56 Mr. Sea ton F. MiHiga?i on 



said to have been founded in 1183 by Raymond Le Gros, and the 

 ancient castle called Temple Michael, which was erected by one 

 of the Desmond family in the fourteenth century to protect an 

 important ford on the Blackwater. It was battered by Cromwell 

 during his campaign, and the last of the Fitzgeralds who held it 

 assisted Lord Castlehaven in the year 1645 to cross the ferry that 

 he might bombard Youghal. A little further was the ancient 

 Celtic monastery known as the Abbey of Molana. 



Driving to Ardmore, Mr. Usher, who is well known in Belfast 

 as local secretary for County Waterford, became their guide. The 

 beauties and the antiquities of this lovely spot would be very 

 difficult to do justice to. Ardmore was a well patronised watering- 

 place for County Waterford and County Cork, and many families 

 from Cork city came there to enjoy the fine sea bathing and 

 splendid air from the Atlantic. The village was built on the high 

 rocky ground overlooking the bay, and at the foot of the rocks 

 was a sandy shore or strand, where the sea was making inroads. 

 On the occasion of his previous visit they were shown as a great 

 curiosity the remains of a crannoge down on the sea shore. The 

 stakes were there, and no doubt that the sea had encroached to 

 where the crannoge was, which was formerly a bog, and some of 

 the peat or turf still remained. 



The Holy Well was situated on the top of the cliff, close to the 

 sea side. They usually found an attendant ready to provide them 

 with a drink at this Holy Well. Close to the cathedral was the 

 round tower, St. Declan's Oratory, and the ogham stones. Great 

 uncertainty exists about the date of the birth of Declan, the 

 founder of the Christian Church at Ardmore. Some placed his 

 birth as early as 347 a.d., which would put him before St. Patrick. 

 Be that as it might, at a very early date St. Declan, who was of 

 Royal descent, founded the first Christian Church here, and his 

 oratory, still remaining, was supposed to be the original church. 

 The reputed burial place of St. Declan was within his little church 

 or oratory at Ardmore. It stood about 70 feet from the cathedral, 

 and measured internally 13 ft. 4 ins. by 8 ft. 9 ins., and the walls 



