120 



been arched over : on the front side of this altar the covering stone 

 overhangs the supporters three feet, and outside of this projection 

 stand two narrow slabs of stone pitched on end — the whole is 

 contained within a circle of stones, forty-five feet in diameter, sur- 

 rounded by an outer earthen enclosure, within which mound a 

 subterraneous passage seems to have been carried round the whole 

 circumference. 



This is a very perfect, and certainly a remarkable Crom-leac, 

 united as it is with other remains deserving of particular observa- 

 tion ; for here we have the altar placed upon an artificial elevation, 

 surrounded by the sacred circle of stones, and combined with caves 

 where the mysteries may have been performed, and from whence 

 oracular responses may possibly have been delivered. The country 

 people regard this spot with veneration, and have a tradition that 

 ii» former times the table-stone could move." 



At Fiddown, county of Kilkenny, stands an altar of about five feet 

 elevation, placed upon a cairn raised upon a summit of Carick- 

 na-Gaug-hill.* In this instance the Crom-leac and the cairn are 

 united. 



Sugar-loaf Hill, county of Waterford,-f exhibits one of the largest 

 of the Crom-leacs with four supporters ; the covering-stone is of 

 great size, and is raised twenty feet from the ground. Under 

 this, but entirely detached from it, and equi-distant from the four 

 uprights, stands a pillar-stone. Such combination of these different 

 vestiges of paganism distinctly shew that they were employed in 

 the ancient worship, and in simultaneous use ; since, although 

 seldom all combined, they appear to have been indifferently con- 

 nected with the Crom-leac, and with each other. 



* Parochial Surveys, I. p. 36i. 

 Eyiand's History of Waterford, p. 263. 



