596 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



HowTH Ceomlech. 

 (Plate XVII.) 



The last cromlech examined was that of Howth Demesne, which, 

 prohably on account of its having been more accessible than those 

 already described, has suffered demolition to an extent which is prac- 

 tically complete. Its plan, therefore, can only present the relative 

 positions of the stones which formerly supported the cap in their 

 actual state. The extent of the derangement they have undergone 

 can only be guessed at; however, the tliree stones forming tlie south- 

 east extremity are nearly in their original positions, and these furnish 

 some very interesting points of comparison as regards the Brennans- 

 town cromlech. Of the Howth one, O'Neill says : — " An attentive 

 examination of this monument has convinced me that this enormous 

 mass (the cap stone) constituted the roof of a chamber lying east by 

 north, the chamber being about 12 feet long by 4 feet wide, the floor 

 of clay, the walls of other great stones, three at each side and one at 

 each end — eight in all. The roof rock, though very irregular on its 

 upper surface, is tolerably level beneath, and was so situated as to 

 have the upper surface horizontal, or nearly so, thus constituting a 

 level ceiling to the chamber; but, owing to the great thickness and 

 consequent weight at one end, the supporting stones have given way, 

 and, in slipping, the roof rock has been caught by a part of the 

 stone on wliich its present higher portion rests. The supporting 

 stones from which it has slipped are still standing undisturbed, and 

 are seen on the left hand side in the accompanying sketch. They are 

 about 7 feet high, so that the original height of the monument must 

 have been 12 or 13 feet. The longer direction of the chamber is east 

 by north ; its floor is a little below the natural level of the soil. 

 There are several rocky fragments lying around, which, in one part, 

 form a sort of rude intrenchment of the monument ; but whether 

 artificial or the result of accident I could not decide. The monument 

 is of quartz rock " {loc. cit. p. 41). 



Wakeman says : — " This fine monument is situated near the base 

 of an inland cliff within the grounds of Howth Castle, and at a distance 

 of about three-quarters of a mile from the seashore. It consists at 

 present of ten blocks of quartz, of which the table or covering stone, 

 the largest, measures from north to south 18, and from east to west 

 \2h feet, the extreme thickness being 8 feet. The weight of this 

 mass has been computed at ninety tons. Such an enormous pressure 



