JJ "> THE TOWERS AND TEMPLES ANCIENT IRELAND. - THE ANCIENT IRELAND; THEIR ORIGIN AND HISTORY DISCUSSED FROM A NEW POINT OF VIEW. BY MARCUS KEANE, M.R.I.A. ILLUSTRATED WITH ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SIX ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD, CHIEFLY FROM PHOTOGRAPHS AND ORIGINAL DRAWINGS. DUBLIN : HODGES, SMITH AND CO., 104, GRAFTON-STREET, PUBLISHERS TO THE UNIVERSITY. 1867. PRINTED BY R. CHAPMAN, Dl'BUN. PREFACE. A RCH/EOLOGY has for the last thirty years engaged a great deal of -^1- public attention ; and on no branch of this science has a larger amount of literary research been bestowed than on investigations respecting the distinctive Architecture and religious systems of ancient Ireland. Having from childhood taken an interest in Irish antiquities, I was led in the course of my studies to form opinions not in accordance with any of the commonly received theories ; and the result has been the following work, now respectfully submitted to the Public as a contribution to the elucidation of certain problems in Irish history and archaeology, which have never been satisfactorily solved. I have furnished as " Introductory Remarks" a brief outline of the theory which I have undertaken to defend ; and I have added a Glossary of Irish and Cuthite terms used throughout the work, with the authorities for the interpretations given to the words by me. These will materially assist the reader in his study of the subject. I have scrupulously avoided all technicalities and erudite expressions, such as would be intelligible only to the scientific student, so that it is hoped the book will be acceptable and instructive to the general reader. Residing as I do in a remote part of the country, my visits to available libraries have been necessarily few and brief, and some trifling errors in reference or quotation may have escaped my pen ; but while craving the reader's indulgence for any such, I would remind him, that they do not in anywise invalidate the main arguments confirmatory of my theory. I have received suggestions, approval, and sympathy from several 2065694 Vlll PREFACE. gentlemen of scientific distinction and extensive research in course of this arduous undertaking, and trust they will accept my grateful acknowledg- ments without individual mention. In the pictorial department of the work I have had the advantage of Mr. Henry O'Neill's graphic pencil, and Mr. George A. Hanlon's wood engraving, and many of the illustrations have been appropriated from Mr. O'Neill's magnificent work on " Ancient Irish Crosses." I beg to acknowledge my obligations to Messrs. Hodges, Smith & Co. for the use of several wood-engravings, of which they possess the copyright. Many of these illustrations appear for the first time in the following work. Some of the engravings also have been executed from very beautiful drawings by Mr. Gordon M. Hills, of London, intended for his forthcoming elaborate and illustrated work on the Round Towers of Ireland. This Work has been projected and completed in the leisure hours snatched from a busy life within the last three years, and neither labour nor expense has been spared in visiting and closely inspecting the numerous sites and specimens of early architecture described or illustrated in the following pages. In the progress of this undertaking I have travelled more than five thousand miles, chiefly on " post-cars." Correct delineation may be relied on, and the situations of the various localities are exactly described ; so that whatever opinion may be formed of my Cuthite theory, I have furnished the Archaeologist, as well as the tourist in search of the picturesque, with a trustworthy and convenient topographical and pictorial guide to the most remarkable Ancient Ruins of Ireland. BEECH PARK, ENNIS, ist November, 1867. CONTENTS PAGE. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, ............ xiii LIST OF AUTHORITIES QUOTED, xxi INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, xxv ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND, ......... i The Irish Celts not builders in stone before the twelfth century, . .7 On the contrast between English Norman and Irish (so-called) Norman architecture, 1 7 Cuthite architecture of Ireland, commonly called " Norman," 25 The Four Evangelists, etc. Sculptures, . . . . 3 1 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY, ...... 35 Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, 45 Catalogue of supposed Saints, and the places associated with their names, . . 53 St. Buithe, St. Mochudee and St. Cronan, 55 St. Luan [the Moon], _ . . . . . . . . . -59 St. Bridgid, St. Declan, St. Moctee, and St. Rioch, 60 Gobban Saer, and St. Abban, . 62 St. Bolcan or Volcan, . 63 St. Molach, .64 St. Dagan, . . 66 St. Satan and St. Diul [the Devil], .66 St. Shanaun [the Ancient Ana, the Mother of the Tuath-de-Danaan gods], . 69 St. Hiarlath, and St. Earc, . 7 J St. Ciaran and St. Nessan, .... ... -73 St. Dair-bile, Dair, and its compounds, ...... 74 St. Columb, St. Finean, and their compounds, 7 8 St. Endee, and its compounds, ....... . . 84 Achad, ... 86 Disart, Ess, and their compounds, .... ... .88 b X CONTENTS. PAGE. Sundry other supposed Saints, . 88 Other foundations of Cuthite origin, . -93 Peculiar characteristics of Irish Saints, . . 94 All Saints existing at each place, . . . 97 Saints and heavenly bodies identified, ... . 98 Aliases of Irish Saints and their numerous temples, . .100 Vast number of monks assigned to each Saint, . . . . . . .100 Ubiquity of Irish Saints, ....... . 101 Compound names of Irish Saints, ....... 102 Aristocratic character of Irish Saints, .... .102 Longevity of Irish Saints, ...... 1 03 Susceptibility of Irish Saints to the plague and leprosy, . .104 Miracles ascribed to Irish Saints, ........ .104 ANCIENT IRISH CROSSES AND PRIMEVAL TRADITION, ... . . in Veneration for the Cross in all ages, ..... ..114 Details of ancient Irish sculpture, .... . ... 125 The Mermaid. The Fish God, .... . ... 125 The Wolf and the Red Hand, 132 The Crosier and Shepherd King, . . . . . . . . . .137 The Yule Log and Palm-tree, ..... .... 143 The Ox and the Centaur, ...... . 146 The Serpent, ......... . . 156 Irish Crucifixion scenes, . . . . . . . . . . . .158 The Mural Crown and Winged Quadruped, ... . .167 Baal-Berith, heathen rite of Baptism, . . . . . . . . .168 The armed warrior and the white horse, ..... 173 ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS, . 179 THE SEMICIRCULAR ARCH, . . . . . . . . . . 197 THE CUTHITES. THE SCYTHIAN EMPIRE, 204 Outline of Cuthite History, ........... 208 Great works of the Cyclopeans, Cuthites, . . . . . . . .213 Cuthite human sacrifices, . . . .. . . . . . -215 Indo-Cuthites, . . . . . . . . . . . . .218 Scythians, Cuthites, . . . . . . . . . . . .220 Shepherd Kings and Phoenicians, Cuthites, . . . . . . . -223 War of the Sexes, the first great commotion, . . . . . . . -225 Knowledge extinguished by the destruction of the Cuthites, 227 Phallic worship, . . . . . . . . . . . . .228 The Black Divinity, . . . . . . . . . . . -230 CONTENTS. XI PAGE. Period of Cuthite dominion, . . . . . . . . . . -231 Daemons, Cuthites, ............ 233 The Hyperboreans, Cuthites, . 235 Concluding remarks on Cuthite History, ........ 242 NOTICES OF SUNDRY ANCIENT RUINS ILLUSTRATING " IRISH PECULIARITIES," . . . 247 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 284 Ancient American architectural ornament, ........ 284 Gobban Saer, 287 Cloich Teach, 295 Fidh Nemphed, ............. 296 Inscriptions on ancient Crosses and Temples, . . . . . ^. . 299 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND, 303 Round Towers, ............. 303 Stone-roofed Temples, . . . . . . . . . . . -322 Stone-roofed Temples of larger size, 323 Buttresses, . . . . . . . . . . . . . -327 Coigns, . 328 Round-headed Doorways, . . . . . . . . . . -329 Cyclopean Doorways, . . . . . 330 Ancient Windows of wide and narrow splay, ........ 330 Sculptured and plain Crosses, . . . . . . . . . . 331 Holy Wells, . 331 Pillar Stones, 332 Holed Stones, 336 Subterranean Passages, . .- 339 Rock Basins, ... 340 The Shrine. The Wooden Image. The Stone Coffin. The Bed, . . . . 342 Chancel Arches, .... 349 Postscript. Sir William Wilde's " Lough Corrib," 351 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS OF SITES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS, 354 Antrim County, 355 Armagh County, -357 Carlow County, 359 Cavan County, ........ . 360 Clare County, 361 Cork County, 379 Deny County, ............. 385 Donegal County, 389 Down County, . . . . . 39 * x ii CONTENTS. PAGE. Dublin County, ... Fermanagh County, Galway County, Kerry County, . Kildare County, . Kilkenny County, King's County, . Leitrim County, . . Limerick County, Longford County, Louth County, . Mayo County, .... 433 Meath County, Monaghan County, Queen's County, 443 Roscommon County, Sligo County, 448 Tipperary County, Tyrone County, .... Waterford County, Westmeath County, ..... Wexford County, Wicklow County, .... GLOSSARY, 47 INDEX, ' 4 ?3 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. NO. PAGE. Frontispiece Title Doorway of Clonkeen, Co. Limerick. ..... iii 1. Blank Arcades of interior of Cormac's Chapel ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . .13 2. Excavations at Carli (East Indies); from a drawing by Henry Salt, Esq., ... 14 3. Interior of Cormac's Chapel ; from Dr. Petrie,. . . . . . . .15 4. The Sarcophagus, called " The Font," at Cashel ; from Dr. Petrie, 16 5. A double Arch of English Norman Architecture ; from the tower of Jarrow Church, Durham. See "Gent. Mag.," Dec. 1864; 22 6. The Four Evangelists of Norman sculpture, Selby Abbey ; from "A Chart of Anglican Church Ornament," by F. Bedford, Jun. Esq., . . . . . -32 7. Corresponding Figures The Angel, The Eagle, The Lion, and The Bull ; from Nineveh sculptures, ......... ... 32 8. The Lion and the Bull at Cashel; from a drawing by the Rev. St. John Mitchell, . 32 9. Sculptures on Northern doonvay of Cormac's Chapel, Cashel, ..... 33 10. Idol found at base of Round Tower, Cashel ; from a drawing by the Rev. St. John Mitchell, 33 11. Sculpture at Cashel ; from a Photograph, ........ 34 12. Juno, the mother of the gods, with the Branch ; from a Coin of Ascalon. See Bryant, vol. 3, p. 84, . . 82 13. Sculpture at Rath, near Dysart, Co. Clare; from a Photograph, .... 82 14. Head-stone of Window at Inchicronan Church, Co. Clare ; from a rubbing, . . 82 15. Cross of Durrow, King's County; from a Photograph by Captain Charles Rollestone, made for Captain George Garvey, R. N., . . . . . . . .112 1 6. Cross of Moone Abbey, Co. Kildare ; from O'Neill's " Ancient Irish Crosses," plate 18, 112 17. Monograms of the Planets ; from Maurice's " History of Hindostan," . . . 115 1 8. Budhist and Egyptian Crosses ; from Hislop's " Two Babylons," " Asiatic Researches," "Wilkinson," 118 19. Head of Bacchus ; from Smith's Classical Dictionary. See " Two Babylons," pp. 69, 291, 118 20. Egyptian Tau ; from " The Gnostics and their Remains," plate 6, . .118 XIV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. NO. PAGE. 21. Heathen Crosses of Ancient America; from Stephens's " Central America," vol. 2. The first three are from sculptures on the tablet of the back wall of Altar at Casa. See Frontispiece to vol. 2, and p. 345. The other Crosses are from hierogly- phics enlarged, .... .....119 22. The Assyrian Dagon; from " Two Babylons ;" Layard's " Nineveh and Babylon," . 126 23. Vishnu incarnate as a Fish to recover the sacred books lost in the Deluge ; from Maurice, ...... . .... 126 24. The Mermaid, Clonfert Cathedral ; from a drawing, . . . . . . .126 25. The Fish worshipped, Cross of Kells ; from O'Neill's " Ancient Irish Crosses," plate 29, 126 26. Two Wolves devouring a man Sculpture on Cross of Kells ; from O'Neill, plate 34, . 132 27. Same design on doorway of Dysart Church, Co. Clare ; from a drawing, . . .132 28. Same design, Cross of Monasterboice ; from O'Neill, plate 21, .... 132 29. Same design, Cross of Moone Abbey; from O'Neill, plate 18, .... 132 30. Same design, Cross of Arboe, Co. Tyrone ; from O'Neill, plate 31, . . . . 132 31. Same design, Sculptures at Glendalough ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . 133 32. Same design, ditto ditto ...... 133 33. Hand bitten off by a wolf, Cross of Kells ; from O'Neill, plate 29, . . . . 134 34. Same design from another Cross at Kells ; from O'Neill, plate 34, . . -134 35. Same design, Cross of Monasterboice ; from O'Neill, plate 19, .... 134 36. Same design, Cross of Kilcullen; from Ledwich's "Antiquities of Ireland," . . 134 37. The Hand on Cross of Monasterboice ; from O'Neill, plate 15, .... 135 38. The Hand on Cross of Clonmacnoise ; from O'Neill, plate 24, .... 135 39. Crosier found at Cashel ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . . . . .140 40. Base of Kilclispeen Cross, Co. Tipperary ; from O'Neill, plate 12, . . .144 41. The Yule-log and Palm ; from Maurice's "Indian Antiquities." See "Two Babylons," p. 141, . . 144 42. Another side of Base of Kilclispeen Cross ; from O'Neill, plate 6, . . . 144 43. Southern doorway of Cormac's Chapel, Cashel; from Dr. Petrie, .... 148 44. Sculpture on wall of Ardmore Cathedral, County Waterford ; from " Gent. Mag.," September 1864, . . . . . . . . . . . -149 45. Sculpture of Ox, Cross of Kells ; from O'Neill, plate 30, ...... 149 46. Sculpture of Ox, on another Cross at Kells ; from O'Neill, plate 29, . . . 149 47. " Hippa Phygalensium" in a cavern temple of Arcadia ; from " Mythologia" (Natalis Comes), Ed. 1637. See Pausanias, 1. 8, p. 686 ; and Bryant, vol. 3, p. 276. The goddess is represented as seated under an arch, . . . . . . -150 48. Northern doorway of Cormac's Chapel, Cashel ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . -152 49. Base of Cross in street of Kells ; from O'Neill, plate 34, ...... 153 50. Cross of Killamery, Co. Kilkenny; from O'Neill, plate i, . . . . 157 51. Cross of Monasterboice, Co. Louth; from O'Neill, plate 14, 160 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XV RO. PAGE. 52. Irish Crucifixion scene, Cross of Monasterboice ; from O'Neill, plate 14, . . . 161 53. Same design on another Cross at Monasterboice ; from O'Neill, plate 20, . . 161 54. Same design on a third Cross at Monasterboice ; from O'Neill, plate 21, . . . 161 55. Same design, Cross of Clonmacnoise ; from O'Neill, plate 23, ..... 161 56. The Crucifixion scene. Early Christian (Irish) Designs, viz : From "Dimma's Box," from " Meeshac," and from St. Columb's " Caah ;" all copied from Sir William Betham's "Antiquarian Researches," plates 6, 7 and 9, ..... 163 57. Crucifixion, Cross of Tuam ; from O'Neill, plate 12, ...... 166 58. Nubian Crucifixion, from M. Rifaud, Paris. See O'Brieh's " Round Towers," p. 336, 166 59. An Ancient Irish Relic ; from the " Dublin Penny Journal," one third of the size of the original, which is in the possession of Mr. W. Maguire, . . . . .167 60. Creeshna crushing the Serpent's head ; from Maurice's " History of Hindostan," . 167 6 1. Crest of Ancient Arms of Ireland; from Sir W. Betham. See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," . . . . . . . . . . .169 62. Head of " Diana of the Ephesians ;" from Kitto's " Illustrated Commentary." See "Two Babylons," p. 43, ........... 169 63. Winged Quadrupeds on base of Clonmacnoise Cross; from O'Neill, plate 24 . .169 64. Winged Quadruped, Cross of Monasterboice; from O'Neill, plate 21 (erroneously described at the engraving as " Duleek, Co. Meath"), . . . . .169 65. Winged Quadruped, Cross of Kells, Co. Meath ; from O'Neill, plate 28 (erroneously described at the engraving as " Monasterboice, Co. Louth"), .... 169 66. Winged Quadruped, Cross of Duleek, Co. Meath ; from a drawing, (erroneously described at the engraving as " Kells, Co. Meath"), . . . . . .169 67. Baal-Berith, or Mithras Bovinus. Sculpture on a Persian Rock Temple, from Theve- not's Travels, part 2, p. 145. See Bryant, vol, 3, p. 295, . . . 170 68. Sculpture of horseman on stone at Annagh Church, near Tralee, Co. Kerry ; from " Kilk. Arch. Journal," vol. 2, p. 242, 174 69. Same design, Cross of Arboe, Co. Tyrone ; from O'Neill, plate 32, . . . . 174 70. Doorway of Kilmacduagh Church, Co. Galway ; from a Photograph, . . .182 71. Doorway at Alatrium, Italy ; from Dodwell, plate 96, ...... 182 72. Doorway at Banagher Church, Co. Deny; from a drawing, ..... 183 73. Doorway of Fechin's Church, Fore, Co. Westmeath ; from Dr. Petrie, . . .184 74. Subterranean Gateway at Alatrium, Italy ; from Dodwell, plate 92, .... 185 75. Doorway at Rattas, near Tralee ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . . . .186 76. Doorway, Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae ; from Dodwell, plate 9, . .186 77. Doonvay, Our Lady's Church at Glendalough ; from Dr. Petrie, . .187 78. Doonvay at Tomgraney, Co. Clare ; from a drawing by Gordon M. Hills, Esq., . 188 79. Gate of the Lions, at Mycenae; from Dodwell, plate 6, ...... 189 80. Doonvay of Gallerus Oratory, Kilmelchedor, Co. Kerry; from Dr. Petrie, . .190 XVI LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. NO. PAGE. 81. Base of Round Tower, Cashel, Co. Tipperary ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . .191 82. Pier at Norba, Italy ; from Dodwell, plate 75, 191 83. Wall at Roselle, Italy; from Sir William Betham's " Etruria-Celtica," . . .192 84. Base of Round Tower of Kilmacduagh, Co. Galway ; from a Photograph, ' . -193 85. Gateway at Ferentinum, Italy ; from Dodwell, plate 99, . . . . .194 86. Doorway of Dairbile's Church, Co. Mayo; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . -195 87. Interior of Giant's house, Bashan ; from Porter's " Giant Cities of Bashan," . -199 88. Doorway of Clonkeen, Co. Limerick ; from a Photograph and Drawing, . . 248 89. Arch of doorway at Dysart, Co. Clare ; from a Photograph, ..... 249 90. Fragment of Pillar found in Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae; from Ferguson's " His- tory of Architecture," . . . . . . . . . . . 249 91. Fragment of Pillar found at Avantipore in Cashmere ; from Ferguson, . . . 249 92. Ornament on doorway of Aghadoe Cathedral, Co. Kerry; from "Gent. Mag.," April, 1864, . . . . . . . . . . . . .251 93. Doorway of Ardmore Round Tower; from "Gent. Mag.," September, 1864, . . 255 94. Lintel, Glendalough; from Dr. Petrie, . . 256 95. Doorway of Britway Church, Co. Cork; from Dr. Petrie, ..... 256 96. Doorway, and details of Ornament on same, Kildare Round Tower; from Dr. Petrie, 257 97. Doorway of Timahoe Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . . .258 98. Ornament of Capital, same doorway ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . . -258 99. Capital, St. Ottmar's Church, Nurnberg ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . . 259 100. Capitals, Freshford Church, Co. Kilkenny; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . 259 101. Doorway of Freshford Church ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . . . .260 102. Arch of Kilmelchedor doorway, Co. Kerry; from a drawing, ..... 265 103. Doorway of Church at Rahen, King's County; from Dr. Petrie, .... 266 104. Doorway at Sheeptown (Knocktopher), Co. Kilkenny ; from Dr. Petrie, . . 267 105. Window of Kilmacduagh Church, Co. Galway; from a Photograph, . . . 269 106. Section of same window from a drawing, ...... 269 107. Window at Annaghdown, Co. Galway, represented as if restored; the ornaments are from a drawing by Gordon M. Hills, Esq., ...... .270 1 08. Window at Rath Church, near Dysart, Co. Clare. The line A B shows an ancient sill-stone used into a modern Window. From a drawing, . . . .272 109. Sill-stone of Ancient Window at Rath ; from a Photograph, . .272 no. Window, Cathedral Church, Glendalough; from a drawing made for Col. Conyng- ham. See Petrie, p. 250, . 273 in. Ornament on same, ., . . . . . . . . . -273 112. Exterior view of Window of Mochuarog's temple, Glendalough; from Dr. Petrie, . 275 113. Exterior view of Window of Church at Iniscaltra, Lough Derg, Co. Galway; from "Gent. Mag.," January, 1866, 275 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XV11 114. Exterior view of Window at Gallerus Oratory, Kilmelchedor, Co. Kerry ; from Dr. Petrie, . -275 115. Interior view of Window at Cormac's Chapel, Cashel ; from a drawing, . . . 277 1 1 6. Interior view of Window at Cruach MacDara, Co. Galway ; from Dr. Petrie, . . 277 117. Interior view of Window at Gallerus Oratory, Kilmelchedor; from a drawing. (See fig 114, for exterior view of same), ......... 277 118. Interior view of Window of temple on Middle Island of Aran; from Dr. Petrie, . 280 119. Exterior view of Window, Cormac's Chapel, Cashel; from Dr. Petrie, . . . 280 120. Exterior view of Window at Rahen, King's County; from Dr. Petrie, . . . 280 121. Specimen of curious Jointing from the Buttress at Coole Abbey, Co. Cork; from a drawing, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281 122. Jointing in the jamb of a window at Cloyne Round Tower, Co. Cork ; from a drawing, 281 123. Jointing in the jamb of doorway of Cloyne Round Tower; from a drawing, . .281 124. Jointing in the piers of the large window at Corcomroe Abbey, Co. Clare. The cen- tre specimen is seen outside of one of the piers, and the others on the inside splays of piers of same window ; from a drawing, . 281 125. Jointing in jamb of doorway of Lusk Round Tower, Co. Dublin; from a drawing, . 281 126. Jointing in the splay of ancient window at Iniscaltra, Lough Derg, Co. Galway. (The window is represented at fig. 113), ......... 281 127. Samples of ancient American Ornament; from Stephens's "Travels in Yucatan," enlarged by photography from sundry illustrations of that work, .... 285 128. Sculpture at New Grange, Co. Meath; from " Gent. Mag ," June, 1865, . . . 286 129. Centre of Cross in Church-yard of Kells, Co. Meath; from O'Neill, plate 28, . . 286 130. Ornament of Window at Ardfert, Co. Kerry ; from a drawing by G. M. Hills, Esq., 286 131. Base of Monasterboice Cross ; from O'Neill, plate 14, ...... 300 132. Ornament under the arms of same Cross; from O'Neill, plate 15, .. . 301 133. Devenish Round Tower ; from a drawing by Mr. Henry O'Neill, . . . . 304 134. Cornice and Ornament on same Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, 305 135. Drumlane Round Tower; from a drawing by Mr. Henry O'Neill, .... 306 136. Doorway of same Tower ; from a drawing by Mr. Henry O'Neill, .... 306 137. Doorway of Roscrea Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, 307 138. Doorway of Donoughmore Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . . 307 139. Doorway of Monasterboice Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, 308 140. Doorway of Dysart Round Tower, Co. Limerick ; from a drawing by Dr. Petrie, . 308 141. Doorway of Clonmacnoise Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, 308 142. Doorway of Dysart Round Tower, Co. Clare ; from a drawing by Dr. Petrie, . . 308 143. Doorway of Kilmacduagh Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, 309 144. Doorway of Glendalough Round Tower; from Dr. Petrie, . . 309 145. Doorway of Antrim Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, 309 C xviii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. NO. PAGE - 146. Ornament over same ; from a drawing by Mr. Henry O'Neill, . 309 147. Doorway of Swords Round Tower; from Dr. Petrie, . 3 10 148. Doorway of Roscom Round Tower; from a drawing by Dr. Petrie, . 310 149. Window of Cashel Round Tower; from Dr. Petrie, 3 11 150. Window of Dysart Round Tower, Co. Limerick ; from Dr. Petrie, . 3 11 151. Window of Timahoe Round Tower; from Dr. Petrie . 3 11 152. Window of Roscrea Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, . 3 12 153. Window of Kells Round Tower ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . 3 12 154. ditto ditto . 3 12 155. ditto ditto . 3 12 156. Window of Cashel Round Tower; from Dr. Petrie, ... 3 T 3 157. View of Round Tower on Aranmore Island, Co. Galway ; from a drawing by Dr. Petrie, 3 : 3 158. View of Kilbannon Round Tower ; from a drawing by Dr. Petrie, . 314 159. View of Rathmichael Round Tower ; from a drawing by Dr. Petrie, . . .314 1 60. View of Drumeskin Round Tower; from a drawing by Dr. Petrie, . . . 315 161. View of Drumcliffe Round Tower, Co. Sligo ; from a drawing by Dr Petrie, . . 315 162. View of Killashee Round Tower, Co. Kildare ; from a drawing by Dr. Petrie, . 316 163. View of Antrim Round Tower ; from a drawing by Mr. Henry O'Neill, . . -317 164. Round Tower at Jorjan in Persia ; from Hanway, 317 165. Round Tower in Hindostan, described by Lord Valentia, . . . . . 317 166. Round Tower of Coel, East Indies; from a drawing by Captain Smith, late 44th Regiment ...... .... 3 T 7 167. Round Tower at Lake Umayu, Peru; from Markham's " Travels in Peru," . . 317 1 68. American Round Tower ; from Stephens's " Yucatan," 319 169. American Round Tower ; from same, . . . . . . . . -319 170. View of Cormac's Chapel, Cashel; from Dr. Petrie, ...... 322 171. View of stone-roofed Temple, Island of Cruach MacDara, Co. Galway; from Dr. Petrie, . ... 327 172. The Mudros of Phoenicia; from Dr. Hyde. See " Collectanea," vol. 4, p. 212, . 334 173. Mahody of Elephanta; from Captain Pyke. See "Collectanea," vol. 4, p. 212, . 334 174. Muidhr of Inis Murry, Co. Sligo; from "Grose's Antiquities," plate 122, vol. 2, . 334 175. Pillar Stone at the Hill of Tara ; from Wakeman's " Handbook of Irish Antiquities," 334 176. Ancient American Holed Stone ; from Stephens's " Yucatan," .... 337 177. Holed Stone at Castledermot, Co. Carlow ; from "Gent. Mag." December, 1864, . 339 178. Ancient Irish Relic, called the Shrine ; from a Photograph of the model in possession of Sir William R. Wilde, M. D., 342 179. Shrine of Ammon ; from an ancient Egyptian Sculpture. See Bryant, vol. i, p. 313, 343 1 80. Capitals of Chancel Arch, Tuam Cathedral ; from Dr. Petrie, .... 349 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XIX NO. PAGE. 181. Chancel Arch and left pier of doorway, Cathedral of Iniscaltra, Lough Derg ; from Dr. Petrie, ............. 350 182. Chancel Arch, Mochuarog's Temple, Glendalough ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . 351 183. Doorway of stone-roofed temple at Killaloe ; from Dr. Petrie, . . . . 371 184. Cross of Kilnaboy ; from Dutton's " Survey of Clare," 373 185. Cuthite device described by Bryant, " two hands joined in union, with ears of corn, and the symbolical Rhoia," from Gorlaeus. See Bryant, vol. 3, p. 339, . . 373 1 86. View of " Gallerus Oratory," in the parish of Kilmelchedor, Co. Kerry ; from Dr. Petrie, 418 AUTHORITIES QUOTED. List of Abbreviations of the titles of some authorities referred to in this work, introduced to avoid the frequent repetition of full titles. ABBREVIATIONS. Archdall, A. 4 M. . Antq. Res. Betham, . Bryant, Collectanea, Chronicles of Eri, Colman, . Davis, Dodwell, . Dub. Penny Jour. Etruria Celtica, Faber, Ferguson, AUTHOR AND EDITION. Monasticon Hibernicum, by Mervyn Archdall, A.M. Dublin, 1786. Annals of Ireland to the year 1616 by the Four Masters, trans- lated by John O'Donovan, M.R. I. A., 5 vols. Dublin, 1848. Irish Antiquarian Researches, by Sir William Betham, F. S. A. Dublin, 1826. See Antiquarian Researches, and Etruria Celtica. Analysis of Antient Mythology, by Jacob Bryant, Esq., 3rd Edition ; 6 vols. London, 1807. Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, by C. Vallancey, LL.D., 2nd Edition, 6 vols. Dublin, 1786. The Chronicles of Eri, by O'Connor, 2 vols. London, 1822. Mythology of the Hindus, by Charles Colman, Esq. London, 1832. Carthage and her Remains, by Dr. N. Davis, F. R. G. S. London, 1861. Cyclopean or Pelasgic Remains in Greece and Italy, by Edward Dodwell, Esq., F. S. A. London, 1834. Dublin Penny Journal, 2 vols. Dublin, 1832, 1833. Etruria-Celtica, by Sir William Betham, Ulster King of Arms, etc., 2 vols. Dublin, 1842. The Origin of Pagan Idolatry, by Rev. George Stanley Faber, D.D., 3 vols. London, 1816. History of Architecture, by James Ferguson, F.R.S., etc., 2 vols. London, 1865. XX11 LIST OF AUTHORITIES QUOTED. ABBREVIATIONS. Franklin, . Fraser, Gent. Mag. Gazetteer, Harcourt, Hislop, Kilk. Arch. Jour. Keating, . Kennedy, Ledwich, . . . Lewis, McCurtin's Die. Martyrology of Donegal, Mon. Hib. Maurice, . Newenham, O'Brien, . : : . O'Brien's Die. . O'Reilly's Die. Ogygia, . Ogygia Vin. AUTHOR AND EDITION. The Jeynes and Boodhists of India, by Lieut. Colonel William Francklin, H. E. I. C. S. London, 1827. Handbook for Travellers in Ireland. Dublin, 1844. The Gentleman's Magazine, published by John Henry and James Parker. London and Oxford. See Parliamentary Gazetteer. The Doctrine of the Deluge, by Rev. L. Vernon Harcourt, 2 vols. London, 1838. Two Babylons, or Nimrod and the Papacy, by Rev. Alexander Hislop, 3rd Edition. Edinburgh, 1862. Transactions of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society. Dublin, 1852-1855. History of Ireland, by Jeoffry Keating, D. D., translated by Dermod O'Connor, 2 vols. Dublin, 1809. Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts, by Patrick Kennedy. London, 1866. Antiquities of Ireland, by Edward Ledwich, LL.D., etc., 2nd Edition. Dublin, 1804. Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, by Samuel Lewis, 2 vols. London, 1837. The English-Irish Dictionary, by MacCurtin. Paris, 1732. The Martyrology of Donegal, 1630, translated from the original Irish, by John O'Donovan, LL.D. Edited by Dr. Todd and Dr. Reeves. Dublin, 1864. Monasticon Hibernicum, printed for William Mears. London, 1722. The Ancient History of Hindoostan, by Rev. Thomas Maurice, 3 vols. London, 1820. Picturesque Views of the Antiquities of Ireland, by Robert O'Callaghan Newenham, Esq. London, 1830. The Round Towers of Ireland, by Henry O'Brien, Esq., A. B. London, 1834. An Irish-English Dictionary, by J. O'Brien, 2nd Edition. Dublin, 1832. An Irish-English Dictionary, by Edward O'Reilly, with a supple- ment by John O'Donovan, LL.D. Dublin, 1864. Ogygia, by Roderic O'Flaherty, Esq., translated by Rev. James Hely, A.B., 2 vols. Dublin, 1793. Ogygia Vindicated, by Roderic O'Flaherty, Esq. Dublin, 1775. LIST OF AUTHORITIES QUOTED. XX111 ABBREVIATIONS. O'Neill's Crosses, O'Neill's Fine Arts, . Par. Gaz. Petrie, Porter, Rickman, Stephens's Yucatan, . Stephens's Cent. Am. Ulster Journal, AUTHOR AND EDITION. Sculptured Crosses of Ancient Ireland (Illustrated), by Henry O'Neill. London, 1857. The Fine Arts of Ancient Ireland, by Henry O'Neill. London, 1863. The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland as existing in 1843-44. London, Dublin, and Edinburgh, 1844. The Round Towers and Ancient Architecture of Ireland, Essay by George Petrie, LL.D. R.I. A. edition. Dublin, 1845. The Giant Cities of Bashan, and Syria's Holy Places, by Rev. J. L. Porter, A.M. London, 1866. Gothic Architecture, by Thomas Rickman, F. S. A., with addi- tions by John Henry Parker, F.S.A. Oxford and London, 1862. Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, by John L. Stephens, 2 vols. London, 1843. Incidents of Travel in Central America, etc., by John L. Stephens, 2 vols. London, 1842. Ulster Journal of Archaeology, edited by Robert MacAdam, Esq. Belfast: Archer & Son, 1853 to 1862. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. A FEW preliminary observations, setting forth the leading arguments ^ * in support of my views, will, it is hoped, be acceptable to the reader. The favorite theory respecting our Round Towers and their contemporary architectural remains is, that they belong to the Christian era of Ireland. My object is to prove, that they were erected for the purposes of heathen worship, several hundred years before the Birth of Christ. Again those who hold the Christian theory are divided into two schools ; one, of which the late eminent Dr. Petrie was the head, maintains, that these ancient build- ings were erected at various periods from the introduction of Christianity, or (more accurately speaking) from the commencement of the 5th to the close of the 1 2th century. The other school maintains, that the period of all these buildings is confined to the i2th and following centuries ; and in support of this conclusion, they reason very soundly on the fact that the Celtic Irish had no buildings of stone and mortar before the i2th century, than which there is no fact in history (resting upon evidence of a negative character) more strongly attested. We have the testimony of contemporary writers that then, for the first time, buildings in stone began to be erected ; the pre- vious structures built by the Irish, whether palaces, churches, or monasteries, XV111 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. being all of wood and earth-work. If, therefore, the beautifully wrought specimens of architecture (illustrations of some of the richest of which will be found throughout this work) be assumed to belong to the Christian era they cannot be assigned to a period earlier than the i2th century ; because, then, for the first time, the Celtic Irish began to substitute stone for wood as a building material ; and not later than the 1 2th century, for then was intro- duced the Gothic or early English style, displaying in Ireland the same archi- tectural character as that of the more civilized country, though the buildings themselves were inferior in decorative skill and artistic completeness. The Round Towers, and other edifices of what may be termed the primitive architecture of Ireland, are commonly classed with the English Norman, from a similarity in the outline ; both having doorways and windows with semicircular heads : but so many difficulties and anomalies present themselves in following up the comparison that several of the most learned and diligent enquirers have given up the subject as utterly inex- plicable. It is manifestly absurd to affirm that a people, who had never previously to the I2th century constructed buildings of stone, and openly expressed their contempt for such structures, should have produced, at their very first essay, so many fine examples of skill in building and sculpture, attesting the early excellence of architectural art, and challenging comparison, even now in their condition of ruin, with the ecclesiastical structures of our advanced period. However, there is a large amount of evidence to prove that some of the finest examples of ancient Irish architecture existed long before the I2th century some as early as the 5th which has induced Dr. Petrie and his school to question the authenticity of the evidence, attesting that the commencement of building in stone among the Irish Celts was not INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. XIX earlier than the i2th century. The anomalies of these interesting and long- pending historical questions are attempted to be explained and reconciled in the following pages. I have stated that the primitive architecture of Ireland is commonly classed with the early English Norman, but a critical examination of both will show, that notwithstanding occasional similarity of outline, they are the works of widely separated eras. Great as may be the varieties of design in the Anglo Norman specimens, they are all alike in one respect, viz : the jambs of doorways and windows are parallel ; whereas in all the specimens of ancient Irish architecture, still remaining in their original positions, the doorways and windows are wider at bottom than at the top ; and in this respect they correspond with the orifices found in the Cyclopean remains of Greece and Italy, which, both in their sculptured ornaments and style of building, exhibit a remarkable resemblance to the Cuthite architecture of ancient Ireland. This one distinguishing and peculiar feature ought to satisfy every impartial student of the subject, that there is as little of identity between the Anglo-Norman and the ancient Irish buildings, as between a Grecian temple and an English theatre. Now while there is ample evidence to prove, that the Irish Celts did not build in stone before the i2th century, another equally important historical fact in support of my views is sustained by even more abundant evidence ; viz. : that antecedent to the Celtic invasion, which took place many centu- ries before our era, Ireland was inhabited by a highly civilized race of building celebrity ; and a careful investigation of the ancient classic and Oriental histories and traditions will clearly prove the identity of this primitive race with the Cuthites of Antiquity, the descendants of Ham, XX INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. about whom Bryant in his " Analysis of Antient Mythology," and Faber in his " Origin of Pagan Idolatry," have so fully written. As a general rule the sites at which the remains of ancient Irish Archi- tecture are found, have their foundation ascribed to Christian Saints reported to have lived in the 5th and 6th centuries. I endeavour to prove that these so-called Saints, with the exception of St. Patrick and a few others, were the divinities or hero-gods worshipped by the earliest apostates from the truth ; who under the names of Cuthites, Scythians, and various other denominations, bore sway in the earth for a considerable period, commencing at the usurpation of Nimrod, the grandson of Ham ; and that Cuthite superstitions traditionally preserved were the origin of Irish legendary hagiology. That so many of these structures should have survived the wasting effects of time and change during an interval of more than three thousand years is accounted for by several causes : First The building stone of Ireland excels in enduring resistance to atmospheric influences the same material in other European countries. Secondly Ireland never having been subjected to Roman dominion, the substantial edifices of the primitive colonists escaped demolition for the construction of an alien architecture. And thirdly the Celtic conquerors of these Cuthite colonists, though themselves despising the art of building in stone, suffered to remain uninjured those edifices to which they ascribed a supernatural origin. ERRATA. The following corrections will have to be made by the reader : * Page 63, line 2^ for " Turough" read "Turlough." Page 77, line i^for " Golan " read " Columb." Page 169, under fig. 64, for Duleek," Co. Meath," read" Monasterboice, Co. Louth." - under fig. 65, for " Monasterboice, Co. Louth," read " Kells, Co. Meath." - under fig. 66, for " Kells, Co. Meath," read " Duleek, Co. Meath." Page 212, line T.for " Ancestor," read" Potentate of the Ancestors." Page 214, line 20, for" Diety," read" Deity." Page 296, line ig.for Brien," read " Brian." Pa ge 335, line 22, for " Genetive," read " Genitive." Page 381, line 26, ) Pa ge 383, line 23, j & USir Henr y Rawlinson," read George Ravvlinson." (though each of them contains a portion of the truth), I trust 1 shall be excused for attempting what I conceive to be a nearer approach to the true solution of this still mysterious problem. I have read many of the treatises, that have appeared upon the subject of Round Towers and other Ancient Ruins of Ireland. At first I did so merely for information, and without any disposition to differ from the views put forward by various writers. However, after much consideration, I have been forced to the conclusion that something is still wanted, and that the generally received theory is not supported by sufficient evidence. My XX INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. about whom Bryant in his " Analysis of Antient Mythology," and Faber in his " Origin of Pagan Idolatry," have so fully written. As a general rule the sites at which the remains of ancient Irish Archi- tecture are found, have their foundation ascribed to Christian Saints reported to have lived in the 5th and 6th centuries. I endeavour to prove that these so-called Saints, with the exceotion of .^i- P-^- 1 ' construction of an alien architecture. And thirdly the Celtic conquerors of these Cuthite colonists, though themselves despising the art of building in stone, suffered to remain uninjured those edifices to which they ascribed a supernatural origin. ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. IRELAND more than any other country of Europe abounds with Ruins, ' such as Round Towers, Sculptured Crosses, and Stone-roofed Churches, many of which display no mean degree of artistic skill. Of such remote antiquity are some of these Ruins, that the age of their foundation has never yet been determined. Questions as to what race of men erected such buildings, and for what purpose they were used, have given rise to much ingenious speculation, and to a vast amount of laborious research. After all that has been written by so many learned authorities, it may be deemed presumptuous to offer any suggestions with the view of further elucidation ; but, believing as I do, that neither of the present leading theories on the subject can meet the difficulties that occur to every inquirer (though each of them contains a portion of the truth), I trust I shall be excused for attempting what I conceive to be a nearer approach to the true solution of this still mysterious problem. I have read many of the treatises, that have appeared upon the subject of Round Towers and other Ancient Ruins of Ireland. At first I did so merely for information, and without any disposition to differ from the views put forward by various writers. However, after much consideration, I have been forced to the conclusion that something is still wanted, and that the generally received theory is not supported by sufficient evidence. My 2 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. conviction of the heathen origin of these ruins has been strengthened in proportion to the increased knowledge, which I have acquired by examination of the Ruins themselves, and by the study of works bearing upon the subject. My object therefore in this work shall be to adduce weighty evidence (amounting, as I believe, to positive proof) in support of my views, not only from the writings of learned men, but also from a comparison of different specimens of Architecture, and from the Topography and Hagiology of Ireland. The late DR. PETRIE'S ESSAY on the Round Towers can never cease to be highly valued. As an artist, he has collected and preserved much that might, but for his exertions, be lost ; and his work will always be found a rich repository for the study of the Irish antiquary. His dissertation may be divided into two parts. First, he undertakes to prove that the Round Towers of Ireland are coeval with the ancient so-called " Norman " stone- ro.ofed Churches and curious Crosses, fou4id so frequently in Ireland ; and secondly, that these stone-roofed Churches and Crosses, as well as the Round Towers, were erected after the introduction of Christianity. I think Dr. Petrie has given satisfactory evidence in proof of his first proposition. He has clearly shown, that many of the Round Towers were erected by the architects of the Crosses and stone-roofed Churches ; but I think that he has failed in his second argument ; and my effort shall be to show, that not only the Round Towers, but also the Crosses, and stone-roofed Churches, are entirely of Heathen origin; and are, in fact, the work of the Tuath-de-Danaans, and their Cuthite predecessors. Having seen that Dr. Petrie's arguments, in proof of the identity of the age of the Towers with that of the other ancient specimens of Irish Architec- ture, were unanswerable, I sought, but in vain, for a single substantial proof of the age of even one of these Churches, to which his work referred. The Doctor grounds his arguments as to the age of the other Churches on the assumption that the age of Cormac's Chapel, Cashel, is " definitely fixed by the most satisfactory historical evidence!' As the settling of the question DR. PETKIES ESSAY. 3 relative to the age of Cormac's Chapel would, in my opinion, put an end to the controversy, I shall now proceed to examine Doctor Petrie's proofs. He says : " The next example, which I have to adduce, is a Church of probably somewhat later date than that of Freshford, and whose age is definitely fixed by the -most satisfactory historical evidence. It is the beautiful and well known stone-roofed Church on the Rock of Cashel, called Cormac's Chapel, one of the most curious and perfect Churches in the Norman style in the British Empire." "In the Munster Annals, or, as they are generally called, the Annals of Inisfallen, the foundation of this Church is thus recorded : U II27. DA THEAMPUL A LlOSMOR AGUS TEAMPUL A. G. CAISIOL, LE COR MAC. " 1127. Two churches [" were erected "] at Lismore, and a church at Cashel by Cormac. " And again, in the same annals, the erection of this Church is thus dis- tinctly stated in the following record of Cormac's death, at the year, 1138 :" [Here follows a lengthened Irish quotation, in which the words CUMDACH TEAMPUILL CORAMAIC occur which Dr. Petrie translates " having built Temple Cormac." The whole passage is thus translated by Dr. Petrie] : " A. D. ii 38. Cormac, son of Muireadhach, son of Carthach, son of Saorbhrethach, son of Donough, son of Ceallachan Cashel, King of Desmond, and a man who had a continual contention for the Sovereignty of the entire Province of Munster, and the most pious, most brave, and most liberal of victuals, and clothing, after having built [" the church called"] Teampull Chormaic, in Cashel, and two churches in Lismore, was treacherously murdered by Dermot Sugach O'Conor Kerry, at the instigation of Turlough O'Brien, who was his own son-in-law, gossip and foster child." " Lastly, thus in the Annals of the Four Masters : ' 1 1 34. TEAMPULL DO ROXAD LA CORBMAC.' ' 1134. The church which was built by Cormac." (See Round Towers, p. 287). 4 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. But Dr. Petrie deprives his argument of all its force by the candid admission made in the following : "It may indeed be objected, that the word CUMDACH, which is used by the annalists to express the erection or foundation of this church, does not literally bear that signification, but rather a restoration or covering of the building, as the word is employed in that sense to denote the covering or casing of a book ; and, in fairness, I should confess that, in the translation of the Annals of Inisfallen, preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy the word CUMDACH is rendered doubtfully ' built, or restored ;' and I should also add, that the verb CUMDACHIM is explained in O'Brien's Dictionary as signifying ' to keep or preserve, to maintain or support, also to build or rather to roof and cover a building.' ' Now it is manifest that the mistake (if it be so), which the Annalists made in using a word literally meaning restoration or covering, to express the erection or foundation of this Church, destroys altogether the weight of Dr. Petrie's most satisfactory historical evidence of the foundation and erection of this Church. The Annals furnish no evidence that Cormac's chapel was built by Cormac M'Carthy. I do not deny that it may have been repaired by him ; although I think it probable that the Church referred to in the Annals was some other, which stood upon the site of the present Cathedral. Dr. Petrie proceeds at some length to object to the definition of the word CUMDACH in O'Brien's Dictionary, whichj be it remarked, is the only one of four ancient Dictionaries (O'Brien's, M'Curtin's, Walshe's and Plunket's), that in any degree countenances Dr. Petrie's translation of the word. The Doctor's arguments are not satisfactory, as proof of a proposition upon which he grounds so much ; but it is needless to occupy space with further explanation. Judging from the information of persons thoroughly acquainted with the language, and competent to form an opinion upon it, I am induced to believe that the Irish word "CUMDACH" would not in any case be correctly translated DR. PETRIES ESSAY. 5 by the English word " to build," except where building was made to protect something already built. The common translation of the word is " to defend," " to protect," " to guard," " to fence." This translation is confirmed by O'Brien's, O'Reilly's, and M'Curtin's Dictionaries. The word is applied to the covering of a book only in this sense as the book is complete in itself before it becomes protected by a cover. The word " RONAD," used in the Annals of the Four Masters quoted above by Dr. Petrie, literally means a " club," or " stake," and turned into a verb should be rendered "staked" or "propped." The verb "RONAD" is frequently used to express the repairing of a building, which, among the Celts, was frequently effected by means of wooden stakes and props ; but the erection of a stone building from its foundation is not expressed by the word. I shall, before I close, have much more to say about the temple called " Cormac's Chapel ;" and shall, I trust, furnish evidence, which ought to convince every intelligent and impartial student of the subject, that it was a Heathen Temple, built before the Christian era. This is but one out of numerous specimens of ancient so-called " Norman" stone-roofed Churches still remaining in Ireland, all of which, as well as the Round Towers and Ancient Crosses, were, I have no doubt, erected by the early Cuthite inhabitants of Ireland. This will be pronounced a bold statement; but I believe the proofs will be found sufficiently strong to convince many, who at first would be ready to condemn the idea as an absurdity the result of a fanciful imagination. My proofs will consist of evidence : i st. That the Celtic Irish, who preceded the English, were not the architects of these beautiful buildings and sculptured Crosses. 2nd. That the English since the Conquest in 1 172 have not built them. 3rd. That Ireland was, up to about a thousand years before Christ, inhabited by a Cuthite race, celebrated for their skill in the Arts particu- larly in that of building. 4th. That Irish Topography and yet extant names prove the identity 6 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. of most of the celebrated Irish saints of antiquity, the reputed founders of these buildings, with the heathen divinities of Canaan and India. These, with some arguments on comparison of architecture, will con- stitute my proofs. Mr. Henry O'Brien's work furnishes evidence that the Round Towers were Heathen ; and Dr. Petrie shows that their architec- ture is identical with that of the ancient stone-roofed Churches. My aim shall be to reconcile their theories, and confirm what is sound in each, by such proofs as the study of Ancient History and Archaeology, assisted by some knowledge of the Irish language and history, may enable me to produce. There is one objection to this theory which I have no doubt will occur to many of my readers. It is the improbability of buildings erected three thousand years ago still remaining in a state of such comparative perfection, as many of the Cuthite ruins of Ireland present at this day. Such objection can have no weight with any one acquainted with the quality of our Irish building stone. There are ecclesiastical edifices in Ireland of known date, which have not been touched for at least 400 years ; and, although exposed to the action of the weather for so long a period, they present at this day all that sharpness of edge and such marks of the stone-cutter's chisel, as might be expected in a building of not more than ten years of age. They have in fact no mark of age save a slight alteration of colour. I refer to the Cloister and Coigns of Quin Abbey, county Clare, and to the Cloisters of the Abbey of Sligo, as illustrations of this remark. The action of the atmosphere has only tended to harden the surface of the stone, and therefore in four thousand years hence if the world last so long specimens of stone cutting in these ruins will be found as perfect as any specimen of a supposed Cuthite ruin now remaining in Ireland, that is to say if not injured otherwise than by the action of time and atmospheric influence. I am aware of the vast difference which exists between English and Irish building stone in this respect. The superiority of the Irish stone sand-stone as well as lime- stone may be owing to the quality of the stone itself combined with more IRISH CELTS NOT BUILDERS IN STONE. 7 favourable circumstances in the action of the atmosphere upon it. Whatever the cause may be, the fact is undeniably as I have stated. The Cuthites must have been excellent judges of the material which they used in their buildings and sculptures, yet they were sometimes deceived in the quality of the stone ; and wherever such a stone of inferior quality exists in their sculptured work, the action of the weather upon it in contrast with the perfection of other stones adjoining, furnishes unmistakable evidence of the great antiquity of the building itself. Some Round Towers and other buildings are made altogether of stone of inferior quality, but the best which the neighbourhood could afford. These buildings present a very rude aspect, having become so weather-worn as to lose every mark of the skilful hands by which they were originally constructed. THE IRISH CELTS NOT BUILDERS IN STONE BEFORE THE TWELFTH CENTURY. A valuable contribution in aid of the study of this vexed question is found in a series of articles by John Henry Parker, Esq., published in the Gentleman s Magazine, years 1864 and 1865. He tells us most truly that " The earlier Churches of modern Europe were generally of wood ;" that " it was not until the Eleventh century that churches were commonly built of stone ; that the building entirely of ashlar or cut stone, was not anywhere attained until the Twelfth century. That the other European nations copied the older buildings of the Romans, but that Roman civilization never penetrated to Ireland. The Irish had no Roman buildings to copy as other European nations had." (p. 5, Jan. 1864). He goes on to say, that after the conquest : " The English brought with them their own manners, their own laws, their own arts. They erected Castles to maintain their power, and to keep the natives in check. They founded monasteries and endowed Cathedrals ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. in expiation of their crimes, and to propitiate the Church, and all these buildings they erected in the style of their own country, modified by having to employ native workmen, and by the nature of the material they had to work on ; and in general, buildings of the same style are later in date in Ireland than in England." (p. 8). The facts, which he adduces on historical authority, are in confirmation of these his opinions, viz. : That it was not until 1331, that " a bell Tower of stone was erected at Christ Church, Dublin." (p. 10). That ''when Henry II. was in Dublin in 1171, he caused a royal palace to be erected for him, with excellent workmanship of smooth wattles, after the fashion of Ireland." (p. 158,^. 1864). And, in describing the Castle built by the English at Clonmacnoise, in 1212, Mr. Parker says : " The keep is massive, with very thick rude Walls, the Windows are mere rude loops, but not very small nor very narrow. The whole appearance of this ruin is that of very rough work of the Twelfth Century, without any ashlar. It is scarcely more advanced in character than Gundulph's keep at Mailing in 1080, and shews that the Architecture of Ireland could not have been in advance of other countries at the time this Castle was built." (p. 158). He adds : " There is no difference in construction between Churches or Towers, and Castles or houses. Stone walls must be built in the same manner, to whatever purpose they are applied ; and it is evident that the Irish were not accustomed to the use of cut stone even at the end of the Twelfth Century" (p. 158). Now, all this is quite true, and fully confirmed by the authorities of Giraldus Cambrensis, Dr. O'Connor, Sir John Davis, and Sir William Petty, quoted by Dr. Ledwich, who says (Coll. vol. ii., p. 124) : " Turgesius, the Danish chief, having in the year 840, subdued this island, examined it round, and at proper stations erected castles and fortresses throughout it. Hence it is, says Cambrensis, that we see at this day an infinite number of intrenchments, very high, round, and many of them triple ; THE IRISH CELTS NOT BUILDERS IN STONE. 9 also walled castles now (A.D. 1185) in good preservation, though empty and deserted ; the remains and traces of former times. For the Irish, continues he, build no castles ; woods serve them for fortifications, and morasses for entrenchments. (Ch. 37). These accounts, our author tells us, he learned from Irish writers, and he himself, who was well acquainted with the Danish settlements at Dublin, Waterford, and Limerick, and with the Danish clergy, many of whom possessed high dignities in the church, suggested nothing to contradict them. Our own writers complain (Walshes Prospect, p. 51) : That being enfranchised from the tyranny of Turgesius, we resigned our- selves to ease and unmasculine laziness ; neglected navigation and fleets, which alone could secure us from fresh attacks ; and were so far blinded as to slight all the Danish fortifications. Dr, O'Connor informs us (Dis- sertations, p. 104, 2nd Ed.) that the buildings of the ancient Scots were for use solely, and not for ostentation. They built their houses of timber, as several nations of Europe have done until very lately, and as some do at this day. They did not conceive that real magnificence consisted in rearing heaps of stone, artfully disposed and closely cemented ; or that real grandeur received any diminution from the humility of its habitation. The first in worthy accomplishments was generally elected to the dignity of magistrature, whether royal or dynastal. In such a country durable or superb structures could not well take place. As the possession was temporary, so was the building. And so far did inveterate customs prevail among the people, that even after their reception of Christianity, they could not be induced to build their churches and monasteries of more durable materials than their own habitations. The exceptions are very few, and the church of St. Kianan, built in the sixth century, is the first instance of any stone-work erected in this kingdom. They had no cities or towns in the earlier ages. In a country where the inhabitants have but few mechanical arts ; where they draw most of their necessaries from the soil they cultivate, and where precious metals are not made equivalents, or signs of national wealth, there can be few or no cities. In their wars with the English they were at last obliged to avail 1O ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. themselves of the arts of their enemies, by erecting castles and other strong- holds. This gave rise to stone buildings in Leinster, Munster, and Con- naught, and soon after in Ulster. The northern bards inveighed bitterly against this innovation, and represented it as a signal that the nation was ripening for foreign subjection Let us, said one of them, pull down those fortresses of the insidious enemy, and cease working for them, by erecting any of our own ; their stratagems will assuredly wrest them out of our hands. Our ancestors trusted entirely to their personal valour, and thought the stone-houses of the Galls a disgrace to courage. Every line of this citation goes to confirm the authority of Cambrensis." Ledwich proceeds to say : " Let us hear Sir John Davis, a candid and intelligent observer : ' Though the Irishry be a nation of great antiquity, and wanted neither wit nor valour ; and, though they have received the Christian faith above 1,200 years since, and were lovers of poetry, musick, and all kinds of learning, and were possessed of a land in all things necessary for the civil life of man yet, which is strange to be related, they did never build any houses of brick or stone, some few poor religious houses excepted, before the reign of king Henry II. though they were lords of the isle many hundred years before and since the conquest attempted by the English. Albeit, when they saw us build castles upon their borders, they have only in imitation of us, erected some few piles for the captains of the country. Yet I dare boldly say, that never any particular person, either before or since, did build any stone or brick house for his private habitation, but such as have lately obtained estates according to the course of the law of England. Neither did any of them in all this time, plant any garden or orchard, settle villages or towns, or make any provision for posterity.' (Historical Researches). " There is at this day (says Sir William Petty, in his Political Anatomy of Ireland] no monument or real argument, that when the Irish were first invaded by Henry II. they had any stone housing at all, any money, any foreign trade, &c. Doctor Campbell, in his Political Survey of the South of IRISH CELTS NOT BUILDERS IN STONE. I I Ireland, positively asserts, that what is reported by bards and others of the magnificent place of Teamor cannot be true, for the hill of Taragh itself is evidence enough to prove, that there never has been a considerable house of lime and stone upon it." I shall conclude this part of the subject with one important fragment of evidence. The Church of Bangor in Down, an ecclesiastical establishment of very ancient repute, began to revive in the twelfth century. The efforts of Bishop Malachi to restore its former greatness are recorded by his friend and biographer, St. Bernard, whose account of the matter, as that of a con- temporary, may be relied on. I quote from an article by Dr. Reeves ; St. Malachi's " first oratory was ' constructed of boards, but well and closely united, a Scotic fabric, respectable enough,' and this was a step in advance of the early structure which probably answered to the description 'of wicker work interwoven like a fence, and surrounded by a ditch.' Subsequently, however [in the year 1 1 20], when foreign travel had enlarged his views, ' it seemed fit to Malachi that he should build at Benchor an oratory of stone, like those churches which he had seen in other countries. But when he had begun to lay the foundations, some of the inhabitants were astonished, for no buildings of the kind were known in that land.' Where- upon a factious crowd gathered around him, and one who was chosen as their spokesman expressed their sentiments in these memorable words : ' O, worthy man, what is your motive of introducing this novelty in our neighbourhood ? We are Scots, not Gauls. Why this vanity ? what need of a work so extravagant, so aspiring ?' The work however proceeded, and subsequently received additions at various times ; but, like the second temple, it fell very far short of primitive greatness, and in process of time, under civil commotions, it dwindled into insignificance and finally became but a name." (Ulster Journal, vol. i. p. 170). This seems to be the first well-authenticated case of stone being used for the erection of a Christian Church in Ireland ; and the surprise elicited by 12 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. such an unusual proceeding is significant. I ask the intelligent and candid reader to reflect for one moment, and he cannot fail to be struck by the absurdity of supposing that the stone-roofed Temple at Cashel a building that for beauty, richness, and variety of sculpture has not been equalled by any modern Irish structure, should have been erected only seven years after this first essay by St. Malachi in building with stone. Erroneous views may be obstinately held, but in time they must yield before the persuasive influence of substantive facts. The several authorities recited seem to furnish us with a perfectly true and consistent picture of the condition of Ireland as to Architecture on the arrival of the English and yet we are asked to believe that Cormac's Chapel, was built by an Irish Provincial Chief who aspired unsuccessfully to the sovereignty of Munster : and that he did build Cormac's Chapel with all its beautiful sculpture, more than forty years before Henry II. erected his " Royal Palace in Dublin of Smoothe Wattles after the fashion of Ireland" and more than 200 years before Christ's Church was furnished with a Bell Tower of Stone. Cormac's Chapel is the only specimen of a Cuthite structure of the temple class in Ireland approaching to its original perfection, and it may be taken as a type of all the others. The general character of the ornament is alike in all -with some trifling varieties and the identity of all with the Round Towers and the Ancient Stone Crosses may be assumed to be proved by Dr. Petrie. As to the general description of this Temple : it appears to have been built without windows sidtable for glass for the lights now appearing in it were manifestly an effort of after times to adapt it to Christian uses. Then, the Temple is built of cut stone within and without, and ornamented with the greatest variety of minute and beautiful Architecture. The two styles of Arches which ornament the interior are furnished to us in Dr. Petrie's work. (Fig. i). "The first represents one of the decorated arches of the blank arcade which IRISH CELTS NOT BUILDERS IN STONE. 13 ornaments the sides of the nave ; and the second, one of the arches of the open arcade which ornaments the apsis, or recess, at the end of the chancel." The door-way and chancel arch are ornamented with columns and capitals all of the same general form, but the ornaments on each are different. FIG. 1. ORNAMENT OF INTERIOR OF CORMAC'S TEMPLE. In Dr. Petrie's work we are furnished with about thirty of the ornaments on these, every one of them presenting a different style of decoration. The Temple is small in dimensions, yet more costly by far in proportion to its size than any ancient Church or Cathedral ever erected in Ireland since the conquest by England. A temple in design and construction unlike any ancient church in Christendom, whose building can be proved to date within the Christian era. A temple roofed with a thorough semicircular arch of cut stone appearing like the interior of one of the Rock Temples of Hindostan. This arch is again surmounted by another cut stone roof, having chambers between both. ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. 1 sSwl>>. ^ PIG. 2. EXCAVATIONS AT CARLI (EAST INDIES), ROCK TEMPLE. Compare the ribs on the under surface of the semicircular roof of Cashel temple (Fig, 3), with the like in Franklin's description of Kandeish Rock Temple. " The second at Kandeish," says Franklin (p. 73), " is a small Temple with a vaulted roof, which, from the shape, and manner of cutting the arched parts of the rock into forms resembling ribs in Naval Architecture, has a striking likeness to the inverted bottom of a ship, to which it has been often compared. At the farthest end is a pyramidal building supposed to contain IRISH CELTS NOT BUILDERS IN STONE. FIG 3. INTERIOR OF CORMAC'S TEMPLE, CASHEL. some relic of the Saint to whom the temple is sacred. In this and the next arched cave, which fell under our observation, the ribs do not appear in the body of the place, as they do in those of Canara, in the Island of Salsette and of Car/i, about half way between Bombay and Poonah, but are seen in the aisles, about the height of the pillars from the floor of the cave." I annex an illustration (Fig. 2), from a drawing by the celebrated Henry Salt, of one of the Rock temples of India at Carli, photographed from a print in the possession of Charles Desborough Bedford, Esq., Montague Street, Portman Square. Even the entwined serpents, the common ornaments of Irish Cuthite Crosses, and the ornament on the Sarcophagus (Fig. 4) called The Font, at the Cashel Temple, have their parallels in Hindostan. Colonel Franklin, describing the Rock temple of Bhilsa, says (p. 84) : " The upper parallels of this costly Temple, says Captain Fell, are beau- i6 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. FIG. 4. "THE FONT," CASIIEL TEMPLE. tifully sculptured with hooded serpents, passing through them in spiral wreaths" Square basons, such as " The Font" at Cashel, are met with in the Rock Temples of the East. In Bryant's Antient Mythology, vol. 5, p. 243, I find the following quotation from Thevenot's travels into the Indies : " ' I saw three temples one over another ; which have but one front all three ; but it is divided into three stories, supported by as many rows of pillars : and in every story there is a great door for the temple. The stair cases are cut out of the rock. I saw but one temple which was arched ; and therein I found a room, whereof the chief ornament was a square bason. It was cut in the rock and full of spring water, which arose within two or three feet of the brim of the bason. . . . The constant tradition was, that all these pagodas, great and small, with all their works, and ornaments, were made by Giants : but in what age they could not tell !' " Dr. Petrie, after informing us that this " Font" was traditionally recorded CONTRAST BETWEEN ENGLISH NORMAN AND ANCIENT IRISH. 17 as the burial place of Cormac, goes on to mention the fact which, he says : " May throw some doubt on the truth of these traditions, or at least so far as they relate to the tomb having been that of the founder of the Church, namely, that, on the opening of the tomb, there was discovered a crozier of exceedingly beautiful workmanship." (Petrie, p. 303). I hope hereafter to show that Croziers are of Cuthite origin. I am convinced by a personal inspection of this ruin (Cormac's Temple), that it was originally made with only small windows not suited for glass. Subsequently, on the Cathedral being built, these windows were deprived of light by the south transept of that building, which crossed them ; where- upon two windows were broken out on the south side of the Chapel, Antiquaries of the last century follow each other in saying that the stone- roofed Churches, which furnish this beautiful architecture, were the first buildings of stone and cement erected by the Irish ; and this they believed for the best reason possible, because they found them to be older than any other buildings to which they could assign a date. But no one who examines these ruins will suppose them to be the work of such a Nation as the Irish were at the period assigned to their construction. The other Irish Temples of this class are (with few exceptions) too small for congregational uses, the nave of Cormac's Chapel measuring only twenty- eight feet by seventeen ; but they make up in costliness of ornamental details what they want in size, and I venture to say that there is not in Ireland a Cathedral, which, in proportion to its size, is so elaborately ornamented as Cormac's Chapel. But this I leave to the reader's judgment. ON THE CONTRAST BETWEEN ENGLISH NORMAN AND IRISH (SO-CALLED) NORMAN ARCHITECTURE. While the ancient architecture of Ireland bears such resemblance to the Norman of England, as to lead superficial observers to the hasty conclusion that the Irish was Norman, borrowed from the English, which of course 1 8 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. was the more ancient ; there are at the same time so many features of striking contrast between the English and Irish styles of architecture, as to present insuperable difficulties to the minds of some English Archaeologists, who have compared them. The Architecture of England is now thoroughly understood ; and thirty years' close examination of its history has reduced it to a Science, about which no difficulty exists. Every particular ornament, with every progressive style of masonry in England is so well known as to be assigned to its particular era, no difference of opinion of even a few years as to the date existing among the learned. The knowledge acquired on the subject is with confidence applied by some to the case of the Irish " Norman" Architecture. But here difficulties commence. The well-known circumstances of the Irish when the English came among them are utterly inconsistent with the idea, that such architecture belongs to the date, to which the principles of English Archaeology would assign it. Intelligent writers on the subject have most correctly concluded, that the Celtic Irish had in fact no native architecture among them when the English arrived : nevertheless they are obliged to notice the fact, that the " Norman" ruins of Ireland abound with distinctive peculiarities. Now the existence of these peculiarities, as well as their superior style of workmanship, are inconsistent with the well-established fact, that the inhabitants, previous to the English invasion, had no skill whatever in building with stone. Their kings palaces were made of smooth wattles of wood. In the course of this work I shall have occasion to treat at considerable length of these Irish peculiarities ; but, for the present, I pause only to observe, that the most striking peculiarities of this primitive architecture in Ireland are those, which specially identify it with that ancient style of CutJiite architecture, so well known under the name of Cyclopean. Let the reader examine the base of the Round Tower of Kilmacduagh. If an intelligent English Archaeologist were to find this specimen of architecture in Greece, he would have no hesitation in at once pronouncing it to be undoubtedly Cyclopean ; but, finding it in Ireland, he reserves his judgment. Ireland CONTRAST BETWEEN ENGLISH NORMAN AND ANCIENT IRISH. 19 abounds with doorways of ruined Temples, called Churches. They have all the Cuthite or Cyclopean characteristic of sloping or inclining jambs. Compare the Cyclopean ruins at Mycene, and Etruria, hereinafter introduced, with sundry Irish doorways. The reputed Saints, to whom Irish Churches are dedicated, will be shown to be nothing more than the Cuthite Pantheon christianised. Every so-called Norman doorway and window in Ireland, which I have examined, and found in its original position, has this Cyclopean peculiarity of sloping or inclining sides ; and I have been informed that a single specimen of such characteristic is not to be found in any existing example of English Norman. The construction of windows is another point, in which the ancient Irish architecture stands in direct contrast with the English Norman. Glass was known throughout England since the eighth century. It was in general use in Churches from the earliest age of Norman architecture. But in Ireland there is no specimen of the ancient so-called Norman window adapted to the use of glass : the only exception to the rule with regard to England being that, in some country Churches specimens of the Early Norman rude loopholes were used instead of windows to admit light. But the rudeness of architecture in such unglazed windows without a morsel of ashlar stands in striking contrast with the Irish windows belonging to the so-called Norman style. Such windows will be made the subject of a subsequent chapter. I shall here only observe that there are hundreds of them in Ireland, and all of the same general character. In respect to masonry, they are all made of the best cut-stone, closely and perfectly jointed, some plain- others highly ornamented with the richest devices of so-called Norman sculpture. But they all exhibit similar characteristics, being constructed so as to admit a very limited supply of light ; they are not adapted for fitting of glass ; and, they have got slightly inclining jambs being generally from half an inch to two inches wider at bottom than at top. The large double window at Kilmacduagh (hereinafter inserted) consists of about 200 super- ficial feet of beautifully executed cut-stone, used to admit about 9 superficial 2O ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. feet of light. This is one of the largest in Ireland; but the characteristics of all are alike, namely, thoroughly well-cut stone little light and no prepa- ration for glass or frame. While hundreds of this class of window are to be found among the " Norman" ruins of Ireland, I have in vain endeavoured to discover from the information of those best instructed on the subject the existence of a single specimen in England of a well-executed window with ashlar jambs having sloping sides, but unprepared for the use of glass. The Anglo-Norman architecture is rude compared to the Gothic or Pointed style, which succeeded it. Mr. Parker, referring to existing examples of early Norman architecture in England (Archaeological Journal, vol. 4, p. 204), notices " a considerable degree of roughness in the masonry" as a characteristic of them all. The examples to which he refers are The Chapel of the White Tower, London ; The Nave of Rochester Cathedral ; and portions of the Cathedrals of Ely, Lincoln, Winchester, Worcester, Gloucester, Durham, Norwich, and Canterbury. Mr. Rickman, writing of the Gothic or Early-English style, says : " After the Conquest, the rich Barons erecting very magnificent castles and churches, the execution mani- festly improved, though still with much similarity to the Roman mode debased. But the introduction of shafts, instead of the massive pier, first began to approach that lighter mode of building, which, by the introduction of the pointed arch, and by an increased delicacy of execution and boldness of composition, ripened at the close of the twelfth century into the simple yet beautiful Early-English style." (Rickman s Gothic Architecture, p. 4). Now if the best specimens of ancient Norman, in the richest localities of England, manifest a considerable degree of roughness in the masonry com- pared to the styles which succeeded them, the very opposite is found to be the case in Ireland. The so-called Norman ruins in Ireland are in point of masonry, and the abundance of ashlar used, as far superior to the Gothic buildings (the genuine Christian Churches) as the Gothic of England is superior to the English Norman. This anomaly has never before been attempted to be explained. CONTRAST BETWEEN ENGLISH NORMAN AND ANCIENT IRISH. 21 English Archaeologists have no difficulty in correctly accounting for the Gothic or Pointed ruins found in Ireland. Almost every Church in Ireland built within the period of authentic history is found to be in the Pointed style, like the English of the same date, but far inferior to the English Churches in point of material and execution. Most of these Churches were subsequently repaired and beautified by the addition of handsome windows, and a greater quantity of ashlar ; but even in their improved state they fall far short of the " Norman" ruins in respect of the quantity and workmanship of the cut-stone used. Randown Church on Lough Ree in the County Roscommon is a good example of the Gothic architecture of its day. It was built in the reign of King John, and, as some writers say, at his express command. The style is the Pointed Gothic, but without a vestige of ornamental work, and the masonry is extremely rude. The inferiority of this Church to buildings of the same age in England may be accounted for on the same principle as Mr. Rickman accounts for the inferiority of the Roman work found in England, which, he tells us, " was rude, and by no means comparable with the antiquities of Greece and Italy, though executed by the Romans." (Rickman, p. 3). There are particular dates assigned to more than a hundred Gothic Churches and Monasteries in Ireland. The earliest are ascribed to the twelfth century ; but there is no historical record whatever of the foundation of a single one of the so-called Norman Churches. Two cases are relied on by some Irish antiquaries as exceptions to this statement one is that of Cormac's Chapel, already noticed ; and the other is that of the Church of the Nuns at Clonmacnoise, to which I shall afterwards allude. The finding of the zigzag ornament on so many Irish ruins has led to the hasty conclusion that such must be Norman ; but we learn from Mr. Rickman, that the use of this ornament is much more ancient than the Norman architecture. He says (p. 4) : " It is curious to observe that the ornament, afterwards used so profusely in Norman work, is used in the buildings of Diocletian, the Corinthian modillions being capped with a 22 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. moulding cut in zigzag, which only wants the enlargement of moulding to become a real Norman ornament." An examination of the Ruins of Palenque and Yucatan, as illustrated by Stephens, will be sufficient to show that this favorite Norman ornament belongs to a period of very remote antiquity. The zigzag ornament may there be found in great profusion and of the same form running in straight bands, as it exists on the southern doorway of Cormac's Chapel. As an evidence of the inferiority of the Irish genuine Christian architec- ture to the English of the same period, I would notice the fact that, while several specimens of Bell-towers of stone of the early Norman period exist in England, there is no proof that any such ever existed in Ireland. It was not till the year 1331, that a Bell-tower of stone was provided for Christ Church in Diiblin. There is one very ornamental appendage to Anglo-Norman Churches, examples of which are to be found in every county in England, viz. a double window supported by a pier (see fig. 5). They are generally used in Bell-towers, and in the fronts of Chapter-houses of Norman date. Hundreds of them exist in England at this day : but there is not, that I am aware of, an ancient specimen of one such in any part of Ireland used as a window, although a few specimens are found in the chancels of some of FIG 5. WINDOW IN JARROW the largest Irish Temples. They are niches, which CHURCH, DURHAM. i 11 j , T O T were probably made to contain Images or Kehcs. I think the fact will be found to be, that, when the general use of stone as material for Churches had begun in Ireland, the period of Norman archi- tecture in England had been succeeded by the Pointed Gothic or Early- English style. All the anomalies relating to the ancient Irish " Norman" architec- ture are altogether irreconcilable with the assumption of its having been CONTRAST BETWEEN ENGLISH NORMAN AND ANCIENT IRISH. 23 borrowed from the English Norman ; but these difficulties are removed by assigning it to the Cuthite Colonists of Ireland, of whose existence in ancient times there is abundance of such evidence, as the nature of the subject is capable of affording. Irish topography, legends, history, language, and hagiology, all point back to a period when Ireland was ruled by a nation who were descendants of Ham, answering to the Cuthites, about whom the learned Bryant has written so much. There is an interesting example of the Irish ancient style of architecture, which, from the topography and legends connected with it, has strongly confirmed my opinions on this subject. It is the church of Kilmelchedor, a small building like Cormac's Chapel at Cashel, but less rich in its variety of ornament. There is a handsome " Norman" doorway of three orders, and the interior is lined with panels, separated by well-cut stone semi- detached semi-circular piers. The locality is the parish of Kilmelchedor in the wilds of Kerry at the extreme west of Ireland. The building is called " Teampull Melchedor," which (as Irish) may be translated " The Temple of the Golden Molach." On the inside of the soffit stone of the doorway is sculptured in relief the head of an Ox the Golden Molach himself. The presence of this emblem of divinity is explained by the learned Bryant, who tells us that " it was usual with the Amonians [Cuthites] to describe upon the architrave of their temples some emblem of the deity who there presided." The Ox's head on the architrave of the " Temple of the Golden Molach" is eight inches broad, and projects five inches above the surface of the stone, which, having been originally seven- teen inches thick, was reduced to twelve inches for its whole length, so as to leave the head five inches in relief. The name is spelled Melchedair in the Martyrology of Donegal (p. 127), the derivation may therefore be Melech, the offspring of Dair, the Oak, which will afterwards be shown to be of Cuthite origin. It is probable that the Temple, as well as its reputed founder, may have been called by both names. The name of the parish is at this day spelled Kilmelchedor and Kilmalkeader. The promontory of Sybil Head 24 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. is in the same locality. All these names are of Cuthite origin, as is also the term " Golden" applied to Molach. Bryant has written at considerable length on " The Golden Age," showing that it referred to the period of Cuthite domi- nion. See Bryant, vol. 4, p. 210. Some Archaeologists to whom Cormac's Chapel presented no difficulty, have been sadly puzzled to account for a beautiful " Norman" Temple in such a remote locality as the parish of Kilmel- chedor. I may add that the tradition of the common people in this place is, that it was erected by supernatural agency in one night. I may also remark here that this legend, of being erected in one night, is never applied to Gothic ruins, but only to Round Towers, Irish Crosses, " Norman" Churches, and such Cuthite relics, which may perhaps be accounted for by the fact that, after a long period of the dominion of the Celts, who had no stone buildings, these beautiful Cyclopean remains could only be explained by the peasantry as the result of supernatural agency. There is another Irish peculiarity which marks the contrast between English Norman and ancient Irish architecture. A striking characteristic of Cyclopean architecture is, that the stones are not set in horizontal courses, but they are so prepared, that the irregularities of one stone are met by the angles of the stones adjoining. This mode of workmanship was evidently designed to communicate strength. The same principle may be perceived, introduced in profusion, throughout the Ashlar masonry of the " Norman" ruins of Ireland. There is scarcely a window of this style throughout Ireland, in which specimens of such masonry are not to be found. Several specimens may be perceived in the cut-stone window of Kilmacduagh : and a variety of others, some very singular examples, may be seen in the illustrations of this book ; but indeed this style of jointing is common through- out the ancient ruins of Ireland ; while I believe scarcely a specimen of the like is to be found in English Norman architecture. Now if so striking a feature of Irish " Norman" ashlar work is absent in England, it is a fact utterly irreconcilable with the theory that the Irish was derived from the English Norman. I have elsewhere shown that CUTHITE ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. 25 the English Norman is rude compared with the several styles which suc- ceeded it, but the opposite is the case in Ireland. There are in Ireland at this day no better specimens of stone cutting and closeness of jointing than the ashlar work of the so called Norman ruins. Norman architecture has become fashionable in Ireland within the past 20 years. Every Church and other building, intended to be expensive and handsome in the extreme, is built in the Norman style. Notwithstanding which there is nothing to be found in Irish modern architecture, which for richness of ornament and costliness of work is worthy of comparison with the Cuthite doorways of Kilmelchedor, Freshford Church or Clonfert cathedral, with their Cuthite peculiarities. CUTHITE ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND, COMMONLY CALLED "NORMAN." I shall in the course of this work have occasion to refer to about one hundred and forty localities where specimens of the style of Irish architecture called " Norman," or fragments of sculpture belonging to the same order, are to be found. I would direct the reader's particular attention to the fact that about a hundred and twenty of these localities are associated with the names of 5th and 6th century saints Cuthite divinities, or Finian heroes. The few that are not connected with such names are foundations, of which no record, written or traditional, has been preserved ; but the topography of most of these places proves that they are undoubtedly as ancient as the others. Now I would ask how it came to pass, that builders of Norman architec- ture in the 1 2th century should invariably have chosen ancient foundations, ascribed to the 5th and 6th centuries, for their sites ? How is it, that the records of the I2th century are silent respecting the erection of these beautiful " Norman" edifices and Crosses, while they are very particular in noticing the erection of Gothic buildings of the same date buildings, which, be it remembered, are much inferior as specimens of artistic skill to the so-called D 26 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. Norman architecture ? The conclusion to be drawn from these facts seems to my mind unanswerable, namely, that we must assign the ancient Irish architecture and sculpture to a date as early at least as the 6th century ; and, as abundance of evidence has already been adduced to prove, that the Celtic Irish (who preceded the Danes and the English) had no architecture or sculpture in stone, we are forced to the further conclusion, that the ancient architecture (which existed in the 6th century) must have been the work of the antecedent Cuthite colonies of Ireland, the names of whose Divinities and Heroes answer to those of the reputed founders of the Irish " Norman" ruins. One very important fact tends to disprove the assumption, that the ancient Irish architecture is Norman. This is, that the so-called Norman architecture has disappeared wherever Norman colonists obtained a perma- nent footing in Ireland. If the reader wishes to visit the best specimens, and in greatest variety, of ancient " Norman" buildings in Ireland, he must go to those remote parts of the country where the Normans were never known to be in occupation ! Several specimens of this ancient style of architecture are found at Glenda- lough in the County Wicklow, but this is owing to the exceptional circum- stance that the district, though within 25 miles of Dublin and surrounded by the English Pale, was held by the O'Tooles, an Irish Clan, " who maintained possession of it with uncontrolled authority till the i *]th century" Clonmacnoise also has its " Norman" ruins, but even to this day that district, unlike the remainder of the King's County, is inhabited by families almost exclusively Irish. Yet, notwithstanding the numerous ruins of Glendalough and Clon- macnoise, I think it will be found that with the exception of Round Towers and Sculptured Crosses, which have been everywhere carefully preserved during the past hundred years a greater number of specimens of Cyclopean and so-called Norman, but really Cuthite architecture exist in the County of Clare and the islands of Aran, Scattery, and Iniscaltra on its coasts, than in the twenty-one counties of Leinster and Ulster. These provinces have CUTHITE ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. 2 7 been occupied almost entirely by English and Scotch settlers, while in Clare the inhabitants have ever been for the most part of exclusively Irish descent. Wherever a good specimen of this architecture is to be met with in Ulster or Leinster, there are generally some exceptional circumstances connected with it to account for its not having disappeared like the others. Thus, for instance, a beautiful doorway (called Norman by archaeologists) is preserved at Kilmore Cathedral in the County Cavan. This relic of ancient times owes its preservation to the fact of Bishop Bedell's having been imprisoned during the wars of Charles the First's time in the island of Cloher Oughter. He there saw this beautiful doorway, which, on being restored to his See, he got transferred to the Cathedral of Kilmore. Here it remained for about 200 years. A new Cathedral having been erected a few years since, the ancient doorway was considered too handsome to be abandoned ; so it was again removed, and is now beyond comparison the richest piece of work in the handsome new Cathedral. There are ten Saints, or Cuthite divinities, recorded in connection with ruins in the County of Clare. Every one of these names is found also in Ulster and in Leinster, but in these provinces the Temples, with which they were associated, have for the most part disappeared, only fragments being left to attest their former existence. Having gone to search for one of these temples in Drumhome parish, County Donegal, which the Ordnance Survey had marked as a Ruin on their map, I ascertained that every vestige of it had disappeared. Meeting shortly after an intelligent farmer of Norman descent, he told me that a very curious little Church had stood on his farm with carved stones and a grave of uncommon construction, but that a short time ago he had thrown down the Church and broken the stones for draining materials ! This, from his description of the ruin and locality, I believe to have been the one for which I had been searching. The efforts of the Government after the Reformation to overcome popular superstition still further account for the disappearance of these ancient Temples, such having ever been the resort of pilgrims, being the 28 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. localities of Holy Wells and other relics of the supposed Saints. Mr. Otway relates of the island in Lough Derg, County Donegal, called " Patrick's Purgatory," that " in 1632 'the State ordered Sir James Balfour and Sir William Stewart to seize unto his Majesty's use this island of Purgatory ; and accordingly we find that Sir William proceeds to the island, and reports that he found an abbot and forty friars, and that there was a daily resort of four hundred and fifty pilgrims, who paid eightpence each for admission to the island. Sir William further informs the Privy Council, that in order to hinder the seduced people from going any longer to this stronghold of Purgatory, and wholly to take away the abuse hereafter, he had directed the whole to be defaced and utterly demolished ; therefore the walls, works, foundations, vaults, etc., he ordered to be rooted up, also the place called St. Patrick's bed, and the stone on which he knelt. These and all other superstitious relics he ordered to be thrown into the lough.' " (Donegal Highlands, p. 64). So effectually did Sir William Stewart finish his work, that not one stone upon another is now to be found on the once celebrated island of Purgatory. Similar records exist with reference to other places, and what is recorded of one place was no doubt done at other localities also. We need therefore have no difficulty in accounting for the disappearance of Cuthite Temples from numerous sites, which are still associated with Cuthite names. I have already observed that English Archaeology has been reduced to a Science, and that the Irish Gothic Architecture fits into the place, to which English Archaeologists would assign it; but not so with the Irish so-called " Norman." Difficulties and anomalies with respect to it present themselves at every step. John Henry Parker Esq. of Oxford is perhaps the most learned man of the age on the subject of genuine Norman Architecture. I doubt whether, for many years, he has experienced any difficulty on questions relating to Norman Churches ; but when he comes to examine the Irish ruins, he confesses that the subject has not yet been mastered. The fact that the Irish had no Roman buildings to copy from, while the English and CUTHITE ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. 29 Continental nations had, presented difficulties to his mind in accounting for the fact, that some so-called " Norman" buildings of Ireland display as much artistic skill as buildings of the same age in England and France ; but he assists us in arriving at the truth, by reminding us that the architec- ture of a country cannot be properly understood without a knowledge of its history. His last sentence of a series of articles on the subject in the Gentleman s Magazine is " The study of Irish Architecture is only commenced, and will require the labour of many heads and hands to work it out as it ought to be." The question then suggests itself, whence was the English and French Norman Architecture derived ? I mean the peculiar characteristics of it, as distinguished from the Roman. A difficult question to answer at this day ; yet it might be accounted for first, by the fact, that, although in the 8th and Qth centuries the Irish despised Architecture, yet their Schools and Colleges, as seats of learning, are generally supposed to have been superior to any in Europe at the time, in proof of which numerous authorities might be adduced, for instance King Alfred is said to have been educated in Ireland, at the college of Baal in Mayo, and all of his time, who desired to become scholars, came to Ireland for education. Now, as some of the most beautiful specimens of our ancient architecture existed in the localities of Irish Colleges, though even then in ruins, it is but reasonable to suppose that they should not be overlooked by some intelligent Architects among the English and other foreigners although disregarded by the Irish. This would in part account for the Norman Architecture in England and other places ; but in addition, it may be said, secondly, that if the Cuthites be assumed to have inhabited Ireland, it may be proved that they had settlements also in England, Scotland, France, and Switzerland; and vestiges of their buildings may have remained so long after, as to suggest designs for Norman Architecture ; however these countries are beyond the range of the .subject of this work. 3O ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. An impartial examination of the whole subject will lead to the con- clusion, that not only these relics of " Norman" Architecture, but also the general form of our ancient Churches with many of their ornaments, had their origin in a Heathen age. M. de Beugnot, a very learned Roman Catholic writer, whose work was sanctioned by the Institute of France, informs us that " After the Council of Ephesus the churches of the East and West offered to the adoration of the faithful the Virgin Mary. They received this new worship with an enthusiasm sometimes too great, since for many Christians this worship became the whole of Christianity. The heathen did not endeavour to defend their altars against the progress of this worship of the Mother of God. They opened to Mary the Temples, which they had kept shut against Jesus Christ, and confessed themselves conquered. It is true, they often mixed with the adoration of Mary those heathen ideas, those vain practices, those ridiculous superstitions, from which they seemed unable to separate themselves. The Church, however, was delighted to see them enter into her bosom, because she knew well that it would be easy for her, with the help of time, to purify from its alloy a worship, whose essence was purity itself." (M. de Beiignot, Histoire de la Destruction du Paganisme en Occident. Vol. ii., 271). His illustration of the fact is in the following note : " Among a multitude of proofs I choose only one, to shew with what facility the worship of Mary swept before it the remains of heathenism which still covered Europe Notwithstanding the preaching of St. Hilarion, Sicily had remained faithful to the old worship [Heathenism]. After the Council of Ephesus [that which offered the Virgin Mary to the adoration of the faithful] we see its eight finest Pagan Temples become, in a very short space of time, Churches under the invocation of the Virgin." These circumstances account for the fact, that not only the buildings, and localities connected with the worship, but the customs and traditions of Heathenism, passed over to Christian uses. Heathen Feasts became Saints' THE FOUR EVANGELISTS SCULPTURES. 31 Days, legends of Heathen Gods became ascribed to Christian mythical Saints ; and the localities, venerated on account of their association with Heathen legends and worship, became the favorite sites of Christian Churches and Monasteries. We learn that Theodoret recommended that, to win the Gentiles, they should present to " them the Saints and Martyrs in lieu of their demi-gods." THE FOUR EVANGELISTS, ETC. SCULPTURES. Among the many relics of Heathenism which were thus transferred to Christianity, I reckon the Winged Bull, the Winged Lion, the Angel, and the Eagle. Whilst other monstrosities of Heathenism were rejected from Christian uses, these were suffered to remain, and were adopted as the emblems of the Four Evangelists. The Christians, who first adopted them as such, never anticipated, that in the nineteenth century similar figures would be found among the ruins of Nineveh, to which Christianity could lay no claim. I believe that they had their origin, like many heathen customs and traditions, in some primeval revelations (probably antediluvian) such as are described in Ezekiel (chap, i.), and elsewhere in Scripture ; and that, like other sacred truths, they became corrupted in after times into the heathen monstrosities exhibited at Nineveh. Fig. 6 is copied from A CJiart of Anglican Church Ornament collected from ancient existing samples by F. Bedford, Jun. " The Emblems of the Evangelists : The Angel (appropriated to St. Matthew) supposed to signify the Manhood of our Lord the Lion, (St. Mark) His Almighty power the Ox or Bull, (St. Luke) His Sacrifice and the Eagle, (St. John) His Resur- rection and Ascension. From a Brass in Selby Abbey Church." In Fig. 7 are the corresponding figures found among the Ruins of Nineveh ; and in Fig. 8 are the Winged Bull and Winged Lion found among the Ruins of Cashel. I merely notice this remarkable coincidence and simili- tude between the three, but I cannot take on myself to say positively whether ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. the Cashel figures are pagan or Christian sculptures, though the fork on the Lion's tail (St. Mark) does not appear on the devices, which are generally admitted to be of Christian origin. FIG. 6. " FOUR EVANGELISTS," NORMAN ORNAMENTS. FIG. 7. CORRESPONDING FIGURES, NINEVEH SCULPTURES. FIG. 8. SCULPTURES AT CASHEL. It is remarkable, in considering the ancient Irish so-called " Norman" Architecture, that, while the strictest uniformity of outline perfectly con- sistent with Architectural taste is preserved, there is in the Irish specimens a rich variety in detail of Ornament. For richness and beauty the speci- mens which remain are not excelled by those found in any other country in FIG. TO. IDOL FOUND AT THE BASE OF CASHEL ROUND TOWER. SCULPTURES AT CASHEL. 33 Europe. It has before been remarked, that of the thirty ornaments of Capitals at Cashel Temple though all alike in outline there are no two of the Capitals alike in the detail of ornament. Fig. 9 represents the orna- ments of opposite Capitals of the Southern doorway. A. 7 FIG. 9. SCULPTURES OF CAPITALS AT CASHEL. Fig. 10 is that of an idol, formed of well-cut limestone, two feet six inches in height, which was discovered some years since, buried several feet under the ground near the base of the Round Tower at Cashel. I believe it to be the emblem of Female nature, the " Grove" of the Scriptures, and possibly the " Fiedh-nemadh" of the Irish, treated of in a subsequent chapter. Fig. 1 1 is another sculpture found among the Ruins of Cashel. There is not a vestige of Christian symbolism to be seen among the devices upon it. The arch with the pointed top has its exact counterpart repeated many times in the view (Fig. 3) of the temple of Carli. Whether it is Christian, or heathen, I will not take upon myself to decide. I am however of opinion, that it is heathen, and therefore I insert it as a Cuthite relic, leaving the reader to judge for himself. There are several Christian Altars in Ireland exhibit- ing much the same outline, but the contrast between them and that at Cashel in respect to detail and elaborateness of design is so marked, as to lead me to believe that the only connection between them is, that the ancient E 2 34 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. FIG. II. SCULPTURED PANELS, CASHEL. Cashel sculpture may have suggested the design for the modern Christian Altar. This piece of Sculpture consists of nine panels, five of which the most interesting are represented in fig. n. The whole piece, as it now stands, is seven feet two inches long, by two feet one inch in height. ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. T3 EFORE proceeding further with the subject of Irish Architecture, I JL>J shall make a short digression upon Irish History, as the one is intimately interwoven with the other. No country in Europe possesses so large an amount of ancient historical records as Ireland, yet objections have been raised as to the genuineness of these records, so as to make them contemptible among the learned. How- 'ever there are few, if any, among those who have studied them, who believe them to be purely inventions ; and, for my own part, I have been often puzzled in forming an opinion upon them, by the evident marks of antiquity, coupled with the ingenuousness of those who recorded them, on the one hand ; and the direct contradictions and absurdities of some of the principal records, on the other. The conclusion to which I have been led is that, Irish History was originally genuine, and extended as far back into remote antiquity as it purports to do ; but that on different occasions it underwent corruption and alteration, owing to various circumstances, which at the pre- sent day deprive it of such value as a relic of antiquity, as attaches to the fragments of Sanchoniathon and Berosus. If neither the English, nor their predecessors the Celts, were the artificers of the Round Towers and Crosses, we must seek in History for some other people more ancient still, whose reputation would justify us in ascribing such works to them. Now we find such a people in the Tuath-de-Danaans, who, Dr. Petrie informs us, (p. 384), "are always referred to as superior to the Scoti in the knowledge of the arts. We learn," he says, " that in the traditions of the Irish the Tuath-de-Danaans were no 36 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. less distinguished from their conquerors in their personal than in their mental characteristics." The age in which the Tuath-de-Danaans flourished corresponds with the period of Cuthite rule elsewhere throughout the world ; and I think it will be found, that there are good historical grounds for concluding also that the Irish colonies of Fomcerians and Nemedians (predecessors of the Tuath-de- Danaans) were of the same Cuthite race. As to proofs on this subject First, we have, on the unanimous testimony of Irish Historians, the fact, that the Tuath-de-Danaans (the last Cuthite Colony that settled in Ireland, about 1,900 B.C.) were learned, and well skilled in Science and Magic. This must be taken as an unquestionable fact, because it is recorded by all His- torians of the Celtic race who subdued the Cuthites. The Celts were ignorant of the use of letters until taught by the vanquished party/' 5 " The Bards or Priests of the Tuath-de-Danaans, after their Phallic worship became interdicted or utterly abolished, continued for generations to be the Musicians, the Poets, the Historians, and finally the flatterers of their masters. These in time, I doubt not, corrupted Irish History by ascribing to the Celtic Chieftains the pedigrees and records of ancient exploits, which properly belonged to their Cuthite or Tuath-de-Danaan predecessors. Thus we find the Celtic pedigrees extending to Noah ; though I very much doubt whether the celebrated Heber and Heremon, their first Kings, could have told the names of their ancestors to the fourth generation. From mingling among the Tuath-de-Danaans, the Celts soon acquired that taste for long pedigrees, of which they afterwards became so proud. This I believe to have been the first great corruption of Irish History. Many names of Tuath-de-Danaan divinities, after their religion was inter- dicted, were ascribed in the mythic legends of the Bards to the supposed Kings * We have the authority of the Book of Ballymote for stating, that the Scythians acquired their knowledge of letters from Ogmus, the Tuath-de-Danaan. (O'Brien's Round Towers, p. 493). LAIC FEAL, OR STONE OF DESTINY. 37 and Heroes of that race ; while the names of real historical personages of the Tuath-de-Danaans were, with their pedigrees, exploits, and wanderings, ascribed by the Bards to their conquerors, the Celts. This corruption of history seems to have been systematized in the reign of Olam Fodla (about 700 B.C.). He revived much of the learning, and some customs of the Tuath-de-Danaans such as the Taltine Games at Tara, and the use of the Laic Feal, or Coronation Stone ; only transferring their traditions to his own Celtic race. He is called the Solomon of the Irish. If we examine the several accounts, which have reached us, of the " Laic Feal," or " Stone of Destiny" supposed to be the Coronation Stone in Westminster Abbey, they will serve to illustrate what I have said respecting the corruptions of Irish History. The Tuath-de-Danaans are stated by the best Authorities to have brought this stone with them to Ireland, together with other wonderful objects said to have been possessed of magical properties. (Keating, vol. i, p. 70). This is the account now generally received in Ireland, and I believe it to be the truth ; but the relic was too venerable as a Coronation stone, not in time to be turned to use by the victorious Celts and accordingly another version of its history was invented. The Chronicles of Eri inform us, that, long before the Celts left Spain, the God " Baal had sent the blessed Stone," Lafail, to their ancestors, with instructions as to its use. Cathac, their Chief, brought it to Ireland, after which the Danaans, hearing of its virtue, did bear it away to Oldanmact, where it remained till the reign of Olam Fodla, who brought it to Tara, and restored it to its original use (O'Connor's Translation,* vol. 2, p. 88). This Olam Fodla is described as " a prince of the most comprehensive knowledge, that ever sat on the Irish Throne. He * I am aware that O'Connor's " Chronicles of Eri " is not looked upon as good autho- rity by learned archaeologists, and that some suppose it to have been a composition by Mr. O'Connor himself. But to my mind the early portion of it bears internal evidence of authenticity as an ancient composition. I believe it to be the work of Olam Fodla, in fact, the work in which he systematized the plagiarisms, by which he assigned to his own ancestors the history and pedigrees of their Cuthite predecessors. In it he brings the 38 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. perused and revised the National Records, erasing all falsehoods and he punished severely all historians who made improper representations" (Keating, vol. i, p. 197). That is to say : He altered the records, in order to suit the pretensions of his own dominant race to that remote antiquity of which Irish Annals treated ; and he enforced these alterations on Historians by severe penal laws. A third legend respecting the Laic Feal, noticed by O' Flaherty, is that, Simon Breac, the leader of a colony of Scythians, came from Spain to invade Ireland "whither he carried the marble stone, we call the fatal stone, on which our kings were installed, and from which Ireland was called Inis Fail, which they say Gathelus brought out of Egypt, or, as some will have, Simon drew up from the bottom of the sea with an anchor, in a great tempest," (Ogygia Vindicated, p. 30). A fourth account of the " Laic Feal," or " Stone of Destiny" (invented after the introduction of Christianity), is, that it was the stone Jacob used for his pillow at Bethel ; that Gad-el-glas, the ancestor of the Celts, received it from Moses when in the Wilderness, and that he (Gad-el-glas) having been bitten by a fiery serpent was cured by looking at the Serpent of Brass, for which reason his descendants used the Snake entwined on a pole for centuries afterwards as their National Standard. (See Keating, vol. i, pp. 208, 213). The true solution of these contradictions I believe to be, that Gad-el-glas Scythian Irish from the banks of the Tethgris [Tigris] to Ibar [Iberia, Spain] before their arrival in Ireland thus far corresponding with Bryant's researches respecting the Cuthite migra- tions from Babylon. The myth respecting the Laic Feal is too flimsy to conceal the truth it covers. I need not notice the improbability of the enslaved Danaans, having heard of its virtues, being able to steal from their conquerors and bear away to Oldanmact [Connaught], their most venerated relic, the Laic Feal. But the truth is transparent through the legend- namely, that the Danaans when conquered took with them from Tara to Oldanmact [Connaught] their own venerated relic, and there retained it until the reign of Olam Fodla, who took forcible possession of the Sacred Stone, finding that without it he could not effect his purposes. Olam Fodla's erasing all falsehoods from the National Records, as he is stated to have done, and his misunderstanding and reconciliation with the Danaans, seem to me very significant circumstances all confirming my explanations regarding this composition. OSSIANS POEMS, ETC. 39 was not the name of a man, much less of an ancestor of the Celts, but the name of the Serpent, which was worshipped by the Cuthites. Mr. O'Brien interprets the name " Gad el Glass" " Green God snake." It was in fact the Serpent of Paradise, which through primeval traditions found its way into the worship of all the nations of remote antiquity. It is also singular and worthy of notice, that the name " Cathac," the Celtic chief who, according to the Chronicles of Eri, brought this Stone from Spain to Ireland, should also answer to the name of the Serpent Cathac is the name of the double- headed Serpent, which, according to yet extant oral tradition, kept possession of Scattery Island, until overcome by St. Shanaun. The traditions of this Serpent, continuing among the people long after all Cuthite worship was abolished, were transferred to Celtic myths, and, after the introduction of Christianity the legend was enlarged by addition of the names of Jacob and Moses, and the Scriptural account of the fiery serpents in the wilderness. The Legendary Poems, ascribed to Ossian and others, seem to have had their origin in remote antiquity, many of the names of their heroes being found to correspond with those of the Tuath-de-Danaan race. Several parallels have lately been drawn in Archaeological Journals, between these legends and similar ones in the extreme East, but space will not permit of my enlarging upon this part of the subject. There appeared in the Ulster Journal, vol. 7, p. 334, a most interest- ing article by Mr. O'Laverty, in which he records several very ancient Irish legends, comparing them with similar legends of the East, and of ancient Grecian Mythology. The coincidence of names and events is wonderful, and is sufficient to prove that the legends are mythological, and not historical. The story of Conloch, the son of the Irish Hero, Cuchullin, is compared with the Persian legend of Rustam. In both cases, the father is described as killing his own son, not knowing him to be such until the time of his death. The Irish King Labhradh Loing-Seach is compared with Midas King 4O ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. of Phrygia, and son of the goddess Cybele. Both had asses' or horses' ears both took equal pains to conceal the fact, but in both instances the manner of discovery of the deformity was the same, and miraculous. Conan of Ossian is compared with the Thersites of Homer. ODuibne of Ossian is compared with Adonis of Greek mythology. Their histories are wonderfully alike. Each is killed by a mystical Boar. The story of the Irish King Balor Beimeaun is contrasted with the Grecian legends of Perseus. The incidents are so much alike in each case, as to prove that both were derived from the same mythological origin. Mr. O'Laverty's article is well worthy the attention of every student of the subject. The second corruption of Irish history took place after the introduction of Christianity. The Bards finding that the Bible records, which they did not venture to question, contradicted theirs in several particulars, undertook to correct the latter, superinducing on the ancient legends names borrowed from Scripture history ; and then were introduced the names of Jacob and Moses, which of course never appeared in the National Records before the Chris- tian era. These circumstances are to be regretted, as they have deprived the most ancient Irish Records of much of that interest, which would have attached to them had they come to us in their original form ; and the manifest contradictions thus occasioned in the Records, touching such points as I have referred to, leave the reader to his own choice, as to which Record (if to either) he will give any credit. I have already said that I believe the Tuath-de-Danaans, the Fomoerians, and the Nemedians to have been different Colonies of the same people ; and that all were Cuthites, or descendants of Ham. Thus Vallancey refers (vol. 4, p. 155), to the state- ment in " the Reim Riogra," or Royal Calendar of Ireland, that this (Tuath- de-Danaan) " Colony was of the family of Cush the Son of Ham." Then follows the pedigree. From the above Royal Calendar (which is admitted to be one of the DANAANS, FOMCERIANS, AND NEMEDIANS, CUTHITES. 41 most genuine authorities) I conclude, that the Tuath-de-Danaans were of the posterity of Cush, which is also confirmed by many other writers on Ireland, although Keating, without quoting any authority, dissents from it. In @ Flaherty s Ogygia, vol. i, p. 19, we read, " Breas, the first King of the Danaans being of the Fomcerian race by his father, and Danaan by his mother ; and Lugad the third King of the Danaans, who was a Danaan by his father and grandson of the King of the Fomcerians by his daughter, put it beyond possibility of doubt that a mutual commerce and intermar- riage subsisted between the Fomcerians and Danaans." In confirmation of Mr. O' Flaherty's opinion, Mr. O Brien furnishes an Irish quotation from the Book of Leccan to prove that the last three Tuath- -de- Danaan Chiefs, who ruled together at the time of the Celtic Invasion, were the sons of Milad, a Fomcerian, by a Queen of the Tuath-de-Danaans (See p. 393). I not only agree with Mr. O'Flaherty in his conclusion, but I believe them to have been of the same Cuthite race, the names of successive colonists being different, but all bearing the same general character. As to the name " Fomcerians," pronounced " Fomorogh," Mr. O'Brien interprets it as meaning " Mariners of Fo" or Budha. Doctor Keating states that the Tuath-de-Danaans, and their predeces- sors the Nemedians, sprung from the same stock. In fact he traces relation- ship between the Nemedians, the Tuath-de-Danaans, and the Gadelians or Scythians, but while other historians noticed by O'Flaherty (vol. i, p. 7), say they were all the offspring of Cham, Keating ascribes their ancestry to Japheth, the son of Noah ; and also, contrary to numerous other respectable authorities, he traces the descent of the Fomcerians or African pirates to Shem, the son of Noah, (vol. i, pp. 49 and 52). The identity of race of early Irish colonists seems to have been generally recognized ; but, after Christianity had brought to light the curse upon Ham and his descend- ants, the Celtic Irish were forced either to abandon the ancient pedigrees which they had assumed, or else to declare the whole stock of ancestors to have been uncontaminated by the blood of Ham. This explanation 42 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. to my mind accounts for the discrepancies which ancient Irish pedigrees exhibit. The name by which the Colony is designated Nemedians I am dis- posed to think is derived from " NEMEADH," holy or consecrated, rather than from " Nemed," the proper name of their Chief or King. This inter- pretation agrees with what would appear to be the pretensions of the first apostates, for Persia was called " Iran," interpreted to mean in the Palahvi language, " Sacred land, or land of believers ;" and the ancient name of Ireland was " Irin" " the Sacred Island." Keating proceeds to tell us, that at Achaia the "Tuath-de-Danaans learned the art of Necromancy and Enchantment, and became so expert in Magical knowledge," that when the city of Athens was invaded by the Assyrians, these Sorcerers by their diabolical charms raised the dead bodies of the Athenians, and brought them next day into the field, which sorely vexed the Assyrians. The force of their enchantment being destroyed by the skill of the Assyrian Druid, they fled, wandering from place to place. (Vol. i, p. 68). It would appear that the Phallic element in the religion of the ancient Irish was specially interdicted in the Celtic worship, the two systems being in certain other respects alike. The Celts worshipped the Sun under the name of Croum on Cromlechs ; but among the traditions of the peasantry the names and customs of the Tuath-de-Danaans never ceased to be traced. It would seem that the Celts, on appropriating the pedigrees and traditions of their predecessors, adopted the names of Graine and Baal (from which such tradi- tions were inseparable), but only as aliases of the name of the Sun. We have a remarkable instance of this in the present Irish name of May- Day *' La Baal Thinna"- the day of Baal's Fire. The name of " Baltinglass," V The Fire of the green Baal," may be also traced to the same source, and it is probable that the name of " the Green God Snake" (Gad-el-glas) may have given rise to Ireland being first called the " Green Island." Who the " Green God" was may be learned from Colemaris Hindu " THE GREEN GOD. 43 Mythology, p. 133, where we find that the primeval Budh the planet Mer- cury (whose monogram we have in a subsequent illustration,) was described as of a greenish colour. Maurice suggests that this monogram represented the Sun and Moon combined with the sacred cross, and that its outline answered to the form of the celebrated caduceus of Mercury the double snake entwined round a rod, answering to the Irish standard of Gad-el-glas, already noticed, (Maurices Hist, of Hindoostan, vol. i, p. 235). It would therefore appear that the colour green was that, in which this snake was originally represented. This would explain the Green Budh of India ; the Green God Snake of Ireland ; the Green Baal, of Baltinglass ; as well as several other names of Irish topography, such as Tirdaglas, the Tower of the Green God (now Terryglass in Tipperary), an ancient ecclesiastical establishment of the 5th century ; also Achad-ur (Freshford, Co. Kilkenny), which may be trans- lated, the Green Achad. The word ACHAD is found in our Irish diction- aries, and rendered " A green field." The real original meaning of ACHAD is furnished to us by Bryant, vol. I, p. 104, of his Anticnt Mytho- logy, who tells us that it was a Cuthite radical, and a term applied by the Amonians to their Deity. (See the subsequent notice of the term ACHAD.) Like many other cases to be found throughout Ireland, the original meaning of this term became obsolete, when the ancient religion with which it was connected was proscribed ; but the name itself still remained in connection with some localities where the worship had been carried on. The name Achad is frequently found in Irish topography, but never that I could discover except in places of ancient ecclesiastical renown ; and therefore it is unreasonable to suppose, that its primary meaning should have been simply " a green field," though such interpretation is sufficiently probable as a secondary signification, after the original use of the term was lost. The May Pole ceremony, with its dancing and rejoicing, was in fact a common mode of celebrating the Feast of Baal at a distance from the Round Tower, or real May Pole ; and it was continued among the peasantry 44 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. as a harmless custom long after the Round Tower worship was interdicted, and after the knowledge of its real origin was lost by lapse of time. Although we know on the highest existing historical evidence, that at the time of the Celtic invasion the Fomcerians or Fomorogh were closely connected with the Tuath-de-Danaan Kings ; yet the contempt, with which posterity was taught to regard their very name, may be judged from the fact, that to this day the Dogfish, a miniature Shark of no value as food and very destructive to its finny brethren, is honoured with the very name " Fomorogh." The humble fisherman knows the word only as the Irish name for the Dogfish. A well-known opprobrious term in use among the Irish to this day BUDH A VOHER (Budh of the Road), by which is meant an idle good- for-nothing vagabond, is, according to O'Brien's explanation, synonymous with " Agious Apollo," " Apollo of the high Road ;" though it is probable that the term, as one of the ancient appellations of the Divinity, was once as much venerated in Ireland as it is now despised. I am disposed on the whole to agree with Mr. O'Brien in ascribing the erection of the Round Towers to the Cuthites, whether under the name of Tuath-de-Danaans, Nemedians, or Fomcerians (the latter of whom are stated to have been the Aborigines), and I also believe them to have been the artificers of the Ancient Crosses and Stone-roofed Temples, as well as of the so-called Bells and Croziers. For, in addition to the evidence that the predecessors of the Celts were a colony of Cuthites, who were well-skilled in all that in their age constituted learning and science, especially in the art of building, of which they have left traces in the Cyclopean Architecture found wherever they had settled all over the world, we have also the strongest presumptive evidence, which such a subject will admit of, that these Towers were not built by any subsequent inhabitants of Ireland, and therefore the conclusion is but reasonable, that they were the work of the Cuthites. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF IRELAND. 45 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF IRELAND. Defective as the ancient political history of this country is, it is truth itself, compared with the narrations in the Lives of the Saints, the supposed Founders of the earliest Christian structures in Ireland. It will be found, that most of the localities of Round Towers, Crosses, and other specimens of (so-called) Norman Architecture of the ancient style, are foundations ascribed to the earliest ages of Christianity in Ireland, namely, the 5th and 6th centuries ; and this period I shall beg leave to call the fabulous age of the Irish Church. How far I am justified in thus desig- nating it is left to the reader to judge. It is also to be observed that they are stated to be the foundations of Saints, many of whom are said to have wrought extraordinary miracles ; and most of the names of these supposed Saints are so suspicious as to lead to the conviction, that they are names of heathen divinities, traditionally pre- served among the peasantry, until early Christian writers -per/taps from well-meaning ignorance ascribed them to Christian Saints. Popular traditions preserved names, and transmitted with comparative accuracy the extravagant legends connected with them ; but Chronology never could be preserved by such means. From the introduction of Christi- anity all literature or written matter remained in the custody of Ecclesiastics, the legends of the Bards having been orally communicated. In after times, when it was thought desirable to ascribe ancient legends to Christian Saints, all were without distinction referred to the 5th and 6th centuries, as of course no celebrated Saint could have been ascribed to a period before St. Patrick. This was the foundation of our Irish Hagiology, which began to be com- mitted to writing about the loth century. The ancient literature seems to have been destroyed by the early Chris- tians, as we read that St. Patrick caused more than 180 volumes of ancient Irish Theology to be burned. But, as I have said, nothing but the loss of 4 6 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. their language could deprive the peasantry of their traditions, or of their faith in them. They seemed indifferent as to whether the subject of a legend were called a saint or a hero, or to the period in which he flourished, provided his name and exploits were correctly preserved. Before proceeding further, I beg to say that I am far from denying the fact, that during these centuries Ireland had many Saints and learned men. However, these learned men did not in their autobiographies, or in the Lives of their contemporaries, furnish us with the facts recorded by Colgan. These I believe to have been founded on compositions written centuries after- wards. Among the Irish Saints we have the names of: ST. BUITHE answering to Boodh, a Divinity of Hindostan. ST. MOCHUDEE ST. DAGAN ST. MOLACH ST. DI(CH)UL ST. SATAN ST. CRONAN ST. BOLCAIN ST. CIARAN ST. NESS AN ST. DECLAN ST. ENDEE ST. SENELL ST. LUAN ST. SHANAUN ST. EARC, ERG ST. BREEDH ST. DIMA Mahody, the Divinity of Elephanta. Dagon, the God of the Philistines. The Idol Moloch of the Bible. The Devil in Irish. Satan, the Destroyer. Cronos, the Titan. Vulcan of Cuthite Mythology. Chiron, the Centaur of Cuthite Mythology. Nessus, the Centaur of Cuthite Mythology. Declain, the God of generation (Irish). The one God (Irish). Senel, The Ancient God. Luan, the Moon (Irish). Shanaun, The Ancient Ana, the Mother of the Gods (Irish), The river Shannon. Earc, the Sun (Irish) : Ere, Heaven (Irish). Breedh, the Irish Goddess of Poets and Smiths. Dimah, the good God (Irish). ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF IRELAND. 47 ST. COCCA answering to Caca, the name of a Cuthite divinity. ST. CAINAN ST. MAELISA ST. DARERCA ST. DAIRBILE ST. DIARMAID, ST. MAEDOG Canaan, the father of the Canaanites. Melissa, a Cuthite divinity representing the Ark. Dair-eirce, the oak of the Ark. Dair-bile, the Oak-tree (Irish). Dair-maide, the Branch of the Oak. Maideog, the emblem of virginity (Irish). In my opinion all these names, with others to be afterwards noticed, can be traced to Heathen derivations, and there are many besides, which are only latinized modifications. The Author of Man. Hid. informs us that there " were some names among the Irish Saints to which sanctity seemed to be inherent." He proceeds to furnish a list, out of which I extract the following. Bearing the name of GOBBAN, there were LASSERENE, CRONAN, FINTAN, SEN AN, MOCHUAN, LUGADUS, BRIDGET, DICHUL, DlARMID, COLOMB, Ten Saints, answering to Eleven Saints, Thirty Saints, Twenty-seven Saints, Twenty-five Saints, Sixteen Saints, Fifteen Saints, Twelve Saints, Twelve Saints, Fifteen Saints, Twenty-four Saints, Gobban Saer. Molach. Cronos, the Titan. the Antediluvian. the Ancient Ana. the Son of the Dove. the Moon, Luan. the Goddess of Smiths. the Devil. the Branch of the Oak. the Dove. Afterwards he proceeds to say : " Nor is it Colgan alone that has advanced a matter so surprising and extraordinary, for St. Keledeus, who was an Irish Bishop, and lived in the 48 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. 7th century, likewise assures us that there had been in that island sixty-two Classes of Saints, who bore the same name, among whom were remarkable thirty-four Mochuminses, thirty-seven Moluans, forty-three Malaises or Laserenes, fifty-eight Mochuans, and to conclude, two hundred Caimans, which much exceeds what Colgan has said. But that which most amazes all readers is, that the Irish Historians pretend to decide the difference between all the Saints of the same name by their several genealogies, and the diversity of the time and place of their birth an undertaking so bold that it does not seem likely. So that it has always hitherto appeared that not only the profane, but also the Ecclesiastical History of Ireland is, more than any other, perplexed with a vast number of the same names of synchronisms and anachronisms." (Man. Hid. Int.) Such is the style of authority so often referred to by antiquaries for historical facts ! To me these legends of numerous Saints of the same name seem quite simple, and just what I should expect. And for this reason, that those, who originally collected the legends, finding the same name to be venerated in many different localities (which must have been the case, if the legends were those of Heathen Divinities) naturally assumed that they were different Saints of the same name, and recorded them accordingly. Such were the materials for Colgan's A eta Sanctorum. For instance, if the Shannon, like the Ganges, was worshipped, its name would be associated with every religious house of Pagan origin along the banks of that river, and so twenty-five St. Shanauns would be found. In offering this explanation of so many Saints of the same name, I do not deny the unquestionable fact, that in subsequent ages of Christianity many Ecclesiastics and real Saints were called after the supposed Saints so much venerated in past ages. Before presenting to the reader a Catalogue of the ancient Ecclesiastical Establishments of Ireland, which are usually the sites of (so-called) Norman Architecture and Round Towers, and the names of their reputed founders, THE IRISH LANGUAGE, 49 I find it necessary to offer a few remarks upon the Irish language. And here I may notice, that all Irish words in English character introduced throughout this work are, as a general rule, spelled as they are pronounced to the English ear the sound of the words being the object intended to be expressed. Whenever an Irish quotation is introduced, or that attention is required to the letters forming a word, the fact is noticed ; and in such cases the words are correctly spelled in English characters, according to the Irish mode of spelling. " The Irish language," says Davies, an intelligent and respectable Welsh writer, " appears to have arrived at maturity amongst the lapetidse*, while they were yet in contact with Aramaean families and formed a powerful tribe in Asia Minor and in Thrace. It may, therefore, in particular instances have more similitude or analogy to the Asiatic dialects, than what appears in those branches of the Celtic that were matured in the west of Europe. Those who used this language consisted partly of Titans, of Celto-Scythians, or of those lapetidse, who assisted in building the city of Babel, and must have been habituated, after the dispersion, to the dialects of the nations through which they passed, before they joined the society of their brethren." (O'Briens Round Towers, p. 58). The Irish language seems to be a compound of the Celtic and Cuthite languages, as the modern English is a compound of the Saxon, French and other languages. t The Celts were at the time of the invasion of Ireland, without literature, having, as I have elsewhere shown, acquired the know- ledge of letters from their Cuthite predecessors. This circumstance * In page 15, vol. 5, of his Antient Mythology, Bryant remarks " lapetus was one of the Titanic race. He was a person of great antiquity, and of the Giant brood. Hence by the lapetidae, the sons of Ham and Chus are undoubtedly alluded to." t In using the expression " Cuthite language," I mean the language spoken by the Cuthites of Ireland previous to the Celtic invasion. I believe that the Cuthites in different countries used different dialects ; but that affinity between all may be traced. I am aware that the Sanscrit, though a dialect of the Cuthite, differs widely from the Irish language.. 50 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. occasioned the adoption by the Celts of the Cuthite language, to a greater extent than is usual for conquerors respecting the language of the vanquished. Such remnants of a Cuthite dialect manifestly furnish the numerous words referred to by the learned in their notices of the affinity between the Irish and the Sanscrit. There is one circumstance in particular leading to the conclusion, that the Irish language is a compound of some ancient Cuthite dialect with the Celtic. It is that most of the words which I call Cuthite compounds have the adjective prefixed to the noun. In this respect the idiom agrees with that of the Sanscrit : whereas, according to the idiom of the modern Irish, the adjective generally comes after the noun : for example FEAR-MOH, a good man, compounded of FEAR, a man, and MOH (spelled MAITH), good. But words, which I would ascribe to Cuthite origin, in most cases have the adjective preceding the noun. Thus in the name ARDFEAR, the tall man .an ancient Scythian hero of Irish history. Almost all Irish words com- pounded of SHAN (old) have this adjective as a prefix, instead of its following the noun. For example SANCHONIATHOR, ancient historian ; SHANDRUM, the ancient hill ; and SHAN-VAN, an old woman. But VAN-CREENA also signifies an old woman the adjective (CREENA, old) coming after the noun ; whence I infer that the SHAN, old, is from the Cuthite, and CREENA, old, is from the Celtic language. The Cuthite compound words, having been generally retained in the Celtic language as proper names, were thus preserved to the present day. I also infer that, as a general rule, the adjective was prefixed to the noun, in which respect it differed from the modern Irish idiom. Objection has been made to my interpretations generally, on the ground that the prefixing of the adjective is contrary to the usage of modern Irish. To such objection I offer these explanatory remarks, leaving the reader to judge whether or not the reply is satisfactory. I would further remark that the learned Bryant, without any knowledge of the Irish language, enumerates several Cuthite radicals, the exact interpretation of which, corresponding with his, may be found in our ordinary Irish dictionaries. "BRYANT'S MYTHOLOGY." 51 An objection has been made to my frequent use of Bryant's authority in questions connected with ancient mythology. This objection is grounded on the fact, that Bryant himself was ignorant of much that has since been learned on this subject respecting India, Egypt, etc. This is so far quite true : Bryant's knowledge was to a great extent confined to what might be learned from ancient Greek classics. But here he stands without a rival. He seems to have been entirely ignorant of the nature of the Cuthite religion, though he frequently refers to it. When writing of Cuthite Towers, which existed wherever that people settled, he suggests that their use was to assist the Cuthites in navigation ; but he did not treat them as temples for religion, much less did he regard them as emblematic devices constructed to represent the Budh, or habitation of divinity. However, his ignorance of matters outside the Greek classics greatly enhances his value as an authority; for if he had known as much as others of the language, history, and legends of Ireland, the numerous coincidences which his work furnishes would not deserve the respect and attention, which, from his ignorance of Ireland, they are now entitled to command. Involuntary testimony is always without bias. I know of no language in which euphony and facility of expression were more studied than in the Irish, as Archbishop Usher terms it " elegant in expression and rich in primitives." Euphonisms and grammatical inflections not only vary the terminations of words, but often destroy altogether the sounds of consonants, so that the words should be read without the proper sounds of such consonants. When the language is written in English cha- racters this effect is usually expressed by the introduction of the letter " h" after such consonants. Since the introduction of the English language, words were sometimes written without the suppressed consonants, according to the sound. This led, as one would naturally expect, to a word being sometimes, improperly, spelled as it should be pronounced : and, at other times, a word is found to be, improperly, sounded as it should be spelled. This should be borne in 52 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. mind as accounting for varieties in the spelling of words and names to be found in the following pages. Vowels also are sometimes changed for the sake of euphony. These euphonisms seem strange to some ; but to the Irish scholar, with whom they are in constant use, nothing seems more easy and natural. Bearing this in mind, any person acquainted with the idiom and usages of the Irish language will at once perceive the appropriateness of many of the roots to which I have assigned names in the following pages. I would not ground any argument on names and their roots, as affording positive proofs ; and I only submit my notes upon them, as offering curious corrobora- tion of what may be inferred from -other proofs. If the heathen origin and foundation of the names could be proved from other sources, the names themselves could not reasonably be expected to have preserved internal evidence of their heathen origin through so long a period more correctly than they have done. When any religious creed is exploded, the words and names peculiar to it become obsolete, unless when preserved in some secondary sense, or appropriated by a subsequent religious system. This remark I believe to be applicable to many words still in use in the Irish language. I may further add, that this purity of Irish names has heretofore been preserved by traditional stories among the Irish-speaking peasantry called " Shanachus," but this means of conservation is fast coming to an end. The Irish language is now so rapidly dying out as a vernacular tongue, that at this day there is not one Irish-speaking person for every hundred there were fifty years ago. The legends, having ceased to be told in the Irish, are, except when committed to writing, fast becoming forgotten and lost ; and the names of places, as well as of the people themselves, are undergoing changes both in sound and orthography suited to the idioms of the English language, which will soon be the vernacular for all classes. It is an important fact, accounting for the care with which ancient names and words were preserved, that the peasantry always committed these CATALOGUE OF SAINTS AND PLACES. 53 legends to memory, repeating the stories verbatim, as handed down from one generation to another. Thus they came to use many obsolete words, which they were most careful to repeat unaltered ; and, stopping in the story to interpret such words was not the least interesting part of the entertainment. These circumstances account for the fact, that the intelligent Irish Ecclesiastics found it impossible to erase from their Calendar such names as Dagan and Molach the heathen origin of which they could not fail to observe. All that remained was to give them aliases, such as Dagens and Molaise, or else to alter the orthography so as in some measure to conceal the derivation. The written language was almost exclusively in the custody of the clergy, but the original sound of the names was preserved with wonderful correctness in the oral traditions of the peasantry, and could not be very much altered. A remarkable example of this is found in the name of the Devil which in Irish is " Dia Bal" (literally, the God Baal), but sounded Diul ; and accordingly we find " Saint Di(ch)ul" was introduced ; it is pronounced as if the bracketted letters were omitted exactly like the Irish name of Satan, " Diul."- -This is one of the names in which sanctity seemed to be inherent, as twelve Saints are said to have borne it " Saint Devil" in Irish ! CATALOGUE OF SUPPOSED SAINTS, AND THE PLACES ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR NAMES. Irish Ecclesiastical History may be considered under two heads Firstly, the early portion, which I believe to be mythological, and grounded on legends of heathen divinities retained among the peasantry from time immemorial, and collected by credulous Ecclesiastics in the eighth and following centuries. Secondly, the real history of the founding of Monas- teries, and of the bishops and abbots who presided over them. These different subjects are so interwoven with each other, that it is sometimes difficult to conjecture whether events related of the fifth, sixth, or seventh 54 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. century belong to the historical or mythological class. No one credits one- tenth of what is told as the history of the Saints, but as there really is some truth in the information given, the student of such matters must to a great extent exercise his own judgment as to what he should receive, or reject. I believe we do not get into the reliable Church History of Ireland until the ninth and tenth centuries ; but I have no doubt that there is much real historical matter in the supposed histories of preceding times. All the names of the Saints, which I would derive from those of the Cuthite divinities, may be found in abundance in the " Martyrology of Donegal," a valuable MS. of the year 1636, recently translated for, and published by, the Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society : but I have seldom referred to it, inasmuch as the work is little more than a catalogue of names and register of numerous miracles of the Saints without dates or references to the places with which they were associated. In the following detailed notice of the early Ecclesiastical Foundations of Ireland, and the names of Saints associated with them, abbreviations are used, viz. : " D" for " Martyrology of Donegal." " A" for " Archdall's Monasticon Hibernicum." " A 4 M" for " Annals of the Four Masters." " M" for " Mears' Monasticon Hibernicum." " P" for " Dr. Petrie's Essay." " L" for " Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland." " F" for " Eraser's Hand-book of Ireland." " Top." for " Topography." " I" for " Introduction." " Loc. Trad." for " Local Tradition. " Coll." for " Collectanea de rebus Hibernicis." [ 55 ] ST. BUITHE, ST. MOCHUDEE AND ST. CRONAN. The first name to which I would direct the reader's attention (as asso- ciating the Irish mythical Saints with the divinities of the Cuthite races) is that of Budh himself. We find that the name of Saint Budhe variously spelled, as the reader will perceive is associated with about forty ancient Ecclesiastical Establishments. These, with a few exceptions including some of doubtful date, are foundations ascribed to the fifth and sixth centuries. I have added a consecutive number to each locality for the purpose of future reference. i MONASTERBOICE, Louth, St. Buithe, 6th cent, (A. 4 M., A. 490). 2 DUNBO, Derry, St. Beoad, 5th cent., (A. 91). The name Dunbo may be rendered " the Stronghold of Budh." 3 ARDCHARN, Roscommon, St. Beoaid, 6th cent, (A. 705). 4 KILNABOY, Clare, St. Baoith, (A. 4 M.). 5 ANTRIM, Antrim, St. Aodh, alias Mochay, St. Cronan, (L. 37, A. 2), 6 KILBOEDAIN, Antrim, St. Boedain, 6th cent, (A. 8). 7 RATHREGENDEN, Derry, St. Boedan, 6th cent, (A. 93). 8 CLONTHUSKERT, Galway, St. Boadan, St. Fathlec, (M. 90, A. 282). 9 INCHYMORY, Longford, St. Boadan, 5th cent, ( A. 439). 10 TAUGHBOYNE, Donegal, St. Baithen, 6th cent, (A. 105). 1 1 TIBOTHIN, Roscommon, St. Baithen, 7th cent, (A. 623). Tibothin, may be interpreted " the house of Bothin." 12 INISBOYNE, alias INIS-BAOITHIN, Wicklow, St. Baithen, (A. 776). 13 INISBOFIN, Mayo, St. Colman, St. Beothan, (A. 497). 14 TEMPLE BOODIN, Wicklow, St. Boodin, (F. 129). 15 CASHEL, Sligo, St. Biteus, 6th cent, (A. 629). Throughout the Catalogue of Saints and their foundations, several Authorities are referred to only for the purpose of assisting the reader to obtain further information respecting the different localities. I find the name of Saint Mochudee connected with several Ecclesiastical H 56 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. Establishments. He was the reputed founder of Monasteries situated in three different provinces of Ireland, viz., in Munster, Leinster, and Ulster. This Saint was also called Carthage, I suppose from the place whence he was imported. We read that he founded the Monastery of Lismore, formerly called " Lismore Mahood," or " the great Mound of Mochudee" and also that of Rahan, of which Dr. Petrie gives us the beautiful illustra- tions of what he calls " Norman " Architecture. This Saint with his nine hundred monks lived at Rathen on herbs and roots. I believe this Mochudee to be identical with the Mahody of Elephanta, described by Capt. Pyke as the Divinity who created the universe. (Coll., vol. 4, p. 212). Both names may be translated into the English words " the good God Budh," thus " the good God Budh" would be written in Irish " Mai[t]h- [B]udh[D]ie," but would be sounded as if the bracketted letters were omitted " Maihudie." So likewise Mochua the founder of Baal, No. 41, may be explained to mean " The good Budh." Cronan, of which name there are no fewer than thirty Saints (M. Int. ) is an Irish alias of the last mentioned, St. Mochua, and has his counterpart in the god Cronos, the Titan (Saturn), whom Faber represents as an alias of the Indian Boodh (see Faber, vol. i, p. 447, also Franklin, p. 42). The Irish word " Moh" (written maith?) so often prefixed to the names of Irish Saints and Hindoo Divinities, means, in English, " Good." The following Ecclesiastical Establishments are associated with one or other of the various aliases of Budh 1 6 LISMORE, Waterford, St. Mochudee, 6th cent, (L. 283, M. 374). 17 RATHYNE, King's Co., St. Mochudee, 6th cent, (A. 727, M. 374). 1 8 KILCHARTAICH, Donegal, St. Carthach, 6th cent, (A. 101). 19 CLONDALKIN, Dublin, St. Mochua, alias Cronan, 6th cent, (M. 8). 20 INIS MOCHUA, Down, St. Mochue, (Ulster your., vol. 4, p. 138). 21 TIMAHOE, Queen's Co., St. Mochoe, alias Cronan, 5th cent, (L. 625). ST. BUITHE, ST. MOCHUDEE AND ST. CRONAN. 57 22 ROSCREA, Tipperary, St. Cronan, 6th cent, (A. 672, M. 375). 23 LUSK, Dublin, St. Macculind, 5th cent., (A. 251, L. 324). 24 IXISPUIXC, Cork, St. Mochuda, St. Cobban, and St. Lasren, (A. 71). 25 IXCHICROXAX, Clare, St. Cronan, (Loc. Trad, and Top). 26 TEMPLE CROXAX, Clare, St. Cronan, (Loc. Trad, and Top.) 2 7 CLUAINDAIMH, Down, St. Mochoemoc, (A. 1 1 2). 28 DRUMBOE, Down, St. Mochumma, 5th cent, (A. 119). 29 MOVILLE, Down, St. Cronan and St. Senell, 6th cent, (A. 124). 30 IXISCAOIN, Leitrim, St. Mochaimoc, son of Endeus, 6th cent, (A. 262). 31 LIETHMORE, Tipperary, St. Mochoemoc, (A. 402). 32 GLENDALOUGH, Wicklow, St. Kevin, St. Mochuorog, 5th cent, (A. 765). 33 INNISFEAL, Wexford, St. Mochonoc, 5th cent, (A. 747). Mochonoc may be interpreted " The Hill of the good Budh," or, more probably, " The Spirit of the good Budh/' from NEACH, a spirit, or apparition. 34 KILKENNY, St. Canice, alias Canic, alias Cainnech, (L. 109, M. 374). Canoe is an alias of MOCHONOC (M. 30), and out of this name another Saint is forged. The genitive case of CANOC makes CANUICE ; and as in the case of St. Molaise who was manufactured from the genitive of Molach, St. Canice is made out of CANOC or MOCHONOC. -Thus we have the origin of the celebrated St. Canice, the reputed founder of the beautiful Round Tower of Kilkenny. The name Canice is still further altered in modern times into the name Kenny (M. 374), from which comes Kilkenny. 35 TAGHADOE, alias TAPTOO, Kildare, (L. 585). This name may be interpreted " The high House of Budh." 36 FIXTAX'S Island, TEMPLECARNE, alias PATRICK'S PURGATORY, Lough Derg, Donegal, St. Dabeoc, 5th cent, (L. 603, M. 375). The name " Dabeoc" may be interpreted " the god Budh," as the word "BEOC" is a well-known inflection of the Irish word Budh. In fact, "BEOC" is the verb of which " BUDH" is the noun. I spell the 58 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. words as they are pronounced, to make them intelligible to the English reader. The names of Croebeach, in Kerry, No. 48, Belbec, in Meath (M. 182), as well as of Balbec in Syria seem to be com- pounds of the word BEOC. 37 ROSCOMMON, St. Aodan, etc. 6th cent, (A. 618). 38 TEMPLESHANBO, alias SEAMBOTHA, Wexford, St. Colman, 6th cent, (L. 614, M. 15). This name " Temple Sham Botha" maybe translated, " The Temple of the ancient Budh," as " BOTHA" is a well-known substitute for the Irish word " BUDH." The use of the alias " BO" or " BOE" for " BOTHA" in this name confirms my interpretation of " BOE," which, as I have elsewhere suggested, was used as an abbreviation of the Irish word " BUDH."* 39 RAPHOE, alias RATHBOTH, Donegal, St. Columb, St. Eunan, (L. 484). 40 RATTOO, Kerry, (L. 509). Rathboth alias Raphoe, and Rattoo, are compounds of the name of " Budh," Rathboth, " the mound of Budh :" Rattoo alias Rathuig, " the mound of Budh." These inflections are easily accounted for, and are consistent with the usages of the Irish language. The change from Rathboth to Raphoe will account for the fact, that in the East the name of " Fo" is often found as an alias of Budh. The use of Boo for Budh in compound words is frequent in India and Egypt. Thus, Mount Aboo, etc. There is another Rathaodha in Westmeath, founded by St. Aid [quere, Budh ?] (A. 727), and a church called Ratoath in Meath, (A. 568). 41 BAAL, Mayo, St. Mochua, alias Cronan, 6th cent, (L. 102, M. 91, 375). Baal, alias Bel, alias Ballagh, alias Ball, alias Balenses (M. 91), is manifestly the god, whom Jehu destroyed out of Israel, (2 Kings, x. 28). At this place is a Round Tower, a " High Place of Baal." I * We learn from that ancient authority The Martyrology of Donegal, that St. Buite (or St. Buide) of Monasterboice was also called St. Beo and Buide, each signifying Fire. (See p. 329). This authority would seem to place my interpretation of Beo beyond doubt. ST. LUAN [THE MOON.] 59 believe the same Heathen divinity to have been the foundation of the names of other ancient ecclesiastical establishments, viz., 42 CONGBAIL, Donegal, St. Fiacre, 6th cent, (L. 395, M. 106). 43 CORBAL, alias MONAINCHA, Tipp., St. Donan, ;th cent., (L. 399, M. 70). Bryant remarks : " Bel, Bal, or Baal, is a Babylonish title, appropriated to the Sun ; and made use of by the Amonians in other countries ; particularly in Syria and Canaan. It signified Kv/ou>c, or Lord, and is often compounded with other terms as in Bel-Adon, Belorus, Bal-hamon, Belochus, Bel-on ; (from which last came Bellona of the Romans) and also Baal-shamaim, the great Lord of the Heavens." Antient Mythology, vol. i, pp. 54, 55. ST. LUAN [THE MOON]. The next heathen divinity, which I would bring under notice, is St. Luan, alias Molua, alias Euan, alias Lugidus, alias Lugad, and Moling, &c. The foundations, with which this Saint under some of his aliases is connected, extend over eight counties in the provinces of Ulster, Leinster, and Munster. Luan is to this day the common Irish word for The Moon. We read that the Saint " might more readily obey some orders he had received from St. Congal, he handled a red-hot iron without being burnt." " He founded many Monasteries to the number of one hundred, as St. Bernard reports he was told by the Irish." " Having laid himself prostrate along the sea shore, . . . the water rising with the flood did not cover the place where he lay" (M. Inf.). We read that there were fifteen Saints of the name of Lugadius, and as Lugidus was one of Luan's aliases, I have set them all down as representing the Moon in the several places where that Planet was worshipped as the symbol of Female nature. 44 TIMOLIN ; MOONE, St. Moling, Kildare, (L. 626). This name may be interpreted " The House of the Good Luan"- the Moon. This interpretation is confirmed by the fact that the adjoining parish is called " Moone," in which is " Moone Abbey." 60 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. 45 TRIM ; RATHOSSAIN, Meath, St. Lunan, St. Ossan, 5th cent., (M. 32, A. 575, L. 643, D. 53). 46 CLUAIN FINCHOL, Armagh, St. Lugadius, 6th cent, (M. no). 47 CLONFERT MOLUA, alias KYLE, Queen's Co., St. Luan, alias Molua, 6th cent, (A. 379, M. 31, Kil. Arch. Jour., vol. 2, p. 52). 48 CROEBHEACH, Kerry, St. Daluan, 5th cent, (A. 301). 49 KILLALOE, Clare, St. Molua, 6th cent, (A. 52). 50 DRUMESKIN (Druimineascluinn), Louth, St. Lugad, (A. 461). 51 DRUMFINCHOL, Meath, St. Lugad, St. Columb, (A. 532). 52 TIR DA CROEB, Meath, St. Lugad, St. Columb, (A. 574). 53 CONNOR, Antrim, St. Lugadius, St. Dima Dubh, (A. 4). ST. BRIDGID, ST. DECLAN, ST. MOCTEE, AND ST. RIOCH. The following foundations have associated with them the names of St. Brigid, St. Declan, St. Moctee, and St. Rioch : 54 BRITWAY, Cork, St. Brigid, 5th cent, (Loc. Tra. and Top.). 55 KILDARE, Kildare, St. Brigid, 5th cent., (A. 322). The name of Brigid is associated with religious foundations in almost every county in Ireland, but they are (except Kildare) either places of no great importance, or else they are ascribed to St. Patrick or other Saints, after whom St. Brigid comes in a second place. St. Brigid was the founder of Kildare. There were twelve Saints of that name. The custom of carrying about an image of that Saint on the eve of the first of February, is evidently derived from heathenism. Her name in Irish is sounded as if it were written " Breedh," and answers to Brida, the Scandinavian name for Venus. Among the Tuath-de-Danaans, Breedh was the goddess of Poets and Smiths. 56 OUGHTERARD, Kildare, St. Bridgid, 6th cent, (P. 403). 57 ARMAGH, St. Patrick, St. Bridgid, 5th cent, (L. 66, M. no). The ancient name of this place was Ard-Macha, which means " the High Place of Macha." In Keating s Ireland, vol. i, p. 78, we have ST. BRIDGET, ST. DECLAN, ST. MOCTEE AND ST. RIOCH. 6 1 the name of Macha, as that of a divinity worshipped by the Tuath- de-Danaans. Bryant remarks on the name " MACAR" " This was a sacred title given by the Amonians to their gods ; which often occurs in the Orphic hymns when any Deity is invoked It was certainly an Amonian sacred term. The inland city Oasis stood in an Egyptian province, which had the same name ; so that the mean- ing must not be sought for in Greece. ... It was certainly an ancient word, and related to their theology ; but was grown so obso- lete that the original purport could not be retrieved." Antient Mythology, vol. i, pp. 83, 85. 58 ARDIMORE, Waterford, St. Declan, 5th cent, (L. 54, M. 55). The Irish word "ARD" means High, or High place, and is found to form part of the name of many localities of Round Towers. Ardmore, anciently Ardimore, is " The High place of the great God." 59 CASHEL, Tipperary, St. Patrick and St. Declan, 5th cent. The name of St. Declan may be literally translated " the God of generativeness," from " DE," God, and " CLAIN," to engender or beget. He is described as one of the most ancient and celebrated of Irish Saints, and a predecessor of St. Patrick. Ardmore, the " High place of the great God," was his principal seat. 60 KILMORE EADAN, Armagh, St. Moctee, St. Eodan, 6th cent, (L. 184, M. no). Moctee may be translated " Son of God," and answers to Thor the Scandinavian divinity, who, according to Faber, is represented as the " First-born of the Supreme God." The name also answers to the Irish " Tor," the mystical Bull, the Apis or Osiris of Egypt else- where referred to. 6 1 INISBOFINE, Longford (Lough Ree), St. Rioch, 5th cent, (M. 47). The name Rioch, as representing an evil spirit, is well known in the 62 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. west of Clare, and is commonly used as an Irish curse, " May the Rioch take you." The Deity of the Ark, Rhoia, which signified a pomegranate, is mentioned by Bryant (vol. 3, p. 237). I therefore conclude, that the Irish word Rioch was one of the Cuthite appellations of the Ark, or emblem of Female nature. St. Rioch is said to have been the son of Darerca the Oak of the Ark. GOBBAN-SAER, AND ST. ABBAN. The names of St. Abban and St. Gobban occupy a conspicuous place in connection with ecclesiastical foundations of Ireland. Believing both names to represent the ancient Irish Gobban Saer, I have classed them together. A future chapter will be devoted to the consideration of Gobban Saer, as the reputed builder of Round Towers. The foundations with which the name of Gobban is connected, either as Saint or builder, extend into the four provinces of Ireland. The name Gobban-Saer is known in every parish in Ireland, where the native language is still spoken. His reputation is that of a builder and artizan of extra- ordinary skill. Several of the Round Towers are ascribed to him as the builder. The name Gobban-Saer may be interpreted " the Free-Mason Smith," and as such he may answer to Vulcan of the Romans and to Tubal- Cain of the Scriptures " an instructer of every artificer in iron and brass." The identity of St. Abban with the celebrated Gobban-Saer seems placed beyond all doubt by the following facts. First, that the Abbey of Brigoon (Cork) founded by St. Abban, was anciently called Bal-Gobban and Brigh- Gobban. Secondly, St. Abban himself, like Gobban-Saer, had an extraor- dinary reputation for building ; for we read that, " the same Saint [Abban] was a great builder, and founder of regular houses, for he erected fifteen in several parts of Ireland, if we may believe Colgan." (M. p. 59). If the usual prefix MOCH, " good," were used with Gobban, the sound of ST. BOLCAN OR VOLCAN. 6l o the G would be lost, and the name would sound " Moch Abban." The Good Gobban. St. Abban is described as a contemporary of St. Patrick. (M., pp. 57, 372, and Int.). I therefore assign his foundations to the 5th century. The following are among the foundations ascribed to St. Gobban, St. Abban, or to Gobban Saer : 62 BRIGOON, alias BAL-GOBAN, St. Abban, Cork, 5th cent., (M. 59). 63 KINSALE, Cork, St. Gobban, 5th cent, (M. 57). 64 DAR INIS, Wexford, St. Gobban, (A. 735). 65 KILLAMERY (Killamruidhe), Kilkenny, St. Gobban, (A. 366, L. 123). St. Gobban is said to have presided at Killamery over a thousand Monks. There is a beautifully sculptured Cross at this place. 66 KILABAIN, King's Co., St. Abban, 5th cent., (M. 30, A. 398). 67 FETHARD, Wexford, St. Abban, 5th cent., (M. 18). 68 Ross, Wexford, St. Abban, 5th cent, (M. 16). 69 LEIGHLIN, Carlow, St. Gobban, (A. 36, L. 249). 70 TEGHDAGOBHA, Down, St. Gobhan, (A. 129). 71 KILCRUIMTHIR, Cork, St. Abban, (A. 73). 72 CAMROS, Wexford, St. Abban, (A. 733). 73 KILCULLEN, Kildare, St. Abban, 5th cent, (M. Int.). 74 CORCOMROE, Clare, Gobban-Saer, and Sheela (Loc. Trad, and Top.). 75 KNOCKMOY, Galway, Gobban-Saer, (Loc. Trad, and Top.). 76 KILLALA, Mayo, Gobban-Saer, and St. Patrick, (Loc. Trad). 77 TUROUGH, Mayo, Gobban-Saer, and St. Patrick, (Loc. Trad.). 78 BALLYVARNEY, Cork, St. Abban, St. Gobnata, (L. 169, A. 57). ST. BOLCAN OR VOLCAN. St. Bolcan is stated to have flourished in the 5th century. His mother died about the year 440. After her interment a noise was heard in the grave, which being immediately opened, the child (St. Bolcan) was provi- 64 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. dentially taken out alive (A. 13). I think it probable, that this Saint Bolcan was Vulcan himself. The Irish letters B and V being interchange- able, the name of Bolcan may answer to either the Vulcan of the Romans or to Tubalcain of the Bible (Gen. iv. 22). The foundations with which the name of St. Bolcan is associated are 79 BOITH BOLCAIN, Antrim, St. Bolcain, 5th cent, (A. 3). 80 KILASPUIC BOLCAIN, Antrim, St. Bolcain, 5th cent, (A. 8). 8 1 KILMORMOYLE, Mayo, St. Bolcan, 5th cent, (A. 503). 82 ARTHUR MIGHE (ARMOY), Antrim, St. Bolcain, 5th cent, (A. 13). 83 KILCHULE, Roscommon, St. Bolcain, (A. 612, L. 63). ST. MOLACH. The name of the Canaanitish divinity Molach is associated with numerous ancient ecclesiastical establishments throughout ten counties of Ireland. The names which I identify with Molach are divided by the biographers of the Saints into two classes, the first that of Molach, with his aliases, Molagga, and Mochellog. The second class is that of Molaise, with his aliases, Molassus and Laserine. I unite the names of Molach and Molaise with their numerous aliases under one head for the following reason. The Irish word " Molach" in the genitive case makes " Molaice," pronounced " Molicca," so that " The Temple of Molach" would therefore be written " TEAMPUIL MOLAICE. Bryant says (Antient Mythology, vol. i, p. 87) : " Melech, or, as it was sometimes expressed, Malech, and Moloch, betokens a king ; as does Malecha, a queen. It was a title, of old, given to many deities in Greece ; but, in after times, grew obsolete and misunderstood." There is in the west of Clare a very ancient religious establishment called Mullogh by the peasantry, although in the ecclesiastical registers it is called Kilmurry-Ibricane. I believe the origin of the name " Murry" to ST. MOLACH. 65 be as ancient as. Molach himself, and that it meant the Muidhr the stone of the Sun, of which we shall have much to say in a subsequent chapter. In the first name among the ecclesiastical establishments, with which the name of Molach is associated, we find the name Murry connected with it, viz. 84 INIS MUIDHR, alias INIS MURRY, Sligo, St. Molasse, 6th cent, (A. 635). 85 KILMALLOCK, Limerick, St. Molach, 6th cent, (L. 171, M. 63). 86 TULLY-GRAIN (The Hill of the Sun), Cork. 87 DEVENISH, Fermanagh, St. Molaise, 6th cent, (L. 458, M. 107). 88 EGHROIS, Sligo, St. Molaise, 6th cent, (M. 88). 89 ARDMACNASCA (quere, Ram Island?), Antrim, St. Laisrean, (A. 2). 90 KILMELCHEDOR, alias KILMALKEADER, Kerry, St. Brandon, (L. 178). At this place is a beautiful Ruin Temple Melchedor interpreted, " the Temple of the Golden Molach." See notice thereof in a subse- quent part of this work. 91 TULACH-MHIN, alias TULLAMAIN, Kilkenny, St. Molac, (A. 80, M. 58). Archdall has erroneously mentioned this establishment as of Cork County, adding that " the place is unknown." 92 KENNITH, Cork, St. Mocolmoge, (L. 229). 93 TEMPLE MOLLOGA, Cork, St. Mologga, 6th cent, (L. 607). The last named place is literally translated The Temple of Moloch. Laserine is one of this Saint's aliases, and therefore the several Irish churches dedicated to the forty-three Saints, who are said to have borne that name, may be properly set down as Temples of Molach. There are several other ecclesiastical foundations throughout Ireland, with the names of which the god Molach is associated, viz. TEMOLOG, alias TYMOLOGA, Cork, (L. 625, M. 267); MULLAGH, Cavan ; also MULLOGH, in Clare ; KILMOLAG, in Wexford. I would add to the list of Molach's temples in Ireland the several places called by the name of TALLAGH, alias TAMLAGHT, alias TAVELAGH. There are several places of this name (besides the well-known 66 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. foundation in the neighbourhood of Dublin), viz. in the. counties of Londonderry, Tyrone, and Waterford and, judging from the remains of heathenism found at each place, as well as from the other names of heathen divinities associated with these localities, I would assign them all to the idol Molach. TAMLAGHTARD in Londonderry is said to have been founded by St. Columban in the 6th cent. If the name were written Tam(o)laghard introducing the letter o, it would be fairly interpreted " The High House of Molach," and if so written, it would be properly pronounced TAMLAGHARD, according to the idiom of the Irish language. In the Roman Catholic parochial union of Tamlaghtard (London- derry), where there is said to have been a Round Tower, part of the district is called Drumboe the Hill of Budh the Sun; and Aghanloo the ford of Luan the Moon. ST. DAGAN. The next heathen divinity, which I would notice, as a supposed Irish Saint, is Dagon (M. I), alias Dagan, alias Dagain, alias Dagens. He seems not to have occupied so important a position in Ireland as he did among the Philistines, for we are told he was smith to the celebrated St. Kieran [alias Chiron, the Centaur], His name is associated with the following foundations, all of the 6th cent. 94 INNISKEEN, Monaghan, St. Dagens, 6th cent, (L. 22). . 95 -IMBERDAOILE, Wicklow, St. Dagan, (M. 15). 96 BALLYKINE, Wicklow, St. Dagan, (A. 760). ST. SATAN AND ST. DIUL [THE DEVIL]. The most extraordinary names which we find among the supposed Irish Saints are those of " The Devil," and " Satan." The Irish name for the Devil is DIA-BAAL literally, " The god Baal." This name is sounded in ST. SATAN AND ST. DIUL [THE DEVIL], 67 Irish as if it were written DIUL, and accordingly when the early Ecclesiastics were engaged in Christianising the legends of the Irish, finding the name of Diul associated with numerous stone-roofed Temples, which they supposed to have been ancient Christian Churches, they recorded the name as that of a Saint. Its sound however being in the custody of an Irish-speaking popu- lation, they could not alter ; but, to conceal the identity of the supposed Saint with the Devil, two silent letters were introduced in the writing. Thus Dia-Baal is sounded as if written Diul ; the name of the Saint Di[ch]ul is also sounded, as if the bracketted letters were omitted Diul. Nothing less than absolute necessity would have induced the early Ecclesias- tics to permit so suspicious a name to remain in their calendars of Saints. Having the custody of all written matter, they could alter the letters used in the spelling of the name, and they could also add a few aliases, which they did ; but the original sound of the name, whether Saint, or Devil, was stereotyped from infancy in the memories of an Irish-speaking people, as attached to the locality, and therefore could not be changed. The name Di[ch]ul is associated with Ecclesiastical Foundations in eight counties of Ireland, but (except in a few instances) it occupies only a secondary place. It is mentioned in Mears Monasticon, as one of the names in which sanctity seemed to be inherent, for twelve Saints are said to have borne it. If trans- lated into English, it would read " Saint Devil ;" but this is not more singular than the name of " Saint Satan the son of Archuir," whose name was per- petuated by a festival held to his memory on the I5th of May at the Great Island, Cove, Cork, (see Archdall, page 70). The Irish name Dia-Baal (the Devil) is generally supposed to be derived from the Greek AtajSoAoe, which is said to be compounded of &a, through, and fSaXAw to throw. This may be so ; but to me it seems forced and unreason- able, especially when a simpler and more suitable interpretation is traceable to a Cuthite source. Dia-Baal was the chief deity among the Cuthites, meaning literally The Lord God, and was probably the name, under which God was known to Noah and his predecessors. 68 ANCIENT IRISH HISTORY AND HAGIOLOGY. The Pelasgi, as we shall afterwards see, were among the conquerors of the Cuthites; therefore Baal, or Dia-Baal, never was recognised as a god among the Greeks (nor were the other Cuthite divinities, Molach, Dagon, etc.), and inasmuch as Giants, Titans, and Demons, were the names by which the more ancient Cuthites were known to the Greeks, it is but reason- able to suppose that their divinity (under his proper name of Dia-Baal) should be regarded as the chief Demon, or Devil. It is quite possible that the term )3aXAw, to throw, may have arisen from the ancient Cuthite game of Ball-playing an account of which, as a religious ceremony among the ancient Americans, may be seen in Stephens Travels in Yucatan, vol. 2, p. 306.. The spherical Ball was an emblem of the Sun ; and ball-playing will be found to have been a very ancient amusement. The assemblies for dancing at the festival of Baal have left this name at the present day to Almack's fashionable gatherings. This appears to me another of the many instances of how an ancient custom, with its very name, has survived the memory of the religious rite by which it was introduced. The following are among the foundations, with which the names of Diul and Satan are associated. Di[ch]ul, the son of Nessan (quere, the Centaur Nessus ?) is the first Abbot on record as presiding over the Monastery of Inisfallen, in the island of that name on the Lake of Killarney; but St. Finian is honoured there as the founder. 97 INISFALLEN, and AGHADOE, Kerry, St. Dichul, St. Fineain, 6th cent, (A. 301, M. 60). 98 CLUAIN BRAOIN, Louth, St. Dichull, (A. 452). 99 LOUTH, Louth, St. Moctee, St. Dichull, (M. 10, A. 469). 100 CLUAIN BROANAGH, Longford, St. Sathanna, (M. 346). 101 GREAT ISLAND (Inis McCaille), Cove, Cork, St. Satan, (A. 70). 102 CLUAIN EOARIS, Monaghan, St. Dichul, (M. 112). 103 CLONES (CLUAINEOIS), Monaghan, St. Tigernac, St. Dichul, (M. in, A- 583). ST. SHANAUN [THE ANCIENT ANA]. 69 104 CLUAIN DICHOLLA CLUAN MORE, Wexford, (M. 14, A. 734). 105 TALLOW, Dublin, St. Dichul, (A. 257). 1 06 ST. DOULOUGH'S, Dublin, St. Dulech, son of Amalgad, son of Sinell, (A. 255). The modern word CLUAIN (now usually spelled " Clon," as in the name " Clondalkin") is translated "a fine level pasture :" but it seems to me to have been derived from " Clo(ch)ain," the stone of ANA, the Mother of the Gods, the Moon, and that it may have been so called from the Pillar- stones and Crosses used in ancient heathen worship : the field, or " green," retaining its name CLUAIN after the Pillar was removed, and thence it became a general term for such fields. It is impossible otherwise than upon this hypothesis to account for the fact, that the word CLUAIN or CLON forms part of the names of more than ninety ancient Irish Ecclesiastical Establish- ments or parishes. In one instance, that of CLUAIN MORE in the parish of Mullogh, Co. Clare, the pillar-stone still remains in its original position. The field in which it stands is called Cluain More, by which is understood The Great Meadow. " The Great Stone of Ana " would in my opinion be a more proper interpretation. A similar pillar-stone may be found standing in the church-yard on the Hill of Tara. The only device upon it is a sculptured figure in relievo of what I believe to represent the Irish " Sheela-na-gig," which there is reason to believe was sacred to the goddess Ana, as the mother of the gods. Figures of the same character may have existence on other pillar-stones also, until effaced by the early Christians. ST. SHANAUN [THE ANCIENT ANA, THE MOTHER OF THE TUATH-DE- DANAAN GODS]. " AINE," " AIN," or " ANA" (pronounced " AWNAGH"), was the name of a celebrated Irish goddess the mother of the Tuath-de-Danaan gods, the divinity of the rivers, the representative of female nature, answering to Venus, 7 3 Z 4)- Coupling this with what we learn elsewhere, that it was customary among the Cuthites to place over the architrave of their temples, some emblem of the divinity there worshipped we see why it is that the head of an Ox was sculptured in high relief over the doorway of Temple Melchedor (the Temple of the golden Molach) in Kerry, hereafter introduced. He also remarks " From these hieroglyphics misinterpreted, came the stories of Europa and Pasiphae ; also the fable about Argus and lo. They all related to the same event ; and to the machine styled /3ouc, and Taurus, wherein Osiris was inclosed. For, it is said of Isis, that during the rage of Typhon, she preserved Osiris in an Ark of this denomination She inclosed him in a bull of wood : by which is meant the ark, Theba. The Syrians understood it so. A Bull or Cow among the Syrians signified an Ark or Theba. . . The city Theba in Greece so renowned for its seven gates, was denominated from the Sacred Cow, by which Cadmus was directed." (Bryant, vol. 3, pp. 303-4). I think it probable that the Irish Mythical Saints, Dairbile, the Oak- tree ; Darerca, the Oak of the Ark ; Mell (Melissa, the divinity of the Ark) ; and " Derinilla of the four paps," the mother of Saints, had their origin in this sacred Cow, the Ark, and if so, the figure of an Ox or Cow, as repre- sented in an arch called the South Doorway of Cormac's Chapel (fig. 43) 148 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. appears to me to be a most appropriate ornament of it as a Cuthite Temple. In Maurice's History of India, vol. i, p. 38, may be found an illustration, taken from the Temple of Meaco, Japan, in which the Golden Bull is made to represent the Creator butting with his horns against the Egg of Chaos. The Indian Siva is worshipped as an Ox. The Ox and Cow were emblems of Divinity in ancient Egypt, under which forms Osiris and I sis were FIG. 43 SOUTH DOORWAY, CORMAC'S TEMPLE, CASHEL, CO. TIP. worshipped. The Israelites in the Wilderness worshipped the Ox (the Golden Calf), and one of the names by which Stephen refers to this worship (Acts vii. 43) is Moloch, which answers to the Irish mythical Saint Molach, and to the Golden Molach of Kilmelchedor. In Keating's History of Ireland (vol. i, p. 429), we read that the THE OX AND THE CENTAUR. 149 Golden Calf was one of the Divinities worshipped by the Ancient Irish. Ireland abounds with legends of the miraculous Ox, several of which are recorded in the Kil. Arch. Joiir. (vol. 2, p. 311), by William Hacket, Esq., and there contrasted with similar legends of Hindostan, shewing an extraor- dinary parallel only to be accounted for by tracing both to the same origin. Under the names of Boru and Bofine, the Ox is associated with the topography of several ancient Ecclesiastical establishments. One of these is Ball Boru Baal, the red Cow at Killaloe, (see Kil. Arch, your., vol. FIG. 44. SCULPTURE AT ARDMORE, CO. WATERFORD. FIG 45. SCULPTURE, CROSS OF KELLS, CO. MEATH. FIG. 46. SCULPTURE, CROSS OF KELLS, CO. MEATH. 2, p. 318). The Ox is also to be found associated with the Round Tower of Devenish, in the ancient name of the place, which was DAIMHINIS the Island of the Ox. In Parker's illustration of Ardmore (Gent. Mag., p. 276, Sept., 1864), the figure of the Ox is also to be seen (fig. 44) before which a 150 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. man is represented as kneeling in adoration. Another of the figures on this ancient sculpture is explained to be a representation of " Solomon's Judg- ment :" but it answers much better to the account which Maurice gives us in the Life of Creeshna, of the tyrant Cansa slaying the child of his sister with his own hand, supposing him to be the infant Creeshna, who, it was prophesied, should be his destroyer. I refer the reader for further particulars to Maurices History of India, vol. 2, p. 263. The legend, with all its attendant circumstances, presents to my mind evidence of a primeval prophecy of infants being slain by a tyrant after the birth of our Saviour. The figure of the Ox is also to be found on two of the Crosses at Kells, in one of which sculptures a man is represented as engaged in worship as at Ardmore (figs. 45 and 46). The Horse in symbolical representations was also associated with this Arkite worship. Bryant says (vol. 3, pp. 276, 277), " Dionusus FIG. 47. HIPPA OF ARCADIA. was supposed to have been twice born; and thence was styled g^urjc. Sometimes the intermediate state is taken into account ; and he is repre- sented as having experienced three different lives. His last birth was from Hippa, at which time nature itself was renewed. Hippa was certainly the Ark, into which the Patriarch retired ; and from which he was afterwards THE OX AND THE CENTAUR. 151 released, to enjoy a new life, and another world. Hence arose the many symbols of a Horse. Damater near the Olive Mount in Arcadia was wor- shipped by the Phigalians in a dark cavern. She was described as a woman, but with the head of a horse, and hieroglyphical representations of serpents and other animals. She sat upon a rock, clothed to her feet ; with a dolphin in one hand, and a dove in the other (see fig. 47). Marus Balus, an antient Deity of Italy, was represented under an hieroglyphic, as a person with the face of a man before, and of a horse behind, and was said to have lived three times. The history of Pegasus, the winged horse, is probably of the same purport." He elsewhere says of Hippa (vol. 2, p. 293-295), " It was a title of Apollo, or the sun, and often compounded Hippa-on, and contracted Hippon ; of which name places occur in Africa near Carthage As it was a title of the sun, it was sometimes expressed in the masculine gender Hippos. . . . These horses, which fed upon the flesh of strangers, were the priests of Hippa, and of Dionusus, styled Hippus, or more properly Hippius." Bryant suggests that the name Centaur was derived from the Cuthite hieroglyphic of a Bull or a Bull's head, which is corroborated by the fact that in the Irish language the term CEAN TOR might be interpreted a Bull's head. CEAN is translated head, and TOR, a bull (see Glossary). I repeat from Bryant : "In short every personage that had any connection with the ark was described with some reference to this hieroglyphic," (the Bull). He proceeds to say "The Bull's head was esteemed a princely hieroglyphic, wherefrom it is said by Sanchoniathon of Astarte, ' The Goddess placed the head of the Bull upon her own head as a royal emblem.' And it is said of I sis, whom I just now mentioned, that she was not only described with a lunette ; but like 1 6 of the Greeks with the real head of a Bull or Cow. Such was the figure of the Minotaurus, which Pausanias styles the Bull called Mino The Ark seems to have been sometimes called Centaurus ; from whence many of the Arkites had the name of Centauri : and were reputed of the Nephelim race. Chiron was said to have been the u 152 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. son of the Centaur Cronus : but the rest were the offspring of Ixion and Nephele. They are described by Nonnus as horned, and as inseparable companions of Dionusus." (Vol. 3, pp. 3 13- 315). Mr. Hislop, writing upon Babylonish divinities, identifies the god Kronos (Saturn) " the horned one," with Nimrod the hunter, and both with the first Centaur. He also identifies Nimrod with the first Grand Master of the Masonic Art " the god of fortifications." He further identifies the FIG. 48. ARCH OF DOORWAY, CORMAC's TEMPLE, CASHEL, CO. TIPPERARY. Egyptian Osiris with Kronos and Nimrod. (See Two Babylons, pp. 59, 60). These identities are confirmed by our Irish sculptures and legends, and they explain the figures of two Centaurs on the Cross of Kells. The first is Kronos, the horned one i. e., Osiris, and the second, " Sagittarius, the armour-bearer of Osiris. It is noticed above how Nonnus has described the Centaurs as horned ; but I am not acquainted with any representation of the horned Centaur, except that sculptured on the Cross of Kells (fig. 49). It is possible that Kronos alone, as being the THE OX AND THE CENTAUR. 153 head of the family, was so represented. The local tradition about the Centaur on the Northern Doorway of Cormac's Temple (fig. 48) is, that it represented the Master Mason who built the Temple ; that all the work which the builder erected by day the Lion (also represented in the figure) destroyed by night ; that the Centaur undertook to encounter the Lion apparently at great disadvantage but succeeded in wounding him with an arrow, after which the building experienced no further interruption. This legend is illustrated by the reputation of Nimrod and the Cyclopeans for skill in the art of building. The probable identity of Cronos the Centaur with the Irish Saint Cronan, alias Mochue the Good Budh, has already been noticed (p. 56), Cronos and Budh representing the same personage, according to the opinion of the learned Faber. FIG. 49. BASE OF CROSS AT KELLS, CO. MEATH. The Centaur is found among the Hindoo signs of the Zodiac, from which our Sagittarius is derived (Maiirice, vol. i, p. 294). The Centaur is also found in the Egyptian Zodiac, where he is described as the Armour-Bearer of Osiris. (Maurice, vol. i, p. 304). The Greek legend about the Centaurs is, that they were a tribe of the Lapithae, descendants of Apollo, who, having been guilty of some great crimes, were forced into a sanguinary war, and the survivors compelled to leave the country. The poets pretend that the Centaurs were the sons of Ixion and a cloud. This answers to the Irish legend about the Tuath-de-Danaans, who are said (Keating, vol. i, p. 75), to have concealed themselves (on landing in Ireland) in a cloud, so that they were not discovered until they reached the interior. I believe the legend of the Mason and the Centaur, like many other Irish, Grecian, and Indian 154 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. legends, to refer to the primeval and traditional prophecy of our Saviour's contest with the Evil One. Combining these facts with the existence of the figure of a Centaur in a conspicuous position on the Cross of Kells (fig. 49), I think it more than probable that the Centaur was used as a Sacred Emblem by the Cuthites, and that the Greek legend referred to their expulsion as Lingajas, by the Yonijas, of which we shall treat in a subsequent chapter. I am confirmed in this opinion by the fact that the name of the Hindoo Centaur is Dhanus, answering to the Irish Danaans a Cuthite Colony. (See Maurice, vol. i, p. 294). There is a curious coincidence respecting this name Danaan, which I cannot avoid noticing. Bryant writes ; " In treating of Danaus and Danae, I surmised that they were not the names of persons, but ancient terms which related to the Sacred Ship. . . . The fifty daughters of Danaus were fifty priestesses of the Argo, who bore the sacred vessels in the festivals. . . . The Danaides are said to have been sent in quest of water to have brought water to Argos to have invented vessels for water, and lastly were supposed to have been doomed in the shades below to draw water in buckets which were full of holes. . . . The Acropolis at Argos was supposed to have been founded by Danaus the Arkite. . . . The Acropolis was certainly an Arkite Temple, where the women styled Danaidae officiated, who were priestesses of the Argus." (Vol. 3, pp. 70, 71, 183, 33i)- Now it is at least curious that our most ancient Irish records should notice as history a legend agreeing closely with the fable of Danaus. Fintan (the antediluvian fish, and celebrated Irish Saint) is said to have come to Ireland before the Deluge with Ceasar the daughter of Bith. She was nursed by Sabhuil. They were accompanied by fifty women, the wives of Fintan and his two male companions. The women set out " to make dis- coveries" in the Island, and they travelled together till they came " to the fountain head" of three rivers, etc. THE OX AND THE CENTAUR. 155 Keating gives three different accounts of this migration, from ancient poets. He says " I shall transcribe what is observed by the old antiquaries concerning the first invasion of Ireland before the flood. Not that I would be thought to give credit to such chimerical tradition." (Ke,ating, vol. i, pp. 28-34). There are several coincidences observable in these stories, which have led me to the conclusion that, both are different versions of Cuthite legends relating to the Deluge. The name Danaus, as presented by the Greeks, answers to the Danaan of Irish history. The fifty daughters of Danaus answer to the fifty wives of Fintan. The Danaidae are sent in quest of water : the fifty Irish women set out " to make discoveries," and reach " the fountain head" of three rivers. -The Irish women die all of a certain distemper in a week. By another account, Ceasar is said to have died of a broken heart : the account in the Psalter of Cashel concludes (Keating, vol. i, p. 34) " And thus they died, as Fate decreed they should, Six days before the rising of the Flood." This sudden doom accords with the punishment inflicted on the Danaidae, who were compelled to " draw water in the shades below ;" which would seem to point out that they were of the Cuthite or Titanic race, who, accord- ing to the Grecian account, were consigned to Tartarus. Such coincidences, are, at the least, interesting and curious. In summing up these observations and quotations, we learn that the Ox was an emblem of divinity highly honoured among the Cuthites. That the Ox's head was regarded as a princely hieroglyphic. That the term Centaur was probably derived from the hieroglyphic of an Ox's head (CEAN TOR in Irish). That the Ox was originally intended to represent the Ark. That the term Centaur had the same signification. That Sun-worship was interwoven with the Arkite worship. That the legends of the Greeks (who were not Cuthites) concerning the Ox, the Horse, and the Centaur, were the 156 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. result of misconception with respect to Cuthite hieroglyphics ; and further we learn that, substantial evidence is found in the legends, sculptures, and topography of Ireland, of the ancient worship of the Ox, either as the Golden Calf, or as the Golden Molach the red Cow or the white Cow. That the Centaur is also found connected with the sculptures and legends of Ireland. We may observe striking parallels between the Irish Danaan, and the Hindoo Centaur Dhanus ; the Arkite Danaus with his fifty daughters and the Irish legend of the fifty wives of Fintan, the antediluvian Fish and Irish Saint. All these coincidences taken together lead me to believe that the ancient Cuthite worship once prevailed in Ireland ; but to enter fully into details as to the nature of this worship is a task for which I do not feel myself competent ; and therefore, with these brief remarks, I must leave the subject to the learned reader for his further investigation. I may conclude by mentioning that, while the name " Centaur" may have been derived from the hieroglyphic of an Ox's head, it is suggested by Faber that the figure itself of the Centaur represented the notion which the Ancients entertained of one of the Cherubim of Paradise Gen. iii. 24. (See Faber ; vol. i, pp. 420-422). THE SERPENT. There is no figure more conspicuous on Irish Sculpture, or more fre- quently met with, than that of the Serpent. They are found everywhere, sculptured profusely on Crosses, Temple doorways, etc. The country abounds also with legends of contests between Serpents and the heroes or the Saints of Ireland. These circumstances strongly corroborate the supposed identity of the ancient Irish with the Cuthites of antiquity. There is much to be found throughout Bryant's Mythology to prove, that Serpent-worship originated among the Cuthites. The legends, describing the contests of Apollo, Chreeshna, Thor, and numerous other heroes of antiquity, with Serpents THE SERPENT. 157 and Dragons, seem all to have had their foundation in the primeval promise " The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." Such legends abound everywhere in Ireland different Saints being made the heroes in different localities. St. Patrick, St. Shanaun, St. Finian, and St. Nessan, are among those who derived glory from their victories over the serpent. The Cuthites, who are said to have possessed all the knowledge derived from the sons of Noah, soon corrupted this great primeval tradition, ascribing to the heroes of their own race, and as past events, the victory of the Promised Seed over the Great Serpent; and they completed their apostacy by making the serpent an object of worship. This idolatry seems to have prevailed in every country where the Cuthites estab- lished their authority. But the subject is so well known that I need not enlarge upon it. Bryant says " It is remarkable, that wherever the Amonians founded any places of worship, and introduced their rites, there was generally some story of a serpent. There was a legend about a serpent at Colchis, at Thebes, and at Delphi ; likewise in other places" (vol. i, p. 59). And again (vol. 2, p. 145) " No colony could settle anywhere and build an Ophite temple, but FIG. 50. CROSS OF KILLAMERY. CO. KILKENNY. 158 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. there was supposed to have been a contention between a hero and a dragon. Cadmus, was described in conflict with such an one near Thebes, whose teeth he sowed in the earth. Serpents are said to have infested Cyprus, when it 'was occupied by its first inhabitants ; and there was a fearful dragon in the isle of Salamis. The Python of Parnassus is well known, which Apollo was supposed to have slain, when he was very young ; a story finely told by Apollonius." There is a curious notice respecting serpents in Harcourt's Doctrine of the Deluge. He says (vol. i, p. 399) "Mahadeo is the name of a mountain in that country [Cashmeer] and there is a fable, that every place from whence it can be seen is free from snakes, and yet in that same country there are no less than 700 carved figures of snakes, which are worshipped." Is it not a singular coincidence that in Ireland also, where no living serpent exists, such numerous legends of serpents should abound, and that figures of serpents should be so profusely used to ornament Irish sculpture ? There is scarcely a Cross, or a handsome piece of ancient Irish ornamental work, which has not got its serpent or dragon. Fig. 50 represents the Cross of Killamery, on which Serpents are the most conspicuous figures. IRISH CRUCIFIXION SCENES. If an author, writing upon a subject like that under consideration, supports the views generally entertained, and, in doing so, furnishes facts and additional matter of general interest, his work will be popular ; but if, on the other hand, he ventures to give expression to a new theory, his argu- ments and proofs must be very strong to save him from condemnation by the reading world as a mere enthusiast unless indeed his work be overlooked as utterly unworthy of notice. But if such new theory be contrary to the preconceived opinions of the majority of readers, the difficulties are greatly increased, as sound logical arguments are not in such case sure to carry speedy conviction against the influence of prejudice ; IRISH CRUCIFIXION SCENES. 159 although in the long run truth is found to prevail. These remarks apply to the subject of this whole work, but especially to the subject of Irish Cruci- fixions, to which I now direct the reader's attention. On several ancient Irish Crosses there is a design generally supposed to represent the Crucifixion scene as described in Scripture ; but I am of opinion, that the real origin of the device is that primeval tradition of a crucifixion before referred to. There are certain points of similarity of design in all the ancient Irish crucifixion scenes and these points of similarity are in direct contrast with the Bible account of that scene. I shall submit facts and arguments in support of my view, as they have presented themselves to my own mind ; and I expect they will be found sufficiently strong to carry conviction to the mind of every careful student, who enters upon the consideration of the subject with an unprejudiced mind. I would first observe, that the figures of Centaurs, War-chariots, Serpents, Fishes, and Bulls, presented as objects of worship and the variety of other devices, already explained as consistent with ancient Heathen Mythology- are prirna facie evidence of the Heathen origin of all these Crosses. We have already adduced abundant evidence to sustain the assumption, that the Crucifixion of our Blessed Saviour was made the subject of primeval traditional Prophecy. The veneration entertained for the Cross in the most remote ages of the world's history the numerous figures of the Cross in every variety of form found on ancient Heathen Sculptures all over the world and the tradition among the Budhists of the God Thot having been crucified on an instrument resembling a cross (p. 1 1 7) all confirm the fact of this primeval Prophecy of the Crucifixion. The Irish Tuath-de-Danaan Sculptures on the Crosses furnish the pictorial design of the scene, to which the legends of other countries refer; only the Cuthite Irish, when the Crosses were made, seem to have preserved a more correct version of the primeval Prophecy than other nations had done in their traditions. Even Ireland itself is not without its tradition of a Royal Crucifixion. Simon Breac, a Celtic king who lived 900 years before the Christian Era according to the x i6o DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. chronology of the Four Masters, is stated, in G? Flaherty s Ogygia, vol. 2, p. 1 20, to have been crucified. In my opinion this tradition of a Royal Crucifixion was plagiarised by the Celts, according to their usual policy, from Tuath-de-Danaan legends of the great primeval prophecy of a Crucifixion. After the foregoing sentence was in print, the opinion expressed in it was confirmed by my finding the identical name, Simon Breac, in Irish History, 1230 years earlier, i.e., 2130 years before Christ. He is described as of the family of Neimhidli already noticed as a Cuthite Colony (see Keating, vol. I, p. 57). The name Simon Breac itself may fairly be interpreted " The speckled Sun, or Heavens, " from SAMEN,the Sun, and BRACK speckled. Philo Byblius informs us that the Syrians and Canaanites lifted up their hands to Baal-Samen, The Lord of the Heaven, under which title they honoured the Sun (Bryant, vol. i, p. 80). The term Baal-Samen is quite familiar to every student of Irish mythology. SAM AN in Irish mythology signified the Divinity, FIG. 51. CROSS OF MONASTERBOICE, CO. LOUTH. IRISH CRUCIFIXION SCENES. 161 who presided at the judgment of departed Souls (Coll., vol. 4, p. 232). Osiris, as the Sun, was depicted as clothed in a speckled garment, so also FIG. 52. SCULPTURE, CROSS OF MONASTERBOICE, CO. LOUTH. FIG. 53. SCULPTURE, CROSS OF MONASTERBOICE, CO. LOUTH. FIG. 54. SCULPTURE, CROSS OF MONASTERBOICE, CO- LOUTH. FIG. 55. SCULPTURE, CROSS OF CLONMACNOISE, KING'S CO. was Hercules ; the speckled garment representing the heavenly clothing of stars. See remarks on EARC, pp. 72 and 73, ante. We may therefore conclude with reason, that Simon Breac, the speckled Sun of the Heavens the crucified King of remote antiquity, represented the divine seed of the woman, who, according to primeval tradition, was to make atonement for mankind. The Crucifixion Scene, as represented on the ancient Irish Sculptures, has some peculiarities common to them all ; but these peculiarities stand in contrast with the Bible account, and with the ordinary modern representation of our Saviour's Crucifixion. 1 62 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. The first peculiarity is, that no ancient Irish Sculpture conveys the idea of the body of the crucified one being suspended by the hands. The arms never rise above a right angle ; but, in most cases, the angles under the arms are acute ; from which it would appear, that the idea of the victim being nailed to the cross by the hands was not entertained by the designers of the Irish Sculptures, as in such case the arms would be uplifted ; but, on the contrary, in the Irish designs, the crucified one is represented with the arms inclining downwards, and the legs bound to the cross with cords at the ankles. These ankle-cords are plainly to be seen on Crosses at Monasterboice, Clonmac- noise, Durrow, Duleek, etc. (See figs. 52, 53, 54, 55). On one of the Crosses at Monasterboice (fig. 53) may also be observed the cord, by which the cruci- fied one is bound to the cross, placed around the chest and under the arms, so that the hands are allowed to hang. Such a mode of representing the Crucifixion never could have occurred to the early Irish Christian Missionaries and Bishops, who are universally allowed to have made the Scriptures their chief study, and who consequently could not be unacquainted with the distinctive particulars of that solemn event. Fig. 5 1 represents the large Cross at Monasterboice, the most perfect in Ireland, in which the Crucifixion (fig. 52) is seen. All the other Cruci- fixion designs referred to bear nearly the same proportion to the Crosses, upon which they are respectively found, as that represented in fig. 51. I might add representations of the Irish Crucifixion scene from the sculptured Crosses of Durrow, King's County ; Duleek, Co. Meath ; Tarmon Fechen, Co. Louth ; and Castle Dermot, Co. Kildare, as well as from many others, but it is unnecessary to multiply illustrations. They all exhibit the same peculiarities of ankle cords, with the arms inclining downwards. These peculiarities are the more remarkable, and tend to prove the heathen origin of the sculptured Crosses, inasmuch as the most ancient relics of unmistakeably Christian times represent the Saviour as suspended by the arms, and fastened to the Cross with nails. I shall notice three well- known Christian relics, upon which the Crucifixion scene is so represented. IRISH CRUCIFIXION SCENES. 16- The first is a brazen box supposed to have been used for preserving a por- tion of the Holy Scriptures. It is called " Meeshac" by Sir W. Betham, and bears on it the date " CCCCCI 1 1." The other is the case called " Caah," in which St. Columb's copy of the Psalms was preserved. It is a box of the same style as the former, but is probably more modern. The third is called " St. Dimma's box." These ancient relics, which are richly embossed, are all of an age centu- turies anterior to the use of sculpture in relief on stone, either in England or France : yet these Irish antiquities represent the Crucifixion scene according to the Scriptural account ; while upon every ancient stone Cross in Ireland on which the design appears, it is represented as shown in figures 51 to 55; that is to say, with fastenings of ankle-cords, and without suspension from the hands. This would seem to prove, that the device on the stone Crosses was not grounded on the Scripture narrative, and therefore must have had its origin in that traditional prophecy of a Crucifixion fre- quently noticed elsewhere. FIG. 56. THE CRUCIFIXION EARLY CHRISTIAN DESIGNS. DIMMA'S BOX. MEESHAC. CAAH. There is an Irish ecclesiastical legend, which throws some light on the Crucifixion scenes of Irish Crosses. I have endeavoured before to prove that Saint Fionnchu was identical with the Irish Finian hero Fin MacChuile, and that both represented the 164 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. Branch of Juno the Seed of the Woman of primeval tradition. The Martyrology of Donegal informs us (p. 319), that St. Fionnchu " used to be often in a stone prison not higher than his own length, and a stone over his head, and a stone under his feet . . . and he used to rest both his arms on staples, so that his head might not touch the stone above, nor his feet the stone below. The proof of this is what Cuimin of Coindeire said : ' Fionnchu, of Bri Gobhaun, loves the blessing of Jesus on his soul. Seven years was fte on his hooks, without his touching the ground/ " Comhghall, of Bennchor, came to him on one occasion, and commanded him to come out of the prison, and he obeyed kirn, though with reluctance, etc. It was he that used to lie the first night in the same grave with every corpse, which used to be buried in his Church, etc." It would seem that the primeval traditional prophecy of a Crucified Saviour was the origin not only of this legend, but also of the numerous crucial sculptures found on our ancient Irish Crosses. The period of Fionnchu's suspension (for seven years) is the same as that of the humilia- tion of Nudh of the precious metal hand already noticed ; and his spending one night in the grave seems to be founded on some traditional prophecy of Christ's entering into death for the salvation of his people. But I do not want to dogmatize, and therefore confine myself to a statement of my opinion and of the bases upon which it is formed. I have already referred to the crucifixion of the god Thot, whom learned men have identified with Bacchus, and Budh, alias Salivahana the Virgin- born Seed of the Woman ; and, in confirmation of the Asiatic traditions, we read in the Martyrology of Donegal, p. 329 (already noticed), of the mythical Saint Buide, alias Buite, alias Beo, " that a star manifested his birth, as it manifested the birth of Christ" Now the reader should bear in mind, that the star referred to in Matt, ii., as having guided the wise men from the East to Bethlehem, was not a subject of Scriptural but rather of traditional prophecy. I therefore conclude that traditional prophecy, not Scripture, was the origin of the star of the Irish mythical Saint Buide. IRISH CRUCIFIXION SCENES. 165 The next peculiarity of Irish Stone Crosses is the absence in every instance of the two thieves crucified with our Lord. This cannot be accounted for by want of space to introduce them, as there is in every case a number of heterogeneous figures introduced, entirely out of character with the scene recorded in the Bible. Besides a variety of human figures, the sculptors have depicted dogs, and monsters of various forms. In one case a man is represented standing on his head (Cross, Street of Kells) in the space, which might have been appropriated to one of the two thieves. Another feature in Irish Crucifixion scenes, in contrast with the Scripture record, is the Irish Mural Crown decorating the head of the crucified one, as seen on the Cross of Tuam (fig. 5 7). The King, or Prelate, who could afford to erect this beautifully sculptured Cross (estimated from the fragments remaining at thirty feet in height), could not, if a Christian, have been so ignorant of the Scriptural account of our Saviour's Crucifixion as to represent Him wearing an Irish Mural Crown when upon the cross, instead of the crown of thorns usually portrayed. There are strong reasons for supposing that all those Irish Crucifixion figures were originally adorned with the like Mural Crown, and that the Christianizing of the figures, by defacing or rubbing away the Crown, was among the alterations effected after the introduction of Christianity. All these stone Crosses exhibit marks of rough handling about the head of the crucified figure, which makes that portion of the sculpture appear rude in comparison with other sculptures on the same stone. I would refer the reader to another Heathen Crucifixion scene from ruins in Nubia (fig. 58), concerning which Mr. O'Brien says (p. 337) : " I copy this image from a work of great value, lately published in Paris by Monsieur Rifaud, which he designates by the title of ' Voyage en Egypte et en Nubie et lieux circonvoisins.' The plate under notice is but part of a larger one, which he describes as ' Faade du petit temple de Kalabche (en Nubie) et ses details interieurs.' ' This Nubian figure tends to confirm the interpretation suggested as to the various other figures of the Irish Cruci- 1 66 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. fixions. Here may be observed a Mural Crown in the exact form of that worn by the crucified figure on the Cross of Tuam (fig. 57) also the horns, which may be noticed in figures 20 and 26. There is a relic noticed by Vallancey, O'Brien, and others a gilt bronze representation of the Crucifixion, on which the same Irish Mural Crown is represented (fig. 59). I believe it to be a genuine relic of the ancient FIG. 57. CROSS OF TUAM, CO. GALWAY. FIG. 58. CRUCIFIXION SCULPTURE, NUBIA, AFRICA. Cuthite times, and that it represents the Cuthite Crucifixion of primeval tradition. The hands, though extended, convey no idea of suspension as if the body hung from them. Again, ankle cords are used to fasten the figure to the cross instead of nails ; and I would remark in particular, that the dress worn about the loins corresponds with the dress of Creehna, as represented in his crushing of the Serpent's head (see fig. 60, from Maurice, vol. 2). IRISH CRUCIFIXION SCENES. 167 THE MURAL CROWN AND WINGED QUADRUPED. It may be interesting to trace the origin of the Mural Crown represented on the Cross of Tuam (fig. 57), and on the ancient Irish relic (fig. 59). I have before remarked upon the monstrous figures of winged quadrupeds found on FIG. 59. IRISH BRONZE RELIC. FIG. 60. HINDOO CREESHNA. several of the Irish Crosses. They occur on Crosses at Clonmacnoise, Duleek, Monasterboice, and Kells (figures 63, 64, 65, and 66). I can form no opinion as to the meaning of these winged figures, except that they were intended to represent the Cherubim of Paradise ; but I shall venture to suggest whence they were derived. Like figures are found as supporters of the head of Diana of the Ephesians, (fig. 62, from Kit to s Illus. Comnten., 1 68 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. vol. 5, p. 205). Of whom Hislop writes (p. 42) : " In general Diana was depicted as a virgin, and the patroness of virginity; but the Ephesian Diana was quite different. She was represented with all the attributes of the Mother of the gods, and, as the Mother of the Gods, she wore a turreted Crown, such as no one can contemplate without being forcibly reminded of the tower of Babel. Now, this tower-bearing Diana is by an ancient scholiast expressly identified with Semiramis. When, therefore, we remember that Rhea, or Cybele, the tower-bearing goddess, was, in point of fact, a Babylonian goddess, and that Semiramis, when deified, was worshipped under the name of Rhea, there will remain, I think, no doubt as to the per- sonal identity of the " goddess of fortifications." We have before noticed this Diana as answering to the Irish "DE-ANA," " the goddess Ana," the mother of the gods according to the ancient Irish mythology. The identity of Diana of the Ephesians (Apr^tc) with the Irish goddess is marked by her double mural or turreted crown, the same as the crown surmounting the ancient arms of Ireland, which may be seen to this day as the monogram of the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland. The ancient arms of Ireland, as certified by Sir William Betham, consisted of a Harp in a Shield, surmounted by the double turreted crown, with a stag, couchant, in a doorway. Fig. 61 represents this turreted crown or double Tower. BAAL-BERITH, HEATHEN RITE OF BAPTISM. Before leaving the subject of the Budhist or traditional Crucifixion, I would direct attention to a design from a Persian monument referred to by Hislop as " Baal-berith," " the Lord of the Covenant," of whom we read (Judges viii. 33) : " And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god." Hislop writes (p. 101) : " As Christ, in the Hebrew of the Old Testament, was called Adonai, the Lord, so Tammuz THE MURAL CROWN AND WINGED QUADRUPED. 169 FIG. 6 1. CREST OF ANCIENT ARMS OF IRELAND. FIG. 62. HEAD OF DIANA OF THE EPHESIANS. FIG. 63. SCULPTURE ON CROSS OF CLONMACNOISE, KING'S CO. FIG. 64. DULEEK, CO. MEATH. FIG. 65. MONASTERBOICE, CO. LOUTH. FIG. 66. KELLS, CO. MEATH. 170 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. was called Adon or Adonis. Under the name of Mithras he was worshipped as the 'Mediator.' As Mediator, and head of the covenant of grace, he was styled Baal-berith, Lord of the Covenant. In this character he is represented in Persian monuments as seated on the rainbow, the well-known symbol of the Covenant. Fig. 67 is from Thevenofs Voyages, Partie 2, Cap. 7, p. 514." This figure alone presents to my mind a full chapter of primeval tradition. It seems to symbolize a large communication of God's ways made known to Noah after the Deluge. It unfolds the fact that Noah had been taught the FIG. 67. BAAL-BERITH, SCULPTURE ON PERSIAN ROCK TEMPLE. typical character of the Deluge itself, as explained in i Peter iii. 21, where the Apostle says concerning the eight persons saved from the deluge, " The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." The figure of Baal-berith, or Lord of BAAL-BERITH, HEATHEN RITE OF BAPTISM. 171 the Covenant with the crucified persons underneath would seem to imply, that God then unfolded to Noah the great Covenant in Christ, the resur- rection-man, whereby the remnant of a ruined world was saved, but saved through death. Or, as Paul expresses it, " I am crucified with Christ : nevertheless I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." (Gal. ii. 20). I am fully satisfied that the Rainbow Covenant was the origin of Baal- berith, and of the Pagan notion of Regeneration and Baptism. Mr. Hislop informs us that " The Brahmins make it their distinguishing boast, that they are 'twice-born' men (see Asiatic Researches, vol. vii., p. 271), and that, as such, they are sure of eternal happiness. Now the same was the case in Babylon, and there the new birth was conferred by baptism ' In certain sacred rites of the heathen,' says Tertullian, especially referring to the worship of Isis and Mithra, ' the mode of initiation is by baptism/ (TERTULL., De Baptismo, vol. i, p. 1,204). They who were thus baptized, were, as Tertullian assures us, promised, as the consequence, REGENERATION, the pardon of all their perjuries.' ... In Mexico, the same doctrine of baptismal regeneration was found in full vigour among the natives, when Cortez and his warriors landed on their shores. (HUMBOLDT'S Mexican Researches, vol. i, p. 185"). After describing the process of Baptism, Mr. Hislop goes on to tell us (quoting from Humboldt), that the Mexican operator uttered a benediction, in which the following sentence occurs : " ' Whencesoever thou comest, thou that art hurtful to this child, leave him and depart from him, for he now liveth anew, and is BORN ANEW.' ' (Two Baby Ions, pp. 191, 192). We have noticed at p. 150 how Dionusus is represented as having been twice born, his last birth being from the Goddess Hippa, when nature itself was renewed. Mr. Brash, writing in the Gentleman s Magazine, Dec., 1864, says : " This notion of regeneration, or the new birth, by passing through an artificial orifice, is prevalent among the Hindoos, as we shall show by-and-by. Tohnens of this class are found in Ireland ; one lies on the strand of Ardmore DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. Bay, County Waterford, which now is called Cloch Deglain."* He proceeds to inform us (quoting from the Asiatic Researches, vol. 6, p. 502, etc.), how a Hindoo, who has lost caste, is restored by being regenerated ; in the per- formance of which process " an image of the sacred Yoni" is used, " through which the person to be regenerated is to pass." Here we have the corruption of all the leading facts of the doctrine of Christian baptism ; and the Apostle Peter's connecting the subject with the Deluge as a type of it, coupled with the figure of Baal-berith, induce me to believe that the tradition, on which the heathen baptism was grounded, had been derived from a communication to Noah at the making of the Rainbow Covenant. Coupling the fact of a heathen doctrine of Regeneration by baptism, with the fact that in the Arkite mysteries Death and Resurrection formed a very prominent feature, one is led to conjecture that those mysteries were derived from obscure and corrupted traditions of the typical character of the deluge, at the first revealed to Noah, and which St. Peter in the apostolic age so forcibly explains in that remarkable passage of his first Epistle. But this con- clusion is only admissible on the assumption, that baptism was instituted immediately after the deluge, which event, with its attendant circumstances, was then used to communicate to Noah a typical explanation of baptism itself. Certainly there is nothing to indicate the Death and Resurrection of the survivors (an idea pervading the Arkite mysteries) in the bare fact of having been saved from the deluge by being enclosed in the Ark. Phallic rites also are supposed to have abounded in these Arkite mys- teries, to which cause I attribute the presence of the miniature Round Tower or Phallic emblem in the Persian Sculpture, Baal-Berith (fig. 67). The denunciation against the Israelites, because " they joined themselves also unto Baal-Peor and ate the sacrifices of the dead" (Ps. cvi. 28, in allusion * This is the stone which is mentioned in the legend, p. 108, as having " swam" on the sea from Rome to Ireland after St. Declan. THE ARMED WARRIOR AND THE WHITE HORSE. 173 to Numbers xxv. 2, 3), would seem to confirm the idea of death in its mys- terious sense being associated with these abominable mystic rites. The consideration of Eastern mythology connected with Irish Sculptures, and particularly with the Crucifixion Scene, has led me to conclude that abundant revelations were made by God to the Patriarchs, Noah and his predecessors ; and that all the subsequent abominations of heathenism were founded upon the perversion of such revelations. As men grew in years and in wickedness their religion became more and more corrupted, until after the days of Abraham, when the intelligent nations of the earth, who knew most of the origin of these traditions and had done most to corrupt them, began to be cut off by God's Providential decree, leaving the other descendants of Noah in darkness and ignorance, but in a condition to learn the newly-revealed truths, if they would, from Abraham and his descendants. THE ARMED WARRIOR AND THE WHITE HORSE. The Calci, or Tenth Avatar of Vishnu, yet future, appears to have had its origin in a primeval prophecy of our Saviour's second coming on a White Horse, as described in the Revelation, chap, xix., verses 1 1 to 16 " And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood : and his name is called The Word of God. . . . And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations." In the Calci Avatar, Vishnu is represented as becoming "incarnate as an armed warrior for the purpose of dissolving the universe, bearing aloft a scimitar . . . for the destruction of all the impure." The Calci hero " appears leading a white horse, furnished with wings." I quote this legend from Maurices India, vol. 2, p. 25 ; vol. 3, p. 121. It may be observed that in several respects the account of this Avatar bears striking analogy to the prophecy in the Book of Revelation. The 174 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. white horse is found in both. Compare the " sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations," with the scimitar "for the destruction of the impure." The LORD in Revelation comes to " make war." The Calci hero is an " Armed Warrior." Even our Saviour's name, " The Word of God," seems to have been a subject of primeval prophecy. See the prophecy ascribed to Zeradusht, p. 121, ante. In my opinion this Indian Avatar was the subject of the numerous figures of a man on horseback, represented among the sacred sculptures of Ireland. The design is represented on a sculpture at Annagh (fig. 68), and again on the Cross of Arboe (fig. 69). It is also to be found on the Cross of Banagher, which Mr. Cooke, of Parsonstown, informs us (Kilk. Arch. Journal, vol. 2, p. 278), was probably erected in memory of a certain Bishop Duffy, who was killed by a fall from his horse in the year 1297 ; but Mr. Cooke's own description of the Cross is sufficient to satisfy me as to the heathen origin of the devices. He says (Kilk. Arch. Jour., vol. 2, p. 178) : "The FIG. 68. SCULPTURE, ANNAGH, CO. KERRY. FIG. 69. SCULPTURE, CROSS OF ARBOE, CO. TYRONE. sculpture on it consists of three compartments. On the uppermost of these we find a lion passant, three-tailed, or guived, as a herald would express it. Beneath the lion I have mentioned, and on the same compartment with it, is the figure of a bishop on horseback, and bearing his pastoral staff as emblematic of his sacred office. The crosier is of that plain form which indicates antiquity. . . . The lowest compartment consists of four naked THE ARMED WARRIOR AND THE WHITE HORSE. 175 and ill-proportioned male human figures, arranged around the central part of the compartment, after the manner of spokes in a wheel. Their legs are hooked together, and the left 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 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. 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 coffin in the ancient burial ground at Kilcorban, Co. of Gal way." I would remark here, that the figure of four men in a circle united at the feet may be seen on the Cross of Kells. The stone coffin, such as Mr. Cooke describes, I believe to be a Cuthite relic. Such coffins are found at Devenish and Clones, and at numerous other Cuthite sites in Ireland. The "mythic combination," which Mr. Cooke describes as like nothing that he had ever seen, except the figure on a talisman from Hindostan, certainly does not indicate that the sculptures are of the date of the i3th century. Banagher Cross is now standing in Mr. Cooke's garden at Parsonstown. The figure of a man on horseback also occurs sculptured on a highly venerated stone in the ancient Church of Annagh, County Kerry (fig. 68). Richard Hitchcock, Esq., in writing on the subject (Kilk. Arch. Journal, 176 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. vol, 2, p. 240) says: "On the face of this stone is rudely sculptured in bold relief, the figure of a man on horseback, holding in 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 that of a warrior pointing forwards as if to encourage his followers to action. . . . A sort of saddle or saddle-cloth appears under the horseman, but I can see no trace of stirrups, though I do a little of a bridle and mouthpiece." . . . " The people have a foolish legend that if the stone were removed, it would be brought back again by supernatural means, but there is no real history attached to it that I could ever learn." The like "foolish legend" is associ- ated with numerous Cuthite remains throughout Ireland, which superstition accounts for the fact of these relics of antiquity having been allowed to remain for so long a period undisturbed. A remarkable instance of this occurs in the case of Tempi e-Cronan. It is a well-known fact, that fuel and timber are nowhere in Ireland more scarce than in the Barony of Burren, County Clare, of which Ludlow has said " there was not water enough to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury him." At this place, Temple-Cronan Church-yard, there are several trees, some of considerable size, and bearing evident marks of great age. One, an uncom- monly large Ash-tree, has, from very age, fallen to decay. The branches are rotting where they fell ; and the peasantry in the neighbourhood inform me, that though they suffer much from want of fuel, there is no one in the parish courageous enough to take away the smallest fragment of this, or of any tree, in that sacred spot. The figure of a man on horseback is to be found in the sculpture at Ardmore, fig. 44 ; also on the left side of the doorway at Freshford Church. If the figure of a man on horseback on Banagher Cross was made to commemorate the death of a Bishop by a fall from his horse, should we not expect similar stories of deaths by falls from horses, to account for like CONCLUDING REMARKS ON SCULPTURED CROSSES. 177 figures on Monasterboice and Arboe Crosses, as well as for the Sculptures at Ardmore, Annagh, and Freshford Churches ? I shall conclude this subject with a few general remarks on ancient sculptured Crosses. They are not, and seem never to have been, venerated among the peasantry in Christian times, and Mr. O'Brien informs us, p. 491, on the authority of Borlase, p. 162, "that the Pope has actually excommunicated all such as revered them, and has otherwise disowned all participation in them, by fulminating of Bulls and Anathemas." They seem to have been not only ancient, but also despised, in the days of Giraldus Cambrensis, who writes : -" Near the road at a place called Margan [probably Margam, in Wales] is an old cross, bearing an inscription, which has been doomed to serve as a bridge for foot passengers over a little rivulet, and in the village are fragments of a most beautiful cross richly decorated with fretwork."* Compare this statement of Giraldus Cambrensis with the following observa- tion of Mr. Parker, in Gent. Mag., February, 1864, p. 161, where he says " We have no sculpture of raised figures, deeply cut, which can be proved by any good evidence, to be earlier than the twelfth century, or the end of the eleventh, either in England or France :" yet sculptured Crosses were ancient and despised in the i2th century in the days of Giraldus Cambrensis. There is no record or evidence of the time of the erection of one of these Crosses throughout Ireland, which could scarcely have been the case, if they were erected since the introduction of Christianity. The traditions on the subject are invariably connected with supernatural agency. Those at * Quoted from Giraldus Cambrensis by O'Brien (Round Towers, p. 425). I have already said, p. 29, " that if the Cuthites be assumed to have inhabited Ireland [a question which the perusal of this work is intended to assist the reader in settling], it may be proved that they had settlements also in England, Scotland, France, and Switzerland ; and vestiges of their buildings [and I may add sculptures also] may have remained so long after as to suggest designs for Norman Architecture ; however these countries are beyond the range of the subject of this work." To these Cuthite colonists I would ascribe the Crosses at Margan referred to by Cambrensis. 178 DETAILS OF ANCIENT IRISH SCULPTURE. Kilclispeen (figs. 40 and 42, etc.) are stated to have been erected in one night ; and the like story is related of the Crosses at Monasterboice. Devenish Tower also is said to have been built in one night by St. Molaise ; and, what is equally marvellous, the Saint being one day pursued by a Monster made his escape by leaping in one spring from the main land into the island. On fables like this of St. Molaise the very existence of many of our mythical Irish Saints is founded. The argument, grounded on the fact of the little progress the Irish had made in the art of building (much less of sculpture) before the arrival of the English, applies more strongly in this case than in that of the Round Towers. And judging from such Ancient Crosses as have survived the wreck of ages " These costly specimens of art, whereof some are at least 18 feet in height, composed of a single stone, and chiselled with devices of the most elaborate mysteries," must have been executed by artisans, whose skill as a class has since been rarely, if ever, excelled. Whence, I ask, did these sculptures come to Christian Ireland ? Where did the makers learn their art ; and where did they acquire their designs and patterns ? I think I have said enough to prove, that the Ancient Crosses of Ireland have no more to do with Christianity than the Crosses, which the Rev. Mr. Maurice and others inform us were so much venerated in heathen India, Egypt and America ; and if so, they must be ascribed to ages of remote antiquity even to the Cuthite inhabitants of Ireland, who preceded the Celts. ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS. THE ancient architecture of Ireland has heretofore been a puzzle to every one who has attempted to master the subject ; and I believe, it will ever continue to be such, if it be not assigned to that early age which I have suggested namely, to a date anterior to the reign of Solomon. Men of great literary and archaeological attainments, and profound students of architecture, have written upon it ; but, having started with the erroneous assumption that Irish Architecture was Norman, their learned investigations could not lead to a correct solution of the difficulties with which the subject is replete, though their works are of great value on account of the facts they have collected. All the churches erected about the time of, and immediately after, the English Invasion, whether by the English or the native Irish, appear to have been built in the Gothic or pointed style. Mr. Brash informs us (Ulst. Jour., April, 1859) that "from the year 1200 to 1260 were erected the following extensive monastic houses Drogheda, Newtown, Lorha, Kil- kenny, Youghal, Trim, Ballybeg, Buttevant, Athenry, and Kildare. These buildings were erected in the first pointed style." Numerous other churches, built about the same time in the Gothic style, might be added to this list. It is therefore evident that the stone-roofed Churches or Temples were not built by the English. The evidence adduced in the early part of this work, showing the little progress made by the Irish in architecture before the coming of the English, is sufficient to prove that the Irish nation, whose kings had not provided themselves with stone-houses, even of the ruder l8o ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE kind, were not the artificers of the Cyclopean walls and doorways which abound in Ireland ; or of such temples as Cormac's Chapel, in the construc- tion of which real artistic skill of a high order had been exercised. Mr. Parker reasons soundly on the superiority of the English to the Irish of the twelfth century in the art of building ; and justly concludes that therefore buildings of the same class must, in general, be later in date in Ireland than in England. But, as he proceeds in his work, he seems rather puzzled in the application of this unquestionably sound principle to the facts which met his acute observation. He accounts for the fact that Cormac's Chapel and the Church for the Nuns at Clonmacnoise are examples of the " same style of ornament being used in Ireland as in England and France, at the same dates," by suggesting, that " this style was probably introduced into Ireland by the French monks." (Gent. Mag., February, 1864). If this were so, such French monks would be needed to account for ruins in every County in Ireland. Mr. Parker, however, with his usual intelligence and quickness of perception, having observed the dilemma, candidly acknowledges it when he declares that Irish architecture " is a new field and but little understood, and it requires time and labour and an earnest desire after the truth in order to work out its history correctly." (Gent. Mag., February, 1864, p. 157). The last sentence of Mr. Parker's series of papers on this subject (already noticed) is to the same effect : " The study of Irish Architecture is only com- menced, and will require the labour of many heads and hands to work it out as it ought to be." (Gent. Mag., March, 1865, p. 285). In this I fully agree with him, and I believe there is no one more capable of investigating the subject than Mr. Parker himself, if he will only apply the right key to its elucidation. It is an important circumstance, that the richest specimens and greatest variety of ancient Irish architectural ornaments are to be found at Glenda- lough, County Wicklow ; and this circumstance is significant coupled with the fact, that the place had begun to decay long before the arrival of the English; for, in 1152, the See of Glendalough with most of its wealth was COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS. l8l transferred to the Archiepiscopal See of Dublin, and the valley itself continued to be held by the O'Tooles " who maintained possession of it with uncontrolled authority until the seventeenth century." (Lewis, 659). It, notwithstanding, abounds with vestiges of what Archaeologists designate " Norman Architecture," an irreconcileable anomaly upon any other hypothesis than that, which I have been endeavouring to establish. The inferences to be adduced from these facts may be applied to all the more ancient ruins of Ireland. But there appears abundant proof, that the Irish ancient style of Architecture was not derived from either France or England, in the fact that the former presents certain features of marked contrast, in comparison with that of the adjacent kingdoms, and these distinctive features identify it with the architectural remains of the most remote antiquity ; that is to say there are peculiar and prevailing features of the ancient Irish style, which have their parallels in the Cyclopean remains of Greece and Italy, the Rock Temples of India, and the ancient monuments of Central America; and these are totally dissimilar to the English and French styles of Norman Architec- ture. The most prominent of these features, which I would notice, is the Cyclopean style of Architecture, connected with sloping jambs of doorways. By Cyclopean Architecture I mean the building with massive stones, laid in irregular courses ; but the exactness with which the irregularity of the joints is met, and the superior finish of the curves and external surface prove that this tedious and difficult method of construction was not adopted from want of architectural skill, but for the purpose of imparting strength and durability. Not only are the Irish Round Towers generally built in this Cyclopean style at the base, but also numerous ancient ruins of so-called Churches or Temples. Mr. Parker says of Aghadoe Round Tower "It is built of large pieces of sandstone in irregular courses, but accurately fitted together, with the joints sometimes perpendicular, and sometimes oblique, without regard to regular courses or parallel beds the usual characteristics of the earlier ex- amples of Round Towers." (Gent. Mag., April, 1864, p. 412). 182 ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE FIG. 70. DOORWAY, KILMACDUAGH, CO. GALWAY. FIG. 7 I. DOORWAY, ALATRIUM, ITALY. COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS. I shall commence by noticing a few cases of the combination of sloping jambs with Cyclopean Architecture, which abound in Ireland, comparing them with vestiges of that ancient architecture called Cyclopean found in Greece and Italy. Fig. 70 represents a doorway at Kilmacduagh, County Gal way. It measures in height six feet six inches, and in width two feet six inches at the top, and three feet two inches at the bottom. It is found in the ancient portion of what is called the Cathedral, which stands within about twenty yards of the Round Tower. Kilmacduagh is noticed at No. 156 in the catalogue of supposed Saints, and foundations associated with their names. FIG 72. DOORWAY AT BANAGHER, CO. LONDONDERRY. Fig. 71 is a doorway at Alatrium, Italy, from Dodwelts Cychpcan and Pelasgic Remains, plate 96. The style of masonry as well as the form of the doorway itself is strikingly like that at Kilmacduagh. A A 1 84 ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE Fig. 72 is the doorway of Banagher Church, near Dungiven, in the County of Londonderry. It measures in height six feet seven inches, by two feet eight inches in width at the top, and three feet five inches at the bottom. The style of this doorway on the outside is not unlike the Egyptian, but on the inside it is formed of a plain well-constructed semi-circular arch. The por- tion of the soffit stone that is visible measures six feet in length, by one foot ten inches in height, and extends through the whole thickness of the wall. The windows of the building are of the style called " Norman, with Irish peculiarities ;" but their workmanship is unmistakeably the same as that of the doorway here represented. The fragments of the ancient Temple which FIG 73. DOORWAY, ST. FECHIN'S, FORE, CO. WESTMEATH. COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS. remain show it to have been a building of the richer class, all wrought in ashlar; but the greater part of the building as it now stands consists of rude medieval masonry. An inscription is cut in plain Roman characters on the jamb of the doorway immediately under the lintel " This Church was built in the year of God, 474." It must have been engraved since the English Conquest, probably at the end of the i4th century, when the neighbouring Church of Dungiven was restored. If this inscription proves anything, it is that, in early English times, the Church had the reputation of having been built in St. Patrick's days, which would not have been the case if it had belonged to the Norman age. Fig- 73 is the doorway of St. Fechin's Church, Fore, Co. Westmeath (No. 205 in Catalogue), of which Dr. Petrie says : " This magnificent door- way, the late eminent antiquarian traveller, Mr. Edward Dodwell, declared to me, was as perfectly Cyclopean in character as any specimen he had seen in Greece." The stones are all of the thickness of the wall, which is three feet. FIG. 74. GATEWAY, ALATRIUM, ITALY. 1 86 ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE We learn from Dr. Petrie, "that though this doorway, like hundreds of 'the same kind in Ireland, has attracted no attention in modern times, the singularity FIG. 75. DOORWAY, RATTAS, CO. KERRY. FIG. 76. DOORWAY, TREASURY OF ATREUS, MYCEN/E. COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS. i8 7 iU-v FIG. 77. DOORWAY, LADY S CHURCH, GLENDALOUGH, CO. WICKLOW. of its massive structure was a matter of surprise" to Sir Henry Piers, who, in 1682, recorded the tradition of its miraculous erection by St. Fechin. He tells how " the saint himself alone, without either engine, or any other help," lifted the enormous lintel (weighing more than two tons) into its place over the door. The exact counterpart of the Cross over the doorway may be found sculptured among the Pagan ruins of Palenque. (See fig. 21). Fig. 74 is designated a " subterraneous gate at Alatrium," Italy, from Dodwcll, plate 92. Fig. 75 is the doorway of the ancient Church at Rattas near Tralee, Co. Kerry (No. 197 in Catalogue), of which Dr. Petrie says (p. 168) : "This doorway, like the whole of the Church, is built in a style of masonry perfectly Cyclopean, except in the use of lime cement." The height of the doorway is five feet six inches, the width at the base three feet one inch, and at the i88 ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE FIG. 78. DOORWAY, TOMGRANEY, CO. CLARE. top two feet eight inches. The lintel is seven feet six inches in length, two feet in height, and extends through the whole thickness of the wall. This stone probably weighs about three and a half tons. Fig. 76 is the doorway of the Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae, Greece. The ancient massive structures at Mycense, Argos, etc., were ascribed by Grecian Historians to the Cyclopeans, or giants of Heathen Mythology; and hence the name Cyclopean. Fig. 77 is the doorway of our Lady's Church at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, (No. 32 in Catalogue), which Dr. Petrie describes as having "even a more striking resemblance to Greek architecture than Rattas." The dimensions of this doorway are about the same as those of the door at Rattas, being in COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS. 189 i- FIG. 79. GATE OF THE LIONS, MYCENAE. height six feet, and in width two feet six inches at the top, and three feet at the bottom. It consists of seven stones all of the thickness of the wall, and, as Petrie observes, "admirably well-chiselled." The plinth, the sloping jambs, and the Cyclopean character of the whole, identify the style of these door- ways with that of the Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae and other Cyclopean ruins of Greece and Etrufia. Fig. 78 is the doorway of Tomgraney Church, County Clare, No. 226 in Catalogue. The drawing is by Gordon M. Hills, Esq. This doorway is one of the finest specimens of the Cyclopean style to be found in Ireland. It measures six feet three inches in height, three feet one inch in width at the top, and three feet five inches at the bottom. i go ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE FIG. 80. DOORWAY, KILMELCHEDOR, CO. KERRY. Fig. 79 is called the " Gate of the Lions" at Mycenae, from Dodwell, plate 6. Fig. 80 is the Cyclopean doorway of Gallerus Oratory in the parish of Kilmelchedor (No. 90 in Catalogue), in the west of Kerry. It measures in height five feet seven inches, and in width two feet four inches at the base, and one foot nine inches at the top. The Church, though very small, has a wall four feet thick, and some of the stones of the building are found to extend through the whole thickness of the wall. I think Dr. Petrie is wrong in supposing that this building was made without cement; but it is no part of my subject to discuss this question. Its erection is assigned by Dr. Petrie to an age probably anterior to the mission of the great apostle St. Patrick. The Doctor appears to me to be so far right, but incorrect in sup- posing it to have been a Christian Church. The window of this building shall hereafter be referred to, as furnishing evidence that the building itself was the work of the people by whom Cormac's Chapel was erected, and that it is about the same age. COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS. FIG. 8 1. BASE OF CASHEL ROUND TOWER, CO. TIPPERARY. FIG. 82. PIER AT NORBA, ITALY. B B ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE ROMAN PALMS FIG. 83. WALL AT ROSELLE, ITALY. If the Irish before the days of St. Patrick could build in the Cyclopean style, the question naturally suggests itself Whence did they acquire that style? Not from the few missionaries who first preached Christianity; these would naturally have introduced the style of the countries from which they had themselves come. Again, if the style was of purely Irish origin, how came it that the Irish should have invented the peculiarities of Cyclopean architecture without possessing any model to copy from ? The only reason- able solution of the difficulty is to assign all these buildings to the Cuthites, or Tuath-de-Danaans of antiquity as the architects of those Cyclopean remains in Greece and Italy, with which, as the foregoing illustrations prove, the Irish Ruins so strikingly correspond. This hypothesis entirely removes the difficulty. COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS SCALE Of F FIG. 84. BASE OF KILMACDUAGH ROUND TOWER, CO. GALWAY. Fig. 8 1 represents the Cyclopean masonry of the base of Cashel Round Tower, No. 59 in Catalogue. The style gradually changes, as the work ascends, to the regular Ashlar, in which Cormac's Chapel is built. It is un- necessary to multiply specimens of this style, as most of the Round Towers are so built at the base ; but they gradually change, as they ascend, to the style of regular horizontal courses. Fig. 82 is a pier standing at what is called the Great Gate at Norba, Italy, from Dodwell, plate 75. Fig. 83 is a portion of the Cyclopean wall at Roselle, now called Grossetto, in Italy, from Sir Wm. Betham's Etruria Celtica, vol. 2, p. 251. Fig. 84 is the base of Kilmacduagh Round Tower, County Galway, drawn by Mr. Henry O'Neill from a Photograph. The style of the masonry, 194 ANCIENT IRISH ARCHITECTURE FIG. 85. GATEWAY AT FERENTINUM, ITALY. and jointing is strikingly like that of the wall at Grossetto ; but the stones of the Cyclopean specimens of Italy and Greece seem larger, although one stone of Kilmacduagh Tower measures eight feet six inches in length. The scale of feet on fig. 84 applies only to the central upright section of the building, which being round, the sides are reduced to the eye by the perspective. Fig. 85 represents a gateway at Ferentinum, Italy, from Dodwell, plate 99. This drawing exhibits the combination of the Arch with the Cyclopean characteristics of sloping jambs and irregular jointing, as seen in fig. 86. Fig. 86 is the doorway of the Church of St. Dairbile in Erris, County Mayo, which, like other Irish buildings, I believe to be a Cuthite ruin. It is four feet ten inches in height, two feet four inches in width at the base, nar- rowing upwards to two feet at the spring of the arch. I look upon St. Dair- bile, the reputed founder, to be the Oak tree already noticed as an object of ancient heathen worship The Great Mother The Ark. In the Irish DAIR means an Oak, and BILE a tree. COMPARED WITH CYCLOPEAN REMAINS. '95 FIG. 86. DAIRBILE'S CHURCH, co. MAYO. This Saint was a female, and, like most of these Irish mythical Saints, was of Royal descent. Dr. Petrie (p. 3 1 9) argues to prove that St. Dairbile " unquestionably flourished " in the sixth century. He tells us, on the authority of Colgan, that " her name is included in the list of illustrious religious persons, who assembled at Ballysadare to meet St. Columbkille immediately after the great Council of Druim Ceat, in 590 ; but, as some of the persons there enumerated were dead, and others not born at the time, this statement must be regarded as of no authority, except as referring her 196 ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF IRELAND. existence to the sixth century." Now I submit to the intelligent reader, that Colgan's statement is of no authority whatever, as proving that the Saint lived either in the sixth or any other century. Colgan in this instance assembling, in 590, some who were dead, and others not born at the time, only proves one fact viz., that Colgan's statements are utterly unde- serving of credit ; as settling any question of biography or history. That he himself believed the fables, which he had collected with so much industry, I have no doubt. As my purpose is not to give a description of Irish ruins, the few examples I have submitted to the reader, which, to quote Dr. Petrie's words, "are only like hundreds of the same kind in Ireland," sufficiently prove the complete identity of the style of ancient Irish Architecture with that known as the Cyclopean of ancient Greece and Etruria. The combination of massive stones built in irregular courses, yet perfectly jointed, with sloping jambs of doorways and plinths of the like character in both, demonstrates this identity of architectural detail. To my mind it is beyond a doubt certain, that the "Cyclopean" was the style of all religious building before the Confusion of Tongues, and that each nation after the Dispersion soon began to acquire architectural peculiarities of its own : and there is ample evidence, from the ancient Churches and Round Towers, to show, that what are called the "Norman" architectural remains of Ireland, with the Irish peculiarities of style, were the work of the people, whose style is in other respects identical with that of ancient Greece and Etruria. THE SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH. ARCHES of this construction abound in the most ancient ruins of Ireland. There is scarcely a specimen of the Cyclopean doorway, with its massive material and inclining jambs, that has not got windows of the same building constructed with the semi-circular arch. The contrast between the ancient Irish structures, and buildings of the genuine Norman style, with which they are confounded, has been made the subject of a former chapter. (See p. 1 7). So inseparably connected is the " Cyclopean" doorway of Ireland with the semi-circular arch, that it is impossible to conclude the doorway of such construction to be the ancient Cuthite, without assigning the semi-circular arch to the same remote origin : and, inasmuch as an erroneous opinion is commonly entertained, that the invention of arches of this construction dates no farther back than a few centuries before the Christian era, it may be ex- pedient to adduce evidence in proof of the fact, that the semi-circular arch belongs to the very earliest historical period of building in stone. Conclusive evidence of the use of the Arch among the Cuthite races of remote antiquity is afforded by the fact, that semi-circular arches are found in the most ancient specimens of buildings in the "Giant Cities of Bashan." A few quotations on the subject of these wonderful ruins, from the valu- able work of the Rev. J. L. Porter, cannot fail to be interesting to the reader. In his chapter on "The Scenery of Bashan," Mr. Porter (p. 30) thus describes the country in the vicinity of Hit. " For an hour or more I sat wrapped in the contemplation of the wide and wondrous panorama. At least a thousand square miles of Og's ancient kingdom were spread out before me. There was the country, whose 'giant' (Rephaim, Gen. xiv.) inhabitants the THE SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH. eastern kings smote before they descended into the plain of Sodom. There were those ' three score great cities' of Argob, whose ' walls, and gates, and brazen bars/ were noted with surprise by Moses and the Israelites, and whose Cyclopean architecture and massive stone gates even now fill the western traveller with amazement, and give his simplest descriptions much of the charm and strangeness of romance." Describing a house in the town of Burak, Mr. Porter says (p. 26): "The walls were perfect, nearly five feet thick, built of large blocks of hewn stones, without lime or cement of any kind. The roof was formed of large slabs of the same black basalt, lying as regularly and jointed as closely, as if the workmen had only just completed them. They measured twelve feet in length, eighteen inches in breadth, and six inches in thickness. The ends rested on a plain stone cornice, projecting about a foot from each side wall. The chamber was twenty feet long, twelve wide, and ten high. The outer door was a slab of stone four and a half feet high, four wide, and eight inches thick. It hung upon pivots, formed of projecting parts of the slab, working in sockets on the lintel and threshold ; and though so massive, I was able to open and shut it with ease. At one end of the room was a small window with a stone shutter. An inner door, also of stone, but of finer workmanship, and not quite so heavy as the other, admitted to a chamber of the same size and appearance. From it a much larger door communicated with a third chamber, to which there was a descent by a flight of stone steps. This was a spacious hall, equal in width to the two rooms, and about twenty-five feet long by twenty high. A SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH was thrown across it, support- ing the stone roof ; and a gate so large that camels could pass in and out, opened on the street. The gate was of stone, and in its place ; but some rubbish had accumulated on the threshold, and it appeared to have been open for ages. Here our horses were comfortably installed. Such were the internal arrangements of this strange old mansion. It had only one story ; and its simple massive style of architecture gave evidence of a very remote antiquity." This is the description of the house Mr. Porter himself occupied THE GIANT CITIES OF BASHAN. 199 at Burak, and he assures us that " the houses were all like the one we occupied, only some smaller, and a few larger, and that there were no large buildings." Fig. 87 represents the interior of a large room in one of these giant- houses, showing how the ponderous roof is supported by a double semi- circular arch resting on a pillar. FIG. 87. INTERIOR OF GIANT'S HOUSE, BASHAN. Mr. Porter proceeds (p. 84) " They are the memorials of a race of giant warriors, that has been extinct for more than three thousand years, and of which Og, king of Bashan, was one of the last representatives ; and they are, I believe, the only specimens in the world of the ordinary private dwellings of remote antiquity. The monuments designed by the genius and reared by the wealth of imperial Rome are fast mouldering to ruin in this land ; tem- ples, palaces, tombs, fortresses, are all shattered, or prostrate in the dust, but the simple, massive houses of the Rephaim are in many cases perfect as if only completed yesterday." " It is worthy of note here, as tending to prove the truth of my statements, and to illustrate the words of the sacred writers, that the towns of Bashan were considered ancient even in the days of the Roman historian Ammianus cc 2OO THE SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH. Marcellinus, who says regarding this country : * Fortresses and strong castles have been erected by the ancient inhabitants among the retired mountains and forests. Here in the midst of numerous towns are some great cities such as Bostra and Gerasa, encompassed by massive walls'" (p. 85). Again, in p. 67, Mr. Porter writes " In one spot (at Bozrah), deep down beneath the accumulated remains of more ancient buildings, I saw the simple, massive, primitive dwellings of the aborigines, with their stone doors and stone roofs. These were built and inhabited by the gigantic Emim and Repkaim long before the Chaldean shepherd migrated from Ur to Canaan (Gen. xiv. 5). High above them rose the classic portico of a Roman temple, shattered and tottering, but still grand in its ruins. Passing between the columns I saw over its beautifully sculptured doorway a Greek inscription, telling how in the fourth century, the temple became a church, and was dedicated to St. John. On entering the building the record of still another change appeared on the cracked plaster of the walls. Upon it was traced in huge Arabic characters the well-known motto of Islamism ' There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the prophet of God!" Summing up these quotations from Mr. Porter's most interesting work, we have evidence that many of the ancient habitations of the Giants still exist in the precise locality described by Moses as "a land of Giants." Next we may observe, that these habitations stand in marked contrast to the architecture of the Jews, the Romans, the early Christians and the modern Mahometans, the nations who in turn succeeded the Giant Aborigines, and whose monuments are in ruins, while the imperishable character of these primeval structures has left them a standing monument of the truth of the Bible. Again, we find the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus noticing in his day the architectural works of the " Ancient inhabitants." But my principal reason for introducing these quotations is because of the evidence which the ruins of the Giant Cities furnish of the use of the semi-circular arch in the first ages of the world's history. I have quoted from Mr. Porter at some length, because it is necessary to ARCHES IN ARCADIA, THEBES, AND CARTHAGE. 2OI prove, not only that the arch is found in the most ancient houses in Bashan, but also, that these houses were the habitations of the aborigines, whose last king (in the time of Moses) was the Giant Og : that the cities are in fact properly designated "The Giant Cities of Bashan." The semi-circular arch appears also in fig. 47 a recess for the image of the Goddess in the cavern temple of Hippa in Arcadia (from Mythologia Natalis Comes, Ed. 1637). " Now the Arcadians vaunted their antiquity above all other nations, and valued themselves much on their assumed name of Aborigines. Everywhere they boasted, that they were in possession of their land before the birth of Jupiter." (Harcourt's Doctrine of the Deluge, vol. i, p. 311). It is not credible that the rock-temples belonging to this ancient people were excavated and dedicated to the Goddess Hippa after the introduction of the Arch into Grecian architecture; and, if it existed before, it must be assigned to the remote ages of the world's history. Dr. Davis, in describing some plain semi-circular arches among the Ruins of Carthage, says (Carthage audits Remains, p. 55): "At one period the existence of the Arch would have been sufficient evidence to fix the date of this building; but this opinion is now exploded, since Sir Gardiner Wilkinson informs us that 'innumerable vaults and arches exist in Thebes, of early date/ and Mr. Layard found the same constructions at Nineveh also. Arched gate- ways are moreover often represented in the bas-reliefs from that place." I believe the semi-circular arch to have been an emblematic device con- nected with the mysteries of the Cuthites or Lingajas, and that to this circumstance is to be ascribed its absence from the buildings of ancient Egypt, and Greece. The writer of an article in the London Encyclopedia on " Architecture" (No. 59) informs us, as accounting for the superiority of Grecian to Egyptian architectural taste, that " in Egypt, and we may add in Judea also, law and religion both were exerted to depress and restrain the progress of art." It is impossible otherwise than upon this hypothesis to account for the absence of the arch from most of the Egyptian Temples. The architect, who could erect even one of such temples as now exist in ruins in 2O2 THE SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH. Egypt, must have been very stupid indeed (at least he would be considered so in our day), if, during the progress of such a work, he had not discovered the principle of the arch even supposing him to have never heard of it before. It may also be a question worthy of consideration, whether the knowledge of the principle, upon which a semi-circular arch is supported, may not be proved to have existed among those who constructed the pointed arch found in Egyptian and American ruins : although, for some reason con- nected with religion, the other form had been avoided, until, in process of time, the pointed arch came to be the established style in these countries. The same writer (London Encyclopedia) informs us (No. 79) " that in the most ancient specimens of this [the Etruscan] school we find abundant use made of the arch, the construction of which was evidently well known to their architects." We are told elsewhere, that the Etruscans were a branch of the Pelasgi, who, according to Dionysius, emigrated into Europe not many years after the Dispersion. " The high, and indeed almost incredible antiquity of the Etruscan language and alphabet has been clearly evinced in two dissertations printed at Oxford in the year 1746." (Lond. Ency., article, " Etruscans"). Mrs. Gray informs us (p. 238) that " the Cyclopean walls are the remains of some most ancient people, who bore sway in Italy at a period even more remote than the national existence of Etruria" To this most ancient people I ascribe the arches found in the " most ancient specimens" of the Etruscan school. It is evident that the Etruscans, or Pelasgi, were, in race and religion, distinct from the primitive Cuthites the fact being that the Divinities of the latter were represented as black, with Negro features as shall afterwards be shown ; whereas the Divinites of the Etruscans were depicted as fair, their Furies and Demons only being represented as black. See Mrs. Hamilton Grays Sepulchres of Etruria, pp. 16 and 266. I shall notice one other proof of arches being found in Temples of eastern Europe, which unmistakeably belonged to the ancient Cyclopeans. The country at the north of the Black Sea, about the river Tanais and the Maeotis, ANCIENT ARCHES AT IXKERMAN. 2O3 is frequently referred to by Bryant, Faber, and others, as well as in the ancient Irish Records (Keating, vol. i, p. 113), as having been formerly in- habited by Cuthites, under the names of Scythians, Hyperboreans, etc. Of this identical locality Faber writes: ''Similar excavations of amazing extent may be seen near Inkerman in the Crimea, which was one of the chief western settlements of the old Scythae or Chusas. They are hewn out of the rocks which tower above the bay, and they are visible at a considerable distance. ' Upon examination,' says Dr. Clarke, 'they proved to be chambers with arched windows, cut in the solid rock with great care and art'" (Clarke s Trav., vol. i, c. 20, p. 491-493 ; also Faber, vol. 3, p. 257). I have stated my opinion that the arch was an abomination to the Pelasgi (the conquerors of the Cuthites), and as such I believe they destroyed every vestige of it which came within their reach. Windows and arched doorways have there- fore disappeared from the Cyclopean remains of Greece and Italy, and the arched form was never revived in Grecian and Egyptian architecture until, by the lapse of time, all knowledge of the Cuthites and their religion had passed away. The arched windows at Inkerman being excavations, not buildings, may account for their existence at the present day. I trust, that what has been adduced on this subject is sufficient to prove the remote antiquity of the semi-circular arch. I myself am of opinion, that the interior roof of the Ark of Noah was of this construction, and that there- fore the design was introduced into the arkite temples of the first apostates from the patriarchal religion. See the Rock Temple of Carli, fig. 3. THE CUTHITES. THE SCYTHIAN EMPIRE. HAVING made such frequent mention of the Cuthites as the artificers of our ancient Irish ruins, it is expedient that I should make a few general remarks upon the nations, to whom I have assigned this name. The period of their dominion as the Scythian empire I believe to have been from the time of Nimrod to that of Abraham. They after- wards existed in partial subjection until the days of Samuel the prophet. Learned men of different ages have written numerous volumes on this comprehensive subject, upon which I mean only to touch very briefly. Notwithstanding all that has been written, the subject still remains one of doubt and uncertainty at every point : I do not pretend to settle any of these points, upon which men of profound learning and research have disagreed so widely. I shall only quote a few passages, selecting what seem to me the most correct views, and leave the reader to judge for himself. It is probable that the apostacy of Sun-worship commenced with Cain, who " brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord " (Gen. iv. 3). Colonel Greenwood writing in the Athenceum of 23rd July, 1864, says : "Sun-worship had many names and modifications. It is the Sabiism (from Tsabu Hesemin, the heavenly Host) of Job and the Bible. Bishop Cumberland and Bishop Warburton, I think, agree that Cain, the first man born on earth, and his descendants were Sabaeans. Abraham and Moses were Sabaeans till Jehovah revealed himself to them. Sun-worship is serpent-worship, since a glory of serpents with their tails outward designated THE SCYTHIAN EMPIRE. 205 the sun's rays ; a serpent with its tail in its mouth the sun's disc, his orbit, and eternity ; a serpent extended and serpentine the sun's apparent course through the stars. Hence, ' Ob El, the origin of obelisk, is Pytho Sol, the serpent sun.'" We learn from the Shaster and other Sanscrit books, which the Budhists, as the predecessors of the Brahmins in India, claim as their own, that they the ancient Budhists (like Cain) offered only the fruits of the ground their worship was without sacrifice of blood, save perhaps human sacrifices their righteousness of works, prayers and penances they did not believe in an universal propitiatory sacrifice, or in the eternal punishment of the wicked. The policy of the first apostates from the patriarchal religion seems to have been to convert the primeval prophecies of a future Redeemer into fables of past incarnations of Divinity, preserving the facts communicated by God, but so distorting them as to render them wholly useless for the purpose for which they were revealed. From the schisms, which arose out of this apostacy, sprang (after the building of the Tow r er of Babel) the widely-spread and diversified legends of Heathenism. The religion of the ancient Cuthites seems to have been the worship of God, as the source of life and generativeness : the worship of the Sun and Moon as the visible emblems of the Divinity followed, and hence the worship of the Lingam, the Ark, etc. ; all of which superstitions became ultimately combined with hero-worship, etc. The cursed race of Ham, who were prophesied (Gen. ix. 25) to become the servants of servants, seem notwithstanding to have exercised the chief dominion in the earth from the days of Nimrod the first king mentioned in history until about the time of Abraham. Judgment was delayed until their iniquity was full (Gen. xv. 16). Thenceforth they seem to have become everywhere a proscribed race ; and the religion which they had made corrupt became expunged, leaving only slight traditional legends, and ruins of magnificent edifices, to attest their former greatness. This period of Cuthite rule may be reckoned an era of the world's history, followed by 2O6 THE CUTHITES. THE SCYTHIAN EMPIRE. a dark age, out of which arose the literature and civilization, which are usually denominated " ancient." The Cuthites dealt in mysteries the facts of the past were concealed by them under symbols and words of double meaning out of which, when the Cuthites themselves had passed away, arose all the absurd mythology of the so-called ancient world which succeeded them. Numerous facts relating to this ancient people were collected by the late Jacob Bryant, Esq., and published in 1774, under the title of "Analysis of Antient Mythology." It is a large work ; and Bryant himself informs us that the history of the Cuthites, the descendants of Ham, is the principal subject of his investigation therein. Asa scholar, the learned Bryant was eminently qualified for such a work. It is said of him that, "in point of classical erudi- tion he was, perhaps, without an equal in the world Nothing in the ancient Greek and Roman literature, however recondite, or wherever dispersed, could escape his sagacity and patient investigation." (See Life of Bryant appended to the 3rd Edition). The chief sources whence Bryant derived his information respecting the Cuthites were the Doric hymns, written originally in the Amonian or Cuthite language, the fragments of Berosus, of Sanchoniathon, and of the Sibylline poetry preserved in the ancient classics. (Bryant, vol. i, p. 202 ; vol. 4, p. 99). I do not mean to enter into any dissertation upon the correctness of all Mr. Bryant's views, as it would extend this work beyond its intended limits ; but I shall confine myself to the statement of certain conclusions to which his researches have led him, leaving the reader to examine Bryant's work itself for the proofs, upon which such conclusions are founded. I would however direct particular attention to the fact that, while the writings of Bryant, and the language, legends, history and hagiology of Ireland mutually confirm each other in hundreds of instances, the learned Bryant himself seems to have been ignorant on all these subjects of Irish knowledge. These circumstances make the quotations from Bryant the more valuable in the present inquiry, inasmuch as his testimony is disinterested and unintentional. VARIOUS NAMES BORNE BY THE CUTIIITES. 2OJ Bryant, elsewhere throughout his work, refers to the Cuthites as noticed by classic authors, under the designations of Giants, Titans, Centaurs, Cyclopians, lapitiae, Phoenicians, Scythians or Scuthi, Hyperboreans, Iberians, Indi, Idaei-Dactyli, Formians, Lamiae, Ethiopians, Daemons, Cabiri, and Shepherds or Shepherd Kings. To these several names I shall have occa- sion to refer separately. Their history and identity, as being all of the Cuthite stock, are the subjects of Bryant's valuable work. In his preface to the third Edition of his Analysis of Antient Mythology, p. xxviii, Bryant says " It has been observed, by many of the learned, that some particular family betook themselves very early to different parts of the world, in all which they introduced their rites and religion, together with the customs of their country. They represent them as very knowing and enter- prising ; and with good reason. They were the first who ventured upon the seas, and undertook long voyages. They showed their superiority and address in the numberless expeditions which they made, and the difficulties which they surmounted. Many have thought that they were colonies from Egypt, or from Phenicia, having a regard only to the settlements which they made in the west. But I shall show hereafter, that colonies of the same people are to be found in the most extreme parts of the east; where we may observe the same rites and ceremonies, and the same traditional histories, as are to be met with in their other settlements. The country called Phenicia could not have sufficed for the effecting all that is attributed to these mighty adventurers. It is necessary for me to acquaint the Reader, that the wonderful people, to whom I allude, were the descendants of Chus, and called Cuthites and Cuseans. They stood their ground at the general migration of families ; but were at last scattered over the face of the earth. They were the first apostates from the truth, yet great in worldly wisdom. They introduced, wherever they came, many useful arts, and were looked up to as a superior order of beings : hence they were styled Heroes, Daemons, Helidae, Macarians. They were joined in their expeditions by other nations, especially by the collateral branches of their family, the Mizraim, Caphtorim, D D 2O8 THE CUTHITES. THE SCYTHIAN EMPIRE. and the sons of Canaan. These were all of the line of Ham, who was held by his posterity in the highest veneration. They called him Amon : and having in process of time raised him to a divinity, they worshipped him as the Sun ; and from this worship they were styled Amonians." . . . And again in p. xxxi, Bryant says: "They were a people who carefully preserved memorials of their ancestors, and of those great events which had preceded their dispersion. These were described in hieroglyphics upon pillars and obelisks : and when they arrived at the knowledge of letters, the same accounts were religiously maintained both in their sacred archives, and popular records. It is mentioned of Sanchoniathon, the most ancient of Gentile writers, that he obtained all his knowledge from some writings of the Amonians. ' It was the good fortune of Sanchoniathon/ says Philo Biblius, ' to light upon some antient Amonian records, which had been preserved in the innermost part of a temple, and known to very few.' ' Bryant's Antient Mythology, 3rd Edition, Preface, pp. xxviii to xxxii. OUTLINE OF CUTHITE HISTORY. The accompanying brief outline of the history of the Cuthites, as gleaned from the writings of Bryant, Faber, and others, may assist the reader in examining the several quotations which follow. It would appear from History that an ingenious and powerful race of the descendants of Ham ruled the world for many centuries after the Deluge. They are frequently referred to under the name of Cuthites. Their kingdom was established by the first king of Babylon Nimrod, Belus, or Elorus. They were known as Scythians ; and their dominion was antecedent to the Assyrian Empire. During the period of Cuthite dominion the Phallic worship extended from Babylon to India ; for we find that it was introduced into India from the banks of the Euphrates, where " the mighty Lord Belus" was thus worshipped. OUTLINE OF CUTHITE HISTORY. 2O9 The first King of Babylon having assumed to himself the title of " the Royal Shepherd," the Cuthite conquerors of Egypt were there known by the name of Shepherds, or Shepherd Kings. It is probable that some antedilu- vian prophecy existed, in which the promised " Seed of the woman " was represented under the character of the Good Shepherd. If so, it would account for Nimrod's having adopted such name, when he assumed the character of the " Promised Seed." The Cuthites were also known under the names of Indi, Ethiopes, Phoenicae, Scythians or Scuthi, Hyperboreans, Cyclopeans, Centaurs, Giants, Titans, and Demons. The original Indus was the Tigris in Babylonia, whence the Cuthites brought with them the name of Indi to their settlements in the East Human sacrifices prevailed among the Cuthites ; which custom probably arose from their abuse of the superior knowledge they possessed, by offering a man as a more literal exhibition of the Divine Man, whose sacrifice was intended to be typified. Bryant, in tracing the downfall of the Cuthite empire, refers to two great wars. The first was that for dominion, which lasted ten years, and ended in the defeat of the Cuthites, who were expelled from Babylonia and driven to Tartarus, i.e., to the West : others of them were at the same time made tribu- taries in the localities where they had founded settlements. This was the war referred to by the ancients as that between the Gods and the Giants the Greeks and the Centaurs ; and the war of the sexes, to which I shall allude, as recorded by Wilford and Faber, from Hindoo mythology. This first Titanic war is treated of at considerable length by Bryant, who quotes full accounts of it from the Sibylline verses. Some of the events of this war are referred to in the account of the " Dispersion" (Gen. xi. 8, 9). The second Titanic war was one of extirpation, and, according to Bryant, it is also referred to in the Bible (Gen. xiv). After the " Dispersion," and the over- throw of Cuthite dominion, the scattered settlements of that race, which remained in Italy, Sicily, and on the borders of the Euxine Sea, rendered 2IO THE CUTHiTES. THE SCYTHIAN EMPIRE. themselves odious to their neighbours by their religious rites, particularly their continued custom of human sacrifices a custom, which, in their weakened social condition, they exercised only on such strangers as fortune placed in their power. These unfortunates they offered as victims, and thus it was, that, as common enemies of mankind, the Cuthites became, as to national existence, utterly extirpated. Their great knowledge and skill in the arts also perished with them : nothing remained save what still continued to be preserved in " the Mysteries," the introduction of which, instead of the open exercise of the Cuthites' worship seems to have been the result of their national degradation. These mysteries in time became very popular in Greece and Egypt; but the knowledge contained in them was a mere shadow of the wisdom and skill possessed by the ancient Cuthites, in the days of their power " the Golden Age." The Cuthites expelled from Babylonia, were banished to Tartarus, that is to say to the West, to the abyss of the Atlantic Ocean, and the unknown regions beyond. This emigration was probably the first colonization of America, and then also for the first time, Ireland may have been peopled. In ancient Irish records there are several accounts of the immigrations of the Scythians. One represents them as coming from the banks of the Teth-Gris (Tigris) to Spain, and thence to Ireland. Another account brings them from Egypt to Spain, and thence to Ireland. It is singular that these should correspond with the accounts of the Cuthite migrations adduced by Bryant from the ancient Classics; the first, that from Babylon after the "Dispersion;" the second, the expulsion of the Shepherd Kings from Egypt, after having ruled that country for 500 years. The voyages of the Irish, described as Scythians, or Gadelians the descendants of Gad-el-glas [the Green Snake God] before their first arrival in Ireland, are epitomized by Keating (vol. i, p. 118, and preceding pages). Their journeyings were first from Scythia the country about the river Tanais on the Euxine. They travel backwards and forwards between Scythia, Crete, Egypt, Thrace, and Gothland [Guthia or Sicily], thence to OUTLINE OF CUTHITE HISTORY. 2 I I Spain, and ultimately to Ireland. Keating tells us, that the source whence he derived his information was "the Book of Invasions, upon whose authority we may depend ; for the whole account is faithfully collected and transcribed, from the most valuable and authentic chronicles of the Irish affairs, particu- larly from that choice volume, called Leabhar dhroma sneachta, or the White book, that was written before St. Patrick first arrived in Ireland to propagate Christianity in the country." (Keating, vol. i, p. 83). About a thousand years are said to have been occupied in these voyages. Wars and dangers of various kinds are assigned as the causes of the several migrations. It is not possible for us to regard these ancient Irish records as History. They are only the systematizing of ancient traditions respecting the settle- ments, which the Cuthite Scythians the Irish and their brethren had established at different places in former times. One fact however is worthy of special notice that the several localities, Scythia on the borders of the Euxine, Crete, Sicily, Egypt, and Spain, are each noticed at considerable length by Bryant, as places where the Cuthites after the Dispersion had founded colonies. It is probable, that the classical literature whence Bryant derived his information was wholly unknown to Keating, and it is certain, that the several Annals written in the Irish language, on the authority of which Keating delineated his plan of the wanderings of the Cuthite colonies until they reached Ireland, were never heard of by Bryant. Therefore, the numerous coincidences in the writings of these learned men prove, that a substratum of truth lay at the foundation of the authorities, from which each extracted his information. Bryant mentions Greece and the northern coast of Africa, as having been once occupied by Cuthites, and corresponding accounts respecting these countries are found in Irish records as places whence the Irish have come. Although modern writers of history have as yet scarcely begun to recog- nise the fact, that a great empire once existed bearing the name of Scythian, yet Faber has drawn attention to this fact, and to the evidence on which it is 212 THE CUTHITES. THE SCYTHIAN EMPIRE. sustained. This he does in apparent ignorance that any reference is made to such an empire in Irish records : but there it is notwithstanding. We have been accustomed to regard the early portions of Irish history as mythical, and as little entitled to be called History as the stories told in the " Arabian Nights." Yet in the most ancient Irish Annals, we have records of the Scythian empire, the great monarch of which, Nion the son of Pelus [Nin, Ninus, or Nimrod of ancient history], the ancestor of the Irish Scythians, is described as the "Sovereign of the Universe." See Faber, vol. 3 PP- 377-379, 39*~399; Keating, vol. i, p. 95. With these few introductory observations, I now proceed to quotations in support and confirmation of my statements on this interesting and curious historical question. In vol. i, p. 7, of his Antient Mythology, Bryant remarks: " Chus was the father of all those nations, styled Ethiopians, who were more truly called Cuthites and Cuseans. They were more in number, and far more widely extended, than has been imagined. The history of this family will be the principal part of my enquiry." " The first great commotion among men was described by the poets as the war of the Giants ; who raised mountains upon mountains in order that they might scale heaven. The sons of Chus were the aggressors in these acts of rebellion. They have been represented under the character both of Giants and Titanians : and are said to have been dissipated into different parts of the world. . . . But the most prevailing notion about the Titanians was, that after their war against heaven, they were banished to Tartarus, at the extremities of the earth. The antient Grecians knew very little of the western parts of the world. They therefore represent the Titans, as in a state of darkness ; and Tartarus as an infernal region." (Bryant, vol. 4, pp. 73,74). Again p. 77, he further says: "The mythologists adjudged the Titans to the realms of night ; and conse- quently to a most uncomfortable climate ; merely from not attending to the purport of the term o0oe. It is to be observed, that this word had two GREAT WORKS OF THE CUTHITE RACE. 213 significations. First, it denoted the west, or place of the setting sun. . . . It signified also darkness; and from this secondary acceptation the Titans of the west were consigned to the realms of night ; being situated in respect to Greece towards the regions of the setting sun. The vast unfathomable abyss, spoken of by the poets, is the great Atlantic Ocean ; upon the borders of which Homer also places the gloomy mansions where the Titans resided." "Another name for Tartarus, to which the poets condemned the Titans and Giants, was Erebus. This, like o^* FIG. 95. BRITWAY CHURCH, CO. CORK. which I have met with in Ireland, nor do I know of any other of the middle BRITWAY; KILDARE. 257 age architecture, either in England or France, except one in the latter country, namely, over the Byzantine portal of the Church of Notre Dame du Port at Clermont-Ferrand, and which is supposed to be of the eleventh century." Fig- 95 is the doorway and part of the Cyclopean wall of Britway Church, County Cork, which Dr. Petrie describes as one of the most interesting FIG. 96. DOORWAY, KILDARE ROUND TOWER. remains in that county. He also notices the curious figure in which the architrave terminates at the keystone, which I would ask the reader to compare with the like figure, adorning numerous semicircular arches in the Rock Temple at Carli, fig. 3. Dr. Petrie tells us, that this building was dedicated to St. Bridget, whom we have before identified with the Irish Goddess of poets and smiths, and the Scandinavian Venus. 258 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. Fig. 96 is the doorway of the Round Tower of Kildare, with details of ornament thereon. Of this doorway Dr. Petrie says it will at once be seen FIG. 97. DOORWAY, TIMAHOE ROUND TOWER, QUEEN'S COUNTY. FIG. 98. SCULPTURE, TIMAHOE ROUND TOWER, QUEEN'S COUNTY. TIMAHOE, ETC. 259 that, " in its general character, as well as in the style of its ornaments, notwithstanding the chevron or zigzag moulding on one of the cornices, it FIG. 99. SCULPTURE, ST. OTTMAR'S, NURNBERG. FIG. 100. CAPITALS, FRESHFORD CHURCH, KILKENNY. presents features not to be found on any decidedly ascertained Anglo- Norman remains." Fig. 97 is the doorway of Timahoe Round Tower, which, Dr. Petrie says, " like that of Kildare, exhibits many peculiarities that I do not recollect to have found in buildings of the Norman times, either in England or Ire- land." Fig. 98 is one of the capitals of this doorway. The only example of Norman or Romanesque Architecture, not Irish, which I find in Dr. 260 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. Petrie's work, is that of the capital of a pillar at St. Ottmar's Chapel, Nurnberg (fig. 99), which he compares with those of Timahoe. The comparison speaks for itself. Mr. Parker says (Gent. Mag., March, 1864, p. 283) : " The custom or fashion of introducing human heads at the angles of FIG. 1 01. PORCH, FRESHFORD CHURCH, KILKENNY. the capitals, where in English or Continental work the ornaments generally exhibit more or less of a volute, is very prevalent in Ireland." Fig. 100 represents the capitals of the porch of Freshford Church, County FRESHFORD CHURCH. 26 I Kilkenny, of which Dr. Petrie writes (p. 282) : " And I should also notice, as characteristic of Irish Architecture of this period at least (the close of the eleventh or commencement of the twelfth century), the grotesque lions' heads which are sculptured on the soffit of the external arch." The porch of Freshford Church, County Kilkenny (fig. 101), is the only instance save that of Cormac's Chapel already noticed, in which Dr. Petrie has attempted to furnish historical evidence as fixing the date of any (so-called) Norman ruin throughout Ireland ; it therefore becomes important to investigate the Doctor's proofs. He informs us, that the entrance porch or doorway of Freshford Church is an example of one of these Irish structures, which "we know from historical evidence to have been erected in the eleventh and twelfth centuries" (p. 282). The Doctor's " historical evidence" in this case is as devoid of foundation as his " most satisfactory historical evidence" respecting Cormac's Chapel, already examined. He tells us the Church was " originally erected by St. Lachtin in the seventh century, but rebuilt towards the close of tlie eleventh, or commencement of the twelfth, as a perfectly legible inscription on its doorway clearly proves. This inscription is contained in two bands, encircling the external face of the inner arch, the letters, as is usual in all ancient inscriptions, being indented and is as follows : - 1. In the lower band : ' OR DO NEIM 1GIN CUIRC ACUS DO MATHGAMAIN U CHIARMEIC LAS IN DERNAD I TEMPULSA.' I. e. ' A PRAYER FOR NIAM, DAUGHTER OF CORC, AND FOR MATHGHAMAIN O'CHIARMEIC, BY WHOM WAS MADE THIS CHURCH.' 2. In the upper band : ' OR DO GILLE MOCHOLMOC U CECUCAI DO RIGNI.' i. e. ' A PRAYER FOR GILLE MOCHOLMOC o'CENCUCAIN WHO MADE IT.'" (Petrie, p. 283). The Doctor proceeds : " It is to be regretted, that neither our annals, nor genealogical books, preserve the names of any of the persons recorded in this inscription." Now I would ask the reader's attention to the fact, that this inscription, 262 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. instead of being historical evidence clearly proving the date of this porch, proves absolutely nothing about the matter. Dr. Petrie reasons upon the use of surnames in the inscription, as proving the date of the Church to be the close of the nth or the commencement of the 1 2th century, because surnames came into general use in the nth century. But an examination of Irish Annals will convince the reader, that surnames or second names were in use from the 6th century among families who had pedigrees to preserve. Instances of such surnames will be found under the years 550 681 790 885 975 1002, and in multitudes of other instances throughout the Four Masters, and other Annalists. Tradition ascribes the original structure to St. Lachtin, from which I conclude that an ancient edifice existed there as early as the seventh century. All that now remains of this ancient building is the porch or doorway, the rest of the Church being the construction of a long subsequent age, in the pointed Gothic style, known to have come into use in the 1 2th century. A glance at the building is sufficient to show, that the inscription refers to the comparatively modern Church in the background, and that the beau- tifully-ornamented porch belonged to a building of a different date in fact, to an ancient stone-roofed temple like Cormac's Chapel. At the right side of this doorway are seen Adam and Eve, the first scene in Man's History ; and at the left, the future incarnation of Vishnu referred to at page 173 ante. But as the porch or doorway of the Church, which is one of the richest speci- mens of (so-called) Norman Architecture in Ireland, stands in marked contrast with the rest of/the building, we must conclude that it existed in some previous structure ; and the builder (or, as Dr. Petrie suggests, rebuilder) of the Church may well be excused for soliciting the prayers of the faithful, he having built all the edifice except the entrance door. The inscription is a rude scratch of indented letters entirely out of character with the beautiful sculpture of the porch itself, all the figures upon which are in relief. This, and another specimen hereafter to be noticed, are the only (so-called) Norman doorways existing throughout Ireland, upon which an inscription occurs; and KILLALOE. 263 that fact alone is sufficient to prove, that the inscription refers to the Christian Church, not to the Cuthite doorway ; for, had it been customary to make in- scriptions on such doorways, they would be found on others besides that of Freshford. If we turn our attention to the buildings at Killaloe, they may serve to throw light on the subject of the ancient Architecture of Ireland. Killaloe is, as I before observed, a religious foundation ascribed to St. Luan (the Moon), and as such, I assume it to be a Cuthite foundation. The buildings found there perfectly correspond with this conclusion. Writing on this subject Dr. Pe^trie says : " At Killaloe, then, we have two ancient buildings, 'namely, the Cathedral and a small stone-roofed church, situated immediately to the north of it, of which the wood-cut on next page represents the west front. That the cathedral church is not of Brian's time is, however, sufficiently obvious from its architectural details, which clearly belong to the close of the twelfth century; and its re-erection is attributed, with every appearance of truth, to Donnell More O'Brien, king of Limerick, who died in the year 1 194. Yet, that a more ancient church, and one of considerable splendour y had pre- viously existed on its site, is evident from a semicircular archway in the south wall of the nave, now built up, and which is remarkable for the richness of its embellishments in the Romanesque or Norman style." I believe Dr. Petrie to be quite correct in the date he assigns to the Cathedral of Killaloe, which in its architectural features corresponds with other Churches known to be of the I2th century. But it will be remarked, that the Temple of St. Luan (the Moon), which preceded it, was reduced to utter ruin before the building of this Cathedral was commenced. The Roman- esque or rather Cuthite doorway, to which Dr. Petrie refers, is the handsomest specimen of architecture I have seen in Ireland. The Cathedral is not built precisely on the site of the former temple, which must have stood to the south of the present edifice. The north doorway of the ancient temple (which is all that remains of it) has its outward side opening into the nave of the Cathedral. This doorway is a much richer specimen of sculpture than either Freshford LL 264 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. doorway or the northern doorway of Cormac's Chapel, but is precisely of the same character. Its existence at Killaloe proves that an ancient Cuthite temple, more splendid than Cormac's Chapel, with its arched roof and other appendages, once existed at Killaloe; and the reader may judge for himself how many centuries must have elapsed, before it fell into such ruinous decay as to be removed altogether (save the doorway) to make room for Donnell More O'Brien's Cathedral, built in the I2th century. The coign stones of the ancient Cuthite temple may still be seen built into the present Cathedral at the east end to the height of about ten or twelve feet, and from that to the eave appear other coigns of inferior workmanship and pattern, but in imitation of the ancient ones. Such coigns are noticed as a peculiarly Irish characteristic. The mouldings project outside the angle of the wall as at the Cuthite Temple of Monahinch, near Roscrea ; also at the Cuthite Temple the middle Church of Ardfert, County Kerry. There are certain rules laid down by Archaeologists in tracing the ages of different buildings. One of these is that the more ancient is the more rude, and that as time advanced, the knowledge of the art improved ; so that the better specimens of architecture are found to be the more modern. This as a general rule is correct, and in accordance with fact; but as applied to the ancient Architecture of Ireland, it is found to be reversed in every case. The most ancient Churches, or rather Temples, in Ireland, having the walls in a tolerably perfect state, such as Cormac's Chapel, are the richest and most perfect specimens of architecture in the country. As a few examples of this class, I would instance Cormac's Chapel at Cashel the nave of Temple Melchedor (the Temple of the Golden Molach, in the parish of Kilmelchedor, County Kerry) the Church of Iniscaltra that of Monahinch, near Roscrea Tomgraney Church (the mound of the Sun), in the east of Clare Clonfert Cathedral, County Galway and the Temple of Dimmoge at Clonkeen, County Limerick. The ancient Christian Churches are generally found to be rudely-built structures, into the walls of which are worked richly sculptured stones, KILMELCHEDOR. 26 5 evidently belonging to still more ancient buildings of a very superior style of architecture. Several specimens of such building may be found at Glendalough, and indeed in every county of Ireland; incontestably proving the existence of an architectural culture superior and antecedent to the earliest Christian foundation. One of the most interesting ruins of the (so-called) Norman style in Ireland is Temple Melchedor, [alias, the Temple of the Golden Molach,] in the wilds of Kerry, at the extreme west of Ireland, thirty-six miles beyond Tralee. The Glen in which the temple is situated is separated from the interior by a ridge of mountains, inaccessible to wheeled vehicles until about thirty years since, when the Board of Works commenced their beneficial operations. The building is ascribed by the peasantry neither to the English, nor to the Spaniards, nor yet to the Irish, but to supernatural agency the work of one night. The legend of being built in one night is common to numerous Round Towers of Ireland, and also to many of the ancient Temples, or Churches. The topography of the Glen, in which Temple Melchedor is FIG. 102. AKCH AT KILMELCHEDOR, CO. KERRY. 266 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. situated, abounds with names of Cuthite origin. You may there find Dunurlin, the Fort of the golden Luan, Ardmore, the High Place of the Great God. Bovine legends of extraordinary character are also told, and still believed, among the peasantry. The Temple of the Golden Molach, to which I have referred, is a beautiful building about the size and in the style -,. .! v _ FIG. 103. DOORWAY OF THE TEMPLE OF MOCHUDEE AT RAHEN, KING'S CO. of Cormac's Chapel. The stone roof has fallen, the chancel is a re-building, but the nave is ancient. One side of each of the ancient chancel windows is still seen. On the inside of the soffit stone of a very rich doorway is sculptured, in relief, the head of an Ox the Golden Molach himself. One of the legends relates the supernatural powers in wrestling exercised by an ancient inhabitant of the Glen. See page 217, ante. KILMELCHEDOR ; RAHEN ; SHEEPTOWN. 267 Fig. 1 02 represents the arch of the doonvay of Temple Melchedor, save that the Ox's head, which appears on the outside of the soffit stone, occupies a similar position on the inside of the same stone in the actual building. It is introduced in the sketch, as the best way of showing its position on the inner surface of the stone. Fig. 103 is the doorway of the Temple of Mochudee at Rahen, King's County. I have identified the reputed founder, St. Mochudee, with Mahody, the sacred name of God as worshipped at the Caves of Elephanta. The doorway is an interesting specimen, for, although not highly ornamented, it is very perfect, and one of the few ancient Irish doorways, which have not been disturbed by reconstruction. FIG. 104. SHEEPTOWN, CO. KILKENNY. Fig. 104, is a plainer specimen of the ancient style not uncommon throughout Ireland. It represents the doorway of a temple at Sheeptown near Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny, of which Dr. Petrie says (p. 177) : "This doorway, which, as usual, is placed in the centre of the west wall, is composed of sandstone, well chiselled, and measures seven feet in height, or five feet six inches to the top of the impost, and one foot six inches thence to the vertex of the arch ; in width it is three feet immediately below the 268 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. imposts, and three feet three inches at the bottom ; and the jambs are three feet in thickness. As the ancient name of the church is wholly forgotten in the locality, as well as the name of its patron or founder, it is out of my power to trace its ancient history." I shall now make a few remarks upon peculiarities of ancient windows, which have come under my own observation. Every one well acquainted with ancient Irish ruins must have perceived, that there are two systems of architecture combined in our most ancient Churches. The distinction between these systems with respect to windows I nowproceed to notice. The first is the window with square jambs, and grooves provided for frames or glass. These windows are of various widths, and generally pointed at the top. They are rude, and, as specimens of architec- ture, inferior to the other class, which I shall afterwards notice. Cut-stone is used in them very sparingly, generally only at the jambs, the splay of the wall being made of rubble masonry and plastered work. Such windows I shall for the present refer to by the term "modern," to distinguish them from those of the other class, afterwards described as the "ancient." The " modern" are common in many of the ruined Churches throughout Ireland; but (save in the large Cathedrals built at places of importance since the Conquest by the English) the remarks made respecting their vast inferiority in workmanship and material to those of the older class will be found to be correct. The class of windows which I call " ancient" is strikingly distinguished from the others, not only by superiority of workmanship and material, but also by certain peculiarities in construction. The ordinary specimens of ancient windows are generally about six inches in width at the top, and somewhat wider at the bottom ; the splay of such windows, when not reconstructed, is always of cut-stone, worked and jointed in an artistic manner ; the semicircular splay being continued round the head of the arch to correspond with the top of the window, which is always semi- circular. The greater number are perfectly plain, though so well executed ; ANCIENT WINDOWS OF WIDE SPLAY. 269 but some are highly ornamented, either with grooved mouldings, as in fig. 105, or with sculptured tracery of various devices, as in fig. 107 ; and all are remarkable for having no provision made for glass or frames in their original construction. Here I would remark a fact which has not hitherto been noticed, that all ancient Irish doorways are constructed without any provision for FIG. 105. KILMACDUAGH WINDOW, CO. GALWAY. FIG. 1 06. SECTION OF KILMACDUAGH WINDOW. 270 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. hangings, or bolts, although such are often found to have been afterwards rudely added in a manner altogether incompatible with the original design. The other features observable in these ancient windows are, that they are all splayed downwards on the inner side, and the ornaments (where such exist) are continued all round ; whereas in the English or true Norman style they terminate at the foot of the jamb. Fig. 105 is the beautiful window of ''Temple lun" at Kilmacduagh, County Galway, the most perfect example of the ancient double window in Ireland, and exhibiting numerous specimens of that curious style of jointing, afterwards to be noticed as a peculiarity of Cuthite architecture. The section of the window (fig. 106) shews the ornamented mouldings. The FIG. 107. WINDOW, ANNAGHDOWN, CO. GALWAY, RESTORED. openings are eight feet high by six inches wide at top, and a little wider at the bottom. There is a beautiful ancient window at Annaghdown, Co. Galway ANNAGHDOWN WINDOW. RATH. 2/1 embellished with the ornaments represented in fig. 107. The window has been made two feet nine inches wide in process of re-construction, whereas I believe its original width to have been only six or seven inches. There are so many evidences to the experienced eye of this remodelling, or recon- struction, as to leave no doubt of the fact. These evidences are apparent, first, in the chisel edges of the arch, proving that they were so cut in order to meet the sides of one large stone, out of which the original outer arch was framed, and which stone is absent in the structure now under our notice. There are also other evidences in the imperfect style of jointing, and in the displacement of the sill-stones, proving that the window, as it now stands, was constructed out of fragments of two ancient windows of similar dimen- sions and ornamental details. I have represented one of the windows of Annaghdown in fig. 107, as I believe it originally appeared, but its present aspect may shortly be seen on an enlarged scale in a beautifully illustrated work on Irish Architecture, which Mr. Gordon M. Hills, of London, is preparing for publication. I am indebted to Mr. Hills for very accurate drawings of the ornaments on the Annaghdown window as repre- sented in fig. 107. This class of window, whether ornamented or plain, I have elsewhere referred to as the ancient window of " wide splay," to dis- tinguish it from another and a differently constructed class, to be afterwards noticed as that of " narrow splay." I have seen more than one hundred ancient windows of wide splay throughout Ireland, but not one perfect specimen in the ornamented style, and scarcely one in the plain ; I have therefore been obliged to make a res- toration for an illustration. Some specimens have one side perfect and in the original position, with the other side broken away : some, in their original positions, are rudely widened on the outside, so as to admit more light ; others are found only in fragments; but these remains are sufficiently characteristic to enable the Archaeologist to delineate the original structure in all its perfec- tion of architecture. Fig. 1 08 represents a " modern" window in the ruined Church of Rath, M M 272 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. FIG. 108. WINDOW AT RATH, CO. CLARE, WITH SECTION. FIG. 109. SILL-STONE, ANCIENT WINDOW, RATH, CO CLARE. RATH. GLENDALOUGH. 273 County Clare, as seen from the inside. It is nine inches wide, and square - jambed. The sill-stone, A B, which is three feet long, seems to have once served the place of sill-stone to an ancient window. The stone FIG. IIO. WINDOW AT GLENDALOUGH, CO. WICKLOW, ^- , r.. _ .- .- _ FIG. III. DETAILS OF ORNAMENT ON SAME. 274 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. was turned one quarter round, so that the place which was once outside is now the top on which the jambs of the modern window rest, and the former top-side was turned inside where the cutting of the ancient moulding (now visible) was concealed by the inner mason-work of the window, now broken away. The Church of Rath is a complete ruin, and has been so from time immemorial. It is a rude structure, yet it has several evidences of having been built upon the ruins of a beautiful edifice still more ancient Fig. 109 is the fragment of an ancient window built into the inside of the south wall of Rath Church. It seems to have been a portion of the outer ornament of a double ancient window, which in its perfect state must have been a most beautiful specimen of Cuthite sculpture. The humiliation figure, treated of in the section headed " The Wolf and the Red-hand" (see p. 132), may be seen on the Rath sculpture. The opening of this window seems to have been about seven inches wide at the bottom. The doorway, represented at fig. 89, probably belonged to the original temple, which was embellished by this beautiful window. Fig. no represents an ancient window, which formerly stood at the east end of the Cathedral of Glendalough, from a drawing made for Colonel Conyngham, in the year 1779. Fig. in is an enlarged representation of the sculpture on the frieze. Not a vestige of this beautiful window remains. The outline and aperture may have been correctly depicted ; but I have no doubt, that these " Irish (or Cuthite) peculiarities" were as little understood as appreciated by Colonel Conyngham's artist. There is another variety of this ancient window, which, though in point of size and ornament the least interesting, yet for other reasons is deserving of particular attention. Specimens of this variety seldom exceed three feet in height. They are generally used in very small temples, or in the chancels of larger ones, and were intended to give light where space did not admit of the introduction of the widely-splayed window of the larger variety. The distinguishing characteristics of these windows, besides their inferiority in ANCIENT WINDOWS OF NARROW SPLAY. FIG 112. WINDOW, GLENDALOUGH, FIG. 113. WINDOW, INISCALTRA, LOUGH DERG. CO. WICK LOW. FIG. 114. OUTSIDE OF KILMELCHEDOR WINPOW, CO. KERRY. 276 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. length and want of ornament, are these the splay is much less wide than that of windows already noticed, but the loss of light thus occasioned is compensated for by greater width on the outside, some of them being as much as ten inches broad at the sill-stone. But they exhibit the common character- istics of ancient windows; the jambs incline inwards as they ascend the'head- stones of all are semicircular, they are all made of well-cut stone for the whole depth of the splay, and they present that peculiarity of jointing already so frequently noticed. The whole arch is sometimes constructed out of one stone. Their external ornament, where any such exists, is generally a plain moulding carried all round, as shown in fig. 113, which represents the outside of a window of this variety at Iniscaltra, Lough Derg; and fig. 1 16 is a window at Cruach MacDara, as seen from the inside. These examples may be taken as representing the largest specimens of such windows. Smaller ones of precisely the same character are frequently met with throughout Ireland. Fig. 112 represents a window of this class at Mochu- arog's temple, Glendalough. There is also one in the chancel of Finian's Church, Clonmacnoise the Church already noticed as having a Round Tower bonded into it. The date of this Church, according to the Rev. James Graves, Secretary to the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, is the 1 2th century, but I have shown (p. 253) that his argument on the subject has no weight whatever. Another specimen of such window is found in the chancel of Cormac's Chapel, Cashel (fig. 1 1 5). This building, as already remarked, is stated by Dr. Petrie, on what he calls " the most satisfactory historical evidence" to be of the 1 2th century, viz., 1127. But I trust I have satisfactorily proved (p. 4) that no such evidence exists to sustain Dr. Petrie's statement. The finding two windows of nearly the same size, shape, and character of workmanship, in Finian's Church and Cormac's Chapel, is much stronger evidence of the proximity of the date of both buildings, than any similarity that may otherwise exist in their ornamental details but as to what this approximate date may be, we learn absolutely nothing from either Dr. Petrie, ANCIENT WINDOWS OF NARROW SPLAY. 277 or Mr. Graves. The reader will be surprised to learn, that a window of pre- cisely the same character is found at the stone-roofed Temple, called Gallerus Oratory (figs. 114 and 117), in the parish of Kilmelchedor, Co. Kerry, which Dr. Petrie pronounces to be probably one of the oldest Christian buildings in Ireland. Its probable date is placed by him as anterior to the supposed age of St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland (Petrie, p. 132.) Dr. Petrie has given \. - \ , \ , FIG. 115. WINDOW, CORMACS CHAPEL, CASHEL. ^ . . . ~ -^^-.-rjF*^ -*l - -J&."^ FIG. 1 16. WINDOW, CRUACH MACDARA, CO GALWAY. FIG. 117. WINDOW OF KILMELCHEDOR ORATORY. CO. KERRY. 278 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. a drawing (fig. 1 14) of the outside of this window, rude, damaged, and greatly weather-worn, like the whole building, which is constantly exposed to the Atlantic spray ; but he has not informed us, that the interior splay and arch, wrought in irregular ashlar work, with all the peculiarities noticed as existing in ancient windows of the smaller variety, furnish substantial evidence of the probability, that Cormac's Chapel and Kilmelchedor Oratory were works of the same people. The existence of these windows in my opinion proves identity, or at least proximity, of date in Dr. Petrie's two examples, the one his earliest specimen of the Irish Christian style, and the other his latest specimen of the (so-called) Norman style of architecture. I would ascribe the contrast between the general plainness of the one (Kilmelchedor Oratory), and the richness of ornamental details of Cormac's Chapel, to some ancient formula respecting the distinctive character of the temples dedicated to different Heathen Divinities, rather than regard it as any mark of progress in the art of building and decoration. The least ornamented specimen of these ancient buildings evinces the same skilled workmanship, and the same carefulness and peculiarity of jointing, observable in the more richly decorated varieties witness the ashlar work of the Round Tower of Cloyne (fig. 122), and that of the beautifully ornamented window of Kilmac- duagh (fig. 105). At the same time, I do not deny the possibility of these distinctive styles having been introduced by different Cuthite colonies, and consequently there may have been some difference of age between them. Fig. 1 1 7 is a sketch of the interior of the window of Kilmelchedor Oratory. The material is the hard green sandstone of the district the old red sand- stone formation which, though far superior to the corresponding rock in England, has nevertheless been much injured by time and the action of the atmosphere, being subject to perhaps the very wettest climate of any throughout Ireland. It still, however, displays ample evidence of superior workmanship. The outline of the stone-cutting and the curve of the arch etc., are perfect, and prove the unquestionable skill of the architect who designed, and the mason who executed, the work. POINTED AND CIRCULAR ANCIENT WINDOWS. 279 The window is about fifteen inches high on the outside, ten inches broad at the bottom, and nine inches at the top; but it appears to me, that the original dimensions were at least one inch less every way, as the outer edge seems to have been intentionally broken away perhaps to admit more light for Christian worship. The lateral splay, and down splay common characteristics of such ancient windows as I have described may be observed in both the inside and outside sill-stones. Two thorough stones are found in this small window, each extending through the whole thickness of the wall, which is three feet four inches. One of these stones measures three feet in length, three feet four inches in depth, and eleven inches in thickness; so that it cannot weigh much less than three-quarters of a ton. The window in the chancel of Cormac's Chapel (fig. 1 1 5), which I have compared with that of Kilmelchedor, is three feet four inches in height, and one foot eight inches in breadth on the inside, by thirty inches in height on the outside, eight inches broad at the top, and ten inches at the bottom. One side of this window was at some time broken away on the outside, and subsequently restored ; but the side still in its perfect state shows, that a differ- ence of two inches originally existed between the width at the top and bottom. The interior of the window shows no inclination of the jambs, as the window itself was constructed to fill the space of one of a series of arches of uniform size, with which the chancel is ornamented. The inclining of the outside jamb, where the inside one could not be so inclined, proves the exercise of considerable artistic skill for the purpose of carrying out an established characteristic feature. There are two other varieties of ancient windows that ought to be noticed. One is represented at fig. 1 1 8 the window of an ancient temple on the middle island of Aran, County Galway. Similar specimens are found at Glendalough and elsewhere, and are described as the "pointed window." Fig. 119 is a circular window by which the upper chamber of the chancel of Cormac's Chapel is lighted Fig. 1 20 depicts a window of the same charac- NN FIG. Il8. MIDDLE ISLAND OF ARAN. FIG. 119. CORMACS CHAPEL, CASHEL. FIG. 120. WINDOW, RAHEN, KING'S COUNTY. PECULIAR STYLE OF JOINTING. 28l ter, and used for a similar purpose. It consists of four circular orifices, and served to light the upper chamber of the chancel at Rahen Temple, King's County, which is now used as the parish Church. A window of like cha- racter is also used to light the lower floor of the Round Tower of Baal, Co. Mayo. 7 FIG. 122. JOINTING, CLOYNE FIG. 121. JOINTING, COOLE FIG. 123. JOINTING, CLOYNE ROUND TOWER. ABBEY, CO. CORK. ROUND TOWER. 7 FIG. 124. JOINTING, CORCOMROE, CO. CLARE. 1 FIG. 125. JOINTING, LUSK ROUND TOWER, CO. DUBLIN. FIG. 126. JOINTING, INISCALTRA, CO. GALWAY. 282 PECULIARITIES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. I have elsewhere noticed a peculiar style of jointing frequently found throughout the Ashlar work of ancient Irish buildings, which I have ascribed to the Cuthites. The following are among the most curious and uncommon specimens, which have come under my notice. Fig. 121 represents the jointing of the buttress of Coole Abbey, County Cork. See observations on the name Coole, pp. 80 to 82, ante. Fig. 122 is the jointing of a jamb of an upper window at Cloyne Round Tower, Co. Cork. Fig. 123 represents the jointing of a jamb at the doorway of the same Tower. Fig. 1 24 represents three examples of jointing in the piers of the large window at Corcomroe Abbey, Co. Clare. The centre specimen is seen on the outside of one of the piers, and the two others on the inside splays of piers of the same window. Fig. 125 shows the jointing of a jamb of Lusk Round Tower, Co. Dublin. Fig. 126 is a specimen of jointing in the splay of an ancient window at Iniscaltra, Co. Gal way the same as represented at fig. 113. The principle of this system of jointing is the same, whether found in the rectangular specimens of Irish Ashlar, or in the irregular specimens of massive masonry in the bases of Round Towers. It seems to have been adopted for the purpose of offering resistance to shocks of lightning, the modern safeguards of lightning-conductors not being then understood : and experience proves, that it has served admirably for this purpose. The tower of Kilmacduagh, Co. Galway (fig. 84), was at some time struck by lightning with such force, that it would inevitably have been thrown down, if constructed with any other system of jointing ; but the partial yielding, notwithstanding the resistance presented by the irregularity of the courses, suffered it to be cast nearly two feet out of the perpendicular without separating the courses. The inclination of the tower may be observed commencing some ten feet above the ground. We cannot estimate the power of the shock itself; but that it was enormous is proved by the PECULIAR STYLE OF JOINTING. 283 crushing force which numerous stones of the building have sustained ; and the lightning-stroke would probably have prostrated a portion of the tower, even if the building had consisted of one stone ; for in that case its total powers of resistance would have been presented to an instantaneous shock, the slightest yielding to which must have resulted in the fracture and demolition of that part first struck by the lightning. This object also accounts for the use of comparatively small stones in the ashlar work of ancient buildings. A handsome ashlar window at Temple Kieran in Aranmore island, Co. Galway, also seems to have been struck by lightning. The gable of the building yielded a little to the shock, and fractures took place at several angular joints of the stone work, which probably saved the whole window from being thrown down. I have no doubt, that considerable power of resistance to lateral pressure is imparted by this system of irregular jointing, so commonly used by the most ancient architects of the world. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. ANCIENT AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT. WE have already noticed that a handsome ornament, not known in what is called " Grecian Architecture," is found in the Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae a building belonging to the pre-historic period, and that the same ornament is found at Avantipore in Cashmere. We have shewn (p. 250) that several specimens of this ancient ornament are still to be seen in temples throughout Ireland. In page 21 it was remarked, that the zig-zag ornament, used so profusely in buildings of the Norman age, is also found in building of the age of Diocletian. If we pursue the inquiry further, we shall find, that almost every architectural ornament of the ancient Irish edifices has its counterpart in buildings of the most remote antiquity throughout the world ; so that I am induced to assign these several ornaments to the system of architecture prevailing before that Dispersion of mankind, which took place at the " Confusion of Tongues." Fig. 127 is a compound picture, representing several ancient American ornaments taken from different illustrations of Stephens' " Yucatan." A. The chevron, or zigzag ornament, abounds among the ruins in America, as it does also in those of Ireland. It is found both straight and curved at Cormac's Chapel, and is the commonest, as well as the richest, ornament of Irish doorways. This ornament is also found among the sculptures in the cavern of New Grange, Co. Meath. (See fig. 128). B. The pellet ornament (or balls) is also found adorning several buildings, from the plain specimens upon the most ancient Churches, such as that of Temple Cronan, Co. Clare, to the richly ornamented Arch, such as the ANCIENT AMERICAN ORNAMENTS. doorway of Aghadoe (fig. 92). This may be seen also adorning the stone doors in "the Giant Cities of Bashan." C. The curved spiral an imitation of a twisted rope is found on several ancient Irish Crosses (see figs. 40, 42, 50, and 51). D. Animals are frequently sculptured on the bases of Irish Crosses. E. The lozenge is also a common ornament, sometimes formed of a double chevron. It is found on the doorway of Dysert Church, Co. Clare (fig. 89), and is also to be seen among the New Grange sculptures (fig. 128). F. The circular semi-column abounds in the detail of Cuthite ornamental Architecture in Ireland, as distinguished from the detached column of Anglo-Norman Architecture, which is rarely (if ever ?) observed in these ancient buildings. G. The miniature semicircular arch is found in several ancient Irish ruins, such as Ardmore Cathedral, and Cormac's Chapel, Cashel. H. The peculiarly Irish (Cuthite) embattled ornament has been already mentioned as existing at Glendalough, Aghadoe, and Freshford. (See figs. 92, 101). M. This ornamental design is common in Ireland. It is found on the doorway of Dysert, Co. Clare, and on the window of Ardfert, Co. Kerry (fig. 130). It is also represented by FIG. 127. ANCIENT AMERICAN ORNAMENTS. Grose as a conspicuous ornament on the beautiful doorway of a temple standing in his time 286 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. near the Round Tower of old Kilcullen, every vestige of which has since disappeared. If the discovery of similar ornaments among the ruins of American and Irish ancient buildings does not prove a common origin for both, surely the finding of similar ornaments in England and Ireland by no means proves, that the style of the latter country was derived from that of the former. In my opinion, the English and French Norman style (as contrasted with the Roman) was derived, either from the Cuthite ruins in England or France, FIG. 128. NEW GRANGE, CO. MEATH. FIG. 129. CROSS OF KELLS. FIG. 130. ARDFERT, CO. KERRY. long since mouldered away, or from the Irish ruins, of which an abundance of specimens must have existed in the nth and i2th centuries. The rich variety of details, combined with similarity of design, is a remark- GQBBAN SAER. 287 able feature in Irish sculpture. Although ornamented capitals of pillars, ornamented arches, and sculptured Crosses abound in Ireland, I believe there are no two of such capitals, arches, or Crosses exactly alike throughout the whole kingdom. Such taste in the art of sculpture is utterly inconsistent with the condition of the country during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Fig. 128 represents various sculptures from the cave of New Grange, an earthen mound near Slane in the County of Meath. Such monuments are by tradition ascribed to the Tuath-de-Danaans [or Cuthite inhabitants of Ireland]. This was the opinion of Dr. Petrie ; yet the sculptures at one of them (New Grange) exhibit the most common style of ornament of (so-called) Norman Architecture. Fig. 129 is the centre ornament of one of the Crosses at Kells, Co. Meath. The balls are similar to those in the sculptures at New Grange, fig. 128. In fig. 130 may be seen a small portion of the ornament of a beautiful ancient window at Ardfert, Co. Kerry. The inner arch is surrounded with a band of square panels, on each of which is a different device. Each panel is about 7 inches square : about twenty-five of them still remain, four of which are here depicted. The illustration is taken from a drawing by Gordon M. Hills, Esq. COBBAN SAER. There is one name, and only one, which can properly be said to be associated with the building of Round Towers in Ireland. The name is that of Gobban Saer, familiar to every Irish-speaking peasant from the Giant's Causeway to Cape Clear. He is celebrated both in the oral and written traditions of the country, as a supposed builder and artisan of the first order. Several Round Towers are said to have been erected by him ; of which three are noticed by Dr. Petrie, viz: the Towers of Kilmacduagh, Killala, and Antrim. It therefore becomes important in this enquiry, to ascertain what light the Irish Records throw upon this celebrated name. o o 288 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The written notices respecting him are very scanty, but still I think sufficient to justify us in ascribing his name to the Tuath-de-Danaan race and age. I believe the name to have been that of a class, not of an individual man, as more work is ascribed to him and that in the remotest extremities of Ireland, than any single individual of any age could have accomplished. Doctor Petrie writes (pp. 382-384) : "Nor can I think the popular tradition of the country is of little value, which ascribes the erection of several of the existing Towers to the celebrated Architect, Gobban, or, as he is popularly called, Gobban Saer, who flourished early in the seventh century ; for it is remarkable that such a tradition never exists in connexion with any Towers but those, in which the architecture is in perfect harmony with the churches of that period, as in the Towers of Kilmacduagh, Killala, and Antrim. And it is further remarkable, that the age assigned to the first buildings at Kil- macduagh, about the year 620, is exactly that in which this celebrated Irish architect flourished." I think Dr. Petrie's own quotations, which follow, are sufficient to prove, that he would have been nearer to the truth, if he had assigned Gobban Saer to an age two thousand years earlier than that which he has fixed A.D. 620. Dr. Petrie furnishes us with the following translation of a very ancient authority, namely : " Dinnsenchus, preserved in the Books of Lecan and Ballymote," " corrected from the two copies," from which he infers that Gob- ban Saer was the son of a skilful artisan in wood, if not in stone also. The Irish quotation here follows, and it is thus translated by Dr. Petrie : " ' Traigh Tuirbi, whence was it named ? Not difficult. Tuirbi Traghmar, the father of Gobban Saer, was he who had possession in that land. He was used to throw casts of his hatchet from Tulach in bhiail (i. e. the hill of the hatchet), in the direction of the flood, so that the sea stopped, and did not come .beyond it. His exact pedigree is not known, unless he was one of those missing people, who went off with the polytechnic Sad, who is in the Diamars (Diamor, in Meath) of Bregia. Unde Traigh Tuirbe dicitur. GOBBAX SAER. 289 ' Traigh Tuirbi, whence the name, According to authors I resolve ; Tuirbi of the strand, (which is) superior to every strand, The affectionate keen father of Gobban. ' His hatchet was used to be cast after ceasing (from work) ; By this rusty large black youth, From the yellow hill of the hatchet, Which the mighty flood touches. ' The distance he used to send his hatchet from him, The sea flowed not over it ; Though Tuirbi was southwards in his district mighty, It is not known of what stock his race ; ' L'nfess he was of the goodly dark racs, Who went from Tara with the heroic Lugh, Not known the race, by God's decree, Of the man of the feats from Traigh Tuirbi.' 11 In the copy preserved in the book of Lecan, fol. 260, b, b, RIAS AN SAB N-IDANACH, reads LA LUG LAMFADA, i. e. with Lugh of the Long Hand. He was a Tuatha De Danaan monarch, A. M. 2764, according to O'Flaherty's chronology ; but the story of his going away from Tara, with a number of his people, has not yet been discovered. \-Note to Petrie, p. 382]. " It is not, of course, intended to offer the preceding extract as strictly historical : in such ancient documents we must be content to look for a substratum of truth beneath the covering of fable with which it is usually encumbered, and not reject the one on account of the improbability of the other ; and, viewed in this way, the passage may be regarded as in many respects of interest and value, for it shows that the artist spoken of was not one of the Scotic, or dominant race in Ireland, who are always referred to as light-haired ; and further, from the supposition, grounded on the blackness of his hair and his skill in arts, that he might have been of the race of the people that went with Lughaidh LamJif/iada from Tara, that is, of the Tuatha De Danaan race, who arc always referred to as superior to the Scoti 2QO MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. in the knowledge of the arts, we learn that in the traditions of the Irish, the Tuatlia De Danaans were no less distinguished from their conquerors in their personal than in their mental characteristics. The probability, however, is, that Turvy was a foreigner, or descendant of one, who brought into the country a knowledge of art not then known, or at least prevalent." I think the Doctor would have been more correct if, instead of " the blackness of his hair," he had used the words " the blackness or darkness of his Skin" The Irish poem refers not only to the colour of Gobban him- self, " the rusty large black youth," but to " the goodly dark race" the Tuath-de-Danaans, who, as descendants of Ham, may be supposed to have been dark-skinned. The darkness of the race referred to in this ancient poem is corroborative of the other evidence before adduced to prove the Cuthite origin of the Tuath-de-Danaans. I shall next notice a quotation from Dr. Petrie, which, to my mind, proves satisfactorily the time when this Gobban Saer lived. The Doctor refers to what he calls, " the sepulchral monuments of the Tuatha de Dan- aans," one of which is referred to in the Annals of Ulster (A. D. 862), as " the cave of the wife of Gobban," now the mound called The Fort of Drogheda. " As examples of the sepulchral monuments of this Tuatha De Danaan race most familiar to the majority of my readers, I may point to the magni- ficent mounds situated on the Boyne at Drogheda, Dowth, Knowth, and New Grange, which last has lain open to the inspection of the curious during the last hundred and fifty years. And in connection with these monuments I may observe, that the occasional absence of articles of value within them, when opened in modern times, by no means proves that such had not been deposited there originally, as the plundering of these very sepulchres by the Danes is recorded in the Annals of Ulster, at the year 862." (Petrie, p. 103). Here follows the Irish quotation, with which it is not necessary to trouble the reader. Dr. Petrie translates it as follows: " ' A. D. 862. The cave of Achadh Aldai [New Grange, Co. Meath] and of Cnodhba [Knowth], COBBAN SAER. 29 I and the cave of the sepulchre of Boadan over Dubhad [Dowth], and the cave of the wife of Gobhan, were searched by the Danes, quod antea non perfection est, on one occasion that the three kings Amlaff, I mar, and Auisle, were plundering the territory of Flann, the son of Conaing.' ' I submit to the common sense of the reader the improbability of the wife of Gobban, the Tuath-de-Danaan, having been interred after the fashion of her ancestors, and having her name associated with one of the Tuathan mounds, if that interment did not take place until A.D. 600, that is to say, about two thousand years after the Tuath-de-Danaans had become a conquer- ed and despised race, according to the chronology of the Four Masters. In the absence of all evidence to prove Dr. Petrie's assumption that Gobban lived in the 7th century (and I submit that there is not a particle of evidence worthy of credit to prove that statement), the inferences to be drawn from the notices in the Annals of Gobban and his wife are simple and reasonable -That, if Gobban Saer was the proper name of a man, he not only was a Tuath-de-Danaan, but lived in the days of that nation's power, and left his name associated not only with the Round Towers, but also with the mounds above referred to. From the fact, that the name of Gobban Saer is familiar to the peasantry of every village where the Irish language is spoken, I am of opinion with Mr. O'Brien, whose proofs will be found in the following pages, that Gobban Saer is not the proper name of any individual, but the name of a class, or perhaps the title of some office such as High Priest, or Grand-master among the Tuath-de-Danaans ; but that in course of time the traditions of the class became ascribed to an individual. I am confirmed in this opinion by the Irish names of the localities con- nected with Gobban Saer in the Book of Ballymote, quoted from Petrie. " TUIRBI" is said to have been the father of Gobban, and to have left his name to the strand called " Traigh Tuirbi." Now the name " Tuirbi" is, literally, " the living Lord or Sovereign." The Irish word " Bi" is applied to God in the name " DE-BI" the living God. Another name of a locality MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. mentioned in the same passage is " DIAMOR," which may be translated "The Great God." From these names I conclude, that the Cobban Saer pretended, like the Centaurs, to Divine ancestry. Mr. O'Brien writes as follows, quoting from the Book of Ballymote just referred to : "I shall now give you, from the Book of Ballymote, my proof of the assertion before advanced as to Gobban Saer having been a member of the Tuath-de-Danaans, viz : " ' Ro gabsat sartain Eirin Tuatha Dadann is deb ro badar na prem ealadhnaigh : Luchtand saer credne ceard : Dian ceachd liargh etan dan a hingeinsidhe : buime na filedh Goibneadh Gobha lug Mac Eithe Occai ; ro badar na huile dana Daghadae in Righ : oghma brathair in Righ, is e ar arainic litri no Scot.' That is, The Tuath-de-danaans then ruled in Eirin. They were first in all sciences. Credne Ceard was of this people ; and his daughter Dean Ceachd, who presided over physic : she nursed the poet Gohne Gobha, the Free-mason (hig is the same as Saer] son of Occai Esthne. Daghdae the king was skilled in all sciences : his brother Ogmus taught the Scythians the use of letters." (O'Brien, p. 493). The statement of Gobban Saer having lived in the 7th century is ground- ed on one of Colgan's fables of Irish Saints. Mr. O'Brien translates it as follows (p. 382) : " Once iipon a time, there lived in Erin a man most celebrated for his universal mastery over wood and stone ; and whose fame, accordingly, will live therein, as long as grass shall grow or purling streams flow in its enchanting scenery. This good man's name was Gobhan, who, wallowing in wealth from the meritorious exertions of his abilities, yet incapacitated from enjoying it by the deprivation of his sight, was summoned before St. Abhan, who had already healed the rest of the world by his miraculous gifts, and who thus addresses him : ' I wish to build a house to the honour of God; and set you about it'. 'How can I' says Gobhan, 'seeing that I am blind f ' O very well,' says Abhan, ' I will settle that ; long as ever you are engaged in the business, you shall have the use of your eyes; but I make no promises afterwards !' And verily it was so, for long as ever COBBAN SAER. 293 he did work with the saint, he had the use of his sight, but soon as ever the work was done, he relapsed into his former blindness !" Is it not strange that the Saint, " who had already healed the rest of the world by his miraculous gifts," did not continue his gift of sight to the man to whom he was under such obligations ! This story is no better authority to prove that Gobban Saer lived in the 7th century, than another legend, before alluded to, is to prove that Fintan the antediluvian lived to converse with St. Patrick ! I believe that St. Abhan himself was, like St. Shanaun, a myth. Such also were the ten St. Cobbans recorded in Mon. Hid. I have already observed that the identity of St. Abban with the celebrated Gobban Saer is, to my mind, placed beyond all question of doubt, by the following facts. First, that the Abbey of Brigoon (Cork), founded by St. Abban, was anciently called Bal-Gobban, and Brigh Gobban. Secondly, St. Abban himself, like Gobban Saer, had an extraordinary reputation for build- ing ; for we read that, " the same Saint [Abban] was a great builder, and founder of regular houses, for he erected fifteen in several parts of Ireland, if we believe Colgan." (Mon. p. 59). Mr. O'Brien, in noticing the analogy' between the fables of St. Abhan and St. Fintan, writes as follows (p. 385): "Well, 'to make a long story short, this same Fintan, who was converted into a salmon, for the sole purpose of accounting for his appearance on the same theatre with St. Patrick, is intro- duced to the saint. The anachronism committed in the instance of the Gobban Saer was precisely of the same character ! and the very name assign- ed him, which is that of a class, not of an individual, exposes the counterfeit ! Gobban Saer means, the Sacred Poet, or the Freemason Sage, one of the Guabhres, or Cabiri, such as you have seen him represented upon the Tuath- de-Danaan Cross at Clonmacnoise." Mr. O'Brien says elsewhere "To this colony, therefore, must he have belonged, and therefore the Towers, tradition- ally associated with his erection, must have been constructed anterior to the Scythian influx. 294 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. "The first name ever given to this body [Freemasons] was Saer, which has three significations firstly, free; secondly, mason; and thirdly, Son of God. In no language could those several imports be united but in the original one, viz., the Irish. The Hebrews express only one branch of it by aliben; while the English join together the other two." These authorities seem to me to afford conclusive evidence, that the Round Towers were built by the " Gobban Saer' of the Tuath-de-Danaans, during the time of Tuath-de-Danaan dominion. I consider Mr. O'Brien's quotations and arguments satisfactory upon the point; and they are confirmed and greatly strengthened by the quotations of Dr. Petrie from the " Dinn- senchus" respecting the " dark race" (the Danaans), and from the " Annals of Ulster," respecting the cave of Cobban's wife. I might enlarge upon this subject by calling in question the opinions, that the supposed wife of Gobban was a woman, and that such artificial caves as those of New Grange and the " cave of the wife of Gobban" were made for sepulchral purposes ; but I think it more probable, that they were formed for the celebration of the mysterious rites of the goddess Aine the Cybele of the Irish, who is still spoken of as haunting the neighbourhood of New Grange. The site of Gobban Saer's abode, or Castle, is still pointed out in various parts of Ireland, viz : in the vale of Glenshirk, Co. Antrim; in the County of Mayo, about three miles west of Killala, on the road to Belmullet ; and again in the County of Kilkenny near the boundary of the liberties of Waterford, on the road from Waterford to New Ross. The name of Gobban is associated by tradition or history with seventeen localities, either as saint, or builder. All, except one, have been referred to in the preceding pages as sites of Cuthite Ruins, viz., No. 32, Glendalough ; No. 76, Killala; No. 5, Antrim; No. 156, Kilmacduagh ; No. 77, Turlough; No. 231, Roscom; No. 230, Kilbannon; No. 62, Bal-Gobban; No. 63, Kinsale; No. 64, Dar-Inis; No. 65, Kilamery; No. 69, Old Leighlin; No. 70, Teghda- Gobba; No. 74, Corcomroe; No. 75, Knockmoy; No. 92, Kinneth; and finally, with Holy-Cross. CLOICH TEACH. 295 In conclusion, I would remark, that there is ample evidence whereon to ground my assertion that the name of Gobban Saer was connected with the Tuath-de-Danaans, or Cuthite inhabitants of Ireland. It is suggested in the Book of Ballymote above quoted, that he was of the " dark race," who left Tara with Lugh, the Tuath-de-Danaan King ; from which Dr. Petrie assumes, that he was probably of Tuath-de-Danaan descent. Combining this fact with another that one of the admittedly Tuath-de- Danaan mounds is called the " cave of the wife of Gobban," there seems to be no doubt that the name properly belonged only to Cuthite Mythology, and that the association of this name with certain localities affords strong evidence, that such places were once the sites of Cuthite temples, many of which are still to be seen in ruins, and presenting the distinctive features of that primitive architecture. CLOICH TEACH. I beg to refer the reader for the origin of this name " Cloich Teach " to an article in the Ulster Journal, vol. 7, p. 160, by Mr. Brash, of Cork, whose writings are of great value to the student of Irish Antiquities. Mr. Brash has clearly proved the etymology of this word to be a " stone house," from CLOICH " a stone," and TEACH " a house ;" a very suitable designation for the Round Towers and other Cuthite Temples, which, during the first thousand years of Celtic rule, were the only " Stone Houses " to be found in Ireland. When large bells began to be used for Christian purposes, the Round Towers were frequently found convenient for suspending them, and were appropriated to that purpose, and hence arose great confusion in the use of the name " Cloich Teach." The ancient Irish Bell was COELAN. The ancient Irish Pyramid was CLOGAD or CLOG. (See Ulster Journal, vol. 7, p. 157). The first Christian Bells being made in the form of the ancient Clog or Pyramid, the venerated p P 296 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. name of the Pyramid, Clogad, was given to the Bell ; hence our common Irish word CLOG, Bell, and the English word " clock." When stone houses began to be built all over the country, whether as Churches, or for defensive purposes, the name CLOICH TEACH [stone house], as applied to the towers on account of the material with which they were built, became inappropriate as a distinctive appellation. However they still retained the name among the peasantry from ancient usage, and the occasional use of some of these towers for Bells led to all Bell-houses being called by the name Cloich Teach, whether built of stone, or wood. Thus some Round Towers were called Cloich Teach, whether used for Bells, or not, and some Bell-houses also were so called, whether made of wood, or stone. I believe, that the Cloich Teach of Slane, which, the Annals inform us, was burnt to the ground A. D. 949, with all the bells, and a number of individuals therein, was a wooden Bell-house, made after the fashion of the day ; also, that the Cloich Teach of Tuam Green, erected 964, as well as the thirty-two Cloich Teaches, said by one of his biographers to have been provided by King Brian Boru, were all Bell-houses of wood. (See Ulster Journal, vol. 2, p. 67). To suppose that King Brien, who has not left us a vestige of any of his palaces either at Tara, or Killaloe, should have built thirty-two Round Towers, is simply absurd ! FIDH NEMPHED. Mr. O'Brien thus explains this term : " FIDH is the plural of Budh, i. e. Lingam ; the initial F of the former being only the aspirate of the initial B of the latter, and commutable with it ; and NEMPHED is an adjective signifying divine or consecrated, from Nemph, the Heavens ; so that FIDH NEMPHED taken together will import the consecrated Lingams, or the Budhist conse- crations" (O'Brien, p. 105). This term FIDH NEMPHED is frequently used by the ancient Irish Annal- FIDH NEMPHED. 297 ists ; and Mr. O'Brien insists that the Round Towers are intended to be expressed by it in its original use. If not the Round Tower, I believe it was some symbol or ordinary appendage to the Round Tower worship, answering to the Grove of Scripture, which is associated with Baal. The Hebrew word Asherah, in the authorised version of the Scriptures translated " Grove," is another instance of the secondary meaning of an original word being preserved in use after the primary meaning became obsolete. I believe the word Asherah represented Female Nature, as Baal, the Sun, represented Male Nature. Bagster's Bible defines Asherah as a wooden Image dedicated to Astarte, or Venus (2 Kings xxi. 3), answering to ASTHORE or ASTORETH (pronounced AsthorecJi), a common Irish term of endearment, meaning, literally, my treasure, or my love. This interpretation simplifies the passage in i Kings xviii. 19. "The prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Groves four hundred." Baal and the Grove are constantly connected throughout the Old Testament. We read of a Grove in the House of the Lord : " And he brought out the Grove from the House of the Lord" (2 Kings xxiii. 6), and again, 4th verse " all the vessels that were made for Baal and for the Grove." Both these passages prove, that the word " Grove" did not express a plan- tation of consecrated trees for the worship of an Idol, but the Idol itself. Two different words are in the Old Testament translated Grove. "Abra- ham planted a Grove in Beersheba" (Gen. xxi. 33). The word here trans- lated Grove is a different one from the others before mentioned. The Irish term Astoreth, or Asthorech, corresponds so exactly with Astoreth, the Phoenician Venus, as to leave no doubt of both terms having had the same origin. See remarks on these words in Glossary Post. The word FIDH also means " Trees," or "Wood," in its secondary sense; but this latter translation will not be often found appropriate. Lewis says of the name Fethard, on the sea-coast of Wexford, that it is " supposed to have derived its ancient name, Fiodhard, from the abundance of wood in the neighbourhood, though at present no part of the country is more destitute of 298 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. timber." If the term be translated " the High Place of Budh, or Fidh," it will be found a most appropriate name for an ancient Religious Establishment deriving its name from Heathenism. Doctor Petrie treats at some length upon the meaning of this term FIDH NEMPHED. He says it means " Holy Wood;" and so far he confirms Mr. O'Brien's interpretation as to its secondary or modern meaning, the primary and religious signification having become obsolete, when the religion which gave rise to it ceased to be known. But Dr. Petrie furnishes an Irish quota- tion from an ancient account of the Siege of Troy, which strongly bears out Mr. O'Brien's interpretation. The passage is copied from a manuscript in Trinity College Library (H. 2. 17, p. 123). The words ROBI FIDH NEMHEDH DO IMTHECHTA is INT SLEB, occurring in the quotation, are translated by Dr. Petrie "There was a FIDH NEMHEDH of difficult passage in the mountain." The whole quotation is thus translated by the Doctor: "This is the time and hour that the heroes of the Island of Lemnos were returning from the siege of great Troy. There was a Fidhnemhedh of difficult passage in the mountain next to them, and the women of the Island of Lemnos went into it to ask a response from the gods, and red-mouthed ravens came thither from the city of Infernusto disturb them; for Venus the woman-powerful and Eni (Bellona) the furious, the sister of Mars, goddess of war, were inflicting evils upon those women." Now observe, there is nothing in this quotation to prove that the FIDH NEMHEDH at Lemnos was not a Round Tower. The Irish words may be translated " There was a Fidh Nemhedh difficult to get into, or of difficult access," which, if it were a Round Tower containing an oracle, would be most appropriate. But the quotation itself is evidence, that the term FIDH NEMHEDH expressed some appendage to a heathen Oracle, and not anything belonging to Christian worship, unless it be pretended that Christianity existed at Lemnos during the Trojan war. INSCRIPTIONS ON CROSSES. 299 The destruction of Armagh by lightning is recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters, A. D. 995 : thus translated " Ard-Macha was burned by lightning both Houses, Churches, and Cloich Teaches, and its Fidth Nemhedh with all destruction." Now in my opinion it is not improbable, that in this passage a Round Tower was intended to be expressed by the term FIDH NEMHEDH, and that such name had been associated with the Tower of Ard-Macha in the year 995, perhaps only as a name traditionally retained amongst the peasantry without any intelligence as to its original meaning. I think it very likely too, that the Four Masters, when two hundred and thirty years since copying from some more ancient records of the event, were themselves ignorant of the original meaning of the term FIDH NEMHEDH. It certainly is and has for a long time been obsolete, and must have belonged originally to some bygone pagan worship, of which we now know very little. I do not think that the notices in the Annals of either this term or CLOICH TEACH are of sufficient importance, or afford such substantial proof, as materially to affect the Round Tower controversy in any way. INSCRIPTIONS ON ANCIENT CROSSES AND TEMPLES. I must anticipate an objection likely to be made to my theory, on the ground of the inscriptions on a few of our Irish Crosses and doorways. To my mind this objection is scarcely worthy of notice, as all the inscriptions are, as to style, in marked contrast with the other workmanship about them. The inscriptions are all made with indented letters, while all the sculptures are in relief. An inscription might have been sculptured at any time subsequent to the making of the Crosses, etc. ; and the Christian Irish were evidently not very particular as to limitation in their use of the terms "erected" and " made," as we sometimes find on the same sculpture the honour of being the maker claimed by more than one individual, such as 300 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Pray for A. B., who made this Church. Pray for C. D., who made it. An inscription on the Cross of Kells informs us, that it was erected at the charge of Robert Bellew of Kells, in 1688, from which, if we had not substantial proof to the contrary in the character of the work itself, we might infer, that the Cross was the work of the seventeenth century. FIG. 131. BASE OF MONASTERBOICE CROSS. Fig. 131 represents an inscription on the base of the beautiful Cross at Monasterboice, the richest and most perfect specimen to be found in Ireland. Several Archaeologists have fortunately discovered in this inscription " sufficiently decisive evidence" that the Cross was made by Muiredach, Bishop of Monasterboice, who died in 924. Let the reader examine this beautifully sculptured Cross (fig. 51), and then let him reflect on the evidence of the learned Mr. Parker, who informs us that, " We have no sculpture of raised figures deeply cut, which can be proved, by any good evidence, to be earlier than the twelfth century or the end of the eleventh, either in England or France." Yet we are asked to believe, that the grotesque inscription on Monasterboice Cross is " decisive evidence" that the Cross was sculptured by the Irish shortly before the birth of King Brian Boru. The inscription affords strong evidence of the existence of the Cross in the days of Bishop Muiredach, who died A. D. 924, but of nothing more. The local tradition gives more probable information on the subject, though mixed with fable. It is said that the Cross was made by supernatural agency (with the others), in one night, and that the Angels, who made it, deposited it under ground in an adjoining field, which is still pointed out. There it was discovered in the INSCRIPTIONS ON CROSSES. 301 morning, and at once brought to be erected in its present position. I think it probable, that Bishop Muiredach was the fortunate discoverer, and that its present perfect condition is to be ascribed to its having been for perhaps 2,000 years buried in the earth. It certainly is less weather-worn than any other Irish Cross that I have seen. The portions least exposed to the weather are the sculptures under the arms of the Cross, which are still beautifully perfect, and shew the elaborate and elegant style in which the whole was originally executed (see fig. 132). FIG. 132. SCULPTURE ON MONASTERBOICE CROSS. It will be perceived, that the good Bishop's single name is cut up and subdivided into three portions by the heads of two nondescript animals. The verb " Dernad," " was made," and the word " Chrossa," " cross," are each also divided into three parts by the bodies of these animals ; thus Mu ire dach for Muiredach, D ern ad for Dernad, and Ch ro ssa for Chrossa. I know nothing to compare with this inscription, except Mr. Dickens's story of " Bil Stumps, his mark" as related in Pickwick. In other instances of inscriptions the Irish Christians acted differently, for they 3O2 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. removed the Pagan Sculptures to make way for their rude inscriptions. If the author of this clumsy inscription were the Artist of the beautiful sculp- tures, it is difficult to understand what significance the two nondescript animals could have had to his mind he being a Christian that he should have introduced them into the space, where he intended to record his memorial, and solicit a prayer ; when it is evident, that he might easily have prepared a suitable tablet for his inscription. I have only to say in conclusion, that I believe the inscription to be Christian, and the Cross itself a pagan relic. The only inscriptions that I have seen on ancient temples are that on Freshford Church, noticed at p. 261 ante, and another (an illegible inscrip- tion) on the beautiful doorway of Killeshin, in Queen's County. See Post. With these remarks I leave the arguments drawn from the inscriptions to the judgment of the impartial reader. Another objection I would anticipate is that grounded on the fact of the rich variety of illuminated ornament of ancient manuscripts, for which the Christian Irish were so justly celebrated, and the similarity of these illuminated devices to the ornamented sculptures found on the Crosses. For these I account by the fact, that the Irish Ecclesiastics, though neither builders nor sculptors, were scholars and well skilled in the use of the pen ; and having the ancient sculptured Crosses, with all their beautiful devices perpetually under their observation, it led to the taste for the illuminating of books in which, having only to imitate the devices left them by the ancients, they so far excelled any other nation of the Middle Ages. The variety and beauty of ancient Irish illuminated books however great by no means exceeds the beauty and variety found on ancient Irish sculptures ; and I venture to say, that O'Neill's beautiful and authentic work on ancient Crosses will furnish patterns of almost every device to be met with among the illuminated volumes of Medieval Ireland. CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. THE examination of numerous ruins has led me to regard certain archi- tectural features as indicating Cuthite workmanship. It is unnecessary to trouble the reader with the course of reasoning, upon which my conclusions are based ; their correctness will be best tested by an examination of the ruins themselves. I shall describe each of these features very briefly, furnishing such general illustrations as will serve for future reference. The architecture of ancient Irish ruins presents such little variety of outline, that the illustrated representation of one doorway or window will answer for a great many others, thus avoiding the necessity of multiplying engravings. I shall notice in succession Round Towers, Stone-roofed Temples, Coigns, Buttresses, Semicircular Doorways, Cyclopean Doorways, Windows of wide, and of narrow splay, Sculptured Crosses, Plain Crosses, Pillar Stones, Holed Stones, Rock Basins, Holy Wells, Saints' Beds, Stone Coffins, Shrines,_and various other relics. ROUND TOWERS. I have from the beginning of this treatise aimed at assisting to throw light upon the subject of Irish Round Towers, but heretofore have alluded to them only incidentally, as remnants of ancient Irish architecture. A few general remarks upon such edifices may therefore not be inappropriate. I agree with Mr. O'Brien, in believing that they were Phallic Temples erected by the Tuath-de-Danaans, and their predecessors the Cuthite inhabitants of Ireland. Buildings answering to the descriptions of our Round Towers QQ 304 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. FIG. 133. ROUND TOWER OF DEVENISH. have been noticed by several writers, as existing in different parts of the world ; but everywhere despised, and to a great extent unused the memo- rials of a race whose name and religion have been lost and forgotten. The specimens of such Towers to be met with in eastern Europe and Asia are comparatively few and far between, because the conquerors of the race for whose religion they were erected left no vestiges of either the Towers or the other Temples of their predecessors, except sjuch indestructible Rock Temples as defied their efforts to destroy. The circumstances of Ireland in this respect were different. The Celts who conquered the Cuthites of Ireland had no stone buildings of their own, either for temples or palaces, and they seem to have utterly despised the stone works of their predecessors, and so allowed them to remain. In later times their superstitious venera- tion for these ruins was the means of preserving them to the present day, uninjured save by time. The English and Scotch " plantation farmers," DEVENISH ROUND TOWER. North, 305 East Scuih West FIG. 134. CORNICE AND ORNAMENT ON DEVENISH TOWER. however, having neither superstition nor a taste for Archaeology, have caused much destruction among the Irish ruins, wherever they have settled, and, in some cases, have removed all vestiges of them, leaving only the names to mark the sites of ancient ecclesiastical establishments. The only unquestionably Celtic remains of Ireland seem to me to be Cromlechs for the worship of the Sun in the open air, some circular mounds, known by the names " Cahir" or " Liss," probably used for the occasional protection of their cattle ; and the erections called Bee-hive huts, found near the sea-coasts, where timber (the ordinary building material) could not be obtained. To the exceptional character of the conquerors then, we are indebted for the fact, that the Temples of the conquered have been per- mitted to remain for 3,000 years to puzzle Archaeologists of the nineteenth century. Lists of Irish Round Towers have been made to the number of one hundred and twenty ; of these the remains of about sixty-six are traceable. Fig. 133 represents the Round Tower of Devenish, the best specimen at 306 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. present existing in Ireland. Fig. 134 represents the beautiful cornice of this Tower, ornamented with four sculptured heads. The finest specimen of the heavy or Cyclopean architecture is to be seen in the base of the Round Tower of Kilmacduagh, alias Kilmachuile, a sketch of which is given at fig. 84. FIG. 135. ROUND TOWER OF DRUMLANE. FIG. 136. DOORWAY OF DRUMLANE ROUND TOWER. The best specimen of the close-jointed ashlar work of Round Towers may be seen in the base of Drumlane Tower (fig. 135). Fig. 136 is the doorway of this Tower. The worst specimen of Round Tower mason-work may be seen in the upper portion of this building (fig. 135), which is evidently an addition made in Christian times. As to the doorways of Irish Round Towers, of the sixty-six Towers DOORWAYS OF IRISH ROUND TOWERS. 307 which remain, only forty-six have got doorways, the others being reduced to their foundations, or else having otherwise lost their original entrances. Of these forty-six doorways, thirty-four are round-headed, what is com- monly called " Norman." Sketches of several of these will be found through- out this work, viz: Fig. 96, the doorway of Kildare Round Tower; fig. 97, that of Timahoe ; fig. 136, of Drumlane ; fig. 137, of Roscrea ; fig. 138, of FIG. 137. DOORWAY OF ROSCREA ROUND TOWER, FIG. 138. DOORWAY OF DONOUGHMORE, KING'S COUNTY. ROUND TOWER, co. MEATH. Donoughmore ; fig. 139, of Monasterboice ; fig. "140, of Dysert, Co. Limerick ; fig. 141, of Clonmacnoise ; fig. 142, of Dysert, Co. Clare ; fig. 143, of Kilmac- duagh ; and fig. 144, of Glendalough. FIG. 139. DOORWAY OF MONASTERBOICE ROUND TOWER. FIG. 140. DOORWAY OF DYSERT ROUND TOWER, CO. LIMERICK. FIG. 141. DOORWAY OF CLONMACNOISE ROUND TOWER. FIG. 142. DOORWAY OF DYSERT ROUND TOWER, CO. CLARE. FIG. 143. DOORWAY OF KILMACDUAGH ROUND TOWER. FIG. 144. DOORWAY OF GLENDALOUGH ROUND TOWER. FIG. 145. DOORWAY OF ANTRIM ROUND TOWER. FIG. 146. ORNAMENT OVER DOORWAY, ANTRIM ROUND TOWER. 310 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. FIG. 147. DOORWAY OF SWORDS ROUND TOWER, CO. DUBLIN. FIG. 148. DOORWAY OF ROSCOM ROUND TOWER. The remaining twelve doorways are square-headed or quadrangular; three specimens of which are here represented, viz: Fig. 145, the doorway of Antrim Round Tower, (the ornament over which is more correctly exhibited in fig. 146). Fig. 147 is the doorway of Swords; and fig. 148 of Roscom Round Tower. Round-headed doorways generally exhibit a better style of workmanship and materials than are found in the quadrangular specimens. This is significant. It is often unsafe to ground a theory upon one fact, because there may be some unknown circumstance that might alter the inference to be deduced from it : but, where we find a combination of facts all pointing towards the same result, the argument grounded thereon is all but irresistible. We find all respectable authorities unanimous in stating that the Celtic Irish, who preceded the English, had no architecture whatever in stone and IRISH ROUND TOWERS. 3 I I mortar. See page 7, ante. Next, we find that nearly three-fourths of the existing Round Tower doorways are round-headed, or in the (so-called) " Norman" style. We must therefore assign the Round Towers of Ireland to the 1 2th and subsequent centuries, unless we are disposed to ascribe them, and the order of Architecture which produced them (as I believe we should), to Cuthite colonies who preceded the Celts. But the fact that more than eighty of the supposed sites of towers are places associated with the names of 5th and 6th century Saints, or heathen divinities, affords in itself substan- tial grounds for concluding that these edifices existed before the Norman Conquest, and if so, before the Christian era. Added to this there is the negative proof arising from the silence of History as to the erection of any one of them. Giraldus Cambrensis alludes to them as existing in his day and peculiar to the country, not as in course of erection by his countrymen. He calls them " Ecclesiastical Towers, which, in a style or fashion peculiar to the country, are narrow, high, and round." (" Turres ecclesiasticse quae more patrio arctae sunt et altse necnon et rotundse"). (Topog. p. 720). The windows of Irish Round Towers exhibit striking peculiarities. j>X FIG. 149. CASH EL, CO. TIPPERARY. FIG. 150. DYSERT, CO. LIMERICK. FIG. 151. TIMAHOE, QUEEN'S co. R R 312 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. FIG. 152. WINDOW OF ROSCREA ROUND TOWER. PIGS. 153, 154, 155. WINDOWS OF RELLS ROUND TOWER, co. MEATH. Figs. 149 to 156 represent eight of them, which comprise almost every variety of Round Tower window to be found in Ireland. There seems to have been a symbolism which we do not understand in the construction of these apertures, as they are unlike any windows found in the other ancient Temples or Churches of Ireland. WINDOWS OF IRISH ROUND TOWERS. FIG. 156. WINDOW OF CASHEL ROUND TOWER. Figs. 157 to 162 are sketches of Irish Round Towers, which are only valu- able as affording some idea of the progress that decay and dilapidation have made upon these structures. The more perfect specimens (not here repre- K!G. 157. ARANMORE ROUND TOWER, CO. GALWAY. FIG. 158. KILBANNON ROUND TOWER, CO. GALWAY. FIG. 159. RATHMICHAEL ROUND TOWER, CO. DUBLIN. '>,-".'V'V'f v '"' ' FIG. 1 60. DRUMESKIN ROUND TOWER, CO. LOUTH. FIG. l6l. DRUMCLIFFE ROUND TOWER, CO. SLIGO. i6 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. FIG 162. KILLASHEE ROUND TOWER, CO. KILDARE. sented) are those of Killala, Turough, Scattery, Rattoo, Kildare, and Cloyne. These all presenting the same general outline, though varying in height and in details are sufficiently shown in fig. 133, the Tower of Devenish. The conical top appears on all the specimens that are perfect, but the summits of the towers of Kildare, Cloyne, and Kilrea are castellated, this being the mode in which restorations were executed in medieval times. Of Round Towers found elsewhere than in Ireland, I shall notice a few. Fig. 164 is a Tower described by Hanway, as found at the Ruins of Jorjan, near Asterabad in Persia. The conical top is exactly like that of Irish Round Towers. See fig. 163, Antrim Round Tower. Fig. 165 represents a Round Tower in Hindostan described by Lord Valentia. He says of such buildings : " It is singular that there is no tradi- tion concerning them, nor are they held in any respect by the Hindoos of this country." In this latter particular, as well as in their general form, and their having the doorway not on the ground Jevel, they resemble our Irish Round Towers. ROUND TOWERS. 317 FIG. 163. ANTRIM ROUND TOWER. FIG. 164. PERSIAN ROUND TOWER, FROM HANWAY. / FIG. 165. ROUND TOWER, EAST INDIA. FIG. 1 66 ROUND TOWER, ALLYGHUR, EAST INDIA. FIG. 167. ROUND TOV.'ER, PERU. ^>lS CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. \J Fig. 1 66 is the Tower of Coel, near Allyghur, in India, as described by Captain Smith, late 44th Regiment. (See Bethams Etruria Celtica, vol. 2, p. 200). I would ask the reader's attention to the name COEL, that of the place where this Round Tower is found. The name frequently occurs in association with Irish topography and legends. (See pp. 80-82, ante], The coincidence is singular and worthy of attention. Fig. 167 is from Markhawis Travels in Peru. It represents a sepulchral tower on the borders of the lake of Umayu. He writes (p. 1 10) : "A very ancient civilization existed on the shores of Titicaca, long before the appearance of the first Incas of Peru." The author contrasts these ruins with buildings erected during the dominion of the Incas, noticing " the minute detail in the carving on the stones, while the chief characteristic in the build- ings of the Incas consists in the grand simplicity of the masonry" Describing ruins of the same character at Sillustani, Mr. Markham mentions " Towers of finely-cut masonry, equal to that of Cuzco, with the sides of the stones dovetailing into each other." The tower represented (fig. 167) is " thirty-six feet high, and built of the same well-cut masonry, with a cornice and vaulted roof." We have here portrayed four specimens of towers, found respectively in India, Persia, and Peru. The intelligent observer will find no difficulty in perceiving certain features of peculiarity, which identify them with Irish Round Towers. In one we have a succession of rings or offsets, such as appear on some of the Irish towers Ardmore and Dysert, for instance. In another we have the conical top, exactly the same as that of all Round Towers throughout Ireland which remain perfect. And in the masonry of the Peruvian specimen, we have several instances of what has been else- where noticed as jointing peculiar to Cuthite masonry, illustrations of which are found in figs. 122 to 126, as well as in other representations of ancient Irish masonry throughout this work. The names of these places are also worthy of note as bearing resem- blance to, and connection with, Irish topography. Titi-caca, Aster-abad, ANCIENT AMERICAN TOWERS. 3*9 and Coel have all their counterparts in Ireland ; where Coca is only another reading for Cocca, the nurse of St. Kieran ; -Asthore (love, in Irish) becomes Aster for euphony, when used as a compound; and Coel is literally represented (as before observed) in Coole Abbey, Co. Cork, and Kilmacoole, alias Kilmacduagh, Co. Galway, etc. FIG. l68. ROUND TOWER, CENTRAL AMERICA. FIG. 169. ROUND TOWER, CENTRAL AMERICA. I annex Stephens' illustration of two ancient American Towers. Of the first (fig. 1 68) he writes (p. 135, vol. i, Travels in Yucatan) : " The mounds were all of the same general character, and the buildings had entirely disappeared on all except one ; but this was different from any we had at that time seen, though we afterwards found others like it. It stood on a ruined mound about thirty feet high The exterior is of plain stone, ten feet high to the top of the lower cornice, and fourteen more to that of the upper one. The door faces the west, and over it is a lintel of stone. The outer wall is five feet thick ; the door opens into a circular passage three feet wide, and in the centre is a cylindrical solid mass of stone, without any doorway or opening of any kind. The whole diameter of the building is twenty-five feet, so that, deducting the double width of the wall and passage, this centre mass must be nine feet in thickness." ss 32O CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. Of the second Tower (fig. 169) he says (vol. 2, p. 298): " It is circular in form, and is known by the name of the Caracol, or winding staircase, on account of its interior arrangements. It stands on the upper of two terraces. A grand staircase forty-five feet wide, and containing twenty steps, rises to the platform of the terrace. On each side of this staircase, forming a sort of balustrade, were the entwined bodies of two gigantic Serpents, three feet wide, portions of which are still in place; and among the ruins of the staircase we saw a gigantic head, which had terminated at one side the foot of the steps. . . . . On the platform, fifteen feet from the last step stands the building. It is twenty-two feet in diameter, and has four small doorways facing the cardinal points. A great portion of the upper part and one of the sides have fallen. Above the cornice the roof sloped so as almost to form an apex. The height, including the terraces, is little short of sixty feet, and when entire, even among the great buildings around, this structure must have presented a striking appearance. The doorways give entrance to a circular corridor five feet wide. The inner wall has also four doorways, smaller than the others, and standing at intermediate points of the compass, facing northeast, northwest, southwest, and southeast. These doors give entrance to a second circular corridor, four feet wide, and in the centre is a circular mass, apparently of solid stone, seven feet six inches in diameter; but in one place, at the height of eight feet from the ground, was a small square opening^ choked up with stones, which I endeavoured to clear out, but the stones falling into the narrow corridor made it dangerous to continue. The roof was so tottering that I could not discover to what this opening led. It was about large enough to admit the figure of a man in a standing position, to look out from the top. The walls of both corridors were plastered and ornamented with paintings, and both were covered with the triangular arch. The plan of the building was new; but instead of unfolding secrets, it drew closer the curtain that already shrouded with almost impenetrable folds these mysterious structures." The opening, " large enough to admit the figure of a man in a standing ANCIENT AMERICAN TOWERS. 321 position to look out from the top," seems to have been provided for the purpose which O'Brien describes. He says : " In Hieropolis, or the 'Holy City,' in Syria, a Temple with a Tower was erected to Astarte. .... Twice a year a man went up to the top of the Priap, and there remained seven days On these occasions crowds used to come with offerings," etc. (See O'Brien, p. 168. Also Lucian De Dea Syria). All these Towers exhibit the same characteristics, with only such varieties as the pircumstances of the time and taste might be supposed to produce in nations so far separated from each other by distance, as well as by the fact of their probable ignorance of each other's existence. These characteristics seem to be, circular shape conical or truncated tops having four heads sculptured as on the Round Tower of Devenish (fig. 1 34), and on the pillar at the Temple of Carli (fig. 2) or, four windows or openings at the top, as in our Irish towers, as well as on one specimen in America. Mr. O'Brien, in page 229, referring to a relic of Eastern idolatry, presented by Colonel Ogg to the Museum of the East India Company, describes as thereon a Lingam with four heads near the top. " Those four heads," he adds, "represent the four gods of the Budhist Theology, who have appeared in the present world, and already obtained the perfect state of Nirwana; viz: Charchasan, Gonagon, Gaspa, and Goutama." In page 248, he refers to what he calls an enigmatical declaration of the Budhists themselves, viz : -" that the Pyramids, in which the sacred relics are deposited, ''be their shape what it will, are an imitation of the worldly temple of the Supreme Being' ' Mr. O'Brien also says, in a note (p. 122), "This Farragh, otherwise Phearragh [the old Irish war-cry, and also a phrase still in use among the peasantry expres- sive of the utmost contempt], is the Peor of the Scriptures and the Priapus of the Greeks." " Priapus, sepkysice consideretur idem est ac sol; ejusque lux promogenia, unde vis omnis seminatrix" Diod. Sic., lib. i. See also Num. xxv. ver. 4, where you will see that 'Peor remotely meant the sun." Such a combination of numerous facts as are here noticed has left no doubt upon my mind as to the Cuthite origin of all these edifices : however, 322 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. the subject is one upon which no man has a right to dogmatize, and therefore the reader must be left freely to form his own opinion on what is said in defence of each theory. FIG. 170 CORMAC'S CHAPEL, CASHEL. STONE-ROOFED TEMPLES. All the ancient temples of Ireland had, I believe, stone roofs ; but, as such a roof is the first part of a building likely to give way, we find only a few specimens of Temples still retaining their original coverings. The first of these that I shall notice is the Temple called Cormac's Chapel at Cashel a highly-ornamented structure, built with cut-stone within and without. Several illustrations of the ornamental work of this Temple may be seen STONE-ROOFED TEMPLES. 323 throughout the preceding pages. The Temple itself is represented at fig. 1 70. The upper portion of the square tower of this temple is a reconstruction. The original top was probably pyramidal. The other temples which I now remember as retaining their stone roofs are Kilmelchedor Oratory, County Kerry ; St. Columb's Oratory at Kells, Co. Meath ; Louth Oratory ; the Chancel of the parish church at Rahen, King's County ; and the Ruin at St. Doulough's, Co. Dublin ; but each of these is either quite plain, or has undergone so many repairs and alterations, as to have retained little more of its original character than the general outlines and stone roof. The smallest stone-roofed temples consisted of only one room ; the next in size had a nave and chancel ; and the largest a nave, chancel, and aisles, with a roof supported by massive stone pillars. The pitch of the roof was always very steep, and in the highly-ornamented temples such as Cormac's Chapel the first roof was a semicircular arch, having a chamber over it with pointed roof. Where no second roof was introduced, a pointed arch formed the interior covering. Of the temples, which have any portion of the original edifice standing, nearly all have been altered and enlarged in early Christian times. This enlargement was generally effected at the east end, as it was usually found more easy to remove the eastern windows out of their places than the massive western doorways ; but in some instances both doorways and windows are found to be re-settings. STONE-ROOFED TEMPLES OF LARGER SIZE. The ordinary size of ancient Irish temples was small in comparison with the Christian edifices that succeeded them, yet there is every probability that the religion, with which these temples were associated, required larger buildings in central situations. We accordingly find a few such, which, though built on a larger scale and in some respects in a different form, are proved beyond doubt by the style of workmanship, the details of ornament, and other analogous characteristics, to have been constructed by the same 324 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. people as those who erected the smaller temples. There is one circum- stance which I have observed with regard to the larger temples : they seem never to have acquired ecclesiastical importance during the early Christian period, and they do not appear to have been used as Christian Churches until the end of the i2th century. This remarkable circumstance is easily explained ; for, while the other roofless ruins were sufficiently small to be covered in after the fashion of early Christian architecture and incorporated with the monasteries, the larger ones were altogether unsuited to any such assimilation ; and although they might have attracted the wonder of Irish ecclesiastics, it required more architectural skill to roof one of these lofty structures, even with thatch and rushes, than Irish builders possessed prior to the close of the i2th century. The ruins of large-sized ancient temples were therefore left to the legends of the peasantry, who ascribed to them a supernatural origin. However, when architectural skill improved, these also were brought into use and made parts of abbeys or monasteries. Thus it is that remains of Cuthite architecture are distinctly observable at Corcomroe Abbey, built by Donald O'Brien in the year 1 198, and at Knock- moy Abbey, built about the same period by Cathal O'Connor : but the neighbouring peasantry have a curious legend, that Corcomroe was erected in one night by the " Fian of Eirin" under the direction of Gobban Saer, and a somewhat similar story is related of Knockmoy. Each of these buildings exhibits two styles of workmanship as different as possible from each other. At Corcomroe we find the chancel, and other works about the chancel, of the most perfect and beautiful workmanship in cut-stone, while the remainder of the building (about three-fourths of the whole) is of the rudest workmanship, in the ordinary style of the 1 2th century, with subsequent alterations and additions. The windows of the chancel have inclining jambs and are built in first-class ashlar, jointed in that style which abounds in the Irish Cuthite architecture. Fig. 124 represents three specimens of the ashlar work of the piers of this window. Not only is this building itself ascribed to Gobban Saer, but the holy well at the place is associated with the pagan name of STONE-ROOFED TEMPLES. 325 Sheela a dedication which it undoubtedly received in heathen times, long anterior to the I2th century. The Abbey of Boyle is another ancient temple converted into a Christian building in the I2th century. The place is called Bile by the peasantry, and is probably identical with the ancient foundation called Bile-Fechan, or Bile ascribed to St. Fechan. The temple of Boyle retains more of its ancient outline and is more perfect, than either of those just mentioned. The ancient wall about the western doorway is still standing, and, judging from appear- ance is about eight feet thick, built in that style of ashlar with irregular joints elsewhere described as Cuthite masonry. There is a stair-case built in the thickness of this wall, the lower part of which to the height of about eighteen feet is formed of skilfully-cut stone steps with a well-executed centre pillar or newel, while the remainder of the stair-case to the top consists of rudely-cut steps, each ending with an angle such as was used in all the early Castles and Monasteries of Ireland. If the ruder style of workmanship were at the foundation and the better towards the top, we should at once pronounce the former to be the antique of the I2th century, and the latter the improved work of a subsequent period : but the facts being as they are, we can only account for the most ancient part being beyond comparison the more excel- lent, by supposing the structure to have been originally a Cuthite Temple, of which the foundations and the lower portions remained at the close of the 1 2th century, when they were appropriated to Christian uses, and the ruder superstructure added by architects of that period. The case is exactly similar to that of the Round Tower of Drumlane (fig. 135), the foundation of which to the height of 22 feet, including the doorway, " is constructed of carefully wrought sand-stone, and is equal in execution to the Tower of Devenish itself;" but from this point " a change takes place in the material and workmanship, the remainder of the Tower being built of coarse rubble work of the meanest description." {Ulster Journal, vol. 5, p. 1 14). That is to say, the foundation of the Tower remained intact from the era of Cuthite occupa- tion until the i ith or 1 2th century, when the upper portion was added to adapt 326 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. it for use as a Bell-tower, and, if the reader will take the trouble to examine all the Irish Annals of the i2th century, it is probable he will 'find some record informing him that Drumlane CLOICH TEACH was "finished" about that period. The transept walls of Boyle at each side of the chancel arch are also ancient to the height of the springing of the arch, but from that point to the top the work is of coarse rubble. The same remark is applicable to all these buildings. The skilful masonry being recognised in the ancient work, and coarse rubble in the comparatively modern superstructure. There is much reconstruction with the old materials in all these buildings, and it is some- times so well executed as to render it difficult, except for a practised eye, to distinguish the ancient from the modern. The Cuthite characteristics are however clear and unmistakeable. Baltinglas and Jerpoint Abbeys are also built on the ruins of ancient temples ; but we shall not stop now to describe these buildings, as they shall be afterwards noticed in detail. All appear to have had originally massive stone roofs supported by rows of pillars at each side. The general style of the ancient Temples at Jerpoint, Boyle, Baltinglas, etc., with their pillars and aisles, explains the sculpture in the interior of Cormac's Chapel and Kilmelchedor Temple. All these temples were probably designed after the pattern of some great original temple perhaps Noah's Ark itself, and therefore, in small buildings like Cormac's Chapel and Temple Melchedor, where no pillars or aisles existed, the miniature representation of them is exhibited in the stone-cutting of the walls, in which semi-detached pillars and arches abound. Each side-wall of Kilmelchedor is divided into six panels or spaces, separated by semi-detached semi-circular pillars, each about four feet high from their bases to their capitals. The ex- ternal surface of the south wall of Cormac's Chapel is divided in its ornamenta- tion into representations of three stories, cut in the stone, and answering to the Bible description of the Ark "With lower, second and third stories shalt thou make it." (Gen. vi. 16). This idea also accounts for some peculiarities STONE-ROOFED TEMPLES. 327 found in the Rock Temples of India, which an Archaeologist, who wished to prove them of comparatively recent date, said, were in many respects constructed in imitation of well-wrought carpenter's work. He inferred from this fact, that the Indian Temples must be comparatively modern, whereas I infer from the same fact, that they are the most ancient temples in the world, and made in imitation of the Ark of Noah itself. I have before quoted Thevenot's description of a Rock Temple in Persia, consisting of three chambers, one over the other, one only of which (I suppose the upper one) has got an arched roof, the others being flat (see p. 16). This description confirms my opinion, that all these temples Irish as well as Persian- were made in imitation of the great primitive model, the Ark of Noah. FIG. 171.- MACDARA'S TEMPLE, ISLAND OF CRUACH MACDARA, co. GALWAY. BUTTRESSES. Many of the ancient Irish temples present the peculiarity of the side- walls extending from 10 to 1 8 inches beyond the gable, as shown in fig. 171, which represents the temple of St. MacDara, Co. Galway. The object of T T 328 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. these buttresses seems to have been to lighten the lateral pressure of the roof on the gables, by a supplemental support for its centre of gravity. MacDara's Temple is the most perfect in Ireland, that exhibits this peculiarity of buttress. Numbers of Irish ruins exist, in which one or more buttresses appear near the foundation, but they are not continued to the eave in the alterations made for Christian worship. I know of no ancient buttresses now to be found in any part of Ireland, except at places associated by hagiology or topography with the name of some heathen divinity. My observations upon the numerous specimens I have seen have induced me to regard the existence of a buttress, at an ancient foundation associated with the name of some Cuthite divinity, as prima facie evidence that a portion of the ancient temple is still in its original position. It should, however, be noticed that, although buttresses are frequently found, they were by no means an indispensable appendage to ancient temples, as, in numerous instances, they do not appear to have ever existed. MacDara's Temple is particularly interesting as the only existing example of buttresses with a stone roof; and the perfect outline which this temple presents, enables us to complete in imagination twenty-four temples that still retain their buttresses, but from which the stone roofs have disappeared. COIGNS. Many of the ornamented temples of Ireland have their outer angles protected by coigns, cut like a circular pillar in form, and in ordinary size similar to the newel of a stone stair-case. Some specimens do not project beyond the line of the side wall, others project from the wall to the extent of half the diameter of the pillar; and a third class are found to project still further. Different specimens are found from three to eight inches in diameter. This moulding is introduced profusely in all the ornamental work of what is called the " Irish Norman." It is found on doorways of Round Towers, windows and doorways of temples, and on several ancient Crosses. Its COIGNS, AND DOORWAYS. 329 purpose manifestly was to protect the angles from casual damage, by presenting a rounded instead of a sharp edge, a very ingenious and efficient contrivance. I would here remark that all the Cuthite ornamental architecture found in Ireland is of the most solid and durable description, as if adapted to a people whose lives were prolonged beyond the ordinary limits of our generation. All ornaments within the reach of casual damage are worked in low relief, with rounded projections, and consequently not so liable to injury from an accidental knock as the ornaments of modern architecture : they are even more indestructible than the common rectangular edge. Such is the style of ancient Irish ornament; but, in positions out of the reach of accidental damage, as on lofty capitals, and the roofs of chancels, we sometimes observe orna- ments cut in higher relief; fine specimens of which are still to be seen in their original perfection at Kilmacduagh, Co. Galway, and at Corcomroe, Co. Clare. ROUND-HEADED DOORWAYS. There are several varieties of doorways with semicircular arches in Ireland. Some are highly ornamented ; as, for example, Clonkeen, County Limerick (fig. 88) ; Dysert, Co. Clare (fig. 89) ; Freshford, Co. Kilkenny (fig. 101). Others, such as Rahen Church, King's County (fig. 103), are less ornamented ; and many are found without any decoration whatever, as at Sheeptown (Knocktopher), Co. Kilkenny (fig. 104). Some elaborate specimens seem to have been constructed with a porch in front ; the door- way of Freshford, just mentioned, is an example of this style. There is first the ornamented inner doorway, with its semicircular head and sculp- tures. About two feet in front is a semicircular arch, presenting a jamb of about one foot in width ; and outside of this is a larger arch, ornamented in the same style as the inner arch, with a rich variety of sculpture. The ornaments (fig. 9) are found on the capitals of the arch of the porch at Cashel Temple. The roofs of porches of this style form a very acute angle, which may be observed in the direction of the outer lines of fig. 101. 330 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. In a few instances ancient doorways have arches slightly pointed ; from which fact, as well as from several specimens of ancient double windows with pointed tops, I conclude that both the pointed and the semicircular arch was in use among the Cuthites. CYCLOPEAN DOORWAYS. Flat-headed doorways are of frequent occurrence in ancient Irish temples. They have all the characteristics of those which, in Greece and Italy, are called Cyclopean. The material is generally massive, and the jambs always incline inwards from the base. Numerous fine examples of this style are to be found in the illustrations of this work. See figs. 70, 72, 73, 75, 77, and 78. I have myself examined forty-eight specimens of this style throughout Ireland. ANCIENT WINDOWS OF WIDE AND OF NARROW SPLAY. I have described the different varieties of ancient windows in preceding pages (268 to 280), and therefore need only repeat here that windows of wide splay are narrower in the outer than inner opening, being generally from six to eight inches wide on the outside, and about sixty inches on the inside, while the windows of narrow splay are usually ten inches wide on the outside, and about thirty inches wide on the inside. The windows of narrow splay are always single, while those of the wide are often double, as in fig. 105, and sometimes triple. The heads of windows of wide splay are always formed of several stones wedged together into a semicircular arch, while the whole arch of a window of narrow splay is some- times found to consist of only one stone reaching through the full thickness of the wall. The narrow are almost always quite plain the wide are some- times highly ornamented, as in the case of the Church of Annaghdown, Co. Galway, fig. 107. This window (as already shown) has been widened in its ANCIENT WINDOWS, CROSSES, ETC. 331 reconstruction. Windows of wide splay are introduced in temples of the largest class ; and in such buildings the opening is larger in proportion to the building itself. The largest ancient window in Corcomroe Temple is fourteen inches wide in the outer opening. In most instances, windows of wide splay are found to be reconstructions removed from their original positions, the fine stone-cutting and close jointing being however usually preserved with much care. The reason seems to be, that most of these ancient temples were increased in length to adapt them to Christian uses, and the enlargement was generally made at the East end, the windows (as I before mentioned) being more easily removed and re-set than the massive doorways. SCULPTURED AND PLAIN CROSSES. There are numerous specimens of Crosses, both sculptured and plain, to be found in Ireland. The sculptured Crosses with the ornaments upon them have been fully treated of in a preceding chapter. (See figs. 15, 1 6, 50, and 51, ante). There is also another class of Crosses, of which many examples still exist. The Cross is sculptured in relief without arms and within a circle on pillar-stones. These are now chiefly used at Holy Wells as stations for prayer. Many of the pillar-stones are of doubtful date, but I believe all that have the Cross skilfully sculptured within the circle are ancient. Seven of such Crosses are to be found at Glencolumbkill, Co. Donegal. HOLY WELLS. Holy Wells exist, or have existed, at most of the places to which I have referred as Cuthite foundations, and we have strong grounds for inferring that the worship at such wells had its origin in heathenism. Indeed, this conclusion is confirmed by the concurrence of high ecclesiastical authority, the veneration for such Wells, and the religious services called Patterns 332 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. performed at them on certain Saints' days, having been of late years discountenanced by the Roman Catholic hierarchy. The wells are generally connected with the names of St. Columb, St. John, St. Colman, St. Bridget, St. Senan, St. Kieran, or St. Patrick, and some others. I have in a former chapter endeavoured to show, that the wells now dedicated to St. John (Tubber Ion) had the origin of their worship from Damater Juno under the name of lun, the Dove. PILLAR STONES. I would direct the reader's attention to the cylindrical mass of stone which Stephens tells us he found in the centre of the American Round Towers. (See p. 319, ante). This I suppose to be the same as the Mahody of Elephanta, the Mui(dh)r of Ireland, and the Lingam of all the Rock Temples of Hindostan. I annex, from General Vallancey's Collectanea, a description given of this Idol by Captain Pyke in his account of the Cave of Elephanta, and also Vallancey's own account of a similar stone on the Island called Innis Mui(dh)r, now Inis Mura, or the Holy Island, near Sligo. The General writes as follows (vol. 4, p. 212) : " Innis Mui(dh)r now Inis Mura and the Holy Island, or Island of Saints, is about nine miles distant from Sligo. Here, not only the ruins of the caves are to be seen, but the Cloich Greine, sun stone, or Muidhr, from whence the island takes its name, is still remaining in its most perfect state, being a conical pillar of stone (fig. 1 74), placed on a pedestal, surrounded by a wall to pre- serve it from profanation. This is the /uuS/ooc of the Greeks (fig. 172), and the Mahody of the Gentoos. Apud Emissenos solis simulacrum erat grande saxum conicum nigrum, quod jactabant a Cselo fuise delapsum. (Herodian). " Captain Pyke landed in the island of Elephanta, near Bombay. In the midst of a Gentoo temple he found a low altar, on which was placed a large polished stone of a cylindrical form, standing on its base, but the top was rounded or convex. The Gentoos, says he, call this the stone of PILLAR STONES. 333 Mahody, a name they give to the original of all things. And this hierogly- phic of the Supreme Being is intended to shew, that it is beyond the limited comprehension of man to form to himself any just idea of Him that made the world." Captain Pyke was informed by the worshippers " That this sacred stone is dedicated to the honour of Mahody, who created the universe, and his name is placed under it, and therefore that stone, which defends the name of the great and inconceivable God from all pollution, is itself a holy memorial and monument of what cannot be described ; but is not itself a God, yet being thus placed, though a stone, no profane or polluted man ought to touch it." (See fig. 173). Vallancey proceeds : " This is certainly the stone Herodian saw at Emissa, in Phoenicia, where, says he, they worship Heliogabalus ; but he saw no image fashioned by men's hands, but only a great stone round at bottom, and diminishing towards the top in a conic form. Our Mui(dh)r and the Mahoody of the Gentoos are not conical, but only columns of circu- lar bases rounded at the tops (fig. 1 74). Muidhr in Irish, in the ancient glosses, is written for Midhr, which is explained by the ray of the sun." The Muidhr enclosed within a wall, as above described, is not unlike the accounts of similar stones found by Stephens among the Ruins called "Cassadel Gobernador," Yucatan. I copy from him (vol. i,p. 181): " Near the centre of the platform, at a distance of eighty feet from the foot of the steps, is a square enclosure, consisting of two layers of stones, in which stands, in an oblique position, as if falling, or, perhaps, as if an effort had been made to throw it down, a large round stone, measuring eight feet above the ground and five feet in diameter. This stone is striking for its uncouth and irregu- lar proportions, and wants conformity with the regularity and symmetry of all around. From its conspicuous position, it doubtless had some important use, and in connexion with other monuments found at this place induces the belief that it was connected with the ceremonial rites of ancient worship known to have existed among all Eastern nations." 334 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. Fig. 175 represents a Pillar-stone now standing on the Hill of Tara. It was found buried in the ground on a part of the hill called Bel- Pear, and was removed after the year 1 798 to mark the grave in which a number of "Croppies" were buried, who had been shot by the king's troops. The name of the place (Bel-Pear), from which the stone had been removed, is FIG. 172. THE MUDROS OF PHOENICIA, FROM DR. HYDE. FIG. 173. MAHODY OF ELEPHANTA, FROM CAPTAIN PYKE. FIG. 174. MUIDHR OF INIS-MURRY, FROM " GROSE'S ANT." FIG. 175. PILLAR-STONE AT THE HILL OF TARA. significant. I believe it to be identical with Baal-peor of the Scriptures ; which, like the Priapus, Muidhr, and Mahody, was the emblem of the Sun as the source of generative life. Another Pillar-stone, square in form, stands on the Hill of Tara in the PILLAR STONES. 335 Church-yard. On ft is sculptured the well-known figure of the Irish Sheela- na-gig, from the original name of which I believe the Irish word CLUAIN the Stone of Ana, was derived. In the foregoing, the reader will observe that the stone of Bel-Pear at Tara is a conical pillar (the stone called Cloich Kieran at Cape Clear is precisely of the same form) ; and that Herodian describes the sun as worshipped in Phoenicia under the form of a conical stone. Diodorus Siculus identifies " sol" with " Priapus:" at Inis-Muidhr, County Sligo, a stone of a similar form is by the people called " Cloich Greine," literally, " the stone of the Sun" (fig. 1 74) : the " Mudros" of the Phoenicians is also represented as a " conical stone" (fig. 172) : at the temple of Elephanta, the Divinity who created the universe is worshipped under the form of a similar stone (fig. 1 73), and under the name Mahody, answering to our St. Mochudee of Lismore. The name of the Island near Sligo, at which the Cloich Greine, or Stone of the Sun, is described to be, is Inis-Muidhr " Muidhr, in the ancient glosses, is written for Midhr, which is explained by the ray of the sun." The modern name of this Island is Inis-Mura, the name of the celebrated, but mythical Saint Mura. Thi: Saint is thus far identified with the Mahody of Elephanta, and St. Mochudee of Lismore, one of the names of Cuthite divinity. The patron Saint of Inis- Mura, or Inis-Muidhr, is St. Molaise, another Cuthite derivation, which I have elsewhere shewn to be nearly identical with Molaice, Molach in the genetive case. From the facts just mentioned, I am further disposed to conclude that, with the ancient Cuthites Budh was never the proper name of their divinity, except in a secondary sense. The simple English of the Irish word "Budh' is a house or tabernacle, from which is the Irish word "Bothan" (pronouncet! Bohaun), a tent, a small house, or cabin. The invisible God of nature, beinp;, by the Cuthites, supposed to reside in this Tabernacle, the form of it becam venerated accordingly as the emblem of the Divinity. This remark is con sistent with all I have before said about the god Budh. I believe the existin. Budhists of India to be, like the other heathen religions, only a sect of com- u u 336 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. paratively late introduction, knowing very little of the real character of the ancient Lingajas. I have sometimes applied the name Budhists to this ancient sect the first apostates from truth to mark the Phallic character of their worship (others have done so before me), though I think it probable such name was never borne by the Lingajas themselves, when existing in power. The Irish word TEAMPOLL, a Temple, is worthy of attention, as bearing upon this subject. The original temple having been round in form, the name of the temple began to be used as an adjective, and we have accordingly the Irish word Timp(cJi)ioll^ round, i. e. Temple-shaped. We have also the common phrase " Rienca Timpioll"-to dance around, alias the Temple dance. When in time the religious connection between the name "Temple," and the peculiar circular form of the temple became lost, the original word became separated into two words, and the letters were slightly altered to mark their distinction, two silent letters " ch" being introduced. Thus we have, at this day, the word TEAMPOLL, a Church, a Temple, and TIMP(CH)IOLL round, cr a circuit. HOLED STONES. In treating of the term Dia-Baal (p. 67), I ventured to suggest, that the Greek word AmjSoXoc was derived from the name of the Cuthite divinity Baal. To illustrate the theory suggested respecting Holed Stones, it may not be amiss to repeat that Dia-Baal was the chief Deity among the Cuthites. It means, literally, The Lord God, and was probably the name under which God was known to Noah and his predecessors. The Pelasgi were among the conquerors of the Cuthites ; therefore Baal, or Dia-Baal, never was recognised as a god among the Greeks (nor were the other Cuthite divinities, Molach, Dagan, etc.), and inasmuch as Giants, Titans, and Demons, were the names by which the Cuthites were known to the Greeks, it is but reasonable to suppose, that their divinity (under his proper name of Dia-Baal) should be regarded as the chief Demon or Devil. It is quite possible that the term j3aXXo>, to throw, may have arisen HOLED STONES. 337 from the ancient Cuthite game of Ball-playing an account of which, as a religious ceremony among the ancient Americans, may be seen in Stephens Yiicatan, vol. 2, p. 306. The spherical Ball was an emblem of the Sun ; and Ball-playing will be found to have been a very ancient amusement, frequent mention being made of it in the Finian legends of Ireland. The American game, according to Stephens' authority, was played on a grand scale in honour of the divinity of the Ball, in a large open area between two walls of great thickness. A Holed Stone was set in each wall (fig. 176), and the fortunate player who succeeded in passing the Ball through the hole was the winner of the game. I transcribe the account of this ancient American Ball-playing from the description of the Ruins of Chichenitza in Stephens Yucatan, vol. 2, p. 306. "In the centre of the great stone walls, exactly opposite each other, and at the height of twenty feet from the ground, are two massive stone rings, four feet in diameter, and one foot one inch thick ; the diameter of the hole is one foot seven inches. On the rim and border were two sculptured entwined serpents, represented in the engraving below. 110 176. ANCIKNT AMERICAN HOLED STONE. 338 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. " These walls, at the first glance, we considered identical in their uses and purposes with the parallel structures supporting the rings at Uxmal, of which I have already expressed the opinion, that they were intended for the celebration of some public games. " In the account of the diversions of Montezuma, given by Herrera, we have the following : ' The place where they played was a ground room, long, narrow, and high, but wider above than below, and higher on the sides than at the ends, and they kept it very well plastered and smooth, both the walls and the floor. On the side walls they fixed certain stones, like those of a mill, with a hole quite through the middle, just as big as the Ball, and he that could strike it through there won the game ; and in token of its being an extraordinary success, which rarely happened, he had a right to the cloaks of all the lookers-on, by antient custom, and law amongst gamesters ; and it was very pleasant to see, that as soon as ever the Ball was in the hole, the standers-by took to their heels, running away with all their might to save their cloaks, laughing and rejoicing ; others scouring after them to secure their cloaks for the winner, who was obliged to offer some sacrifice to the idol of the tennis-court, and the stone through whose hole the Ball had passed. Every tennis-court was a temple, having two idols, the one of gaming, and the other of the Ball. On a lucky day, at midnight, they performed certain ceremonies and enchantments on the two lower walls and on the midst of the floor, singing certain songs or ballads ; after which a priest of the great temple went with some of their religious men to bless it ; he uttered some words, threw the ball about the tennis- court four times, and then it was consecrated, and might be played in, but not before. The owner of the tennis-court) who was always a Lord, never played without making some offering and performing certain ceremonies to the idol of gaming, which shews how superstitious they were, since they had such regard to their idols, even in their diversions.' " The use of the Holed Stones found in Ireland and elsewhere has never been determined. Might not some of them have been used for games HOLED STONES. 339 of the same character as those above described, considering the game as combining amusement with religion ; and which, like the Maypole sports, survived the race by which they were first introduced ? Holed Stones are numerous in Ireland, and are generally connected with ancient superstitions. Young children are passed through them, also wearing apparel and bed-clothes, for preservation from diseases or for their cure. Several Holed Stones shall be noticed in the description of places where they are found ; but, for more complete information on the subject, the reader is referred to an article on Holed Stones by R. R. Brash, Esq., of Cork, in the Gent. Mag,, Dec. 1864. FIG. 177. HOLED STONE AT CASTLE DERMOT. Fig. 177 represents a Holed Stone standing in the Church-yard of Castle- dermot, Co. Kildare ; where are also found a Round Tower, several ancient Crosses, and other ruins of Heathen times. SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES. These abound in Ireland ; and many of which no trace now remains are 340 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. said to have existed at the localities referred to in the following pages, as Cuthite foundations. Several specimens still existing are noticed in the latter part of this work. ROCK BASINS. At numerous localities to which I have ascribed a Cuthite origin basins are found, excavated in large rocks. They vary in size, the largest being about fifteen inches in diameter, by about ten inches deep. At some of these places only one basin is to be seen ; at others (Kilmelchedor, for instance) several are excavated out of one rock. All are invariably connected with superstitious legends. The miraculous cow at Kilmelchedor is said to have deposited her milk in these basins each day, in such abundance as to supply Fin-MacCuile and his army. The 3,000 pupils of St. Finian of Clonard (whom I have endeavoured to identify with Fin-MacCuile, see p. 81) were, in the same miraculous manner, supplied with milk by one cow. The basin at Glendalough is said to have been filled with milk by a wild deer, sent by God to feed an orphan : and at other places the rain water deposited in the basins is resorted to as a cure for sore eyes and other maladies. Mr. T. L. Cooke, in the Transactions of the Kilk. Arch. Association, vol. 2, pp. 53, 54, describes two Rock Basins at Kyle, or Clonfert Molua, in the King's County. He says : " About one hundred yards south-west of the grave is a large rock in its rough and natural state. Its upper surface contains two hemi- spherical or bowl-shaped cavities, each of which is somewhat more than a foot in diameter. This is called CLOICH-MOLUA, i.e. Molua's stone. In my opinion it was either an emblem of God, or an altar, and served for the pur- pose of religious worship in Pagan times. It closely resembles several rocks undoubtedly used in Pagan rites in various parts of the country. One of these is in the King's County, and bears the name of AN-MORA, the great Ana. This deity was the earth, the Pagan Irish magna Mater, or Mater deorum. AN also signifies a ring or circle, or cup, a bowl or round vessel. ROCK BASINS, ETC. 34! The hemispherical hollows in the rock at Kyle were, therefore, probably emblems of Ana. Until about sixty years ago a meeting used to be held annually at this so-called stone of St. Molua. This meeting was celebrated for dancing, merriment, and matchmaking. It was distinguished from the day dedicated to St. Molua by its having been held on the first of August, the day of the tournament instituted by Louis, called the long-handed. The anniversary of St. Molua was \hzfourth of August." The following quotation from Bryant respecting the origin of the name Titan may throw some further light on this subject. " The Giants, whom Abydenus makes the builders of Babel, are, by other writers, represented as the Titans. They are said to have received their name from their mother Titaea. Kotvwc St iravrag airo TTJC wrpog ovo^a^o/ucvovc TtTTjvac : by which we are to understand, that they were all denominated from their religion and place of worship. I have taken notice of some of the antient altars, which consisted of a conical hill of earth, styled oftentimes from its figure, Xo^oc /uaoroEtSrjc, a mound, or hill, in the shape of a woman's breast. Titsea (rtram) was one of these. It is a term compounded of Tit-aia, and signifies literally a breast of earth, analogous to Tirfloc amc of the Greeks. These altars were also called Tit-an, and Tit-anis, from the great fountain of light, styled An, and Anis. Hence many places were called Titanis and Titana, where the worship of the Sun prevailed." (Bryant, vol. 4, pp. 64, 65). I shall not trouble the reader with a detailed statement of the inferences deducible from this quotation in connection with the matter on hand. It is enough to state that mounds, such as Bryant describes, abound in different parts of Ireland, and are still recognized as monuments of the Tuath-de- Danaans. Bryant's remarks may account for their shape, as well as the shape of the Rock Basins, being that of a woman's breast; but, whatever may have been the original use or intention of the Rock Basins, I have no doubt of their having been connected with Cuthite worship, and have therefore noticed them as Cuthite relics. 342 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. THE SHRINE. THE WOODEN IMAGE. THE STONE COFFIN. THE BED. Those who are acquainted with the ancient ruins of Ireland are aware, that at most of them the Bed of the Saint, the Stone Coffin, or the Shrine, is held in high veneration. Some particular spot is pointed out as the Bed of the Saint, sometimes the Grave, but generally the Bed ; and credulous FIG. 178. THE SHRINE OF ST. MANCHIN AN ANCIENT IRISH RELIC. THE SHRINES OF ST. MANCHIN, AND AMMON. 343 people are still found, who lie in it with the hope of finding a husband or a wife within a stated time, or expecting thereby to be cured of certain com- plaints, for which the process is believed to be an infallible remedy. St. Finian's Bed at Inisfallen, out of hundreds of instances, is one well known to tourists visiting the Lakes of Killarney. St. Kevin's Bed at Glenda- lough is also well known. Almost all the other Saints enumerated in the Catalogue, commencing at p. 53, are said to have had their "Beds" at some one or other of the places connected with their names. A few specimens of the Stone Coffin are still to be seen. One is at the island of Devenish, Co. Fermanagh, the cover of which I have not been FIG. 179, THE SHRINE OF AMMON AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE. able to find. The coffin is cut out of one stone, and shaped like an Egyptian mummy-case. People lie down in it as a cure for rheumatism. Another of them is at Clones, in the County Monaghan, shaped like the Shrine or Ark represented at fig. 178. Several other specimens of these Stone Coffins are incidentally mentioned by archaeologists as existing at different localities throughout Ireland. My own opinion is that a Stone x x 344 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. Coffin once stood at each place now called the Saint's Bed, and that, while time or mischievous hands led to the removal or destruction of the coffin itself, traditional veneration for its original site is still retained among the peasantry. Another relic connected with this division of our subject is the Shrine of the Saint. I know but one specimen of this relic now in existence. It is called the Shrine of St. Manchin, and is preserved in the Roman Catholic Church of Prospect, close to the station of that name on the Midland Rail- way, a few miles from Athlone. Fig. 1 78 represents a restored model of this ancient relic, made by Sir William Wilde, M. D., and which he was kind enough to place at my service. For further elucidation of the use of these relics, we must refer to the ancient Mysteries. I have already observed (see Section commencing at p. 168), that the notion of Death and Resurrection was invariably connected with the ancient Mysteries. The Ark was the emblem of Death to Noah and those enclosed in it, and their release from it was celebrated as a Resurrection. We know but little of these Cuthic or Arkite rites, save what may be gathered from the ancient authors, who have written, and often very obscurely, on their nature and practice. We cannot, therefore, speak dogmatically on the subject, but as I have remarked elsewhere, these Mysteries were probably an effort to revive (under the obligation of secrecy) the religion and superstitions of the Cuthite race long after their humiliation, and when the open profession of their religion would have exposed men to persecution from the ruling hierarchy. All the gross idolatry of Greece and ancient Egypt was set aside by the Mysteries for a corrupted system of Monotheism, and for cor- rupted forms of primeval doctrines respecting the Ark, Death, Resurrection, etc. Therefore it was that a miniature Ark such as the "Shrine" (fig. 1 78) was carried about in a boat on men's shoulders. A Stone Coffin also was provided, in which the hierophant was placed as a type of his death ; and his entrance into it was described as " descending into the Bed." The figures fastened to the Ark or " Shrine," as seen on fig. 1 78, or sculptured THE SHRINE, STONE COFFIN, AND BED. 345 on the Arkite Rock Temples (fig. 67), represented the inmates as abiding in Death, until Born again by deliverance from the Ark. I have already stated, that all these superstitious ceremonies, as well as the numerous legends and traditions connected therewith, are corruptions of the true religion believed in by Noah, and I now offer a few quotations from a learned and reliable authority in support of my views. The following is Faber's testimony: " Ancient authors unanimously represent a certain sacred Ark, as being of prime importance in the due cele- bration of the Mysteries. . . Apuleius mentions the ark of Isis ; and de- scribes it as containing the secret symbols, which were used in the Mysteries. Plutarch, in treating of the rites of Osiris, speaks of the sacred ark ; which his long-robed priests were wont to carry, and which contained within it a small golden boat. Pausanias notices an ancient ark, which was said to have been brought by Eurypylus from Troy, and within which the sacred image or symbol of Bacchus-Esymnetes was inclosed : he likewise mentions certain arks, as being ordinarily dedicated to Ceres, who was worshipped in conjunction with Bacchus, just as Isis was in conjunction with Osiris. Eusebius informs us, that, in celebrating the Mysteries of the Cabin', the Phenicians used a consecrated ark. Clemens says, that a similar ark was employed in Orgies of the same Corybantic Cabiri, who were venerated in mount Olympus ; that it contained a symbol of Bacchus ; and that it was conveyed by the Cabiric brethren themselves into Etruria, where the mystic use of it was likewise adopted Celius Rhodiginus, on the authority of ancient writers, informs us, that in the Babylonian temple of Apollo, or Belus, there was a golden ark of wonderful antiquity. Pausanias very largely describes a cedar ark, which was placed in the magnificent temple of Juno at Elis, and within which Cypselus is said to have been inclosed by his mother when the Bacchidae sought his life. Every writer, who treats of Indian Mythology, notices the Argha or sacred Ark of the god Siva or Isa. . . . Thus it appears, that, in the due celebration of their kindred Mysteries, a certain holy ark has been equally used by the Greeks, 346 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. the Italians, the Celts, the Goths, the Phenicians, the Egyptians, the Baby- lonians, the Hindoos, the Mexicans, the northern Americans, and the islanders of the Pacific Ocean." (Fader, vol. 3, pp. 118, 119, 120). Further on Mr. Faber continues " Various terms are employed by the Greeks to describe this mysterious ark : and they severally, according to their literal import, convey to us the idea of a chest, a coffer, a boat, a coffin, or a navicular ark such as that in which Deucalion and Pyrrha were pre- served at the time of the deluge. The phraseology of the Latins exactly corresponds with that of the Greeks ; leading us to view the mystic ark either as a chest, a boat, or a coffin. We may easily collect, that such also was the case with the language used by the old Egyptians and Syrians. This singular uniformity of expression can scarcely be attributed to mere accident ; so that, even if we had nothing further to adduce, we should be naturally led to believe, that the ark of the Mysteries was, for some reason or other, viewed in the double light of a boat and a coffin. The mysteries of Adonis or Baal-Peor were of precisely the same nature as those of Osiris, and referred to the very, same event. He was first bewailed as dead ; but after a proper time, his votaries forgot their former grief, and with loud acclamations celebrated his supposed revival." (Vol. 3, pp. 121, 122, 127). " The sacred ark was a necessary instrument in the due celebration of the Eleusinian Mysteries. It was borne in solemn procession on the back of an ass ; because an ass was deemed a symbol of Typhon or the ocean, which sustained upon its waters the Ark of the deluge : and its contents, according to Clemens Alexandrinus, were certain conical pyramids, cakes formed so as to exhibit the semblance of navels, pomegranates, and the hieroglyphic of the female principle. These were all significant emblems, employed universally by the ancient idolaters." (P. 130). " This succession of deaths and revivals, of dissolutions and regenerations, was equally taught and shadowed out in the Mysteries The image of the great father was occasionally committed to a soros or stone THE SHRINE, STONE COFFIN, AND BED. 347 coffin, instead of a wooden ark or floating coffin. . . Among the Romans an island in the Tiber was converted into a temple for Esculapius, who was one of the eight Phenician Cabiri, by being so faced with stone -work as to exhibit the figure of a large ship : and hence a notion prevailed that the ship of Bacchus was once changed into stone. . . . And thus the soros or stone coffin of Osiris, which has so often been mistaken for the literal coffin of some really deceased king, may still be seen deposited in the central chamber or artificial grotto of the great pyramid." (Pp. 135, 137, 138). Again in p. 181, vol. 3, Faber remarks: "It is remarkable, that they [the aspirants to initiation into the orgies of Mithras] were not only caused to be figuratively born out of a grotto ; but likewise that they went through the ceremony of a sort of baptismal immersion, which represented the death and resurrection of the votary or (what was considered as synonymous) his death and regeneration. Tertullian imagines that this was a diabolical imi- tation of the Christian rite of baptism ; but it existed long before the promul- gation of Christianity, and equally constituted a part of the Mysteries of I sis and Cybele." Mr. Faber sums up his whole chapter on the subject as follows : " The Mysteries being a scenical representation of the actions and sufferings of the chief hero-god, we may now perceive the reason, why a sacred bed formed an important part of their apparatus ; Clement of Alexandria tells us, that, in the formula used by one who had been initiated, he was taught to say, ' I have descended into the bed-chamber.' The ceremony here alluded to was doubtless the same as the descent into Hades ; and I am inclined to think that, when the aspirant entered into the mystic cell, he was directed to lay himself down upon the bed, which shadowed out the tomb or coffin of the great father. This process was equivalent to his entering into the infernal ship : and, while stretched out upon the holy couch in imitation of his figura- tively deceased prototype, he was said to be wrapped in the deep sleep of death. His resurrection from this bed was his restoration to life, or his re- generation into a new world." (Faber, vol. 3, pp. 311, 312). 348 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. These quotations abundantly prove how the Miniature Ark, the Stone Coffin, and the Bed, were inseparably connected with the Mysteries. Faber tells us, that " for some reason or other" such were the facts ; and I have ventured to suggest, that these mysterious ceremonies were corruptions of the religion of Noah ; and that the worship of Baal-berith, or Baal-peor (of which the Mysteries were a revival), had its origin in the great facts of primeval religion. Undoubtedly this derivation of the mysteries must have for a long period strengthened their hold upon the minds of the ancient Cuthites and their descendants ; but corruptions gradually crept in, until at length the Arkite symbols lost all their primitive spiritual significance, and became themselves the objects of a debased materialistic worship. Having throughout endeavoured to prove that the first apostacy of the post-diluvian world Scythism or Cuthism was the religion of the ancient Irish, we now see how very appropriate it is, that the Shrine or Ark, the Stone Coffin, " the Image of the great father," and the Saint's Mysterious Bed, should be found in Ireland in connection with names so clearly proved to be those of Cuthite divinities. The Shrine is represented at fig. 1 78. Stone Coffins are to be seen at Devenish, and elsewhere throughout Ireland. The wooden Image of St. Molaise is at Inis-Murry, and that of St. Brenaun at Inis-glory ; and Saint's Beds are frequently met with. Fig. 1 79 represents the ceremony of carrying about an ark in a boat, in the Mysteries of Isis. The ark was called the Shrine of Ammon, and is copied by Dr. Pocock from certain Egyptian sculptures, of which Bryant says (vol. i, p. 312): " It may be worth while observing, that the originals, whence these copies were taken, were of the highest antiquity ; and probably the most early specimens of sculpture in the world. Diodorus mentions that the Shrine of Ammon had eighty persons to attend it ; but Dr. Pocock, when he took these copies, had not time to be precisely accurate in this article." The reader may infer from fig. 1 79 for what purpose the so-called Shrine of St. Manchin (fig. 1 78) was used in former times. The crucified figures in the sculpture depicted at fig 67, from a Persian CHANCEL ARCHES. 349 Rock Temple, may assist in explaining the mummy-like figures on the Irish Shrine. The similarity of the design would seem to confirm the idea, that the figures were intended to signify the inmates of the Ark, under- going the process of mysterious death, which was supposed to be exhibited in Arkite ceremonies. CHANCEL ARCHES. Among the fragments of Cuthite architecture which remain in Ireland, Chancel Arches should be noticed, as in some instances they are found in their original positions when every other vestige of the temples to which they FIG. 1 80. CAPITALS OF CHANCEL ARCH, TUAM CATHEDRAL. had belonged has been removed or reconstructed. The most perfect as well as the most beautiful specimen of this class of Arch is to be seen in Tuam Cathedral. It consists of five concentric semicircles, elaborately ornamented 350 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. in low relief. The devices on the capitals and at the springing of the arch on one side are given in fig. 180. A new Cathedral is now in course of erection at Tuam, and when completed it will be a very handsome edifice. The only portion of the former building deemed worthy of a place in the new structure is the Chancel Arch here noticed ; which, like the ancient doorway of Kilmore Cathedral (referred to p. 27), is beyond comparison superior to any portion of the Church in which it now appears. Another very beautiful specimen of the ancient Chancel Arch is that at the building called the Cathedral of Iniscaltra, Co. Gal way, which, with the left hand jamb of the western doorway (all that now remains of it), is repre- sented at fig. 1 8 1. FIG. l8l. CHANCEL ARCH, INISCALTRA, LOUGH DERG. CHANCEL ARCHES. 351 _ > FIG. 182. CHANCEL ARCH, MOCHUAROG'S TEMPLE, GLENDALOUGH. A plain specimen of the same kind of Arch is that of Mochuarog's temple at Glendalough, fig. 182. The Chancel Arches of ancient Irish temples, like the doorways and windows, have the prevailing characteristic of slightly inclining jambs, and the material and workmanship with which they are constructed exhibit that closely-jointed and finely-wrought masonry that identifies them with the other fragments of architecture, which throughout this work I have designated as Cuthite remains. POSTSCRIPT. SIR WILLIAM WILDE'S " LOUGH CORRIB," ETC. On the day that the above page was sent me by the printer, I received a copy of Sir William Wilde's most interesting work, " Lough Corrib," which had just been published. His intimate knowledge of the locality has Y V * 352 CUTHITE REMAINS OF IRELAND. enabled him to furnish interesting drawings of several ancient buildings that had escaped my notice. How many others there may be in the remote and little known districts of Ireland, presenting like objects of interest to the Archaeologist, it is difficult to conjecture. Sir William Wilde's opinions are altogether different from mine as to the date of these buildings, and the purposes for which they were erected. Following Dr. Petrie's theory, he supposes them to have been Christian Churches of the 5th and following centuries; while my endeavour has been to show that such edifices were built as temples for pagan worship many cen- turies before the Christian era. At page 79 of Lough Corrib, we find an illustration of the base of a Round Tower (situated in the parish of Kilcoona, and four miles N. N. E. from Annaghdown), the stones of which are in some instances " cut into each other after the manner of the ancient Cyclopean masonry." And although Sir William expresses himself as " inclined to believe it is that referred to by the annalists as having been erected in 1238," he acknowledges that the site is associated with the name of St. Coona, of the yth century. This Saint is also called St. Cuannan, and described as the maternal brother of St. Carthag, and brother to St. Endee [the one God] of Aranmore. The reader may remember that Cianan, Endee, and Carthage alias Mochudee, have been mentioned by me as names of Cuthite patriarchs or divinities. See pp. 56, 84, and 89. At p. 142, Sir William Wilde furnishes us with illustrations and descrip- tions of two very ancient Churches on the island of Inchangoill, Lough Corrib. As usual, one of these is plain or Cyclopean, and the other highly ornamented, with a doorway not unlike that of Dysart (fig. 89, ante.} In discussing the probable ages of these buildings, Sir William assigns one (the plain or Cyclopean) to the very early age of the Irish Church the time of St. Patrick, with whose name it is associated ; while the other he supposes to be " decidedly anterior to the date of the Anglo-Norman conquest," though between the erection of this and the former "some centuries must have elapsed." SIR WILLIAM WILDE'S " LOUGH CORRIB." 353 But it is difficult to reconcile this opinion with the fact that, in one important particular, both these doorways resemble each other : each of them has got slightly inclining jambs, being some two inches wider at the bottom than at the top. Portions of the walls of both Churches are also built in the style which Sir William Wilde defines as " usually called Cyclopean." My opinion on the age and use of both these Churches may be gathered from all that has been written in the preceding part of this book ; viz : that both buildings were Cuthite temples, erected neither in the 5th nor in the I2th century, but long before our era. The difference of style between the two is owing to their dedication to different divinities. What was there, we may enquire, to induce the use of Cyclopean architecture in the 5th century in Ireland alone, and in no other country of Europe ? Why should the Normans of the I2th century have chosen, almost invariably, a site associated with 5th or 6th century Saints (or heathen deities) for their buildings ? And why should they, in the 1 2th century, have relapsed into the Cyclopean peculiarity of sloping jambs, which never was in use in the real Norman architecture of England or France ? Several other ancient and very interesting ruins that I have not noticed are described in Sir William Wilde's book, and, although I may dissent from the conclusions he has suggested in respect to the age and uses of these structures, I consider his work a most valuable contribution to our national literature, which every one desirous of making himself acquainted with Irish antiquities should possess and study. DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS OF SITES OF ANCIENT IRISH RUINS. " I ^HE following is a brief notice of more than 200 Temples or sites of i Temples, at which some Cuthite Remains, such as are referred to in the preceding pages, are still to be found. I have not contemplated an exhaustive description of these numerous remains of Cuthite worship. Such a work would need a more minute local knowledge than a cursory inspection enabled me to acquire, and a higher degree of artistic skill with a greater command of language than I can boast. I therefore resign such a task to other and more competent hands. Mean- while the following brief particulars will enable the tourist to find the exact locality and characteristic features of each example adduced. And this will obviate inconvenience and disappointment ; for experience has taught me how much time, trouble, and money are lost in archaeological investigations, by the want of such information as is here supplied. With respect to the occasional mention of certain interesting features that attracted my attention, the reader is warned not to presume from the absence of such descriptions, that objects of interest do not exist. Many of the localities have been visited by me twice, and oftener, but seldom without my discovering some remarkable feature that had previously escaped my observation. The Maps referred to throughout the following pages are the sheets of what is called the " General Map of Ireland," published by the Ordnance department, and laid down on a scale of one inch to a statute mile. The whole of Ireland is comprised in 205 Maps or sheets, each of which com- prises an area of 180 square miles. They used to be sold for sixpence each, ANTRIM. 355 but the price has recently been raised to one shilling per sheet. Any Map required can be had from the agents, Messrs. Hodges, Smith & Co. The places here described are among those mentioned in the Catalogue commencing at page 55, reference to the number in which is annexed to the name at the head of each description. ANTRIM COUNTY. No. 5. ANTRIM. The Round Tower is the only relic of ancient building at Antrim. It is situated in the demesne of G. J. Clarke, Esq., and within five minutes walk of the Railway Station, (Map 28). The tower is in excellent preservation, being one of the most perfect in Ireland. It is only ninety-two feet in height, and in size is one of the smaller class. An accurate section of this tower may be seen in the Ulster Journal of Archeology, vol. 3, p. 15. Fig. 145 is the doorway as represented by Doctor Petrie. The Cross over the doorway, which is more accurately represented in fig. 146, has been relied on by some as affording proof of the Christian origin of this building ; but in my opinion it furnishes no such evidence, inasmuch as the doorway itself is manifestly a reconstruction in which much of the old materials were used. The work was well executed on the outside, but no effort seems to have been made to conceal the patch-work on the inside ; and the Cross itself is like the design which so often appears in heathen sculptures. It therefore affords no evidence of having been executed within the Christian era. Interesting notices of all the Round Towers of Ulster may be found in the Ulster Journal of Archeology, to which I shall occasionally refer. For the articles on the Round Towers of Antrim see vol. 4, p. 131. " In a garden adjoining the tower is a large detached mass of basalt, having nearly a level surface, in which are two cavities or basins, evidently the work of art, of 356 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS ANTRIM COUNTY. which the larger is nineteen inches in length, sixteen inches wide, and nine inches deep" (Lewis, p. 39). Antrim is a foundation ascribed to the 5th century. It is associated with the names of St. Oadh, alias Mochay, and St. Cronan. No. 82. ARMOY, alias ARTHURMUIGHE, alias RATHMUIGHE, alias DERCAN, Is situated about ten miles N. E. from Ballymoney Railway Station, and less than one mile E. from the town of Armoy (Map 14). It is described as a foundation of the 5th century, by St. Patrick for St. Bolcan (or Volcan), of whom we read : " The mother of St. Bolcan died about the year 440. After her interment a noise was heard in the grave, which being immediately opened, the child was providentially taken out alive. St. Patrick received this infant of birth so extraordinary, baptized and educated him," etc., (Archdall, p. 13). The Round Tower is the only vestige of antiquity which now appears at Armoy. About forty feet of this Tower are still standing : it has been much altered by repairs, but the doorway presents a fine specimen of the semicircular and plain style. For further particulars, see Ulster Journal of Archceology, vol. 4, p. 174. No. 157. MUCKAMORE, Situated about two miles S. E. by S. from Antrim Railway Station (Map 28). The only vestiges of the Abbey which remain are now patches of a garden-wall, and possess no special interest for the Archaeologist. Lewis describes " a rude pillar consisting of a single stone now called the hole stone, or old stone," but this also has disappeared, although the tradition of it is preserved there in the name of " Old-stone Hill." Muckamore is a foundation of the 6th century, ascribed to Colman-Elo. The ancient name was Machairimor, for which I would read Machair-di-mor the great god or ARMAGH, CLUAINFINCHOL. 357 goddess Machar. See remarks on the Cuthite terms MACHAR, and MACHA, pages 60 and 61, ante. I cannot certify the existence of a single example of the ancient Cuthite doorway or window in the County of Antrim, save such as are found in Round Towers. However I do not mean to assert that specimens may not exist. Antrim and other northern counties afford in this respect a very different result to Archaeological investigations from what may be found in other counties. Antiquities seem to have disappeared in proportion to the spread of civilization. Flax-mills and bleach-greens have in the north taken the place of the ancient Cuthite temples with their appendages, which are still found in the southern and western counties. ARMAGH COUNTY. No. 57. ARMAGH. The only vestiges of unquestionable antiquity which I have observed at Armagh (Map 47) are the fragments of a large sculptured Cross, which, judging from the size of the portions that now remain, must have been at least twenty-six feet in height when perfect. Armagh is a foundation of the 5th century, ascribed to St. Patrick. The names of St. Lasre [Molach], and St. Bridgid are also associated with it. The ancient name, Ard-Macha, may be interpreted, The high place of Macha a goddess worshipped by the Tuath-de-Danaans. See p. 60, ante. Armagh is the chief town of the County of the same name, and may be reached by train. It is about 27 miles from Dundalk. No. 46. CLUAIN FIN CHOL The modern Clonfeacle is a town situated (Map 47) on the boundary of the Counties Armagh and Tyrone, five miles N. W. from Armagh. The 358 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS ARMAGH COUNTY. foundation is ascribed to St. Lugad [Luan, The Moon] in the 6th century. I have suggested (pp. 80 and 81), that this place derived its name from the celebrated Fin-MacCuille of Irish tradition. Ancient Hagiologists assert, that it was so named from one of St. Patrick's teeth preserved as a relic at the Monastery. The Church-yard or burying ground of Clonfeacle is an immense mound of earth, which appears to have been formed by the accu- mulation of centuries of interments. One ancient Cross, without sculpture or inscription, stands as the head-stone of a grave, about eight yards from the west wall of the Chapel. There are no other interesting relics of antiquity. No. 131. MEIGH, KILLEVEY, OR KILSLEIVE. The Ruin of Kilsleive was dedicated to St. Darerca a supposed Saint of the 5th century. It is situated (Map 59) at the foot of Sleive Guillen Mountain, and about four miles W. S. W. from the town of Newry. The Ruin itself is very interesting, as there are still to be seen a small ancient window and an ancient Cyclopean doorway ; but even these seem to have been re-settings in Christian times. The buildings now consist of one quadrangle no feet long, divided in the centre by a wall. The ancient window is placed in the cross-wall dividing the building. There are some portions of the ancient masonry remaining, but the greater part of the building, as it now stands, seems to be the work of early Christian times. The locality abounds with superstitious legends and heathen traditions, in all of which Fin-MacCuille, his dog Bran, Tuath-de-Danaan witches, and Finian heroes, are prominent actors. Sleive Guillen mountain is the scene of the beautiful Ossianic poem of " The Chase," translated by Miss Brooke, on which account the locality has long been regarded with interest by the antiquary. See article " Folk Lore," Kilk. Arch. Journal, vol. 2, p. 32. ACHAD FINCH. AS AND OLD LEIGIIL1N. 359 CARLOW COUNTY. No. 187. ACHAD FINGLAS, NOW CALLED AGHA, Situated less than three miles to the east of Leighlin Bridge, and three miles N. E. by N. from the Railway Station of Bagenalstown (Map 137). Here is a most interesting ruin an ancient Cuthite temple, which underwent less alteration in Christian times than is usual in buildings of this class. The west end is of ancient work, but the eastern portion seems to have been rebuilt with the old materials and enlarged. At the west end is a Cyclopean doorway in a tolerably perfect state. There is an ancient window re-set in the eastern wall, and the head-stone of a window of narrow splay has been built into the northern boundary wall of the church-yard. This temple was associated with the name of St. Fintan, the antediluvian fish already noticed, p. 127, etc. It is built of granite, which seems to have been originally well- cut and squared, but it is much weather-worn. Ancient Buttresses are still to be seen at the western end. There are some other relics of antiquity about the church-yard, which will be found worthy of notice. No. 69. OLD LEIGHLIN, Situated less than three miles W. from Leighlin Bridge (Map 137). This place acquired considerable importance in early Christian times ; and, as in numerous other similar instances, the ruins of the ancient temple were altogether removed to make way for buildings more appropriate to the worship of the day. Such complete removal has taken place almost invariably in the case of ancient temples, which, like Old Leighlin, have ultimately become the sites of Protestant Churches. The only fragments of unquestionable antiquity that I have been able to discover here are the outer stones of one ancient window re-set in the western wall of the north transept of the Church. There is also the base of an ancient Cross standing in the church-yard, and sundry fragments of architecture of a doubtful character which I shall not now z z o 6O DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CAVAN COUNTY. notice. The foundation is associated with the names of St. Laserian [Molach] and St. Gobban. There is no trace of the Holy Well " famous for- miracles," which Ledwich informs us had been on the west side of the Church. The ancient Cross (save the base already noticed) has disappeared. CAVAN COUNTY. No. 221. DRUMLANE, Situated eight miles N. W. from Cavan (Map 68). I have already ex- pressed my opinion (p. 325) that the lower twenty feet are all that remain of the ancient Tower, and that the upper portion has been an addition made in Christian times to adapt the Tower to the purposes of a Belfry. The ancient part is described in the Ulster Journal of Archeology, vol. 5, p. 113, as " carefully wrought sand-stone, equal in execution to the tower of Devenish itself ;" but the upper part, the modern structure of the Christian period is described as " coarse rubble-work of the meanest description." This is quite in accordance with the views advocated in this work of the immigration into Ireland many centuries before Christ, of a highly civilized Heathen (Cuthite) people, well skilled in Architecture ; and the long relapse of that art, which succeeded their expulsion, extending even to the eleventh century of our era. Figs. 135 and 136 represent the doorway of this tower and the style of masonry in the ancient portion. No. 158. KILMORE, Situated (Map 68) three miles W. S. W. from Cavan. The foundation is ascribed to St. Columb in the 6th century. The only relic of antiquity now remaining is a beautiful doorway of the Cuthite style already described (see page 2 7), where I stated and now repeat, that " This relic of ancient times owes its preservation to the fact of Bishop Bedell's having been imprisoned during the wars of Charles the First's time in the island of Cloher-Oughter. He there saw this beautiful doorway, which, BALLAGHBOY, AND ISLANDS IN THE FERGUS. 361 on being restored to his See, he got transferred to the Cathedral of Kilmore." The island of Cloher-Oughter (also called Trinity Island) is in the lake near the Cathedral of Kilmore. The doorway is perhaps the most perfect specimen of the Cuthite (misnamed " Norman") style, and one of the richest in sculpture of any in Ireland. CLARE COUNTY. No. 145. BALLAGHBOY, alias DOORA, alias BUNOUN. The ancient temple of Ballaghboy is situated half a mile to the east of Ennis Railway Station (Map 133). Like most of the ancient temples, it is a modern re-construction on the old temple site. There are remains tf four ancient windows, two of which, at the eastern end, are in their original positions. Two others in the south wall seem to be re-settings. A small Cyclopean doorway in the north wall, has been built up, and another of the early Christian style opened in the south wall. Two ancient sculptured heads, one like that of a dog, are built into the south wall. Most of the stones of the eastern window have been taken away by the mechanics .of Ennis, to be used as whet-stones, but the top- stone and sill of each window still remain to attest the character of the original structure, which seems to have been a building of the plainer style. The base of the northern wall is a very fine piece of masonry, and evidently ancient. CARRAN, SEE KILFENORA, ETC. No. 1 08. CONEY ISLAND, AND ISLANDS IN THE FERGUS. Several ancient religious foundations of the 5th century, associated with the names of St. Senan, St. Bridget, St. Fineen, or St. Moronoc, are said to have existed on the Islands at the confluence of the Shannon and Fergus 362 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. rivers. But I have not been able to discover any architectural vestige of remote antiquity on any of them, except one small Church or temple on Coney Island ; and even of this building the only interesting portion remain- ing is a small Cyclopean doorway, neither a good nor a perfect specimen. It is situated (Map 142) ten miles south from Ennis. The ruins of a Monastery of the i2th century are still to be seen on Canon Island, for the building of which it is probable the materials of the ancient temples on the adjoining islands were removed. No. 74. CORCOMROE ABBEY, Situated (Map 114) twenty miles N. by W. from Ennis, and four miles E. from Ballyvaughan. I must refer the reader to p. 323 for evidence of the heathen origin of the first ax\& finest temple erected at Corcomroe, one of the stone-roofed temples of the larger size. The Monastery is said to have been founded by Donald O'Brien, before the year A. D. 1198 ; and about three-fourths of the present building exhibits the style of workmanship of his time with subsequent altera- tions and additions. In and around the chancel, however, are portions of the genuine artistic work of ancient Cuthite architecture, which, for beauty and skill in workmanship, has rarely been equalled by any modern Irish work. The Chancel window consists of three openings, having inclining jambs, and divided by massive piers built in first-class ashlar, and jointed in that joggled style, which appears so frequently in the ancient Cuthite architecture of Ireland. Fig. 1 24 represents three specimens of the jointing in these piers. Not only is the erection of the original edifice ascribed by the peasantry to Gobban Saer, but the Holy Well on the spot is associated with the Pagan name of Sheela, a dedication which it undoubtedly received in remote heathen times. Corcomroe Abbey was occupied as a Monastery for four hundred years from its erection in the 1 2th century, during which interval the science of architecture made great progress in Ireland, and consequently so many CORCOMROE, DRUMCLIFFE, DYSART. 363 re-constructions and alterations of the ancient portions took place, that it is impossible to distinguish between all that is ancient and all that is modern in the ruins that now remain. No. 227 DROMCLIFFE Is situated two miles N. W. from Ennis (Map 132). Here are the remains of a Round Tower, the masonry of which is massive, but neither doorway nor window now exist. The only vestige of ancient work, which I have been able to discover about the Church adjoining the Tower, is the inner arch of the doorway. This seems to have belonged to the original (Cuthite) temple. The superiority of the stone-cutting and the style of jointing found in this fragment exhibit a decided contrast to the remainder of the building. There is no record, written or traditional, respecting the supposed foundation of this ancient religious establishment, although it gives its name to the parish, in which the town of Ennis is situated. Probably it has not been used as a Church since the building of the Monastery at Ennis, in the early part of the i4th century. No. 1 92. DYSART AND RATH. Dysart is situated (Map 123) six miles N. W. from Ennis, and Rath is one mile N. W. from Dysart. These probably belonged originally to the same religious establishment, as the same fictitious Saints and legends are associated with both places. There is a Round Tower at Dysart, of which fifty feet are standing, including the doorway, which is larger than ordinary, having inclining jambs and a semicircular top. See fig. 142. The Church is for the most part an early Christian building, with some materials of the ancient temple worked into it. The southern window is ancient and of wide splay, of the class represented in fig. 107, but without 364 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. ornament, the upper portions of its arch being a rude re-construction. The foundations beneath this window, and at the east end, are ancient. The most striking feature is the beautiful doorway, the arch of which is represented in fig. 89. There is undoubted evidence in the work itself, that this doorway is a re-construction executed by unskilful hands. The stones of the abutments of the second outward band of ornament have been mis- placed, those at the right hand having been originally at the left, and vice versa. There are other evidences too of re-construction, one of which is, that the jambs of the doorway are perpendicular instead of being slightly inclined as in all the ancient doorways throughout Ireland, which still remain undis- turbed in their original positions. There are also the ruins of a Cross, fragments of which are lying upon the ground at a short distance to the east of the Church. It seems to have been richly sculptured, but is now much weather-worn and otherwise greatly damaged. The Holy Well at Dysart is not now held in much veneration. The old Church at Rath is also a very interesting ruin. Like Dysart it is for the most part an early Christian structure, but the south-east angle of the nave is ancient, having coign stones adorned with a semicircular moulding. A fragment of a highly ornamented and very uncommon window-sill (re- presented in fig. 109) is built into the south wall on the inside. There are several other fragments of ornamental cut-stone, which manifestly belonged to the ancient temple, some of which are built into the enclosing wall of the burial ground, others into the wall of the Church itself. I have at p. 271 noticed the fact of a portion of the sill-stone of a Cuthite window being used as the sill of a rude early Christian window in this ancient Church. See fig. 108. There is a legend among the peasantry of the neighbourhood, that the Saint of Dysart, St. Mawnaula, carried away from Rath the tower which now stands at Dysart, whereupon Blawfugh, the Saint of Rath, retaliated by con- veying to Rath some other building which had stood at Dysart. DYSART, GLAN-CULM-KILL. 365 The ruins of a Round Tower to the height of eight feet, and without door or window, are said to have stood at Rath until the year 1838, when the materials were removed for the building of the Church-yard wall. No. 1 60. GLAN-CULM-KILL, AND KINAILEA. Glan-culm-kill, situated (Map 123) 14 miles N. from Ennis and 7 miles N. by E. from Corofin, is an early Christian structure at which I discovered nothing of unquestionable antiquity, save one ancient window of wide splay, of the class represented in fig. 107, but without ornament. It is a re-setting, and appears to have been more than six feet high, but only six inches in width. The top-stone and north jamb have been removed, but the sill-stone and south jamb, from which the dimensions of the window may be inferred, remain intact. Near the site of this Church are the base of a Cross, and a Holy Well. There are also two Rock Basins on the hill adjoining, affirmed to be the print of St. Culmkill's knees. The Saint is said to have distinguished himself at this Church before he went to reside in the north of Ireland, whither he was called in a miraculous manner. KINAILEA, Situated in the valley of Glan-culm-kill (Map 123), and about four miles N. E. from Culmkill's Church, and 17 miles N. from Ennis. This Church is built at the south-eastern side of a lofty and precipitous limestone cliff, called the Eagle Rock of Carran, which attains the height of about a thousand feet above the level of the sea. The situation and sur- rounding scenery afford such a prospect as is rarely to be seen elsewhere ; but the Church itself is a small early Christian structure, erected upon the ruins of an ancient temple. It does not exhibit any architectural feature indicating remote antiquity, save the sill-stone, and two of the lower side 366 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. stones of a very small window ; but these fragments are sufficient to prove that the window, when perfect, was round-headed, and of the class repre- sented in fig. 112. Close by this ruin are St. MacDuach's Holy Well, a natural cave in the cliff-side called the Saint's Bed, and a Rock Basin, the print of the Saint's knees. Another Holy Well on the same townland is dedicated to St. Kieran. No. 25. INCHICRONAN, Situated (Map 124) seven miles N. E. by N. from Ennis, and about one mile from the intended Railway Station of Crusheen, on the road from Ennis to Gort. This building, like most of those mentioned as sites of ancient temples, is a rude early Christian structure, no vestige of remote antiquity remaining, except one tolerably perfect window of wide splay, having an ornament representing the Branch of Juno on the outside of the head stone, which may be seen in fig. 14. A legend is told among the peasantry about St. Cronan's Well and its removal by miracle to another site, because it had been desecrated by Cromwell's soldiers. The site of this Ruin is a very picturesque spot, well worthy of a visit. No. 210. KILFENORA, NOUGHAVAL, KILCOLMAN-VARA, KILCORNEY, AND CARRAN. Kilfenora is situated (Map 123) sixteen miles N. W. from Ennis. The present Cathedral is built upon the site of an ancient temple of the larger size, the only vestige of which now standing in its original position is a large and handsome window, having three openings to admit light. There are besides two small windows of narrow splay re-set in the walls of the early Christian ruins. These have been slightly altered in the process of re-construction. KILFENORA, ETC. 367 It is stated that seven Crosses once stood at Kilfenora, remains of five of which may still be traced. One fine sculptured specimen stands to the west of the Cathedral, but having no base. About four feet of the" shaft are supposed to be under ground, the portion above ground measuring fifteen feet in height The whole length of the shaft a single stone is therefore about twenty feet. The heads of two other ancient Crosses stand in the Churchyard. The fragments of a fourth are scattered upon the ground about half-a-mile to the north of the Cathedral ; and the fifth may be seen in the Bishop's demesne at Killaloe, whither it was removed some years since. The ancient foundation at Kilfenora is associated with the name of St. Fechnan, or Fechin. The ancient name was Cill-Fionnabhrach, which I interpret The Temple of the speckled Finn. The Abbey was burnt in 1055, and at no period since has the place been of much importance. The style and workmanship of the large window, to which I have refer- red, are different from the architecture of the neighbouring Cathedral, and excel not only it in artistic skill, but probably also any other Cathedral or ecclesiastical building in Ireland, of a date ascertained to be between the nth and i7th centuries. There is no record of the building of the struc- ture, of which this handsome window formed a portion, nor of its destruction before the building of the modern Church. Taking all the circumstances into account, it is inconsistent with the facts, to assign any later date to this beautiful window than the eriod of the Cuthite occupation of Ireland. NOUGHAVAL. There are four other very interesting ancient ruins in the neighbourhood of Kilfenora, which have not been introduced into the catalogue, as I have not found any written notices of them in ecclesiastical records. Their anti- quity is, however, undoubted, and the names associated with them are those commonly found in connection with other Cuthite remains. A A A 368 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. The first of these is Noughaval, situated about two miles N. E. from Kilfenora (Map 123). Here is an ancient Temple, the chancel arch of which (similar to that represented at fig. 182), with the work about it, is still in its original position. There is an ancient window in the east wall, and another in the south wall, both of which are re-constructions. The whole building exhibits fragments of ancient work combined with rude modern masonry. The ancient doorway at the west end has been removed, and a doorway of uncommon construction has been opened in the south wall. It seems (like the doorways of Drum-Mochua in Galway, and Cong in Mayo) to have been a re-construction out of arches, and other portions of a highly ornamented ancient temple ; and, as there is nothing else about the site to indicate that any such temple had stood at Noughaval, I am inclined to suppose that the materials for this doorway were brought from the ruins of the handsome temple at Corcomroe in the same neighbourhood, before that building was first used as a Christian Church or abbey. The ornamental stone-cutting is similar to that found about the ancient portion of Corcom- roe Abbey. The Holy Well at Noughaval is dedicated to St. Mochue or Moghue, and at it is an extraordinary ash-tree which is well worthy of attention. It exhibits evidence of very great age. KILCOLMAN-VARA AND KILCORNEY, Are situated close to each other (Map 123), about two miles N. E. from Noughaval. At Kilcolman, only a few feet of the foundation of the ancient building is now to be seen, but the material consists of finely-wrought blocks of plain stone. There is neither doorway nor window remaining. Kilcorney is a more interesting ruin. The greater part of the chancel is ancient, and portions of two ancient windows are still to be seen in it one in the east, and the other in the south wall. Near the latter, and lying on the ground outside the wall, is a curious head-stone of an ancient window, having CARRAN AND KILLALOE. 369 sculptured devices for its outside ornament, in design not unlike that repre- sented in fig 14. All the western portion of this ruin is of modern work, and there is no doorway remaining. CARRAN CHURCH, OR TUBBER MACREAGH, Is situated about two miles S. E. from Kilcorney, and two miles N. from Leamaneh Castle (Map 123). The Church is a quadrangular building erected on the ruins of an ancient temple. The lower part and sides of the eastern window are ancient, and portions of two windows re-set in the south wall are also ancient. The original doorway has disappeared. The Holy Well near the site is dedicated to Mac-Reagh. Veneration for these ruins has been for a long time on the decline. Very few descendants of the inhabitants are now to be found in the barony of Burren, which is chiefly occupied by graziers who reside in other parts of the county, and use their Burren lands only for the winter feeding of cattle. The remark elsewhere made about the decline of the Irish language leading to the loss of local traditions is exemplified in this district. There are several names of Saints and Holy Wells throughout the barony of Burren, which, if not recorded in the Maps of the Ordnance Survey, would by this time have been lost, as the grazing farmers and their temporary herds have very little interest in them. No. 49 KILLALOE, Situated on the river Shannon, twelve miles N. E. by N. from the city of Limerick, and at the Killaloe Railway Station (Map 134). At this place are vestiges of three ancient temples, the most important and beautiful of which stood at the south side of the present Cathedral. In its southern wall may still be seen the northern doorway of the ancient temple, one of the richest and most beautiful specimens of sculpture now remaining in Ireland. 37O DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. The late Sir Matthew Barrington got &fac simile of this doorway made at his splendid mansion, Glenstal Castle. The only discrepancy I have ob- served between the original and Sir Matthew Barrington's imitation is, that the inclining jambs of the former have not been reproduced in the latter. I presume the modern artists regarded this peculiarity as a defect, and there- fore abstained from imitating it. Several other fragments of cut-stone belonging to the ancient temple have been preserved in the modern Cathedral, among which I reckon the eastern coigns to the height of about six feet at one angle, and ten feet at the oppo- site angle. There is also a band of cut-stone round the interior of the eastern window, which seems to have belonged to the ancient temple. The stone-cutting of this band of ornament is vastly superior to, and entirely out of character with, the building of the Cathedral in which it is now found; and therefore, like the ornamental doorway just noticed, I presume that it belonged to the former structure, which must have fallen into an utterly ruinous condition before the latter end of the i2th century, when the present Cathe- dral was built. I may here remark, that so many architectural improvements have taken place in this Cathedral since the 1 2th century, that but little now remains of the rudeness which one might expect to see in an Irish building of that date. Other fragments of this ruin (several beautifully cut stones) were found by the workmen of the Shannon Commissioners when deepening the bed of the river at this place, and are now to be seen in the Bishop's demesne at the foot of the ancient Cross, which I have mentioned as having been removed from Kilfenora. The second ancient temple at Killaloe is that commonly called the stone- roofed Church, situated within twenty yards of the Cathedral. It still retains its ancient outline, and many of its original features, although having under- gone considerable alteration in the repairs to which it has been subjected. The western doorway, represented fig. 183, is still perfect. The ancient KILLALOE. 371 characteristic of inclining jambs may be observed in it, as also in one of the windows. =:--'" 'UULT" FIG. 183. DOORWAY OF STONE-ROOFED TEMPLE, KILLALOE, CO. CLARE. The third ancient temple is situated on a small island in the Shannon, opposite the Bishop's palace. The ancient nave has been almost wholly re- moved, but the chancel is nearly perfect, with its stone roof of a high pitch. 372 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. It is one of the smallest in Ireland, measuring only about eight feet in length by five in width. The window in its eastern wall is a very perfect specimen of the ancient window of narrow splay ; such as are represented in figs. 1 1 6 and 117. There is also an ancient doorway Cyclopean, with sloping jambs, in the Chancel of this little temple ; but this seems to be a re-setting. I beg to refer the reader to page 263, ante, for evidence, that the ancient temple at Killaloe was a Cuthite structure, dedicated to Luan the Moon, who in Hagiology is turned into St. Luan, or St. Molua the good Moon. No. 4. KILNABOY, Situated (Map 123) ten miles N. N. W. from Ennis, and two miles N. W. from Corofin. The most interesting object at this place is about twelve feet of the base of a Round Tower, having neither door nor window. The angles at the western end of the Church exhibit the buttresses so common in ancient Irish temples ; but the wall between these buttresses, in which the ancient doorway had stood, is a rebuilding. The modern doorway is in the south wall, over which is a sculptured figure, not unlike the design called the Sheela-na-gig. St. Bathan, whose Holy Well is near this ruin, is supposed by the peasantry to have been a female. Fig. 184 represents a curious ancient Cross, which stood some distance to the north-west of the Church, but it has been removed within the past year, whither I have been unable to discover. It is described by Lewis as follows : " At a short distance to the north-west, and at the boundary of the lands formerly attached to the church, is a remarkable stone Cross, fixed in a rock, and consisting of a shaft with two arms curving upwards ; on each of which, near the top, is a head carved in relief, and in KILXABOY. 373 the centre two hands clasped ; it is said to have been erected in memory of the reconciliation of two persons, who had been long at violent enmity." (Lewis, p. 195.) I have no doubt that the " two hands clasped" upon this Cross (fig. 184) is a Cuthite device, and I am confirmed in this opinion by finding a similar FIG. 184. SCULPTURE, CROSS OF KILNABOY, CO. CLARE. FIG. 185. CUTHITE DEVICE, FROM BRYANT. figure among the Cuthite designs represented by Bryant (vol. 3, p. 339. See fig. 185). I have elsewhere suggested that the Cross of the heathen world was derived from primeval religion. Such being the case (and I presume it has been proved), the hands of reconciliation upon it would seem to be a most appropriate device, the real parties reconciled being God and man ; as St. Paul expresses it (Col. i. 20), " Having made peace through the blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Him- self." 374 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. No. 1 68. KILLONE, Situated (Map 132) three miles S. W. from Ennis, on the demesne of New Hall, the seat of Major Armstrong-MacDonnell. The ancient portion of this building may be traced in the eastern window and gable, but the whole seems to be a re-construction, never used as a Christian Church before the I2th century, when the Nunnery was founded by Donagh O'Brien. The wall, in which the eastern window is placed, is unusually thick ; and the window, though large and having two openings, is constructed on the principle of those of narrow splay, and ornamented at the top. The cut and squared stones of the ancient temple are worked into this gable, but the whole building has, notwithstanding, the rude aspect of 1 2th century work. The Holy Well is dedicated to St. John, or as I suppose, to lun the Dove of Arkite Mythology. There is one sculptured head built into the angle of the ancient gable, which is said from the head-dress to be that of a Nun; but the design is ex- tremely like one of those figures that abound in ancient Egyptian sculptures. No. 1 1 2. KILSHANNY Is situated (Map 123) three miles W. by S. from Kilfenora, and three miles N. from Ennistymon. It is a rude structure of the I2th century. The only vestige of Shanaun's ancient temple incorporated into this Church is a round-headed doorway in the north wall, like that represented in fig. 104. St. Shanaun's, or Senan's Holy Well is in the vicinity of the Church to the south, on the townland of Carhuemana. MOYXOE, OUGHTMAMA. 375 No. 146. MOYNOE Is situated about three miles N. E. from Tomgraney (Map 125). The greater part of this Church is an early Christian building, but fragments of the superior ashlar of the original temple are easily recognised in the walls. There is however one ancient window of wide splay and plain construction in the south wall, but it is totally devoid of ornament, and a very imperfect specimen of the class represented in fig. 107. This place is associated with the names of St. Colman the Leper, and St. Mochunna, and has its Holy Well dedicated to the latter. Iniscaltra (No. 165 in Catalogue), in the County Galway, is situated in Lough Derg two miles east from Moynoe, from which it may easily be visited. No. 1 6 1. OUGHTMAMA Is situated less than one mile to the south-east of Corcomroe Abbey (Map 114). This is a very interesting spot. The archaeological remains consist of the ruins of three ancient temples, which have fewer marks of modern resto- ration than such buildings generally exhibit. In the most western of these appears a very fine specimen of the Cyclopean style of doorway. It consists of ten stones, all of them thorough. The doorway is six feet four inches in height, two feet eleven inches wide at the bottom, and two feet seven inches at the top. In the south wall are two ancient windows of wide splay, but without ornament, of the class represented in fig. 107 ; one of these is nearly perfect, the other much damaged and altered by repairs. The ancient chancel arch is perfect, but the chancel itself has been altogether removed. A portion of the north wall is a fine specimen of Cyclopean masonry. A fragment of ancient sculptured stone has been inserted in the south-western angle of the Church, and formed into a holy water basin. Lying on the ground near the door of the Temple is the head-stone of an B B B 376 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. ancient window of narrow splay, such as is represented in fig. 1 1 6. The whole arch for the full thickness of the wall was formed out of one stone, which, when perfect, probably weighed more than two tons : I suppose it to have been over the chancel window of the Church or temple. It is now used by the peasantry as a cure for headache, the patient being supposed to be benefitted by lying on the ground, and putting his head into the opening of the arch, which is ten inches wide at the narrow end. The second or middle temple has a round-headed doorway, not unlike that represented in fig. 104 ; also two plain windows of wide splay, one in the east and the other in the south wall. Of the third or eastern temple, only a fragment remains, viz : one piece of the eastern gable, in which is seen a tolerably perfect specimen of an ancient window of wide splay, but very small, measuring only two feet four inches in height, by five inches wide at the top, and seven at bottom. These Churches are associated with the name of St. Colman. The name Ought- mama may be translated the eight paps, and was probably so called from the number of lime-stone hills that surround the Glen. No. 213. ROSSBEENCHOIR, Situated about twelve miles W. S. W. from Kilkee, and within a few hundred yards of the celebrated Natural Bridges of Ross (Map 140). This ruin presents no interesting architectural features. There is neither ancient doorway, nor window, remaining. Portions of the foundations are probably Cuthite, but the upper courses manifestly belong to an early Christian structure of very small dimensions. In Irish hagiology the names of Ciaran and his nurse Cocca are associated with this place. In p. 105 we have noticed the legend of St. Ciaran, who " used to go to the sea-rock that was far distant in the sea (where his nurse, i. e., Cocca, was), without ship or boat, and used to return again as appears from his own Life" (Martyrology of Donegal, p. 65). A somewhat different version of this legend is still traditionally pre- ROSS AND SCATTERY ISLAND. 377 served in the locality, and a flag-stone in Kiltrellig Church-yard, near the shore of Kilbaha Bay, is pointed out as that, on which the Saint used to sail round Loop Head to or from Ross, as evidence of his superior sanctity. No. 107. SCATTERY ISLAND, In the river Shannon, two miles from the town of Kilrush (Map 141). Here is a fine Round Tower of more than one hundred feet in height, and apparently perfect to the conical top ; but it has undergone such frequent and extensive repairs, that it has lost much of its original architectural cha- racter. The ancient doorway is gone, and the place which it occupied (about twenty-six feet from the ground) was built up with good masonry about twelve years since. Several stones of the ancient doorway seem to have been used in the construction of a modern doorway opened on the ground level, before the dissolution of the Monastery. Although these renovations and alterations have contributed to the preservation of this structure, they have deprived it of all the characteristics (save form and outlines), which distinguish Irish Round Towers from modern buildings. The most interesting object on the Island is the western wall of the temple, called St. Senan's Church, within a dozen yards of the Round Tower. This wall to the height of about ten feet is a fine specimen of Cyclopean architecture, with the characteristic feature of buttresses, used, when perfect, to support a stone roof; and between these buttresses is a very fine Cyclopean doorway (like that represented in fig. 75), having sloping jambs and a massive lintel. We can recognize traces of the original masonry in this ruin, but the upper courses of the walls are all of early Christian workmanship, with fragments of the ancient stone-cutting and sculpture introduced. In a small Church about one hundred yards to the west of the Tower is an ancient window of wide splay a re-setting. All the other buildings on the Island, which is said to have had seven Churches, are early Christian structures. 378 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CLARE COUNTY. There is a Holy Well near the Tower ; and tradition affirms that a sub- terraneous passage once existed between the tower on this Island and that on Iniscaltra in Lough Derg. No. 26. TEMPLE CRONAN, In the parish of Carran, is about sixteen miles N. by W. from Ennis, and eight miles from Corofin (Map 123). It is an interesting little ruin, and, as in numerous other instances in the West of Ireland, exhibits three distinct stages of architecture. There are, first, the foundations of the ancient hea- then temple, having a small Cyclopean doorway at the western end, and an ancient window of narrow splay in the eastern gable. This temple must have fallen entirely to ruin before the time of its first restoration in the early ages of Christianity, for we find that a considerable portion of the walls have been rebuilt in the rude style of early Christian work, with ancient sculptured heads introduced irregularly. The upper por- tion of the doorway also appears to have been constructed from the materials of the original building ; and the top of the ancient window is rudely rebuilt. Further alterations were subsequently made the ancient doorway was walled up, and a modern Gothic doorway opened at the north side. A rude Cross exists at Temple Cronan, and a Holy Well dedicated to St. Cronan, whom I suppose to have had his origin in Cronos, the Titan. I have elsewhere noticed the veneration in which this Temple, and everything belonging to it, are held by the peasantry of the neighbourhood. No. 226 TOMGRANEY Is situated eight miles N. W. by N. from Killaloe (Map 134). It is said that a Round Tower once existed here ; but no vestige of any such is now to be found. The modern parish Church occupies the site of the ancient Temple, the TOMGRANEY, BALLYVORNEY, BRIGOOX. 379 Cyclopean doorway of which is represented in fig. 78, ante. The coigns at the eastern end are ancient, as are also several windows, which are orna- mented in the style represented in fig. 107, but widened on the outside to adapt them to modern uses. There seem to have been two Cuthite temples at this place one of the plain, the other of the ornamented style. Fragments of both are incor- porated in the modern Church. The western doorway is in its original position, and portions of the wall have unmistakeable marks of remote antiquity. CORK COUNTY. No. 78. BALLYVORNEY, ANCIENTLY CALLED HUSNEAGLE, Is situated (Map 185) ten miles W. N. W. from Macroom, on the road to Killarney. The ancient Temple at this place, dedicated to Abban and Gob- nata, has disappeared. The ruined Church which occupies the site presents no appearance of remote antiquity. There is however one stone set over a window in the south wall, on which a small figure is sculptured that I believe to be ancient. There is also a Holy Well, much resorted to by pilgrims at all seasons of the year, where a Pattern is held on Whit-Sunday. The frag- ments of five Rock Basins are to be seen on a mound in the Church-yard. These all seem to have been intentionally mutilated ; probably in. Reforma- tion zeal. The Protestant Church stands close by the ruins. No. 62. BRIGOON, Situated half-a-mile S. E. from Mitchelstown (Map 165). The western end of the old Church is a portion of the ancient temple ; the eastern end is altogether a re-building in modern times, an enlargement of the ancient structure. The lower portion of the south wall of the nave is a fine piece of 380 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CORK COUNTY. ancient ashlar; and the buttress at the S. W. angle is an excellent specimen. The upper courses are of modern reconstruction, not in accordance with ancient design. The lower portion of a very uncommon specimen of the ancient narrow splay window appears in the south wall of the nave. The head-stone of another ancient window is re-set in the chancel. The western wall and ancient doorway have been altogether removed. Some fragments of cut- stone, which belonged to the ancient temple, may be found, in the Church- yard. The Holy Well with its trees are said to have been removed from the original site by a miracle. An ancient I^ound Tower formerly stood at Brigoon, about thirty yards south-west of the temple. It was blown down in 1704, and not a vestige of it now remains. No. 54. BRITWAY, Situated eight miles S. E. by S. from Fermoy, (Map 1 76). Here is a most interesting Cuthite temple, dedicated to St. Bridget, of which one ancient window, one doorway, and a considerable portion of the ancient wall with its buttresses, still remain in tolerable preservation. The doorway is represen- ted at fig. 95 ante. No. 123. CAPE CLEAR ISLAND, Situated four miles from the most southern point of the coast of Ireland, and twelve miles S. W. from Skibbereen (Map 204). There is a Church in ruins at Cape Clear Island, but it is a rude early Christian building, having no marks whatever of remote antiquity. The most ancient object of interest about this venerated site is a Pillar Stone, similar to that represented at fig. 175. It is still held in great esteem by the peasantry, and is dedicated to St. Kieran. There is also the Saint's Holy Well. CLOYNE, CORK. 381 No. 155. CLOYNE Is situated five miles S. by E. from Middleton Railway Station (Map 187). The Round Tower is the only ancient building to be seen at Cloyne. Its doorway is quadrangular. The upper portion of the tower is a modern addition, and the whole is in good preservation. The specimens of curious jointing (figs. 122 and 123) are from the sides of the doorway, and from one of the upper windows of the tower. The people of the neighbourhood have a legend that St. Colman leaped from the summit of this tower to a spot pointed out at some distance to the east. There is also a legend of this tower, as well as that of Cork, having been each built in one night. No. 121 CORK, The capital of the County (Map 187), was once famous as the site of a temple dedicated to St. Fin- Bar, or Barindeus [the Son of the one God]. More than one building has successively occupied the ancient site, and even the last vestiges of the medieval structure have lately been removed to make way for a modern Cathedral, now in course of erection. An ancient Round Tower had stood near the Church of St. Finbar, but the base of it has been removed for many years. I am not aware that any remains of antiquity are now to be found about the site ; but from Mrs. S. C. Hall's description of the ornament of a doorway, which had stood in the building recently pulled down, I am disposed to think that, like the doorway of Kilmore Cathedral, it was an ancient relic, altered and re-set in the modern Cathedral. At page 84, I have traced the origin of this name Barindeus, the Son of the one God. He is commonly called St. Barre, or Barry. And I may remark in confirmation of the interpretation suggested, that BAR was one of the names by which Nin, the Chaldean Fish-god, was known to the Ancients. See Sir Henry Rawlinson's Five Ancient Monarchies of the World, vol. i, p. 1 66, where may be seen a representation of this god, very similar to the. Dagon exhibited in fig 22, ante. 382 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CORK COUNTY. No. 175 GOOGANE BARA, Situated (Map 193) 18 miles W. by S. from Macroom, on the Killarney road. The place is held in the highest veneration as the site of the first temple of Barindeus [the Son of the one God] ; but the buildings which remain exhibit nothing better than the rudest early Christian work. The romantic wildness of the glen, surrounded by high mountains, has made it the subject of numerous notices in guide-books, etc. The Churches and Holy Well are on an island in a small lake, the approach to which is by a cause- way. Many trees are lying dead from age upon the island, but like other cases already noticed, they are considered too sacred to be removed from the spot. Here (we are told) St. Barindeus began his great contest with the dragon or serpent, whom he pursued through the waters of the river Lee, and ultimately vanquished at the spot where St. Finbar's Church at Cork was afterwards built. This story is plainly only a version of the great primeval prophecy of the final victory of the Promised Seed [The Son of God] over the Evil One. No. 1 24. INISKIERAN, NOW INISHERKIN, An island situated between Cape Clear Island and the shore, less than one mile from the main land. Here are the ruins of a Christian Abbey, which, from a few fragments, viz. : two pillars, and some stones of a well-cut newel staircase, I conclude was built on the site of an ancient temple of the larger size. The site was dedicated to St. Kieran. No. 92. KINNETH (PRONOUNCED AND SOMETIMES SPELLED KINNEIGH) Is situated seven miles N. E. by E. from the Railway Station of Dun- manway (Map 193). Here is a very fine Round Tower exhibiting some KINNETH, KINSALE. peculiarities, that may possibly be the effect of well-executed reconstruction in modern times. Some interesting subterranean passages have been dis- covered about this site, and there are also several Rock Basins well worthy of examination. No. 63. KINSALE, Situated (Map 195) 16 miles S. from Cork, whence it may be reached by rail. The oldest buildings at Kinsale are said to be the Abbey, and the Pro- testant Church. The only vestige of Cuthite antiquity that remains at the former is a Rock Basin, standing by the side of a small fragment of the ruin- ed Church. The north doorway of the Protestant Church is a reconstruction of an ancient one, several stones both of the jambs and the arch being un- mistakeably of Cuthite workmanship. The outer stones of an ancient window are also used in the north wall, and there are besides other fragments of antique masonry throughout the building, but so interspersed with modern work as to make it difficult to distinguish precisely between all that is ancient and that which belongs to Christian times. The names of St. Gobban and St. Senan (the latter of whom is said to have been buried here) are associated in ancient records with Kinsale. But the modern inhabitants know nothing of these traditions. At pp. 69-71, I interpreted the name of this Saint, Senan or Shanaun, to signify the Ancient Ana, the mother of the Tuath-de-Danaan gods. Since those pages were printed, I have had strong confirmation of this idea in the fact stated by that eminent authority, Sir Henry Rawlinson, that one of the chief divinities of ^the first or Cushite monarchy of Chaldea was Ana, also called " The old Ana," answering literally to our St. Senan, and the name of the Shannon, which in English means simply the old or ancient Ana. See TJie Five Ancient Monarchies of the World, vol. i, p. 75. c c c 384 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS CORK COUNTY. No. 211. ROSSCARBERY, 33 miles S. W. from Cork, and 12 miles S. by E. from Dunmanway Railway Station (Map 200). The only vestiges of antiquity now remaining at this place are the lower portions of the north and south walls of an old Church. These exhibit some excellent specimens of ancient mason-work ; but the doors and windows of the building are all insertions made in Christian times. A Pattern has been held here from time immemorial, but some years since the object of religious veneration was changed from the ancient Saint, to Father John Power, a Roman Catholic Clergyman, who .was interred in the Cemetery about the year 1831, and at whose tomb miracles are now believed to be performed. A peasant on the spot informed me that the ancient Holy Well had been on the spot where Father John's tomb now stands, but that it was removed some yards to the south. There is however no indication about the site of the tomb of a well having ever been on or near the spot. The Pattern is held on the 24th of June, and attended by thousands of people from the surrounding country. The beautiful bay of Rosscarbery is said to have been once a safe anchor- age for large ships, but to have been filled with mud in one night in consequence of an offence committed by some sailors. The monastery at this place is associated in the Irish Annals with the names of St. Fechnan the Hairy, St. Conall, and St. Brendan ; but no tradition of any of these names is now preserved in the locality, although the Irish language is still a good deal spoken throughout the County of Cork. I have been surprised to find so few ancient ruins in this county, and the ancient traditions so little known. This fact is to be attributed to the removal or complete subjugation of the Irish population, which took place in Cromwell's time ; and customs and traditions that once died out could never be revived. The same remark applies to the County of Kerry. There is little of ecclesiastical tradition to be gleaned in either county, save what has been for the past two centuries a matter of written record. DERRY, DESERT TOHIL, ETC. 385 DERRY COUNTY. No. 148. DERRY, OR LONDONDERRY. The religious foundation at Derry (Map n) is ascribed to St. Columb of the 6th century, but all evidences of Cuthite structures have disappeared, except a well-authenticated tradition that a Round Tower (all trace of which has long since been obliterated) once stood near the Cathedral. No. 162 DESERT TOHIL, A foundation ascribed to St Columb of the 6th century. It is situated (Map 19) about one mile S. E. from the town of Garvagh. There is nothing of particular interest about the Ruin itself, all that remains being rude early Christian work. This Saint (like St. Colman of Cloyne, and others) is described as having leaped from the top of this building upon a large stone that once stood in a meadow near the Church. The impression made by his knees on -alight- ing formed one of the Rock Basins in the stone, which on that account was in former times much venerated. Such numbers of pilgrims used to come from a distance to get cured of sore eyes and other ailments, by washing in the rain-water deposited in the basin, that the farmer on whose ground it stood, to avoid the trespass done to his meadow, had the stone removed and hidden for some time. It is, however, now to be seen in a field near the Church-yard wall. Lewis informs us that, " in the adjoining field is an artificial cave of considerable extent, having three chambers or galleries ;" but whatever remained of this in the year 1837 has since been destroyed. No. 147. DUNGIVEN. Here are the ruins of a Church, founded it is said by St. Columb in the 6th century. It is situated about one mile S. from the town of the same 386 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS DERRY COUNTY. name (Map 18), and presents some very remarkable remains of Cuthite architecture. The original work was of skilfully wrought ashlar with some ornament, fragments of which are still observable in the north wall, at the junction of the nave and chancel. The semicircular arch of the chancel also appears to be Cuthite in character. The other ancient portions which I observed are the double east window, and two small windows, one in the south wall of the nave, of narrow splay and wide opening ; the other in the chancel, of wider splay and narrow opening. Both these windows have been re-set in Christian times. Several portions of the ancient temple are distinctly traceable ; but the alterations and reconstructions have been so well executed, as to render it difficult to distinguish the Cuthite from the early Christian portions of the structure. The abutments of the roof and groining appear to be part of the ancient work. Small Cuthite buttresses appear on the outside at the junction of the nave and chancel. We read in Lewis that " This place was a seat of the O'Cahans, and was called Dun- y-even, or Doon-yeven ; and here on the summit of a rock, on the eastern bank of the Roe, Domnach O'Cahen, or O'Cathan, founded, in noo, an abbey for Augustinian canons, which, being shortly afterwards polluted by a cruel massacre, lay for a long time in ruins, but was restored with much solemnity by the Archbishop of Armagh." (Lewis, p. 581). This restora- tion took place in the year 1397, from which period may be dated the greater part of the alterations apparent in the ruin as it now stands. A large Pillar Stone still remains on the hill near the Church, and a single stone stands in the bed of the river Roe, around which the people used to assemble on certain days. The ruins of Dungiven occupy a remarkably picturesque position on the summit of a rock above the river Roe. No. 1 50. ERIGOL-GARVAGH, OR BALLINTEMPLE, Is situated two miles W. by S. from the town of Garvagh, and 1 1 miles S. E. from Newtownlimavacjy (Map 19). ERIGOL, MAGHERAMORE. 387 Lewis describes Ballintemple " as a very interesting ruin," but on going to search for it, I could with difficulty discover the marks of the foundation in the burying-ground, which still retains this name. The stones of the ruin, such as it was, have been removed by the farmers since Lewis wrote. On making inquiry of an inhabitant of the house nearest to the site, I was in- formed that the old Church never was finished, " for all that was built by day would be thrown down at night." Thus we find in Derry the tradition common to numerous Cuthite ruins found in Irish-speaking districts of the South and West. No. 228. MAHERAMORE, OR BANAGHER, Is situated (Map 18) about two miles S. W. from the ruins of Dungiven. Here are found the remains of two ancient temples ; the larger one, like Dungiven, being built of cut-stone. The doorway, still in its original posi- tion at the west end, is a splendid specimen of the Cyclopean or quadrilateral style (see fig. 72). On the upper stone of the left-hand jamb is a plain inscrip- tion in Roman characters " This Church was built in the year of God 474." Here, as at Dungiven, are two small ancient windows, one in the south wall of the nave, the other in the south wall of the chancel. These windows, together with the doorway, are first-class specimens of the ancient Cuthite architecture of Ireland. The smaller temple is also a genuine Cuthite relic, as is the Shrine or tomb of the Saint. But there are many alterations and reconstructions in all the buildings ; and careful examination is necessary to eliminate from these the characteristic features of the original Cuthite tem- ples. The wall about the grand doorway seems to have been entirely re- built, some of the old materials being used ; and it is possible, that both the south windows may have been re-set. Maheramore and Dungiven afford remarkable and (in the North of Ire- land) unusual examples of fragments of ancient buildings still remaining uninjured in their original positions. Their comparative preservation is to be accounted for by the exceptional fact, that the localities are still 388 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS DERRY COUNTY. venerated and used as burying-places by numerous families of the O'Cahans and other Roman Catholic descendants of the ancient inhabitants : and these are perhaps the only places in Ulster at the present time, where the peasantry would interfere to prevent the destruction or removal of ancient ruins for the sake of modern improvements. Elsewhere in this province, ancient monuments have been mercilessly demolished, and even their foundations effaced, with the exception of Round Towers, which have been preserved as much by the difficulty, danger, and expense attendant upon the removal of their materials, as by the zeal of enthusiastic Archaeologists. The foundation of Maheramore is ascribed to Saint Patrick and Saint Murrough O'Hainey, both of the 5th century. I might suggest an inter- pretation of the latter name, but my chief object in this part of the work is to adduce facts in support of my Cuthite theory. Legends of former times are still carefully retained among the peasantry. The story, so often refer- red to, of the great primeval tradition is here preserved. It is related, that the hill where the Church stands used in ancient times to be guarded by a monstrous serpent, who surrounded it with his folds having his tail in his mouth, thus forming a great circle. The Saint (Patrick) having bound this monster with three bands of rushes (which became transformed immediately into three bands of iron) cast him into a lake, now called Lac Na-Peastha, where he still remains imprisoned. The name of the serpent was Luinga Peastha. This story is only the local version of the Cuthite legend fre- quently alluded to in former pages. The site of the Church is said to have been pointed out by miracle. The Saint having commenced to build upon another site, an eagle descended, and taking up one stone deposited it at Mahermore. This was recognised by the Saint as an indication that he should there build his Church. Earth scraped from the grave of this Saint, and sprinkled on race-horses, righting cocks, etc., is believed to secure success in their contests ; and it is thrown on the coffins of deceased persons to insure their speedy entrance into the eternal mansions of bliss. TAMLAGHTARD, COXWALL, MOVILLE. 389 No. 149. TAMLAGHTARD, A foundation ascribed to St. Columb of the 6th century, is situated about six miles N. from Newtownlimavady (Map 12). It is said to have been the site of a Round Tower, but no vestige of that edifice now remains. Lewis informs us that the tomb of St. Aidan, built of hewn stone, " still exists near the eastern window of the old church." This eastern window seems to have been a reconstruction from an ancient Cuthite window, which was widened from seven to eighteen inches by cutting away the sides. Near the Church is a Holy Well dedicated to St. Aidan. The site is interesting on account of its associations and natural beauties, but there is not much to engage the atten- tion of the antiquary, whose object is the examination of Cuthite remains. I have elsewhere remarked that all the localities bearing the names of Tamlaght and Tamlaghtard, of which there are dozens in Ireland, were probably houses of Molach. See definition of Tamlaghtard, p. 66. DONEGAL COUNTY. No. 42. CONWALL, LETTERKENNY. The ruins of the old Church are situated about two miles W. from Letter- kenny (Map 16). There is in the Church-yard the socket stone of an ancient Cross. Near Letterkenny is a large Pillar Stone, standing close by the bridge leading into the town, not far from which is also an ancient Rock Basin. No. 170. MOVILLE Is beautifully situated (Map 6) at the entrance of Lough Foyle, 15 miles N. N.E. from Londonderry. The site, like those of other Cuthite temples throughout Ireland, was beautifully chosen for the fine prospect it affords. The buildings now remain- 39O DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS DONEGAL COUNTY. ing are not particularly interesting. No decidedly Cyclopean architecture, no ancient window or doorway, is here to be found, and the same may be said of all the ancient foundations which I have visited in* this county. The civilization introduced by the plantation of King James the First has led to the removal of all the ancient buildings, as well as to the loss of the traditional legends connected with them. The most interesting object at Moville is an ancient Cross with a hole in the top of the shaft. There is also a hole in the stone which now supports the shaft of the Cross. Lewis writes (p. 399) : " In the adjoining cemetery is a very ancient tomb, said to be that of St. Finian, and outside the walls stands a very handsome stone Cross, hewn out of one block, and in good preservation. Not far from Dring are eight upright stones, near which are several lying down, the remains of an ancient Cromlech." No. 163. TORY ISLAND, Situated about eight miles from Horn Head off the N. W. coast of the County Donegal (Map 3), is interesting to the antiquary, as there are still to be seen a Round Tower, several Crosses, and some ancient ruins, for a particular description of which I beg to refer the reader to the Ulster Journal of Archeology, vol. i, pp. 27, 106, 142. The three articles referred to are embellished with several interesting illustrations. The foundation is ascribed to St. Columb, but the names of several other Saints and heroes are associated with it, all belonging to the remotest period of Irish legendary history. One of the most conspicuous of these names is that of Balore (The Golden Baal), who by the direful influence of his single eye, placed in the back of his head, had caused the destruction of multitudes, until (like an incident in the story of Perseus), he was himself killed by his own grandson. This legend has been already noticed, p. 40. It is related at length in the Ulster Journal of Archczology, vol. 7, p. 342. DRUMBOE, INIS-MOCHOE, KILBRONEY. 39! DOWN COUNTY. No. 28. DRUMBOE, Situated seven miles S. by W. from Belfast (Map 36). The only interesting relic now remaining at Drumboe is the base of an ancient Round Tower, having a quadrangular doorway with slightly inclining sides, the usual characteristic of the Cuthite style. The reader is referred to the Ulster Joiirnal of Archczology, vol. 3, p. no, for a full account of this Tower. The place was dedicated to St. Mochumma, whose mother was " Derinilla of the four paps," elsewhere noticed. No. 20. INIS-MOCHOE, OR NEDRUM, An Island within half-a-mile of the western shore of Strangford Lough, and five miles S. E. from Comber Railway Station (Map 37). It is now called Mahee Island. On it was an ancient foundation ascribed to St. Mochoe of the 5th century. A few feet of the base of an ancient Round Tower are still standing there, for particulars of which the reader is referred to the Ulster Journal of Archeology, vol. 4, p. 136. Mochoe of Oendrium or Noendrum is the Saint about whom the legend is recorded at p. 107, ante. The names of Coclan, Colman, and Finian are also associated in the Annals with this ancient establishment. St. Mochoe is said to have lived to the age of 300 years. No. 203. KILBRONEY Is situated (Map 71) one mile north from the town of Rostrevor. The Church is an early Christian structure in ruins. The only vestige of genuine antiquity discoverable on the site is a sculptured Cross of granite, curiously wrought in square panels, but without any symbolic devices. The situation is beautiful and commands an extensive prospect. D DD 392 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS DOWN COUNTY. No. 70. MAGHERA, Situated about three miles W. S. W. from the town of Dundrum (Map 61). About twenty feet of the base of the Round Tower are still standing. In the great storm of 1 704, the upper part was blown down, and lay like a huge gun at length and entire upon the ground for a number of years, until it was broken up and removed to effect modern improvements. There are, however, men still living, who have seen it as above described. Lewis writes of Maghera : " Near the Church are the ruins of the ancient Church, of which the western gable and the south wall remain. The beautiful Norman arch at the western entrance is in good preservation ; the windows in the south wall are narrow, and of elegant design." But the ruins do not now answer to this description. The specimens of ancient Cuthite archi- tecture, which Lewis describes as " the beautiful Norman doorway" and " the windows of elegant design," as well as the stones which formed the doorway of the Round Tower, have all been removed. I cannot positively identify Maghera with any ancient foundation recorded in Irish Annals. I suppose it to be the same as Teghdagobha mentioned by Archdall (p. 129), and described as in the Barony of Iveagh, and on the river Bann. Maghera is in the same Barony and on the river Bally- Bannan ; but this coincidence may not be sufficient to establish the identity of both places. No. 29. MOCHBHILE, MOVILLA, Situated (Map 37) 10 miles E. from Belfast, at the head of Strangford Lough, and less than one mile from the town of Newtownards. Sundry stones of ancient windows have been worked into the east and west windows of this ruined Church. Save these, and a portion of the wall of the Church on the road side, I have not discovered any vestiges of genuine antiquity about the ruins of the once celebrated Movilla. ST. JOHNS POINT, CHRIST CHURCH. 393 No. HO. ST. JOHN'S POINT [QUERE ACHAD-CUILE?], Situated about eight miles from Downpatrick (Map 61). The Cuthite struc- ture at St. John's Point is the most interesting I have seen in the province of Ulster, for here we find the north, south, and west walls of the ancient temple still standing to the height of the lintel of the doorway, and the doorway itself in its original position. It is quadrangular, with the usual sloping jambs, being six inches wider at the ground level than at the top. The foundation is ascribed to St. Patrick ; but I cannot help thinking that it should be identified with Achad-Cuile, described by Arch- dall as an ancient foundation associated with the name of St. Senan, and situated in the same district as this ancient temple at St. John's Point namely, in Lecale, near the Bay of Dundrum. DUBLIN COUNTY. No. 242. CHRIST CHURCH, DUBLIN. This ancient establishment is so much under the notice of men skilled in antiquities, that I shall for the present decline to make a full report upon it. Its identity as the site of an ancient heathen temple is proved by the record, that " the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity [Christ Church] is so ancient that all authors agree it had been built under ground by Ostmans, or Danes, before the coming of St. Patrick to Ireland that is, before the 5th century. They also tell us that the same Saint celebrated Mass in one of its subterraneous vaults," etc. (Mon. p. 6). I conclude that the "subterraneous vaults" here noticed were one or more stone-roofed temples, such as the Cuthites had erected throughout Ireland. The important point sought to be proved in the preceding pages is, that the only stone buildings with arches, which ex- isted in Ireland in the 6th century, had existed there since the time when the rulers of the country were the Cuthites. 394 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS DUBLIN COUNTY. We read in Archdall that the Black Book of Christ Church informs us, that about the year 1038, "Sitric, the Danish prince of Dublin, gave Donot, Bishop of that See, a place where the arches or vaults were founded to erect a Church to the honour of the Blessed Trinity." Here we have evidence of the arches of Christ Church so early as 1038, nearly a century and a half before Henry the Second's palace of " smoothe wattles " was constructed ; and I believe these arches are still to be seen in the building, though now probably as reconstructions. Christ Church is noticed as having been the site of a Round Tower, which is further proof of the Cuthite origin of its foundation. No. 19. CLONDALKIN, Situated (Map 1 1 1) about one mile S. of the Railway Station of Clondalkin, and four miles from the City of Dublin. The Round Tower is the most interesting object at this place. It is perfect to the conical top, but has undergone much reparation at different times. " Nearly adjacent to the present Church, are the almost shapeless ruins of the old conventual Church of the Monastery, which was afterwards the parochial Church, and among them is an ancient Cross of Granite nine feet, high." (Lewis). Clondalkin was burnt or otherwise destroyed in the years 806, 832, 1071 and 1076; "since which last date there is no further record of its history." (Lewis). No. 164. FINGLAS, Situated (Map 112) 3 miles N. E. from Dublin, is an ancient foundation ascribed to St. Columb. The only fragment of remote antiquity now remain- ing at the place is an ancient Cross, well cut, but without ornament. When I visited the locality an old woman pointed out a spot near the present Church, where (she informed me) the base of a Round Tower had stood, which was removed about forty years since. IRELAND S EYE, LUSK, ST. DOULOUGH S. 395 No. 119. IRELAND'S EYE, An Island on the coast near Howth, one mile N. of Howth Lighthouse (Map 112), and nine miles from Dublin. Not a vestige of the ancient Temple of Nessan, or of the Round Tower, is now to be found; the materials are said to have been removed some years since to build the Roman Catholic Chapel at Howth. The late Dr. Petrie in his Essay promised to describe the ruins (such as they had been) of the Church and Round Tower of Ireland's Eye, in his "third part" of the work on Irish Architecture, which has never been published. It is to be hoped that the public will soon have the benefit of examining the valuable drawings of this eminent Artist. No. 23. LUSK, Situated (Map 102) 13 miles N. by E. from Dublin, and one mile from the Railway Station of Rush. The most interesting object at Lusk is its Round Tower ; but, like that at Clondalkin, it has undergone much reparation. The doorway is a fine example of massive Cyclopean masonry. One of the specimens of irregular jointing in it is represented in fig. 125, ante. The wall of the Tower is four feet three inches in thickness, and the upper portion seems to be a re-building. No. 1 06. ST. DOULOUGH'S, Situated (Map 102) 5 miles N. E. from Dublin. The Church at St. Doulough's is an ancient structure, but all the doorways and windows as well as the square tower seem to be reconstructions. They are, however, so well contrived as imitations of the ancient fabrics, as to make it impossible to discriminate between all that is new and all that is ancient. The wall and general construction of the Church afford evidence of its antiquity. The name of the Saint, Doulough, I believe to be a variety of the name Dichul 396 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS FERMANAGH COUNTY. (The Devil), elsewhere noticed. His pedigree as described by Archdall places the heathen origin of the name beyond a doubt. He is called Dulech, the son of Amelgad [The Divine Serpent Am, or Om], the son of Sinel [The ancient God]. The Cuthite origin of St. Doulough's is still further proved by the Saint's Bed or grave, the Holy Well, and the ancient Cross on the road side. No. 151. SWORDS, Situated (Map 102) seven miles N. from Dublin. The Round Tower is all that is now left of its ancient buildings, and even of this only the lower portion of the original structure remains, the upper portions being a restoration or re- construction. The ancient name was Sourd, which I interpret Sum-ARD The high place of the Mermaid. See Chapter on the Fish God, p. 125 ; also Glossary ; and fig. 147, which is a representation of the doorway of the Round Tower. FERMANAGH COUNTY. No. 87. DEVENISH Is an Island, situated (Map 45) one mile N. from Enniskillen, in Lough Erne. The Round Tower is the most perfect, as well as the most highly finished, specimen in Ireland. It is ascribed to St. Molaise [Molach], of the 6th century. The ancient stone-roofed temple which once stood near the Round Tower has disappeared ; but drawings of it in different stages of its decay may be seen in LedwicKs Antiquities, and in the Ulster Joiirnal of Archceology, vol. 4, p. 1 86. There is also to be seen the ancient Stone Coffin, called the Bed of the Saint. "It is believed that any one who can lie within it will be cured of rheumatism and similar complaints." The Round Tower is represented at fig. 133. ANNAGHDOWN. 397 GALWAY COUNTY. No. 198. ANNAGHDOWN, Situated (Map 105) on the banks of Lough Corrib, eight miles N. from Gal way. It presents several objects of interest, particularly three ancient windows, one of which is represented in its restored condition at fig. 107 ; and a beautiful illustration of it as it now appears may be seen in Sir William Wilde's Lough Corrib, p. 72. Most of the buildings however are remains of early Christian structures. The place is mentioned as one of the sites of an ancient Round Tower, and an irregular mound was pointed out to me as the spot on which the Tower had stood. But in Lough Corrib (p. 79), the author gives a sketch of the ruins of a Round Tower, of which he was the fortunate disco- verer, situated about four miles N. N. E. from Annaghdown ; and this he supposes to be the tower mentioned by the Annalists as that of Annaghdown. Some remarks upon this tower will be found in the Postscript at page 352, ante. There are, in the neighbourhood of Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, the ruins of no less than ten ancient temples which have not been mentioned in this book. For a detailed description and for very beautiful drawings of many of these ruins, I must therefore refer the reader to Sir William Wilde's most interesting work, "Lough Corrib," etc. And though Sir William's views differ altogether from mine as to the origin and uses of these structures, I think the reader will find that most of the arguments he uses tend only to the support of the theory advocated in the preceding pages the Cuthite origin of these ancient temples. The following names are mentioned by Sir Wil- liam Wilde in connection with these localities Columb, Brendan, Cuannan, Endeus, Fintan, Carthag [Mochudee], Keiran, Cronin, Annin, Fechin, Cor- mac, Brecan, and Lugnad ; all of which it may be remembered are noticed, with some trifling varieties of spelling, in the foregoing pages as Cuthite divinities. 398 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS GALWAY COUNTY. The places referred to and described by Sir William Wilde, where ruins, such as those I have designated Cuthite remains, are still to be found, are - INCHANGOILL, an island in Lough Corrib (Map 95), four miles S. by W. from Cong, at which are two very interesting ancient temples, noticed at page 352, ante. - TEMPLE BRENDAN, situated (Map 95) four miles W. by N. from Cong. KILLURSA, situated (Map 95) two miles W. from Headford. - KILCOONA, situated (Map 95) four miles S. E. by E. from Headford. Here is the " stump" of a Round Tower, to which I have referred at page 35 2 - - The Ruins called KILLANNIN, TEMPLE BRECAN, and TEMPLE BEG NA NEAVE (the little Church of the Saint St. Annin) are all within a radius of one mile, near the northern shore of Ross lake, and about eleven miles from Galway on the road to Oughterard. See Map 105. KILCATHAIL, situated (Map 106) four miles N. by E. from Clare-Gal way on the road to Tuam. All these are in the County Galway. The others to which Sir William Wilde has directed attention shall be noticed under the heading of CONG, in Mayo County. Nos. 125, 172 AND 212 ARAN ISLANDS. The south Island of Aran is situated (Map 122) 5 miles W. N. W. from Doolin on the coast of the County Clare, and about 1 1 miles from the coast of Galway. There are upon it two very interesting ancient temples, one of which is associated with the name of Kevan, and the other with that of Gobban-et [The spirit of Gobban]. There is a good specimen of a Cyclo- pean doorway, and an ancient window of narrow splay, in each of these buildings ; there is also in St. Kevan's Church a curious ancient window with pointed top. Several other interesting relics of antiquity, including two Holy Wells, are to be found on the Island. The masonry of the ARAN ISLANDS. 399 Churches is of the fine massive ancient style, but a great portion of the foundation of Kevan's Church is buried in the sands. So much venerated are these buildings by the peasantry, that I was reproved for entering the roofless walls of one of them with my hat on, and was obliged to divest myself of the covering it afforded while I remained within the sacred pre- cincts. On getting into the Island I accommodated a returned American emigrant with a passage in my boat. He had come from America on account of sore eyes, and was proceeding from a distant part of Galway to be cured of his affliction at the Holy Well of Aran. The middle Island (Maps 113, 122) affords very little of interesting matter for the antiquary. One of the ancient Churches is comprised within the building of a modern Roman Catholic Chapel, and I was not able to ascertain that any archaeological remains are still visible within it. Another Church, St. Canaugh's or St. Canaan's, is a rude early Christian building erected on the ancient site, without a vestige of genuine antiquity, save the four stones of an ancient pointed window (fig. 118) re-set in the modern structure. I disagree altogether with Dr. Petrie's description of this building. He says (p. 187): "This little Church, which would be in perfect preserva- tion if its stone roof remained," etc. I believe that it never had, and never could have borne, a stone roof, and that in other respects it has the marks of a very rude early Christian building : but I leave the intelligent tourist to examine and decide for himself. There are a great fort and other Celtic monuments on this Island as well as on the great Island. These will be found deserving of inspection ; but such antiquities are not within the limit of my enquiries. The great Island of Aran is situated (Map 122) to the N. W. of the middle Island, and six miles from the coast of Galway. It is rich in ancient remains, the principal of which, with their distances and directions from the quay or landing place, are as follow : TEMPLE ENDEE, two miles S. E. The ROUND TOWER, less than two miles S. S. E. EEE 4OO DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS GALWAY COUNTY. TEMPLE BUNAUN, close to the Round Tower. TEMPLE CIARAN, one mile N.W. TEMPLE COLMAN, three miles W. TEMPLE BRECCAN, five miles W. by N. Cyclopean doorways and ancient windows, commonly called Norman, exist at Temple Bunaun, Temple Ciaran, and Temple Colman. Similar ancient windows are also to be found at Temple Breccan, and Temple Endee. Of the Round Tower only about ten feet of the base remain, and a great part of this is concealed by the heap of debris which surrounds it. So much of the masonry as exists exhibits all the characteristics usually observ- able at the bases of Irish Round Towers ; but doorway and windows have disappeared. See fig. 157. TEMPLE ENDEE, Called also Teg-lagh-Enda The Stone- House of the One God has got only one ancient window that in the chancel, the arch of which is formed of two stones. It is much damaged and re-built underneath. No vestige of the ancient doorway remains. The wall at the north side is a fine specimen of the Cyclopean ; the greater part of the other wall is a re- building. The ancient buttresses remain at the chancel end. TEMPLE BUNAUN Is a very curious little building, only seven feet in width by about eleven feet in length. The masonry of the east gable on the inside, one stone of which runs through its whole length, exhibits uncommon specimens of ancient work. The walls incline inwards from the foundation, so as the better to support the stone roof which once covered the building. The window in the north wall is a very small pointed specimen. ARAN ISLANDS. 40 1 TEMPLE CIARAN Has undergone much alteration in Christian times. The east window is a fine specimen of the ancient style of wide splay, but it has been damaged and somewhat fractured by a stroke of lightning. The ancient Cyclopean doorway in the west wall has been built up. A second ancient window has been re-set rudely in the sidewall. There is an ancient Holed Stone in the east of the Church having some antique sculpture, on which the design called the Branch (such as figs. 12, 13, 14) appears. TEMPLE COLMAN. The south wall of the nave is a remarkably fine specimen of Cyclopean masonry. The west door is ancient, and square-headed. The chancel seems to be a re-building enlarged from the ancient plan. The windows are re-settings. Close to this Church is Temple Murry, of which a small portion of the ancient wall only now remains. TEMPLE BRECCAN, Called the Seven Churches. The greater part of the buildings at this place are early Christian, but there are some remains of genuine antiquity. Two of the windows are altered and re-set ; the chancel arch seems ancient. The whole structure appears to have been enlarged in re-building ; and the ancient windows at the east and south re-set. There is no vestige of the ancient doorway. The Islands of A ran have a special interest for the antiquary who hopes to find vestiges of Cuthite architecture. The number of ancient temples is greater here than he will find in the same extent of country elsewhere throughout Ireland ; and, although there is no temple at Aran which has not been altered more or less, or reconstructed in Christian times, it will be found that the proportion of ancient to early Christian work is greater 4 84. INISMURRY, An island situated thirteen miles N. N. W. from Sligo, and about five miles from the nearest landing place on the coast (Map 42). Here are numerous early Christian buildings, consisting of Bee-hive huts and other erections on the sites of Cuthite ruins. The most ancient structures are portions of two Temples dedicated to St. Molaise and St. Columb, in each of which small ancient windows are to be seen. Both these windows are reconstructions : the arch of that at St. Columb's Church consists of two stones, the outer of which seems to have belonged to a window of wide splay, the other to one of narrow splay. The doorway of this Church is a good specimen of the plain Cyclopean style. The window in the Temple of Molaise is more perfect, and also of narrow splay, but both are re-settings, the greater part of the buildings in which they appear being reconstructions. The wooden image of St. Molaise (referred to in the notice of Inisglory, Co. Mayo) is still preserved and greatly venerated. The Pillar Stone, represented in Grose's " Antiqui- ties" and particularly described by Vallancey, is not now to be found. It seems probable that the heathen origin of this relic was long since discovered, and therefore every effort was made by the more intelligent Roman Catholics to undermine the veneration in which it was held, until at length it came to be lost or destroyed. The quadrangular wall which surrounded the Pillar Stone (according to Grose) is still perfect, but the square pedestal on the centre of which it is represented to have stood (fig. 1 74) has been rudely re- built in the modern style. A large stone, such as the Pillar is described to have been, is said to have remained on the wall near the enclosure for a long time, but it is supposed to have fallen into the sea, on the verge of which the wall was built. The other relics of antiquity to be found at Inismurry consist of numerous stones, sculptured with devices forming a combination of the Circle and the Cross with the " Branch of Juno :" these I suppose to be ancient. There is on the island much, besides what is here noticed, of interest to the antiquary, KILLASPUG BRONE, CASHEL, ETC. 45 r in remains of the earliest specimens of Christian architecture ; but such do not come within the limit of my investigations in the present work. No. 202. KILLASPUG BRONE, Situated five miles W. by N. from Sligo (Map 54), is an ancient temple which has been enlarged at the west end the ancient doorway having been placed at the southern side. This doorway has been described as round- headed : it is illustrated in Dr. Petrie's work, but all vestiges of it have been removed, save a few stones at each side. It seems to have been similar to the doorway of Sheeptown, Co. Kilkenny, represented at fig. 104, ante. A very perfect specimen of an ancient window is to be seen in the eastern wall, but it appears to be a re-setting skilfully executed. TIPPERARY COUNTY. No. 59 CASHEL Is situated six miles S.S. E. from Goold's Cross Railway Station (Map 155). The beautiful ruins at the " Rock of Cashel" have been frequently referred to throughout this work. Figs, i, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, u, 39, 43, and 48, are illustrations of sculptures and relics found at Cashel. Besides "Cormac's Chapel" (fig. 1 70), the most perfect Cuthite temple in Ireland, other architec- tural remains exist, which induce me to believe that a second ancient temple, probably of larger size, once stood on the celebrated Rock of Cashel. There is an ancient Cross of uncommon form in the burying-ground, but it is so much weather-worn as to be less interesting than other specimens. In fig. 8 1 is exhibited a portion of the base of the Round Tower, a fine specimen of Cyclopean masonry. No. 43. CORBAL, alias MONAHINCH, Situated two miles E. from Roscrea (Map 126). Here is a most interesting 45 2 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS TIPPERARY COUNTY. fragment of ancient architecture a very small but beautiful temple, having a handsome round-headed doorway (illustrated in Ledwich's " Antiquities") ; also a very fine chancel arch, a lithograph of which may be seen in Ne wen- ham's "Antiquities." There are besides three ancient windows, and some handsomely wrought coigns, which exhibit peculiarities not found on other specimens of the same style. They are formed of semicircular mouldings, projecting from the angles of the building. I shall not attempt any further description of the ruin at Corbal, of which Ledwich says (p. 1 15): "Sculpture seems here to have exhausted her treasures," and again (p. 113) " Giraldus Cambrensis, who came here with King John in 1 185, thus speaks of it ' In North Munster is a lake containing two isles : in the greater is a church of the ancient style, and in the lesser, a chapel, wherein a few monks, called Culdees, devoutly serve God. In the greater, no woman or any animal of the feminine gender ever enters, but it immediately dies. This has been proved by many experiments. In the lesser isle, no one can die, hence it is called " Insula viventum," or the island of the living. Often people are afflicted with diseases in it, and are almost in the agonies of death : when all hopes of life are at an end, and that the sick would rather quit the world than lead longer a life of misery, they are put into a little boat and wafted over to the larger isle, where, as soon as they land, they expire.' ' It appears from the illustrations of Ledwich's work, that a second Church or Temple existed in A. D. 1 804, also a sculptured Cross ; but these have since disappeared. One of the ancient names of this interesting spot was Inis-na- beo, interpreted The island of the living; but I think it probable that the origi- nal term meant The island of the Cow, and that such interpretation became obsolete after " the Cow" had ceased to be an object of religious veneration. No. 22. ROSCREA, A Railway Station on a branch of the Great Southern and Western Railway (Map 126). Here is an ancient Round Tower, and near it is one fragment ROSCREA, TERRYGLASS, ARDBOE. 453 of an ancient and highly ornamented temple, which now forms the entrance gateway of the Church-yard and part of the wall. Several of the handsome ornaments of what is commonly called Norman architecture are found in the ruins of the wall. No. 218. TIR-DA-GLAS, alias TERRYGLASS, Situated on the shores of Lough Derg three miles S. by E. from Portumna (Map 125). The ruins consist of a large pile of very rude early Christian buildings, probably the work of the 1 2th century. There is however one frag- ment of the ancient temple namely, a fine Cyclopean doorway standing under the gable in which a bell is hung. Most of the stones which compose this doorway extend through the whole thickness of the wall. It measures at the bottom three feet four inches in width, at the top three feet one inch, and in height five feet eleven inches. This ancient foundation is associated with the names of St. Mochoeminus, St. Colman Stellain, and St. Columba; the latter of whom is said to have died of the plague in A. D. 548. The ancient name, Tir-da-Glas, I believe to be a corruption of Tor-de-Glass the Tower of the Green God. (See pp. 42 and 43, ante). TYRONE COUNTY. No. 1 66. ARDBOE, Situated near the western bank of Lough Neagh (Map 35), nine miles E. from Cookstown Railway Station. The only interesting relic of antiquity to be found here is a sculptured Cross about twenty feet in height, beautiful illustrations of which may be seen in O'Neill's "Ancient Irish Crosses," plates 31 and 32. Figs. 30 and 69, ante, are illustrations of sculpture found upon this Cross. 454 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS WATERFORD COUNTY. No. 1 1 6. ERIGOL KIERAN, Situated twelve miles W. S. W. from Donoughmore, and three miles W. by S. from Ballygawley (Map 46). The only object of special interest to be found here is an ancient sculptured Cross, which seems never to have been finished. It is a plain specimen, and there are no devices upon it of much significance. . No. 167. DONOUGHMORE, Situated at the Railway Station of the same name (Map 34). The only relic of antiquity here is a sculptured Cross, which, judging from the portions of the shaft that remain, must when perfect have measured about twenty-six feet in height. The shaft is of the largest size, measuring near the base two feet four inches in width by one foot seven inches in depth. The sculptures upon it are not very interesting, as they are greatly weather- worn. WATERFORD COUNTY. No. 58. ARDMORE, Situated five miles E. from Youghal Railway Station (Map 188). The relics of antiquity at Ardmore are particularly interesting. The Round Tower, built wholly of ashlar, is in a very perfect state ; its doorway is represented at fig. 93. There is a small ancient building called the Oratory of St. Declan. That called the Cathedral has several fragments of ancient masonry incor- porated with it, among which is a sculpture on the gable wall, a portion of which may be seen in fig. 44. Over this piece of sculpture is an ancient window, re-set in the gable. The stone called Cloch Declan, or Declan's stone, may be seen on the strand ; it is referred to at pp. 108 and 172, ante. With these brief notices I leave the tourist himself to search for the various ARDMORE, DUNGARVAN, LISMORE. 455 V objects of interest to be found at the ancient temple of Ardmore, a name that I interpret The high place of the Great God. No. 182. DUNGARVAN, alias ACHAD-GARBAIN. The ancient temple of St. Garban, or, as he (or she) is called in the local- ity, St. Gobban-et, is situated (Map 1 78) at the foot of a mountain about two miles N. by W. from the town of Dungarvan. Small portions of the eastern and western walls of an ancient temple about eighteen feet long are still to be seen. A large and rude addition has been erected at the western end, and the doorway removed, whereby the ancient temple was converted into a Chancel to the modern building. Part of an ancient window still remains in its place at the eastern end of the Church, but it has been altered in recon- struction. Some coigns of the ancient building have been removed and re-set in the western end of the new addition. Sundry fragments of sculptured stone, which seem to have belonged to some other ancient temple that once stood in the burying-ground, are incorporated with the rude modern work. The whole building is a complete ruin, the most interesting portions being a few fragments of the ancient walls that still remain undisturbed in their original positions, and which are fine specimens of well-squared mason-work. The Roman Catholic Church stands close by the ruin, about forty yards to the north of which is a Holy Well. Some Lives of Saints and traditions inform us that St. Gobban-et was a woman, and the sister of St. Barindeus. As such the Saint is venerated at Ballyvorney in the County of Cork. We also find St. Gobban-et's name at the islands of Aran off the coast of the County Galway. See page 398, ante. No. 1 6. LISMORE. The only vestige of the ancient temple of Mochudee now remaining at Lismore (Map 177) is the archway leading into the court-yard of the Castle, M M M 456 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS WESTMEATH COUNTY. Hii a residence belonging to the Duke of Devonshire ; and, although a great part of this fragment is ancient, it is a reconstruction of what appears to me to have been the chancel arch of a small ornamented temple. The Holy Well of the Saint is supposed to have been in an angle of the garden of the Devonshire Arms Hotel ; but it has been closed up and the site concealed, to prevent the annoyance caused by the numbers of pilgrims that resorted to it. Lismore may be reached by car from the Railway Station of Fermoy, from which it is distant fifteen miles E. WESTMEATH COUNTY. No. 205. FORE Is a village situated (Map 90) 15 miles W. by S. from Kells and three miles E. from the town of Castle- Pollard. Here is a very interesting ancient temple, the doorway of which is represented at fig. 73. It measures in width at bottom three feet two inches, at the top three feet, and in height five feet, but the ground being raised, its real height from the threshold is more than it seems. This fine doorway has been greatly injured in medieval times by a ruthless destruction of its inner portions to effect contrivances for hinges and other fastenings. Many other buildings in Ireland have been injured in the same manner ; but it is in every case manifest that such contrivances for hinges and bolts never formed a part of the original design. The western wall in which this doorway appears is the most interesting portion of the building. Two fine buttresses still remain to the height of about five feet ; the remainder of the building is either a reconstruction, or has lost its original characteristics by frequent reparation. Tradition informs us that both this temple and the Mill adjoining were built by St. Fechin in one night, but the latter has not got a single feature indicating remote antiquity : it is probably a modern structure erected on the site of some ancient building There are FORE, ARDLADHRANX. sundry fragments of cut-stone in the vicinity, which indicate that some handsome structure once stood in the locality. The ancient name of Fore was BAILE-FHOBHAIR. See remarks on the names Bile Fechin and Fhobhair, at p. 90, ante. WEXFORD COUNTY. No. 220. ARDLADHRANN, NOW CALLED ARDAMINE, Situated four miles S. E. from Gorey Railway Station (Map 149). Here is to be seen a large artificial Mound within a few perches of Ardamine Church. All other vestiges of remote antiquity have disappeared, as is generally the case in every locality throughout Ireland where the Normans or English settlers established an early footing. A particular interest, however, attaches to this Mound, as it is supposed to be the grave of the first man who died on Irish soil. The first entry in the "Annals of the Four Masters" relates to this man and to this place : " The age of the world to this year of the Deluge, 2242. Forty days before the Deluge, Ceasair came to Ireland with fifty girls and three men ; Bith, Ladhra, and Fintain, their names. Ladhra died at Ard-Ladhrann, and from him it is named. He was the first that died in Ireland." Dr. O'Donovan in his note upon this passage says : "This was the name of a place on the sea-coast, in the east of the present County of Wex- ford. The name is now obselete, but the Editor thinks that it was applied originally to Ardamine, in the east of the County of Wexford, where there is a curious moat near the sea-coast." Bith died and was buried at Slieve Beatha ; but Fintain, having been transformed into a salmon (to account for his escaping the Deluge), survived in his natural form until the days of St. Patrick, by whose instrumentality he was converted to Christianity, and he ultimately died in a good old age. See pp. 85 and 125 etc., ante. 458 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS WEXFORD COUNTY. No. 219. FERNS, A market town and Railway Station on the Dublin and Wexford Railway (Map 148). Here are the most interesting Cuthite remains existing in the County of Wexford. In fact those found elsewhere throughout that County are mere fragments, noticed only because they corroborate the other evidences adduced of the Cuthite origin of the several places where they exist. In St. Peter's Church at Ferns is a beautiful little window ornamented with spirals such as are described at p. 247, ante, and illustrated in figs. 88, 90 and 91. There is nothing else of interest about this building, which is a rude early Christian structure. At the opposite side of the river and adjoining the town is St. Maidoc's Church and burying-ground, about which several interesting relics are to be seen. The head of an ancient sculptured Cross is half buried in the ground at the gate of the Church-yard. The heads of two others are built into the wall near the Church. The shaft of a fourth is used as the head-stone of a grave in the burial-ground. The Round Tower seems to be wholly a modern structure, with a few stones of some ancient building used in the opening of apertures. But near it are two small ancient temples, with one ancient window in each, and with arched niches in the sides. In one of these ruins is a small spiral staircase that I believe to be ancient, the steps of which are twenty inches broad with a newel of twelve inches in diameter. Fragments of ancient cut-stone too numerous for special notice are used in the monastic buildings of Ferns, which seem to have been very extensive. There is as usual much well-executed reconstruction even in the earliest of the medieval portions, which makes it difficult to discriminate between all that is modern and all that is ancient. Some fragments of antique masonry are used in the construction of the very modern building that covers the Holy Well. The ancient Church of Clone is situated less than two miles S. from Ferns, which (as is the case at the Seven Churches of Glendalotigh) I have no FERNS, TEMPLE SHANNON, ETC. doubt originally formed a part of the same establishment. The western wall of this temple (which is four feet thick) is ancient, and in it we find a doorway similar to that of Banagher, represented at fig. 72. I have seen only three specimens of this style of doorway throughout Ireland at Banagher, at this place, and the third at Achad-abhall (Aghold), Co. Wicklow, which shall be noticed in its place. This doonvay, like that described at Fore, has been greatly damaged on the inside, apparently for the purpose of providing for hangings and bolts. The rest of the building seems to be rude early Christian work. No. 38. TEMPLE-SHAMBO, alias SHAMBOTHA, Situated seven miles N. W. from Enniscorthy (Map 148). There is only one fragment of antiquity to be found here, viz : a round-headed doorway, of which all the outer and ornamental stones have been removed. There are many signs of reparation about the portion that remains, but enough is left to prove it to have been originally what is called a " Norman" doorway, with the " Irish peculiarities" of sloping or inclining jambs. No. 109. TEMPLE SHANNON, Situated within the town of Enniscorthy (Map 158). This is a rude early Christian Church, with which the name of St. Senan is associated. Only one fragment of antiquity is to be discovered about it, viz : a small ancient win- dow built into the south wall, about ten feet from the ground. Although the parish still retains the name of Temple Shannon [The temple of the ancient Ana], the Church and Holy Well are now connected with the name of St. Mary by the modern inhabitants. 460 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS WICKLOW COUNTY. WICKLOW COUNTY. No. 1 88. ACHADH ABHALL, alias AGHOLD, Situated four miles W. by N. from Shillelagh Railway Station (Map 138). Here is the most interesting temple (for a single edifice) to be found in the County of Wicklow. The doorway in the western wall is quadrangular, with sloping jambs, and of the peculiar style of that at Banagher (fig. 72), but that of Aghold is more ornamented the angles nearest to the jambs being decorated with a well-executed band of pellets or balls, which gives the whole doorway a rich appearance. In the eastern wall are two small ancient windows of very uncommon style, finished on the outside with semi-detached pillars and arches presenting the appearance of miniature doorways of the handsome round-headed style ; a third window also very small is set in the northern wall. There is nothing else deserving of particular notice about this ruin as it has evidently undergone much alteration in the course of frequent repairs. There is an ancient Cross in the burying-ground, but it is much weather- worn. No. 240. BALTINGLASS, Situated twelve miles W. by S. from Athy (Map 129). A few pillars, which seem to have belonged to a temple of the larger size, are all that remain here of ancient architecture, and as they are not of the decorated style they are not particularly worthy of attention. Some fragments of ancient sculpture are scattered about in the neighbourhood of the Church, which are sufficient to prove that a handsomely ornamented temple once stood at Baltinglass. No. 12 INISBOYNE, alias INIS-BAOITHIN, OR, THE ISLAND OF BAOITHIN, Is a hillock near the sea-coast four miles S. from the town of Wicklow, at a place now called Three-mile-water (Map 130). I have observed only one INISBOYNE, ENORELLY, GLENDALOUGH. 46 1 fragment of antiquity at this site namely, the outer arch or top-stone of an ancient window, standing as head-stone of a grave between the gate of the burying-ground and the ruins of the Church. The ruins themselves have nothing interesting about them. No. 95 ENORELLY, IMBERDAOILE, alias IMBER-DAGAN, Situated four miles N. E. from the town of Arklow (Map 139). Every ves- tige of ancient architecture has disappeared from this ruin, the only frag- ment remaining of ancient times being a Rock Basin, which now lies outside the gate of the field in which the ancient Church-yard stands. No supersti- tious veneration attaches to it among the peasantry in the neighbourhood. No. 3 2. GLENDALOUGH, Situated 23 miles S. from Dublin and seven miles N. W. from the Railway Station of Rathdrum (Map 130). This is the most interesting spot in Ireland to the antiquary who desires to examine relics of ancient Irish architecture and sculpture. I have noticed Round Towers, Sculptured Crosses, round-headed Doorways, Cyclopean Doorways, Ancient Windows, Chancel Arches, fragments of richly Sculptured stones, Subterranean Passages, Saints' beds, and Rock Basins, as Cuthite relics, examples of every one of which may be seen at Glendalough within the limits of half-an-hour's walk. Starting from Ralph Jordan's most comfortable Hotel at Glendalough, the tourist may, within a few minutes, examine a very perfect Round Tower with its round-headed doorway, near which is the Cathedral exhibiting a fine pair of ancient Buttresses and a Cyclopean doorway. To the south of the Cathedral is St. Kevin's kitchen, with a square-headed doorway and one ancient window now walled up, the under part having been broken away to make room for a modern Chancel arch. There is much of a doubtful character about the other portions of this building. 462 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS WICKLOW COUNTY. A subterranean passage may be seen leading from the Cathedral to St. Kevin's kitchen, but it has not been fully explored. Though the handsome window represented at fig. no once stood at the east end of the Cathedral, I believe it did not originally belong to that building, but was removed from the ruins of some ancient ornamented temple and re-set in the Cathedral. There is an uniformity of style observable in the several parts of all these ancient buildings when seen in their original positions, and I have not seen a single instance of an ornamented ancient window in a temple the door of which was quadrangular or Cyclopean, although windows of plain style and precisely the same form are found in them. The eastern portion of the Cathedral has been all reconstructed and enlarged; the upper courses of the north, south, and west walls are also modern. The ancient part of " Our Lady's Church" (in which St. Kevin is said to have been buried) is the beautiful Cyclopean doorway represented at fig. 77, ante. Refert Church, situated about one mile S. W. from the Hotel, has got a fine Cyclopean doorway. Close to the ruins are two stones which once formed the outer and inner arches of an ancient window. St. Mochuarog's Temple is situated a quarter of a mile east from the Hotel. A Cyclopean doorway stands at the west end of the nave, and at the east end of the Chancel is a small ancient window, round-headed and of narrow splay, represented at fig. 112. There are two other ancient windows, but they are re-settings one, a pointed specimen, is in the south wall of the nave; the other, round-headed, in the north wall of a modern or reconstructed edifice near the western end, over which building a Round Tower is said to have stood ; but this must have been a structure of Christian origin. In fig. 182, we have a picture of the Chancel Arch of this temple, which Dr. Petrie describes as " Trinity Church." The ruin called " St. Saviour's Church," or " the Priest's House," stands about one mile to the S. E. of the Hotel. Here are the remains of a highly ornamented temple, portions of which (including one pier of the Chancel GLENDALOUGH. arch) are still in their original position. Numerous illustrations of the sculp- tures of this ruin are to be found in Dr. Petrie's valuable work. Some of these fragments are still to be seen on the spot, others have been removed, or buried in the heap of debris within and about the walls of the temple. Almost all of these buildings are surrounded with heaps of rubbish, which if cleared away would (by the fragments of stone-cutting and sculpture likely to be brought to light) amply compensate for the trouble and expense of such an undertaking. Several Rock Basins may be seen within a hundred yards of the Hotel, near the northern bank of the Glendashin river. There is also one specimen near the road side beyond the river and due south from the Cathedral. The preservation of the ruins at Glendalough, and the existence of so many specimens of (misnamed) " Norman " architecture, are due to the fact, that tJie Normans or early English colonists never established a footing in this neighbourhood, the country all round the Valley having remained in the possession of Irish chieftains until the end of the i6th century. The poor and sterile quality of the land in this part of the country may account for the fact, that up to the present day the descendants of the original Celtic inha- bitants have been permitted to occupy the Valley, and by them the ruins continue to be venerated. The same cause which accounts for so many ancient buildings remaining at Glendalough has tended also to the preserva- tion of the ancient traditions. Numerous names which I have elsewhere traced to Cuthite mythology are associated with Glendalough and its temples. St. Kevin or Cuan (whose temple is also found at the south island of Aran !) was the patron Saint of Glendalough, where it is said he was born and brought up (Ledwich, 173). He was baptized by St. Cronan [Cronos the Centaur], and ordained by St. Lugidus [Luan, the Moon]. He was brother to St. Dagan [Dagon, the Fish God]. The common alias for Kevin is Coemgene [t/ie beautiful born, or the first begotten], and Coemghin being the original name of Mochaemhog, who is stated in the " Annals of the Four Masters" to have lived to the age of 413 years, I identify the two, not as N N N 464 DESCRIPTIVE PARTICULARS WICKLOW COUNTY. the 'same individual Saint, but as the same Cuthite divinity. The father of Coemghin was Beoan [by Beoan's services the Mermaid Liban was captured]. His mother's name was Nessa[Nessus the Centaur all the Cuthite divinities were of doubtful sex], sister to Ita [alias Ida, the goddess or mountain of Arkite mythology]. The patron of Kevin and the chieftain of the country, who supplied him with sites for his Churches, was Dymma [De-mah, The Good God]. The name of Oisin [Oceanus, the Titan] is also preserved in the topography of Glendalough. The northern Glen and the river near the Hotel which unites with the stream from the lake are called Glendashin. Among the Saints associated with Kevin as having had temples at Glen- dalough is St. Ciaran [Chiron the Centaur], whose Churches existed at the furthest extremities of Ireland, at Aran in the west, at Cape Clear in the south, at Armoy in Antrim, and at intermediate localities too numerous to mention. There were also temples at Glendalough dedicated to Sinchell [Sinell, The Ancient God], and Mochuarog [the red Mochua]. An ancient site in the valley was called Desart Cevin, which I believe to have been the great Round Tower itself [Di-eas-ard, the high place of the God of death]. The Cuthite term Cluain [the stone of Ana] was also connected with the locality, but many of these names have now fallen into disuse. The common Cuthite legend of the Saint's contest with and victory over the Serpent is told at Glendalough, and the ancient name of the lake, Lough-na-Peasta the lake of the Serpent, is also the name of a lake near Banagher in Derry, where St. Patrick's serpent was imprisoned and " still abides, bound with three green rushes !" I have elsewhere mentioned as a Cuthite legend the supplying of St. Finian's 3000 scholars at Clonard, Co. Meath, with milk all from one cow ; and also how Fin-MacCuile's army was supplied by one cow at Kilmelchedor, in Kerry, in which case the milk was deposited in a Rock Basin (see pp. 439, 440). A similar legend is told at Glendalough : a deer used to come daily from the mountain, and at St. Kevin's command deposit her milk in a Rock Basin to supply the wants of an orphan who was placed under his charge ! GLENDALOUGH. All such legends I believe to have had one origin, and that derived from Cuthite traditions, different versions being produced in various localities according to the taste and religious prejudices of those in whose custody the traditions were preserved. The order of alphabetical arrangement of Counties which has been adopted throughout these notes has led to Glendalough being placed last on the list ; but I would recommend the reader who desires to inspect the Cuthite remains of Ireland to begin his researches by a minute examination of the antiquities at Glendalough; he will thus obtain such practical knowledge as will assist him much in making further investigations at other and less interesting localities. The task I have undertaken has now ended. In the " Introductory Remarks" it has been stated, that the main object of the work was to prove (as far as proof was possible on a subject of such remote antiquity) the Cuthite origin of our Irish Round Towers and their contemporary architectural remains. This has I trust been accomplished. Ample evidence has been adduced from Irish Authorities, from Classic authors, and from the Ruins themselves ; but it must be confessed that all such evidence is scanty compared with what might have been collected. Further proofs might be adduced to sustain every argument, and, in several instances, amplification would have corroborated my conclusions. The work is thus far, as well as in other respects, incomplete; but if the main points of the advocated theory be sustained, the labours of others, better qualified for the task, will be found to supply all deficiencies. My own convictions, formed at an early period, on the subject discussed in this work have been confirmed from every source of information to which my investigations have led me ; and I have not, during the progress of this work, encountered any adverse arguments or facts which a more careful 466 CONCLUSION. examination has not been sufficient to reconcile or remove. My sole object in publishing has been the elucidation of truth on a question of interest and importance, especially to Irishmen; and having performed all that circum- stances and opportunities permitted, without regard to trouble or expense, I submit the result of my labours to the consideration of the Historian and Archaeologist as an humble contribution to the solution of that long debated problem, the origin of the Round Towers and contemporary Architecture of Ireland. [46 7 ] GLOSSARY- A GLOSSARY of several Irish, Cuthite, and other ancient terms used in the foregoing work, with the authorities for the meanings attached to them, is annexed for the purpose of assisting the reader to understand more readily the quotations in which such terms appear. The following abbreviations have been made, viz : A. 4 M. for "Annals of the Four Masters." Bry. for Bryant's " Analysis of Antient Mythology." Cru. for " Cruden's Concordance." Fab. for Faber's "Origin of Pagan Idolatry." Har. for Harcourt's "Doctrine of the Deluge." His. for Hislop's "Two Babylons." M'C.D. for MacCurtin's Irish Dictionary. Mar. for " Martyrology of Donegal." O'B. D. for O'Brien's Irish Dictionary. O'B.R.T. for O'Brien's Round Towers. O'R. D. for O'Reilly's Irish Dictionary. Raw. for Rawlinson's " Five Ancient Monarchies of the World." Val. for Vallancey's " Collectanea de rebus Hibernicis." ABHAX or AM HAN (Irish) (pronounced Aoun), a river. . . O'R. D. and O'B. D. ACCAD, the name of one of Nimrod's Cities. Gen. x. 10. ACCAD (Hebrew}, a vessel. . . Cru. ACHAD, a name associated with the localities of numerous ancient Ecclesiastical esta- blishments in Ireland. ACHADH (Irish), a field. . . O'B. D. ACHAD (Cuthite), a term applied to Deity. Bry. i. 104. ACHAD (Cuthite}, a name of the Sun. Bry. ii. 451. ACHAD-FOBHAIR (Irisfi), the Divine One in weakness; the ancient name of Agha- gower ; answering to BAILE-FOBHAIR, the ancient name of Fore of Feichin in Meath, and to BILE-FECHIN Baal in humiliation. AINE (Irish), the Moon ; pleasure ; the sea. O'R.D. AIN (Cuthite), a fountain ; an object of worship. . . Bry. i. 62. iv. 194. AIN (Irish), a great circle. O'B. D. AITH (Irish), a ford. O'B. D. AN (Irish}, swift. - O'B. D. 468 GLOSSARY. AN or AON (Irish), one. . O'B. D. ANA (Irish], the mother of the Tuath-de- Danaan gods. . . O'R. D. ARC and ARG (Irish}, a large chest in the form of a ship. , O'B. D. ARGO (Cuthite), the ship Argo; the Ark. Bry. iii. 384, 415. ASTAR (Hebrew), to store up. ASTOR (Irish) (pronounced Ashthore), an ex- clamation of endearment in common use among the Irish. ASTAROTH, the city of Og king of Bashan. Deut. i. 4. ASHTORETH, Venus ; a goddess of Sidon. i Kings xi. 5, 33. ASTORETH (Cuthite), the Phoenician Astarte or Venus. . Fab. iii. 42, 75, 224. ASTORETH (Irish) (pronounced Ashthorech), a term in common use among the Irish, signifying " My love or treasure." ASHTOROTH (Hebrew), riches ; treasures. BAAL (Cuthite), a divinity worshipped by the Canaanites ; the Sun. . Bry. i. 54. BAN (Irish), white. . . . O'B. D. BAR (Cuthite), the same as Saturn, and as Nin the Chaldean Fish-god. Raw. i. 166. BAR (Irish), a son. . . O'B. D. BAR (Hebrew), a son. . . Cru. BAR-EN-DEE (Irish), the Son of the one God. (See BAR ; EN ; and DEE). BARINDEUS, the name of an Irish Saint, who is also called Bar, Finbar, and Barry. BAILLED (Irish), music; a ballad; a song. [Probable interpretation. An ode to Baal, i.e., A religious song to the Sun. See BAAL, and OIDH or ODH]. O'R. D. BEAN or BEN (Irish), a woman. O'B. D. BEL (Irish), Belus ; the Sun. O'B. D., word AINN. BELAIN (Irish), the year; the great circle of the Sun. . O'B. D., word AINN. BEARNA (Irish), a gap; a breach. O'R. D. BEARNAN-BEILTINE (Irish), the plant called marsh-marigold. . . O'R. D. BEARNAN-BRIGHIDE or BEARNAN-BEARNACH (Irish), the herb called Dandelion. O'R. D. Bi (Irish), living ; applied to the living God. O'B. D. BILE (Irish), a tree. . . O'B. D. BIREAD (Irish), a cap ; a bonnet. O'R. D. BOTH or BOTHAN (Irish), a hut or tabernacle. O'B. D. BUINNE (Irish), a branch or twig. O'B. D. BUNOUN and BENAUN, interpreted the Branch of Juno, from BUINNE, a branch, and IUN, the Dove, Juno. BUN AUN and BENAN, Irish Saints at Aran, etc. CAOIN (Irish), gentle; mild [Achad-chaoin (Achonry), the gentle Achad]. O'B. D. CEOL (Irish), music ; melody. . O'B. D. CEOLAN (Irish), a little bell ; [contemptible music] O'B. D. CEAN (Irish), a head. . . M'C. D. CEAN-TOR (Irish), a Bull's head. (See the words CEAN, and TOR). CLAIN (Irish), to engender; to beget. O'B. D. CLOCK (Irish), a stone. . . O'B. D. CLOG (Irish), a bell ; the head. O'R. D. and O'B. D. CLOGAD (Irish), a helmet ; a cone or pyramid. O'R. D. and O'B. D- CLOGAN (Irish), CLOG-CHEANN, the skull. O'R. D. GLOSSARY. 469 CLUAIN (Irish], a plain ; a lawn. O'R. D. and O'B. D. CLUAIN, probably a compound word, the Stone of Ana. (See CLOCH, and ANA). CLUAINIRE (Irish), a seducer ; a deceiver. O'R. D. and O'B. D. CNOC (Irish), a hill. . . O'B. D. COLUM or COLM (Irish), a Dove. O'B. D. COLUMAN (Irish), a pillar. . O'B. D. COLUM B, an Irish Saint. COLMAN, an Irish Saint. COR (Irish), music. . . O'B. D. C RON AN, an Irish Saint. CRONOS, the name of a Titan king ; Saturn ; Time ; the first Centaur. CRON (Irish), time. . . O'B. D. CROAN (Irish), witchcraft. . O'R. D. CRONAIM (Irish), to bewitch. . O'B. D. CRUM (Irish), bowed ; crooked (CRUM-NA- THAIR, crooked snake). . O'B. D. CUMHDACH (Irish), defence ; protection; a veil or covering. . . O'B. D. CUMHDACH (Irish), the cover of a book. O'B. D. CEILE (Irish), a sen-ant. . O'R. D. CALLA (Hebrew), a servant. . O'R. D. CEILE-DE (Irish), a servant of God ; a Culdee. O'R. D. CULDEE, or CALDEE a name given to (sup- posed) missionaries of Ancient Ireland, interpreted to mean the servants of God. A and U are indifferently used in Ancient Irish MSS. CHALDEE, the name of the early Cuthite inhabitants of Babylon, the seat of Nim- rod's empire. DABAR (Chaldee), a bee. DABAR (Hel>ren.>), the Word. His. 284. DABAR (Irish), the Son of God. (See DIA, and BAR). DAIR (Irish), the oak-tree. . O'B. D. DAIR-BILE (Irish), the oak-tree. (See DAIR, and BILE). DAIRBILE, or DARBILE, an Irish Saint. DAIR-MAIDE (Irish), the oak sapling. (See DAIR, and MAIDE). DIARMAID, an Irish Saint of the 5th century. DIARMAID (Irish), an Irish Finian hero. DARARCA (Irish), the oak of the Ark ; an object of Cuthite worship. (See the words DAIR, and ARC) ; also Faber iii. 232). DARERCA, the name of an Irish female Saint. DAIREADH (Irish), to be in season ; BO-AR- DAIREADH, a cow in season. O'B. D. DEARG (Irish), red ; crimson. . O'B. D. DE, DIA, DIE (Irish), the sacred name of God O'B. D. DIABAL (Irish), the Devil [literally, " the god Baal " of Cuthite mythology]. O'R D. DE-CLAIN (Irish), the god of generativeness. (See the words DE, and CLAIN). DECLAN, an Irish Saint at Ardmore, etc. DIMOC (Irish), the good God. (See DIE, and MAITH). This word is pronounced De-mah. DIMOC and DIMMA, names of an Irish Saint. EARC (Irish), the Sun ; heaven. EARC (Irish), any beast") Four em - ... i j I blem Of the COW kind. I Sun, ..-, / r \ i I j EARC (Irish), a salmon. J- ms of the as anob- fCuthite St O'R. D. O'R. D. O'R. D. O'R. D. EARC (Irish), speckled. ) 7 *' ^O'R. D. ERC (Irish), heaven ; any beast of the cow kind. . O'R. D. ERC or EIRC, an Irish Saint at Slane. EARC (Irish), a bee. 1 *&-, 470 GLOSSARY. EAN and EN (Irish}, one. . O'B. D. ENDEE, the name of an Irish Saint. ENDEE (Irish), the one God. (See EN, and DE). ERCHOL (Irish), the Sun. O'B. R. T. 195. ERCEALLAN (Irish), a pole or stake [prob- ably the May-pole or miniature Round Tower]. . . . O'B. D. EARCOLOIN, the Arkite El ; Cronos ; or Her- cules. . . Har. i. 493. EARCHAILL (Irish), a post or pillar. O'B. D. EASCONN (Irish), an Eel. . O'R. D. EASCONN (Irish), the Moon. . O'B. D. EASGA (Irish), the Moon ; an eel. O'R. D. EASCAR (Irish), shooting into ear. O'B. D. EASBOC (Irish), an order among the Fire- worshippers ; a bishop. . O'R. D. Ess (Irish), death ; a ship. . O'R. D. FEART (Irish), a miracle. . O'B. D. FEC (Irish), weakness. . . O'B. D. FEIS (Irish), carnal communication. O'B. D. FIADH (Irish) a deer. . . O'B. D. FIADHA (Irish), a lord. . . O'B. D. FIADHA (Irish), testimony ; witnessing. O'B. D. FIADHAC (Irish), detesting ; hating. O'B. D. FIAN-BHOTH (Irish), a tent. . O'B. D. FIONN-MAC-CUIL, the Finian hero. O'B. D. FINE (Irish), a tribe or stock. . O'B. D. FINEAMHAIN (Irish) (pronounced Finuin), a twig ; a vine [probably the Branch of Juno, the Dove, and identical with BUNOUN, also interpreted The Branch of Juno, the possible ^foundation for the Saint Bunaun or Benan]. FINEAN, an Irish Saint. FIONACH (Irish), ancient ; old. O'B. D. FOIRGNIGHIM (Irish), to build. O'B. D. FOR (Irish), protection ; defence. O'B. D. FOR (Irish), enlightening ; illumination. O'B. D. FORBA (Irish), land-tax. . . O'B. D. FORBADH (Irish), finishing ; ending. O'R. D. FOBHAIR (Irish), sick ; weak ; infirm. O'B. D. GAD (Irish), a twisted twig (NATHAIR-GAD, a writhing serpent). . . O'B. D. GEALACH (Irish), the Moon ; lunacy. O'B. D. GLAS (Irish), green ; pale ; grey. O'B. D. GOBHA (Irish), a. smith. . . O'B. D. ION (Irish), the Sun ; a circle. O'R. D. ION (Irish), denotes maturity in compound words .... O'B. D. ION-FHIR ; ION-MHNA (Irish), marriageable. O'B. D. IONDUILE (Irish), desirable. . O'B. D. LEAC (Irish), a great stone. . O'B. D. LEACHT (Irish), a pile of stones in memory of the dead. . . . O'B. D. LUAN (Irish), the Moon. . . O'B. D. MAIDE (Irish), a stick ; wood. O'B. D. MABOG, the same as Mulita, the mother of the Gods, worshipped at Hieropolis. Raw. i. 15 1. MOBEOC, or DABOEC, an Irish Saint at Pa- trick's Purgatory. . Archdall, 102. MAIDEOG (Irish), the Concha Veneris maiden-head. . . . O'B. D. MAIDINEOG (Irish), the morning star [the planet Venus]. . . O'R. D. MANN (Irish), food ; bread. . O'B. D. GLOSSARY. 471 NATHAIR (Irish}, a snake; a viper. O'B. D. NATALIS, the name of an Irish Saint. NEACH (Irish), a spirit or apparition. O'B. D. NEI.M or NEIMH (Irish), brightness. O'B. D. NEAMH (Irish), heaven. NEIMHEADH (Irish), science. NEIMH (Irish), poison. NEIMHEDH (Irish), filth or dirt. OIDH and ODH (Irish), music. O'B. D. O'B. D. O'B. D. O'B. D. O'B. D. RE (Irish), the Moon. . . O'B. D. RHEA (C nth tie), the divinity of the Ark, the same as Rhoia and Rimmon, the pome- granate. . . . Bry. iii. 238. RIM, the mother as well as sister (/.') of St Caimmin. . . Mar. 305. RIACH, an Irish Saint. RENADH (Irish), a club or stake. O'B. D. RUADH (Irish), strong or valiant. O'B. D. RUADH (Irish), reddish. . . O'B. D. RUADH,' the name of Doghdha, a divinity of the Tuath-de-Danaans. . O'R. D. RUADAN, an Irish Saint. SAB (Irish), death. . . O'B. D. SAEBHDHOLBHA (Tra^), enchantment. O'B. D. SAM MAIN (Irish), All Saints' tide. SAMAN (Irish), the Judge of departed souls. Val. iv. 232. SAER (Irish), a mason. . . O'B. D. SAOR (Irish), free ; also noble. . O'B. D. SIOL (Irish), seed. . . . Q'B. D. STAL or STAIL (Irish), a male horse. O'B. D. STOR (Irish), treasure. SUIL (Irish), the Sun. Sum (Irish), a mermaid. O'B. D. O'B. D. O'B. D. TEAMPULL (Irish), a temple. . O'B. D. TIMPCHIOLL (Irish), a circuit or compass ; round about. . . . O'B. D. TERMON (Irish), the food country. (See TIR, and MANN). TIR (Irish), a country ; land. . O'B. D. TOR (Irish), a tower. . . O'B. D. TOR (Cuthtie), a tower. . Bry. i. 118. TOR NEAMH-RUADH (Irish), Nimrod's tower O'B. D- TOR (Irish), a bull. . . . O'R. D. TAUR and TUR (Cuthtie), a Bull. The word is found in compound names of ancient mythology, as Mino-taur of Crete, an emblematic representation of the Deity, Menes (the same as Osiris) having the head of a Bull on the body of a man. (See Bry. ii. 109, and iii. 302-304). TuiR (Irish), a Lord or Sovereign. O'B. D. TUIRBI (Irish), the living Lord or Sovereign. (See TUIR, and Bi). UA (Irish), any male descendants. O'B. D. UR (Irish), fire. . . . O'B. D. 000 GENERAL INDEX. Abaris (the Hyperborean), 240, 242. Abhun (a river), 70. Abrahan, 204, 297. Abydenus, 341. Achad (a Cuthite word applied to the Sun or Deity), 43, 86, 87, 422. Achad-Abhall (Aghold), 87, 459, 460. Achadhcaoil, 71, 393. Achad Finglas (Agha), 87, 359. Achad Fobhair alias Aghagower, 87, 90, 433. Achonry, 87. Acta Sanctorum, 48. Adonis, 76, 346. ^Ethiopes, 218. Aghaboe, 87, 443, 444. Aghadoe, 68, 250, 251, 252, 285, 414, Aghamore, 416. Aghanloo, 66. Aghavillar, 87, 422. Aghamoney (Achadh-Mona), 87. Alatrium, 182. Alfred, King, educated at Baal, 29. Allyghur, 317, 318. Alorus, 223. Amalgad, 69, 396. America, Aborigines of, 220, 404, Am or Om, 396. Ammianus Marcellinus, 200. Ammon, shrine of, 343, 348. Amonians (Cuthites), 23, 61, 206, 208. Amonians, Mythology of, 91, 208, Angel, the, 31'. a heathen design (appropriated to St. Matthew), 31. Annagh, 94, 174, 175, 415. Annaghdown, 92, 270, 271, 330, 352, 397. Annals of the Four Masters, 3, 54, 90, 103, 128, 160, 252, 253, 262, 291, 299, 457, 463- Munster (Annals of Innisfallen), 3. Ulster, 290, 294. Antrim, 55, 294. County of, Ancient Irish ruins in, 355, 356, 357- Apollo, 91, 156, 235, 236, 238, 345. Apuleius, 345. Aran Islands, 26, 279, 280, 398, 399, 400, 4i> 45 5 463, 464- Aranmore, 74, 86, 283, 313, 352, 399, Arcadians, 201. Arch, the semi-circular, 197, et seq. Archdall's Monasticon Hibernicum, 54 67,356, 39 2 > 394, 39 6 ' Archaeological Journal, 20. of Kilkenny, 71, 149, Society of Kilkenny, 253, 276. Arches of Chancels, 349, 350, 351. 474 GENERAL INDEX. Architecture, Ancient Irish, 179, et seq. Peculiarities of, 247 and seq., 274, 281. Sites of, 354 to end. Cyclopean (Cuthite), 18, 19, 179 etseq., 196, 213, 352, 353. Ardagh (Ard-Achadh), 87, 430. Ardboe, 84, 453. Ardcharn (or Ardcairne), 55, 446. Ard-fear, 220. Ardfert, 92, 264, 285, 286, 287, 415, Ardladhram (Ardamine), 457. Ardmacnasca, 65. Ardmore (the High place of the Great God), 61, 149, 171, 176, 255, 266, 285, 419, 454- Ardrahan, 405, 407. Argus, 76. Ark, the, 62, 75, 76, 91, 129, 147, 155, 326, 327, 343. 344, 345> 346, 348, 349, 437. Armagh, 60, 298, 357. County of, Ancient Irish Ruins in, 357, 358. Arthur Mighe (Armoy), 64, 356, 464. Asherah (the Hebrew word), 297. Assyrians, 138, 208. Deities of, 79. - Empire of, 231, 233. Astarte, 147, 297, 321. Asterabad, 316, 319. Asthore, 297, 319. Astoreth, 297. Atargatis alias Dercetus (Venus), 129. Athenaeum, 204. Atreus, Treasury of Mycenae, 247, 249, 250, 251, 284. Avantipore, Cashmere, 249, 250, 251, 284, 429. Avatar, Indian, 85, 173, 174. Baal, (County of Mayo), 58, 281, 433. Baal (Bel or Belus), 42, 58, 59, 68, 143, 145, 213, 229, 2 34, 297, 390, 404, 441. Baal-berith (Lord of the Covenant), 170, 172, 348. Baal-peor, 172, 334, 346, 348. Babel, 214, 219, 232, 233. Babylon, 73, 222, 346. Divinities of, 78, 79, 94. Bacchus, 219, 220, 345, 347. Bagster's Bible, 297. Bailled, (Baal-odh) 239. Ball-Playing, 68, 337, 338. Ballaghboy, 77, 361. Ballasadare, 76, 92, 195, 448. Ball Boru, 149. Ball Gobban, 62, 294. Ballintemple, 386, 387. Ballygaddy, 404. Ballykine, 66. Ballymote, 84. - Book of, 36, 240 Ballyvarney, 63, 379, 455. Baltinglass, 42, 94, 326, 460. Banagher, 174, 176, 183, 387, 459, 460,464. Bangor (Benchor), 93. Church of, n. Baptism, Heathen rite of, 168, 171, 347. Bar, 381. Bards, 36, 240. Barrington, Sir Matthew, 370. Barry, .St., 86. Basins, square, 16. Bedell, Bishop, 27, 360. Bedford, C. D., Esq., 15. Bedford, F. Jun. Chart of Anglican Church orna- ment, 31. Beds of Saints, 342, 343, 348, 416. Bee, the (Earc), 72, 73, 91. GENERAL INDEX. 475 Bee-hive Huts, 437, 450. Bell or Belus (see Baal), 345. Bellew, Robert, 300. Belli Fechin, 90, 92, 325. Bel-peor, 334, 335. Bernard, St., n, 59. Berosus, 138, 143, 206, 223. Betham, Sir W., 163, 168", 193, 318. Beugnot, M. de, 30. Bile-Fechan, 325, 446. Bile-tor-Tain (the fire-tower of Baal), 94, 441. Bith, 457. Black Divinity, the, 230, 233, 235. Boith Bolcain, 64. Bolcan, Saint (Vulcan), 63, 64. Book of Invasions, 211, 221, 240. - White, 211. of Ballymote, 36, 240, 288, 295. of Lecan, 240, 288, 289. Boreas, 238, 240. Borlase, 177. Bo than, (a tent or cabin), 335. Boyle, Abbey of, 325, 326. Boyle, 446, 447. Brahma, 126. Brahminism, 225. Bran, 91, 358. Branch of Juno, 77, 82, 83, 164, 401. Brash, R. R., Esq., 171, 179, 295, 339. Breas (first King of the Danaans), 41. Bridget, St., 47, 60. Brien Boru, 296, 300. Brigh Gobban, 293. Brigoon, 62, 63, 293, 379, 380. Britway, 60, 256, 380. Brooke, Miss, 358. Bruce's Travels, 115. Bryant, Jacob, 23, 50, 51, 59, 61, 62, 76, 206. 231, 232, 234, 236, 237, 239. Bryant, Jacob, Antient Mythology, 16, 64, 70, 79, 86, 88, 89, 91, 129, 130, 139, i 47 , *S, i5 J > i5 6 > 157, 160, 203, 206, 207, 208, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 2l8, 221, 223, 224, 230, 234, 235, 2 4 0, 2 4 2, 243, 2 44, 34i, 348, 373- Budh, 46, 55, 56, 57, 58, 74, 77, 95, 9 6, 122, !42, 153, 164, 205, 220, 230, 296, 321, 335> 421. Budhist Mythology, 91, 335, 336. Bull, the sacred, 226. - winged, (appropriated to St. Luke), 31. Bunown (the Branch), 77, 361. Burren, Barony of, 369. Buttresses, Cuthite, 303, 327, 328, 359, 372, 377> 3 86 > 4o8, 411, 425, 429, 430, 461. Cabin, the, (Guabhres), 293, 345, 347. Cadmus, 158. Cahir, 305. Caimin, (the Crocodile), 404. Campbell, Dr., 10. Camros, 63. Canaan, 208, 399. Canara, Rock Temple of, 15. Canon Island, 362. Cape Clear, 74, 335, 380, 464. Carran, 361, 366, 368. Carli, Rock Temple of, 15, 33, 203, 257, 321. Carlow, County of, ancient Irish ruins in, 359, 360, 361. Carthage, 201. Cashel, Sligo, 55. Cashel, Rock of, 23, 31, 32, 33, 34, 61, 311, 329. 45 1 - Cashel, Cormac's Chapel, 2, 3, 73, 148, 152, 180, 193, 261, 262, 264, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 285, 322, 323, 326. GENERAL INDEX. Cashel, Cormac's Chapel, a Cuthite Temple, 5. 12, J 3- built of cut-stone, within, without and beautifully ornamented, 12. roofed with semi-circular arch of cut- stone, 13. Doorway and chancel arch of, 13, 152. Interior of, 15, 17. Font at, 15, 1 6. Cashmere, 249, 250. Cassa del Gobernador, 333. Castledermot, 339, 420. Catalogue of Saints, 53 etseq., 343, 354 et seq. Cathac (the serpent), 39. Cean Tor (the Bull's Head, the Centaur), 151. Ceasair, 457. Celius Rhodiginus, 345. Celts, the, 35, 37, 38, 39, 42, 109, 244, 245, 34, 35> 3". 346, 417, 442. Centaur, the, 66, 72, 89, 142, 146, 150, 152, 156. Ceres, 89, 345. Chaldea, 223. Chancel Arches, 349, 350, 351. Charchasan, 321. Chichenitza, 337. Chiron, the Centaur, 66, 95. Churches, stone-roofed, Cuthite Temples, 56, 179. early Christian, of wood, 7. Christ's Church, 8, 22, 99, 393. Black Book of, 394. Cimmerians (Cuthites), 221. Cistercian Monks, 423. Clare, County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 3 6 9, 37, 37i, 372, 373. 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379- Clarke, Dr., 203. Clemens Alexandrinus, 345, 346, 347. Cloch Deglain, 108, 172, 454. Cloher Oughter, Island of, 27, 360. Cloich Greine (Sun-stone or Mui(dh)r), 332, 335- Cloich Kieran, 335. Cloich Teach, 252, 295, 296. Clonard, 81, 82, 84, 340, 439, 464. Clondalkin, 56, 69, 394, 433. Clone, Church of, 458. Clones, 68, 72, 175, 343, 443. Clonfert, 25, 60, 92, 264, 402. Molua, 340, 341, 444. Clonkeen, 247, (see Cluainkeen), 248, 264, 329- Clonmacnoise, 8, 21, 74, 252, 253, 254, 255, 276, 425. - Cross of, 134, 135, 161, 162, 167, 169. Clonthuskert, 55, 402. Cloyne, 84, 381. Cluain (Clo(ch)ain, the stone of Ana), 69, 335, 464- Cluain Braoin, 68. Cluain Broanagh, 68. Cluaindaimh, 57. Cluain Dara, 77, 430, Cluaine Dicholla, 69. Cluain Eoaris, 68. Cluain Finchol (Clonfeacle), 60, 81, 357. Cluain Fois, 72, 403. Cluain Inis, 93. Cluainkeen, 94, 247, 422. Cluain Cagh, 93. Cluain More, 69. Coel, 318, 319. Coffins of stone, 175, 303, 342, 343, 344, 346, 347, 348, 39 6 > 437, 443- Coigns, Cuthite, 303, 328, 329, 407, 408, 415. Colchians, 221. Colman-Elo, 356. GENERAL INDEX. 477 Colman's Hindu Mythology, 42. Colgan, 47, 62, 96, 195, 196, 292, 293. Con the son of art, 225. Coney Island, 71, 361. Confusion of Tongues, 226. Cong, 368, 398, 409, 434, 435. Congbail, (alias Conwall), 59, 389. Conloch (son of Cuchullin), 39. Connor, 60. Conyngham, Col., 274. Cooke, Mr. T. L., of Parsonstown, 174, 175, 340. Coole Abbey, 81, 281, 282. Coom, 419. Copan, 119. Corbal, 59, 451, 452. Corcomroe, 63, 281, 282, 294, 324, 329, 362, 368. Cork, 74, 381. , County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384. , Cove of, 8 1. Cormac's Chapel (see Cashel). Corrib, Lough, 351, 352, 397, 398. Cow, the (or Ox), 95, 131, 147, 452. - red, 149, 156. speckled (Earc), 72. Comie, Mr., 250. Creeshna, 140, 150, 156, 166, 167. Crocodile, 404. Croebheach, 60. Cromlechs, 42, 305, 390. Cromwell, 366, 384, 436. Cronus (Kronos the Centaur Saturn), 72, 142, i5 2 234- Cross Abbey, 436, 437. Crosses, ancient Irish, 5, 12, 82, in, 144, J 45 J 5 6 , i57 J 59> l6o > l6j , iVl,etseq. 287, 33, 33 1 , 339, 357, 35 8 , 359, 3^4, 365, 3 6 7, 372, 373, 378, 389, 390, 39 1 - 394, 396, 421, 424, 425, 426, 432, 443 , 45i, 454, 458, 460. Crosses, inscriptions on ancient Irish, 299, 3, 301, 32- early Christian designs of, 163. Budhist and Egyptian, 117, n8. Mexican, 118. - Heathen of Palenque and Copan, 119. veneration for, in all ages, 114, et seq. of Ardboe, 132, 174, 453. of Banagher, 174, 175, 176. of Castledermot, 162, 420. -- of Clonmacnoise, 134, 135, 161, 162, 167, 169, 293. of Duleek, 162, 167, 169, 440. of Durrow, 112, 162, 427. of Kells, 74, 82, 85, 126, 127, 131, 132, 134, 142, 149, T 53> *54, 165, 167, 169, 175, 286, 287, 300, 441. Kilclispeen, 144, 145, 178. Kilcullen, 133, 134, 420. Killamery, 157, 424. Kilmacduagh, 82. Monasterboice, 132, 134, 135, 100, 161, 162, 167, 169, 178, 300, 432. - Moone, 112, 132. Tarmon Fechen, 162, 433. Tuam, 165, 166, 167, 413. Croziers of Cuthite origin, 17, 137, 138, 139, 140, et seq. Cruach Mac Dara, 276, 411. Crucifixion, the, ankle cords to, 163. - scenes of, Irish, 158 et seq., 440. early Christian designs of, 163. Ctesias, 233. Cuchullin, 39. Guile, 80, 8 1, 82, 83, 318, 409. Culdees, 452. Curranes, 84, 416. Cuthite architecture^, 17, 25 etseq., 274,353. 478 GENERAL INDEX. Cuthite architecture, stability of, compared with English or true Norman, 17 et seq> 353- commonly known as Cyclopean, 18, 178 et seq, 213. characteristics of, 19, 178, 181, 274. College, 8 1, 439. Colonies, 278, 311. Dominion, 204, 231 .et seq. History, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 242. Mythology, 91, 147, 233^295, 335. Remains of Ireland, 303 et seq. 354 to end. Cuthites, the (Amonians, Cyclopians, Phosni- cians, Hyperboreans, Centaurs, etc.,) 2, 5> 7 2 > J 57> 201, 204, 207, 212, 213, 223. Descendants of Chus or Cush the son of Ham, 40, 207, 290. Cuzco, 318. Cybele, 70, 82, 129, 168, 347. Cyclopians, 18, 178, 179, 207, 213, 215, (see Cuthites), 352, 353. Cypselus, 345. Dabeoc (the God Budh), 57. Dagan, St. (Dagon), 66,^72, 125,^126, 381. Dairbile's Temple, 77, 435. Dairbile, 74, 75, 77, 147. Daire (the oak), 23, 74, 75, 76, 220. Dairinis, 77. Dairmach, 77. Dairmelle, 77, 428. Danaans, the (Cuthites), 37,4i, 154, (see Tuath-de-Danaans) . Damater, 146 (and see Catalogue of Saints). Danans, 89, 154, 155. Danish settlements, 9, 393. Darerca (the oak of the Ark), 62, 75, 147. Dar-Inis, 63, 294. Dark race, the (Tuath-de-Danaan Cuthites,) 289 et seq. Davis, Dr. (" Carthage and its Remains,") 201. Davis, Sir J., 8, 10, 49. Deirvorgila, 426. Delos, 236, 240. Delphi, Temple of, 91, 236. Deluge, tradition of, 85, 457. Demons (Cuthites) 68, 233, 234, 336. Derceto alias Dercetus (Atargatis), 129, 146. Derg, Lough (see Lough Derg.) Derinane Abbey, 86, 416. Derinilla of the four paps, 75, 95, 147. Dermach, 77. Derry, County of, ancient ruins in, 385. Desert, 88. Desert Tohil, 84, 385. Deucalion, 346. Devenish, 165, 175, 343, 348, 396. Dia Baal (the God Baal, Devil), 66, 336. Diamor (the Great God), 292. Diana, 70, 129, 130, 168. Diarmid (alias Diarmaid), 47, 76. Dinnsenchus, 288, 294. Diocletian, 21, 284. Diodorus Siculus, 130, 237, 241, 335, 348. Dionusus, 152, 203. Dionysius, 202, 229. Disart (the high place of the God Ees), 88. Disart Carregin, 88, 429. Disert Dermit (Castledermot), 77. Dispersion, the, 202, 209, 232, 284. Divination, the art of, 235, 237. Dodwell's "Cyclopean and Pelasgic Remains," 183, 185, 190, 193. Donegal, County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 3 8 9 39- GENERAL INDEX. 479 Donoughmore, 84, 94, 307, 440, 442, 454. Doora, 77, 361, Doorways, Cyclopean, 182 et seg., 303, 306, 37> 3 8 > 39> 3 IO > 33- Semicircular, 303, 329. Doulough's, St., Church, 323, 395. Dove, the, (lun, Juno), 75, 76, 78, 79, 82, 146, 332, 374, 405. Down, County of, ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 39 1 , 392, 393- Dowth, 290, 291. Drogheda, the fort of, 290. Dromcliffe, 94, 363. Druids, Celtic, 217. Druim Ceat, Council of, 195. Drumacoo, 408. Drumboe, 57, 66, 391. Drumcliffe, 83, 449. Drumcullen, 86, 426. Drumeskin, 60, 432. Drumfinchol, 60. Drumhome, 27. Drumlane, 93, 306, 360. Drum-Mochua, 368, 408. Dublin, County of, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 393, 394, 395, 39 6 - Dublin Penny Journal, 441, 442. Duleek, 93, 440. Dunboe, 55. Dungarvan (alias Achad-Garbain), 87, 455. Dungiven, 83, 385, 386. Dunurlin, (the fort of the Golden Luan), 266, 419. Dura, 77. Durrog, 77. Durrow, 77, 426. Dysart (or Dysert), 88, 132, 133, 249, 250, 307, 308, 311, 329, 352, 363. Doorway of Church of, 249, 250, 285, 449. Dysart, Window of Church of, 363. Churlin, 88. Eagle, the, a heathen emblem appropriated to St. John, 31. Earc or Ere, 71, 72, Earcaellan, the May-pole, 72. Eghrois, 65, 449. Egypt, 224, 226, 227, 346. Elephanta, 230, 267, 332, 335, 427, Eleusinian Mysteries, 346. Elis, 345. Emissa, 332, 333. Encyclopedia, London, 201. English language, introduction of into Ireland, '406. Erii (Bellona), 298. Epiphanius, 222, 225. 232. Eribul, 419. Eri, Chronicles of, 37, 39, 221. Erigol Garvagh, 83, 386, Erigol Kiran, 74, 454. Esculapius, 347. Ess (Ees, Easga, Eascan), 88. Ethiopians (Cuthites), 207, 219, 237. Etruria, 19, 138, 189, 196, 345. Celtica, 318. Cyclopean Architecture of, 19, 189. Etruscans, 202. Eurypylus, 345, Eusebius, 138, 219, 221, 222, 225, 232, 345. Evangelists, the four, 31. Faber, G. S., (Origin of Pagan Idolatry), 56, 61, 120, 146, 203, 211, 225, 231, 233, 242, 345, 346, 347, 348, 437- Farentinum, 194. Farragh, 321. Fartagh, 74, 422. Fechin, St., Church of, 185. p V P 480 GENERAL INDEX. Ferguson's History of Architecture, 247, 250. Fermanagh, County of, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 396. Ferns, 93, 250, 458. Fethard, 63, 297. Fiacul (a tooth), 81. Fian of Eirin, (See Fin MacCuile), 410. Fiedh Nemadh (alias Fidh Nemphed), 33, 296, 297, 298, 299. Fine, (a Tribe, Irish), 82. Finean (Phoinic), 80, 224, Finglas, 84, 394. Finian Legends, 76, 224, 337. Finian Heroes (converted into Irish Saints), 25- Fin MacCuile, 80, 81, 91, 163, 224, 243, 340, 35 8 > 409, 464- Fintan, 47, 457, (and see catalogue of Cuthite Saints). Fintan's Island, ( 399> 4, 4i, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414- Ganges, 219. Garvey, Capt. G., 427. Gaspa, 321. Gathelus, 38. Gentleman's Magazine, 7, 171, 177, 1 80, 251, 2 53> 260, 339, 442. Gentoos, the, 332. Giants, 336, 341. Giraldus Cambrensis, 8, 10, 142, 177, 311, 452. Glan-culm-kill, 84, 365. Glass, Cuthite Temple windows, not suitable for, 12, 17, 19. Glendalough, 57, 133, 180, 187, 256, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 279, 285, 294, 307, 38, 340, 343, 351, 423, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465. Glenshirk, 294. Gnostics, the, 119. Cobban Saer, 47, 62, 71, 145, 230, 235, 287, et seq. 324, 362, 410, 428, 438, 439, 441. Cave of the wife of, 290, 291, 294, 295. God, the Green, 39, 42, 43, 94. Googane Bara, 86, 382. Gonagon, 321. Gothic or pointed style, 20, 21. Goths, the, 346, Goutama, 321. Gown, Lough, 432. Graine, 42, 76. Graves, Rev. J., 253, 254, 255, 276, 277. Graves of Saints, 342. GENERAL INDEX. 481 Gray, Mrs. (Sepulchres of Etruria], 231. Great Island, Cove of Cork, 68. Greenwood, Col., 204. " Grose's Antiquities," 334, 420, 450. Grove, of Scripture, the, 33, 297. Guinness, Sir B. L., 434. Gundulph, keep of, 8. Gurah. son of St. Deelan, 407. Hades, 347. Hales, Dr., 233. Hall, Mrs. S. C., 381. Ham, or Cham, 41, 403. Hamilco, 236. Hand, the red, 132. Hands, two clasped, 373. Hanmer's Chronicle, 85. Han way, Mr., 316. Harcourt's Doctrine of the Deluge, 158, 201, 229. Harp, the, 36, 239, Heber, 36. Hecateeus, 237. Heliogabalus, 333. Hellenism, 225. Henry II., Palace of, in Dublin, of smooth wattles, 8, 9, 10, 394, 413. Hercules, 72, 89, 143, 161. Heremon, 36. Herodian, 332, 333, 335. Herodotus, 214, 223, 227, 237. He-Roe, 138. Herrera, 338. Hieropolis, 321. Hilarion, St., 30. Hills, G. M., Esq., 189, 271, 287. Hindoos, the, 72, 230, 316, 346. Hindostan, 140, 175, 316, 317, 332. Hippa, 8, 9. Hippos, 89. Hislop, Mr. (Tii'o Babylans), 73, 78, 82, 83, I2 3> !37> 141, i45> l6 8, 171, 230. Hitchcock, R., Esq., 175. Holed Stones, 303, 336, 337, 338, 339, 401, 420, 426, 443, 444. Holy Cross, 294. Holy Wells, called after Una, lun (St. John), 75- Horned Man-Bull (Kronos), 141. Horse, the white, 173. Howth, 365. Hue, the Jesuit, 139. Humbolt's Mexican Researches, 171. Human sacrifices of the Cuthites, 215. Hyde, Dr., 334. Hyperboreans (Cuthites), 91, 207, 221, 235. Jambs, sloping, characteristic of Cuthite Architecture, 19, 181, 247, 353, 370, 371,377- lapitiae (Cuthites), 207. lapetus, 49. Ida or Ita, 469. Ida, Mount, 91, 464. Jerpoint, 94, 326, 423. Image, wooden, 342, 348, 437, 450. Imherdaoile (Enorelly), 66, 461. Inchangoill, 352, 398. Inchicronan, 57, 82, 366. Inchymory, 55, 432. India, 219. Indo-Cuthites, 218, 220, 230. Inis-bofin, 55, 435, 43 6 - Inis-bofine, 61, 431. Inisboyne, 55, 460. Iniscaltra, 26, 84, 243, 264, 275, 276, 281, 282, 350, 378, 403. Iniscaoin, 57, 428. 482 GENERAL INDEX. Iniscara, 71. Iniscloran, 77, 431. Inisfallen, 4, 68, 343, 414, 416. Inis-glory, 92, 348, 436, 437, 438, 450. Iniskea, 436. Inis Kieran, 74, 382. Inismain, 435. Inis-mochua, 56, 391. Inismore, (see Inchymory). Inis Muidhr (Inis Murry, alias Inis Mura), 65> 33 2 > 333, 334, 335, 348, 437, 450. Inis-puinc, 57. Inis-sark, 436. Innisfeal, 57. Inniskeen, 66, 443. Inscriptions on Crosses and Temples, 261, 299 et seq. Insula, Hyperborea (Ireland), 237, 2$&etseq, Jointing, peculiar style of, 281, 317, 318, 381, 403- Jorjan, 316. Josephus, 213. Jove, 91. Iran, 236. Ireland's Eye, 74, 395- Irish, the ancient, 179. History, corruption of, 36, 40. Isis, 345,347, 348. Juno, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 332, (see the Dove), 345, 405- Branch of, 77, 82, 83, 164, 366, 437, 45- Kandeish, Rock Temple of, 14. Keatinge, Dr., (History of Ireland], 37, 38, 41, 60, 85, 129, 136, 148, 153, 155, 160, 203, 210, 211, 224, 234, 239, 242. Keledius, St., 47. Kells, 74, 81, 83, 93, (see Cross of Kells), 323, 441, 442. Kennedy's Legends, 7 1 . Kennith, 65, 294, 382. Kerry, County of, Cuthite Ruins in, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420. Kill or Cille, (a Church, a Temple), 80. Killala, 63. Killaspuic Bolcain, 64. Brone, 92, 451. Kilbannon, 94, 294, 404, 410. Kilbarron, 86. Kilboedain, 55. Kilbrony, 92, 391. Kilcathail, 398. Kilchartaich, 56. Kilchule, 64, 8 1. Kilcock, 93. Kilcolman-Vara, 366, 368. Kilcoona, 352, 398. Kilcorban, 175. Kilcorney, 366, 368. Kilcullen, 63, 286, 420. Kilcruimthir, 63. Kildare, 60, 257, 307, 421. County of, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 420, 421, 422. Kildaris, 77, 428. Kildima, 89, 93. Kileshen, 77. Kilfeacle, 81. Kilfenora, 93, 366, 367, 370. Kilfranghann, 435. Kilkenny, 57, 424. Archaeological Association of, 253, 276. Trans- actions of, 340. County of, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 422, 423, 424, 425. GENERAL INDEX. 483 Kilkieran, 74, 424. Killala, 63, 294, 438. Killaloe, 263, 264, 296, 369, 370, 371, 372. Killamery, 68, 294, 424. Kilannin, 398. Killaraey, 343. Killarsage, 435. Killeely, 408. Killeen, 86. Killegue, 93, 417. Killeshin, 302, 444, 445. Killevey-Meagh, 77, 358. Killossy, 94. Killone, 84, 374. Killursa, 398. Kilmacduagh (alias Kilmacuille), 18, 19, 24, 80, 82, 84, 182, 183, 193, 269, 270, 278, 282, 294, 307, 309, 329, 405. Kilmacowen, 77. Kilmallock, 65, 430. Kilmelchedor, Church of, 23, 65, 148, 190, 217, 264, 265, 266, 275, 277, 278, 279, 3 2 3> 3 2 6, 34, 4i7 440, 464- Kilmore, 27, 84, 350, 360. Eadan, 61. Kilmormoyle, 64, 438. Kilmurry-Ibricane, 64. Kilnaboy, 55, 372, 373. Kilree, 94. Kilshanny, 71, 374. Kiltartan, 86, 405, 407. Kiltiernan, 407. Kiltrellig, 377. Kinailea, 365. King, the Shepherd, 137, 209. King's County, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 425, 426, 427, 428. King, C. W., Mr., (The Gnostics and their Remains), 119. Kinneth, (See Kennith), 382. Kinsale, 63, 294, 383. Knockmoy, 63, 294, 324, 405, 410. Knowth, 290. Kronos, 218, 220, (see Cronus). Kyle, 340, 341. Labhradh-Loing-Seach, the Irish King, 39. Ladhra, 457. Laic Feal (Lafail, the stone of Destiny), 37. Lamia (Cuthites), 215, 216. Lamh Dearg Erin, 136. Lanigan, Dr., 252. Lasserene (Molach), 47 (and see Catalogue of Irish Saints). Latona, 238. Layard's Nineveh and Babylon, 128, 201. Leccan, the book of, 41. Ledwich, Dr., 8, 360, 396, 420, 452. Leighlin, 63, 294, 359. Leitrim, County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 428. Lemnos, Island of, 298. Lestrygones (Cuthites), 215. Letterkenny, 389. Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 54, 297, 356, 372, 385, 386, 387, 389. 390, 392, 394, 425, 463- Liban (the Mermaid), 128, 464. Liethmore, 57. Limerick, County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 429, 430. Lingajas, 154, 201, 336. Lingam, the, 225, 226, 296, 321, 332. Linn, 77. Lion, the winged. a heathen emblem "(appropriated to St. Mark), 31. Lismore, 3, 56, 335, 455- 4 8 4 GENERAL INDEX. Liss, 305. Localities connected with the names of Cuthite Saints, Lists of, 54 et seq. Londonderry, 83, 385. London Encyclopedia, 201. Longford, County of, Cuthite ruins in, 430, 43 1 , 432. Lough Derg, 28, 243, 275, 276, 350, 403. Louth, 68, 323. Louth, County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 432, 433- Lua.n (the Moon), 59, 422 (see St. Luan). Lucian, 321. Lugad, the third King of the Danaans, 41, 289. Lugadus, 47. Lugh of the long hand, 289, 295. Lusk, 57, 395. Macar, 6, 220, 356. Macha, 60, 61, 356. M'Curtin's Irish Dictionary, 4. McDara's Island, 77, 276, 327, 328. Machuile, St. Michael, 82. Mac-Reagh, 369. Maghera, 392. Magic, 36, 215, 235, 241, 245. Mahara-more-Banagher, 94, 387. Mahody of Elephanta, 46, 56, 267, 332, 333, 334, 335, 427- Malachi, Saint, n. Malcolm, Sir J., 236. Manetho, 223. Markham's Travels in Peru, 318. Mars, 298. Martyrology of Donegal, 23, 54, 80, 91, 164, 376. Mask, Lough, 397. Maurice's History of Hindostan, 43, 85, 114, 125, 146, 150, 153, 166, 173, 178. Max Miiller, Professor, 135. Mayo, County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 433> 434, 435, 43 6 , 437, 43 8 > 439- Maypole Sports, 339. Meath, County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 439, 44, 441? 442. Mears' Monasticon Hibernicum, 54, 67, 98, 423- Meelick, 94, 438. Mel or Mellissa, 91, (see list of Cuthite Saints). Melchedor, Temple of, 147, 264, (see Kilmel- chedor). Melvin, Lough, 77, 428. Mermaid, 125, et seq. 146, 396, 409. Mexico, 171, 346. Conquest of, 118. Michael, Saint, 82, 141. Milad, the Fomcerian, 41. Miracles of the Saints, 104. Mithras, 170, 347. Molach, Temple of, 65. Mochuan, 47, 48. Monaghan, County of, ancient Cuthite ruins in, 443. Monahinch, Temple of, 264, 452. Monasterboice, 55, 300, 301, 307, 308. Monasticon Hibernicum, 47, 54, 293, 393. Montezuma, 338. Moon, the, 131 (see Luan). Moone Abbey, 112, 136, 421. Mount Garrett, 74. Moville, 57, 84, 389, 392. Moynoe, 83, 375. Muckamore, 84, 356. Mudros, the Greek, 332, 334, 335. Muidhr (the stone of the Sun), 64, 65, 332, 333, 334, 335- GENERAL INDEX. 485 Muiredach, Bp. of Monasterboice, 300, 301. Mullogh (Molach), 65. Mungret, 74, 43- Mural Crown, 165, 166, 167 et seq. Mycenas, 19, 186, 189, 190, 249, 250, 284. Natalis Comes, 91. Nedrum, 391. Negro features, 202, 228, 230. Nemedians (Cuthites), 36, 41, 42. Nessan (Nessus the Centaur), 68, 395. Newenham's, R. O'C, " Views of the Antiqtti- ties of Ireland" 402. New Grange, 243, 284, 285, 286, 287, 441. Nimrod, 73, 138, 142, 204, 212, 223, 233, 242. Nineveh, 31, 32, 233. Nin or Nion, 242, 243, (See Nimrod), 381. Nirwana, state of, 321. Noah, 41, 126, 146, 170, 172, 221, 327, 344, 345, 348. Norman style, 2, 3, 5, 251, 436, 439, 442. contrasted with Irish archirecture, 17, ctseq., 353,439- Noughaval, 366, 367. Nubia, ruins in, 165, 166. Oak-tree, the, 75. O'Brien's Dictionary, 4, 78, 129, 254. O'Brien, Donald, 324, 362, 374. Henry, Esq., 36, 41, 44, 70, 72, 1 19, 165, 177, 225, 227, 228, 229, 236, 237, 238, 291, 292, 293, 294, 296, 298, 303, 321. O'Cahen, or O'Cathan, Domnach, 386. Oceanus the Titan (Ossian), 88, 224, 464. O'Clery, 128. O'Connor, Cathal, 324. O'Connor, Dr , 8, 9, 37. O'Connor, Turlough, 413, 414. Odin, 136. O : Donovan, Dr., 253, 254, 457. O'Dunne, Deargan, 217. O'Flaherty, Mr., 39, 41, 160. Ogg. Col., 321. Ogmus (the Tuath-de-Danaan), 36, 292. Ogygia Vindicated, 38, 41, see O'Flaherty, Mr. O'Hainey, St. Murrough, 388. O'Hoisin, Archbishop Edan, 413. O'Kearney, Mr. N., 71. Olam Fodla, 37. O'Laverty, Mr., " Comparison of Eastern and Irish legends? 39, 142. Olympus, Mount, 345. O'Neill, Mr. Henry, "Ancient Irish Crosses," 85, 125, 127, 133, 139, 145, 193, 424, 426, 433, 449, 453. Oran, 94,447- O'Reilly's Dictionary, 72, 254. Orion, 139, 223. Ornaments, Ancient American, 284, 285, etseq. Architectural (Cuthite). the spiral, 247, et seq. the zig zag, 284. the pellet, 284. the lozenge, 285. the embattled, 285. the semi-column, 285. O?' .an (Oceanus), 39, 40, 88, 224, 464. Osiris, 61, 73, 138, 143, 147, 152, 161, 219, 229, 230, 233, 235, 345, 346, 347. Ottmar, St., Chapel of, 260. Otway, Rev. C, 28. Oughterard, 60, 421. Oughtmama, 84, 375. Ox, the, 72, 131, 149, i55 2 55- - Head of, 23, 266, 418. and Centaur, 140, 146, et seq. 486 GENERAL INDEX. Palenque, 119, 187. Palm Tree, 143 et seq. Parker, J. H., Esq., 7, 8, 20, 28, 35, i49> 177, 1 80, 251, 253, 255, 260. Passages, Subterranean, 339, 34* 37 8 3 8 3 407, 415, 426, 439, 441. Patrick's Purgatory, 28, 57. Patrick, Saint, 94, 96, 99, 127, 192, 211, 217, 224, 277, 293, 332, 352, 356, 357, 358, 3 88 > 393> 403, 4H, 438, 439> 44, 447> 457. 464- Pausanias, 345. Palasgi, the, 68, 202, 336. Peleg, 232, 233. Perseus, 40, 390. Persia, 317. Persia, the Pish-da-dan dynasty of, 231. Persians, 70. Peru, 317, 318. Petrie, Dr., 2, 4, 6, 12, 13, 16, 56, 139, 185, 186, 187, 189, 190, 195, 252, 256, 257, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 267, 276, 277, 278, 287, 288, 289, 291, 294, 298, 352, 355> 395> 399> 412, 413, 414. 4i9> 461, 462, 463. , Essay of, 54. Petty, Sir W., 8, 10. Phallic rites, 172. worship, 42, 147, 208, 220, 226, 228, 229, 336. Philo Byblius, 218. Phoenician Mythology, 94, 333, 335, 347. Phoenicians (Cuthites), 207, 218, 223, 224, 2 36, 345 346. Piers, Sir H., 187. Pillar Stones, 303, 332, 333, 334, 335, 380, 386, 389, 442, 450. Planets, Hindoo Monograms of, 115. Plunket's Dictionary, 4. Plutarch, 138, 230, 345. Pocock, Dr., 348. Porphyry, 215. Porter, Rev. J. L. (Giant City of Bashari), 196 et seq., 285. Poul-Deelan, 407. Proclus, 79. Priapus, 321, 334, 335. Prospect, 344. Pyke, Captain, 56, 332, 333. Pyramid, ancient Irish (Clog), 295, 321. Pyrrha, 346. Python, the, 158. Queen's County, 'ancient Cuthite ruins in, 443 444 445- Quin Abbey, 6. Randown Church, 21. Raphoe, 58. Rath, 82, 88, 271, 272, 274, 363, 364. Rathen, Rahen (or Rahan), 56, 267, 281, 3 2 3> 329> 427- Rathregenden, 55. Rathyne, 56, 267. Rattass, 86, 186, 187, 419. Rattoo, 58, 419. Rawlinson, George, Five Ancient Monarchies of the World, 381, 383. Records, Ecclesiastical, 407. Red Hand, the, 132, et seq., 274. Ree, Lough, 431. Reeves, Dr. n. Refert, Church, 462. Reim Riogra, the, (or Royal Calender of Ire- land), 40. Reformation, the, 407. Relics, Ancient, 303. Resurrection, 344, 347. F.RAL INDEX. Rickman's Gothic Architecture, 20, 21. Rock Basins, 303, 340, 341, 365, 366, 379, 3 8 3> 3 8 5> 3 8 9> 43- 43 8 > 444, 445> 4^1, 463, 464. Rollestone, Capt. C., 427, 408,411, 415,419. Ross, 63. Rossbeenchoir, 93, 376. Rosscarbery, 93, 384. Roscom, 94, 294, 310, 411. Roscommon, 58. - County of, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 446, 447, 448. Roscrea, 307, 452. Ross-fin-chuill, alias Clonard, 81, 84, 440. Ross Turk, 92. Round Towers, 5, 7, 145, 178, 243, 282, 287, 295, 297, 298, 299, 303 et sey., 372, 382, 392, 394, 399> 4> 43> 47, 4" 4*5' 420, 421, 422, 424, 425, 430, 433, 443, 447, 45 8 - -- of Aghadoe, 181, 414. - of Antrim, 287, 309, 317, 355. of Ardmore, 255, 318, 454. of Aranmore, 313. - of Baal, 281, 433. - of Cashel, 191, 193, 311, 313. - of Castledermot, 339, 420. - of Clonraacnoise, 253, 276, 425- of Cloyne, 278, 281, 282, 316, 381. of Devenish, 149, 178, 304, 35> 3 l6 > 321, 3 2 5, 39 6 - of Disart Carregin, 88, 429. of Donoughmore, 307, 440. of Drumcliffe, 315, 449. of Drumeskin, 315, 432. of Drumlane, 306, 307, 325. of Dysart, 88, 307, 308, 311, 3 l8 > 363- 487 Round Tower of Dysart O'Dea, 88. of Glendalough, 307, 309, 461, 462, 464. of Kells, 243, 312, 441. - of Kilbannon, 314, 404. of Kildare, 257, 258, 259, 307, 316, 421. of Killala, 287, 316, 438. - of Killashee, 316. - of Kilmacduagh, 1 8, 182, 183, !93 287, 307, 309, 405. of Kilrea, 316, 425. - of Lusk, 281, 282, 395. of Meelick, 94, 438. of Monasterboice, 307, 308, 432- of Rathmichael, 314. of Rattoo, 316, 420. of Roscom, 310. . of Roscrea, 307, 312. of Scattery, 243, 316, 377. of Slane, 73. of Swords, 310, 396. of Timahoe, 258,307,311.445. - of Turough, 316, 439. of Central America, 319, 320, of Hindostan, 316, 317. of Persia, 170, 172, 317. of Peru, 317, 318. Rustam, Persian Legend of, 39 Sabaeans, 204. Saints' Beds, 303, 342, 343, 396. Saint's Island, 74- Saints, Irish, Characteristics of, 94 et stq. Aristocratic descent of, 102. Compound names of, 102. Cuthite origin of, 93. QQQ GENERAL INDEX. Saints, Irish, aliases of, 100. Heavenly Bodies, 98. Longevity of, 103, 463. Miracles of, 104 et seq. - Ubiquity of, 97, 101. Plague and Leprosy of, 104. Saints of Ireland, (of Cuthite origin). - List of, 46, 47. names of, St.Abban, 62,292, 293, 379. Aedan, 91, 95, 389. Aengus-Laimh-Iodhan, 77. Ana or Aine, 69, 70, 75, 335, 340, 34i> 3$3> 459, 464- Annin, 397, 398. Baithen, 55, 95, 372, (see St. Boadan or Buithe). Banaun, 94. Barindeus (the son of the one God), 84, 85, 381, 382, 438, 448, 455. Barry, 381, 447, 448. Bernaun, 405, 410. Blawfugh, 88, 364. Boadan, 55, 403, 432, 464. Bolcain (or Volcan), 46, 63, 64, 95, 356, 438. Buithe, 46, 55, 58, 74, 95, 109, 432, 436, (alias Boodin, Beothan, etc.), 446, 460. Breccan, 77, 397, 409. Breedh, 46, 60, (see St. Bridget). Brenaun, 348, 436, 437. Brendan, alias Breanainn, 90, 384, 397, 437, 43 8 - Bridget or Bridgid (Breedh), 47, 60, 95, 2 57, 33 2 357, 361, 380, 421, 425, 426, 446. Bunaun, 405, 410. ,, Camin or Caimin, 404. Cainan (or Cenan), 47, 89, 399. Saints of Ireland, names of continued. St. Canice, 57, 92, 95, 424. Canoe, 57, 95. Carthag, 96, 352, 397. Cianan, 89, 352. Ciaran or Kieran (Chiron the Cen- taur), 44, 66, 73, 74, 84, 93, 95, 376, 439, 464- Cocca (or Caca), 47, 89, 93, 319, 376. Coelan, 391. Coemgene, Coengen, Comgall, Con- gall or Congan alias Kievin or Kevin, 57, 59, 77, 89, 93, 95, 96, 128, 164,463. Colgan, 409. Colomb, Colman or Columban (the white dove), 47, 55, 60, 78, 79, 83, 93, 94, 95, 9 6 , I0 9, 2 43, 3 2 3, 33 2 , 375, 376, 3 8l 3 8 5, 389, 39, 39 1 , 394, 397, 432, 436, 45- Columba, 453. Columb-kille, 107, 195, 365, 439, 441. Conall, 384. Coona (see Cuannan), 352. Cronan (Cronos the Titan, Saturn), 46, 47, 55, 5 6 , 74, 141, i53> 35 6 , 366, 378, 397, 433, 463. Cuanuan, 96, 352, 397. Cummin, 404. Dabeoc, 57, 95. Dagan, 46, 66, 89, 95, 127, 128, 130, 146, 336, 381, 443, 461, 463- Dairbile (the Oak Tree), 47, 74, 75, i47, 194, i95, 435- Damater (the mother of the Gods), 75, 78, 91, 129, 146. ,, Danan, 89. ,, Darerca (the oak of the Ark), 47, 62 75, 7 6 , 77, 13, r 47, 35 8 - GENERAL INDEX. 489 Saints of Ireland, names of continued. St. Declan (the God of generativeness), 46, 60, 61, 89, 454. Deelan, 407, 409. Derinella (of the four paps), 75, 95, i47, 39 1 - Diarmaid, 47, 76, 77, 420. Dichul (Dia-Baal, Devil), 46, 47, 66, 68, 89, 96, 395. Dima, Dubh-Dimma (the good black God), or Dimo (the good God), 46, 60, 89, 93, 464. Dimmog, 94, 264. Donan, 59. Dulech, 69, 96, 323, 395. Earc or Ere, 46, 71, 72, 73, 161, 436. Endee (the one God), 46, 84, 95, 35 2 , 397- Eodan, 61. Ernan, 94. Fechin, 90, 92, 187, 325, 367, 384, 397, 446, 45 6 - Fechnan, 77, 367. Fiacre, 59. Finbar, 74, 85, 86, 381, 382, "416, 448. ,, Finchor, 81, 163, 164. ,, Finian, 68, 78, 81, 83, 84, 159, 276, 340, 343, 3 6l > 39, 39i> 4i4, 425, 439. 44, 464- Fintan, 77, 85, 127, 128, 130, 154, 293, 359, 3 8l > 397, 457- Foelchu, 84. Gar, 96. Garban, 455. ,, Garraun, 410, Cobban, 62, 360, 383, 398. Gobbanet, 455. ,, Gobnata, 63, 379. Hiarlath, 71, 72, 413, 414. Saints of Ireland, names o{-~rcontinued. St. Kevin (see Coemgene), 57, 95, 343, 398, 461, 462, 463, 464. Kieran (see Ciaran), 66, 73, 74, 319, 332, 335, 3 66 > 3 8 , 382, 397, 428, 448. Lactan, 90, 261, 262. Laserine, 64, 88, 96, 357, 360. Liban, 130. Luan, 46, 59, 89, 263, 358, 372, 422, 43 6 , 463- Lugad, 59, 358, 397. Maccaille, 81, 407. Mac-Duach, 366, 407, 409. Maedog, 47, 91, 93, 96, 458. Maelisa, or Mell, or Mellissa, 47, 75, 91, 147, 428. Manchin, Shrine of, 344, 348. ,, Mawnaula, 364. ,, Mochaimoc or Mochumma, 57, 95 375, 39 1 , 463- Mochay, 356. Mochoe, Minus, 95, 391, 453- Moclmarog, 464. - - Temple of, 276, 351, 462. Mochudee or Mochua, 46, 55, 5 6, 57, 74, 75, 76, 9 2 , I0 7, 153, 26 7> 335, 352, 3 68 39 1 . 397, 427, 433, 445, 455, 464- Mochuma, 95, 375, 391- Mochellog, 64. Mocholmog, 80. Moctee, 61. Molach, 64, 147, *5 6 , 335, 33 6 > 357, 360, 3 6 9, 39 6 , 4i8, Molaise, 64, 109, 178, 335, 348, 396, 437, 45- Molanfide, 77. Moling, 59. Molua, 340, 34i, 372, 444- 490 GENERAL INDEX. Saints of Ireland, names of continued. St. Moronoc, 361. Mura, 335. Muras, 95. Nessan, 46, 68, 73, 74, 85, 157, 395, 464. Noe, 84. Oadh, 356. Ossan or Oissene (Ossian, Oceanus), 60, 88, 89, 120, 464. ,, Rioch, 60, 6 1, 62. Rushann, 409. ,, Satan, 46, 66, 81, 89. Shanaun or Senan, 39, 46, 47, 69, 70, 7S> I0 9> i3 '41. J 57> 293, 332, 3 6 *> 374,377. 3 8 3> 393> 459- ,, Sinell or Senell, 46, 69, 77, 92, 93, 96, 39 6 > 428, 464- ,, Siollan, 84. Stellain or Colman-Stellain, (see St. Columb), 89, 93, 453. ,, Suairleach, 92. Suirney, 409. ,, Tigernagh, 68, 92, 428. St. John's Point, 393. St. John's Wells, 75, (See Wells). Salmon, the, (Earc), 72, 73, 293, 457. of Knowledge, 7 1 . Salsette, Island of, 15. Salt, Henry, 15. Sanconiathon, 147, 206, 208, 218. Sanconiathor, (Ancient Historian), 5'o. Scattery, Island of, 26, 39, 70, 71, 141, 377. Scots, ancient buildings of the, 9, 1 1 . Scythians, the, (Scuthi, Cuthites), 36, 203, 207, 208, 209, 220, 221, 348. - Empire of, 204 et seq. Migrations of 233, 242. Seirg-Kieran, 74, 427, 428. Selby Abbey, 3 1 . Semiramis, 130, 168. Serpents, 39, 135, 136, 156 et seq., 175, 205, 388, 396. 464. Entwined, 15, 320, Serug, 232, 233. Shan, as a prefix, (Old), 50. Shannon, 70. Sheela-na-gig, 69, 325, 335, 362, 372. Sheeptown, 267, 329, 451. Shepherd Kings, 138, 139, 207, 209, 210, 219, 223. Shrines, 303, 329, 342, 343, 344, 348. Sicily, 216. Sillustani, 318. Simon Breac, 38, 159, 160. Simplicius, 130. Sinell, 69. Sirens, the, 216. Sites of Ancient Irish Ruins, Descriptive Particulars of, 354 to end. Sitric, 394. Siva or Isa, 345. Slane, 72, 73, 296, 442. Sligo, 332, 335. - Abbey, 6. County of, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 448, 449, 450, 451. Smith, Captain, 318. Socrates, 223. Sourd alias Swords, 83, 310, 396. Spain, 210, 220, 237. Strabo, 228. Stephens's Travels in Yucatan, 68, 119, 136, 284, 285, 319, 320, 332, 333, 337, 338. Stewart, Sir W., 28. Sullivahana, 119, 120, 122, 164. Sun Worship, 204. Sybil Head, 419. Syria, 321, 346. Scythian Invasions, (see Scuthi or Scots), 293. GENERAL INDEX. 491 Tallaght, 65. Tallow, 69. Tamlaghtard, 66, 83, 389. Taptoo alias Taghadoe, 57, 421. Tara, 37, 69, 296, 334. - Taltine Games at, 37. Tarmon-Barry, 438, 447, 448. Tartarus, 210, 213. Tau, Egyptian, 118, 124. Taughboyne, 55. Teghadoe, (see Taptoo). Teghdagobha, 63, 294, 392. Temolog, 65. Temple, (Teampull), 81, 336. Temples, Cuthite, 81, 264, 277, 295, 303. - sites of, 354 to end. stone-roofed, (see Cuthite Temples), 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327. Egyptian, 206. . Rock, of Hindostan, 13, 14, 15. 18, 220, 304, 327, 332. of Persia, 16, 170, 327, 345, 349. Temple, Boodin, 55. - Brecan, 398, 400, 401. - Brendan, 398. Bunaun, 400. -"Ciaran, 400, 401. Colman, 400, 401. Cronan, 57, 284, 378. Endee, 399, 400. lun, 405. Kieran, 74, 81, 283, 428. - MacDara, 411, (see MacDara's Island). - MacOwen, 75. Molloga, 65. - Murry, 401. Shambo, 58, 459. Shanaun, 71, 459. Templecarne, 57. Termon Fechin, 92, 433. Tertullian, 171, 347. Terryglass, 43, 93, 453. Theodoret, 31. Thevenot's Voyages, 16, 170, 327. Thor, 6 1. Tiber, 347. Tigris, (Teth-gris), 210. Timahoe, 56, 258, 259, 307, 311, 445. Timolin, 59, 421. Tipperary, County of, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in > 45 ii 45 2 > 453- Tir-da-Croeb, 60. Titaea, 341, Titans, the, (Cuthites), 46, 68, 155, 207, 209, 212, 213, 224, 234, 235, 336, 341. Titicaca, 318, 319. Tolmens, 171. Tomgraney, 94, 188, 189, 264, 378,379. Tor-de-Glass, (the tower of the Green God See Terryglass), 453. Tory Island, 84, 390. Traditions of Budhist Crucifixions, 116, 117. Trim, 60. Troy, Siege of, 298, 345. Tuam, 72, 349, 350, 412. Tuam Green (see Tomgraney), 296. Tuath, (Tau, Boodh), 124. Tuath-de-Danaans, (Cuthites), 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 61, 69, 76, 89, 129, 153, 159, 224, 234, 239, 240, 245, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 294, 303, 341, 442. black color of, 235, 289. Tubal-Cain, 62. Tulach-Mhin, 65. Tuirbi Traghmar, (father of Gobban Saer), z88, r 29i. Tullowherin, 94, 425. Tully Grain, 65. Turgesius, 8. 492 GENERAL INDEX. Turough, 63, 294, 316, 439. Tymologa, 65. Typhon, 346. Tyrone, County of, Ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 453) 454- Ulster Journal of Archseology, u, 76, 80, 136, 142, 179, 295, 296, 325, 355, 356, 3 6o >39, 39 1 * 39 6 J 443- Umayu, Lake, 318. Una, (lun, Juno), 75. Uxmal, 338. Valentia, Lord, 316. Vallancey, General, 40, 332, 333, 450. Venus, 69, 79, 91, 257, 297, 298. Vine Branch, the, 82, 83. Vishnu, 85, 125, 131, 262. Vulcan (Bolcain), 62, 63, 64. Walshe's Irish Dictionary, 4. War of the Sexes, 225. Ware's ''Antiquities of Ireland" 413, 423. Warrior, armed, the, 173. Waterford, County of, ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 454, 455- Wells, Holy, (generally called by the name of St. John, lun), 75, 303, 331, 332, 360, 364, 3 6 5> 366, 368, 369, 372, 374, 375, 378, 379> 380, 382, 389, 396, 398, 403, 409, 43 6 446, 447? 448, 455> 45 6 > 45 8 , 459- Westmeath, County of, ancient Cuthite Ruins in > 45 6 , 457- Wexford, County of, ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 457, 458, 459- Wicklow, County of, ancient Cuthite Ruins in, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465. Wilde, Sir W., 344, 351, 352, 353, 397, 398, 399> 435- Wilford, Sir W., 225. Wilkinson, Sir Gardiner, 201. Winged Quadruped, 167. Windows not suitable for glass, 12, 17, 19, 268. - Ancient Irish (Cuthite), 268, 269, 274, 275, 276, 279. lar), 279, 280, 281. (pointed and circu- (of wide and narrow splay), 303, 330, 331, 372, 377, 398, 401, 45 - Windows, modern, 268. of Round Towers, 311, et seq. Wolf, the, 132, 137, 274. Yoni, the sacred, 172. Yonijas, the, 225. Yucatan, 68, 136, 284, 285, 333, 337. Yule-Log, 143 et seq. Zig-zag ornament, 21, 284, 285, 412. Zoroaster (Nimrod, seed of the woman), 123, 136, 137- Zeradusht, 120, 121, 136, 174. PRINTED BY R. CHAPMAN, DUBLIN. aww ifc * I *\e JXrlQelV* 9 ) ^^^ m 405H Sfe^ A 000 085 472 9