14 



On Saturday, 29th July, to 



BROUGHSHANE, SKERRY, AND SLEMISH. 



This excursion promised a most interesting clay's work in the 

 valley of the Braid, but the day selected for the trip was particularly 

 unfortunate as to weather. A regular downpour occurred at the hour 

 of meeting at the Northern Counties Railway. Hopelessly wet as 

 the day was, the conductor and a small party left by the 9.30 train 

 for Ballymena, determined to maintain the club's professed inde- 

 pendence of weather. Other members joined at Ballymena, 

 including a lady who had travelled some miles to attend the day's 

 field meeting. The rain continued to fall, but did not prevent the 

 party driving off to Broughshane. Here the worthy rector and 

 some friends joined, "and thus augmented, the party moved off for 

 the valley of the Braid, being the borderland of the ancient territory 

 of Dahiada, and adjoining the Northern boundary of Dalaradin, 

 which extended from Sliabh-mis, now Slemish, to Newry. It was 

 intended to ascend Slemish, and explore its geological structure, 

 said to be the most recent of the Irish trap rocks, but the continued 

 rain prevented the accomplishment oi this part of the programme, 

 and a visit was paid to Skerry Church, the ruins of which are 

 perched on a boss of trap rock rising abruptly from the surrounding 

 slopes. Tradition, supported by a document of the sixth century, 

 attributes the erection of this church to Saint Patrick. Skerry 

 was long famed for its pilgrimages, and the healing virtues of 

 Tubbernacool Holy Well. Several of the great O'Neills are buried 

 around its mouldering walls ; but no monumental slab records the 

 fact ; all is desolation and ruin ; the weather-beaten graves of 

 the hamlet's " rude forefathers" now expose their bones to the 

 bleaching effects of sun and rain. Erom Skerry, the party drove 

 to the townland of Ticloy, so called from the cromlech, or " stone 

 house," occurring there, in very good condition — indeed, there are 

 two on the same field, the second not quite perfect. Flint arrow- 

 heads and other objects of antiquarian interest have been found 

 from time to time in this locality ; and the wealth of a local farmer 

 is, in the opinion of his neighbours, owing to the rich finds of silver 



