230 [Proc, B.N.F.C., 



On Saturday, 8th July, to 



ARMAGH AND NAVAN FORT. 



Notwithstanding that rain had threatened for the previous day 

 or two, there was a large muster of the members at the Great 

 Northern Terminus to leave by the nine o'clock train, and at 

 various stations along the line the number was increased by mem- 

 bers and friends residing in other districts. Arriving at Armagh, 

 the party were met by a number of the members of a kindred 

 organization — the Armagh Natural History Society — who were in 

 waiting to accompany them and act as guides for the day. In a 

 few minutes all were seated in the vehicles which had been pro- 

 vided for their conveyance, and the route taken to Carricklough- 

 ran. Here a halt was made to inspect an interesting trap-dyke, 

 which passes through the Carboniferous limestone. The eruptive 

 mass appears as a perpendicular wall, about seven feet in width, 

 and evidently extends for a considerable distance, and as usual, 

 has indurated the limestone at its contact with it. Several good 

 specimens of the junction of the two rocks were obtained, and 

 carried away to enrich the cabinets of the members. The next 

 object of interest visited was a stone circle at Ballybrawley — a 

 rude structure consisting of a number of large blocks of the lime- 

 stone of the district, set on end in the earth, and forming a circle 

 of about 70 feet in diameter. Similar structures are found in 

 many places throughout Ireland, but for what purpose they were 

 erected cannot well be told— perhaps as temples for worship, and 

 afterwards used for sepulchral purposes ; or it may be that they 

 were specially constructed for the latter. In many of the stone 

 circles evidences of interments still exist, and in other cases such 

 evidences may have been destroyed in subsequent searches for 

 treasures supposed to have been buried there. Near to this circle 

 is another of similar diameter and appearance, but as the extent 

 of the day's programme did not permit a visit to it, the convey- 



