234 [P«"oc. B. N. F. C, 



graves, over which the visitor, for want of a single path, is 

 obliged to stumble ; brambles and dismantled tombstones trip 

 him up at every step ; thickets of sloe bushes and hemlock 

 combine to render search for any special stone hopeless. The 

 base of an ancient cross was supposed by the party to mark the 

 royal grave. Another stone, a short distance off, appears to 

 have stronger claims to the honour. In the uncertainty, mem- 

 bers were individually left to their choice in the matter. After 

 considerable stumbling, St. Bridget's Well, in the lower corner 

 of the enclosure, was visited, after which the company left to 

 examine a very fine example of fort a short distance off. This 

 neglected spot has many historic associations. Here King 

 Edward Bruce of Scotland, after a great victory, was crowned 

 King of Ireland. High festivity necessarily followed so great 

 an event, but in an evil hour the enemy, supposed to be con- 

 quered, turned the tide of war, and the coronation hill became 

 the monarch's grave — the one which was hopelessly searched 

 for. Centuries elapsed, and royalty again stood upon the height 

 in the person of King William III., who, from this elevated 

 position, got his first glimpse of James's army on its march 

 toward the Boyne. Leaving the historic spot disappointed in 

 their search for the place of royal sepulture, the party made 

 inquiries of a farmer, who kindly directed to the reputed spot — 

 neither of those whose claims were previously considered — a 

 rude stone almost covered by the frequent interments. The 

 position of the stone, it was said, had been handed down from 

 father to son, but, as the place is now almost lost to sight, the 

 next generation will most likely know nothing of it. Frequent 

 halts were made on this road to visit remains of ancient struc- 

 tures — a large souterraine in a clump of firs and a cromlech in 

 a corn field — monuments of a forgotten race, of whom even 

 tradition is silent. At the Pillar-stone of Kilnasaggart (the 

 Church of the Priests) the last halt on the day's route was 

 called. This is one of the most remarkable inscribed monu- 

 ments remaining in Ireland. It is a rude pillar, about eight feet 

 in height. One face of the stone bears a cross and an inscrip- 



