202 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
than elsewhere, early English work and other styles do not display 
the same refinement as in England. 
It is particularly interesting to follow the work of the several 
bands of workmen, which no doubt moved from place to place. At 
Clonmacnoise (as a starting point) we find the same hands working as 
at Kilmacduagh in O’Hyne’s Church, Kilfinora, and at Corcumroe ; 
and I feel sure that if the masons’ marks were carefully compared, the 
workers at Cashel could be traced to Hoar Abbey, Athassail, and many 
other places. In Waterford, again, we can trace the influenee of the 
Welsh masons of Tintern Abbey—and thus from place to place may 
see how the ancient Freemasons carried on their work. 
The antiquity of foundation of various buildings is also interesting. 
Few of those I have examined present homogeneousness of style; 
amongst the debris of nearly all you find remains of twelfth century 
work and early English work down to very much later periods. The 
disregard and contempt of previous styles is as fully developed in Ire- 
land as elsewhere; but I have observed—what is rare in England—a 
palpable imitation of an early style at a later period. Examine the 
arches and piers at Corcumroe with the iron character of the foliage in 
the capitals, and one can have little doubt that they have not the ring 
of the very early thirteenth century work. 
The hardness of the mountain limestone, which is mainly used in 
Trish buildings, has curtailed to a great extent the elaboration of 
detail and floridness of style; but, on the other hand, it has led to a 
more careful study of proportion, and consequently there are few 
buildings in Ireland which have not a grace which many in England 
lack. 
I can clearly trace four epochs of restoration—two in the Roman- 
esque period, one in the thirteenth century, one in the fifteenth, and 
a partial one in the seventeenth. 
The Romanesque changes are evidenced in Cormac’s Chapel at 
Cashel, where it is clear the eastern end has been rebuilt; and I think 
I can show that it had originally an apsidal end. At Dysart O'Dea, 
Co. Clare, very early Romanesque work has been used in the same 
style at a later period. At Kilmakedar the remains of an apse are 
also to be traced, and the chancel is of a later date than the body of 
the church. 
The thirteenth century work was generally distinct rebuilding. 
The fifteenth century restoration consisted mainly in the addition 
of towers, transepts, and cloisters to the thirteenth century foundations. 
The sixteenth and seventeenth century restorations are very partial, 
but yet distinctive in character. 
Very few traces of pavements are to be found in the churches. 
Slates; in the real acceptation of the term, are unknown; but small, 
thin stones are used instead. Lead was very rarely used; stones 
overlapping each other formed the watercourses, and channels of cut 
stone took the place of what are usually termed flashings, where roofs 
abutted on towers or on other walls. 
