219 



s ome few by their Irish imitators, who, tiiough they could not bring 

 themselves to dwell in gloomy stone castles, quickly followed their 

 example in rebuilding, enlarging, and adorning the places of wor- 

 ship. Thus Duleek, founded by St. Kenan, who died A. D. 489, 

 was a stone building, since it derives its name from the Irish words, 

 Dum, a house, and Liag, a stone ; from its receiving such an ap- 

 pellation it was probably one of the first stone churches erected. It 

 was rebuilt in after times, and no part of the original fabrick at 

 present exists.* 



So also Trim abbey was founded by St. Loman in A . D. 482, 

 and rebuilt by Hugo de Lacy in 1180.-t- 



In the same manner Kilkenny was founded by St. Canice, who 

 lived about the middle of the sixth century, and was rebuilt by 

 O'Dullany, Bishop of Ossory, who laid the foundation in 1 180, and 

 consecrated the church when it was completed in 1200. There are 

 however appearances which seem to demonstrate that the building 

 which preceded the cathedral was of stone ; for where the plaster 

 has fallen the stones, particularly the large ones, forming the coins, 

 are seen to be sculptured with figures and letters, remnants probably 

 of the original building. J 



Some however of these very ancient edifices are still in existence ; 

 among them we may rank the small chapels which are attributed to 

 some of our earliest confessors, at Lough Derg, in tlie Isles of Arran, 

 in that of Innis Murry, in Cape Clear Island, at Ardmore two small 

 churches coarsely built, but with mortar cement, and St. Molaise's 



* Archdall's Monasticon. — Ware's Antiquities, cliap. xxix. 



f Ware's Antiquities — Survey of Meath, ix. 



I Dr. Shea's Account of the Cathedral of Kilicenny, p. 6. 



