172 [Proc. B. N. F. C. 



acutum of the Black Spleenwort (Asplenium Adiantum- 

 nigruni), obtained in the vicinity of the hill. This is one of 

 the only two localities in which it has been found in the North 

 of Ireland, the other being the steep basaltic cliff of Benevenagh, 

 in County Derry. The Greater Celandine (Chelidonium 

 ma/us), and the Pennywort {Cotyledon umbilicus), with its 

 succulent leaves, were also observed. Passing through New- 

 townards, a visit was paid to the graveyard and ruined church 

 of Movilla. Newtownards was, as its name implies, the 

 Newtown, or " Villa Novo," that sprung up round the Castle 

 planted by De Courcy on the shore of the lough, but Movilla 

 had been a native Irish centre of religion and learning from the 

 earliest Christian times, having been founded by St. Finnian 

 in a.d. 540. The name " Magh-bile," plain of the ancient tree, 

 suggests indeed that it was a sacred place in pre-Christian 

 times, which from other indications is also believed to have 

 been the case of Holywood, Knock, Downpatrick, and many 

 other early Christian sites. The Abbey of Movilla was at the 

 height of its importance in the seventh and eighth centuries, 

 and was then one of the greatest schools in Ireland. After its 

 sack bv the Danes in 823 it probably never recovered its early 

 importance, and Dr. O'Laverty suggests that it was in the next 

 century it was partially united with Bangor. Nearly all the 

 buildings have now disappeared except the two gables and part 

 of the side wall of the choir. The windows still show some 

 remains of late Gothic tracery. The most interesting feature 

 is, however, the set of crosses now built into the side wall. 

 One of these, with the inscription " Or do Dertrend" — a prayer 

 for Dertrend — is supposed to be of the eleventh century, or 

 even earlier ; but research has failed to discover who Dertrend 

 was. The other crosses, all of which were horizontal slabs, are 

 curious, several, from the swords and daggers, forming the 

 tokens of the warrior, and others, with a shears or scissors by 

 the side, presumably the token of some lady of high degree. 



Tea at Newtownards and the election of new members 

 brought the day's work to a pleasant close. 



