Cooke — Antiquarian Remains in Beaufort District, Kerry. 13 



thin ridge about 18 inches high. The grass on it, and in the enclosure, 

 differs from the coarse, sedgy grass without. The crosses stand within, 

 close to the edge on the east and west sides. They are of thin slabs 

 of grit, and rest in two coarse, flat sockets, pierced through by circular 

 holes just wide enough to hold the crosses upright. The lines of the 

 designs were well and clearly cut originally, but the stones have 

 weathered considerably. Unfortunately, one of the crosses was 

 broken a few years ago by boys into six pieces ; but as the fractures 

 are clean, it could easily be put together with cement. Close to the 

 foot of the east cross is a fine bullan stone, and beside it a rude heap of 

 stones which may mark a burial. Dr. Graves calls the spot a killeen, 

 and it is no doubt a good name to give it ; but there is no other sign 

 of burial within the enclosure, nor anywhere near it. The place is 

 very remote, and the Cloon valley very thinly populated, as the district 

 is very mountainous, and the land of the poorest. On the side of the 

 mountain, about half a mile away to the east, is a holy well, with the 

 usual story of a sacred trout attached to it ; and the well and the 

 crosses have been occasionally visited by pilgrims to say rounds ; but 

 no one has visited it for some years now for this purpose. 



l^ot having proper material for complete rubbings, I was obliged to 

 visit the spot again some weeks later. Heavy rain had fallen for a 

 couple of days, and the bog was wet, and walking difficult. I found 

 the ring enclosure practically covered with water, which confirmed 

 my original impression that the spot was a crannog site. The aquatic 

 and bog-plants covering the area between the loughs are very luxuriant, 

 and rapid bog growth is apparent to any observant eye. It is probable 

 that the spot was selected as something uncommon, and the fairy ring 

 Christianised by the erection of the crosses and the placing of the 

 bullan. The stones form so rude a heap, it is impossible to judge 

 what they mark. A small clochaun may have stood here, as the 

 ground is higher and drier on the east side than on the west ; or it may 

 be the site of a burial. The bullan may have been used for baptismal 

 purposes, as we know that, though their original purpose was for 

 pounding grain and roots, many on church sites show that they were 

 used as fonts, just as a domestic bowl at the present day may be 

 used in cases of emergency. 



As Dr. Graves has described the designs on the crosses very 

 effectually, I need not enter on a description — it would be but 

 repeating inadequately what he has said. His drawings, however, 

 illustrating his paper are quite small, and it is a pleasure to me to 

 submit the rubbings, which give a better impression of the unique 



