153 



There are various names applied to stones of this nature ; in the 

 counties of Cork and Kerry they are called Gowlan,* In the Isle 

 of Arran Gullan,-f- possibly as in the Irish the D and G, are com- 

 mutable letters, the same as Dallen-cloiche, explained by O'Brien 

 to express any great stone erected as a monument, such as the three 

 tall Gowlan stones near Macroom, county of Cork,J which are still 

 shewn as the memorials of a famous battle fought there by Brian 

 Borumh. Gullan may also be derived from Gul, lamentation — or 

 Guilim, to weep. The stone of lamentation erected to commemo- 

 rate the death of some favourite hero. So Na Guil is the Irish cry, 

 or song of lamentation. § 



They are also called the Crom-Dubh, the Black Crom, and 

 Crom-Cruach,|| possibly from cru, red, bloody, in consequence of 

 the sanguinary rites of worship. In some places they are said to 

 be also called Bothel, the house of God,f which, it may be observed, 

 is absohitely Hebrew, and forms a striking link of connexion between 

 the ancient languages of Ireland and Palestine. The same close 

 resemblance may be traced in the name of a pillar-stone between 

 Carrick and Croghan, county of Roscommon, which is set up ob- 

 liquely ; it is called Clogh-Com, the bent stone,** words very near 

 those in the Hebrew, which signify a rock standing or set up. They 

 are still held in veneration in many parts of the country ; and the 



• Smith's Hist. Cork, II. p. 420. 



t Trans. R. I. Academy, XIV. p. 110. 



X Smith's Hist. I. p. 179. 



§ Walker's Essay on the Irish Bards, Appendix, No. IX. One species of the Ceanan, or 

 Irish cry, is called Gol. Ibid. p. 67. 



II History of the Isles of Arran, p. 111. 



5[ Collect, de Reb. Hiber. II. p. 295. — Both, a house, a tent, a tabernacle. — O'Brien's 

 Dictionary. 



»• Parochial Surveys, II. p. 322. 



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