I06 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



(the rock in the road). In the stiff breeze that was blowing 

 along the shore, the swing of this frail structure was too per- 

 ceptible, and the members begged to be excused from crossing. 

 Reaching the road, the cars are again mounted, and no further 

 halt made till the hotel is reached and a dinner found in readi- 

 ness. The remainder of the evening was spent as the members 

 listed. The strand and cliff attracted some ; the desolate ruins 

 of Bon-a-Margy Abbey had a fascination for others. Here lie 

 the bones of many leaders and followers of the great Macdonnell 

 family ; here were interred the remains of Sorley Boy Mac- 

 donnell, whose history — as written by the facile pen of the 

 Rev. George Hill, the historian of the clan — reads like a 

 romance. The following passage is from the "Macdonnells of 

 Antrim :" — " A Macdonnells manuscript affirms that Sorley 

 Boy died at Donanyvie Castle in 1589 (old style), and was 

 buried at Bunamairge. The faithful clansmen carried the re- 

 mains of their brave old chieftain down the slope of the castle 

 hill, past the harbour, where he had so often welcomed his 

 Clandonnell kinsmen to the Antrim shore, and across the ford 

 of the mairge, where the Irish caoine and the Highland 

 coronach mingled in one wild wail for the dead." Next 

 morning being bright, after breakfast the chairman of the 

 excursion, the Rev. J. H. Smythe, led the way to Dunineny 

 Castle, a small remnant of which overlooks the sea a short dis- 

 tance west of the town. Nothing remains but a portion of the 

 entrance, close to the deep fosse which is cut into the living 

 rock. Natural position, easy of defence, and difficult of assault, 

 was the first point with the ancient builders of the castles 

 along the Antrim coast, and scarce a headland possessing such 

 advantages is without some remnant of shattered wall, sunken 

 fosse, or overgrown fort. The view from here is magnificent. 

 Rathlin Island lying before us in its bright setting of waters : 

 Cantire, Ailsa Craig, Islay, and even the more distant moun- 

 tains of Arran and Jura were easily discernible, while our own 

 coast, with its rugged outline, extended on either hand. 

 From the castle hill the way along the cliffs and by the bright 



