254 



Fie. 1. 



merly supported the terraces, give to Xilleen Cormac an appearance of 

 antiquity which, it is extremely difficult to describe. 



About the year 1830, a wall was raised round this cemetery, and 

 built on the line of the first terrace, and with some of its debris, and 

 trees were planted inside ; so that it may be hoped the existing remains 

 will be preserved from wanton injury, and will be no further disturbed. 

 The modern entrance faces the highroad, but at a considerable distance 

 from it. It is on the north-west side, and probably occupies its original 

 position. 



On entering, the first objects that are to be 

 seen are two prostrate pillar stones — one on the 

 left, the other on the right hand side. 



Ko. 1 is a block of greenstone, partially stra- 

 tified, measuring in length six feet five inches ; 

 the upper surface, at the top, ten inches wide, 

 and at the base eight inches ; the side, at the 

 top, eleven inches deep, by fourteen inches at 

 the base. This pillar, at its top surface, bears 

 a faintly incised bust, which appears to repre- 

 sent the Eedeemer, in a style of art so very ar- 

 chaic that any example of similar workmanship 

 is scarcely to be found in these islands. On the 

 same side, but near the middle, and close to the 

 edge or oriss of this stone, three incised strokes 

 or scores exist, as if a commencement had been 

 made for an inscription in the Ogham character. 

 On the side of the stone, under these scores, is a 

 mark of the stratification, across which is cut a 

 single score, looking, as it now stands, like a 

 cross, being probably another attempt at an 

 Ogham inscription. 



The pillar stone to the right (No. 2) is of the 

 same material, but of more irregular outline. It 

 measures in length nearly six feet four inches ; 

 the greatest width at the base of the lettered sur- 

 face is twelve inches, and ten towards the top of 

 the same side ; on the Ogham side it measures 

 in depth twelve inches along its entire length. 

 This pillar stone is one still more remarkable 

 than that already described. It appears to be 

 the first, and, as far as is known, the only ex- 

 ample in Ireland of a Eoman and Ogham in- 

 scription coexisting, and probably equivalents of 

 each other, on the same monument. 



On his first visit to Killeen Cormac the writer perceived the Ogham 

 scores ; but the Eoman letters partially escaped his observation, owin 

 to their shallowness; besides, he was unprepared to meet with a 



