382 Mr. PETEIE'S Inquiry into the Origin and 



and many others, which it is unnecessary here to name. Nor can I think the 

 popular tradition of the country is of little value, which ascribes the erection 

 of several of the existing Towers to the celebrated architect, Goban, or, as he 

 is popularly called, Goban Saer, who flourished early in the seventh century ; 

 for it is remarkable that such a tradition never exists in connexion with any 

 Towers but those in which the architecture is in perfect harmony with the 

 churches of that period, as in the Towers of Kilmacduach, Killala, and Antrim. 

 And it is further remarkable, that the age assigned to the first buildings at Kil- 

 macduagh, about the year 620, is exactly that in which this celebrated Irish 

 architect nourished. See page 345. It is equally remarkable that though the 

 reputation of this architect is preserved in all parts of the island, in which the 

 Irish language is still spoken, yet the erection of the oldest buildings in certain 

 districts in the south and west of Ireland is never ascribed to him, the tradition 

 of these districts being that he never visited or was employed on buildings 

 south-west of Galway, or south-west of Tipperary. I have already alluded to 

 the historical evidences which prove that the Goban Saer was no imaginary 

 creation, however legendary the memorials remaining of him may be considered; 

 and I may here add, that it woidd appear from a very ancient authority, 

 namely, the Dinnsenchus, preserved in the Books of Lecan and Ballymote, that 

 he was the son of a skilful artisan in wood, if not in stone also ; and that this 

 artisan was, if not a foreigner, at least very probably of foreign extraction, and 

 thus enabled to introduce arts not generally known in the country ; and further, 

 that the Goban himself was probably born at Turvy, on the northern coast of 

 the County of Dublin, which, it is stated, took its name from his father, as 

 being his property, and which, as he was not a person of known Milesian 

 origin, it is but fair to infer he received as a reward for his skill in mechanical 

 art. This passage, the text of which is corrected from the two copies, is as 

 follows : 



" Cpaij Cuipbi ca n-ap po h-ammnijeo ? Nm. Cuipbi Cpajmap, acaip 5bam c-Saeip, 

 ip 6 pooup peilb ip in popbbai. Tp 6 pin pocepoao upcup oia biail a Culaij an Biail ppta 01510 

 in cuile, cona \ po anao in paipje, 7 m rhijeao caipip. Ni peap a jenealach pamopiuo, acr 

 mump aen ou na cepbaoacaib' ac pullaoap a Cempaij piap in pab n-iloanach" pil i n-t)iam- 

 paib 6pe j. Unoe Cpaij Cuipbe oicicup. 



" In the copy preserved in the Book of Lecan, fol. 260, b, b, piap an pab n-iloanach, reads 



