liERNAKi) — The Charters of the Abbey of DuinJcc. 169 



Tlie west window of nave is in three separate liglits, the jambs of each splayed 

 so as to meet internally, with mouldings over the arches springing from capitals. 

 The centre light has a pointed arch, but the two side-lights are semicircular-headed, 

 indicative of the Transitional Period. The west ends of the aisles had tall, narrow 

 lights, with pointed heads. 



The Tower was in the usual position at the intersection of nave and transepts, 

 and was carried on four massive piers with clustered shafts and capitals. The 

 dimension of tlie tower was 29 ft. square, in clear of the supporting walls. Local 

 tradition has it that this tower rose to a height of 140 ft. ; but this would not 

 be in accordance with the ruling design of the Cistercians, who adopted low square 

 towers in their churches. !Mr. O'Leary says the upper part of the tower was 

 octagonal.' 



The Choir measured 45 ft. in length, by 29 ft. 6 in. in breadth, had a groined 

 roof in three compartments, and was lighted by two windows on north and two on 

 south side, narrow and lofty. The east w'indow was divided into three lights. 



There are no indications to show how far the ritual choir extended, but it is 

 probable it terminated at the western line of tower. 



The north and south Traoisepts measure each 40 ft. 6 in. by 29 ft., and there 

 were three side chapels east of each transept in the position indicated on plan, the 

 walls of which were in existence in 1813, when measured by Mr. Robertson. This 

 arrangement and number of side chapels are found in Cistercian houses of the larger 

 type, as at Dunbrody ; two side chapels off each transept being more commonly 

 met with, as at Jerpoint, Holycross, Fountains, &e. 



The total width of the church across the transept was 110 ft. in the clear. The 

 total length of the structure measured east and west on its axis through the nave 

 was 216 ft. 4 in. in outer measurement, and as regards size it was inferior to few 

 similar edifices in this country, while as to completeness of ritual and conventual 

 arrangement, it was probably the most perfect of the Irish houses of the Order. 



The stairs leading to the tower were situated in the N.E. angle of the north 

 transept ; the passage leading from stairs to tower was formed in the thickness of 

 the east wall of this transept. 



The night stairs are placed as usual at the S. W. angle of the south transept at 

 a distance of 6 ft. 6 in. from west wall of transept ; the ope of the stair door in 

 wall is 4 ft. 10 in. in width. There is a passage leading from the southern side 

 chapel to the vestry. The night stairs gave access from the dormitories for the 

 convenience of the monks who had to enter the church at midnight in the perfor- 

 mance of the duties of the choir as prescribed in the ritual of the Order. 



The remarkable similarity that exists between the abbey church of Graiguena- 

 managh and the Cistercian church recently excavated at 8trata Florida in 

 Cardiganshire, so ably and fully described by its explorer, Mr. Stephen W. 

 Williams, f.s.a., f.k.i.b.a.,^ not only as regards the internal arrangements, but 



' [That the tower was octagonal is stated in Grose's Antiquities of Ireland (1792), as 

 well as in Seward's Tupographica HH)eniica (1795). Under "Graiguenauiauagh," Seward 

 has the following note: — "Here are the ruins of a tine abbey, the octagon tower of 

 which fell down in 1744, an event to be regretted, because it was one of the most 

 beautiful religious structures in the kingdom. The embellishments of this abbey are 

 curious, and the building was formerly of a large extent."] 



- The Cistercian Abbey uf Strata Florida (1889). [Strata Florida (Stratdour) obtained 



R.I. A. PROC, VOL. XXXV., SWT. C. [22] 



