Page:The Gael Vol XXII January to December 1903.djvu/141

152 and considerably altered by Archbishop Luke in 1235, when the prebendal church—dating from the sixth century—was removed from Ireland's Eye (Inis-Ereann) to the mainland. The style—pointed Gothic—is rare in County Dublin.

"It had in its perfect state a double roof, supported at each end by pointed gables and each division of the church had an eastern window. The larger one consists of three compartments divided by mullions, the two extreme ones are trefoiled at the top and the center division rises in the pointed form above an archway which seems to have been a later addition. The window of the back aisle is also divided into three compartments, the center one rising the highest though all their tops are circular. There are two entrances by Gothic pointed arches—one at the south side which had formerly been a porch, into the body of the church, and the other at the west end into the back aisle. A flat embattled belfry with pointed arches for three bells springs from the gable at the western extremity opposite the great window. These bells are still preserved at Howth Castle.

Further west on the other side of the Hill are the ruins of a little oratory known as St. Fintan's church. It is extremely small—only twelve feet in length by about eight in breadth, with a disproportionately sized belfry at one end over a pointed arch entrance. The eastern window forms a rude cinque-foiled arch. Within its shadow now rest the remains of Miss Margaret Stokes, who in her life did so much to systematize the study of Irish architecture.

The Cromleac is situated about one-fourth mile from St Fintan's, In the demesne of Lord Howth, at the base of the cliff called Muck Rock, from which the Immense quartzite blocks forming it had become detached. The table or roofing-stone lies east by west and measures seventeen feet in length by twelve in breadth and is six feet thick. Its circumference from point to point round the edge is 56 feet and its girth 45. This enormous weight estimated at 70 tons, has forced the supporting stones to give way to some extent, inclining them in an eastward direction and breaking one of them in two. The roofing-stone did not come to the ground, however, being arrested by the fractured stump. The cromleac is traditionally known as "Aideen's Grave," who after dying for grief at the loss of her husband, Oscar, son of Oisin, who was slain at the Battle of Gavra, is said to have been buried at Howth by the Fenian heroes near the mansion of her father, Angus of Ben-Edar.

They heaved the stone, they heaped
 * the cairn.
 * Said Oisian, "In a queenly grave

We leave her 'mong her fields of fern
 * Between the cliff and wave."

The cliff behind stands clean and bare
 * And bare above the heathery steep

Scales the clear heavens' expanse to
 * where
 * The Danaan Druids sleep.

And all the sands that left and right
 * The grassy isthmus-ridge confine

In yellow bars lie bare and bright
 * Among the sparkling brine.

A clear pure air pervades the scene
 * In loneliness and awe secure

Meet spot to sepulchre a queen
 * Who in her life was pure.

Here far from camp and chase re-
 * moved
 * Apart in nature's quiet room

The music that alive she loved
 * Shall cheer her in her tomb.

That while from circling year to year
 * The Ogham-lettered stone is seen

The Gael shall say our Fenians here
 * Entombed their loved Aideen.

The humming of the noon-tide bees,
 * The lark's loud carol all day long,

And borne on evening's salted breeze
 * The clanking sea-birds song