3+ 



2nd January^ igoo. 



Mk. Thomas Workman, J. P., President, in the Chair. 



IRELAND AND THE SCOTTISH ISLES ; ANCIENT 



CONNEXIONS AND INTERCOURSE. 



By S. F. Milligan, M.R.I.A. 



{Abstract.) 



I have been led to think of this subject in consequence of 

 being one of a large party who visited these islands in the 

 month of June last. On the occasion referred to two of the 

 leading archaeological societies — viz., the Royal Society of 

 Antiquaries of Ireland and the Cambrian Archaeological Asso- 

 ciation — chartered a fine steamer, and paid a visit to the Inner 

 and Outer Hebrides, as well as several islands lying outside the 

 track of tourists and ordinary steamers. I was much impressed 

 with the similarity of the surroundings, physical appearance, 

 and social conditions of the islanders as compared with our own 

 people in Mayo, Galway, and islands on the Western Atlantic 

 seaboard. In most of the islands Gaelic was still spoken, and 

 was easily understood by Irish-speaking people. Their inter- 

 course with Ireland was much greater three or four hundred 

 years ago than it is now, due to the fact that in the early 

 ages of Christianity and for many centuries afterwards Irishmen 

 had a great disposition for roaming all over Western Europe, 

 either as teachers, missionaries, or soldiers. About the year 

 560 A.D. Saint Columba formed the idea of going to Scotland 

 to attempt the conversion of the Picts to Christianity, and, if 

 successful, he hoped it would alleviate the condition of his 

 countrymen who had settled in the Scottish Dalriada. Columba 

 by his grandmother was related to the Dalriada Kings of 

 Scotland, and his sympathies were drawn out towards his 



