49§ 



[Proc. B.N.F.C 



Cavan nestling in the valley close beneath. The country all round 

 bears testimony to the moulding effects of an ice-age. Drumlins 

 of the typical hog-back form abound, and through many of these 

 can be traced overflow channels, now dry, but which once were 

 cut by rivers issuing from the glaciers of that period. The inter- 

 vening meadows often display characteristics suggesting dried-up 

 lake beds, and an entrenched fort seen from the top of Gallows 

 Hill in one of these depressions was, when constructed, in all pro- 

 bability situated on the margin of one of these now vanished lakes. 

 A long and interesting day's proceedings was outlined in our 

 programme for Thursday. Starting from the hotel at 9 o'clock, 

 our route lay northwards to Butler's Bridge, where was crossed the 

 River Anna, the main feeder of the Cavan lakes from the east ; 

 and shortly afterwards a halt was called at Baker's Bridge, under 

 the arches of which flows the River Erne, on this occasion 

 practically little more than a dry river bed. Here a short time 

 was spent while the photographers of the party obtained souvenirs 

 of the interesting place, and the collectors added to the contents 

 of their varied receptacles. Remounting the brakes, the drive was 

 continued to the village of Milltown, from which all proceeded on 

 foot to the ruins of the Abbey Church and Round Tower of 

 Drumlane, to the examination of which, with the adjacent extensive 

 traces of monastic buildings and surrounding environment, three 

 hours were allotted. A monastery was founded here in the sixth 

 century by St. Edan, Bishop of Ferns, and became subject to the 

 Abbey of St. Mary, at Kells. The architectural features of the now 

 standing ruins suggest twelfth to fifteenth century work, the eastern 

 portion of the church for about 25 feet having been evidently added 

 to the building towards the close of this period. The east window 

 is almost wholly destroyed, but the portions remaining show that it 

 was far from devoid of beauty. In plan the church is a rectangular 

 building possessing neither transepts nor porches, and the side 

 walls are supported on the outsides by large buttresses. The 

 main entrance in the western gable is a circular-headed door of 



