1887-1888.] IS 



On the 19th and 20th July, to 



PORTAFERRY AND STRANGFORD. 



The third excursion of the present season was to Strangford 

 and Portaferry. Leaving Downpatrick on cars, upon the 

 arrival of the 10-35 train from Belfast, the party, under the 

 guidance of the Rev. David Gordon, drove along the road 

 skirting the Quoile. At high water the beautifully-wooded 

 islands of this part give it a character not unlike Windermere. 

 A halt was made at the ancient castle on the Quoile, a building 

 of some interest which is rapidly becoming dilapidated. It is 

 not of great size, and in its construction bears considerable 

 resemblance to the small castle known as Castleward, and 

 appears to be rather later in date than the larger castles of 

 Audley's and Kilclief. It is a plain square building, having 

 the upper floor supported on two barrel vaults, yet entire. The 

 entrance is near one corner, and facing it on the inside is a still 

 perfect pointed arch, from which the narrow stairs lead up in a 

 straight flight in the thickness of the wall. It will be a great 

 pity if this building be allowed to fall for want of a little timely 

 care. The next place visited was the little church of Raholp, 

 originally Rath-Colpa. This is undoubtedly one of the most 

 ancient in the country, and may well be the original church 

 built by St. Tassach, whom the legends report as having 

 administered the Holy Communion to St. Patrick in his last 

 moments. The plan of this oblong cell, for it is nothing more, 

 is peculiar, as the door appears to have been in the south wall 

 instead of the west gable, which is usually the case. The form 

 of the door is, however, lost, but the east window, deeply 

 splayed, about ten inches wide outside, and covered with a 

 large flag on lintel, still remains, but in a critical condition. 

 The stones of this church are laid in yellow clay instead of 

 mortar, which may be either a transition from the dry stone 

 walling of the oldest buildings to lime mortar, or may be a 

 local peculiarity merely. The church also differs slightly from 

 some of the other very early churches in having no projecting 

 buttresses or pilasters on one or both gables. This feature is, 



