Gray — Irish Cromlechs. 237 



The gossip of the neighbourhood tells of a former occupier 

 of the farm who had a dream, in which he was informed that 

 there was some treasure buried beneath the cromlech. It is said 

 he dug for many days, and at last found a crock, and that 

 afterwards he became very wealthy, but refused to give any 

 particulars as to his supposed treasure. Doubtless he did find 

 a crock in the shape of a cinerary urn, and his disappointment 

 at not finding gold prompted his reticence. The ruined condi- 

 tion of the second cromlech is, no doubt, the result of treasure- 

 hunting, and to some extent corroborates the anecdote just 

 related. 



8. BROADSTONE CROMLECH, CRAIGS. 

 Sketch No. ii. 

 On a heathy moor, in the townland of Craigs and parish of 

 Finvoy, there is a very remarkable cromlech, known as " The 

 Broadstone." It is about six and a half miles from Ballymoney 

 in a southerly direction, or about one mile above the rectory of 

 Finvoy. In former times this place was resorted to on Sundays 

 and holidays for picnics, coursing, games, and pastime, and, 

 doubtless, the consequent frolic and thoughtless mirth provoked 

 on those occasions was the cause of the dilapidated condition of 

 this monument at present. Happily there are very few who 

 would wantonly or maliciously destroy our ancient monuments, 

 yet the spirit that animated the ancient Cuitech Fuait, or 

 funeral games, has expired long ago, and the object of their 

 commemoration has been forgotten ; therefore, the young folk 

 of modern times, who entertain no profound veneration for 

 ancient usages, think lightly of the injury their playfulness may 

 occasion to ancient monuments, although they would not 

 wilfully do them harm. The cromlech, as it now stands, is a 

 restoration ; the cap-stone, measuring 8 ft. 6 in. by 10 ft, and 

 about 20 in. thick, was thrown down, but was re-erected on its 

 three supporters, as at present, by the people in the neighbour- 

 hood. Adjoining the cromlech proper there are the remains 

 of three or four circular chambers, and the group of stones 



