1905-1904.] 153 



some beautiful jelly-fish were floating about, and some 

 specimens were secured. We were now called to inspect the 

 ruins for which this island is famous, and after a short walk 

 were soon standing beside the castle, on the northern shore. 

 This castle, overlooking a causeway which crosses to Reagh 

 Island, was probably one of De Courcy's numerous strongholds, 

 and appears to have been of considerable extent; the course 

 of the staircase in its north-west corner can still be observed, 

 and the foundations of walls traced for considerable distances 

 around it. However, it is the ruins of the ancient ecclesi- 

 astical colony of Nendrum or Nedrum (n'oendruim, one hill), 

 that specially claimed our attention, and thither we soon 

 wended our way. These ruins crown the slope of the western 

 side of the island, and from the summit of the ivy-mantled 

 base of a Round Tower a lovely scene was presented to our 

 vision. Northward we saw Scrabo Monument and Helen's 

 Tower, backed by the Belfast mountains. Eastward and south- 

 ward the lough, studded with picturesque islands, lay bathed 

 in sunshine, backed in the east by the high lands of Ards 

 peninsula ; while far to the south we saw some of the summits 

 of the Mourne mountains, of which Donard, Commedagh, 

 Meel-beg, and Bernagh stood out conspicuously, and rising 

 behind the fertile hills of Killinchy we observed that ancient 

 granite mountain Slieve Croob {Sliahh cruh, the mountain 

 of the hoof), whose springs furnish the sources of the River 

 Lagan. After admiring this lovely view, we were called to 

 learn from our President (Mr. W. J. Fennell, M.R.I.A.I.) 

 something of the history of this settlement, and in the course 

 of his remarks we were informed that the name of the island 

 — Mahee Island — is a corrupt form of Inis-Mochaoi, the 

 Island of St. Mochoe, one of St. Patrick's early converts, who 

 died about a.d. 490, and was probably buried in the island 

 which witnessed his labours and has ever since borne his name. 

 Our attention was also called to the fact that the founders 

 of this early Christian settlement chose a site with such a 

 commanding outlook, in contrast to the church settlements of 

 later times, which were placed in more retired situations. 



