1875-1876.] 159 



Slieve Croob and the Mourne Mountains. Over the valley, 

 between Carnmoney Hill and the Knockagh, a glimpse is obtained 

 of Scrabo, with the monumental tower on its summit, and to the 

 left is seen Helen's Tower, near Bangor. On the north-east the 

 conical top of Slemish is seen, almost at hand ; and beyond it the 

 Cushendall Mountains, with Trostan, the highest point in Antrim, 

 bounding the view in this direction. To the north-west is the 

 valley of the Bann, with the Sperrin range in Derry and Tyrone 

 lying beyond ; and on the south-w T est is Lough Neagh, presenting 

 an almost complete view of its entire area. In the level plain 

 surrounding the hill the towns of Ballymena, Kells, Connor, and 

 Antrim are distinctly visible. Leaving Carnearny, the drive was 

 resumed, and a halt made at Potter's Walls to visit Croskennan 

 Fort, in the immediate vicinity. This earthwork is a simple mound, 

 or dun, and is of small extent compared with the fort already 

 described as occurring at the Fort Bog. A short drive by way of 

 " The Bush" brought the party back to Antrim station. Arriving 

 there, it was found that sufficient time was available, before the 

 departure for home, to visit the Castle — the residence of Viscount 

 Massereene and Ferrard, but which is at present occupied by Sir 

 Richard Wallace. A castle seems to have existed here at an early 

 date, as it is mentioned in a grant to Walter de Lacy in 1226. Sir 

 Hugh Clotworthy, in the reign of James I., seems to have built a 

 castle on the old site, or to have re-edified the ancient Norman 

 structure. In 1662 his son, Sir John Clotworthy (first Viscount 

 Massereene), re-built the castle, leaving it almost as it at present 

 appears. Sir John dying without male issue, the title and estates 

 passed by his daughter and heiress to the Skeffington family — she 

 having married Sir John Skeffington — in which family they still 

 remain. In the rock garden of the Castle grounds there is an 

 interesting achseological object — one of the ancient canoes or boats 

 used by the early inhabitants as a means of access to their 

 crannoges, or lake dwellings. Several such canoes have been 

 found in the district ; they are each hollowed out of a single 

 piece of oak, and are from 12 to 16 feet long. Another of them 



