and many false returns of lands paying cess will be rectified: great abuses of this nature have been detected by Mr. Davis of Hampstead, who has accepted the troublesome office of high constable for this very purpose. When the maps of each barony are published, the best lines of roads will be easily pointed out, and many jobs prevented; at the same time, I must confess this county is far behind some of their neighbours in this species of mean fraud, so disgraceful to the character of a gentleman.

The South Islands of Arran, at the entrance of the bay of Galway, contain about 7000 acres, and are the property of Mr. Digby; they let, or did let for about £2000. per annum, and the rents well paid. The largest island alone contains 4607 acres, Innismore 1338, and Innis Leer 909. Their chief trade consists in fresh and cured fish, feathers, a superior kind of yearling calves, much sought after by the Connaught graziers: formerly might be added great quantities of whiskey and smuggled goods of many kinds. Arran was anciently called the blessed. No less than ten monasteries were built by the pious Endeus, besides thirteen churches; and so great were the number of Saints and Hermits interred here, that the writer of the life of St. Kieran thus expresses himself: "In qua insula multitudo virorum sanctorum manet, et innumerabiles sancti, omnibus incogniti, nisi solo Deo omnipotenti, ibi jacent !" The family of Gore purchased these islands from Erasmus Smyth, and derive their earldom from this island, which was formerly in that of Butler; they are called South Isles, to distinguish them from one on the coast of Donegal, called the North Isle of Arran. A light house has lately been erected on the large island. These islands are called by Ptolemy Ganganii,-a corruption of the Irish words Cean-gan: Cean signifies a head or promontory,

and gan, external,-the people of the external promontory. Burrin, in the county of Clare, opposite to these islands, had the same appellation from Ptolemy. The cattle on these islands are sometimes greatly distressed for fresh water, in so much that, in 1810 and 1821 every beast was brought to Cunnemara until the rains had supplied the wells. There are vast numbers of blackbirds and thrushes, but no frogs (as I am informed) in any of the islands. At a very remote period these islands were inhabited by the Druids; many of their altars and other remains are visible, and there are strong proofs that they were at this period covered with woods.

The late Mr. Richard Kirwan seemed to think that the bay of Galway was originally a granite mountain, shattered and swallowed up by some dreadful convulsion that left a vast mass of granite, called the Gregory, standing on limestone rocks, one hundred feet at least above the level of the sea. This curious circumstance occurs very frequently in the calcareous region in the neighbourhood of Galway, probably occasioned by the same convulsion that also gave entrance to the sea between the islands of Arran, according to O'Flaherty.

In the great island of Arran may be seen the remains of a fort, called Dun Engus, so called from Engus of the Huomarian family, who flourished a little before the birth of Christ under Mauda, queen of Connaught. This island was formerly the residence of St. Ende, and afterwards of a multitude of Anchorites and holy men; ever since it has been called, by tradition of the inhabi tants, the Down of Conquovar, the son of Huomar who flourished at the same period with Angus. It is mentioned in the Ogygia that the bay of Galway was anciently called Lough Lurgan; the sea broke through between the islands of Arran, and formed it into the

present bay of Galway: this rests on the testimony of Mr. O'Flaherty. He says also, that the Belgians gave names to the following places: Lough Kime, at present Lough Hacket, above the Moy-sneang, in the rectory of Muntir-Moroghow, in the barony of Clare Galway; Rhintumuin, in Madrigia, a peninsula on the south of Galway; also Loughcoutra, near Gort; Lough Buadha, Lough Baa, Loughrein, Loughfinney, Loughgrene, Loughriach, in the barony of Moenmoy, now Clanrickard.

A very curious natural production occurs at Barna, that would seem to countenance this assertion of the Ogygia; many feet, probably ten, below high water mark, may be seen on the strand a turf bog of several feet in depth, in which are the stumps and roots of large trees, and many branches of oak and birch intermixed. On this bog there are rocks of many tons weight. The same phenomenon occurs at the west side of the island of Omey, which is very far advanced into the boisterous Atlantic ocean. Probably few things in natural history are more worthy of scientific investigation, whichever of the following cases may be considered :— 1st, The tides cannot formerly have risen so high on this coast as at present; 2d, The land must have extended an immense distance into the Atlantic ocean farther than at present, to enable trees of such magnitude as those at the island of Omey and at Barna even to exist, or the winds from the west must have been of a very different nature from those that prevail at present. It must also be recollected that woods must have existed to produce the bog. At a still earlier period we might cut the Gordian knot, by saying these bogs were formed before the deluge; but I wish some of my scientific friends to help me to untie it.

At a remote period this county was thus divided

amongst tribes of families:

• At a still more remote period, the O'Layns were lords of this territory, which was then called Moy-Sachnoly.

† Moycullen is the birth place of Roderick O'Flaherty who wrote the Ogygia, where he says, " This is my native soil and patrimony, enjoyed "by my ancestors time immemorial. There was a manor exempted by "a patent from all taxes; it likewise enjoyed the privilege of holding a "a market and fairs, and was honored with a Seneschal's court to deter"mine litigations; bnt having lost my father at the age of two years, I " sheltered myself under the wings of royalty, and paid the usual sum for "my wardship. But before I attained the proper age of possessing my "fortune, I was deprived of the patronage of my guardian, by the detestable

Conmacnemara, or the chief tribe on the great sea, comprehending the western parts of the county of Galway on the sea coast; it was also called Conmacne-Ira, or the chief tribe in the west; and Iar-Connaught, or West Connaught; likewise Hy-Tartagh, or the western country, the chiefs of which were denominated HyFlaherty, or O'Flaherty, that is, the chief of the nobles of the western country. It contained the baronies of Morogh, Moycullen, and Ballynahinch.

*

The meaning of the word Galway has been differently construed. Some say it is derived from Gal, a stranger, and Ibv, a territory; the country of strangers. It is also called Galliv, rocky or stony; also, Galmhaith, (Galway,) pronounced Galiv, a rocky barren country. In Syriac, Galmitha; in Chaldean, Galmodh-durus silex, figuratè, pro sterilitate solitudinis. At some former period, in one of the Pope's bulls, it is called "the village of Galway." Many think it took its name from Gaillimh, or Galiv, the daughter of Breasail, who was drowned here; and in the old map of Galway, published in 1651, (of which a copy is given in Mr. Hardiman's admirable history of Galway,) the rock near which she was drowned is delineated: the map, how

"

" execution of my king. Having completed my nineteenth year, and the "prince half a year younger, then I was compelled to take refuge in a "foreign clime. The Lord wonderfully restored the prince to his crown, "with the approbation of all good men, without having recourse to hostile measures; but he has found me unworthy to be reinstated in the pos"session of my own estate.-Against thee only, O Lord, have I trans"gressed; blessed be the name of the Lord for ever!" The estate mentioned here, I am informed, is now possessed by Mr. Lynch of the Castle in Galway.-Note, Mr. Hardiman says he was born at Park, near Galway, and died in 1718, aged eighty-nine.

There is no such barony at present. Mr. Nimmo mentions in his Report," the hill of Mulrea in Morisk," and there is a parish called Moirus in Connemara. In the county of Mayo there is a barony of Morisk.