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had its origin and name. This moat, the remnant of pre-historic 

 time, is one of the largest in the kingdom, heing nearly 900 yards 

 at the base, with three surrounding ramparts. The south side, 

 fronting the town, is about 90 feet high. How often has this 

 witnessed the gathering of warlike men ?— the old Irish chiefs, 

 when resisting the inroads of the Danes, the heroic band who 

 fought under the leadership of De Courcy, the bold Scots who 

 followed the banner of Bruce, and the leaders of the many contests 

 that subsequently occurred around its base. 



Coming down the more gentle slope of the northern side of 

 the moat the party assembled on the banks of the Quoile, and a 

 boat having been provided by the kindness of the members of the 

 Downpatrick Literary Society, all were conveyed across to visit 

 the ruins of Inch Abbey, erected in the twelfth century by John 

 de Courcy. A few of the lancet-headed windows still remain, 

 which, with some mouldings, are characteristic of the architect 

 ture of that period. The ruins are now covered with ivy, and 

 are surrounded by fine old ash and other trees. The detached 

 blocks of masonry indicate the extent of the original building, 

 and the great dimensions of the trees now growing out of the 

 masonry show how long the building has been in ruins. 



Recrossing the Quoile the party regained their cars and drove 

 off for Slieve-na-Griddle, stopping by the way to examine JJ earns' 

 Well, and Saul Abbey. Near the latter a large sculptured stone, 

 with 12th century ornaments, was noticed built into the yard 

 wall of a roadside cottage. Near the road, at the foot of Slieve- 

 na-Griddle, there occurs. a good example of the so-called Druid's 

 Ring. It is composed of large stones from the locality set on 

 end, and placed so as to form a circle; at the north side, a double 

 row for the length of 35 feet forms the entrance or passage to 

 the ring. Such remains of antiquity should in all cases be pro- 

 perly enclosed to prevent injury by cattle. On the very top of 

 Slieve-na-Griddle there is a large fiat stone, supposed to be a 

 cromlech, and although the time was very short, several mem- 

 bers of the party had a run up to report upon it, overcoming the 

 steep ascent, the rocky path, and the occasional barriers of furze. 

 Their exertions were more than rewarded by the examination of 

 the stone and the splendid view they obtained of the surrounding 

 country. The whole sea coast could be traced from Strangford 



