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the eastern towers have been built, and what the name Tower is derived from? Upon numerous hills and promontories the orientalists were in the habit of building obelisks and towers, consecrated to some guardian deity. These served a twofold purpose, as landmarks and watch-towers by day, and as beacons by night. Granting, then, that these Irish towers are the workmanship of the old inhabitants (in which opinion the most learned antiquarians concur), built at first after the manner of the eastern beacons, and subsequently, in the time of Giraldus, "more patrio," why should they not have been for the same purposes?

The whole island was divided into petty principalities, the rulers of which were eternally at variance; and wherever a settlement existed, a watch-tower appears to have been erected, most likely at the expense and by the assistance of the surrounding inhabitants; for they were raised of stone and mortar, when the adjoining monasteries were of wood, as if they were of vital consequence even to persons more remote. Their uses at night might have been of great importance; in a country infested by wolves, without the convenience of highways, and whose tranquillity was so much disturbed by the proximity of the enemy's territories, beacons would be as useful to the traveller, the wanderer, or the troops returning from predatory excursions, as to the mariner at sea, or the caravan in the wilderness, both of whom, when the compass and the starlight fail to guide them, pray for a glimpse of some terrestrial beacon to direct

their erring steps. Arguments are not wanting to continue the defence of this suggestion, but this is not the opportunity to multiply them too much.

Those who attribute the erection of the round towers in Ireland to much later dates, and to Christian artificers, rest on one solitary proof (for Ledwich's translation of Cambrensis is decidedly incorrect), viz., the image of our Saviour on the cross, carved on the keystone of the door-way of the tower of Donaghmore, in the barony of Navan, county of Meath. But this sculpture might be of later date than the tower, and the work of some religious persons, with whom this country abounded; or this tower might have been erected at a late period; but, in any case, one instance cannot establish the fact, in opposition to a number of between fifty and sixty towers which have no device: and the most highly finished tower in Ireland, that on Devenish Island in Lough Erne, the keystones of whose upper windows are ornamented with heads, is yet without any sculpture emblematic of Christianity.

There are two towers in Scotland, the one at Brechin, bearing a religious device, the other at Abernethy in Perthshire; but there can be but little doubt that these were erected by the Irish (who held intercourse with that kingdom, although they did not with England or Wales), and after the introduction of such buildings into this country.

The following are the dimensions of some of the round towers:

i

Thickness of

ROUND TOWERS. Height. Circumference. the walls.

Feet.

Feet.

Feet. In.

Door from

the ground. Feet. In.

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Kilcullen
Kilmacduagh

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Downpatrick

Devenish

Monasterboice

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112

40 110

71

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Fertagh has five stories and one rest: Momasterboice six stories and projecting stones: Oughterard five stories and projecting stones. Kenith tower is 124 feet from the door of the church, Downpatrick 48, Kildare 90.

VOL. III.

ANCIENT CASTLES.

DUNMAUL.

THE extraordinary and beautiful natural fortification of Dunmaul is situated in the vicinity of Knappan; it stands upon the seashore, above which it is elevated about 300 feet. The front towards the sea is composed of strata of rude basalt, which, from the inclination of the cliff, which the trap formation of Antrim uniformly possesses, viz., inward towards the centre of the county, produces the appearance of having been thus built to resist the attacks of the billows; the land side of the rock is covered with verdure, and is easily ascended. Here are certainly some appearances of entrenchments; a fosse and mound may both be traced, without much exertion of the fancy or imagination.

The ancient forts of this kingdom were generally insulated rocks of this description-for instance, Dunamaise; and Dun, which is evidently analogous to the Welsh Dinas, will be always found applied in this sense. The Welsh traveller will at once call to mind Dinas Bran in Llangollen, and Dinas Emrys in Nant Gwynan, as peculiarly illustrative of the meaning of the term Dun or Dinas, and the probability that they were used as forts among the Abori gines of these countries.

The fort of Dunmaul, or Dunmail, is said to have been so called, because here the tribute of black mail was collected. The unlearned historians of the glens assert, that all the rents of Ireland were once paid here, as many private debts were paid at the tomb of Strongbow in Christ-Church, Dublin.

Probably the Scotch, who were in the continued habit of making predatory excursions into the northern parts of Ireland, compelled the inhabitants to purchase tranquillity and peace by the payment of a tribute annually at this fort.

DUNLUCE CASTLE.

The ruins of Dunluce Castle stand on a perpendicular, insulated, or rather detached rock; the entire surface of which, is so completely occupied by the edifice, that the external walls are in continuation with the perpendicular sides of the rock. The walls of the building were never very lofty, but from the great area which they enclose, contained a considerable number of apartments. One small vaulted room is said to be inhabited by a Beanshee, whose chief occupation is sweeping the floor: this story originates in the positive fact, that the floor is at all times as clean as if it had been just then swept; but this difficulty can in all likelihood be explained, without the introduction of Maw Roi, the fairy, by supposing that the wind gains admittance through some aperture on a level with the floor, and thus preserves the appearance of cleanliness and freedom from dust, just now described.

In the

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