16 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 



encliarLted island has been supposed to exist beyond our "western shores, 

 T^hich became visible on some rare occasions of old, and to some pri- 

 vileged persons. Xow, however beautiful and improbable the tradition 

 may be, it has become plain to me that there really was such an island. 

 The legend may have been perfectly accurate as to the statement that 

 at one time it was seen, and at another it became invisible. 



There are several instances on record, even in recent times, when 

 islands have been raised through the disparted waters of the sea, 

 remaining for a time above its surface, but finally disappearing. 

 Thus, in 1707, after a shock, there was seen from Santorine a floating 

 rock, which stoutly arose above the waters, forming an isle. In 1803, 

 an island rose in the Claveezer See, in Holstein; it was afterwards 

 washed away by the waves. In 1814, after an earthc^uake shock had 

 been felt, it was noticed that a small islet in the Greek Archipelago, 

 named Salomon's Island by the Turks, had suddenly disappeared. In 

 the same year, a small islet made its appearance in the Sea of Azov, 

 but was afterwards washed away. 



From the Irish records it appears that some formerly known islands 

 have disappeared from ofi^ our western coasts ; and from what we may 

 infer from legendary lore it appears probable that the story of Hy-£ra- 

 sail is based upon subsidence of islands due to earthquake action. It 

 is possible that, in ancient times, an archipelago of scattered islands 

 may have stretched out towards the American continent, and if this 

 were so, it is possible to conceive of such adventurous voyages as that 

 of St. Brendan, without greatly straining the imagination. The ocean 

 desert would then have had its oases. 



The conformation of the bottom of the Atlantic basin lends support 

 to the supposition, and strengthens the oj)inion that Ireland must have 

 lost ground to the encroaching waters of the west. Even off the east 

 coast, it appears also to have ceded portions of its territory. On Keith 

 Johnson's Physical Alap a tract is marked out, with the observation 

 that "this region was probably land during the period of the Irish 

 Elk." 



It would be a curious question to investigate how far the ancient 

 Irish legends of Hy-Brasail, and the classic legend of Atlantis, might 

 bear upon the former existence of that supposed submerged continent, 

 which now produces nothing but forests of sea- weed. 



Geological evidence : The labour of collecting geological evidence 

 for each case mentioned, woiild, as may be supposed, be quite beyond 

 the limits of my present purpose and opportunities It may sufl3.ce, 

 however, to call attention to certain acknowledged facts which tend, 

 unmistakeably, to coiToborate the statements made with regard to the 

 action and influence of seismical energy, in former times. 



North and south, along the coast- line of this country, the presence 

 of raised beaches gives proof of permanent upheavals; evidence of 

 subsidence may also be found, whilst the character of the strata in 

 certain districts confirms the view that alterations of level, resulting 

 in the eruption of water, have taken place. 



