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XXYI. 



OHi THE MODE OF RINGING OR SOUNDING BELLS IN THE 

 EARLY CHURCHES OF NORTHERN SPAIN AND OF 

 IRELAND. By JOSEPH P. O'REILLY, C.E. 



[PL4.TES XIX. AND XX.] 

 [Eead April 22, 1901.] 



AiTHoiTGH the early history of Ireland furnishes evidence of relations 

 haying existed between its people and those of the Continent, there is, 

 however, a lack of details which would allow of the nature of these 

 relations to he clearly fixed as regards times, countries, and peoples. 

 This is more particularly the case as regards Spain, with which our 

 ■earliest traditions are connected, and commercial relations have been 

 maintained more or less actively during the historic period. That, in 

 consequence, Spanish habits and customs should have left their traces 

 along our shores is what might be expected ; and yet, apart from Galway, 

 nowhere, seemingly, have indications of such been clearly shown to 

 exist. Hence there is an interest in carefully collecting any and every 

 datum which appears to point to Spanish influences, particularly as 

 regards our ancient monuments. In this respect the article iu " Smith 

 and Cheetham's Dictionary of Christian Antiquities" (1875), vol. i., 

 contains some very interesting remarks under the heading " Church." 

 Page 384 — "Spain. — As in Gaul, so little or nothing remains in 

 Spain of the churches built before the invasion of the barbarians, and 

 those which the latter constructed were destroyed by the Arabs. The 

 only other churches which can be supposed to date from a period even 

 as early as the ninth century, which have, as yet, been noticed, are 

 a few in the Asturias, not far from Oviedo, having square-ended 

 chancels, and chapels or apartments attached to the sides. The most 

 remarkable is that of the Ermita de Sta. Cristina, near Polo de Lena, 

 which retains the original partition separating the choir from the nave ; 



