• Armstrong and Lawlor — The Domnach Airgid. 103 



the rim at the side. The long panel at the top of the shrine contains two 

 birds, with long floriated tails, placed on each side of a small, square setting, 

 with a beadwork base and tieurs-dedis claws, which contains a crystal : hinged 

 to this, on the dexter, is a panel containing a hound, a zoomorphic head 

 divides this from another, containing a hare, which is joined to a small panel 

 containing a sixdeaved flower. On the sinister side a panel containing a 

 hare joins the long one, and a human head separates it from a hound and a 

 small flower panel. On the base of the front of the shrine the long panel 

 contains two birds, placed at either side of the Saviour's feet, similar to those 

 in the long panel at the top of the shrine : hinged to this, on the dexter, 

 are two wyvern panels, divided at the corner by a human head; and, on the 

 sinister, are two panels, one with a hare, and the other with a hound, 

 separated at the corner by a zoomorphic head. The under side of the long 

 panel, which is on the base of the case (Plate V), is plain: at each side 

 of it are hinged hare, hound, and floral panels, parted on the dexter by a 

 human, and on the sinister by a zoomorphic head. The rim on the upper 

 dexter side of the case (Plate IV) consists of two panels of interlaced 

 work, divided by a zoomorphic head, and one flower panel. At the base of 

 this side are two wyvern panels, which a human head separates, and a flower 

 panel. The rim on the upper end of the sinister side (Plate IV) consists 

 of two wyvern panels, parted by a human head, and a flower panel ; and on 

 the lower, of two interlaced panels, separated by a zoomorphic head ; and a 

 flower panel. At the back of the shrine (Plate IV) the corners are composed 

 of bronze or latten panels, placed together like those on the front ; these 

 panels are plain, with slightly ornamented borders, their junction is marked 

 by what seem to have been zoomorphic heads ; but these are now so much 

 ■worn that it is impossible to be certain on the point. The remaining 

 uiidescribed portions of the rim are made of brass, and appear to be modern 

 additions. 



The interior of the shrine and the contents of the settings may now be 

 described. Permission having been given by the Council of the Academy, 

 with the assistance of Dr. Lawlor, I opened the shrine on Wednesday, 

 7 November, 1917. Mr. A. C. Forbes, F.H.A.S., Forestry Inspector to the 

 Department of Agriculture, kindly attended for the purpose of determining 

 the species of wood of which the inside box was made; Mr. J. J. Buckley, m.r.i.a., 

 Keeper of the Art and Industrial Collections in the National Museum, was 

 also present. 1 first raised the claws and removed the crystal from the small 

 square setting on the front of the case which Petrie 1 stated "probably contains 



1 Op. cit., p. 15. 



R.I.A. PROC, VOL. XXXIV, SECT. C. [17] 



