Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 423 



use of pilgrims ; but though what remains of them is of stone, they do not appear 

 to have been roofed with that material. Within the enclosure are several 

 rude stone crosses, probably sepulchral, and flags sculptured with rude crosses, 

 but without letters. There is also a granite globe, measuring about twenty 

 inches in diameter. 



" In the surrounding ground, there are several rude stone altars, or penitential 

 stations, on which are small stone crosses ; and on the south side of the enclosure 

 there is a small lake, apparently artificial, from which an artificial outlet is 

 formed, which turned a small mill : and, along the west side of this lake, there is 

 an artificial stone path or causeway, two hundred and twenty yards in length, 

 which leads to another stone cell or house, of an oval form, at the south side of 

 the valley in which the monastery is situated. This house is eighteen feet long, 

 and nine wide, and there is a small walled enclosure joined to it, which was 

 probably a garden. There is also adjoining to it, a stone altar surmounted by a 

 cross, and a small lake, which, like that already noticed, seems to have been 

 formed by art." 



That the monastery on High Island was an Eremitical establishment, can be 

 proved from historical evidences ; and that it was so considered by the learned 

 O'Flaherty, will appear from the following notice of the island, extracted from 

 his account of the Territory of West Connaught, written in 1684, and preserved 

 in MS. in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. 



" In the Western Ocean beyond Imay, three smaller islands appear, viz., Cruagh-ar-ne-may, 

 called by Sir James Ware, Insula Cuniculorum, for its store of rabbits. (Ware Antiq., cap. 28, 

 p. 287). It is a bane to dogs, which die on the spot or soon after coming out. The next is Olen na 

 mbrahar, or the Friar's Island. The furthest off is is Ard olen, the high island (Colgan, 20 Jan. 

 p. 135, cap. 22), anciently called Innishiarthar, i. e. the West Island. It is unaccessable, except on 

 calm settled weather, and so steep that it is hard, after landing in it, to climb to the top, where there 

 is a well called Brian Boromy (King of Ireland) his well, and a standing water, on the brook whereof 

 was a mill. There is extant a chappell and a large round wall, and also that kind of stone building 

 called cloghan, wherein yearly an Eyrie of Hawkes is found. Here St. Fechin founded an abbey, 

 as he did at Imay. It is also celebrated for the eremetical retirement of St. Gormgall, a very spi- 

 ritual person and of renowned sanctity, who died the 5th of August, 1017, and was there interred, 

 together with diverse other holy hermits, that lived with him. Ten of them are named by Father 

 Colganus out of an ancient poem in his Praise extant (Colg. 21, Marcii. cap. 7, at Vit. St. Endei, 

 page 715, ad finem)." 



In a note on the passage here referred to by O'Flaherty, relative to the 

 foundation of this monastery by St. Fechin, Colgan writes as follows : 



