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



the Irish, and slew their chief, just outside the walls of the 

 city. 



From the summit of the great rath one looks across (it seems 

 but a stone's throw over the water, but it is three miles round 

 by Quoile Bridge and the road) to the wooded vale, in which 

 stands Inch Abbey, one of the finest of De Courcy's works. This, 

 like all other Cistercian abbeys, is pitched in a quiet and 

 secluded spot, close to the water for fishing, and with fertile 

 lands around it. To it the party now bent their way. By the 

 energy of Mr. Gordon, and the kindness of Major Maxwell, a 

 boat was in readiness, and after some difficulty, owing to the 

 flooded state of the meadows, the river side was reached, and 

 the party was safely ferried over. The ruins at Inch have suffered 

 more dilapidation than Greyabbey, but, aided by the skilled 

 assistance of a former member of the Club,Mr. J. J.Phillips, Major 

 Maxwell a few years since had excavations made that revealed 

 pretty clearly the original plan, showing that the building adhered 

 closely to the regular Cistercian arrangement. Unlike Grey- 

 abbey, the church at Inch had narrow side aisles, the foundation 

 of the piers of which alone remain. The nave has gone, so has 

 the central tower, and of the refectory, which at Greyabbey is 

 such a noble feature, no trace remains. The chancel, with 

 three lofty lancet windows in front and two on each side, with 

 the chapels on the eastern side of the transepts, are the prin- 

 cipal features that now remain, and, clad in the greenest of ivy, 

 form a picturesque group, whose pictorial merit, however, 

 would be even more enhanced, and the stability of the ruins 

 secured, if the bulk of the ivy were judiciously removed, espe- 

 cially such as seems likely to disintegrate the stonework. In 

 the graveyard adjoining stood for many centuries the old Irish 

 church that preceded Inch Abbey, and which was used as a 

 chapel or oratory. It is much to be regretted that this was 

 many years ago demolished to make space for a tomb, because 

 it is recorded that over the doorway was a sculpture represent- 

 ing the crucifixion. If so, it would be nearly unique, the only 

 counterparts being the fine sculpture of the crucifixion at 

 Maghera Church, County Londonderry, and a slab now used as 



