Round Towers of Ireland. 353 
the natives was clochtheachs, or bloghachd, 
that is, literally Bell- Houses. 
Dr. Molyneux, who wrote in 1727, (Mm) re- 
marks on this subject “ That the Irish word 
cloghachd is taken from a foreign tongue, 
and, being a term of art, imports the thing it 
signifies, must likewise be derived from fo- 
reigners. Now the Trish word does plainly owe 
its etymology to Clugga,a German Saxon word, 
that signifies Bell, from whence we have de- 
rived our modern word Clock. This appel- 
lation also shews the end for which these 
Towers were built, for Belfries or Steeples, 
wherein was hung a Bell to call the people 
to religious worship.” 
We have now shown both from the nature 
of the buildings themselves and their connec- 
tion with the neighbouring churches, and 
from the evidence of the most ancient and 
respectable Historian of Ireland, that the 
Round Towers were built for some religious 
use. We have shown also, that the common 
name amongst the native Irish for these 'Tow- 
ers was, and indeed we believe still is, Bell- 
house. And we have seen moreover, that 
instances are not wanting, where the Round 
Tower passes into a perfect Belfry, and that 
in some, the beams remain on which the Bell 
(m) Boates and Molineux’s Nat. Hist. 
2 y 
