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WONDERS OF IRELAND.

CELTIC ANTIQUITIES.

THERE are numerous Celtic Antiquities in Ireland, or which may be so considered, as Raths, Barrows, Cromlechs, Loggan Stones, Mounts, Cairns, to which we may add Brehan's Chair, and Ogham Characters.-Our limits enable us to give an account of only a specimen of each.

RATHS.

Raths in Ireland were always upon elevated spots, for the purposes of defence. They are of different dimensions, some measuring not more than 10 or 15 yards in diameter, whilst others cóntain 18 or 20 English acres. They were in proportion to the power and territory of the Chief. Around these the Clan resided, and within them they retreated from danger. Many Raths are artificial, with subterraneous chambers and sallyports. It is not possible to ride a few miles in any part of Ireland without seeing some in good preservation, and the traces of others. In England some antiquaries have attempted to ascertain which of these earth-works belonged to the AngloSaxons, and which to the Danes. Spenser

thinks the round ones are Danish, the square Saxon; but most antiquaries suppose that both people conformed to the shape of the ground, though the round form was in general pre

ferred.

Spenser informs us, that the Irish were accustomed to hold assemblies upon a rath or hill, there to parley about matters and wrongs between township and township. The Raths were also the places of judicature as well as the residences of the chiefs.

One of the most remarkable Raths is called the Mote of Monacoghlan. It is an artificial hill surrounded by entrenchments, and defended by outworks.

BARROW AT NEW GRANGE. Barrows were artificial mounds composed of earth and stone, formed with infinite labour, and some art. The altitude of the Mount at New Grange from the horizontal floor of the cave, is about 70 feet. The circumference at the top is 300 feet, and it covers about two acres. It is founded on an amazing collection of stones, and covered with gravel and earth, About 1699, a Mr. Campbell, who resided in the village of New Grange, observing stones under a green sod, carried much of them away, and at length arrived at a broad flat stone that covered the mouth of the gallery. At the entrance, this gallery is three feet wide and two high; at thirteen feet from the entrance it is but two feet two inches wide. The length of the gallery from its summit to the beginning of the dome is 62 feet, and from thence to the

upper part of the dome, eleven feet six inches, the whole length seventy-one feet and a half. The dome or cave with the long gallery gives the exact figure of a cross, the length between the arms of this cross is twenty feet. The dome forms an octagon twenty feet high, with an area of about seventeen. It is composed of long flat stones, the upper projecting a little below the lower and closed in and capped with a flat flag. There are two large oval rock basins in the cave at New Grange, one in each arm of the cross. Though they contain no ashes nor are there any marks of burning in the cave, there were urns found, and in the form of a boat. In one of the arms of the cross at New Grange are traces of letters. Similar burial places are not unusual in Denmark and Norway.

CROMLECHS, NEAR CARRICK-FERGUS. Not far from the landing place stands a druidical cromlech. The covering stone, which rests on three supporters, is six feet in length, and of a triangular shape; its inclination is to the rising sun. There are two more cromlechs to the south of the peninsula, but not easily detected by a stranger. On the east of Brown's Bay is a rocking-stone, or giant's cradle, which was said to acquire a rocking, tremulous motion at the approach of sinners and malefactors: there were many of these over the face of the kingdom, but they are now dislodged in most places, so that the few which remain are more interesting curiosities. They were so ingeniously poised, that the slightest impulse was

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capable of rocking a mass which the greatest strength was unable to dislodge; nor does there appear to be any contrivance adopted but the circumstance of placing the stone upon its rude pedestal. Until a very late period Island Magee was the residence of witches, and the theatre of sorcery: in 1711 eight females were tried upon this extraordinary charge in CarrickFergus, and the memory of Fairy Browne is still a cause of terror in this credulous peninsula.

GIANT'S LOAD.

This is a large cromlech at Ballymascaudlan, two miles from Dundalk, of which the chief stone is twelve feet one way and six another, and must be in weight from thirty to forty tons. It stands upon three other stones, and by what means it can have been raised excites our wonder. It is called the Giant's Load by the neighbouring peasantry, who ascribe its formation to a giant, who they say was buried near this place. There are many other cromlechs in Ireland as in Britain.

CASTLE-TOWN MOUNT.

This mount is situated on an eminence near Castle Town in the county of Louth, and is a bold point of view to all the plains about Dundalk, commands a full view of the bay, and a great part of the country round it. It is con

sidered to have been a station of the Danes. The chief mount appears to be all artificial, and it is surrounded with a magnificent ditch. The height of the chief work in the middle from

the level of the trench is in some places fifty feet, and the circumference of the top upwards of 460. On the east and west side of it are two other forts, or redoubts, adjoining to the outward vallum of the ditch, which together with the main mount cover all the summit of the hill upon which they stand, and for many miles to the north and south make a formidable and grand appearance. The mount has been supposed to be hollow within, as many mounts have been found to be

VICAR'S CAIRN.

The immense heap of stones denominated the Vicar's Cairn, lies to the south east of Armagh, at the distance of four miles. It is circular, and forty-four yards in diameter. It has long been used as a quarry for the repair of the roads, but in the opinion of the surrounding peasantry, this is considered as a profanation, and many stories are told of misfortunes having befallen those who had presumed to remove the stones, and the more than ordinary zealous bring stones to add to the heap. There is, however, no tradition of its having been used as a place of worship. In a clear day, there is a view of seven counties, and many lakes of different sizes. In the circumference were large stones, and those that remain are about a yard above the ground, and are supposed to be as much below it. They seem to have been nearly of equal size. On one of these stones are what are supposed to be Ogham characters, which are straight lines of various lengths cut in perpendicular direction on the side; but of the mean