MONAGHAN ANTIQUITIES
There are two ancient round towers in the county, one at Clones, the other at Inniskeen. Contiguous to the former is a rath of large dimensions, and near the latter a circular mount enclosed with a wall of stone and mortar. At Freamount is another large rath, and another also of very considerable dimensions, but now nearly concealed by plantations, at Fort Singleton near Emyvale. Near Carrickmacross are the ruins of a Druidical temple, consisting of an oblong mound of earth enclosed by a circuit of large upright stones. Wicker hurdles of very curious workmanship have been found in the bogs, in a high state of preservation: they appear to have been carried thither by parties on a marauding expedition, for the purpose of crossing the bog, and having been left behind in the hurry of advance or retreat, were gradually imbedded in the bog.
A curious relic is preserved at Knockbuy, near the town of Monaghan: it is called the "Balaghdthownagh," and consists of a box, about the size of a thick folio volume, containing a crucifix and some relics: it is kept with the greatest veneration as a kind of heir-loom in the Bradley family, and is used as an attestation of innocence for imputed crimes which do not admit of the usual kind of evidence; when let out on an occasion of this kind, valuable security is always required for "its restoration.
No county in Ireland has so few vestiges of monastic buildings: the abbey of Clones is the only one of which any remains exist: that of Monaghan is utterly destroyed, and a castle was erected on its site: the wealthy abbey of Tyhallon is known only by name. The castle of Monaghan is noticed by Sir John Davies, in his account of the lord-deputy's tour through the county, as being then in a state of ruinous neglect: the ruins of the old mansion-house of Castle-Blayney still standing are so close to the modern building as to injure the appearance of both: there are also the ruins of an old building in the same demesne, bearing no resemblance to a religious structure; the walls are very massive, but it is so overgrown with trees as to render its inspection very difficult. At Vicar's Dale, in Donaghmoyne, are the ruins of a castle; and near Dawson Lodge, those of another, called Maghernacligh.
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