294 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



the ring and one on the pin. The small ring-brooches have a diameter of 

 about an inch. Two of these (nos. 7 and 14) are illustrated full size 

 (Plate XXYI, tigs. 20 and 21), and will show the type. 



Xunibers 24 and 26 are silver pins of early type, and numbers 27 to 45 

 are Celtic brooches of the Christian period, and include such well-known 

 examples as the " Queen's " and " Killamery." The original catalogue of 

 these has been considerably expanded ; and as the more important brooches 

 have been frequently described and illustrated, references to the literature 

 dealing with them have been added in several cases. Of these brooches 

 numbers 33 to 35 belong to a well-known type of penannular brooch in which 

 the expanded ring terminals are ornamented with bosses in the form of plain 

 caps joined to one another by strap-work dividing the surface of the brooch 

 into panels, which are filled with interlaced work. Fragments of brooches of 

 this type have been found in the Cuerdale hoard, and they may be dated to the 

 tenth century. Xumbers 38 to 41 belong to the " thistle " variety, and may 

 be dated to the early tenth century. It has been suggested that the thistle 

 brooches are due to oriental influences which operated in the Baltic during 

 the Viking period, and the frequent discovery of cufic coins with such 

 brooches lends support to this view. : 



One of the least-known brooches in the collection is the fine example 

 found in County Tipperary, which does not appear to have been illustrated 

 previously. This is depicted (Plate XXYII), and it is hoped the figure will 

 prove of interest. 



In the descriptions of the brooches dates have been suggested where there 

 were any grounds for arriving at them ; but as the brooches are few in number, 

 and sundry belong to the same type, it has not been thought necessary to enter 

 into any attempt at a detailed chronology. Mr. P. A. Smith, who has devoted 

 much time to the study of penannular brooches, has dealt very fully with the 

 age of the different types, in a monograph which students are recommended 

 to study ; it is printed in Archaeolo-jvci, vol. lxv, p. 223. The chapter on 

 penannular brooches in the Academy's Cdtk Christian Guide should also be 

 consulted. 



1. Silver ring-brooch, ornamented with a chevron pattern, diameter J-J of 

 an inch ; weight 1 dwt. 141 grs. 2. Do., diameter f of an inch ; weight 14i grs. 

 3. Do., the ling is ornamented half with chevron and half with lines, diameter 

 44 of an inch ; weight 1 dwt. 16 grs. 4 Do., the back of the ring is ornamented 

 with a dotted chevron pattern and a cross, diameter 1 inch ; weight 1 dwt. 

 16 grs. 5. Do , unornamented, 1 inch, weight 1 dwt. 6. Do., diameter -j-f of 



Archaedlog'ux, vol. lxv. p. 241. 



