355 



So far asunder stand ! One likeness has it, 



And only one, which in the least comes near it — 



The calm blue sea, 0 JEolus, which stands 



By any breeze or breath of thine unruffled. 



Its name, from wearied steeds, the Curragh takes — 



A name of yore in tongue vernac'lar given, 



But which in Greek is called an Hippodrome — 



Because this plain on ev'ry side 's cut up 



By the tired hoofs o' th' Geraldines, when there 



That martial race, exulting, exercise 



Their steeds, and try their mettle — thus to test 



Which fleetest is, ere ent'ring for the Stakes." 



In conclusion, I have to regret that the references to the Curragh 

 are so few and fragmentary, that the most diligent search has not 

 enabled me to present to the Academy a more specific account of its his- 

 tory and antiquities than the present imperfect sketch. 



Mr. Eugene Aleeed Conwell read a paper, entitled 



Examination oe the Ancient Sepulcheal Caiens on the Loughceew 

 Hills, Count r of Meath. 



Paet I. 



Subjoined are extracts from this paper, and an abstract of other details : — 



In the extreme north-west angle of the county of Meath, commenc- 

 ing about two miles south-east of the neat and flourishing little town of 

 Oldcastle, and directly overlooking the beautiful demesne of Loughcrew, 

 there runs from west to east a range of hills, about two miles in extent. 



The highest peak, known as Sliabh-na-Caillighe, attains the height 

 of 904 feet, and, being the only eminence in the county assuming the 

 name or character of a mountain, forms a prominent feature in the land- 

 scape. The whole range consists of Lower Silurian rocks, which occupy 

 a large extent of country in the neighbourhood. On the north the slate 

 rocks form the low grounds round Lough Ramor, while to the south and 

 west lie the comparatively low, undulating, limestone plains of Meath 

 and Westmeath. 



The prospect from the summit of any of the peaks is not to be sur- 

 passed in any other locality in the country. Eor pastoral beauty it is 

 unrivalled : while, for comprehensive extent of view, perhaps, no other 

 point in the kingdom could have been so well selected for the necropo- 

 lis of the chiefs who inhabited the central prairies of Ireland. The 

 mountains overhanging the bays of Carlingford and Sligo are visible, 

 giving a telescopic view of Ireland from sea to sea, about its narrowest 

 part. Persons knowing the country well are accustomed, with the aid of a 

 clear horizon, to point out from these hills elevations in eighteen out of 

 the thirty-two counties in Ireland. This is not surprising, as it can be 

 easily shown by trigonometry that the square root of once and a half 

 the height in feet of any elevation on the globe's surface is equal to the 

 listance of the offing, or sensible horizon, in miles ; and thus Sliabh-na- 

 Caillighe, having an altitude of 904 feet ; commands a view of at least 



I 



