f 93 ) 



VI. 



THE HISTOEY AND ANTIQUITIES OF INIS CEALTEA. 



By E. a. S. MACALISTEE, D.Litt., F.S.A. 



Plates VII-XXVIII. 



Read April 26, 1915. Published June 30, 1916. 



The island known as Inis Cealtra, though in modern times often spoken of 

 as "Holy Island," lies in Scarilf Bay, an inlet of Loch Derg. It is about 

 eight miles, as the crow flies, north of Killaloe, and about seventeen chains 

 from the nearest point of the mainland. The site is close to the boundary 

 of counties Galway and Clare ; originally in the latter county, it was 

 transferred to Galway in 1849, for reasons set forth in correspondence printed 

 below, and it is to be found on sheet 136 of the six-inch Ordnance map of 

 that county. By an Order in Council, dated 31st August 1899, referring to 

 an adjustment of boundaries, the island and lands adjoining were restored to 

 Co. Clare. The area of the island, according to the latest edition of the 

 Ordnance map, is 49 acres, 2 roods, and 10 poles. 



My first visit to Inis Cealtra was paid in May 1906, in the company of 

 the late Dr. Cochrane, on one of his periodical official visits of inspection, the 

 remains on the island being vested in the care of the Board of Public Works. 

 In 1909 I revisited the island, in the company of Mrs. J. E. Green, 

 Mr. F. J. Bigger, and Mr. P. Colum, all of whom gave me valuable help in 

 making rubbings of the many sepulchral slabs. I have further to thank 

 Mr. Bigger for the loan of a copy of the Board of Works Eeport, 1879-80, 

 which contains an account of the restoration work done on the island. I 

 have thrice examined the remains since then, the last time being in 

 September 1915. On these latter occasions I enjoyed the hospitality of 

 Mr. and Mrs. Hibbert, owner of the island, to whom I have to tender my 

 very special thanks for the practical interest which they took in my work. 

 Besides those above mentioned, I have to thank Mr. H. S. Crawford for the 

 loan of photographs and rubbings taken by himself, and Mr. T. J. Westropp 

 and Dr. Henry for valuable information, duly acknowledged below. 



I divide ihis paper into three parts. In the first are set forth the details 



R.I. A. PKOC, VOL. XXXIII, SECT. C. [15] 



