Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 



315 



These windows are ornamented with the zig-zag and other mouldings, both 

 externally and internally, and they are connected with each other by label, 

 or stringcourse mouldings, of which the external one is enriched with paterse. 

 In the south wall there is a window similarly ornamented, but of smaller size. 

 But the great feature of this chancel is its triumphal arch, now erro- 

 neously supposed to have been a doorway, which is, perhaps, the most magni- 

 ficent specimen of its kind remaining in Ireland. It is composed externally of 

 six semicircular, concentric, and recessed arches, of which the outer is twenty 

 feet six inches in width at its base, and nineteen feet five inches in height; and 

 the inner, fifteen feet eight inches in width, and sixteen in height. The shafts 

 of the columns, which, with the exception of the outermost at each side, are 

 semicircular, are unornamented ; but their capitals, which are rectangular, on 

 a semi-circular torus, are very richly sculptured, chiefly with a variety of inter- 

 laced traceries, similar to those on the base of the stone cross ; and in two 

 instances, those of the jambs, with grotesque human heads. 



The imposts are, at one side, very richly sculptured with a scroll and other 

 ornaments; and, at the other side, present a kind of in verted ogive; and these 

 imposts are carried along the face of the wall as tablets. The bases are unor- 

 namented, and consist of a torus and double plinth. The arch mouldings 

 consist of the nebule, diamond frette, and varieties of the chevron, the execu- 

 tion of which is remarkable for its beauty. I have only to add, that all the 

 ornamental parts of this chancel are executed in red sandstone. 



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