Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 



129 



outside, but narrows to two feet on the inside. The roof is formed, as in all 

 buildings of this class, by the gradual approximation of stones laid horizontally, 

 till it is closed at the top by a single stone ; and two apertures in its centre 

 served the double purpose of a window and a chimney. 



v. 



The next example presents a view of a house of one of the early saints of 

 Ireland, and exhibits the characteristics of the Cyclopean style more than the 

 preceding one, the stones being mostly of enormous size. It is the house of St. 

 Finan Cam, who nourished in the sixth century, and is situated on Church 

 Island in Lough Lee or Curraun Lough, on the boundary of the baronies of 

 Iveragh and Dunkerrin, in the county of Kerry, and four miles to the north of 

 Derrynane Abbey, in Irish Ooijie phfondin, which derives its name from that 

 saint. This structure, though nearly circular on the outside, is quadrangular on 

 the inside, and measures sixteen feet six inches in length, from north to south, 

 and fifteen feet one inch from east to west, and the wall is seven feet thick at 

 the base, and at present but nine feet nine inches in height ; the doorway is 

 on the north side, and measures on the outside four feet three inches in height, 

 and in width two feet nine inches at top, and three feet at bottom. There are 

 three stones forming the covering of this doorway, of which the external one 

 is five feet eight inches in length, one foot four inches in height, and one foot 



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