The castle which was built by the family of O'Donoghoe-Ross, is now an important ruin, standing upon a rock; it consists of a lofty, square building, with embattled parapets, formerly enclosed by a curtain wall, having round flankers at each corner, the ruins of which are yet visible. The interior possesses some extremely well-proportioned apartments, and from the battlements may be had a most extensive panoramic view of Mangerton, Turk, Glena, and all the surrounding scenery. A small building has been erected against one of the side walls of the castle, for the accommodation of an officer and company of men which does not harmonize very well with the general character of the scene, and is particularly hurtful to the eye in looking from Inisfallen towards Mangerton. There is a governor also on the establishment of Ross Castle; and a garrison was kept here in 1690, in the wars between William and James.

ANCIENT CHURCHES.

S. DOULACH.

THE church of S. Doulach, situated about four miles to the east of Dublin, on the road to Malahide, is a curious structure. It is 48 feet long by 18 wide. There is a double stone roof; the external, which covers the building, and that which divides the lower from the upper story. The entrance to the crypt is through a small door on the south. There the tomb of S. Doulach presents itself. The tomb projects so far into the room, as do the stairs of the tower and the legs of the arches, that it can contain but few people. It seems designed for no other use, but the separate admission of those who came to make their prayers and offering to the saints. From this room, by stooping, is a narrow way into the chapel. It is 23 feet by 12, and lighted by three windows, one on the east, and two at the south; the arches pointed, and decorations gothic. These, with the lower, are later additions. The roof is of stone and carried up like a wedge. The stones which cover it are not large, but so well bedded in mortar, that after many centuries this roof transmits neither light nor water. There is a well with an octagon enclosure with some emblematic fresco-painting, and a bath supplied

from the well. The cryptal sepulchres and oratories in St. Gregory of Tour and Bede are exact archetypes of these. They were secured from vulgar approach by door and chancels; the suppliant was permitted only to put his head into a little window, and there invoke the saint, and take with his fingers a pinch of the sacred dust.

ROCK OF CASHEL.

This building stands on a high insulated rocky hill. The inside length is 47 feet 8 inches, the breadth 18: the height of the roof from the ground on the outside is 52 feet, and the slant of the roof 24. It has a chancel and nave. On strong pillars, adorned with a lozenge net-work, rest round pillars as on their pedestals, from which the springers of the arch arise. These columns are short and thick, and have bases, torus capitals, and entablatures, rudely executed; the portal is semicircular, with nail-headed and chevron mouldings, and the windows are also half circles.

This is one of the most curious fabrics in the British dominions. It is a regular church divided into nave and choir, the latter narrowing in breadth and separated from the former by a wide arch. Under the altar, tradition places the bones of St. Cormac. There is a striking resemblance between this chapel and the church of St. Peter at Oxford, with Grymbald's crypt beneath it. This church is supposed to be the oldest in England, and to have been built by Grymbald about the end of the ninth century. The chapel of the Rock of

Cashel is more curious from its having a stone roof. Cormac is supposed to have been King of Munster and Bishop of Cashel.

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CATHEDRAL OF ST. PATRICK, DUBLIN. On the site of this Cathedral there formerly stood a parochial church, said to have been founded by the patron Saint of Ireland; who is also said to have baptized his first converts at a well, situated in the north close, near the present site of the steeple. This ancient church was demolished to make room for a more sumptuous edifice, which, being completed in 1191 by John Comyn, the first English Archbishop, was consecrated on St. Patrick's day, with great pomp and ceremony, by the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin, together with the Legate O'Heany. Archbishop Comyn, amply endowed it as a Collegiate Church, placing in it thirteen Prebendaries, which were afterwards increased to twenty-two. His successor, Archbishop Henry de Loundres, erected it into a Cathedral, constituting William FitzGuy the first Dean, and appointing a Precentor, Chancellor and Treasurer. In 1362, the church was much injured by an accidental fire, but it was quickly repaired by Archbishop Minot, who also built the steeple in 1370, upon which the spire was erected in 1750, Doctor Stearne, Bishop of Clogher, having left a bequest for that purpose. About 1430, Archbishop Talbot instituted six Minor Canons and as many Choristers in this Cathedral.

Ancient descriptions of this church represent it to have been a building of great extent and

splendour.-The close was surrounded by an ample wall containing within its circuit the palace of the Archbishop, the houses of the Dean, Dignitaries and Prebendaries, the halls and dormitories of the minor Canons and Vicars-choral, &c. The church was considered, for size and magnificence, as superior to all the Cathedrals in Ireland, and to many in the sister country. The Choir was covered with a curious stone roof of an azure colour, inlaid with stars of gold, and the windows amounted to one hundred. The vaults and aisles were supported by forty great pillars, and in the walls were several niches, filled with the images of saints. There were three entrances, called St. Nicholas's, St. Paul's and St. Patrick's gates. Over the latter was a stately window embellished with stained glass, but no part of this beautiful work now remains. The great stone arch which covered the west aisle, having fallen during the reign of Henry VIII., the rubbish raised the floor three feet above the level. The original floor has been lately discovered, and appears to have been a curious work, composed of small burnished tiles four inches square. These tiles bear the representation of an indented figure. The fall of this arch also destroyed many ancient monuments.

Some years back, this venerable pile seemed fast verging to decay, but the indefatigable exertions of the late Dean, Doctor Keatinge, have happily preserved it from the ruin with which it was threatened. The entire length of the building is 300 feet, and its breadth 80. this space the nave occupies 130 feet, the choir

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