168 



Tliere are also otlier structures, which do not come precisely 

 under any of the foregoing heads, yet which deserve mention, both 

 from being in themselves remarkable, and from their intimate con- 

 nection with the present subject. 



The circular enclosure called the Giant's-ring near Urumboe, in 

 the county of Down, the encompassing bank of which measures a 

 third of Ji mile, and environs a level area of five acres, is one of 

 these ; in the centre stands a gigantic crom-leac, and the surround- 

 ing mound is raised to so great a height, that to a person standing 

 at the altar, only the sky and the rampart are visible ; the base of 

 this rampart is very broad, the outside sloping abruptly finishes in a 

 flat space, of sufficient breadth to admit of two persons riding 

 abreast : the declivity inwards is gentle, and well suited for specta- 

 tors to sit around, as in an amphitheatre, to view the sacrifice and 

 rites performing in the centre.* 



The county of Wicklow exhibits on the summit of the mountain 

 Slieb-Gadoe, which is two thousand feet in height, another reniark- 

 able enclosure ; this is of stone, an hundred and seventeen feet long 

 by an hundred and one; the surrounding wall is twelve feet high, 

 of great thickness, and formed of large rough stones. Within this 

 circuit is a holy well, much frequented by pilgrims : this clear and 

 beautiful spring, though situated within two feet of the highest point 

 of the mountain, is said to flow at all times of the year. There is also 

 the ruin of a small, very ancient church, which may be considered 

 a strong evidence that in former times this spot was the scene of 

 idolatrous rites ; the early missionaries having purposely selected 

 such for the site of churches, thereby sanctifying to Christian worship 

 the very theatres of heathen ism.-f 



• Survey of Down, p. 27. 3. — Reid's Tour, p. 187.— Harris's History of Down, p. 200. 



f Brewer's Beauties of Ireland, p. 339 — Cordiner's Scenes in Scotland, where he gives 



