The Irish standard., 1904-09-24

gentleman IN Dublin, are the booths
in which the visitor may spend his
change on genuine shamrock seed i'm
ported from Cork, Irish soaps, laces,
blackthorns and other souvenirs.
The department Of Agriculture and
technical instruction for Ireland as
sumed the task of properly placing
the exhibits in the industrial hall, and
to this end sent over several of the
cleverest men in Ireland. Among
these were J. Clibborn Hill, textile ex-
pert; 7. w. Rolleston, an eminent
authority on ancient Ireland; W. T..
Mccartney Filgate, chief of the agri-
cultural branch, and Aubrey Toppin,
of the educational branch of the de-
partment. Each Of these gentlemen
supervised the installation Of the ex-
hibits from his own particular branch,
with the result that the classification
is perfect. -..-
Facsimiles of prehistoric Celtic orna-
ments in gold are astonishing looking
objects. The originals Of these fac
SMILES are in the Dublin Museum and
the aggregate of the gold composing
them is five hundred ounces, the larg-
est collection of such objects in the
world. Most striking in this collection
are the filulae. or brooches for fasten-
ing the cloak. They look as much like
cymbals as anything else one might
think of it. The fiat disklike parts
were slipped through the openings in
the cloak, beneath which they were
hid, so that only the curved arm join.
ing them appeared over the breast.
In all this work, wherever designs
were used, and, in fact, in all Irish
handicraft before the Christian era in
Ireland, the spiral was the model of
decoration. In Christian times, how.
ever, the interlace was introduced
The reproductions Of metal smiths
and jewel smiths works at the begin.
ming Of Christian times bear evidence
to period Of signal magnificence in
silver vessels and other objects, to
which was applied great skill in gold
filigree work, enameling and agate
and crystal cutting. Examples to be
seen in the collection are the Ardagl,
chalice and the Cross of Cong. The
chalice was one Of the pieces of work
of which it was said that they ap-
peared rather to be the work Of angels
than of men.
| The most interesting piece Of an
! cient metal work shown here is un-
doubtedly the beautiful Cross Of Cong.
This glorious piece of antique Irish
workmanship was wrought in the
town Of Roscommon in the year 1923,
by order Of King Turlough O'Conor,
to enshrine piece of the true cross
sent to the king by the Pope. The
relic was placed under the large
crystal in the centre, where no doubt
it still remains. 1t was transferred
ultimately to the Augustinian Abbey
of Cong, county Mayo, where it was
used as professional cross. Long
lost to sight and knowledge, it was
discovered in recent times in large
chest under some old papers belong
ing to the parish priest at Cong and
found its home in the National Mu-
scum in Dublin. The cross is formed
of oak, encased in copper plates, en-
riched by elaborate and delicate inter-
laced ornaments in gilt bronze. The
sides are covered with silver, on which
an account of the making of the cross
is inscribed in the Irish language, as
| follows:-
| ''In this cross is preserved the cross
on which the Founder Of the world
suffered
"Pray for Muredach O'Dubthaig, the
| Senior (or elder of Erin"
"Pray for Terdelbach O'Chonchobair
(Turlough O'Connor), the King of
Erin, for whom this shrine was made" ("
pray for Domnall Mac FLANAGAN
O'Dubthaig, Bishop of Connacht and
| successor Of Comman and Charas, un-
der whom this shrine was made"
'Pray for Maeljesn Mac Brathdan
O'Echan, who made this shrine"