49 



turns into a similar passage, fourteen feet long, having a slope or eleva- 

 tion of four feet, and then enters a circular beehive-like chamber, fifteen 

 feet in diameter, eight feet the perpendicular height of walls, and twelve 

 feet in the centre of the cave. 



The passage leading to the cave on the left of the common entrance 

 is fifty feet long, goes down on a slope of five feet, is five feet wide, 

 and from two feet nine inches to five and a half feet high. The diame- 

 ter of the circular cave then entered is twenty feet ; perpendicular height 

 of walls, ten feet, and height in the centre of the chamber fourteen feet. 



Two similar caves, one on each side of the public road, are to be 

 found near Ballinlough chapel, and one at Balgree. 



A little further on, at Clonsilla, are the remnants of three stone 

 cairns, out of which I have been sent some bones, which I submit. 



It is very probable that the cairns briefly described form but a very 

 small portion of the number that were once here. The miles upon miles 

 of stone walls, dividing the pasture lands adjoining, bear patent testi- 

 mony to the use which has been made of these great collections of stones. 

 Even in the lowest part of the valley, between the western and middle 

 peaks, the remains of one (0) are still visible, evidencing the great pro- 

 bability that not only the sides, but even the valleys between the peaks, 

 have been once thickly studded with cairns, similar to those which still 

 remain. I attribute the better state of preservation of those which 

 remain on the western peak to the greater difficulty of removing the 

 stones, owing to the precipitous character of the hill. 



Our President has already brought under observation the fact of the 

 raths in Ireland being found running in groups of three. On the western 

 peak, where the cairns are most perfect, there is a striking analogy. 



Perhaps the most unique feature in all the cairns of magnitude on 

 Sliabh-na-Caillighe is, that the entrances to the interior are distinctly 

 marked by a curving inwards of the basement circle of large stones ; 

 while at "New Grange the entrance would appear to have been carefully 

 concealed, as its discovery is said to be the result of mere accident ; and 

 the bearing of these entrances, indicating as it were the very period of 

 the year when the burial took place, at least the first one — for the many 

 chambers would seem to imply that each was intended for a distinct 

 individual. 



In submitting the foregoing particulars, I would urge that some 

 steps be taken to have these very interesting remains preserved from 

 further destruction ; and that a systematic and careful exploration of this 

 wonderful place should be undertaken by the Academy, asking the co- 

 operation and assistance of the lord of the soil, J. W. L. Naper, Esq., 

 D.L., Loughcrew, whose beautiful residence these interesting relics of 

 antiquity overhang ; and whose character for wealth, kindheartedness, 

 and a wish to promote every good object, is well known in the county. 



I think, too, that an application should be made to the Ordnance 

 Department to have the entire locality, so fully dotted over with rem- 

 nants of antiquarian interest, resurveyed, correcting the meagre details 

 they have already supplied and published, and giving on a large scale 



It. I. A. PE0C. VOL. IX. H 



