THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 1 59 



It is manifest that the art of designing interlaced ornaments came 

 originally from the East, where it is still practised. The interlaced 

 work on Nestorian MSS. might be mistaken for the illuminations 

 out of an Irish one of the eighth century," 



If the Danann tribe (Phoenicians) occupied the greater part of 

 the island for some 197 to 300 years, how comes it, (it may be asked), 

 that no ruins of temples such as the Sidonians were known to 

 possess, can be pointed out in proof of such occupation ? Permit 

 me to say in reply to this query, is it probable Heathen temples 

 would be permitted to exist while Christian edifices were required 

 for churches and monasteries ? We know, in numerous instances, the 

 material used in monastic buildings was converted to the purpose of 

 erecting the castles and strongholds whose ruins are to be seen every- 

 where. 



In Kiltinan, which is still inhabited, a female form may be 

 noticed, one hand grasping a dagger, the other a crescent. The 

 stone, thus engraved, was evidently derived from an older building 

 Not far from this, about a mile or so from Mr. Cook's demesne, 

 when examining the remains of a ruined chapel or church, I discov- 

 ered built into the walls, a block containing the raised, rudely 

 sculptured form of a nude Astarte, perhaps. I am not aware if this 

 interesting relic has been noted previously. I cannot entertain a 

 doubt that it must have been taken from some Pagan Temple, 

 although a brother officer of mine suggested that it might have been 

 intended as a representation of Eve before the fall. 



An inscribed stone, which had disappeared since the time of 

 Charles I., was quite recently discovered built into the pier of an old 

 gate with the inscription face turned inwards. It would be tedious 

 to enumerate where and under what circumstances many of our 

 ogham Celtic pillars were recovered. 



From the many monuments ascribed to the Dananns, coupled 

 with the historical tales and traditions respecting them, Dr. O'Don- 

 ovan considers they were a real people. It may be inferred they 

 were skilled in arts unknown to their successors, " they could work 

 diabolicale things by magick, and were accompted the chiefest magi- 

 cians in the world." The learned antiquarian concludes 

 that they may have lingered in retired situations in Ireland 

 for many centuries after their subjugation by the united efforts of the 

 Bag-men and Milesians apparently. He adds, " It appears to be 



