88 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



1 8 inch.es in thickness. This flag is of grit, and covers the whole well 

 except a small hole at the west end, in whichi particular it perfectly 

 agrees with the ' King of the Waters,' which was completely covered 

 overhead with a large square slab, excepting in one place where there 

 was a split through, which people were wont to drop into the well 

 offerings of gold and silver. Toher grania, though not named after 

 any saint, is much resorted {sic) for the cure of sore eyes. There can 

 be little doubt that this was a pagan well worshipped by the Hydro- 

 lators of ancient Ireland. It is strange to find it so near Loch Grreine, 

 which seems to have derived its name from heliolatry."^ He then 

 gives a much more careful and accui'ate description of Altoir OUtach, 

 "the Ultonian Altar." 



Plan of Dolmen of Tobergrania. 



O'Donovan must have written from "forgotten memory," judging 

 from his statement that the well is 5 feet square. It is actually a 

 tapering cist of the most ordinary type of the dolmens in tbis district, 

 with antse to the west end ; it is 8 feet long internally, tapering from 

 4 feet 2 inches to 3 feet 6 inches eastward ; each side is formed of two 

 blocks, and there is a single block at the west end with a semi-ciixular 

 " scoop " out of the end not unparalleled in other cromlechs in the 

 same county.^ These opes may have been "ghost-doors," and may 



^ This view he contradicts a few lines lower down, stating that thelake is named 

 after the district of Grian Echtghe. 

 ^ Deerpark and Creevagh, e.g. 



