392 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Maeldoraidh in that office in or after 1062 a.d.,^ and died in 1098 a.d. As 

 Domnall Mac Robartaigh was doubtless alive when the shrine was made, its 

 date would fall between 1062 and 1098 a.d. 



To avoid confusion, when following the description of the various parts, the 

 reader examining the Cumdach is supposed to hold it with the hinged side 

 away from him. " Right-hand end " means the end to the spectator's right. 



The decoration of the sides consisted of small oblong panels of bronze, 

 ornamented with interlaced, conventionalized leaf, and zoomorphic patterns, 

 which were covered with very finely rolled gold plates pressed into the design 

 cut into the bronze. This can be clearly observed on the hinged side ; on the 

 front side the bronze panels do not appear to have been engraved before the 

 gold plates were applied. These panels were set into a rectangular framework 

 of bronze coated with silver and ornamented with studs. On the front side 

 (Plate XXXVII) only four partly perfect, and portions of two empty panels of 

 the earlier work, are visible, the centre of the side being occupied by the 

 large semi-circular ornament and its attached panels ; this ornament is 

 made of silver, formerly gilt, being vertically divided by twisted wire-work 

 into sectionsdecorated with niello ; its upper portion is ornamented with small 

 bosses surrounded by twisted wire spirals, and on its lower face are engraved 

 the letters I H C in Gothic characters (Plate XXXVI). The panels attached 

 to this ornament, which are apparently made of bronze, coated with silver, gilt, 

 are decorated with a leaf -pattern ; they are framed in borders ornamented 

 with niello-work. The corners of the shrine have been repaired, the side 

 described being covered at each end by one vertical and two horizontal 

 panels of bronze, gilt; those to the right are decorated with a species of 

 combined quatrefoil and saltire pattern, and of those to the left the upper one 

 contains three quatrefoils, and the lower, interlaced work. The vertical panel 

 at each end is incised with a linear pattern ; all are framed in borders of 

 niello-work. 



On the hinged side (Plate XXXVII) ten complete panels and small por- 

 tions of two others of the earlier work can be observed ; from two of these 

 the gold plates have disappeared, in two others they are much worn. When 

 the corners were repaired, panels of later workmanship were placed at each 

 end covering portions of the older work. In both cases these consist of one 

 vertical panel of bronze, gilt, and two horizontal ones probably of bronze, coated 

 with silver, apparently originally gilt, decorated with a leaf -pattern ; the right- 

 hand vertical panel is slightly ornamented with a species of leaf-design; 

 all are enclosed in borders of niello. The panels ornamented with zoomorphic 



' Annals of Ulster, vol. ii, p. 11. See also Reeves, p. 400. 



