O'Hanlon — Antiquities in Killenny and Kinteale Parishes. 153 



seen, and in a direction leading to the gate,* by which the field is 

 entered from the road, springing corn or grass is noticed in summer 

 to assume a tinge of deeper verdure than in other parts of this same 

 field. Human remains, in great quantity, have been discovered there ; 

 and many think the place must have furnished a site for some battle, 

 not known in historic records. Again, in a field adjoining the rath, a 

 sort of elevation, having some disjointed stones on the summit, is to 

 be seen ; and around the cone, in a very regular circle, the grass 

 always partakes of a similar dark colour, about the months of June 

 and July. This is thought to have been a former place of interment, 

 and the upper surface somewhat resembles a dilapidated cairn. 



On the townland of Carrigeen, north of the road leading from Strad- 

 bally to the Great Heath, and within a wood planted about the begin- 

 ning of this century, the country people point out an object, which they 

 have been accustomed to call a Druid's Altar. It lies on the south 

 side of Killone Hills, sheltered under a nearly semicircular sweep of 

 rock, near a little ravine. It rests one edge partly on a ledge of rock ; 

 while its other edges are supported by three or four large upright 

 blocks of limestone. Of this material, too, the covering flag is com- 

 posed. On top, it has an irregular lozenge- shape, and it measures 

 diagonally eight feet nine inches in length, while the extreme dia- 

 gonal breadth is seven feet four inches. In thickness it varies from 

 8 inches only, to 17 inches. It slopes at an angle of about 20 degrees. 



On the townland of Kilniurry, anglicised "the Church of St. 

 Mary," south of, and quite near the road leading from Killone, in 

 the direction of Stradbally, there is an old church in ruins, and 

 within a small graveyard, now disused for interments, though traces 

 of many graves and rude head-stones are to be seen. This 

 church was probably dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 

 length it measures thirty-nine feet six inches, and seventeen feet 

 six inches in breadth, interiorly ; while the gable-walls were 

 over three feet in thickness, and the side walls were not more 

 than two feet ten inches. The north side-wall is much dilapi- 

 dated ; bat at one part of it, there are traces of a door en- 

 trance, which seems splayed internally ; while on the south side wall, 

 a ruined window appears, and a sort of alcove is near the east gable. 



On the townland of Ballythomas, the only remains of antiquity 

 discernible are two fine raths, unless the old castellated and lately 

 repaired mansion, tenanted by a farmer, be regarded. It has the high 

 gables and stacked chimneys of the seventeenth century, to indicate 

 its period of foundation. A portion of this townland is yet called 

 Killpatrick b) r the people ; but this denomination is not to be found 

 on the Ordnance Survey Map, nor among the townland names of Ire- 

 land on the General Alphabetical Index. 



* Locally called " the bone gate," because a large pile of human bones -was 

 placed there, about forty or fifty years ago, until they were removed, and burned 

 in one of the midsummer bonfires. 



