TYRONE ANTIQUITIES

The remains of antiquity are neither numerous nor peculiarly interesting. Raths are scattered over almost every part: near the western border of the mountain named Mary Gray, more than twelve of them may be seen within the compass of a mile: they are generally in pairs; many are now scarcely discernible, in consequence of the [farmers having drawn off the mould for manure. The most perfect has a parapet six feet high, with stepping-stones projecting from the inner sides in an oblique direction to the top, like the winding of a staircase: its diameter is 33 yards.

A very remarkable Druidical monument, called Clogh-togle, or the "lifted stone," stands on a hill a mile north of Newtown-Stewart: it consists of three large stones set upright in a triangular position, about 7 feet high each, and covered with a broad horizontal flag, 11 feet long, 7 broad, and 15 inches thick. On an opposite hill, at the distance of about 100 yards, was a similar relic of larger dimensions, now lying on the ground. There is a large and very beautiful one, also called Clogh-togle, at Tamlaght near Coagh; it consists of six upright stones standing about 5 feet above the ground, on which is a large slab whose greatest diameter is 10 feet, its circumference 28, and its greatest thickness 7 feet; and there is another, but less perfect, in the demesne of Loughry, and a very noble one, 12 feet high, a quarter of a mile above Castle Derg.

At Kilmeillie, near Dungannon, are two circles of stones, each about 20 yards in diameter, in the form of the figure 8. On the same hill was found a kind of altar of dry stones, with the charcoal and bones fresh among the stones, which retained the marks of fire. An urn was found in a little sandy hill near Cookstown, covered with a large limestone slab, and surrounded by six others. Near Omagh, three small chests containing as many urns were found in 1712, under two heaps of stones.

In the parish of Errigal-Keroge is a flat stone set upright, about three feet broad and of the same height above ground, having one side covered with carvings of a regular design, consisting of waving and circular lines: it had been the cover of a vault formed of flags set edgeways: in the vault were found two earthen vessels containing ashes. Near Dungannon were found several brazen trumpets of an uncommon construction, with a hole in the side, and the smaller end stopped, supposed to have been Danish.

The monastic institutions, of which traces yet remain, are those of Ardboe, Ardstraw, Cluin-Dhubhain, Garvaghkerin, Puble, Grange, and Donoughmore. Those of Clogher, Airecal-Dachioroc or Errigal-Keroge, Corock, Ballinasagart, Dungannon, Omagh, Maghclair, Strabane, and Trillick exist only in the records of history. The remains of ancient castles are numerous, but few of them are of much importance. Benburb is the largest: near it are the ruins of one of the residences of Shane O'Nial; those of Newtown-Stewart, Dungannon, Strabane, and Ballygawley are, together with the modern mansions of the nobility and gentry throughout the county, noticed under their respective parishes.

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