WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1902.

THE GREENAN AND LOUGH SWILLY EXCURSION.

The party left the Guildhall at 8.30 a.m., by cars, for the Greenan of Ailech, after examining which they drove to Bridge-end Station, where a special train was in waiting to take them to Buncrana at 1 o'clock. A capital lunch was served at the Lough Swilly Hotel at Buncrana at 1.30 p.m. O'Doherty's Castle, at Buncrana, was visited, and the party returned to Fahan, where special steamer was taken to Rathmullen. The ruins of the Carmelite Priory at Rathmullen were visited. The party returned to Fahan by steamer, arriving at

Londonderry at 7 o'clock, p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1902.

DUNGIVEN, BANAGHER, AND LIMAVADY EXCURSION.

The members going on this Excursion left Londonderry at 7.30 a.m. by the Northern Counties Railway, for Dungiven, which was reached at 9.15 a.m., where vehicles were in readiness to take the party to Dungiven Priory, Banagher Church, and back.

We left Dungiven Station, by special train, at 12 o'clock noon, arriving at Limavady at 12.25 p.m., where lunch was served at the Alexandra Arms Hotel. At 1.30 p.m. we started for the ruins of Drumachose Church, and drove across to the Dog's Leap (Leim-an-mhadaigh), from which the name of the ancient village of Limavady was derived, which in turn gave rise to the modern town of Newtown Limavady. The party walked along the banks of the River Roe, past O'Cahan's Rock and site of O'Cahan's Castle, to Roe Park, where (by kind permission of Mrs. Ritter) the Mound or Hill, called the Mullagh, where, according to O'Donovan, the Convention of Drumcette was held, was visited. The return train left Limavady at 6.5 p.m., arriving in Derry at 7 p.m. The field at Broighter station, where the "Gold Ornaments" were found in 1896, was seen.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1902.

MAGHERA EXCURSION.

We left Derry at 7.30 a.m. by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, arrived at Maghera at 9.40 o'clock, and proceeded to the Fort of Dunglady, about three miles distant, from which there is a very commanding view. It is an extensive earthwork, and is a fine specimen

of an ancient residential fort. It has three distinct lines of circum-. vallation. The party returned to Maghera, where an excellent lunch was served at 12 o'clock, at McNicholl's Hotel. After lunch the party drove to the Cromlech in the townland of Tirnoney, and the Sweathouse in the townland of Tyrkane, described in the Journal, vol. xix, p. 268, was next visited, after which the party proceeded to St. Lowry's Church (Leurioch) and grave. The Doorway of the Church has a carving of the Crucifixion on the lintel. The reputed grave of St. Lowry is in the churchyard, adjoining which is a portion of the shaft of a cross. The well of St. Lowry is in the Main street.

LONDONDERRY MEETING,

July 28 to August 1, 1902.

NOTES ON SOME OF THE PLACES VISITED ON THE EXCURSIONS.

MONDAY, JULY 28, 1902.

ENAGH AND CLOONEY.1

It is very

"THE Church of Enagh," O'Donovan writes, in 1835, "is beautifully situated on the west bank of the eastern lake of the name. dilapidated, but enough remains to show its original form and architectural style, in both of which it is very similar to the other ancient churches of the county. Its form was originally a simple oblong of 91 feet by 23 feet; but a side-chapel, of about 23 feet square, was subsequently added. The masonry is large and good, but that in the sidechapel is superior to the rest; the eastern window, which is, as usual, of the lancet-form, is 9 feet high and 2 feet 9 inches wide. The church and cemetery are filled with gravestones of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, chiefly belonging to the families of the settlers; the oldest is a tomb of a Cornet Heard, who died in 1695. The Church of Enagh was one of the numerous ecclesiastical buildings founded by St. Cainnech, Bishop of Aghaboe, the Patron Saint of Kiannachta. This church was originally monastic, though subsequently converted into a parish church. The martyrologies record the names of St. Moelan and Columba-Crag as being venerated here—the former on the 4th January and the latter on the 22nd of September. Of the history of St. Moelan nothing is known. St. Columba-Crag, who was Archinneach or præpositus of the Church of Enagh, was the disciple and friend of the great St. Columbkille."

Colgan surmises that St. Moelan was St. Moelchuo, nephew of St. Columbkille. He also states that St. Columba-Crag was the special friend of St. Fintan Munnu, who, in June, A.D. 597, came to Enagh to consult him about going to Iona. The sad news of St. Columbkille's death was brought, however, in a few days, and all shed tears over the demise of this great saint. St. Fintan, when he heard that Baithen was St. Columbkille's successor in Iona, journeyed thither "to live under the rule of that pious and wise man."

1 The note on Enagh and Clooney has been furnished by the Rev. Joseph M'Keefry, c.c., M.R.I.A., Hon. Local Secretary.

Near Enagh monastery, on a small island in the eastern lake, was the crannog or lake castle of the O'Kanes. No trace of this large castle is now visible. Its walls were 8 feet thick, and cannon-balls had left their impress on them. The "Four Masters" record that, in the year 1555, this castle was demolished by the son of O'Donnell (Calbhach) by means of a cannon, called Gonna cam, or crooked gun. A number of Scotch troops were brought over from Mac Colin (Campbell) Gillaspuig Donn, under the leadership of Master Archbold. A ball, 32 pounds in weight, found in a neighbouring field, must have been used by this gun, as no ball of this weight could have been projected so far from Derry during any of its sieges.

Enagh is regarded, by Mr. Sampson, in his County History, as the Domnach-Dola of St. Patrick. Colgan writes: "Beschna, a disciple of St. Patrick, was its founder; his brewer is recorded to have been his Presbyter." It is commonly regarded nowadays as certain that both Cluaini and Enagh were founded by St. Patrick, and that afterwards Columbkille dedicated them to the service of God, Cluain under the patronage of St. Brecan, and Enagh under the patronage of St. Canice.

Of Clooney Church, O'Donovan writes: "The Church of Cluain is situated in the townland of the name (Clooney), on the bank of the Foyle, and owes its origin to Columbkille. It is at present enclosed within the demesne of George Hill, Esq., by whom it is carefully preserved as a feature of ornament and interest to his grounds. It is of mean architecture and small size, being but 35 feet long and 25 feet wide, and the gable walls only remain. It was reduced to this dilapidated state, as O'Donnel writes in his Life of St. Columbkille,' by Nicholas Weston, Bishop of Derry from 1466 to 1484, for the purpose of using its materials in the erection of a palace at Bunseantuinne. This demolition, O'Donnel relates, had been prophesied by its founder in a poem written in his native language: but God punishing the sacrilegious attempt of the Bishop on account of the merits of the Saint, the project was abandoned.' The Four Masters' write, under A.D. 1197 :-Rotsel Pyton (Peyton) set out on a predatory excursion, and coming to the harbour of Derry he plundered (the churches of) Cluaini, Eanach, and Derrybruach; but he and his party were overtaken by Flahertach O'Maoldoradh, Lord of Tyrone and Tirconnell, and some of the northern Hy-Niall. A battle ensued on the shore of Ma Congbhala (Conwell), in which the English and the son of Ardgall M'Loughlin were dreadfully slaughtered through the miracles of St. Columbkille, Cainneach, and Brecan. There can be no doubt, therefore, that the churches of Cluaini and Enagh were those of which the SS. Columbkille and Caineach were the founders; but the situation of St. Brecan's church of Dearg-Bruach is now unknown." O'Donovan here confuses these foundations.

O'Donovan writes that Clooney is "of mean architecture." This old ruin is probably the oldest ecclesiastical building extant in or

about Derry. In the opinion of some it goes back to the seventh century. Near to the ruin is the well of St. Columbkille, still reverenced by the Catholics of the district. From this church of Clooney, St. Columbkille took his leave of Derry on his departure for Scotland. About his grief on that occasion some remarkable legends have been woven, which have been transcribed, and are on record in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.

In the "Tripartite Life of St. Patrick" it is stated, that "he Patrick quilt seven Domnachs (churches) about Fochaine (the present Faughan river), namely, Domnach-Dola, Domnach-Seinlis, Domnach-Dara, DomnachSenchua, Domnach-Minchluaine, Domnach-Catte, Both-Domhnaigh." Of these churches it is evident that Clooney is the Domnach-Minchluaine.

From its situation it is, even now, a cluaini-" a pleasant lawn between woods." O'Brien, in his "Irish Dictionary," remarks that the word "lawn" is visibly of the same root with Cluain, and the present name, Clooney, preserves the very pronunciation of Cluain-i.

This church was therefore first founded by St. Patrick, and was afterwards dedicated by St. Columba in honour of his friend and relative, St. Brecan. In Colton's "Visitation of Derry" it is termed "ecclesiam parochialem Sancti Brackani situatam in terris de Clone."

The site of Domnach-Seinlis is obviously Letter-Shan-doney in the Mullabuoy district, on the other side of the Faughan, about four miles from Clooney. Here tradition points out a field where a church was