry VHI., we find the last 
abbot, Richard Cantwell, seized amone the other buildings, tene- 
ments, &c., ^* of a water mill, a pigeon-house,"^ &o. 

At the surrender of the Franciscan fiiary at Adare, we also find 
mention made of a pigeon-house.' 

It is also specially mentioned, in the enumeration of lands and 
buildings in the surrender of the Grouched Friars at Ardee.' 

At the suppression of the abbey of Louth, ** by an inquisition 
taken on the W ednesday next after the Feast of St. Brandon, 33d 
king Henry VIII., the prior was found seized of the site of the 
priory, containing two castles, an haU^ dormitory, bakehouse, pigeon- 
nousc and granary,'*^ &c. 

There is no doubt that much variety existed in the construction of 

> Archdairs hfonasiicon, p. 370. * Id,, p. 447. 

» Id., p 416. ♦ Id., p. 474. 



272 

these domestic buildings, the only two that I have had the opportonity 
of examining differing considerably. The second, as already observeii, 
adjoins the Cistercian abbey of mlcooly, county of Tipperary, and 
closely resembles the one at Garway above-mentioned. In the in- 
ventory given by Archdall of the buildings, messuages, &c., of Eal- 
cooly abbey the dove-cot is not set down.^ 

Tumuli. — A littie to the north of Buttevant, beyond the tum- 
pike, the old road between Charleville and Buttevant strikes off in 
an easterly direction, crossing the Awbeg by a bridge partly ancient 
and partly modem, the arches at one side being pomted and the 
masonry of antique character and apparentiy coeval with the neigh- 
bouring monastery. At a late perioa it was considerably widened ; 
but the arches of the modem portion are semicircular, which has an 
odd effect. A short distance from the bridge, on the height, in a 
field by the roadside, is ** Knockane-na-m-buachaillidhe" — that is, 
«< the mound or hillock of the boys "—an ancient, conical, earthen tu- 
mulus, about fifteen feet high and siziy feet in diameter. A deep ex- 
cavation has been made in the west side of it, as we were informed, 
by gold-seekers. A similar tumulus, and of corresponding dimensions, 
stands a short distance firom the above, called ^* Knockane-na-g-caill- 
inidhe," or **the mound of the girls," nearly half of which has been 
cut away in making a new road. These were, in all probability, 
memorial tumuli, erected to commemorate some bloody conflict and 
the fall of two chiefe or heroes. 

At Eillmaclennan, about two miles from Buttevant, is an immense 
mound of irregular outline, the remains of a once noble tumulus or 
barrow. The a^d countryman who was my cicerone stated he 
remembered it in his younger days complete, with a moat on the top. 
The moat he explained as ^^ a flat green litde field." He said it was 
opened about fifteen years ago by the Rev. Mr. Connery, parish 
priest of Buttevant, who informed the people that he first heard of it 
m Paris. What was found in it " he was not sure " — that is, he 
was completely ignorant ; but the gold-seekers came afterwards, and< 
excavated and ransacked the whole mound, and the &rmers now are 
carting away the materials of which it is composed. The original 
height of this tumulus is only conjectural; its present outline is 
brocen and irre^lar ; its greatest height about eighteen feet ; the 
material of which it is composed, earth and small mbble. 

Nearly in the centre is a rude cist, which is now entirely un- 
covered. It is rectangular, formed of four upright stones compos- 
ing the sides and ends, with a massive table stone covering all. It at 
present rests but on two sides and an end, tiie other end having been 
forced out by the riflers. 

The following are the dimensions of the stones: — ^No. 1 side 
stone, length nine feet, height six feet ; No. 2 side stone, length 

* ArchdaU's Monatticon, p. 664. 



273 

seven feet six inches, height six feet ; No. 3, end stone, length four 
feet, breadth six feet; No. 4, end stone, length four feet six inches, 
height five and a-half feet. The covering stone measures nine feet 
nine inches in length, by seven feet six inches in breadth ; the ave- 
rage thickness of these stones is from fifteen to eighteen inches. What 
was found at the opening of this ttmiulus, I have not been able to 
ascertain. It is evidently septdchral, and must have contained some 
primaeval remains. I subjoin a few remarks on the subject of tumuli, 
which may not be deemed irrelevant. 

Tumuli are generally either memorial or sepulchral, erected to 
commemorate a victory, the fall of a chief or hero, or as a sepulchral 
mound to enclose the remains of the noble or heroia dead. These 
monuments are distinguished from the rath or lios by their form 
and superior elevation; their figure being generallj a frustum of a 
cone, whose base is of considerable proportion to its height. They 
are found of all sizes, from the small memorial hillock of a dozen or 
fifteen yards diameter, to the mighty sepulchral mounds whose bases 
are acres in extent, and whose bulk and altitude give them more the 
appearance of being the production of nature wan formed b^ the 
puny hands of man, containing within their bosoms the cemeteries of 
dynasties who reigned anterior to Christianity. 

That the custom of raising such memorials was general amongst 
the primitive tribes both of the Old and New World, we have the 
concurrent testimony of ancient authors and niodem travellers. Of 
this description was the tomb of Patroclus, as set forth in the 23rd 
book of the '* Qiad,'' and similar also were the monuments of Achilles, 
Antilochus, Penelaus and Ajax. Herodotus describes similar mounds 
as having been erected over the kings of Scythia ; similar monuments 
are noticed by Adam Oleaiius in his " Travels through Muscovy and 
Persia ;" bv the learned and acute Eeysler, as existing in Friesland 
and Westphalia ; and by the laborious Pallas, as seen by him near 
Novogorod and all through the country of the Don Cossacks and Crim 
Tartary. The recent discoveries in Central America exhibit the pre- 
valence of similar customs in a remote age ; while the pyramids of 
Egypt and the dagoba of India are but the more refined expression 
of an observance almost as ancient as the world itself. 

The remains of these monuments are numerous in the British 
Islands, whether designated as moats, cams, or barrows. In our own 
island they are frequently met with; in the counties of Lduth, 
Meath, Roscommon, King's and Queen s Counties, Elildare and Tip- 
perary, they are exceedingly numerous, and are generally by the 
peasantry termed moats ; they are formed of various materials, being 
sometimes composed entirely of earth, also of earth and stones in 
various proportions^ and in many instances exclusively of stones of 
various sizes. Mounds of this class are termed cams. Of this 
description are Knocknaree in the county of Sligo ; Slieve Croob, 
county of Down ; Carnbam in the county of Armagh, Corran Thier- 

35 



274 

na, county of Cork ; Augh na cloch-mullen, county of Armagh ; of 
this description is the enormous mound of New Grange, county of 
Meath, calculated by measurement to contain 200,000 tons of stones, 
the greatest proportion of which must have been conveyed a distance 
of several miles. 

The moat of memorial is generally a simple mound, of the form 
and materials above described, with, m some instances, a pillar-stone 
on the top. It is impossible to disdn^ish it from the sepulchral 
tumulus, except by an examination of its internal structure, as their 
external form and character are identical. 

The sepulchral moat is found of all dimensions, from the cistvaen 
of the single chief to the royal bruffh or cemeteiy of a race of 
monarchs. The interior of tumuli of this class, when opened, is 
found to contain one or more sepulchral chambers, formed of unhewn 
stone and connected hj low, narrow passages, according to the number 
of chambers. The simplest form of this sepulchre is the rude cist, 
composed, as in the Eilmaclennan tumulus, of four or more large 
stones set on edge, and forming the sides and ends, with one or more 
flat stones overlaying them and forming the top or cover. Within 
this cist, or rude stone coffin, were placed the remains of the chief or 
hero, with his warlike weapons, his gold, silver or bronze ornaments; 
the earth or stones were then heaped around, and over all, into a 
conical form. 

That this was a favourite mode of interment among the Pagan 
Irish, there is abundant evidence in our most ancient manuscripts. 
I shall content myself, however, with one extract from the celebrated 
^* Leabhar na h-Uidhre," as quoted by the learned and laborious 
Petrie in his erudite work on the ** Ecclesiastical Architecture of 
Ireland." It relates the death of Fothadh Airsthech, king of Ire- 
land, who was slain by Gailte, the foster-son of Finn Mac Gumhaill, 
in the battle of Ollarba, A.D. 285. Cailte, addressing Finn, describes 
the death of Fothadh, and identifies his sepulchre at Ollarba, in the 
following words : — 

^*We were with thee, O Finn, said the youth. Hush I said 
Mongan [another name of the Fenian hero], that is not good [fair]. 
We were with Finn once, said he; we went from Alba [reete 
Almhuin]. We fought against Fothadh Airgthech here with thee 
at Ollarba. We fought a battle here ; I made a shot at him, I drove 
my spear through him, so that the spear entered the earth at the 
other side of him, and its iron head was left buried in the earth. 
This is the very handle that was in that spear. The round stone 
from which I made that shot will be found, and east of it will be 
found the iron head of the spear buried in the earth ; and the uliudh 
[cam] of Fothadh Airgthech will be found a short distance to the 
east of it. There is a chest of stone about him in the earth. There 
are his two rings of silver and his two bunne doat [bracelets], and 
his torque of silver on his breast ; and there is a pillar-stone at lus 



275 

earn, and an Ogumis [insoribed] on the end of the pillar-stone, 
which is in the earth, and what is in it is, * Eochaid Airgthech 
here.' It was Cailte that was here along with Finn. All these 
things were searched for by the youth who had arrived, and they 
were found." — pp. 105, 106. 

In other examples the cists are of various dimensions ; sometimes 
composed of enormous masses of stone, frequently with low, narrow 
passages formed of rough stone, set on end and covered with similar 
ones like lintels to bear the superincumbent earth.- Some contain the 
bones of a single individual; in others are found the remains of 
children and adults, both male and female. Alons with human 
remains are frequently found fragments of charcoal, implements of 
bronze, iron ana stone, sometimes of gold and silver, articles of rude 
pottery, generally urns, glass, stone and earthenware, beads, pins 
and combs of bone, all evidently deposited with the bodies at uieir 
interment. 

But by far the most extraordinary monuments of this class 
remaining in the country are the great mounds of Dowth, Knowth, 
and New Grange, which, with a vast number of moats, forts, raths, 
pillar-stones, &c., formed the great cemetery of Brugh na Boine, 
the burial-place of the Tuatha de Danann race of kings. In Mr. 
Wilde's very interesting and valuable work, ** The Boyne and Black- 
water," is an admirable description of this very remarkable locality, 
which he styles ** the Irish Memphis." 

I shall not here go over the oft-repeated description of New Grange, 
or that of the more recently excavated Dowth. Mr. Wilde gives a 
most careful and elaborate account of both, which I would recom- 
mend to the careful perusal of the student in this interesting class of 
our national antiquities. 

A very curious and interesting account of the opening of a 
tumulus, on the banks of the Tour in Siberia, is contained in a 
letter from Paul Demidoff, of Petersburgh, read before the Society 
of Antiquaries, Feb. 5, 1767. 

The Russian government having been informed 6f the existence 
of vast numbers of tumuli near Tom^y, which were opened and plun- 
dered of their contents by the neighbouring tribes, ** sent a principal 
officer with a sufficient number of troops to open such of these tumuli as 
were too large for the marauding parties to undertake, and to secure 
their contents." This officer, upon taking a survey of the numberless 
monuments of the dead spread over this great desert, concluded that 
the barrow of the largest dimensions most probably contained the 
zemains of the prince or chief; and he was not mistaken, for, after 
removing a very deep covering of earth and stones, the workmen 
came to three vaults, constructed of stones, of rude workmanship. 
That wherein the prince was deposited — which was in the centre, 
and the largest of the three — was easily distinguished by the sword, 
spear, bow, quiver and arrow which lay beside him. In the vault 



276 

beyond him, towards which his feet lay, were his horse, bridle, 
saddle and stirrups. The body of the prince lay in a reclining 
position upon a sheet of pure gold extending from head to foot, and 
another sheet of gold of the like dimensions was spread over him. 
He was wrapt in a rich mantle, bordered with gold and studded 
with rubies and emeralds; his head, neck, breast and arms naked 
and without ornament. 

In the lesser vault lay the princess, distinguished by her female 
ornaments. She was placed reclining against the wall, with a gold 
chain of many links, set with rubies, round her neck, and gold 
bracelets round her arms. The head, breast and arms were naked. 
The body was covered with a rich robe, but without any border of 
gold or jewels, and was laid on a sheet of fine gold, and covered with 
another. The four sheets of gold weighed 40lb. The robes of both 
looked fair and complete, but» on toucning, crumbled into dust. 

A very coincident discovery was made in the year 1805, near 
Castle-mar^r, in the county of Cork, as detailed in that interesting 
work of Thomas Crofton Croker's, ''Researches in the South of 
Ireland." A skeleton was discovered in a cavern, partly natural and 
partly artificial, which was partly covered with a sneet of pure gold 
formed with exceedingly thin plates of stamped or embossed work 
joined by rivets of the same material. There were also found 
some beads of amber. One only of the plates escaped the crucible of 
the goldsmith, and is now in the possession of Mr. Lecky of Cork. 

It is to be regretted that a vast number of these sepulchral tumuli 
have been destroyed, and their contents scattered and lost, through 
the ignorance or avarice of individuals. It would be desirable if this 
and kindred societies took more active steps to disseminate, among 
our gentry and farmers, the value and importance of monuments of 
this class, that, when their removal is unavoidable, they may be 
instructed as to the necessity of having a competent person on the 
spot to investigate and report upon them.^ 

It would be also desirable if a fund could be appropriated for the 
examination of such of these tumuli as are accessible ; or if one or 
more members took upon them the opening of one each every year, 
I am sure the results would be most gratifying to those concerned, 
and our museums would be enriched by many an article of ancient 
art, calculated to throw light on the dim past and to illustrate the 
history, habits and religion of the early habitants of our land. 

Our ancient annab and literature teem with references to the 
sepulchres of the mighty dead, to the fields of conflict, to the spots 
wnere heroes and chiefs and kings have fallen. With such lights on 
his path, the well-directed efiTorts of the antiquary cannot fail of being 
crowned with success. 

' The Kilkenny Archaelogical Society pamphlet comprifting *' hints*' on this sub- 
haa printed and circulated sratuitously, a jcct. — Eds. 



277 



THE ANCIENT CROSS OF BANAGHEB, KING'S COUNTY. 

BT THOMAS L. COOKE, ESQ. 

The old church of Banagher, King's County, was heretofore known 
by the appellation Kill-Regnaighe, and the parish in which its ruins 
exist is still called Beynagh. This parish was situate in the diocese 
of Clonmacnoise. The names just mentioned were given to both 
the church and the parish in consequence of St. Regnacn, aliiu Reg* 
nacia, sister of St. Finian who resided at Glonard, having founded a 
religious house here, over which she was abbess. St. Kegnacia in 
all probability died about the same time as her brother Finian, who 
went to rest A.D. 563. The ruins of the church of Kill-Regnaiglie 
stand nearly in the centre of the town of Banagher (celebrated for its 
fairs), and the walled-in space which encompasses them is used as 
the parish cemetery. 

On a fine summer daj, many years ago, loitering about the 
straggling, long, and impicturesque street of Banagher, I happened 
to ramble into this churcn-yard, as well with a view to beguile time 
as for the purpose of examining any relics of antiquity which might 
there present themselves. The trouble of the visit was amply com- 
pensated ; for I there foimd, prostrate on the earth, a stone, of which' 
I send a sketch with this paper, showing it as it then vxu. In using 
the words ** it then was** I do so emphatically, in order to contrast 
its then with its present condition ; for the stone has since that time 
been sadly and wantonly damaged. 

On first inspection it was evident to me that this remain of anti- 
quity had served as the shaft of a once stately cross, of which the other 
component portions were no longer to be found. I made inquiry as 
to wnat had become of the remainder of this highly sculptured re- 
main ; but my inquiries proved unsuccessful. Tne only information 
I could glean was that the stone then and there lying numbly pros- 
trate had, in former and more propitious days, stood erect b»eside a 
crystal spring, which once sent forth its limpid waters in the old 
market-^uare adjoining the church-yard, but whose abundant source 
was very many years stopped up. No person could be found to tell 
me the meaning of the carving on the stone, or why or on what 
occasion it had been carved at all. 

I will now describe what remains of this very interesting antique. 
It is formed out of that description of greyish-brown sand-stone, which, 
when recently taken from the quarry, is so very soft as almost to cut 
beneath the pressure of an ordinary knife ; but which becomes of 
adamantine hardness after being some time exposed to the atmo- 
sphere. The sketch, which accompanies this paper, presents a re- 
presentation of the front or principal face of what is extant of this 



278 

cross-^haft, from the lower part of which a piece has been broken off, 
This stone is five feet long, by one foot twq inches in breadth at tgp, 
and one foot four inches at bottom. The sculpture on it consists of 
three compartments. On the uppermost of these we find a lion pas- 
sant, three-tailed or guived^ as a herald would express it. A small 
hollow about the place of the lion's shoulder was abraded into the 
stone when I first saw it. This has since been greatly enlarged. 

Beneath the lion I have mentioned, and on the same compart- 
ment with it, is the figure of a bishop on horseback, and bearing his 
pastoral staff as emblematical of his sacred office. The crosier is of 
that plain form which indicates antiquity. 

In the second compartment is a beast of the deer kind, and which 
is proved by the character of its horns to be the red deer {cenms 
elephas) ; an animal now, I believe, nearly extinct in Ireland. The 
poor creature is portrayed as in great pain, its head being thrown up 
m an attitude of anguish and distress, whilst its off or right fore-leg 
is found to be entangled in something resembling a trap. When 1 
first beheld this stone the deer was quite perfect; but it has been 
mutilated by reckless and savage hanas since that day. 

The lowest compartment consists of four naked and ill-propor- 
tioned male human ngures arranged around the central point of the 
compartment after the manner of spokes in a wheel. Their legs are 
hooked together, and the lei); hand of each figure grasps the hair of 
the figure immediately preceding it. Their respective right hands 
hold the beard of the figure immediately in rere. 

The sides of the stone are ornamented with an interlaced tracery, 
some of which resembles serpents. This tracery it would be difficult, 
if not wholly impossible, to describe in words. The character of it 
is that of similar ornaments found in various carvings on stone of the 
tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries. 

The most remarkable object on the back of the stone is some 
sort of mythic combination shaped like an animal, with a nondescript 
head, but rudely resembling that of a hawk. The ears seem to be 
represented by the heads of two serpents, whose bodies are twined 
into trinodal and circular forms of curve. The serpent, I need scarcely 
observe, was at all times acknowledged an emblem in religious rites. 
I do not remember to have met with anything like to this, excepting 
the figure on the little brazen talisman from Hindostan which I 
forwarded for inspection of the members of our useful Society. A 
sketch of this compartment of the stone is at B on the plate. 

The stone, the subject of this communication, appears to have 
been part of a sepulchral or commemorative cross, set up at the Ban- 
agher well to record the death of bishop William O'Duffy, who was 
killed by a fall from his horse A.D. 1297. I read in the ori^nal 
English edition of Ware's ** Bishops," published at Dublin, 1704 (p. 
29) Bishops of Meath and Clonmacnoise) — ^* William O'Duffy, a 
Minorite, after two years vacancy, succeeded and was restored to Uie 



279 

temporalities, October 6th, 1290. He was killed by a fall from his 
horse in 1297." Harris, in his edition of Ware's '* Bishops," quotes 
the Patent Rolls of Edward I. to show that he was bishop of Clon- 
macnoise. But the Four Masters say that he was bishop of Clonfert 
in the following passage at the year 1297 — U]U|atd o ^ubco|5b efp 
ClvAi)4^ T^eAftcA bo cv|C|TD b|A eAC, ] A ecc b|A h]t]r); i.e. "William 
O'Dubhtoigh (or O'Duffy) bishop of Cluain Fearta (aanfert) fell 
from his horse and died in consequence of it." Perpetuated on the 
stone now being written of, is the record of that fatal event, for on 
it is to be seen a bishop an horseback. He is without (it is worthy of 
remark) either stirrups or saddle. Above his lordship is the hon, 
the hieroglyphic of strength and power, and being emblematic of the 
bishop's authority and character before the unfortunate accident befel 
him. Next to this we find the red deer taken in a trap and writhing 
in mortal agony and distress. This is plainly symbolical of O'Duffy's 
name and melancholy fate. The Irish word bATi)|:e|6, pronounced 
nearly as if written Davefeei^ or Dufiy, signifies a red deer. A letter 
written to me by my learned friend, the excellent Irish scholar, pro- 
fessor Owen Connellan, the 4th of October, 1846, in answer to one 
from me suggesting that the cross, of which this stone was a portion, 
had been erected in memory of bishop O'Duffy's sudden death, runs 
as follows : — " Whether the O'Duffy family derived their name from 
a person called 4)YbcAC, or from some celebrated hunter, who might 
from that circumstance have obtained the epithet bA|j)|:e]6, is very 
difficult to determine ;" and again, " the stone which you describe is 
very curious, and there is scarcely a doubt but that it refers to bishop 
O'Duffy, who fell &om his horse as related in the Annals, and I have 
no hesitation in agreeing with you that the sculptor meant the deer, 
which appears on the stone, to have reference to the origin of the 
family name." 

It is manifest that the trap in which the foot of the deer appears 
to be entangled is merely intended to record the accident whicn de- 
prived O'Duffy of life. The words of the Four Masters do not lead 
us to believe tnat his death was instantaneous, for they only say that 
he died in consequence of the fall firom his horse. 

As to the carving on the lowest compartment, I own that I can 
form no certain conjecture respecting its meaning. I have met with 
the same sort of symbolic representation only once elsewhere, namely, 
on an exceedingly curious stone cover of a co&n in the ancient burial- 
ground at Kil-Corban, county of Gal way . The four human figures are 
certainly typical, and may have been intended to remind the beholder 
of never-resting time, or of the succession of the four seasons of the 
year, ever ^oing their mystic round in close communication, the one 
with the ower. 

Thus to remtin 
Amid the flax of manj thouaand yean, 
That oft have swept the toiling race of men 
And all their laboured monumenta away. 



280 

On this change of seasons the poet from whom I have just bor- 
rowed has also sublimely written — 

These, as they change, Almighty Father, these 
Are bat the varied God. 

It is very remarkable that Ware and the " Annals of the Four 
Masters" disagree as to the diocese of which this William O'Duffy 
was bishop, while both state that he died by a fall from a horse. The 
church of Kill-Regnaighe, near to which the cross now being written 
of stood, was in the ancient diocese of Clonmacnoise. The evidence 
of this interesting remain may prove of some value in deciding be- 
tween these highly respectable antiquarian authorities. 

After the lapse of some years from the time I first had the grati- 
fication to see the shaft of the Banagher cross, I discovered that it 
was going to destruction, owing to iU usage. I therefore obtained 
permission to have it removed fi*om the reacn of its brutal and Gothic 
foes. It is now once more standing erect and free from danger, in 
the enclosed gardens at the rere of my residence in Parsonstown. 
The true archaeologist would of course prefer to have it preserved in 
situ. He, nevertheless, will probably join me in opinion that it is 
better it should be preserved anywhere rather than not be preserved 
at all. 



NOTES MADE IN THE ARCH^OLOGICAL COURT OF 
THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1853. 

BT RICHAKD HITCHCOCK. 



Thk collection of Irish antiquities brought together at Dublin in 
the Great Exhibition of 1853 was perhaps the finest ever presented 
to the view at one time ; and such a collection will probably never 
again be exhibited in the same way.^ The entire Museum of the 



1 In writing thus, we most not forget 
the highly important collection of Irish an- 
tiquities brought together towards the close 
of last year in the Belfast museum, on the 
occasion of the meeting of the British As- 
sociation in that town. One permanent 
good, at least, has already resulted from 
this collection of antiquities into one place 
— I allude to the interesting and valuable 
" Ulster Journal of Archaeology " — a pub- 
lication which has now reached its eighth 
number, nearly completing the second to- 



lume, and to which every archaeologist can- 
not hesitate to bid success. The descrip- 
tive catalogue of the Belfast collection of 
antiquities, now before me, is one of the 
most welcome of recent archaeological pub- 
lications; and I would earnestly recom- 
mend everr lover of antiquities to secure 
a copy for himself. It is, as stated in the' 
preface, ** a permanent record of the exis- 
tence of these curious objects [the antiqui- 
ties shown at Belfast], and of the names 
of their present possessors." 



281 

Royal IrisK Academy, of course, formed by far the greater part of this 
vast assemblage of Ireland's ancient art; and, under the judicious 
arrangement and care of its able curator, Edward Clibbom, Esq., 
was one of the proudest possessions of the Exhibition. I believe it 
is now almost universally acknowledged, that the collection of Irish 
antiquities belonging to the Royal Irish Academy is one of the most 
national and valuable in existence. Next in importance and tasteful 
arrangement in the Exhibition was the extensive contribution of 
Thomas L. Cooke, Esq. ; being a portion of a collection which, I 
understand, Mr. Cooke has been amassing, at very considerable cost, 
for nearly half a century. Indeed, his mode of labelling and general 
classification were altogether models for collectors of antiquities. 
Perhaps I should also single out, as having much attracted my atten- 
tion, the interesting and well-arranged contributions of George Petrie, 
Esq., LL.D., R. H. Brackstone, Esq., lord Talbot de Malahide, 
James Carruthers, Esq., the Fine Arts Committee of the Exhibition, 
the ArchaBological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Matthew 
J. Anketell, Esq., T. R. Murray, Esq., Thomas Tobin, Esq., &c. 
Other visitors, no doubt, felt much interest in the gold antiquities, 
and so did I ; but my attention was principally directed to whatever 
struck me as most remarkable in the various collections, and to such 
objects as I thought, perhaps, would not a^ain appear in Dublin. 
Few, I believe, besides those friends who know something of my 
archaeological predilections, can picture to themselves my feelings 
when wandering amongst the immense number of precious relics 
by which I was surrounded in the antiquarian court of our Great 
Exhibition. They seemed to me like the fragrant flowers of some 
beautiful garden, whilst I, as it were, imbibed the sweets I At 
other times I felt transported with thought! And who, let me 
ask, with anything of a heart in his bosom, could look on the 
various objects of antiquity around him, and not think f For my 
own part, I could have spent entire days and nights amongst the 
treasures of ancient Irish art exhibited within the walls of that glorious 
Temple of Industry.^ I paid several visits to the Exhibition, and 
during each visit, as may be readily supposed, added something in 
my note-book. The notes thus made soon grew too numerous 
for one middle-sized volume, and I had to provide another and 
another ; each succeeding visit adding something new, or correcting 
or illustrating a former note. As the Exhibition drew near its close, 
on the 31st of October, I began to think of sharing my gains with 
others who, perhaps, had not the same opportunities for seeing for 
themselves that I have had. The Archaeological Society of Kilkenny, 
in which I can truly say I feel the warm interest I express, very soon 
occurred to me as a fitting repository for a portion of my gatherings. 

' I cannot here omit referring to an ex- tiquities in th^ Dublin Exhibition of 1853, 
oe)lent article on the museum of Iriah an- in the Athenmum of 22nd of October last. 

36 



282 

I have accordingly made a random selection from my note-books, 
which I herewith send, to be used as the worthy Secretaries may 
think proper; for I am well aware that the "notes" themselves are 
not worth much, and cannot therefore claim a great share of attention. 
The only attempt at arrangement which I have made in the present 
selection is the bringing together, or near each other, the notes on 
articles of a similar nature, adding afterwards a few of a miscellaneous 
character. Should the *' notes " in any way interest the Society, I 
may, with its leave, at some future, but I fear distant, time, make a 
further selection from my note-books for some one of its meetings. 

1. A large stone celt, exhibited by Matthew J. Anketell, Esq., 
Anketell Grove, county of Monaghan, is nearly covered with lines, 
arranged so as to represent Ogham inscriptions. These lines, how- 
ever, are not Ogham ; but yet they are worth notice. Mixed up 
with them are a lew letters of the common Irish character, which, to 
my mind, make the whole thing the more remarkable. It would, 
indeed, be very interesting to find a stone celt bearing an Ogham 
inscription; but, unfortunately for some of our friends, nere we are 
disappointed. 

2. A curious flint knife, with one end neatly and firmly covered 
with moss to serve as a handle, found in the bed of the river Bann, 
was exhibited by lord Talbot de Malahide. This is probably the 
way in which many of the flint knives were mounted and used. 
Lord Talbot, who e^diibited the knife in question at a meeting of the 
Royal Irish Academy, on the 23rd of June, 1851, believes it is the 
only one of the description ever discovered in Ireland. See PrtH 
ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy ^ vol. v. p. 176, where an account 
of the knife is given. 

3. Stone hammers, with handles in them, were exhibited by the 
Royal Irish Academy^ and J. G. Bloomfield, Esq., Castle Caldwell, 
Belleek. The hammer shown by the latter is without a hole, and 
has the handle looped round it. 

4. A number of large stone hammers, with indentations for an 
external handle, were shown by the Royal Irish Academy and R. H. 
Brackstone, Esq., 47, Wood-street, London. A very large specimen, 
found in the ancient mines in Ross island, Eillamey, was given to 
the Academy by myself {Proceedings, vol. iv. p. 326). It may be 
worth remarlring here, that in some recent American books which I 
have had the pnviWe of inspecting, I met with engravings of ancient 
mining implements found in the old mines of that country, exactly 
similar to the stone hammers above noticed. 

5. Three stone heads, of barbarous types, were exhibited by R. 
Murray, Esq., Mullingar. These heads appeared to me to be modem, 
and I should not have here noticed them were it not that I consider 
them very remarkable. It may be interesting to know something 
of their history. 

6. Several of the curious stone figures termed ** Shela-na-gigs 



283 

Virere exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy. Mr. Clibbom*s 
interesting communication on some of these "mil be found in the 
second volume of the Academy's Proceedingg^ pp. 565-76. They 
are barbarous and perhaps indelicate figures, and are in all proba- 
bility remnants of Pagan times. The finding of them in the neigh- 
bourhood of old churches does not invalidate this conjecture — on 
the contrary, it rather strengthens it ; for we know that undoubted 
Pagan monuments have been found in close connexion with many 
of our ancient churches* 

7. A number of hollow, boat-shaped stones were exhibited by the 
Royal Irish Academy. They are remarkable, as being all nearly of 
the same shape ; but what the use of them may have been it is dif- 
ficult to say. Possibly they may have served as primitive baptismal 
fonts. 

8. Twelve cinerary urns, bein^ a portion of one of the most 
remarkable discoveries ever made, I believe, in Ireland, were exhi- 
bited by J. Richardson Smith, Esq. They were found, some time 
last summer, with many others of the same kind, in an ancient 
cemetery on the hill of Gallon, in the county of Carlow. The urns 
are of various sizes, and most of them are highly ornamented. There 
was one very large one, and an exceedingly small one, about the size 
of a small breakfast cup. A very interesting account of these urns 
was read by the Rev. James Graves at the July meeting of the Eil- 
keimy Archaeological Society, and to it (at p. 295 post) I now beg to 
refer the reader. 

9. A collection of eleven Ogham stones, and a cast of another, 
were exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy. Brief notices of five 
of these, and of some firagments of a sixth not shown, which have 
been rescued from destruction and presented to the Academy by 
myself, will be found in their Proceedings^ vol. iv. pp. 27 1-2, and 
vol. V. pp. 401-3. Four more fine monuments have been presented 
to the Academy by The M*Grillicuddv of the Reeks, county of Kerry, 
an early notice of which will no doubt be placed on record in the 
** Proceedings."* The two remaining stones are — the celebrated "frag- 
ment," said to have been found in the base of the Round Tower of 
Ardmore, and presented by Edward Odell, Esq., Dungarvan,^ and 
another fragment presented by Francis M. Jennings, Esq., Cork 
{Proceedings^ iii. 231). The cast is that of a sculptured head-stone 
with two Ogham inscriptions, firom Bressay, one of the Shetland 
islands, presented by Albert Way, Esq. {Proceedings^ v. 323^, and 
is remarkable as exhibiting the rare fleasg or medial line, only two 

1 A very important commanication has ' In an interesting little '< Hand-book to 

been since made by Dr. Graves on these the Holy Citie of Ardmore/' published in 

four monuments, and on the general subject Youghal, mention is made of two Ogham 

of Ogham inscriptions, at the meeting of inscriptions found ^*at Ardmore;" but 

the Royal Irish Academy held on the 10th whether in the Round Tower, church, or 

of April, 1854. See Procetdingt, vi. 71. cathedrali we are not informed.->p. 63. 



284 

other instances of the occurrence of this line being known. Of 
these twelve Ogham monuments, including the cast, only three are 
marked with the Christian symbol, and even the cross on one of these 
is very indistinct. There was a portion of another Ogham stone in 
the museum of the Academy, ** found at Houselana Bay, Hook 
Point, county of Waterford, near the ruins of a small chapel, in Sep- 
tember, 1845"^ (Proceedings^ iii. 136); but this has been long since 
removed by the owner, Hugh N. Nevins, Esq., Waterford, who, I 
dare say, thought it looked better in his own possession, imperfect 
as it is. This stone, when perfect, seems to have resembled the 
remarkable egg-shaped Ogham monuments at Ballintaggart, near 
Dingle.^ 

10. A portion of an ancient Irish tomb-stone, inscribed OR 4)0 

6R21M ) , was shown by the Royal Irish Academy. 

It is greatly to be regretted that the inscription seems imperfect, 
nor can I find any account of the stone in the Academy's *^ Pro- 
ceedings." One great value belonging to most of these tomb-stones 
is, that they show the old form of the Irish letters; and it is remark- 
able what a general similarity there is between the letters on almost 
all the ancient Irish tomb-stones. 

11. Two bronze doubMooped palstaves were exhibited by lord 
Talbot de Malahide and the. Archaeological Institute of Great Britain 
and Ireland. The latter was found at South Petherton, Somerset. 
These palstaves are exceedingly rare.' 

12. The moiety of an unique stone mould for casting bronze 
objects of four various forms, celts, spear-heads and javelin-points (?), 
found between Bodwrdin and Tre Ddafydd, on the western coast of 
Anglesea, was exhibited by James Dearden, Esq., F.S.A., Rochdale, 
Lancashire. 

13. Several highly ornamented bronze celts and hatchets were 
exhibited by George retrie, Esq., LL.D., Dublin. A pocket-celt, 
with a wooden handle, from Kinnefad pass on the Boyne, King's 
County, was shown by T. R. Murray, Esq., Edenderry. 

14. Stone moulds for casting celts, hatchets, spear-heads, &c.. 



1 Hook Point, the eastern head-land of 
Waterford harbour, is situated in the county 
of Wexford. 

' I am here reminded of mentioning a 
very valuable chapter on Irish antiquities, 
in Mr. Maguire's work on the National 
Exhibition of 1852, written, as we are in- 
formed in the preface to that work, by our 
distinguished member, John Windele, Esq. 
This chapter consists of a short article on 
the general subject of Irish antiquities, then 
on Ogham inscriptions, St. Patrick's bell, 
torques, brooches, ring-money, celts, trum- 
pets, Ballydehob tube, coire, mether, cross 
of Cong, crozier, harps, Kilfane effigy, Ra- 



leigh, ancient seals, and a few miscellaneons 
antiquities. In the article on the Ogham 
inscriptions the writer teems to take a view, 
not quite warranted by the premises, of 
certain statements put forward by some 
of the " hierophants," whose opinions on 
these inscriptions are somewhat different 
from those of Mr. Windele ; but, on the 
whole, the several articles are excellent in 
their way, and, coming from the pen of 
Mr. Windele, cannot fail to be looked upon 
u authorities. 

' For an engraving of lord Talbot's valu- 
able specimen, see Arehwohfieal JownuM^ 
vol. ix. p. 195. 



285 



were exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy, George Fetrie, Esq., 
LL.D., the Belfast Museum, A. C* Welsh, Esq., Dromore, county 
of Down, &c. The finding of these moulds in Ireland is very impor- 
tant, as it proves that the arms used by the ancient Irish were manu- 
factured in this country. 

15. Examples of the bronze war-club, engraved in the Dublin 
Penny Journal^ vol. ii. p. 20, were shown by J. C. Bloomfield, 
Esq., James Garruthers, Esq., Belfast, and Edmund Getty, Esq., 
Belfast. Two fine bronze war-clubs, same as the above, were exhi- 
bited by the Royal Irish Academy. These are very perfect. 

16. A number of bronze blades were exhibited by the Royal 
Irish Academy, Sir John Nugent, Bart., Ballinlough castle, Casile- 
towndelvin, John Martin, Esq., Downpatrick, Thomes L. Cooke, 
Esq., and R. H. Brackstone, Esq. It was thought by antiquaries 
that these blades might have been formerly used tor chariot wheels ; 
but latterly it is considered more probable that they were originally 
fastened obliquely on a long handle, and so formed a very effective 
and dangerous weapon like a bill-hook. 

17. In a tray exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy were three 
heavy adze-shaped bronze implements, supposed to have been used 
in the dressing of leather. One of these was found in a rath at 
Monegall, county of Tipperary. In a tray shown by T. R. Murray, 
Esq., was a similar implement, from Carberry, county of Kildare. 
These are very curious articles, and are no doubt very ancient. 
Finding one of them in a rath goes far to prove this* There is no 
hole in them for a handle. 

18. Specimens of Irish bronze ring-money were shown by John 
Windele, Esq., Cork, who placed beside them some examples of the 
African ring-money, for illustration. The resemblance was certainly 
remarkable. See an excellent paper on Irish ring-money, by Sir 
William Betham, in the seventeenth volume of the *^ Transactions of 
ihe Royal Irish Academy,"' and papers by Dr. Cane and Mr. Windele, 
in our own ^^Transactions" for the year 1 85 1 — all beautifully illustrated 
with engravings of the specimens described. 

19. Some specimens of the Roman coal-money, from Kimme- 
ridge, Dorset, were exhibited by the Archaeological Institute. An 
interesting paper on this species of so-called *' money " may be seen 
in the first volume of the ** Archaeological Journal. It is doubtful 
whether it was ever used as money. 

20. The remarkable and unique bronze instrument, found in a 
bog near Ballymoney, county of Antrim, in 1829, and figured in the 



> Alasl for the uncertaintj of human 
life. I had scarcely copied the above from 
mj note-book when I heard of the sadden 
death of this eminent antiquary. The late 
Sir William Betham died at his house at 
Blackrock, on Wednesday, the 26th of Oc- 
tober, His death will be a sad loss to Irish 



archasoloiry. Since writing the above I have 
had much pleasure in reading the honour- 
able testimony which our Secretaries have 
borne to the labours of Sir William Betham 
in their annual report for 1853. See the 
Proceedmgt tmd Trotuaciiont for January, 
1854, p. 4. 



286 

Dublin Penny Journal, vol. i. p. 324, was exhibited by James Car- 
, ruthers, Esq. (See Beljfdst Catalogue of Antiquities, p. 18.) Accord- 
ing to the Belfast Catalogue, p. 10, and Appendix, p. 12, the only 
other known example of tms curious instrument is in the possession of 
F. W. Barton, Esq., Dungannon ; but Mr. Carruthers' specimen is the 
most complete.^ 

2U An iron sword, of the Danish type, from the county of Kerry, 
was exhibited by William F. Wakeman, Esq., Dublin. This is a 
fine sword, and probably did good execution in the hand of some 
ancient Dane. We know that Kerry was one of the last strongholds 
of the Danes. 

22. A steel sword, found near the site of Sir Phelim O'Neill's 
castle, at Caledon, was exhibited by the countess of Caledon. When 
discovered, it was enclosed in a leather scabbard, tied with leather 
thon^. It is inscribed on the blade, ** Sahagon," and is probably of 
Spanish manufacture. 

23. The Queen's torque, the most beautiful of its kind in the en* 
tire collection, was found in Needwood forest, in 1848, having been 
scratched out of the ground by a fox making a fresh earth. A beau- 
tiful engraving (size of the original) and an account of this precious 
relic of antiquity will be found in the thirty-third volume of the 
** Archaeologia." 

24. A curious gold torque ring, found in Ireland (from Dr. Neli- 
gan's collection), was exhibited by W. W. Wynne, Esq., M .P. 

25. Crescent-shaped gold ornaments were exhibited by the Royal 
Irish Academy, lord Londesborough, lord Rossmore, and Thomas 
Tobin, Esq., Ballincollig. One of Mr. Tobin's ornaments, of which 
he was so good as to send me a beautiful drawing, coloured in imi- 
tation of the original, represents the zigzag pattern in a very perfect 
state. There are various opinions as to the use of those beautiful 
articles ; but the most generally received one seems to be, that they 
were worn as neck collars by persons of rank. Some are of opinion 
that the Druids and Brehons wore them. 

26. Some of the ornaments found near Largo, North Britain, in 
1848, were exhibited by Robert Dundas, Esq., of Amiston* See 
ArchcBological Journal, vol. vi. 

27. Two beautiful torque armlets, of pure gold, found in 1831, 
near Egerton Hall, Cheshire, were exhibited by Sir Philip de Malpas 
Egerton, Bart., M. P. One is engiaved in the Archceologia, vol. 
xxvii. p. 401. A similar armlet was found at Ropley, Hants. 

28. A bronze fibula, bought at Perugia, in Italy, and exhibited 
by the archdeacon of Ardagh, is remarkable for the resemblance it 
bears to some of our Irish specimens* 

29. A fibula, decorated with the ** opus Hibemicum,'* found at 

* This curious instrument has since been iUustration, in the ProceedmgM and TrmU' 
fully described by Mr. Carruthers, with an action* for March, 1854, p. 64. 



287 



Lagore, near Dunshaughlin, was exhibited by lord Talbot de Mala- 
hide.* 

30. An ornament of gold, witK terminal cups, unique as found in 
England, weight 5 oz. 3 drs. 10 grs., found in 181 5, at Swinton 
Park, North Hiding of Yorkshire, was exhibited by captain and 
Mrs. Danby Harcourt, of Swinton Park. 

31. Thirteen gold beads, a half bead, and three bits of gold wire, 
found in a turf bog near Malin, county of Donegal, were exhibited 
by John Harvey, Esq., Malin Hall, Garndonagh, county of Donegal. 

32. A silver bracelet was exhibited by the Royal Dublin Society, 
which much resembled one or two models of anotner in the collection 
of the Royal Irish Academy. 

33. Two beads, an ancient silver stand (supposed) for salt cellar ; 
an ancient amulet, against and in the form of the cona6 or murrain 
caterpillar, dug up near Timoleague, county of Cork, April, 1843; 
an ancient gold ring, weight 5 dwts. 15 grs., found in the county of 
Kerry, November, 1850; an ancient silver relic case, with a corrupt 
Latin inscription, found in the county of Cork ; a brooch found at 
Kilmallock, in 1786 ; and a small silver crucifix ; — exhibited by the 
distinguished numismatist, John Lindsay, Esq., Cork. 

34. The dean of Clonmacnoise exhibited a large thimble, found 
at Bective abbey, county of Meath ; brooches and bead ; three small 
spoons ; ancient buckles ; and a spur ; all found at Trim, county of 
Meath. 

35. A curious silver ornament, found in the county of Cork, in 
1853, along with English coins of James L, were exhibited by 
Richard Sainthill, Esq., Cork.^ 

36. A collection of curious jet beads, found with many others of 
the same kind, in the spring of 1848, at the depth of seven feet below 
the surface, in Moyne bog. Queen's County, were exhibited by J. F. 
Shearman, Esq., Kilkenny. (See the Transactions for 1849, p. 32). 



1 A similar fibula, but with the additional 
ornament of "wolves' heads," is in the 
possession of Edward Hoare, Esq., Cork, 
who has given a very interesting account 
of it, accompanied with a beautiful litho- 
graphic iUustration, in the Proceedingi and 
7Vtttuaetiont for 1854, pp. 10-11. 

s Whilst fitting these notes for the 
'* Transactions," I met with the following 
paragraph in the Tralee Chroniele, of March 
24,1854:— 

** DiscovK&T 07 Gold. — On Thursday 
three labourers who were at work at Bally- 
kilty, county Clare, upon the property of 
Mr. Blood, through which the Limerick and 
Ennis Railway is to run, accidentally turned 
up with the spade, a large quantity of valu- 
able antique Irish gold ornaments, of which 
they eagerly possessed themselves, and one 
of the parties who filled his hat with the 



precious metal, sold it to the first who of- 
fered in Newmarket, whither he ran with 
his booty, for £30. The gold is of the 
purest description, consisting of armlets, 
ringlets, bracelets, collars, &c., and worth 
£4 per ounce; The lot which the man 
sold in Newmarket for £30, weighed 110^ 
ounces, and is valued by Mr. Wallace, of 
Limerick, at £400." 

This account, if true, needs no comment 
here ; and I am informed that, instead of its 
being an exaggerated statement, it under- 
rates the quantity, variety and value of the 
golden ornaments found! I understand 
that Dr. Neligan, of Cork, has got posses- 
sion of one of the torques, and a friend 
who has seen it informs me that it is of 
'* a most curious spiral pattern." Let us 
hope that none of these truly Irish relics 
will pass out of the country. 



288 

A few similar beads were in a case belonging to the Boyal Irish 
Academy, forming, I believe, part of the same set. 

37. A number of ancient shoes, of leatlier, and bronze or brass, 
were exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy, A. C. Welsh, Esq., 
lord Rossmore, Dr. Petrie, Thomas L. Cooke, Esq., and Matthew 
J. Anketell, Esq. Some of these, particularly the collection shown 
by the Royal Irish Academy, are curiously carved and ornamented. 
— See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy ^ vol. v. pp. 27-9. 

38. A number of white Chinese seals, found in Ireland, were in 
the collections of the Royal Irish Academy and the duke of North- 
umberland. I believe the questions of how those curious seals came 
into Ireland, and of the reading of the inscriptions on them, have 
not yet been satisfactorily settled ; everybody, seemingly, not being 
quite satisfied with Mr. Getty's treatment of tfie subject.' 

39. Several of the ancient cauldrons, or brazen vessels, were 
amongst the collection of the Royal Irish Academy. One of these, 
found on the lands of Laharan, near Eillorglin, county of Kerry, is 
of the dish shape, and slightly ornamented at the inside. It was 
found in the year 1849, under a turf bog seven feet deep, and resting 
with the mouth up, within about a foot of the clay sub-soil. A much 
larger vessel, of the same shape, was exhibited by J. C. Bloomfield, 
Esq. A large pan-shaped bronze vessel, found about six feet deep 
in me bog, in the townland of Cam, two and ar-half miles from New- 
bliss, was exhibited by Matthew J. Anketell, Esq. (?) This vessel, 
which is of a beautiful gold colour, is supposed to have been used for 
making beer. A small vessel was found beside it. The story of the 
vessel having been used for brewing purposes reminds me of the anec- 
dote given in the second volume of the Dublin Penny Journal pp. 
347-8 ; the tradition mentioned in which, I may observe, is current 
in almost every part of the South of Ireland — the small circular en- 
closures in the heathy districts being pointed out as the places where 
the Danes made beer firom the heath. Cauldrons of different shapes, 
and some beautifully ornamented specimens, were shown by other 
exhibitors, particularly the Royal Irish Academy, and Royal Dublin 
Society. A good example of these is engraved in Shirley's work 
on the Territory or Dominion of Famey^ p. 185.^ 

40. A large assortment of antique pots, of various sizes, were ex- 
hibited by the Royal Irish Academy. A few bear dates. One very 
large one has ** E. H. 1640," and a pipe or spout at the side. 

41. The curious mether, or ancient drinking vessel, engraved 
and described in the Dublin Penny Journal^ vol. ii. p. 249, was ex- 
hibited by the Royal Irish Academy, along with many other curious 
vessels of the same kind. This mether bears the name and date of 

> *' Notices of Chinese Seals found in dron, found in a bog near Urlingford, was 

Ireland. By Edmund Getty, M.R.I.A." presented by Mr. M'Evoy to the Society at 

4to. Lond. 1850. its meeting of July, 1854. Set Proeeedmgi 

' A magnificent specimen of the caul- end Trantaeiiona for 1854, pp. 131-2. 



289 

** Dermot Tullj, 1590;" and also exhibits some rude carving. Mr. 
Windele, in his paper referred to in the note at p. 284, has some good 
remarks on the mether. Some of these vessels are furnished with 
four handles, the use of which appears to have been for the greater 
convenience of passing the cup round from one drinker to another. 
The use of the mether seems to have been universal in Ireland, for 
it is foimd in the bogs in all parts of the island ; and, judging from 
the great depth at which it is often discovered, its antiquity must be 
extreme indeed. Mr. Windele says that the present wooden "mugs" 
in use amongst the peasantry seem analogous to the ancient mether, 
save that the form is rotund, and better adapted for drinking out of. 

42. A horn of tenure, richly carved in ivory — temp, thirteenth 
century — and formerly belonging to Dr. Samuel Hibbert Ware, was 
exhibited by Daniel Wilson, Esq., LL.D. If I mistake not, I have 
seen an engraving and full account of this curious horn in some book, 
the name of which I cannot just now remember. 

43. A silver can, foimd thirteen feet deep in the Bog of Allen, 
was exhibited by the Royal Dublin Society. It may be desirable, 
if some of our members who are connected with the Royal Dublin 
Society could furnish us with some account of this antique can. As 
well as I could see, it bears some family arms on one of its sides. 

44. Two antique glass bottles, each inscribed on the side, " J. 
Swift, Dean, 1727,*' were exhibited by a lady. These bottles were 
given to the late Miss Molloy by Mr. Theophilus Swift, together 
with a small needle-book, worked by Stella, which containea a bit 
of dean Swift's hair. The latter has been unfortunately mislaid. 
There is not the slightest doubt but that these bottles belonged to 
the late dean Swift. They have been valued at three pounds for 
the pair. Several bottles of the same old-fashioned shape were ex- 
hibited by the Royal Irish Academy and Thomas L. Cooke, Esq. If 
my memory serves me, I have seen a few such bottles in the Royal 
Cork Institution — an Institution, by the way, the contents of which 
are less known than they deserve, for want of a catalogue. 

45. The dean of Waterford exhibited pieces of hurdles or wattles, 
formed of hazel rods, used for centreing of arches in early times, 
probably prior to the Norman Conquest, found in the roof of a 
crypt at Waterford. There was also a view of the crypt exhibited, 
drawn by D. Frazer, Esq., R.E. See our Transactions for 1851, 
p. 413. 

46. 'A piece of ancient carved oak, part of a rood-screen of the 
fifteenth century, found built up in a brick partition in a cellar at the 
deanery of Waterford, March, 1851, was also exhibited by the dean 
of Waterford. 

47. An oak spade, bound with iron at the edge, found near Cale- 
don, was exhibited by the countess of Caledon. 

48. Two large three-pronged wooden implements, like spade?, 

37 



290 

were exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy. These must be of great 
antiquity. 

49. An ancient oak chest, inscribed on the front, " com not in 
best to open this chest/' was exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy. 
On the lid are the letters " I. W." and the date 1616. 

50. Fragments of an ancient book, made of tablets of beech-wood 
covered with wax, and inscribed with Latin words, found in a turf bog 
near Maghera, were exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy. The 
Rev. Dr. Todd's account of this valuable, and, in Ireland, perhaps 
unique relic, with accurate and beautiful engravings, will be found 
in the twenty-first volume of the " Transactions of the Royal Irish 
Academy.^' 

51. A great number of ancient smoking pipes, commonly called 
** Danish pipes," were exhibited by the dean of Waterford, the 
Royal Irisn Academy, and Thomas L. Cooke, Esq. (See Dublin 
Penny Journal, vol. iv. p. 29). I always like to see those pipes. 
They remind me of the green fairy raths, in which, on fine summer 
evenings and moonlight nights, the ^^good people" are said to be 
quaffing their dudeens, 

52. A very large bowl of a pipe was exhibited by the Royal 
Dublin Society ; but it does not appear to be very ancient, or of 
Irish manufacture. 

53. An earthen jar, found in a mountain near Malin, in the parish 
of Clonca, coimty of Donegal, containing, when found, fourteen silver 
coins, was exhibited by John Harvey, Esq. 

54. Three medallets, struck at the royal mint, from pieces of 
Irish gold ring-money, and exhibited by Richard Sainthill, Esq., are 
curious from this circumstance ; though I confess I should prefer the 
original ring-money. They seem to be of the purest ^old. 

55. Medallions, chased in bronze and gilt, of the duke and 
duchess of Marlborough, and a medallion of Cromwell, carved in 
pine-wood by Gibbons, were exhibited by Aquilla Smith, Esq., 
M.D., Dublin. 

56. A fine collection of ancient Irish encaustic tiles was exhibited 
by the Royal Irish Academy, many of them bearing curious devices. 
Two of these represented an animal like a boar devouring some other 
animal. Two tiles, the one shown by J. C. Bloomfield, Esq., and 
the other by John Martin, Esq., also represented animals. Tiles 
were also exhibited by the dean of Waterford and lord Talbot de 
Malahide, some of which were glazed. See Oldham's excellent 
treatise on ** Antient Irish Pavement Tiles" — I believe the first 
written on the subject — and a paper by the Rev. James Graves, in 
our Transactions for 1849, pp. 83-8. 

57. Twenty-three old documents of the seventeenth century,^ be- 

* The catalogue (1894) says, ** with dates find so early a date. Indeed the MSS. were 
from A. D. 1597 to 1700 :" bat I coold not placed in a very unreadable poiition. 



291 



longing to The M^Gillicuddy of the Reeks, and comprising royal and 
other distinguished autographs of that period, were as follow : — 



1. Parcliment rent roll 

2. Licence for firelocks 

3. Do. for pistols 

4. Ormonde's certificate of good conduct • 

5. Lords Justices' regrant of lands 

6. Clancartie's certificate of good conduct 

7. Iiords Justices' certificate of the peace . 

8. Charles R. passports 

9. List of lands in Dunkerron from a Sheriff 

10. Charles R. passport • • 

11. Privy Council letter with salmon fishing proclamation 

12. Inchyquin's certificate of the peace 

13. Council warrant from Bunratty 

14. Clancartie's certificate of the peace 

15. Privy Council regrant of lands 

16. P. Ferris's letter from London 

17. Privy Council pass to remain in London 

18. Return to account of Lord Ranelagh . 

19. James R. warrant to county Cavan 

20. William R. warrant to serve in Germany 

21 . Scomberg's letter to do. 

22. Baronial return of beeves charged to Co. Kerry 

23. Coat of Arms . • . • 



for the King's use 



A.D. 

1631 

1651 

1666 

1661 

1661 

1661 

1694 

1661 

1635 

1661 

1686 

1661 

1646 

1661 

1661 

1688 

1673 

1674 

1690 

1689 

1689 

1691 

1688 



58. The dean of Watcrford also exhibited some curious original 
documents, with autographs of the seventeenth century. These 
were : — 

1. Order of Lord Lieutenant and Council, directing the Mayor and Corporation nf 
Waterford to deliver up to the Dean and Chapter sundry vestments, plate, &c., be- 
longing to the Cathedral Church, Waterford. Dated May 25th, 1637. 

2. Order of Lord Lieutenant and Council, roferring petition of the Dean and Chapter 
of Waterford, in reference to repairs of the Cathedral, to the Lord Bishop of Deny, 
to inquire and report thereupon. Dated May 6th, 1639. 

3. Order of Lord Lieutenant and Council of Ireland, directing the Mayor and Corpora- 
tion of Waterford to repair the Chapel of Our Lady, in that city. Dated May 3rd, 
1675. 

4. Lease with the seal of Dean and Chapter of Waterford. Dated 1549. 

59. A small portrait of the Old countess of Desmond was ex- 
hibited by Joseph Huband Smith, Esq., Dublin. A great deal has 
been lately written in ** Notes and Queries" and other publications 
on this celebrated old lady ; and I believe good portraits of her are 
very scarce. An article in the "Quarterly Review" for March, 
1853, settles the question of her identity in a conclusive manner, 
and establishes the fact that a well-authenticated portrait of her is at 
Muckross, the seat of Henry Arthur Herbert, Esq., M.P. for Kerry. 
I possess two portraits of the old countess, which I am told are very 
fine. The impression of the plate of one measures fourteen and 
three-eighth inches long, by nine and a-half inches broad at one end, 
and nine and three-eighth inches at the other, and bears the follow- 
ing inscription : — "Catherine Fitz-Gerald (the long-lived) Countess 



292 

of Desmond. — From an original family picture of the same size 
painted on board, in the possession of the Right Honourable Maurice 
Fitz-Gerald, Knight of Kerry, &c. &c. &c. ; to whom this plate is 
most respectfully dedicated by his very obedient and much obliged 
humble servant, Henry Pelham. This illustrious lady was bom 
about the year 1464, was married in the reign of Edward IV., lived 
during the entire reigns of Edward V., Richard HI., Henry VH., 
Henry VHI., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth, and died on the 
latter end of James I. or the begining of Charles !.■*■ reigns, at the 
great age (as is generally suppos^) of 162 years. Published as the 
act directs, at JBear Island, June 4, 1806, by Henry Pelham, T&sq. 
Sold by Edw. Evans, No. 1, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn 
Fields." At the right hand comer at top is also, *' Engraved in Cork 
by N. Grogan." The other portrait which I have is a small one, 
probably a copy of that shown by Mr. Smith, about three and three- 
lourth inches long and three incnes broad, with the comers bevelled 
off, and inscribed at the bottom, *^ Catherine Countess of Desmond, 
140 years and upwards." It also bears'the name of " Neele, sc. 
Strand," and the paper on which it is printed exhibits the water 
mark, « 1815." 

60. An original miniature of king Charles II., transmitted as a 
ift from that prince in the Whyte Baker family, Ballaghtobin, Cal- 
an, and fitted up in its present state by the late Mrs. Whyte Baker, 

was exhibited by Abraham Whyte BaKcr, Esq. 

61. A one hundred pound note. No. 2538, dated London, Octo- 
ber 10, 1603, exhibited by T. R. Murray, Esq., is a very curious 
object, and in fine preservation. Mr. Murray had it neatly firamed. 

62. An ancient map of Galway, A.D. 1650, and an old muni- 
cipal map of Galway, commencing A.D. 1484, were exhibited by 
Eaward Berwick, Esq., Queen's College, Galway. These maps are 
curiously bordered with the various coats of arms of the old families 
of the district 

63. Beautiful drawings of the royal Tara brooch ; sculptures and 
inscriptions on Magrath's tomb, in the cathedral of Lismore, county 
of Waterford ; Ross castle, Killaraey ; doorway of Aghadoe church, 
Killamey ; ancient market-cross of Kilkenny (and part of the High- 
street) ; east side of Killamery cross, county of Kilkenny ; west sides 
of two of the crosses of Kilkeeran, county of Kilkenny ; west side 
of the south cross, Kilklispeen, county of Kilkenny; and of the west 
side of Killamery cross, county of Kilkenny, were hanging round 
the antiquities court — the exhibitors being, the Royal Irish Academy 
and Henry O'Neill, Esq., Kilkenny — an able artist, who, I am glad 
to perceive, is now publishing a series of detailed and elegant views 
of the ancient stone crosses of Ireland, with descriptive letter-press. 
Would that the many fast-decaying ruins in Ireland had an O'Neill 
to copy them ere they altogether vanish from us !* 

1 Since the above was writtf n, two parts of Mr. O'Neiirs work on the ancient stone 



lai 



293 

64. A drawing of a curious silver pin, found near Cavan, in 
the possession of the Rev. Richard Butler, Trim, was exhibited 
by him. 

65. Bagpipes, said to have been made in the year 1786, and 
to have belonged to lord Edward Fitzgerald, were exhibited by 
Mr. George Tuke. The Irish Union pipes were exhibited by Dr. 
Morrisson, Dublin ; and another set of Union pipes were shown by 
lord Rossmore. 

66. In a little case exhibited by the countess of Caledon were 
two "fairy lasts;" while in a case belonging to the Rev. George 
H. Reade, Inniskeen rectory, Dundalk, was a stone mould, vulgarly 
called a " leprechaun's coffin." Both these articles are not, of course, 
what they are stated to be. 

67. Three glass balls, the use of which I do not well know, 
were exhibited by the Royal Irish Academy and lord Rossmore — 
the latter found in a bog. The balls are clear as crystal, and per- 
fectly round. Montfaucon remarks, that it was customary in early 
times to deposit crystal balls in urns or sepulchres. Thus, twenty 
were found m Rome in an alabaster urn ; and one was discovered in 
1653, at Toumai, in the tomb of Childeric, king of France, who 
died A.D. 480. These instances would seem to show that such balk 
are of some antiquity. 

68. Two ivory balls, with the alphabet inscribed on them, were 
exhibited by Thomas L. Cooke, Esq., and archdeacon Saurin, Sea^ 
goe, Portadown. Mr. Cooke's ball was found two or three feet under 
ground, at Philipstown castle. King's County, in 1836. The use oi 
these balls seems to me rather a puzzle, unless it were to teach the 
alphabet. 

69. A monstrance, silver gilt, of David Rothe, Roman Catholic 
bishop of Ossory in the seventeenth century, with the following 
inscription, was exhibited by the Right Rev. Dr. Walsh, Roman 
Catholic bishop of Ossory: — "Ecce labemacvlvm Dei cvm homi- 
nibvs et habitabit cvm eis." Round the base — ** David Roth, Epis- 
cop. Ossorien. me fieri fecit. Ano. 1644. Ora pro clero et populo 
dioecessis Ossorien." 

70. A number of Irish bears' skulls, many of them discovered 
by that indefatigable collector of Irish antiquities, Mr. James Un- 
derwood,* were exhibited by Abraham Whyte Baker, Esq. See 
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy ^ vol. iv. pp. 416-20. 



crosses have appeared, comprising some of 
the finest from the county of Kilkenny ; and, 
if I were allowed to judge, I would say, that 
his beautiful copies of these richly-sculp- 
tured monuments of the piety of the ancient 
Irish are as creditable to the talented artist 
who has produced them, as to the county 
which may so well feel proud of possessing 
the originals.. 



1 It is much to be deplored, that this 
useful servant in the cause of Irish archaeo- 
logy and zoology is still suffered to pine 
away in comparative indigence. A very 
touching appeal to public sympathy on his 
behalf has been well combined with an 
interesting ** Reminiscence of the Dublin 
Exhibition of 1853," written, I believe, by 
a member of this society, and published in 



294 

71. Casts of the skulls of the ancient bear of Ireland (ursus 
arctos)^ identical with the black variety at present found in Scan- 
dinavian forests, were shown by Robert BaU, Esq., LL.D., Dublin. 
Much valuable information on the animals which have disappeared 
from Ireland during the period of authentic history will be found in 
a paper by Dr. Scouler, m the first volume of the ** Journal of the 
Geological Society of Dublin." The doctor seems to think that the 
bear was not a native of Ireland. 

I fear I have long since sufficiently exhausted the palience of 
the meeting in hearing my dry notices of a few of the antiquities 
shown in our Great Exhibition this year. I confess my inability to 
make them interesting without illustrations ; and it is evident that, 
to make many of the notes even intelligible, they should have been 
fully illustrated with engravings. I shall, therefore, for the present 
end with my seventy-first note; but may, at some future time, as 
already stated, make a further selection from my note-books. If ever 
I should, it will probably be on the ancient stone crosses, doorways, 
and other architectural objects, of the antiquities court of the Great 
Dublin Exhibition of 1853. 

One remark now suggests itself — at least to me — namely, that it 
is greatly to be regretted that antiquaries are not supplied with a few 
more details of the history of each relic of antiquity discovered than 
is generally given in the proceedings of archaeological societies. We 
seldom or never find more than the bare mention of the article pre- 
sented and the donor's name, even though the same donation may 
afterwards turn out to be one of great importance ; and where are 
we to look for information respecting those articles when the donors 
are dead and gone ? Now, the person imbued with anything of an 
archaeologicaj or inquiring spirit who reads the few preceding random 
notes, cannot but feel the want of some little history of several of the 
objects mentioned. For instance, how desirable would it be, if we 
had some data, on which to reason, for Nos. 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 20, 31, 
35 (partially), 36 (but something is known of these), 67, and 68. I 
am persuaded that full, faithful, and accurate accounts of the finding 
of certain antiquities are very often as valuable as the antiquities 
themselves. I would, therefore, beg most respectfully to impress 
upon the finders of antiquities, or those presenting them to learned 
societies, the great utility of collecting, and sending with their dona- 
tions, all the information they can obtain concerning the discovery, 
the circumstances attending it, and many other matters, which will 
readily suggest themselves to the intelligent — in short, all that is 
known of the object. It will then be for the more practised anti- 
quaries to separate the wheat from the chafi» and to record carefully 

the Limerick Reporter and Tipperary Fm- 1853, in the Irish antiquities department of 

dieator, of December 20, 1853 ; but as yet which Mr. Underwood was most usefoUy 

poor Mr. Underwood is uncared for ! Many employed, must have heard of him, if they 

of the yisitors to the Great Exhibition of have not seen him there. 



295 

\¥hatever part of the interesting history may appear to them most 
worthy of being preserved. Very often, every word thus collected 
and sent with an antiquarian donation is as so much gold, and ought 
to be scrupulously printed and preserved. How deeply interesting, 
for instance, to know that golden torques and other regal ornaments 
have been found on Tara Hill. How interesting, too, to all who 
love to read of Ancient Ireland, will it be to know something more 
of the discovery of the extremely valuable and perhaps unequalled 
hoard of golden ornaments mentioned in the note at p. 287. I have 
said " unequalled," because I believe the " find" exceeds all previous 
ones, both in value and number. Numerous instances mi^ht be 
mentioned, where the bare name of the locality and the circum- 
stances connected with the discovery add very considerable interest 
and value — nay, sometimes its whole interest and value — to the article 
discovered. On the other hand, when an interesting antiquarian relic 
is presented to a learned society, which is supposed not only to pre- 
serve it with the greatest care, but also to give some account of it in 
its publications; and when, moreover, the donation is accompanied 
with a full history of the discovery, &c., how very discouragmg to 
the donor, and, what is worse, injurious to the science of archaeology, 
if no account or part of that history is given to the public I Our 
archaeological science is far behind in this respect ; and we have not, 
by any means, sufficient printed matter in proportion to the numerous, 
valuable, and truly national antiquarian treasures existing in Ireland. 



THE PAGAN CEMETERY AT BALLON HILL, COUNTY 

OF CARLOW. 

BY THE BEV. JAMES GRAVES, A.B. 

Of the unwritten history of the far back past, few pages have been 
so little read, and yet not one is so full of important and deeply inte- 
resting lore, as the sepulchres of the dead. Often, it is true, have the 
barrow, the cist, or the tumulus, been rudely torn open by the hand 
of the spoiler, or the idly curious ; but how seldom have they been 
intelligently examined ? It reflects but little credit on the archaeo- 
logists of Ireland that no systematic attempt has ever yet been made 
to read this page of its "prehistoric annals"! Why have we not a 
society estabushed with such an object for its aim ? We. have very 
properly associated ourselves to investigate the general antiquities of 
the island ; to print its ancient literature} its music, and its romances ; 



296 

why not have a club of '^delvers," an exploration society, with 
its corps of engineers, draughtsmen, and scientific observers, whose 
business it should be to examine the primasval sepulchres of the coun- 
try, not idly, not irreverently, not as desultory diggers — but with due 
care, circumspection, and caution ; noting down every peculiarity, 
making accurate measured drawings, ana depositing, in a central 
museum, the crania^ the armSf the implements^ and ornaments ^ sure 
to be discovered in abundance ? Here is work for energetic men to 
do — ay, and good work, too. In the meantime, no opportunity should 
be lost of placing on record the results of private explorations ; and, 
in furtherance of such a desirable object, I beg to claim the indul- 
gence of the Society, whilst I endeavour to describe the particulars 
of one of the most curious and important discoveries yet made in 
the field of Irish sepulchral remains — I allude to the exploration 
of the ancient Pagan cemetery on Ballon Hill. And I must the 
rather ask for this measure of indulgence, because I have not been 
myself present at these successful "diggings;" having, however, visited 
the locality, and seen the matchless collection of fictile vessels which 
have rewarded the exertions of the enthusiastic and lucky explorer, Mr. 
J. Richardson Smith, I may be allowed to have a voice in the matter. 
Ballon Hill — situated about midway between Fenagh and Tullow 
in the county of Garlow — is remarkable for its regularly-formed 
conical shape and isolated position ; rising, as it does, from the level 
and richly-cultivated tract, of which that portion of Carlow is com- 
posed. Although of no very great altitude, perhaps not more 
than about two hundred and fifty feet above the surrounding plain, it 
is a most conspicuous object ; and its summit commands an extensive 
view — nine counties being said to be visible from it. Geologically 
speaking, the hill consists of granite, protruding, as I am informed, fi:om, 
and insulated by, a tract of lime-stone. The surface of the granite, 
which forms the hill, is covered by a " bearing" of yellow sand and 
earth, of depth varying fi:om about four feet to twelve inches. On 
the summit, where now stands a small pile of modem masonry, were 
formerly large and curious intrenchments, locally known as "the 
walls of Troy." These (the hill having been until lately a common) 
have firom time to time been all carted away by the neighbouring 
&rmers for manure, so that not a trace of them now remains. The 
fact of the hill having been formerly a common, should not be lost 
sight of, as it tends to show that some feeling prevailed in the neigh- 
bourhood as to the sacredness of the spot — a feeling akin to that 
which happily saves many a rath and tumulus firom wanton destruc- 
tion. At present the greater part of the hill is the property, and 
forms part of the demesne, of John Lecky, Esq., of Bally kealy. As 
far back as the memory of the present generation reaches, discovery 
had been made, everywhere over the surface of the hill, of what the 
peasantry called " pans" or " crocks," which, containing nothing but 
calcined bones, were invariably broken, when the usual incantations 



297 

did not change the bones into gold. Large numbers of fictile vessels 
had been destroyed in planting the trees with which the hill is now 
partially covered. One man said he had smashed four perfect urns 
in a day, another (a quarry-man) reported that he had broken eleven 
found close together in the quarry opened on the top of the hill. 

In consequence of these reports Mr. Smith (then staying with 
his brother-in-law, Mr. Lecky, at Ballykealy) commenced a syste- 
matic exploration of the hill on June 14th, 1853; his labours have 
been resumed, at intervals, down to January, 1854, and the result 
has been the most wonderful collection of ancient fictile vessels to be 
found in Ireland. The '* diggings" commenced at a large block of 
granite, resting on the hill side, immediately over Ballykealy house. 
This boulder measures nineteen feet by twelve in its largest di- 
mensions ; it is of a pyramidal shape, rising about eight feet above 
the surface, and extending three feet beneath it. This stone has 
been known from time immemorial amongst the peasantry by the 
name of Cloghan-na-marabhan, i.e. the stone of the aead. Mr. Smith 
states that it proved to be supported by granite blocks at each end ;> 
and, on clearing away the soil, three human skeletons were found 
beneath it, hudaled together in a small space not above two feet in 
length. The skeletons presented no trace of cremation. On further 
excavation, to such a depth that one could sit upright beneath the 
great covering stone, four large blocks of granite were turned over ; 
and, at a considerable depth, a bed of charcoal was discovered, with 
broken urns of four distinct patterns. At another spot, also, a fine 
urn was found embedded in sand, but it could not be preserved. At 
a subseouent period, when I myself was present, similar fragile, re- 
mains of fictile vessels were turned up, at the end of this boulder stone, 
externally. 

I am informed by Mr. Smith that he next commenced operations 
on the top of the hill, where a large bed of charred wood and burned 
bones was struck on, two feet under the sod. In the neighbouring 
quarry search was made in spots where the *• bearing" had remained 
undisturbed, and there an urn was found, laid on its side in the sand : 
it was quite hard and perfegt, and presents an ornamental pattern o*f 
much interest. Many bones were found around this urn, and a few 
within it. The site of the old rath was then examined ; here dig- 
ging proved most difficult, as it was paved with great blocks of stone, 
set on end, and fitting close together. Great quantities of burned 
bones and charcoal appeared between the stones, and under the pave- 
ment ; here half of an urn was found, and fragments of two others. 
The excavation was carried on to the depth of six feet, bones being 

I So far as an after eiamination would man, either as to shape or position. It has, 

allow one to judge, I am inclined to think however, evidently been excavated beneath 

that this boulder, one of many that are and used as a place of burial in very remote 

scattered over the hiU, is untouched by ages, and, perhaps, by different races. 

38 



298 

dtill found at that depth, but no urns. As the digging proceeded, 
on June 23rd, a large urn was uncovered, resting in an inverted 
position, and quite perfect. The sod, or scraughy which had been 
used to cover the mouth of the vessel, ^nd prevent the bones which 
it contained from falling out, still held together. This urn is rudely 
decorated with an impressed chevron pattern, and two nearly equi- 
distant raised hoops or rings : it measures fifteen and a-half inches 
in height, and nearly fourteen inches in width, and is accurately re- 
presented in the accompanying plate (plate 1, fig. 3). It was not 
enclosed by a cist. Near it was found another of large size, and 
strong pottery, but broken. After various trials on other spots, which 
resulted in the discovery of many beds of bones and charcoal only, 
the work was resumed on the site of the rath, where a great layer of 
burned bones and charcoal was lighted on : at length a large slab, 
weighing about two cwt., appeared, and, on turning this over, a cist 
was discovered, two feet long by one foot wide, its longest direction 
lying north and south : it was filled with fine sand, in which lay an 
urn of very elaborate pattern, which, from having been squeezed in 
on one side while soft, would appear to have been placed in the cist 
in an unbaked state, a circumstance which, perhaps, may serve to 
indicate that the fictile vessels, found in such profusion on the hill, 
were fabricated on the spot. In the course of fiirther investigation 
a five-sided chamber was fbund, walled in with long slabs in a work-» 
manlike manner, and covered by a large stone. When the latter 
was removed, the cist appeared filled with sand. A portion of a thin 
lamellar javelin-head, or dagger-blade of bronze, lay near the top. It 
is very much corroded, but is curious, as presenting the only exam- 
ple 01 weapon or implement found during the entire operations on 
the hill, although bronze spear-heads of the usual form have been 
frequently found in the neiehbourhood, two of which, dug up near 
the base of the hill, are in Mr. Leckey's possession. Deeper in the 
sand was found a fictile vessel about the size of a large tea-cup : it 
contained some very small bones, was as fresh as when made, and 

f)resents an example of carefully finished tooled work. It has been 
ithographed at full size (plate 3, fig. 13). At a greater depth in 
the sand was found a larger urn inverted, of less striking form and 
ornamental design. On raising this larger vessel from its inverted 
position, beneath it were seen, placed in a triangular position, three 
small smooth pebbles, surrounded by a few pieces of burned bones, 
and a little impalpable white powder; of the pebbles one was white, 
one black, and the third (which is much smaller than the other two) 
of a greenish tinge, spotted with a darker shade. All appear to be 
sea-shore pebbles, and numbers of a character similar to the speckled 
one, described above, m^ be picked up on the Wexford coast of the 
Waterford harbour, near Cuncannon. I believe the markings on both 
to be derived from manganetic iron-ore. These stones were probably 
valued as charms or amulets. It is a remarkable coincidence to find 



299 

the following passage occurs in the detail of a recent examiil^ation of 
a '* Pict's houl^e," at Kettleburn, in the county of Caithnesi, Scotland, 
lately communicated to the "Archaeological Journal" by Mr. A. H. 
Rhind : — ** Smooth stones of various shapes and sizes, such as may 
be picked up from the sea beach, were found in several of the cham- 
bers, amongst the ashes and shells. • • • • • 

With these may be mentioned a prettily variegated and polished 

pebble - . # It is somewhat curious that a pebble 

of precisely similar appearance, though larger, possessed an extraordi- 
nary reputation as a curative agent, until very recently, among the 
more superstitious of the Caithness peasantry. It has remained in 
the same family for many generations, hliving been handed down as 
a valuable heir-loom from father to son."- — Archceoloffical Journal^ 
vol. X. p. 221. This ancient veneration for polished stones receives 
also a highly interesting illustration, from the fact of a crystal ball, 
supposed to be possessed of infallible curative virtue with regard 
to the murrain in cattle, being still preserved at Curraghmofe, the 
residence of the marquis of Waterfora ; it was exhibited amongst the 
many valuable objects which crowded the Antiquity Court of the 
Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853, in Dublin, and is still resorted 
to by the peasantry in cases of murrain, being placed in running 
water, and the cattle allowed to drink of the stream which flows 
over it. 

So far I have drawn the leading facts of this most curious and 
important exploration from information received, personally, from 
Mr. Smith, during a visit which I made to Ballykeaiy in the month 
of June, 1854, aided by an account of the diggings since given before 
the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, at its meet- 
ing of February 3rd, 1854, by the Rev. William Turner, vicar of 
Boxgrove,* derived, I believe, irom a copy of the journal of operations, 
up to this point, kept by Mr. Smith. 1 had hoped to be able to em- 
body so valuable a record in this paper, but am informed that having 
lent it to a friend, he has never since got it back. I am able, how- 
ever, to supply this deficiency as to subsequent explorations, having 
been kindly mmished by Mr. Smith with a copy of his diary from 
that time. On July the 19th the diggings were resumed, and Mr. 
Smith writes : — " This morning with a friend I re-commenced digging 
by the rath, and have never discovered more extraordinary remains. 
Early in the day we found two large cists, in one of which was an 
urn, above thirteen inches in height, quite hard, and in great preser- 
vation, with the mouth turned down, and almost full of bones. Late 
in the day we came upon the largest walled-up place that I have yet 
found, three feet two inches long, by two feet four inches wide,* and 
about a foot and a-half deep) covered by an enormous flag which (I 
am told) weighs sixteen hundred weight* It took five men with 

1 Architologicai Journal, yoI. xi. pp. 75, 76. 



300 

crows to turn it. When the flag was turned there was a large hollow 
space, the bottom being filled with burned bones — from the large size 
I conceive mostly of animals." Subsequently, Mr. Smith having pro- 
ceeded to his residence in Scotland, operations ceased; returning, 
however, to Ballykealy, in December, he commenced work again, 
and chronicles his diggings as follows : — 

. " December 20. — Began digging at the north side of the rath, 
where most of the urns were found in June and July last ; the ground 
appeared to have been moved before, and nothing worthy of notice 
was found. 

"21st December. — Discovered the remains of a small fire. 

" 22nd December. — Same negative result firom a deep digging 
lower down. 

" 23rd December. — Tried the west, or upper side of the rath, and 
soon found traces of great fires, and two very deep pits. The char* 
coal lay in deep beds ; we found an urn seven inches nigh, of a curious 
pattern, and ornamented by six raised hoops. It was in a very soft 
state, and differed from the others in having been embedded in char- 
coal instead of fine sand. 

"24th December. — Proceeded with the excavation, which waa 
carried to a depth of five feet ; found many more pits, whh many 
bones and deep beds of charcoal — no urns. 

" 2nd January, 1854. — Resumed diggings, charcoal still abundant; 
in the afternoon found the rim of an urn oi* a very handsome pattern. 
It stood reversed, but that portion of it which had been uppermost was 
gone ; as the rim seems too solid to have decayed away, this interment 
was probably disturbed before. The part of the urn, which remained, 
was filled with large bones and charcoal. 

"3rd January. — Still found traces of great fires, with deep pits, 
which may have served either for burning human bodies, or sacrifices, 
or perhaps both. Early in the day a rotten fi*agment of an urn was 
found near the surface ; in the afternoon a very large fictile vessel 
was discovered beneath the roots of a fir tree, which had grown com- 
pletely through it in every direction ; got the tree taken down, and 
filled a large tray with the fragments of the urn, which are in too 
mutilated a condition to be ever put together ; but there can be no 
doubt it was the largest yet found. 

" 4th January. — Charcoal and pits — ^no urns. 

" 9th January. — Commenced aigging again at the upper side of 
the rath — found a large cist most carefully built, and covered with a 
flag. The cist contained only large bones and charcoal. Replaced 
the covering flag. 

" 1 0th January. — Traces of fires. 

" 1 Ith January. — Fires and pits — but no urns. I have formed 
the idea (judging from the quantity of charcoal found, together with 
pits, and ciwSts full of the bones of animals and birds, with no human 
remains distinguishable) that a large number of the cists contained 



301 



only the bones of the sacrifices, the remains of some great Pagan po* 
lemnities, for it is difficult to suppose that the bones of animals merely 
used for food would be thus carefully buried. That the sacrificers 
had few bronze implements appears clear ; for from the large space 
excavated, and the number of cists explored, some traces of metal 
(besides the solitary spear-head already noticed) would have turned 
up, if implements, ornaments, or arms of bronze were in common use. 
" 16tn January. — Having been prevented yesterday from going 
to the hill, the men worked by themselves, and at night brought pie 
down by far the most perfect and beautiful urn yet found. It is im- 
possible to give an idea of the rich beauty of the patterns which 
adorn this splendid work of art. In shape it differs from all the 
others, resembling two urns, one placed on the top of the other.' — 
The men, having been left to themselves, went back to the rath, 
and in a little strip between the trees they found a cist of an irre- 
gular form, four feet wide, and covered with large flags ; in the west 
comer, filled in and embedded with sand, this urn was found reversed. 
Three small fragments of bone were found in the cist, none in the 



urn< 



cc 



17th January. — Bein^ encouraged by their find of yesterday, 
the men worked again in the rath, and soon discovered a very large 
urn filled with bones and charcoal. The condition of this vessel was 
so fragile that nothing remains but a trayful of fragments. From in- 
dications I have seen to-day I conceive that there may be another 
layer of urns in the rath, under a second or lower pavement." 

Mr. Smith's notes end here ; but I trust that he will at some future 
time continue his explorations, and test the validity of the conjecture 
above given. At all events, he has succeeded fa obtaining a matchless 
assemblage of examples of the fictile art of the primitive inhabitants 
of Ireland. Of this collection thirteen have been drawn on stone 
from the originals, for the Society's " Transactions," by Mr. Henry 
O'Neill, and the beauty and faithfulness of their execution are worthy 
of the pencil of the author of that truly national work, the ** Ancient 
Crosses of Ireland."^ Mr. O'Neill has grouped the urns* into three 
plates, those numbered I to 1 1 being drawn to one-fourth the size of 
the originals, and the remaining two at full size. It will be sufficient 
to direct attention to the beauty of ornament and elegance of shape 
presented by those marked 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 13. The plates 
render fiirther description unnecessary ; but I may be allowed to quote 
some observation? contained in the notice contributed to the Institute 



> It is hoped at some future time to 
give Hlnstretions of this and other fictile 
Tessels not comprised in the accompanying 
plates. 

* ** The Most Interesting of the Ancient 
Crosses of Ireland, carefully Measured, 
Drawta» and Lithographed, by H. O'Neill." 
Large folio : London. 



* It may be of interest to remark that 
twelve of the singularly beautiful fictile 
▼esseln, represented in the accompanying 
plates, were sent by Mr. Smith to the 
Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853, form- 
ing one of the most interesting groups of 
the many which adorned the Court of Irish 
Art.^See p. 283, ante. 



302 

by Mr. Turner, already alluded to : — " The workmanship of these 
examples of ancient pottery is far more elaborate than tnat of the 
Celtic urns with which we are most &miliar in England. The oma* 
ments are not simple scorings, zig-zag, or other patterns, but tooled 
or chiselled, so as to present portions in high relief; amongst the 
forms frequently occurring on Irish urns are lozenges and escalloped 
patterns, with strongly projecting ribs, much decorated ; the inside of 
the mouth of these vessels is usually ornamented with much care. In 
these particulars some analogy may be noticed amongst the sepul* 
chral vessels found in Northumberland, preserved in the Museum of 
the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, and that formed at Alnwick 
Castle by the Duke of Northumberland. A certain resemblance may 
also be traced in the urns found in North Britain."' 

In many cases the fictile vessels discovered on Ballon Hill were 
merely sun-dried, and mouldered away when exposed to the air. 
Most of the urns were but half baked, and to preserve them Mr. 
Smith found strong size to be very usefiil ; he dipped the vessels into 
the size and then allowed them to dry. Many of them had neither 
top nor bottom, being merely hoops or circlets. It will be recollected 
that the remains of large fires were found all over the hill, the char- 
coal being of oak timber in general. In one place a well-like circular 
hole, faced with large stones, three feet in diameter and five feet deep, 
was found. This hole contained quantities of charcoal mixed with 
bones, and amongst them a fragment of a remarkably large human 
jaw bone. Amongst the calcined bones preserved by Mr. Smith are 
many of the species of deer, and others of the lower animals, mixed 
with human remains. 

The invaluable collection formed by Mr. Smith, I made an effort 
to procure for the Society's Museum ; However, naturally enough, the 
finder seemed very loath to part with the result of his ** diggings." It 
is to be hoped that the collection, wherever deposited, will be pre- 
served intact and unbroken ; if separated and dispersed up and down 
amongst private persons it would lose half its value to the student of 
primaeval antiquity; as seen together an inspection of the various 
remains lays bare a page in the history of the far past such as had 
never perhaps been before opened to the archaeologist in Ireland. The 
imagination can picture to itself this sacred hill lighted up by vast 
sepulchral fires, conspicuous from afar ; the assembled clan ; tne mneral 
feast on the sacrifices ; the inurnment of the ashes of the dead — here, 
too, is seen the skill of the olden people of Ireland in fictile art, and 
as it is probable that these vessels were not manufactured especially 
for sepulchral uses, but formed the every day furniture of their dwell- 
ings, here we see also a glimpse of their domestic life. We learn that 
at the period when these urns were deposited they had a few bronze 
weapons, but that such expensive articles were scarce^ and perhaps 

* Arehaologieal Joumalf Yol. xi. p. 75. 



303 

only distinguished the chieftain. The thr^e polished pebbles, as before 
observed, were probably amulets. 

Nothing is known of the history or ancient name of Ballon Hill. 
I have applied to that generous assistant of every student of Ireland's 
history and antiquities — Dr. O'Donovan, but in vain. He has never 
met a notice of the spot, but is of opinion, that, from its proximity to 
Dunrigh, a royal residence of the kings of Leinster, it may have been 
the cemetery of the Pagan princes of that district of Ireland. 



FOLK-LORE—No. I. 



PORCINE LEGENDS. 



BT WILLIAM HACKETT, ESQ. 



The old Irish manuscripts which circulate amongst the better class 
of our peasantry are generally collected into books bound after a rus- 
tic fashion, each volume being supplied with a list of its contents. 
In examining these lists, the title of one particular composition will 
frequently meet the eye, and must, therefore, have been highly prized 
by the transcribers. This is one, which, as it embodies and localizes 
a section of oral legends which prevail throughout the south of Ireland, 
may form a suitable introduction to the subject of folk-lore. The 
tract to which I allude is divided into two parts, of which the first 
(though sufficiently voluminous) is only an introduction ; it is called 
the '^ Adventures of Toraliv M^Staim." The second contains the 
achievements of the three sons of that hero, and is technically called the 
•' Triur Mac," or the Three Sons. The substance of the whole story 
is this : — Toraliv was a nephew of the king of Denmark, and having 
become enamoured of a lovely woman, of whom he caught a casual 
glance, goes in search of her to various countries, and at length finds 
her in Ireland, at Tara, in the reign of (our Haroun al Kadschid) 
Cormac Mac Art. She is daughter of | Tuatha de Danann nobleman, 
and is married to Toraliv, by whom she becomes mother, at one birth, 
of three sons-^Crohan, Sal, and Daltheen. The father and mother 
go from Ireland in the ^*good ship" called the Mermaid, fopnerly the 
property of Mananan Mac an Lir. Toraliv having conquered many 
kingdoms and empires, loses his wife, becomes tired of war, and ends 
his days as a hermit. His wife, Fionabhartagh, dies, having given 
bii^ to a daughter in the land of the Amazons. Meantime the three 
sons are sent to be reared in Kerry, under the charge of the Gruagach 
of Slieve Mis. When they have finished their elementary course. 



304 

the Gruagach looks about (or a suitable college ; and here begins the 
mythic portion of the tale. We are told that when the Fir Volgans 
reigned in Ireland, the land was overrun with pigs, which committed 
vast depredations. The Tuatha de Dananns on conquering the coun- 
try extirpated all these animals, except one furious herd which de- 
vastated the maritime districts of the county of Clare by day, and 
retired at night to an island in Malbay» called Muc Inis, now Mutton 
Island. To root them out of this place of resort, was found beyond 
the human energies of the Tuatha de Dananns, who at length had re- 
course to magic, and so raised a violent convulsion of the elements, 
by which they finally succeeded. For a time, however, one ferocious 
boar withstood all their effoi-ts ; his name was Matal ; his abode was 
on an island, now Mattle rock, almost denuded of earth by the en- 
chantment brought to bear on it, when Matal was swept into the 
waves. The Tuatha de Dananns having relieved the country of the 
presence of these dreadful boars, selected their great resting-place as 
an eligible site for a college, on account of its seclusion, and for other 
advantages which it possessed. To this college at Mutton Island, all 
the young noblemen of their race resorted for many a^s, and thither 
went Gruagach of Slieve Mis, with his three pupils. Liike all heroes 
they excelled their school-fellows in the quick acquisition of all na^ 
tural and supernatural learning ; finally they became better informed 
than their masters. On leaving college, their old guardian of Slieve 
Mis gave them one strict injunction, which was, that neither of them 
should attempt any achievement singly ; all three should meet dan- 
ger and glory together. They went in search of adventures, and 
having travelled (as we perceive by the maps, about nine miles) as 
far as Bhuaile na Greine, they found a congregation of sun-worship- 
pers offering sacrifice at an altar — ^the spot indicated by the MS. is 
exactly where a *4eaba Diarmuid" now stands, lower on the mountain 
than Lough Bhuaile na Greine, which lies between it and the cele- 
brated Ogham inscription on Oallan mountain. They appear to have 
joined in the sacrifice, and whilst so engaged, a huge boar made its 
appearance, walking slowly up the hill, to his usual haunt on the 
summit of Slieve Collain (this animal had his den or stye at a place 
called Poul-Gorm-liath on the north side of the mountain). The day 
was very warm, and so the animal walked slowly; when he came 
abreast of where the sacrifice yss going on, he perceived the smoke 
and smelt the blood of the victims. He turned his head in the direc- 
tion of the assembly, whereupon they were all thrown into utter con- 
sternation; but the animal continued his course without molesting 
them. This was a favourable opportunity for the young heroes to 
signalize themselves, for the boar was as destructive as any of those 
already disposed of — they followed, passed him, and turning round 
confronted him, with their three spears pointed at him. They slew 
him, and when the sun-worshippers perceived their success, they 
crowded round the three sons, but were afraid to look at the boar 



305 

though dead — ^he must have been as hideous an object as the Erjman- 
thean boar. They soon so far recovered that they all joined in 
bringing the dead body to the altar, and making of it an offering to 
the sun. The three sons soon heard of another nuisance which in- 
fested the country. This was a frightiul dragon, whose den was on 
an islet in the lake called Doo-Lough, south of Bhuaile-narGreine. 
They also destroyed this frightful monster, an ollaphiast, with sixty 
less at each side of her body. Her name was Farbagh : she was one 
or the three sister dragons, whose names were Dabran, Farbagh, and 
Cathach, the offspring of the all-devouring sow ; their father naving 
been gate-keeper of the infernal regions. The red demon of the 
west of Ireland was their nurse. This Farbagh had been placed at 
Doo-Lough, by a Fir Volgan druid, to guard an enchanted palace in 
the bottom of the lake, then inhabited oy a king, his family, and a 
large concourse of courtiers. (There is a Dun Farbagh on the Arran 
islimds). The elder sister dragon was a guardian round Leim Cun- 
cullion, now Loop Head, of whom hereaner. The youngest sister, 
Cathach, had her abode on an island in the Shannon, named from the 
dragon Inis Cathig, now Scattery Island. The three heroes are now 
called upon to free the country from another dreadful Scourge, the wild 
cat of Craig-na-Seanean, near Doo-Lough. This animal had across 
its forehead a figure of the moon, at the extremity of its tail was a 
sharp nail ; it devoured hundreds of human beings, whose bones formed 
a mound outside the den. When the three sons appeared beneath 
the cliff in which the den was, the cat, on smelling them, looked down, 
and, determined on killing them, precipitated herself from the height, 
and was received by the heroes on the points of their spears. They 
then brought the body to the ground, and cut it into small particles. 
The congregation, judging of the success of the champions, re- 
paired to the spot and burnt the fragments of the wild cat, for fear of 
a plague. They all return in happiness to Bhuaile-na-6reine, where 
the heroes remam to partake of the hospitality of the people. Mean- 
time their &me spreads through all Ireland and reaches even the ears 
of the monarch. The three sons now determine to visit their grand- 
father, who resides in the island of Cove ; the first night they rested 
at the island of the Calf, now called Ennis, passing across the Bally- 
houra mountains they arrived at the seat of their maternal ancestors. 
Here they meet with a most joyful welcome, and are visited by all the 
Tuatha ae Danann nobility. After some time it was agreed upon by 
all parties that the heroes should travel in search of their parents. 
They took shipping in the enchanted vessel already mentioned, and, 
after many exploits, returned to Ireland loaded with riches, and bring- 
ing with tnem, from the Amazons, their sister, who was named Aonnma 
{recte Aonbhean, the only woman). They go to a great meeting at 
Tara, where Aonbhean is seen by Diarmuid O'Duibmie, who, as was 
his wont, falls in love with her. The Tuatha de Danann race have a 
horror of the Fenians, and the young heroes determine on concealing 

39 



306 

their sister from his pursuit. For this purpose they repair to the 
south-west point of the county of Clare, ana here tney erect three 
forts, one for each brother, and another for the sister, to whose pro- 
tection they mean to dedicate their liyes ; and, still further to secure 
her, they place the dragon, Dabran, round her abode, so as that no 
one could land without being devoured by it*. Meantime, Diarmuid, 
not being able to meet wim the fair Aonbhean, falb into a state 
of despondency, and repairs for comfort to Aongus, of the banks 
of the Boyne, the great pnilosopher and necromancer of the age, who 
anticipates his tale of woe, prescribes a remedy, informs him where 
the object of his love is concealed, ^ves him a ring and a square wax 
candle, tells him to go to Brandon Head, in Kerry, opposite the Leim 
ConcuUion, where the lady's fort is built, tells him to watch the ring 
day and ni^ht, shows him a precious stone of a red colour set in the 
ring, tells him of the danger of encountering the serpent, and charges 
him not to venture on his enterprise of abduction until he shall see 
the colour of the ring; change from red to green. 

Diarmuid takes his departure, retires with one companion, an at- 
tendant, watches for the usual space of a year and a day at Brandon 
Head, the ring changes colour, he betakes himself to a small skiff, 
crosses the Shannon, lands on a rock, now called Diarmuid and 
Gkainne's Rock, lights his square wax candle, whereupon, according 
to Aongus' prophecy, the serpent falls asleep ; the brotners are absent 
on an expedition against certain remnants of the Fir Volgans; he 
surprises Aonbhean, whom he seizes and bears to his skiff, bringing 
witn him the magical missile of Lughadh Lamhfada, which, like the 
boomerang, returned to the hands of the person throwing it. When 
half-way across the Shannon's mouth the square wax candle bums 
out, Dabran the ollaphiast awakes and pursues him, he throws the 
magical ring into her yawning throat, wnich, as Aongus foretold, de- 
prives her of one-third of her strengtii ; still she pursues — ^he wounds 
ner repeatedly with the magical missile, and, mially, she is killed, 
and her enormous corpse extends along the ocean, a prey to multitudes 
of sea birds. The dragon sister at Scattery perceiving that Dabran 
bad been killed, proceeds to lay waste the country on both sides of 
the Shannon from the sea to where Limerick now stands, and for a 
whole year no boat or ship dare venture on the Shannon* When 
Crohan, Sal, and Daltheen returned in triumph from their expedition 
against the Fir Volgans, they found what had happened, and such was 
their grief that they walked down from the canir of Aonbhean and 
precipitated themselves into the sea over the cliffs* 

Such is the tragical finale of the three sons. Nothing is said of 
the subsequent career of Diarmuid, after this episode, in his biography, 
nor do we know how long his attachment to Aonbhean lasted ; or now 
soon afler these events vie prophecy was fulfilled which had been 
uttered at the time of his birth, namely^ that he would be killed by 
•a boar. It is scarcely necessary to point out to the Irish archeologist 



307 

the coincidence in the particulars of the deaths of Adonis and of 
Diarmuid, each killed by a boar, contraiy to the injunctions of his 
goddess or lady love. 

If any interest is found in the story of the three sons, it is necessary 
to explain that one fact connected with its authorship is calculated to 
dull its archfieological effect. A correspondence with a clergyman in 
the county of Clare shows that this celebrated romance was written 
not more than one hundred years since, by a Mr. Gomyn, of Milford, 
in that county. This information is conveyed in a letter from a 
learned antiquary, the Rev. E. P. Barry, P.r. of Eilmurry. 

The foregoing sketch is, however, divested of any incidents which 
are not in some measure corroborated by their similarity with well 
known oral legends of other places, from which it may be concluded 
that this romance is formed from the folk-lore of the county of Glare. 
The topographical terms, at least, exactly correspond at this day, as 
may be seen in all instances, and, particularly, in the names of Cahir 
Grohan, Cahir Saul, Lis Doon Dalheen, and Cahir-na-heanmna, as 
they appear in Sheet No. 7 1 of the Ordnance Survey Map of the 
county of Clare. These forts, and the other places named, were pro- 
bably associated in oral tradition with some fables similar to those 
wrought into Mr. Comyn's story. The stories of the boar, the dragon, 
and Vie cat prevail all over Ireland, in the main features identical 
with the details in the " Three Sons.'* One instance suggests itself, of 
which the following is a brief sketch : There was once a king whose 
name was OlioU oil mucaid, that is, Olioll of the great pigs (he could 
not have been a monarch, as we have not the name in our chrono- 
logical list, though we have ^ngus Ollmucka) ; the reason why this 
king was so called, was, that in his reign there prevailed all over 
Ireland a remarkably large breed of pigs, which remained for many 
ages, ^^ till at long last" the people ^ot tired of them, and they were 
dlnven out from every place but Imokilly (this barony runs west 
from Youfi[hal Bay to Cove Harbour, having tiie ocean in the south). 
Imokilly is said to have been called ** Gorm Liathain" (which would 
remind one of the Poul Gorm Liath, the den of the Sliabh Collain 
boar). Some seatmchaidhes sav its right name was Ibh Muck 011a, a 
name given it by the people of other parts of Ireland, because it was 
the omy place where the great piss were preserved (a kind of Irish 
Boeotia, where the preservation of tne sacrea ox seems to have elicited 
the ridicule of Greece, the '* learned Thebans" being residents of the 
city of the heifer). The first of the great pigs tiiat came to Imokilly 
gave name to the glen through which he came from Ibh Liathain, it 
is called Glen O'Leihe, whicn we are told is the glen of the liath or 
boar. In the course of ages all the great pigs were at last driven out 
of Imokilly, except two sows and a hog. One sow had her lair or 
stye at a place thence called Crobally (cro, a stye), the hog resided 
at a hill called Cnock-an-ChuUaig (from collach, a hog), a road is 
pointed out by which he walked every day to meet the sow at a spot 



308 

called Kilamuckj. *^ Between himself and the sow the country wa9 
devastated and spoiled. People's lives were not worth having through 
the means of them." The story goes on to say that matters continued 
in this state until the arrival of uie Geraldines, the first of whom de- 
termined to kill the monster. In this encounter the circumstances 
have certain features of resemblance with the story of the three sons; 
but, after he had killed the boar, he left the dead animal on the spot, 
and the decay of the carcase caused a pestilence which swept away 
thousands of people ; at length an efibrt was made, and the body was 
buried in a coffin made of large stones (this was a megalithic monu- 
ment, erased in 1844) at Eilsmaucky, near Castlemartyr, the ancient 
seat of the Fitzgeralds of ImokiUy. After the boar was buried at 
Eilamucky, the sow disappeared &om her stye at Orobally, and was 
never more seen. But the other ^w, whose stye was at Cnock-an- 
na-Mbhainbh (the mound of the sucking pigs), ** could not be rooted 
out," she used to go about " wasting the country far and near,'' until 
at last the people **put their heads together,' and watching their 
opportunity, one day when the sow was ranging the country, they 
made a mess which was eaten by the young pigs, and by which they 
were poisoned. When the sow returned in the evening and saw the 
bainbns all dead, she *' made off with herself in the direction of 
Lismore" and was never seen after. As to the ImokiUy Geraldines, 
though the slayer of the boar was known to have thereby done great 
benent to tiie country, a certain undefinable horror was attached to 
the deed, which obtained for him the name of Madra-na-FoUa (the 
blood-hound) ; his descendants are to this day identified as the Fulla 
family ; their crest is the boar's head, conspicuous on their monument 
in an old church in Castlemartyr demesne. 

Whether there be any association with the foregoing fables in a 
practice which formerly prevailed cannot be ascertained ; but it is not 
many years since, on Samhain's eve, 31st October, a rustic procession 
perambulated the district between Ballycotton and Trabolgan, along 
the coast. The parties represented themselves as messengers of the 
Muck 011a, in wnose name they levied contributions on farmers ; as 
usual they were accompanied by sundry youtiis, sounding lustily on 
cows' horns ; at the head of the procession was a figure enveloped in 
a white robe or sheet, having, as it were, the head of a mare^ this 
personage was called the Lair Bhan, ^* the white mare," he was a 
sort of president or master of the ceremonies. A long string of verses 
was recited at each house. In the second distich were distinctly men- 
tioned two names savouring strongly of Paganism, the archseological 
reader will understand what they were. Though tiiey did not disturb 
the decorum of the assembly, they would not have been permitted to 
be publicly uttered elsewhere ; for those people, and, inaeed, all our 
peasantry are very free from any coarse expressions. The other 
verses purported to be uttered by a messenger of the Muck OUa, in 
which it was set forth, that, owing to the goodness of that being, the 



309 

farmer whom they addressed had been prosperous all his life, that his 
property would continue as long as he was liberal in his donations in 
Aonour of the Muck 011a ; givmg a very uninviting account of the 
state into which his affairs woidd fall should the Muck 011a withdraw 
his favour, and visit him with the vengeance certain to follow any illi- 
beral or churlish treatment of his men. Whether it was owing to the 
charm of the poetry or the cogency of the appeal, the contributions 
were in general on a liberal scale, every descnption of gifts was be- 
stowed, milk, butter, eggs, com, potatoes, wool, &c. To distribute 
the accumulated store, it was the regular practice for a sort of rural 
merchant or two to await the return of the group and purchase the 
whole stock, distributing his share to each according to a conventional 
arrangement of their respective ranks* These scenes were enacted at 
night. Could such contributions have been levied in the open day, 
aided by physical force and the use of weapons ? In such a case the 
** laying waste the country round" becomes an intelligible expression. 
Coiud me Muck Olla have been a deity, exhibited, as in Egjrpt of old, 
as a living animal ? Can the rural merchant be a substitute for some 
lingering druid, who maintained his ground long after the establish- 
ment of Christianity ? 

To enter on such queries would lead to too long a digression from 
the subject of folk-lore. It must be observed, tnat as yet we are 
without a history of Pagan Ireland, or any work upon the subject, 
but we read that Ireland was once called Muck Inis, and for aught we 
know, it might have been then ruled by a hierocracy of a religion 
bordering on, if not identical with the worship of Vishnu in his Va- 
raha or boar incarnation. We read in the 8th volume of the ^* Asiatic 
Researches," p. 302, that Varaha-Dwipa was Europe. Why it was 
so called is given at p. 361, where we read that ^^ Vishnu resides in 
Europe in the shape of a varaha or boar, as the chief of a numerous 
offspring (or followers) in that shape." 

However out of place it may appear to introduce such a quotation 
into the humble subject of folk-lore, it must be remembered that our 
oral legends tell some fitcts or other in a language which we do not 
profess to understand, and that it is, therefore, pardonable to seek in 
every quarter for means of rendering them intelligible. 

The extract from Major Wilford's essay on we sacred islands of 
the west, has a startling resemblance to tne Imokilly legend of the 
Muck Olla. Could the space allotted to this paper permit a minute 
comparison of our oral legends with those which were once manifestly 
"folK-lore" — ^the mythic adventures of classic demigods — ^many equally 
startling coincidences would appear. Hercules slew the Erymanthian 
boar. We find Fionn, in our oral legends, slaying boars all over Ire^ 
land : at Glen Turkin in Imokilly he killed a monstrous Turc, whence 
the name Glen Turo Fin ; during his sojbum at Bally Fin, a few 
miles to the east on the same coast, he freed all that neighbourhood 
from the devastations of those animals. Having cleared the coast of 



310 

Imokilly from them, he went across Cork harbour, and landing in 
Kinalea, took up his abode at Rath Fin, now Rafeen. His successes 
here were triumphant, for all his warriors assembled at Fathach-na- 
Laoch (now Faha Lay) and assisted him in his exploits. He then 
went along the coast into the maritime barony of Carberry, and fixed 
his residence at Dun Fin (now Duneen), where he slew a frightful 
boar at Muckross. In Greece, Melea^ar and his contemporary war- 
riors assembled for the purpose of slaymg the Calydonian boar. 

Can all these myths have one meaning ? Do they point at a sup- 
pression of a heathen sacerdotal rule, which had rendered itself in- 
tolerable to the age? One more extract may be permitted, it is 
from that popular work. Household Wordsy in No. 67, 5th July, 
1851, p. 351, we read a minute description of a Chinese temple, 
after wiiich the writer proceeds — ^* Our giude next conducted us to 
the sanctuary of the Holy Swine — for the animal which the Moham- 
medan holds in utter detestation, the Chinese deify. The interior 
chiefly consists of a handsome stone hall; • . • The holy swine 
are so watchfully tended and abundantly fed, that they are usually 
killed with kindness and die a premature death. At the time of my 
visit the sanctuary contained only one happy pair ; and I was informed 
that there are seldom more than six of the animals living at a time." 
Tedious as all these references may appear, they are only a few spe- 
cimens of what mi^ht be given on this curious subject. 

As regards Iri^ folk-lore, it may be necessary to remark that our 
topographical terms go hand in hand with it. Of this the curious 
reader maj easily satisfy himself, if he will merely ascertain the 
various Irish names of the boar genus, and then cast his eyes over 
the Ordnance Survey maps. 

Betuming to Mr. Comyn's romance of the Three Sons of Toraliv, 
it is needless to say of the dragons that those animals are associated 
with traditions at almost every mountain lake in Ireland ; but it is not 
generally known that similar &bles will be found amidst the ** busy 
haunts of man" at those spots in our rivers where the tide-waters end. 
Such places are called ^*Poul-a-choire" (Anglicised, Poul-a-Kerry). 
<' Choire" is a cauldron, for the story says that such an utensil is there 
turned down upon a great serpent which is constantly endeavouring 
to release itself. 

On the south coast the furious wild cat is veiy familiarly known, 
and in many places his den is pointed out. In a word, the romance 
of *' the Three Sons" comprehends most of the animals which ^* laid 
waste the country round. ' If the details above given respecting 
them should be found interesting, it is to be hoped that the ^' folk- 
lore," relative to the beneficent animals which ** give milk to all the 
country round," will prove still better worth attention. 



311 



FOLK-LORE.— No. IL 

BOVINE LEGENDS. 
BT WILLIAM HACKETT, S8Q. 

In a paper read at the May meeting of this Society, a connexion be- 
tween our oral legends and many topographical terms was alluded to ; 
a MS. was cited as embodying details of a character harmonising 
with folk-lore in general, and reference was made to certain Hindoo 
and other traditions. The present paper purport^ to follow out the 
subject on a similar plan, and a MS. of the class known as Tain Bo, 
is selected. This tract is called Tain Bo Cuailgne. It commences 
with the familiar sentence, *^ once upon a time,* and tells of a king 
and a queen. To enter at length on the details of the Tain Bo 
Cuailgne would be incompatible with tiie space allotted to this paper ; 
let it suffice that the tract in question is extremely mysterious, un- 
doubtedly ancient, and, if it were fully translated, would prove highly 
interesting in a literary point of view. Although the manuscript oc- 
cupies 138 closely-written quarto pages, a few words will affora what 
may be necessary to the present object. The queen, Meiv, of Con- 
naught, hearing of a certain renewed bull in Ulster, sends to make 
sundry large oners, and tenders pledges, in order tiiat she may obtain 
even the loan of this wonderful animal for one year ; not attaining 
her object by fair means she determines on having recourse to force, 
collects all the Gonnaught troops, obtains the assistance of Meath, 
Leinster, and Munster, and ascending her war chariot marches at the 
head of her forces into Ulster; thus all Ireland is engaged in a war, 
which lasts seven years. Many lengtiiened details oT the exploits of 
various warriors is given, after which the story ends with an account 
of a single combat, not between two heros, but between two bulls ; 
one, the Connaught bull, is named Fionn Banagh, tiie other and more 
renowned, is named Donn Cuailgne. The batde is fought in the 
presence of all the troops, for the space of an entire day, on the 
plains of Hae, it is continued in almost every spot in Ireland during 
the night, aud next morning Donn Cuailgne returns loaded with the 
ponderous carcase of the vanquished Fionn Banagh. Irish topogra- 
phy appears to have reoeived many additions fix)m this noctural 
conflict; places with the following names, for instance — Clodh-na- 
d-Tarv, E^om-na-d-Tarv, Rath-nsr^-Tarv, Beama-nard-Tarv, Magh- 
napd-Tarv. The conquering bull arrives at the spot of the previous 
day's conflict; all the warriors allow him to pass quietiy. On the 
plain, the hae^ or lungs of the dead bull, fiJl from him, hence the 
place is called Magh Hae Fionnbanagh. Whether the warriors 
accompany him on his way to Ulster does not appear. The bull 
proceeds thither, drinking two rivers dry, of whicn one is no less 



312 

than the Shannon at Athlonc. Various places on his road are named 
from the scattered limbs of the dead bull; a river called Fionn 
Leithe, from the leithcj or shoulder, having there fallen, whilst Donn 
Cuailgne was stooping to drink ; Athlone, from the luanj or loins ; 
Trim, from the druimj or chine. The archaeological reader need 
not be here reminded of the various scattering of limbs which abound 
in oriental and other mythology. Finally, the renowned Donn ar- 
rives at his own territory of Cuailgne, where, overcome with all his 
hardships and sufferings, he falls dead. Various attributes are 
ascribed to this wonderful animal. He was possessed of human intel- 
ligence. The Irish tongue he understood perfectly well ; but whe- 
ther his knowledge extended to foreign languages does not appear. 
Two somewhat similar fables occur in Irish histo]^, in the reign of 
Dermud Mac Fergus Cearbheoil, which monarch slew his eldest son 
for forcibly taking a cow from a female hermit, and on another occa- 
sion he waged a furious war against Guaire, King of Connaught, for 
taking a cow from a religious recluse. This monarch ascended the 
throne, A.D. 538, and if the transactions had any foundation in &ct, 
they would read as if he protected a lingering form of idolatry, 
although professing himself a Christian. But the probability is, that 
the two stories are folk-lore incidents pressed into the service of 
history, and that they belong to the same category as the Tain Bo 
Cuailgne. Now whether all may find a parallel in Hindoo mytho- 
^ogy^ ^^^ ^ judged by a comparison with the following extracts, 
premising that both in uie Tain Bo Cuailgne and in the story of the 
king's kuling his son, much stress is laid on a hospitable entertain- 
ment and sumptuous repast. 

In Moore's Hindoo Pantheon^ p. 160, we read that the 41st 
section of Ramayana details an entertainment given by Vashishta to 
Viswamitra and his whole army. *^ But Viswamitra not contented 
with the entertainment, coveted also the donor (a cow), and after en- 
deavouring in vain to purchase the cow, took her from Vashishta by 
violence;' hence, curses and battles between these two sages and 
their adherents, as dStailed at tiresome length in the 42nd and follow- 
ing sections of the Ramayana. In page 190 of the same work is the 
following : — <* lamadagni was entrusted by Indra with the charge of 
the wonderful boon-granting cow .... and on one occasion 
regaled the Rajah Diruj in so magnificent a manner as to excite his 
astonishment .... he demands the animal from his host, 
and on refiisal, force and stratagem were employed, which ended in 
the death of lamadagni, but without success as to the acquisition of 
the desired animal, which disappeared." 

If these coincidences are deemed insufficient to elicit further en- 
quiry, the details, if given at full length, would supply the deficiency. 
Supposing a strong coincidence to be exhibited, the first question it 
would suggest would be— did the Irish obtain their fables firom the 
Hindoos ? It is not probable that they did, but that both are vestiges 



313 

of what we may term the original oral legends of the patriarchal 
world. 

A specimen of folk-lore is now submitted which has not been 
noticed in any of those manuscripts which circulate in the south of 
Ireland. The story is told in that land of legends, the barony of 
Imokilly. Here, on the strand of Ballycroneen, as a few fishermen 
were strolling along, they observed a **berugh/' or mermaid, sleeping 
near the edge of the ocean. After some deliberation they resolved on 
capturing this inhabitant of the sea« Upon her awaking and seeing 
that she could not escape, she ordered them to procure a cloak or 
covering, and gave directions that she should be conveyed to a farmer's 
house adjacent. There she took up her abode, and being placed beside 
the hearth, received every mark of respect, not only from the farmer's 
&mily, but from all the people of the country round, who came in 
crowds to visit her. She remained with them for some time, giving 
every kind of good advice, and foretelling future events. At length, 
on a May-eve, she gave directions that she should be conveyed back 
to the strand. Accordingly she was removed, and a great concourse 
of people went to witness her departure ; she continued talking to 
them, prophes]ring to the last moment, when she finally told them all 
to assemble on that same spot on the following May-eve, for that then 
the three cows would arrive out of the sea. Accordingly, on that 
day twelve months, all the people of Ireland assembled on the clifisi 
and waited from the dawn of day, expecting the cows. At mid-day 
they began to despair of their arrival, but about an hour aflerwarcb 
they observed them lifting their heads from beneath the waves, at a 
short distance from the beach. They swam in until they were able 
to walk, and then they stood on the beach, shaking the water from 
their bodies and gazing on the people, who were all shouting with 
joy at their arrival. At this time, says the legend, there were no 
roads in Ireland. The cows stood for a time as if deliberating, and 
the people observed that one was white, another red, and the third 
black. After a short time all three walked abreast up from the strand, 
and great was the wonder of the multitude on observing that a fine 
broaa road was already formed for them to walk upon. They con- 
tinued walking abreast until they had gone about a mile from the sea, 
where they found two other roads ; here the three cows parted, the 
white cow going to the north-west, towards the county of Limerick, 
the red cow turning to the west, by a road running all round the 
coast of Ireland, and the black cow going to the north-east, towards 
Lismore, in the county of Waterford. The roads are pointed out in 
many places at present, and are known as ** Bohur na Bo Finne,'* the 
road of the white cow, ** Bohur na Bo Ruadh," of the red cow, and 
"Bohur na Bo Duibh^" (pronounced "dee"), of the black cow. 
The legends appended to this landing of the three cows are so nume- 
rous that, if each were distbguished by a separate title, a list only of 
them would occupy too much time. A singular coincidence presents 

40 



314 

itself in this legend and the following extract from the apocryphal 
Book of Enoch. The writer there allegorically describes Noan as a 
white cow» who became a man, and who taught the other cows a 
mystery. The man who had been a white cow now builds a ship, 
the deluge is described, after which the man, again termed a white 
cow, goes out of the ship and with him three other cows (chap. Ixzxviii. 
V. 13). — ** One of the three cows was white, resembling thiat cow, one 
of them was as red as blood, and one of them was Black, and the 
white cow left them." In the eighteenth verse of this extraordinary 
chapter we read of a white cow bringing forth a black wild sow and 
a white sheep ; but, as these animals do not pertain to the section now 
treated of, tney need not be further alluded to here. The book of 
Enoch, the prophet, in which these details appear, was translated 
from a manuscnpt Abyssinian bible by the erudite Dr. Lawrence, 
archbishop of Cashel, who satisfactorily proves the time in which it 
was composed to have been shortly after the first promulgation of the 
gospel. The apostle Jude quotes tne traditions of Enoch, the prophet, 
but it does not appear that the quotation is from this book. The 
apostle was familiar with the traditions ; perhaps all Jews were gene- 
rally acquainted with them, and the autnor of the apocryphal Book 
of Enocn, evidently a converted Jew, embodied it in a work whose 
object was to set forth the prophecies of the incarnation, if possible, 
in a stronger light than they are exhibited in Holy Writ. L)oes not 
the coincidence between the oral traditions of the Jews of old and 
those of the Irish give an insight into the mysteries of folk-lore? 
Do they not appear like oral descriptions of symbolic delineations 
familiarly understood in the original patriarchal state of society, and 
and fi*om that period transmitted in all directions through the whole 
human family ? Does it not go further and show, that most, if not 
all, systems of Paganism are but abused perpetuations of ancient sym- 
bolism, originally conveying the truths of revealed religion ? How 
can we better reconcile the many features of strong resemblance in 
various systems of Paganism, not only with each other but with ori- 
ginal revelation^ however depraved the ultimate perversion may have 
become ? 

That these traditions were general throughout Ireland is very 
evident almost from topography alone. Numerous are the lakes, 
islands, and pastures of the white cow — Lough Bo Finne, Inis Bo 
Finne^ &c. The mystic bed associates them with idolatry, as the bed 
of the white cow, Leaba na Bo Finne, so of the other cows. Writers 
heretofore ascribed these terms to the fertility of the soil where they 
occur, but many of these terms are applied to sterile lands which never 
were fertile, and this process fails in accounting for the names of the 
numerous rocks of the bull, cow, and cal^ which pervade all our coasts, 
and with most of which are corresponding local legends. Some of 
these are evidently fables, conveying moral precepts, nevertheless they 
savour strongly of mythology. The fame of the Garlach Coilleanacn 



315 

has spread from Connauglit throughout all ports of Ireland where the 
national lan^a^ still lingers. This story commences by stating that 
he was origmaify a farmer's servant employed to mind cows. One 
bright sunny day, having charge of a large herd, he observed ^* high 
up m the air" a small black cloud which descended rapidly towards 
the earth, at the same time he heard a voice in the air, which said 
** this is the Tarv Connaire, he will descend on one of the cows ; 
whoever drinks the first milk of that cow will have the gift of pro- 
phecy.'' The Grarlach Coilleanach adopted the suggestion, in due 
time drank the milk, left his master, and ^^travelled me world, giving 
knowledge in all parts." Of a similar tendency is the story of Carrm 
O'Dawla. He was also ori^nally a cow-herd ; attending to his task 
one misty morning, he could scarcely see one of his cattle ; on a 
sudden the mist appeared to close in m>m all sides until it became a 
small black cloud, settling over a ftirze bush, through which it disap- 
peared. Watching attentively, he observed one of the cows, which 
was grey, walk at once and browse upon the fiirze. This struck him 
as so singular, that he went and waked the farmer, who was still in 
bed, the farmer rejoiced at the intelligence, gave him a piggin, order- 
ing him to fill it with the milk of the Bo Riagh. Carrul drank the 
milk, and told his master that he had accidentally spilled it; the 
master, in' great agitation, sent him out a second and third time with 
a like result. So the farmer discharged him, and he went about the 
world, as Garlach Coilleanach did either before or after. 

Fables with a very different moral are more general. The cow, 
Glas Gowlawn, according to the traditions of the country, presented 
itself every day before each house in Ireland, giving a plentiful day's 
supply. So she continued until an avaricious person laid in a quan- 
tity for traffic, whereupon the Glass Gowlaun, left Ireland, going into 
the sea off the Hill of Howth. Numerous roads called fioherglass 
are ascribed to this valuable animal. This cow is remembered, by 
tradition, in Glen Gavlin, county of Cavan, where her udder, as she 
passed along, formed a gap called Bema-na-Glaise. She is said to 
nave gone to Scotland. Similar legends, in the south of Ireland, 
describe the cows as going to Wales ; and the peasantry of Imokilly 
are aware of the fact of the bones of the cow being preserved in 
Kedcliff Church, Bristol; these, they say, belonged to a cow which, 
being struck with a spancil and cursed by a red-haired woman, swam 
over to England, where she was kindly received, every respect shown 
her, and when she died they kept her bones (similar supposed bones 
of the dun cow are preserved m Mulgrave and Warwick Castles). 
But of all cows the most famous is the Glas Gaibhnach, part of whose 
history may be seen in a note to O'Donovan's edition of the '^Annals 
of the Four Masters," vol. i. p. 18, note "> which Mr. Getl^ has faith- 
fully quoted in the second number of the ** Ukter Journal of Archas- 
ology," in his admirable paper on Tory Island. The Glas Graibh- 
nacb, or, as the name is expressed frequently, Gaibhneach, is known 



316 

in many parts of Ireland, where all other enchanted cowa may have 
been forgotten; she, too, dispensed milk to "the country round," 
until a woman, having filled all her vessels, at length produced a 
** dilldam," or sieve, on perceiving which the Glas Gaibhneach gave 
no more milk. Avarice, on the one hand, and imprudence on the 
other, are two vices frequently pointed at in Irish folk-lore ; whilst a 
firm reliance upon Providence for our daily sustenance is principally 
inculcated. 

At the river Deel, in the county of Limerick, is a le^nd of a 
cow which frequently came out of the river and fed on its banks. 
The farmer at last intercepted her and drove her into his dairy. If 
she were milked one hundred times a day she would each time fill a 
can. The farmer built a house, using the milk in making the mor- 
tar ; the rafters of his house were made of iron. When tiie woman 
who had been in the habit of milking her died, another, who was 
red-haired, was put in her place ; at her first milking, the cow kicked 
and spilled the milk — " Bad luck to you for that same,'' said the 
red-haired woman ; immediately off went the cow into the river, and 
was never more seen. In that part of the river where the cow dis- 
appeared there is always a ^'Billeog Vaite." or Lotus, twisting 
round and round. An eel, like a serpent, rises there every seven 
years and gives three screeches like a duck. It is an unlucky spot, 
the peasantry say, and they tell that a Mr. Casey was hunting there 
and nis horse leaped in and was drowned with his master. 

At Innislinga, in the parish of Inniscarra» in the county of Cork, 
is a legend which embraces a section of country about eleven miles 
north and as many south. The ancient name of this place was lonad 
Coinne, the place of meeting ; for here a bull came every day from 
near Bandon to meet a cow which came from the plain near Drimi- 
neen Castle on the banks of the Blackwater, west of Mallow. The 
place of meeting is pointed out by two low banks of earth, the almost 
erased fences of the old road called the Bohureen-na-Bo-Ruadh (road 
of the red cow). Some legends say that another bull accompanied the 
cow from the Blackwater, as may be seen in an extract from a com- 
munication made by one of our most eminent Irish scholars, it is 
dated June, 1853: — " Last year I was able to trace the Bohur or 
course alluded to ; it runs south of Dripsey river, in Cummer-na-Bo, 
to the feeding place near the Blackwater. I perambulated through 
the parishes of Grenough and Donoughmore ; from several persons I 
heara of this * Bo Rusuih,' pronounced by some ^ Bo Ruach.' The 
legend and corresponding localities are very well known, especially 
alK)Ut Tobar-Lachteen ; the road is described as having passed through 
Bleain-a-goul, by the Rev. Mr. Cotter's, by Bohureen-an-aiffrinn, 
Forenought, &c. The bull and the cow always moved together, the 
cow stopped to give milk to all the people who wanted it, and the 
milk was a great ' cure.' " Then follows the story of the sieve, end- 
ing by saying that when the cow saw the milk spilling *' she fretted 



317 

and gave no more." On making enquiries at the spot mentioned^ 
near the Blackwater, the road is pointed out as running from Glan- 
tane to Drimineen Castle. The scenery here» and indeed throughout 
the district involved in this legend, is eminently romantic. 

A short legend is given relating to a locahty a few miles lower 
down the Blackwater, opposite Castle Hjde. Here a spotted cow 
ffrazed at Glen-na-Bo, but, like the Bo Ruadh, she disdained to drink 
from the adjacent river; every da^ she walked through where the 
town of Fermoy now stands, to dnnk from a well on a rock called 
Carrig-a-Bric, which, according to the legend, obtains its name from 
this Breac, or spotted cow. Whether the ancient name of the river 
Blackwater has any association with these legends, may be difficult 
to ascertain. In the life of St. Mochuda the river is called Nimh, 
a word which signifies poison. Another cow resorted near the scene 
of the last legend, at a place called Currach-na-Druiminne, the bog 
of the white-backed cow. This animal did not yield her milk for 
the benefit of the ** country roimd ;" it was the exclusive property 
of the giants, or Fenians, and they were nourished by it for many 
years, when on a sudden the milk ceased. The perplexed giants, 
imable to account for this sudden stoppage of their supply, resolved 
on sending for Fionn. For a short time after his arrival, he was 
equally at fault, so he determined to watch the cow by night. He thus 
discovered that a great serpent emerged from a river and abstracted 
all the milk of the white-backed cow ; he attacked the animal, which 
escaped, and for a time evaded his pursuit, but he finally detected 
it, in the shape of a ferocious four-legged beast with enormous teeth 
and blazing eyes. This animal's name was Lun, he had his abode 
near the summit of Carran Tiema, at a place still called ** Leaban 
Lun." Here he made a formidable resistance, but was finally killed 
by Fionn and his dog. After this the white-backed cow ^ve milk 
enoiiffh to the giants. Near the town of Bantry is a lake called 
Lou^-na-Bo-Finne, of the white cow ; the legend runs that a white 
cow emerged from this lake, and having met a bull they both walked 
together to Dursey island. Here they rested, and the cow having 
calved, gave abimdance of milk, but upon being cursed and struck 
by a rea-haired woman, bull, cow, and calf rushed into the sea, 
and were drowned, where the rocks, so called, now appear above the 
waves. Another oral legend embraces a large topographical ran^, 
no less than frt)m Tober Gowna, in the county of Longford, to Bally- 
shannon, in the county of Donegal. This district comprises Lough 
Gowna, upper and lower Loush Erne, with the outlet-river Samer. 
fit may be incidentally remained of this river that it has its name 
from a dog killed there by Partholan, an early colonist of Ireland ; 
and in Hindoo mythology we read that the deity Erishnu had a dog 
with the very same name). < The legend is one very generally met 
with, of a woman who had charge of a calf carefully locked up in a 
house, with strict injunctions that the door should be always closely 



318 

watched) lest the calf should escape. It so happened that in the 
same house was a well' to which the woman resorted for water; on 
one occasion, whilst so occupied, she heard her child ciy, and run- 
ning to it she unfortunately forgot her duty. Too late she perceived 
that the calf had escaped, and through tne door volumes of water 
were rushing out The calf was skipping and leaping from side to 
side of a then valley, now lake Gowna ; the water rose to the height 
of the calTs track. Onward danced the calf ^^ across and athwart" 
the valley, now upper Erne, and so northwards to lower Lough Erne, 
through the vale, now the river Samer, finally leaping into the sea, 
over a cliff at Ballyshannon, now the cataract known in nistory as Eas 
Aodha Ruaidh (pronounced Ass Ay Rua), like Thalassa Erythros, 
a hero of the same name, having been drowned in Arabia, as Ay 
Ruadh was here. All the region round this scene of action, and 
many of the islands in the lakes correspond with this Arkite lale, a 
term which cannot be withheld from it by any one who has ever 
perused the erudite writings of Jacob Bryant or the Rev. George 
Stanley Faber ; the latter venerable personage sdll lives, and if Irish 
mythology be developed by competent literary research, he may sur- 
vive to see the most ample corroborations of those portions of his 
writing, which have have been too much overlooked by Irish archs- 
ologists. One theory of the former great writer would closely iden- 
tify the name of Lakes Erne here and in Scotland with the mys- 
terious worship termed Arkite, as may be seen in his Analysis^ vol. 
ii. p. 251, of the quarto edition. 

The story of these Irish Emains forms a sort of episode in Irish 
history, and the first incident respecting them is plainly a druidical 
religious ceremony, dressed up in a not very edifymg manner, in the 
reign of the monarch Aonghus Tuirveach, or the shamefiiL 

In addition to what has been said of the red cow, it may be re- 
membered that when the white cow left her she commenced perambu- 
lating on the Bohur-na-Bo-Ruadh, which extended all round the coast 
of Ireland. This road is said to have been made three casts of a dart 
firom the high-water mark. Some have ascribed the making of this 
road to the celebrated Brien Boru ; it is, however, probable that the 
king's title and the name of the road have their mutual orimn in the 
source of our oral legends. Brien enjoyed two titles, which are fre- 
quently confotmded. He was styled Bnen Boirmhe, from his nume- 
rous tributes; and Boru, from the most remarkable spot adjacent 
to his palace at Kincora. This place is still called &all Boru, a 
name which it probably enjoyed oefore even Brien's ancestors bad 
landed in Ireland.^ 

> This legend, as we are informed hy Dr. * History and tradition botb assert, ae* 

O'Donovan, was taken down by that gen- cording to Dr. O'Donovan, that this is the 

tleman at the ufell, and was communicated place where Brien Icept the Boramean tri- 

to Mrs. S. C. Hall by Major Larcom, from bute of Leinater. This would seem to ac- 

one of Dr. O'Donovan's letters.—^ db. count sufficiently for the name— Eds. 



319 

In my paper on Porcine Legends one passage in particular, pro- 
bably, appeared somewhat more singular than well sustained; that 
was the allusion to the Hindoo name of Europe, which, according 
to major Wilford, was ^* Vardha Dwipa" the region of the boar. 
The same highly ingenious and equally ingenuous scholar, tells us 
{Asiatic Researches^ vol. viii. p. 361) uiat the pronunciation of the 
word is ^^ JVarapa^*' closely resembling the word Europe. Supposing 
that derivation untenable, let the former section of our folk-lore be 
deprived of it, and let us, in obedience to classical etymologistSi 
ascribe the origin of the word to Europa, the daughter of Asenor. 
In that case what is taken from the former paper must be added txr 
the present, for the sentiment of the Phoenician princess finds an apt 
parallel in that of the Coimaught queen, Meadhbh. 

Whether all these legends tend to conunemorate a once prevailing 
^stem of worship, how &r the animals mentioned may have been 
considered sacred, are questions beyond the scope of this paper. Al- 
lusions, however, have been made tending to elicit attention to that 
view of the subject, and, in conclusion, may be offered the passage 
firom the ingenuous, though not over ingenious, Geoffry Keating, in 
which he says» ^* that one of the objects of worship of the ancient 
Irish was a golden cal^ as mentioned in the reign of Cormac Mac 
Art" History of Ireland^ vol i. p. 429. 

From the neglected state in which our national muniments now 
exist has arisen a general impression, that to develop the former and 
early features of msh Paganism would be a hopeless undertaking. 
But if a fiill collection of oral legends were obtamed, and that they 
were collated with correflponding extracts from our manuscripts, 
doubtless much light would be thrown on the subject. A reference 
for this purpose to a manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin, entitled 
Tain Bo Flio^haise^ would be valuable, as also to that curious work, 
the Leabhar na Huidhre (pronounced Heera), or book of the Dun 
Cow. 



OLDEN POPULAR PASTIMES IN KILKENNY, 

BT JOHN G. A. FKIM. 

The investigation of the popular sports and amusements of a country 
or a district, at various periods of its history, and the changes in the 
pastimes of the people as civilization crept slowly forward — marking 
so well the spirit of each generations-must be a subject of much in- 
terest to the antiquary, the historian* and even the political economist; 
for statesmen have» nrom the earliest times, recognised the necessity 
of in some degree providing for and superintending the recreations of 
the humbler classes. There is no branch, indeed, of the science of 



320 

ancient lore that has been made more entertaining or instructive than 
the study of the popular amusements of our ancestors, and nothing 
can give us a clearer illustration or more vivid idea of their manners 
and customs. 

To the sojourner amidst the manifold resources of this wonderfully 
progressive nineteenth century, with its varieties of amusements, both 
physical and intellectual, what a miserable blank must the middle ages 
present, and how barbarous must appear the few means for pleasure 
they afforded. The intellectual world of that period closely resem- 
bled the material, and equally rude were the means for recreation of 
both. Within the precincts of the monastery, and in the demesne 
of the feudal castle, some taste and cultivation did doubtless exist, but 
around the cottage of the serf no garden smiled, and his physical and 
intellectual amusements were rude indeed ; even the wealthy burgher 
of the walled town fared little better; for, before the invention of 
printing, the precious manuscript did not leave the aristocratic hall of 
the castle or tlie blazing hearth of the refectory. These were the only 
*< lyceums" and ** institutes" of the day, and from them the people 
were excluded; whilst, as far as intellectual cultivation was concerned, 
the ** miracle-play," or " mystery" was the only enjoyment of the 
million. The religious element mixed up largely with their mental, 
as did the military with their physical recreations. 

But, though treating of the tmies — 

When EDcieDt chivalry displayed 
The pomp of her heroic games, 

it is not the intention of this paper to trace the amusements of the 
tapestried castle hall, the lordly pleasaimce of the feudal baron, or the 
tranquil recesses of the scriptonum. Mr. J. P. Prendergast, in a paper 
on ** Hawks and Hounds in Ireland,"^ read at a late meeting of tnis 
Society, has sufficiently illustrated the pastimes of the nobles and 
feudal proprietors of the olden time, and by culling some interesting 
extracts from the Irish State Papers of the rei^ of Henry VIII., 
bearing particular reference to the Ormonde family, he has given us 
a curious glimpse of the field sports which the landed proprietors in 
the county of Kilkenny resortea to for their recreation. But the pas- 
times of the urban populations, at the same period, present an equally 
interesting subject for inquiry. Having seen the means of amusement 
for the indulgence of the gentry and their dependants in the neigh- 
bouring rural districts, we must be anxious to ascertain the manner 
in which the burghers and artizans employed those hours devoted to 
recreation, in towns such as Kilkenny, where they were confined to 
mercantile pursuits, couped up within the limits of the mural boun- 
dary which the state of the times rendered necessary for their pro- 
tection, and thus could not — even if the exclusive and monopolising 
spirit of the aristocratic legislators would permit them, which it did 

* See p. 144, ante. 



321 

not — resort to the sports of the field and enjoy the fierce pleasure pro- 
duced by the chase of the wild boar, the wolf, or deer, or that more 
refined enjoyment, the peculiar privilege of the royal and noble, the 
^' gentle art of falconry/' The sports of the feudal proprietors are 
easily traceable on the statute book of the country, through the enact- 
ments decreeing to them the exclusive right to the pursuit of game, 
throughout every century ; of course the ancient records of the state 
take comparatively little notice of the peculiar recreations of the 
dwellers m the town or city, but fortunately another class of public 
documents exists, generally calculated to give interesting information 
on the subject — I allude to the archives of the municipal bodies of 
the day ; and it is my present object to seek by the assistance of the 
records of the corporation of Kilkenny, to throw such light upon the 
amusements of its citizens in the olden time, as Mr. Prendergast has, 
&om the ** State Papers," upon the sports of the aristocracy of the 
surrounding county. 

Kilkenny having been founded and received its charter of incor- 
poration from an English nobleman, of course its English colonists 
and their descendants must naturally be expected to have had recourse 
chiefly to such pastimes as prevailed in England. Strutt and Brand 
have amply described the popular sports in that country, and, there- 
fore, we can hope to find no very novel feature in the amusements of 
the olden inhabitants of this city; but still the ilkistrations which its 
municipal records afford, if they be not esteemed of general impor- 
tance, must at least possess considerable local interest. The two means 
of amusement which I find to have been most largely resorted to in 
Kilkenny, during the middle ages, are in strikii|^contra8t to each 
Other, the one being rather of an intellectual nature and calculated to 
inculcate a devotional spirit — the other of a barbarous and brutalizing 
character, unredeemed by a single recommendatory feature. I refer 
to the religious plays, or " mysteries" as they were called, and the 
ferocious sport of bull-baiting. The former was unquestionably the 
rude nursery from which our regular drama sprung, and as such it 
was useful m its time ; but it also led to the dissemination of scrip- 
tural knowledge, however revolting to our modem notions of treating 
such subjects the means may have been. Fortunately, it was also a 
much favoured amusement, and those unadorned dramas were listened 
to with greedy ears alike by the wealthy burgher, the pains-taking 
artificer, and the haughty knight. But the other pastime, which un- 
fortunately long outlivea the more humanizing ** mysteries," was one 
as well demorelizing as of unmitigated barbarism and brutality ; and 
yet both existed together, exciting equal interest, strangely opposite 
as they were, through many long generations. The ferocious sport 
of the bull-ring was once as largely patronized in these countries as 
at the present day in Spain and Portugal, although it never had 
amongst our ancestors the poor excuse of the picturesque accessories, 
and morbid interest caased by the exposure ot human life on the part 



322 

of the matadores, that makes buU-fighting, in tlie continental coontriei 
which use it, the national amusement and patronized still by nobility 
and royalty. Fitzstephen,^ writing in the reign of king Henry Il^t 
mentions the baiting of bulls and l^ars as a pastime enjoyed, during 
the winter season, by the inhabitants of London, in his time ; and this 
cruel sport continued there, countenanced by the highest classes of 
society for many generations, and even patronised on yarious public 
occasions by two of our female monarchs, Mary and Elizabeth, the 
chroniclers telling us that with such amusements *^ their highnesses 
were ri^ht well content" We may assume that bull-baiting was in 
use in Kilkenny from the period of the establishment of his Rngliah 
colony here by the earl Marshall, in the thirteenth century, and 
througb subsequent ages it continued to be held in hi^h repute. It 
was taken under the special patronage and control of tne corporation 
from an early period, and all the arrangements connected with the 
pastime were confided to a sort of committee of the municipal body, 
which was styled ** The Grand Council of Bull-ring." It must haye 
been esteemed a particular honour to be numbered amount those 
privileged persons, for I find it was recorded in the " Red Book" of 
the corporation, that, in the year 1591, two of the burgesses were 
admitted to the grand council of bull-ring by payment of a fee of 
twenty marks — no inconsiderable sum in those days. But there was 
also an important ciyic fimctionary, whose duties were not only largely 
connected with the sport of bull-baiting, but even the title of his office 
was taken firom it. This official, who was the chief constable of the 
tolvn, and possessed very large powers, before the erecldon of Kilkenny 
into a city by the ^eat charter of James I., was styled *^ the Lord of 
Bull-ring," the chief magistrate of the town being then designated 
** the Soverei^." But when, in the year 1609, James' charter made 
Kilkenny a city, and raised the chief magistrate to the dimiity of a 
mayor, the municipal body also considered it but proper and decorous 
to change the designation of his leading official to *^ Mayor of Bull- 
ring," by which style and title he continued to be known till the end 
of that century. Dr. Ledwich, in his ** Essay towards the History 
and Antiquities of Irishtown and Kilkenny," states that the fimctiona 
of lord of bull-ring were usually ** committed to the care of some re- 
putable bachelor, who was able to contribute to the expenses atten- 
dant on it [the sport of bull baiting], the Guild supplied the rest. A 
certain sum was allowed for his banquet, and he had his sheriffs; his 
election was annual by the citizens, and during his office he was 
guardian of the bachelors, and on their marriage was entertained by 
them, so that he passed his time in festivity and good cheer." From 
an examination of the records of the corporation I have found this 

1 It !• scarcely necessary that I shontd historical notices of the Tarioos games and 
acknowledge my debt to Strutt's "Sportd amusements throughout this paper. I do 
aiid Pastimes" as the source of the brief not quote the passages in detail. 



323 

statement to be iAconrect The holder of the office was not necessap 
rily a bachelor ; he had no sherifici under his jurisdiction, although in 
his functions he was usually aided by the sheriffi of the city ; neither 
was his life passed in the yeiy {feasant manner alleged, nor his post 
one much coveted by the citizens. On the contrary, so onerous were 
the dudes, that heavy fines were frequently paid to escape serving in 
the capacity of lord of bull-ring, and stringent rules were enforced by 
the municipal body for compeUing those elected to the office to dis- 
charge the iunclions. The minutes of the meeting of the corporation, 
held on the Friday after St. John's, 1591, set out in the Red Book, 
supply full information on this subject. The. preamble of one of the 
by-laws then passed, states that the lord of bull-ring was *^ from lime 
immemorial High Constable, and, in time of necessity, had the com- 
mand of the forces of the town, for defence thereof, and used to train 
up the youth in warlike exercises, and had the correction of adultery 
and fornication." It proceeds to say that it had been the custom to 
elect this officer fit)m amongst such members of the merchants' guild 
as had not already filled the office, but several refractory memb^ of 
the guild upon being elected had refused to serve, wherefore it 



Enacted — ^That any person duly elected and refosing to lerre himself in peraon, or 
by a sufficient person, who formerly bore that office, and at his expense, is to forfeit £20, 
and 40 days' imprisonment, without bail : to be levied off the land, goods, and chattels — 
£5 to [go to] the SoTcreign, and £5 to the Merchants' Guild, and to be disfranchised. 
And the person in election to draw lots again, and refusing to serre, to forfeit as afore- 
said ; and so from time to time till the office be filled. And if any suit be commenoed, 
the fine (except the Lord of Bull-ring's part) to be spent in defence. Lawyers of five 
years' standing at the Inns of Court not [to be] subject to this office. The Sovereign 
and Council, with the masters of the Merchants' Guild and Demi*Council, to name those 
that shall be put in election ; and the person elected to certify in fourteen days his wil- 
lingness to stand ; and his not certifying to be taken as a refusal. The ptTSon chosen ' 
may provide one to serve in his place, who served the office before. Persous absent the 
day of election may be chosen as if present. 

Immediately before the making of those rules, it is recorded that 
Robert Garvey consented ** to serve Lord of Bull-ring for life, without 
wages, on banquetting day, for being admitted free." And at a 
meeting held on the 9th July, same year, it 



Ordered — That all persons that bear the office of Lord of Bull-ring, and all who have 
borne it, shall wear their gowns at every high feast, station days, and days of common 
assembly, and burial of every of the Grand Council or Demi-Council, and upon their at- 
tendance on the Sovereign, on pain of 2$, 

The same day another order was made, which exhibits further 
duties of this officer :— 

Corpus Christi fair to be re-continued, and to begin on Wednesday morning befiDre, 
and end on Saturday night following; the Sovereign and Barons of the fsir to appoint 

where [ ] sold, where the booth for selling drink shaU be erected, and 

where each and every sort of merchandize shaU be sold. The Sovereign to write to the 
principal corporations of the kingdom, and to the chief officers of the same [informing 
them] that the fair is re-continued, and that the constable, commonly called the Lord of 
Bttll*ring, shall watch the fair by night with a sufficient number of armed men. 



324 

Immediately on the passing of the charter of 1609, the title was 
changed to ^' Mayor of Bull-ring," and at a meeting of the corporation, 
held on the 13th of October, in that year, I find *^ £6 \3s» Ad. a-piece 
granted to the Sheriffs, for their extraordinary trouble, in considers- 
uon that they served the office of Mayor of Bull-ring ; and the salary 
of £6 13«. Ad. settled on the future Mayors of Bull-ring/' As we 
have seen that some of the fimctions of this officer were discharged by 
night, we can understand the object of the following order, made on 
the same day: — **The Mayor to keep 2 torches and 2 links, the 
Sheriffs 1 torch and 1 link ; and the Mayor of Bull-ring to provide 
and keep 2 torches and 2 links, to be used at such times dunng the 
Christmas holidays as heretofore accustomed." We have also on the 
same day, this order with reference to the bull-baiting itself: — 

The Batchers of the city always to provide sufficient bulls for the bull-baiting, to be 
u«ed St. John's day, in the Christmas holidays ; and the Mayor of the Bull-ring to pro- 
vide ropes and ties ; and the butchers that do not contribute, to be prohibited following 
the trade. 

On the 9th of February, 1609, it was determined *^that every 

Joimg man of the Merchants' Guild shall give his attendance on the 
layor of Bull-ring, as well by night as by day,'* and that official was 
intrusted with the power of committing all such persons as he might 
see fit, on his own responsibility. On the same occasion the corpo- 
ration arranged as to *^ what fees the Mayor of Bull-ring shall have 
from every couple married ;" but, unfortunately, this schedule of fees 
is not preserved for us ; however, it was ordered, by a most incon- 
gruous association, that he should have to his own use ^*all fines 
for firays, bloodshed, battery, and Hue-and-Cry ;" and on the 31st 
* January, 1611, in re-arranging the appropriation of the various fines 
which It was in the power of the chiefmagistrate to inflict, there was 
a special clause entered ^* saving to the High Constable, or Mayor of 
Bull-ring, the fines that fall by night." On the 25th April, 1623, we 
have the following entry — " On a petition of Peter Archer, Mayor of 
Bull-ring, complaming of the bad attendance of the Merchants' guild 
last Easter Monday, in mustering with him. Ordered — that the 
statutes of the corporation be executed upon them if they don't show 
sufficient cause." In 1630, David Brehon, then Mayor of Bull-ring, 
was cited to the Consistorial Court, although for what misdeed we are 
not informed ; but the corporation resolved to pay his costs in the 
suit. On the 13th October, 1631, it was agreed that-^ 

ScTcral sums of the city money having been yearly expended in mending the city 
drums and the market barrels, and in paying extravagant wages to masons and carpenters 
employed in the city works ; ordered — ^that from henceforth the Mayor of RuIUring shall 
keep up and repair the dty drumsi and the under clerk of the market the market-barrels 
and measures. 

The last entry which I have been able to trace in the documents of 
the corporation, respecting this officer, is in the '^ White Book," under 



325 

the date S0th October, 1687, when it was recorded that " Mr. Philip 
Stapleton was sworn Hi^h Constable and Major of Bull-ring." In 
the beginning of the ensuing century, buU-baiting, though still in high 
favour amongst the lower orders, seems to have fallen into disrepute 
amongst the wealthier classes of society in Kilkenny, and the muni- 
cipal body ceased to patronise the barbarous pastime, so that the title 
of ^^ Mayor of Bull-ring" was discontinued, and the official who pre- 
ously bore that designation* was retained under the style of *^ High 
Constable" only. 

But although the corporation ceased to countenance bull-baiting in 
the eighteenth century, we cannot suppose the chan^ in their senti- 
ments to have arisen Lm any increas^finementTf feeling or rapid 
advance of civilization amongst them ; on the contrary I find that they 
only relinquished this horrible sport for the enjoyment of the equally 
savage, though perhaps more rennedly cruel pastime afforded by the 
cock-pit Cock-fighting claims the sanction of high antiquity, having 
been practised at an early period amongst the Greeks and Romans. 
It was in use amongst the citizens of London immediately after the 
arrival of the Normans, became a fashionable amusement in the reign 
of Edward III., was hurgely patronised by Henry VIII., who added 
a cock-pit to the palace of WhitehaU, and was so much relished by 
James I. that he amused himself in seeing it twice a-week. Thus 
the pastime must have been known and practised in Kilkenny long 
before the eighteenth century, although I have found no mention of 
it prior to the year 1747) when, on the 31st of August, at a meeting 
of the corporation, it was — 

Ordered, by a mtjority of the Board, that a oock-pit be built, and that the sum of 
£20 be giTen by this dty for building the same, provided a conyenient place be got for 
building it upon the city ground, and under such further restrictions as shall seem proper 
to this Board. That tire present Mayor [Ambrose Evans], the Mayor-elect [Joseph 
Erans], and George Forster be appointed oTcrseers of the same or any two of them. 

And it is evident that no time was lost in carrying out this resolution, 
for on the 20th January following it was ordereo— " that the Mayor 
do pay Mr. George Forster £20 for building a cock-pit, pursuant to 
former order.'' This cock-pit was erected in Mary's-bme near St. 
Mary's Church — strange association! — ^indeed, according to an ori- 
ginal affidavit of the year 1816, which casually came into my pos- 
session, it was even built in the church-yard.^ As illustrating this 
curious fact, I may be permitted here to give a copy of the docu- 
ment, otherwise in itself of little importance. In consequence of re- 
cording the names of the gentlemen who acted as judges, it shows 

' It would appear from the occasional of the district, it would seem, were in the 
notices of the " sport" placed on record in habit of challenging those of the adjoining 
Finn* I Lenuier Jotumal^ a newspaper pub* counties to encounters by their feathered re- 
lished in Kilkenny at the time, that there presentatives, and thus frequent ''matches" 
was also a cock-pit in John-street some- came off, upon which the credit and cele- 
what later in the last century. The gentry brity of the respective counties were deemed 



326 

the degree of respectable patronage which the barbarous pasdme 
found even within the present century : — 

tv-it 4 '4 r ^^ ^y ^™^ betOM me Patrick Mtgnth, of Maudlin-street, m 

of Kilkenny, to wit. J ^^ q^^ Brogoe-maker , and made oath upon the Holy BvangelitU. 
Deponent saitb that the fint match of cocks fooght in the Ckick Pit, St. Mary's Choieb- 
yard, on the 27th February instant, was justly and fairly won by Deponent and hit party; 
and that this affidavit is made at the desire of the Judges appointed, William ColcUn^, 
Esq., and Mr. Morgan Man ; all which Deponent swears to be true. 

Sworn before me this 28th dayl 

of February, 1816, V Fatt. Ma«aath. 

Wm. KiMoaMiu., D. Mayor. J 

But although buU-baitiiig, in order to make wivj for cock-fighting, 
was excluded irom the category of polite recreations in Kilkenny in 
the be^nning of the eighteenth century ; it still remained a much 
affected pastime with the lower classes, the butchers, however, keep- 
ing the direction and arrangement of the sport amongst themselves, 
as they supplied the animal whose torture was to amuse the mob. 
In this way it survived to the present generation, a bull being baited 
regularly every Michaelmas Day, on tne occasion of the swearing of 
the new mayor into office, and some mayors even contributing money 
towards increasing the festivity, in order to make themselves popu- 
lar with the butchers' fraternity — always considered a very important 
ally on occasions of political excitement. The original bull-ring was 
in the neighbourhood of St. Francis' Abbev, where the locahty is 
still termed ** The Ring ;** but the modem bull-bditing always took 
place in St. James' Green, and the last time the savage spectacle was 
there witnessed was so late as the 29th September, 1837. 

I have already remarked that when bull-beating was most 
largely and generally patronized by the inhabitants of Kilkenny of 
all classes and conditions, the penbrmance of the *^ mystery^ ' or 
religious play, excited equal pleasure in the minds of our foremdiers. 
These reugious plays originated in the wish of the clergy to substi- 
tute for the profane games and dialogues, with which uae jongleurs 
amused the people, means of entertaiment which would, at the same 
time, inculcate a moral lesson and convey instruction, upon eccle- 
siastical and scriptural history in a forcible manner to the minds of 
the vulgar. Originally performed in the churches and by members 

to depend. The following extract from of which were fought each day, and ended 

Fmn's Ltimter Journal of Saturday, April as follows :— 
30th, 1768, will serve to convey an idea of 

the manner in which these cruel contests Comity KUkenny. 

were reported for the public information: — T^S2^ ' ' *. 2 

** Monday last the great Stag Match be- Wednesday ! \ a 

tween the Gentlemen of the County of Thnndiv ... 8 

Kilkenny and Queen's County, began at ^^^ ~ 
the Cockpit in John*street, and was won by 

the Gentlemen of the County of Kilkenny ; <• Feeders. — Maher, for Kilkenny ; Jolm- 

the main consisted of twenty battles, five son, for Queen's County/' 



Qneen'i Coan^. 
Monday . . . t 
Tnaoday ... I 
Wadneaday . . ] 
Thnraday . . S 

Total 9 



327 

of religious communitieSy they began to be played in the open air, on 
stages erected for the purpose, about the thirteenth century, and soon 
the characters were sustained by the youn^ men of the various trades 
in the towns. " Mysteries'* were, no doubt, performed in Eolkenny 
firom a very early period, but none of the particular subjects chosen 
for the pieces are recorded till the reign of Edward VI., when on the 
20th August, 1552, two of these compositions from the pen of John 
Bale, then Bishop of Ossory, were acted here, of which not only the 
titles, but the very plays Uiemselves have come down to us. Bale 
himself in one of his curious tracts, mentions the circumstance in 
these words — ^^ The yonge men, in the ferenoon, played a tragedye 
of God's promyses in the olde law, at the Market Cross, with organe 
plainges and songes very aptly. In the aftemoone agayne they played 
a comedie of Smct Johan Baptistes preachings of Christe's bap- 
tisynge, and of his temptacion in the wildemesse." The first of 
these mysteries, which is divided into seven acts, is published in the 
first volume of Dodsley's Old Plays, where it is entitled *^ A Tragedye 
or Enterlude of God's Promises," and its object is stated to be to 
manifest **the chefe promyses of God unto man by all ages in the 
old lawe, from the rail of Adam to theincamacyon of the Lorde 
Jesus Christ." The second is printed amongst the tracts in the 
HcurUian Miscellany^ vol. i. ; it is truly, as its title sets out, *^A Brief 
Comedy or £nterlude of Johan Baptystes preachynge," consisting of 
but one act. The dramatis persona — or, as they are here termed, 
" interlocutors" — brought before the public in these old dramas, seem 
extremely strange to our modem tastes, and however unexception- 
able the teaching put into the mouths of the actors, the mind natu- 
rally shrinks firom the idea of personifying upon the stage such cha- 
racters as "Pater CsdestiB," ** Jesus Christus," ** Joannes Baptista," 
and so on through all the saints and prophets, together with publi- 
cans, pharisees, and saducees, &c. The bishop himself appeared on 
the stage with " the young men" who were the performers, and with 
his own lips spoke an opening and closing address, conresponding 
with our prologue and epilogue. On the 20th April, 1610, the cor- 
poration of Kilkenny resolved '* That the mayor and aldermen, with 
advice of the sheriffs and such of the second council as they shall cull 
shall order the celebration of Corpus Christi Day in decent and so- 
lenm manner as usual, and shall employ carpenters to make rails for 
keeping out horses and the mob, and for placing strangers at the 
place where the interlude shall be plaid." Seasons of festival, such 
as Christmas and Easter, were usually selected for the performance 
of mysteries, though in various towns different times were appointed 
for the exhibition. Chaucer in his " Canturbury Tales," speaks of 
the "miracle plays" as being exhibited during the season of Lent; 
the Chester mysteries were performed in that town at Whitsun-tide ; 
those of Coventry, as was the custom in Kilkenny, at Corpus Christi. 
According to the '' Red Book of Kilkenny," on the 23rd July, 1610, 



328 



the corporation determined to allow ** a salary of 208. for keeping 
the apparel used on Corpus Christi day station, and the apparel ot ^e 
mornes and players of the Resurrection." The " monies ' were pro- 
bably the morris-dancers. A fragment of a play styled the ** Rc^r- 
rection," written in the thirteenth century, is one of the most ancient 
of the French mysteries, preserved to the present day. Under the 
date 13th January, 1631, there was an entry in the ** Red Book" of 
^^ £3 13s. 4d. per annum, granted to William Consey for teaching to 
write and read, and instructing the children of the natives for the 
play on Corpus Christi day ;" and we have evidence that the locality 
chosen for the erection of the stage on these occasions was still the 
same as in the time of Bishop Bale, for on the 1 3th April, 1632, the 
town clerk made this memorandum-:—^* The north side of the market 
cross granted to two persons for shops during the fair time of Corpus 
Christi, in regard their shops are stopt up by the stations and play of 
Corpus Christi day." 

However ill agreeing with our modem notions may be the idea 
of seeing sacred subjects thus treated, we can easily understand that 
the custom was not without its usefulness in the olcfen time, not only 
for the opportunity it presented of drawing away the people from 
evil modes of recreation and of inculcating good advice on moral 
subjects, but for its satisfying the consciences of both writer, actor, 
and spectator, that the time devoted to the production and witnessing 
of these spectacles, was well spent. Why the corporation of Kil- 
kenny should so largely patronise them is obvious enough, for as 
being a great attraction in themselves, they helped to draw a larger 
attendance of persons to the Corpus Christi fair, and thus increased 
the trade of the town. Civic bodies in other towns, both in Ireland 
and England, seem to have viewed the matter in this light, for 
Dugdale, in his ** Antiquities of Warwickshire," printed in 1656, 
spewing of the Coventry mysteries, observes, " I have been told by 
some old people, who in their younger years were eye-witnesses of 
these pageants so acted, that the yearly confluence of people to see 
that snow was extraordinary great, and yielded no small advantage to 
this city." The mysteries continued to be performed in Kilkenny 
till the year 1650, when they were discountenanced and put down 
as offensive to the strict principles of the Cromwellian adventurers 
who then settled in the city and became paramount in the corpora- 
tion.' 



1 These '* mysteries'' tre still performed 
amongst the primitive people of Lower 
firitanny. Mr. Trollope, in his ** Summer 
in Britanny*' (vol. ii. pp. 1-14), gives a 
highly interesting account of the perform- 
ance, at which he was present, of a drama- 
tic piece, termed " The Life and Death of 
St. Helen," and which might stand for a 
description of any of those scenes that 
were witnessed at the Market Cross of 



Kilkenny three centuries since. Even in 
America ** religious plays" would appear 
to be acted up to the present day. Mr. Cro- 
zier, bandmaster of the 81st regiment, who 
was present at the meeting of the Kilkenny 
Archaeological Society when this paper was 
read, stated that, having been in New York 
in the year 1847, he there saw at one of 
the minor theatres, a performance of this 
kind, entitled " The Birth of Mosea." 



329 

At what time cards (which, whether thej had their origin in 
France, Spain, or Germany, were not known on the Continent till 
the fourteenth century, or in England till the fifteenth) and dice 
(which we know were used by the ancients for the purposes of gam- 
bling) were introduced in Kilkenny, I have no means ot ascertaining, 
but the first mention I find of them in the corporation records is 
in the beginning of the seventeenth century. On the 9th February, 
1609, a bye-law was made ^* That no person do play at cards or 
dice with any freeman's son, or hired servant, on pain of 6s. 8d. ; 
and the person in whose house they shall play to forfeit 6s. 8d." The 
object of this enactment was to prevent masters firom suffering either 
from the loss of time on the part of their servants and apprentices, or 
from the latter being temptea to purloin the property placed in their 
care, to enable them to indulge their gambling propensities ; and it is 
in some degree only the echo of the statute of tne 1 1th Henry VIII., 
c. 2, prohibiting apprentices firom using cards except in the Christ- 
mas holidays, and then only in their masters' houses ; and forbidding 
any householder to permit card-playing on his premises at any other 
season, imder a penalty of 6s. 8d. for every offence. But on the 
same 9th of February, 1609, the corporation of Kilkenny also made 
another bye-law on this subject, having reference to the community 
generally. It was enacted that ** none of the inhabitants do play at 
cards, dice, or any unlawful game for more than 8d. at a time (shoot- 
ing and tennis excepted^, on pain of 6s. 8d. on the winner" — the 
loser it appears was considered sufficiently punished by his ill-luck 
at the game. 

With respect to the amusements here excluded fipm the category 
of ** unlawful games" — shooting and tennis — by the former the prac- 
tice of archery is evidently meant to be implied. A poem written by 
Robert Shotterell in the reign of Charles II., in praise of archery, 
has the following stanza : — 

Forsake your loy'd Olympian games awhile, 
With which the tedious minutes you beguile — 
Wave quoits and nine-pins, those bear-garden sports, 
And follow shooting, often used in courts. 

Again, amongst the Percy Reliques : — 

The butts are set, the shootings made, 
And there will be great royaltie, 
And I am sworn into my bille, 
Thither to bring my Lord Percy. 

The place in which the butts, or targets, for the practice of 
archery, were usually set up in Kilkenny, is still known as " the 
Butts' green," although the inhabitants of that populous locality have 
very little notion of the origin of the appellation.* On the statute-book 

1 There is a place in the town of War- from the same circumstance as gives name 
wick still called ** The Butts," no doubt to the locality in Kiikeoiiy. 

42 



330 

of the realm there are many ordinances for enforcing practice with the 
bow and arrows in Ireland. In the reign of Henry VIII., as would 
appear from the State Papers, the Government was apprehensive of 
the decline of archery, and thus in the year 1537f we have the re- 
port of a commission recommending to the Lord Deputy, St. Leger, 
** Item, bycause the strengyth of this countrey is much decayed in 
defaulte of archers, it is uierfor mete some provysion shulde be 
made that 3 or 400 wyche bowes, of all sortes, be brought hyther, 
and solde emonges the power comyns, with commaundyment that 
buttes be made in every paiyshe, and none other game usid but 
shooteing." And also the Chief Justice, Luttrell, in the same year, 
suggests to the Deputy ^^to have certain bowyers and fletchers 
sende hyther [into Ireland] to make childrens bowes and shades, and 
the chyldren, after scole, to use shoteing one owre or two every daye. 
And also to have much bowys sent hyther at the Einges charges . • 
• . • . to thentent to cause men and chyldren to be archers» and 
bothe-to be caused to use shewteing on hollydayes, and the counsta- 
bles, with the over sight of the justices of the peace, to see this occu- 
pied and useid." 

The corporation of Kilkenny no doubt classed tennis with archery 
as being a manly sport. It appears from Roque's map of the town that the 
tennis court was situate in St. James'-street, in the premises at present 
in the occupation of the Messrs. Reade, as a bacon yard. The game 
is said to have originated in France, and was known in England cer- 
tainly in the reign of Henry VII., as the accounts of that king's losses 
at the play are preserved amongst the public records. Heniy VIIL 
built a tennis c^urt at his palace of Whitehall, and James I. recom- 
mended the same to his son Charles, as an exercise becoming a prince ; 
but we are led to believe that till the reign of Charles II., tennis did not 
become a game of general use amongst the common people, and it is, 
therefore, curious to find it noticed amongst the ordinary amusements 
of the burghers of Kilkenny, in the reign of James I.; however, it 
was probably brought over from the English court by some of the 
Ormonde family, whose example the Kilkenny folk would be anxious 
to follow. Another game, that of bowls (which at the present day, I 
believe, is no where practised in Ireland, although one of the most 
popular pastimes in England, where almost every village ale-house is 
provided with the adjunct of a bowling-green), appears to have for a 
time occupied the attention of the Kilkenny people, it having been 
patronised by the second duke of Ormonde. The old maps of the 
city, beside a bowling-green in the Castle grounds, also mark one in 
the neighbourhood of Bishop's-hill, both of which have long since 
disappeared. That voluminous writer, John Dunton, having taken 
a tnp to Kilkenny in the year 1698, has left us an interestm^ de- 
scription of the Castle as it was then arranged, and having noticed the 
picture-gallerV) he says — ^^ I next went to see the Bowling-green ad- 
joining this Princely Seat. It is an exact square, and one enough 



331 

for a Duke to bowl on ; nay. Church and State were here at Play — 
for when the Doctor and I came to the Green, the Duke was then 

flinging the first bowl; next trowled the Bishop of ; Col. 

R ; with about four inferior clergy-"* 

The sabbath was the chief day K>r the indulgence of popular 
pastimes down to the middle of the seventeenth centuir, when a 
stricter discipline was introduced into the government of Kilkenny 
by the passing of municipal offices into the hands of the settlers whom 
Cromwell len there. Under the date 26th December, 1656, the fol- 
lowing resolution of the corporation is set out in the ^^ White Book :" 

It is further ordered that ye Sar'ts [sergeants] shall every sabath day walk aboutt 
ye towne, morning and evening, daring ye time of service, to find outt those whoe walke 
in ye streets, and by drinking or otherwise playing att dice or cards prophane and brake 
ye sayd sabath day, and call ye constables of each warde to their assistance, and if they 
finde any person soe offending, to carry them to prison, and there do continue till dis- 
charged, and to bringe ye house keeper to prison also. 

It would appear, too, that in the beginning of the following century 
the dissolute characters of the city, like Hogarth's idle apprentice and 
his associates, used to assemble to gamble on the tombstones in the 
public cemeteries, which were not tnen inclosed and fenced &om in- 
trusion, as at present. On the II th of February, 1717, the corporation 
made ^e following bye-law : — 

Whereas, several idle and disorderly p'sons have of late years, and still continue to 
assemble themselves in the church-yards of this Citty, there to exercise themselves in the 
nnlawfull sports, prophaneing the name of Ood by their frequent cursing and swearing, 
and abusing thehr respective parents and masters, by neglecting their duties to them — for 
remedy whereof, we the Mayor and Citizens doo order and enact, that for the future such 
beadles or other officers belonging to the Mayor of this City, and not then immediately 
attending the said Mayor, together with the constables of St. Mary's Parish, and John's 
Parish, do, from time to time, visit the said church yards, taking to their assistance some 
of their neighbours, apprehend aU or some of the p'sons, playing or throwing att cocks 
as aforesaid, and them bring before the Mayor of this City to be punished according to 
law ; and if the said Beadles and other officers and constables, for the time being, shaU 
neglect or refuse to doo their duty herein, that such idle and disorderly persons shidl meet 
and continue their evil practices aforesaid, that then, on complaint of the said Mayor or 
other magistrate to this board, the said beadle or beadles, or other officer soe neglecting 
or refusing, shall, for the first offence, forfeit lOs. sterling, to be stopped out of his salary 
or wages, and for the second offence be discharged from his service of beadle or other 
office which he beareth in this City ; and such constable indited for his said neglect or 
refusale at the Sessions then next following ; and that the said beadles, constables, and 
other ofilcers, may be without excuse, it is hereby ordered that a copy of this by-law be 
mmediately fixed on the TholseU and gates of this Citty. 

I do not find any notice, in the records of the corporation, of May, 
Midsummer, or Christmas games in Kilkenny in the olden time, ai- 

> Dunton's ** Dublin Scuffle," p. 53. The serves : — ** The Bowling-Green is now corn- 
author of a tour in Ireland, in letters pur* mon for any Gentleman that pays for his 
porting to be written by " Two English . Pleasure : it is generally the Rendesvons of 
Gentlemen," and the second edition of both Sexes for an Evening's Walk ; and I 
which was publiihed in 1748, in describing will assure your Lordship, I have seen the 
the ruinous condition into which Kilkenny BeoKnumde here make a very handsome 
Castle had fallen after the flight of the Figure," p. 180. There are now no traces 
second Duke of Ormonde to France, ob- whatsoever of the Castle bowling-green. 



332 

thaugli the Christmas widtB, still called here, must be a relic of the 
latter ; and we have still also faint remains of the two former in the 
May-bush boys^ and the St. John's day bonfires. Neither is there 
any reference to athletic exercises, such as hurling^ or wrestling, nor 
to horse-racing and such like amusements, which mtist have been in 
use. It would seem, however, that in the last century, the young 
women of the town, like the damsels of the days of Fionn M'Gumhaill, 
according to the legend, were in the habit of running on foot for a 
prize, and that this sind of sport was held out as an mducement to 
strangeis, as were the ** mysteries" of previous centuries, to visit Kil- 



> In the last centnry, the May observances 
of the lower orders in Kilkenny, although 
not interfered with by the regulations of 
the corporation, appear to have been re- 
garded by the citizens in the light of a 
public nuisanee, if we may rely on the fol- 
lowing curious letter, published in Fmn't 
LemtterJounuUt of the 4th May, 1768 :— 

** To the Printer of the Leinster Joamal. 

'*SiR — ^Though the following piece of 
ftdrice may appear tomething like — After 
Death the Doctor — it may, however (like a 
remedy taken for the ague when the fit is 
over), contribute in some measure to pre- 
vent the next periodical fit of the mob of 
this town. 

" For many years past the peace of this 
city has been disturbed every May-eve, by 
a vast multitude of audadons fellows, who 
assemble together to collect May^baUe 
among the new-married folks. They sally 
out with Herculean clubs in their hands, 
and as those unmeaning May-balle are 
seldom or never given without a piece of 
drink-moMy to boot, such bloody battles 
ensue in different quarters of the town, 
■uch confusion and uproar, as would induce 
a passing stranger to believe that a furious 
band of wild ludians had broken in upon 
ns ; that Magistracy was asleep, or that it 
had lost all power and influence over the 
subject. The mischief that follows from 
this barbarous and unheeded custom ia 
more /eeUngly understood than can be ex- 
pressed. Not to mention the fractures, 
contusioni, &e., which are well known to 
happen on such occasions, and by which 
many of those miscreants are disabled for 
a considerable time from working for them- 
•elves, and for the support of those who 
entirely depend upon their sound legs and 
arms, many Gentlemen's gardens are wan- 
tonly robbed of aU their beauties, the cul- 
tivation of which cost the owner a vast 
deal of trouble and expense; the hedges 



and fences, in the outlets of our City, are 
stript of full-gruwn hawthorns, whose late 
blooming pride and fragrancy is now mise- 
rably dying away on dunghills before cabin 
doors, by way of Mey-buthee, no longer, 
alas! to afford a nuptial bed to the new- 
married linnet and his mate, but fastened 
in the ground for the vilest purposes— Tb 
hang filthy clouts upon. 

"And shaU Magistracy stand by, looking 
on such mischievous abuses like an uncon- 
cerned spectator ? — No— that same justice 
and humanity, which has already redressed 
so many grievances in this City, will cer- 
tainly prescribe the following remedy, to 
be used before the mob's fit returns again. 

** Rbcipb-** Twenty-fbur drams or hours 
imprisonment ; as many blisters as can be 
placed upon the scapulars ; their names re- 
corded with infamy on the Grand-jury's 
list ;' for aU those club-bearers, and for all 
those hedge-robbers, if any of them can be 
discovered and can be convicted at the 
next Quarter Sessions; if not, let such 
public and previous warnings be given for 
the time to come, by the inferior officers of 
the City, as may deter those wicked bullies, 
and those wild boars who have trampled 
upon, and ravished all the sweets of our 
little EdenMt as well as all givers of Jf(qr- 
baUtf from ever doing the like again. I 
am. Sir, not a eufferer^ but a hearty well- 
wisher of the City of Kilkenny, and your 
constant reader, 

" Flo&ub." 

* It would appear fhxn the file of ^ma's 
Lemtter Joumai, for the year 1768, that at 
that period hurling was qidte an aristocratic 
amusement in the rural districts, and there 
are frequent challenges recorded, between 
the gentlemen of Ki&enny, Tipperary, and 
the Queen's County, to hurling matches, 
which were held on the fair-green of Ur- 
lingford, the commons of Gowran, and the 
green of Gurteen, near Durrow. 



333 



kenny on the occasiott of faiis being held in it. I am indebted to our 
excellent town clerk, Patiick Watters, Esq., for the reference to this 
pastime, which had escaped my researches. It appears that on the 
10th June, 1703, John Blunden being then mayor, the corporation 
came to the following resolution : — 

Ordered, thtt the bell-man do every market-day give pnblie notice, that there will 
be a lair held within the walla of thia city on the feast day of the nativity of St. John the 
Baptist, and on the feast of St. Kennys next, and all persons to be custom free ; and that 
the clerk do post up papers on the gates accordingly ; and that two pieces of plate of 20s. 
▼allue each be prepared by Mr. Mayor, at the charge of this City, to be mnn for by four 
maids, as the Mayor shaU appoint* 

And on the 22nd August, 1713, it was-— 

Ordered, that the Town Clerk do post up that the fair held on St. Canice's day, 
being the 11th October next, be custom free to all buyers and sellers for seven years then 
to come ; and that a plate of 23s. value, yearly, be run for by five young women to be 
approved of by the Mayor ; and that Mr. Receiver do have it advertised in the Dublin 
Gasett€,^ at the City charge. 

It will be seen that all the popular pastimes of the practice of 
which in Kilkenny, in the olden time, the municipal records afford us 
positive evidence, are almost exclusively of Norman or Anglo-Saxon 
derivation ; but there is one bye-law which may be taken as affording 
a clue to the use of games which were of purely Celtic origin. On 
the 25th June, 1638, this order was made — *' No Mayor to go to any 
wake to eat or drink, on pain of £10." From this I think it is 
reasonable to suppose that the wake orsies — those remnants of Pagan 
rites, all traces ot which now, at length, in the nineteenth century, 
have been, I believe, happily obliterated amongst the usages of our 
peasantry, by the determmed discouragement and denunciation of 
the Roman Catholic clergy * -—may have been indulged in by the 
citizens of Kilkenny two hundred years since. 



> Having searched the file of the Dublin 
Oai€it0t for the year 1713, in the library 
of Trinity College, Dublin, I find that the 
advertiseinent, ordered as above, was never 
inserted. 

' The public generally, are under the 
impression that the paston of the peasantry 
have eierted themselves to put down wakes, 
merely from the unseemliness of the indul- 
gence of mirth and games, however innocent 
in their character, in the chamber, or the 
house of death. I so thought myself untill 
recently, when I was undeceived by Mr. 
Hackett, of Middleton, a gentleman whose 
research on the subject of existing traces 
of Pagandom in Inland, is vrell known to 
archseologists.Subsequent inquiries amongst 
those who are likely to be best informed as 
to popular cnstoms,from mizingin the games 
and observances of the peasantry in early 
youth, and who have, therefore, had oocular 



demonstratioB of the facts to which they 
testified, have fully corroborated Mr. Hac* 
kett's statement as to the gross obscenity 
of the wake orgies, and his speculations as 
to their Heathen origin. Whilst we must 
rejoice that customs so revolting to aU 
notions of delicacy and civilization, and so 
laigely calculated to demoralize our people, 
have been put down, and I trust eradicated, 
it is yet to be regretted that some record 
is not likely to Im preserved of the maim 
features of observances so curious, and cal* 
culated to be so interesting to archsological 
inAstigators, as being obviously Pagan rites 
(however diluted and modified in the lapse 
of ages), coming down to our own day in 
the practice of the peasantry of at least 
three of the provinces of Irdand; but so 
merited are they in every pert by the all- 
pervading licentiousness of Paganism, thai 
to spare the feelings of the modest ntder, 



334 

Such, and other means of recreation, as simple or as barbarous, 
were the resources of our ancestors ; and fed and surfeited as the pre- 
sent generation has been by the ever-teeming harvests of exciting 
fiction and intellectual amusement*— the lecture, the theatre, the opera, 
the concert — with every taste gratified and every leisure moment 
filled up, it seems scarcely posnble to conceive a state of existence 
when the same mental aliment was not forthcoming, and when what 



if vrritten tt all, they should be confided to 
the guardianship of a dead language. In 
this place I can bat refer to their nature 
in the most general terms. These wake 
games were nerer performed in the houses 
of persons who felt really afllicted by the 
bereavement which they might be supposed 
to have endured in the demise of a member 
of their family. They were reserved for 
the deaths of old people who had survived 
the ordinary span of life, or young children 
who could not be looked upon as an ir- 
reparable loss. They were placed under 
the conduct of some peasant of the district 
who excelled in rustic wit and humour, and 
this person, under the title of ** Borekeen," 
may be termed the hierophant of the ob- 
servances, whose orders were carried into 
force by subordinate officers, aU arrayed 
in fantastic habiliments. The '*game" 
usually first performed was termed ** Bout," 
and was joined in by men and women, who 
all acted a very obscene part which cannot 
be described. The next scene generally 
was termed " Making the Ship," with iU 
several parts of '* laying the keel," forming 
the *' stem and stem," and erecting ** the 
mast," the latter of which was done by a 
female using a gesture and expreaaion, 
proving beyond doubt that it was a relic 
of Pagan rites. The " BuU and the Cow" 
was another game strongly indicative of a 
Pagan origin, from circumstances too in- 
delicate to be particularised. The game 
caUed "Hold the Light," in which a man 
is blindfolded and flogged, has been looked 
upon as a profane travestie of the passion 
of our Lord; and religion might also be 
considered as brought into contempi by 
another of the series, in which a person 
caricaturing a priest, and wearing a rosary, 
composed of small potatoes strung together, 
enters into conflict with the " BorekeA," 
and is put down and expelled from the 
room by direction of the latter. If the 
former games be deemed remnants of Pagan 
rites and of ante-Christian origin, these 
latter may be looked upon aa anti-Christian, 
and devised with a view of making religion 
ridiculous, at a time when the masses had 



a lingering predilection for Paganism. 
« Turning the Spit" and « Selling the Pig" 
are the names of two other of those games ; 
in that called '* Drawing the Ship out of 
the Mud" the men engaged actually pre- 
sented themselves before the rest of tho 
assembly, females as well as males, in a 
state of nudity, whilst in another game the 
female performers attired themselves in 
mens' clothes and conducted themselves in 
a very strange manner. Brief as are these 
particulars, they will give sufficient idea of 
the obscene and demoralising tendency of 
the wake orgies, and show the necessity 
which existed for their total suppressioni 
It is, however, right to say that the peasan- 
try who practised them had no idea of out- 
raging propriety or religion in their perfor- 
mance, holding an unquestioning faith in 
the old traditions that such o^rvancea 
were right and proper at wakes, whilst 
under any other dreumstances they would 
shrink with horror from such indelicate 
exhibitions. Amongst those obscene prac- 
tices, some of the ordinary *' small plays" 
in which young people in every class of 
society indulge, were engaged in at wakea ; 
but it is probable they were of comparatively 
modem introduction ; of the latter, those 
chiefly used were ** Cutchacutchooo" and 
" Hunt the Slipper," known amongst the 
peasantry by the name of ** Brogue about" 
The *^ Drohedy Dance," supposoi to be the 
ancient Morris dance, was also sometimes 
had recourse to at wakes. Mr. Haekett 
traces a similarity to our wake orgies, in 
the rites still used by many savage peoples— 
for instance, the games of the Mandaa 
Indians commemorative of the '* Big Canoe," 
or Ark ; and he has drawn my attention to 
a passage in the " Annals of the Propagation 
of the Faith," in which a missionary priest 
reported that he had experienced compara- 
tively little difficulty in converting the 
Fecjee islanders to an acknowledgment of 
Christianity but he found it utterly im- 
possible to induce the natives to omit the 
obscenities enacted between death and in- 
terment. This may be merely a coincidence, 
but it is, at least, a remarkable one. 



335 



has become for us a very necessity of our daily lives, was either utterly 
unknown, or was enjoyed as a luxury, rarely and with extreme ^£- 
culty to be obtained. 



INAUGUEATION 

OF 

CATHAL CROBHDHEARG O'CONOR, 

KING OP CONNAUGHT. 

TRANSLATED BT MB. JOHN O'DALT, WITH NOTES BT JOHN 0*DONOVAN, ESQ.. 

liL.D.f M.K«I>A» 

The following tract, on the inauguration of Cathal Crobhdhearg (the 
red-handed) 0*Conor, last king ot Connaught, was written by Donogh 
Bacach (the lame), son of Tanaidhe O'Maelconaire, who was present 
at the ceremony, and whose privilege it was to place the royal rod in 
the hands of the king, when he assumed the sovereignty of Connaught. 
I made the copy from a manuscript written by Eoghan O'Keeffe,' a 
celebrated Munster poet and scribe in the year 1684, which is the 
only copy I ever met with. 

Eoghan O'Keeffe, the transcriber, was bom at Glenville, in the 
county of Cork, in the year 1656, and died, parish priest of Donendle, 
in 1 720. He wrote several excellent poems, on national events, in his 
native tongue — one of which, on the defeat of the Irish at the battle 
of Aughrim, where St. Ruth's jealousy of the Irish officers caused 
the destruction of James' last army, is in my coUectioni and begins 
thus: — 

'* Sift b-ctteAr5An-f)e At) QAcAfWfntf bo ffol 6|b|fi» 
'5 CA]lleAtbA|f| AD lOACATtte bo'ii t>tto]i)5 ceAbQA; 
feAfiAm)Ar qa q-^aIIacoi) a s-cftfc f^^tXjn^, 
Cu5 reAlA& i^e saij feAfSAitieAcc a|i be]Di) rlefbe." 

" The slaoghter of Heber's race on Anghrim's plain, 
And the lots of the batUe-field by the lame. 
The inheritance of the Stranger in Felim's land, 
Has left me awhile, oonifortlesa,on a mountain side." 

I have made copies of almost all his compositions from the originals, 
some of which are in the Hudson collection, in the Royal Irish 
Academy, while others have been carried to a foreign land. 

To l3r. CDonovan's kindness the reader is indebted for the valu- 
able notes which accompany the text. 

1 For a further account of Eoghan Poets and Poetry qf Muneter, second 
O'Keeffe and his brother bards, see my edition, p. 38. 



336 



ea5 »5U5 10K9)I)U5 

Cl)2lTn)2lJl Ct)RO)Bt^l)ejR3 Ih) C1)0NCl)UBl)ajR, 

Kf3D cowHaa)c. 

ainiJO iDO|nfnft 1224. CacaI C]iob8eA|i3 it)Ac Co]]t6eAlbAf5 
Tbd]|i b-j Cboi)cu6A]|i b*f ^5Af I b^]f 9 eA6oi)^ ]t]t Coi^oacc ; A17 bu^i>e 
bA ii)6 5|i^]i) A5Uf eA]i^f UAic A|i 5AC leAC a i)-6]|ifi)D. t)uii)e Af iryo 
bo ]t]i) bo c|teACA]b Asuf bo lo]f5C|b A]t ^b^llA A3uf a|i Sb^oibeAU 
bo bjof ii)A A3A]6, ^u]i)e Af cjtdbA A3Uf Af A]ijb|ieAi)bA fie I>-eAf- 
CA]|tb]b c4i]i)eA6 ]t]Ati)« 4>tt]i)e Af tnd bo 7td-6All, |io-TbA]tb, A3Uf 
]t6-ffi>ACCAf6 bo Ti)ife]|tleACA]b A3Uf b*eAfCA]T^]b. 4>u]i)e b*feA]t|i 
fjc A3Uf f^]fbe 6^11)13 bo |il03A]b &|]teAi)i) |i|Ati)* t)a]i)e Af itjd bo 
cd3A]b bo ceATi7pAllA]q A3Uf bo ti)A|i)]fb|ieACA]b A3af bo cd|Ti|C|oi76- 
bU] c]i)i)ce Ai) A|n)f ||i a beACA 6. 4)u]i)e Af ti)6 bo ^td-f^fA^b bo 
boccA^b A3Uf bo 6|6-leAi)A]b 4)6 6, a|fi7 b^A6, u]n) 6AbAC, ^S^f ^1^ 
3AC eAfhA]6 fA03AlcA bo b| OftiiAt ^ija qj ffe]i). 4)tt]i)e Af ido ]I)A]i 

0|b|t]6 4)|A 3AC T1JA]C ^IJA A]T1)f]|l ffe|lj A 1>-6||1]I)5 6. 4)tt]lje UT1)0|t|tA 

b^ b-ca3 4>1A tDeAf , cUip, ^S^^f ]0Ti7Ab 3ACA cofiA6 jie a l|pi). <Du|pe 
Af 5eAi)AiDijA]6e A3up Af 3eAi>Art)lA |ie 3AC aoi) yio b| ]te a l]?)!) ffeji) 
6. t)a]i)e uTi)0|i|io |io coi)3A|b fe f fe]i) a|i aoij ti)i)AOf p6fbA A3uf bo 
coi73A]b cotji)C]oi)oi)f itjAic A3af feAbbACc ca|i fe]f a ipijA p6fbA 
b'^tDceACc A3ttf b'fA3A]l b^]f ua]6 3U|i bA iDA|ib e f^ii). t)a|i>e 
b6A|iCAC, be]pc|ife]beAC, a b-cuAC A3uf a Th6A3lA]f 6. t)a]i)e qufi), 
ceAiji)A]f, 4i]l3eAij ]te iDo^^b; fiAll, fA]]ifeAij3, fOjib-f^ilceAC |te 
f]leA6A]b A3Uf |ie b-AO]f 3ACA c6|]ibe, a|i ceAi)i)A} ]td b] Atpu]!, |i6 
c|i;3eAllA6 a be]t bo ]t6]|i leAbAyi a n)-b6AlA]b i)AOfb A3af f ]0]tAOO« 
4)u]i)e Af it)6 b^ b-ca3 4)ia ]on)Ab CA]6bf] A3af UAcb^]f a 3-cACAib 
A3Uf A 5-c|iuA8-co]Dijf3leo6Aib, A3Uf |t6 fAO|i 4)|a fe; A3Uf p] 
tP]D]C bo f AO]leA6 f]i>, 3]6eA6 ^ coca]3 -^S^f T*^ ^S^^b t)]A Af 3AC 
b03Ttu|i)3 6. 4>a]i)e c)t6AT) 6 Iacc a ba]Ti7e 6. ^u]i)e bo ca]c a 
flA^ceAtbi^Af 30 fO|i-c|t&Ai7 feA|tAti)A]l e. 4)tt]i)e bo be]]teAb a ^Mje 
f6]i) b'eA3lA]f C)fe fe. t)u]i)e fiojiAoijbA, fO|]i3l]6e, coda]1, c|Ui]o- 
ceAC, ceA]tob|teACAc 6. 4)tt]i)e i)^ fto frouA^peAb f eAll i)^ floi)3A|ll 
fO|i ijeAC ]f Ai) boii)Ai) |ie b-uAbA|i eAf aoi^ca t)d f 6^1136 ]tf Ait) fe ; 3a 
b-fUA^|t b^f ]oi>>i9olcA ]A|i n)-buA6 0D3CA A3Uf AjCjiiJe. Ctt]3 a 
teA3co]|i 3u]i Ab 6 CacaI CAyijtAc 0'Coi)cubA||i bo b] A3 3le]c f ^ 
ceAi)t7Af i>A cd^3e f|o CbooT^ACc ]te CacaI C|tob6eA]i3, A3ttf 30 jia- 
bAbA]t 3^111 1^-* ^-^ TtA]i)i) A3 cu^b^ujAb leo fO|i 3AC Uac, ^aSoi), 
SeAAi) be Ctt|tf A le CacaI C|tob6eA|t3 ; A3Uf U]ll]AtD tt)AC 2llbe]l- 
n)e]l le CacaI CA|i|tAC. 

2I06 n)AC Caca]1 Cfu>]b6e]{t3 bo 3AbA]l ]t^03ACc Cotn)ACc fA|i 
it)-b4tf A ACA|t. ^e]C Hugo de Lacy bo ceACc a i>-ft]ini)i) bo rij]- 
cojl ]i^3 SAq*Ai) Ai) bliAbA^i) f^ij; foyibAjf^ C03A18 A3ttf fomtAji) 
b'f^tf A i)-6]T*l«?i) l*e l]i)i) TM ">e]c f]i) Hugo de Lacy, a|i Sb^lU 



337 



THE LIFE AND TIMES OF 
CATHAL, THE RED-HANDED (yCONOR, 

KING OF CONNAUOHT. 

9tnfO IBOmtni, 1224. Cathal Crobhdhearg, son of Turlogh 
Mor O'Conor, king of Connauglit, died. He was a man calculated 
to strike fear and dread more than any other Irishman of his day ; 
he was a man who burned the greatest number of homesteads, and 
took the greatest number of preys from both the English and Irish 
who opposed him; he was the most valorous and undaunted man 
in opposing his enemies that ever lived. It was he who blinded, 
killed, and subdued the greatest number of rebels and enemies. He 
was the most gentle and peaceable of all the kings that ever reigned 
in Ireland. It was he who founded and endowed the largest number 
of churches and monasteries, and established permanent congregations, 
of any of his contemporaries. He was a supporter of the poor and 
humble people of God with food, raiment, and all other necessaries 
of life, in his own palace. He was the man above all men whom 
God endowed with the greatest benignity, and on whom He bestowed 
prosperity, plenty, and abundant crops during his reign. He was, 
without exception, of all his contem^raries, the man who won for 
himself the character of purity of mmd and amiability towards all 

C arsons. He was, indeed, a man who remained contented with hia 
wful wife, and who, after her demise, observed the strictest conti- 
nence until the day of his own death. He was a charitable discreet 
man towards laymen as well as ecclesiastics ; he was mild, respectful, 
and tender towards females; liberal, open-hearted, and friendly to 
poets, and all professors of science without distinction ; he was the 
same person whose existence had been predicted by saints and holy 
seers ; a man who witnessed the most strange scenes and valour in 
course of his battles and conflicts, but God preserved him, yet it was 
often feared he would not escape ; God, however, supported him and 
delivered him from all his difficulties. He was endowed with courage 
since he left the milk of his nurse. He was a man who sustained his 
dignity with a rare degree of bravery and manliness ; a man who 
never re&sed to concede her own proper laws to the Church ; he was 
a just, upright, friendly, pious, justice-loving man ; a man who never 
meditated treachery or injustice against any man, even when provoked 
or angry, up to the moment of his universally-lamented death, on 
which occasion he received the sacrament of Extreme Unction, after 
having done penance for his sins. It is necessary to remark, for the 
readers information, that Cathal Carrach O'Conor disputed the sove- 
reignty of Connaught with Cathal Crobhdhearg ; and tnat the English 
took part in the contention in support of both claimants, viz., John 
De Courcy supported Cathal Crobndhearg, and William Fitzadelm, 
Cathal Carracn. 43 



338 

li)A i>^3A]6, Ajuf 50 ^lo ioi)A|ibf AC lAb 50 b-UllcA]b 50 b-9lo6 
CH^lll |ii5 0|l]cb ; A3tt|- 3u|i ]io c]0D6ilrec Sa^U ASttf S^l^l^ 
6]|ieAi)p b^ i>-1oi)i)f A|3]6, eA6oi), 2lo6 tdac Caca]1 Cb]to|b6e]Yt5, 
Ttl3 CoirijACc; 4tX)iji)CA8 CA]|tb]teAC 0'B|t]A]i>, ]i]3 'CuA^-S^buniAp ; 
t)iA|in)A]b CluAfAC 8^)ac C4t]i]icA]3, ]ti3 4)eAf-8^)b»ii)Ai) ; A3Uf 
' Tt)A]ce 6f]]teAi)i), A|i ceA!>A, le]C athujc bo C]i)eAl ftd3A]i) A3uf 
CbooA^U ; 3U|i |taAi3eA6 ]Ab ca|i m^\5 8^tt||icein)i)e 30 4>ui>-4>eAl3Ai;, 
3U|i Ab Aiji) n?) b iA|if Ab 3e]ll A3Uf b|iA]3be A|t O'N&^ll A3ttf aji 
fi)ACA]b Hugo de Lacy, joijuf 30 i>-beA|ii)A6 f\t eAco]t|tA ai) caij f]i). 

9nno fiomtni^ 1224. Cu^jvc n)6ji le 5AiU]b eiiteAi^) 

A i>-2lc-Clf AC. 2I08 TijAC CbACA^l Chj^0]i6e]]i^ bo 6ul b'^oijijf a]3]6 ija 
ctt|]tce f]i?; A3af reAlUb a]|i aiji?, i)6 30 b-c^]i)]c U]ll]Aii9 

^A]tAf3Al, lt)AC JAItlA 2QA|iAf3Al, 6a6017, A CA]lAlb ]0inba]17 f^ll) 

30 i>-A f oc|iA]be A]i Ui|i i)A cu]|ice ctt]3e ; 3U]i |iu3 leif a]i fe]3eAi7 a 
l^|t i>A cu|]tce ATHAC 6, |oi)i7ttp 3U]t c]o61a]c ]Oii)f\^r) uaca 6. 

9nn0 90mtntf 1228. 4)aU SloS h^ac Caca|1 CbTtoibSe^its, 
bo|ni)co|i)i)e]ie 3^1^lb> feA6oi>, ]ie b-U|U]ATi7 8^)o]]i6]f idac Sb^Ac- 
^|tA 2Qo]]i6]p, A3 tA^]cb Ch^]c^'Cu^]th]\f 30 b-ci^ij]c U|11]Aid 

8^0||t&]f A1)l) f]l) ; A3af Ijf beACA^b CA]t LACA]Cb AlJUIJl) ACC OACAb 

bo 6eA§-6Aop]b, 6a6oi>» Cojtn^AC 2Qac T^on)AlcA]3, A3Uf 4)]A7troA]b 
tPAc V^^^ryuT^ A3Uf ^AcgAibu]!) 8^)ac ^tt]]iceA|icAi3 b-U] Cboi)- 

CubAllS A3Uf 'CA63 ^AC ^ACjAlblJA b-Ul-Cbe]llllJ, A3Uf RUA]8|1] 

0*8QA0]lb|teAptt|i)i). ^^|i)]C urr)0]i\io U]ll|Ati7 8^)o]]i6]f A3uf occA]i 

t17A]tCAC If A1) 3-COllTOe. )f Aljl) f]l) UTDO|l|lO bO CUllbl)]3 2I08 Al) 

feAll A3Uf A17 ibeAbA]! bo |t|i)eA6 A]|i ai>-21c-CI]AC ; A3uf bo &i|t3]6 
2I06 Ai) cAi) fio Ctt||il]i)3fec PA 3^1^^ ^5**r ^ ^**1T* ^ 6eA3-lkri)A 
Ai)-U]U]ATi7 2t)o]]t6i|- A3Uf bo |i|i) b|i^3A bo UicA]]t be |:fe]i) A3Uf bo 
'ObAis^fC]]! Sle|ibi)e, A3af bo Hugo 3^in^p; A3ttr T*o TbA|ibA6 
Copfc^bU 2lcA LuA]i) bo l^cA^jt aiji) f]ij; A3ttf bo cu||i UiU]Ati| 
^0]|t&]f A3af At) cu]b e]le bo i)a ^^l^^lb CAft Laca]c fuAf. Kd bA 
SP^ori) focA]]t bo Cboi)i>ACCA]b ai) 3i)']oib n^» ^aSoij, idac Sb^ACfrftA 
bo 3AbA]l, o||i fUA^iinoTi) A IDAC A3uf A }Vi]ox)f A^uf b|VA]3be Cod 
DACc u]le AfbA, A3Uf f ]c bo CboDi)ACCA|b. 

4)0 h] 2I06, TDAC CbACA]l Cb]tO]b6e]|t3y ce^qte bl]A6DA a ji^o^ 
3ACC CboDDACCy Atbu|l A be]|i <t)0DDCA6 Bacac ^ac T^^DA]6e j 
^I)AO|l-coDA]]te : — 

t)0 bf USxt CljtUUCAf) tiA 5-CA6, 

C1)e|6ne bl|A6DA, beAttc 5^1) ce]l5, 
^5 ^06, t9Ac CAtAfl Cl7Tto]b6eYt5. 

2lo6y TDAC CbACA^l CbTtO]b6e]|t3, bo ibA|tbA6 b'AOD-ba]lle bo coa^ 
f AO|]i A 3-Cu|]tc SbfeAcp]tA ^o]|ifeif , A3Uf 6 A3^ ^oIca6 A3 IDD^ AD 
c-f Ao^iu 21d feAyi U^f ]i6 rbA]tbA6 6, 6A6oDy SeoD 4)ai7b6DAC, bo 

CfiOCAb A|i DA ib^ltAC le SeACf|tA ^0]ft6]f . )f Vf^ pgfi^]lfOtn WIG 



339 

Hnghy son of Gathal Orobhdhearg, aasomed the sovereignty of 
Connaught after the death of his father. The sons of Hugo De Lacy 
came into Ireland the same ^ear, contrary to the will of the kine of 
England. Wars and dissensions arose amon^ the English and Irish, 
in consequence of the arrival of these sons of Hugo De Lacy. The 
English of Ireland rose up in arms against them, and expelled them 
into Ulster, under the protection of Hu^h O'Neill, king of Aileach. 
The Engli^ and Irish who mustered m opposition to them were, 
Hugh, son of Cathal Crobhdhearg, king of Connaught, Donogh Cair* 
breach O'Brien, king of Thomond, Diarmuid Cluasach (i. e., with 
the large ears) Mac Garthy, king of Desmond, and the chief men of 
Ireland indiscriminately, except the Gineal Eioghain and Gonnaill; 
and they forced pledges and hostages from Hugh O'Neill and the sons 
(^Hugo De Lacy, and by that means peace was ratified between them. 

9nn0 sDOmfnt^ 1224. a sreat assembly of the English of 
Ireland was held in Dublin. Hugh, son of Gathal Grobhahearg, 
who attended that meeting, was betrayed ; but William Marshau, 
son of the earl Marshall, his bosom firiend, with a strong body of forces, 
entered the assembly, rescued him from amidst the multitude, and 
restored him to liberty. 

9nnO 90mtnf, 1228. Hugh, son of Gathal Crobhdhearg, 
agreed to meet the English in a conference, nam ely, William, son of 
(^ofiry Morris, at Lathach of Caichtuaithbhil^ William Morris at- 
tended there, but did not cross the Lathach. He (Hugh) brought a 
few of his chief men along with him, namely, Cormac Mac Tomalty, 
Diarmuid Mac Manus, Mahon, son of Muircheartach CGonor, Teige, 
son of Mahon O'Ceiiin, and Rudhraidhe O'Maelbhreanuin [O'Mul- 
renin.] William Morris, accompanied by eight horsemen, came for- 
ward to meet them. At that moment Hugh recollected the bad faith 
and treachery practisecT against him in Dublin, and as soon as the 
English alighted, having seized William Morris in his robust arms, 
made him prisoner that instant, together with Master Sliney and Hugo 
Gardin. The constable of Athlone was shun on that occasion ; and 
William Morris and the rest of the English were sent across the 
Lathach or slough. The capture of the son of Geofiiey proved to 
be an advantageous event to Connaught ; for he wrestea &om them 
his son, daughter, and other prisoners belonging to Connaught, that 
were in their custody, together with a peace for the Connaughtmen. 
Hugh, son of Gathal CSrobhdhearg, reigned four years over the pro- 
vince of' Connaught, as Donogh Bacach, son of Tanaidhe O'Mael- 
conaire records : — 

'< Rath Cruaghto of the battles, 
The habitation of [Meave] the danghter of Bochaidh ; 
Was four yean, without deception, 
Possessed by Hngh, son of Cathal Crobhdheaig.'' 

> UthMkfif(ktkktunihbhba,\.t.,C9^\i~ town of Athlone,in the iiarish of St Peter's. 
tnbU*s Mknugh^ now Bel-Lathaigh, a town- This lathach so memonble in the local 
land and small Tillage on the west side of the traditions, is now dried up. 



340 

Hugo de Lacy a]i Ujll|Atn 2Qo|7t6|f, itjAC At) 5biuifx1r> ^ TWuaS ai; 
feAil n^ -^^T* 2lo6 Mttfi^i) 0'Coi)cu6A||t, Ajuf. a be]|i]b A|tA^le 5U|i 
Ab zjie ^Ab bo boA^l Ai) fAO]t 6; dfft 1)7 ]tA|b a i>6]|tfi7i)Aei) bu^pe bA 
41^1^69 bA beobA, A3Uf bA cftdbA, t)^ 2lo6 0'Ck)i)cubA]|u 

Jf Ati)lA]6 bleA5CA|t ]t]3 Coi^oacc bo ]t^05A6, &a6oi), O'Coiycvi^ 

bA]|t, ATbU]l bo ]t017A8 A 1)-Alldb, A5Uf Ati)tt]l ]td 6|tbA]5 P^|tA]C At) 

Ia jid yiiojAi^Ayi 4)uAcb 3^l^> ">^c B]tiA]ij, itj^c 6acac S^bu^se- 
Tt>eA8A]i), 6a6oi>, 6^ 6Afbo5 6eA3 ]i6 b^ a5^ T*1^S^> tPA]lle ]ie 
pAqiA]C, A5uf bl]3|b cdrbA|tbu]6e i)A i)-ftAfbo3 f|ij bo be]c a3^ 
|t)03A6, &a6oi)9 coii)A]tbA Pb^c]tA|C9 5 8l]lf]t>i7; cdTpAftbA Bbt^lS^ 
6 BbA|le 'CobAiit Bbl^lSbe; CotbA]tbA 4)bACOi>i>A, 6 &Af S9^|C 
1>-&]]tc; cofi)A|ibA BbeoJA]6, 6 Slftb Ca]ii>a; coTi)A|ibA BbeA|iA^3, 
6 CbluAji) Co]|ibce; corbAjtbA }ibA]cliiji), 6 C\Ma]v 'CuAifqiic; 
coti)A]tbA BbTieAi)U]i)i), 6 OjjSeAlA ; Coti)A]tbA Cbolrp^^i^ 6 ^hA}^e6; 
coti)A]tbA 3ia1^1^> ^ ^bA]3 3l^l^li)> coii)A]ibA 6Afbo]3 So^c^ll, 6 
Loc SAlceA|ti) ; cofi)A]tbA 3b^eAllA]i) 6 CbT^O|b; cdTi)A|tbA CbA^llju^ 
6 lFb1o6ijAcb ; A3Uf cdrbAjtbA 'pblP^T^j ^ Cbltt^li) C]jeAii)A. 4)leA3- 
CA|i anK>|t]tA b^ CAO^feAC 6eA3 Tl^ ^^IH^^^^IS ^ ^F ^3^ r!<>5^ 
ftA8oi>, 0''plA!7i)A3^]t^O'2^)Aoilb|ieAi)U]i)i>, 0'TFioi)1)acca]3; — ]f lAb f|i) 
Acc ^A3 0]]teACCA]§ bo cuyiled, a ce^qie T*1<^5-^^^^in3 » — 0'1FIa]iji^ 
(y'pAllAtbA]!), 0*h-2li!7li6e, 0'B]]tiJi 0*Coi)ceAi)Aii)ij, 0'l)-©]6|i), 
0'SeAci)AfA]3; — ©o cd3 0'b-6l6|i) A3Uf 0'SeAci)AfA]3 cAO]fi5eACc 
b6]b ffe^i) 6 |ii3 CopijACc; — OXA]630f qoijij ceAjlA^t ]i]5 Coi)i>acc 
VA cAO]f eAC ceA3lA]3 ; ASttf bleA3CA]t bo'o ]tl03]tA]6 e^le y]V be^c a^A 
]1]05a6, 6a6oi^ fl^occ 21o6a pblTnJi nj^c peAUSO^ tij]C 'peAiisuf a, 



1 7^ lamfulform, Connell Mageoghe- 
gan tells us how the king of Connaught was 
inaugurated in these words : — 

" A.D. 1316. Rory O'Connor went to 
Cam-Fraoigh, where he was invested King 
of Connacht by the twelve chieftains of 
Silemori, twelve Coworbas, and other spi- 
lituaUs that were accustomed to use the 
ceremonies osuall- at the time of the In- 
vestiture of the King."— ilmuUt Ckm. 

' Ailfinn, now Elphin, in the county of 
Roscommon, of which St. Patrick is the 
patron. 

' BdUyiohtr (t)Afle cobdftt bni^be) 
i.e. the town of St. Bridget's well, now 
Ballintober, in the county of Roscommon, 
where there is an old church and a holy 
weU dedicated to St. Bridget of Kildare. 

^ Daehonna qf Eae-mie n-EirCf i. e. St. 
Dachonna, son of Ere, patron of Eas-mic- 
n-Eirc, on the river Boyle, situated three- 
fourths of a mile west of the town of Boyle, 
in the county of Roscommon. The coarb 
of this church was O'Ryn, and the place is 
now called EaM'Ui'Fhloinn,jingliee Assylin, 
from his name. See Awnale ^ the Four 
Mutert, Ed. J.O*D.,A.D.748, 1209, 1222. 



* Jrd'Camaf now Ardcame, situated 
four miles due east of Boyle, in the barony 
of Boyle, and county of Roscommon. The 
patron sain^ of this place was Beo-Aedb, 
i. e. Jidue m»av, a Bishop, who died in the 
year 523. His festival was celebrated there 
on the 8th of March, annually. The coarbs 
of this saint were the O'Maoilcxarains, now 
Malherins. 

< Bearaek of Chtam Coirbktke, i.e. Si. 
Barry of Clooncorby, This church is now 
more usually called Kilbarry, or Termon* 
harry, a celebrated church in the Dieert or 
wilderness of Kinel-Dofa, in the east of the 
county Roscommon. His festival was an- 
nually celebrated here on the 15th February. 
The coarb of St. Barry of this place was 
Mac Coilidh, now barbarized Cocks, and 
Cox. The crozier of St. Barry is still pre- 
served, and in the possession of Patrick, 
son of Roger O'Hanly, an attorney. See 
JfinaU qf the Four Matten, Ed. J. O'D., 
A.D. 916, 1128, 1146, 1151, 1155, 1238, 
1385, 1405, 1441, 1452, and 1485. 

"* Faithleann of Ciuain Tuaiteirt, i.e., 
Faithleann, son of Aedh Dambain, of Cloo- 
tuskert, an old church near Lanesboroogb, 



341 

Hugh, son of Cathal Crobhdhearg, was slain by a single stroke of 
a carpenter's axe, in the court of Geoffrey Morris, while he was a 
being bathed by the carpenter^s wife. Jonn Dundon, the man who 
killed him, was hanged next day by order of Geoffrey Morris. It 
was at the instigation of the sons of Hugo De Lacy, that William 
Morris, son of the justice, caused that treacherous deed to be com- 
mitted upon the comely Hugh O'Conor. Others, howeyer, assert 
that the carpenter killed him in a fit of jealousy ; for there was not 
in Ireland a human being more handsome, yigorous, or yaliant, than 
Huj^ CConor. 

This is the lawful form^ of inauguration of the king of Connaught, 
namely, O'Conor, as it was established in the olden time, and ordamed 
by St Patrick on the day that he inaugurated Duach Gallach, son of 
Brian, son of Eiochaidh Muidhmheadhain, on which occasion there were 
at his inaumiration along with St. Patrick twelve bishops. And it is 
necessary that the coarbs of these bishops should still be present at his 
inauguration, namely, the coarb of Patrick, at Ailfinn,^ the coarb of 
Bridget of Ballytobier,' the coarb of Dachonna^ of Eas mic n-Eiro 
[now Assylin], the coarb of Beo-Aedh of Ard Cama,^ the coarb of 
Bearach of Cluain Coirbhthe^ [now Eilbarry], the coarb of Faith- 
leann^ of Cluain Tuaiscirt, the coarb of Breanuinn of Oghdeala® 
[O^Ua], the coarb of Colman of Mayo,^ the coarb of Gialan of Magh 
(ji^ain,'^ the coarb of bishop Soichell'^ of Loch Salcheam, the coarb 
of Greallan of Creeve,^^ the coarb of Caillin of Fenagh,'' and the coarb 
of Finin of Cluain Creamha.^^ It was also ordained that the twelve 
dynasts of the Sil-Murray should be present at his inauguration, viz., 



in O'Htnly's country, in the east of the 
county of Roscommon. The festival of 
this saint (who was not a bishop) was cele- 
brated on the 4th of June. 

^ Oghdeala, now the church of Og;ulla9 
near Rathcroghan, to the east of Belana* 
gare, in the county of Roscommon. The 
patron saint of this parish was the celebrated 
St. Brenainn or Brendan, who was the 
founder of the see of Clonfert, and died in 
the year 576. His festival was celebrated 
Off the 16th May. 

' Colnumtf Mayo, St. Colman had been 
bishop of Lisdisfame in Northumberland, 
but he resigned this see and returned to 
Ireland A.D. 665, and founded an abbey at 
Magheo (plain of the^ yews), where he 
a company of Saxon monks, from whom 
it was called Magh eo na Sason, See 
Colgan, Acta SS., p. 604, 605. 

10 Oialain. This should be Giallan. 

i> SoieheU, a St. Soichell is set down 
in the calendars at 1st of August, but the 
name of his church is not mentioned. The 
name of Loch Sailchem is still preserred. 



I' GreaRan t^Creeve. There are seve- 
ral churches dedicated to this saint in 
Connanght, but the church referred to here 
is Craobh Ghreallain, now Creeve, situated 
in the west of Moylurg (barony of Boyle), 
in the county of Roscommon. This saint 
is said to have resuscitated Eoghan Sriabh, 
son of Duach Galach, king of Connanght. 
He was the chief saint of Ui-Maine, and 
his crozier was preserved at Ahascra, in 
the year 1836^ in the keeping of John 
Cronelly, the lineal descendant of his an- 
cient coarbs. 

» CaWm ofFenagh. St. Caillin was a 
bishop and patron saint of Fenagh, in the 
county of Leitrim. His festival was cele- 
brated on the 13th of November. O'Rody, 
or O'Rodachain was his comharba. 

>* C/fuiiiiCy'MifiAtf ,i.e.the lawn or meadow 
of the wild garlic, now Clooncraff, a parish 
near Elphin, in the county of Roscommon. 
O'Ragbtagain (now Ratigan) was the coarb 
of St. Finnen at this church. See ArmaU 
of the Four Mattert^ edited by John 
O'Donovan, A. D. 1488, note *>, p. 1157. 



342 



Olu^tt), feA8ois Cb-GiAjitA A5ttf 0'3^T*^ -^S^r ^ b-fO|»ciiAice 50 Ife^^u 
Sl^occ 2QbAO]l|mAQA^6 it)d]]t tpe^c 7^165 n)e}c Cb^cAlU Afbu]! aca 
^AC 4)iA]itnAbA, 7i1o5]iA]8 CbAUic i)A CA]t|tA]5e, A5uf fpA]ce Coi>- 
pAcc 5 X]V A117AC. 4S0 0'^Wlcoi>A]]te ]f c6j|i fUc i>a 71150 bo 
rAbA]]tc A U]ii) j Cboi)cubAt|i ap U f]i) JeAbAf |i]3 Coi>i)Acr, Ajuf 
^1 *>ll5eA!n) AOI) bu]i)e bo tbA|qb Cboi^^ACc be^c ^pA ^ocA^ft a|i aij 

5-CAlt^ Al) CAP f|lj, ACC 0*2^)A0lc01)A]|ie Afb^]P, A5U|- 0*C0P1>ACC^]19 

Af ttcc ) SQbA0]l^9Ai]te ; i)d ]A|i b-|:]0|i Af ucc ) ^bAOflbiteApu^pi), A5 
b6||i|"e6]|ieAcc ai) CbA||ii) ; a a|iip Ajttf a ^jbe A5 0'S^Aolcoi)A|]te, 

A eAC bo CAbA]]tC bo Cb^tbAjlbA 4i)ACOI)1)A, ASUf bul bo 6|ttt]fP ) 

Cbo9i)cubA]]i A|i AP eAC x]r). Ufp^e b'6|t bo 0*Cboi)i>ACc4ii!7 ii>a|» 

C]Of f |0|l|ttt|&e 5ACA bl|A6l)A9 AJUf b''p|ACA]b A]]t Ap Ca]^ bo CO|lA^ 

ca8 5AC uA||t it]5eAf a leAf. 

2I3 fo cuAjtAfclA TiioJcAqfeAC f]l SQu]]teA6A]3 o 0*CbopcubAi]t, 
6a8oi), b^ T\^]^ ^^^5 lo]l5eAC, b^ fr]C]c beA^ caojia; b^ fl^l^ 
beA3 fpAYtc bo 0')21ad:)A3^]1), A3uf a b-cAbAC 7 D-UtbAll 3Aca 
beAUcA]i)e. 2li) o^jteAb e]le fiD A3 2^)ac 0|]ieACCA]3, A3Uf a 
b-cAbAC 7 !7*UtbAll A3uf 7 i)-Jo|t|iA]*. 2li) oi]ieAb ceAbpA A3 
O'SQAOjlbiteApii]!;!)} A3uf a b-CAbAc a b-q]t pbl'^c|iAc, a 5-Ca]l 



> (yFtamuigtm. He was chief of CIann> 
Cathail, a territory lying between Mantua 
and Elphin, in the county of Roscommon* 

* (yMulnmn, He was chief of Clann- 
Tomaltaigh, a territory comprising the 
parish of Baslick, near Ballintober, in the 
county of Roscommon. 

s (/Fmnaghty. He was chief of Clan- 
conway, lying on both sides of the river 
Suck, in the counties of Galway and Ros- 
common. His chief seat was at Dunamon. 
This family, now so plebeian, are senior to 
the O'Conors, and held the highest place 
at the table of the king of Connacht. They 
possessed forty-eight ballys, or old Irish 
townlands, situated on both sides of the 
river Suck. 

* MaC'OireaehUiight now Mageraghty, 
and Geraghty. He was chief of Muintir- 
Roduibh, «nd was seated in Magh Naoi, in 
the county of Roscommon. In 1585, he 
was at Moylough, in the county of Galway. 

^ Four royii ckirfiamt. These were 
of the same One of descent with O'Connor, 
and some of them, as O^Finnaghty, were 
senior to him. 

* OTlfffm. He was chief of Sil-Mael- 
ruain, comprising the parishes of Kiltullagh 
and Kilkeevin, in the west of the county 
of Roscommon. The chirfof this sept had 
his seat at Ballinlough. 

' (yPaUon. He was chief of Clann- 
Uadach, in the barony of Athlone, county 
of Roscommon. In 1585, the head of this 



family had his seat at Miltown, in the parish 
of Dysart, where the ruins of his castle are 
still to be seen. See Tribei of Ui-Kame^ 
p. 19, note "*. 

s (/Httnly. He was chief of dnel- 
Dobhtha, a territory extending along the 
river Shannon, from Carranadoo bridge to 
Drumdaff, in the east of the county of 
Roscommon. See Afmelt of tkt Pomr 
MoMieri, Ed. J. O'D., A. D. 1 210, p. 169, 
note *. 

' OlBeime. He was chief of Tir.Briuin 
na-Sinna, a beautiful district in the east of 
the county of Roscommon, situated be- 
tween Elphin and Jamestown. See Jamah 
oftkt Four MoMtera, A.D. 1218. 

^^ O'Cmcaimoii. He was chief of Ui- 
Diarmada, or Corcamroe, a district com* 
prising the parish of Kilkerrin, in the north 
of the county of Galway. Jmudi qf iko 
Four Maatert, A. D. 1382, p. 687, note *. 

i> (THeyne. He was chief of CoiU-Ua- 
bh-Fiachrach, situated in the barony of 
Killartan, in the south-west of the county 
of Galway. See M^ to 7W^, ^c, ^ 
Ui-Fiaehneh, ^ 

>* O'^SIaivAiMticy.HewaschieforCinel 
Aedha na-h-Echtghe, forming about the 
south-eastern half of the barony of KUtar- 
tan and county of Galway, and had his 
chief residence at Gort-Inse-Guaiie, now 
the town of Gort 

> ' (y Teige. This name is very common 
near Castlerea, in the west of the county 



343 



O'Flanna^,^ (^Maelbreanan [Mulrenin],^ O'Finnaghty,' these, to* 
gether witn Mac Oireaehtaigh [Ueraghty]/ were his rour royal chief- 
tains,' 0'Flynn,« OTallon,^ O'Hanly,* CyBeime,^ O'Concannon," 
O'Heyne,'^ and O'Shaughnessey.^' O^Heyne and CXShaughnessey 
gtuned the privilege of chieft^cnr for themselves from the king of 
Gonnaught. O'Teige'^ was chief of the household of the king of 
Connaught. It is also required that the following noble chieftains 
should DC present at his inauguration, namely, the race of Aedh Fionn, 
son of Feargna, son of Fergus, i. e., CVRourke^^ and O'Reilly,^' the de- 
scendants of Tadhg, son of Cian, son of OlioU Olum, namely, O'Hara'^ 
and O'Gara,'^ with their followers ; the descendants of Mulrony Mor,^* 
son of Tadhg, son of Cathal, that is, tlie Mac Dermots, chiefs of 
Caladh na Carraige,^^ together with the other chiefi of Connaught* 
It is the privilege of O'Mulconaire^ to place the royal rod in the 
hands of O'Conor, the day on which he assumes the sovereignty of 
Connausht, and it is deemed imlawful for any individual of Connaught 
to be slong with the king on the Cam^' on that day, except 
CMulconaire himself, and O'Connachtain fronting O'Mulconaire, 
or, more truly, fronting CMaelbreanainn, keeping the door of the 
Cam.^ His (the king s) clothing and arms were given to CMulco- 



of Roscommon, bat it is now usually an- 
glicised Tighe. 

>« (yRourke, He was chief of West 
Breifne, or the County of Leitrim. 

i» CyReUly. He was chief of East 
Breifne, or the County of Cavan. 

'^ (yHara. HewaschiefofLuighne, now 
the barony of Leyny, in the county of Sligo. 
This family is of the race of Tadhg, Son of 
Cian, son of OlioU Olnm, king of Mnnster. 

*' (yOara. He was of the same race 
with O'Hara, and chief originally of Gai- 
lenga, in the now county of Mayo, but 
latterly of Coolavin, in the county of Slig^. 

" Dticendanta of Mulrony Mor, ton of 
Tadhg, wn qf CaihaL This should be 
Maelruanaidh Mor, son of Tadhg, son 
of Muircheartach, son of Maelruanaidh, 
son of Conchobhar who was the ancestor 
of the O'Conors of Connaught. The last- 
mentioned Maelruanaidh was the eldest 
son of Conchobhar, but was deposed by 
his younger brother Cathal, the ancestor 
of the O'Conors. See a curiout Mitorieal 
trad on tku iubjeet m Lib. 7. CD. 

>' CaiadA na Carraiffe, l.e. the callow, 
strath, holm, or ferry, of the rock. In 1231 
Mac Dermott began the erection of a mar- 
ket town at this place, which is now a part 
of the townland of Rockingham, near Boyle. 
See JnnaU of the Four Mattem, iSd. 
J. O'D., A.D. 1336, p. 557, note K 

'<* This tract was written by Toma 
O'Mulconry, who was present at the inan** 



guration of Felim O'Conor, in 1316, white 
the custom of inauguration of the kings of 
Connaught was in full force. An ancient 
copy of it on vellum is preserved in a MS. 
formerly at Stowe, but now in the possession 
of Lord Ashbumham, along with the re- 
mainder of that collection. See Stowe Ca- 
iaioffua, Codex iii., foL 28, and Hardiman's 
Edition of CyFlahertj/'elar Connaught, pp. 
139, 140. 

SI On /AeGsm. The Gsm referred to here 
is Camfiree, not fur from the house of the 
late Daniel Kelly, Esq., near Tulsk, in the 
townland of Carris. See Avmalt of the Four 
Maeten. Ed. J. O'D., A. D. 1225, p. 221, 
note *. Of all the chiefs present O'Mulconry 
alone was permitted to stand on the cam 
along with O'Conor, to whom he handed 
the rod. 

ss Keyring the door of the Cam, The 
cam at Cam Fraoich was enclosed with a 
wall, in which was a door or gate kept by 
O'Mulrenin, or in his absence, by O'Con- 
nachtain, who lived at the cam and kept it 
in repair. No one was permitted to admit 
the person about to receive the royal form, 
or those by- whom he vras to be inaugura- 
ted through this gate but O'Mulrenin, or his 
deputy (sub-sheriff) O'Connachtain. While 
the ceremony was being performed, O'Mul- 
conry, who bore the royal wand or sceptre, 
stood on the side of the cam facing the 
gate, and, fronting him at the base of the 
cam, and between him and the gate, stood 



344 



Cbi)ATbA, Ajuf* A5-Cu]l CbeA|ti>An)A. 81)tb-ti)AO]tA]$eAcc b-) CboD- 
cubA]|t o VA z]i\ |ii03CAa|feACA]b e^le A5 (y^FUijpAS^^p. Co]T9eAb 
5]aII b-J CboiKubA]|i A5 0*2l]i)l]6e, 501^ focAji. CeAin)Af Ajof 

bA]tA!;CAf A CAbU^C 6 SblY^b At) jA]tA]171) 50 Lu]T17DeAC A3 O'Sl^iHt^ 

it)A|i Ai) 3-cfeAbi)A, Culco|ii)eAb Asuf cAO]f]5eAcc Cbe]C]|ii)e, Ajuf 
coi>-ti)AO||tfeACC ) Cboi7CubA||i A3 ii)ac BtiAi)A|i7. T^AO|feAC ze^U 
Ia]3 J CboiKubAfft A3 ^AC 4)^1 ]te beACA|]t, ^aSoi), foluf, leAbA|6, 
'^ttlS^ c]3e bi3, A3ttf aij c|3 beA3 V^]^ ^ gUpAb ai) cai) |i|3 AleAf. 
Co]Ti76Ab c|teAC J Cboi7CubA]]t ai) cai) |tACAf can) coii)i)A]3ce, A]t 
C'pblAijijAS^li) A3ttf A|i O'nhBiiii) A3af a|i cIa]iji? 4)^1 tie beACA^iu 
Culco|TneAb ) Cboi)cubA^ti 3oi)a cojiaS, o CbuiT^T^cb Ce]i>i) 6]C]5 
30 CeA!)Ai;i)Af 1JA 2t)]6e A3 ^ac BfiAp^ti?; 6 Cbu|i|iec Ce|i)!) 

^1^15 n^T* 5^ CjlUAC P^CjtA^C A3 (yiplo]t)lt)^ A3tt|- a T1)AO|tU]3eACC 

f3ui|i ti)A]i Ai) 3-c6Abt>A, Atbu]l AbttbA]]tc A!) jqle : — 

Itfi tfijlle bo 9)1)ATiAr5Al» 
t)o 6A0]feAc teAt> O'CeAlUj^ ; 
C 2lYt&*ibAoti O'fUfmAsi^YOy 
O'f U]i)i| At T9A0TI bob' ^' eAlUig. 

CeAi)t>Af ,A3uf bA|i4ti)CAf cobUicb J Cboi?CttbAi]i A3 (y}^icbeA]t- 
^^15 -^5**!* ^3 0*2^)^ille. 'peAji co]ToeAbA a ffeAb A3Uf a n)Mf\r)e 



O'Malrenin, and, at the gateway, to open 
and close It, stood O'Connachtain, as the 
servant of 0*Malreain. This is still the 
tradition among the O'Conors. 

1 (yMulrtnm, He got the clothing and 
arms, i. e. battle-dress and weapons of war. 
See Ui'FUckraehf p. 440. 

* The eoarb if DackomuL This was 
O'Flynn of Assylin, near Boyle. This pri- 
vilege is not unlike to that ceded to the 
Pope by the Emperor of Germany, that is, 
to hold the stirrup while he was mounting; 
but the Irish ecclesiastic was more haughty ! 

* Subiidiet, i. e. wages in token of vas- 
salage. See Book qf RigMt, pasHm^ and 
Battle qf Doum, in the Miteettany of the 
Celtic Society, squabble between O'Brien 
and O'Neill. 

« UmhalL This territory comprised the 
baronies of Murresk and Burrishoole, in 
the west of the County of Mayo. 

' lorrot, now Erris, a barony in the north- 
west of the county of Mayo, adjoining 
Uinhall. 

< Tir-Fhiackrach, now the barony of 
Tireragh, in the north of the county Sligo. 

7 Cuil Cnamhtt, a district in the north- 
east of the barooy of Tireragh, now be- 
lieved to be coextensive with the parish of 
Dromard. See Ui-Fiaehroeht p. 424. 

^ CmUCeamamha, now Coolcamey, a 
district in the barony of Gallen, county of 



Mayo, comprising the parishes of Kilgar- 
van and Attymas. See Ui^Piachrmch, p. 
246, note '. 

* Hie three other royal chief 9, That is, 
there were four chiefs under O'Conor, who 
were considered of equal dignity and called 
"royal," because they were of the same 
line of descent with O'Conor himself. These 
were Mageraghty, O'Flanagan, O'Mulienin, 
and O'Flnnaghty. But the other three 
consented to cede the office of high steward 
to O'Conor to their cousin O'Flanagan. 

10 Fleet, cobUc. That is, O'Hanly of 
Sliabh Baghna (Slieve Baune) had the chief 
command of all O'Conor's boats on the 
Shannon, from its source in Sliabh-an-Iara- 
inn to Luimneach, or the Lower Shannon. 

* * Henehmant i. e. aide-de-camp. 

>* Care'takiag if the homidt, coi).tQAOftt- 

reAcr. Dr. O'Conor translates this **jahU' 

etewardth^" in the Stowe Catalogue (ubi 

snprk) ; but he is decidedly wrong. See 

IVibee qf Ui^Maiae, pp. 90, 91. CofhiOAoifi- 

reAcc is the same as nfAO]xifeAcc a coiy, 

the stewardship of his hounds, L e. his 

grand veneur or chasseur. Con-oileATQAfij, 

was a more degrading office, i. e. to rear the 

whelps till they were fit for the chaoe. 

The ancient Irish had several kinds of dogs, 

such as the archu,mil-chu,gadhar'Jladhaigk 

and otrcCf which are frequently referred to 

in the old Irish laws. 



345 

naire,^ and hu steed to the coarb of Dachonna,^ who was privileged 
to mount that same steed from O'Conoi^s back. An unga of gold 
was decreed to O'Connaghtan as a perennial tribute, under the con- 
dition of repairing the Cam when repairs became necessary. 

The following are the subsidies' to be paid to the Sil Muireadhaigh 
by O'Conor, namely, twelve score milch cows, twelve score sheep, 
and twelve score cows to O'Flannagan, which were to be levied on 
Umhall,^ and sent to him on everjr May-day. The same number to 
Mac Oireachty, which were likewise levied on Umhall and Iorras;ft 
and an equal number to O'Maelbreanainn, which were to be levied on 
Tir Fhiachrach,^ Cuil Cnamha^ and Cuil Ceamamha.^ The office of 
high steward to O'Conor, to be ceded by his three other royal chiefs,' 
was given to O'Flannagan. O'Hanly was boimd to keep the hostages 
of O' Conor ; and O'Hanly also had the chieflancy and command of 
his fleet^^from Sliabh an Jarrainn to Luimneach, wiu all the perquisites 
belonging thereto. Mac Branan has the office of henchman,^^ and chief- 
tainship of the kerne, together with the care-taking of the hounds^' of 
O'Conor. Mac Dail-re-aeacair^' is the procurator-general to O'Conor ; 
he was bound to fiimish light, bedding, and thatch for the q$ beAj^^ 
(the privy), to cleanse it when necessary. To guard the spoils of 
O'Conor, whenever he encamps to rest, is the duty of O'Flannagan, 
O'Beime, and the Clann Dail-re-deacair. Mac Branan had the bene- 
fits arising from O' Conor's marchership from Cuirrech Ceinn Eitigh,^* 
to Ceananas^^ of Meath. O'Flynn had the marchership of the tract 
from Cuirrech Ceinn Eitigh to Cruach Phadraig,'^ together with its ste- 
wardship, as the poet has recosded : — 

The king\)f Boyle was thy manhall, 
Thy chief treifurer was O'Kelly, 
Thy high steward was O'Flanagan, 
O'Flyim was steward of thy household. 

The chieftainship and rule of O' Conor's fleet belonged to O'Flaherty'* 



IS Mae DmUrt-^eaeair, This name is now 
made Dockrey, in the coanty of Roscom- 
mon. See AwmU qf the Four Maatertt at 
the years 1281 and 1366; and Hardiman's 
Edition of O'Flaherty's lar-Comumghi, p. 
140. 

>* C|^ beA5. Cormac Mae Art, monarch 
of Ireland, in the third eentnry had such a 
Cfo beA5, more osoally called FiaUieaeh, 
at Tara, which argues no small degree oif 
civilization in Ireland at that early period. 
For more on this subject, see '* Cambrensis 
Etctsus," c zxix., and Rabelais's Life of 
Garagantna. 

1* Cuirreek-Chin-Eitigh, now Kinnitty, 
a townland in the parish of Kilbride, near 



the town of Roscommon. The Cuirrech 
was a race-course. 

** Ceanawuu qf Mtaih, now the town of 
Kells in Meath. 

*' Cruach Phadraig, now Croaghpatrick, 
or " the Reek,'' a high mountain near West- 
port, in the barony of Murresk and county 
of Mayo. 

IB (/Fiaherff. He was originaUy chief 
of Ui-Briuin-Seola, on the east side of 
Lough Corrib, in the county of Oalway ; 
but for many centuries he was chief of all 
the tract of land west of that lake. It ex- 
tended from the Killary harbour to the 
bay of Galway. He possessed also the 
great and middle islands of Arran. 

44 



346 

A3uf At) u]le n}A]ieAfA bo b]A6 A]5e, O'CeAlU^;. 2i\ib-nfA^fC4X 
) CbotjcubA^Ti, 2t)AC 41>]A|tti>AbA 2t)u]5e-lu]|i5. T^AO|feAc ce^sU^s 
) CbowcubAiji (yt^AjSj, KoijijA^^ ) Cboi?i)cubA]|i (yB]|ti>» iSSjllr 
feojn ) CboijcubA^ji, (yp]ot)ijAccA. OIUti) a feAtjcufA Ajaf fe4i|i 
co]Tt)eAbA A 8uAl5A]f, A5Uf jac focA]]i If buAl bo 0'Cot>cubA|]t bo 
be|c A]5e, 0'9t)Aolcoi)AlTte. 9t)AC 'Cuile a If ^15. SQac 81o6a5^|17, 
A b|ieiceATi). Cbeicjie bAfle f fceAb bucA]6 5ACA CAO^fjj bo'i) occA]t 
CAOffeAC cuA]ce fo, Ti)A]lle ]te feAftnjAijAf 5 0*Cot>cabA|]u Occ 
ii>-bA|le A5ttf hix f]C]b A5 5AC Tt^o5CAO|fCAC bo i>a cefqie jiioJcAO]- 
feACA]b, Ti)A|i Ac4ii O'pUiiijAsaii), (y^Aolb|teAi7U)i}i], 8|}a3 0|]teA6- 
CA]5, A5uf 0'pioi)i)ACCA]3, Ti)A]lle |ie a]i fi>A|tbA6 b'feA]tA]i>i7 
©AslAifi Ai>i). JPIaca fulA]i)3 ) CboiKubAjTi, &a6oi^ 3^ileAi}5A 
A5Uf 5oir^^l6^13>ClAi)ij CbuA]!) Cboi)Ti)A]cije A5ttf CbeAftA, Ajaf ai) 
b^ lluiJije ; 5^ b-ctt a5^ i)-a||i]0ii), i)l b-f u]l 11^5 ijA t^1o56Aibi>A, cao]- 
feAC, f eA]t cuA]ce, qjte, i)'0i b]tu5A]6 bd-^AbAC bAjle, ^f|titA6 50 
tttiTDijeAC, T)4i 6 U|fi)eAC 9t))66 50 l)-)oi)ir B6 pjOTe, i)-a 6 \j>c 6i|tT)e 
50 Loc 4&ei|i5-8ei]tc, ijac b-f u]l b']0|i A5uf bl]5e ft'eijije An>Ac 
fluAS Cboi)i)ACc Ai)i) fo, 6a6oi>, Ui-B|iittii) Bfteifije, U^ b-piAC]iAC 
5e]llni)e ASttf co^rbbeAcc ) Coi)cubAi7t b'p|ACA]b A^jU 

SA0]«aAice ?t)"^l^^> ^5**r V^ 'O^IT^^^^IS ^c TFbeA]i5ttfA; 
-^S^r Sl^^^ l^^rn) r^li> bliJ^b ^eACc Asuf fliiA|5eA6, seillnne 
A5ttf coftbbeAcc, bo cAbAi|ic bo 0'Cboi)cubAi]i ; Ajuf but le]f coin 

5AC -fefSeAI^Alf A5Uf CUfl) 3AC A1)-pO|llA11)l) ]1)A n)-b]A6. 



1 GtMdOey. He wu chief of Umball, 
which comprised the baronies of Murresk 
and Burrisboole, in the west of the coanty 
^f Mayo. It is stated in O'Dugan's topo- 
graphical poem that there ne?er was a 
good man of this family who was not a 
mariner 

> (y Kelly. He was chief of Ui-Maine, 
which comprised ii?e baronies in the coun- 
ties of Galway and Roscommon. See Tribet^ 
ifCt of Hjf'Manyt p. 65, note K 

s Chief MorthaL Compare TribetqfHy- 
Many, (ubi supra). 

* (yTaidhg, now Tighe. The chief of 
this family was usually called O'Taidhg- 
an-Teaghlaigh, i. e., O'Teige of the House- 
hold. See Annali of ike Four Mattertf 
A. D. 1132. 

* Mae TuUy, now anglicized Tully, and 
sometimes Flood. 

^ Mae Egan, The Mac Egans of Con- 
naught li?ed at Dun-Doighre, now Duniry, 
in the barony of Leitrim, county of Galway, 
and at Park near Tuam, in the parish of 
Kilkerrin. Anotherfamilyof them settled 
at Ballymacegan in lower Ornaond, where 



they kept a fiamous school for teaching the 
brebon laws, and compiled the MS. nlled 
the Uabhar Breae, " the Speckled Book of 
the Mac Egans." 

' Z)0a<i«Af(rcA-lMd!»,Le.. lands taken at 
an early period from the Church by the 
oppressive conduct of the laity; and not 
claimed by the Church afterwards. 

^ Gaileangaf 1. e., the inhabitants of the 
Diocese of Achonry. 

* GoUdealbkaeha^ now Costello. These 
were Anglo-Normans, and the name is not 
in the old copy of this tract by Toma 
O'Maelchonaire. 

10 CUaan Chuam, a people seated in the 
north of the barony of Ceara, in the now 
county of Mayo, of which 0*Quin was the 
ancient chieftain under O'Dowda. 

* 1 Conmaicne, There were several septs 
of this name inConnacht,as theConmaicne- 
mara in the present Connemara, the Con- 
maicne of Dunmore, in the barony of Dun- 
more, near Tuam; the Conmaicne Cuile 
Toladh, in the present barony of Kilmaine, 
in the county of Mayo. They are all of 
the race of Fergus, king of Ulster. 

*' Oora, now Carra, a barony in the 
county of Mayo. 

^^ Eatntaidh, now A8saroe,or the Salmon 



347 

and O'Malley,^ O'Kelly' was chief treasurer of his precious stones, 
and other species of wealth. Mac Dermot of Moylurg was O'Conor's 
chief marshally' O'Taidhg^ was commander of his household, O'Brien 
his chief butler, O'Feenaghty his chief door-keeper, O'Maelconaire 
historian and recorder of all the tributes which were due to O'Conor, 
Mac TuUy^ is his physician, and Mac Egan^ his brehon (judge). 
Twenty-four townlands constituted the lawful patrimony of each of 
these eight chiefs, in payment for the office they discharged for 
O'Conor. Forty-eight townlands constituted the patrimony of each 
of his four royal chiefs, namely, O' Flanagan, O'Maelbreanainn, Mac 
Oireachty and O'Feenaghty, together with all dead church-lands.7 
The chiefs tributary to O'Conor were those of Gaileanga,^ Goich 
dealbha,^ Clann Chuain,^® Conmaicne,*^ Ceara,^^ and the two Leignes. 
In short, there was no king or righdamhna, a chieftain of a territory or 
a district, or a hundred-cattled farmer of atownlandfrom Easruaidh^' 
to Luimneach,*^ and &om Uisneach,^' in Meath, to Inis Bo-finne,'^ 
and from Loch Eime'^ to Loch Deirgdheirc,'^ who was not specially 
bound to attend with his forces at the hostings of O'Conor. 

The free states of Connaught are the following, namely, the ITi 
Briuin of Breifne,*^ the Ui Fiachrach Muaidh,^ and the race of Muir- 
eadhach, son of Fergus ;^^ and even of these notwithstanding their 
freedom, two are bound to attend with their forces at the hostmgs of 
O'Conor, and to assist him in all his difficulties and troubles. 



Leap,a celebrated cataract on the river Erne 
at BaJIysbaonoii.iD the county of Donegal. 

^* Luimneach. This was the old name of 
the lower Shannon. The city of Limerick 
was called Cathair Lnimnigh, i. e., the city 
of the river Luimneach. 

>* Uitneaeh, a hill in the county of West- 
meathr about four mUes east of Ballymore 
Longhseudy. 

i« Imt Bo-fituUf l.e., the island of the 
white cow, now Bophinis land, lying off the 
coast of Murreski in the county of Mayo. 



1' Loch Eime, now Lough Erne, in Fer- 
managh. 

*^ Lock DeirgdhfirCf now Lough Derg, 
an expansion of the Shannon, between 
Portumna and Killaloe. 

^^ UuBrhim of Bre^, Le., O'Boorkea, 
O'Reillys, and their co-relatives. 

so Ui'Fiaehrach Aftiau2A«, the O'Dowdas 
of Tireragh. 

>i SU^MmreadMMffh, L e., the O'Conors 
themselves and the lemainder of their co- 
relatives. 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF 



THE KILKENNY ARCH^OLOGICAL SOCIETY, 

1853. 



ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Booms, Wsdnesdat, Januabt Tth^ 1853, 
THE MARQUIS OF ORMONDE, in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected: — ^Edward H. Paget, Esq., 
St. John's College, Oxford : proposed by the Marquis of Ormonde. 

John Potter, Esq., Kilkenny, Albert Way, Esq., F.S.A., Wonham 
Manor, Reigate, Surrey, Joseph Wilson, Esq., Lurgan, and Henry 
Meara, Esq., Parthenon Club, Regent-street, London : proposed by the 
Rev. James Graves. 

Patrick R. Welch, Esq., Newtown Welch, County of Kilkenny, uid 
Yaxley Hall, Eye, Suffolk : proposed by Mr. Joseph Burke. 

Major Richard Dunne, Brittas, Queen's County : proposed by Mr. T. 
L. Cooke. 

William Atkins, Esq., Architect^ Cork : proposed by Mr. John 
Windele. 

John Hartford, Esq., Solicitor, Kilkenny : proposed by Mr. J. G. A. 
Prim. 

The Rev. W. Wright, D.D., Medmenham, Great Marlow, Bucks : 
proposed by Mr. J. O'Daly. 

The Honorary Secretaiy then read the following Annual Report for 
1852:— 

*' In rendering up an account of their trust for the year which has just expired, your 
Committee feel that they may be justly accused of a repetition of former reports in the 
obsenrations now to be laid before the Society ; however, if at any time these qualities 
are not tiresome it is when continued prosperity is the cause of want of variety. The 
marked success which has attended the progress of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society 
during the last twelve months will be sufficiently apparent when it is known that onb 
HUNDRED AND BLKVSN ucw members, amongst whom are many names of which the 
Society may well feel proud, have been added to its ranks since the last annual meeting ; 
several of whom, being anxious to possess perfect cppies of the Society's Transactions, 
have commenced their subscriptions from the year 1849, insomuch that the impression 
of that year's Transactions is now out of print ; and as many of the members have ex- 
pressed a wish for its republication, it will be put to press as soon as a sufficient sum, at 
5s. each, has been subscribed by those requiring it. During the same period but ten 
namea have been removed from the Society's books from death and other causes ; thus 
leaving a clear gain of one hundred and one accessions. With this addition, and allow- 
ing for deaths and other casualities, the bona fide list of the Society's members extends 



350 

to the large number of thrbb bundrkd and rirrT-ONS names — yonr Committee can* 
not pass from this gratifying topic without recording their deep sense of the zeal which 
has actuated very many of the members — a seal to which the present prosperity of the 
Society is mainly owing, and if they only name Richard Hitchcock, Esq., of Trinity 
College, Dublin, the Very Rev. the Dean of Waterford, Joseph Burke, Esq., Barrister- 
at-Law, John Windele, Esq., Cork, M. O'Donnell, Esq, Barrister-at^Law, the Rev. 
Philip Moore, R.C.C., Joseph Greene, Esq., jun., and T. L Cooke, Esq., Parsonstown, 
it is not that others have not had the interests of the Society at heart, but that the occa- 
sion does not admit of thist extension of the list which might easily be made. 

" But much as has been done, there is yet room for further exertion. liess than five 
hundred paying members will not enable the Society fully to carry out the objects origi- 
nally proposed, and until that limit at least is attained, its friends shonld not remit their 
exertions. To all who are disposed to follow the good example set by the gentlemen 
already named, and who desire to make more widely known the doings and objects of 
the Society, the Secretaries will be found ready to supply circulars, and all other neces- 
sary information. 

*' The number and importance of the papers contributed to the several meetings 
may also be pointed to as an evidence of the Society's progress; amongst the contribn- 
tora to the Transactions of the past year many new names will also be found enrolled. 

"The mass of ancient deeds, charters, and other unpublished MSS. communicated 
(amongst which art very many important documents supplied by onr valued fellow- 
members, Patrick Watters, Esq., and James P. Ferguson, Esq., by the former from the 
Corporation Archives of Kilkenny, and by the latter from the Irish Exchequer Records) 
far exceed the means available towards their publication. An addition to the original 
rules of the Society, calculated to meet this emergency, will be proposed for the consider- 
ation of the members. 

'* The delay in the issue of the Transactions for 1851 is a source of mnch regret to 
your Committee ; but the members may be assured that it has arisen solely from a desire 
to present them with the work in such a form as will prove creditable to the Society ; 
and in a few weeks it is hoped that the part for 1851 will be issued, with an index and 
title page, completing the First Volume of the Society's Transactions. 

" Your Committee have again to claim your thanks for the Mayor and Corporation 
of Kilkenny, and the members of the Local Press, whose kiud co-operation has been 
continued to the Society. 

"Many valuable additions have been made to yonr Museum and Library daring the 
past year; the former, indeed, has quite outgrown the accommodation assigned for its 
keeping by the kindness of the Corporation. Amongst the accessions to its stores, yonr 
Committee must not fail to record the valuable donation of antiquities discovered in the 
cuttings of the Limerick and Waterford Railway at Tibroughny, in the Barony of Iverk, 
and county of Kilkenny for which the Society is indebted to John H. Leech, Esq., of 
Carrick-on-Suir, and Edwards, Esq., Contractor's Engineer of the works. 

** In conclusion, your Committee are happy to be able to inform you that the Special 
Fund for the reparation of the venerable Abbey of Jerpoint progresses most favourably ; 
and, from the wide-spread interest displayed, they have little doubt that the requisite 
sum will ere long be completed, and that before this titue next year all repairs necessary 
to arrest the progress of decay, and preserve to future generations that exquisite specimen 
of the architectural skill of former ages, shall have been thoroughly effected." 

The Rev. James Graves, Acting Treasarer, then brought up the 
Accounts of the Society for the past year, as under : 

Cl)atge. 

1852. 

Jam. 1. — ^To balance from last year's account 

„ 257 subscriptions for the year 1852, at 5a. each 

„ 24 do. arrears for the year 1849, at do. . 

„ 30 do. do. for the year 1850, at do. . 

„ 62 do. do. for the year 1851, at do. . 

„ Special fund for making cast of Kilfane Monument 



£ «. 


d. 


32 15 


^h 


64 5 





6 





7 10 





15 10 





2 10 





£128 10 


Th 



351 



£ 


9. 


d. 


9 


5 





6 


16 


11 


6 


3 


3 





4 








8 


10 


1 


2 





4 


12 


6 


1 


10 








18 


10 


1 


2 


6 


11 








5 


5 


6 


80 


1 


U 


£128 


10 


H 



Bi0cf)8rge. 
1852. 

Dbo. 31.— By illustrations for Transactions of the year 1851 

do. do. 1850 

Postages .... 

Fuel . . . • 

Messengers . . • 

Carriage of parcels 

General printing and stationery • 

Commission to agents 

Travelling expenses 

Bookbinders' bills 

Cost of three casts of Kilfane monument 

Sundries and petty expenses 

Balance in Treasurer's hands 



The Committee and Officers for the year 1853 were then elected, as 
under : — 

PRESIDENT. 

The Veky Rev. Chakles Vionoles, D.D., Dean of Ossorj. 

VICE ' PRESIDENTS. 

The Worshipful the Mayor of EIilkennt. 

The High Sheriff of the County of Kilkenny. 

The High Sheriff of the City of Kilkenny. 

treasurer. 
Robert Cane, Esq., M. D. 

honorary secretaries. 

Bey. James Graves, A. B. 
John 6. Augustus Prim. 

committee. 

Jabies Blake, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. 

Rev. John Browne, LL.D. 

Joseph Burke, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. 

Samson Carter, Esq., jun., C.E., M.B.I.A. 

Rev. Luke Fowler, AJ^ 

Herbert F. Hore, Esq. 

John James, Esq., L.R.C.S.L 

Rev. PniLft Moore, R.C.C. 

Matthew O'Donnell, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. 

Rev. John Quinn, P.P. 

The Very Rev. the Dean of Waterford. 

John Windele, Esq. 

Mr. Graves, on the part of Mr. H. F. Hore, gave, notice of moving 
at next meeting that the title of the Society be changed to "The Kil- 
kenny and South-east of Ireland Archaeological Society,*' together with 
some other verbal alterations in the Rules ; and also that the following 
additional role be adopted : — 



352 

<* It shall be optional with Memben to tabacribe ten shillinga annually, in addition 
to the sabscription of fi?e shillings which constitutes their membership ; and should one 
hundred such additional subscribers be procured, an Annual Volume shall be printed, to 
consist of antiquarian and historical rare or unpublished matter of a local nature ; such 
Volume to be distinct from the Transactions of the Society, and to be supplied solely to 
each subscriber of ten shillings. Should any Member be willing to defray the cost of 
printing, &c., he shall be entitled to nominate a paper for the Annual Volume, under the 
revision of the Committee." 

The following presentations were received, and thanks for them 
ordered to be given to the donors : — 

By the Rev. James Meara, a leaden impression of a monastic seaL 

By the Rev. James Graves, an ancient half-pike, apparently about 
two hundred years old. 

By Mr. Joseph Greene, jun., a manuscript, entitled A General Ab- 
stract of the Receipts and Issues of the Public Revenue, Taxes, and 
Loans, from the 5th November, 1688, to Lady Day, 1702. This M^. 
is beautifully written, and contains a great deal of most important hid- 
torical and statistical information. 

By Mr. J. G. Robertson, a Report on the state of the Cathedral of 
St. Canice, in the year 1813, drawn up at that time by the late William 
Robertson, Esqi, Architect. 

By Mr. Prim, on the part of Messrs* Nash, Publishers, Strand, 
London, a pedigree of the De Lacy family. 

By the Archaeological Listitute of Great Britain and Ireland, its 
Journcdy No. 34. 

By the Cambrian Archssological Association, Archceologia Cambren' 
M9, No. 21. 

By the Cambridge Camden Society, two numbers of its PublicationB, 
8vo series. 

By Mr. Albert Way, Notice of a Seal formed ofbone, discovered in the 
Abbey of St. Albans. 

Mr. Henry O'Neill read a paper on the architectural remains com- 
prised within the cemeteiy of Aghaviller in this county, consisting of a 
strongly- fortified tower, being an appendage to a church, of which latter 
but small remains are extant, and an ancient Round Tower, of which 
but the lower portion now exists. These were illustrated by a ground- 
plan, and several beautiful drawings. The portion of the paper relative 
to the Round Tower, is as follows : — 

'* The pillar tower is fifty-one feet in circumference at the base ; hence the diameter 
is sixteen feet two inches. There are two doorways ; one at the ground level, of cut 
stone, rectangnlar, with places for hanging-irons ; a small holt hol^and a rabate are on 
the inside ; it is fiye feet two inches high, by two feet ten and a-half inches wide, and 
looks N.E. The other doorway, and in all probability the original one, is about thirteen 
feet up from the ground to the door-sill. It is higher and narrower than the one below, 
and looks north. A rectangular ope, of dressed stone, is situated at about twenty-seven 
feet up ; it may be three feet high by two wide ; its aspect ia S.S.W. The tower tenni« 
nates at a few feet above this ope, being only a dilapidated stump. 

** At about twelve, and twenty-six feet high, from the ground level, there are, on 
the inside, bearing-courses made of flag-stones about six inches thick, and projecting 
four inches — the wall above them recesses for a short way. The inside of the tower is 
rather rough, but on the outside, where not weathered, the wall ia very smooth, of ex- 
cellent stone, carefully spawled, and dressed to the curve. 

** If this pillar-tower had originally the nsnal proportions of such bnildingi, it vras 
in all probability at least one hundred and ten feet high. The tower of St. Canice ia one 



353 

hundred feet high, and only fourteen feet fiye inches in the diameter of the base ; being 
above six diameters and a-half in height — the same proportions to the tower of Agha- 
viller would give the elevation I haye mentioned. The castle and pillar tower are built 
with a stone resembling the fine-grained sand-stone, which is got in the locality. 

" Respecting the purpose for which the pillar* tower was intended, I shall not now offer 
any opinion. The views propounded by Dr. Petrie have met with such general approval, 
that to express dissent from them may appear to savour more of daring thoughtlessness, 
than any calm reflection — nevertheless, a very careful study of the Doctor's work on the 
Round Towers of Ireland, and a very careful examination of several of the towers them- 
selves, have convinced me that the learned and talented author of that very beautiful 
essay has not stated the real purpose for which those remarkable buildings were erected. 
At present, however, there is a certain task to be performed. Dr. Petrie promised to 
give us the particulars of our several pillar towers, but as this promise has been for 
several years unfulfilled, let others take up the task — let us have the particulars of every 
pillar tower in Ireland, or elsewhere. Until. the facts are fairly before us, it is idle to be 
speculating. 

" I have given my humble contribution towards this desirable object ; and I venture 
to say that the facts I have brought forward, even in this single case, are suflScient, at 
least, to create a doubt as to the correctness of Dr. Petrie's opinions. Now, however, 
I confine myself to expressing my most decided dissent to Dr. Petrie's conclusions, 
which I do for the purpose of calling attention to the subject, in the hope that other 
labourers may engage in the important work of giving a description of every pillar 
tower now remaining, as well as of the localities in which towers are k&own to have 
formerly stood." 

A paper was then read, contributed by John Windele, Esq., Cork, 
on an Ancient Cemetery at Ballymacus, which will be found in full 
at p. 230, ante> 

A paper by R. R. Brash, Esq., Architect, Cork, was then submitted 
to the Meeting ; it was entiUed, An Account of some Antiquities in the 
Neighbourhood of Buttevant, and will be found in full at p. 265, 
ante. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, Wednesday, Mabch I6th, 1853, 

THE REV. JAMES MEASE, A.M., in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — The Rev. George Stanley 
Faber, B.D., Prebendary of Salisbury, Sherbum House, Durham; 
George Hitchcock, Esq., St. PauFs Church-yard, London; William 
Ly8ter7Esq., J.P., Cloghmanty Mills, Freshford ; Samuel Gordon, Esq., 
M.D., Hume-street, Dublin ; Alfred John Dunkin, Esq., Dartford, 
Kent; and John Stratford Eirwan, Esq., 15, Merrion-square, East, 
Dublin : proposed by Mr. Richard Hitchcock. 

Frederick Villiers Clarendon, Esq., Assistant Architect, Board of 
Works, Dublin : proposed by Mr. Samson Carter. 

The Rev. William Drew, Rector of ICoughal: proposed by Mr. 
Edward Fitzgerald. 

William Atkinson, Esq., Resident Engineer, Waterford and Kil- 
kenny Railway; David Kerr, Esq., John-street; and William Trew, 
Esq., Lacken Cottage : proposed by the Rev. J. Graves. 

Mr. Richard Fumiss, Kilkenny : proposed by Mr. J. G. Robertson. 

The following presentations were received, and thanks for them re- 
turned to the donors : — 

45 



354 

Bj the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, iu 
Quarterly Journal^ No. 36. 

By the Cambrian Archsological Association, ArduBologia Cambrensia^ 
No. 13. 

By the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, its Proceedings 
and Papers, 1851—1852. 

By Mr. Joseph Greene, jun.. Manuscript Extracts from the Issue 
Book of the Exchequer, from the year 1654 to 1659- 

By Mr. James G. Robertson, a Manuscript Report on the state of 
the fabrick of the Cathedral of St. Canice in the year 1813, by the late 
William Robertson, Esq., Architect. 

By Mr. John O'Daly, a Manuscript Treatise on Crothic Architecture. 

By Mr. James Quinn, Solicitor, the Trial of Dr. Henry Sacheverdl ; 
Milnei^s Inquiry into the Antiquities of Ireland ; Two Dialogues on the 
Ground of the Laws; and Rules for the Direction of Cities, 

By Mr. Richard Caulfield, Cork, SigtUa EccUsice Hibemias lUustrata, 
part 1. 

By Mr. Joseph Greene, jun., a fine impression of the great seal of 
queen Elizabeth, originally appended to some charter. 

By Mr. J. K. Aylward, a brass pocket ring-dial, found in a sand- 
pit near Shankill, county of Kilkenny. 

By Dr. James, Mr. J. R. Phayer, Mr. P. M. Delaney, Mr. T. Dunne, 
and Mr. James Smith, various ancient coins. 

Mr. T. J. Tenison, Portneligan, county of Armagh, in forwarding a 
drawing of a chalice-shaped stfne antique in his possession, resem- 
bling one found near Jerpoint and already in the Society's Museum — 
the original use of which has not yet been fully settled — sent the following 
communication to the Rev. J. Graves : — 

** I enclose, as promised, the drawing of the stone censer (for such I believe it to 
be)» found, A.D. 1804, in the royal but Pagan cemetery of Cruachan, called Rathcrogfaan, 
in the county of Roscommon. It is 7 i inches high, 4^ inches in diameter at top, and 
nearly 1 1 round the middle — the sketch being about half the size of the originid. It is 
rudely shaped, similar to the one you showed me in Kilkenny, and was, in all probability, 
used by the Northern nations, Cimbri, and Irish Druids (if there were such folks), in the 
celebration of their religious sacrifices.'' 

The Chairman exhibited a small ring of black slate, curiously orna- 
mented by dots and chevrons, and perforated apparently for the purpose 
of being strung on a necklace. It bore a strong resemblance to the 
curious jet beads exhibited on a former occasion by Mr. J. F. Shearman. 
This ring was found at Wells, near Woodsgift, Kilkenny. 

Mr. Robertson exhibited drawings of various remains of antiquity in 
the county of Kilkenny, executed half a century since ; and amongst 
them a ground-plan and front elevation of the old Kilkenny theatre. 

Mr. Hitchcock exhibited a St. Patrick's penny, found on the shore of 
Smerwick Harbour. 

In accordance with notice given at the last meeting of the Society, 
by Herbert F. Hore, Esq., Pole Hore, Wexford, the Hon. Secretaiy on 
behalf of that gentleman moved certain alterations in the rules of the 
Society, which had reference to the change of its title, and the making 
of some arrangementfor the publication of original historical documents. 



355 

The change of the title consisted in the addition of the words ''and 
South-East of Ireland," making the name of the Association run thus — 
^* KsixEimrr and South-East of Ireland ArckjrojaOQical SodETY." 
Mr. Hore promised a large accession of members from amongst the no- 
bility and gentry of Wexford upon that county being thus recognised as 
coming within the district of the Society's operations ; and there was 
every reason to believe that a similar result will ensue in the other sur- 
rounding counties. The second proposition was the adoption of the 
following additional riile : — 

'* It Bball be optional with memberB to subscribe Ten Shillings annually, in addition 
to the subscription of Five Shillings which constitutes their membership; and that, 
should one hundred such additional subscribers be procured, an Annual Volume shall be 
printed, to consist of antiquarian and historical rare or unpublished matter of a local 
nature ; such Volume to be distinct from the Transactions of the Society, and to be 
supplied solely to each subscriber of Ten Shillings. Should any member be willing to 
defray the cost of printing, &c., he shall be entitled to nominate a paper for the Annual 
Volume, under the rerision of the Committee." 

Mr. Fitzsimons suggested that as the Society had succeeded so well 
under its original appellation it might be as well not to change it ; how- 
ever, he would make no objection, if the meeting approved of the alter- 
ation, as the title of ** Kilkenny" was still to be retained. 

The Chairman pointed out the importance of obtaining a means of 
publishing ancient records connected with the locality. He understood 
that besides the rich stores of manuscripts waiting for publication in the 
hands of the Secretaries of the Society, and existing in the archives of 
the city of Kilkenny, Mr. Hore was prepared to edit many interesting 
documents relating to Kilkenny and Wexford ; the Dean of Waterford 
had also forwarded to the Society some documents calculated to be of the 
greatest interest, connected with that city ; and, in fact^ the abundance 
of the material, from which to choose, was the only matter to embarrass 
them. To-day there was a most valuable contribution from Mr. (^Daly, 
of Anglesea-street, Dublin ; being a transcript, accompanied by a trans- 
lation, of an ancient Irish tract on the inauguration of Cathal Crobhdearg 
O'Conor, King of Connaught, A. D. 1224 ; and to which was appended 
most important notes by Dr. O'Donovan. Documents such as these, and 
thus illustrated, it was unnecessary to dwell upon the necessity of pre- 
serving. 

The alterations in the rules, proposed by Mr. Hore then passed un- 
animously. 

The following paper, by the Rev. J. Graves, accompanying the exhi- 
bition of a piece of silver ring-money purchased by him for the Society's 
Museum, was then read : — 

*' The fine specimen of sUver ring-money which I lay before the meeting has been 
secured, I am happy to say, for the Society's Museum, where I trust it may form the 
nucleus of a collection of that interesting class of antiquities, whether of gold, silver, 
bronze, or stone. It is of the purest silver, and weighs 14 dwts. 1 gr. Its formation is 
of the rudest kind, being simply a flat strip of silver, three inches and two- tenths long, 
aomewhat more than, four-tenths of an inch broad, tapering to about three-tenths at the 
ends, and about one-eighth of an inch thick. The ring shape was apparently given to it 
by being hammered round a rough bar till the ends met — the marks of the bar are 
visible on the inside. 



356 

** I do Dot propose to enter on the question of Irish ring*iDoney, so ahly and satis- 
factorily handled by Sir William Betham and Mr. Lindsay, and amongst our own 
members by Dr. Cane and Mr. Windele, but will content myself with stating my own 
belief that the case has been more clearly proved in regard to rings of gold and bronze, 
than of silver. I cannot, however, here refrain from quoting some instances of the 
mixed metal alladed to being actually used as money. Every one is well acquainted with 
the custom prevalent in ancient Pagan times amongst many nations, of placing a piece of 
money in the moiith of the deceased, to pay his way in the other world. By a letter 
which I recently received from T. Crofton Croker, Esq., I learn that he was presented 
on August 22nd, 1843, with a bronze ring, found in the mouth of a skeleton discovered 
in a cam above Crookhaven, in the county of Cork ; along with this skeleton, a leaf- 
shaped sword and a spear-head of bronze were also found, and he possesses one or two 
other similar rings, taken from the mouths of skeletons discovered in nearly similar si- 
tuations on the south and south-west coast of Ireland. These important facts would 
seem not only to confirm the idea, long held, of the currency of bronze rings as money, 
but also to connect cam* burial, which we know preceded cremation, vrith that race which 
used the bronze ring-money, celts, swords, and spear-heads, which our island yields up 
from its bosom in such quantities. But with regard to the silver rings found here, yet 
with much less frequency than in Scotland or England, the case is different. Silver 
rings are usually discovered in hoards, and accompanied by ingots and small fragment! 
of the same metal, unwrought or simply flattened into strips or plates. 

" The ring before the meeting is no exception to this rule, it is the sole remaining, 
or at least discoverable, portion of a hoard discovered in the cuttings of the Waterford 
and Kilkenny Railway, opposite the house of a farmer, named Edward Walsh, at Derry- 
nahinch, in this county, so long since as September, 1851. The hoard, which consisted 
of about a quart full of rings and pieces of silver, was found resting on the rock, about 
two feet under the surface, covered by a slab of stone about eight inches square. There 
were about twelve or fourteen rings, some of them flat, like that before the meeting, others 
twisted like a curb-chain. Accompanying the rings were many flat pieces of silver, some 
square, about the size of a shilling, others of different sizes, and amongst them were oblong 
flatted pieces, tapered at the end, exactly like the ring which has been preserved, but 
straight. When the hoard was thrown out from its hiding-place, the pieces of silver 
being oxydized, and consequently black, attracted little attention, the greater part of 
them were shovelled into waggons and 'tipped' over the embankment; whence, perhaps, 
they may be exhumed in ages to come, and furnish reasons (strong as many used by 
our antiquaries of the present day in support of the ring-money theory) that the railway 
contractors of the nineteenth century paid their labourers in that currency. 

** I conceive that the Derrynahinch hoard was not used as money, except so far as 
precious metals always served as such, whether wrought, or simply in ingots. Perhaps 
we have here the stock of a travelling worker in silver, or the hoard of a plundering 
Dane, in both cases hidden for security, and then forgotten in consequence of the death 
of the depositor. The silver fibula-head (the largest known), found near Urlingford, and 
deposited in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, in the year 1846, through the 
instrumentality of our Very Reverend President, had been mutilated by some sharp instru- 
ment, and probably only saved by an accident from the cmcible of some ancient plun- 
derer or jeweller. The ring now exhibited was picked up by an intelligent ' ganger,' 
named George Newton, an Englishman, who placed it on his finger, where it gradually 
assumed its pristine lustre. Newton, from whom the particulars just stated, together with 
the ring, were obtained, promised to look out for any specimens which might have 
remained in the hands of the ' navvies,' but I fear, from the length of time which has 
elapsed since I last saw him, that he has not been successful.*' 

Mr. R. Hitchcock contributed papers on a Sculptured Stone in the 
old Church of Annagh, county of Kerrji and on the Round Towers of 
the county of Kerry, which will be found printed at length at pp. 239, 
and 242, ante. 

Mr. Prim read a paper on Olden Popular Pastimes in Kilkenny, 
which is printed in full at p. 319, cmte, 

Mr. John O'Daly contributed a transcript of an ancient Irish account 



357 

of the Inaugaration of Cathal Crobhdearg O'Conor, with a translation, 
and accompanied by notes from the pen of Dr. CyDonovan, which will 
be found printed at length, p. 335, ante. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held at the Society's Apartments, Patrick-street, Kilkenny, 

Wednesday, May 18th, 1853, 
THE REV. JOHN BROWNE, LL.D., in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — The Right Hon. Lord 
Londesborough, President of the Numismatic Society of London, F.R.S., 
F.S.A., &c.: proposed by Mr. T. Crofton Croker, 

Thomas Eerslake, Esq., Park-street, Bristol ; Professor M'Sweeny, 
St. Patrick's College, Thurles ; Robert Sullivan, Esq., LL.D., Education 
Office, Marlborough-street, Dublin; and John Ward Dowsley, Esq., 
M.D., M.R.C.S.L, Clonmel: proposed by Mr. R. Hitchcock. 

The Rev. H. T. Ellacombe, Clyst St. George, Topsham, Devon : 
proposed by the Rev. James Graves. 

The Right Hon. John Wynne, Hazlewood, Sligo : proposed by the 
Rev. Luke Fowler. 

Edward Ryan, Esq., Eilfera : proposed by the Rev. Dr. Browne. 

Frederick Beverly Dixon, Esq., Castlewood, Durrow ; and Richard 
Burnham, Esq., Architect, Kilkenny: proposed by Mr. James G. 
Robertson. 

William Francis Finn, Esq., J.P., TuUaroan ; and William Hackett, 
Esq., Midleton : proposed by Mr. Prim. 

The Very Rev. David O'Brien, D.D., Chapel House, Clarendon- St., 
Dublin; and Josias Beatty, Esq., 31, Lower Abl>ey-street, Dublin: 
proposed by Mr. John O'Daly. 

The following presentations were received, and thanks for them or- 
dered to be given to the donors i-^ 

By Mr. T. Crofton Croker, for Lord Londesborough, Catalogue of a 
Collection of Ancient and Mediaval Rings and Personal Ornaments^ formed 
for Lady Londesborough ; privately printed. 

By the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, its 
Journal^ No. 37. 

By the Cambrian Archaeological Association, ArcJuuologia Cambrensis^ 
No. 14. 

By the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, Ancient Cambridgeshire^ 
being No. 3 of the 8vo. series of that Society's publications. 

By Mr. John Gray Bell, The Vale Royal of England^ and The Pedigree 
of the family of Scott of Stokoe. 

l^y Mr. J. G. Robertson, a Survey for a canal and rail-road, from 
Gores-bridge to Castlecomer by Kilkenny, made by Mr. John Killally, 
A.D., 1812. 

By Mr. Greorge Bolger, two bronze oelts. 

By the Rev. W. Browne, Dungarvan, a thin bronze javelin head. 



358 

By James F. Ferguson, Esq., an ancient deed indented — "Made at Kil- 
kenny y xxiiii. day of July, the yere of our Lorde Mcccccxxxn, betwez 
Catheryn Archere burgess of y« said town on y« one part, and Lawrans 
Dowly, Corwyzer, of y« other part," respecting premises without St. 
Patrick's gate. Its chief curiosity consisted in the circumstance of its 
proving that there were female burgesses of Kilkenny in those days. 

By Rev. James Graves, a note of the bank of Williams and Finn, 
Kilkenny, amount 3^. 9^* 

By Rev. B. Scott, Rev. J. Graves, Mr. R. Preston, and Mr. J. Corbett, 
several ancient coins. 

The Rev. James Graves read a description of a sepulchral tumulus 
in the Queen's County, as follows : — 

" Some yean since, the proprietor of the UndB of Cuffsborough, in the pariih of 
Aghaboe, and Queen's County, determined on removing a hiUock or mound of earth 
then existing in one of his fields. After his labourers had cleared away a considerable 
portion of the earth, they came to a beehiye-shaped structure of rough stones ; three or 
four of which being removed, gave entrance to a sepulchral chamber within, for such it 
proved to be. This chamber, which measured about five feet in diameter, had been 
formed by placing a circle of large stones on edge, at the back of which clay and smaU 
stones seemed to have been care&Uy rammed down ; these stones were about three and 
a-half feet in height from the floor of the chamber. On the upper edge of this circle, 
and with a slight projection over its inner face, was laid horizontally another circle of 
large flat stones ; above these another row with the same projection over the former, 
and so on until the dome was closed at the apex by a single large stone. The floor of 
this chamber, which was perfectly dry, was covered by about an inch of very fine dust, 
and in the centre, lying confusedly, were the bones of two human skeletons. The bones 
were quite perfect when the chamber was first opened, but, when exposed to the action 
of the atmosphere, in a short time they crumbled away. It would appear as if the 
bodies had been placed in a sitting posture, and that the bones in the process of de- 
cay had fallen one upon the other. One of the skulls was probably that of a female, 
being considerably smaller than the other. This sepulchral chamber had evidently been 
built over the bodies of the deceased persons, as there was no door or other aperture 
by which they could afterwards have been introduced. The bones showed no trace of 
cremation, and the impalpable dust covering the fioor of the chamber proved that the 
corpses had been placed there entire, and had undergone the process of decay after 
sepulture. Subsequently to the completion of the rude stone- work above described, a 
mound of earth was heaped up over all ; thus forming a sepulchral tumulok. 

'* I am sorry to say that all trace of the interesting sepulchral chamber above 
described is now obliterated. Shortly after iu discovery, some persons proceeded to 
excavate beneath the upright stones which formed the sides, in search of that universally 
desired, and therefore dreamed of object, a ' crock of gold/ This caused a subsidence, 
which at once reduced the whole structure to an undistinguishable mass of ruin, and the 
very stones are, I believe, now entirely removed.'' 

Mr. W. Hackett of Midleton, contributed a paper on Folk-lore, which 
will be found printed in full at p. 303, ante, 

Mr. T. L. Cooke sent a paper on the Ancient Cross of Banagher, 
King's County, which is printed in full at p. 277, ante. 

The Rev. A. B. Rowan, D.D., Belmont, Tralee, communicated a 

paper on the well-known monument at the abbey of Holy Cross, as 

follows : — 

" A few days since, looking over the volume of our * Transactions' for 1849, 1 lighted 
upon the animated and interesting discussion of Messrs. Prim and Cooke, respecting the 
celebrated monument at Holy Cross ; following their references I turned to Dr. Petrie's 
article in the Dudiin Penny Journal of 1832-3, to Sir William Betham's offered cor- 
rection of Dr. Petrie, and to the learned Doctor's stout but respectful adherence to his 
opinion, in which men unconvinced are apt to persist. Having considered all these 



359 

documents and the difficuUies presung on each theory respeetiyely, I venture to offer a 
different suggestion altogether, respecting this remarkable monument, which, being for 
its date and florid style of ornament rather a singular erection in Ireland, it seems 
equally singular, that if raised to the memory of an indiyidual, any uncertainty should 
prevail as to who that individual was. I am emboldened to propose my theory by the 
hope expressed in Mr. Prim's last paper, that * other members of the Society would take 
up the subject and give their views ;' and further by a recollection of the old adage — that 
a by-stander may sometimes see what escapes more acute minds, when energetically en- 
gaged in a discussion. 

**The question at issue I take to be two-fold. First, is the monument a set of 
sedilia, or a tomb ? Next, if a tomb, whose tomb is it ? On the first question, having 
paid some attention to the character of sedilia, and examined these constructions in a 
vast number of English churches, as well as in the ecclesiastical ruins of Ireland, I am 
obliged to offer my verdict for what it may be worth againti thit being a tet o/iediUa, 
The shape of the niches, the elevation from the ground, the narrowness of seat afforded, 
all seem to me opposed to such a supposition ; I cannot recall to mind, having ever seen 
sedilia of this fashion, whilst I have seen many monumental erections, if not exactly the 
same, at least of similar construction. Of course I offer this judgment most submis- 
sively prepared to find it rejected by Mr. Prim, as he objects to Mr. Cooke's arguments, 
or as Dr. Petrie puts aside Sir William Betham's emendations of his theory ; I must, 
however, in order to offer my own views, assume the first question to be settled in favour 
of the TOMB vernu the skdilia theory. And now coming to the second question, if a 
tomb— for whom or to what purpote erected ? Before I propose my own substantive 
view, I must endeavour to put aside several conflicting theories as to dates and individuals, 
which appear to me to settle down like a haze on the whole subject ; each theory, as is 
not unusual, recommending itself to its maintainer by some element of probability or 
truth. 

** First, it is not the tomb of the O'Brien, founder of Holy Cross. Any one having 
the least tincture of that knowledge of style of architecture which is daily spreading 
among us, must at once perceive that a monument, executed in the florid and somewhat 
overlidd Gothic style of the fourteenth or fifteenth century, could not be the tomb (at 
least the original tomb) of an individual who died in the end of the twelfth century. 

"And yet, as Dr. Petrie acutely observes, the tomb standing in a * place utually 
occupied by the tomb of a founder* would seem to indicate some connexion with such an 
individual ; keeping in view this idea, and possessed by a theory (in which the learned 
Doctor found 'no difilculties whatever') that the tomb belonged to a countess of 
Desmond {natct Butler), he proceeds to infer a fact, which, as he naively confesses, is 
* hitherto unknoum m history /' namely, that hie * countess of Desmond was the rebuilder 
of the noble abbey church of Holy Cross ;' thus will a hobby theory run away with the 
steadiest rider, when he is once fairly astride 1 

** The heraldic difilculties, which beset every view hitherto put forward, seem to be 
most formidable ; Mr. Prim declaring that while Sir William Betham's heraldic proofs, 
fearfuUy damaged Dt, Petrie's theory, further adds, that the Doctor, by the counter missile 
of an historic fact, ' completely demoUthed^ the antagonistic theory of Sir William. To 
turn to the other cases, and not to dwell upon the question between ' apples and ermine 
tails,' which I assume to be settled by the rubbing taken from the actual stone, I beg to 
observe that — though there may be cases, I am not aware of any, in which persons, 
females especially, collaterally descended from royalty, have borne the royd arms on a 
separate shield among their devices — and though I have seen many stately and elaborate 
tombs of noble houses in England having nearer and more direct claims to royal blood 
than the Butlers or Fitzgeralds of Ireland, yet I cannot recollect ever to have seen the 
royal arms so borne among monumental insignia ; it may, however, be so in cases of which 
I am not aware. 

Mr. Cooke, with that pains-taking and ingenious attention which he is wont to bestow 
on antiquarian matters, offers to prove that the monument was erected to the memory 
of a mysterious and somewhat legendary personage called ' The Good Woman's Son,' 
whom the general bearing of his arguments and the local traditions on which he relies would 
seem to identify with a certain * Feorus Fionn' slain either in battle, or by an O'Fogarty 
chief, somewhere about the middle of the 13th century — this Feorus Fionn is further said 
to have been, probably, a son of Isabella, widow of John, King of England, by an 
after-taken husband, * to have been sent to Ireland to collect Peter's pence/ and to 



360 

have been »lain an *hinoeent prineep$,* who * could not have been more than tntn 
yeart of age /' I own that (independent of other objections forcibly orged by Mr. Prim 
in his rejoinder) thongh the ingenuity and research of Mr. Cooke are both largely 
exercised in support of his view, yet that to me they altogether fail in sustaining the 
* violation of all the unities' which this tissue of conflicting tradition iuTolves — another 
instance of .hobby-riding. A man of Mr. Cooke's well known acuteness must have been 
much engrossed indeed with his theory when he overlooked the improbability that a 
child ofteven yean old^ even though glowing with the precocious desire to examine Irish 
manners and mode of living — * videndi Hibemicot moret et vivendi formam desiderio 
fiaprabat* wonld have been the selected agent to collect Peter's pence from the fierce 
O'Fogartys and other chiefs, of Ireland in general, and of Tipperary in particular ; what 
else could have been expected from such a selection than what happened, if it did happen, 
namely, a ' massacre of the innocent prince.* But I am disposed to think that it neper 
did happen/ that father Hartry, in the seventeenth century, having tasked himself to 
'chronicle' whatever might hereafter form the ' Triumphalia' of the abbey of Holy 
Cross, wrote down with too easy a faith all the loose and conflicting traditions of the 
district ; and that Mr. Cooke was too much engrossed with the theory founded on them 
to examine the contistency of its details with l^s usual acuteness. Mr. Cooke, however, 
is ' himself again/ when he points out the improbability of father Hartiys being 
ignorant of the monument being of a sedile character, if such was its use. Nor does he 
hesitate to charge the Triumphalia with ' falling into an anachronism' when it crosses 
the path of his own theory — which even when we dissent from, we must admire the 
research and ingenuity of its advocate. 

** I now come to propose my own suggestion as to the origin and use of the monument 
in question, and submit that while so many difficulties lie against assigning it as the tomb 
of any of the individuals mentioned, and while no other with paramount claims appears, 
one use may be indicated for it, to which none of these difliculties apply, namely, that 
of TBB ALTAR-TOMB, SO commou iu all Roman Catholic churches where the provision 
for carrying out the ritual was at all complete, ^and the use of which is for receiving the 
Host for an assigned period during the ceremonies of Passion Week. The * tomb of 
the founder* is the position most commonly selected as *the altar- tomb' and when 
in after ages this elaborate monument was added to Holy Cross church, it was by no 
means improbable that the site selected was the founder's grave, and thus the mistake 
of its being erected to his memory may be accounted for. I consider a circumstance 
which Mr. Cooke mentions, and on which Mr. Prim comments, as of more importance 
in determining the question at issue, than either gentleman seems aware, namely, that 
the * table,* that is, the part which Mr. Prim could make the seat of the sedilia, is a 
' stone slab with a sepulchral cross,* Mr. Prim acknowledges this to be the fact, that 
the table of the monument is a ' slab omamentid with a foliated cross, of a character 
proving it to be about two centuries older than the rest of the structure /' Now I must 
consider his mode of disposing of this fact, as doing little less violence to probability, 
than he charges the parties erecting the monument with having done ' to the grave of 
its nameless owner,' when he gives his opinion that they * dishonestly purloined it 1' 
For the honour of religion, and of ' devout builders unknown,' I beg to suggest a more 
probable and more honest reason for the appearance of this stone in its present position ; 
either it is the original grave-stone of the founder, introduced into the more modem 
erection, or else, I conceive it to be an ancient altar-slab,^ and most probably that of 
Holy Cross church itse^, originally the covering of the principal altar, until replaced by 
one more costly on .the erection of the new and magnificent shrine contemporaneous with 
the monument under consideration, Wihen the old altar slab might have been removed to 
its present less conspicuous, but still consecrated use and position. Adverting to the 
fact incidentally mentioned in Mr. Prim's rejoinder, * that a cross-marked stone forme 
the threshold of a door in the Cathedral of St, Canice at Kilkenny,* I beg leave to offer an 
observation which may be interesting, namely, that at the Reformation, in very many 
cases, the table-stone of the altar was placed in an inverted position, as the threshold of 
the church door ; and since this fact has been brought into notice, many altar-stones 
have been discovered, and removed from that position. I may now briefly observe that 
if my view as to the Holy Cross monument be admissible, it removes aU the heraldic 

■ Having since penonally inspected the moon- ble; the slab is plainly sepulchnd— 4X1 fitted to^ 
meot, I perceive tliat my soggeftion is inadmissi- and older than, the monument itself.— A. B. S. 



361 

diAcnlties wiih which the quettton \m enYuoned. I atiame the question of the bearingi 
on one shield (that of Desmond) to be settled by the * rubbing of the orig;insl stone,' id- 
ready referred to. But on my view it is needless to debate whether any or what family 
had a right to a full shield of royal arms, or whether a more nobly-born wife did or did 
not violate the order of true blazoning by assuming the dexter side for her escutcheon. 
I briefly remark that nothing could be more proper or probable than that the armorial heax- 
in^ o( the berufaeton of ihe abbey ^reg^ w baronial, would be added to the ornaments 
of a monument destined to such a use. Nor is there anything improbable in the sug- 
gestion, that it might have been erected, at the joint espenee of the pereone whoee 
ueuteheont are thae mingled with ite omamenti. Just as we now-a-days see the armorial 
bearings of the donors introduced into the pattern of a donatiye painted window. 

"There are some other circumstances connected with the arrangement for this 
part of the Roman Catholic ritual, which I may as well mention here. In the greater 
churches abroad, there is usually a separate chapel, called ' The Chapel of the Holy 
Sacrament,' set apart for the same use as the * altar-tomb' in less important churches. 
The Pauline Chapel is the altar-tomb of the Vatican. On Holy Thursday the Pope 
carries the Host, in solemn procession, from the Siztine to the Pauline Chapel, deposits it 
there, and at a subsequent period of the holy week returns it in like solemn form to the 
Sixtine Chapel again. I could not learn that the Pauline Chapel was ever used for any 
other purpose than this. 

'* Another curious feature in tins point of church arrangement may, ^ found m 
Holy Croae, determine the point at issue. In many ancient churches (though by na 
means in all) is found a small low window dose to the ground, the use of which was 
for some time a subject of ecclesiological perplexity and debate. At length it was 
observed that this window, when it existed, uniformly commanded a view of ' the altar* 
tomb' in the opposite interior wall of the church ; and it seems now agreed on, that 
this window was intended to serve the purpose of keeping vigil from without, while the 
Host lay on the altar-tomb in the deserted, as it were, widowed, church within. I 
remember how I surprised an English friend, who conceived that he knew his church in 
all its details ' from turret to foundation stone,' by first going to search for, and then 
pointing out to him such a window, closed up and half buried in the accumulated earth 
outside his church. Now I would suggest if Holy Cross church be examined vrith a 
view to this point, and if any such window be found in the position I mention, it would 
be a strong deciding fact, although its non-existence would not be of an equally strong 
negative character ; for these windows are by no means an essential or universal accom- 
paniment of the altar tomb. 

" I reserve for the last a suggestion for reconciling Mr. Cooke's tradition with my 
theory, upon which I need hardly say I do not insist, when I mention that I expect it to 
bring upon me the observation that ' thii gentleman can spur hii own hobby as hotly as 
any one else.' Be it so—if I spur too eagerly and receive a fall in consequence, I hope 
I can take it with the good humour which ought to mark all friendly contests of this 
sort, in which the true solution of a difficulty being the prize contended for, we should 
all rejoice when it is attained, whether by ourselves or another. Now for my suggestion, 
which is this — that the very peculiar plunise of the ' tomb of the Son qf the Good Woman' 
may originally have been a homely and yet enigmatical periphruis, to express the 
' altar-tomb of the Son of the Blessed Virgin.' I am probably fanciful, but it has 
occurred to me that it may be one of those peculiar and forcible modes of expression in 
use among the Irish in their own language. It was but yesterday that a finend and I 
were discussing a curious synonyme, by which, without a thought of irreverence, our 
peasantry designate Goo himself as * the Man above,' or * the Man on high I' Why then 
may not the Son of the ' Good Woman' have been in more primitive times, and before 
war and convulsions broke up the conventional meaning, their periphrastic expression for 
our Saviour himself? 

" If you think these speculations worth submitting to the Kilkenny Arclueological 
Society at their next meeting, you vrill do me the favour to take the trouble of resding 
them as the contribution of a Member who hopes, some time or other, to take his seat 
at one of their reunions." 

The Bey. James Mease, in reference to the ring-dial presented at 
the last meeting of the Society, read the following observations on 
ancient dials :— 

46 



362 

** A few words on flials may not be uninteretting to the Memben> aa these mathe- 
matical instruments (as they may be fairiy called) ere not only objeets whidi attraetthe 
attention of the antiquarian in themselTCS, but also from their connexion with other 
ancient monuments. The equal division of time must have been an important object 
from the earliest days of the human race ; and yet many nations appear to have made 
considerable advancement in other respects, before this was attained with any degree of 
accuracy. We find that Homer seems to have had no idea of any instrument which 
could have been used for this purpose, although from his mention of the constellationst 
astronomy would appear to have attracted his attention. When he divides the day it is 
always by some general expression, such as — *as long as the day increased'— or — ' what 
time the woodman prepares his meal/ that he indicates its progress. Indeed it was 
many ages after, that the dial was introduced into Greece. Some time before this the 
clepsydra, or water-dock, enabled them to measure time in the absence of the sun ; to 
the latter instrument frequent aUusion is made in classical authors, more particularly it 
is mentioned by .£schines, in his famous speech against Ctesiphon, or rather Demosthenes. 
Dials were, at even a later period, brought into use at Borne ; the first mention of one is 
in the time of Papirius Cursor, about 460 years alter the foundation of the city, and even 
this is doubtful. About thirty years later, in the first Punic war, one was brought 
from Sicily, but as it was made for a place four degrees of latitude to the south of Rome, 
it was, when set up at the latter place, totally useless ; and yet dials existed in other 
countries at a much earlier period. Mention is made in the prophet Isaiah of the dial 
of Ahaz (38th c. 8th v.) This was probably introduced from Babylon, which city claims 
not only the credit of this useful inwntion, bat of astronomical observations, which laid 
the foundation of that most sublime of sciences, and are of immense importance in the 
nicest calculations even to the present day. 

« To carry on the history of dials through other nations would be here impossible, 
from the immense extent of the subject, and, therefore, I shall conclude this part with the 
mention of the use of the word by Shakspeare. I can call to mind that he makes use of 
the word three times; perhaps more frequently, but if so the passages have escaped my 
memory. One is in the celebrated speech of Henry VL, uttered in the midst of a battle 
where that peaceful monarch wishes that he could lay aside his crown and take up the 
humble life of a shepherd ; one of the occnpations of this life, he says, would be-— 

* To ourva out diftU quaintly, p<^t by point,' 

Here the common horizontal slate dial is obviously meant. In another play, the name 
of which I forget, one of his characters says—' Nay, then, my dial goes not with yours.' 
Here, I think it is plain, that dial signifies a watch ; and it is probable that the name of 
the old instrument was applied to the new. The third place is in ' As You Like It ;' 
the fool is there said to draw * a dial from his poke and gaze upon it with lack-lustre 
eye.' I think in this latter place also, it signifies a watch, for though it might apply to 
a ring-dial, such as that now exhibited, yet the use of that would require some degree 
of skill in the setting of it, which would not only be more than one could expect from 
the unsettled mind of a fool, but even if we suppose him more knave than fool, yet I 
think some notice of the operation would be taken by the observant Jacques. It may 
seem to contradict this, that the person spoken of was a fool, but we must remember he 
was a court fooL The word ' poke' was probably a more respectable word then, than 
it is in these days. 

** It would occupy too much of our time to enter upon the general subject of dialling ; 
but a few remarks on its principles will not be out of place. Let us conceive a hollow 
globe, formed of twenty-four meridians, representing the earth. The sun will be obviously 
in the plane of one of these meridians in each successive hour. That meridian would then 
cast a shadow in that plain. Now the shadows of these meridians would all intersect in 
one line. This line is the axis of the earth. That axis would, therefore, always be in the 
shadow of these meridians, and, therefore, if the meridians were all taken away and the 
axis made into an opaque rod, the shadow of that rod would serve instead of the shadows 
of the successive meridians. If then you catch that shadow on any plane it will mark 
the passing of time. The two things necessary then to the construction of a dial are, 
first, a line parallel to the axis of the earth, and secondly, a fixed plain catching the 
shadow of that axis, and having lines drawn to mark the shadow. Speaking in the 
abstract, the plane may be fixed in any position with regard to the axis, but practically » 



363 

fbw only of these poiitiont are ever made use ot The horliontol, the perpendienlar, 
tmng either north and south, or east and west, and the equatorial, which ler? es for all 
latitndei. The one now exhibited to the Society is of the latter daas. It was presented 
by James K. Aylward, Bsq., hating been found In a sand-pit, at Shankill, a short time 
since. Having shown it to Mr. McCarthy, the mathematical master at Kilkenny College, 
he has faTOured me with the following observations :— 

** The Duithematleal inttnuiMnt whleh you filtoed in my haadi tome time dnee, is pert of an 
milTanel eqninoetiml dIaL It want* the azto and slider. At the method of oonstraotloa and the 
manner of using It are to be met with in meet books on dialling, I think it unnecessary to enter 
more largely into the Bul||eet However, it may be proper to remark that the instrument is graduated 
somewhat dillferently firom thoee of a more recent construction. It has the hours only sub^llTided into 
quarters on thelnner edge of the inner ring { those that were in use about the eommeneement of the 
last oentuiy haTO the hours each sub-dlTlded into Ave minutes on the outer edge of the inner rinx ; 
therefore, It Is probable, that this dial was made in the early part of the serenteenth century. The 
namee of some of the cities which are giren on it seem to ksMl to the same conclusion.* 

" I shall add to the above that this dial was obviously made by a French artist 
residing in Ireland. First, the names are all French ; for instance London is Londres, 
Vienna, Vienne, &c Secondly » the number of French towns carved on it is much greater 
than that of any other country. Next in number are the Irish towns. There are only 
two English — London and Toik; and all other countries have only the chief city 
mentioned. I have, perhaps, dwelt upon this subject longer than its importance seemed 
to require. However, independently of this dial as an object of interest to the antiqua- 
rian, it is well known that these instruments are attached to buildings, and buildings 
themselves are conjectured (as I think vrith a strong degree of probability) to have 
served as dials, and to have been constructed with that object. Some knowledge of the 
principles of dialling will assist in investigating the subject, and vrill, perhaps, enable us 
to dedde whether or not the standing stones, usually supposed to be Druidical erections, 
portions of round towers (for the towers themselves could not serve for that purpose), 
and of other buildings, might not have been intended for that among other uses." 

Sir Erasmus Dixon Borrowes, Bart, commnnicated the following 

interesting extract from the Irish Exchequer Records, in reference to a 

' member of the family of Dixon, concerning whom another extract 

from the same records had been previously brought under the notice 

of the public, in the Kilkenny Moderator^ by J. F. Ferguson, Esq. : — 

** 30th September, 1633. Memorandum — ^That this day the Mayor, Recorder, and 
Aldermen of the cittie of Dublin, came in their scarlett gownes before The Right 
Honorable Thomas Viscount Wentworth, Lord Deputy Generall of this Kingdome, in 
his Magisties Castle of Dublin, where his Lordship being sett in his chaire of state in 
the presence chamber, the Mayor delivered unto him the whyte staffe and sword of the 
cittie, and then after Mr. Sergeant Catelyn, the Recorder, had made an eloquent oration, 
bee presented Robert Dixon, Esq., to be Mayor of this cittie for this ensuing yeare, who 
* having first taken the oath of the King's supremacie, and the oath of his office of Mayor, 
redd unto him by Robert Kennedy, Esq., the King's Remembrancer, the Lord Deputie 
delivered unto him the staffe of authoritie, and sword of government of this cittie, which 
being donne, Sir Richard Bolton, Knight, Lord Chiefe Baron, very leamedlie and gravely 
declared unto the said new Mayor the points of his chardge and dutie of his place, with 
admonition to discharge them accordingly, who havinge ended, the Lord Deputie with 
greate gravitie and wisdome did further advertise and admonish the said Mayor to the 
faithfttll and due execution and administration of justice in the saide office, to the ad- 
vancement of his Majisties service, and the honor and good of the cittie, and, after much 
graciousness, intimatinge howe reddy hee would bee to assiste and countenance the said 
cittie in all their just and lawfuU occasions : and soe his Lordship rysinge upp retyred 
himselfe into the withdrawing chamber, and the said Mayor and Citizens departed the 
Castk to performe the other ceremonies of the cittie as on that dale accustomed." 

On the termination of his year of office, Robert Dixon was knighted, 
on the 22nd September, 1634, at his own house, in Skinner-row, then 
having a garden attached ; which house was in being in queen Elizabeth's 
time, and stood on the spot now occupied by No. 14, &c,, in Christ 
Church-place, Dublin. 



364 

Mr. D. Bjrme, Timahoe, commiinicated the fdlowing tradition of 
that district : — 

"On the mountain netr Dysartgtllen, called Knock-ard-na-giir, in the Qneen'i 
County, waa a castle of considerable strength. Tradition asserts that * a tyrant' was 
the proprietor, and that his usual mode of carrying on his nefarious system of robbery 
and murder was by meeting travellers on their way Arom and to BaUinakUl and Stradbally , 
where a small stone trough now rests on the road side. These, under pretence of 
friendship, he invited, from time to time, to take at his castle some refreshment, where 
in secret he robbed and murdered them. Notwithstanding this, it was almost impos- 
sible to take tbe robber, even by surprise. At that time the chieftain, Rory 0*More, lived 
in Cluan-Kyle, and when the robber had baffled all his vigilance, one of O^More's 
faithful retainers went to the former and asserted that he wished to enter into his em- 
ployment, at the same time assailing the character of O'More and his partisans. 

'* Gearoid Jarla, or Garret the Earl, the name of the outlaw, was an enemy to the 
O'Mores; and, consequently, he received with alacrity this pretended friend, who 
promised if possible to place O'More in his hands. For some time he evinced a deter- 
mined dislike to O'More, and appeared assiduous in seeking to compass his ruin. In 
one of his lurking places he met O'More, told him it was impossible to take the outlaw 
by surprise, and that an attack on the castle would cost too much blood ; there was but 
one way, he said, of getting rid of the villain, and that was to come that night, singly 
and as close as possible to the castle, and when Gearoid sat at table, he (the servant) 
would place the lamp directly between the former and the vrindow ; O'More should 
fire at the lamp, and he would certainly bring down his man, and then could make hia 
escape through the woods. 

** O'More observed the advice of his faithful dependant, and effected his purpose. 
On the next day the peasantry carried the body of Gearoid Jarla to the ford of Dysart- 
gallen, and quartered it there, casting the remains into the river, which bore them into 
the ocean, except the entrails, which were found below Ballinakill ; and a mill having 
been since erected at the spot it is called to this day * Pudding MilL' 

" The ruins of Gearoid's castle are not without their strange traditions regarding 
much treasure having been hidden in and about the site. Some time prior to its £sll, a 
man and his wife set out from the county of Wicklow, and sought a night's shelter from 
Leem Oge Campion, or young Leem Campion, who resided near the latter ; the unvrise 
travellers told him that they frequently dreamed that a vessel containing gold coin vras 
embedded in one of the waUs of the castle, and that if they set forward the castle would 
fall to the ground on the night of their arrival near its ruins, and they would possess 
the treasure. Campion, next morning, at day's dawn, went to the castle — it was down, 
and in complete ruins ; he found the vessel and the treasure ; the dreamers returned as 
they came, their weaki^ess of mind having destroyed their prospects, and Campion 
became a wealthy farmer ! 

'* After the death of Gearoid Jarla, a female relative of his lived in the castle ; her 
name was Mary Brennan, commonly called ' Moll of the hills ;' she was a reputed en- 
chantress, and married to a gentleman named Fitzpatrick. No part of the castle now 
remains, but its site is well known." 



GENERAL MEETING, 
Held at the Society's Apartments, Patrick-street, Kilkenny, 

Wednesday, July 19th, 1853. 
ROBERT CANE, Esq., M.D., in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — Sir Erasmns Dixon Borrowes, 
Bart., Laoragh, Portarlington : proposed by Mr. Prim. 

Andrew Byan, Esq., Gortkelly Castle, Borrisoleigh ; Sylvester 
Bedmond^ Esq., 19, Penrhyn-street, Scotland-road, Liverpool; George 
A. Hanlon, Esq., Bedford House, Bathgar, Dublin ; John Bussell Smyth, 
Esq., 36, Soho-square, London ; Bev. Thomas Bichard Brown, M.A., 



365 

Soothwick Vicarage, near Oundle, Northamptonshire ; Thomas Tobin^ 
Esq., J.F^ F.S.A., Ballincollig ; William Barton, Esq., Dangannon ; Rev. 
Charles W. Bussell, D.D., Dundalk ; and John McClelland, Esq., Dun- 
gannon : proposed by Mr. Bichard Hitchcock. 

William Deane Butler, Esq., Architect, Stephen's-green, Dublin : 
proposed by Mr. Joseph Burke. 

Bichard Graham, Esq. ; Samuel White, Esq. ; and Joseph White, 
Esq., all of Clonmel : proposed by Dr. Dowsley. 

Charles Haliday, Esq., Monkstown Park, county of Dublin : proposed 
by the Bev. James Graves. 

John William Smith wick, Esq., Eilcreene ; and John J. Sullivan, 
Esq., Kilkenny : proposed by Mr. Edward Lane. 

William Jones, Esq., Architect, Coal-market : proposed by Mr. J. G. 
Bobertson. 

Stephen Bam, Esq., Bamsfort, Gorey: proposed by Mr. John 
O'Daly. 

The following presentations were received, and thanks for them 
ordered to be given to the donors : — 

By the Bev. J. L. Irwin, several curious maps and plates ; amongst 
the latter was an engraving, representing the coronation procession of 
Edward VI., and amongst the former a bird's-eye view of London in 1 737, 
together with a recently published panorama of the same city, illustrating 
the vast extension of the modem Babylon within the last century. 

By Mr. B. Preston, jun., an old tobacco-pipe, with very smaU bowl 
and thick shank, found at the summit of the belfry tower of the Black 
Abbey, to which there had been no access for a couple of centuries, till 
scaffolding was put up a few days since for the erection of a new belL 

By Mr. Betsworth Lawless, an ancient bronze pin. 

By Joseph Bivers, Esq., Bev. James Graves, and Mr. Corbett, 
several ancient coins. 

By John Lindsay, Esq., the author, A View of the History and Coin- 
age of the Farihians. 

By Bobert Mac Adam, Esq., the Ulster Journal of Archcsology^ Nos. 
1, 2, and 3. 

By the Bury and West Suffolk ArchsBological Institute, its Proceed" 
wigs. 

Mr. Bobertson presented a rubbing from a sculpture preserved at 
Rose HilL It represented the crest of the Walsh family, and had been 
removed from an old house which formerly stood on the lands of War- 
rington, near this city. The crest was blazoned as follows : — a swan 
rising proper, ducally gorged, pierced through the breast by an arrow, 
the point downwards. 

The Bev. Thomas H. Watson, Bathdowney, forwarded for exhibition, 
and for deposit for the present in the Museum of the Society, an ancient 
iron knife, inlaid with brass and soldered with tin, which he stated to 
have been found in the summer of 1851, by a stone-cutter, whilst quar- 
rying, about four or five feet under ground, at Ballytimmon, near 
Fenagh, County of Carlow. There was some kind of handle, probably 
of wood, attached when the article was discovered, but this the finder 
broke away, and stated to have been quite rotten. The Bev. Mr. Graves 



366 

pointed to the ornamental inlaying on the Uade as strongly resembling in 
its pattern some of the sculptures on the ancient Irish crosses. Tin 
solder was most unnsual in ancient remains of the kind. 

The Rev. Thomas B. Brown, forwarded the following interpretation 
of one of the ancient porcelain Chinese seals found in Ireland| noticed in 
Getty's work on Chinese Seals, Dublin, 1850: — 

" As a newly-proposed member of your Society, allow me to iotroduce myaelf by 
tbe interpretation of a seal which has been translated by Mr. Gotzlaff, * a dtfk doad,' 
and which Mr. Meadows has said * can only be partially deciphered, and hence cannot 
be translated.' See Getty, pp. 27* 30. The seal is numbered 61. I have before me 
' Fargher's Mona Almanac* for 1853, in which the Kirk Michael Runic monument has 
been differently translated by Sir John Prestwich, Bart., Mr. Beauford of Ireland, 
Dr. Charles Oberleitner of Vienna, Rev. T. R. Brown, vicar of Southwick, and J. J. A. 
Worsaae, Ssq. of Copenhagen, with Professor P. A. Munch ; the two last agree in their 
translation. Here art Jive who slightly or otherwise disagree ; I hope, therefore, yon will 
not think me presumptuous overmuch, if I make a third in the above-mentioned seaL 
I shall quote the numbers of the words as they are in Guignes* ' Dictionnaire Chinois' for 
the benefit of any person not acquainted with that language. 

Figure of the seal in modem characters. Ut. At the top, on the right hand, tekm^ 
31, with /ott, 1549, a point (piece) of land. 2nd. Beneath the first, tehe, 2272, with 
teoUf 77, (with) grass herbs, &c», on it. 3rd. At the top, on the left hand, kmi, 6145* 
(makes) a sweet-smelling. 4th. Beneath, /ien, 6170, field. That such combinations aa 
31 -|- 1549, and 2272-4-77 are frequent, and make, in appearance, only one word, see 
Chinese Courtship (with not a very literal translation), by P. P. Thorns. Therefore the 
literal translation of the seal is this : ' A spot of land covered with herbs makes a 
sweet-scented field.' And I think the motto may, not improperly, be applied to tho 
Members of such a Society as yours. ' A person with a well-cultivated mind is as a 
sweet-smeUing flower-garden.' " 

Mr. John Dunne, Garryricken, communicateJl the discovery made bj 
him of a hitherto unnoticed ancient Irish inscription at Killamory, county 
of Kilkenny, where another Irish inscription, recently figured by Mr. 
O'Neill, in his lithograph of the cross of Killamory, is long known to 
have existed. The stone, which is rough grit and seems to have been 
broken, is two feet and a- half long, and thirteen inches wide. It bears 
inscribed on its surface a small plain cross and the letters, in very ancient 
Irish characters, on ^n Z))\x^zy)UU which Mr. Dunn reads — *' a prayer 
for Toole." A rubbing accompanied the communication. 

Mr. Graves said Dr. Fetrie had informed him, that he had, many 
years ago, seen and copied three ancient Irish inscriptions in Killamory 
church-yard, and it would be well to ascertain from the learned gentle- 
man whether that recently exhumed by Mr. Dunne was one of them. 

Mr. Prim read a letter from W. D' Alton, Esq., Claremont, Nenagh, 
forwarding an account of the discovery of a large oaken beam, in the 
fosse of the rath of Curraghleigh, parish of Dolla, and barony of Upper 
Ormonde, county of Tipperary; accurate drawings and plans accom- 
panied the communication. It appeared that the rath consisted of a square 
citadel, surrounded by a fosse, within a circular entrenchment, also de- 
fended by a corresponding fosse. The beam, which was eighteen feet 
long, and squared one foot eight inches by one foot five inches, was found 
two feet beneath the soil, in a bed of tough bluish clay, in the middle of 
the inner fosse, lying in a horizontal position, and containing four mor* 
tices, well cut with a chisel apparently, and bored at each comer with 
an auger. Mr. D'Alton stated that from the appearance of the mould 



367 

over the beam he thought the fosse must have been, at some distant 
period, filled with water, and that the beam was a portion of the support 
of a draw-bridge. It was a matter of surprise how such a heavy balk 
could be brought to where it lay, in consequence of the marshy nature 
of the surrounding lands, which must have been nearly impassable in 
ancient times. It was evident from the name ** Curraghleigh," which 
signified the rough, or bleak, or more literally grey marsh, that this, like 
most places in Ireland, preserving their original appellations, had its 
designation from the peculiar features of the locality. Square raths 
were very prevalent in the district, and there were two others of that 
shape situate within a few hundred yards of Curraghleigh. The beam 
was found by people employed in sinking drains, but such was their 
superstitious feeling with respect to raths that no person could be induced 
to help to remove the balk till he gave the " first lift" himself. He for- 
warded a coin, found in the excavation, for presentation to the Society's 
Museum, which he hoped might throw light on the subject of the dis- 
covery. 

Mr. Prim stated that the coin was a groat of queen Mary, and tended 
to throw no light on the subject, as it was evidently merely lost at the 
spot long subsequently to the depositing of the beam there. 

Mr. Prim presented the fragments of a baked clay um discovered 
a few months since in what had evidently been an extensive Pagan 
cemetery, situated in the county of Kilkenny. The fragments, with 
which he had been intrusted for presentation to the Museum, by 
Mr. John Moore, of Columbkill, near Thomastown, had formed a por- 
tion of a very fine um, which had been ornamented, apparently, by 
the pressing of a cord plaited into a regular pattern into the soft clay 
before it was baked. Mr. Moore stated that the discovery was made on 
the 16th March last, on the lands of Columbkill, the property of William 
Flood, Esq., where there are on the townland, comprising 500 acres, no 
fewer than 57 cams and tumuli. The finder was a labourer named 
Thomas Conway, who was digging a potato trench in the highest part 
of a high field, sloping to the west, and came upon clay mixed with 
ashes. At a depth of two feet he lighted on a small thin fiag, which 
being lifted, was fi>und to be the covering of a clay urn, large enough to 
hold more than a stone of potatoes. It was filled with ashes and small 
fragments of bumed bones, and had not been inclosed within any kind 
of cist or chamber. The finder was overjoyed at the discovery, supposing 
it to be a *' crock of gold," and without making the circumstance known 
to any one, he watched over the urn for the night, sacrificing a black 
cat, according to the ritual recommended by the most esteemed '* fairy 
doctors,'' to propitiate the spirit supposed to guard the treasure. All, 
however, was unavailing for restoring the dust to gold, and when the 
cock crew without the expected transmutation having taken place, 
Conway, in the depth of his disappointment, broke the urn to frag- 
ments and scattered the bones and ashes about ! The only portions of 
bones that Mr. Moore could recognise, w^en he went to inspect the spot 
next day, were fragments of the skull not larger than a shilling. Within 
the last twenty years there have been three small cists discovered at 
diflei'ent places in the townland ; they were composed of fiag-stones 



368 

standing on edge, two feet wide, and nearlj the same in height ; bat 
neither bones nor urns were found in them, they apparently having been 
previously ransacked. There were formerly two circular intrenchments, 
resembling raths, in the townland, of which one was levelled sixty years 
since, and a fine urn was found in it, which was also broken by the diggers : 
the other was levelled sixteen years since, but all that the labourers dis- 
covered in it was a quantity of *' clinkers," as if it had been used as a 
tinker's forge. Some of the cams, tumuli, and sites of pillar stones in 
the locality, would be well worthy of exploration. 

Mr. J. G. Robertson exhibited a large number of beautifully-executed 
pen-and-ink drawings of cromleacs, principally from the northern counties 
of Ireland. These drawings had been executed by Mr. Johns, of Carrick- 
fergus, an enthusiastic collector of that class of antiquities. Mr. Johns 
had communicated a copy of a letter received from another labourer in 
the same field, lieutenant-colonel C. Hamilton Smith, which he begged 
to lay before the meeting : — 

" YoQ are no doubt fully aware that the old aotiqnariaa confiised view of tboae 
objects is no longer admissible. They are scattered over a vast suiface of the world in 
geographical directions, pointing to the forward moYcment of certain tribes, all apparently 
having a common Gomerian origin ; their highest and most original point of departure 
is seemingly about the fords of the upper Indus, near Attock ; they extend down ita 
western bank to the mouth of the river, and then along the west coast of India to 
Ceylon, eastward to Mahabalipuram, or further, for they occur again at Macao in China, 
and at Loochoo ! From the Indus westward, they pass down the Helmund to the lake* 
and then to Southern Persia, ascend the Tigris and Euphrates, where they meet again 
another line along the Parapannsan chain through Masinderan to Armenia ; from thence, 
both united, cross the mountains to the Euxine Sea. They occur in ancient Colchia, 
then along the coast and through the country to the Meditenranean, following both 
borders of that sea to the straits ; but a line of them from the Venetian territory passes 
through Trient, Buxen, the Tyrol, round the Alps, and meets the other along the sea on 
the ridge of the Vogesian mountains, one going down the Loire, another down the 
Rhine, where, however, they are now all destroyed ; both met the continuation of the 
line along the ocean through Gallicia and France, to opposite the coast of Kent ; there 
one crosses into Great Britain and Ireland, and the other passing northward ends in 
Lapland. Some stragglers of these Cydopian Celtse wandered to the east coast of 
VoTth America, where their monuments occur in Nova Scotia, and on the mainland of 
the United States. There is an obscure line apparently up the Danube, and one coming 
out of Poland to Dantzic, and thence coasting the Baltic, tiU it meets the other in 
Denmark. Thus I have shown sufficient to prove the necessity of a much deeper 
and more extensive research respecting the origin and movements of the Celtic race, 
if we mean at any time to come at an approximate idea of its primseval seat and 
development ; and that it is also necessary to examine minutely the most ancient nomen- 
clature of all the geographical denominations of objects along the lines in question ; not 
exactly in the usual unhesitating way Celtic scholars have adopted, but with at least some 
knowledge of other tongues, and in particular of the Sanscrit family of languages, east 
and west. I have myself never completed this necessary investigation, but so far as I 
have carried it, and that extends over the far greater part, the result substantiated tlie 
conclusion which the monuments themselves offered." 

John F. Frendergast, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, read a paper on the 
Ulster Creaghts. which that gentleman has not been able to prepare for 
press in time foY this volume of the Transactions. 

A paper was contributed by Mark S. O'Shaughnessj, Esq., on Certain 
Obsolete Modes of inflicting Punishment, with Some Account of the 



369 

Ancient Court to which they belonged, which will be found printed in 
fall in the Transactions, p. 254, on^^. 

• The Rev. James Graves read a paper on the Ancient Pagan Cemetery 
at Ballon Hill, coimty of Carlow, which will be found printed at length 
in the Transactions, p. 295, ante. 

In reference to a discussion which has been for some time before the 
Society, T. L. Cooke, Esq., Parsonstown, forwarded the following paper 
on the monument at Holy Cross, in reply to Dr. Rowan's observations 
read at the last meeting : — 

''In reTertingto that elegtnt remain of otber days, the monument which adorns the 
choir of Holy Cross Abbey, I do acknowledge that I owe many obligations to the Rev. Dr. 
Rowan, of Belmont, Tralee, for his having, in a communication read at the last meeting 
of this Society, revived my attention to the subject. That learned divine, however, has 
incorrectly supposed me to have adopted a theory that Feorus Fionn, mentioned in the 
Annals of the Four Masters, was certainly the personage interred, under the mysterious 
designation of the * Good Woman's Son,' in the superb monument at Holy Cross. It 
would not, perhaps, be fair to hold the Rev. writer accountable for the opinion he has 
formed of my ideas in respect of the occupant of the monument in question, farther than 
as such opinion might have been deduced from what is reputed to be my essay, as same 
has appeared in print on the fiace of this Society's Transactions for the year 1849. I do 
not hold myself responsible for the printed garb in which my paper has been introduced 
to the learned world. I had no sort of control in editing it, nor was a proof of it sub- 
mitted to me for revision or correction. I hope that Mr. Prim, who has favoured ua 
with two essays ou this same monument, has not the same cause for complaint in this 
regard that I conceive I have. I own that I felt annoyed when I first saw the number 
of this Society's Transactions for 1849. Tet, after consideration, I must in justice admit 
that the Society was at that time in its infancy, and the probable existence of want of 
experience attendant on a new undertaking now suffices to excuse vrith me the awkward 
form in which, by the mutilation of my MS., I have been made to appear.' The Rev. Dr. 
Rowan has struck upon one of the false positions in which I have been thus placed in 
print, by my being erroneously represented as asserting that Feorus Fionn, a child of 
only seven years of age, was sent forth to collect Peter-pence, then a most unpopular 
impost vrith both clergy and laity in Ireland, and to engage in ' the combats of men.' 

'* With great respect I would suggest to Dr. Rowan that he, even in the indulgence 
of good humoured criticism, was not justified in fancying I had got astride on the Feorus 
Fionn hobby, and that it had run away with its deluded rid^, bearing him into the 
palpable absurdity which I have mentioned. I doubt not but that Dr. Rowan himself 
will, on consideration, allow that his conclusion has in this respect not been warranted, 
even by the printed report of my paper as given in the Transactions ; for he will there 
find, at page 67, my own account of the object I had in view. He will perceive in the 
paragraph which heads the page now referred to, the words—* My principal object in 
laying this paper before the Kilkenny Archseological Society, is to prove that the Holy 
Cross monument is the tomb of The Good Woman's Son, rattier than that of any other 
person, and to show that it was really a tomb, and not a sedile. I therefore offer the ob- 
servations which follow, fMr9 with a view to oMiiit othen in their fiUure reeearehee to 
diteover who woe the permmage known under the myeterione title of The Good WemtaCe 
Am, then kn the hope of preeently eetobUehmg hie identity myeetf in c eatitfaetory 
manner,' Had the Rev. Dr. Rowan attentively read the two sentences I have now 
copied, he would not have attributed to me the egregious folly of beUering that Feorus 
Fionn, supposing him to be then a child of only seven years of age, should be accepted 
by antiquaries as a fitting missionary to discharge the onerous duty of collector-general 
of Peter.pence^ 

'* It gives me pleasure here to observe that Dr. Rowan thoroughly agrees with me ia 

> Tlie Edltmrt were eompeUed, by the went of maded, nererfheleei, that nothing eeseotlal to the 

fVinde, felt at that early etage of the Society's ex- argument hae been omitted. They mast, however, 

iftenoe, to curtail portions of Hr. Cooke's very durge tberoselree with overlooklDg the mlaprtnt 

iatai e sii ng, bat lengthened paptt: th» are per- ot seven for levsnlem.— Eds. 

47 



370 

adopting the tomb theory for the moaament ia qiiettioii,«Uho«gh our e«Mfaiii«u in tliat 
respect are arrived at by different means. I endeavoured to prove from tradition, historj^ 
and external circumstanees that it was a tomb; but Dr. Rowan's great experience ia such 
matters enabled him at once to pronounce it, ex-cathedra, a tomb, and then to raise his 
own saperstructure npon the foundation so rapidly and satisfactorily laid. 

'*Dr. Rowan has taken me to have written, ^** The Trinmphalia" deaeribes the Goo4 
Woman's Son as prmeept mnoeemM, and Feorus Fionn at the time of his death, in 12S3, 
could not have been more than nten years of age, as queen Isabella eould not have been 
married to king John in 1216.' Had the worthy and pious divine, previously to his 
sending, for the edification as well as amusement of the members of our Kilkenny 
Society, a paper replete with pungent facetiousness, referred eitker to me or to my 
MS. in the custody of the Secretary, it would have saved him and me much trouble* 
for he wouTd have thereby discovereid that my words had been misprinted. A oopy of 
what I wrote here follows, and therein the words omitted in printing the Transaciioiia 
will be found in Italics. ' *' The Trinmphalia" describes the Good Woman's Son as 
**prinoeps inaocens," and Feorus Fionn, at the time of hit death in 1233, could not 
have been more than seven/Mii years of age, as queen Isabella could not have been 
married to Hugh le Brm until after the death of king John in 1216.' At page 67 of 
the printed Transactions, Dr. Rowan might also have found that I quoted the learned 
authority of Professor Connellan and Dr. O'Donovan to show that Feorus Fiona was 
son to queen Isabella by Hugh le Bmn, and in page 68 1 gave my own reasons for 
oondttding that he must have been son of that queen. 

'* A reference to my original MS. would further have proved that I had not formed 
any theory whatever as to the identifying of the Good Woman's Son. with Feorus Fionn 
or vrith any other person, for I therein merely offered suggestions to enable others to 
inquire who the Good Woman's Son really was. So far from my having conclusively 
formed, or having been wedded to, any opinion of my own in regard to that personage, I 
expressed myself ( TVant. p. 73), thus: '/,/or the fireeent, leave it to othere to decide 
whether Feorut Fioun and the Good Womtm^e Son were or were not the eame pereonJ 
In an unprinted portion of my paper, I also threw out some hints to enable future in- 
quirers to trace whether the arms on the monument might not prove its occupant to 
have been some relative of the .great earl of Pembroke. This surely did not indicate 
that I had made the identity of Feorus Fionn with the Good Woman's Son my hobby. 

** There seems to me to be something worth consideration in the Rev. Dr. Rowan's 
interpretotiou of the phrase 'the Good Woman's Son.* Still it is difficult to believe 
that expression to mean ' The Son of the Blessed Virgin,' i. e. ' our Saviour himself.' 
Such would be too homely a mode of expression by which to designate the Second 
Person of the Blessed Trinity ; and I do not think the synonyme by which. Dr. Rowan 
remarks the peasantry occasionally designate God, namely, * 7^ Man Above,' furnishes 
any argument in &vour of such a construction* In the last mentioned phrase, instead 
of the word Man meaning, as in the English language, a human being, and being used 
in that sense, it appears to me that it is there an Irish word, signifying God ; and that 
the expression, ' The Man Above,' is a barbarous and imperfect translation of An mam 
oeg-^eann, which literally signifies ' The God Above,' or * overhead.' The expression, 
' Good Woman's Son,' might have arisen from an over literal translation of the Irish, 
signifying the same, by using the word eon instead of the word prieet or pertom under 
protection of the good woman, who in that case would be the Blessed Virgin, to whom 
Holy Cross Abbey was dedicated. The word mac, literally ton, is occasionally used in 
this sense $ as for example, Mac Faoema means a person under the protection of a 
prince, and Mae-Oreine means prieet of the aim.— It is in the same style the Four 
Masters have called the Culdees by the name Meie^Beathaidh, i. e. literally, * sons of 
life.' If the personage interred in the Holy Cross monument was the cause of haviqg 
rendered to that ab^ the great benefits of which popular tradition and the Tri- 
nmphalia speak, he might well have been received under the protection of our Blessed 
Lady as patroness of the establishment ; and, in that case, the word mac might vrith 
propriety be used in designating him. I, however, merely suggest this for the .more 
mature reflection of those disposed to consider the point. 

'* It vrill be in the minds of the members of this learned Society that the observa- 
tions of mine, which were submitted to the meeting, held the 5th of September, 1849, 
and' which drew dovm on me, the same day, the censures of Mr. Prim, were called forth 
by an original paper from that gentleman on the subject of this same Holy Crosa wma^ 



371 

ment which hid been reid at a prevtonf meeting. Mr. Prim adopted the theoiy that 
the monument in qoeation waa a aedilia erected for the use of the clergy during the 
ceremony of the mass. That talented and worthy gentleman dispoied of the opiniona 
of Dr. Petrie and Sir William Betham, who differed from hia viewi, by very adroitly 
setting them, the one againtt the other ; and he accused the learned Doctor of having 
faUm into the eomwton €rror, amd ««# down the ModUia as a wtpulckral monmiMn/. At 
this stage of the discussion I, unfortunately for my own quiet, forwarded my paper to 
Kilkenny about a week before the meeting was held, at which it afterwards was read. 
In that document I sought to prove that the monument was a sepulchre, and in my 
effort to do so, I relied on the tradition which existed in the locality of the tomb, and 
also on the authority of a vellom MS. written by father Malachy Hartry (a friar of 
Holy Cross), between the years 1640 and 1649, both of which designated the monument 
in question as the tomb of the Good Woman's Son. Mr. Prim caused to be read mi the 
some meeting a reply to my paper, and, in his zeal to annihilate the tomk /AMry.his pen 
lisll mercilessly not on me alone, but on the builders of the monument, who appeared, 
to hia rision as a set of ghouls, desecrating and plundering the abodes of the dead. 
Poor father Hartry, to whom was imputed f^sification of facts and dishonest invention 
of folsehoods In the canse of his monastery, also came in for posthumous punishment. 
I relied on the probaliility that a sepulchral slab with a foliated cross, forming the table 
of the monument, and which slab Mr. Prim allows to be two centuries older than the 
rest of the structure, had been translated from ita place over the Good Woman's Son in 
the old abbey to its present position in the new one. 

** Mr. Prim readily evaded any force my opinion might chance to acquire therefrom 
by at once boldly writing, ' my opinion tr, that tkie etome wot dUkoneetiy purlomed from 
the nameless grave of its original owner, dy the partiet erecting the aediiint to whom it 
saved the trouble of preparing a stone for the purpose.' The Rev. Dr. Rowan, in that 
spirit of charity which so becomingly belongs to his sacred calling, has, greatly to hia 
credit, found fault with so serious an accusation of long deceased persons— persons no 
longer able to defend themselves fri>m the charge of robbery and sacrilege, and that, too, 
the robbery of the dead— an offence known, owing to its unusual baseness, only by the 
name *Jiirtum intmditum,* That reverond antiquary says, ' now I must consider his 
(Mr. Prim's) mode of disposing of this fact as doing little less violence to probability, 
than he charges the parties erecting the monument vrith having done " to the grave of its 
nameless owner," when he gives his opinion that they " dishonestly pnrioined it." ' I here 
gladly refer to these sentiments of the Rev. Dr. Rowan, because they show, much better 
than I am capable of doing, the fallacy of an argument based on the supposed guilt of 
those who erected the monument in question more than four hundrod years ago.^ 

'* Mr. Prim writes of father Hartry's account of the Good Woman's Son and his 
monument, the monk eonfettedlg derived lus information from an imperfect Irish MS. 
which asserted that there had been a monument thero called the tomb of the Good 
Woman's Son, but of eowae did not state which of the monuments in the churoh that tomb 
was. I do not understand why Mr. Prim should thus assume that Hartry confessedly 
derived his information from the MS. alone. That able antiquary seems to have over- 
looked that part of the extract which I gave from the Trinmphalia in my former paper, 
wherein Hartry himself tells us he had the account, * gumn de patrum eommunium 
tmditUmo non qm-nanda, tam ex veteri MS. Hibernice conscripto.' Neither can I see 
why Mr. Prim has assumed that the Irish MS. q^ eoiirfe did not state which of the 
monuments in the church that tomb was. It seems to me to be much more probable 
that it did point it out, for Hartry has particularised it aa I have mentioned in my 
former paper (see TVtmt. p. 64, n.), and as I hope presently to place beyond the possi- 
bility of a doubt. Mr. Prim proceeds : — ' Mr. Cooke baa some hesitation in saying that 
father Hartry actually points out the arohitectural remains under discussion, as the tomb 
of the Good Woman's Son ; but, even if such is actually asserted in the Trinmphalia to 
be the fact, I would still say thero was ground for doubting whether the good monk, 
after perusing the MS., had not looked about him for the monument most Ukely to be 
set up by a rich benefoctorof the abbey, and fixed upon that which appeared to him the 
most ornate and imposing in its style of arolutectura.' It vras scarcely just of Mr. 
Prim to attribute to me a hesitation in aaserting that Hartry had particularised the 
tomb. 

* Ancient tomb-fttonee are to be foand In all arctUtrftres of docrwaji, and audi like uaee; the 
tlie chordies and abbeys of Kilkenny converted trananatationa having taken place in the middle 
Into Uie baaes of fonta, the linteb of windows, the ages.— Eds. 



3T2 

''When originally writing, I expressed mjself in the text: *if my memory is not 
fallacious, father Hartry's hook even gives a picture of the monament as thftt FUH 
Bona MuUerit,* Surely that was an assertion in the affirmative that my recoUectioB 
then was that Hartry had specified it ; but all room for cavil was removed by a nota 
appended by me in the words ' since I wrote the above I find there is, btfomi Somit, a 
painting representing this monument given in the Triumphalia. It serves to identify 
the structure now the subject of antiquarian speculation, as being the same designated 
by father Hartry the tomb of the Good Woman's Son.' It was not a fair mode of 
reasoning for Mr. Prim to represent me as having had a doubt on this subject, and then 
to deduce from such imputed doubt inferences hostile to the tomb theory. But Mr. 
Prim has supposed that Hartry had, without any authority, other than his own caprice 
or fancy, imposed on his readers by fixing on the structure in question as the tomb; and 
in a subsequent passage he writes, ' In fact I think it may very reoionabfy be aufipoied 
that,firom rather Hartry himself, in stating to mntort the conjecture which the MS. gave 
rise to with him, the present tradition of the locality respecting the Good Woman's Son 
originated.' I regret that I cannot acquiesce in thinking it very reoMOtuible to n^fpoae 
that a clergyman, now over two hundred years in his grave, should have invented and 
circulated a report unfounded in fact. In this instance, Mr. Prim has furnished the Rer. 
Dr. Rowan with evidence of the truth of that learned divine's assertion, that a hobby 
theory will run away with the steadiest rider when he is once fairly astride. It is not 
fair that what Hartry wrote centuries ago must now, because it clashes with our modem 
speculations, be nullified by supposing the friar to have invented untruths regarding the 
ordinary use and identity of a tomb standing in the choir of the abbey church with which 
he was connected. But Mr. Prim has suggested that Hartry originated a supposed fslse 
tradition in the neighbourhood of Holy Cross as to this same tomb, by stating to vmtoro 
his conjectures resecting it. This adnussion, that there were such visitors to Hartry at 
Holy Cross Abbey, appears to me to cut down the bridge behind Mr. Prim, for in another 
part of his reply he admits that Hartry's authority, as to the use of the tomb or sedilia, 
would be conclusive ' had the abbey continued to be used as a religious and conventual 
building to father Hartry's time, and had he been regularly admitted amongst its brother- 
hood. But such (says he) was not the case.' Let us now see what Walter Harris saya 
in contndiction to this, in his edition of Ware's Writers. It is this — * John, alias Malachy 
Uartrey • • . was a Waterford man by birth, and a Cistercian monk in the abbey of Nucale 
in Spain ; but, returning into Ireland, he resided in the abbey of Holy Cron in the county of 
Tipperary, where J tuppote he officiated ae Parieh Priett* Mr. Harris adds to this, that 
in the year 1733, he borrowed the Triumphalia from the then parish priest of Holy Crou. 
The year just mentioned was only eighty-four years after the Triumphalia had been written* 
and it is probable that at that time, and in that locality, all about its author was well 
known. 

'* There exists no sort of doubt that the monument was a real tomb. On reference 
made to the Triumphalia since the discussion on this subject, in 1849, it appears that 
the picture of the tomb is underwritten — * Inelitum glorioei PHmeipie if Martiri MonM- 
mentum ;' while on the margin of it is, ' FiUi bona muUerie Moffumentmm tn canobio 
Saneta Crude* In the manuscript, on the back of the picture (which is on vellum), 
in treating of the monument, it is designated, ' Bona muUerie fiUi Tumuhu^ in red 
ink, and in characters of a larger size than the other words on the same page. But this, 
if Mr. Prim's estimate of father Hartry be correct, may be a fraud of Father Hartry, 
for Mr. Prim says, ' I do not wish to imply that the worthy monk wilfully roisrepre* 
sented the matter, but I think it perfectly obwxna that he had a great object to gain in 
giving the strongest colour which he possibly could, to any statement calculated to gain 
a high repute amongst the people for the religious house to which he belonged ; and no 
doubt this mysterious legend of the Good Woman's Son was one which in proper hands 
could easily be made to give the monastery a great prestige amongst a simple-minded 
and romantic peasantry.' Here Mr. Prim admits Hartry to have belonged to the mo- 
nastery of Holy Cross, although we have already found him denying that Hartrey was 
regularly admitted therein 1 Really, one must be as simple-minded as those peasantry 
are supposed to have been, to imagine that friar Hartry could at once be knave enough 
to practise such imposition, and yet so consummate a blockhead, if the monument was 
not really a tomb, as to attempt to prove it one by falsely narrating that the body of one 
Peter Purcell, which had been buried in it, was subsequently removed by order of Sir 
Hugh Purcell about the feast of St. John the Baptist, in the year 1603. This date was 



373 

only thirty-seren yean before Hartry wrote. He gave day and date, and the names of 
the parties then recently concerned, there then being in existence very many persons who 
most have known whether such a transaction had happened or not. It is contrary to 
reason to belieye that any sane person would attempt to invent and obtain credence for 
snch a number of fancied lies about the monument being a tomb, and its having been 
used as such so short a time before Hartry vrrote as the year 1603. 

*' But why should we rest on the authority of a history or of a tradition which has been 
thus, however unwarrantably, impugned ? The Triumphalia admittedly contains stories 
of real, or legends of pretended, miracles, and I have been taunted with my having placed 
any reliance on it, the more particularly as I had myself imputed an anachronism to it. 
I answer that I do not think it just or fair to set down a vnri^ as the inventor of false- 
hood, because he happens to have erred in chronology. I know sufficient of the mixture 
of fable and fact, and of the practice of embellishment, to believe that a judicious reader 
can separate them and distinguish between them. I am not of those who think that 
bardic lore, or Keating's or O'Halloran's histories of Ireland should be altogether 
rejected by reason of marvellous stories to be found interspersed amongst their contents. 
Let me now state as a finale to the tomb-thiorf what, on recent inquiry, tnms out to be 
the fact. It is this — during the repairs of the abbey of Holy Cross a few years ago, this 
very monument was opened and examined. // wa» found to be a very deep grave, and 
to contain human 6one$, This fact subverts all speculation, and sets the sepulchral 
character of the monument at rest for ever I 

*' It is to me matter of indifference whether the monument may have been used as a 
sedilia or not ; but I remain of opinion that it was not originally intended to be used aa 
such. The ancient tomb-stone vrith foliated cross, covering the interior portion of the 
table of the tomb, ii eeveral inehe$ higher than the outside q/ the table, or, as Mr. Prim 
will have it, seat, by whichever name it may be called. The same slab comes vrithin one 
foot of the outer edge of the monument, thereby limiting the depth of space for sitting. 
Hence, the depth of seat, supposing it to have been intended for one, is no more than 
twelve inches ; although the entire depth of the recess of the monument, including the 
breadth of the ancient tomb-slab, is fully three feet. Had it been intended for a seat it 
is unaccountable why it should not have been left deeper when there was no want of 
sufficient space to permit it to be so. Moreover, the breadth between the pillars is but 
eighteen inches. The supposed seat, therefore, would be only eighteen inches wide, by 
twelve inches in depth, an area altogether inadequate for a mitred abbot, bishop, or other 
ecclesiastic, robed in full state pontificals. The elevation of the old tomb-slab above 
the remainder of the table, shows that it was reckoned the most honoured object there, 
inferior though it was in workmanship to the rest of the monument. 

'* Mr. Prim has, I believe, been over hasty in reproving me for having vrritten that 
proof was afforded that the monument was not erected more early than the year 1399, 
aa the arms of France were represented on it by three JUnn-de-UM ; and that learned gen- 
tleman is not quite correct in asserting that it was Henry V.t who ascended the throne 
A.D., 1413, that first reduced the number of /teurt'de-lit in his armorial escutcheon to 
three, Henry IV. having previously reduced them to five. It is unnecessary for me, in 
maintenance of what I have already written on this point, to do more than refer to the 
picture of the coronation of Henry IV., as copied from the Harleian MS., in voL i. of 
* Old England,' where the herald in front of the throne is represented as holding an es- 
c«ttcheon on which France has only three Jteurt-de-iie, We may, therefore, infer that the 
number of fleure-de-'Ue began to be limited to three in the time of Henry IV. At all 
events, a difference of some fourteen years or so in the age of the monument is not, at 
this distance of time, very materiaL 

'* Another of the errors which Mr. Prim charges me vrith is, my having vrritten to 
the effect that the armorial ensign of Holy Cross was what I (adrisedly) called a double 
eroet, which Mr. Prim tells us is termed in heraldry the eroie-patriarehat, Mr. Prim 
complains that I did not supply this cross from the Triumphalia, at the same time that 
he expresses himself in regard to it thus, * I much doubt the antiquity of the bearing. I 
think it not improbable that it was adopted about father Hartry^e own time,* Notwith- 
standing Mr. Prim's generous correction of me, I continue to think that the term double 
cross is more applicable than that of cross-patriarchal to express the sort of cross of 
which I was writing. It is formed of a shaft and two horizontal arms of equal lengths, 
while the cross-patriarchal has its arms of unequal lengths. As Mr. Prim has supposed 
the abbey to have been more than a hundred years dUused, and, probably* a ruin when 



374 

father Hartry was writing, he has thereby unconsdoasly proved that the double erofv 
was not first adopted in Hartry's time ; for this remarkable form of cross is still extant 
on the mitre coTering the head of an abbot, which ornaments the key>stone of one of the 
arches or flying buttresses crossing the sonthem aisle of the chnrch at Holy Cross. 

** I am indebted to Mr. Prim for a robbing of the arms on the fourth shield, on the 
tomb of The Good Woman's Son, and I have again minutely inspected the original (in 
the month of April, 1852). It is eight inches long, by five inches and three quarters in 
breadth. I am yet of opinion that it presents to riew a saltire between twelve pears. 
It seems that the pear was an armorial bearing of the Cistercian order. Tanner's 
' Notitia Monastica' shows, that three pears pendent were home by the Cistercian abbey 
at WardoD, and a bend between pendent pears was on the arms of the Augnstinian boose 
at Hertland, Devonshire. Possibly the saltire was home on the Holy Cross shield (that 
being the cross of St Patrick) to distinguish this house from others. The arms of Fniice 
are on the ruins of the Cistercian abbey at Bectivc. This seems to be in conse(|QenGe of 
St. Bernard having originated the order in that country, whence the house at Fumes in 
Lancashire was supplied with monks, and to Furnes, Holy Cross abbey was subject. 
This might account for the arms of France and England on the tomb. The plain cross 
appertained to several religious houses, such as the Temple at London, and others. 
Butley abbey, Suffolk, bore a chief indented, resembling the arms of the family of Butler. 
Thus the whole of the armorial bearings on this monument may possibly, after all, be 
purely religious. I cannot avoid thinking that these insignia, if they be lay ones, wholly 
(independent of other proofs) subvert the idea of the beautiful monument at Holy Cross 
having been erected as a mere piece of church furniture, such as a set of sedJlia must be 
considered. 

" In concluding this paper, I cannot help giving eiqiression to my abhorrence of the 
want of taste and decency which has very recently allowed two modern graves and a 
rudely sculptured he#d-stone to encroach on, and conceal the elegant workmanship dis* 
played on the tomb of the Good Woman's Son." 

Mr. Prim said, that although he saw no reason to alter the opinions 
to which he had previously given expression on this suhject, he jet did 
not intend to occupy the attention of the Society with any answer to the 
paper of Mr. Cooke, as he believed that his doing so would not be likely 
to tend to any useful purpose. It was evident from the views of the 
architectural age of the structure in dispute, adhered to by Mr. Cooke, 
and his persistence in looking upon the ermine spots, on the escutcheon 
of the Desmond family, as pears^ that that gentleman and he could 
never be led to regard in the same light, the clearest and most obvioas 
evidence which they had on the subject^that afforded by the sculptures 
on the structure itself; and Mr. Cooke had now, in replying to his (Mr. 
Prim's) former paper, in so many places given a meaning to some of his 
expressions and additional force to others, which he (Mr. Prim) never 
intended they should convey and such as he conceived the words, due 
regard being had to the context, would not afford, that, were he to enter 
upon a reply, so many and such lengthy explanations and quotations 
from former passages would be involved, in order to show the real 
meaning of what he had written, the discussion should necessarily dege- 
nerate into a mere logomachy, which would be altogether beside the 
original subject in dispute, and could not possibly have interest for any 
meeting of the Society. If any one cared to inquire what answer he 
had to make to Mr. Cooke's charges against him of misrepresentations 
respecting father Hartry, they would find sufficient answer in his (Mr. 
Prim's) second paper, in the Transactions of the Society for the year 
1849, to which Mr. Cooke's paper purported to be a reply. He was 
willing that his theory should stand or fall by what he had already 



375 

written on the matter. Whether or not the structure had erer been 
used as a tomb, it was obviously intended by the builders as the sedili^ 
of the abbey church. As regarded the Rev. Dr. Rowan, that gentle- 
man should be admitted to be well qualified to act as an umpire in such' 
a dispute as this, but he had confessedly written on the subject without 
visiting Holy Cross. However, he (Mr. Prim) had learned from him 
(Dr. Rowan) that he had since been to see the abbey, and intended a/t 
a future meeting to lay before the Society the altered impressions to 
which personal inspection of the object in dispute had given rise. How 
far those impressions were likely to be favourable to Abr. Cooke's or his 
own (Mr Prim's) views, remained to be seen. 



GENERAL MEETING, 
Held at the Society's Apartments, Patrick-street, Kilkenny, 

WXDNSSDAT, SSPTBMBEB, 7th, 1853, 

THE MARQUIS OF ORMONDE, in the chair. 

The following Members were elected: — ^The Bight Hon. Lord 
Stopfoid ; The Right Hon. Sir Thomas Esmonde, Bart. ; and the Rev. 
Philip W. Doyne, M.A., Precentor of Ferns : proposed by Mr. Herbert 
F.H ore. 

William D. de Rythre, Esq., Riverstown Honse, Monastorevan ; the 
Rev. James Kilbride, Ballylinan Cottage, Athy ; and Robert Molyneux, 
Esq., V.S., Kilkenny : proposed by the Rev. James Graves. 

Rev. G^rge H. Reade, Inniskeen Rectory, Dundalk ; Rev. Greorge 
R. Maokamess, Barnwell Rectory, Oandle, Northamptonshire; Rev. 
Charles O'Connell, P.P., Balbriggan ; and Rev. Charles W. Russell, D.D., 
Dttndalk : proposed by Mr. Richard Hitchcock. 

John R. MacCallagh, Esq., R.M., Eihrnsh, County Clare: proposed 
by Mr. Mark O'Shaughnessy. 

Richard Johnston, Esq., Architect, 93, Leinster-road, Rathmines, 
Dublin : proposed by Mr. J. G. Robertson. 

The Rev. John Byron, M.A., Vicar of Killingholme-with-Harbrough, 
Lincolnshire : proposed by the Rev. T. R. Brown. 

Ross Mahon, Esq., Lady well, Athlone : proposed by Mr. J. O'Daly. 

Lynden Dunne, Esq., Ballinakill; and Mr. John Gibbons Miller, 
Carlow : proposed by Mr. Joseph Bcft'ke. 

The following presentations were received and thanks for them 
ordered to be given to the donors : — 

By the IU>yal Dublin Society, the Catalogue of its Library, with 
Stgy9iBment. 

By the Society of Antiquaries of London : — Arehwotogia^ vol. zzxv., 
part 1., its Proceedings^ Nos. 33 to 36 inclusive, and the Catalogue of the 
Kerrich Collection of Roman Coins. By the committee of the Guild- Hall 
Library, London, the Catalogue of the London Traderi^ Tavern^ and Coffee-- 
house Tokens f preserved m the Beaufoy Collection. 

By the Archeological Institute of Great Britain and Lreland, its 
Journal^ No. 38. 



376 

By the Cambrian Archaeological Association, Archaohgia Ounbrenns, 
No. 15. 

By Rev. T. R. Brown, a Orammar of Hdnrew Hieroglyphs^ and The 
• Essentials of Sanscrit Orammar. 

By Mr. R. Hitchcock, Mr. John Gray Bell's Topographical Catalogue. 

By Mr. Edward H. Paget, a most valuable and interesting collection 
of rubbings of English monumental brasses and slabs, thirty-three in 
number. 

By Mr. Evelyn P. Shirley, Houndshill, Stratford-on-Avon, a fine 
gutta-percha impression of the seal of Thomas Barret, bishop of Elphin 
from 1372 to 1404. The device was a Gothic canopy of elegant work- 
manship, beneath which was represented the Blessed Virgin crowned 
and seated with the Saviour in her arms ; above, the half-length figure of 
a bishop with mitre and crozier. The canopy bore a shield charged 
with three mitres ; showing, as Mr. Shirley pointed out, that the ancient 
arms of the see were different from those at present in use. The in- 
scription in black-letter, was — sigillum domini thome bsi obagia 

EliPHINENSIS EFISCOPI. 

By Mr. Wogan, Carrick-on-Suir, an antique brass seal, which had 
been in his possession for many years, and was stated to have been found 
in some ecclesiastical ruin. The seal was of the wheel pattern, exhibit- 
ing four faces, respectively charged with the dove and olive branch, a 
heart pierced by two darts, a fleur-de-lis, and a field seme of stars. 

By Mr. A. Nugent, a corbel, of grit-stone, rudely carved into a 
human head, and of considerable antiquity. 

By Rev. James Graves, five specimens of the ancient encaustic tiles, 
and a roofing slate, picked up during a recent visit to Jerpoint Abbey, 

By Mr, William F. Wakeman, Dublin, author of the Hand-book of 
Irish Antiquities^ &c., two fine specimens of ancient inlaid flooring tiles 
from St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin ; also an exceedingly curious ex- 
ample of the same class, about two inches square, containing the Lom- 
bai^c capital letter G., from the abbey founded by the De Courcys at 
Downpatrick, County of Down. 

By Mr. James S. Blake, two of the ancient flooring tiles of Jerpoint 
Abbey. 

By Mr. Hitchcock, on the part of Mr. Dunlevy, of Dingle, an old 
sword, with its wooden sheath, said to have been used in the war between 
the Greeks and Turks. 

By the Rev. James Mease, Mr. R. Smithwick, Rev. J. L. Drapes, 
Mr. J. Davis White, Mr. H. Malony and Mr. P. Phelan, several ancient 
coins. 

By Mr. M. Kearney, fac-simHe copies of four ancient inscriptions 
from St. Mary's church, Irishtown, Clonmel, as a contribution towards 
a collection of the antiquities of that town. The inscriptions were as 
follow : — 

" 1. Hie jacet D. Nicolaus White Armiger, vir pietate eonstantia maniaetudine et in* 
tegritate monim eonspicuas et amabiliB^ obiit 30 die Aagnsti, 1622. Bias corpus ex 
antecessorom capella, que borealem sacelli hniiu partem respicit, in hoc monamentam 
22 die Decembris, 1623) translatam est, cuius animse propitietur Dens ; saceUnm hoct S. 
Noi. JesQ eiusque genetridi B. Mariae Virginit dicatum, eonstnixerimt in perpetoam dicti 



37T 

Kioolai memoriam Barbara White uxor eius vidaa, et Henricus White, filins eins et 

** 2. Insignia Joanis White armigeri quondam comit. Palatini Tiperariie Senechal, 
comitat. Waterfordiae Viicomitis, Clonmell primi majoris. Sic [transit] mandi gloria. 
Benedictus Viteus Heres diet! Joanis, et Alsonse haec fieri feoemnt." 

" 3. Hie jacet Galfridus Barron, qui obiit 22 Marti A.D., 1601, et Belina White uxor 
ejus, quse hone tumnlam fieri fecit A. DI. 1605, et obiit A.DM. 1610, quamm aiabns 
propitietur Deus." 

" 4. Hie jacet Terrentins O'Donel qui obiit 4 Marti, 1565, et ejus oxor Elene [Hnet] 
quae obiit 24 Aprilis, 1591. Eorum filii hunc tumulum fieri fecemnt, A.D. 1592, quibus 
sit propitins omnipotens. Amen." 

The Bev. T. B. Brown, of Oundle, sent the following interpretation 
of the legend on the ancient porcelain Chinese seal, found near Thomas- 
town, and formerly presented to the Museum by the Bev. J. Graves : — 

*< I think your Chinese seal reads Trin Kao; which may be translated * A little but 
lofty mountain [is a] noble [sight]/ Like many other seals this appears to have an 
occult meaning, as ' a great soid in a little body.' '* 

Mr. Brown also forwarded an interpretation of the celebrated Bunic 
Ogham, taken from Henselius' Synopsis Universce PhUologicBf p. 84, tab. 2, 
No. 3, and called Ixqns BogstadensiSy in Helsingia. The result of Mr. 
Brown's investigation was the following : — 

" Adam Bmsai, the great grand-son of Noah, after a long voyage, arrived in safety 
at the island of Menix, in the Syrtis Minor, accompanied with a promiscuous multitude, 
armed with spears, and intending to go southward and find a quiet abode for their 
families. After baring married the virgins of the dty, they, fathers and their families 
accompanying them, hastened their departure to obtain a peaceful abode in a province 
south of the Syrtis Major." 

Mr. Brown adds, 

" I am not aware that any person beside myself has made a translation of this re- 
markable inscription. A knowledge of the manner of forming the Oghams proves to 
be the key for ascertaining the true alphabet of the cuneiform letters." 

The same gentleman, professing to have but little knowledge of the 
Irish language, stated that with much diffidence he offers the following 
translation of the Glounaclough Ogham, engraved in vol. 1, p. 142, of 
the Kilkenny Archaeological Society's Tiunsactions : — 

•< CmJk Cfui Soih,'* U., " The time of the death cessation." 

Mr. Brown supposes that if the inscription was perfect, some cri- 
terion for fixing the name and date of the person commemorated would 
be found on the stone. He says — 

'* If I am right in my interpretation of the sentence on this stone, it might be of 
very ancient date, as its oonstmction is of Phoenician appearance." 

He adds : — 

" I have been much amused and somewhat edified with the/rrot ^dcow bestowed 
on the Bumfort Ogham. Allow me to suggest a third interpretation of the word cut on 
the stone. The letters seem to be tagittofy ; now as y is often, in ancient writing, 
put for i i, and i % for y, the inscription may read toffittarU — archers. If so, it is a Latin 
word, and shows the inscription to be of a somewluit recent date ; and if the stone pro- 
perly belongs to the place where it was found, we may, I think, conclude that the rath 

48 



378 

was the scene of a batiUf and that the stone records the barial of the oreAert that wot 
slain there. It is no matter of surprise that an Irith Ogham should bring fSorth a Latin 
word ; for I have a JBimic Ogham that must he read in Greek ; and I have aaen one in 
the Arabic language." 

Mr. Graves brought before the meeting a report by Mr. J. Donne, 
Garrjricken, that having visited the church-yard of KiUamory on the 
15th of August, he found that the remains of the ancient cbaiioel wall, 
which enclosed the tombs of the Lee family, had b«en uprooted in the 
previous week, and appropriated in making a sewer and fence in the 
vicinity of the police barrack there. The body of the ancient place of 
worship, with its ivy-covered arch, was taken down, in 1816, as materials 
for building the present parish church ; but the moss-covered stones up- 
rooted on this occasion have, on the contrary, been cast into a common 
sewer! 

The meeting expressed its sense of the gross impropriety of such acts 
as that reported by Mr. Dunne, and Mr. Graves mentioned that the 
outrage had probably occurred in consequence of tbe absoBce of the 
incumbent, the parish being at present vacant. 

Mr. Dunne also forwarded accurate measurements of the tomb, bear- 
ing an Irish inscription, which he had discovered in KiUamoiy church- 
yard ; and in allusion to the recent communication of Mr. D' Alton, on 
the finding of the beam of timber in the rath of Cnrraleigh, mentioned 
the fact of squared beams of oak having been discovered projecting hori- 
zontally from the bottom of the rath of Poulacapple into the entrench- 
ment at its base ; and which were left untouched by the excavators, lest 
their removal might provoke the anger of the *' good people." Some 
very curious folk-lore, respecting the same rath, was also conuniunicated 
by Mr. Dunne. 

Mr. John O'Daly contributed an Irish poem on the origin of armorial 
bearings, of which he gives the following account : — 

*< This curious poem and translation are preserved In a MS. trtnslaiion into Bni^ish, 
of Dr. Keating^s Forut Peaga ar iSirinii, made by Michael Kearney of BsJlyloskje, 
in the County Cross of Tipperary, A.D. 1635-65, now in the Library of the Royal Irish 
Academy, being among the collection made by that ardent lover of the language and 
literature of his country— the late ever-to>be>1amented William Elliot Hudson, Esq., 
who bought it from me, and whose library, I understand, was bequeathed to that insti- 
tution. The book turned up at the sale of colonel Howard's library, at Sharpens 
auction rooms, Dublin, in 1847 ; and I became tbe purchaser, and sold it afterwards to 
Mr. Hudson. It is written in the most beautiful style of penmanship, both English and 
Irish, and in all probability is the cc^iy which the earl of Orrery got translated for the 
express purpose of seeing whether the work was calculated to inflame the minds of the 
peasantry to open rebellion, as was generally supposed at the time. Michael Kearney wu 
the translator of the poem en ' The Kings of the Raee of Eihhear/ which I publi^ed in 
1S47, a copy of which I presented to the Society some time ago. He is the earliest 
known English versifier of Irish poetry ; which, however deficient in rhythm, critics 
should not sneer at, if they only consider the imperfect state of the English laagnage at 
the time. He introduces the poem as follows : — 



It ( 



THS ARMS OP THE TRIBES OF ISBASIi. 



<« « The Vse of Armes and Bscouchions is anciently obserued by the Irishry, in imita- 
tion of y* Children of Israeli, who began to vse them in Egypt (at which time tbe 
Ancestor of all the Iri&hry, called 5aoi6|1, or Gathelus, there Uued)» which Armes, the 



379 



Isndiits at their paiaiag through y -Redd Seas, vnder the conduct of Moyies, did carry 
in their tererall Banners. They were in all Twelue Trihei, and each Tribe had a certaine 
number of men Tuder his own command w*** Dictinct Banners ai|d Armes. 





Ruben 




Symeon 
Levi 


*« 


Juda 


o 


Isaoor 


=g 


Sdabulon 




Neptalem 
Gad 
loseph 
Beniamen 




Dan 




Aser 



e 

a 

8 

n 

.2 

> 
'S> 

Q 



Mandraga. 

A Speare. 

The Arcke. 

A Lyon. 

The Asse. 

A Shipp. 

The picture of an Oxe. 

The picture of a Lyonesse. 

ABuU. 

A Woulfe. 

A Serpent. 

An Olive branch. 



" And that these Armes formerly mentioned were those which the childien of Israeli 
did beare in their Banners, it is warranted by an ancient Irish Rhyme extant in the olde 
booke of Leackine in Ormond within the County of Tipperary, which Rhyme in Irish, 
and translated into English, Disticke for Disticke, is as foUoweth : — 



^|6oe tAnf ^Ac iQe||t5e ti)6n, 
Ho hAO] A5 cU|im UAlU]^ 1^u:6b; 

Celtic oeAc Af A b*A|tle Attnf 
^5^ to-be |t Ajtije a thAttnyAm- 

C|teAb Kdbcf) \iAt nor-cobA|Yi, 
Ho be A iQcmse S?)AQi>ttA^)tt ; 

Ke hvLAi) fto CA|t At) ctte^b ie, 
Ko \eAi) rlUA^ f9'Ai6 A toc]]t5e, 

CfteAb Simeon Dfon fin njejnse, 

Sfnjeoi) All c}i\ot)DA ccaX^ac^ 
U19 6fooA bA 6]b-feAtt5Ac. 

CtieAb leitf Uicc nA b-^ITtce, 
)onf6A A b-ctteo^ Va &-cttoiQ-6tkfi|ce ; 

\>A cAfrse 6& rit^fnce ro, 

9l>0T^5d ^5 ctieAb 16b A Aii)TiA, 
SaiquiI lc6fi)A|t) l&i7-dAlf9A; 

CtteAb io*A]r Afj uATfi remse, 
SlttA]^ i>fon)A]r nA bfb-feinse. 

CfteAb ifACAn AD jioin sio]i>, 

9)ein5e A^ce itfA^ AfAl; 
UiQ Ai) nH3]ri5e f^oTt fQA]reAC« 

CfteAb SCAbttlOf) IJA fC|AU IhSlAtVy 

tViAlb A nye^nse 101)5 Iucciqatv; 

bA 50^6 Aftt 6ont)A|b CAQA, 
CX\C HA lO05A)b lUCClilAflA. 

t)eAib 6A|ii)-AiiuT6 tQAirsmn "??n, 

as Cfteib t^epcAlcii) ijewTo; 
tk>t) Cfteib no cieAcc ffiAoc frcmse, 
9)6fi teAftc Iaoc iquii luA|tr9ef1i5C. 



Display I will in their Banners, what Armes 
Holly [holy] Jacob's issue blazed ; 

Ffor others scarce their names did knowe, 
Which kept them still outraaed. 

The Tribe of Ruben full blessed with grace, 

Mandrake for Armes vsed ; 
And long happy dayes their lines out spent, 

And worthy warriours raised. 

A Javelin speare for Marshiall show, 
Most dreadfull Symeon granting; 

None wiser was then hee, I say. 
To tame his foes with mangling. 

The Tribe of Leri l>y the Arck pieserued, 
Ffor wealth most rich and manners ; 

Presaging cleere their foture weale. 
Did b«ire the Arck in their Bannen. 

The Rampant Lyon did Juda Tribe, 
With honour in field maintaine ; 

Which firee from feare and mdaunted mynes, 
Their Banners still kept from staine. 

Isacare's Tribe that golden mynes. 

For purity dearely kept ; 
Their Banners blazoned with the Asse, 

Did them most highly Decke. 

Enclined to Seas stoute Stabulon's Tribe 
In theb banners a Shipp pourtrayed. 

And Neptune's wanes did traverse oft, 
With stronge tleete still arrayed. 

The pollard's place in Collours bore. 
With Neptalem's Eagerly Tribe i 

In warrlike feates they terrible were, 
And with them valiant men did side. 



380 



9)At% 6e|lb bfof Alt bA]D-ledii>A]Q ; 
Hoc Ati cfnj tie trnAoc ireittje, 
5ac lAoc t^iQiy li^ttf) lOAOfc-ibeittse. 

?t)e?tt5» njAti tAfib 50 mon neinc, 

Cbo|ft AS cTte]b lorepb 6|ti6e]t\c ; 

Uj) C|1||06 bAl) COIQAtl6A. 

CtteAb t>toiAfO]o 50 n)etn ibtn. 
R6 bf A nyeins^ or ii^msi^s 

V)ejrii^ tOAft Af) b-yrAol b-^ogUc, 
^*^1T^5^ r^Q cAoib coibofttAc. 

CfieAb t)Af) bA boAfbreAC aq &TteAtOt 
Ofttjocc De^rtfneAc cofse cuA]ie|oU; 
Cttei) t^ At^o|o bA t>of^ Ae, 

«)An QAtttaii iboni A ipentse- 

CfteAb ftrett Ufott CttttA|6 U1I) CflA6, 

9)ettt5e bAtt leAiy toAn lo6Att; 

9)Att ACQ Ci&t^tt)U A CO^ 

If CYtAob Aluiniy ir]oi)n oIa. 

Ko t^n^iQCAr caU a cctteAbA, 
Rd t^Tniib 19^ A i9e]tt5eA6A; 

9)AYt ct^jb b'{oi75qA qA cc]teAb cce> 
feAtt 5Aq A t)]Ofo6A aq A]tf)e. 



The Tribe of Gtd ft Lyonesae bo«K, 
To warr their minds ad?aiiceiiige ; 

In time of neede not Dastard like. 
These Champions fell a pranoeinge. 

Noble Joseph's Tribe being greate for 
A Bull to show their might; [strength, 

Bmbraceing peace they boare th^ Coate, 
And leade their Coorses right. 

The forward Tribe of Benjamin, 

Over other Ensignes nJsed ; 
In their banner the Wonlfe its fterodnU hoe, 

That hopefiill Tribe appeased. 

Dan's Dangerons Tribe to spoyles dispoied, 
In their Coate a greene serpent bore ; 

A Banner fitt for miscreants. 
Their venomous minds to plore. 

And bonntyfnll Aser's noble Tribe, 

An Olive branch imbraced ; 
Of other Coates they did it choose, 

Their hearU it fittly fused. 

Thus Israeli's Tryhes in number twelne, 

I offerred to the view ; 
Their Ensignes Dears displayed to life, 

I blazoned for their due. 

Display I will, &&" 



The following paper was forwarded to the Secretaries by the Rev. 
A. B. Rowan, D.D., Belmont, Tralee, on the much vexed question of the 
supposed monument at Holy Cross : — 

" When the Rev. Mr. Graves in acknowledging my former paper on the Holy Cron 
monument, remarked (with that qiyet good humour which always impresses an observation 
more forcibly) how singular it was that three of those who had written on this subject 
(namely. Sir William Betham, Dr. Petrie, and myself, unworthy to be named with these 
authorities) had never eeen the monument at all! I confess I was at once struck with 
my own rashness, in venturing even a speculation on the case without ocular inspection, 
and determined to remedy the error on the first opportunity; accordingly, on a late jonrney 
to Dublin, by leaving an early train at Thurles, I was enabled to spend an hour or two 
at Holy Cross, resuming my journey in the evening. 

'* Before I proceed to correct my own misapprehensions concerning this monument, 
I must offer a few words in reference to Mr. Cooke's last paper on the subject. I own 
that with the printed Transactions of the Society before me, it never occurred to me to 
refer * either to him or to his MS. in custody of the Secretary' for more correct versions 
of his opinions, but firom the moment I understood from him that his paper in the 
Transactions for 1849, was not only * incorrectly printed' but * curtailed,' of course any 
forther critical examination of it was at an end, nor do I recur to it now vrith that riew 
when I observe that what I really did assert as to Mr. Cooke's view, was in temu thus : 
* The general bearing of the arguments and local traditions on which Mr. Cooke reUes, 
would teem to identify the ' Good Woman's Son' vrith a certain Feorus Fionn.' Surely 
this does not charge him with delivering any absolute dogmatic opinion on the subject, 
though I still think that any one reading his paper, a$ printed^ might fairly conclude 
that the bearing of his opinion was in favour of the view of the < Triumphalia.' 

'* Again, accepting Mr. Cooke's correction of the misprint ' seven' for seven/fflh 
still it does not mtkt his calculation accurate. Queen Elenor's first husband died A.D. 



381 

1216; Feorut Fionn died 1233. UnleM *^the fdnenl baked-metU did coldly furnish forth 
the marriage feast,' she could not have married her second husband for a decent intenral 
after the death of the first, and even if we make Feorus Fionn the eldett of her six children 
by her second hosband, he could not be more thui>|^/Mii years of age in 1233 ; at least 
he anUd not, without an imputation on his mother's fur fame and repute, which I am 
aure Mr. Cooke would be as far as myself from casting on any ' Good Woman.' 

" I now recur to the monument itself, and have to make acknowledgment of more 
than one erroneous impression derived from the general description of others, and from 
platea, which though they give the monument with sufficient accuracy, give no proper 
idea of its position in the building in which it is erected. ' From Dr. Petrie's obser- 
vation,' that ' it occupied the place of the founder's tomb,' I was led to picture it to 
myself as in the north chancel wall — and from prints in the ' Dublin Penny Journal' and 
Mr. Sainthill's *011a Podrida,' I had imagined it placed at an elevation from the ground, 
inconsistent with the idea of its being a sedilia, whereas I found it in the south chancel 
wall (the usual position of a founder's tomb being occupied by a monument of the 
O'Fogarty family), and its elevation from the ground presents no difficulty to the 
supposition that it may have been a sedilia, while the disproportioned height of the 
monument also gives an impression of the compartments being narrower than they are 
in reality. A portly abbot with flowing vestmenta would scarce be aceomodated, but 
three ordinary men might find sitting room in the compartments, though in a crowded 
fashion, scarce compatible with solemnity. I say this in fairness to the advocatea of the 
sedilia theory, though I must ovrn that closer inspection does not induce me much more 
to their views of the question. My original idea that the slab or seat (as the case may 
be) had been an ancient altar covering-stone, was completely disproved on inspection — 
it is obviously a sepulchral slab, and strange to say does not fill or fit the place in which 
it lies— it is too short by about a foot and a-half, and is altogether so incongruous to 
the monument itself as to suggest either of two notions concerning it— it was either an 
original tomb slab which occupied the place of the monument before its erection, and 
was retained in its position through respect, or veneration, or else it was introduced as 
a make-shift covering at a later period after the original, a ftilly-fitting slab, had been 
removed or broken — if we could obtain any details of that examination of the tomb 
which Mr. Cooke mentions as having been made no long time since, we might learn 
something as to the placing of this stone in its present position. 

'* The question which I suggested as to the existence of a low window for watching 
the Easter tomb, was also settled in the negative, the very remarkable plan of Holy 
Cross Abbey, in having four chapels running parallel with the chancel, two on each side, 
rendered the existence of any such window impossible. 

'* From a paper of Mr. Prim's which mentions a rubbing taken from the escutcheon 
supposed to bear the Desmond arms, I had thought the question settled that the bearings 
on the shield were the ermine marks of the field— on inspection, however, it appeari to 
me, either that the carving had been defaced since the rubbing was taken, or, if remain- 
ing uninjured, that the bearings, if ermin§ markt, are very rudely sculptured, and that 
they may well be ' pears' according to Mr. Cooke's last suggestion — * applet are alto- 
gether out of the question. 

" I must now mention a feature of the monument of which I have seen no notice 
hitherto, and which may have a bearing on Mr. Cooke's legend of the * Good Woman's 
Son,' whoever that mysterious person may prove to be. 

" The whole monument has to me the appearance of a monastic caprice, executed 
not according to any strict principles of construction, but after the plan of some designer 
who consulted his own fancy rather than severe rules, or proportions of art; indeed the 
whole building (marked on almost every stone of the interior with some masonic device) 
abounds with eaprieioi, which would seem to have been suggested by some irregular 
taste to ' puzzle posterity,' — the interspace marked by twisted columns separating the 
two chapels opening off the south.transept, presents a subject for conjecture as to its use, 
quite as perplexing as the chancel monument itself. 

*' Among these caprices, may be reckoned one of those light and elegant columns, 
which divide our monument into compartments. About half way up the column there 
are the remains of a delicately carved head or bust, itantUng oni m relief from the pillar, 
and which must have been carved out of the solid stone, of which the pillar is composed, 
with great labour, and at the same time with the pillar itself. The head is much defaced, 
some rude hand has knocked away a large portion of it, but enough remains to show 



382 

that the original execation of the head waa elaborate, that the directioii of the Imc wm 
ton ards the altar, and that the effigy was intended for a yoothful, if not angelic coonte- 
nance. The other pillar bean no trace of any timilar acolptnre. 

" A question naturally arises as to what can have been the object of a carving, so 
elaborate and nunnte, in such a position, an esemeenee as it were on the aymmetry of the 
monument — ^having once had the idea of Mr. Cooke's legend presented to the mind^ one 
cannot shut out the suggestion that this effigy may have been intended to commemorate 
the ' Son of the Good Woman ;' if this idea be rejected, the feature (a peculiar one) re- 
mains to be accounted for. 

** As to my own idea, that this monument may have been * The Easter altar-tomb,' I 
have nothing to add to the original suggestion further than that I have often seen such 
tombs in similar positions below the sedilia on the south chancel wall of ancient churches. 
I am bound, however, to add, that as I never saw sedilia so very nanow, so I never 
saw altar-tombs divided into compartments like those at Holy Cross. 

" Mr. Cooke thinks my speculation as to the phrase ' Good Woman's Sod' being a 
periphrasis to signify our Blessed Lord, worth consideration, but objects to the parallel 
expression I adduced of * ihe Men iibove* as used by the Irish peasant to signify God, 
aa though I had mistaken an Irish term for an English one. But I beg to say that since 
I saw his paper, I have communicated with one of our best Irish scholara, and he con- 
firms me in stating that the phrase used by our peasantry is that I have stated ' Ftr an 
erd' * the Man on high.' 

** I fear my paper, being little more than a correction of mistakes, irill be scsroe 
worth reading to the Society : but I felt bound, as a member, to ' report progress' as to 
my examination of the question at issue. I shall only say now, in conclusion, that if 
Holy Cross Abbey lies within the region to which the cares of the Kilkenny Arcbaolo- 
gical Society extend, a little care would be well bestowed in interesting some party in 
its further preservation and better ordering — ^having seen at Mnckross, in my own county, 
what gradual and judicious attention can do in removing the unsightly defilements which 
too often disfigure popular burial-grounds, without doing any violence to prejudice or 
feeling, I am sure much might be done at Holy Cross to put it in more decent order, 
and allow tourists and antiquarians to admire it with less offence to every sense than at 
present. Much might also be done at small expense in tracing out the ground-plan of 
the abbey ; and I am sure that any member who would induce the proprietor to join 
oiv archfeological corps and second archasological researches and clearances at Holy 
Cross, would do * yeoman service' in reference to one of the most interesting ruins in 
Ireland." 

Mr. Graves pointed out, that Dr. Rowan had mistaken the bearings 
on the shield, which were clearly neither apples nor pears, but ermine 
spots, as might be seen by reference to similar carvings of arms on the 
tombs of the Sweetman family in Newtown chorch, county of Kilkenny, 
on Purcell's Cross, in St. Patrick's cemetery, Kilkenny, and on various 
monuments in St. Canice's Cathedral and Kilcooly Abbey. 



GENERAL MEETING, 

Held at the Society's Apartments, Patrick-street, Kilkenny, 
Wednesday, November 2nd, 1853, 

JOHN JAMES, E8q.,M.R.C.S.I., in the Chair. 

The following Members were elected : — The Countess of Shannon ; 
the Rev. A. F. Stopford, Hamerton, Huntingdon ; Richard Frankland, 
Esq., Ashgrove House, Queenstown; and James Hugh Smith Barry, 
Esq., Foata Island, Queenstown : proposed by Lord James Butler. 

Captain Hamilton, St. Kieran's, Parsonstown ; the Rev. Thomas 
Hayden, Sraduff, Parsonstown ; the Rev. Cornelius O'Brien^ P.P. ; 



383 

Lorrba, Borrisokane ; Frederick Hamilton, Esq., Sharragh Lodge, Par- 
sonstown; and James Blacker Morgan, Esq., 117, Lower Gardiner- 
street, Dublin : proposed by Mr. William B. De Bytbre. 

Francis H. Sbeilds, Esq., Parsonstown; Rev. William M'llwaine, AM. 
Belfast ; Cbarles De la Cberois Purdon, Esq., M.D., Belfast ; the Rev. 
John Quinn, P J?., Magberafelt ; William Kelly, Esq., the Mall, Armagh ; 
Charles Stanley, Esq., Roohan House, Dungannon ; Alexander Patton, 
Esq., M.B.,L.B.C.S.I.,Tanderagee, county Armagh; George Stephenson, 
Esq., Lisbum ; and P. Dillon, Esq., Greenock : proposed by Mr. Richard 
Hitchcock. 

John Nugent, Esq., AB., M.B., 14, Rutland-square, East, Dublin ; 
Charles Uniacke Townsend, Esq., Carrickmacross, county of Monaghan ; 
Aquilla Smith, Esq., M.D., 121, Lower Baggot-street, Dublin; John 
James Leckey, Esq. D.L., Ballykealy, Ballon, county of Carlow ; J. 
Richardson Smith, Esq., Glenburn Cottage, Loch Gilphead, Argyle- 
shire ; Wm. Barker, Esq., M.D.,M.R.I.A., Professor of Natural History, 
Royal Dublin Society; John Flood, Esq., View Mount, Whitehall, 
Bagnalstown ; and John Swithenbank, Esq., Solicitor, 8, Park-row, 
Leeds : proposed by the Rev. J. Graves. 

Mr, Patrick Aylward, Coal-market, Kilkenny : proposed by Mr. J 
Fj Shearman. 

Edward O'Shaughnessy, Esq., Clonmel : proposed by Mr. Michael 
Kearney, ClonmeL 

Charles Newport, Esq., 16, William-street, Waterford: proposed by 
Mr. Joseph Greene, jun. 

John L. Conn, Esq., Mount Ida, New Ross ; Dr. Samuel Chaplin, 
Carlow; Mr. Michael Molony, Clerk of the Union, Kilkenny; and 
Messrs. T. Montgomery and Son, House Painters, Kilkenny : proposed 
by Mr. J. G. A. Prim. 

Augustus W. Franks, Esq., AM., British Museum ; and Mr. Thomas 
Homage, T.C., Parsonstown : proposed by Mr. T. L. Cooke. 

Francis Carroll, Esq., C.E., County Surveyor, Stanfield, Wexford : 
proposed by Mr. Samson Carter, jun. 

Mr. Robert Goodbody, Mountmellick : proposed by Mr. Joseph 
Burke. 

James Poe, Esq., Solicitor, Parade, Kilkenny : proposed by Mr. A. 
Denroche. 

Mr. J. A. Grace, Christian Brothers' School, Richmond-street, 
North, Dublin : proposed by Mr. John O'Daly. 

John Kinsella, £^., Waterford ; and Mr. James Dobbyn, MuUinavat : 
proposed by Mr. Patrick Cody. 

The following presentations were received, and thanks for them 
ordered to be given to the donors : — 

By the author, Richard Sainthill, Esq., Cork, Olla Podrida, Vol. ii., 
privately printed. 

By the Archasological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, its 
Journal^ No. 39. 

By the Greological Society of Dublin, its Journal^ voL v. part 3. 
By Aquilla Smith, Esq., M.D., the Supplement to his Catalogue of 
Irish Tradesmenfl* Tokens. 



384 

By the author, the Bev. J. R. Brown, three tracts, viz. : A Trans* 
lotion of the Vqfthntdnismaljfrom the Edda^ an InterprttaUon of the Ygdsa-^ 
sUly and a Translation of Cath, Soduinn. 

By the Publisher, the Builder. 

By Mr. John Spread, a drawing of a bronze bridle-bit, foand six feet 
beneath the surface of a peat bog, in the ploughland of West Loughane, 
near Blarney, now preserved in Mr. Spreiad's coUection. 

By the Rev. James Mease, counterfeit casts of a bronze sword and 
two bronze celts, as well for the purpose of enabling collectors to distin- 
guish between real and genuine antiquities, as because they were accu- 
rate /oc-^mtZe^ of the latter. Many similar counterfeits have been sold 
as genuine. Also, an antique iron spur, the pedigree of which the donor 
did not vouch for. 

By Lord James Butler, several specimens of the gun-money of James 
n., for the purpose of completing the Society's set of this coinage. 

By Mr. Francis B. Davies, Dublin, three leaden bullets, one of which 
appeared to have been flattened against a cuirass, and a plated button, 
recently picked up by him on the field of Aughrim. 

By the Rev. James Graves, a curious bronze pin, with moveable 
ring-head, ornamented by looped knobs, also some old coins, comprising 
a short-cross penny of Henry III., a three-crown Irish groat, and spe- 
cimens of Confederate and gun -money. 

By Sir E. D. Borrowes, Bart., an impression from the steel die of 
the seal of the ducal family of De la Rochefoucauld, brought over to 
Ireland by one of that family, a refugee, at the close of the seventeenth 
century, and from whom the donor is descended. 

By the Rev. G. S. Faber, Sherburne House, Durham, an impression 
of the personal seal of WUliam de Brock, temp. Hen. 11., accompanied 
by the following observations : — 

" I observe in an article by the Rev. James Graves, p. 88, voL L of tbe Society's 
DramaetUnu, that seals in the form of the fwnca piteit, though originally eccleaiasti(»li 
were in after times, used indiscriminately both for lay and ecclesiastical purposes. What 
may perhaps interest the members, I send a somewhat bungling impression of a curious 
seal which was dug up in the church-yard of Long- Newton, Comit. Dumelm., while 1 
was rector of that parish ; I sent an impression to our late antiquary, Mr. Snrtees. The 
exterior legend is perfectly plain—* SigiUum Willelmi de Broc;' the interior one, somewhat 
perplexed. Mr. Surtees told me that William de Broc was lord of Hurworth, a place 
about six miles from Long-Newton, temp. Henrici II. He supposed that he must have 
lost it from his neck, when on a visit to Long-Newton, there being a hole in the shank 
for the purpose of inserting a small cord. The seal, he said, was valuable from its 
rareness ; it being usual to break them up on the death of the proprietor. My chief 
object in sending it is, a confirmation of Mr. Graves' opinion that the vetiea pi$eiM was 
the shape of seals either lay or ecclesiastical. According to Mr. Surtees, this innovation 
must have crept in so early as the 12th century. I cannot say whether De Broc of 
Hurworth was related to the De Broc who was one of the assassins of Beckett. Tet it 
nutjf have been the seal of an ecclesiastic, a cadet of the Hurworth house of De Broc. 
You will observe an agnns and cross in the centre." 

By Mr. Samson Carter, C.E., a large number of interesting specimens 
of encaustic tiles dug up by him last summer, during an exploration of 
one of the abbeys of the ancient deserted town of Clonmines, on tbe 
shore of Bannow bay, county of Wexford ; they afforded some new types 



385 

of ornamentation, especially a graceful running border- pattern of vine 
leaves. 

The Secretary laid on the table a quantity of similar objects found 
during the works at present in progress at Jerpoint Abbey, and which 
it was interesting to observe generally presented specimens of similar 
patterns to those found at Clonmines ; also, a perfect example of one of 
the ancient roofing-slates of Jerpoint Abbey. 

Mr. Graves said that he had on a former occasion alluded to the de- 
struction caused at Dunbrody Abbey by the storm of Christmas eve, 
1852. At a recent visit made by him to that ruin — ^now a ruin indeed—- 
he was shocked to find the noble pile choked by heaps of rubbish, the 
debris of the fallen arcade. A few pounds expended in propping the 
structure would have prevented the fall of that building, but so far from 
this having been done, he actually heard the agent of &e noble owner, 
lord Templemore, assert the astounding opinion that the abbey was 
improved by the fall of the arcade — ^the ruin being rendered more pictur- 
esque thereby 1 He thought that this meeting would hardly agree in 
the opinion propounded by that gentleman. Mr. Graves further stated 
he was informed that immediate steps would be taken to preserve what 
remained. Better late than never, he should say. 

Dr. Johnson asked whether the splendid west window, which he had 
remembered to have seen in the abbey of Dunbrody, had escaped from 
ruin? 

Mr. Graves said he was sorry to say that it had not. That splendid 
specimen of architecture had, however, fallen many years ago. The 
rumour of the locality was, that a neighbouring clergyman had asked 
permission of the lord Templemore of the day to execute some neces- 
sary repairs on it at his own expense^ but was refused permission, in not 
the most civil manner, being told to mind his own affairs. He (Mr. 
Graves) hoped that this was not true — ^he only tol^ the tale as it was 
told to him. 

The Secretary said it was his further unpleasant duty to refer to the 
demolition of an interesting feature which, up to this summer, adorned 
the beautiful old church of Thomastown. The chancel of this fine 
structure had been taken down about forty years since to build the 
present church, and the south arcade had fallen many years ago, one 
Sunday morning, from the sure but slow progress of time and decay ; 
but one fine arcadi and an interesting two-light side-aisle window had 
remained, on the north-side, to delight the student of ancient church 
architecture. What was his dismay, when, on a visit to Thomastown, 
early in the October of this year, he found this window demolished, its 
shattered arch and graceful mullion forming a pile of rubbish beneath a 
yawning breach in the wall I On inquiry he learned that it had been 
deliberately taken down to prevent the urchins of the village from pU- 
laging the nests of the birds who built in the adjoining parts of the ruin ! 
For his part, and he was sure every lover of antiquity would agree with 
him, he thought that some broken glass would equally have answered 
the end in view. He had reason to know that the rector of the parish, 
the Rev. Mr. Irwin, who had been an active promoter of the repair of 

49 



386 

Jerpoint Abbey, had never saiictioned the defacement of the ancient 
church of Thomastown. 

Mr. Francis A* Dunlevy forwarded, through Mr. Hitchcock, an 
account of the recent discoTcry of an inscribed stone, found many feet 
below the surface of the turf bog of Moorestown, near Dingle, and pro- 
mised to furnish further particulars thereof on a future occasion.^ 

The Rev. P. Moore, R.C.C., Bosbercon, communicated the following 
tradition, which, as he states, '^ goes to show how tradition may be relied 
on even when handed down through many generations. At Ballyknock 
I talked to an old man named Bryan Neill ; after some conversation I 
told him he had a good Irish name, but a northern one rather than from 
this part of the country. He told me ' his family originally came from 
the north, and were settled in this county as long before the battle of 
Aughrim as since it was fought ; one of the O'Neills married the lord 
Mountgarret, she brought six boys and six girls with her, she died after 
twelve months' time, and all the O'Neills went back again to the north, 
except one who became a servant to the '* Bidiri Frenigh," and remained 
in Ballyknock ever since.'" 

In reference to the paper of Mr. Hackett, on the subject of bovine 
traditions, read at the last meeting of the Society, Mr. Graves said he 
had received a letter from the Rev. G. S. Faber, stating the interest which 
he felt in the matter. Mr. Faber observed : — '' I have no doubt that the 
legend of the cows is inunediately connected with the mixed Axkite and 
Sabian superstition. In perhaps every region the cow was the symbol 
of the ark, but, at the same time, from the resemblance of its horns to a 
lunar crescent, was the sidereal type of the moon. I have entered very 
fully into discussions of thb nature in my large work on Pagan Idolatry ; 
and all the facts that have since come to light, confirm me in the justice 
of my principles. Much of the superstitions of Ireland were carried 
thither, I believe, at a very early period, by a branch of the Palli, or 
Shepherd Kings, when they were finally driven out of Egypt by the 
native princes, synchronically with the emigration of Israel, and in con- 
sequence of the destruction in the Red S^ which finally broke their 
power. I remember a curious passage in Diodorus to this e£fect ; but I 
cannot, without some trouble, lay my hand upon it. I suspect that there 
is a good deal of truth hidden under the writings of general Yallaneey ; 
but, unfortunately, his mode of reference to his authorities is such, that 
one knows not what to make of it. Identity in maUega arbitrary^ which 
is the case with all the old mythologies that I have encountered, proves 
a common origination ; and that origination we cannot fix later than the 
dispersion from Babel. Here I think Mr. Bryant was wrong in his sup- 
position, that the Cuttites (done were concerned in the Babel enterpriae. 
Such a circumstance cannot account for the identity of superstition in all 
parts of the world, though he employs all his ingenuity to nuike out a 
case." 

Mr. M. Walsh, MuUinavat, forwarded a drawing of an escutcheon of 
the arms of White, impaling Walsh, sculptured on the holy- water stoup 

1 ThiB stone, hsTing been pnrchated bj posited by him in tlie Moseam of the Rej*! 
the Rev. A. B. Rowan, D.D., has been de- Iri^ Academy. — Bos. 



387 

of the Friary Chftpely Lady-lane, Waterford. On either side were the 
names, Jacobus White, and Hellen Welshe, beneath was the date, 1626. 
Mr. Graves laid before the Society, by permission of the marquis of 
Ormonde, two interesting documents, from the Evidence Chamber, Kil- 
kenny Castle. He observed that the Edmond Meara, whose name ap- 
pears at the dose of the subjoined letter, was probably the son or nephew 
of Dermod O'Meara, a physician, of Ballyragget, who composed a Latin 
poem on Thomas, the tenth earl of Ormonde, printed in 1615. Edmond 
seems to have followed Dermod's profession, and his letter to the duke 
of Ormonde, now verging towards hb last days, and suffering from 
" noise and palpitation,** arising from " y* splene," is a curious exam- 
ple of the medical practice of the period, and of cautious professional 
advice. The receipt for ** spleene broth," found with Meara's letter, 
although written in a different hand, has an addition in the writing of 
the former: — 

• DoUin, S Junar., I<i74. 

*' Maj it pletae yo' Grtoe — I am not apt to beliere y* diett and exerdse alone will 
helpe [••••]>' And since nothing hath as yett agreed with yon better than 
yo' nsoall pills ordered by Dr. ffennetl, I think yo' Grace may do well to nse them 
daily for tenne or tweeWe dayes in a lesser dose than hitherto : but besides in the very 
beginning of y* spring more bleeding will be of absolute necessity. My Lord, I would 
gladly know whether y« night you took y« pills sent from heare, you were that night in 
good measure free from y« noise and palpitation, if so it is possble they may be so 
ordered as to work according to your mind, and produce that effect also. Yc Grace 
believes and it is my judg^' that both these symptoms proceede originally from y* splene 
which in one season seldome admitts of a cure ; and comonly y« last recourse is to 
minerall waters, whereof yo' Grace may have choice either in England or Ireland, where 
yo' affairs wiQ require your aboad : this is y« sence and humble ad^ce of, my Lord, 
your Graces faithful serv*. 

" Ebm . Mbaba." 

The letter was addressed— '^ to his Grace the Duke of Ormond, at 
Kilkenny Castle." Endorsed, in the Duke's handA-<< Dr. Meara 2 of 
Jan. 74, rec 3 [Jan.]." The seal, three lions passant gardant palewise, 
within a bordure sem^ of crescents. Accompanying this letter was the 
following recipe : — 

<• To make y« spleene broth used by my lady of Thurles by Doctor ffennells direc- 
tion: — 

i« < f ^ ^ good bige coke chickin or younge pullet with a little peece of a knole of 
▼eale, put y» in 3 quarts of water, let y» boyle and skim it very well, then putt in 
these ingrediences foUowing : mayden hayre, seaterike, harts tonge, agremony, pellepo- 
dium of y« oake well scraped and stiff, halfe an ounce, a few resons of y* snnne stoned, 
a little anneseeds, with a blade of mase, and a sprige of rosemary. Let these all boyle. 
Lett haelfe the broth be consumed, y> take haelfe a pint of this broth in y« mominge, 
and as much in y* aftemoone about 4 or five a doke.' (In a different hand) *The 
barke of y* roote of capers, and y« middle barke of tameriske as much as of each of y' 
other engredients to be added in y« making of this broth : half a drame of cramer tartar 
to be dessoWed in every dose.'" 

Mr. J. F. Ferguson, conserrator of the records of the court of 
exchequer, Dublin, and the efficient local correspondent of the Society, 

* The original is here injured by damp. 



388 

forwarded for ezhibidon a portion of the original roll of common pleas, 
held before Boger Outlaw, prior of the hospital of St. John of Jemaalem 
in Ireland, and lieutenant of John Darcy le Cosjn^ justice of Ireland, 
4th Edward III. The membrane contained the record of a curious 
custom of the ancient feudal law, namely, that of the appeal or trial of 
battle ; in this case the appellant or challenger was a lady, tIs. Ayelina, 
widow of John de Bermingham, who accused a nuibber of persouB, ap- 
parently amongst the most respectable proprietors of Louth, comprising 
the Geknouns of Gemonstown (now Castle Bellingham), the Haddesors, 
Clyutons, Cusaks ; ETerards, Pypards, Ac., of the murder of her hus- 
band, and appealing them, or demanding the wager of battle (of course by 
her champion or champions) against them. The accused did not appear, 
and were ordered to be attached by the sheriff. The accused, indeed, 
seem to hare formed too powerful a fiiction to be within the reach of 
the law, for the sheriff returns that they repelled (^deforckxverwd) his 
officers vi H armiSf so that they scarce escaped with their lives. The 
passe oommitatiu is then ordered out, and the sheriff in person at its head 
desired to execute the attachment; but he fails, and the widowed 
Ayelina in vain appears at Cashel, Trim, and Dublin, and elsewhere, 
seeking for justice against the slayers of her husband. The record is, 
unfortunately, imperfect towards the end, and the final result is not 
ascertainable. 

Mr. GraTes said that the history of this interesting fragment of the 
national records was invested with (to the student of Irish history) a sad 
interest. It so happened that, through the Rev. H. T. Ellacombcj rector of 
Clyst St. George, in Devonshire, and one of the members of this Society, 
Mr. Ferguson came to the knowledge that in the chateau of a German 
gentleman, the baron de Lassberg, on the lake of Constance, in Swit- 
zerland, there were laid up many of the ancient national records of 
Ireland, the baron having bought them from a Frankfort Jew, a dealer 
in such matters, some years since. Mr. Ferguson had laid the matter 
before the authorities in England, in order to give the nation the option 
of recovering its property. With a supineness perfectly unaccountable, 
however, no notice was taken of the matter ; and Mr. Ferguson, un- 
willing that such precious documents should be lost, proceeded, at his 
own expense, in the course of last summer, to the baron de Lassberg's 
Swiss castle, and succeeded in purchasing froqi him the manuscripts in 
question. How or at what time they were stolen from our Irish record 
depositories, Mr. Ferguson was unable to learn, although he proceeded 
to Frankfoit on his return, for that purpose. . But he (Mr. Graves) coold 
not help saying, that the entire occurrence was calculated to awaken 
government to the present disgraceful state of the public records in 
Ireland. When such a fraud as caused the abstraction of such docu- 
ments as those in question, was possible, how could we be sure that any 
of them were safe. Fire had done its work on some of the records ; 
damp was and is, slowly but surely, working the defacement of others ; 
and peculation may be still at work, whilst one depository was until 
lately in the care of a common porter 1 Lord chancellors and lord chief 
justices, their legal guardians, recked little of their loss or gain — ^wbilst 
their underlings again delegated their duty to inferior hands, until at 



389 

last responsibility became so much divided that it was inoperatiTe. Was 
snch a state of things to last much longer ? 

Mr. Ferguson also forwarded the accounts rendered into the Irish 
court of exchequer by the seneschals (at that time equivalent to our 
sheriffs) of Kilkenny, in the 46th and 46th years of Henry III., together 
with the following very curious morceau, being a copy of a transcript 
from the original parchment document in the British Museum (Cotton. 
MSS. Titus, B. xi.), of the 20th year of Hen. YL 

" The Lordes spiritual and temporall of your aaid Londe and the Commons of the 
aame in your Parlement holden at Develyn the Fryday next alter the fest of St. Martyn 
in Wynter last passed were fully advysed and assented that I & my fellow messec* for 
the said Londe should desYie of you, sov'ain Lorde, to ordeyn a myghtye^ of this youre 
Realm of Englande for to be your Lieutenn' of your said Londe ; that tyme beyng there 
present the Erlle of Ormond as Deputy to the Lorde Welles then your Lieut"* there. 
Please it your Highuesse to be enformed howe that if it had be [iseyn] goode & profita- 
ble for you & for your seide Londe for to have hade the said Erie yo' Lieuten* he should 
have been named at the said Parlement, gyving yon to understond that they all both 
Lordes spiritual & temporall &, Commons there assembled considered in their wisdome 
that it was moete expedient to your sov'ain Lorde to have to your Lienten* there a Lorde 
of the birth of this your noble Realme, whom yo' people shew woll more favour & obey 
than to any man of that Londes birth. For men of this Realme kepe better Justice, 
execute your Laws, & favour more your common people & ever have done before thys 
tyme better than ever dyd any man of that Londe or ever is like to do. And please it 
your Highnesse to consider howe that it behoveth that he that shoulde be yourLieutn*'* 
there be a might! courageous & laborous man to kepe the felde & and to make resis- 
tenoe against yo' Enemyes in comforte & supportac'on of your true Lege people there, 
and none of thes ben seyn ne founde in y« sd Erie for both hee is aged unwieldy & un- 
Insty [ . . . ] hath for lak of labour loste in substance all his casteUes towns & Lorde- 
shippes that he had within your said Londe, wherefore it is not likely that he shoulde 
conquer ne get eny grounds to your sov'ain Lord that thus hath lost his own. [ . . . 

] Moreover plese it you to wete that at dyvers 

Parlements when that the said Erie hath the rule there he hath ordeyned & made Irissh 
men & gromes &, pages of his householde Knyghtes of the Shyre, the which wolde not 
in no wyse assent to no goode rule nor to no thing that shulde profite & avaylle to your 
sovran Lorde, and also hath suffered dyvers Lordes sp'ual & temporal to absent them 
from Parlements hereafore, takyng of them greate fynes to his singular avaylle there, as 
the profitt shoulde be youre." 

This document has been alluded to by Leland in his " History of 
Ireland,** voL ii. p. 27, but, as Mr. Ferguson believes, never published 
in full. 

Albert Way, Esq., forwarded a transcript of a very curious letter 
of the thirteenth century, from the archives of Canterbury Cathedral, 
being an epistle from David, bishop of Emly, to the prior of Christ's 
Church, Canterbury, in favour of David, treasurer of Emly, who had been 
entrusted with the suit of the said prior, against the prior of St. John's, 
Kilkenny, in the matter of the parishes of SS. Evin and Mary, of New 
Boss, then the property of the Canterbury monastic house. The bishop 
concludes by expressing his intention of visiting the shrine of St. Thomas, 
the martyr, ere he returned to Ireland. David O'Tussigh, abbot of Holy 
Cross, was elected bishop of Emly in 1276, and died in 1281. The letter 
is preserved in the treasury at Canterbury {CartcB AnUqucB I. 240), and 
is as follows, the contracted words being here given in extenso : — 

^ 5ic^the word *' man" or " lord'* probably omitted. 



390 

Fnter D. miaeradone divint Imelicensii episeopu Tenenbili tixo* le 'religioio 
Fratri Iblank^ Priori Ecdesie Chritti Cantnar' ulntem in salatia aactore. Noveiil 
discretio Testra qaod no^ execudonem sententie late quondam per Thesuunrinm 
Lyssmore nobis per Romanam Poptificem oomissam pro domo vestra contra Priorem 
et fratres ddmus sancti Johannis de Kylken' in solidum comissimus mag;iitro Darid 
Thessanrario Ecdesie nostre, quern vestri gratia curialiter in domo Testra nna com 
sodo suo admissistis, qui plenarie dictam execudonem, mittendo veatros procnratores 
in possessionem Ecdesiarum vestrarum Sancti Ewyni et Sancte Marie de nova Boss com 
pertinentiis, est executas, dictos priorem et fratres Kylken* propter eomm rebellionem, 
contradictioDem, inobedienciam mandato Apostolico nobis super dictam execudonem 
directo, cum suis fautoribus Tinculo excommunieadonis innodando, super quibos mis- 
sione et execucione pretextu dicte execucionis factis multa dampna in rebus suis dietus 
noster dericus a regalibus ad petidonem dictorum prioris et oonventus de Kylkea' 
passus est, quare oportuit nos per mandatum Justic' Hibemie de exitibus preben^ 
sue per triennium eidem respondere, de cujus prebende sue exitibus per dictum tenni- 
num nullum denarium nobis ad hue percepit Quare tos rogamns, quatenus si placet 
ad honestatem curialitatis vestre obserrandam et ob salutem anime vestre, dum nemini 
beneficium necnon et offidum debet ease juxta Juris formam dampnoanm, eundem ma- 
gistrum commissarium nostrum super suis deperditia et dampnis, maxima cum moram 
trahit in scol', respicere Telitis, Tobis dgnificantes, quod si aliquid auper est ad agenduffl 
in dicta execudone, quod ipse juxta Juris formam Toluntatem Tcatram adimplebit, et 
antequam ad partes Hibemie acceaserimus Tumbam beati Thome Martiris ;per dd 
gratiam Tisitare intendimus.^ Valeta. 

Mr. Prim read a paper on the Market Cross of Kilkenny, which will 
be found printed at p. 219> ante, 

Mr. Hitchcock communicated Notes made in the ArchiBological 
Court of the Great Exhibition of 1853, which are given at p. 280, ante. 

I The last sentence, regarding a proposed though perhapa by the aame hand as the 
▼isit by bishop David to the shrine of St. rest of the letter, it seems to ha?e beea 
Thomas, is in paler coloured ink, and al- a postscript. 



INDEX. 



Abbeydornej Church, cnrioni inscriptioii 
at, 131. 

Abbey landi, sale of^ 104. Sappreauon of» 
188. 

Abduction dubs, rappreuion of, 211. 

Abell,280. 

Abytsiniaii Bible, 314. 

Achillea, monuments of, 273. 

Achonry, diocese of, 346, «• 

Acres, townland of, 206. 

Adams, 156, 169, 172, 173, 175. 

Adare, 88. Franciscan friai7 at, 271. 

Adonis, his death, 307. 

Aedh Damhain, 340, n. 

Aedh Fionn, his race, 342, 343. 

Aengus OUmucka, 307. 

African ring-money, 285 

Afry, 223. 

Agenor, the daughter of, 319. 

Aghaboe, 358. Abbot of, his death, 56. 

Aghadoe, 243, 245, «., 246, 247, «., 248, 
253, 292. Etymology of, 247. Round 
Tower of, 243, 244. 

Aghayiller, 131, 352. Round Tower of, 
242, 245, 245, «. 

Aghina, parish of, 231. 

Aglishdoghan, 54. 

Ahascra, 341, n, 

Aighne, 32, 35. 

Aileach, king of, 338, 339. 

Ailflnn, 340, 340, »., 341. 

Aine, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. A being of 
great note, 32. Chair of, 35. Her in- 
fluence on certain days, 35. 

Akerman, 160,233. 

Alba, 274. 

Albekirk, duke of, 151. 

Allen, 106, 109, 150. Bog of, silyer cans 
discovered in, 289. 

Alnwick castle, 302. 

Altar-tombs, 90. 

Amazons, 305. 

America, discovery of, 148. 

Ana, emblems of, where found, 54 Wor- 
ship of, 55, 60. 

Anak, gigantic children 6f, 231. 

Anee, 36, 37. 

Anecdote of an earl of Barrymore, 87. 

Ancient Irish bells, 47. BoaU, 71, 74. 



Burying-grounds, 93. Crosses, 292, 301. 
Feudal customs, 388. Graves, 213. In- 
scriptions, 129, 366. Mode of cook- 
ing animal food, 191. Mode of inter- 
ment, 44. Mode of mounting a horse. 
344,345. Plate and furniture, 75. Pas- 
times, 321, 332. Seals, 201, 376. Silver 
buttons, 190. Tapestry of Kilkenny 
Castle, 3. 

Anderson, 87, 221. 

Angereth, 85. 

Anglo-Normans, 85, 346, «• 

Anketell, 281, 282, 288. 

Anna, 36, 37. 

Annagasson, river of, 33. 

Annagh, 239,240, 241, 241,ii.,356. Lough, 
74. 

Anngrove, 87. 

Antient Irish pavement tiles, 290. 

Antilochus, 273. 

Antique combs, 123. 

Antiquities, exhibition of, 282. 

Antrim, 285. 

Aoibheal, 34. 

Aonbhean, 305, 306. 

Aongus, 306. Tuirseach, 318. 

Arabia, 318. 

Ard Cama, 340, 340, «., 341. 

Ardcame, 340, n, 

Archdall quoted, 58, 60, 88, 94, 135, »., 
229, 243, 248, 250, 268, 268, «., 269, «., 
270, »., 271, 272, n. 

Archdeacon, 224, 224, «. 

Archer, 324. 

Architecture, Early English, 89, 90. 

Ardagh, archdeacon of, 286. 

Ardart, 250. 

Ardee, crouched friars at, 271. 

Ardfert, 131, 132, 133, 210, 248, 252, 
252, M., 253. Ancient inscription at, 128. 
Meaning of the term, 250. Round tower 
at, 250, 251, 252, 252, «. 

ArdhoUl, 270. 

Ardmore, 283, «. Round tower of, 236, 
2 15, 249, 283. 

ArdoBoyll, 269. 

Arginny river, 190. 

Armagh, 273,274,354. Fewsof,39. Pri- 
mate's registry at, 215. 

Armorial bearings of the Tribes of Israel, 
378, 379, 380. 



392 



Amu manofiictiired by the andent Iriih, 

285. 
Annstrong, 157. 
Arnold, 58. 
Amn, 345, n. Great storm at, 73. Islandi 

of, 73. 
Arun river, 74. 
Aihbumbam, lord, 343, «• 
Aftsaroe, 346, n, 
AssyUn, 340, n., 341, 344, «. 
Atbdare, 270. 
Athlone, 312, 339, «. Constable of, 338, 

339. 
Attymas, 344, «. 
Angfa na doch-mnDen, 274. 
Angfarim, battle of, 335, 386. 
Auldbar, 200. 
Anstralia, 121. 
Awbeg, 83, 272. 
Aylward, 363. 
Azores, 137» «• 



B. 



Baal-bec, 136. 

Bad, fort of, 119. Worship of, 55. 

Bdnes quoted, 264, n. 

Baker, 197, 196, 292, 293. 

Bde, 222, 223, n., 327. 

Bdl, 172, n., 294. 

Ballaghtobin, 197. 292. 

Ballentlee, 193 

BdlinooUig, 286. 

Bdlinakill, 168, 223, 364. 

Bdlinloagh, 285, 342, «. 

Bdlintaggart, 284. 

Bdlintobber, 340, n. 342, n. 

Ballon, 283, 302, 303. Pagan oemetery 

discoTered at, 295, 296. 
Bdlyadams, 193, 194. 
Bdlybeg, 86, 88, 94, 95, 265, 268, 269, 

270, 271. 
Bdlyboodan, Ogham monument at, 245, ». 
Ballybrennan, 104, «• 
BallycasteU, 270. 
Ballydoghie, 270. 
Bdlydougb, 87, 270. 
Bdlyootton, 308. 
Ballycroneen, 313. 
Ballydehob, 284, «. 
Ballydoole, 190. 
Ballydoffe, 50. 

Bdlyduin, its andent namey 136, tu 
Bdlyferriter-hill, 137. 
Bally Fin, 309. 
Bdlyfoile, 169. 

Ballyhowra mountdns, 83, 89, 305. 
Bdlykedy, 296, 297, 299, 300. 
Bdlykeran, 270. 
BallykUty, 287, n. 



Bdlyknock, 386. 

Ballyloskye, 378. 

Ballymacegan, 346, «• 

Ballynacshane, 87. 

Ballymacus, andent cemetery at, 230, 232, 

353. 
Ballymoney, bronze instrument found at, 

285. 
Bdlymore Loughseudy, 347, ». 
BaUyne, 187, 196. 
Bdlynemara, 190, 191. 
Bdlyoagbteragh, 129. 
Bdlyquin, 136, «. 
Ballyragget, 223, 287. 
Ballysadare, 51. 

Bdlyshannon, 317, 318, 346, «. 
Ballytimmon, 365. 
Bdlytober, 340, n. 341. 
Banagber, 277, 278, 280, 358. 
Banbury, 257. 
Bandon, 316, 

Bangor, 48. Abbot of, his death, 56. 
Banks, 167. 
Bann ri?er, 282. 
Bannow, 384. 
Bansagh, 31. 
Bantiy, 317. 
Bardic lamentation, 39. 
Barker, 176. 
Boman Coulawn, 49. 49, »., 61, 62. The 

term explained, 62. 
Baman Boin, 62. 

Barnes, Thomas, the king against him, 196. 
Barre, 85. 
Barria Orriria, 87. 
Barrington, quoted, 257, 260, «• 
Barrow, 107, 235. 
Barrow Furlong, excavation of, 123, •., 

124, M. 
Barry, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 91, 92, 94, 268, 

269, 307. 
Barrymore, 86, 87, 96. 
Barryroe, 87. 

Barthol. Claudio, quoted on Irish boats, 74, 
Barton, 286. 
Bath, 110. 
Baslick, 342, n. 
Battle Abbey, roll of, 85. 
Battle of Aughrim, 335, 386. Battle fought 

between the Milesian and Tuatha de 

Danann forces, 213. Of Knockninoss, 

93. Of OUarba, 274. Of Sliabh Bfis, 

214. Of Ventry, 139, n. 
Bayeuz tapestry, 147. 
Bean Sighes, or spirits of inspiration, 39. 
Bearach, 340, n. Coaib of, 340, 341. 
Bear Island, 292. 
Beama-na-d-Tarb, 811. 
Beama-na-Glaise, 315. 
Beaufort quoted, 251, 253. 
Beanfoy cabinet, 172, «. 



393 



Beaumont quoted, 263. 

BetTor, 126, 155, 161, 162, 164, 165. 174. 

Bective abbey, 287. 

Bel, 213. 

Belanagare, 341, n. 

Belfast, 157, 196, 204, 280, fi«, 285. 

Bel-Lathaigh, 339, n. 

Belmont, 131, 133, 214. 

Belus, its meaning, 35. 

BeU, 201, 236, 243, 253. 

Belleek, 282. 

BeU of Killshanny, 61. 

Bell of St. Camin, 59. Of St. Culanns, 

49, 62. Of St. Cummin, 57. Of St. 

Evin, 62. Of St. Molua, 49, 50, 51. 
BeUing, 223. 
Bells, ancient Irish, 47, 199. Described, 

49, 125. Oaths administered on, 51. 

Used for adjuration, 51, 52. 
Bellyngham, lord deputy. 111. 
Benedictine order, 86. 
Benn, the stone of, 238. 
Bennett Vbridge, 119, 202. 
Beo-Aedh, 340, n. Coarb of, 340, 341. 
Bermingham, 51, 388. 
Berwick, 292. 
Betham, 103, 113, 127, 166, 233, 285, 

285, n., 356, 358, 359, 371, 380. 
Bhuaile-na-Greine, 304, 305. 
Big-wood, 97. 
Birmingham, 201. 
Birr castle, 51, 58. 
BUck abbey (Kilkenny), 199. 
Black letter inscriptions, 94. 
Blackrock, 200. 
Blackwater,316, 317. 
Blackett, 187, 196. 
Blackstone quoted, 259, n., 260. 
Blakeman, 147. 
Blasket Islands, 138, 141, n. 
Bleain-a-Goul, 316. 
Blenneryille, 241, 241, n. 
Blood, 287, n. 

Bloomfield, 282, 285, 288, 290. 
Blunden, 333, 
Blundle, 8. 

Blunt, 226, 227, 227, ii.,228, 229, n. 
Boate quoted, 57. 
Boats, how manufactured, 74. Of Uson, 

74. 
Boars, slaughter of, 309. 
Boccaccio quoted, 58, 70, n. 
Bog butter, exhibition of, 189. 
Bohen, 12a 
Boherglass, 315. 
Bohur-na-Bo-Duibhe, 313. 
Bohnr-na-Bo-Finne, 313. 
Bohur-na-Bo-Ruadh, 313, 316, 318. 
Bohureen-an-aiffrinn, 316. 
Bohun, 62. His death, 49, n. 
Boinn, his grave, 238. 



Bold, 153. 

Bolton, 79, 81, 82, 156, 170. 

Bombay, 45. 

Bonfires, 332. 

Bone articles, 123. 

Bonnetstown, 212. 

Book of Enoch quoted, 314. 

Book of the Gospels, 211. 

Bophin's land, 347, n. 

Borlace quoted, 85. 

Botavaunt, 84. 

Bothon, an ancient name for Buttevant, 84. 

Bothonia, 84. 

Bouchier, 270. 

Bourke, 153. 

Bovine Legends, 311, 386. 

Bowen, 193, 194. 

Bowling-greens, 330. 

Boxgrove, 299. 

Boyle, 340, n., 341, n., 343, n., 344, n. 

Boyle river, 340, n. 

Boyne, 284, 306. 

Brabazon, 151. 

Brackstone, 281, 282, 285. 

Bracton quoted, 258. 

Bran (fionn's favourite hound), 98. 

Brand quoted, 257, 258, 263, 321. 

Brandon, 130, 135, n., 136, n., 138, 138, 

n., 251, 306. 
Brash, 83, 202. 
Bray, a cemetery at, 231. 
Breanuinn, coarb of, 340, 341. 
Brefney, 72. 

Bregogne, vicarage of, 85. 
Breifne, 346, 347, 347, n. 
Brenainn, clergy of, 59. 
Brenan, 364. 

Brenanstown, 45. Rock monument at, 41. 
Brenagh, 111, h. 
Brehon, 324. 

Brehons, 286. Laws, where taught, 346, n. 
Bretons, law of, 264. 
Bridget, coarb of, 340, 341. 
Bridgetown, 91. 95. 
Brien Bora, 318. 
Britain, funeral customs in, 232. 
British archaeologists, 233. 
British Museum, ancient boats preserved in, 

73. 
Britons, ancient, their use of boats, 73. 
Brittas, 71. 
Brittany, 46, n. Lower, primitive people 

of, 318, M. 
Britton quoted, 257. 
Broderick, 196. 
Brown, 377. 
Browne, 204. 

Bronze articles, discovery of, 124. 
Bronze bells, 60. Ornament, 54. 
Brooches, 123, n. 
Brngb, a place of interment, 238. 

50 



394 



Bragh na Boinne, great cemetery of, 275. 

Bryant quoted, 318. 

Buailec, the cave of, 238. 

Bachannan, 226, 227, 229, 229, ih 

Buckinghamshire, 166. 

Buckley, 93, 96. 

Buidi, his pillar, 238. 

Buitefane, 84. 

BuU-baiting, 321 , 326. BnlUfightiBg, 322. 

BuU-iing, 322, 323, 324» 325. Bull^ 

ring pastime, 321. 
Bulls, 311. Ponaised of humaii inteUeet, 

312. 
Bnnabola, 138. 
Burkes, 219, «. Burke (the Genealogiit), 

quoted, 68, n., 93, «., 143. 
Bum, 172, n, 

Burrishoole, 344, n., 346, «. 
Butler, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, fk, 

19, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 

48, 77, 92, 93, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 

n., 161, 207, 224, 261, »., 263, 293. 
Buttefania, 94. 
Buttevania, 94. 
ButtcTant, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 

92, 95, 96, 202, 265, 267, 268, 269, 

272, 353. 
Butts Green, Kilkenny, 170. Andcnt pas* 

times at, 213. 
Byrne, 144, 192, 193, 194,211. Anno- 

rial hearings of, 194. 
Bysse, 112. 



0. 



Caesar, his mode of oonveyiog troops across 
rivers, 72. 

Caherconree, 213, 214, 230* Its legen- 
dary lore, 241, n. 

GahercuUaun, 136, n, 

Cahir, 31. 

Cahirachladdig, 231. 

Cahir Crohan, 307. 

Cahirdowgan, 270. 

Cahirduggan, 88. Curacy of, 85. 

Cahir-na-heanmna, 307. 

Cahir Saul, 307» 

Caichtuaithbhil, Latback oi; 338, 339. 

Cailleach Biorair, 82, 37. 

CailUn, ooarh of, 340, 34 L 

Cailte, 274, 275. 

Caislane Caoimhin, 95. 

Caithness, 299. 

Caladh-na*Carraige, 342, 343, 343, «. 

Caledon, 286, 293. An oak spade found 
at, 289. 

Calf, island of the, 305. 

Callan, 176, 187, 219, m., 292, 304. 

Calydonian boar, 310. 

Cambrensis, 85. On swearing on bells, 52. 

Cambridge, 143. 



Camden quoted, 52, 85. 

Camin, 59. 

Campion, 222, n., 364. 

Cane, 192, 197, 206, 285, 356. 

Canterbury, 389. 

Canterilk, 68. Knightly effigy of, 70. 

Cantwell, 271. 

Cantwell arms, 68, 68 «. f amOy, 68, 69. 
Fadhaor"theTall,"67. 

Cara (see Ceara). 

Carberry, 285, 310. 

Cardigan, 269. 

Card-playing, 227. 

Carew quot^ 37. 

Carlow, 200, 201, 283, 295, 296, 365. 

Cam, 63, 273, 288, 342, 343, 843, n.,367. 

Caraham, 273. 

Carndonagh, 287. 

Cam-Fraoigh, 340, n., 345» «. 

Camfree, 343, n, 

Camwath, 201. 

Carpenter, 197. 

Carraig-a-chait (cat'a rock), 106. 

Carranadoo, 342, «. 

Carran Tiema, 317. 

Carrick castle, 6, 7, 8, 9. 

Carrickfergus, 196. 

Carrickganairake, 78, 80. 

Carrick-on-Suir, 187, 270» 376. 

Carrig-a-Bric, 317. 

Carris, 343, n, 

Carroll, 201. 

Carryketwohill, 270. 

Carte quoted, 5. 

Carthach, 48. 

Carthage, 37. 

Carthagenians, 36, 232. 

Carrathers, 281, 285, 286. 

Carre, 26, 26, n., 27, 28, 29, 30, 3L 

Cashel, 95, 157. Archbishop ofy 314 
Bishop of, his death, 62. Bro«e eslti 
found at, 203. Disoovery of eilgiN st, 
64. King and buhop of, 49. Book e<; 4» 

Casey, 136, 136, »., 213, 214, 21^ 29^ 
233, 239, II., 282, 316. 

Castlebechin, 270. 

Castlebeghan, 270. 

Castlebellingham, 388. 

CasUecarbeny, 111, 113, 114. 

Castlecomer, 197. 

Castlefreke, 87. 

Castle Gregory, 138. 

Castle Hyde, 317. 

Castleishen, 92. 

Castlelehane, 86. 

Castle Lyons, 86, 87. 

Castlemaine, 135, 136, n, 

Castlemain bay, 213. 

Castlemartyr, 276, 308. Csnrem si, 335. 

Castlepooky, 93. 

Castlerea, 342, tt. 



395 



Castletownddvin, 285. 

CaBtletown, 111. Andest fictile Tend 

preserved at, 187. 
Cttelyn, S63. 
Caihach, 305. 

Cathaigh-inis, deiiratioii of the wofd, 60. 
Cathair Loimiiigh, 347, » 
Catullus, 37. 

Cavan, 315, 343, n. Silver pin found at, 293. 
Ceadach Mor, legend concerning, 101. 
Ceananas, 344, 845, 345, n. 
Ceara, 346, 346, m., 347. 
Celts, spedmens of, 44. 
Celtic barrows, 233. Derivatrfes, 257. 

Race, 211. Umi, 802. 
Chalmers, 200. 
Chapman, 175. 
Charleville, 157, 272. 
Charm-mongers, 38. 
Charms, 236. 

Chateaubriand quoted, 22, n. 
Chatterton, 136, n. 137, 243. 
Chaucer, 149, n. 
Chephren, pyramid of, 234. 
Childerie, tomb of, 293. 
Chinese seals, 288, 288, n^ 366, 377. 
Christ Church, Dublin, 64. 
Christian, 79. 

Christmas pastimes in Killcennj, 327, 328. 
Chudldgh, I72,n. 
Cicero quoted, 36. 
Cined Connail], 338, 339. 
Cined Eoghain, 338, 339. 
Cind-Aedha-na-h-Bchtghe, 342, n. 
Cind-Ddbhtha, 342, n. 
Ciir and Cuindl, thdr hillocks, 238. 
Cists, 298. Desdibedt 275. 
Clanoonway, 342, «. 
Clanmdure, 194. 
Clanncathail, 342. «. 
Clann Chuain, 346, 346, n., 347. 
Clann Dail-re-deacair, 344, 345. 
Clann-Tomaltdgh, 342, n. 
Clare, 60, 61, 64, 73, 199, 209, 253, 261, 

fi., 287, »., 304, 306, 307. 
Clarendon, 165, 220. 
Clashacrow, 190. 
Clibbom, 281. 
Clifford castle, 143. 
Clitheroe, 157, 158. 
Clinstown, 203. 
Clochor, the orade of, 32. 
Clocnova, 31. 
Clodh-na-d^Tarv, 311. 
Cloghane, 59, 130. 
Cloghan-na*marbhan, 297. 
Cloghmanty, eiplontion of a cam at, 232, 

235. 
Cloghscreg, 68. 
Clogoira, its meaning, 61. 
Cloich-theachs, 271. 



Clonard,277. Abbot of, hit death, 56. 

aonaslea, 71, 72, 74, 206. 

Clonca, parish of, 290. 

Clondallcin, tower of, 248, 246, 249. 

Clonebough, 24. 

Cloneeouse, 49, 50, 51. 

Clonfert, 56, 58, 59, 279. Meaning of the 

term, 55. See of, 341, «. 
Clonfert-Brendan, 55, 59. 
Clonfert.Molua, 47, 48, 52. Abbot of, 57. 

Origind use of, 55. Signification of, 56. 
Clonglish, 92. 
Clonmacnoise, 56, 56, n., 277, 279, 280, 

287. Bound tower of, 245. 
Clonmd, 6, 8, 376. 
Clonmines, 384, 385. 
Clonmore, 24, 25. 
Clontuskert, 340, n. 
Cloonoorby, 340, n., 841, n. 
Cloyne, diocese of, 85. Tower of, 236. 
Cluain Coirbhthe, 340, 340,fi., 341. 
Clnain Creamha, 340, 341, 341, n, 
Cluain Fearta, bishop of, 279. 
Cluan-Kyle, 364. 

Cluain Tuaisdrt, 340, 340, n., 841. 
Clyn, the annalist, 220, 220, n. 
Clyntons, 388. 
Cnock-an-Chulldg, 307. 
Cnock-an-na-Mbhdnbh, 308. 
Cobler, story of, 7. 
Cobblers, laws pertdning to, 254, n. 
Coche, 48. 
Cocks, a barbarism of the Irish name 

Coilgin, 340, n. 
Cockcrowing, fairies expelled by, 367. 
Cock.feeders, 326, n. 
Cock-fighting, high antiquity of, 325. 
Cock-pits, 326. Where erected, 325. 
Cody, 97, 101, n., 102,n., 187, 192, 202, 206. 
CoemgeUa, 61. 
Coillmhor, 97. 
Coill-mor, covert of, 100. 
Coill-Ua-bh-Fhiachrach, 342, n. 
Coke quoted, 257, 258, 260. 
Coldough, 326. 
Coleridge quoted, 31. 
Colgan quoted, 48, 56, 62, 341, n. 
Colman, coaib of, 340, 341. 
CoUes, 197. 
Colley, 103,11., 104, »., lll,fi., 113. Origin 

of the name, 103. 
CoUeys, 114. 

Comerfbrd, 168, 228, 229. 
Comgall, 48. 
Comyn, 307, 310. 
Conaire, his burid-place, 238. 
Conall-Keamach, 34. 
Conan Cinn Sleibhe. 32. 
Conan, the slayer of hundreds, 101, «. 
Conchubhar MacNessa, 32. 
Cong, cross of, 284, «. 



396 



Confederate Catholics, supreme coiincil of, 
112,223. Army of, 85. 

Conillo, 52. 

Conn of the Hundred Battles, his cam, 
238. 

Connaught, 56, 59, 166, 167, 311, 312, 
315, 319, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 
340, n., 341, 341, n., 342, 342., n., 343, 
346, 346, n., 347, 355. 

Connell, 103. 

Connery, 272. 

ConnelUn, 279, 370. 

Connemara, 346, n. 

Conmaicne, 346, 347. Conmaicne Cuile 
Toladh,346,fi. 

Connor Hill, 141, ». Lake of, its preci- 
pices, 138. 

Consey, 328. 

Conway, a goldfinder, 367. 

Cooke, 47, 53, n., 71, 73, 198, 199, 206, 
236, 239, n., 240, n., 277, 281, 285, 288, 
289. 290, 293, 358, 359, 360, 380, 381, 
382. 

Cooking places discovered, 121. 

Cooksey, 162. 

Cookson, 163. 

Coolavin, 343, n. 

Coolcamey, 344, a. 

Cooley, 103, lll,ii. 

Coolraine mills, 50, 51. 

Cooper, 82. 

Coote, 50. 

Copper coins, 126, 127. 

Corbeg, 63. 

Corbet, 201. 

Corcabaisgin, territory of, 60, 61. 

Corcamroe, 342, n. 

Corcoiche, 48. 

Cork, 5, 83, 84, 85. 86, 87, 88, 90, 93, 94, 
95, 132, 138, 141, n., 157, 158, 201, 
230, 231, 235, 237, 247, n., 250, 265, 
208, 269, 270, 271, 274, 276, 283, 287. 
287, n., 292, 310, 316, 335, 356. Dio. 
ceseof, 87. Earl of, his iron works, 57. 
First earl of, 86. Lord bishop of, 86. 
National exhibition of, 67. 

Corkaguiny, 133, 135, n., 136, n., 137, 138, 
141, n., 142, fi., 214. Antiquities at, 
enumerated, 136. 

Cormac Mac Art, 303, 319, 345, n. 

Cormac Mac Cnllenan, 49, 49, x. His 
chapel, 49. His Glossary quoted, 37. 

Corporal punishment,- ancient mode of in- 
flicting, 369. 

Corren Thierna, 273. 

Corrigan, 187. 

Costello (see Goisdealbhacba). 

Cotter, 316. 

Cotterel. 95. 

Cottington, 153, 154, n. 

Cotton, 201. 



Couly, 105. 

Court-barons, 259, «. 

Court-leets, 259. 

Courtney, 153. 

Courtstown, baron of, 161. 

Cove, island of, 305, 307. 

Coventry, 174, «. 

Cowen, 204. 

Cowle, 103. 

Cowlie, 112. 

Cowley, 102, 103, 104, 104, «., 105, 106, 

106, n., 107, 108, 109, 109, n., 110, 111, 

112, 113, 114, 15L 
Cowleystown, 111. 
Cox quoted, 95, 340, ii. 
Cndley, 268. 
Craig-na-Seanean, 305. 
Cranfield, 82. 
Craobh Ghreallain, 341, n. 
Crawley, 203. 
Creeve, 340, 341, 341, n. 
Creasy, 145. 

Croagh Patrick, 130,345, n. 
Crobally, 307, 308. 
Croghan, the graves of, 238. 
Crohan, 303, 306. 
Croker, 77,n., 128, 172, 219, »., 236, 271, 

276,356. Croker's Cross, 219, 219, n^ 

220, 223, n., 225, 226. 
Crom Cruach, 35. 
Crom Dubh, 35, 130. 
Cromleac, 40, 46, n., 55, 63, 136, 137. 

Application of the term, 40, n. 
Cromwell, 92, 106, 106, »., 107, 112,151, 

156, 161, 162, 168, 225, 290, 331. 
Cromwell (author of " Excursions through 

Ireland") quoted, 46, n. 
Crom wellian adventurers, 328. Army, 164. 

Attack upon Kilkenny described, 224, 

Soldiery, remarkable for their impiety, 

224. Troopers, 51, 193. 
Cronelly, 341, n. 
Crookhaven, 355. 
Crusbie, 132, 252. 
Cross of Banagher, 277. Of Cong, 284, n. 

Of Killamery, 292. Of Kilkeeran, 292, 

Of Kilklispeen, 292. 
Crosses-green, 86. 
Cross-legged effigies, 63, 64, 70, 198, 202, 

208. 
Croziers, 328, n. 
Cruachan, 238. Pagan cemetery of, 354. 

Palace of, 98. 
Cruach Phadruig, 344, 345, 345, n. 
Crustmalyny, 270. 
Crystal balls, discovery of, 293. 
Cuailgne, ancient boundaries of, 33. Ter- 
ritory of, 312. 
Cuchulainn, 33. By whom instructed ia 

feats of arms, 34. 
Cuckstools, 257. 



397 



Cncking-BtooU, 258, 263, n. 

Cttffe, 113, 196, 197. 

Cnffiiborough, 358. 

Cuil, meaning of the word, 52. 

Cuil Cearnamha, 344, 344, n., 345. 

Cnil Cnamha, 344, 344, n., 345. 

Cuillean, 32, 33, 34. 

CuilleanCeuil,33. His hound, 33. His my- 
thic watch-dog, 33. 

Cuillionn Gxinn, 101. 

Cuimin-fada, 57, 58, 59. Paschal epistle 
of, 47. The white, his birth, 58. The 
tall, 57. Several saints of the name, 
57. 

Cnirrech Ceinn Eitigh, 344, 345, 345, n. 

Coldees, 56. 

CullahUl, 204. 

Cullin, 95. 

Cumania, 60. 

Cumberland, 139, 139, n., 143, 143, n. 

Cummer-na-Bo, 316. 

Cunnemara, 138. 

Currach-na-Druimiqne, 317. 

Curraghmore, 299. 

Curraleigh, 378. Rath of, 366. Deri- 
Tationof the term, 367. 

Cnrrane, 253. 

Curteys, and his wife Margery, 262. 

Cnsake, 106,108. 

Cnsaks, 388. 



D. 



Dabran, 305, 306. 

Dachonna, ooarb of, 340, 340, n., 341, 344, 

344, n., 345. 
Dagda, his bed, 238. 
Daikey, 107, 153. 
Daltheen, 303, 306. 
D'Alton, 49, n., 153, n., 366, 378. 
Daly, 200. 
Damagh, 187^ 

Dancing, an ancient custom, 54. 
Daingean-Ui-Chuis, 134, 134, n. 
Bane, a plundering, 356. 
Danes, where and how they made their 

beer, 288. 
Danesfort, 268, «. 
Danish coin, 201. Pipes, 290. 
Daniell, 136, n. 

D'Anvers quoted, 256, n., 259, n., 260, «. 
David, Viscount Buttevant, his wardship, 

96. 
Davis, 155, 166, 167. 
Davys, 144, 166, 167, n. 
Dawson, 158. 

Dead church lands, what, 346, ii. 
Dean Swift's hair, where preserved, 289. 
Deane, 87. 
Dearden, 284. 



De Burgo, 14. 15, 24. 

De Courcy, 336, 337, 376. 

De Lacy, 338, 339, 340, 341. 

Deathbed donations, 57. 

Dee, a writer, 134. 

Deel, river, 316. 

Deer, remains of, 120. 

Decius, story of, 4, 6. History of, 8. Self- 
devoted, 5, n. 

Delahide, 105. 

Delone, 157. 

Demidoff, 275. 

Denmark, 303. Antiquities of, 191. 

Dennie, 143. 

Denny, 90. 

Derrick, 154. 

Derry, 235. 

Derrynahinch, 356. 

Desaria, 151. 

Desart family, 196. 

Desart land, 57. 

Desmond, 5, 6, 7, 86, 92, 95, 107, 108, 134, 
137, n., 140, 291, 292, 338, 339, 361, 
374, 381. 

Desminier, 157. 

Devereuz, 10, 14, 26, 30. 

Devonshire, 172, n. 

Diana, 38. Her singular functions, 37. 
Human sacrifices offered to, 36. 

Diarmuid, and Grainne's rock, 306. His 
death, 307. 

Dietius, the story of, 6. 

Digan, 128, 131. 

Dina, 59. 

Dingenacush, 134, n., 140. 

Dingle, 53, n., 129, 133, 134, 134, ft., 135, 
136, n., 137, 138, 139, 140, n., 141, n., 
143, 192, 231, 284, 386. Character of 
its inhabitants, 142. How it stood in 
the sixteenth century, 133. Trades- 
men's tokens of, 142, n. 

Dingle-i-couch, 134, 134, n., 135. 

Dinnsencbus quoted, 237. 

Dingwall, 5. 

Disertj 57, 340, n. Cuimin, 57. 

Discovery of gold, 287, n. 

Dixon, 363. 

Dockrey, 345, n. 

Dodsley quoted, 327. 

Dod, 92. 

Dodridge quoted, 261. 

Dogs, peculiar to Ireland, 344, n. 

Dolla, parish of, 366. 

Domesday Book quoted, 257. 

Dominicans, a house for, founded, 86. 

Donamagan, 111, n. 

Donegal, 144, 287, 290, 317, 347, n. 

Donegans, 93. 

Doneraile, 87, 93, 335. 

Donn Cuailgne, 31 1, 312. 

Donnington, mansion-house of, 7. 



398 



DonoQghmore, 316. 

Doolans, 172. 

Doole, 170. 

Doo-Loagh, 305. 

Booly, 170. 

Borietshire, 146. 

Domiagh Crom pubb, 130. 

Douglas, 801. 

BoTer Castle, 269. 

Down, 56, 130, 273, 285, 376. 

Downeraghill, 270. 

Downpatrick, 285, 376. 

Dowslej, 8, 9. 

Dowth, mound of, 275. 

Doyne, 200. 

Dragons, 305, 306. 

Drimineen Castle, 316, 317. 

Dripsey river, 316. 

Drogheda, 103, 104, HI, 111, n., 134, 
150. 

Dromahaire. 88, 89. 

Dronwrd, 344, fi. 

Drom-WHl-Tarv, 311. 

Dromore, 285. 

Druids, 99, 286, 354. Attars of, 40, 45. 
Funeral rites of, 214. 

Drumdaff, 342, ». 

DrumtNioy, rath at, 235. 

Drusmallyny, 370. 

Dryden, 123, »., I24t »., 258. 

Duach Gallach, 340, 341, 341, ». 

Dublin, 31, 40, 41, 43, 43, 45, 46. 64, 67, 
94, 104, 107, 108, 109, III, a^ 112, 
115, 141, n., 142, n., 151, 153, 156, 157, 
166, 167, »., 176, 187, 188, 197, 800, 
301, 223, 337, 241, »., 345, »., 381, 
384, 386, 390, 391, 393, n., 894, 299, 
333, fi., 338, 339, 355, 363, 380, 387, 
888. Exhibition, notM made in the ar- 
chssologioal court of, 280. Geological 
society of, 138, n. 

Ducange quoted, 257. 
^ Ducking stool, 263, 264. 
* Duffy, signification of the term, 379b 

Dugdale quoted, 355, n., 259, 259, n., 
328. 

Duigan, 49, 50. 

DuUn, 171, 172. 

Duleek, abbot of, his death, 56. 

Danaine, 36. 

Dunamon, 342, n. 

Dnnany, 33, 35. 

Dunbel rath, 123, n., 127, 202, 303. An- 
cient occupants of, 131. Exctvition of, 
119. 

Dunblane Cathedral, case of a bishop 
buried there, 334. 

Dunbrody Abbey, 385. 

Dunboyne, 31. 

Duncannon, 298. 

Dun cow, book of the, 319. 



Dnndalk, 293. 

Dundas, 216. 

Dundaneer, 87. 

Dundoighre, 346, «• 

Dundon, 340, 341. 

Dun Farbagh, 305. 

Dun Fin, 310. 

DnngannoB, 44, 235, 286. Bock ehamber 

at, 45. 
Dungarvan, 157, 283. 
Duniry (see Dundoighre). 
Dunkenan, 49. 
Dunkenon Castle, 128. 
Dnnlery, 386. 
DwinMire, 6, 71, 72, 73, S46v «., 366^ 

378. 
Du Noyer, 64. 
Dunrigh, 303. 
Dunshaughlin, 135, 387. 
Dunton, 830, 331, n. 
Dunurlin, parish of, 129l 
Durham, 259, ». 
Durrow, 58, 168, 332, fi. 
Dursey island, 317. 
Dutch pillories, how eonsteneted, 358. 
Dyke, 268. 

Dysait, 194. Pariah of, 343, «. 
Dysartgallen, 364. 



£. 



Eamhain, 33. 

Eas Aodh Ruaidh, 318. 

Eas-mic-n-Eirc, 340, 340, «., 341. 

Eaaruaidh, 346, 346, n., 347. 

East Breifhe, 343, «. 

Easter, celebration d, 58. 

Eas-Ui-Phloinn, 340, n. 

Edenderry, 113, 284. 

Egan, 49, 50, 51. 

Egypt, 309. 

Egyptians, curious customs of, 36. Mods 

of swearing, 52. 
Eithir, the draid, 214. 
Elizabeth (queen), 195, 201.) 
BUacombe, 388. 
ElUce, 50. 

Elphin, 340, m., 341, »., 848, a. 
Ely. 74. 

Ely House, 110. 
Ely O'CarroU, 48, 144. 
Emly, bishop of, 389. 
Enoch the prophet, traditions of, 314. 
Ennis, 287, n., 305. 
Eochaid Airgtbeaoh, danghter of, 338, 339. 

HU epitaph, 275. Fuairceaa, 74. Skifl 

of, 74. UairoeM, 75« The mwmdh 

232. 
Eoghan Sriabh, 341,». 
Epsley, 154. 



339 



Src, 340, n, 

Erctn, 61. 

Brgind, 61. 

Erne river, 347, n, 

Errit, 344, n. 

Erskine quoted, 261, ». 

Erymtnthean boar, 305. 

Etroria, sepulchres of, 234. 

Etruscan tombs, 214, 233. 

Eustas, 111, n. 

ETans, 292. Ambrose, 196. 

ETerardSy 388. 

Ejre, 79. 



F. 



Faber, 318, 386. 

Fabyan quoted, 261, n. 

Fagan, 212, 213. 

Fi£ee, townland of, 97. 

Fail, pleasant districts of, 39» 

Faiiewether, 82. 

Fairy Doctors, 367. Baths, 290. Mill- 
stones, 122, 126. 

Faithleann, 340, ». Coarb of, 340, 341. 

Farbagh, 305. 

Fathach-na-Laoch, 310. 

Fawcett, 80. 

Feargna (son of Aodh Fiona), 342, 343. 

Felim, land of, 335. 

Females, Kilkenny mode of pmitlring, 
228. 

Fenagb, 296, 340, 341, 341, n., 365. 

Fenian chase described^, 99. Battle de- 
scribed, 274. Legends, 100, 317. Me- 
trical romances, 98. 

Fenii, 231. 

Fenton, 152. 

Feorus Fionn, 370, 381. 

Fergus (son of Aodh Fionn), 342, 343. 
Bace of, 346, n. 

Ferguson, 104, n., 188, 153, »., 197, 215, 
216, 387, 388, 389. 

Ferrar quoted, 158. 

Ferriter's creek, 134. 

Fermanagh, 347, m 

Fermoy, 317. 

Fert, meaning of the word, 237. 

Fert-conaire, 238. 

Fertagh round tower, 245. 

Fews of Armagh, 39. 

Fiacha, the fnUcht of, its meaning, 23i8. 

Fiachna,58. 

Fianna Eirionn, 99. 

Finabhartagh, 308. 

Findan, 56, n. 

FbiD, coarb of, 346, 341. 

Finn's Leinster Journal, quoted, 326, n., 
326, n^ 332, n. 

Finn, 275. 



Fionn Banagh, 311. 

Fionn Leithe, river, 312. 

Fionn Mac Cumbaill, 99, 274. 

Fir Volgan druids, 304, 309, 306. 

Fishamble-street, Dublin, 124. 

Fishermen, laws pertaining to, 294, ft. 

Fitzadelm, 337. 

Fitzgerald, 5, 92, 93, 134, 135, 136, m., 

192, 193, 194, 195, 200, 201, 291,292, 

293, 308. 
Fitz-Bohen, his epitaph, 132. 
Fitz-Hugh, 146. 
Fitz-James, 86. 
Fitz-John, 168. 
Fitamaorice, 131. 

Fitzmorice tamed for his insoknca, 86. 
Htzpatrick, 50, 364. 
Ktz-Ponce, 143. 
Fitz-Bichard, 94, 168. 
Fitz-Stepben,85, 86, 322. 
Flanders, artisans froai, 5. 
Fleming quoted, 48. 
Fletcher quoted, 263. 
Flood, 157^ 346, n. 
Fogarty, 101, n., 102, n. 
Folk-lore, 32, 97, 303. 
FoMttaUfrs, laws peftaiBing tio, 354, n., 

264,11. 
Fornication, summary panisfameHt fbr, 

257, n. 
Forster, 325. 
Forsyth quoted, 260» «. 
Fossy mountain, 207. 
Fothadh Airgthech, king of iKtaifd, his 

death, 274. 
Foulksrath, 169, 189. 
Four Masters quoted, 51, 58, 59, 84, 97. 
Fowler, 201. 

Foxby, his trial, 261, n., 262. 
France, 293. 
Franciscan houses in Ireland, 88. Mi- 

norites, endowment of a house for, 86. 
Frazer, 289. 
Freebooters, 50. 
Frenigh, 386. 

Freshford, ancient chuieh of, 124. 
Friars minors, 86. 
Fulla famUy, their origin, 308. 



6. 



Gaileanga, 343, », 346, 346, n^ 347. 

Gallauns, 241. 

Gallen, 63. Baiovy of, 344, n. 

Galway. 55, 59, 88, 197, 270, 342, 

»., 345, n., 346, ft. Andent map of, 

292. 
Gambling, first notice of in Kilkenny, 

329. 
Gardin, 339. 



400 



Garfinnj, 130. 

Garlach Coilleanach, 314, 315. 

Gairet, the Earl, 364. 

GanyrickeD, 366, 378. 

Garters, their antiquity, 70, it, 

Garvey, 323. 

Garway, 268, 272. 

Gathbolg, its ose, 34. 

Gauls, their mode of interment, 232. 

Gaulskill, 97. 

Gearoid Jarla, 364. 

Gell quoted, 235. 

Gentleman, 129. 

Geraghty, 342, n., 343. 

Geraldine, 14, 15, 108. 

Geraldines, 105, 107. Their arrival in 
Ireland, 308. 

Geraldyne, 109. 

German, 82. 

Gemonstown, 388. 

Getty, 196, 285, 288. 288, n , 315, 364. 

Gialan, coarb of, 340, 341 . 

Giants' graves described, 101. 

Gibbins, 290. 

Gflbert, 194, 223. 

Gill, 153. 

Gimlette, 196,200. 

Giraldus Cambrensis, 147, 147, n.. Chro- 
nology of, 214. 

Glamoiiganshire, 85. 

Glandor, earls of, 250. 

Glenmalur, 192. 

Glantane, 317. 

Glanville, quoted, 255, n, 

Ghu Gaidhnach, 315, 316. 

Glas Gowlawn, 315. 

Glas Neasa, 33. 

Gleanings from Country Churchyards, 1 27, 
239. % 

Gleann Pais, 213, 214. 

Gleann Righe, 33. 

Gleann Scoheen, 213, 214. 

Glenaish, 230,233, 240, n. 

Glen Aish, 213,214. 

Glen-druid, valley of, 41. 

Glen Gavlin, its traditions, 315. 

Glen O'Leihe, 307. 

Glen Turc Fin, 309. 

Glen Turkin, 309. 

GlencuUen, rock monument at, 43. 

Glenkeen, 49, 62. 

Glenville, 335. 

Glen-na-Bo, 317. 

Glounaglough, 377* 

Goisdeaibba, 346, 347. 

Goisdealbhacha (Costello), 346, n. 

Golden Calves worshipped by Uie ancient 
Irish, 319. 

Gold^eekers, 246, 272, 364. 

Godyn, 166. 

Goodin, 155, 166. 

Goodwin, 166, 175. 

Goose, 81, 82. 



Gorm Liathain, 307- 

Gort, 342, n. 

Gort-Innse-Guaire, 342, ii« 

Gosnell, 153. 

Gothic architecture, 75. 

Gough quoted, 250. 

Gould, 157. 

Gowna, lake, 317. 

Gowran, 67, 68, 176, 332, n. 

Grace, 190. 

Grady, 54. 

Graigue abbey, flooring tiles of, 196. 

Graigue-na-managh, abbey of, 64. 

Grange, 31. 

Graves, 3, 24, n. 63, 113, 119, 142, n. 

166, 190, 192, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 

202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 209, 21 1, 212, 

232, 244, 245, n, 252, n. 283, 283, n. 

290, 295, 380, 386, 387, 388. 
Graves (human) described, 53, 102, n., 

231. 
Gray, 234 
Gray's Inne, 260, n. 
Greallan, coarb of,* 340, 341 . Of Creeve, 

341,11. 
Great Irish Exhibition, 142, n. 
Greece, 307. 
Greek boats, 71* 
Greenwood, 157- 
Grenan, 168. 
Grenough, 316. 
Grey, 105, 106, 107. 151. 
Grogans, 90, 292. 
Gros, 86. 

Gruagach of Slieve Mis, 303, 304. 
Guaire, King of Connaught, 59, 60. War 

waged agaiuHt him, 312. 
Guernsey, island of, 46, n, 
Guillean, 32, 34. Servant of, its synonym, 

33. 
Guizot, quoted, 145. 
Gurteen, green of, 332, n. 
Gun, 248. 
Gwassanan, 167. 



H 



Hackett, 264, n. 303, 311, 386. On Pa- 
ganism, 333, ft., 334, n. 

Hae, plains of, 311. 

Hakluyt, 139, 139, n, 192. 

Hall, 243, 253, 261, n. 318, n, 

Halsie, 82. 

Halsey, 81. 

Hamilton, 138, n. 

Hanlon, 1 76, 241, fi. 

Hanmer's Chronicle, quoted, 86, n, 88. 

Harcourt, 287. 

Hardiman, quoted, 149, fi., 158. 193, »., 
343, ft. 345, ft. 

Harleian Miscellany quoted, 327. 

Harris quoted, 156. 



401 



Harte qnoUd, S5, S6, 90. 

Hartry, 860, 371, 378, 373, 374. 

Hartitonge, 79. 

Hanrej, 38, 287, S90. 

HanyiUe, 147. 

Hawkins quoted, 259, n. 

Hawks and hounds in Ireland, 144. 

Haydock manuscripts, 166. 

Hayman, 196, 201. 

Healys, 93. 

HebM*, hiji race, 335. 

Heenan, 57. 

Helsham, 196, 197. 

Herb-doctors, 38. 

Herbert, 291. 

Hereford, 84, 86. 

Herefordshire, 268. 

Herim, island o!^ 46, ft. 

Herodotus, on tumuli, 273. 

Hertfordshire, 143. 

Hewson, 213. 

Hickson, 132. 

Hi-Ferte or the Territonr of Miracles, 

250. 
Hilton, 200. 

Hindoo mythology, 31 7. Traditions, 31 7. 
Hitchcock, 53, n., 127, 133, 136, n., 143, 

192, 201,210,239,242,242, «., 245, n., 

386 390 
Hoare, 75, i31, 133, 251, 253, 287, n. 
Hogarth, quoted, 331. 
Holbom, 110, 
Holes, 82. 
Holestones, 55. 
Holmes, 63. 

Holmpatrick, manor of, 106. 
HoUy Lake, 97. 
Holsy, 80. 
Holt quoted, 262. 
Holy Cross, 206, 359, 369, 371, 372, 373, 

374, 380, 382, 389. 
Holyhead, 107. 

Holy Island, where situated, 59. 
Hook point, 284, 284, n. 
Hooker quoted, 147, n. 
Homer quoted, 255. 
Houghton, 81. 
Hounds, 344, n. 
Housland bay, 284. 

Howth hill, 315. Rock monument at, 41 . 
Hna-Fidhgenti, 48. 
Hucksters, laws pertaining to, 254, n. 
Hudibras quoted, 260, n. 
Hudson, 335, 378. 
Hugginstown, 131. 

Human remains, discovery of, 191, 2^1. 
Hume quoted, 257, n. 
Hun^ hill, 138. 
Hurbng, 97. 
Hurly, his trial, 261, ft. 
Husseys, 134. 

Hy-Fiachra-Aidhne, hospitality of, 60. 
Hy-Finginte, ancient district of, 5%. 



I. 



Ibawn, 86. ^ 

Ibh Liathain, 307. 

Ibh muck olla, 307. 

Ida, barony of; 97, 187, 202. 

Ikerrin, 3l' 

Illuminated MSS., referred to, 70. 

ImokUly, 307, 308, 309, 313, 315. 

lubber S^ine, 135, «. 

Incantations, 296. 

Inchiquin, lord, 85, 93. 

Inis Bo Finne, 314, 346, 347, 347, n, 

Inis Cathig, 305. 

Iniscealtra, monastery at, 59. 

luniscathy, 61. Monastery of, 60. 

Inniscarra,3]6. 

Inniskeen, rectory, 293. 

Innislinga, 316. 

Innistiogne, 176. 

Inwood, 155, 162, 163, 165. 

lonad Coinne, its meaning, 316. 

lorras, 344, 344, n., 345. 

Ir, 250. 

Iraghticonnor, 52. 

Ireland, 6, 10, 24, 33, 47, 55, 57, 58, 63, 
64, 68, 85, 105, 107, 108, 109, 111, 1 14, 
127, 130, 133, 136, 136, «., 137, 138, 
139, 140, 144, 145, 147, 148, 150, 151, 
152, 153, 154, 156, 157, 160, 165,175, 
190, 211, 225, A., 232, 235, 237, 238, 
239, 242, 243, 248,251, 252, 254, 269, 
S83, 285, 286, 288, 290, 292, 294, 295, 
301, 302, 304, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 
314,315,316,317,330,338,339,341,11., 
345, n., 356, 388, 389. Ancient mytho- 
logy of, 32. College of arms in, 93. 
Condition of, 106. First chief Butler of, 
68. French artists in, 363. Sepulchral 
memorials of, 70. 

Ireton, 77* 78, »., 81. 

Irish amulets, 122. Antiquities, disoo- 
yeiy of, 356. Archaeologists, 233. Bat- 
tle-axes, 125. 6eani*.skullB, 293. Boat, 
discovery ot 206. Boats, ancient names 
for, 73. Christian art, 211. Church, 
fathers of, 47. Coins, 201. Crosses, 
211. Dragoon regiment, 10. Druids, 
354. Gold ornaments, 287, n. Harp, 
140, 11. Inscription, 56, Kings, their 
burial-place, 238. Manuscripts, 34, 
274. Monastic libraries, 58. Poems, 
quoted, 335, 338, 339, 345. Poem on 
the origin of armorial bearings, 378, 
379,380. Preachers, 211. Ring money, 
285, 290, 356. Round Towers, 61. 

Irish saints, their bells, 47, 62. Soldiers, 
raising of, 29. Students, prizes distri- 
buted to abroad, 26. Tomb-stone in- 
scriptions, 284. Union Pipes, 293. 

Irishtown, history and antiquities of, 322. 

Isis, 36. 

Isle of Man, 32, 211. 

61 



402 



Iveragh MountaiDS, 138, 213. | 

Iverk, baroDj of» 97, 101. Traditions 

of, 101 , n. 
Irwin, 200, 203, 204, 385. 



J. 



James, 196. 

Jamestown, 342, n. 

Jamiesoa quoted, 258. 

Jaan, 127. 

Jennings, 283. 

JenTOges, 107. 

Jephson, 270. 

Jerpoint Abbey, 69, 70, 70, n^ 191, 200, 

204, 206, 209, 252, «., 385, 386. 
Jewish mode of swearing, 52. 
Johns, 196. 
Johnson, 164. 
JohnvweU hills, 122. 
Jones, 76, 190, 195, 200. 
Julins CsDsar, his inrasion of Britain, 74. 
Jnno, 37. 



K. 



Keamej, 376, 378. 

Keating, 79| 135, n., 191, 214,319,373, 
378. 

Keilway quoted, 258. 

Kells, 345, n. Maenach of, his death, 56. 

KeUy, 343, n. 

Kenmare, 128, 135, »., 141, n. 

Kennedy, 21 1,363. 

Kent, 259, n., 269. 

Kentewall, 68. 

Keongh, 157, 167, 168. 

KeoTgh, 155. 

Kerry, 52, 92, 95, 128, 130, 132, 133, 
134, 135, 135, 11., 136, n., 138, 142, 
144, 213, 230, 231, 239, 241, n., 242, 
843, 247, 250, 252, 253, »., 253, 254, 
283, 286, 287, 288, 291, 202, 303, 306, 
356. Conntess of, 131. Diamonds, 
142, ft. Primitive churches of, 53, n. 
Round towers of, 247, »-, 248. 

Kettlebum, 299. 

Keysler quoted, 273. 

Kieran, 56. 

Kil, how pronounced, 52. 

Kilamucky, 308. 

Kilbarry,340,n.,341. 

Kilbride, 345, n. 

Kilbroney, vicarage of, 85. 

Kilcamin, 59. 

Kilcash, 11,9a 

Kilclonecoise, 50. 

Kilclonecouse, 52. 

Kilcommin, 57, 58, 59. Monastery of, 57. 

Kilconnell, 88, 89. 

Kilcooly Abbey, 267, 268, n., 272, 382. 



Kilcorban, 279. 
Kttcrea, 88, 89. 
KUdare, 105, 107, 108, 113, 148, 153. 

157, 192, 193, 273, 285,340, n. 
Kilfane, 67, 68, 69, 198, 20S, 209, 284, ii. 
KiUmallahge, 270. 
KilgarTaa, 344, n. 

Kilkea CasUe, 198. 

Kilkeeran crosses, 292. 

Kilkeevin,342,n. 

Kilkennie, 221. 

Kilkenny, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 40, 63, 64^ 67, 68, 
69, 78, 80, 97, 97, n., 104, 111, ill, n^ 
112, 113, 114, 114, Hn 115, n., 119, 
125, 127, 128, 131, 144, 145, 148, 149, 
156, 157, 158, 161, 164, 165, 166, 167, 
167, n., 168, 170, 171, 173, 174,175, 
176, 187, 188, 190, 191, 195, 196, 197, 
198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 81 1, 812, 219, 
»., 220, 221, 221, »., 223, 883, is., 224, 
224, 11., 225, 226, 229, 229, ft., 330, 233, 
245, n., 252, n., 254, 254, n., 368, 268, 
n., 269, 271, 292, 293, n., 320, 321, 
322, 325, 325, n., 326, 326, n., 327, 
328, 329, 329, n., 331, 331, «., 332, 
M, 333, 354, 356, 360, 363, 366, 367, 
371, 382, 387, 389, 390. CasUe,aacient 
tapestry of, 3. Architectural notes on, 
115. Record room of, 68, ft. Tapes- 
try chamber of, described, 4. Corpo- 
ration of, strict obserrers of the Sab- 
bath, 331. Cowleys of, 108, 103, 
Looms of, 5. Manufactures of, 5. 
Market cross of, 219, 228. Olden p^ 
pular pastimes of, 319. Poets, 232. 
Trades, cUssification of, 196. Trades- 
mens tokens of, 126, 155, 159, 169. 
White book of the Corporation of, 162. 

KUkerrin, 342, n, 346, a. 

Kilklispeen cross, 292. 

KUl, 270. 

KiUagh,270. Abbey of, 135. 

Killahy, 206. 

KiUaloe, 347, n. 

Killamory, 1 13, 366, 378. Cross at, 292. 

Killamey, 128, 136, «., 138, 144, 213, 
243, 244, 245, 247, 282, 292. 

Killartan, 342, ft. 

Killary, 345, ft. 

KilLchuana, 62. 

Killede,land8of, 86. 

Killiner, 130. 

Killorglin, 288. 

KiUmaclennan, 272. 

Kilmaclennan, 274. 

Kilmaine, 346, ft. 

Kilmalooda, 87. 

KihnaUock, 287. 

Kilmanman, 74. 

Kilmenchy, 194. 

KilmihU, 92. 

Kilmore, barony of^ 83. 

Kilmurry, 307. 



403 



KilnamnlUgh, 84, 87. 

KUlnemaUagfa, 270. 

KOnemnllaf, 84. 

Kilmih, town of, 80. 

Km-Regnaighe, 277, 880. 

Kfll-shamiT, 82. BeUof,61.] 

Kiltartan, 342, ft. 

KQternan, rock monument at, 42. 

Kilcomy, 129, 131. 

Kfltorny, 131. 

KUtalli^h, 343. ». 

Kimmendge coalmonej, 122, 285. 

Kinalea, 310. 

Kinchela, 203. 

Kincora, 318. 

Kinel Dofa, 340, n. 

King's County, 48, 49, 53, 57, 59, 63, 72, 

111, 111, A., 113, 144, 273,277,284, 

293, 358. 
King John halfpence, 201. 
Kingmnill, 326. 
KinnefadPaM,284. 
Kinnity, 345, n. 

Kinsale, 1 57, 1 58, 230. Siege of, M. 
Kinyara, 59. 
Kitchin, 260, ft. 
Knevet, 105. 
Knife-handles, 124. 
Knockagrogeen, 231. 
Knock-u^-na-gnr, 364. 
KnockgraffoD, 31 . 

Knockmarr, 45. Rock chamber at, 44. 
Knocknemn cam, 236. 
Knocknaree, 273. 
Knockninoss, battle fought at, 93. 
Knocktopher, 176. 
Knowth, mound of, 275. 
Knox, 385. 

Krishnu, the deity, 317. 
Kjlcoiyhin, 270. 
Kyle, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54, 55, 56. How 

pronounced, 52. 
Kylebeg, 54, 55. 
Kyleva monument, 131. 



L. 



Lacedemonian customs, 36. 

Lacken cottage, 196. 

Laharan, 288. 

Lair Bhan, 306. 

Lalor (Dr.), presentation of human skulls 

by, 203. 
Lamb, 201. 

Lambard quoted, 255, 259, »., 260, 261 , «. 
Lancashire, 168. 

Lancaster, county palatine of, 257. 
Lanesborough, 340, n. 
Langton, 156, 168, 228, 230, 257. 
Lanigan quoted, 48, 58, 62. 
Lansdowoe, 194. 
Lap, 79. 



Lapp, 80. 

Larcom, 318fi. 

Largo, 286. 

Lassberg, 388. 

Lathach of Caichtuaidibhil, 339. 

Latin wars, 5, ft. 

Land, 144. 

Laurence, 80. 

Lawles, 111, n. 

Lawrence, 79, 314. 

Layard quoted, 234. 

Lazy hill, 157. 

Leaba-an-Cheadaich Mhoir, 202. 

Leabhar-na-g-Ceart (Book of Rights) 

quoted, 75. 
Leaba Dearmid* 304. 
Leaba-na-Bo-F!nne, 314. 
Leaban Lun, 317. 
Leabhar-na-Huidhre, 237, 274, 319. 
Leac-an-Scail, 196. 
r^achts, 232. 
Leackine, booke of, 379. 
Leanan Sighe, 38. 
Lecan, book of, quoted, 237* 
Leche, 215. 

Lecky,276,296,297,298. 
Le Cosyn, 388. 
Ledwich quoted, 225, n., 229, 230, 253, 

322. 
Lee, 79, 318. 
Legf^nd of Fionn Mae Cumhaill's thumb, 

101. 
Leggett, 207. 
Leigh, 82. 
LeighUn, diocese of, 24. Famous synod 

of, 58. 
Leignes, 346, 347. 
Leim Cancullin, 305, 306. 
Leinster, 57, 209, 303, 311. Bommean 

tribute of, 318, ft. Kings of^ place of 

their interment, 238. 
Leitrim, 88, 341, n., 343, ft., 346, n. 
Ldx, 144,192. 
Leland quoted, 389. 
Leprechaun's coffin, 293. 
Leta, meaning of the term, 259, ft. 
Lettir-Lua, 48. 
Lewiii quoted, 74. 128, 241, 243, 248, 

251, 253. 
Leyny, 343, ft. 

Liath-Macha, her prison, 238. 
Liber Mnnemm quoted, 103, ft. 
Liber Primus, quoted, 103. 
Lickerstown, 101,102. 
Licketstown, 102, 202. 
Liffey, river, 43. 
Light, 201. 
Limerick, 48, 52, 88, 125, 151, 153, 270» 

287, »., 306, 313, 316, 347, n. 
Lindon, the poet, his death, 39. 
Lindsay, 158, 159, 287, 356. 
Lir, 34. 
Lisbome, 157. 



404 



Lifcarrol, ST* 93. 

Liidisfame, 341, ft. 

Lis DooD Dalheen, 307. 

Li8griffin,87,91. 

linnore, 77* 169, 292, 308, 313. Taking 

of, 86. 
LiBmotigne, coriom monument at, 131. 
Liverpool, 257. 
Local names, their origin traced, 190. 

Rhymester, 228. 
Loch Cnillinn, 97, 99. 1 00. Its legends, 98. 
Loch Da^rnadh, 32, 33. 
Loch Deirgdheirc, 347, n* 
Loch-na-Niath, 34. 
Loch Sailchem, 341, ti. 
Loch Salcheam, 340, 341. 
Lodge qaoted, 24, 85, 95, 93, 96, n., 

103,104, 111,269,269,11. 
Lombard, 91, 92, 94, 96. 
Lond, 81. 

Londesborough. 286. 
London, 282. 
Londonderry, 157* 
Longford, 317. 
Loophead, 138, 305. 
Lorrha, 60, 61,62. 
Lothora, 62. 
Lough Annagh, 7^, 74. 
Lough Bhuaue-napGreine, 304. Bo Finne, 
314. Cnillinn, 192, 187. Cnrrane, 
round tower of, 253. Derg, 59, 347, »• 
Deirgdheirc 346, 347. Erne, 31 7, 31 8, 
346, 347, 347, n. Guwna, 317. Gar, 
125. Na-Bo.Finne,317. 

Lon^hmoe, 169. 

Louis, the long'handed (?), 54. 

Louth, 273, 388. Suppression of the ab- 
bey of, 271. 

Low, house of^ 168. 

Lowe, 8. 

Lua, 47. 

Luanis, 47. 

Lucia, the Virgin, 220. 

Lugacurren, 192, 193,194. 

Lugeus, 47. 

Lughadh Lamhfada, 306. 

Luaidus, 47» 58. 

Luighdioch Jardhonn, 74i 

Luighne, 343, n. 

Luimneach, 344^ 344, »., 345, 347, 347, ft. 

Lukis, 233. 

Lumbdrdes arms, 78. 

Lun« an animal, 317* 

Luna, 36. 

Luttrell, 330. 

Lyle, 188. 

Lymerick, 157* 

Lynch quoted, 150, n., 153, n. 

M. 

Mac Adam, 204. 

Mac Airt, Cormac, 303. 



MaeBeag, 33. 

Mac Branan, 344, 345. 

Mac Carthy, 49, n., 338, 339. 

Mac CoiUdh, 340, n, 

Mac Cullenan, 49. 

Mac Dail-re-decair, 344, 345, 345, n. 

Mac Dermot, 342, 343, 343, m., 346, 347. 

Mac Donald, 14. 

Mac Egan, 62, 346, 346, », 347- 

Mac Faofima, itb signification, 370. 

Mac Fergus, 312. 

Mac Geoghegan quoted, 72, 86, »., 87, 

268, 268, n. 
Mac Gilla-Patrick, 48. 
Mac Gillivray, his voyage, 121, 
Mac Greine, its signification, 370. 
Mac Manas, 338, 339. 
Mac Oireachtaigh, 342, 342, ft., 343. 
Mac Oireachty, 344, 345. 346, 347. 
Mac Subhataich (now Tomalty), 33. 
Mac Tomal^.338, 339. 
Mac Tully, 346, 346, n., 347. 
MacVighe,213. 
M'Carrell, 92. 
McCarthy, 363. 
M*Cathmayll, 215. 
M'Creery,20l. 

M^CumhaOl, Fionn, legend of^ 332. 
M'Daniel, 237. 
M'Donald, 192. 
M'EToy, 288, n. 
M'Gillicuddy,283,291. 
M'Skinmiin quoted, 158, 196 
M^Stairn, his adventures, 303. 
M^WilUam^s country, 270. 
Madden quoted, 234, 237. 
Madra-na-FuUay 308. 
Maeinenn, bishop, relics of, 59* 
Mael-kieran, 56, n. 
Mael-Lugdach, 56. 

Maenach, family of, 57. Religioui per- 
sons of &at name, 56. 
Maenachus, S6» 
Mageoghan, 340, n. 
Ma^eraghty, 342, ft., 344, a. 
Magheo (plain of the yews), 341, n* 
Maghery, 90. 
Magh Gialain, 340, 341. 
MaghHae,31l. 
Magh-lacha, 61. 
Magh.Naoi,342,i». 
Maghera, 290. 
Magh-na-d-Tarr, 3U. 
Magners, 93. 
Magrath, 326, 292. 
Maguire, 28i, n. 
Mahon, 59. 
Maidstone, 262. 
Maire Ruadh*ni-Hararan, 38. 
Malahide, Lord Talbot de, 281, 882, 

284, 287, 290, 
Malbay, 73, 304. 
Malcomson, 200. 



405 



Mallin, 265, 316. 

MaUow,287,290. 

Malone, 196. 

Mananan Mac Lir, 34, 34, n, 303, 

Manlins, the Roman, 4. 

Mantna, 342, n. 

ManoBcripts, where preierved, 223. 

Mara, 326. 

Marchi, Padre, 215. 

Market crosses, 198, 222, n., 223, 225, 

826. 227, 929, 220, n. Antiquity of, 

328, n. Of Kilkenny, 219, 222, 390. 
Marlborongh, 290. 
Marlhridge, statute of, 261. 
MarshaU, 199, 338, 339. 
Martin, 285, 290. 

Maryborough, an inquisition at, 50. 
Masterson, 5. 
Mata, the glen of; 238. 
Matal, a ferocious boar, 304. 
Match>makiDg, 54. 
Mattle rock, 304. 
Maybush boys, 332. 
May-day, ancient custom on, 344, 345. 
May-eve customs, 332, fi. Superstitions, 

313. 
Mayo,' 88, 130, 270, 340, 341, 343, n., 

344, n.^ 345, »., 346, n., 347, fi. 
Meads, 93. 
Meadhbh, 319. 
Meany, 196. 
Meara,387. 
Mease, 195, 232, 235. 
Meath, 104, 111, 113, 125, 273, 274, 

287, 311, 344, 345, 346, 346, n^ 347. 
Meic Deathaidh, its meaning, 370, 
Meiv, queen of Connaught, 31 1. 
Meleagar quoted, 310. 
Merc, 146, 147. 
Mermaid captured, 313. 
Methers, remarks oo, 289. 
Meyler, 81. 
Midleton, 358. 
Middleton. 333, fi. 
Milesian expedition, where first landed, 

135, 135, fi., 136, n. GraTes, 230, 233. 
Milford, 307. 
Millmount, 197. 
Milner, 222, n. 
Miltown, 342, fi. 

Milucradh, 37- Sister to Aine, 32. 
Minister, original meaning of the term, 

52. 
Mitchell, 10, 
Moate, 269. 
Moats, 273, 274. 275. 
Mole, the mountains of, 84. 
Moll of the hills, 364. 
MoUoy, 289. 
Molua (St) etymology of the word, 47, 

48, 51 , 53. Various appellations of, 47. 
Momonin, 48. 
Monaghan, 236, 282. 



Monaincha, 56, 57* 

Monaster Evyn, abbot ot, 105. 

Monastic houses, suppression of, 106. 

Monasticon Hibemicum quoted, 86. 

Monaster Nenagh, abbey of, 270. 

Monegall, rath at, 285. 

Moneygall, 189. 

Money seekers, 271* 

Monsters, 305. 

Montfaucon quoted, 293. 

Moore, 101, 102, n., 312, 367, 386. 

Morgan, 93, 257, 274. 

Momington, 103, HI, 113. 

Morres, 229, n. 

Morrigan, his paps, 238. 

Morris, 338, 339, 340, 341. 

Morrison, 249, 293. 

Morryson quoted, 144. 

Mo8se,202. 

Mottes quoted, C6. 

Motraye, 230. His description of Kil- 
kenny, 225. 

Moughna, 261, n. 

Mounds, 273, 274, 275. 

Mount Cosgreve, 101 . 

Mountgarret, 31, 85, 161, 223, 386. 

Mountralh, 50, 51, 157. 

Mount Venus, rock monument at, 42. 

Moyally,31. 

Moy lough, 342, n. 

Moylurg, 341, n, 346, 347. 

Moyne, 287. 

Muc Inis, 304. 

Muck Inis, 309. 

Muck 011a, 308, 309. 

Muckruss,291,3l0. 

Muidhmheadhain Eochaidh, 340, 341 . 

Muintir-Roduibh, 342, n. 

Muireadhach, son of Fergus, race of, 346, 
347. 

Mukins, 166. 

Mulhallen, 230. 

Mulherins, 340, fi. 

Mulla, 84, 265. 

Mullagh, 84. 

Mullingar, 232, 282. 

MuUinavat, 187, 192, 206, 387. 

Mulrenin, 343. 

Mulrony Mor, his descendants, 342, 343, 
343,11. 

Munster, 48, 57, 62, 85, 270, 31 1, 343, n. 

Muriragane, 136, n. 

Murray, 281 , 282, 284, 285, 292. 

Murresk, 344, fi., 345, fi.,346, n., 347, fi. 

Murrughue, 90. 

Muscraighe, 86. 

Muscraiffhedunegan, seizure of, 86. 

Mutton Island, SOA. Cooke's visit to, 73. 



N. 



Nagles, 93. 
Needwood forest, 286. 



406 



NeiU 386. 

Neligan, 286, 987* ». 

Nenagh, d66. 

NeveU, 156, 170. 

Nema, 284. 

Newcastto-nnder-Ljiie, 263, n. 

Newbliss, 288. 

New Grange, 274. Mound of^ 275, 

Newmarket, 287i »• 

New Qnay, 62. 

New Robs, 389. 

Newr/i the vale of^ 33. 

Newton, 356. 

Newtown Chnrch, 382. 

Newtown Park, 200. 

NiaU, where bnried, 238« 

Nimh, river, 317. 

Noah deecribed as a white oow, 314. 

Nore, 119, 168,191. 

Nurmandr, 147- 

Norman Settlers in Kilkenny, 68. 

Norreys, 270. 

Northampton, 59, 147. 

Northamptonshire, 123, n., 192. 

North Britain, nms found in, 302. 

Northnmberland, 302. 

Norton, 270. 

Nowlan, 62. 

Nngent, 285. 

Nnmicns, the river, 36. 

Nnns,86. 



O. 



Oaths, ancient mode of administering, 51. 
O'Beime, 342, 342, fi., 343, 344, 345. 
Obsolete mode of Inflicting pnnislunent. 

254. 
O' Brien, 62, 85, 90, 202, 338, 339, 344, n^ 

346, 347, 359. 
O'Bryn, 90. 
O'Byme, 192. 
O'Callaghan, 93, 192, 203. 
O'Carroll, 148, 219. Of Ely, fheir ancet- 

tors, 74. 
Ochain, a bnrial-place, 238. 
O'Concannon, 342, 342, »., 343. 
O'Connaghtain, 342, 343, 343, n., 344, 

344, ft., 345. 
0*Conor, 148, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339^ 

340, 340, fi, 341, 342, 343, 343, «., 344, 

344, »., 345, 347, 347, n^ 356. 
O'Cuis, fastness of, 134. 
O'Daly, 181, 189, 199,201,202,245,11., 

335, 355, 356, 378. 
O'Dawla (O'Daly) Carml, singnlar history 

of, 315. 
O'Delany, hiihop of Ossory, 195. 
Odell, 283. 
O'Demesy, 194. 
O'Dinighen, 129, 
O'Doling, 92. 
O'Donel, 377. 



O'Donovan, 97, n^ 134, S43, 947, 303, 
315, 318, fi., 335, 341, fi., 355, 357, 370. 
His explanation of the word ** £och> 
aidh," 75. 

O'Doolan, 90. 

O'Domey, 95. 

O'Dowda, 346, »., 347, n. 

O'VuSy, bishop, his death, 279, 979,280. 

O'Dugan quoted, 346, ff. 

O'Dnibhne, 305, 306. 

aDuinn, 213. 

O'Dulying, 90. 

O'Dubhtugh (or ODnfly), 979. 

Oenach Aifbhe, 238. 

O'FaUon, 342, 343. 

O'Feenaghty, 346, 347. 

Offally, 144. 

O'Finnaghty, 342, 342, n., 343, 344, «. 

O'Flannagan, 342, 342, tu, 343, 344, 
344, fi., 345, 346, 347. 

O'Flaherty, 72, 252, si., 344^ 345, 345, «., 
360. 

O'Flynn, 340, «., 342, 342, is^ 343, 344, 
344,11., 345. 

O'Fogarty, 360. 

O'Gara, 342, 343, 343, «. 

Ogham inacriptioiis, 53, n., 197, 944, 276, 
282, 283, 283, ft., 984, «,, 304, 377, 378. 
Monuments, 190, 245, n., 984. Pillan, 
136. Stones, 196, 983. Where pre- 
served, 944. 

Oghdeala, 340, 341, 341, «. 

OguIla,341,341,ii. 

Ogygia quoted, 48. 

Ollalloran, 61, 90, 93, 950, 951, 373. 

O'Hanly, 340, fi., 341, «^ 342, 342, IM 
343, 344, 344, ft., 345. 

O'Hara, 342, 343, 343, «. (Cathal), mur- 
der of, 51 . (Donal), his plunders, 51. 

O'Heyne, 342,11., 343. Where buried, 56. 
Sepulchral slab of, 56. 

OiUoll Olum, his sons, 342, 343, 343, n. 

Oilioll oil mncard, 307. 

O'Keamey, 32. 

O'KeeflTe, 335. 

O'Kelly, hisbetr^aU 192, 193,346, 346,ii., 
347. 

Olearins quoted, 273. 

Olethan, 86. 

Oliver, 85. 

Ollarba, battle of, 274. 

O'Maelbreanainn, 338, 339,342,343, 345, 
346, 347. 

O'Maelconaire, 335, 346, 346, n., 347* 

O'Mael-Lugdach, 56. 

O'MaUey, 346, 346, n., 347. 

O'MaoUciarain, 340, «. 

O'Meallan, 51. 

O'Meara, 387. 

O'Mores, 148, 151, 192, 193, 364. 

O'Mulconaire, 342, 343. 

O'Mulconry, 343, fi. 

O'Mulrenin, 342, n., 343, n^ 344, m. 



407 



O'NeiU, 40, 1^ 190, 193, 198, 199, 311, 
212, 216, 216, 242, 286, 292, 292, »., 
301, 301, fi., 338, 339, 344, «., 352, 366, 

O'Qain, 346, «. 

O'Raghtagain (now RBtigan), 341, n. 

(yReOlj, 342, 343, 343, ii«, 347. 

0'Rodachaiz^ 341, fi. 

0'Rod7,341, n. 

O'Rourke, 342, 343, 343, n^ 347« «. 

O'ShaughneMj, 2M, 342, 342, n., 343. 

O'Sliee Hospital, 213. 

O'SulUvan, 21%. Beare, liow lie croBied 
the Shannon, ^%, 

0'Taidg(nowTighe),346,fi. AnTeagh- 
laigh, 346, n., 347. 

OTeiffe,342,342,fi.,343. Ofthehoiiae- 
hold, 346, ft. 

O'Toole, 171. 

O'Tnsngh, 389. 

Onnonde, 4, £, 6, 7* 8, 25, 26, 27, 30, 
54, 61, 92, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 
109,110, ll4,fi., 115, 117,119,126,134, 
144, 174, 187, 199, 200, 210, 320, 330, 
331, n., 346, »., 366, 376, 387. Follow* 
era of, poiaoned, 110. Mannacripts, 5, 
68,11. 

Orrery, 77, «., 83, 87. 

Oscar, 101, 101, »., 102, n. 

Osiris, 36. 

Osraigi, 48. 

Ossian, 231. 

Ossianic Sodety, 32, «., 140, m. 

Ossorr, 5, 48, 50, 67, 105, 112, 113, 145, 
148, 151, 161, 162, 195, 199,201,203, 
209, 220, 223, 252, ft., 293, 327. 

Otway, 72, 229, ic. 

Onghtehery. 231. 

Oandle, 377. 

Oatlaw,82,388. 

OysterhaTen,230. 

Oxfordshire, 257. 



P. 



Pagan borial grounds, 192, 237, 239, 
Cemeteriea, 231, 235, 303, 367, 295, 
296. Cist, 53. Crota]s,62. Irish deity, 
35, 54, 65. Mode of interment, 274. 
Idohitry, 386. Monuments, 53, fi, 283. 
Remains,53,fi.,55,fi. Rites, 53, 333, 
333, fi. Sepakhral chest, 56, Sepul- 
ture, 252. ' 

Park, 346, n. Na Killa, its meaning, 230. 

Parsons, 58. 

Panonstown, 158, 198, 206, 236. 

Partholan,317. 

Passage, 80. 

Passawn, a Christian saint, 54. How 

pronounced, 54. 
Patrick (St.), coarb ot; 340, 341. 
Patroolus, his tomb, 273. 
Panlstown,9,24,31. 



Pearse, 7- 

Pelham, 292. 

Pembroke, 64, 86,370. 

Pembrokeshire, 143, n. 

Penal laws, 187. 

Penny tokens, proposals for, 174. 

Percy quoted, 329. ^ 

Perenna, 36. 

Persepolis, relics at, 136. 

Petrie quoted, 46, ic, 52, 53, n., 61, 237, 
238, 239, 242, 248, 249, 254, 274, 
281, 284, 285, 288, 353, 358, 372, 380, 

wol. 

Phayer,211. 

Phary, 7«, 80. 

Phcenix Park, 153. Mound at, 43. 

Philipstown,113,293. 

Picat, 194. 

Pico, 139, n. 

Picts' house, examination of^ 299. 

Piercevall, 5. 

Piggot, 57. 

Pigs, numerous in Ireland, 304. 

PiUar stones, 53, n., 55, 63, 101, 241, 

253, 274, 275. Towen, 253, 352, 353. 
Pillories, 257, 264. 
Piltown, 187. 
Pinkerton, 160. 
Pis, meaning of the word, 54. 
Pisanua quoted, 94. 
Pitcaim quoted, 256, n. 
Planch^ quoted, 70, ft. 
Plumptre quoted, 243, 245. 
Pococke, 201,252, 252, n. 
PoeU,82. 
Poer, 148,221,11. 
PoictierB, 145. 
Ponoe, 143. 
Popular traditions, 97- 
Porcine legends, 303, 319. 
PortadowD,293. 
Portneligan, 354. 
Portugal, 139, «. 
Portnmna, 72, 347, n. 
Pottlerath, 268, n. 
Poulacapple, rath of, 378. 
Poul-a-cnoire, 310. 
Poul-gorm-liath, 304, 307. 
PouUa-Kerry, 310. 
Powell, 79. 

Prague, Irish and Scotch college at, 26. 
Prendergast, 9, 87, 93, 94, 144, 207, 320, 

321. 
Preston, 5, 257. 
Price 82. 
Prim, 102, 114, 119, 159, 188, 190, 191, 

197, 202, 204, 212, 213, 232. 235, 319, 

359, 369, 370, 371, 374, 381, 386, 390. 
Priors, 94. 

Proceedings of the Society lor 1853,349. 
Psalter of Cashel quoted, 214. 
PuUhelly, 157, 158. 
Purcel, 169, 195, 372, 382. 



408 



PTFceU, 156. 
PjpardB« 388. 



Q. 



Qiieen*H College, Galway, 292. 

Qa<*en'i County, 47, 48, 49, 50. 71 « 72, 144, 

191, 192, 204, 206, 207, 273, 287, 326, 

«., 332, n., 358, 364. 
Quem-making, 122. 
Qain, 196. 
Quinliiik, 57* 



R. 



Rae (the moon), her influeooe on the hu- 
man body, 38, 

Rafeen, 310. 

Rafin, 111,11. 

Rahyn, 50. 

Raleigh, 284, «. 

Ram Island, 61. 

RamMy quoted, 258. 

Raphael*! Cartoons, 5. 

Rathardmore, 113. 

Rathfl, 46, 1 19, 127, 275, 298. At Dun. 
beU 123, ft. At Drumbuoy, 235. At 
Moneygall, 285. At Rathmoyle. 235. 

Rathbarry, 269, 270. 

Rathclare, 84. 

Rathcroghan, 341, »., 354. Cemetery of, 
238. 

Rath Cruaghan, 338, 339. 

Rathdowney, 365. 

Rath Fin, 310. 

Rathmoyle, 235. Ancient pagan ceme- 
tery at, 190. 

Rathowe, 200. 

Ratigan (see O'Raghtagain). 

Ratowth, baron of^ 153. 

Rattlesnake (the ship), 121. 

Rattoo, old church of, 128. Round tower 
of, 247, 248, 249, 250, 253. 

Rawdon, 168. 

Reade, 197, 293, 330. 

Redcliflf church, 315. 

Red Cross, 193. 

Red-haired woman's curse, its eflfect, 315, 
316. 

Redman, 175 

Reeks, 138, 283, 291. 

Refraetonr urchins, mode of punishing 
them, 67. 

Refuse, 147. 

Religious rites, where practised, 55. 

Reynagh, 277- 

Reynolds, assaulted, 94. 

Rhea ^see Rae). 

Rhind, 299, 

Rice, 134. His chapel, 75. 

Richardson quoted, S59, fi. 



Rickards, 78, 79, 81. 

Ring-money, 201. 

Rinuccini, 223. 

River Annagasson, 33. Awb^,83. Bann, 
282. Boyle, 340, 340, n. Dripfley,316. 
£me, 347, n* Liffey, 43. Luimneach 
(Limerick), 347, ft. Nxmh, 317« Nors, 
119, 168, 191. Nuncins. 36. Samer, 
317, 318. Shannon, 60, 342, n. 

Robber, capture and death of a notorious, 
364. 

Roberts, 80. 

Robertson, 115, 115, fi., >19, 190, 198, 
200, 201, 204, 210, 229, 230. 

Bobertstown Castle, 269. 

Roches, 91, 129. 

Rockingham Bay, 121, 343, n. 

Rock chambers, 45. 

Rock monuments, 40, 46, 199. At Brs- 
nan's-town, 41. At Glencnllen, 43. At 
Howth,4l. AtKilteman«42. AtShan- 
gaoagh, 41. At Mount Venus, 42, 

Rock of Cashel, 49, n. 

Rodestown, llKn. 

Rodulphus quoted, 94. 

Roman barrows, 233. Coalmoney, 285. 
Coins, discovery of; 231. Goddesses, 
36, Invasion, 74. 

Rome, antiquities of, 215. 

Rosbercon, 386. 

Roscommon, 125, 273, 340, n., 341, «., 
342, n., 343, n., 345, 346. fi.,354. 

Roscrea, 24, 56, 57. 

Rose Hill, 115,365. 

Roserick, 88, 89. 

Roses, sanguinary wars of the, 85. 

Rosmore, lord, 286. 

Ross, 282. 

Rossa^e, 270. 

Ross-Bulead, meaning of the tenn, SS. 

Ross Castle, 292. 

Rosse, earl of, 58, 

Rosseghe, 270. 

Rossenara, 197. 

Rossmore, lord. 288, 293. 

Roth, 5, 1 12, 155, 160, 161, 293. 

Rothe, 111, 220, 293. His old house, 201. 

Round tower of Aghadoe, 244, 245. At 
Aghaviller, 245, 245, n. At Ardfert, 
250, 251, 252, 252, fi. At Ardmore, 
236. 245, 249, 283. At Clonmacnoise, 
245. At Fertagh, 245. At Lough 
Currane,253. At Rattoo, 247, 248. 250. 
At Scattery island, 245. At Tullaherio, 
245. 

Round towers, 55, 196, 198, 236, 238, 239, 
242, 242, ft., 213, 245, 246, 248, 249, 
253, 254, 271, 283, n^ 352, 356. 

Rowan, 131, 133, 141, n., 213, 215, 230, 
232, 233, ^34, 235, 236, 239, «., 240, ff., 
369, 370, 371, 374, 380, 381. 

Royal Irish Academy, 43, 44, 61, 62, 67, 
125, 281, 282, 283, 283, ic., 285, S86, 



409 



287, 388, 290, 292, 293, 335. Cork In- 
stitntion, 289. Mnsenm of, 67. 

Rofus, 146. 

Rjland quoted, 77, »*, ^, B3, n. 



Sadler, 78, 79, 81. 

Sal, 303, 306. 

Salmon leap, 346, n. 

Samer river, 317, 318. 

Samhain's eve, 308. 

Sampson, 79. 

Sanrm, 293. 

Savage, 132. 

Saxon barrowi, 233. Monks, settlement 

of in Mayo, 341, n. 
Scandinavian barrows, 233. Forests, 294. 
Scari£Fe, bay of, 69. 
Scattery island, 60, 61, 305, 306. Bell of, 

60. Ronnd tower of, 245. 
Scolds, their punishment, 262, 263, 263, fi. 
Scota, her death, 213. Her bnrial place 

identified, 214. 
Scotch and Irish officers, 10. 
Scotland, 299, 300, 315. 
Scott, 229, n. 

Scottish parUamentfti 261, fi« 
Scowler, 294. 
Scrope, 219,11. 

Sculptured stone, notice of, 239. 
Seagoe, 293. 
Sefin, his death, 51. 
Sample, 115. 

SencDas na Relec, referred to, 238. 
Sepulchral mounds, 273. Slab, discovery 

of, 56. 
Serpents, 305, 306. 
Seventeenth century autographs, 291. 

Documents, 291 . 
Seward quoted, 248, 251. 
Sewell, 156, 168. 
Shaine, parish of, 7* 
Shakspeare quoted, 237, 264, n. 
Shamrock lodge, 200. 
Shanganagh, rode monument at, 41. 
Shandon, 87, 237. 
Shankill, 363. Cromleac at« 46, fi. 
Shannon, 69, 72, 138, 305, 306, 312, 342, 

II., t}44y fl., «547, ft. 

Shearman, 170, 176. 203, 287. 

Shee, 212, 213. Arms of; 1 12. 

Sheep-bells of the sixteenth century. 63. 

Shela-na-gigs, 282. 

Sheppard. 200. 

Shetland islands, 283. 

Shillelagh, woods of, 144. 

Shirley, 152, 288, 376. 

Shotterell, 329. 

Sidney, 85, 1 13, 154. 

Silemori, 340, n. 



Sil-Maelruain, 342, n. 

Sn.Muireadhaigh, 344, 345, 347, n. King 
of, 56. 

Sil-Murray, 340, 341. 

Simon's well, 54. 

Silver ringmoney, 355. 

Skanlan, 155, 163, 164, 165. 

Skeletons, 123, n. Discovery of, 43, 276. 
Found in tulachs, 235. 

Skellig rock, 138. 

Skene quoted, 256, ii. 

Skinner quoted, 259, ii. 

Sliabh-an-Jarrainn, 344, 344. »., 345. 
Baghna, 344, n. Bladhma, 48. Bloom, 
48. Collain, 304. Boar uf, 307. Cuil- 
Unn, why called. 101. Donard, 130. 
Guillean, 32. 33. Grinn, wlnr called. 
101. Luachra, 52. Mis, 213. Battle of, 
214. 

Slieve Baune, 344, n. Bloom mountains, 
191. Croob, 273. Mis, 303 304. 
Gruagach of, 303, 304. 

Sligo, 51, 88, 89, 273, 343, »., 344, n. 

SUney, 338, 339. 

Sling-stones, 122. 

Smerwick, 134, 135, n,, 237- 

Smith, 8, 78, n., 84, 84, n., 85, 87, 88, 93, 
93, II., 94, 95, 96, 96, n^ 128, 132, 134, 
135, n., 137, 142, «., 155, 159, 160,164, 
166,170,172, 175, 176,187, 188,233, 
243, 248, 250, 251, 265, 269, 269, n., 

270, »., 283, 290, 291, 292, 296, 297, 
299, 300. 301, 301, n., 302. 

Smith wick, 201. 

Snelling, 156, 158, 159. 

Sochla, meaning of the term, 48, n. 

Soichell, coarb of, 340, 341 . 

Soldiers' buttons, 126. 

Somers quoted, 154. 

South, 284. 

Spaniards, 86. 

Spanish merchants, 134. Prizes, 143. 

Spearheads, 298. 

Speckled book, where compiled, 346, n. 

Spelman, ouoted, 257, 264. 

Spencer, 84, 85. 

St. Ann's, Shandon (Cork), rectory of, 87. 
Alban's, 152. Augustine, regular ca- 
nons of, 268. Barry, 340, ii. His cro- 
zier, where preserved, 340, it. Baruch, 
S5. Bernard, 48. Brandon, feart of. 

271. Breanuinn, 341, n. Brendan, 
130, 250, 252, 341, n. Cathedral of, 
210. Brigid,221. Of Kildare, 340, n, 
Her well, 340, ii. The Virgin, 220. 
Cai]lin,341,». Camin's bell, 59. Mo- 
ther. 60. Writings, 60. Canice, 
67, 164, 165, 220, 221, 333, 352, 
360, 382. Cathedral of, 201. Tower 
of, 352, Coleman, 236. Colman. 341. 
n. Cuana, his death, 62. Cuimen- 
fada, 47. Cuimin. 59. Culanns bell 
of, 49, 62. Cummin's bell, described, 57. 

52 



410 



St Dachonna, 340, n. Evin'i bell, 62. 
Fechin, Tiolation of the church of, 51. 
Finian, 277' Finnen, 34],ii. Francis, 
abbey of, 326. Helen, her life and 
death, 328, n. James, 135. John's, 
abbey of; 112, 113, 114, 168. Nunnery 
of, 96. The Baptist, 86. Kelmes, 139. 
Kenny's, 333. Kieran, 199, 220, 221. 
Leger, 107, 108, 109, 1 10, 151,330. La- 
cia, a poem in commemoration of her, 
221. Malachy, 48. Monaghan's grave, 
53, A. Mary's chapel, 135. Church, 
Shandon, 23?. Rectory, Cork, 87. 
Michan, 237. Michael, rectory of; 104, 
n. Mochua, 193. Mochuda, 317. 
Molua, 48, 52, 54, 55, n., 56, 57, 58. 
Bell of, described, 47, 49. Its effect 
upon freebooters, 50. Supernatural 
power of, 5 1 . Grave of, 52. Parentage 
of, 48. Trough of, 55, Patrick, 61, 
102, fi., 220, 221, 340, 340, n., 341. 
Bell of, 284, a. Passawn, 54. Peter's 
church, Norfolk, 202. Regnach, 277- 
Regnacia, 277. Ruadhan, 60, 61, 62. 
His bell,' where found, 62. His death, 
62. Ruth, 335. Saviour's chapel, 75. 
Senan, 60, 61. Birth of; 61. His pa- 
rents, 61. Death of 61 . Soichell, 341, 
n. Thomas, 86, 268, 269, 390. 

SaintbiU, 132, 133, 290, 381. 

Southampton, 270. 

Staffordshire rector, his case, 234. 

Stanihurst quoted, 149, n. 

Stapleton, 325. 

Starchanxber usages, 257, ft* 

Stella, specimens of her needlework, 289. 

Stone buttons, 122. Censer, 354. Circles, 
137. Vessels, 55. 

Stowe, vellum MSS. preserved at, 343, n» 

Stourhead, 132. 

Stradbally, 195, 364. 

Strafforde, 31, 77, 144, 153, 154, n. 

Strang, 211. 

Stratford-on-Avon, 376. 

Strigul, earl of, 64. 

Stroan, 68. 

Strongbow, 64, 199. Seal of, 240. 

Strutt quoted, 321, 322. 

Stuart, 188. 

Subsidies, 344, n. 

Suck, river, 342, a. 

Summers, 80. 

Sun worshippers, 304. 

Sunderland, 259, ». 

Sundry modes of corporeal punishment, 
256. 

Supples, 93. 

Surrey, lord deputy, 105. 

Swedish army, 25. 

Sweetman family, 382. 

Swift, 287, 289, Dean, pieseryation of his 
hair, 289. 



T. 



Taaffe, 13, 14, 15, 16, »., 19, 31, 93. 

Tailtin, 238. 

Tain Bo-Cuailinie (cattle spoil of Cooley;, 

quoted, 33, oil, 312. Bo-FUodhaisr. 

319. 
Talbot, 153, 156, 170, 284, ». 
Tanner, 84. 
Tapestry, 6, 7* 
Tara, 200, 295, 303, 305, 345, n. Brooch, 

201. Drawings of, 292. 
Tarv Connaire, legend of, 315. 
Taylor, 79, 81, 82. 
Templars, 63, 
Temple church, 63. 
Temple Monaghan, 53, n. 
Templemore, lord, 385. 
Templenagriffen, 252. 
Tem^lenahoe, 252. 
Tenms courts, their aotiquity, 390. 
Termonbarry, 340, n, 
Thalassa Erythros, his death, 318. 
Thames, the river, 172. 
Thanet, isle of, 192. 
ThebauM, 307. 
Thebes, 149, n. 
Theobold, his marriage, 24. 
Thomas, the tenth earl of Omxonde, 5. 
Thomadtown, 68, 113, 176, 196, 200,203, 

367, 377, 385, 386. 
Thomond, 153, 338, 339. 
Thorns, 191, 192. 
Thrace, 149, ». 
Thurles, 380, 387. 
Tibroughny, 101, n. 
Tig-Dhuinn, 136, n. 
Tighe quoted, 242, n., 343, fi. («ee 

O'Taidhg.) 
Timahoe, 192,207. 
Timogue, 193, 194, 195. Monumental 

inscriptions at, 192. 

Timolea^oe,87,287. 

Tiobal, 34. Princess of the ocean, 33. 

Tipperary, 49, 54, 61, 62, 68, 92,93, I2S, 

148, 169, 187, 189, 272, 273, 285, 332. 

w., 366, 378, 379. 
Tir-Briuin-na-sinna, 342,0. Tir-Fhiach- 

rach, 344, 344, n., 345. Tireragb, 344, 

n., 347, n. 
Titus Oates, flogging of, 257, n. 
Tober Gowna, 3)7* Lachteen, 314. 
Tobin, 171, 175,281,286. 
Todd, 290. 

Tombstones, inscriptions on, 194. 
Tomlins, 259, 259, n. 
Tomsky, tumuli at, S75. 
Tonakilla fort, 241. 
Toney, Ralph de, 143. 
Toole, 156, 170,171,366. 



411 



ToraliT, hii three aons, 310. 

Torqnatus, Mi execution, 5, n, 

Torj hill, 97, 99, 100, 187. 

Tounuu, 393. 

Tower of Rattoo, 249. 

Townahend, 135. 

Trabolgan, 309. 

Tralee, 129, 131, 133, 133, 135, »., 136, 

M., 213, 230, 880, 369. 
Trew, the mound of, 238. 
Trim, 287, 293, 312, 388. 
Trinity CoUege, 1 12, 223, 319, 333, n, 
TroUope quoted, 328, fi. 
Troj, the walls of, 296. 
Troyes, 150. 

Trjmlettiiiton, lord of, 106. 
Tuam, 346, fi. 
Tuatfaal, 56, n. 
Tnatha De Uananna, 238, 304, 305. 

Burial place of, 275. Druidi, 33. 
Tuke, 293. 
Tulach-na-coire, 20/. 
Tnlaigh Chiaran, 199. 
Tullaghpiuane, 167, fi- 
Tullaherin, 190, 198, 199. Round tower 

of, 245. 
Tullow, 296. 
Tulsk, 343, fi. 
Tully, 346, n. TuUy Dermot, 289. 

Tullvdruid, 44. Curious discovery at, 235. 
Tullye s chamber, 5. 
Tumbrells, 257. 
Tumulus, discovery of a, 358. Opening of 

a, 275. 
Tumuli, 272, 273« 274, 367. 
Turaghan, its meaning, 246. 
Turner, 299, 302. 
Tyrone, 44, 386. 
Tystede, 270. 



U 



Uairoeas, meaning of the word, 74. 

(Jar, thedruid,214. 

Ui Briuin, 346, 347, 347, n. Seoliu 345, fi. 

Ui Fiachrach Muaidh, 346, 347, 347, »., 

Ui Maine, 341, »., 346, n. 

Uisneach, 346, 347, 347, n. 

Ulster, 32, 33, 103, 215, 311, 315, 338, 

339, 346, II. Ancient history of, 209, 

Creachts, 369. Kerne of; 154. Kings, 

their burial place, 238. 
Umhall, 344, 344, fi., 345, 346, n. 
Underwood, 60, 294, fi. An indefatigable 

collector of Irish antiquities, 293. 
Urns, 298. Discovery of; 43, 44, 367. 
Urlingford, 288, n. Fair green of, 332, n. 
Uson, hi8 boats, 74. 
Usher, 220. 
Ussher quoted, 47, 48, 58. 



Vaghan, 82. 

ViOentia, 138. 

Vallancey quoted, 84, 119, ik, 829, 243, 

244,386. 
Valley of Scota, 214. 
Varaha, or boar incarnation, 309. Va- 

raha-Dwypa, where situated, 309. 
Ventre hauen, 139. 

Ventry, 130, 134, 135, »., 139, n., 204. 
Vicarstown, townland of, 53. ji. 
Vishnu, worship of, 309. 
Voltaire quoted 259, n. 



W 



Wadding quoted, 94. 

Wade, 78, 79, 80, 81,82. 

Wakes, 333. Gamei, their obscenity, 

334, n. 
Wakeman, 124, 286, 876. 
Wall, 166. Family of, 165. UbfiniUjr of, 

in the preservation of Irish aatiqwities, 

206. 
Wallace, 287, n. 
Walle, 166. 
WallenHtein, an authentic account of, 9, 

His death, 207. 
Wale, 155, 166, 
Wales, 85, 315, 
Walpole, 50. 
Walsh, 170, 201, 227, 227, n., 828, 293, 

365,387. 
Walter, Theobald, first chief butler of 

Ireland, 68. 
Ware quoted, 5, 47, 48, 68, 72, 74,75,87, 

88, 144, 268. 268, n., 279, 280. 
Warren, 157, 193, 194, 203. 
Warwickshire, 257. 
Water divers, 36. 
Waterford, 75, 76, 81, 83, 104, n., 119, 

191, 201, 202, 249, 250, 284, 284« n., 

289, 290, 291, 292, 298, 299, 3l3, 387. 

Frandscan abbey of; 201. Original 

documents relating to, 76, 77* 78, 79, 

80, 81, 82. Petition of the dean and 

chapter ot; 78. 
Watters, 199, 333. 
Watts, 81, 82. 
Watson. 365. 
Way, 200, 201, 283. 
Wayside crosses, 212. 
Welch, 885, 288. 
Weld, 243, 245. 
Wellesley, 113. 

Wellington, 102, 103, 114, 114, n. 
Wellbrook, 201, 268, n. 
Weemes, 7. 



412 



Wentworth, 76* 3d3. 

Wedey, 113. 

West Breifii6« 343^ n. 

Weitcoart, 187. 

Westmeath, 347* n. 

West Mniuter, 58, 252. 

Westminster, 152. 

Western islands, 139, ». 

Westport, 345, n. 

Weston, 147, 

Wexford, siege of, 86, 104, »., 298, 384. 

Wbelan, 193. 

Wheeler, 81. 

White, 119, 120, 124, 203, 377- 

Whittle, 155, 164, 165. Jobe, \m great 

age and epitaph, 164. 
WhitU^s, 165. 

Wicklow, 42, 138, 144, 192, 193, 364. 
Wild cats, 305. 
Wilde, 125,275. 
Willianis (Griffith, bishop of Ossory), 162, 

163, 196. 
William III., his treasure chest, 210. 
Wilford, 309, 319. 
Wilkinson quoted, 249, 253. 
Wilson, 211, 234, 236, 289. 
Wilshin, 151. 



Wiltshire, 132, 153. 

Winche, 153. 

Winchester, history of, 222, it., 260, n. 

Wind, 154. 

Windson, 110. 

Windele, 95, 128, 141, n., 20U 230. 242, 
243, 246, 247, n., 2£4, 284, n. 285, 289. 
356. 

Winton, the fat ale-wife of, 264, n. 

Wood pigeons, 153. 

Woods, uie Irish scholar and poet, 3S, ^. 

Woodstock, 269. 

Wogan, 7, 376. 

Wolf-dogs, 149. Declaration againiit trans- 
porting tbem, 149. 

Wolsej, 105. 

Women-lawyers, 260, n. 

Wormins quoted, 232. 

Worsaae, 40, 191, 233, 235. 

Wright, 139, 189, 233, 235. 

Wryothesley, 106, 

Wynne, 286. 



Youghal, 157,200, 201, 307. 



END OF VOL. II. 



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