TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

KILKENNY ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

VOL. II.

1852-53.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, BY

JOHN O'DALY, 9, ANGLESEA-STREET.

1855.

THE Committee wish it to be distinctly understood, that they do not hold themselves responsible for the statements and opinions contained in the Papers read at the meetings of the Society, and here printed, except so far as the 9th and 10th Amended General Rules extend.

PREFACE.

THE Second Volume of the Transactions of the Kilkenny Archæological Society, being now brought to a conclusion, is dedicated to the Members as the fruit of much labour, willingly undertaken for the sake of the noble cause of Archæology. It is hoped that so far from being found inferior to its predecessor in any respect, a marked improvement will be acknowledged due to the increased expenditure bestowed upon it, as well as to the anxious care of the Editors.

The aid afforded by Richard Hitchcock, Esq., in revising the sheets of the Part issued for 1852, is gratefully acknowledged, and the Committee have also to thank that gentleman for contributing towards the illustrations of the volume, as also to express their obligations to Albert Way, Esq., on behalf of the Archæological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, to J. Richardson Smith, Esq., Thomas L. Cooke, Esq., and Richard R. Brash, Esq., Architect, for similar aid.

It will be perceived that the arrangement of the present volume is in some degree different from that of its predecessor—a condensed summary of the Proceedings of the Society being supplied for the years 1849, 1850, and 1851, whilst fuller reports of the General Meetings

which were held during the years 1852 and 1853 have been added to the more important communications which comprise the greater portion of the volume-thus affording a connected history of the Society's existence and progress, which has been taken up, and continued in its publications for the years 1854 and 1855, already issued to the Members.

Kilkenny, May, 1855.