certainly common to our seventh-century ecclesiastical buildings; and so far might justify Dr. Petrie's opinion that they are the original work erected by St. Colman.

But a closer examination reveals other features which the primitive churches of the seventh century are not known to possess. The faces of the stones are hammer-dressed and carefully set in pure mortar or cement. And in the tower also, they are carefully dressed to the round and batter of the structure, showing most carefully-made joints with fine cement. These are features which are common only to our ecclesiastical architecture of the ninth and tenth centuries.

It may be added that the width of the primitive portion of the cathedral, 22 feet 7 inches, which fixes the uniform internal width of the entire structure as we see it now, is more than was usual in the small and simple stone churches of the seventh and earlier centuries; though the doorways of the church and tower are of the simple and primitive form of the earliest work, it should be remembered that such forms were often used after the knowledge of the arch and of various forms of Romanesque ornament had attained considerable development in the country. Miss Stokes is of opinion that our existing monuments at Kilmacduagh were antedated by Dr. Petrie. Personally I accept her opinion; and I think the only structure at Kilmacduagh, in our day, to which this opinion may not apply is the little Oratory of St. John, which stands on the north-east side of the cathedral. But while rejecting Dr. Petrie's opinion on this particular matter, Miss Stokes advances an opinion of her own as to the period of their construction which should recommend itself to general acceptance; and refers it to the close of the tenth century, when Brian, King of Munster, was extensively engaged in the restoration of churches and the erection of towers in several parts of Ireland. Our historians record the zeal with which this king devoted himself to his great and much-required work. In his Life we are told that he " gave out seven monasteries both furniture and cattle, and land, and thirty-two bell-towers. The restorations at Killaloe and Innis Cealtra are memorials of this generous zeal. And it was under his immediate patronage that Cormac O'Killeen of Hy Fiachrach Aidhne built his church and tower at Tomgreany. Part of the church at Tomgreany exists still; and our experts notice a striking similarity of masonry between these several structures, which would justify us in referring them to the same period ; and when we remember that Brian had married Mór, daughter of O'Heyne, chief of Hy Fiachrach Aidhne, we can see how natural it was that this wise, able, and generous king should take a special interest in the religious foundations at Kilmacduagh.

In estimating the necessity of such restorations at that period, we have but to remember that for two hundred years the country was overrun by the pagans of northern Europe. The ruin of churches, the plunder of the monasteries, and the massacre of their inmates form the burden

of the records of our annalists during the period. Nor did the country of Aidhne escape those savage hordes.

In Miss Stokes's valuable map showing their incursions, we find that they landed at Kinvara in A.D. 866. And we find in the Wars of the Gaedhil that Duach, King of Aidhne, was slain by the foreigners in A.D. 922. Can we doubt that they wrecked and plundered the churches on these occasions ?

Whether our Round Towers existed prior to this period must remain a speculative question. But it is at this period they are first referred to by our annalists. They notice the destruction of the tower of Slane in A.D. 950. They tell us of the erection of the Clochteach at Tomgreany, A.D. 964, and of Annaghdown later still. But at this period we find them referred to, not alone in Ireland, but in some European countries, as places of refuge for religious and as of comparative safety for the treasures and property of the churches and monasteries. The needs of the period, the ascertained facts of local and general history, and the character of the

O'HEYNE'S CHURCH, KILMACDUAGH-SECTION LOOKING EAST.

king, all lend probability to the theory that the original cathedral had been ruined by the Danes, and reconstructed with its Round Tower, under the patronage of the Irish monarch, Brian Boroimhe. The form of the original church was a simple oblong, lighted by a single light in the eastern gable, and by one, perhaps two, similar windows in the southern side-wall. Though the length of the largest of our early churches varied from 60 to 80 feet, they were usually small. It is therefore clear that the present cathedral church must have undergone a series of alterations both in form and extent since its original foundation. We can have no doubt that the earliest of those changes was its extension eastward, when the present chancel, with its imposing arch, was constructed. A close examination of the masonry of the eastern gable will show that its present beautiful traceried window was a subsequent insertion.

Dr. Petrie writes that the present ornate Gothic doorway on the south side was inserted in the fourteenth or fifteenth century, when the original western doorway was filled up with rubble masonry, which still

remains. He also tells us that it was then the side-chapels were added, which give the building its strange and unique appearance-that of a Greek cross. That in the right is known as the Lady Chapel. It is connected with the church by a well-cut Gothic arch, and is lighted from the south by a fine window in which a good specimen of stone tracery of the flamboyant style is still preserved; the original stone altar has been restored in its original place beneath the window.

Exactly on the opposite side a corresponding arch, though of far less artistic construction, connects the chapel on that side with the church. This arch has been solidly built up, leaving only an ordinary door way as a communication with the church. This is known as the O'Shaughnessy chapel; and it is believed to be the mortuary chapel of that ancient family, who were for centuries the lay patrons of the church, and who, as descendants of the princely family to which St. Colman belonged, were the guardians of his crosier and girdle.

Opposite the entrance and against the gable stands a striking monu

ment resembling an altar-tomb. It is sometimes, though incorrectly, called an altar. A cut-stone projection, resting on a plinth, supports a well-cut table measuring about 3 feet 2 inches in length, but projecting only a few feet from the line of gable. On this table rest two wellcarved Corinthian columns which support a quaint entablature richly moulded. Church But it is surmounted by a very quaint and rudely-carved Crucifixion with arabesque figures on either side. The back of the tomb is done in carefully-chiselled slabs, showing close to the columns, on either side, well-cut shields on which are cut, in delicate relief, a triple-towered castle and supporting lions, the arms of the unfortunate baronets of Gort. We have no means of knowing the exact date at which this monument was erected. But we kno

Calos N' Pier of Chancel
Arch

that

It

it is referred to in the will of Sir Dermot O'Shaughnessy, which is dated 19th January, 1671, as "the tomb where my ancestors were buried." probably may therefore have been erected by the first baronet in the early part of the sixteenth century, when our architecture was widely affected by the forms of the Tudor period.

The windows of this chapel are lighted by Tudor windows. Imediately under the window on the eastern side-wall, we find two square slabs with some quaintly-sculptured figures. One represents a bishop with mitre and crosier, and has the following inscription in slightly

raised letters around it :

66 SANCTUS COLOMANUS PATRONUS TOTIUS DIOCESIS DUACENSIS."

The other represents the Crucifixion, with the figures of the Blessed Virgin and St. John rudely carved. This slab also has its inscription and in similarly formed characters :

DOMINUS NOSTER SANCTA MARIA.

INRI: MISERERE NOSTRI DOMINE

MISERERE NOSTRI. FIAT MISERICORDIA TUA SUPER NOS."

These slabs have been inserted here at some unknown date-probably for preservation. We found that, in the eighteenth century, they were seen by Dr. Pococke in the opposite chapel, and formed probably the reredos of its altar. He writes: "On the south side of which (the cathedral) is an ancient altar in good taste. Under a relief of a bishop is this inscription: เ Sanctus Colomanus,' &c. In the middle is a crucifix, and a person on each side, with Ave Maria,' and some devotion round it."

As the present cathedral occupies the site of the original erected by St. Colman, so too the adjoining monastery occupies the site of that which St. Colman founded. As the local chiefs, the O'Heynes, became its lay patrons or Herenachs, it became familiarly known as Heyne's abbey; and it still retains that designation amongst the Irishspeaking people of the district.

Even in the seventh century the monastic system continued to be a distinctive feature of the Irish Church; and in many cases, as at Kilmacduagh, the abbot was at once the superior of the monastery, and the bishop of the territory or diocese. It is true that the founders of monastic life in Ireland in those early ages adopted different rules. Columba, and Brendan, and Ailbe, and Carthach, and the others, had each his own rule; yet the diversity seemed to consist only in minute detail, and all were marked with rigour and severity. We are not in a position to state with authority which of those rules St. Colman may have selected for his monks at Kilmacduagh. But I think it not unlikely that he may have selected that of his friend St. Columba, universally accepted in the north of Ireland at that period.

Heyne's Abbey is, in some respects, the most interesting of the existing monuments at Kilmacduagh. Though it shows unmistakable evidence of restoration at different periods, we find there some cyclopean work and some of the finest specimens of Irish work of the medieval period. But it would be rash to say that we can point to any portion of the still remaining abbey which could be referred to the time of St. Colman. The existing remains consist of the monastery chapel on the north side, and a considerable portion of the domestic part of the monastery connected with the chancel of the chapel at a right angle, and extending southward.

The chapel is far the most interesting portion of the monastery. It consists of a nave and chancel. Brash correctly considers "most part of the nave a reconstruction." This is evident from its pointed doorway in the north side-wall, and from the inferior character of the north side-wall itself. It is also obvious that when the present north side-wall was built,

the width of the nave was considerably lessened. Much of the older sidewall, which had declined from the perpendicular, is still to be seen on the outside. It is a splendid specimen of medieval cemented cyclopean work. On the southern side of the chapel there is another door which communicated with the monastery.

The entire interest of the chapel centres in its chancel. The chancel arch with its exquisite columns elicited the admiration of Dr. Pococke; and Archdall writes: "The pillars and arches, from the entrance to the altar part, and those of the east window, are finished in an elegant style." Unfortunately the chancel-arch has disappeared; but the piers and engaged columns of the arch remain in a state of perfect preservation, and are amongst the most perfect and striking in the country. They rest on simply-wrought bases, and are surmounted by capitals enriched by intricate and varied scallop-work of Romanesque character, marvellous in the minute perfection of its finish. The work is all the more effective as the material is a brighter-coloured limestone than that of the rest of the building. The double-light window of the central gable is of the same attractive material; and its ornamental details are of quite the same character as those of the chancel-piers and pillars. The windows are narrow and semicircular-headed, very widely and regularly splayed on the inside, so that the central dividing pier becomes reduced to a delicate column, with rich capital, supporting the arched mouldings which rest on it from either side. On either side there are two corresponding shafts similarly treated, supporting the delicately-wrought torus-mouldings which form the chief features of the double arch. From the sills, the splay is continued on the same scale, except that the torus-mouldings are changed into hollows or fluted mouldings. On the outside of the gable, these lancets are recessed and richly moulded, and measure 8 feet high and only 8 inches at sill, and still less at spring of arch. The window in several of its features has its counterpart at Clonfert and Clonmacnoise, but surpasses both in the perfection of its finish and the elaborate character of its work.

The outer angle of the chancel-gable has its quoins so carved as to form graceful attached shafts resting on carved bases, and surmounted by well-wrought Romanesque capitals. Such external quoins may also be seen in some of our medieval churches-as at Clonfert and Teampul-nahue. Brash tells us that it is also found at Monainchu. It would appear that this beautiful feature is entirely peculiar to our Irish Romanesque.

Mr. Brash attributes this work to Maurice Ileyan, who was Bishop of Kilmacduagh in the latter half of the thirteenth century. One would naturally assume that the work should belong to the same period as the similar works at Clonfert and other places.

Ware would ascribe the beautiful work at Clonfert to Bishop John, an Italian, about A.D. 1266. This, no doubt, corresponds with the epis