I904- FKNNKiwiy. — Sligo Confejence, Antiquities. 221 



these "three stony sentinels," as Col. Wood-Martin calls them, bear 

 evidence of careful attention in their old age. This round tower is 

 classified by Miss M. Stokes as belonging to the first or earliest style. 

 Connected with it is the unchristian-like legend that when the wisest 

 man is passing it will fall and kill him. All the men of our party are 

 still alive — their combined wisdom had no effect on its silent dignity. 

 The high cross is worthy of close inspection. Its decoration is not of the 

 highest order of Celtic work, but it has much to commend it. Some of 

 the subjects yet require interpretation, and a decision regarding the 

 mortice holes on the sides still awaits confirmation. 



"The Annals "l under the date of 871, state that Dunadhack, l/ord of 

 Carbury died, and he " lies under hazel crosses in Drumcliff."^ 



S1.1GO Abbev. 



This abbey, which is situate close to the Imperial Hotel, has been 

 almost hidden from view by the march of the encroaching city. Most of 

 our party visited these picturesque old ruins and listened with com- 

 mendable patience to its history as read out from the old stones them- 

 selves — and for which we must refer our readers to the " History of 

 Sligo " by Col. Wood-Martin, who has kindly lent us the blocks of the 

 plan and seal which are here reproduced. (See pp. 222, 224). 



We may, however, be permitted to say that the cloisters are in an 

 extremely fine state of preservation, and well worthy of study, as they are 

 characteristic of the general Irish design of arcading. The vivsitor would 

 do well to spend more than a passing glance at the imposing array of 

 lancet windows in the south wall of the chancel ; they are a noble work 

 of a thirteenth century architect — a " no common man," as Ruskin said 

 of one of his contemporaries. They possess the attribute of growing on 

 one, and creating never-fading impressions. 



The design on the seal carries with it great interest, as it shows the 

 west end as it formerly stood with flanking towers for protection, while 

 the usual distribution of monastic buildings, and the respective ages of 

 the various parts, are well defined on the plan. 



These buildings are conserved by the Board of Works as a national 

 monument, and since, as a great protector of ancient buildings, this Board 

 is always most eager to take a hint, we venture to suggest that some few 

 of the trees should be removed in order to prevent possible damage. 



"" "The Annals of the Four Masters" might never have seen the light 

 had not those zealous antiquarians found a patron in a Sligo gentleman 

 O'Gara of Coolavin, at whose instigation the compilation was under- 

 taken."— Wood-Martin. 



8 Sec "History of Sligo," by Col. Wood-Martin, p. 174, also for other 

 obits. 



D 



