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



a space measuring three-fourths of an inch to half an inch no 

 fewer than 158 interlacings of slender ribbon pattern, formed of 

 white lines edged with black ones, and that he examined the 

 pages for hours together without detecting a false line or an 

 irregular interlacing. Some of the finest of the Irish art work 

 came from a very early period. The Book of Kells was supposed 

 to have been written by St. Columba, but it might, with 

 absolute certainty, be ascribed to the seventh century. Another 

 specially beautiful class of ornament was what was called the 

 "trumpet ornament," which was said to be the most beautiful 

 style of ornament which we have — beautiful not only in the 

 richness of its design, but in the depth and intensity of the 

 shadow it throws. He would give an illustration of a beautiful 

 example of one of those ornaments which was in the Museum 

 in Dublin, and which was undoubtedly Irish. He had seen it 

 catalogued British in the British Museum, but he would rather 

 say it was Irish. 



Beautiful illustrations were then thrown on the screen, show- 

 ing first the initial letter of the first page of the Book of Kells, 

 the exquisite and wonderful tracery and ornamentation of which 

 was greatly admired by all present. This wonderful work, the 

 lecturer explained, was carried from the Island of Iona for safety 

 to Kells, when the sanctuary of St. Columba was ravaged by the 

 Danes. Hence the origin of the title. An illustration was next 

 shown of the Tara Brooch and one of the Ardagh Cup, an 

 ancient chalice, which was found in the western part of County 

 Limerick by a young lad when digging. Illustrations were also 

 shown of the Shrine of St. Patrick's Bell, supposed to have been 

 made about the year 1100, an account of which had been 

 written by the late lamented Bishop Reeves, and published by 

 Marcus Ward & Co. The famous Lismore Crozier was also 

 shown, and another ancient shrine. The lecturer explained the 

 details of the ornamentation in dealing with each of these 

 famous works of Irish art, and gave a history of them. The 

 subject proper of the evening's lecture was then proceeded with, 

 and the first picture thrown upon the screen was that of the 



