1162. The buildings, which crowded the abbey, were removed by Murchertach Hya-Lochluinn; and the abbot Flathbert erected the stone, called Cassiol Anarlair, or the rock of tribute.

1162. The houses of Derry were sundered from the churches, by the comharb✶ of Columb-kil, and by the king of Ireland, Murtogh O'Neil. Eighty houses or more were built, and the wall of Erlach+ was made by the comharb of Columb-kil, with a curse to him that would ever come over it.

1164. The cathedral erected under the care of the above-named person, and by the assistance of Maurice M'Loghlin, king of Ireland. It was on an extensive plan, as appears from its being termed, in the annals of Ulster, "THE GREAT CHURCH OF DERRY."

1166. About this period, Gervaise O'Cherballan, the bishop of Derry, possessed himself by force of part of the see of Clogher, the bishop of which was paralytic. He next stripped Raphoe in the same manner. (This augmentation of the diocese remains to this day.)

The late Dr. Coyle, titular bishop of Raphoe, protested against the spiritual right of the titular bishop of London-Derry in the barony of Innishowen. Collect. Sac. vol. i. p. 64.)

Rory O'Morna burned the town, with the church Duibh-regles,+ the abbey church of St. Columb.

1170. The town was accidentally consumed by fire.

1175. Donogh O'Carillan perfected a treaty of friendship with the abbey and town, and granted to the abbey a betagh town-land near Donaghmore, and certain duties.§

1180. The gate of the refectory in Duibh-regles was erected by O'Cathan of the Krieve, and the daughter of O'Nonorge.

1195. The abbey was plundered by Rughruidhe and the English; these were afterwards cut to pieces at Armagh

* Arba, a vicar, a priest. Comh-arba, a partner in church lands, a successor, probably from the Arabic.

To separate-Earalach signifies caution, perhaps from the above curse or caution. + Black Friars.

§ This is an impropriation in the Spence family, above Lifford.

1196. The son of Murchertach, king of Ireland, treacherously killed by Dunchad O'Cathan, was buried in the abbey with great pomp. The altar of the great church was robbed by M'Cienaght of 314 cups, the best of their kind in Ireland; these were recovered, and the thief was hanged.

1197. Rotsell Pitun came to attack Derry; but through the assistance of the Saints Columb and Canneck, was overcome by the O'Neils, near Fuachonbail.*

1203. The town was consumed by fire from the sanctuary of St. Martin to Adamnanan's well.

1211. It was plundered by Thomas M'Oughtry, with the M⭑Rannels.

1218. An abbey for Nuns of the Cistertian order was founded by Turlogh Luinigh O'Neil, of Strabane.

1250. The upper end of the great church fell.

1274. A Dominican friary erected by O'Donnel the younger, prince of Tyrconnel, containing 150 friars, which was situated in the north of the city. Whatever vestige might have existed before the siege in 1688, it is now obliterated, and its endowment granted to the London Society. It also was celebrated, and sent forth two bishops and five martyrs.

Some traces, however, of the monastery were, in my memory, discernible: the well is called St. Columb-kill's well to this day. The ground belonging to the Catholic chapel, and thence through the Bishop's garden, extending toward the magazine, was the site of this famous convent.

Coleraine.

I shall now offer some of the ecclesiastical antiquities of Coleraine, as being next in importance.

In the æra of monastic antiquity, Coleraine received the Latin

Faughan-vale, as now pronounced: this district derives its name from Fochan, i. e. pasturage of the water, and Beal, the same deity, to whom the lake, on whose bank it is extended, was anciently dedicated.

appellative of Bannina, from the river Bann, which flows through its territory;

"Et sylvis coronatus superbo alveo oceanum petit."

Westward of the town and river, stood a monastery, founded in the fifth century by one of the noble family of O'Cathan. According to the records of this monastery, it appears to have been dedicated, in 1244, to the Virgin Mary, and to have been reformed by the Dominican order in 1484. In 1644, it was erected into an university, by the general council of Rome. Whoever chooses to dip further into the monastic history of this place, may consult the Hibernia Dominicana; he will there find, among other things, a recital concerning a miraculous triumph of the Virgin's image over the English, or rather Scottish Bishop, (Brutus Babington,) and all his attendants, in 1611. Father Burke records, from his own observation, that in 1751, after diligent enquiry, he could find but few traces of this church and convent.

The farms belonging to this convent were surrendered to the commissioners of King James the First, and by him granted to the London Society. The last prior was Shane O'Boyle. It appears to have been a very eminent foundation, and is recorded to have sent forth two bishops, two authors, and eight martyrs.

There was also at Coleraine a priory of canons regular, of which St. Carbreus, a disciple of St. Finian, was the first bishop, (or rather mitred abbot,) in the year 540. Armidius, the abbot, was put to death by the Danes in 930. Thomas M Uchtry built a castle on the bank of the Bann in 1213, for the erection of which the abbey was destroyed, except only the church, now called Killowen.

This church is still in good repair, and is parochial in the diocese of Derry. As to the other ecclesiastical buildings, I think the probability is, that another convent extended from the church of Coleraine to the banks of the Bann. In digging foundations, bones have been found in great numbers at the latter place, and at the former, I understand, some ruins have been remembered.

I proceed to other noted remains of ecclesiastical antiquity within this county.

Cambos, now called Camus.

(The winding stream.)

About three miles south of Coleraine, on the Bann, St. Congal founded a celebrated monastery in 580. I suggest to the author of Monasticon Hibernicum, that this is now a ruin; the very foundation stones have been displaced. The font only remains, with a curious pillar sculptured, but somewhat effaced.

Moy-cos-quin.

(The plane of the rabbit's foot.)

It was called the abbey of the Virgin of the Clear Spring, founded by monks of the Cistertian order in 1172. The church is in repair, and is parochial; nothing else remains.

Aghad-dubthaigh, now Aghadooey.

(The face of the country having a gloomy aspect.)

Was an abbey, founded by St. Goarus in the 7th century.

Dishart-hy-thuachuill. Desart-toghil.

(The portion for applotment belonging to O'Tool.)

In Oireacht Hy-Cathan (i. e. the demesne lands of O'Kane); it is mentioned as being near the Bann. I beg leave to say, that it is at least three miles distant.

Arrigal, now Errigal.

(The champion.)

In the barony of Coleraine. St. Columb founded this monastery in the territory of Oireacht Hy-Cathan. It is still the denomination of a rectory. The foundation walls of the old church in Ballintemple yet exist.