Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 



275 



of Brian ; and the tradition of the place has probably a foundation in truth, 

 which considers it as the entrance to the tomb of Muircheartach O'Brien, king 

 of Ireland, who died on the 8th of March, 1120, and who, as Ware tells us, 

 " was a great benefactor to the church of Killaloe, and pursuant to his com- 

 mands, while living, was buried there :" but this very supposition implies the 

 existence of an earlier cathedral church on the site of the present one. 





The question then naturally suggests itself, is the other church the remains of 

 that erected by Brian two centuries previously ? That this church is as ancient 

 as Brian's time cannot indeed be doubted, and it would furnish an unquestion- 

 able proof, if proof were wanted, of the use of ornamented architecture in 

 Ireland in the tenth century. But I confess that I feel very strongly inclined to 



2 N 2 



