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caves, too, around its base are similar to those which exist in the vicinity of Druidical temples.

The views of those who maintain that Greinan was Aileach are fully stated in the Appendix. There can be little doubt, however, that the palace of Aileach stood in the towland of that name, at a distance of three miles from Greinan, and at the place where O'Doherty erected a castle in the fifteenth century, a fragment of which remains. The locality is fairly adapted for the purpose, and bears the signs of occupancy and cultivation from the most remote period. Its elevation is somewhat greater than the hill of Tara, being 248 feet above the level of the sea. It commands a sufficiently extensive view of Tirconnell, Lough Swilly, Inch, and the adjacent country. It is sheltered from the northern storms by the high ridges of the Scalp and the mountains of Iskaheen, and if not the site of Aileach castle, the patrimony of the kings who sprung from the royal race of Eoghan, a more eligible one could nowhere be found within the district. As corroborative of this view we may mention that when Prince Eoghan, who resided in Aileach, died of grief for the loss of his brother, the lord of Tirconnell, his body was buried in Iskaheen, which adjoins the townland above-named, as related in the Annals of the Four Masters.

The standing stone or pillar-stone, sometimes called Dallan, which means a spike, is believed to have been set up for various purposes. They sometimes stand singly; but often in conjunction with the Cromleach, or Druidical circle; they are also found in groups, in straight lines, or forming triangles. The pillar stone was sometimes used as an object of worship; at others for marking the place where a battle was fought, or where a chieftain was interred; chieftains and princes were also inaugurated upon them, and they were used for making certain boundaries. On some there are Ogham inscriptions, circles incised on others; and the Christian has incised the figure of the cross on more. At Cashel, in Glentogher, there are two of these pillar stones; there is one in Ballyloskey, near the Workhouse, on the western face of which the figure of the Cross has been inscribed.

Convenient to this pillar stone, and beneath a portion of the Workhouse site, are subterranean caves somewhat similar to those at Greinan. Beside the stone, surrounded by a low wall and a few stunted thorns, is a small burying ground, known as

Kilbride. This spot, therefore, was evidently regarded as sacred ground both in Pagan and Christian times.

If we except the cromleach of Magheramore, (at an altitude of 400 feet) previously noticed, Clonmany is remarkably deficient in Druidical remains; but, on the confines of Donagh, traces of them begin again to appear. Thus, near Magheralahin, at the base of Crucknagalcosh, there is a pillar stone or dallan in this parish. South-west of it, at Ballybeg, in the parish of Donagh, is another; a third one stands near the house of a man named Campbell, at a short distance from Straths Bridge. These three mark the angles of what would be, very nearly, an equilateral triangle. A fourth one stands on the farm of Mr. John O'Donnell, of Glenmakee; another triangle would be traced by lines connecting this stone with that at Ballybeg and at Campbells, and then again with each other.

Within the latter figure, in the lands of Ardbarrack, there is a remarkable group of large stones which, likely, marks the grave of some person of distinction in times long past. It consists of one stone, about four feet in height, and four and one-half feet in breadth, standing on its edge erect. Beside this is another in a recumbent position, which, no doubt, was once erect also. On the ground, with its upper surface on a level with the soil, and one end in contact with the standing stone, is a third; it is 7 feet long, 3 feet 4 inches broad, and 5 or 6 inches thick. Also, within this triangle, immediately behind Glassalts National School, and at a short distance from the spot last described, there is a green knoll in which is a series of caves. Two of these have been opened. The opening of one revealed a circular shaft of three feet in diameter, and seven feet in through the solid rock. From the bottom of this openings, one to the north, one to the west, and one to the south, lead into as many different chambers. The northern and western chambers are each about 12 feet long by 5 feet broad, but, from the quantity of loose stones and rubbish thrown into them since they were opened, I cannot say with any degree of accuracy to what depth they have been cut. By stooping a little, however, a person can yet easily move through them. The southern chamber is of similar design, but smaller than either of the others. The second cave was not sunk so deep beneath the surface of the earth, and it is now almost filled with the same sort of rubbish as was cast into the first.

depth, cut

shaft three

We now return to the parish of Culdaff, where so much

remains of the pride of other days. At Carrowmore, near th site of the old monastery, (to be noticed hereafter) there is pillar stone, on which is incised a circle, and through this circl has been cut a figure of the cross. In an adjoining field, som few years ago, a stone coffin was discovered in turning up th ground. It consisted of flags laid across and closely adjoining each other, forming the bottom. Similar ones, in connexion with each other, formed the sides and top, and the ends were composed of a single stone to each. The coffin was six feet two inches in length, and when discovered contained the bones of a full grown person.

supporting a horizontal The name of this place

At Baskill are two upright stones one laid across from one to the other.* implies that it was used as a burying ground, and that a chapel, in which was performed the burial service, stood here. About four years ago a very curious subterranean cave, or rather series of caves, was discovered here by men quarrying stones. The entrance to the first compartment was by a circular aperture, 3 feet in diameter, leading downwards from the surface. It was closed by a flag. Descending through this aperture the walls of the cavern are found to be irregular. Its dimensions about 10 feet long, 7 feet broad, and 5 feet high. From the first, a rude Gothic arch, of about 2 feet in height, and the same in breadth at the base, cut through solid quartz rock, leads to the second. Crawling through this arch, the second is found to be much larger, but also irregular. Its dimensions are 30 feet by 10 by 6. Another passage like the first leads to a third cave, and so on to a fourth. Several opinions have been advanced as to the use for which these chambers were excavated. One theory is that they belonged to the antechristian period, and were used as burying places. This is not likely, as no remains were found in them. Another theory, and the most probable one, is that they were used as places of concealment.

The leading feature of the Druidical remains which have been described is, that associated with them we invariably find places of interment, some of which continued to be used after the introduction of Christianity, and subterranean caves. The latter seem to have served for places of concealment, or as

* It is highly probable that other stones, placed similarly, and forming a temple, existed in connexion with these. It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader that such was the form of the Druidical Temple of Stonehenge.

depositaries for such property or valuables as were meant to be kept extra secure.

We may remark that considerable proficiency in the mechanical arts was necessary to enable the builders of these temples, &c., to construct them. They must have been accustomed to the use of the wedge, in order to split such large masses of stone in the quarries; with that of the lever to move them along to their destination; and with the inclined plane for the purpose of raising them to the required elevation.

The cairns, of which there were two kinds-the burying and the simple cairn, were also erected on high places, and on the latter class the fires of Baal used to be lighted on festival days. The burying cairn was the last resting-place of some mighty chieftain, or other illustrious person. At Umgal, parish of Cloncah, is shown one of these, said to be the grave of Ossian ; and in the neighbourhood are places bearing names similar to those mentioned in his poems.

In those early times, too, were erected the Lisses. Lis signifies a fortified house; it was an artificial mound or hill, almost circular, with a flat top and an earthen rampart all around the summit. Inside this was the dwelling, which was secondly defended by a strong wattle paling, as is at present the practice among the Circassians. Inishowen has had its Lisses.

CHAPTER IV.

From St. Patrick to Turgesius.

But to return to Prince Owen and the old castle of Aileach. When Owen had lived here about forty-seven years he was visited by St. Patrick, then on his mission of converting the Irish nation. St. Patrick, we are told, travelled through almost every corner of Ireland, always on foot, and he made it a point to visit the chief of each territory first, knowing that should he succeed in converting the lord of the district his servants and vassals, as well as his relations, would soon follow the example set them by the superior. For this purpose leaving Connaught he journeyed to Tirconnell from Sligo, through Bundoran and Ballyshannon. Having converted Conal Gulban, he resolved to proceed to Ailech Nead to meet Owen. Passing through Barnesmore Gap, Tir-Aodhe, Magh-Ith, and Derry, he

arrived in Inishowen.

Prince Owen having heard of his coming set out to meet him, and embraced Christianity with all his household in 442. Leaving Elagh the saint crossed the Foyle at Culmore, and preached along the Faughan for nearly two months. He then returned to Inishowen, where he preached for forty days, and founded two churches. The first of these he founded on a Sunday, and named it Domnach-MorMuige-Tochuir, in commemoration, it seems, of the day in which he founded it in the vale of the causeway. From this the parish of Donagh derives its name, and the church still stands on the same spot, though it has undergone alterations and repairs at various periods, lastly in 1812. The site is beautifully picturesque; it commands a view of the whole of this, the only extensive plain in Inishowen, the lough of Strabregy, the high ridges of Malin and Croagh, Culdaff Bay, and beyond it some of the elevated peaks of the Scottish mountains; and withal it is not perched upon a hill, as were the temples set apart for fire apotheosis, but on a gentle eminence about a quarter of a mile west of Carndonagh, rising gradually from the river. It remained for the genius of Christianity to select such a delighful place. It was presented to St. Patrick by the pious Aidh, grandson of Prince Owen, who requested the saint to found it, and who afterwards endowed it with land for the support of its clergy. MacCarthan, the disciple of St. Patrick, was the first bishop of this church. In after times when Cahir O'Doherty (I studiously omit the Sir) was subdued, and Inishowen became the guerdon of Sir Arthur Chichester, sixty acres of good land were reserved for the glebe of this parish by James I., in the grant to Chichester. The glebe now occupies 162 acres, Cunningham measure. Beside the church stands a stone cross, more than six feet high, hewn out of a solid block, and ornamented with numerous scrolls and shamrocks. each side of it is a square pillar, and on three of the sides of each of these pillars is engraved the figure of a human head; on that pillar which is next the public road there is upon one side, besides the head, also the figure of a heart, and the heart is above the head. This cross and its accompaniments are considered by antiquarians to have been erected in the eighth century. The other church founded by St. Patrick in Inishowen, was on the river Bredach, near Moville, and he called it Domnach-Bile. The monastery which was attached to this church became celebrated for its wealth, and history

On

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