O'Eeilly — Old Churches of Dnikey Town and Island. 213 



that these two gahles were intended to carry belfries or elevated 

 parts of that nature. 



In the two elevations (exterior and interior, PI. XIII., fig. 1, and 

 PI. XV., fig. 1) of the western gable herewith submitted are shown two 

 square holes in the sides of the belfry, one on either side of the belfry 

 opening, which may have been intended to receive the ends of the 

 purloins which supported the roof. These holes are thorough ; and I 

 have assumed the existence of, and sketched in dotted lines in the 

 longitudinal section (PL XIII., fig. 2), a projecting platform, supported 

 on these beams where they pass through these holes. I have done so in 

 order to bring out the idea already suggested, viz. : that observations 

 may have been made from this platform by an observer standing on it, 

 and looking thi'ough the existing belfry opening, and a corresponding 

 one in the eastern gable, on to the horizon, which I assume to be 

 clearly visible from that point through such an opening. This implied 

 use of the belfry is to some extent supported by "Wakeman's remark 

 that it must have been enclosed by the roof, which would precisely fit 

 it for such an application. It is not necessary to examine here the 

 size or form that such an opening should have had for that purpose ; 

 bnt there is ground for discussing the more general question of to 

 what extent and in what way were direct observations of the sun 

 and stars made currently, in connexion with these ancient churches, 

 with a view to the determination of the festivals and hours of 

 service, of the equinoxes and solstices, and of the due fixation of the 

 paschal time and other festivals and seasons of the year. 



That from the earliest periods of Irish history the division of time 

 into years, months, and days was known and employed, need not here 

 be discussed. Dr. Joyce, in his "Irish ISTames of Places," vol. i., 

 p. 200, chap, vi., discusses the names arising out of "customs, amuse- 

 ments, and occupations," and says: " The Pagan Irish divided their 

 year, in the first instance, into two equal parts ; each of these was 

 subdivided into two parts or quarters. The four quarters were called 

 Earrach, SamhradJi, Foghmhar, and Geimhridh [Arragh, Sowra, 

 I'owar, and Gevre] (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter), which 

 are the names still in use ; and they begin on the first days of February, 

 May, August, and ISTovember, respectively." Now such a division of 

 the year must have been based on some sort of actual astronomical 

 observations, and could only have been maintained by continual and 

 regular observations of the heavenly bodies which detennine the 

 divisions of the year. Hence, there must have been at all times of 



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