4 8 



pagan structures by having the interior square, and are purely 

 native in construction and origin. The Oratory of Gallerus, in 

 Kerry, with inclined ends and sides, is as early, and may even 

 date from the introduction of Christianity into the island. It bears 

 no traces of foreign influence. 



"The early Churches, as illustrated by the late Dr. Petrie and 

 others, dating from the sixth and seventh centuries, are very small 

 and simple structures, and the doors and windows show a great 

 identity with those of the plainer of the Round Towers, many of 

 which stand beside them. The square lintel over the door of St. 

 Fechin's Church, at Fore, and that of the door of the Tower at 

 Antrim, are remarkable, each having the Irish cross carved on 

 them in relief, and both are, probably, of the same age. 



" This identity is much more striking in the cases of the Towers 

 of Kildare and Titnahoe, when compared with the later Churches 

 of Killaloe, Rathain, in King's County, Glendalough, and others. 

 These Dr. Petrie ascribes to the eighth and ninth centuries, and 

 they bear a strong resemblance to what remains of Anglo-Saxon 

 architecture, but showing a delicacy and refinement in the detail 

 peculiarly Irish, whilst all the opens have the sloping or inclined 

 jambs characteristic of this island from the earliest times. 



" The third period of Irish architecture, represented chiefly by 

 Cormac's Chapel, Cashel, and Tuam Cathedral, bears great 

 resemblance to the Anglo-Norman, but was developed at least a 

 century earlier, and has many purely Irish features. 



" There are over one hundred Round Towers, more or less perfect, 

 remaining in the country, and several in Scotland, built by Irish 

 ecclesiastics. The Towers are too well known to need much 

 description. The best authorities, including the leading officers of 

 the Ordnance Survey, concur in ascribing to them a Christian 

 origin, and the principal grounds for their belief may be stated as 

 follow : — 



" i st. Their almost invariable proximity to, and connexion with, 

 Christian Churches or ecclesiastical establishments. 



" 2nd. Wherever such Churches still remain for comparison, the 

 remarkable identity between the architectural details of each ; the 



