In the view of the church in "Pacata Hibernia," which from the roofed condition of the abbey and church we incline to date before 1586, we see a two-aisled building, the north aisle abutting on a square belfry, the upper part not being octagonal, but evidently much broken. No windows are shown in it, but large ones appear in each of the west gables, and a door near the same end of the north wall. The advowson was granted by James I. to Sir R. Boyle in 1603, and appears in the Regal Visitation of 16151 as in the deanery of Rochell,—" Askeaton, the rectory impropriate to Richard Boyle, Knight, Edmond Holcom is its vicar, Rect. min. et predicator, valor £10. Church and chancel in good repair." The church stands on a gentle slope to the east of the village,

in a churchyard far larger and more regular than in Elizabethan times. When we examine the remains, it becomes evident that the "Pacata" view errs (at least) in making the north aisle abut against the belfry tower, for the older windows, both in the tower and church, the batter of the base, and the absence of any trace of such junction equally preclude its existence, and the present church is in line with the old chancel. Lewis states that in 1834 the south transept still existed, and was separated from the nave by two lofty arches rudely closed up." He adds that the remains were precisely in the state in which they are described in "Pacata Hibernia "; but this statement is as inaccurate in fact as in language. Some six years

later, O'Donovan and O'Curry visited the place, and found the south wing demolished and the new church in existence.

3

The belfry and chancel are still standing, their eastern faces being in line, but not bonded. The curious tower adjoins the chancel on the north. It is three stories in height; the two lower being square, about 15 feet each way inside, and 22 feet outside over the abrupt batter of the base; the walls are about 4 feet thick. The building is of very rude and early appearance; but the features give no clue as to the date. The lower floor was lit by lintelled slits (with splays outward and inward

1 P. R. O. I., Dublin. 2" Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i., p. 81. 3 Like that at Inistioge (Journal, vol. xxvi., p. 370).

in three of the walls), and had a plain, round-headed door leading into the chancel, to which it evidently formed the sacristy. The next story had plain slits, now defaced, in its east and north wall, and a higher large window (with nearly semicircular-headed light and slightly pointed splay arch) to the west. The top story is octagonal, resting partly on the middle of each wall, and partly on rude skew arches at each corner.1 The upper part has been too much repaired and modified to show its age or design (for one cannot attach very much weight to its non-appearance in "Pacata"); it may originally have had tall, pointed opes in the principal faces (or even on each side), with stepped battlements and low spire; but it is impossible to assert this with assurance.

The chancel is 18 feet 8 inches wide, and at present about 28 feet long; the round-headed door from the belfry opens through its northern wall. The east window has a rude, pointed splay; but there only remain. the south jamb and one block of the northern, with holes for metal

frames, and only relieved by a slight external reveal and chamfer; the light was 4 feet 2 inches wide. In the south wall we find a window with a deep, segmental arched splay, and a trefoil light

ASKEATON CASTLE.
CORBEL.

within an ogee-headed moulding. Some previous antiquaries have regarded it as of pre-Norman antiquity; but it is little, if at all, earlier than 1500. It is chamfered externally; and had, at the top, a finial of late foliage, now much defaced. Farther to the west, in line with the west face of the belfry, there was a larger window in each wall; but only the eastern sides and springs remain. The rest of the church has been entirely demolished.

The chancel is nearly filled by the large, plain vault of the Westropps, of Ballysteen. Near it lie the curious slabs:-" The gift of Mrs. Judith

1 When perfect, it possibly somewhat resembled the tower of the church of Clonmel, County Tipperary.

2 This family descends in the female line (through Sara, wife of Thomas O'Dell, and sister and heiress of John Thomas Westropp, of Ballysteen, High Sheriff, 1794, died, 1825) from Thomas Westropp, who purchased Ballysteen in 1703. He was fourth son of Mountifort Westropp, of Stainesbye, Yorkshire, and Kilkerin, County Clare; and Jour. R.S.A.I. (Vol. XIV., Fifth Series,

Vol. xxxiv., Consec. Ser.

K

Taylor, late of Ballynort, relict of Robert Taylor,' | Anno. 1731"; they bear the Ten Commandments (cast down and broken like their prototype), the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. I found only two old tombs worthy of notice :-"[This] tomb was erected by Richard Taylor of Ballyglahane in ye County of Limerick Esq | [in me]mory of his son Mr Robert Taylor who | [depart]ed this life ye 29th day of May 1726 and in [memor]y of his wife Mrs Mary Taylor daughter of | [Tho]mas Finch Esq late of Corke who departed | [this lif]e ye 2nd day of December 1730 and in | [the . . . . ]ty third year of her age." The second lies near the south wall of the church, and bears as arms a lion rampant, and a rose :- "Frances relict of Thomas Fitz | Thomas Rose who departed this life the 28th of February 1755 | in the 46th year of her age. The east window of the modern church is in memory of the Hewson family, of Castle Hewson (Bally england); but, like the other modern monuments, it lies outside the scope of this paper.

The chalice and paten are of the time of the Restoration. The inscription on the former, which is of simple but graceful design, is "Ex do: Simo Eaton Arm'. Par: Askeaton, Anno. 1663." The hall-marks show a castle with side turrets, and a star with waved rays. The chalice stands 7 inches high, its bowl 3 inches across. The paten forms its cover, and is 4 inches in diameter. I was unable, for want of opportunity, to examine or sketch the chalice of the monastery; it is still in the keeping of the parish priests.

OTHER ANTIQUITIES.

The high-domed monument with a cross, shown between the abbey and the bridge in "Pacata Hibernia," has disappeared; it probably marked the southern limits of the convent lands. The old bridge is shown in the same view as having six arches, with a curious trap-door hinged to the side at each end; no trace of these traps remains. (1779), as already noted, is wrong in giving ten arches. ing (1799) shows five, the sixth (then as now) being quay.

Sandby's view Holmes's drawconcealed by the

In 1834 two " very splendid" fibula of "pure gold" were discovered in sinking the foundation of a wall to the west side of the river; while

Frances, daughter of John Taylor, of Ballynort. From the said Thomas descend the Westropps, now of Mellon (Maeleen), and the Westropp Dawsons, of Charlesfort, County Wexford.

His uncle, Robert Taylor, of Ballynort, by his will, 1693 (proved at Limerick, 1693, see Appendix E), directs "alsoe it is my will that a handsome burying place be made at Askeaton." I cannot find that his will was carried out.

2 Richard Taylor, of Ballyglehan (now Hollypark, where his descendants still reside), was son of William Taylor, of Burton, Cork, second son of John Taylor, of Ballinort. 3 See "Report, Association for Preservation of Memorials of the Dead in Ireland," vol. iii., p. 102.

Not Timoth Eaton," as in "Round about the County of Limerick," pp. 187,

"silver chalices, crosiers (?), and a great number of coins" were found near the abbey and castle.1

In 1873 two decorated bronze pins were found below Askeaton, near the mouth of the Deel, below high-water mark, on the eastern bank of the stream. They showed traces of decorations in green, red, and purplish-brown enamel, and remained in possession of the Rev. Robert Gabbett down to 1883.2

The Castle of Askeaton3 is described at unusual length in the Inquisition Roll of the Commissioners appointed to report on the estates of Gerald, late Earl of Desmond. The Royal letters, dated August, anno 26 Elizabeth, 1583, head the report, which forms a bulky roll of parchment, in such excellent preservation, and so carefully engrossed, that it is astonishing that no antiquary, writing on places in the County Limerick, seems, up to the present time, to have made any use of it.

1 Lewis's "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i.

2 Figured in Journal, vol. xvi. (1883-1884), p. 67.

3 For views of the castle in earlier parts of this Paper, see p. 25, from southwest; p. 158, view in "Pacata Hibernia "; p. 165, Sandby's view, 1779; and p. 172, Holmes's view, 1799. The view in Fitzgerald and Macgregor's "History, &c., of Limerick," vol. i., p. 360, is much more accurate than the similar view by Holmes. It omits the Club House, and seems to be earlier than the last-named engraving.

The ninth sheet contains a statement as to Askeaton, which, from its intimate connexion with buildings rather than the general history of the place, I have reserved for the topography. I translate out of the absurdly uncouth Latin of the original:

"The manor of Asketten, alias Asketiny, lying in the district (patria) of Connelo, alias O'Gonyll, in the said County of Limerick, with an excellent castle, formerly a chief house of the said late Earl of Desmond, standing in a good state of repair, because William Pellam, Knight, Lord Chief Justiciary of Ireland, at the time of the last rebellion,

remained there and repaired those parts of the same castle which the aforesaid late Earl, at the time he entered into rebellion, burned down. And the said castle is situated on a little island under a rock, and is encircled on every side by a river running from the south to the north to the great River Shannon, from which (latter) river the castle is a mile away, so that skiffs of twelve tons burden ( cimba oneris xii dolliu ')'

1 Dolum generally equals a ton.