413 



During the past year a subscription has been set on foot for the 

 purchase of the Domhnach Airgid, a most interesting relic, whose 

 history is well known to the Academy from Mr. Petrie's paper, 

 which has appeared in our Transactions. The purchase-money 

 agreed upon was £300, and the sura of £285 7s., including £50 

 subscribed by the Academy, has already been received, leaving a 

 balance of about £15 (exclusive of some costs for printing, &c.), 

 which, it is hoped, will without difficulty be collected. 



During the past year very little progress has been made in the 

 Catalogue of the Museum, which must necessarily be a work of 

 time, and of considerable expense ; but the Pictorial Catalogue has 

 been continued, and every article added to the Museum has been 

 drawn as it was obtained, so that the Academy will at all times 

 possess the means of ascertaining the identity of every thing that 

 now forms a part of the Collection. 



Some few articles of interest and value have been purchased and 

 added to the Museum during the past year, at a cost to the Academy 

 of £22 in all. Several donations have also been received, which 

 have been acknowledged from time to time in the Proceedings, and 

 it is, therefore, unnecessary to give a list of them here. 



Next to the donors who have presented to the Museum articles 

 of interest and value, the thanks of the Academy are due to those 

 who have deposited there, for the inspection of the Members and of 

 the public, such valuable relics as they do not wish to part with. It 

 will be in the recollection of the Academy that, some time ago. Sir 

 Kichard O'Donnell deposited in the Museum, under the safe keeping 

 of the Academy, the Cathach of St. Columbkille, and Dr. William 

 Stokes deposited the Fiachall Phadruig. 



During the past year the Rev. Francis Brownlow has deposited, 

 in the same way, the celebrated Book of Armagh, a manuscript 

 of great antiquity, and of the utmost importance to the ancient 

 Church History of Ireland. 



The Council would beg leave to call the attention of the Aca- 

 demy, and of the public generally, to the example set by these gen- 

 tlemen. Those who are in possession of such relics of antiquity, 

 by depositing them in the safe keeping of the Academy, retain the 

 full power of recalling them whenever they think fit, whilst, at the 



