1878-1879.] 33i 



on account of the curious carvings of grotesque figures, and early 

 Irish interlaced work which embellish the stone facings of the 

 windows. Close by is the curious old building known as the 

 " Tholsel," erected over an archway which spans one of the main 

 streets. This was formerly a prison, but is now disused— though 

 still a quaint feature of the place. 



The monastery, on the south side of the town, is well deserving 

 of a visit. It consists of the walls of the church, including the 

 base of the square central tower springing from lofty pointed 

 arches at the intersection of nave, &c. The West end is flanked 

 by two castellated towers, giving it an appearance quite as warlike 

 as ecclesiastical, which is not, however, without precedent in Irish 

 Gothic architecture. Portions of the lay buildings still remain, 

 but of no marked interest. This monastery was founded for the 

 Dominicans early in the fourteenth century, by Richard de Burgh, 

 Earl of Ulster, of which province Louth then formed a part. It 

 was finally ruined, like the castle, about the middle of the 

 seventeenth century. 



The quarries, of the Carboniferous limestone, were next visited, 

 the dense blue stone of which is so justly in demand for burning 

 into hydraulic lime. The dykes were a source of great interest, 

 ramifying in all directions, and sometimes having been forced 

 between the beds of limestone. 



The remainder of the day was spent in a botanical ramble, 

 with the most interesting results, many rare plants being collected. 

 Amongst others were the musky stork's bill (Erodium moschatum), 

 the corn salad ( Valerianella dentata), the dwarf spurge (Euphorbia 

 exigua), the knotted hedge parsley (Torilis nodosa), the sea beet 

 ( Beta maritima), and the lesser broom rape (Orobanche minor), 

 which latter plant seems not to have been previously noted in the 

 north or centre of Ireland. In this locality it occurs in a con- 

 siderable quantity as a parasite on the roots of white clover, and 

 it will be interesting to observe if it is permanently established, or 



