90 The Early Christian Architecture of Ireland. 



Mr. Young. — Mr. President, ladies and' gentlemen, at this 

 late hour it would be almost an impertinence on my part to 

 offer anythinor like a criticism on the very interesting lecture 

 Mr. Milligan has delivered. He has gone over a very wide 

 range, and given a complete historical account of the develop- 

 ment of architecture in Ireland. I can quite conceive the 

 immense trouble Mr. Milligan has had both in writing his 

 paper and in procuring these photos, and although I believe our 

 rule would prevent us moving a formal vote of thanks, I think 

 it is one of the occasions when a rule might be broken, and I 

 consider that the very best thanks of this meeting should be 

 given to Mr. Milligan, and along with this I have pleasure in 

 coupling the services of our friend Mr. Robert Welch, who has 

 been very kind in using his lantern ; our best thanks are due 

 to both these gentlemen. 



The Very Rev. J. O'Laverty. — I really do not know 

 whether to praise more the lecture or the beautiful views. The 

 lecture, though very interesting, would have been unintelligible 

 to a great many of the audience without the beautiful views, 

 and the views would have been unintelligible without the 

 extremely lucid lecture which accompanied them. These views 

 exhibit the earliest form of architecture in Ireland, and it is 

 very singular that we have no such things to exhibit in the 

 North of Ireland. It is only in the South and West that these 

 ruins have been preserved. The few things that were exhibited 

 belonging to the North of Ireland are in themselves very 

 beautiful, but, unfortunately, in this portion of Ireland we 

 have a propensity to destroy everything. The round tower of 

 Downpatrick has been destroyed. In the old graveyard of Inch 

 a most interesting church, which had a square-headed doorway, 

 was removed to make room for the tomb of a local gentleman. 

 At St. John's Point the western gable of a church has fallen 

 which had a square-headed doorway. A country road has been 

 made through St. Mary's of Ballaghanery, beyond Newcastle, 

 but its circular chancel arch still stands on the fence above the 

 road, protesting against the barbarism of its destroyers. In 



