27 



February 4th ^ iSgs. 



Lavens M. Ewart, Esq., J.P., occupied the chair. 



Mr. S. F. Milligan, M.R.I.A., vice-president R.S.A., Ireland, 

 dehvered a Lecture on 



"ANTIQUITIES, SOCIAL CUSTOMS, AND FOLK 

 LORE OF TORY, INNISMURRAY, AND THE 

 SOUTH ISLANDS OF ARAN." 



Mr. Milligan said — Mr. President, ladies, and gentlemen, as 

 you are aware there was an excursion organised last summer by 

 the Royal Society of Antiquaries to start from Belfast by a 

 steamer calling at Tory Island, Innismurray off the coast of 

 Sligo, High Island off the coast of Mayo, and finally the three 

 islands of Aran lying across the entrance of Galvvay Bay. 

 These islands could only be visited by a sea-going steamer, and 

 the object of the visit was not an ordinary holiday cruise, but to 

 examine the ancient Pagan and very early Christian Churches 

 in these remote isles, and finally reach the city of Galway, where 

 the summer meeting of the Society was to be held. The whole 

 affair was most successful and greatly enjoyed by the members, 

 who were fortunate enough to be of the party. To enable you 

 to understand the origin and objects for which the ancient 

 churches, altars, and other structures were erected on these 

 islands, you will require to take a long look backwards to the 

 time Christianity was introduced into Ireland. You have heard 

 of the Island Monasteries of the ancient Celtic Church of 

 Ireland ; if you have not, you will find in the pages of our 

 journal, third quarter, 1891, a very interesting and instructive 



