lu 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The fifth find includes a bronze penannnlav ring with cup-shaped ends 

 (fig. 7, 13), and twenty-one bronze rings, of which two are double. All were 

 found about 1876, near an old fort at Brockagh, Eochfort Bridge, Co. West- 

 meath. They were purchased from Mr. James Killian, of Dysart, Mullingar. 



The two large rings (fig. 7, 17 and 22) are solid and heavy. Several of the 

 smaller rings have attachments broken at the end, showing they were 

 formerly joined to another ling. A thinner bronze ring threads a small 

 solid ring that moves freely round it. Large rings threading smaller ones 

 are not uncommon in Ireland ; one formed part of the Kinnegoe find shortly 

 to be described. An example in gold occurs 

 in the Clare find.^ In bronze there are three 

 specimens in the Academy's collection which 

 thread two smaller rings ; another was found 

 at Ballymoney, Co. Antrim.- 



Plain bronze rings like those found at 

 Brockagh (fig. 7, 5, 7, 14, 15, &c.) are common 

 in Ireland ; a large number of various sizes 

 being preserved in the Academy's collection. 

 Many of the larger specimens are hollow ; 

 the smaller seem, as a rule, to be cast solid. 

 To suggest a use for the whole series is 

 difficult. The larger were probably armlets ; 

 the smaller may have been used to connect 

 straps of leather for personal or equine pur- 

 poses. 



The interesting object of this find is the 

 penannular ring (fig. 7, 13). Eings of this 

 form, made of gold, are common in Ireland. 

 In bronze or copper few examples are known, 

 the Academy's collection containing, includ- 

 ing the above, only twelve examples. A find 

 made in 1907, at Mountrivers, Eylane, Coachford, Co. Cork,' included a 

 copper penannular ring of this type, associated with two gold cup-ended 

 rings, two socketed bronze axe-heads, and eleven amber beads ; this shows 

 that the gold and bronze or copper rings were in contemporary use, also 

 that they may be dated to the latest phase of the Irish Bronze Age. 



Bronze swords and spear- heads, found 

 near Youghal, Co. Cork (J). 



Armstrong, Journal Roy. Soc. Antiqq. Irel., xlvii, PI. Ill, f:ioing p. 26, No. 7. 

 ■Evans, op. cii., p. 389. 



' Coffey, Proc. Royal Irish Academy, xxx, Sec. 0, pp. 85-87. 



