86 



be the remains of the crozier of St. Blathmac, of Rath-Blathmac, 

 near Corofin, in the county Clare; and two ancient bronze ecclesi- 

 astical bells from the same place. 



December 18. — The shaft and upper boss of a very ancient cro- 

 zier, supposed to be the crozier of St. Columba, formerly belonging 

 to the abbey of Durrow, in the County Meath ; also eleven Anglo- 

 Saxon coins, found at Durrow ; two bronze pins, one of them very 

 ancient, found at Moate ; with a silver bodkin, and a horn powder- 

 flask of the reign of William III. 



This crozier, although unfortunately much mutilated, is of pe- 

 culiar historical interest : it still retains some traces of its original 

 magnificence, and must have been a beautiful specimen of ancient 

 Irish art. It was preserved, since the dissolution of monasteries, 

 by the Macgeoghan family, lately represented by Sir Richard Nagle, 

 Bart., at whose death it became the property of Mr. Nugent, who 

 consented to part with it for the Museum, along with the other an- 

 tiquities here mentioned. 



Several valuable donations have also been made to the Museum, 

 which have already been acknowledged by the thanks voted to the 

 several donors by the Academy. A list of them will appear in the 

 forthcoming volume of the Transactions. 



The Mias Tighernain, an ancient relic which was deposited in 

 the Museum, by its owner, at the instance of Dr. Wilde, and which 

 was the subject of a valuable paper by that gentleman, published 

 some time ago in the Transactions,* has recently been returned, 

 through Dr. Wilde, to its proprietor, Mr. Knox, of Rappa Castle. 

 The thanks of the Academy are due to Mr. Knox, and to the other 

 possessors of remarkable antiquities, for the important service they 

 have rendered to the science of archaeology, by depositing such an- 

 tiquities for a season in our Museum, and permitting the Academy 

 to preserve correct drawings of them. 



The Council regret very much that no steps appear to have been 

 taken during the past year towards the preparation of the Catalogue 

 of the Academy's Museum. 



* Vol. xxi. 



