O'Reilly— 0/^^ Chnrches of Dalhcij Toirn and I.'shnid. ' 197 



Beguet, the patron saint of Dalkey, indicates, by its state of preserva- 

 tion, use in the middle ages ; but nothing is recorded of the history 

 of the island from the twelfth century, when it was given by Hugh 

 de Lacy to the See of Dublin, until the seventeenth century, when it 

 was destitute of inhabitants, and used for grazing cattle.'' Page 81 : 

 "The cliurch [of Dalkey Town] was dedicated to St. Begnet the 

 virgin, the patron saint of Dalkey, who is supposed to have flourished 

 about the seventh century, and whose festival falls on the ISth 

 Novemler. After the English Conquest [second Norman Invasion?], 

 it was assigned to the priory of the Holy Trinity." 



The most important paper for the purposes of this present one, is 

 that of Mr. Wakeman, cited by Mr. F. E. Ball. It appeared in 

 vol. xxi., 1890-91, of the Journ. lioy. Soc. Antiqq. of Ireland, p. 697, 

 the title being: "Primitive Churches in the County Dublin," by 

 W. F, Wakeman, Hon. Fellow, Hon. Sec. for the County Dublin. 



After some introductory remarks as to the existence of early 

 Christian cellce around Dublin, " some of which have not hitherto 

 attracted antiquarian consideration," he says: "It is a significant 

 fact that while several cell(B, teampuUs, or cills, in the Dublin district, 

 are as generally ancient in character as any structure of the like 

 class to be seen in remoter provinces of Erinn, no architectural 

 ■connecting-link between them and churches of late twelfth- or even 

 thirteenth-century date can be discovered." " The primitive churches 

 when not utterly dismantled or razed by Northern ravage were, in all 

 likelihood, left in ruinous neglect; and it would seem there exists 

 architectural evidence that it was not until some considerable time 

 subsequent to the overthrow of Danish influence, or, indeed, until 

 the Anglo-Norman settlement had commenced, that many of our old 

 parish churches were once more used as places of Christian worship." 

 P. 698 : " When it was deemed necessary to enlarge the chiu'ch, by 

 the addition of a chancel (a feature very rare in our earlier team- 

 pulls), they broke through the eastern gable, hacking an apertm-e, 

 the edges of which were then lined, in jambs and arch, with plain or 

 hammered stones. The added choir or chancel was simply built up 

 against the original east gable, and not bounded with it." "Sur- 

 mounting the western gable, at the time of transition refen-ed to, it 

 was customary to erect a turret with provision for one, two, or some- 

 times three bells." P. 701 : "I now draw attention to an old church 

 which still stands, almost intact, upon the island of Dalkey (see PI. II., 

 fig. 1). This structure has long been regarded by Dublin people as 

 very mysterious in character. They could scarcely fancy it a church ; 



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