KinahaN— On a Remarkable Cross. 69 



XIII. — New (?) Type of Clochaun, and a Remarkable Ckoss, South- 

 ward of Lottisbtibg, Co. Mayo. By G. H. Kinahan, F. R. G. S. I. 

 (With Plate V., Pol. Lit. & Antiq.) 



[Read 30th November, 1871.] 



On the hill slope, five miles S. S. W. of Louisburg, and about half a 

 mile south of Aille Lodge, is an ancient structure called on the 

 Ordnance map a Cromleac. To this class of buildings, however, I 

 believe it does not belong, as it evidently was erected as a human 

 habitation, and appears to be a clochaun, or beehive-shaped house, 

 but of a type with which I am unacquainted. 



This building is about 13 feet long, and five feet in. its widest 

 part, lying nearly east and west with the entrance at the east end. 

 It is now very much dilapidated, but its original form and structure 

 will be apparent from the accompanying plan and restored elevation 

 (Plate V., Pol. Lit. & Antiq.) Two sketches, one from the east and 

 one from the west, showing its present condition, for which I am 

 indebted to my colleague, Mr. A. M 'Henry, assistant palaeontolo- 

 gist, Irish branch of the Geological Survey, are also exhibited. In 

 many clochauns, especially those that are round, the lowest stones were 

 placed on edge, and over them the walls were built ; in this structure, 

 however, there is no building, but on the upright stones large flags were 

 placed, leaning inwards, and over these other flags, the apex of the roof 

 being formed by horizontal flags (see fig. 2). None of the upper part of 

 the roof now remains, but I was informed by an old man who was 

 present while I was measuring the upright stones, that he remembered 

 it when quite perfect, and that the roof had been taken off by ' ' some 

 mischievous boys." He only stated the old tradition, connected with 

 so many structures in Ireland, that it was built by Dermot and Grania, 

 during their famous pleasure tour. The doorway is imperfect, but it 

 appears to have been four feet high and three feet wide. The flags 

 used in forming the sloping sides and roof are of large dimensions, 

 but are not quite as regularly placed as rej>resented in the restored 

 elevation (fig. 2). The west view of the structure (one of the sketches 

 above mentioned) shows the peculiar style of building, while the 

 east view (the second of the sketches) marks the position of the door- 

 way in the east end. 



Gallaum, with Cross. — Three-quarters of a mile ~W. IS". W. of 

 the clochaun, in a graveyard that is situated on the inside of a liss 

 (or fort with clay rampart), is a gallaum, about eight feet high, having 

 cut on its south face a peculiar type of cross, made up altogether of 

 segments of circles. A cross of this type I have not seen previously, 

 and for the sketch of it exhibited I am also indebted to Mr. 

 M 'Henry. 



