226 Gray — Irish Cromlechs. 



swell the number of Sir John Lubbock's supporters, and that 

 the time is not far distant when we shall have our ancient 

 monuments under the protection of the Crown, and secure from 

 the decay to which they are now exposed. 



Anticipating such an event, it is most desirable that we 

 should have some complete catalogue or schedule of the ancient 

 monuments of all kinds at present existing in Ireland. 



Already certain lists have been prepared — in England, by a 

 Committee of Archaeologists, selected by the Society of Anti- 

 quarians ; in Scotland, by the Society of Antiquarians of 

 Scotland ; and in Ireland, by the Royal Irish Academy. 



Notwithstanding the efficiency of these organisations, and the 

 ability of the several archaeologists employed, the schedules 

 prepared were very far from complete, especially for Ireland, 

 mainly because there was no systematic effort hitherto made 

 to catalogue the monuments existing in this country. 



The appeal for contributions to this end, made in the 4th vol. 

 of the Ulster Journal of Archceology, met with no response. 



Doubtless, descriptions of all the more important structures 

 may be found scattered throughout works of history and 

 archaeology, or in the transactions of learned societies ; but an 

 attempt to tabulate the records thus available would not be so 

 useful as a catalogue compiled from recent personal observation, 

 whereby the present number and condition of our ancient monu- 

 ments could be accurately set forth. 



The following contribution has been prepared under a con- 

 viction that, with our available organisations and the number of 

 public officials now engaged throughout the country, a complete 

 catalogue of all our Irish ancient monuments could be readily 

 compiled, and the author hopes he may be able to render some 

 assistance in this direction, particularly for the North of Ireland. 



In an undertaking of this kind it is necessary that the 

 several monuments should be grouped under separate headings, 

 according to their most distinctive characters. This systematic 

 classification of the monuments would facilitate the distribution 

 of the work \o be done, and secure a more satisfactory result, 



