PAGAN ANTIQUITIES. 
Section 2.—Antiquities.—Pagan. 
1. Sepulchral .—There are but few vestiges of Pagan sepulchral remains in the parish. The 
summit of Holywell Hill is occupied by the remains of a cairn, about 40 feet in diameter In 
the centre there is a small pit 3 feet square, and 5 deep. It is formed by four large stones, and 
had doubtless a covering laid on them originally, as is usual in all such sepulchral chests or 
kistvaens as they are called, in England and Wales. The rock of the mountain forms’the 
bottom of the sepulchre, which is called the Holy Well, from a small pool of rain water 
being generally found in it, which is popularly supposed to be possessed of miraculous healing 
VII tUGS. 
II /n - Ba !: l y ma 9 ro ^yp about 10 perches from Mr. Dogherty’s house, there is a small cromleac, 
the table-stone of which is about 4 feet by 3, but it is at present nearly concealed by earth 
thrown over it. J 
2 Military. Of this class the principal remain within the parish is a rath or earthen fort 
situtedm Ballynagard, on the western shore of the river Foyle. It is of an oval form mea- 
sunng 60 yards from E. to W., and 73 from N. to S.; and is nearly surrounded by a ditch, and 
a parapet of earth. This parapet is 6 feet high on the W., but near the river it disappears : and 
as the i iver and a natural bank of earth, 12 feet high, is a protection in that qnarter, it is probable 
that none ever existed there The parapet is now covered with large trees, and underwood. 
tnhSr entrance is on the western side : two other points of ingress, near the river, appear 
to nave been formed for agricultural purposes. ^ 
ooli Th f G f! AHAN 0)? Ely > or Guianan op Aiueach, one of the most ancient, and histori¬ 
cally interesting monuments remaining m Ireland, though situated within the county of Done¬ 
gal, is so contiguous to this parish, in which a townland ( Elaglimore ) still retains its name • 
and is besides so intimately connected with the history of the district, that it may not be im¬ 
proper in this place to give some account of it. 
,, Th n / e “ alE ; able fortress has been already noticed by Colonel Blacker, in a pamphlet 
addiessed to Dr. Knox the late Lord Bishop of Derry, but that talented gentleman bein but 
insufficiently acquainted with the characteristic peculiarities of the ancient Irish Cyclopean 
works, and still less with the existing historical notices appertaining to this particular one P has 
lirfe nf 1 °t 1Ced u™ 6 ° mos t strlking architectural features, and mistaken altogether the pur¬ 
pose of its erection. Colonel Blacker is, however, entitled to high praise, as well for the great 
Double which he took m ascertaining the form and measurements of this venerable ruin as for 
the patriotic zeal which prompted him to make his researches known. If such practical explo- 
Ir , lsh “tiqmties were more numerous, our ancient monuments would be held in far 
higher estimation by the learned than they have been hitherto. 
The Grianan of Aileach is situated in the county of Donegal, about a mile from tbe 
boundary of that of Derry, on the summit of a small mountain, 802 feet high, to which it has 
given its name This mountain rises from the southern shore of Lough Swilly, immediately 
in the rear of the island of Inch from which it is separated by a channel, which at low water 
SHSmJb .“If ° Ul * ‘" ile “ ,T «»*>> . few Z”d,S 
teet of the top, it assumes a more precipitous character, and it terminates in a circular apex 
which commands one of the most extensive and beautiful varied panoramic prospects to be 
ound m Ireland A broad ancient road, between two ledges of natural rock^ leads to the 
summit of the hill, from its base on the eastern or Derry side. By reference to the accom 
panymg plan it will be seen that, following this road, three concentric ramparts must be 
passed m order to arrive at the caisiol, or keep, of the fortress, and judgmg from what is 
Sit 1 Vr th t r Irlsb . re g al monuments-Emania, for example-there isreason to 
beheve that the whole lull was originally inclosed by another rampart, of which owing to the 
piogress of cultivation no traces are now distinctly visible. The truth of this conjecture will 
very strongly corroborated by historical evidences, to be adduced presently These external 
3 k 1Ch are ; d 111 a State of S reat dilapidation, appear to have been formed of Wh 
heh a«on to the ° f “ ^-circular outline, consequent upon 
.tone: ada P“ tl0n 1° tbe f ° rm of their mclosure, and ascend above each other in successive 
ftl Tin 6 ^. 01 ' innermost, rampart and the cashel, the road diminishes con¬ 
siderably in bieadth, and diverges slightly to the right; and this approach was strengthened bv 
a wall on each side, of which the foundation stones alone remain. strengthened by 
a 
