47 



Dr. Moore, with considerable warmth, denounced that spirit of 

 vandalism that destroyed, or permitted the destruction, of many 

 of our ancient monuments, and referred particularly to the destruc- 

 tion of the old church at the Knock, and said that the Government, 

 through the Board of Works, or otherwise, should be called on to 

 protect our ancient monuments. 



Mr. Patterson explained that, with reference to the Knock 

 Church, it was to be regretted that the picturesque ruins were 

 suffered to fall for want of timely care, but that the gable fell when 

 the landlord, Thomas M'Clure, Esq., M.P., was arranging with 

 workmen to have it secured ; and that, although the old gable had 

 fallen, yet it was possible still to have it restored. He also stated 

 that Mr. M'Clure would probably defray the necessary cost, and 

 the matter is now in the hands of Mr. Gray and Mr. Young, 

 members of the Club, who had undertaken to make the requisite 

 working drawings, and superintend the work of restoration. 



This announcement was received with applause. 



On ioth April, Mr. F. W. Lockwood read the following paper 

 on " The Round Towers and Early Irish Churches." 



" The Irish Christian architecture may be described as a branch 

 of the Romanesque architecture of Western Europe, but worked 

 out in so great a degree, independently of foreign influence, and 

 so much affected by native pre-Christian traditions, as to become 

 almost an original style. The earliest Christian buildings now 

 remaining in Ireland are, probably, the dome-shaped saints' 

 houses on the west coast, with very little doubt once the residences 

 of the saints whose names they bear, such as that of St. Finan 

 Cam, on Church Island, Lough Corraun, County Kerry, of the 

 sixth century ; and St. Fechin's, on Ardoileau, or High Island, 

 Galway, but little later. These only differ from similar numerous 



