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



hilly — was taken for Killeavy. Passing along the eastern side 

 of the valley, at the bottom of which lies the waters of Cam- 

 lough (the crooked lake), magnificent views are obtained of 

 mountains, woods, and lake, with distant peeps of Carlingford 

 Bay and the open sea. Killeavy, once a place of much impor- 

 tance, is now only represented by the grey ruins of its ancient 

 church, the situation of which, under the shadow of Slieve 

 Gullion, is such that the ordinary tourist knows it not. It is, 

 however, of much interest to the archaeologist and student of 

 Irish ecclesiastical history. In the early days of Christianity 

 we read of how a certain saint built a religious establishment 

 at Cill Sleibhe Cuilin — i.e.^ the Church of Slieve Gullion — on 

 the side of the mountain on which it was built, which was after- 

 wards called Killslieve, afterwards softened down to Killeavy. 

 The death of this saint is recorded in a.d. 517, and the 6th of 

 July is her day in the calendar, which till the beginning of the 

 present century was celebrated at Killeavy by one of those dis- 

 orderly gatherings, notable for anything but religion, known as 

 " patterns" or '' patrons." The old church, situated in its 

 ancient graveyard, now only used for interments by the Roman 

 Catholics, consists really of the remains of two churches, the 

 side walls of which were built on the same lines, giving great 

 length to the structure. The original church consisted only 

 of the western portion ; the eastern chamber, which is much 

 larger than the other, was added probably in the latter part of 

 the twelfth century. A round tower existed here within the 

 last century ; it was attached to the south side near the south- 

 west angle, where the stones of which it was composed form a 

 large heap. Some of the old people in the neighbourhood have 

 an Irish poem descriptive of its fall. The massive west door- 

 way, formed of huge blocks of stone, and the small lancet 

 windows are indicative of great age. Leaving the ladies of the 

 party at the vicarage close by, the more active members made 

 the ascent of the mountain, passing on the way the holy well 

 of St. Moneuna. Judging from the numerous votive offerings 

 with which the well is decorated, the patron saint seems still to 



