The Early Christian Architecture of Ireland. 89 



shown, as well as a large number of monasteries and cathedrals 

 of the early English pointed style. Amongst these were the 

 monasteries of Kilmallock, C)uin, Adare, and Askeaton ; the 

 abbeys of Holycross and Greyabbey ; the cathedral of Ardfert 

 and the monastery of the same ; and the cathedral on the Rock 

 of Cashel. 



A fact worth noting is that the sites of our ancient churches 

 seem to have been previously associated with Pagan cere- 

 monies and observances. Many instances of this have come 

 under my own notice. Holy wells, and bullaun or cup-marked 

 stones, are usually found in the vicinity of the most ancient 

 churches. Patterns are held on a particular day each year, said 

 to be in honour of the founder of the church. It is not gener- 

 ally known that in almost the centre of the roadway near Saint 

 Columb's holy well, in the city of Derry, there is one of these 

 ancient Pagan bullaun stones, with two basin cavities in it. 

 The holy well is close by, and has been covered in, and a pump 

 placed on it. It is convenient to the site of the ancient monas- 

 tery of Saint Columba. Close to the ruins of the ancient 

 church of Killinagh, near Blacklion, County Cavan, there is a 

 holy well, and a peculiar cup-marked stone with nine basin 

 cavities in it. Saint Lowry's holy well supplies a large portion 

 of the town of Maghera with water to the present time. At 

 Clonmacnois, between the cathedral and the Church of Queen 

 Dervorgilla, are several bullaun stones. The water lying in the 

 cavities of each is supposed to cure certain specific diseases. In 

 the County Kilkenny, three miles from Graigue, is the small 

 Church of Ullard, with an ancient cross. Beside it is a holy 

 well, and several stones with basin cavities in them. On a cer- 

 tain day each year a pattern is held in honour of the founder of 

 the church. The explanation is that the foundation of these 

 churches goes back to a most remote period, when the people 

 were just emerging from Paganism. The early saints, instead 

 of rudely breaking them away from the holy wells, baptised 

 them there, and the Pagan ceremonies were changed into a 

 commemoration of the name of the holy man who was the 

 founder of the church. 



