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PROCEEDINGS

OF

THE KILKENNY ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY,

1853.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7th, 1853,
THE MARQUIS OF ORMONDE, in the Chair.

The following Members were elected :-Edward H. Paget, Esq., St. John's College, Oxford: proposed by the Marquis of Ormonde.

John Potter, Esq., Kilkenny, Albert Way, Esq., F.S.A., Wonham Manor, Reigate, Surrey, Joseph Wilson, Esq., Lurgan, and Henry Meara, Esq., Parthenon Club, Regent-street, London: proposed by the Rev. James Graves.

Patrick R. Welch, Esq., Newtown Welch, County of Kilkenny, and Yaxley Hall, Eye, Suffolk: proposed by Mr. Joseph Burke.

Major Richard Dunne, Brittas, Queen's County: proposed by Mr. T. L. Cooke.

William Atkins, Esq., Architect, Cork: proposed by Mr. John Windele.

John Hartford, Esq., Solicitor, Kilkenny: proposed by Mr. J. G. A. Prim.

The Rev. W. Wright, D.D., Medmenham, Great Marlow, Bucks: proposed by Mr. J. O'Daly.

The Honorary Secretary then read the following Annual Report for 1852:

"In rendering up an account of their trust for the year which has just expired, your Committee feel that they may be justly accused of a repetition of former reports in the observations now to be laid before the Society; however, if at any time these qualities are not tiresome it is when continued prosperity is the cause of want of variety. The marked success which has attended the progress of the Kilkenny Archæological Society during the last twelve months will be sufficiently apparent when it is known that ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN new members, amongst whom are many names of which the Society may well feel proud, have been added to its ranks since the last annual meeting; several of whom, being anxious to possess perfect copies of the Society's Transactions, have commenced their subscriptions from the year 1849, insomuch that the impression of that year's Transactions is now out of print; and as many of the members have expressed a wish for its republication, it will be put to press as soon as a sufficient sum, at 5s. each, has been subscribed by those requiring it. During the same period but ten names have been removed from the Society's books from death and other causes; thus leaving a clear gain of one hundred and one accessions. With this addition, and allowing for deaths and other casualities, the bona fide list of the Society's members extends

to the large number of THREE HUndred and fiftY-ONE names-your Committee cannot pass from this gratifying topic without recording their deep sense of the zeal which has actuated very many of the members-a zeal to which the present prosperity of the Society is mainly owing, and if they only name Richard Hitchcock, Esq., of Trinity College, Dublin, the Very Rev. the Dean of Waterford, Joseph Burke, Esq., Barristerat-Law, John Windele, Esq., Cork, M. O'Donnell, Esq, Barrister-at-Law, the Rev. Philip Moore, R.C.C., Joseph Greene, Esq., jun., and T. L. Cooke, Esq., Parsonstown, it is not that others have not had the interests of the Society at heart, but that the occasion does not admit of that extension of the list which might easily be made.

"But much as has been done, there is yet room for further exertion. Less than five hundred paying members will not enable the Society fully to carry out the objects origi nally proposed, and until that limit at least is attained, its friends should not remit their exertions. To all who are disposed to follow the good example set by the gentlemen already named, and who desire to make more widely known the doings and objects of the Society, the Secretaries will be found ready to supply circulars, and all other necessary information.

"The number and importance of the papers contributed to the several meetings may also be pointed to as an evidence of the Society's progress; amongst the contributors to the Transactions of the past year many new names will also be found enrolled.

"The mass of ancient deeds, charters, and other unpublished MSS. communicated (amongst which are very many important documents supplied by our valued fellow. members, Patrick Watters, Esq., and James F. Ferguson, Esq., by the former from the Corporation Archives of Kilkenny, and by the latter from the Irish Exchequer Records) far exceed the means available towards their publication. An addition to the original rules of the Society, calculated to meet this emergency, will be proposed for the consideration of the members.

"The delay in the issue of the Transactions for 1851 is a source of much regret to your Committee; but the members may be assured that it has arisen solely from a desire to present them with the work in such a form as will prove creditable to the Society; and in a few weeks it is hoped that the part for 1851 will be issued, with an index and title page, completing the First Volume of the Society's Transactions.

"Your Committee have again to claim your thanks for the Mayor and Corporation of Kilkenny, and the members of the Local Press, whose kind co-operation has been continued to the Society.

"Many valuable additions have been made to your Museum and Library during the past year; the former, indeed, has quite outgrown the accommodation assigned for its keeping by the kindness of the Corporation. Amongst the accessions to its stores, your Committee must not fail to record the valuable donation of antiquities discovered in the cuttings of the Limerick and Waterford Railway at Tibroughny, in the Barony of Iverk, and county of Kilkenny for which the Society is indebted to John H. Leech, Esq., of Carrick-on-Suir, and — Edwards, Esq., Contractor's Engineer of the works.

"In conclusion, your Committee are happy to be able to inform you that the Special Fund for the reparation of the venerable Abbey of Jerpoint progresses most favourably; and, from the wide-spread interest displayed, they have little doubt that the requisite sum will ere long be completed, and that before this time next year all repairs necessary to arrest the progress of decay, and preserve to future generations that exquisite specimen of the architectural skill of former ages, shall have been thoroughly effected."

The Rev. James Graves, Acting Treasurer, then brought up the Accounts of the Society for the past year, as under:

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The Committee and Officers for the year 1853 were then elected, as under :

:

PRESIDENT.

THE VERY REV. CHARLES VIGNOLES, D.D., Dean of Ossory.

VICE PRESIDENTS.

THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR of KILKENNY.

THE HIGH Sheriff of tHE COUNTY Of Kilkenny.
THE HIGH Sheriff of THE CITY OF KILKENNY.

TREASURER.

ROBERT CANE, ESQ., M. D.

HONORARY SECRETARIES.

REV. JAMES GRAVES, A. B.
JOHN G. AUGUSTUS PRIM.

COMMITTEE.

JAMES BLAKE, Esq., Barrister-at-Law.

REV. JOHN BROWNE, LL.D.

JOSEPH BURKE, Esq., Barrister-at-Law.

SAMSON CARTER, Esq., jun., C.E., M.R.I.A.

REV. LUKE FOWLER, A.M.

HERBERT F. HORE, Esq.

JOHN JAMES, Esq., L.R.C.S.I.

REV. PHILIP MOORE, R.C.C.

MATTHEW O'DONNELL, Esq., Barrister-at-Law.

REV. JOHN QUINN, P.P.

THE VERY REV. THE DEAN OF WATERFORD.

JOHN WINDELE, Esq.

Mr. Graves, on the part of Mr. H. F. Hore, gave notice of moving at next meeting that the title of the Society be changed to "The Kilkenny and South-east of Ireland Archæological Society," together with some other verbal alterations in the Rules; and also that the following additional rule be adopted :

"It shall be optional with Members to subscribe ten shillings annually, in addition to the subscription of five shillings which constitutes their membership; and should one hundred such additional subscribers be procured, an Annual Volume shall be printed, to consist of antiquarian and historical rare or unpublished matter of a local nature; such Volume to be distinct from the Transactions of the Society, and to be supplied solely to each subscriber of ten shillings. Should any Member be willing to defray the cost of printing, &c., he shall be entitled to nominate a paper for the Annual Volume, under the revision of the Committee."

The following presentations were received, and thanks for them ordered to be given to the donors:

By the Rev. James Meara, a leaden impression of a monastic seal. By the Rev. James Graves, an ancient half-pike, apparently about two hundred years old.

By Mr. Joseph Greene, jun., a manuscript, entitled A General Abstract of the Receipts and Issues of the Public Revenue, Taxes, and Loans, from the 5th November, 1688, to Lady Day, 1702. This M.S. is beautifully written, and contains a great deal of most important historical and statistical information.

By Mr. J. G. Robertson, a Report on the state of the Cathedral of St. Canice, in the year 1813, drawn up at that time by the late William Robertson, Esq., Architect.

By Mr. Prim, on the part of Messrs. Nash, Publishers, Strand, London, a pedigree of the De Lacy family.

By the Archæological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, its Journal, No. 34.

By the Cambrian Archæological Association, Archæologia Cambrensis, No. 21.

By the Cambridge Camden Society, two numbers of its Publications, 8vo series.

By Mr. Albert Way, Notice of a Seal formed of bone, discovered in the Abbey of St. Albans.

Mr. Henry O'Neill read a paper on the architectural remains comprised within the cemetery of Aghaviller in this county, consisting of a strongly-fortified tower, being an appendage to a church, of which latter but small remains are extant, and an ancient Round Tower, of which but the lower portion now exists. These were illustrated by a groundplan, and several beautiful drawings. The portion of the paper to the Round Tower, is as follows:

relative

"The pillar tower is fifty-one feet in circumference at the base; hence the diameter is sixteen feet two inches. There are two doorways; one at the ground level, of cut stone, rectangular, with places for hanging-irons; a small bolt hole, and a rabate are on the inside; it is five feet two inches high, by two feet ten and a-half inches wide, and looks N.E. The other doorway, and in all probability the original one, is about thirteen feet up from the ground to the door-sill. It is higher and narrower than the one below, and looks north. A rectangular ope, of dressed stone, is situated at about twenty-seven feet up; it may be three feet high by two wide; its aspect is S.S.W. The tower termi. nates at a few feet above this ope, being only a dilapidated stump.

"At about twelve, and twenty-six feet high, from the ground level, there are, on the inside, bearing-courses made of flag-stones about six inches thick, and projecting four inches-the wall above them recesses for a short way. The inside of the tower is rather rough, but on the outside, where not weathered, the wall is very smooth, of excellent stone, carefully spawled, and dressed to the curve.

"If this pillar-tower had originally the usual proportions of such buildings, it was in all probability at least one hundred and ten feet high. The tower of St. Canice is one

hundred feet high, and only fourteen feet five inches in the diameter of the base; being above six diameters and a-half in height-the same proportions to the tower of Aghaviller would give the elevation I have mentioned. The castle and pillar tower are built with a stone resembling the fine-grained sand-stone, which is got in the locality.

"Respecting the purpose for which the pillar-tower was intended, I shall not now offer any opinion. The views propounded by Dr. Petrie have met with such general approval, that to express dissent from them may appear to savour more of daring thoughtlessness, than any calm reflection-nevertheless, a very careful study of the Doctor's work on the Round Towers of Ireland, and a very careful examination of several of the towers themselves, have convinced me that the learned and talented author of that very beautiful essay has not stated the real purpose for which those remarkable buildings were erected. At present, however, there is a certain task to be performed. Dr. Petrie promised to give us the particulars of our several pillar towers, but as this promise has been for several years unfulfilled, let others take up the task-let us have the particulars of every pillar tower in Ireland, or elsewhere. Until the facts are fairly before us, it is idle to be speculating.

"I have given my humble contribution towards this desirable object; and I venture to say that the facts I have brought forward, even in this single case, are sufficient, at least, to create a doubt as to the correctness of Dr. Petrie's opinions. Now, however, I confine myself to expressing my most decided dissent to Dr. Petrie's conclusions, which I do for the purpose of calling attention to the subject, in the hope that other labourers may engage in the important work of giving a description of every pillar tower now remaining, as well as of the localities in which towers are known to have formerly stood."

A paper was then read, contributed by John Windele, Esq., Cork, on an Ancient Cemetery at Ballymacus, which will be found in full at p. 230, ante.

A paper by R. R. Brash, Esq., Architect, Cork, was then submitted to the Meeting; it was entitled, An Account of some Antiquities in the Neighbourhood of Buttevant, and will be found in full at p. 265,

ante.

GENERAL MEETING,

Held in the Tholsel Rooms, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16th, 1853,

THE REV. JAMES MEASE, A.M., in the Chair.

The following Members were elected:-The Rev. George Stanley Faber, B.D., Prebendary of Salisbury, Sherburn House, Durham; George Hitchcock, Esq., St. Paul's Church-yard, London; William Lyster, Esq., J.P., Cloghmanty Mills, Freshford; Samuel Gordon, Esq., M.D., Hume-street, Dublin; Alfred John Dunkin, Esq., Dartford, Kent; and John Stratford Kirwan, Esq., 15, Merrion-square, East, Dublin: proposed by Mr. Richard Hitchcock.

Frederick Villiers Clarendon, Esq., Assistant Architect, Board of Works, Dublin: proposed by Mr. Samson Carter.

The Rev. William Drew, Rector of Youghal: proposed by Mr. Edward Fitzgerald.

William Atkinson, Esq., Resident Engineer, Waterford and Kilkenny Railway; David Kerr, Esq., John-street; and William Trew, Esq., Lacken Cottage: proposed by the Rev. J. Graves.

Mr. Richard Furniss, Kilkenny: proposed by Mr. J. G. Robertson. The following presentations were received, and thanks for them returned to the donors:

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