59 q [Proc. B.N.F.C. 



Report of the Archaeological Section. 



Three excursions of the Section were held during the past 

 Summer. The first was to Carrickfergus, when a visit was paid 

 to the ancient Church of St. Nicholas. Here the party were met 

 by the Rev. Frederick J. M'Neice, B.D., Rector of the Church. 

 From the pulpit the Rector gave a lucid historical account of the 

 sacred edifice, after which our Chairman, Mr. W. J. Fennell, 

 F.R.I. B. A., described its architectural features, and drew attention 

 to a recently discovered Anglo-Norman Cuneiform Stone about to 

 be erected in the porch for preservation. In the Town Hall the 

 members were met by Mr. David Law, Town Clerk, who kindly 

 described the ancient Charters and other relics of the town which 

 he had displayed on a table. The Castle and other places of 

 historic interest were visited, and votes of thanks were conveyed 

 by our Chairman to the Rev. Mr. M'Neice and Mr. David Law. 

 The second excursion was to Ardglass, when a visit was paid to 

 the ancient Church of St. Nicholas, which stands on the summit 

 of the hill of Ardtole {Ard Tuathai 7— -TuathaiTs height). St. 

 Patrick's Well, on the shore, was next visited, after which the 

 party, escorted by a piper and standard-bearer in the ancient 

 costume of the Gael, walked to Castle Shane, the property of 

 Mr. F. J. Bigger, M.R.I. A., who kindly brought them over the 

 castle and described the relics of antiquity there enshrined, and 

 subsequently entertained them to tea. A vote of thanks to Mr. 

 Bigger for his hospitality concluded a most enjoyable day. The 

 third excursion was to Malusk and Roughfort. After visiting the 

 historic graveyard of Malusk the party walked to Roughfort to see 

 the fort and the excellent Kistvaen (Cairn Qrainne) preserved 

 there. On the ist of July a lecture was delivered in the Queen's 

 University of Belfast by Professor R. A. Stewart Macalister, M.A., 

 F.R.S.A., A.R.C.O., Professor of Celtic Archaeology, University 

 College, Dublin. The Hon. Sec. of this Section wrote to the 

 Secretary of the Queen's University requesting invitations for the 

 members of our Section, which he kindly sent, and the Section 



