i 



192 



constant use, either in its original destination as a fortress, or more 

 recently for a prison, or, as at the present day, as a depot for go- 

 vernment stores.* The masonry of this building is very unhke that 

 of the round towers, and could any arguments in proof of their 

 Danish origin have been collected from its appearance, Dr. Ledwich 

 would no doubt have availed himself of them. 



In fact the style of building, and the whole character of the 

 round towers, appears to differ from that of almost every other 

 ancient structure which has descended to us ; they are altogether 

 distinct from the buildings erected since the English invasion, and 

 yet greater is the variation between the towers and the oldest Chris- 

 tian edifices of which we have examples. It is also remarkable, 

 that in the old accounts of the buildings at Clonmacnoise, Glanda- 

 lough, &c.,-f- the name of the founder or builder of a tower is never 

 mentioned, though due credit is given to the saints, abbots, and bi- 

 shops who erected churches, chapels, or crosses. Thus every thing 

 leads to the conclusion, that they bear a date previous to the introduc- 

 tion of Christianity into Ireland ; but nevertheless it has been alleged, J 

 perhaps hastily, that they must of necessity have been the work of 

 Christian hands, because upon one tower in Ireland and one in Scot- 

 land there is sculptured a representation of ovirLord upon the cross. At 

 Donoughmore, county of Meatli, there is a very coarse bas relief of 

 the crucifixion, together with some ornamental mouldings now 



* Smith's History of Waterford, p. 167 — Ryland's History of Waterford, p. 112. Danisii 

 towers, resembling Reginald's tower, are said to exist at Seskin, in the county of Kilkenny, and 

 at Grantstown, in the Queen's County. Fitzgerald's History of Limerick, I. p. 243. — The 

 building called Nenagh Round is by some also considered to be Danish. — Wright's Killarney. 



f Annals of the Four Masters. — Pemdridge's Annals, as quoted in Whitelaw's History of 

 Dublin. — Ledwich 's Antiquities of Ireland. — Brewster's Beauties of Ireland. — Ware's Antiqui- 

 ties. — Archdall's Monasticon — Survey of King's County. 



^ Sir R. C. Hoare's Tour in Ireland, p. 284'. 



