232 



adorn the otlier three angles. These form a singular instance of 

 imitation of the Irish tower, or of an endeavour to introduce it into 

 ecclesiastical architecture. These towers, and the belfry, finish with 

 a graduated battlement, which is frequently employed in Ireland in 

 church buildings ; they are evidently of a quite different construc- 

 tion from the round tower, which is finely executed, and the inner 

 surface of its wall perfectly smooth.* The body of the church is in 

 the early pointed style, and appears somewhat more modern than 

 the steeple. There is here a curious monument, some of the carv- 

 ings upon it partaking of a hieroglyphical character ;-f* in this it is 

 not singular, since at Knockmoy the tombs of the kings of Con- 

 naught have representations of this nature upon them. Dr. Ledwich 

 also mentions a church, over the door of which a scarabaeus is sculp- 

 tured.:}; 



It is said that in some of these very ancient edifices remains of 

 Runic inscriptions are to be found.§ These, if decyphered, might 

 lead to satisfactory results, and might be capable of throwing much 

 light upon the date of such fabricks. We must however observe the 

 improbability of their being in the Runic, since it seems to have been 

 made clear that no Runic alphabetical writing has been discovered of 

 an earlier date than the eleventh century,|| nor is there any reason to 

 believe that it was ever introduced into Ireland. But if they be not 

 in Runic, nor in the ancient Irish character, can it by possibility be 

 the Pelahvi, or ancient Persian ? 



Of great apparent antiquity are the venerable remains of the little 

 church of St. Doulough's, about five miles from Dublin ; this ruin 



• Brewer's Beauties of Ireland, I. p. 253. 



f Transactions B. I. A. II. pp. 58 — 67. 



■j^ Ledwich's Antiquities of Ireland, p. 520. 



§ Ibid. pp. 45— 333. 



II Bosworlh's Elements of Anglo-Saxon Grammar, p. 27. 



