* Sacred churches.-In A. D. 1645, or shortly before, a description of the churches and chapels of the archdiocess of Tuam, in the west of Ireland, was compiled by Doctor Malachias O'Cadhla (O'Kealy), then Roman Catholic prelate in that see; and so much of his description as related to the islands of Aran, is fortunately preserved in Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiberniæ. Within ten years from that date, the principal churches of Aranmore were destroyed by Cromwell's governors of those islands, and the materials applied to the building of the "citadel," and other works of defence then erected there. A translation of the portion of Doctor O'Kealy's description, preserved by Colgan, is here subjoined. The original will be found in Acta SS. p. 714.

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4. The church called Tempull mic Canonn, near the aforesaid parish church. "5. The church called of St. Mary, not far from the same parish church.

"6. The church which is named Tempull Benain, or the Temple of St. Benignus.

"7. The church called Mainistir Connachtach, that is the Connaught monastery; in the place of which, being afterwards demolished, was built a chapel dedicated to St. Kieran.

"8. The church called Kill-na-manach, that is the church or cell of the monks,

on

which was dedicated to St. Cathradochus, or Caradoc the monk, surnamed Garbh, or the rough.

"9. The church called Tempull-Assurnuidhe, which is said to be dedicated to St. Assurnidhe (or, perhaps, Esserninus), and this church is held in the greatest veneration among the islanders.

"10. The church called Tempull an cheathruir aluinn, or the church of the four beautiful [saints] who were, saints Fursey, Brendan of Birr, Conall, and Berchann; whose bodies are also said to be buried in the same tomb, lying in the cemetery of the same church.

"II. The church called Tempull-micDuach, or the church of St. Mac Duagh (who is also called Colmanus, surnamed Mac-Duagh), which is a handsome church dedicated to that saint.

"12. The handsome, and formerly parochial church, called Tempull Breccain, or the church of Brecan, dedicated to the same Saint Brecan, in which also his feast is celebrated on the 22nd of May.

"13. The church near the aforesaid church of St. Brecan, which is commonly called Tempull a phuill.

“Thus far of the churches and chapels of the first island, from the list just mentioned, of the most illustrious prelate of Tuam. Moreover we read in our Martyrologies, that the birth-day of St. Endeus

extract, has stated that the third island of Aran was called Ard-Oilen; but in that he was mistaken, for none of these three islands was ever called or known by that name. Ard Oilen is an island lying several leagues north-west of the islands of Aran, and is well-known at present by that name, which is translated High-island, its present appellation in English. This was a mere oversight of the learned and laborious Colgan, for in the life of St. Fechin, p. 135, n. 13, he had previously stated, that Ard-Oilen lay a few leagues towards the west from Immagia (Omey), which is a considerable distance from the islands of Aran. He has also referred to the Four Masters, but they only record the death of St. Gormgal, of Ard-Oilen, in A. D. 1017, and do not confound it with Aran. Doctor Lanigan, relying on Colgan, fell into the same mistake, calling Ard-Oilen "One of the Aran islands," chap. xxiii. See further on, for what our author says of Ard-Oilen. If our limits permit, an account of the ecclesiastical remains in the islands of Aran, alluded to by our author, will be given in the Appendix.

Dun-Engus.-Mr. Petrie, in his evi

place

dence before the Government Commissioners of Inquiry on the Ordnance Memoir for Ireland, A.D. 1843, has stated, that "Dun Aenguis in Aran, which was erected in the first century, is, perhaps, one of the most magnificent barbaric monuments remaining in Europe; it was a fortress of the Belgian kings in Ireland."Report presented to Sir Robert Peel, p. 36. In addition to the above description of this remarkable place, see our author's Ogyg., p. 175; which is the only published account ever given of Dun Engus. In what Doctor Ledwich has written of it in his Antiquities of Ireland, p. 141, and in Grose's Antiquities of Ireland, vol. ii. p. v. there is not, even by chance, one word of truth; except what little he copied from the Ogygia. Our author above states the cliff on which Dun Engus stands, to be 100 fathoms deep; but that statement he has omitted in the Ogygia. It is not, in fact, more than fifty fathoms deer. He further above states the surrounding wall to be "in compass as big as a large castle bawn;" but finding that description conveyed no definite idea of its extent, he tried to define it better in the Ogyg.,

p. 175, by stating that it would "contain 200 cows in its area." Even this is defective; for it is certain that its area would encompass more than 1000 cows. The limits of these notes prevent further notices here, which, if space will allow, may be given in the Appendix. But having (note*, p. 74) given a list of the Christian remains of antiquity in these islands, I here subjoin a similar list of their principal Pagan antiquities. And first of the great island:

1. Dun Engus.-This great Pagan fortress is situate, in a considerably ruinous state, on the south side of the island, in the south-west of the townland of Kilmurvey. It was erected in the first century of Christianity (see Mac Firbis's Account of the Firbolgs, in the library of the Royal Irish Academy). This is perhaps one of the finest specimens of barbaric fortresses extant.

2. Dun Eoghanacht, in the western side of the island, on the townland of Eoghanacht, from which it is called. The original name is lost. Much of the surrounding wall is still in good preservation, and is, in some parts, from twelve to sixteen feet in height.

3. Dun Eochla, situate on the highest part of the townland of Eochoill; from which it is named, the original name being also lost. It is in better preservation than Dun Engus.

4. At the village of Eochoill, about half a mile south-east of Dun Eochla, there are strongly marked traces of another dun or fort. Its original name is also lost, but the people relate that it was the strongest fort on the island.

5. Dubh-Cathair, anglicized Doocaher, i. e. the black dun or fort, is situate on the townland of Killeany, over the edge of a high cliff; and to all appearance is the oldest dun on the island. Its wall is

in some places twenty feet high.

6. About half a mile south-west of the village of Kilronan, are the remains of another dun, but entirely in ruins.

7. Dun Conchobhair, the Dun of Connor, on the middle island. This and Dun Engus are the only duns or forts mentioned by our author. See further on above, and in Ogyg., pp. 175, 176. It is situated on a rocky eminence commanding a view of nearly the entire island. This appears to have been a more considerable fort, ress than even Dun Angus, to which it is superior in masonry and extent. Its wall, in some places, is twenty feet high.

8. Mothar Dun, on the middle island is situated in a commanding situation on the south-east division or townland called Mohar. It is about the same size as Du Eoghanacht on the great island, and no unlike it in its general appearance.