2 BaUymm'tin Chinch Ridns 



and contains many rugged graves, some of which are marked by 

 rough uninscribed stones. The site of the church and church- 

 yard has never been tille(], but the remains of the walls were 

 barely distinguishable, being overgrown with grass and brambles. 



The investigation of this ruin was carried out at various 

 dates during the summer of 1917, as opportunity and weather 

 permitted, and in all some 10 days were spent on the work. I 

 had the assistance of two steady labouring men, and during the 

 progress of the investigation it was visited by Professor Macalister, 

 Mr. Andrew Robinson, of the Board of Works, Canon Carmody 

 and Mr. R. M. Young, whose valuable advice and information I 

 wish to acknowledge. 



Our first undertaking was to clear out the whole interior of 

 the church, which was filled to a depth of from two to five feet 

 with the fallen debris of the walls. The removal of this brought 

 us down to the original floor level, which was covered with the 

 remains of burned matter, and at the same time exposed the 

 types of the masonry of what still remains of the walls. The 

 original stone work apparently had not been built in sunk 

 trenches, as the foundations were on the level of the charred 

 surface of the earth floor. The masonry itself was of two 

 distinct types, dry or clay built and mortar built. In removing 

 the debris, all stones showing cutting were carefully laid to one 

 side and will be described separately. 



We worked down from the eastern gable, lifting the stones 

 and debris to the outside. About nine feet from the gable was 

 a large recumbent pillar stone about 4 feet long, lying east and 

 west and equidistant from the side walls. It was impossible to 

 tell whether this stone was originally partly sunk in the floor or 

 lying on the surface or erect. Beneath it we found in the soil 

 two skeletons buried in a sitting position facing east. 



As we proceeded westward we found human bones at various 

 depths in the de1)ris, showing that interments had taken place 

 long after the church had become a ruin. 



At the extreme west end under the last of the debris we 



