448 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 
nastery of Ross Ailithri, of which, in an ancient Irish Martyrology, he 
is claimed to be the first bishop; or it may be taken to represent St. 
Patrick himself, the patron saint of Ireland; but, in our uncertainty 
about the special locality with which the seal originally was associated, 
we must be content to say it is the figure of a bishop, name unknown. 
Figure No. 2, occupying the centre niche, represents a martyr, 
who holds in one hand his palm of victory, and with the other the 
hilt of an executioner’s sword, which extends along his side, the point 
being downwards. 
Figure No. 3 is designed to represent St. Catherine, who wears a 
radiate crown, and presses to her breast the emblem of her martyrdom, 
a Catherine wheel: a short sword is depicted drooping from her other 
hand. 
Situated underneath these three compartments we have a small 
cell, about as broad as it is high, with arched top extending to the 
lower edge of the seal. Its excessive breadth, compared with the 
other niches, is a common feature in seals of similar character, and 1s 
due to the artist’s desire of occupying all the space at his disposal. In 
this compartment is represented the figure of a tonsured priest in the 
act of prayer, with uplifted hands. This of course typifies the owner 
of the seal, who claims it as his special property by the inscription in 
old English letters, sigillum : Sa—ur : Hollachaw. 
The tribe or sept to which this priest belonged, the ‘‘ Hollachans,” 
were originally possessed of considerable influence in the south-west 
of Ireland, and in particular in the diocese of Ross, where our Irish 
Annals record several persons of that name who occupied offices of dis- 
tinction in the early Irish Church. I must express my great obliga- 
tions to Dean Reeves for his kindness in affording me valuable 
information relative to these matters, for he freely gave me the assist- 
ance of his extensive knowledge in endeavouring to discover the owner 
of this signet. Quoting from the notes so kindly sent me by Dean 
Reeves, we ascertain that in— 
A.D. 1158-1182, Donnell O’Huallachain was Archbishop of Munster 
(Cashel). 
A.D. 1275-1290, Peter O’ Hullechain was Bishop of Ross. 
A.D. 1831-1338, Laurence O’ Haldachain was Bishop of Ross. 
A.D. 1375, Robert O’ Huallachayn was Abbot of Tracton (Abbas Trector), 
Co. Cork. 
A.D. 1880, Nicholas O’ Houlachain, Precentor of Ross. 
A.D. 1381, John O’Houlachaine, Dean of Ross. 
A.D. 1551, a grant of English liberty was made to Maurice O’ Helaghan, 
a priest (Patent Rolls, 5 Edward VI.). 
Dean Reeves in his notes informs me, ‘‘ As this is the only person 
of the name of Maurice I find mentioned, I give the references to 
him.”’ See Morrin’s (J.) Calendar of the Pub. and Cl. Rolls of Chancery 
