Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-17

promontory quite similar in form to that on
which stands the ruins Of the famous Dun
luce Castle, near the Giants Causeway.
The natural formation of the rock upon this
cliff gives natural defense in its elevated
sides. Within this great inclosure over
hanging the sea are the remains, in some in
stances we'll preserved, of many claughawns,
or beehive structures, in the well authenti-
Gated form Of the remotest pagan Irish places
of retreat in times of danger. The ablest
archaologists of ireland pronounced these
as old as the fort ITSELF A little distance
from this, at Mainister, will be found Dun
Oghil.
The height and thickness of the ramparts
of this relic of pagan times are simply in
conceivable to one who has not stood within
them. In this respect Dun Oghil is far
more impressive than Black Fort, although
its site is less picturesque and its antiquity
is not so great. Dun Onaght is remarkable
for its similarity to the great Grianan of
Aileach, near Londonderry, in the north of
Ireland, recently restored by DR.. Bernard,
the antiquarian of that city. Its form is
circular; it is 80 feet in diameter; three
consecutive ramparts inclose it, and series
of steps lead along the inner wall to the top
of the grim structure, as in the Grianan.
But of the Arran Island pagan remains,
Dun Aengus is the greatest and most stu
pendous. DR.. Petrie, the profoundest arch
aologist ireland ever produced, pronounced
it "the most magnificent barbaric monu-
ment now extant in Europe" 1t owes its
origin to Scottish adventurers. Three
brothers, Aengus, Conchovar and Mil, came
to Arranmore from Caledonia in the first
century. They were men and warriors of
great note, and the monuments to their
power and prowess were three great cashels,
raths, duns or forts-Dun Aengus, Dun
Conchovar or Connor and another, now OBJ
liberated, at Port Murvey, formerly called
Murveagh Mix or the seaside stronghold of
Mil.
RELIGIOUS RELICS.
To many the ecclesiastical remains of the
Arran Islands possesses still greater inter-
est Their origin here is due to Aine, Aen-
deus, or Enda, son of Natfraich, King of
Munster, in the latter part of the fifth CEN
tury He was "spear-hurling, ax-wield-
ing'' chieftain; pagan of pagans Con-
verted to Christianity by his sister, Fam
chea, who is said to have taken the veil
from St. Patrick himself at RosSory, near
Enniskillen, and further crushed and hum
bled by the death of q noble maiden under
his sisters care to whom he was betrothed,
his life thereafter became that of a religious
recluse at Arran. Here he built church
which ever after bore his name, portion of
the original structure being still in exist
ence.
The sixth, seventh and eighth centuries
witnessed in Ireland unparalleled zeal for
the monkish profession; and in this period
wonderful number of oratories, monasteries
and sacred edifces were built. The fame of
the then pagan ruins of Arran, and of st.
Edna's establishment, drew other religious
1oo1ofc 70 fbic dpcnlofa until OF npn
time the little island of Arranmore, which
is still called by the peasantry of the west
of ireland, "Arran of the Saints, or
Blessed" was dotted with no less than II
monasteries and 13 churches. OF the
churches the Oldest to be found in a good
state of preservation on Arran is that of St.
Benan. 1t Is but Is feet long and IL feet
wide, but it was built over 1 200 years ago.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.