THE IRISH ARAN. 45 
On the large island the other churches are the beautiful ruin at 
St. Eany’s grave, the two churches of Kilronan and St. Soomey’s, 
the Church of the Four Beautiful Saints, and St. Kierans, near the 
large mound which marks the site of the great Connaught 
monastery. The east window of this church is the most perfect 
specimen of church architecture of its kind now to be found in 
Ireland. Near it are two stone crosses. 
On the middle island are to be seen the ancient oratory of St. 
Cananagh (Plate VI., fig. 12), this is also of sixth century date. The 
doorway is constructed of large stones, the lintel is only 19 or 20 
inches wide, and the roof was formed by over-lapping stones. 
There are also the ruins of a church dedicated to the Holy Virgin, 
the rudely built and nearly destroyed Church of the Seven Kings, 
and the tomb and holy well of the Virgin St. Kenerga. 
On the southern island are the ruins of the Church of St. 
Gobuet, and the picturesque remains of the Abbey of St. Kevin of 
Aran. 
The medizval antiquities are not so numerous, the most striking 
example being Furmina Castle on the south island. There are none 
on the middle island, and on Ara Mor are only to be seen, near 
the seven churches, ancient foundations of a small square castle of 
the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries, the walls of which are of 
uncommon thickness. St. Martin’s Tower, on the south cliff, 
about which I could get no information, and Arkin Castle, which 
faces the sea at Killeaney, are the only other ruins. The latter 
requires some notice, since it enjoys the distinction of being the 
last stronghold which held out for the Royalist cause during the 
Parliamentary War ; it was not reduced until something like six 
months after all resistance had ceased elsewhere. 
Arkin Castle, now a ruin, was originally built in the time of 
Elizabeth, but was enlarged and strengthened after it fell into the 
power of the soldiery of Cromwell at the expense of the material 
procured by the destruction of the monastery of St. Eany, the only 
remains of which to be seen at the present day being a handsome 
cross placed in the middle of a field. This was one of the most 
important positions in the west of Ireland, giving to its owner the 
