68 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



ventured upon, all that can be done here being to indicate as far as 

 possible what may be worthy of the attention of those Avho are skilled 

 n this subject, which the writer cannot pretend to be. 



Survivals. — The survivals are comparatively few now. Querns 

 have gone altogether out of use. The old wool wheels, cards, and 

 handloom are still to be found in use. As there are no wheeled 

 vehicles, all loads too heavy or bulky to be carried by hand or on the 

 human back are conveyed in pardogues or clieves slung over the backs 

 of horses. Stones for building are carried in stone-elieves, V-shaped 

 wooden frames slung pannier-wise across a horse's back over the 

 usual straw mat and pannier frame. Clothes are still washed as 

 described in the report on Inishbofin. The milk-chest described 

 in a previous section is another survival. Only a few curraghs 

 are now in use, they having been largely superseded by heavier 

 boats. 



Antiquities. — There are a good many ancient buildings and monu- 

 ments on the islands, but only bare mention of them can be made 

 here. 



In Clare Island there are — 



(1) O'Malley Castle, built on a projecting rock between the one 

 little bay, where there is a good landing-place and a deep narrow 

 cove, to which tradition says there used to be a subterranean passage, 

 as galleys used to lie there. The castle is a square tower of no great 

 size, three storys in height, and built of rough stone. It was used as 

 a police barrack early in the century, and during its occupation as 

 such it was rough-cast outside, and the projecting chambers high up 

 in the walls were weather-slated. A porch to the door was also added, 

 and some of the loopholes in the walls built up. There are traces of 

 an enclosing wall surrounding a sort of court. 



(2.) The Abbey — a Carmelite monastery erected in a.d. 1224. 

 This building has been often described. It is remarkable for the 

 frescoes on the roof and for containing the curious old O'Malley 

 monument. At one time a skull and a pair of gold earrings used to 

 be kept in a recess in the wall, and were shown to visitors as the 

 skull and ornaments of Grace O'Malley. Downing writes that the 

 Abbey was built by Dermitius Caladus O'Maly for the Order of St. 

 I3ernard, and that Dermitius was buried there. 



(3.) There are two holy wells, the well of the festival of the 

 Virgin Mary and the well of St. Bridget. Near these wells are some 

 cariously carved and inscribed stones. 



" In Inishturk there is a kill dedicated to St. Columb, and traces 



