PROCEEDINGS. 



-*»•<• 



SUMMER PROGRAMME. 

 EXCURSIONS. 



22 May. 



DOWNPATRICK AND INCH ABBEY. 



The first excursion of the summer season was made by a 

 large party on Saturday, 22 May, to Downpatrick, Saul, and 

 Inch Abbey. On arrival at Downpatrick the party proceeded 

 to the wells at Struell, still visited on the first Sunday after 

 Midsummer Day. The photographers, who were in great 

 numbers, here began operations, which were steadily continued 

 throughout the day. A large number of pictures of Archaeo- 

 logical subjects was secured. The Secretaries announced that 

 a prize would be offered for the best collection of flowering 

 plants made during the day, and this prize was subsequently 

 awarded to John Adams for seventy-two specimens, including 

 the beautiful purple Erinus alpinus growing high on the gaol 

 walls. Saul was next visited. Here it was that St. Patrick 

 is said to have founded his first church. Three stones with 

 ancient crosses are still seen in the old graveyard, the one built 

 into the angle of the wall at the entrance gate being the finest. 

 On the road to theQuoile, the scenery was much admired. In 

 the distance were the outlines of the Mournes and the mountains 

 near Ballynahinch rising above the summer haze, and forming 



