Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 



293 



The chancel arch is composed of four recessed divisions, and two of its 

 shafts are twined, or fluted, spirally. The arch mouldings are also richly 

 sculptured, one exhibiting the usual chevron, and another a series of human 

 heads, which extend also along the faces of the piers. At present this arch 

 exhibits, to some extent, the horse-shoe form ; but this is only an accident, 

 resulting from the pressure of the wall. 



The chancel is ornamented, in its side walls, with an arcade like those of the 

 nave, but of a richer character, the arches being supported by columns ; and 

 the apsis, or quadrangular recess for the altar, is similarly ornamented, its 

 arcade, however, being open, and its columns enriched with fluted, spiral, and 

 chevron mouldings. The ceiling of the chancel is groined with ribs, springing 

 from the angles, and is ornamented with four human heads at their point of 

 intersection. Grotesque human heads are also placed immediately beneath the 

 vault on the east and west walls ; and the whole of the vaulted roof, as well as 

 the sides of the chancel, appear to have been richly painted in fresco, in which 

 the prevailing colours used were red, yellow, brown, and white. In the small 

 side recesses curtains were represented, and arches were depicted on the ceil- 

 ing. These frescoes are obviously cotemporaneous with the building. 



The apartments placed above the nave and chancel are on different levels, 

 the floor of the apartment over the chancel being six feet six inches lower than 



