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H. K. M'Aleer, Beragh, Co. Tyrone: proposed by S. F. Milligan, M.R.I.A., Vice-President.

The Rev. James E. M'Kenna, c.c., Enniskillen : proposed by Thomas Plunkett,

M.R.I.A.

Robert M Mullan, Giant's Causeway, Bushmills: proposed by William Gray, M.R.I.A., Vice-President.

Thomas Henry Mahony, Clonard, Blackrock-road, Cork: proposed by J. J. Mahony.

John J. Murphy, H. M. Customs, Culgreine, Ballintemple, Cork: proposed by Joseph H. Bennett.

Thomas O'Hanlon, 8, North Frederick-street, Dublin: proposed by John F. Small.

Henry S. Persse, J.P., Glenarde, Galway: proposed by Richard Langrishe, F.R.I.A.I., Fellow.

The Rev. William B. Steele, B.A., Levally Rectory, Enniskillen : proposed by Thomas Plunkett, M.R.I.A.

William N. Strangways, Inspector of Taxes, Custom House, Dublin: proposed by Thomas Plunkett, M.R.I.A.

Edward Tipping, J.P., Bellurgan Park, Dundalk: proposed by G. D. Burtchaell, M.A., M.R.I.A., Fellow.

William Bergin, M.A., Professor of Natural Philosophy, Queen's College, Cork: proposed by Charles H. Keene, M.A.

Edward Stuart Cromie, District Inspector of Schools, Killarney: proposed by the Ven. G. R. Wynne, D.D., Archdeacon of Aghadoe.

W. H. Drennan, Assistant Registrar of Deeds, Henrietta-street, Dublin: proposed by Bedell Stanford.

The Very Rev. Martin K. Dunne, P.P., Canon, Blackwater, Enniscorthy: proposed by J. J. Perceval, Fellow.

Michael Andrew Ennis, J.P., Ardmadh, Wexford: proposed by J. J. Perceval, Fellow.

Michael Gill, B.A., Roebuck House, Clonskeagh: proposed by G. D. Burtchaell, M.A., M.R.I.A., Fellow.

Miss Jephson-Norreys, Mallow Castle, Mallow: proposed by G. D. Burtchaell, M.A., M.R.I.A., Fellow.

John Latimer, Board of Works Inspector, Killarney: proposed by the Ven. Archdeacon Wynne, D.D., Archdeacon of Agbadoe.

Benjamin A. W. Lett, J.P., Bally vergan, Adamstown, Co. Wexford: proposed by J. J. Perceval, Fellow.

Henry Colley March, м.D. (Lond.), F.S.A., 2, West-street, Rochdale: proposed by A. C. Haddon, M.A., F.Z.S.

Miss Gertrude Pim, Glenageragh House, Kingstown: proposed by the Rev. Professor Stokes, D.D.

Francis P. Thunder, Municipal Buildings, Cork Hill, Dublin: proposed by the Very Rev. Canon O'Hanlon, M.R.I.A.

Mr. Perry read a Paper on "The Antiquities of the County Galway," which was referred to the Council.

The Hon. Secretary of the Revising Committee, for Mr. R. J. Kelly, read a Paper on "The Wardens of Galway," which was also referred to the Council.

The remaining Papers on the list, viz. :—

"The Church of St. Nicholas, Galway," by Thomas Drew, R.H.A., President. "The Islands of the Corrib," by Richard J. Kelly, B.L., Honorary Local Secretary for North Galway.

"Ardfert Friary and the Fitzmaurice Lords of Kerry" (Part II.), by Miss Hickson.

"The Shamrock in Literature: a Critical Chronology," by Nathaniel Colgan,

M.R.I.A.

were taken as read, and referred to the Council.

The Hon. Secretary made an announcement of the arrangements for the Excursion to the Loughcrew Hills on Monday, 5th August, and the Quarterly Meeting at Wexford on Monday, 9th September.

On the motion of Mr. Milligan, Vice-President, seconded by the Rev. J. F. M. ffrench, Fellow, it was resolved—

"That the best thanks of the Society be given to the Harbour Commissioners and people of Galway for their kindness in offering the hospitality of the port, and the interest taken in the visit of the Society to Galway."

The Rev. Dr. Buick, Vice-President, proposed

"That the best thanks of the Society be given to the MOST REV. BISHOP HEALY for his kindness in presiding, and his dignified conduct in the Chair."

The motion was passed by acclamation, and his Lordship having responded, declared the Meeting of the Society adjourned to Monday, 9th September, 1895.

ON

EXCURSION TO ARAN ISLANDS, GALWAY, &c.

JULY, 1895.

the days preceding and following the Galway Meeting, Antiquarian Excursions had been arranged, and were joined in by many Fellows and Members of the Society.

The Excursions preceding the Meeting were carried out by two separately organised parties. One left Belfast by steamer on Tuesday morning, July 2nd; the other travelled by railway from Dublin on the following Thursday afternoon.

The Belfast party, under the guidance of Mr. Seaton F. Milligan, Vice-President, left Donegall-quay, Belfast, in the steamship "Caloric," at 11 o'clock, a.m., on Tuesday, in a severe thunderstorm. The storm was at once left behind, and the steamer in fine weather followed the Antrim coast to Fair Head, which was reached at 2.30. Here the ship entered a dense fog which for about half an hour obscured all view.

It had been proposed to sail round Rathlin, and afford an opportunity of seeing that island. The fog rendered this impracticable, and when the ship emerged from the mist Rathlin lay astern. Bengore Head, and the bold coast about the Giants' Causeway and Dunluce were far away to the south. The ship being now directed north-westward, towards Malin Head, the coast of Antrim and Londonderry soon sank into the distance. The weather continued dull, and as the headlands of Inishowen were approached the wind rose stronger from N.W. The low island of Inishtrahull, the most northern land claimed by Ireland, was left far to the right. Then, on the other hand, the rocky islets of Garvan were passed, the ocean waves breaking high over their bare rocks. Malin Head was then rounded, and the ship's course being now S. W., she rolled heavily in the beam sea for an hour or so, during which those whose turn it was to dine had a very bad time.

Entering Lough Swilly, and passing within Dunree Head, the ship was once more in calm water, in which she anchored off Rathmullan. This place is associated with the kidnapping of Red Hugh O'Donnell, and subsequently with the flight of Hugh O'Neill. Here a thick misting rain, and the summons to the second dinner, deterred all but a very few from landing and inspecting the remains of a small Carmelite house at Rathmullan.

The morning of Wednesday, the 3rd, was most unpromising. A dull sky, a high wind, and driving scuds of rain, seemed to threaten very bad weather. The ship had been arranged to leave Lough Swilly early, but as the state of the weather rendered it extremely improbable that the intended landing on Tory Island and Inismurray could be carried out, the start was postponed until after breakfast. About 8 a.m. anchor was

weighed, and the "Caloric" faced towards the ocean and the N.W. gale. Nearing the open sea the weather became still more threatening. Fanad Head, at the west of the outer opening of Lough Swilly, was rounded, and the ship's course was directed towards the distant cliffs of Horn Head, passing at no great distance the low rocky headlands of the district of Fanad. Arrived off Horn Head, our course was continued still westward towards the bold rocky cliffs of Tory. At Tory we were again in shelter. The island lies nearly east and west, and the ship sailing along its southern shore was protected from the northerly wind. Easttown, an irregular group of huts, could scarcely be distinguished from the rocky land around it. A little further the ship came to anchor off Westtown. Here the sea was sheltered and calm. A landing was soon effected, partly in the ship's boats, and partly in some which came from the island. The native corraghs are still to be seen here, but the boats which put out to us were new, well built boats known as Norway yawls', supplied by the Congested Districts Board, the cost being treated as a loan repayable by instalments.

Close to the landing place stands a stone cross of the T form. It is about 7 feet high above its pedestal; is without ornament, and appears to be in its original condition.

St. Columba's Cross, Church, and Tower, Tory Island.

Dr. Petrie.

From a drawing by

About 100 yards west of the cross is a Round Tower. The height, according to Mr. Getty (Ulster Journal of Archæology, vol. i.), is about

1 For this and other statements the Editor is indebted to the account of the Excursion, written by Mr. S. F. Milligan for the Belfast News-Letter, and since republished.

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51 feet, and as part of the roof remains at the east side it cannot have been higher. The door shown here from a drawing by Petrie, is about

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Doorway of Round Tower, Tory Island. From a drawing by Dr. Petrie.

9 feet from the ground. There are some remains of vaulting, which appears to have covered the chamber next below the uppermost one of the tower. Part of the west side has been recently judiciously repaired by the Board of Works. The new work seems to have been necessary for the security of the rest of the tower, and is of a character readily distinguished from the older masonry.

Between the cross and the tower were two early churches of which no distinct remains survive. The arch in the middle distance in the accompanying sketch probably belonged to one of these churches. Its site is now occupied by a newly enclosed graveyard, in which are one or two incised stones of no special interest.

Nearer the tower is a small platform of stones on which stands a large stone having a long oblong hollow containing water. Here also are three or four fragments of stone, carved with elegant ornamental work not in very good preservation.

The party having returned to the ship, she weighed anchor, raising from the ocean bottom some twenty fathoms deep, a mass of granite wedged in the anchor. The stone was covered with minute corals and other deep-sea life.

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